Soltimes Mar Menor – Issue 480

6th - 12th June

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Promoter held in fake documents scam Spanish National Police have arrested 24 immigrants, and a Spanish construction promoter, for making false Padron registrations and producing fake residence permits in the region.

Following collaboration between the police and the statistics office in the Torre Pacheco Town Hall, and based on information related to false registration of foreign citizens in other municipalities across Spain, ‘Operation Delhi’ was set up two months ago. Suspicions were first aroused when an unusual number of foreign nationals, mainly from Pakistan, India and Morocco, registered in the same building.

Subsequent enquires unveiled that the owner of the block

where all these people were registered was a well-known promoter and builder in Torre Pacheco who, after housing them, began to fraudulently register them on the system. Most of those involved, apart from being illegal in Spain, were actually living elsewhere in the country and had never been in Murcia except for the sole purpose of processing the false identities.

The builder, a 60-year-old Spaniard, charged each person up to â‚Ź300 to carry out the frauds.

The investigations were carried out by the Aliens and Borders Brigade of the National Police based in Cartagena, and further arrests are not being ruled out in the coming weeks.

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Balearic bullfighting ban beckons

President of the Balearic Islands and leader of the regional Socialist (PSOE) party, Francina Armengol, reiterated that her government will move forward with amendments to the region’s 1992 animal welfare law, further restricting bullfighting and bull-baiting festivals in the islands despite warnings from the opposition Partido Popular (PP) that it will overturn the new law if it comes to power in the next regional elections in 2019.

Under proposed legislation filed during early last month by the Partido Socialista de las Islas Baleares (PSIB) with support from Podemos, MÉS per Mallorca and MÉS per Menorca deputies in the regional parliament, bullfighting in the Balearics will be allowed but with strict limitations.

The new law would limit the number of bulls to three per bullfight, each in the ring for a maximum of ten minutes, and the bulls can neither be spiked with banderillas nor killed with a sword by the matador, but must be returned alive after the ‘fight’ to the ranch that supplied the animal. The new legislation would also prohibit bullfighting on horseback, ban the sale of alcohol at bullfighting events and prohibit entry to minors under the age of 18.

In the Balearic regional parliament last week, PP regional spokesperson Margalida Prohens called the new law “ridiculous” and said it is an attempt to circumvent the national protection of bullfights as part of Spain’s cultural heritage, a position that has been upheld by the country’s Constitutional Court. Prohens said that should the PP win what are expected to be hotly contested regional elections in 2019, the conservative party would make overturning the proposed restrictions on bullfighting in the Balearics one of its top priorities.

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Iberdrola scam warning A major scam involving e-mails purporting to be from electricity board Iberdrola has been uncovered by Spain’s National Cyber-Security Institute in the centre-northern city of León.

The Institute, or INCIBE, said fraudulent messages have been received by many customers explaining that an error in their billing system means they are now due a refund for overpayment.

It requests that the recipient should click on a link, which takes customers to a website that appears to be Iberdrola’s, and prompts them to give their personal data and bank account details.

Once this information has been disclosed, the scammers then help themselves to victims’ funds.

As yet, the INCIBE is not aware of whether any customers have suffered major financial losses.

Iberdrola would never ask for bank details by email, since it already has clients’ data to process refunds if necessary and, if this is not the case – because of the customer paying all bills in cash – would deduct any overpayment from the next bill due.

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Homes justice for Brits at last After many years of legal issues, thousands of British homebuyers who were caught up in the Spanish property market crash are finally beginning to recover the millions they paid for holiday homes that were never built.

Back in December 2015, a ruling in Spain’s Supreme Court opened the way for an estimated 130,000 Britons to make a claim directly from the banks rather than the property developers, many of whom promptly declared themselves bankrupt overnight.

It has been estimated British buyers are owed £5.3bn in both deposits and stage payments on properties purchased off-plan, most of which were never completed. In total, approximately 500,000 people were affected; but it’s not just the British as it’s estimated around 300,000 Spaniards were part of the group.

Before the ruling, only those with bank guarantees – about 5% of those affected – could claim directly from the banks. The Supreme Court then ruled that regardless of whether they had guarantees, the banks had an obligation to safeguard buyers’ money. The average case takes 12-15 months to complete so it is only now that the

banks are starting to pay out.

Luis Cuervo, CEO of Spanish Legal Reclaims, the company that has taken on hundreds of cases said: “Many people are so fed up they can’t face the idea of going to court again. What they need to understand is that they now have a good chance of recovering the money. It’s not property developers we’re up against now, it’s banks – and they have the money to pay.

“People who took developers to court were badly advised because they all just went bankrupt. They spent more money, won the case but got nothing. Only a minority who had bank guarantees went to court and won.”

Cases must be filed within 15 years of the expected completion date of the property, and claimants must provide evidence of a contract with the developer, payments made into the developer’s account and the fact that the property was never delivered.

Claimants must beware the high cost of fees charged by Spanish legal firms. Cases are generally fought on a no-win, no-fee basis, and in the case of Spanish Legal Reclaims, the fee is 30%-35% of the claim. However, any compensation award is likely to include a large amount of accrued interest, so claimants may not end up out of pocket. Banks usually appeal against the first decision so it’s important to ensure the no-win, no-fee contract covers the entire process. Some judges will award legal costs, typically 10% of the claim plus a further 5% if the case goes to appeal.

If you think you are eligible you should first seek independent and impartial legal advice, and you will need the following: • A signed contract between the client and the developer.

• Proof of payment into the property developer’s bank account. In many cases, the client will have transferred money to their lawyer rather than directly to the property developer’s bank. In such cases, your lawyer has to locate the developer’s lawyer to get proof it received the funds.

• Judgments – if you have previously tried to take the developer to court, it is important to let your lawyer know.

• Other supporting documents for the property, such as paperwork or email exchanges, should be shared with your legal adviser to give them the best chance of reclaiming your cash.

The deadline for claims is 7 October 2020.

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Why Spain and Britain are two peas in a pod The funny thing about Spain and Great Britain is they’re really the two distant cousins who always wrangle at family gatherings.

Over the last three years alone, the Spanish Government has rebuffed Scottish independence, threatened the rights of British expats in the EU and promised to veto post-Brexit access to the single market.

As a riposte, the UK Government has refused to deny that it will use the 129,000 Spaniards in Great Britain as a bargaining chip (a poor one, given that 309,000 British citizens reside and work in Spain). The UK Government, of course, never admits that its Brexit plans are a flummoxed policy fudge.

Nevertheless, the Spanish and the British have more in common than their foreign policies might suggest.

Both countries, perhaps more than any other two, are littered with monuments to their past imperial glories which can legitimately be said to have shaped the modern word over the last 600 years. They’re postimperial, but have never found a comfortable seat for themselves at the global table because they’re no longer at the head of it.

The frustration of living in the shadow of such a tall past makes for an almost excusable explanation as to why both Spain and the UK are seeing the rise of reactionary politics in the first decades of the 21st century.

So often the answers to the future rest in the past. If the UK is to reevaluate its relationship with Europe and genuinely wants to move forward with bilateral relationships, then it must do more to ensure its people move past populist cliches about international history.

For Spain, if it is to salvage its economic and political

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gains from being a part of the EU then it must step up and turn vitriol into a positive vision for EU-UK relations.

There is, of course, nothing but poetic irony in Spain maintaining Ceuta and Melilla, on the African coast opposite Gibraltar, which the Spanish proclaim is self-evidently theirs. Gibraltar, forever a thorn in the side of Spanish-British relations, is now the prototype for how an amicable international solution can be secured which puts the rights of citizens before political grievance.

To create a meaningful settlement that puts citizens first, both nations must, as Robert Burns advises, “see themselves as others see them’. Only then can there be any real hope that the postBrexit world might offer some semblance of friendship over enmity.

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6th - 12th June 2017

No hiding place for savings Large amounts of financial data about Britons living abroad is currently being handed to Revenue & Customs as part of a global transparency drive sweeping through the world’s financial centres.

According to industry experts, thousands of expats with undeclared savings accounts are potentially at risk of penalties once the information is transferred to the country where they live in September.

The information transfer is part of a global initiative that is aimed at identifying tax evaders but might also pose a threat to people who had not intentionally dodged their tax obligations, financial advisers said.

Some British expatriates wrongly thought that if they complied with UK tax rules, they would not have to declare their income in the countries where they lived.

In most countries, however, people are taxed on their worldwide income, gains and, in some cases, wealth.

Jason Porter, a director of Blevin Franks, a financial planning firm, said there was a particular problem with individual savings accounts (ISAs), which were taxable abroad even though they were tax-exempt in Britain. “A lot of people who leave the UK look at their ISA accounts and still think they are tax-efficient.”

Mr Porter went on the explain that anyone with undisclosed assets should seek advice about coming forward voluntarily, which was likely to result in reduced penalties. But he warned that some countries imposed heavy fines, citing the case of Spain where “horrific” penalties for non-declaration could exceed the value of the assets.

In 2015, a pensioner living in Granada appealed to the European Court of Justice after he was ordered to pay more than €442,000 in interest, fines and other costs, following a late disclosure of €340,000 of stocks and cash in Switzerland. The European Commission has told Spain that its fines for failure to comply with an asset reporting rule it introduced in 2013 are disproportionate.

Banks, building societies, insurance companies and investment companies were required to provide HMRC with data about their overseas clients’ accounts — including balances — before June 1st. Similar deadlines apply in other countries which are taking part in the first wave of data exchanges under the transparency initiative known as the Common Reporting Standard (CRS).

Jason Collins of Pinsent Masons, professional services firm, said the information exchange was just one aspect of a recent surge in cross-border collaboration. He said that HMRC might benefit from the influx of financial data, even in cases where individuals had not sought to hide their money. Some complicated structures would turn out not to be compliant, he said. “Sometimes people kid themselves that something is legitimate when it is not.”

Mr Collins said some tax evaders would try to sidestep the reporting rules. “Hardened evaders will keep on running the gauntlet rather than give a large slice of their assets to the taxman.”

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Avatar comes to Walt Disney World Resort

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has unveiled a world out of this world consisting of massive mountains floating in the sky, rainforests pulsing light and breathtaking flights for explorers soaring above an alien moon on the backs of great winged banshees.

Pandora – The World of Avatar will transform, transfix and transport Walt Disney World Resort guests to an allnew Disney land beyond belief – 4.4 light years away from Earth. The spectacular new attraction opened to the public at the weekend.

Set with artifacts found throughout the Pandoran landscape, the dedication stage was a tapestry of sights and sounds. Drummers pounded out traditional rhythms, colourfully dressed performers led a procession full of pageantry and artful banners fluttered in the morning sky.

Inspired by the blockbuster motion picture AVATAR from filmmaker James Cameron, the new 12-acre land immerses guests in the lush world of Pandora in a time frame a generation after the human-Na’vi conflict in the Oscar-winning film.

In a collaboration of two master storytellers, Disney joined with Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment in a multi-year project to bring to life the mythical world of Pandora.

“Working with Jim and his team was a dream come true for us, as we pushed the limits of creativity and innovation to bring the digital world of Pandora to the real world of Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” said Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “Now anyone who has ever dreamed of visiting this extraordinary world can explore the astonishing landscape and ecosystem, soar on the back of a banshee and actually become part of the AVATAR adventure.”

The breathtaking, otherworldly beauty of Pandora that amazes by day will glow at night when bioluminescent flora and special night-time programming add to the fascination guests will feel.

Na’vi, the indigenous blue people in the film, call Pandora home. Cave paintings give hints of the Na’vi culture, and totems they weaved point guests down pathways threading through the overgrown rainforest, punctuated by bizarre sounds of animals not of this world and alien plants that glow with light. Disney Imaginers created a soundscape meant to evoke an alien jungle.

Some of the most creative sculptors in the world were

recruited to help shape the new land, with the overriding message of connecting everything to the value of nature - and the transformative power of adventure and conservation.

“I never thought I’d see the day when the Pandora I imagined could be made physically real,” said Cameron.

“Working with Disney to bring this world to life has been an amazing experience, and the result is something I think everyone will love for generations to come. It really feels like you’re stepping into a dream.”

While inspired by Cameron’s film, Pandora – The World of Avatar was not envisioned as an extension of the film.

“It’s not the movie AVATAR that we are portraying,” said Joe Rohde, Walt Disney Imagineering portfolio creative executive. “It is the planet Pandora where you can come; you can visit, and have your own unique adventure. Rather than reliving the adventures of characters from the film, you’re going to come to the planet where those things happened - and have your own set of adventures you can own.”

And what an eye-filling, sky-filling planet it is.

Crossing an entry bridge, rusted-over across the years, guests follow a winding forest pathway to where the surreal landscape first comes into view. The exotic Valley of Mo’ara spreads before them.

Other-worldly sights, sounds and scenes abound.

Adventurers roam verdant pathways underneath floating mountains laced with waterfalls dropping to quiet ponds. They venture deep inside a bioluminescent rainforest amid the sounds of Pandoran creatures roaming the underbrush.

Two extraordinary attractions anchor the new land: 1. Avatar Flight of Passage sends explorers swooping and soaring on a simulated flight above the awe-inspiring world of Pandora on the back of a winged banshee.

Floating mountains, rushing waterfalls, vast seas and dense jungle pass under-wing. This multi-sensory, windin-your-face experience is unlike anything Disney has created before. “You are grounded on a winged predator and flying through these amazing environments with

Choirmaster required

The late winter and spring around Limaria do their best to fulfil the optimistic promises of those glossy and idealised brochures designed to attract the nature loving holidaymaker.

