Soltimes Almeria – Issue 590

13th - 19th June

almeria

Holy R.I.P Batman!

Adam West, star of the popular and campy 1960s “Batman” TV show, died Friday night after “a short but brave battle with leukaemia,” his family said in a statement. He was 88.

See Page 2

British police react to election result

Steve White, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “The Prime Minister has today pledged that the new Government will work to keep the nation safe and secure, and mentions giving the police ‘the powers’ they need to keep the country safe. Full story page 8.

Water melon beauty trend Watermelon beauty is now a big trend on the social media platform Instagram – and it does looks pretty amazing... See page 30.

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Sex crime rise prompts interest in self-defence classes

by Alastair Stewart A sharp increase in sexual misconduct in Almeria has generated interest in selfdefence classes.

Statistics released by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior show that in 201617, sexual crimes have gone up by 27 percent in Andalusia and 48 percent in the Almeria Province.

Reported instances of rape, however, are down by 8 and 60 percent respectively.

Gavin Cullen, senior instructor of the Blue Dragon Iron Fist Kung Fu centre in Almeria Province, has expressed alarm: “National, even global statistics don’t change the fact that danger can exist round every corner. The most important thing we teach our students is self-awareness and self-confidence.

“What citizens, and particularly young women and vulnerable adults can do is walk away from a dangerous situation when they can, but know how to defend themselves as a last resort.”

El Ejido, where Cullen is based, has seen a sharp rise of 75 percent for sexual related incidents.

The National Statistics Institute of Spain has also reported that there were 28, 281 victims of gender violence and 6,863 victims of domestic violence in 2016-17. The World Health Organisation reports that in

Europe alone, 1 in 3 women have been victims of domestic abuse.

Cullen added that: “We, as club owners, don’t just teach martial arts. It’s not Bruce Lee. Sadly, the police can’t be there at all times. We offer, we want and we’re determined to give our pupils practical, sensible and situational skills.”

Sifu Keith Fanning, who operates the Blue Dragon Iron Fitness globally, thinks interest in their work forms part of a pattern: “What we’re noticing is people are seeking us out.

Unfortunately these attacks, wherever you are in the world, are common and people should be knowledgable and confident with how to defend themselves.

“Social media and the news have been more useful in raising awareness about violent crimes than silly kick-ass films ever were.”

Both martial arts instructors, along with police forces around the world, continue to stress that situational-awareness and vigilance are important factors in increasing personal safety.

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13th - 19th June 2017

almeria

y 19th June Tuesday 13th June to Monda

Edition 590

Holy R.I.P. Batman!

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Adam West, star of the popular and campy 1960s “Batman” TV show, died Friday night after “a short but brave battle with leukaemia,” his family said in a statement. He was 88.

In a signature role, West played Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, the crime-fighting, costumed Batman, a popular comics character who came to life on the ABC-TV series.

The series lasted three seasons and enjoyed a long afterlife in syndication.

West later supplied the voice of Mayor Adam West, the oddball leader of Quahog, Rhode Island, on the animated series “Family Guy.” The actor was born William West Anderson in Walla Walla, Washington, and went on to earn a degree in literature and psychology from Whitman College.

Working as a disc jockey, West developed a dramatic and memorable voice, which he used effectively as the Caped Crusader. As he told CNN in an interview two years ago: “If I pick up a telephone and make an international call, the operator knows my voice immediately, as does everybody else.”

The Batman character “has to be mature enough to have a ward, he’s

a mentor or he has adopted a son, so to speak,” West once said.

And, his ‘adopted son’ – actor Burt Ward said: “This is a terribly unexpected loss of my lifelong friend. I will forever miss him. There are several fine actors who have portrayed Batman in films. In my eyes, there was only one real Batman that is and always will be Adam West. He was truly the Bright Night.”

As Batman, West also demonstrated his strong command of vocabulary, delivering wacky one-liners worthy of any manual on gobbledegook in a deadpan style.

“Catwoman, I find you to be odious, abhorrent and insegrevious,” he memorably told one villain.

The list of entertaining purveyors of evil who played opposite West was long and illustrious: actresses Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt and Lee Meriwether (in a movie spinoff) as Catwoman; Cesar Romero as the Joker; Burgess Meredith as the Penguin; and Frank Gorshin and John Astin as the Riddler.

West secured the role of Batman after he’d been working on films in Europe and returned to the United States to discover the people plan-

ning the television show liked his work in a Nestle’s Quik commercial, in which he played Captain Quik, a spoof of James Bond. He’d been hoping for a career in serious roles, but the pilot script to “Batman” changed his mind.

“I knew after 20 pages it was the kind of thing, the kind of comedy, I wanted to do,” he said.

Although he won his share of acting parts over the years, West became typecast, but he didn’t become bitter about it.

“When you wear a mask and funny tights ... it gets a little frustrating from time to time,” West said. “I was turned down for a number of parts over the years, I feel, because of that.

Wherever I go in the world, there’s such a wonderful rapport with our Batman that it’s neat. People come up and play entire scenes for me unsolicited, but I got to laugh. ... How lucky can a person get to be part of something that is a classic?”

Five years ago, West was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“I think I have the record as the actor who has waited the longest to get his star on the sidewalk,” he said.

Fight in Aguadulce A brawl broke out over the weekend near Aguadulce beach in Roquetas de Mar. The fight, which occurred inside the Arena 501 bar, was heard and seen by patrons in the surrounding vicinity and on the beach.

The incident took place at 6.20pm and was broken up by attending police officers. More than 30 were believed to be involved with damage to the establishment.

Customers in the nearby restaurants were alarmed at what they saw and heard. Beach revellers also report hearing the commotion.

Holidaymaker Zorica Ilin left the scene with her fiance as the violence begun.

"It wasn't a quiet row. We'd just sat down and immediately left when we heard glasses smashing and a lot of screaming. When restaurant staff and owners start shouting for a brawl to stop it's time to go.

"In all honesty, if people can't handle your drink they shouldn't be casting a cloud on other people's day.”

13th - 19th June 2017

3

News

UK families struggling to get time on their side

British people are struggling to balance work and family commitments, according to new research.

Findings from the Working Families and Bright Horizons charities show that only one in five families felt they had achieved the right balance between family time and having enough income to see their family thrive. More than a third say they felt they had neither.

The results also showed that only a third of parents managed to leave work on time every day, with one in five reporting that they worked a total of five extra weeks a year just to keep up with the demands of their jobs.

Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive, Working Families said: “Parents are very clear: family is the most important thing to them, but the twin currencies of time and money they need for their families to thrive are not available to them.”

72 percent of parents questioned also said they catch up on work at home in the evenings and the weekends, with 41 percent saying that this is often or all of the time.

The studies confirm a trend, with Groupon also reporting that families will spend an average of 35 days, or onethird of the summer, staring at a screen.

The e-commerce company found that families will spend an average of six hours a day staring at smartphones and other devices and the average child will watch 60 movies and play 150 hours of video games over the summer months Greg Rudin, head of Fun Things To Do at Groupon said: “As parents, we’re often just as guilty as our kids when it comes to screen time, which is why it’s important for the entire family to put down our devices every once in awhile and go make some memories together.”

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13th - 19th June 2017

News

Can you compare Scotland and Catalonia?

The leader of Spain’s Catalonia region, Carles Puigdemont, has called an independence referendum for October 2017, in defiance of the Spanish Government.

The announcement follows Catalonia holding a non-binding vote in 2014, called a ‘consultation’, on independence in which 80 percent of ballots cast supported a breakaway, but with only a 35 percent voter turnout.

Madrid rejected the vote as Spain’s Constitutional Court had previously ruled it illegal because it violated the Constitution.

Under Spanish law, only the central government has exclusive competencies to hold referenda. The situation is comparable to Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

There, as in Spain, it is under the purview of the government to grant the legal right to hold a referendum. For Spain this is outlined in the Constitution, and used for exceptional issues like political reform after Franco, to approve a new constitution and Spain’s entry into NATO, but not yet for a discussion on secession.

In the UK, powers were temporarily transferred with the consent of Westminster to Holyrood for the Scottish independence referendum (constitutional issues are reserved to the state under the Scotland Act 1998).

The Scottish Parliament, even while under the yoke of the SNP for ten years, has flirted with, but never dared launch an illegal referendum. It’s a pertinent

detail given the original vote was lost by 45 per cent and the SNP lost 21 seats in the 2017 general election.

The situation is, of course, different: the call for Catalonian independence is inherently different due to the forcible removal of its historic political and cultural autonomy.

While the UK has been a unitary state since 1707, for much of the 18th and 19th centuries Scotland enjoyed extremely decentralised control over its law, education and health and again after 1999.

While some Scottish and Catalan nationalists want to draw comparisons between their nations, there are significantly fewer historical similarities than they think.

The Spanish Government, under the Constitution, also has the power to intervene in Catalonia’s government if it is not respecting the rule of law. If there’s a powerful lesson from Scotland for Madrid, as well as Catalan separatists, then it’s that a plebiscite by law carries significantly more weight isn deescalating tensions than never-ending, neverendums.

It’s perhaps worth remembering what the contentious, boorish and occasionally correct Alex Salmond said in 2014: “Nobody has lost their life arguing for or against Scottish independence…nobody has had so much as a nosebleed. That’s not unique, but it’s a very, very precious thing.”

Norwegian resident in fatal bee attack

A 70-year-old Norwegian resident was found dead by a path in the hills behind Riviera del Sol in Mijas Costa last week with his body covered in bee stings.

The Guardia Civil were notified after a local woman discovered the deceased man with his t-shirt over his head. According to sources, the Guardia Civil’s Seprona environmental protection officers found clear signs that the man’s death had resulted from the bee stings.

Subsequent investigations led to local bee farm containing 150 beehives and based only 400 metres away from where the body was found after post-mortem results showed that the Norwegian victim had deadly levels of venom in his blood.

Officers, trying to piece together exactly what happened, believe that the man was first stung at the farm before attempting to flee a swarm and eventually collapsing by the path. Sources said that the man, well-known in the Norwegian community, had gone for walk in just shorts and t-shirt on the Wednesday, the day he was last seen alive. The woman, who was out walking her dog, found his body the next day.

The opening stages of the post-mortem, carried out by forensic scientists in Malaga, suggested the victim died of anaphylactic shock after deadly levels of bee venom were found in his bloodstream.

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News

5

‘King’ of Marbella dies in London A famous resident of Marbella, Adnan Khashoggi, a Saudi middleman-for-hire who amassed huge wealth and influence peddling everything from American weapons to favours for Riyadh’s rulers and CIA spymasters, only to see his fortunes collapse amid the Iran-contra affair and other scandals, died last Tuesday at a hospital in London.

He was 81, by most accounts.

In a family statement, the cause of his death was complications from Parkinson’s disease.

In the 1980s Adnan Khashoggi was considered the king of the Marbella jet set and the lavish parties he threw at his residence in Benahavís and on board his enormous yacht ‘Nabila’ were legendary, but his departure from the town bore none of the glamour of those golden years.

The enormous 900-hectare estate on which he had built his home was embargoed by three banks; it was eventually acquired by a group of Spanish, Swiss, German and American investors and is now the prestigious La Zagaleta residential development, which is now considered the most luxurious in Europe.

His yacht did not fare much better. It too was eventually sold and, after being used in the James Bond film Never Say Never, was bought by Donald Trump.

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13th - 19th June 2017

Backfire

Election Special

by Ray Chadwick

The Prime Minister never saw it as a gamble, but many did. She never saw it as an arrogant assumption that it was game, set and match and a simple click of the fingers to get a landslide majority, but many did. She never believed in her wildest dreams that millions of people would vote for Jeremy Corbyn, but many did.

The gamble and the self-belief displayed by Theresa May was given the thumbs down by the British people who, whilst voting her Conservatives as the largest party in the House of Commons failed miserably to give her the 100 plus majority that all were expecting when the General Election was announced on the Tuesday after Easter. Yes, it was that long ago, and when people say a week is a long time in politics seven weeks must surely represent an age or an era.

Signs were there 48 hours before the polls opened that the voting intentions of the British electorate were changing. A 20 point lead a month ago had dropped to a two to four percentage point lead and the squeaking noises began to be held from Conservative Central HQ. Could the Tories really snatch defeat from the jaws of an assumed and confident victory? No way...the polls are always wrong, aren’t they?

Except in this case they weren’t.

As the Big Ben bongs boomed 10pm, jaws dropped on all sides of the political spectrum as the results of the BBC/ITV/SKY exit poll was broadcast. “Conservatives will be the largest party” uttered David Dimbleby in rather surprised and hushed tones.

Tories couldn’t believe it. Labour supporters couldn’t believe it, and all rested on whether the real results disproved the findings or otherwise.

Newcastle beat Sunderland to be the first to declare for the first time and the initial handful of results showed Labour doing worse than forecast and the Conservatives doing better. Perhaps, as in 2015, the Exit Poll had underestimated the Tory vote and they would secure a small majority after all. TV studio experts even said that a 60 to 90 majority was still on the cards. The 1% and 2% swings either way were then replaced with levels of 6% and 9% and it was apparent that this wasn’t going to end up with Mrs May returning to Downing Street in the way she wanted.

She finished up with 318 seats – 8 short of an overall majority – and 56 seats ahead of Corbyn’s Labour.

The biggest losers on the night were the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) losing 21 of

their 56 seats including former leader Alex Salmond and Commons leader, the much respected Angus Robertson. The Liberal Democrats’ Nick Clegg lost his seat in Sheffield Hallam but were compensated with Sir Vince Cable and Sir Ed Davey regaining seats lost just two years ago. Of the 13 net losses suffered by the Conservatives, no household names lost their seats.

Despite losing their third election in a row, Labour won its greatest share of the popular vote since 2001 (40%), it was the first election since 1997 in which the party gained more seats than it lost, and their swing of 9.6% was the largest by an opposition party since Clement Attlee led Labour to win a large majority in 1945. Despite losing its majority, the Conservative Party also won an unusually high share of public support, winning its highest vote share (42.4%) since 1983. Two party politics certainly seems to have returned.

Following a Cabinet reshuffle on Sunday afternoon that didn’t see a single sacking – just a game of musical chairs - Theresa May is planning to meet Arlene Foster, the leader of the DUP, today (Tuesday) in Westminster to thrash out the final details of the formal ‘confidence and supply’ arrangement which will enable her to get vital pieces of legislation through the House of Commons, and begins with the Queen’s Speech... whenever that will be! It was due for Monday 19th June, but clashing with the planned start of Brexit talks and Royal Ascot throws everything into a top hat.

