ISSUE 619• 12th - 18th January 2018
EST 2005
THE story of the Priors is one known to many expatriates living in Spain. Ten years ago, the couple’s dream property - which they designed themselves - was bulldozed by Spanish authorities on the orders of a judge. Helen and Len Prior now both in their mid-70s were the first Britons to see their home demolished, in 2008. “I can honestly say that they (the Andalucia government) has wrecked our lives. They have taken everything we worked for away from us, 45 years of working hard and now we have nothing,” Len told The Daily Telegraph in 2012. Their beautiful, €350,000 Vera (Almeria) Villa - named ‘Tranquilidad’ - was torn down because complex and multi-layered planning laws were not followed. The couple, who had been granted a licence by the local council in 2002, had no idea there were any legal issues when they bought the plot of land. They had hoped to see out their retirement in the ‘idyllic’
AUAN
Ten years later: The Priors’ fight continues
FIGHT: Protests have been held in support of Len and Helen Prior (inset). property, but instead spent their remaining savings fighting their case in the Spanish courts. Now, finally, 10 years on, the great-grandparents are having some success. The couple has faced an exhausting legal battle in recent years and a symbolic victory in the Spanish courts amounted to little, but the European Union eventually became involved. In 2009, an EU report into planning abuses in Spain was highly critical of the country. After the economic crisis had hit, countless Brits saw a similar fate befall their properties, following the boom in buildings in the late 90’s and early 2000s.
Over 300,000 homes in Andalucia alone were reportedly ruled illegal. Then, in 2015, the Spanish senate approved a law barring authorities from demolishing ‘illegal’ houses if the owners bought in good faith. And a breakthrough came in October,when the regional high court ruled that Vera Council had to give the couple €220,334 in compensation and €9,194 in ‘moral damages.’
If the mayor doesn’t pay by the end of February, courts can seize council assets and charge up to €40,000 in interest. The couple were hoping for more, since legal costs may soak up most of the money, but according to The Times, they are now keen to move on with their lives. They intend to use their compensation to buy a new property, but are yet to receive the money.
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2 caught in rooftop chase
NEWS BITES APPROXIMATELY 200 hectares of farmland has been damaged during the recent storms and tornadoes in Almeria Province. The damage caused across the region is thought to equate to an estimated €40 million.
Drug driving ALMOST six out of every 10 drug tests carried out on drivers in Almeria Province in 2017 came back positive, according to the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT). The figures show 59.5 per cent of 1,313 tests were positive.
Town rocked THE small town of Alcontar, which only has 160 residents, has been left devastated after three residents died of natural causes in the space of a matter of days. The three represented almost 2 per cent (1.87) of the town’s entire population, equivalent to approximately 93,000 people in Madrid.
AYTO DE ALMERIA
Damage done
TAKING A STEP FORWARD: Mayor Ramon Fernandez Pacheco and Rafaela Abad congratulate the women.
A second chance MAYOR of Almeria Ramon Fernandez-Pacheco has congratulated 48 victims of sexual crimes after they completed a number of different training courses. The 48 women, who have all been victims of trafficking, sexual exploitation or sexual violence, were trained in different courses organised by the city of Almeria and the Association for Prevention, Reintegration and Attention Prostituted Women (APRAMP).
For the past three months, the women, who received their diplomas this week, have been training as floor maids, kitchen assistants, care givers and jobs in cleaning and maintenance. The mayor, alongside councillor for Family and Equal opportunities, Rafaela Abad, congratulated the brave women for taking ‘a step forward’ but also praised APRAMP who continue to empower victims of sexual crimes through their training courses.
THE Guardia Civil has arrested two people in Huercal de Almeria after they allegedly broke into a house on New Year’s Eve and fled over rooftops. Officers were called shortly after midnight during New Year celebrations when a neighbour reported they had witnessed a burglary at a house in Huercal de Almeria. After arriving on the scene, officers reportedly found one of the windows to the house was broken
and a suspicious hooded man was found close by. The man then reportedly attempted to flee by running across the roofs of the houses in the area, before being cornered by officers both on the roof and the ground. A second suspect was reportedly found hiding close to the scene and was later apprehended. Police later found a backpack on one of the rooftops containing several items believed to have been stolen from the property.
Teen knife probe NATIONAL POLICE have arrested three teenagers in Almeria after they allegedly robbed a man in the street and threatened him with a knife. The three teens, aged 14, 15 and 16, allegedly approached a 25year-old man with a large knife on Calle Alvarez de Castro making several demands. After the man refused to give them his mobile phone, they reportedly snatched a packet of tobacco and escaped towards the nearby Paseo de Almeria. Police were then able to locate the trio close to the street market stall on Calle Duque de Alhumada, where they were apprehended.
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Toy time MORE than 800 children in Almeria have received toys thanks to a Red Cross Youth campaign. A total of 1,646 toys have been handed out to 823 children in the province thanks to generous donations.
We Three Kings! CITIES and towns across Almeria have celebrated the traditional Three Kings’ Day traditions in style. On the eve of Epiphany day, Kings’ Day giant parades took to the streets of towns and cities throughout the province. In Almeria City, thousands of people turned out to see the 500 person strong parade where two million sweets were handed out as Almeria welcomed the kings in the snow. The parade was filled with members of the city’s community including postmen, Scout groups and the municipal band among several brilliant floats. Similarly, more than 1,200 kilos of sweets were handed out in Nijar as
AYTO DE ALMERIA
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GREAT TURNOUT: Thousands watched the parade in Almeria City which included a reindeer float (inset). many people from the town watched the parade. In Mojacar, hundreds of children received gifts from the Three Kings. On their arrival into the town, they were officially welcomed by the mayor of Mojácar, Rosa María
Cano and her government team, before proceeding to the Centro de Usos Múltiples via the Fuente to hand out the toys to around 700 children. The kings arrived by boat in Garrucha, as hun-
dreds of people waited to greet them as they docked. After they made it to dr y land, the kings paraded through the streets of the town, handing out sweets with the help of many of the town’s children.