Things green up and show promise of future floral output. Pine trees push up their best efforts at flowers; timid little miniature Century plants peep out from under their mother’s skirts, wondering if it is safe to grow; the Wild Sage erupts like Lazarus from deader than dead to sturdy bushes coating every hill and mountain with wave upon wave upon wave of soft yellow profusion. The Red-legged Partridges run around apparently in utter confusion, the Little Owls sit in the middle of the roads in catatonic stillness, Hares leg it, while Rabbits attempt suicidal road crossings at the mere sight of a car. Swallows and Swifts appear as if they have never left, Magpies engage in swearing competitions with Cuckoos, and that glorious harbinger of summer, the Bee Eater, fills the sky with its rolling warble. The Starlings and Sparrows are permanent residents. They begin fighting over best chimneystack, best ventilation tile in roofs, in fact any spot that is non-accessible by cat. They fill every daylight hour with their negotiations, discussions and opinions. They attend to their affairs of state with far more dedication and a much higher decibel count than any Member of Parliament

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special effects to add to the thrill,” Rohde says.

Aboard the eight-person reed boats of Na’vi River Journey, families follow a sacred river deep into the bioluminescent rainforest under a canopy of exotic glowing plants, passing rock formations and Pandoran creatures on the move. This mystical journey culminates in an encounter with the Na’vi Shaman of Songs, who has a deep connection to the life force of Pandora and sends positive energy out into the forest through her music.

After roaming a landscape pulsing with entertainment happening throughout the day and night, adventurers can recharge at Satu’li Canteen, the fast-casual restaurant for Pandora housed in an old Quonset hut.

Windtraders stocks Na’vi cultural items, toys, science kits and more. Pongu Pongu, with a design as eclectic as its expat owner, is a specialty-beverage kiosk that serves up cooling refreshments and a treat called Lumpia (loom-pee-ah), a pineapple-cream cheese spring roll.

2. Pandora – The World of Avatar expands the day-intonighttime adventures at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including new after-dark experiences such as the majestic Rivers of Light show, sunset safaris, live-entertainment street parties and vivid, animated imagery bathing the Tree of Life, centerpiece of the adventure park.

– if the loudness of the noise that comes out of the beak of one small Sparrow were to be sized-up to the equivalent amount of loudness of noise for one average sized human, there would be no need of mobile phones – we would be able to hear each other over a distance of several miles!

Starlings aren’t so bad – at least they can mimic. We have one which can wolf-whistle, imitate a dove, a wheelbarrow and somebody spreading gravel. At least there is a bit of variety.

Sparrows, however, have Chirp and Cheep – not a wide vocabulary! The boys flit about conspicuously shouting Chirp. The girls hop around with more decorum answering Cheep. I’ve counted; on average for each pair of Sparrows there is one Chirp and its answering Cheep per 2 seconds. Multiply this by a whole gardenfull of Sparrows and you get a random cacophony of Chirps and Cheeps! Perhaps this uncoordinated effort could be channelled into something more rewarding? Could Gareth Malone be persuaded to mould them into a choir? To make it easy for them maybe he could start with the Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep Song, so that they wouldn’t have to learn the words. Perhaps I’ll ask him.

By Jos Biggs

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Local News News

How do the Spanish feel about the UK general election?

Jeremy Corbyn’s victory is increasingly possible. In recent days, the passion of his convictions has seen even tempered next to the joyless hubris of Prime Minister Theresa May and her acolytes.

Britain’s next government is the subject of intense interest to its European neighbours. Will they continue to play derisive hardball with May or will they sit down with bonhomie toward Corbyn?

For Spain, it’s apparent that the most pressing issues with Britain are two-fold: their disputed claim to Gibraltar and how a Brexit deal might set a precedent for the Basque Country and Catalonia.

Neither Labour nor the Conservatives have set out what a good or bad Brexit deal looks like. Nor have they said what their negotiating strategy is (save for the usual cliches about the ‘national interest’).

In fact, there’s a curious irony at play between May and Corbyn. Euroscepticism has punctuated the Labour leader’s career (although he’s defended the social benefits of the EU in recent years). May, on the other hand, has emphasised the economic benefits of EU membership while now usurping parliamentary accountability

at ever turn to expedite a Brexit. Go figure.

In Spain, there will be different readings of the election. The conservative People’s Party under Mariano Rajoy would no doubt quietly cheer the victory of the right-wing Tories; albeit as short-term EU partners and potential long-term foes to a clean Brexit.

Corbyn would, without a doubt, be the most likely to negotiate for the shared sovereignty of Gibraltar, as well as the fairest Brexit break without the jingoism of the Tories.

Undoubtedly, Corbyn would be best for Madrid, but a hung parliament of some sort, or a massively reduced majority for May, would severely restrict her ability to act unilaterally with no consideration to the Remain movements.

Whatever the result, Nicola’s Sturgeon’s Scottish Nationalist Party pose a significant threat to Spain’s delicate regional politics. If the SNP claim most of Scotland’s Westminster seats, the democratic deficit of a Tory government, coupled with a hard Brexit, will likely fuel calls for a second independence referendum.

It’s entirely within Spain’s interests to keep an eye on UK affairs, and even more so for expats who want to predict the Spanish reaction to Brexit.

A Corbyn victory would be a serious, albeit understated, delivery of electoral upset that began with Brexit and gave the world Trump.

We live, as they say, in interesting times.

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Good news for the unemployed The number of people registered as unemployed in Spain fell by 111,908 people in May since April, according to data released by the Ministry of Employment and Social Security.

The ministry reported that over the last 12 months, unemployment had fallen by 430,275 people.

The total number of unemployed people stood at 3.4 million, falling below the 3.5 million for the first time since February 2009.

Looking at the individual sectors of work, unemployment fell by 11,677 people in agriculture, by 10,724 people in the manufacturing industry, by 14,907 people in construction and by 70,994 people in the services sector when compared with the April 2017 figures.

The number of unemployed men dropped by 68,103 to 1.4 million, while the number of women fell by 43,805 to 1.9 million.

Fatima Banez, Spanish Minister of Employment, said that Spain had recovered one in three jobs lost during the economic crisis, stating that data revealed last week was positive.

“I am happy because Spain is witnessing an intense employment recovery, “she said, highlighting that from the beginning of the year to May, a total of 500,000 new jobs had been created.

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6th - 12th June 2017

News and is in the case of ‘WannaCry’, to encrypt (make unreadable) all your data. Finally, the ransom - “Pay XXX (£$€) to this account to get it unlocked”. Often, even after payment, you don’t receive the promised ‘Unlock’ code.

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When you add a new program to your system that you like and want to keep, make a disk image of the Operating System and put that on a separate external disk (then removing the oldest image – see previous articles for details or contact me).

Then, on a daily or weekly basis, make a backup copy of all your new or altered documents / pictures / video and audio.

The benefit of this is simple: If you get hit with something like this you just over-write the corrupted system with the good, clean working copy and update the missing data files. Often the simplest of precautions make for the best of cures! See you next week.

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Have you heard of the ‘WannaCry’ ransomware attack? If your lucky the answer will be an emphatic ‘No’!

Ransomware isn’t new and this variant uses an ‘exploit’ (AKA known weakness) that was discovered and used by, the NSA, in their own ‘cyber attacks’ (usually against the enemies of America) since the days of XP! Microsoft was not aware of this weakness in their system because the NSA didn’t tell them!

Ransomware first locks up your computer thereby preventing you from stopping the next stage of the attack which is usually,

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When it rains, it rains

The Ministry of Public Works has started emergency works to adapt, repair and improve the storm drainage system on the N-332 road as it passes through the junction with La Mata on Avenida de los Europeos in Torrevieja.

The works have been ordered following the very heavy storms that happened during last December completely cut off all four lanes of the dual carriageway, which are the main arteries of that area of the Costa Blanca.

There are already two large underground drains servicing these roads but they were simply insufficient to cope with the copious amount of water that fell, causing the N-332 and some of the surrounding roads to flood up to a level of one metre in points.

No specific budget for the works has been announced but will require the expansion of the existing drainage system that was installed in 2008 when the N-332 was converted to a dual-carriageway. The Ministry of Works have confirmed that the necessary construction won’t affect the day-to-day traffic flow.

It’s a gay day for Torre Torrevieja’s Councillor for Tourism, Fanny Serrano (PSOE), has announced at a press conference that Torrevieja will be part of, for the first time, the Valencian Gay Friendly Guide, seen as an initiative to make the city a welcoming destination for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

At the gathering, Serrano said she was very “happy” with the possibility of being able to develop “a new tourist product for the city” and “we are interested in participating and promoting this type of tourism.”

Three establishments in the area were approached in person by Fanny Serrano to ask

if they wanted to be part of the guide and all were more than delighted to do so.

As things currently stand in the Alicante province, Benidorm is the most well known and very popular area full of gay and gay friendly establishments and the plan is to increase the visibility of those in Torrevieja that also cater for the LGBT group. Two of the pubs that will be included in the guide are in La Mata.

Torrevieja Pride will be held on 22nd June for the first time in the city and later on in the year, Torrevieja will take part in the LGBT Fair to be held in November at the IFA at a dedicated stand.

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Distinct lack of harmony

If bad behaviour isn’t your thing it’s best to avoid the under the stairs lot notorious for their unsociable conduct. Better to put on one’s best party frock and attend a soiree. Why risk a coup d’état if there’s a tête-à-tête to be enjoyed.

At a dinner party one is sure to mix with people of refined taste who are above making coarse and tasteless remarks. If attendees include the best of classical musicians well what more could one ask for; well, quite a lot actually.

German composer Johannes Brahms is in a class of his own but his table manners were notorious. The gifted musician was once heard to remark: “If there is anyone here who I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.”

ling snow than scribbling on manuscript paper.”

If SOL Times has Australian readers I suggest they stop reading right now. After a successful tour of Australia the esteemed Sir Thomas Beecham was asked when he would return. Looking the nervous hack in the eye, Sir Thomas asked, “Does anyone ever return to Australia?”

Brits love their Gilbert and Sullivan operetta but the talented twosome had their critics too. When a singer insisted he knew better than Sullivan how a certain song should be interpreted, Sullivan told him: “In future I will get you to sing my songs first, then I will compose them afterwards.”

Whilst on the opera circuit we are reminded of American broadcaster Ed Gardner’s comment: “Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and instead of bleeding he sings.”

When asked to define good music a pundit replied: “if you like it is good. If you don’t like it, it is bad.”

Critics too are often on the receiving end of spiteful remarks. “Pay no attention to what critics say. There has never been a statue set up in honour of a critic.” ~ Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.

Gifted Russian composer, Tchaikovsky, wrote: “Music is an incomparably more powerful means and is a subtler language for expressing the thousand different moments of the soul’s moods.”

Fine sentiments, Pyotr Ilyich, but surely your comment that Handel was only fourth rate might have been left to the German composer’s music to say.

Of his compatriot Maurice Ravel the French composer Saint-Saens remarked, “If he had been making shell cases during the war it might have been better for music.”

I do find myself in agreement with Richard Strauss who of Schoenberg commented, “He’d be better off shovel-

14

6th - 12th June 2017

News

National Pensioners Convention analyse social care proposals The NPC believes that one of the greatest issues facing both the older population, and the country as a whole at the General Election, is that of the crisis in social care.

Given that the three main English parties have now all published their manifestos, it is possible to compare their proposals and offer an initial analysis.

Conservative Manifesto • Everyone who has property and assets worth more than £100,000 will pay for their home care. This is a change to the existing rules, whereby in England property values are disregarded and those with separate assets over £23,250 have to pay towards their care at home.

Under this change, someone needing an hour a day’s care will pay an extra £140 a week. The number who will be paying more under this proposal is estimated at around 250,000-500,000.

• Those in a care home with property and assets worth more than £100,000 will have to pay until the value these assets fall to £100,000. At the moment, everyone with property and assets worth more than £23,250 has to pay the full cost of their care until their wealth drops below this level. However, anyone who owns their own home (average house prices in England stand at £217,000) will still have to pay and many will need to sell their homes after they die to pay for the care costs that they have deferred during their lifetime. The number affected by this proposal is estimated at around 75,000.

• Whilst the party has yet to declare how much money this proposal would raise or cost, the Conservatives have stated that money raised by scrapping the state pension triple lock in 2020 and means-testing the winter fuel allowance (only giving it to those defined as living in fuel poverty) will go towards funding social care in the future.

• In the long-term, Labour aims to create a National Care Service for England and secure long-term funding for the service through policies such as wealth taxes, an employer care contribution or a new social care levy.

Lib Dem Manifesto • The Lib Dem manifesto does not suggest any changes to the current home care arrangements, in the same way as Labour.

• Again like Labour, they support a cap on care home costs, which is currently what has been legislated for under the Health and Social Care Act 2014 and is due to come into force in 2020. This means anyone with property and assets over £118,000 will have to pay up to £72,000 towards their care, but will then have the rest funded by the state. In addition, they will still have to pay an annual accommodation cost of around £12,000.

• In the long-term, the Lib Dems aim to introduce a hypothecated tax for health and social care (possibly based on National Insurance) and to establish a crossparty convention to look at long-term future of health and social care services.