If people believed that the United Kingdom was in a political mess BEFORE Thursday’s General Election, it’s most certainly in a bigger one now!

Fewer formalities for next week’s State Opening One of the consequences of calling the snap general election that took place last Thursday are the major changes for this year’s State Opening of Parliament.

Originally in the diary for Monday 19th June but now ‘delayed by a number of days’, the entire event will be less formal for the first time in over 40 years, seeing Her Majesty the Queen arriving in a car rather than the splendour of the carriage and she will not be wearing her Imperial Crown or Robes of State. Nor will she wear the less heavy George IV State Diadem crown which she uses for the journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. Instead, she’ll be in ‘day dress’ and a hat. However, the Imperial State Crown will be brought to the House of Lords.

Weighing two and a half pounds, the Imperial Crown contains 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires and 17 emeralds, and

UK construction sector “vulnerable” after result

The construction sector could be left vulnerable to the negative effects of political uncertainty following the indecisive result of the General Election, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The surprise General Election result has left key business sectors nervous with no one political party securing enough seats to form a majority government. The construction sector is particularly vulnerable to dips in consumer confidence brought about by political uncertainty and therefore it’s crucial that this uncertainty is minimised.”

Berry concluded: “In the longer term, there could be a

potential silver lining for the business community as the prospect of a hard Brexit now seems less likely. Theresa May stood on a hard Brexit platform and she has clearly not been given a mandate to approach the negotiations in this way. Brexit is inevitable but the election result will surely have a significant impact on the shape of the Brexit deal we end up with. This could be a positive for business leaders who are concerned about a broad range of issues – for the construction sector, our greatest concern is that the flow of migrant workers might be reduced too quickly and before we are able to put in place a framework for training sufficient UK workers to replace them.”

it will be carried into Parliament along with the sword of State and Cap of Maintenance.

There is one main reason for these changes – being that the ceremony has been rescheduled with short notice due to the early election. The pomp and circumstance spectacular usually takes place in May; however, with no Parliament to be opened, there has been little choice but to rearrange for June.

This means the army will have little time to prepare for the state procession as Trooping the Colour takes place just a couple of days before Her Majesty opens Parliament. The rehearsal for the State Opening would have to be held on the Friday morning and it was decided it simply wasn’t possible.

The last time HM The Queen opened Parliament without the full ceremony followed Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath equally calling a snap election in February 1974, which resulted in Labour’s Harold Wilson coming out as the victor.

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13th - 19th June 2017

News

British police react to election result Steve White, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “The Prime Minister has today pledged that the new Government will work to keep the nation safe and secure, and mentions giving the police ‘the powers’ they need to keep the country safe.

“That’s all very well – and we, the Federation, will continue to provide advice and suggestions to that end. But we can’t ignore that safety and security has been brought into sharp focus in recent weeks, tragically for all the wrong reasons.

“The protection of its citizens should be the primary responsibility of any government. She can start by properly investing in our police service.

The postcode lottery we hear spoken about in health and education is one we’re fast seeing develop in policing. We have all seen and heard how officers will not hesitate; will not flinch when running towards danger, but their ability to do so in every pocket of England and Wales is hampered by the number that exist to do the job – or not, as is the reality.

“Now more than ever, we need a commitment to change for the better. There is no quick fix but there are quick actions that can be taken to help better protect the public and the police – quick actions that will instil trust in this new government.

“Mrs May must start as she means to go on and show the country that they take public safety seriously – financial investment back into policing is the least that they must do.”

In the wake of the terrorist attacks 10 days ago that saw eight people killed on and around London Bridge, Police Federation vice-chair Calum Macleod gave his views on the extra investment that’s been made in counter-terrorism policing. Whilst welcoming it, he added: “This is not enough on its own – other areas, like community policing, need more boots on the ground now so that we can strengthen those neighbourhood relationships and stop the terrorists before they claim more lives.

“The reality is that all those of interest to the security services can’t be watched all the time and difficult decisions have had to be made.”

Mr Macleod discounted any ideas that routinely arming all police was the answer. “When we last surveyed our members, 80% told us they did not want to routinely carry firearms. They do, however want access to better equipment, such as Taser and spit guards.”

Steve White, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales

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13th - 19th June 2017

News

9

Take the chains away from selling Now the General Election is over, many people living in Spain that still have property in the UK may have been awaiting for the result to decide whether they were going to sell their British based home.

It would certainly help and speed up the process if, when selling your house the ultimate buyer is someone paying cash, chain free and can complete whenever you are ready to. But, what if in return you had to take 15 or even 20% under market value? To some people it sounds crazy, but to others it’s a price they are willing to pay.

There are an increasing number of UK cash property buying companies which are offering house sellers this service. With the ever-growing number of companies it can be difficult to know which companies you should choose to sell your house to.

To help house sellers The National Association of Property Buyers was set up in 2014. The not-for-profit organisation is a voluntary trade body for the cash property buying market.

Jonathan Rolande, a founder member of The NAPB, said: “If you are considering using a professional cash property buyer then it’s important you check out their credentials. They should be a member of The NAPB which means they must be signed up to The Property Ombudsman Scheme’s code of conduct.

“You should also check reviews from people who have previously sold their houses through the company and ask lots of questions.”

Mr Rolande suggests some of these questions should include:

1. Do you have to pay solicitor and other fees?

Some professional property buyers cover all of these fees while others add them on. It’s important you know whether you are going to have to cover these costs yourself so you can take them into account.

4. How are they going to pay for the property?

Some professional property buyers buy property with their own cash while others find third party buyers. Don’t be afraid to ask for proof of funds from whoever is buying your property.

2. Can you get your own legal advice?

Many companies recommend solicitors which they regularly work with and they know can work to fast time scales. If you aren’t comfortable with using their solicitor you should ensure the company allows you to use a legal representative of your choosing

5. Is the price they offer guaranteed?

It’s important to know if the offer is conditional and if so what the circumstances could be that mean the offer is reduced.

3. Are you tied into only using the professional property buyer?

Some companies insist on a ‘tie-in’ contract for a period of time. Some of these can be very lengthy. This means you can’t sell your property to anyone else during this period - even if they make a better offer.

6. Do you need to pay any fees if you accept an offer and then don’t go through with the sale?

If you decide to pull out of the sale you may be liable to pay a fee or cover the costs incurred up until that point.

Some companies allow you to pull out up until the point of exchanging contracts without incurring any costs, while others won’t.

Mayday: Looking at the general election result In October of 1974, Harold Wilson called a general election and wildly hedged his bets.

Wilson, who had a minority government after a hung result that same year, came to regret it: the exit poll prediction of a 132 seat majority turned out to be worth only three for the Labour prime minister. He resigned in 1976.

In 2007, Gordon Brown committed the opposite sin - he didn’t hold a snap general election, lacked a mandate and was dogged by media fatigue with his oscillating.

Flash forward to 2017 and Theresa May has committed electoral Hari Kari. The Prime Minister needlessly gambled the majority of David Cameron and egregiously mistook support for Brexit as support for her.

The SNP committed the inverse error in 2012: they convinced themselves that their repeated political victories since 2007 meant winning the independence referendum was a shoe in.

If there’s a key factor at the heart of this, it’s bad instincts. Mrs May was elected in disaster and has governed as such. She is a premier who exists as a parody of herself - a flustered grandmother at a bake sale who forgot something. She, even more so than Boris Johnson, is the bumbling wreck that has consecutively failed to think on her feet and present a manifesto or Brexit strategy beyond ‘strong and stable’.

Had there been a candidate less contentious than Jeremy Corbyn, or had Labour’s majority been even greater with lesser Tory numbers, then en masse revolution would have occurred against May’s play to stay.

Indeed, imagine Article 50 wasn’t yet triggered: May would have been denounced after a year in office as possessing none of the Churchillian boorishness required to tackle a continental bloc of 27 powers who all want to limit the UK making a success of its grand exit.

If there is evidence to be found at how pathetically small May and her decidedly unconservative Conservatives are, then consider the band she’s now in the pocket of. The Democratic Unionist Party are climate change denying, anti-gay, anti-abortion incorrigibles. They offer nothing savoury beyond numbers to prop up a weak leader.

If a change is to be made, it must be done so by looking hard facts in the eye with none of the rhetoric embellishments entwined with elections and seeing things as they really are.

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13th - 19th June 2017

News

Despite social media, most still prefer the real thing Research has found that Brits have an average of between 100 - 200 social media followers, yet only 3-5 who they would consider ‘close’ friends in real life outside of cyberspace.

The research, commissioned by Diet Coke, also found that despite the continued dominance of social media, what people really yearn for is quality face to face time with their friends and when asked about their preferred means of communication with friends, 69% opted for catching up in person rather than via social media (11%), group chats (8%), text message (8%) or a phone call (3%).

As encouraging as it may seem to hear how traditional means of nurturing friendships and relationships haven’t been forgotten altogether, social media appears to be playing a significant role in the way some friendships are

formed in the first place. Over half of Brits (54%) claim to have met up with someone they originally met on social media and 44% say they made a new best friend thanks to their online networks.

Social media is also proving to be a necessary source of confidence for many given that 23% admit that it takes just 10-25 likes to make us feel valued by their online friends and 60% also stating that getting likes helps to boost their confidence.

Natalie Whitehead- Farr, Senior Brand Manager for Coca-Cola Great Britain added: “The rise of social media means that we can communicate with our friends easily and it is also a great tool for meeting new people. However, it is encouraging to see that we all really do value the opportunity to share good times in person, which is what we are calling for people to do more.”

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.

My solution is simple, if bordering on paranoia!

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, and is in the case of ‘WannaCry’,

13th - 19th June 2017

News

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Spain & India sign organ donation pact The Director General of the National Transplant Organisation (ONT), Beatriz Domínguez-Gil and the Indian Ambassador to Spain, Venkatesh Varma, signed a collaboration agreement on last week at the headquarters of the ONT, under which Spain will advise the Indian health authorities on the issue of donation and transplantation.

The agreement includes support to create strategies, the creation of networks for the availability of organs and tissue, transportation and transplantation, biomonitoring and organ quality assurance, among other aspects. Spain will also train healthcare professionals as transplant coordinators.

For its part, India undertakes to set up a National Register for the donation and transplantation of organs, in line with the standards of the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation managed by the ONT, upon appointment by the WHO. The agreement, which includes a monitoring committee, has an initial duration of five years, which may then be extended.

Following the signing of the agreement, Beatriz Dominguez-Gil confirmed, before representatives of the Indian Embassy in Spain, the firm commitment of the ONT to “continue contributing to the international reputation of the ‘Spain Brand’ through the dissemination of the Spanish

transplantation model. Sharing knowledge and experiences with other countries from what we have learnt in recent years forms part of the DNA of the ONT”, she stressed.

India, which has more than 1.3 billion inhabitants, has a great potential to develop a donation and transplantation system, based on the principles of the Spanish model, which will allow the needs of many of its patients to be dealt with. At present, it performs live donor transplants, but deceased donor transplants are almost non-existent.

RAJOY AND MODI SUMMIT At around the same time, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, received his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, at the Moncloa Palace. Having welcomed him and thanking him for making his visit to Spain, he announced the signing of a document to serve as a guide to develop “relations at a political, security, economic, scientific and technology level”.

In his speech, Mariano Rajoy praised the Indian Prime Minister for the “broad raft of economic reforms” he is pushing through in his country to ensure “good governance” and “a more developed and knowledge-based economy”.

Rajoy underlined the importance of India for Spain, as shown by the fact that it is Spain’s third largest trading partner in Asia. He also highlighted that “bilateral relations are on the rise and increasingly

better”, and thus hopes that the visit by the Indian Prime Minister to this country will serve to boost this collaboration even further.

Mariano Rajoy also announced the signing of a document to serve as a guide “to develop relations at a political, security, economic, scientific and technology level”, and also reported that, during the bilateral meetings to be held other issues on the international agenda were addressed as well as purely bilateral issues.

Prime Minister Modi, as well as thanking

Mariano Rajoy for his “warm welcome”, expressed his interest in tackling issues with the Government of Spain relating to the global and European situations and international terrorism.

On another note, Mr Modi claimed that the economic progress in India, “a huge country”, offers many opportunities and, to that end, invited Spanish companies to take part in the renewal and modernisation of infrastructures, sectors in which Spain is “highly competent at a global level”.

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13th - 19th June 2017

Surge in support for British pubs

British pubs have been declared in excellent health by a leading research firm.

Data released this week by Mintel found that sales of alcoholic drinks and meals in pubs has grown by 6% and 14% respectively, while soft drink sales rose by 7% in 2012-16.

Publicans will undoubtedly welcome the £7.4 billion boost brought from food. The numbers challenge the presumption that punters had abandoned British pubs in recent years because of the increased emphasis on meal and music-friendly environments.

British pub fayre has also been met with approval for its quality. Over three in five (63%) are prepared to pay over £10 for dinner at a pub (excluding drinks) and 18% are happy to spend between £15-£19.99.

10% of customers are comfortable

paying between £20 - 24.99 and 8% prepared to pay over £25.

23% of consumers also said they had visited a pub in the past month because of the high quality of food on offer, rising to 30% in 2017.

The survey confirms a subtle shift in drinking habits among British people, with nine in 10 (89%) British people saying they typically visit a pub or bar to eat, compared to eight in 10 (79%) who go to drink in these venues.

In 2016, alcoholic drinks made up half of the UK pub industry’s turnover, compared to 31% brought in by food. Overall, industry turnover grew by an estimated 8% in 201216 to reach £23.5 billion.

Richard Caines, Senior Food and Drink Analyst at Mintel, said: “Pubs that generate a higher proportion of sales from food and, as

a result, attract a wider audience have generally performed more strongly than drink-led pubs.”

If there’s dark cloud, however, it might be that a majority of 65% of people would like more pubs to have quiet areas free from music and TV. However, the evidence points to a resurgence in pub culture which has suffered a sharp decline in recent years.

According to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), there were 52,750 pubs at the end of last 2015, down from 54,194 in December 2014.

The organisation reported that pub closure rates are slowing - with the total number of pubs closing per week falling from 27 to 21 in the last six months.