Overall NPC analysis It is fair to say that no-one saw the Conservative proposal coming – and as such it took most commentators and experts completely by surprise. Essentially, they have abandoned the legislation that they put through in 2014

to introduce a cap on care costs of £72,000 and instead put forward the idea that everyone in a care home will get to keep £100,000 worth of assets. This is obviously not as generous as the original legislation envisaged.

Furthermore, the claim that people will not have to sell their homes during their lifetime in order to pay for care is really the same idea put forward by Labour’s Andy Burnham in 2015 – which at the time the Conservatives branded the “death tax”. What makes it different is that Burnham was suggesting the estate would pay 15% towards care fees, whereas the Conservatives are suggesting considerably more.

An even greater change to the current system is the Conservative plan to include property values in the charging of care at home. Almost overnight this will mean everyone who owns a property and requires care at home will have to pay.

At the heart of the Conservative’s proposal is the idea that it is unfair to ask younger generations to fund the care of older people. Yet there has never been any suggestion that pensioners who pay tax shouldn’t do so because it goes to families with young children.

There is no doubt that the proposal is less generous than the Health and Social Care Act 2014 promises for 2020.

Many more pensioners receiving care at home will now have to pay, and those in care will still face huge bills and have to sell their homes in order to meet the costs.

Labour Manifesto • Labour plans to maintain the current home care arrangements, that mean in England property values are disregarded and those with separate assets over £23,250 have to pay towards their care at home.

• The Labour manifesto calls for a cap on care home costs, which is currently what has been legislated for under the Health and Social Care Act 2014 and is due to come into force in 2020. This means anyone with property and assets over £118,000 will have to pay up to £72,000 towards their care, but will then have the rest funded by the state. In addition, they will still have to pay an annual accommodation cost of around £12,000.

EU plans more WiFi hotspots Europe plans to add thousands of free Wi-Fi hot spots to public spaces across all EU member countries over the next few years.

The hot spots will be added as part of a plan called WiFi4EU, which was agreed to on Monday by the European Parliament, Council, and Commission.

The parties agreed to add between 6,000 and 8,000 Wi-Fi hot spots by 2020.

The goal, says Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who introduced the WiFi4EU plan last year, is to have free Wi-Fi in “every European village and every city ... around the main centres of public life.”

Areas with hot spots could include public squares, parks, and hospitals.

The EU bodies will set aside €120 million to fund the launch of these hot spots. The money will pay for the equipment needed to set up and run

the hot spots, but local municipalities will be required to pay ongoing internet access costs.

While the specifics haven’t been finalized yet, the plan is to allow local authorities to apply for funding to add Wi-Fi to any applicable public space that doesn’t already have service.

WiFi4EU is part of the EU’s “Digital Single Market” initiative, which is meant to strengthen and streamline technology and regulations of it across the continent.

Andrus Ansip, who’s in charge of the initiative, said in a statement that the Wi-Fi plan “is a welcome first step, but much more needs to be done to achieve high-speed connectivity across the whole EU territory.”

Eurostat says that 85% of EU households had broadband internet access in 2016. That’s a high figure, but it means there’s still a gap to bridge.

16

Home , Garden & Property

6th - 12th June 2017

Property with SOLTIMES

Home & Garden Inside DIY is dying out

A new survey has revealed that British homeowners spend an average of 37 minutes and make three attempts at a DIY task before giving up on it.

The survey, by BuyMetalOnline.co.uk, revealed that 62% of the population have tried and failed at a DIY household task in the last 12 months. Of 2,000 UK homeowners, 78% said they would try to fix their household DIY problem before calling in a professional, with 32% attempting their own repairs to save money, and 27% doing so to save time.

Britons listed: building flat pack furniture (68%), painting (56%), putting up a shelf (38%), wiring a socket (31%), and fixing a leaking tap (26%) among the top five DIY tasks they struggle to tackle.

As a result, the top five trades Britons turn to in times of need included; electrical (59%), decorating (52%), plumbing (31%), building/ construction (29%), and joinery (23%).

BuyMetalOnline.co.uk managing director

Sara Halman said; “It seems the art of DIY is dying out among the British population, with more recent generations being able to turn their hand to technical computer-based problems as opposed to hands-on DIY tasks.”

“Attempting to fix the problem yourself is one way to save money however if the job is hazardous or beyond your skill set, it is best handled by a trained and qualified professional. There is no shame in turning to a professional to ensure the job is done properly and to the highest safety standards.”

Young homeowners, those aged 25-34 called out a tradesperson five times on average in the past 12 months, compared to those aged 55-64 who did so just once.

Those in Newcastle admitted to the highest number of professional help call outs, with an average of four call outs to a tradesperson in the past 12 months, while those in Edinburgh made an average of two.

Home , Garden & Property

6th - 12th June 2017

House hunters await election outcome

The number of house hunters registered with estate agents in the UK fell in April and the supply for sale also dropped, according to the latest research.

One reason could be buyers and sellers adopting a brief wait and see attitude ahead of the UK general election this week, says the latest monthly report from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).

In March there were 397 house seekers per branch, down from 425 in January and February, but this figure dropped 4%to 381 in April.

Last April amid Brexit uncertainty, the number of house hunters searching for properties was 17% lower at just 325 per member branch.

The data also shows that supply fell in April. In March there were 39 properties available to buy per branch but in April this figure dropped by 8% to just 36 per branch, the lowest level seen since April 2016 when agents had just 35 properties to market, as sellers held off until after the European Union referendum.

The number of sales agreed per branch fell from 10 in March to eight in April, while the proportion of sales made to first time buyers stayed the same at 25%.

The rate of sales agreed above asking price rose to 7% in April from 5% in March. In line with this, the number of

We care about you and your community Contact our business team now on 950 633 217

properties which were sold for less than the asking price dropped from 75% in March to 72% in April.

“Periods of political uncertainty tend to halt activity in the housing market, and this is exactly what we’re seeing this month. All of the main political parties have outlined significant housing promises in their manifestos and we’d hope to see these policies rolled out in the new Government’s first six to 12 months in Parliament. Buyers and sellers alike are recognising this and adopting a wait and see strategy to decipher how or if the value of their existing or future homes will be affected,” said Mark Hayward, NAEA chief executive.

“However, despite the fact that increasing housing stock is playing a part in the election campaigning, more often than not we find these pledges are unachievable and turn out to be empty promises,” he pointed out.

“It’s therefore important that the market doesn’t totally stall as this could trigger an unintended domino effect, which we could still feel the effect of years later before supply increases. A business as usual approach will ensure house hunters are met with a healthy supply of properties to view, and sellers get a fair price and a good buyer,” he added.

17

Queen gets her birthday bloom

Gardeners will finally be able to grow a new daffodil raised to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016...albeit one year later than originally planned.

It was named for the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, bodyguard to the British monarch, formed in 1509.

Grown by Walkers Bulbs of Holbeach in Spalding, it is a single, mid-season flower with yellow petals and a red centre growing up to 17in (42cm) high.

The new bloom has been named ‘Gentleman at Arms’.

Managing director Johnny Walkers, who holds 23 Chelsea gold medals for daffodil displays, said the reason for the delay in launching the bloom was to enable the Queen to have it exclusively at first.

“Representatives of the Corps presented her with a bouquet last April 21st, her birthday, and bulbs have been planted in the gardens at Windsor,” Johnny explained.

“We will have a small quantity for sale this year and hopefully more next year,” he added

Worst UK housing trend for eight years

Nationwide’s measure of UK house prices fell 0.2% month-on-month in May, well below the +0.2% predicted by a poll of economists.

That means that house prices have fallen for three consecutive months for the first time since February 2009, and are now standing 0.9% below their February peak.

The year-on-year growth rate dropped to 2.1% from 2.6% in April, which was also below the 2.4% consensus.

While individual month-on-month indexes are subject to volatility, year-on-year trends point to a major loss of momentum in the UK housing market.

Nationwide’s chief economist, Robert Gardner, said that stagnant wage levels, rather than election uncertainty, were the main cause of the slowdown.

“While real incomes are again coming under pressure as inflation has overtaken wage growth, the number of people in work has continued to rise at a healthy pace. Indeed, the unemployment rate fell to a 42-year low in the three months to March.

“If history is any guide, the slowdown is unlikely to be linked to election-related uncertainty. Housing market trends have not traditionally been impacted around the time of general elections. Rightly or wrongly, for most home buyers, elections are not foremost in their minds while buying or selling their home,” he said.

Samuel Tombs, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, also said constrained affordability was the primary cause of the slowing market.

He said: “The squeeze on real wages has constrained affordability, while growing public concern about the economic outlook has undermined confidence.

“For now, we still think house prices will return to a slowly rising path, given that surveys suggest supply is tightening rapidly, employment growth looks set to remain steady at about 1% year-over-year, and mortgage rates still have scope to fall a little further.”

Tombs forecasts 2% overall growth in the UK market in 2017.

18

Home , Garden & Property

6th - 12th June 2017

British Mortgage Approvals Dip According to new figures from the Bank of England, mortgage approvals fell for a third consecutive month, as the UK housing market struggles to gain momentum amid political uncertainty and the increasing squeeze on household finances. The total number of mortgages approved fell by over 3,000 to 118,370. The Bank’s Money and Credit report showed that the number of mortgage approvals for house purchases fell 2.1% to 64,645. A total of 40,575 remortgage loans were approved, down from 42,250 the previous month, taking the total value of remortgaging for the month down to £7.2 billion. Economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, Kay Daniel Neufeld, said the figures suggested that the housing market was slowing as a result of buy-to-let tax relief changes and uncertainty surrounding the election. “Activity in the market is likely to be further suppressed by political uncertainty ahead of the general election on 8 June. “A reduction in the mortgage interest tax relief, which came into effect last month, impacts the profitability of leveraged buy-tolet investors, who will look more closely at the market and the rental income they can expect before buying property.

“All in all, these factors have led to subdued activity and weak price growth in the first half of 2017 – a situation that we expect to continue until the end of the year and into 2018 as well.” The significant drop in approvals comes amidst a background of lenders offering record low rates to borrowers.

At the start of the calendar year it looked as

if the era of record low rates could be over, but recent cuts by a number of lenders suggests competition in the mortgage market is heating up again. The figures add to the increasing collection of data which points to the housing market becoming increasingly affected by the growing squeeze on consumers after last year’s Brexit vote. The Bank of England has slashed its prediction for average wage growth to 2%, while inflation is predicted to peak at just below 3% in December. With rising inflation and slowing wage growth, households are beginning to feel the pinch as their disposable incomes start to fall. As buyers adopt a wait and see approach, the housing market has dipped, with average prices falling by £1,000 in the past month. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, on a monthly basis house prices fell 0.6% to £216,000 in March. Figures from HM Revenue and Customs show that the number of residential property transactions fell by 3.2% to 99,910 between March and April.

Nationwide also reported that house prices fell 0.4% in April, the first time house prices have fallen in consecutive months for nearly five years. “This prolonged cooling-off phase in the housing market is also partly due to more challenging times for households. As inflation has eclipsed nominal wage growth, real household incomes are falling.

“This means that individuals will feel their budgets squeezed by rising prices in stores and have less money left over to save for a deposit,” Neufeld said.

Neighbourhood watching works

Local police officers in Pilar de la Horadada have rescued a 72-year-old man found at his home in a semi-conscious state after being altered by neighbours.

The alarm was raised by locals after he hadn’t been seen for a few days, and were concerned that something had happened to him.

When police arrived at the home and getting no answer despite several calls, they needed the services of a locksmith to enter the property where they found the man lying in a semi-conscious state.

He was later transferred to Torrevieja Hospital by the local Pilar ambulance service.

Money

6th - 12th June 2017

19

UK in talent crunch crisis

Jobs in sectors like Science and Healthcare could well be sitting open on the jobs market for months as employers struggle for skilled applicants, according to new research by job search engine Adzuna.

The study, conducted last month in May, analysed the proportion of advertised jobs lying unfilled after 90 days, to shine a light on the talent crunch currently gripping some of the UK’s regions, cities and sectors.

Over a fifth (21.2%) of Science & QA jobs currently on the market remain unfilled on after 90 days, followed by 9.5% of Healthcare & Nursing vacancies, as these sectors struggle for skilled workers.

This is hitting some cities particularly hard. Employers in areas like Cambridge and Brighton are struggling in particular, with 6.3% and 6.2% of jobs in these cities sitting unfilled for 90 days respectively. However, it is ‘Benefits Street’ Middlesbrough where jobs remain on the market for longest, with 6.31% of positions still open after three months on the market.

On a regional basis, London is suffering the most from the talent drought, with 5.5% of positions unfilled after 90 days, followed by Eastern England (4.9%), the North East (4.9%) and the South East (4.8%).

Doug Monro, co-founder of Adzuna, commented: “Some areas of the jobs market have clearly fallen victim to a talent shortage – which has only been worsened by

Brexit uncertainty. A vacancy lying open for three months or more means a job needed but not done - an employer’s nightmare - seriously dampening prospects for our STEM hubs like Cambridge. Never has it been more important to focus on up-skilling home-grown talent for our shortage sectors. Reassuring overseas talent about their long-term prospects in the UK would also take some of the pressure off these struggling areas.”

Graduates may be one group who can benefit from the talent drought, however. The stats show 7.4% of grad vacancies remain unfilled after 90 days – making it one of the Top 5 sectors struggling most for staff – suggesting students graduating this summer will be in an advantageous position when looking for work.

Part-time positions are currently the most sought-after, with only 0.2% of roles remaining unfilled after 90 days, followed by Energy, Oil & Gas (0.8%) and Teaching (1.6%).