CAMRA has encouraged the public to continue supporting their local pubs to ensure pub closures continue to fall.

News

Until ‘I do’, they don’t If you entered a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop in Australia to order a two-scoop serving of the same ice cream flavour, be prepared for the response, “no ice cream for you!”

In protest of Australia’s Marriage Act, which refuses to recognise same-sex marriages, the company won’t serve “same scoop” ice cream orders until gay marriage is legalised in the country.

“Imagine heading down to your local Scoop Shop to order your favourite two scoops of Cookie Dough in a waffle cone. But you find out you are not allowed…

You’d be furious!” Ben & Jerry’s wrote in an official statement. “But this doesn’t even begin to compare to how furious you would be if you were told you were not allowed to marry the person you love. So we are banning two scoops of the same flavour and encouraging our fans to contact their MPs to tell them that the time has come — make marriage equality legal!”

The goal of the popular world-wide ice cream brand is to encourage its customers to join in the fight for LGBTQ rights and contact Australian MPs to express their support for the legalisation of gay marriage.

Ben & Jerry’s will also place special post boxes in the country’s 26 stores, giving their patrons the opportunity to write postcards to their MPs. The messages will be delivered to Australian Parliament later this month.

This isn’t the first time Ben & Jerry’s has gotten political — in America, the company has expressed its support for the Black Lives Matter movement and spoken out against Donald Trump’s travel ban. When the U.S. Supreme Court legalised same-sex marriage in 2015, Ben & Jerry’s released a celebratory ice cream flavour called “I Dough, I Dough.”

Wherever you be may you roam free Spanish telecommunications companies, Vodafone, Orange and Telefónica, are preparing for the disappearance of roaming charges as from next Thursday, 15 June.

The new regulations introduced by the European Commission mean that mobile users in all EU member states will pay the same tariffs for texts, calls and mobile data in other EU countries as they do in the country where their mobile is contracted. Therefore, anyone leaving Spain to visit another European country in two weeks’ time will not pay any extra to use their mobile abroad. Likewise, those coming to Spain from other EU countries will pay the same tariffs as they do at home.

Although the new measure, promoted as “Roam like at Home” only affects EU member states, some operators have announced they will include other countries in the new change.

Vodafone has already offered the same benefit to customers travelling to the US, Turkey, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Albania. Telefónica has also offered to extend the measure to Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

13th - 19th June 2017

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News

Of course Wonder Woman deserves an all-female showing

Online live casinos make it real

There are only a few cinemas in Andalusia which show films in English. How would Spaniards feel if only English speakers were allowed in?

That’s the ignorant comparison which some are making of the situation in Austin, Texas where the Alamo Drafthouse announced an allfemale screening of Wonder Woman.

Is the comparison or the hate-filled reaction to the event justified?

No, for three important reasons.

Firstly, the showing of the film was by an independent cinema with a history of having select evenings aimed at specific demographics.

Secondly, Spain, like most other Western nations, might have their share of politics but seldom in their culture would it be acceptable for men to light up Twitter, as some male Americans have, to protest the film.

Thirdly, the same cinema held an all-female screening of Sex and the City with not so much as a flutter.

Why? Because it’s a ‘chick’ film while comic books are archetypically male. Or so the idiocy goes.

The character of ‘Wonder Woman’ was born of an age where this was true, though. Her status is, by definition, wondrous because of how statistically unlikely it was a heroine who rivalled her male counterparts would succeed.

To denounce the appropriateness of women to see a film that represents one of the only universally recognised and popular female heroes is to dismiss the ongoing disparities between the sexes as well as those who’ve worked to fight for women’s rights.

This is not militant feminism. It’s common sense - women are still most likely to suffer disparities in pay with their male counterparts; get humiliated by career setbacks if they dare to have children and are statistically more likely to be sexual assaulted.

Everything from wolf whistles in the street to the fact that The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America have all had films, but Black Widow hasn’t, is precisely why there should be a collective sigh at the protest against the movie.

Remember, too that the Wonder Woman character was made an honorary UN ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls and was just as quickly dropped. Would the same have happened to Superman as an exemplar of truth, justice and the American way?

We owe it to our mothers, as well as our daughters, not to decry a film showing, but rather the abject mistreatment of fifty percent of the population and the only sex that can give birth to men.

The advent of live casino games is the newest development in the world of online gambling. Live casino games offer players the chance to interact with human dealers instead of an automated system There are a lot of areas where brick-and-mortar casinos struggle to compete with online casinos. But there is one advantage that physical casinos have always had - the human aspect. When someone walks into a casino, they get to sit down at a table and interact with a real human - something that online casinos can’t compete with.

Well, not anymore. Muchgames is showing us that with live casino games, players can play table games with real dealers and interact with them through video in the comfort of their own home.

Not only does this give players the feeling of actually being in a casino, it also assures them that their game isn’t being rigged by some computer algorithm. In addition to having real dealers, these live casino games also let players communicate with each other via in-game chat systems and give each other gifts.

The beauty of online casinos is that they can offer a huge variety of games that players can access from one website. Instead of having to get up and go to another table, players can just click a few buttons and be “sitting” at a roulette or blackjack table.

The myriad of online gambling websites and mobile apps also has created a lot of great competition. Developers know that if a player is not happy with their website they will just leave and go to another one. Unlike physical casinos, which have methods of keeping players inside their buildings, there is not much preventing a player from closing their browser and leaving a website.

Because of this competition, online casinos are offering great bonuses and large varieties of games in order to keep players from leaving their website. As live casino games have grown in popularity, almost every type of table game has become available online. Players can enjoy everything from roulette and blackjack to craps and poker.

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13th - 19th June 2017

Rural Spain is dying out

Spain’s battle against a severe drop in population in rural areas of the country has taken a new and surprising turn, by offering banking services closer to residents in declining villages and providing childcare at home.

Whilst provincial capital cities and coastal areas tend to be densely-populated, many land-locked regions are suffering from an ongoing loss of inhabitants leading to schools closing and even entire villages becoming empty.

One of the worst-hit provinces is Teruel, southern Aragón, where 80% of the population live in villages of fewer than 30 inhabitants and nearly everyone outside

Teruel city – which has barely 30,000 residents – resides in a village of fewer than 300 people.

Such areas often have no infrastructure enjoyed by so many others, such as internet access and limited mobile phone coverage, since telecommunications companies would never recover the cost of their investment in setting up the networks needed – an issue regional governments in affected areas are working hard to address in line with the EU’s requirement for 100% coverage within the next three years.

Spain is home to 8,125 towns, cities and villages, and over 50% of these are at risk of ‘extinction’ due to losing

Understanding political parties in Almeria Do you know your PP from your PSOE, and what they stand for?

Firstly, since Spain’s transition to democracy, there have been no coalitions, only majority and minority national governments in the Spanish Parliament, The

Cortes Generales.

The People’s Party (PP) and the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) have been predominant since 1979 (the former comparable to the Conservatives and the latter Labour).

PP has been the in power since 2011 and is lead by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Pedro Sanchez is once again the leader of PSOE after a months-long leadership contest.

Both parties have had extended periods of governing Spain, but both have faced a backlash against high unemployment and economic austerity after the 2007-08 recession.

New political parties, notably the leftwing group Podemos and Ciudadanos on the right, have arisen in response to the disillusionment and frustration at austerity and alleged corruption.

News

all their residents. Of these, 1,286 have fewer than 100 inhabitants, and 36 provinces in Spain have lost significant numbers of residents in the last year alone.

The decline of rural life, which used to make up twothirds of Spain’s economy barely 40 years ago, means younger residents have to move away from their home villages to get jobs, typically heading to cities and the coast.

This means few under-populated provinces have any residents of child-bearing age – in a country where the birth-rate has been in freefall for well over 15 years – and as the original inhabitants age and eventually die or move in with younger relatives, villages are literally disappearing.

Spain’s Federation of Municipalities (FEMP) says some of the solution lies in making rural life viable again by providing modern services, infrastructure, mobile and internet coverage and shops, as well as buying up empty homes and selling them on.

Income tax deductions and financial and professional incentives for people choosing to stay in, or move to these areas are other suggestions.

“In some of the worst-hit areas, residents do not even have a cashpoint nearby or anywhere within walking distance to buy a carton of milk,” FEMP says. “And for those with children, the nearest nursery is often over 10 kilometres away.”

Childcare in the family home – in the same way as better-populated towns and villages offer home assistance for the elderly – may help, at least in the medium term, FEMP believes.

An increase of at least 20% in funding for home help for children and the elderly, sick and disabled is necessary to encourage residents to stay put and even move out of towns and into the country, as well as a State financial injection for ‘endangered’ villages, according to FEMP, which is due to hold a conference on the most pressing issues in Huesca, Aragón’s northernmost provincial capital, towards the end of June.

FEMP believes tourism may be another useful tool in providing meaningful and well-paid jobs that prove an incentive to residents to stay in, or move to, parts of the country suffering a population exodus.

As well as Aragón, provinces in Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha are among those with the greatest dangers of losing swathes of inhabitants and ending up with a significant portion of their municipalities completely empty within the next 10 or 20 years.

The key to understanding Spanish politics is an appreciation that Franco’s regime forcefully enforced centralism. Peripheral nationalism was regarded as a serious threat.

As such, there is a diverse representation of parties at regional and municipal level. Elections for the municipalities and 13 regions occur on the same day every four years in May. Four communities, including Andalusia, can decide their own election date and the last was on 22 March 2015.

Elections to the Spanish Parliament also occur every four years.

At the regional level, PSOE has consistently held Andalusia since 1982 save for 2011 with support from smaller parties.

Susana Díaz is the incumbent president since 2013, winning a majority in the 2015 election. The Andalusian Parliament has 109 members, including Díaz, who is elected by members to be president.

Across the municipalities in Almeria, there are different electoral characteris-

tics for the 102 constituencies. Each has a mayor and an administration formed of councillors. The Provincia Council of Almeria Deputation, headed by President Gabriel Amat Ayllón (PP), has 27 councillors who are indirectly elected by the municipal councillors of the province.

Spain’s fragmentation and political character receive praise and criticism alike. What is clear, is it has a fascinating practicality which, when looked at closely, makes for an interesting parallel to the UK. If there’s a true test of democracy, consider what Voltaire said: “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticise.”

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Home, Garden & Property

13th - 19th June 2017

Picking the right selling season The time of year can play a huge part in whether or not your house in the UK will sell fast. If you are looking to sell a property soon then you should be aware of when the quiet times for the market are and consider whether it’s absolutely necessary to put your property up for sale during these periods.

The problem with putting your house on the market during quiet periods can be two-fold.

Firstly, if your property fails to sell quickly because the market is quiet it can lose its ‘fresh to the market’ appeal and buyers may start to think there is something wrong with it because it hasn’t sold.

The second problem is that after a few weeks of a property being on their books UK estate agents can get bored of it. If this goes on for a longer period of time it can get completely neglected by the agent.

SPRING This is generally considered as the best time to sell a house for a number of reasons. Improving weather and in-bloom gardens can show a property at their best.

An increase in warm days also puts people in a good mood, gets them thinking about the future and makes them more likely to get out and about property hunting.

Families who are looking to move to a new area with school-

age children may also choose the spring to start house hunting to tie their move in with the school summer holidays.

SUMMER The main summer months of July and August are generally slow for the property market, particularly August.

Many people take holidays during this time and the school

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Once the school term starts and

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13th - 19th June 2017

Be friendly to the bees Take a walk around your local garden centre and you will see a mouth-watering range of gorgeous plants on display. You might note that some are specifically labelled as pollinator or beefriendly, with a picture of a cartoon bumblebee on the label.

If, like many, you’ve ever succumbed to the temptation to buy these plants, you may be somewhat concerned by the results of the latest research just published.

Sussex University have been busy screening the leaves, pollen and nectar of these plants to see if they contain pesticides. They bought flowering plants from a range of major outlets; Wyevale (the biggest garden centre chain in the UK) and also Aldi, B&Q and Homebase, deliberately purchasing plants that are known to be attractive to bees and butterflies; most of them had a bee-friendly logo, often the RHS one.

On investigation, they found that most of these plants contained a cocktail of pesticides, usually a mixture of fungicides and insecticides. Only two out of 29 plants contained no pesticides. Seventy six percent of them (22/29) contained at least one insecticide, and 38% contained two or more insecticides. One flowering heather plant contained five different insecticides and five different fungicides – a veritable toxic bouquet.

Seventy percent of the plants contained neonicotinoids (insecticides that are notorious for their harmful effects on bees), commonly including the ones banned for use on flowering crops by the EU (for the technically minded: 38% contained imidacloprid, 14% contained thiamethoxam and one contained clothianidin). You get the picture? Plants sold as ‘bee-friendly’ plants are usually stuffed full of pesticides.

Just before the results went public, B&Q (who knew that the study was appearing imminently) announced that they were prohibiting their suppliers from using neonicotinoids on their plants from February 2018. Once the results were out Aldi declared that they stopped using neonicotinoids in October 2016; the plants tested bought from them were in July 2016.

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The foliage resembles small banana leaves with long petioles. The leaves on the Birds of Paradise plant are arranged strictly in two ranks to form a fan-like crown of evergreen foliage, thick, waxy, and glossy green, making it a very attractive ornamental plant.

Each Birds of Paradise flower is made up of three upright orange sepals and three highly modified vivid blue petals. Two of the petals are joined together in a structure resembling an arrowhead with the third petal forming a nectary at the base of the flower.

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Home , Garden & Property

13th - 19th June 2017

Welcoming the birds and the bugs With summer coming into full bloom, it’s time to turn our attention to our outdoor spaces at home and make the most of them for the warmer months to come. Not only should we focus on using these spaces for ourselves, but also aim to make them a more welcoming environment for nature too.

No matter what size garden you have to work with, take a look at some of our top tips to guide you through the dos and don’ts of how to turn your garden into a wildlife haven.

Attracting birds into your garden starts with showcasing that there is food available for them, so begin by putting up a couple of bird feeders around the garden. Think carefully about the best places to locate feeders: they need to be close enough to a natural shelter, such as thick shrubs, so the birds can quickly hide if needed, but not so close that predators such as cats can pounce.

Make sure the feeder is in plain sight for birds flying overhead, but in a spot that is fairly sheltered from wind or rain to stop the food from getting soggy or being blown out of the feeder.