The financial and professional services sectors are also thriving. Only 2.5% of Accounting & Finance jobs remain unfilled after 90 days, followed by Legal (2.5%) and Consultancy (2.6%) roles.

Across the UK, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire are seeing jobs filled most quickly, with 89% of jobs filled within 90 days in both regions. At a city level, unemployment hotspots Chester and Belfast saw roles fill fastest, both seeing 91% of advertised positions snapped up within 90 days.

Manufacturing up across euro zone According to data released late last week, manufacturing across the euro zone grew at the fastest rate in more than six years during May, increasing activity as price increases failed to slow their new orders.

Signs the bloc’s economy is enjoying a stable and broad-based recovery, alongside inflationary pressures, will be welcomed by policymakers at the European Central Bank (ECB).

IHS Markit’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for the euro zone rose to 57.0 in May, up from April’s 56.7 and its highest level since April 2011. The figure matched a preliminary reading.

An index measuring output, which feeds into a composite PMI due next week, also climbed further above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction. It reached 58.3, its highest in more than six years high, up from April’s 57.9.

Chief business economist at IHS Markit, Chris Williamson, said: “The euro zone upturn is developing deeper roots as factories enjoy a spring growth spurt. Demand for goods is growing at the steepest rate for six years, encouraging manufacturers to step up production and take on extra staff at a rate not previously seen in the two-decade history of the PMI survey.”

A new-orders sub-index nudged up to 57.8 from 57.7, its highest since March 2011. The upturn came even though companies raised prices last month, albeit not as sharply as they did in April.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, led the charge, but IHS Markit said solid upturns were recorded in other countries as well.

France lagged behind but is still enjoying its best quarter for six years.

As the bloc’s economic performance improves, the ECB is likely to signal a move away from its ultra-easy monetary policy by September, economists in a Reuters poll forecast last month.

However, consumer prices rose just 1.4% from a year ago in May, compared with 1.9% in April. That was weaker than expected and below the ECB’s 2% target.

20

6th - 12th June 2017

BOMAD – The true family bank

The current trend of the Bank of Mum and Dad (BOMAD) will lend 23% more funds in 2017, putting it on a par with the UK’s ninth largest mortgage lender.

Research by Legal & General and economics consultancy Cebr, shows that parents providing housing funding for their children will breach the £6.5 billion mark this year, up from £5 billion in 2016.

The Bank of Mum and Dad will provide deposits for over 298,000 mortgages, helping others to purchase homes worth £75 billion. According to the report, these figures indicate a symptom of a ‘broken housing market’, rather than increasing generosity from the nation’s parents. It stresses that there is a supplyside crisis in the UK and there is a critical need to build more homes, across all tenures and all forms of construction, to satisfy demand. The study also found that a third of prospective homeowners received financial help to buy from friends and family last year – a figure which will jump to around 42% in 2017.

Unsurprisingly, millennials are the biggest recipients of parental funding, with 79% of Bank of Mum and Dad assistance going to people under the age of 30.

The Bank of Mum and Dad will actually fund less purchases in 2017 than in 2016 (a -2.5% decrease from 305,900 to 298,300) – but only because overall housing market transaction volumes are down. What’s more, 76% of Bank of

Mum and Dad assistance goes towards the deposit – just 4% goes solely on mortgage payments. “The growing role of the Bank of Mum and Dad in supporting young people get onto the housing ladder signifies that the UK property market is simply not building enough homes,” comments Bill Hughes, head of LGIM Real Assets. “This is not sustainable and as an industry we need to work together to fix the housing market so that we are providing housing in areas which are well connected and where people want to live.” “The right approach is to regenerate not just residential housing but the totality of the built environment of towns and cities in which the homes are built. Infrastructure, local economic growth and jobs are all key to creating thriving communities.” James Lidgate, director of housing for Legal & General Capital adds: “This research further highlights that as an industry we need to diversify the housing market in order to keep up with the UK’s housing demands.

There is no single solution to housing – it is about all tenures and all forms of construction.

Good quality, well connected housing is critical to supporting the UK’s economic position and fuelling future growth.”

Money

British Mortgage Approvals Dip

According to new figures from the Bank of England, mortgage approvals fell for a third consecutive month, as the UK housing market struggles to gain momentum amid political uncertainty and the increasing squeeze on household finances. The total number of mortgages approved fell by over 3,000 to 118,370. The Bank’s Money and Credit report showed that the number of mortgage approvals for house purchases fell 2.1% to 64,645. A total of 40,575 remortgage loans were approved, down from 42,250 the previous month, taking the total value of remortgaging for the month down to £7.2 billion. Economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, Kay Daniel Neufeld, said the figures suggested that the housing market was slowing as a result of buy-to-let tax relief changes and uncertainty surrounding the election. “Activity in the market is likely to be further suppressed by political uncertainty ahead of the general election on 8 June. “A reduction in the mortgage interest tax relief, which came into effect last month, impacts the profitability of leveraged buy-to-let investors, who will look more closely at the market and the rental income they can expect before buying property. “All in all, these factors have led to subdued activity and weak price growth in the first half of 2017 – a situation that we expect to continue until the end of the year and into 2018 as well.” The significant drop in approvals comes amidst a background of lenders offering record low rates to borrowers. At the start of the calendar year it looked as if the era of record low rates could be over, but recent cuts by a number of lenders suggests competition in the mortgage market is heating up again. The figures add to the increasing collection of data which points to the housing market becoming increasingly affected by the growing squeeze on consumers after last year’s Brexit vote. The Bank of England has slashed its prediction for average wage growth to 2%, while inflation is predicted to peak at just below 3% in December. With rising inflation and slowing wage growth, households are beginning to feel the pinch as their disposable incomes start to fall. As buyers adopt a wait and see approach, the housing market has dipped, with average prices falling by £1,000 in the past month. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, on a monthly basis house prices fell 0.6% to £216,000 in March. Figures from HM Revenue and Customs show that the number of residential property transactions fell by 3.2% to 99,910 between March and April. Nationwide also reported that house prices fell 0.4% in April, the first time house prices have fallen in consecutive months for nearly five years. “This prolonged cooling-off phase in the housing market is also partly due to more challenging times for households. As inflation has eclipsed nominal wage growth, real household incomes are falling.

“This means that individuals will feel their budgets squeezed by rising prices in stores and have less money left over to save for a deposit,” Neufeld said.

22

6th - 12th June 2017

Help Us To Help You! FAST is an association of volunteers providing first aid cover to residents and visitors to Camposol. The service we provide can range from performing CPR to advising callers to proceed to the medical centre. When we respond to a call we provide first aid, information, comfort and support until the emergency services arrive.

Do you want to make new friends and make good use of your spare time?

Would you like to learn or refresh a past skill and be trained by our in house training team?

Would you like to join in with our social events?

The cover FAST provides is flexible to suit our responders, duties can be split when doing day cover and night cover is from 8pm to 8am.

FAST welcomes anyone who lives full or part time on Camposol.

Advice is given as to what will be required if the emergency services are called and, if the patient has to be transported to hospital, we advise on what they will need when there.

All the FAST responders are fully trained and authorised by the Murcian Health Authority to use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Training is provided by our own team of qualified instructors. All responders conduct themselves in a professional manner while on a call. Confidentiality is a significant part of the training provided. None of the patients details are released to anyone but the medical service provider and all records are securely stored.

If you are involved in a medical emergency, 1. Stay calm.

2. Phone 112 and ask for a speaker in your language, give your name and address and telephone number.

3. Phone FAST on 968 970 626 4. During the hours of darkness turn on any outside lights and ask someone to look out for the FAST vehicles.

We rely completely on the support of local businesses, residents and visitors to Camposol for our funding, for which we are most grateful. We have developed an association now called Community Support Team (CST) who will be our registered charity. All money raised will be for CST. In turn CST will provide funds for FAST to operate. So you will see CST / FAST on our collecting tins and anywhere we ask for support financially. It will take a little time to change all the equipment.

Along with the dedicated team of responders we also have a great team of supporters, from cake bakers, raffle ticket sellers, trip organisers, IT support and many others. The bookstall is manned by supporters on the second and last Friday of each month outside Euronics; here you will find supporters and responders all getting involved in fund raising. You can book a coach trip with Mandy, Ann or Gill, and the next trip is to Benidorm on the 21st June. You can also speak with responders if you are interested in joining this great team.

If you have a little spare time and would like to learn or refresh a skill then come along and speak with us. We are collecting as nurses on a Monday, just down the dual carriageway from the garage, or call in at the Cultural Centre on a Tuesday morning and outside Euronics on most Fridays.

Upcoming events.

June 3rd Darts tournament at Alley Palais, and an evening with Wildcat on A sector outside Cats and Tells bars. Reserve your seats only €2. Both of these events are in aid of CST FAST. Two great events for your enjoyment.

If you are a local business or group, FAST are available to give first aid demonstrations at no cost. We feel that we can offer more than just first aid cover.

Look at our Face Book page for more information. Our new web site is under construction.

A message from a Coach...

“Today I heard a comment made about me behind my back. I started to turn around and look, but then decided better of it and kept my eyes on the field. My wife hears things like this more often than I do, because many of you don’t know who she is. She tells me what you say. I have received... angry emails, full of “suggestions,” about who should be playing where and how I... lost that day’s game for the kids. I thought I’d write an open letter to all of you parents, even though I might never send it. I’ll start it this way: “I am a volunteer.”

I’m the one who answered the call when the league said they didn’t have enough coaches. I understand that you were too busy. I have some news for you. I’m not retired. I’m busy too. I have other children and a job, just like you do. Not only do I not get paid to do this – it costs me money. I see you walk up to the game 15 minutes after it started, still dressed for work. Do you know I’ve already been here over an hour?

Imagine if you had to leave work early nearly every day. I’ve never seen you at a practice. I’m sure you’re plugging away at the office. But I’m out here, on the field, trying my best to teach these children how to play a sport they love, while my bank account suffers.

I know. I make mistakes. In fact, maybe I’m not even that great of a coach. But I treat the kids fairly and with respect. I am pretty sure they like coming to my practices and games, and without me or someone like me, there’d be no team for them to play on. I’m part of this community too and it’s no picnic being out here on this stage like this. It’s a lot easier back there with the other parents where no one is secondguessing you.

And I also know you think I give my son or daughter unfair advantages. I try not to. In fact, have you ever considered that maybe I’m harder on him than on the others? I’m sure he hears plenty of criticism at school from classmates, who hear it from you at home, about what a lame coach I am. And if, even unconsciously, my kids are getting a slight advantage because I know them better and trust their abilities, is that the worst thing in the world, considering the sacrifice I’m making? Trust me, I want to win too. And if your son or daughter could guarantee we’d do that, I’d give them the chance.

After this game is over, I’ll be the last one to leave. I have to break down the field, put away all the equipment and make sure everyone has had a parent arrive to pick them up. There have been evenings when my son and I waited with a player until after dark before someone came to get them. Many nights I’m sure you’ve already had dinner and are relaxing on the couch by the time I finally kick the mud off my shoes and climb into my car, which hasn’t been washed or vacuumed for weeks.

Why bother cleaning it during the season?

Do you know how nice it would be if, just once, after a game one of you offered to carry the heavy gear bag to my car or help straighten up the field?

If I sound angry, I’m not. I do this because I love it and I love being around the kids.

There are plenty of rewards and I remind myself that while you’re at the office working, your kid is saying something that makes us all laugh or brings a tear to my eye. The positives outweigh the negatives. I just wish sometime those who don’t choose to volunteer their time would leave the coaching to the few of us who do.”

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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

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

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.

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

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 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 Restaurant €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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6th - 12th June 2017

Leisure

Career-related progress is blessed by Venus in more than one way and as inspiring as a professional aspiration might be, it could become clear this week how much you’ll need to knuckle down to make it happen. Determination and consistent effort will be needed but Venus isn’t dangling cruelly the financial rewards on offer. They are very real and can be yours if you’re willing to implement a sensible and realistic strategy based on hard work to achieve them.

It might become clear this week how far you’ve gone from adhering to an attitude along the lines of ‘you have to speculate to accumulate’ to what’s really ‘in it’ for you to continue investing effort in a particular way. A new strategy and possibly a new set of boundaries need to be established between you and a certain person or organization. An arrangement has, for some time, been a bit too one-sided for your liking and you’re being encouraged this week to redress that imbalance.

There’s truth in the saying about each of us being known by the company we keep and the coming week could bring an opportunity - or possibly a need - for you to reassess your interactions and involvement with certain others. If you sense a need to detach yourself from the social scene in order to take realistic stock of what’s strong, balanced and reciprocated in your personal world, then that could be time well spent. If one or two people need to fall by the wayside, then so be it.

You might still be weighing up your options regarding a career move and much of what you’re considering you’re likely keeping to yourself – for now, anyway. It’s also possible you’re having to take into account new methodologies or possibly technologies that a career move will require you to get your head around and have to learn quickly. There could be pressure for you to make a swift decision and you owe it yourself to give this move the thinking time it needs and deserves.

The coming week could bring closure to an ongoing financial matter. If this involves a friend, then it’s possible the two of you can reach an agreement, shake on it and move on, especially if this saga has tarnished your relationship in some way. In any case, some level of healing is on offer through your willingness to take action to bring it. An authority figure might try to intervene or involve themselves but you can keep things strictly between you and a colleague.

You might be aiming your sights higher than you’re used to and this could be happening due to a need to do so rather than wanting to. However, if you haven’t yet seen what boosting your ambitions and reaching a bit higher have brought so far, then the coming week could be an eye-opener. This is particularly true for Virgos keen to remove themselves from a rut or who understand the path of least resistance can lead to mediocrity. Get ready to set a new precedent for yourself!

Push might come to shove this week but in a way you’ll likely be grateful for rather than resent. In fact, taking action – or possibly a stance – you’ve been wanting to take for some time might need events like those the sky insists are unfolding in your world this week to help you step across a line you’ve vowed to stay behind for reasons for your own. Try to connect with a sense of adventurous making its way to you. It could lead to independence you’ve wanted for some time.

If you’re typical of your sign, then you know a thing or two about stubbornness. Even if you believe you’re not a typical Scorpio, then events this week could remind you of what occurs when you choose to be unyielding. However, your approach to a situation needn’t involve obstinacy. There are ways your stubbornness could work in your favour if you’re willing to channel it toward being determined and persistent to bring a result that benefits you and someone else. Your tenacity might be all that’s needed.

Your adventurous nature needs to be connected with your inquisitive nature this week. It’s possible to form more than one intriguing friendship or close bond but this will require you to ask questions that fall outside those you feel comfortable or ‘safe’ asking. If a true meeting of minds is to occur, then you’ll need to take conversations down less predictable avenues. If you’re willing to remove yourself from a safe conversational comfort zone, then the week could be a memorable - and pivotal - one.

The coming week offers a chance for you to become more focused professionally than you have been in recent weeks. Through no fault of your own, you’ve had to assess numerous options in order to determine where your time, effort and talents are best focused.

This has probably relied on input or guidance from someone else. Now, you can expect to see clearly what’s required and the more you focus on options that offer the greatest sense of achievement and reward, the happier you’ll be.

Asking yourself what you have to lose by taking a particular risk might be a natural question to ask.

However, it appears the likelihood of gains will far outweigh losses if you’re willing to remove yourself from a comfort zone, cross a line or take a brave step you’ve likely been considering for some time. The coming week brings a boost to your confidence that will be needed to not only encourage you to take action but will also boost your ability to persuade or convince others significantly.

The sky speaks of a significant development occurring in your area of ‘foundations’ and this is likely to involve home-related changes or improvements.

Something connected with home, family or someone with whom you share your abode is shifting and in a way that promises more comfort, harmony and security. Your domestic set-up is about to become happier or even more peaceful, bringing the end of one era and the start of another.

The Seamstress by Maria Duenas

His kiss was so intense, so carnal, so prolonged that my body was startled by it, ready to melt and be transformed into a puddle of honey.

This wonderfully exciting story is set during the Spanish civil war and moves into the second world war. Duenas spent some time researching the period thoroughly and she has successfully managed to integrate historical characters such as Franco, Beigbeder and Serrano Suner into a compelling fictional novel about a young seamstress known as Sira which chronicles more than six turbulent years in which her mettle is tested and she develops a resilience and courage to outwit adversity. An incredible transformation from a naïve 12 year old living in the poorer quarters of Madrid with many constraints placed on her, fatherless, growing into a wiser, self-assured woman with determination to succeed as a business woman.

Within the novel, the protagonist Sira proves a testimony to bravery and determination. By the end of this epic novel, she feels more in control of her life, no longer

allowing herself to be manipulated like a puppet or like someone moving a pawn on a chessboard. People are NOT political pawns.

In the early days her life seems mapped out-apprenticed as a seamstress which she describes as her logical fate.

Her talent was soon recognised by the owner Dona Manuela Godina and Sira’s “greatest joy” was in taking the finished garments to exclusive residences in Madrid where Sira witnessed lavish and affluent surroundings, trappings of wealth which contrasted sharply with the poverty that surrounded her. She refers to it as the “incongruity” that existed in society.

The reader is made to feel that Sira will yearn for life’s riches too once she becomes an accomplished seamstress owning her own atelier and dressing wealthy European women which in fact is what will eventually happen.

Ignacio was the first man in her life and because Sira was unambitious and without any professional expectations, girls like her had few options other than getting married, settling down and having children. She did feel intense affection and described him as “sweetly gentle as a pillow” but she had not discovered passion until her engagement and imminent wedding. It was in the shape of seductive and alluring Ramiro Arribas that she tasted the forbidden fruit.

Their first meeting is sensual and evokes passion. Sira was unaware that he was scrutinising her body: “He had absorbed the outlines of my body and the slow cadence of each of my movements.”

She is naïve and still chaste although she recognises the dangerous signs when she compares him to a wolf that scented food or danger in the way he imposed himself on her. His caresses gave her goosebumps and she felt on the “threshold of paradise” but simultaneously and worryingly perhaps heading towards the “slaughterhouse?” She became so obsessed with his powerful seduction that instead of opting for comfortable domesticity she chose

to launch herself into the void out of desire, nothing more. He desired me, he revered me and clung to me as though my body were the only mooring in the turbulent oscillations of his existence.

Unbounded love is how Sira describes it.

When the political situation is about to explode, Sira and Ramiro relocate to Morocco. It is March 1936. Amidst the height of their passion, Sira’s soul becomes battered and an unscrupulous con man emerges, one who can disappear and reinvent himself to take advantage of other unsuspecting victims like Sira. She is left devastated during those penurious times: useless, unfit to face life, unable to survive. Candelaria Ballesteros known as the Matutera offers a sanctuary followed by a dangerous plan to escape from their poverty trap and salvation. But everything comes with a price. A heavy one.

The story then takes on a different dimension with espionage: Discreet campaigns of resistance. Observing.

Infiltrating. Obtaining information and strengthening a network of underground collaboration. The civil war divided and destroyed the peninsular causing starvation, broken families, mistrust, suspicion and people prepared to sell their souls to the devil to survive and feed their already emaciated and helpless families. It gave the Germans and British an opportunity to exploit and infiltrate into political activities. Some of this was achieved by undercover agents acting as spies. What are the options for a metamorphosed Sira to continue surviving and surviving well? Should she play with fire and get mixed up with espionage, throw caution to the wind?

Yes, she certainly grows up and learns to profit from this dirty art of war but she compromises her integrity and risks her life. Once the story moves from Morocco to Madrid then Lisbon you will find it riveting and it ends on a sentimentally, romantic note!

Review it by Carol Naylor. Publishers: Penguin ISBN: 978-0-670-92003-7

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6th - 12th June 2017

Leisure

Churchill

A robust star vehicle for Brian Cox, but otherwise underwhelming, Churchill dramatizes the agonizing private doubts that Britain’s wartime leader felt during the build up to the D-Day landings in June 1944.

Cox fans will enjoy seeing the veteran Scottish bruiser give a powerhouse, mischief-laced performance that feels too big for the flimsy production around him. Historians and military scholars may also flock to see the film, if only to violently disagree with its distorted take on real events. Churchill debuts in French and U.S. theatres this week, just ahead of the June 6 D-Day anniversary, with further global openings to follow throughout June. It premieres in the UK on June 16th. Sporting a shaved head and bulked-up body, Cox joins Albert Finney, Richard Burton, Michael Gambon, Timothy Spall and John Lithgow in the illustrious line of actors who have played Churchill. The 70-year-old Scotsman is sometimes prone to scenery-chewing and wobbly accents, but he does a generally solid job here, nailing the late prime minister’s declamatory speech patterns, hulking gait and jaw-jutting scowl. The film is bookended by lyrical scenes of a solitary Churchill wandering a deserted beach, haunted by ghostly visions of blood-soaked waves and young bodies piled on the sand. These are flashbacks to the catastrophic Gallipoli Campaign of World War I, when the Allies sacrificed more than 56,000 soldiers, the vast majority of them British.

Such macabre horror-movie images may seem lurid, but they are lifted directly from Churchill’s warnings to General Dwight D. Eisenhower about the high price of getting the D-Day plans wrong. New Zealand-born historian turned

screenwriter Alex von Tunzelmann collapses several months of doubt and debate into a few dramatic days, thus upping the stakes and amplifying the personality clashes involved. In reality, Churchill was fully committed to the Operation Overlord invasion plan by the time D-Day loomed. In the film, he is still fiercely arguing for strategic delays and decoy tactics at the 11th hour, butting heads with an implacable Eisenhower (Mad Men alum John Slattery, underused here) and an exasperated General Bernard Montgomery (Julian Wadham). “We must fix this broken plan before it ends in tragedy,” warns Churchill. Energized by qualified support from King George VI (James Purefoy) and starry-eyed fan worship from keen office junior Helen Garrett (Ella Purnell), Churchill throws himself into forging an alternative Allied invasion plan for D-Day. In the process, he becomes an irascible, insufferable, booze-soaked bully. Only delicate ego-flattering by his long-suffering wife, Clementine (Miranda Richardson), can bring Churchill back around to common sense and patriotic duty. “He needs to feel part of it,” she explains to wary colleagues. Behind every great man is an infinitely patient woman, silently rolling her eyes. Kudos to Teplitzky and von Tunzelmann for showing Churchill not just in his familiar heroic light as a great statesman, but also as a needy, thin-skinned, tantrum-throwing baby. Certain world leaders could learn valuable lessons from this film.

Cinematographer David Higgs gives Churchill a pleasingly painterly look, using silhouettes and reflections as recurring visual motifs. The Scottish-shot locations provide plenty of scenic backdrops, though keen-eyed viewers may wonder why wartime London looks uncannily like Edinburgh. Lorne Balfe’s twinkly musical score has a touching delicacy at first, but drags over the long haul.

OUR CHOICE

ONE TO WATCH

British Soap Awards

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

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

Wednesday 7th June on ITV From 11:25pm to 1:25am

Directed by Shekhar Kapur, Cate Blanchett returns as Queen Elizabeth I. Threatened by Mary Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton) at home and from abroad by the King of Spain.

Confused about her feelings towards to Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen), Elizabeth must decide between love and her duty to her country.

With the threat of the Spanish Armada and a religious war looming large.

Tuesday 6th June, on ITV From 8pm to 10pm

Gogglesprogs Friday 9th June on CH4 From 8pm to 9pm The spin-off show from the popular Gogglebox series is back. This is the first of the 6 new episodes. See the reactions of the junior TV critics as they catch up on the latest television highlights and classic movies.

With regulars from the previous series joined by a tribe of newcomers, Roma, Joel, Jack, Sadie, Declan, Amelinda and Yoana. All offering their unqiue take on the world of TV. Included in this first episode is coverage of the General Election and Mary Berry along with the film Grease.

The awards show hosted by Philip Schofield from the Lowry in Salford.

With the stars from Coronation Street, Eastenders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks celebrating the best of this years soaps.

Categories including the Best Actor and Acress of course along with Villain of the Year, Best Newcomer and Scene of the Year.

Will Emmerdale retain the most coveted Best Soap award

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ANSWERS NEXT WEEK!

Wordsearch

Quick

ACROSS

DOWN

4. Deprived of contents (7)

1. Whim (7)

8. Female warrior (6)

2. Irony (7)

9. Meantime (7)

3. Spanish dance (6)

10. Affluence (6)

5. Orange (8)

11. Means (6)

6. Stand unsteadily (6)

12. Client (8)

7. Show (6)

18. Droop (8)

13. Abuse (8)

20. Ability (6)

14. Reservoir (7)

21. Decayed (6)

15. Apparition (7)

22. Favoured (7)

16. Regulate (6)

23. Carry too far (6)

17. Writing instrument (6)

24. Exhaust (7)

19. Rut (6)

E

L

X

I

E

L

S

L

C

Puzzles

“EASYBOGGLE” Find as many words as you can from the grid. You can go in any direction, but use each letter only once. (There are 36 in total!” 3 points for each 5 letter word, 2 points for each 4 letter word, 1 point for each 3 letter word, 61 points maximum!

Cryptic

ACROSS 4. Leave while an orchestra is performing (7) 8. Time for a sailor-boy? (6) 9. Does he fix the price of a horse?

(7) 10. Outcome of Ulster riot (6) 11. Idler who needs bread to eat? (6) 12. Finished about six to return from capital (8) 18. Girl to run away with writer (8) 20. Resign because of one’s selfimage? (6) 21. Perhaps he used swords to keep people out (6) 22. It’s clear the old boy has five debts (7) 23. Savage versifier, censorious in part (6) 24. The lengths associations will go to? (7)

DOWN 1. It’s dear with legs apart (7) 2. Entry ticket I have acted upon (7) 3. Worked, having been lubricated to a T (6) 5. Had gone round cargo store, and was indebted (8) 6. He could be French like William (6) 7. Writer in over-poetic beginning (6) 13. Unmasking in dark room? (8) 14. Anxiety for the firm (7) 15. Steps by which letters are obtained (7) 16. Bother going topless - currency needed (6) 17. Needlework is displayed in the south-east part of the building (6) 19. Look at the cover - the pupil’s cover (6)

27

6th - 12th June 2017

Puzzles

Know your faces?

Picture Quiz Number 01

Number 02

Number 03

Number 04

SODUKU

SOLTIMES Geography QUIZ 1. In which country did the wine, Rioja originate?

2. What do the stars on the USA flag represent?

3. What is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea? 4. In which ocean does the island nation of Mauritius lie?