Depending on the species of birds in your local area and the ones you’re trying to attract,

different foods are recommended. To give a well-rounded source of nutrients that will appeal to most birds, try buying a pre-mixed bag of bird food which includes sunflowers seeds, smaller seeds and peanuts.

Fruits, such as apples and pears, are another popular food source for most garden birds and are a great way to avoid wasting bruised fruit in the kitchen.

Watching birds have a bath can be an enjoyable experience so, if you have space for one, make a bird bath a new feature in your garden. Make sure it’s in a safe place — away from fences where cats can lurk — and remember to top up the water regularly so it doesn’t go stale and attract pests.

Avoid washing the bird bath with any chemicals that may be harmful to the birds; using a pressure hose on a light setting or using a scrubbing brush once in a while should remove any debris from the bottom of the bath without the need for any stronger cleaning agents.

It’s not just our feathered friends that will appreciate being invited into your gardens. Encouraging good insects too is key to attracting other wildlife, as it will help build up the biodiversity over time. Species including beetles,

ladybirds, bees and butterflies are all beneficial to our outdoor spaces, as they act as pollinators and predators against less beneficial bugs.

A bug hotel is a good way to attract insects

and encourage them to stay in your garden for the season. Many stores sell pre-made bug hotels that you can simply hang up or leave in a sheltered spot in the garden.

Unexpected rise in UK house prices UK house prices held up better than expected last month although the year-on-year rate of price gains continued to cool. The average cost of a home in Britain increased by 0.4% in May when compared to the month before, to reach £220,706, according to mortgage lender Halifax.

In terms of quarterly rates of change, prices dipped 0.2%, the same as in April, and were 3.3% ahead versus the same period one year ago but down from the 3.8% clip observed in the prior month.

Economists had forecast a 0.2% month-on-month fall in UK house prices and a 3.0% gain on the year.

The rate of price gains peaked at 10% in March 2016, with the slowest pace, of 2.6%, having been hit in May 2013.

Commenting on the outlook for prices, Martin Ellis, Halifax housing economist, said that: “the fact that the supply of new homes and existing properties available for sale remains low, combined with historically low mortgage rates and a high employment rate, is likely to support house price levels over the coming months.”

Nationally, in May UK house prices were 11% above their August 2007 peak.

May’s Halifax survey data should allay concerns that house prices in Britain are on a downward spiral and there is scope for prices to edged up over the remainder of 2017.

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13th - 19th June 2017

Money

Planning an early retirement? Think again Giving up work and entering into a long and happy retirement may be the dream, but unfortunately, it may stay just that for many. Financial pressures mean a growing number of would-be retirees are staying in work for longer, yet all is not lost, as research shows that deferring retirement could boost your pension by thousands of pounds!

That’s according to research from Aegon, which revealed that staying in work until age 70 could boost pension income by two-thirds, equating to a possible £46,388 extra in pension savings and an additional £314 per month in retirement income (£771 per month instead of £457).

Even those who only delay retirement by three years past state pension age and work until age 68 could still build up an extra £25,542 in savings, increasing their monthly income by £164. Not bad for a few more years at the grindstone…

The calculations are based on the assumption that the average 55-64 year-old is contributing £355 a month to a pension, and has a fund of £105,496 by the time they reach state pension age. At age 65, that fund might produce a monthly income for life of £457, yet at age 68 the fund could be worth £131,038, with a monthly income of £621 (an increase of 35%).

At age 70, the fund could be worth £151,884, which might produce a monthly income of £771, a 67% increase. This kind of uplift could be increasingly common, too, as the employment rate of over 65s has doubled in the last 30 years (from 4.9% to 10.2%), and half of people now expect to work past state pension age.

That figure includes a quarter of those who expect to stay in full-time work for as long as they’re able, and a further quarter who plan to continue working on a parttime basis. Just 12% say they’ll give up work immediately upon reaching state pension age, and only 9% will stop working pre-retirement, with early retirement largely being a thing of the past.

Indeed, younger people in particular are getting used to the idea of a more flexible transition to retirement: 31% of millennials expect they’ll keep working full-time for as long as they are able, while 27% will work part-time and just 3% expect to stop working upon reaching state pension age. But will that be a choice or a necessity?

“Those of working age today are waking up to the likelihood they’ll not retire at as early an age as their parents, and are no longer picturing state pension age as the defining ‘retirement moment’ at which they automatically leave the workforce,” said Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon.

“For some, the decision to work on past ‘traditional’ retirement age will be a lifestyle choice, but for others an inadequate pension pot may make it a necessity.”

Steven points out that the “silver lining” is that working a few more years while maintaining pension contributions means those individuals could enjoy a far higher pension income when they do come to retire, thanks to “the triple boost of continued investment growth on the pension fund, further contributions being added and ultimately fewer years to spread the fund over once no longer working.

“For those early on in their working lives, starting saving as soon as possible is key.

But we can’t turn back time and those approaching traditional retirement age with less than they might wish for still have choices. For those who are able, continuing to work for a few years more not only keeps a salary coming, it can also produce a substantial uplift in retirement income.”

Start planning – find out more about why you need a workplace pension, and save as much as possible from as early as you can. That way, you may be able to leave work sooner than you think…

Consider topping up your pension savings with a cash ISA, or perhaps the new a Lifetime ISA, to maximise your tax-free savings for the long term.

Money

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Cash stashers keeping it quiet

Nearly a quarter of British adults have money tucked away their partner knows absolutely nothing about, according to a new survey.

Researchers polled 1,500 people in relationships and revealed the typical man will have as much as £4,234 saved on the sly, with the average female stashing away funds to the tune of £2,768.

Four in ten (41%) of those studied said they have a secret pot of cash because they like being financially independent and 23% said they are keeping it from their other half as they are terrible with money.

The data showed 27% are squirreling away money for a sun soaked holiday, with 38% of those looking for a break in Europe and a further 30% saving for a tropical holiday in a far-flung destination – without their partner.

Almost two in ten (19%) have their eye on a new car and one in five are saving for new clothes and designer items.

But a more careful 23% are saving on the quiet in case their relationship one day breaks down and they need cash for an ‘exit strategy.’

The poll by affordable car hire company autoeurope.

co.uk revealed the average adult felt they would need a staggering £22,748 as a buffer if their relationship fell apart. One in five said if their spouse discovered the savings they would want to spend it immediately.

A spokesman for autoeurope.co.uk said: “As a company that helps people to save money on car hire, we understand how important it is for everybody to have a saving aspiration.

“Our research suggests that men and women in relationships show a determined effort to save for wellearned indulgences on their own. From holidays to farflung destinations without their partners to mini-breaks with friends, it seems that time away from their relationships is key to feeling a sense of freedom while remaining financially independent from one another.”

The poll found the most popular place to hide money from their other half was an online savings account (35%), which avoids any bank statements in the post, followed by a regular bank account (26%), whereby respondents admitted to destroying any statements.

But underwear drawers and stuffed at the back of the wardrobe were still popular hiding places for wads of

cash. A crafty one in ten (11%) even give their savings to their Mum or Dad to stash away for them.

A high-rolling 12% keep their cash in an off-shore account and more than one in ten women are keeping cash in a bank account in their maiden name which their partner is unaware of.

A blasé 17% of respondents felt it made sense to save in secret – but a more honest 56% felt it was sneaky and deceitful. The autoeurope.co.uk spokesperson, continued: “Although the average adult feels like they would need thousands of pounds if their relationship fell apart, the data suggests they might often just need enough to splurge on themselves when they’re feeling a tad indulgent, or in need of a well-deserved break.

Nearly three in ten (29%) said they felt guilty for not being upfront about all their finances, but 36% said they were doing it for the good of the family.

The poll found 42% said they would be furious if they discovered their partner had cash stashed away. In contrast 57% said they would be delighted. In fact, one in twenty of those said if they found wads of cash in the house, they would nab it for themselves.

New Government but existing pension issues An important topic for anyone nearing retirement or planning their financial future will be the issues surrounding UK pensions. These are some of the key pension problems the new government will need to address.

UK Corporate Pension Deficits The UK corporate pension deficit has remained fairly stable over the last year, falling 0.5% for the year ended April 30. However, for some of the largest companies in Britain it has risen significantly, with the pension’s deficit of businesses on the FTSE 100 index increasing 13%. Many of these firms will be carrying out pension revaluations in the coming months and growing deficits could cause problems.

Factors such as quantitative easing and record low interest rates are helping to prevent corporate pension deficits from falling, so the government would have to act on these areas in any hope of doing so.

Workplace Pension Scheme In 2010, the government launched its Nest scheme as part of its workplace pension plan. While the workplace pension scheme has many good intentions, and is proving successful so far, one concern is that Nest will not break even until 20 years after it was formed. It is also estimated that by 2026 the loan provided by the Department of Work

and Pensions will have risen to £1.28bn from £539m now. Ensuring Nest can become self-sufficient and that the loan is repaid could be a big task.

Greater Transparency There have been calls for greater pension’s transparency from the new government, along with passing on more power to the Pensions Regulator to tackle employers. For businesses, increased transparency should lead to safer pension funds and greater awareness of any problems. While for individuals, increased transparency can make it easier when consolidating pensions, as is common for anyone who ever changes occupation.

Ageing Population People are living longer, which is undoubtedly a good thing. However, for pensions it means the state and employers paying out more for longer. This is a tricky issue for the new government to tackle, working out how to cover the costs of a population living longer, in a humane way.

Whether you’re just starting to save for retirement or will be collecting your first pension in a few weeks, keep an eye on the new government’s policies and plans, as it will likely affect you in some way.

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Barking mad

By Feature writer Sandy Shore House builders and real estate agents constantly search for an incentive that will give them an edge over their rivals. Inducements include fitted furniture, white goods, even the offer of a free car.

As a marketing initiative I suggest a gated urbanisation where zero tolerance of dog ownership is guaranteed. Such would be a blessing for those offended by noise pollution.

Don’t tell me it can’t be done as I lived in one. I recently spent three blissful dog-free days in a hotel.

I endure a sort of life in a 12 house calle where five of the eight occupied homes have dogs. These public nuisances are untrained, undisciplined mutt-delinquents.

It takes only a passer-by or visitor to spark a crescendo similar to the alarms going off in a fire station.

In a climate where open doors and windows are to be expected I am hermetically sealed to provide a measure of peace and quiet.

Dog owners expect tolerance but they would be

Made to Measure

As I passed by the pump house on my travels around our garden I noticed a trickle of water where no water should be trickling.

I’ve been having several of One of Those Days back-to-back recently, and this trickle signified that I was heading for another One of Those Days. To celebrate this sure fact I expressed my feelings with an ‘Oh bother!’ or rather with a similar word also beginning with B – I would need a plumber!

In this life it’s not what you know that counts but rather who you know, and I know Francisco.

Francisco is the number 2 son of Jose and Matilde, who are the original owners of The Dog That Is Not Ours, and who also keep a watchful if slightly puzzled eye on our horticultural strivings.

I rang him. ‘I’ll come later.’ He promised. I didn’t ask what sort of later he meant, so I settled in to the long game, ignored the leak and went about my daily chores.

Minutes later his van arrived, and he bounced up our drive, all big grin and red T-shirt. His parents are best described as ‘Traditional’ in stature, so how they come by a son who is built like a racing ferret I have no idea!

Our pump house is a little work of art in its own right. The tiled roof matches the house roof tiles. The walls are geometrically straight, right angled and faultlessly painted in regulation white. Even its floor is covered with perfectly laid and aesthetically pleasing tiles.

Whoever designed it threw Convenient out of the window in favour of Small Is Beautiful - there is no way that any Northern European can enter its architecturally perfect interior.

Francisco surveyed our unwelcome issue of water, and without pause folded himself up inside the pump house with the smooth skill of a practiced contortionist. He fitted inside completely - there was no part of him sticking out, and the only bits of him that were visible were his back and a lower leg.

I’ve never been keen on contortionist acts – they make me wince, but he flowed in with an ease that that was almost balletic. I waited with bated breath. Seconds later he emerged, unfolded himself in one flowing action and announced that it was ‘Arreglado’ – mended.

I wonder – was the pump house made to measure for him, or was he made to measure by Nature to be an exact fit for the pump house?

By Jos Biggs

intolerant of a teenager racing his off the road bike up and down the calle as it pleased him to do so. Would dog owners accept an uncontrolled youth practising his saxophone or drums, or a light aircraft carrying out low-level fly pasts? I am certain dog owners would be the first to express outrage if such liberties were taken.

Of course it is the mutt-buffs who must be brought to account for the aberrant behaviour of their pets.

Animal lovers; they don’t know the meaning of the term. Animal haters would be more appropriate.

I see dogs caged in small patios illegal as a zoo animal’s living space. Some owners go off leaving the neighbours to suffer the howling of abandoned dogs.

What kind of an animal lover allows their pet to release its neurosis like sewerage over the ears of neighbours?

Far superior surveillance and alarm systems make guard dogs obsolete. You want something to love; foster or adopt an orphan.

Trained dogs are wonderful creatures.

Dogs taught by the armed forces, police and security services work quietly and unobtrusively among the public.

As guardians of our airports and public buildings such dogs really are a man’s best friend.

Farm dogs have better social graces than do many owners of the lesser breeds, which I wouldn’t use as a floor mop.

If house builders and real estate agents promise a gated community with a 100 metre quarantined dog free zone I am certain that all other incentives can be put on the back burner.

Pause for thought Our recent Flower Festival was amazing. So many lessons to be learnt from it.

Amid all the hard work, there was necessarily some disappointment as some of those who’d promised arrangements and support, for various reasons were unable to deliver. But more amazing perhaps were those who unexpectedly brought arrangements they hadn’t promised or turned up each day to give their time and energy to help in preparation, serving at the café or one of the stalls or clearing up at the end of each day, not looking for thanks, but simply enjoying being a part of it all.

And of course this is a common experience of life. We often feel ‘let down’ by others and regularly find ourselves dwelling on the resultant disappointment rather than recognising and rejoicing in the unexpected support so frequently offered by others.

In Matthew 28, Jesus tells a lovely and quite typical story or a man who asks his two sons to give him a hand in his vineyard. The first, he tells us declined, having more important alternative personal matters to attend, but later, on reflection, he changes his mind and goes to help his father. The second son, on the other hand, enthusiastically agrees to help, but for whatever reason, he never actually got there. So Jesus asks his audience which of the two sons actually helped his father and of course all responded that it was the first, the one who’d initially refused, recognising that words are easy and it’s what we do, rather than what we say that counts. It’s easy, Jesus explains to his audience, for us to be all ‘Churchy’ and religious, but completely let God down, whilst others, who have no outward religion, may actually, like the first son in his story, be more inclined to do his will.

So let’s remember that it’s actions, rather than words that matter, and learn to rejoice in and be grateful for, the unexpected blessings in our lives, rather than bemoaning the disappointments and negatives we all experience.

13th - 19th June 2017

23

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

9th year of promoting of healthy habits in Mojácar

F.A.C.E. Donates A Wedge!

Mojácar’s 9th Healthy Habits Promotion Week was organized by the Town’s Council in conjunction with the Northern Almería Sanitary Management Area within the Andalucia Regional Government Health Council.

María Luz Ibarra, a nurse from the Mojácar Medical Centre, along with Juan Francisco Cazorla, care coordinator at Garrucha’s UGC, gave a talk at the local Centro de Usos Múltiples about healthy habits to the Town’s senior citizens exercise class.

Joined by Mojácar Councillor, Ana García, they were given an interesting presentation on the importance of physical exercise and a healthy diet in all the stages of life, especially in later years.

For Ana García, the care of the elderly is an important part of her Department’s work saying, “we try to encourage personal autonomy and prevention of dependency through occupational workshops, collective health education activities, communication and assertiveness courses as well as sociocultural activities and excercise, among others”.

The advice on food and the benefits of the Mediterranean diet had a practical demonstration immediately after the conference with a healthy breakfast served to all participants.

Recently, some of the committee members of F.A.C.E. (Fundraising in Arboleas, Caring for Everyone) went along to the Adelante Gimnasia Artistica, Arboleas to meet Stacy Smith and some of her trainee gymnasts.

F.A.C.E. were actually there to present a wedge, not of money, although it did cost €708, but a Gymnastic Wedge Mat that will assist in the training of the youngsters that use the gym.

The Adelante Gimnasia Artistica, Arboleas, is a non profit making organisation that is available for use for children throughout the local area.

It proved impossible to obtain the type of wedge that was required by the gymnasium in Spain, however F.A.C.E. was able to locate a manufacturer in the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, they wanted to charge over €400 to ship it to Spain. However fortunately a knight in shining armour came to the rescue and F.A.C.E. would like to thank Les of DNL Transport who picked the wedge up in the United Kingdom and transported it back to Spain free of charge.

“Momentos De Luz 3” Exhibition opens in Mojácar The “Momentos de Luz 3” photography exhibition has opened to the public at Mojácar’s Mirador del Castillo Art Centre and will run until June 15th. The show includes 60 photographs, in colour and black and white, all taken in the last year and, inspired mostly by Mojácar and the surrounding area. There are also some images and snapshots from all over the world. The inauguration was well attended by keen viewers including Ana García, Mojácar Councillor for Education, representing the Town. She

was impressed with the high quality of the photos on display and said how pleased she was that the municipality continues to be a focal point for art and artists.

The exhibition has been put together by 5 members the Colectivo FotoArt, namely: Elaine Palmer, Emilio Aramburu, Howard Dickson, Rob Palmer and John Michael. All of them are professional photographers, with a total of more than 250 years photographic experience, who have never lost their passion for looking through the lens. The passing of time has

F.A.C.E. Faces up to a Busy June.

F.A.C.E. (Fundraising in Arboleas, Caring for Everyone) are pleased to announce that their Summer Market this year will be held at the Bar Kubatin, underneath the Hostel Mason in Arboleas on Friday evening 23rd June starting at 6-00pm. There will be a variety of stalls including jewellery, household goods and many other items of interest. There will also be a raffle and a tombola which will be run by F.A.C.E. themselves. If you would like to make a donation of a prize for these games, please get in touch with any of the F.A.C.E. Committee Members or leave your donation at either of the Total Entertainment shops in Albox or Arboleas, or at Maloan’s Bar in Albox. Entertainment on the night will be provided by Ray Peters of Smooth fm radio, and we will also have the pleasure of Charlie, the English Singer in Spain and star of UK television, who is going to sing a few songs for us. Throughout the evening presentations will be made to various organisations in the Arboleas and Albox area. Food and drink will be available from the Bar Kubatin. Admission to the Market will cost only €1. On Saturday 24th June there will be a charity event for F.A.C.E. at Legends Bar on the Poligano Llanos de Arboleas. Starting at 9-00pm and with tickets costing only €10 per person the Fabulous Bella Luna will be appearing. Food will be available on the night, although it will have to be prebooked and there will also be a raffle. Tickets can be purchased by ringing 642 057 558 or by contacting any member of the F.A.C.E. Committee.

For further information on F.A.C.E. please look at the F.A.C.E. Web page:www.face-charity.com or at the F.A.C.E. Facebook page.

only made them reaffirm their interest in finding the perfect image, to capture the fleeting moment that will last forever. For the members of FotoArt, the recognition of their first class work over their intense professional life is to be members of the prestigious Royal Photographic Society, with distinctions as well as a wide range of international awards. All the members live in Mojácar, which they have made their base and where they continue their lives as top level artists, taking inspiration from the area’s light and scenery. Emilio Aramburu, a journalist and photographer, is an active part of this group. A Mojácar

resident for more than 30 years, he is an important figure in the town with links to all of the artistic and social circles. In this exhibition, Aramburu has merged his boyhood interest in photography and archaeology. It is part of an extensive and continuous personal project, resulting in a graphic collection of the places, spaces and elements that are proof of man’s footprints left over the centuries.

These excellent photographs can now be admired, free of charge, in the Centro Municipal de Arte at the Mirador del Castillo, every day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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Leisure

particularly if you have to cancel plans. Hang in there!

Tasks of any kind are likely to seem like the labors of Hercules today, Gemini. Overwork and strain could have you feeling a little under the weather. It might be a good idea to take some time alone to rest. If you can’t, at least try to take things easy.

Also, some unexpected changes in your community might have tongues wagging. Be sure to check out the facts before jumping to conclusions.

You might have visitors, Leo, or even a hot date scheduled for tonight. By midafternoon you might feel too tired to go out and wonder if you should cancel. It’s best to keep your activities lowkey. Have coffee and cake at home instead of going out, and get the cake from a bakery! Your evening should be full of exciting, stimulating conversation. You’ll be glad you stuck with your plans.

Deliveries that you expect could be delayed, Virgo. Today you might learn something shocking about a neighbor or relative. The gossip might spread rapidly through your community. This could have you reeling even though it might be exaggerated. You might visit a few people nearby or spend a lot of time on the phone trying to learn the truth. Don’t take anything you hear at face value.

someone in your celebration plans.

Today may start out frustrating, Scorpio. Be prepared! Some equipment might go on the blink and it could take a while to get it fixed. A temporary separation from your partner could also be disappointing. You may have a lot of physical energy for which you have little immediate outlet. Take a long walk.

This would not only provide an energy outlet but also clear your head.

Your level of artistic inspiration is high today, Sagittarius. Dreams or meditation may bring up some spiritual insights and revelations, and you may promptly forget them upon coming out of your dream or meditative state. This could prove frustrating! Try writing them down even if you only remember snatches. This can help bring them to the surface again. You will want a record of them anyway.

Some upsetting news regarding money could throw you into a dither today, Capricorn. Perhaps a check you’ve been expecting hasn’t arrived on time. Maybe the bank has made an error regarding your account. It isn’t anything that can’t be straightened out, though it’s going to be a pain making all the calls. Basically, all should be going very well for you. This is only a temporary setback.

A setback in your career might have you feeling disoriented, Aquarius. Equipment might be involved. Don’t go crazy. It’s only temporary.

Your determination, efficiency, and practicality should take care of it in no time. Basically, you’re probably feeling optimistic about the future and unlikely to change that energy any time soon. Try not to worry about problems today. Spend time relaxing and enjoying the company of friends and family.

Today you may feel especially passionate, Aries, and desire a romantic encounter. You might even have a hot date scheduled. Don’t be surprised if it has to be postponed for reasons beyond anyone’s control. You might try to sublimate those feelings through creative activities. Romantic novels and movies could also prove good outlets, though never as good as the real thing!

Money matters might be weighing on the mind of a close friend or lover, Cancer, and he or she might seek your advice. A creative project may require a larger expenditure of money, time, or other resources than you originally thought. This could make you wonder if you will be able to continue with it. It might take some tweaking on your part, but you should be able to complete it as planned.

Some good but surprising news could come your way today, Libra. Perhaps a family member or friend will call or drop by with a surprising development that directly affects you. In the evening, go out together and celebrate. Don’t forget to include your special

A visitor with a few problems might come to your door in search of advice and sympathy, Taurus. He or she might also have some other news that could shock you. A professional crisis might make it necessary for you or your partner to spend most of the day away from home and family. This could be frustrating,

A delivery that you were expecting from far away might be delayed, Pisces, causing you to wonder if it might have been lost. It hasn’t. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do but wait. Mechanical equipment could also go out of whack, necessitating a call to a repair service. This could set you back some and make you antsy. Try to find something else to do!

The Sunshine Sisters

The New York Times bestselling author of Falling presents a warm, wise, and wonderfully vivid novel about a mother who asks her three estranged daughters to come home to help her end her life.

by Jane Green Ronni Sunshine left London for Hollywood to become a beautiful, charismatic star of the silver screen. But at home, she was a narcissistic, disinterested mother who alienated her three daughters.

As soon as possible, tomboy Nell fled her mother’s overbearing presence to work on a farm and find her own way in the world as a single mother. The target of her mother s criticism, Meredith never felt good enough, thin enough, pretty enough. Her life took her to London and into the arms of a man whom she may not even love. And Lizzy, the youngest, more like Ronni than any of them, seemed to have it easy, using her drive and ambition to build a culinary career to rival her mother’s fame, while her marriage crumbled around her.

But now the Sunshine Girls are together again, called home

by Ronni, who has learned that she has a serious disease and needs her daughters to fulfill her final wishes. And though Nell, Meredith, and Lizzy are all going through crises of their own, their mother s illness draws them together to confront old jealousies and secret fears and they discover that blood might be thicker than water after all.

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Leisure

The Mummy The Mummy franchise has been struggling lately. Ever since the original 1999 movie was released, the movies have gradually gotten worse.

The first “Mummy” was slick, well made and entertaining; the second was your typical B/C movie, not the worst but far from the best, and then with the third installment it was clear that Hollywood had given up on the franchise and wanted one more pay-cheque.

Skip forward to 2017 and we appear to have something just as good as the original. Sure, for some, the flashy visuals may seem like a cover-up for the (occasional) uninspired dialogue, however, there is no doubt that a lot of money was invested in making this film look good, and it sure delivers on that aspect (even with The Scorpion King setting the bar very low, “The Mummy” (2017) still looks pretty amazing).

Tom Cruise stars, which to some may be a turn-off, but I think some credit is due here. Tom has made a name for himself in the M:I film’s, and with his performance in “The Mummy”, he shows audiences that perhaps it’s not too late to make a name for yourself in a different franchise. He’s not the best actor in the world by any means, but he does the job and he does it well enough for the film to be taken

reasonably seriously.

I think that it’s important to remember that you’re not seeing anything ground- breaking with this film; it’s not going to have the same impact as the original Mummy title and it certainly isn’t going to steal the show at the Oscars, but it has its moments of adrenalinepumping action, well-crafted visuals and smart dialogue.

Some of this 1hr 47min Egyptian-fetish flick feels a bit clunky, and the story is all too familiar sounding (disturbing an ancient evil which comes back to wreak havoc on everyone), but when you consider that there have been worse Mummy films, 2 to be exact and that Alien Covenant hasn’t exactly set the bar for reboots particularly high, The Mummy has its entertainment value, it has its action and suspense, but it also has some cracks in its sarcophagi which will, hopefully, be ironed out when they inevitably make another of these in 2 or so years time.

OUR CHOICE

Mary Berry Everyday

ONE TO WATCH

The Real Full Monty Thursday, June 15th 8:30pm to 10pm

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

Taken Back: Finding Haley Tuesday, June 13th, 2017 on Channel 5 from 3:15pm to 5:00pm A distraught mother loses her daughter during a day out at a carnival because of a brief moment of inattention. After years spent searching for her, she comes across a girl living with another couple, and becomes convinced that the youngster is her child. Is she right, or are these the actions of a paranoid and grieving woman?

Monday, June 19th 7pm to 7:30pm Former Bake Off judge and food writer Mary Berry takes us on an indulgent tour of the everyday food and ingredients she has always loved.

This first episode see her travel to Scotland to enjoy some of the countries best staples and she of course prepares recipes inspired by her own scottish herritage. Joined by Chef Tom Kitchin and her favourite whiskey cream on the banks of a loch.

Alexander Armstrong and a host of male celebrities including Dom Littlewood, Wayne Sleep, Harry Judd and Elliot Wright have come together to recreate the famous striptease scene from the 1997 film.

Their aim to raise awareness of men´s health issues by performing the full monty infront of 2,000 people at the london Palladium.

With only a few weeks to prepare will they dare to bare all?

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ANSWERS NEXT WEEK!

Wordsearch

Quick

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Eccentricity (12)

1. Unconcern (12)

7. Big (5)

2. Observe (3)

8. Squeeze (5)

3. Indigenous (6)

9. Charge (3)

4. Disgusting (9)

10. Exploiter (9)

5. Precipitous (5)

11. Lure (6)

6. Loss of affection (12)

12. Plunger (6)

7. Salute (5)

15. Bowdlerise (9)

10. House-painter (9)

17. Chopper (3)

13. Tread heavily (5)

18. Map (5)

14. Clergyman (6)

19. Impress deeply (5)

16. Clear (5)

21. Violation (12)

20. Mimic (3)

O

P

T

T

C

W

Y

A

E

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 27 in total!” 2 points for each 4 letter word, 1 point for each 3 letter word, 34 points maximum!