5. In which English county is Dartmoor National Park?

Number 05

6. BILLIE JEAN KING

2. MERYL STREEP

7. JUSTIN BIEBER

3. RYAN GOSLING

8. JENNIFER ANISTON

4. HILLARY CLINTON

9. ROBERT DOWNEY Jnr

5. HARRISON FORD

10. MAGGIE SMITH

Number 08

Number 09

Number 10

SQUIGGLE

6. In which country would you find the region of

11. Near which town would you find “The Angel of

Tabasco?

the North”?

7. Which was the 50th and last to join the United

12. In which city would you find the Ha’penny

States of America?

8. Which city is home to the Scottish Parliament?

9. Which city in the south of France is famous for

Bridge, Temple Bar and Phoenix Park?

13. Of which Caribbean Island is Port of Spain the capital?

14. In which English county would you find

its annual film festival?

Stonehenge?

10. Which is the most southerly city in the UK?

15. In which Spanish city is the Alhambra Palace?

Cryptic Solutions Across: 1 Pick; 3 Starling; 8 Soul; 9 Trumpery; 11 Point of order; 13 Rental; 14 Limpet; 17 Standing-room; 20 Operetta; 21 Solo; 22 Latitude; 23 Left.

Down: 1 Passport; 2 Caution; 4 Thrift; 5 Remarriage; 6 Irene; 7 Goya; 10 Attainment; 12 Stamp out; 15 Propose; 16 Jilted; 18 Theft; 19 Fowl.

Quick Solutions Across: 1 Deep; 3 Prepared; 8 Sips; 9 Asterisk; 11 Bewilderment; 13 Strays; 14 Snatch; 17 Imprisonment; 20 Assuaged; 21 Isle; 22 Hesitate; 23 Onus.

Down: 1 Disabuse; 2 Empower; 4 Roster; 5 Pre-eminent; 6 Reign; 7 Dyke; 10 Play truant; 12 Chattels; 15 Treason; 16 Ascent; 18 Moses; 19 Rash.

1. JURGEN KLOPP

Number 07

HARD SODUKU

Crossword Solutions

Picture Quiz Solutions

Number 06

Boggle Solution

galax (2 pts)

Soduku Solution

Hard Soduku

garda (2 pts)

argal (2 pts)

graal (2 pts)

claro (2 pts)

halal (2 pts)

coral (2 pts)

kahal (2 pts)

coxal (2 pts)

karoo (2 pts)

drawl (2 pts)

lahar (2 pts)

drool (2 pts)

loord (2 pts)

gadjo (2 pts)

loral (2 pts)

galah (2 pts)

rolag (2 pts)

Squiggly solution

Sports Quiz 1. Wales 6. Swimming, cycling and 2. 10 running 7. December 3. 6 8. German 4. Albatross 9. Sir Andy Murray 5. Adam Peaty (Swimming) 10. Paul Pogba

11. Judo 12. Golf 13. 9 14. Ronnie O’Sullivan 15. Cool Runnings

Solutions 479

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6th - 12th June 2017

Not such a Barmy idea With the domestic cricket season and international cricketing summer underway, British brewer Greene King and cricket’s most passionate supporters’ club, the Barmy Army, have teamed up to launch a new partnership – and a new beer.

The agreement will see Greene King IPA and the Barmy Army working together to help cricket fans make the most of the 2017 season highlights, which include the ICC Champions Trophy, the ICC Women’s World Cup and two separate series against the West Indies and South Africa.

The collaboration starts with a limited-edition golden beer, ‘Barmy Army IPA’, which will be available in pubs across the country until the end of September. The easydrinking 3.7% golden ale, launching in cask and 500ml bottles, delivers tropical, citrus and spicy notes and was created with the help of the Barmy Army team who visited the Westgate Brewery to develop the recipe with Greene King brewers.

Specially selected pubs and bars across England will also become must-visit destinations for Barmy Army members and other cricket fans to soak up the atmosphere during the summer’s Test Matches – and more on trade activities and promotions, including social competitions, are planned as well.

George Johnston, Greene King brewing and brands marketing director, said: “Our investment in cricket is well known, from Greene King IPA being the official beer of England Cricket to our support of community clubs raising funds for new facilities and kits.

“With our shared passion for the sport, we can think of no better partner for the season than the Barmy Army and we are delighted to work them to bring fans together over great beer and a great atmosphere during an exciting summer of cricket.”

Paul Burnham, co-founder of the Barmy Army, said: “Greene King is a strong sup-

porter of England cricket, and they make great beer - they are the perfect partner for us.

Processed food ignorance exposed

A third of adults are unsure what the term ‘processed food’ means and believe they only indulge in two items daily but analysis of diets revealed it is over 11 times that number.

Despite health warnings to eat more fresh food and cook from scratch, on average Brits eat around 23 types of processed food every day.

One in three tucking into their bacon sandwiches made with sliced white bread, using ready meals and even putting sugar in tea has no idea they are guilty.

According to a study, a third of adults are unsure what the term “processed food” means, and on average they believe they are indulging in just two types of processed food daily but analysis of diets revealed it is closer to 23.

The survey by clean eating brand The Primal Pantry found Brits were confused over healthy options and did not realise staples like tinned soup, low calorie bread and white rice came under the “processed” category.

Almost six in ten said they were baffled by mixed messages put out by the food industry over what was healthy or not.

Two thirds said they listened to their bodies and used either their BMI (body mass index) or energy levels to decide which food to include or exclude from their diets.

Four in ten said price was a key factor when doing the weekly, family shop and a third said they looked at labels for fat content.

The NHS website defines processed food as “any food that has been altered from its natural state in some way, either for safety reasons or convenience.”

It adds: “This means you may be eating more processed food than you realise.

Processed foods aren’t necessarily unhealthy, but anything that’s been processed may contain added salt, sugar and fat.”

Nutritionist Suzie Walker, founder of The Primal Pantry said: “We are horrified by the results of our research which reveals the shockingly high amounts of processed foods that Brits are consuming, often without knowledge nor intention.

“We are urging people to think more about what they eat and get real when it comes to their diet. A simple rule is that if something is in a packet - turn it over and read the ingredients list. If you can’t pronounce it, it probably shouldn’t be in there. Also, if you can’t pick it, grow it or feed it, it’s not real food.”

Food and Drink

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Ribs

6th - 12th June 2017

29

Aldi wine wins silver medal Fans of rosé wine had better get themselves down to Aldi this summer because a bottle of the budget supermarket chain’s wine has been voted one of the best in the world.

Aldi’s Exquisite Collection Côtes de Provence Rosé was awarded a silver medal in the International Wine Challenge – and it will set you back just £5.99.

“It has been a huge year for innovation at Aldi,” Tony Baines, Aldi’s joint managing director of corporate buying said. “We’ve not only expanded our sparkling range, but also introduced a brand new French initiative. We have been working closely with renowned winemaker Jean Claude Mas to change perceptions around French wine, which is often perceived as expensive and intimidating, so it is fantastic to see some of these products acknowledged as some of the best in the world.”

This is not the first time a budget bottle of wine has held its own against the more expensive offerings. Last year, a £4.37 bottle of Malbec from Asda was voted the best wine in the world at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Ingredients 4 pounds pork baby back ribs, salt and pepper to taste, 2 cups ketchup, 1 cup chili sauce, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 4 tablespoons vinegar, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 dash hot sauce.

Preparation & Cooking Preparation – 10 minutes. Cooking – 8 hours & 30 minutes.

Method 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

2. Season ribs with salt and pepper. Place in a shallow baking pan. Brown in oven for 15 minutes. Turn over, and brown another 15 minutes; drain fat.

3. In a medium bowl, mix together the ketchup, chili sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and salt and pepper. Place ribs in slow cooker. Pour sauce over ribs, and turn to coat.

4. Cover, and cook on Low 6 to 8 hours, or until ribs are tender.

Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Ingredients 1/2 cup ketchup, 3 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 2 crushed cloves of garlic, 6 (4 ounce) (1-inch thick) pork chops.

Preparation & Cooking Preparation – 10 minutes. Cooking – 15 minutes.

Method 1. Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the tray.

2. Whisk ketchup, honey, soy sauce, and garlic together in a bowl to make a glaze.

3. Sear the pork chops on both sides on the preheated grill. Lightly brush glaze onto each side of the chops as they cook; grill until no longer pink in the centre, about 7 to 9 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centre should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

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

30

Health and Beauty

6th - 12th June 2017

Exercise to extend your life Being resourceful with your daily routine can deliver big payoffs when it comes to increasing your activity level. Incorporating physical fitness into your everyday activities can save you time and also burn calories...and it doesn’t have to take much time or effort.

“For many people, the biggest obstacle to getting more exercise is time”, says Danielle Johnson, physical therapist and wellness physical therapist for the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. “People feel stretched between their career, child care demands and family commitments. Thinking of spending an hour extra at the gym may feel overwhelming.”

If you don’t have time to fit in a scheduled workout, try using daily tasks to incorporate fitness. Johnson advises. “You’ll still be able to reap the benefits of exercise by using small bouts of movement throughout the day. Two 10-minute walks, a few sets of stairs and some five-minute intervals of bodyweight squats, lunges or push-ups can add up to big health benefits.”

“Every little bit counts”, Johnson says. “Research suggests that as little as 10 minutes of cardiovascular activity can make a big difference in your health and fitness measures. I often equate health to putting away money for retirement. Putting away savings, even in small amounts, will add up big over time. The same can be said for your health. Investing in opportunities to be active, even for short periods of time, adds up.

The key is to be consistent”

Here are some tips to get moving throughout the day:

1. Turn chores into exercise. Mow the lawn or do some gardening. The physical benefit is good for your health, plus gardening can enhance your mood and the food you grow offers great nutritional benefits.

2. Try cycling to run errands. Leave the car in the garage and bring out your bike for a quick run to the market or local shops.

3. Turn household cleaning into a mini workout. For example, mopping floors gives your shoulders and back a workout and can burn more than 100 calories in just 30 minutes.

4. Instead of going out for dinner or drinks with friends, do something physical, like taking a walk, or engaging in a physical hobby.

5. Take your dog to the local fields if you have any nearby, or play with them in your own garden. A game of fetch is not only great exercise for your faithful friend — it works your muscles too!

6. Join or start a sports or exercise team with your friends. Whether it’s bowls, golf, dancing, zumba, keep-fit club, walking football or swimming taking part in a sport you enjoy will improve both your physical and mental well-being.

7. Do you already walk daily? Try walking faster or choose a challenging route with hills. If there’s a cause you feel passionate about, try training to participate in a run or walk to raise funds. If you play golf, walk the course and carry your own clubs instead of using a cart and caddy.

Elderly warned to watch their salt intake Even more figures are confirming that people are living longer than ever before, but in some areas the downsides outweigh the benefits. In fact, one of the fastest growing demographics is people over the age of 85 who will represent 20% of the population by the year 2040, but because we are living longer, certain

conditions specific to ageing are also on a steady rise.

Dehydration, falls, fractures, Alzheimer’s and dementia are now becoming more commonplace. In a recent paper titled “Salt Appetite Across Generations” presented at a medical conference in Switzerland.

Israeli researchers from the University of Haifa indicated

that among seniors, a reduced sense of thirst could increase the increased risk of serious dehydration. They also noted that the appetite for salt does not diminish with age, and suggested that this could be used to help sustain hydration and prevent the dangerous symptoms that result from dehydration.

In 2013 a task force of 12 professional medical, nursing, and nutritional organizations assembled by the Pioneer Network published the New Dining Practice Standards.

Their report concluded that low salt diets were contributing to malnutrition and weight loss among a significant percentage of elderly people in a range of care facilities.

Low salt diets can also cause seniors to suffer from mild hyponatremia, an electrolyte imbalance in the blood which may not sound bad but can lead directly to walking impairment, attention deficits and a much higher frequency of falls. Several recent medical pap ers found a direct relationship between hyponatremia and unsteadiness, falls, and subsequent bone fractures.

Some older people do need a low salt diet but many don’t, and it shouldn’t be assumed that they all do or benefit from when in fact the opposite may be the case.

Health and Beauty

6th - 12th June 2017

31

UK aim for dramatic reduction in smokers

Setting an ambitious UK target of a smoking prevalence of less than 5% by 2035 would avoid nearly 12,500 new cases of serious disease and save more than £600 million in healthcare and lost productivity costs in that year alone, conclude researchers in Tobacco Control.

Over the past 35 years, the number of active smokers in England has plunged to 17%, but on the basis of recent trends, smoking prevalence is projected to fall to 10% by 2035. And most of that decline will be among the most well off rather than the poorest.

Bolder action is needed if real and equitable inroads into the rising personal and societal costs of treating and managing the conditions associated with smoking are to be made by that time, say the researchers.

Despite the adoption of similar ‘smoke-free’ targets by New Zealand, Finland, Ireland and Scotland, the UK has not committed to this ambition.

And while policies, such as stop smoking services, smoke-free workplaces, and standardised packaging are extremely welcome, alone they are unlikely to achieve a smoking prevalence of less than 5% by 2035, the researchers point out.

In a bid to work out the extent of the personal and societal gains to be made by adopting the target, the researchers drew on a wide range of national and research data to calculate the potential number of serious diseases avoided and the healthcare and lost productivity costs saved.

They focused on 14 different types of cancer associated with smoking, including acute and chronic myelogenous leukaemia (blood cancers), as well as coronary heart disease, stroke, and COPD, the umbrella term for chronic and disabling lung disease.