Cryptic

ACROSS 1. & 12 Across. Great actor, glad pens have changed, joins prohibitionist to show 21’s flag (4-8,6) 7. Admit he was a former 10 down of the 21 (5) 8. Mindful of hostilities out east (5) 9. Attempt to score in a game? (3) 10. Only half proper and harsh, but keep on trying (9) 11. How the car crossed the river? (6) 12. See 1 Across 15. Got rid of sailor who scattered oil on hut (9) 17. Acquire some strange things (3) 18. Glee a bird disturbed (5) 19. Former turn is accurate (5) 21. Being as one avers great power results (6,6)

DOWN 1. What a writer might have on his bed? (5,2,5) 2. Father goes to southern resort (3) 3. They have a definite stage in their lives (6) 4. Six feet under here - it’s serious having three feet! (9) 5. Escape publicity during the night before... (5) 6. ....Eric’s notable festivities (12) 7. A grey made brighter (5) 10. I’d go in now as leader of the 21 (9) 13. When such a mare can be quite fearsome (5) 14. Could be dearth of fibre (6) 16. Groan about a music-maker (5) 20. Fitting beginning to 8, 10 and 9 (3)

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Puzzles

Know your faces?

Picture Quiz Number 01

Number 02

Number 03

Number 04

Number 05

SODUKU

SOLTIMES Television QUIZ 1. “Can I have a ‘P’ please Bob” was part of which TV quiz show?

2. Mick Carter in ‘EastEnders’ is played by which actor?

3. How many letters are there in the “Countdown” conundrum?

4. Tony the Tiger features in a TV advert for which product?

Number 07

5. What was the first Australian soap to be shown on British TV? 6. What does Aleksandr Orlov advertise on TV? 7. Who is the host of ITV dating show ‘Take Me Out’?

8. Who in 1974 became the FOURTH Doctor in Doctor Who? 9. In the TV series, who was always found between ‘Bill & Ben’?

10. Which TV series is often set in Neptune’s Bar?

Cryptic Solutions Across: 4 Abandon; 8 Season; 9 Charger; 10 Result; 11 Loafer; 12 Dividend; 18 Penelope; 20 Forego; 21 Fencer; 22 Obvious; 23 Fierce; 24 Leagues.

Down: 1 Astride; 2 Passive; 3 Toiled; 5 Beholden; 6 Norman; 7 Opener; 13 Exposure; 14 Concern; 15 Degrees; 16 Rouble; 17 Sewing; 19 Eyelid.

Quick Solutions Across: 4 Emptied; 8 Amazon; 9 Interim; 10 Riches; 11 Agency; 12 Customer; 18 Languish; 20 Talent; 21 Rotten; 22 Fancied; 23 Overdo; 24 Deplete.

Down: 1 Caprice; 2 Sarcasm; 3 Bolero; 5 Mandarin; 6 Teeter; 7 Evince; 13 Maltreat; 14 Cistern; 15 Phantom; 16 Manage; 17 Pencil; 19 Groove.

Number 08

HARD SODUKU

Crossword Solutions

Picture Quiz Solutions

Number 06

Boggle Solution 1. ceils(3) 2. celli(3) 3. cells(3) 4. lisle(3) 5. selle(3) 6. silex(3) 7. ceil(2) 8. cell(2) 9. cels(2) 10. eels(2) 11. ells(2) 12. ilex(2) 13. isle(2) 14. lees(2) 15. leis(2) 16. lies(2) 17. seel(2) 18. sell(2)

Number 09

Number 10

SQUIGGLE

11. In which fictional city is the “Family Guy” set?

12. Which presenter of ‘Countryfile’ was the original host of ‘Newsround’?

13. Which cricketer won the third season of Strictly Come Dancing?

14. What was the name of the character played

by Frances de la Tour in “Rising Damp”?

15. Who had the catchphrase “Which is better… There’s only one way to find out… fight!”?

19. sill(2) 20. cee(1) 21. cel(1) 22. eel(1) 23. ell(1) 24. els(1) 25. ill(1) 26. lee(1) 27. lei(1) 28. les(1) 29. lex(1) 30. lie(1) 31. lis(1) 32. sec(1) 33. see(1) 34. sei(1) 35. sel(1) 36. sex(1)

Soduku Solution

Hard Soduku

Squiggly solution

Geography Quiz

1. PAULA RADCLIFFE

6. CHRISTIAN RONALDO

1. Spain

6. Mexico

11. Gateshead

2. MICHAEL JORDAN

7. REBECCA ADLINGTON

2. The 50 states

7. Hawaii

12. Dublin

3. JOHANNA KONTA

8. MICHAEL PHELPS

3. Sicily

8. Edinburgh

13. Trinidad

4. MICHAEL VAUGHAN

9. KATHERINE GRAINGER

4. Indian

9. Cannes

14. Wiltshire

5. DENISE LEWIS

10. ANDY GRAY

5. Devon

10. Truro

15. Granada

Solutions 589

28

13th - 19th June 2017

Broccoli Chicken Divan Ingredients 1 pound chopped fresh broccoli, 1 ½ cups cubed, cooked chicken, 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of broccoli soup, 1/3 cup milk, ½ cup shredded Cheddar cheese, 1 tablespoon melted butter, 2 tablespoons dried bread crumbs.

Preparation – 20 minutes.

Cooking – 20 minutes.

Method 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

2. Place the broccoli in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook 5 minutes, or until tender. Drain.

3. Place the cooked broccoli in a 9 inch pie plate. Top with the chicken. In a bowl, mix the soup and milk, and pour over the chicken. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese. Mix the melted butter with the bread crumbs, and sprinkle over the cheese.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly brown.

Food and Drink

Do ye ken a gin A hugely popular Gin Map of Scotland has been updated for 2017 - with 25 new Scottish gins.

An incredible 25 new Scottish gins have launched in the last year alone taking the total number of gins on the map to 53 - a visual representation of the Scottish gin boom.

The colourful infographic (or ginfographic) includes the name of the gins, their location, all their botanicals and the garnish recommended by the distiller.

Notable new gins on the map include LoneWolf Gin, produced by craft beer giants BrewDog, two gins from Orkney, Kirkjuvagr and Johnsmas, Misty Isle Gin from Skye, Ginerosity, a social enterprise gin from Edinburgh, along with many more.

The gins reflect the creativity and resourcefulness of the Scottish craft gin market, many of which have beautifully designed bottles, locally foraged botanicals, and exotic garnishes, including kiwi fruit (Shetland Reel) and torn bay leaf (Bardowie Gin).

The days of Scottish gin being considered an artisan fad are over. Traditionally associated with being an English drink, 70% of gin consumed in the UK is now made in Scotland.

This is due to the increase in small craft distilleries and the arrival of whisky companies into the gin market, although the 70% figure can also largely be attributed to Diageo relocating production of Gordon’s and Tanquery to Fife in 1998 (both these brands are considered London gins).

Figures from HMRC show exports of the juniperbased spirit rose to record levels last year, increasing 12% to £474m, outperforming exports of British beef and soft drinks. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association predicts that 2017 exports will pass £500m

Food and Drink

in Scotland? within the year at the current “meteoric” growth rate.

UK gin sales hit £1.1bn last year, with the equivalent of 34m bottles sold last year, an increase of 12% on 2015.

The sales and export figures for last year confirmed the WSTA’s assessment in December that 2016 was a “year of gin”, and were unparalleled since the body began recording sales of alcoholic drinks.

Data from the research company Euromonitor predicts by 2020 gin sales will surpass whisky in the UK. Ronnie Somerville, 5pm Founder, said of the new 5pm Gin Map of Scotland launch: “The astounding number of gins made in Scotland can clearly be seen in our new map which is a lot fuller than last year’s. Scottish gin continues to be hugely popular with 5pm customers which is why we are delighted to offer excellent value gin tastings and restaurant offers to accompany the launch of our new map.”

You can download your own copy of the very detailed and informative map at http://www.5pm. co.uk/Gin-Map-of-Scotland

13th - 19th June 2017

29

Wake-up Casserole

Ingredients 8 frozen hash browns, 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, 1 pound cooked ham, cut into cubes. 7 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard.

Preparation – 15 minutes.

Cooking – 1 hour & 15 minutes.

Now it’s a Greggs Drive-Thru You can now go and get your favourite iced bun or pasty without getting out of your car.

Having caved in to popular demand on Twitter, Greggs has launched its first drive-thru and it’s in Greater Manchester at the new branch at Irlam Gateway Service Station in Salford.

The menu will include all the Greggs classics, from steak bakes to sausage rolls, as well as sandwiches, cakes, biscuits and buns.

The new Balanced Choice range of healthier sandwiches, salads and soups all under 400 calories - will also be available to ‘grab and go’.

The new concept, which follows the launch of Greggs’ delivery service in Manchester, is being tried out there before a potential nationwide roll-out, but bosses say there are no immediate plans to open any more.

Roger Whiteside, Chief Executive for Greggs, said: “When it comes to food on-the- go, our customers tell us that convenience is key. We’ve been working hard to take Greggs to where our customers need and want us to be including office parks, industrial estates, retail parks and travel hubs.

“A drive thru offers the ultimate convenience and seemed the logical next step for us to take.

This is a first for Greggs and we are excited to trial the concept in Irlam, Manchester.”

The branch opened on Monday June 5 and will be open from 6am to 9pm Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm on Saturday and 8am to 6pm on Sunday.

Method 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.

2. Arrange hash browns on the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese and ham over them.

3. Beat eggs, milk, salt, and mustard in a large bowl using a whisk; pour over ham.

Cover baking dish with aluminium foil.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake until edges are golden brown and a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean, about 15 minutes more.

k

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30

Health and Beauty

13th - 19th June 2017

Avoid those holiday illness blues Over half of women who have been on holiday (54%) have had their holiday spoilt by a health issue, according to a new poll commissioned by Dulcolax.

It’s awful when you become unwell on holiday or something happens to spoil it - you don’t want anything to get in the way of your precious time off.

Unfortunately, digestive problems like constipation or diarrhoea are common due to the change in your routine. Spending more time sitting in a car, or on a plane or by the pool and eating different foods at odd times can cause problems and really affect how you feel.

Luckily there are many ways to prevent these problems.

Sneak in a daily walk or swim to keep the gut moving. Eat and go to the toilet at regular times and ensure you are eating lots of fibre like wholegrains, nuts and vegetables.”

Perhaps because of this, over 3 in 5 (67%) women change their health and exercise habits in the run up to their holiday: 41% eat more healthily, almost a quarter (23%) try to tone up, and over one in 10 (11%) cut out sugar in a bid to prepare for their holiday.

A last minute health kick before a holiday can produce short-term results, but making extreme changes fast can be bad for your health. To make sure you feel comfortable and confident during your break, optimising your gut health is the best most effective way to bring long-term benefits. Having a strong, healthy bowel means you won’t feel bloated or sluggish, so you’re free to focus on your plans. All it takes

are some simple changes like making sure you drink plenty of water. Reducing heavily processed, salty and sugary food can also help keep bowels regular and reduce bloating. Don’t hit the gym before you go on holiday. Instead, focus on your gut health and try this pre-holiday plan to get your body in top shape.

3. Move it: It’s really important to get in even gentle exercise while you’re away to keep everything moving, so you might want to start with a short walk or by practising some simple yoga positions that you can do in your hotel room. Twisting moves might be particularly helpful for stimulating the bowels.

1. Banish body clock blues: The gut is a creature of habit and loves routine, so if you’re crossing time zones it’s likely your bowel will be disrupted. Make gradual adjustments to your routine in the weeks before your holiday by going to bed a few hours earlier or later to help your body adjust to the new time zone slowly.

4. Fabulous fibre: High-fibre foods are vital to keep things moving through our guts. Make sure you’re eating fresh fruit, green leafy vegetables and whole grains every day before you go away so that your bowels aren’t bunged up.

2. Water is key: Dry airplane air and hot, sweatinducing destinations can make us constipated and bloated. Making sure you’re properly hydrated in the days before can help counteract this and keep your digestive system working at its best.

5. What not to do: Certain foods and drinks can be particularly problematic for our guts so it’s best to avoid or reduce your intake before the extra strain that holidays can cause. Sugary foods may clog up your digestion and alcohol can be dehydrating.

Water melon beauty trend

kim clark

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Watermelon beauty is now a big trend on the social media platform Instagram – and it does looks pretty amazing...

Speaking about her own unique red and green beauty looks, makeup artist Ragnhild Skjeldnes said: “Watermelon is my absolute favourite fruit. I can finish a whole watermelon by myself, so my little sister suggested that I should do a makeup look based on it, and I loved the idea.”

Ragnhild decided to draw a watermelon slice around her eye, and it picked up a lot of attention.

Explaining how she achieved the look, Raghnhild said, “I started with one piece of Scotch tape from the outer corner of my eye and placed it with an about 45-degree angle on the eyelid.”

She then did the same step on the inner corner of her eye before applying colour from a lip colour, instead of an eyeshadow.

To make the seeds, she drew teardrops with black liquid liner.

Health and Beauty

13th - 19th June 2017

31

Mon Guerlain – a lavender, jasmine & vanilla combination When it comes to creating a perfume, few brands have their own laboratory where everything is done internally.

For French luxury beauty brand Guerlain, every new perfume created is done in-house, according to Thierry Wasser, Guerlain’s master perfumer.

“Joining Guerlain 10 years ago and becoming the fifth generation perfumer of the house was a great step in my life. With a rich history, Guerlain has strong values and iconic creations, which I do have to take care of. I was definitely attracted by the fact that creation, sourcing and manufacturing are done in-house. And this inspires me every day,” said Wasser, 56, a Swiss who is based in Paris, in an email interview.

Mon Guerlain is the brand’s newest eau de parfum that is fronted by actress, filmmaker, director and Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie.

According to Wasser, there wasn’t a specific brief on the creation of the perfume.

“To celebrate our 190th birthday, I contemplated honouring women. The house of Guerlain has dedicated its know-how and passion to beauty for almost two centuries.

That’s why we wanted to pay tribute to the portrait of today’s femininity.”

He also said he wasn’t aware of Jolie being the face of the fragrance at that time.

“I started working on

this fragrance almost four years ago and at that time, Angelina wasn’t in the picture. The idea of celebrating women wasn’t aimed at only one woman.

“Then, Laurent Boillot, our CEO, brought Angelina on board as our partner. We really felt that she was a natural choice. He met her in Cambodia where she was shooting her last movie First They Killed My Father and explained the project to her. She gave us the great gift of accepting what became our collaboration.

“Angelina helped us on the visual, film, and even the choice of the bottle. The name was decided after a discussion with her, about her mother and her love for Guerlain products.”

Wasser said Tahitensis Vanilla was the starting point of Mon Guerlain.

“In storytelling, you select your words very carefully.

For fragrances, it’s the same, you choose raw materials to represent your point. I chose to express the portrait of this woman with four main raw materials, as a painter chooses his colours.

“I picked lavender as it is a very fresh and spontaneous ingredient. Then, jasmine sambac, which is widely used in South of India, in necklaces made of flower. They are given to family members, to celebrate weddings, in temples and worn by women on their hair. You see how

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social this flower is: presents for loved ones, for Gods or for beauty. I chose this flower to demonstrate the social skills of this portrait of woman.”

Sandalwood, Wasser said, represents the resilience and the memory to fight for your rights, which is an essential element when drawing a portrait of today’s femininity, for Mon Guerlain.

“Vanilla is a very ‘huggable’ scent and symbolises maternal love. That’s how you choose your ingredients.”

Mon Guerlain was created by Wasser and his co-creator, Delphine Jelk: “Creation is about ideas and ideas can come out of conversation, of remembering a trip, etc. It’s also about communicating and opening your mind. I do believe that it’s always better when you are not alone. In creation, loneliness can be a deadly trap.”

When asked about the toughest part of a perfumer’s job, Wasser said, “When you have an idea and you need to make it come alive in a bottle. It’s a long process because it’s not scientific, there is no rule, and it’s a matter of trial and error, and can be frustrating.”

So how would he describe the scent of Mon Guerlain?

“In a few words, Mon Guerlain is a fresh oriental which is audacious, radiant and terribly sensual.” To help a perfume last longer, Wasser recommends moisturising your skin before applying perfume.

32

13th - 19th June 2017

Travel

Giant of the Mediterranean

MSC Meraviglia

MSC Cruises on Saturday welcomed its new giant, MSC Meraviglia (pronounced “mehr-ah-veeya”, meaning wonder), with a star-studded christening ceremony in Le Havre, France. The ship is the biggest ever built by a European-based cruise line and boasts an array of phenomenal facilities that will keep everyone entertained throughout their entire journey at sea.

Designed for all seasons, the ship comes along with a 10 metres indoor pool with a magrodome that can be opened when the ship is in port or the weather allows for it. The about 25 metres long main pool, inspired by the cool vibes of Miami’s South Beach, provides the most generous poolside space at sea. Illuminated with special lighting by night, it becomes a stunning outdoor spot for entertainment and dancing.

Social centre and focal point for a broad range of leisure activities will be the Mediterranean-style indoor promenade featuring the longest LED Dome at sea (80 metres) with stunning visuals and effects. Passengers can take in the awe-inspiring atmosphere by strolling up and down, shopping in one of the boutiques, or simply sitting back while enjoying a deliciouc ice cream or crepes from the award-winning French chocolatier and pastry chef Jean Philippe Maury.

A choice of 12 distinct restaurants promises something special for every taste including a buffet restaurants that opens 20 hours a day, serving Mediterranean

Delux Suite

specialities and international cuisines. Fine dining options are the American-style steakhouse, the Kaito Sushi Bar and the Teppanyaki Restaurant. A wide range of bars and lounges on board offer refreshment and relaxation. Exclusively on MSC Meraviglia, twice every night, six nights a week, guests will have the opportunity to see the world-class shows by Cirque du Soleil, the world leader in live artistic entertainment.

An impressive 17 different types of cabin are available to choose from when sailing onboard MSC Meraviglia, including family options, duplex suites with a private whirlpool bath, and the highest ratio of sea-view balcony staterooms of any cruise ship.

For the first time on any MSC ship, all the facilities for families, children and teens are in one place in an amusement park and children’s area. Young cruisers aged 3-11 years will love The LEGO Experience Onboard, whilst babies enjoy a larger Chicco area at the Mini Club and MSC Babycare.

The luxurious Balinese spa MSC Aurea will leave you

feeling pampered from head to toe, offering signature relaxation treatments to revitalise body and soul, while the gym, equipped with state-of-the-art technogym cardio and strength-training equipment, provides a wide range of innovative fitness courses and training programmes.

And there’s more! The huge open-air Aqua Park with three water slides, a splash pool and an adventurous “Himalayan Bridge” sky walk that allows passengers to cross the vessel nearly 200 feet above the water. An amusement area with race car and flight simulators, a 4D cinema and, for the first time at sea, a full-size bowling alley where guests can challenge friends and family to the last pin!

With all her extraordinary features, the MSC Meraviglia will be this summer’s ultimate destination in the Mediterranean where she will spend her inaugural season, operating seven-night voyages calling in Spain, Italy, Malta and France. Don’t hesitate; book your cruise now with Falken Tours and start planning your next cruise holiday aboard this sophisticated state-of-the-art-ship.

L’Olive Dorée

Animal Corner

33

13th - 19th June 2017

Keep your dogs cool this summer With the dog days of summer upon us, we have the luxury of pure, delicious sweat. Sweat glands can be found nearly everywhere on the human body (most people don’t have them on their palms or soles of their feet) making it super-easy for us to cool down. But our beloved dogs — well, they’re not so lucky.

Basically! You can find some sweat GLANDS on the dog. Just “look at your dog’s nose, then at the pads (the underside) of your dog’s feet. The skin in both areas is kind of similar, correct? This type of skin — essentially the only skin on your dog’s body that lacks hair — is unique in that it’s the only skin that allows evaporative cooling.” It’s only these places where the dog can potentially sweat, though it probably has little overall effect on lowering body temp.

Body temperature of a healthy dog is somewhere in the 100.5 degrees F to 102.5 degrees F range. Anything higher would be considered overheating. If the poor dog hits above 107 degrees F, heatstroke can occur, and you need to seek immediate veterinary care.

Signs of heatstroke include excessive drooling, increased body temperature, red gums, rapid heartbeat, muscle tremors and seizures among others. Untreated, heatstroke can lead to serious complications — up to and including death.

Have a rectal thermometer labelled “dog” readily avail-

able so you can check your dog’s temperature when you suspect overheating. You’ll want a friend to help you, for sure. Dogs cool down a variety of ways, but often need human help to make real traction. Fido may naturally make his way to a shady area while outside. He’ll begin panting to release excessive heat through his tongue.

But other than that, he’ll need your help.

1. Keep water available.

Even if you’re going out for a brief walk, bring water for Fido to drink, if he needs it. Always keep fresh water in his bowl and make sure you make it available during a day at the lake!

2. Monitor outside time.

On those unbearably hot days, make sure you monitor how long he’s chilling the backyard — because chances are he is everything but chill. You’ll definitely want to find ways for him to play and exercise inside so he isn’t in the heat.

3. Water play.

Let him take a dip in the pool or shower him with the hose. Just make sure the water isn’t shockingly cold.

4. Fans.

They can help cool down dogs, though not as well as they work with humans. The fan evaporates the sweat on the nose and paws, allowing new sweat to form.

How is your cat ‘feline’?

Make no mistake — felines are a fickle bunch. Your cat could seem perfectly content curled up on your lap and 10 seconds later deliver a swift swat with an angry paw.

Cats are famous for their mysterious moods, leaving many a bewildered cat lover wondering what they did to offend their beloved pet. Or perhaps, trying to figure out what they did right in order to replicate it. Who wouldn’t want more cuddles from a happy cat?

Alas, trying to decipher what your cat is thinking at any given moment can be a total bust — unless, that is, you consider your cat’s body language.

To bring you one step closer to finally understanding your feline bestie, we went ahead and broke down what your furry one’s body language really means.

Happy or content If your kitten is either sitting or lying down somewhere purring, well, it’s a pretty good indicator they are happy.

Other clues include eyes that are halfclosed, ears that are forward and a tail that is erect with its fur flat. If your cat is really happy, they might be “making biscuits” — in other words, kneading a soft surface, such as your leg. This is a throwback to their nursing days when they did the same to get mama cat’s milk to flow.

Inquisitive or playful When your cat’s ears start swivelling around like satellite dishes, they’re trying to pick up every little sound around them. They’re pupils are probably at least somewhat dilated too.

We’ve all seen that sort of wild-eyed glint cats have when being frisky, right? Your cat’s tail will likely be up, whiskers forward and best of all, they’ll get into pouncing position.

Crouched down with their butt in the air, they’ll give a little wiggle before leaping into action.

Anxious If your cat’s environment changes in any way, you may also notice some specific changes in your cat’s body language. Their ears might move sideways or backward. Their pupils will likely be dilated and their tail tucked between their legs. An anxious cat is a slinking cat — they’ll shuffle low to the floor trying to find a suitable place to hide away from the world for a bit.

Annoyed Remember the aforementioned moments when you’re mid-playing with your cat or petting them and they seemingly swat out of nowhere?

Chances are, your cat has officially become over stimulated and wants a little space. Of course, this can happen very quickly, so it does seem to come out of left field to us humans at times.

Don’t feel bad, though — if your cat gives you a slight growl or swats your hand, they’re simply trying to give you warning shots. Other indicators you can be on the lookout for are dilated pupils, back-turned ears and a twitching tail.

Frightened or aggressive A frightened cat and an aggressive cat can look very similar (and truth be told, can be one and the same), so you’ll have to be on the

lookout for context clues. When startled or angry, a cat’s ears go into “airplane mode,” or back flat against their heads. They might very well hiss, spit, growl and swat. And not surprisingly, their fur will be standing on end. With an aggressive or angry cat, you will notice very constricted pupils, though, while a startled cat’s pupils may be more dilated. In both cases, the cat’s tail could either be erect or low, and their back will likely be arched.

Friendly When your cat comes strolling along with a little crook at the end of its slightly waving tail, it’s in a friendly mood. It is giving you the green light

to give it attention and affection. Ears will be forward, pupils will be dilated and if we’re really being honest, it almost looks as though they are smiling a little. This is prime BFF (best feline friend) behaviour.

Possessive This actually goes hand in hand with friendly body language, as most people mistake it as such. What are we talking about? Why, when your cat rubs against your legs, of course. You may think, “Aww, they’re lovin’ up on me... how sweet!” And while your cat surely does love you, this body language signifies something else: possessiveness.

When your cat rubs against your legs, they’re doing so to leave their scent and thereby mark their territory. Yep, you just got owned.

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34

Motoring

13th - 19th June 2017

Understanding the plates Number plates are things that stick with you throughout your life. I can remember the first car I drove after passing my test – in 1988 - an old green Ford Escort registration AUL 380H. The UK system of registration was based on the first three letters signifying where the car was registered. In this case, anything ending in UL meant London and the A in front indicated the year as well as the – H (1969).

UK 5YSTEM The system using letters of the alphabet in order to indicate the year of the car was introduced in 1963 and began, unsurprisingly, with A, such as DRT 452A. This carried on until the letter Y (from August 1982 to July 1983). The letters I, O, U, Q & Z were not used, due to them being able to be manipulated to look like other letters. The Q (imported cars) and Z (Diplomatic and Northern Ireland registrations) had other significances. Be honest, we all used to look on the streets from August 1st to see if we could see our first brand new car!

By August 1983, the end of the alphabet had been reached, so a new system was implemented in the UK. This time, the year letter was placed at the front of the license plate such as A673 GCD, reversing the previous layout. With the same letter exclusions, this arrangement itself came to a natural conclusion in August 2001, although by this time and since 1999, two letters were issued per year changing every six months.

September 2001 unveiled the new and possibly the most complicated system of car registration numbers. An example from that time would be EA51 SMR. The EA indicates it was registered in Essex (Chelmsford to be precise), the 51 means it was issued in the first six months of the system (September 2001 to February 2001) and the SMR are simply random letters. You would think that 52 would be the next number in the sequence? You’d be wrong. Cars registered from March 2002 through to August 2002 used the numbers 02 – e.g. EA02 SMR. Using this sequence, the current numbers being used are 17; 67 will be used from September this year – EA67 SMR.

SP4NISH REG1STRATION PL4TE5 Vehicle registration plates have existed in Spain since 1900. Most motor vehicles which are used on public roads are required by law to display them. The government agency responsible for the registration and numbering of vehicles is the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT).

The first system, introduced in 1900, consisted of a letter code denoting the province the vehicle was registered in, followed by a sequence number of up to six digits. The codes were normally made up of the first one or two letters of the province name, or the name of the provincial capital (many provinces are named after their capitals), under the provisions of a 1926 regula-

BY RAY COLLINS

tion. In the earliest days, some provinces used three-letter codes, but these were abolished after 1926. A couple of examples of the first system would be M 187307 from Madrid and GR 7643 from Granada. This system came to an end in October 1971, by which time both Madrid and Barcelona were approaching the number 999999.

A very rare number of these older vehicles with such registrations, usually with five or six-digit num-

bers, can still be seen on Spanish roads.

The second system used the format XXX-NNNN-YY, where XXX was the province code or a one, two or three-letter special code (such as ET for army cars and DGP for police cars), NNNN was a sequence number from 0000 to 9999 (always four-digit numbers, padded with leading zeroes if necessary), and YY was a “counter” series consisting of one and then two letters, which incremented after the sequence number reached 9999. A couple examples of these would be MU 0688 BH – Murcia and A 8024 CJ – Alicante.

No “counter” series used the consonants Q and R (and Q has never been allowed in any way. The apparent reason for this being its resemblance to the vowel O and the digit 0 – as in the UK), while two-letter combinations ending in the vowels A, E, I and O were also forbidden, apparently to avoid the forming of potentially offensive Spanish words when combined with some province codes, (such as MA-LA, meaning “bad one”, or CU-LO, meaning “bottom”). This meant that, for instance, Z was followed by AB, while AN was followed by AP and then AS, and PZ was followed by SB. Further examples of this system are B 6431 DD, would be followed by B 6432 DD and so on until B 9999 DD. The next registration number for this area, Barcelona, would be B 0000 DE. This system lasted until September 2000, by which time Madrid was again running out of registrations, its letter counter reaching series ZX. Barcelona reached series XG, while the next province by registration volume, Valencia, was far behind at series HJ. The allowed combinations ZY and ZZ were therefore never issued in any province.

Both systems were susceptible to problems with rivalries between regions, as they caused trouble for motorists travelling out of their provinces or trying to sell their vehicles second-hand.

The current format for Spanish number plates was introduced on 18 September 2000 and is used nationwide, so there is no way of knowing where the vehicle was registered. With tongue firmly in cheek, it was always useful seeing a number plate beginning with M which told it came from Madrid, the driver was probably from Madrid and you stayed well back from it and never expected to see an indicator!