Using a mathematical model that includes a broad range of risk factors and which has been used in more than 70 countries to date, the researchers calculated that 12,350

new cases of disease would be avoided—particularly lung cancer—in 2035 alone, and nearly 100,000 between 2015 and 2035.

And they worked out that the NHS would save £67 million in direct costs, while savings in non-health costs would stack up to £548 million in 2035 alone.

The researchers highlight that the diseases included in their calculations didn’t cover the full range of those associated with tobacco use, nor did their model include passive smoking or other products, such as hand rolled tobacco, shisha, cigars and pipes.

And they were unable to include wider societal costs, such as litter and house fires associated with smoking.

Nevertheless, “Findings from this study demonstrate that (A) there are clear health benefits delivered through achieving a [‘tobacco free’ ambition] by 2035 and (B) maintaining current trends in smoking prevalence is still likely to produce a sizeable disease and economic burden,” they emphasise.

“Smoking rates only decline with action,” they insist, adding: “Establishing a [tobacco free ambition] is an important policy endeavour to improve the health outcomes of the UK and a predicted baseline scenario of policy interventions to rid the country from the lethal grip of smoking.”

These should include sustained rises in taxation on cigarettes and renewed efforts to curb smuggling, they suggest. But achieving long lasting reductions in smoking prevalence will require cash, particularly if marginal groups of smokers are to be helped to kick their habit, they point out.

The reverse seems to be happening, they note, prompting them to urge: “With a substantial number of local authorities in England cutting back on their budgets for smoking cessation activity and mass media campaigns, a sustainable approach to public health funding should be sought in the immediacy.”

Earn your own Best Make-up award Whether you’re looking to enhance your daily beauty routine or for tips to add glam to your style for an upcoming special occasion, Hollywood’s red carpet is the best source for trends and inspiration.

Fortunately, many of today’s hottest looks are easy to create at home. Celebrity makeup artist Matin Maulawizada has tips to help you recreate your favourite red carpet looks in less time than you’d think.

1. Get glowing with toner Celebrities always seem to have a special “glow” on the red carpet with dewy, fresh skin. This effect is intentional and it all starts with proper hydration. To achieve luminous skin, Matin starts by spraying the face with a toner or rose water to balance the skin. He likes to pair this glowing look with dramatic eyes and a soft pink lip.

2. Apply foundation Get flawless skin thanks to perfectly blended foundation. For better application, Matin’s quick tip is to always warm the foundation first. “To get a sheer wash of foundation, I warm the foundation up in my hands before evenly distributing it on the brush and then I wipe the excess off the back of my hand.” he says. “This helps it blend seamlessly into the skin.”

3. Prime the lips Before applying any product to the lips, it’s important to ensure they are prepped and smooth. Matin starts with ChapStick Total Hydration Conditioning Lip Scrub to gently exfoliate the lips and remove any dead skin cells.

“I love this scrub because it is made from naturally sourced ingredients, including sugar crystals, maracuja and coconut oils, shea butter and vitamin E.” he says. “It leaves the lips soft and smooth and turns them into a perfect canvas for any other products I will apply” 4. Swap lip liner for concealer Matin recommends shaping the lip line with concealer rather than a lip liner to add definition. Contouring around the lip creates a natural-looking full pout. The bonus is that it prevents any colour from bleeding, just as a liner would.

5. Bring out your natural beauty Tinted lip balms are great for a beautiful, subtle lip. Matin’s go-to is ChapStick Total Hydration Moisture + Tint because it adds a hint of colour to enhance the lips’ natural colour, while providing moisturizing benefits the lips need. It’s currently available in three shades — Rose Petal, Merlot and Coral Blush — so there is a tint for any occasion. “Tinted lip balms

are perfect for creating a naturally beautiful lip look.” says Matin. “Not only do they provide alluring colour to the lips but it is also easy to maintain throughout the night’ 6. Use soft shades for a dramatic eye One of Matin’s favourite trends seen on this year’s red carpets is the pairing of a sheer lip and strong eye. This classic look is ideal for any age because it lets your true beauty shine while drawing the focus to the eyes. Matin recommends using a lighter pencil to get started and then smudging with a brush. You can use a powder shadow to fill in space and add definition. “For a dramatic eye, start with softer shades until you get the hang of it” he says.

“Use beige, taupe or grey to get a smoky effect that adds depth and drama:’ With these simple tips, anyone can recreate popular trends and add some glam to their daily look.

You may not be walking down your own red carpet, but you’re sure to get noticed and feel beautiful.

32

Travel

6th - 12th June 2017

Luxury resort for Ibiza in 2020 Six Senses Ibiza will enter the portfolio of the company in order to boost the wellness of body and mind, among the amazing panoramic view of the Balearic island in the Mediterranean Sea. “We’re very excited to open our first resort, spa and residential project in Ibiza, a project that celebrates wellness, sustainability and community spirit. This third European property complements our sister resort in Portugal’s Douro Valley, residential project in Courchevel, France and seven fabulous spas in France, Greece, Spain, Switzerland and the UK,” declared Neil Jacobs, the CEO of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.

The resort will be inaugurated in 2020 in collaboration with Beach Box Ibiza S.L. and will feature 134 guest accommodation suites, 9 private villas and unique design, entertainment and cuisine concepts.

Guests here will be enabled to capture the authentic Ibiza experience while surrounded by the best spa services featuring top cuisine and luxury accommodation.

“It is the first full-service hospitality experience with rich amenities not yet offered on the island. Partnering with a world-class operator such as Six Senses, together we will deliver a resort and residential community for all ages, while promoting the importance of sustainability and healthy living,” concluded Jonathan Leitersdorf from Beach Box Ibiza.

Multi-generational holidays all the rage Almost half of over 50s have been on a multi generational holiday The survey of more than 10,000 over 50s undertaken by SAGA, shows that a quarter have enjoyed a multi-generational holiday within the last year and almost two fifths (39%) have done so at some point in their lifetime. Only one in eight (12%) have never holidayed with close family.

Over 50s from the East Midlands have attempted to bridge the generation gap the most with 53% travelling as a family group in the last 5 years, closely followed by families in Yorkshire (52%), the North West (52%) and Scotland (51%). Families from Wales are least likely to have been away together (44%).

The most popular reason for getting away with the family was simply to have an opportunity to spend time together (75%). Other reasons include travelling together to celebrate important family occasions (23%) such as weddings, grandparents offering to share child care responsibilities whilst away (12%) and because of a desire to travel to the same destination (21%) or save on costs (7%).

More than half (56%) of those

surveyed said that their multi-generational holiday had been self-catering with a third (35%) booking a villa to live as a family unit and give their break a real home-away-fromhome feel.

Whilst a small number of holidaymakers admitted to some minor differences in opinion whilst away, including deciding what activities to do (9%) or where to eat (7%), it seems families that holiday together stay together with four in five multigenerational getaways going ahead

without a single disagreement.

Kevin McMullan, Head of Saga Travel Insurance, commented: “It is great to see different generations of the same family getting away and building lasting memories together.

Whether people have decided on self-catering, an all-inclusive package or even a B&B, it’s wise to have insurance in place that covers all of the travelling party to give everyone peace of mind so they can concentrate on having a great time.”

Venice in tourism dilemma

It was back in June 2015 within days of the new mayor of Barcelona taking up her post, that Ada Colau stated one of her aims was to introduce a limit on the number of tourists to “stop the city becoming Venice”. The Italian holiday hotspot appears to be taking notice of what she said two year ago...

Venetian authorities have said they are bringing in a series of new measures to stop the snowballing of fast-food outlets that are claimed as being “not compatible” with the heritage of the city. The new law which was passed last week has banned the opening of any new kebab shops, fast-food outlets and even selling pizza by the slice in the popular tourist destination.

However, the law doesn’t affect establishments selling artisanal ice cream.

“We want to put the brakes on types of activities which are not compatible with the preservation and development of Venice’s cultural heritage,” said Paola Mar, Tourism Chief of Venice.

She stressed that she didn’t have any problem with people eating outside but consumption of takeaway food in St Mark’s Square is prohibited.

“The problem is that with a tourist city like ours, there is a risk of it losing its identity,” she continued. “There are local products that we must try to promote, this would be better for the spirit of the city and, at an environmental level, would be more sustainable.”

Back in November 2016, the Mayor of Florence was sued for $20m by McDonald’s after he refused to let them open one of their restaurants. The proposal was refused by the Mayor saying: “McDonald’s has the right to submit an application, because this is permitted under the law, but we also have the right to say no.”

In a statement to the BBC at the time, McDonald’s said, “We completely agree that the cultural and artistic heritage and the Italian historical town centres have to be protected and guaranteed, as well as the traditions and the historical small shops, but we cannot accept discriminatory regulations that damage the freedom of private initiative without being advantageous to anyone.”

Last year too, Verona banned the opening of new kebab shops in the Italian city, while Florence had clamped down on “foreign food” after ruling that all new restaurants and food shops in the city should ensure that at least 70% of their produce is local.

The tourist influx angered the city and messages that read: “Tourists go away!!! You are destroying this area!” were circulated and posted as graffiti around the affected areas.

Animal Corner

6th - 12th June 2017

33

A brief introduction to the Santa Clara dog shelter

In 2010 a group of animal loving friends set up A.P.A Santa Clara, based in the town of Tobarra , Albacete.

They could see the need to have a shelter as the amount of abandoned, abused and mistreated dogs were on the increase. Many local towns have a pererra (kill sation) but Tobarra had nothing and only years before, the town council would hang abandoned dogs. This was due to no other cheap alternative. So the shelter was established on a shoestring budget but with a huge amount of enthusiasm, love and care for the dogs. It is totally ran by volunteers and depends on donations to survive. We can take up to 30 dogs but often numbers exceed this and so volunteers take them into their own homes, especially if they are hurt or injured and need constant medications.

We have a NO kill policy and we do not put a healthy dog to sleep. Over the past 7 years we have rescued and

Ideal family pet.

Santa Clara

This sweet little girl is Sylvana, 9 month old puppy, Podenca X , 12 kgs, blood tested all clear, cat and dog friendly.

Super happy and loving girl.

saved the lives of hundreds of dogs. Equally many have found their forever homes and for this, it is our reward.

The land we are on has only been loaned to us and we are not able to put up any permanent structures so we have used wooden pallets and wire fences, old bed frames as gates. Fruit crates and wheelie bins as kennels and using things like wire or rip ties to hold it together. (see photos) It is very basic and when I adopted a blind Galgo from the shelter in 2012 I saw the poor conditions and pledged to help. At that time they were being fed on stale bread as they had ran out of funds for food. I did begin to help ,telling friends and I soon learnt how to beg on behalf of these lovely animals who need us to help them. I had always supported UK dog shelters and it most certainly does not compare to any of them!

Friends have visited and gone away shocked at the poor conditions but have also commented about the good, warm atmosphere that shines through at Santa Clara.

The volunteers give their time in all weathers from -2 oc to 45oc plus they go to help, feed, clean and medicate the dogs showing their devotion, love and kindness.

The dogs are happy and grateful for our help. All the volunteers are Spanish except for my family and we are English. We are the only English family in the area so we do not get the support from the ex-pat community. This rural area is very different to the coastal areas. We are 1 and half hours from Alicante. It is a hunting area so we get a lot of abandoned Galgos, Spaniel, Pointers, and Podenca breeds. We deal with some horrendous cases of cruelty and abuse.

As I say we have loaned the land that we are currently on but now it has been sold so we need to vacate very soon. The town council have granted us a bare plot of land to build a new shelter on. BUT the catch is we have to totally fund it ourselves. Total cost being in the region of 86,000 euros. We have been fund raising like crazy and the friends/associates of Santa Clara have been very generous but we still need more to be able to start

Santa Clara Dog Shelter Margaret - 697 495 315

Pets in Spain

Rex is around 4 months old and was rescued from the streets last week. He is a spaniel cross and will be small/medium size when fully grown. Rex is good with other dogs, cats and children and is a happy, healthy little boy

Call: 645 469 253 • www.petsinspain.com info@petsinspain.com

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Born in May 2016, Treacle is a gentle little girl, with a very sweet and affectionate nature. If you want a little cuddly cat, Treacle is the one for you!

To arrange to meet her and all the other APAH cats

630 422 563 or 616 210 850

Shakira this beautiful German Shepherd is looking for a loving home.

She is good with people, house trained, walks well on a lead and loves to play ball. She is very affectionate and would make a fabulous companion.

If you can give Shakira a forever home, please contact Bev and Alan at the K9 Animal Shelter on 600 845 420.

the build. We BEG for your support on behalf of the dogs and ask if you can spare a few euros (or more, we will not refuse) to help us to build the new shelter. (see photo of the plans) The new shelter will still be quite basic but to these dogs and future dogs it will be like 5 star luxury. All dogs will have a kennel, run, shelter from the elements, running water and food dispenser. We will continue to rescue as many dogs as possible, care, rehabilitate them and find them a new loving home. We have been doing this in awful conditions and without much support so just think what a new shelter and more support could do? We can make a huge difference to the lives of these dogs and future dogs in our care. Your reward is knowing that your donation will really help us to save lives and make the new shelter possible.

We have paypal at santaclaratobarra@gmail.com Bank transfer LIBERBANK, iban ES58 2105 4550 2930 1003 4449 Bic; CECAESMM105 In the name of A.P.A Santa Clara Tobarra.

Email for more information at santaclaratobarra@ gmail.com or tel; Margaret 697 495 315 or come and visit us!