Now the registration plates are in the format of four numbers followed by three letters, the first one of this series being 0000 BBB. The letter counter only gives a very rough idea of when the vehicle was registered, but is less reliable for determining its age, as imported second-hand vehicles are registered in the same way as new models.

As of today, the letter counter combinations are at the J series, and at the current rate of approximately five series per decade, the system will be exhausted around 2040, when the number plate reaches 9999 ZZZ. The consonants B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y and Z are used, which allows for 8,000 possible combinations (from BBB to ZZZ) and hence a total of 80 million possible registrations in the system.

My money would be on the sequence being reversed after that date BBB 0000, and I look forward to still be driving at that time when I’ll be 70!

Motoring

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New Peugeot 3008 is diesel Car of the Year The celebrations that have surrounded the arrival of the All-New Peugeot 3008 SUV continued at this year’s Diesel Car Top 50 Awards, with two major honours bestowed upon the ground-breaking new model.

The All-New Peugeot 3008 SUV was acclaimed as the overall ‘Car of the Year’ in the Diesel Car Top 50, with a second award being earned in its class as the ‘Best Medium SUV’.

On behalf of the judging panel at Diesel Car, Editor Ian Robertson commented: “Peugeot has transformed the 3008 into a fullyfledged SUV and created a real winner in the process… its engines are refined and economical, while its suspension is ideally set up to smooth out British roads. It’s a winner in every respect and we are proud to declare it number one in this year’s Top 50 awards.”

Peugeot UK Managing Director, David Peel, added: “Peugeot has long been synonymous with diesel engines that set the bar for efficiency and sophistication. The 3008 SUV remains true to this reputation with a range of powertrains that offer the blend of performance, economy and driving enjoyment that today’s motorist demands.

“The car’s many other refinements – notably its class-leading interior quality and technology - combine to make it a highly competitive package. The acclaim that has been bestowed upon the All-New 3008 SUV is a fantastic achievement in what is a new segment for us, and we are genuinely thrilled to receive this recognition from the industry experts.”

The All-New Peugeot 3008 SUV can be configured and ordered online from start to finish using Peugeot’s Order Online facility.

Peugeot 3008 1.6 HDI 109 Hp DV6 long engine

Hyundai Tuscan 1.7 CRDi, Diesel, 2016, New...........................€23,950 Opel astra st 1.7cdti, 2013, estate, 113,000km.......................€11,950 opel zafira 2.0 diesel, 2012, 161,000km...................................€11,950 Opel astrA 1.6 16V, 2012, 51,000KM .............................................€11,950 CITROEN C4 GRAN PICASSO 2.0 HDI, AUTO, 2008, 160,000KM.......€8,450 OPEL CORSA 1.3CDTi, Diesel, 2012, 131,000km...............................€7,950 CITROEN C4 GRAND PICASSO 1.6HDI, 2008, RHD,85,000 MILES...... €6,950 Calle Mallorca, San Javier Renault Scenic 1.9DCI, Diesel, 2009, 135,000km............................€6,950 Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511 RENAULT MEGANE 1.6 PETROL, 2007, 113,000KM............................. €4,950 www.specialistvehicles.com honda crv 2.0 auto, petrol, 2000, 147,000km..........................€2,450

over 40 cars in group stock

www.specialistvehicles.com Tel: 968 146 158 / 618 628 511

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13th - 19th June 2017

Classifieds

Boats

Est 2006 Tel: 639 089 170

drainage

imperialyachting@ gmail.com Boats Yachts, No Sale No Fee. Europe´s largest brokerage house. + 34 632 505 743

insurance 253405

builders ALMERIA BUILDERS: Fully Legal, Fully Insured, All Work Guaranteed.

659 685 133 www. almeriabuilders.com

business opp BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALE FROM 4,900 EUROS. 697 834 934 (248081) CARS WANTED CARS Wanted For Cash. Classic Cars & Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Defenders & Discoveries.

Please call: 659 685 133

community GIRASOL COMMUNITY CENTRE Mosaic Classes, Art Classes, Karate, Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Health Screening every 6 weeks.

For Hire 5.00€ per hour Tel: 639 089 170

crafts & hobbies Elaine´s Wools Quality UK Wool and accessories.

Come & view my DISPLAY Also available at TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT Albox & Arboleas Tel: 667 273 889 elaineswools@gmail. com (251922)

for sale SINGER INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINE GOOD WORKING ORDER INCLUDING SEWING MACHINE TABLE 100 EUROS TELEPHONE 950 475455 MOBILE 661016366 INDESIT FRIDGE FREEZER, upright good condition, 95 Euros, Tel: 669 177 421 (253950) COMPLETE FRUITS OF THE FOREST DINNER AND TEASET, INCLUDING TEAPOT MILK JUG, SUGAR BASIN, AND COFFEE POT. COMPLETE 75 EUROS TELEPHONE 950 475455 MOBILE 661016366.

(253491)

health GIRASOL HEALTH FOOD SHOP Calle Malaga, Albox.

For all your dietary needs, health foods, organic foods, supplements, super food pòwders, organic eggs & veggie box scheme.

ALBOX / MOJACAR INSURANCE Award Winning Agent for ALL your insurance needs.

ALBOX OFFICE: 950 121 943 MOJACAR OFFICE 634 323 399 MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 309 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now!

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.

locksmith PHIL THE PICK, LOCKSMITH 24hr. Locked Out? Locks Fitted/Upgraded, House Safes. Arboleas & Surrounding. Special Weekend Rate.

Tel. 697 243 181 (253423)

motoring QUE COCHES ALMERIA Buying & Selling vehicles Vera Showroom We Will Buy Your Vehicle Tel: 627 423 675 WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309.

FOR SALE Pick up with double cab MAZDA B 2500 Many Extras Leather Seats, A/c, Factory Fitted Towing Hitch, 4WD Diff Lock A go anywhere motor, with the driving luxury of a nice car RHD, English Plates ONLY 3,480€ Tel: 950 361 887 or 678 612 320

CAMPER VAN FOR SALE New Horizon – Roma Home. RHD, Selling for medical reasons.

2 berth Citroen E15 diesel, 40 mpg plus, 4 new tyres New 12/240 volt compressor fridge High Level Cupboards…..Plus More, Roll down side canopy All ready to go 5,250€ Tel: 638 676 527 Email: mayeseunice@ gmail.com

pets THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. Little dogs 6 euros, medium dogs 6.75 euros, big dogs 7.50 euros, cats from 5.25 euros a day . 630 234 556 / the5bonehotelturre@ gmail.com New opening hours MonSat 9.30-12.30 and 18.00 – 19.00 Sundays 9.30-10.30 (251818) THE FIVE BONE HOTEL TURRE DOG grooming salon is getting very busy.

Anita asks all clients to please book well in advance to avoid disappointment 662 344 734 or the5bonehotelturre@ gmail.com New opening hours MonSat 9.30-12.30 nd 18.00 – 19.00 Sundays 9.30-10.30

removals & storage FULLY Insured UK/ Spain Removals & Storage, UK Trading Standards Approved www.indalotransport. com 634 33 64 68 or

Freephone Uk 0800 999 33 68 WE ARE looking for a full time local reporter for the Almeria edition of our newspaper.

Candidates must have relevant experience and Spanish is a bonus. Please contact me for further details jackie@ euroweeklynews.com

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Established 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria. com (253434)

xxx relations READERS OF A SENSITIVE DISPOSITION MAY FIND SOME OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS SECTION OFFENSIVE. VIAGRA/Kamagra/ Cialis/Weight loss pills the best prices in Spain! BUY ONE GET ONE FREE on certain items. Order securely & discreetly online: www.costapills.net Postal Nationwide delivery sales@costapills.net

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13th - 19th June 2017

Classifieds

For Sale

Gardening

Water softener

Water softener maschine, salt based, “Hidro Water 255” never used. €400 950 475 410

250106

ferass@freenet.de

Pleasure doing business with you

Contact our business team now on

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Motoring

Removals & Transport

XXX Relax

Situations vacant

STAFF WANTED

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Services

BABY HIRE

Everything for the visiting baby Car seats, high chairs, stair gates, cots etc 253679

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38

13th - 19th June 2017

SOLTIMES

Sport

A former player, Tony is now the world’s most pr olific author of football books with 150 published since 1975. He has also been a PE teach er and a policeman, and is now a quiz-organiser, fund–rai ser, for various charities, and sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio.

By Tony Matthews

The 20-goal strikers!

Nowadays it is hard for any one player to score 20 goals in a Premiership season!

Last term, Romelu Lukaku was the first striker to net 20+ times in the top flight for Everton since Gary Lineker in 198586, while Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Spurs) and Diego Costa (Chelsea) are the only players who have bagged 20 goals in successive seasons. Indeed, Kane, the 2017 Golden Boot winner, notched the most goals in a Premiership campaign since Luis Suarez hit 31 for Liverpool in 2013-14

List of the last players to net 20 or more PL goals for the 2016-17 teams: Middlesbrough, Bernie Slaven, 21 1989-90 Stoke City, Peter Thorne, 24 1999-2000 West Ham United, Teddy Sheringham, 20 2004-05 West Brom Albion, Kevin Phillips, 22 2007-08 Swansea City, Jason Scotland, 21 2007-08 Sunderland, Darren Bent, 24 2009-10 Southampton, Rickie Lambert, 27 2011-12 Crystal Palace, Glenn Murray, 30 2012-13 Manchester United, Robin van Persie, 26 2012-13 LiverpoolLuis Suarez, 31 & Daniel Sturridge, 21 2013-14 Bournemouth, Callum Wilson, 20 2014-15 Watford, Troy Deeney, 21 & Odion Ighalo, 20 2015-16 Burnley, Andre Gray, 23 2015-16 Hull City , Abel Hernandez, 20 2015-16 Leicester City, Jamie Vardy, 24 2015-16 Manchester City Sergio Aguero, 24 2015-16 Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane, 29 2016-17 Everton, Romelu Lukaku, 25 2016-17 Arsenal, Alexis Sanchez, 24 2016-17 Chelsea, Diego Costa, 20 2016-17

13th - 19th June 2017

39

This week in sporting history…

* 1905 Golfer James Braid carded a four-round 318 in the British Open at St Andrew’s. * 1908 England placed their first internationals in June, beating Austria 6-1 and 11-1 in successive games in Vienna. * 1930 Max Schmelling beat Jack Sharkey on a foul to win the World heavyweight title. * 1948 Babe Ruth appeared in his final baseball game in the Yankee Stadium. * 1950 West Indian spinners Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine made their Test debuts against England; Valentine took 8-104 in the first innings. * 1955 Car crashed into crowd and killed 83 spectators during the Le Mans 24-hour race. * 1956 Future tennis star Bjorn Borg was born in Stockholm, Sweden. * 1964 American Jack Nicklaus won the British Open golf title. * 1970 Jockey Willie Shoemaker rode his 6,033rd winner - a record. * 1971 Jan Kodes beat Ilie Nastase in the French Open tennis final. * 1991 Batsman Graeme Hick made his Test debut for England against the West Indies. * 1993 England’s Graham Gooch was given out ‘handled ball’ in a Test Match against Australia at Old Trafford. * 1994 Brian Lara scored a World record 501 not out for Warwickshire v. Durham. * 2002 In the battle of the Williams sisters, Serena beat Venus to win the French Grand Slam title * 2014 Maria Sharapova won the French women’s singles title at Roland Garros.

Sports shorts • In 2018 World Cup qualifying matches last weekend, England drew 2-2 with Scotland (thanks to Harry Kane’s dramatic 93rd minute equaliser; Northern Ireland beat Azerbaijan 1-0; the Republic of Ireland-Austria and Serbia-Wales games both ended 1-1; Spain beat Macedonia 2-1; Germany crushed San Marino 7-0;, Holland thrashed Luxemburg 5-0 and Sweden beat France 2-1.

• Tonight, England play France in friendly.

• Last Sunday England’s youngsters beat Venezuela 1-0 in the final of the World U20 Cup… the country’s first major triumph since 1966!

• Manchester United will pay Benfica £30.7m for Victor Lindelof while Zlatan Ibrahimovic is to leave Old Trafford.

• Gary Monk is Middlesbrough’s new manager and Russian Leonid Stutsky has been appointed boss of Hull.

• Chelsea’s Eden Hazard will miss the start of next season through injury.

• In rugby, the British and Irish Lions won their third game of their New Zealand tour, beating the Crusaders 12-3. Today they play the Highlanders in Dunedin and on Saturday face the Maori All Blacks. England, with Denny Solomona’s late try, defeated Argentina 38-34 and Scotland beat Italy 34-13 in friendlies. Also on on Saturday, Argentina play England (again), Japan meet Ireland and Australia face Scotland.

• In the French Open tennis tournament, Latvia’s 20 year-old Jelena Ostapenka won the women’s singles final and the brilliant Rafael Nadal claimed the men’s final for the tenth time.

Maria Sharapova, however, will not compete in the Wimbledon qualifiers.

• Cricket’s first Champions Trophy semi-final between England and Sri Lanka/Pakistan takes place tomorrow; the second involving Bangladesh and India is on Thursday. England ousted Australia at group level, courtesy of Ben Stokes’ superb 102 not-out. And a crowd of 24,500 will attend Saturday’s final at The Oval.

• Last Sunday’s Canadian F1 Grand Prix was won for the sixth time in 10 years by Lewis Ham-

ilton who, after starting on pole for a joint record 65th time, is now 12 points (141-129) behind Sebastian Vettel in the driver’s championship.

• Andrea Dovizioso won the Catalunya MotoGP in Barcelona, ahead of Spain’s Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa. Maverick Vinales (111 points) leads the rider’s Championship from Dovizioso (104) • British drivers Ashley Sutton, Colin Turkington and Mat Jackson, all won races at the BTCC at Croft, North Yorkshire last Sunday.

• This weekend we have the 85th Le Mans 24hour race.

• The USA Open golf championship starts in Wisconsin on Thursday.

• 30,000 fans saw Usain Bolt win his last 100m race in Jamaica.

• Jakob Fuglsang won the Criteria du Dauphine cycle race; GB’s Chris Froome was 4th.

• New Zealand beat GB’s Landrover BAR-sponsored yacht in the five-race semi-final play-off in the America’s Cup. • And four Brits finished 1-2-3-4 in the World Triathlon championships: Alastair Brownlee, his brother Jonny, Tom Bishop and Alan Bowden in that order.