34

Motoring

6th - 12th June 2017

Charity launches road safety manifesto

A lower drink-drive limit in England and Wales and a compulsory 12-month minimum learning period for new drivers are among plans set out in a “road safety manifesto” announced recently.

Raising the driving licence renewal age and practical solutions to the growing problem of distraction at the wheel are also among the key points set out by IAM Roadsmart.

The UK’s biggest road safety charity has created its own manifesto designed to drive down the number of people killed or seriously injured every year on Britain’s roads.

It points to the 1,730 fatalities on the roads in 2015 and the fact that this figure has changed little from the previous four years as evidence that progress on road safety has stagnated and needs fresh impetus. Among its key proposals are a minimum period of learning for new drivers. Their manifesto says that experience is “the key to a safe driving career” and calls for new motorists to receive training for at least a year before being allowed to sit their test. Previously, IAM Roadsmart had proposed this approach as part of a graduated driving licence and the manifesto also calls for changes to post-driving test rules to improve driving skills. british company established in spain 15 years fully legal s.l. company It is also calling for England and Wales to follow the examples of Scotland and Northern Ireland and reduce the drink-drive limit from its current 80mg of alcohol british & spanish cars bought, sold and part exchanged per 100ml of blood. In 2015 1,380 people were killed or

seriously injured in accidents involving a driver over the drink-drive limit.

Drivers currently have to apply to renew their licence when they turn 70. Under the IAM manifesto, this age would be raised to 75 but would require applicants to pass a compulsory eye test.

It also proposes that doctors should be encouraged to “prescribe” driving reviews for older motorists if they feel their health may be affected their abilities behind the wheel.

The proposals are part of an overarching call for road safety professionals, employers, authorities and vehicle manufacturers to work together to improve road safety standards. Other points call for better government procurement to speed up the use of vehicles with advanced safety features; efforts to address the distraction caused by mobile devices and the protection of road maintenance budgets to ensure roads are safe to use.

Sarah Sillars, IAM RoadSmart chief executive officer, said: “The UK has one of the best road safety records in Europe, but still 1,730 people a year are killed.

“We believe by working together with government and the road safety ‘industry’ we can deliver a step change in road safety and significantly reduce the fatalities and injuries which occur daily on our roads.”

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The manifesto in full

1. Partnership is the best way to get our accident figures heading downwards again.

With widespread support the ‘Road Safety Industry Consortium’ can help reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our road.

2. Driver distraction is now a top priority safety issue. We want legislators, car makers, social media and smartphone companies to work with road users on practical solutions.

3. Support more research on the transition to driverless cars and on the education and training challenges their introduction will bring.

4. Support the raising the licence renewal age to 75 with a compulsory eye test. Family doctors should be encouraged to ‘prescribe’ driving reviews for older drivers.

5. Believe road safety at work is a critical health and safety issue that requires higher priority at the Health and Safety Executive and should be at the core of good corporate governance for every employer.

6. DEFRA to implement cross-government procurement rules which accelerates the uptake of safe new vehicles with features such as autonomous braking. Public and private sector companies should only issue contracts to firms with driver risk management policies in place.

7. Promote motorcycling as a safe mode of transport that can help solve congestion and pollution problems 8. Believes experience is the key to a safe driving career and supports a 12 month minimum learning period for new drivers.

9. Believes a reduction in the drink-drive limit in England and Wales will save lives 10. Encourage all highway authorities to aim towards a minimum ‘three star’ risk rating on their ‘A’ roads.

11. Local councils and central government to protect long-term funding that will eradicate the road maintenance backlog.

12. Seeks a Brexit deal that maintains the UK’s exemplary road safety record and does not add additional burdens to drivers and riders visiting the EU.

Motoring

6th - 12th June 2017

35

Mitsubishi Shogun Sport is back... or is it?

The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport – already on sale in Asia as the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – will go on sale in the UK early in 2018 says Mitsubishi boss.

The Mitsubishi Shogun Sport disappeared from the UK a decade ago, and although it’s sold as the Pajero Sport in other markets, it’s never made it back to the UK. But that looked set to change last year when Mitsubishi’s UK boss, Lance Bradley, said that Mitsubishi UK were planning to deliver the Shogun Sport to the UK and that it would be here by the end of 2016. That was in May last year.

Now it’s June 2017 – and still no sign of the Shogun Sport – Lance Bradley has popped up again to say that the Shogun Sport is going through the final stages of UK homologation and will be on sale in the UK in January 2018.

The Shogun Sport will come with a single 2.4 litre diesel engine option with 179bhp mated to an eight-speed auto ‘box and Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD II. Sitting between the Outlander and the Shogun, the Shogun Sport will fill a gap and find a ready market in the UK, although, by now, many of those prospective buyers will probably have gone and bought an alternative after Mistubishi went quiet on the subject.

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36

6th - 12th June 2017

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6th - 12th June 2017

Classifieds INTERNET GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop. Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 952 561 245 or email mark.w@ euroweeklynews.com for more details.

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MUSIC TUITION Guitar Lessons, Beginners And Improvers, 15 Euros Per Hour, Call Peter 629 975 378 PIANO, Keyboard, Organ, Qualified Teacher. Please call 606 984 535 (245713) PERGOLA COVERS TAILOR made, durable canvas, sails, umbrella, spa and BBQ covers.

Mazarron based, and at Procomobel Market, Guardamar Saturday mornings. 667 879 399 krugercanopies@ yahoo.co.uk (250714) PET TRANSPORT PET TRAVEL UK Family pet transporters Spain/UK. Travel with your pets for free.

All air conditioned vehicles (no vans) www.pettraveluk. co.uk. Removals also arranged in other vehicles. Tel UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960130537 (250330) Plumbing MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (245706) POOLS POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 965 725 565 / 676 945 360 www.pooltechspain. com (250320) PROPERTY FOR SALE CIUDAD QUESEDA Villa 500m2 plot, 4 double bedrooms, large bathroom and shower room. Large Balcony, Cloakroom, lounge dinner, large kitchen (white goods included). Oil central heating though out. Double glazed conservatory, car port.

10x8 solar heated pool.

Screened BBQ area, plus much more seeing is believing. 340,000€.

Contact 688 486 752 private sale can

be ready to move immediately (254629) REMOVALS & STORAGE MAN AND VAN UK Spain. 2 vans travelling twice a month, Murcia - North / South UK. Storage in Spain. Tel 610 846 260 or 0044 751 918 6355 email van. man@hotmail.co.uk (249229) UK - SPAIN -Anywhere Europe! Masses of experience. New clean vehicles. Insured with Royal Sun Alliance.

Genuinely CARING service. FULL and / Part moves. ONLINE QUOTES!! www. bmceuropean.com Tel: UK 08456 443 784 / ES 634 344 787 FIND US ON FACEBOOK! (243375) UK-SPAIN-IRELAND. Removals with the personal touch. Pets carried with care 965 696 750 / 0044 (0) 7447 918 589 e-mail chrisyounge73979@ aol.com (249024) SPANISH MOVES Small removals and deliveries. Spain/ UK Budget prices.

Last minute jobs undertaken. www. spanishmoves.net. Pet transport also arranged in our air conditioned pet/people carriers.

Telephone UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960130537 (250330) SITUATIONS VACANT Job: Optical dispenser Skill required: Experience in Optics, with good customer service skills, ideally fluent in German, English and Spanish (German nationality would be preferred as the role will be working with German clients) Please send Cvs to Martin Blake at dir. santaponca@st.uk. specsavers.com DO YOU CARE? If so, why not join our team of carers who work in the UK. Earn from £952 - £1,456 for 2 weeks.

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38

6th - 12th June 2017

SOLTIMES

A former player , Tony is now th e world’s most author of footba prolific ll books with 15 0 published since He has also be en a PE teacher 1975. and a policem now a quiz-org an, and is aniser, fund–ra iser, for variou and sports corr s charities, espondent for Spectrum Rad io.

Sport Sports shorts It’s a Real double

Real Madrid celebrated their record 12th European Cup with thousands of fans on Sunday, after returning to the Spanish capital after beating Juventus 4-1 in the Champions League final in Cardiff, Wales.

The team was first greeted

by Madrid’s mayor and regional president before the players got on an open-top bus for a slow ride through throngs of supporters to a packed Cibeles Square, Madrid’s traditional gathering spot for celebrations.

There, team captains Sergio Ramos and Marcelo climbed a temporary set of stairs to present the European Cup from atop the stature in the fountain in the square.

The team then headed to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where the packed stands were treated to an

elaborate light and video show while each player was individually introduced.

Cristiano Ronaldo believes winning the Champions League for the fourth time is as sweet as his first with Manchester United.

The biggest applauses were for Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo, who waved a Portuguese flag as he walked out in the spotlight toward his teammates waiting on a makeshift stage in the centre of the pitch.

“This team believed from the start, and after a lot of hard work we reaped the benefits,” Ramos told the crowd while wearing a fake crown on his head and a Spanish flag draped around his shoulders.

Once Ronaldo took the microphone, he couldn’t resist joining the crowd in chanting “Cristiano, Ballon d’ Or!,” a call for him to win the prestigious best-player award.

Ronaldo scored twice in the final, as Real became the first team to win back-to-back titles in the Champions League era.

Two weeks ago, Madrid celebrated their first Spanish Primera Division title in five years.

With a third European title in four seasons, coach Zinedine Zidane has re-established Madrid as the premier team on the continent.

By Tony Matthe

ws

• Congratulations to Real Madrid, magnificent 4-1 Champions League final winners over Juventus last Saturday. This is the first time a team has retained the coveted trophy since its inception in 1992 and Real’s star man Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice, including his 600th goal at club/international level.

• On Sunday we have the Canadian F1 Grand Prix in Montreal.

• There are several 2018 WC qualifying games also coming up including Belarus-Belgium, Holland-Luxembourg and Sweden-France on Friday; Azerbaijan-Northern Ireland, Germany-San Marino, Norway-Czech Republic, Poland-Romania and Scotland-England on Saturday and the Republic of Ireland-Austria and Serbia-Wales on Sunday.

• The French Open Tennis tournament ends on Sunday with the men’s singles final; the women’s showdown is scheduled for Saturday.

• Ice hockey’s Stanley Cup is taking place, along with the NBA (basketball) finals in Canada/USA. • And in sailing, GB’s Land Rover BAR team, with helmsman Ben Ainslie, are competing in the Americas Cup in Bermuda.

• In football, Yaya Toure has signed a new contract with Manchester City; Arsenal want Atletico Madrid’s Alexandre Lacazette and Roberto Mancini is Zenit St Petersburg’s new manager.

• Last Friday, Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud became the first player to score a hat-trick for France since 2000, doing so in a 5-0 win over Paraguay. In the same game, Spurs’ keeper Hugo Lloris set a new record with his 88th cap.

• The 2017 Epsom Derby was won by 40-1 shot Wings of Eagle (Padraig Beggy); Cliffs of Mohar (Ryan Moore) was second at 5-1 with 3-1 favourite Cracksman third.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Frankie Dettori won the Oaks on Enable.

• England beat Bangladesh by 8 wickets in their first Champions Trophy Group game. Their second is against New Zealand today while their third is on Saturday versus Australia. India also started off with a win over Pakistan.

• The British/Irish Lions were unconvincing when beating the Provincial Union XV 13-7 in the opening match of their New Zealand tour. The ‘Lions’ play the Blues in Auckland tomorrow and the Crusaders on Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

Barcelona players’ wage bill for 2016-17 was a world record £279m; Manchester United’s was £265m; Chelsea’s £256m and Real Madrid’s £250m.

The Bhoys of ‘67

Fifty years ago in May 1967, Celtic became the first British football club to win the European Cup (now the Champions League) by beating Inter Milan 2-1 in the final at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, Portugal in front 55,000 fans.

For Celtic, it was their first appearance in a major European final while for Inter it was their third and it was they who scored first after seven minutes via Sandro Mazzola’s penalty, conceded by Jim Craig.

But Celtic, matching their opponents kick for kick, tackle for tackle, equalised through full-back Tommy Gemmell on 63 minutes before Stevie Chalmers deflected Bobby Murdoch’s shot into the net with six minutes remaining to bring glory to Glasgow!

Manager Jock Stein and his team received acclaim from all corners of the globe after this triumph and were given the nickname the ‘Lisbon Lions’. To this day, despite their 201617 triple triumph, the 1967 side is said to have been the greatest in the club’s history.

These are the players, 10 locals and a foreigner, born just 30 miles outside Glasgow, who did Scottish football proud half-acentury ago.

• Ronnie Simpson (goalkeeper) He died in 2004.

• Jim Craig (right-back) On retiring, he became a dentist.

• Tommy Gemmell (left-back) Born in Motherwell, 1943 and died earlier this year.

• Bobby Murdoch (wing-half/midfielder) Born in Bothwell,

1944. He died in 2001.

• Billy McNeill (centre-half) Born in Glasgow, 1940.

• John Clark (defender) Born in Bellshill, 1941. He’s now the club’s kitman.

• Jimmy Johnstone (right-winger) Born in Glasgow, 1944.

• Willie Wallace (forward) Born in Kirkintilloch, 1941.

• Stevie Chalmers (striker) Born in Glasgow, 1936.

• Bertie Auld (outside-left) Born in Glasgow, 1938. He’s now living in Glasgow.

• Bobby Lennox (forward) Born in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, 1944, His son, Gary, played for Dundee, Ayr United and Falkirk.

•Jock Stein, CBE (manager) Born in Burnbank, Lanarkshire

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