News
NEWS BITES
Military style diet MORE than 3,000 members of the Spanish army have been reportedly put on a diet plan. Soldiers forming part of the Legion Brigade (BRILEG) between units in Viator and Ronda went through a Body Mass Index (BMI) health examination. The BMI uses certain aspects of a person including psychological attribute, height and weight to calculate a figure of obesity. Legionnaires with a BMI between 2730 (overweight) will be monitored annually, those with 30-35 (mild obesity) every six months and those with more than 35 (medium or severe obesity) will be monitored every three months.
Rent on the rise RENTAL prices in Almeria reportedly rose by 8.8 per cent in 2017, but the province remains one of the most economical places to live in Andalucia. According to a report released by rental website ideal ista.com, rental prices across Andalucia rose by 15.5 per cent last year, with all provinces in the region experiencing increases. Almeria (8.8 per cent) and neighbouring Huelva (6.3 per cent) were among those that saw the lowest increase. In comparison, Cadiz (9.6 per cent) Sevilla (14.3 per cent) and Malaga (16 per cent) were the regions to see the highest increase in rental prices.
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Migrants arrive
BREATHTAKING: The Alcazaba is a stunning piece of architecture.
Alcazaboom!
A BOAT carrying 51 people has arrived at the island of Alboran. The boat, which is believed to have come from Bouyafar in Morocco, was allegedly carrying three women, one of whom is believed to be pregnant, and 48 men.
Car crash Record numbers visit Almerian sites FOUR people have been inA RECORD number of visitors visited Almeria’s famous cultural sites in 2017. Archaeological sites Puerta de Almeri, Los Millares and Villaricos alongside the Castillo de Velez-Blanco, the museum of Almeria and the Alcazaba, saw a total of 415,201 visitors last year, over 12,000 more than the figure posted for 2016. Over a quarter of a million people visited the Alcazaba last year, making it Almeria’s most popular cultural site with a record 284,763 visitors, while the Museum of Almeria had 82,761 visitors, the most since it was created in 1934. The summer months proved most pop-
ular with visitors to the region, with August (50,188), July (35,088) and April (30,188) seeing large influxes of people. Delegate for Culture, Tourism and Sports, Alfredo Valdivia, credits the decision to provide funds to the Museum of Almeria for exhibitions and activities behind the rise in figures, making it “a cultural benchmark of what Almeria has to offer.” In total, the museum hosted 555 different activities last year including children’s workshops, conferences, screenings, guided and specialised visits on top of temporary exhibitions.
jured after two cars collided on the A-334 in Huercal-Overa. Three women aged 40, 41 and 66 and a man, aged 26, were all transferred to La Immaculada hospital as a result.
Bike crime A MAN in Roquetas de Mar has been accused of stealing a total of 14 bikes from garages and storage rooms in the town. The man was already in El Acebuche prison for two other crimes of robbery.
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Lights, Camera, Action!
NEWS BITES
Force grows TWO new police commissioners have been added to the Almerian Police Force. The two new officers are new Head of Operations, Jose Carlos Baeza and Head of Public Safety, Jose Antonio Gil.
Beach safety
STUNNING: Cabo de Gata natural park featured in a number of productions. ALMERIA’s natural spaces featured in 91 different films and adverts during 2017. Spaces such as the Cabo de Gata Natural Park in Nijar and the Tabernas desert were the most popular among filmmakers and adver tisers last year. Although it mainly appeared in advertisements, Almeria Province did feature 14 times in feature films, five in short films and four in documentaries, according to data released by the Junta de Andalucia. Global brands such as Emporio Armani. Peugeot, Yamaha, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Mercedes all used A NATIONWIDE tour by the Film Symphony Orchestra will arrive at the Roquetas de Mar theatre tomorrow (Saturday). The leading orchestra in the interpretation of film music will play a unique one-off concert in the re-
roads and beaches of the Almeria coast for advertisements. Among the feature films to show Almeria, is The Sisters Brothers a western, about infamous brothers the Sisters. Starring Jake Gylenhaal, John C Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix and British actor Riz Ahmed, the film is expected to be released in June later this year. Popular Netflix series Black Mirror filmed in the Tabernas Desert in June l a s t y e a r, w h i l e d o c u m e n t a r i e s o n diving, mining and gold for Andalucian television were also produced in the province.
Movie music gion, performing songs from some of Hollywood’s biggest films. Throughout the performance, songs from Hollywood hits such as La La
Land, Rocky, Jaws, Dancing with Wolves and Man of Steel among many more will be played. On the group’s biggest ever tour, they have already performed more than 30 concerts in more than 20 cities, including sold out shows in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla among others. Tickets for the show, which starts at 9:30pm, are still available, priced from €35 and can be purchased at www.filmsymphony.es.
LIFEGUARDS will be installed at beaches across the province from Easter this year. Rescue and first aid services will be on the beach from March 25 until October 28 this year and from April 14 to October 27 in 2019.
Child saved LOCAL POLICE in HuercalOvera have rescued a child that was trapped inside a car. Police broke in through one of the car’s windows after the child’s father and owner of the vehicle called emergency services.
Rock on ORGANISERS of the Juergas Rock of Almeria concert have announced six new names have been added to this year’s line-up. Lendakaris Muertos, Sigismundo Toxicómano, The Skatalites, La Phaze, Kaotiko, and Pedro Pastor will all play at the festival between August 1 and 4.
Octo-prize ALMERIA-based gourmet food brand Mare Siccus has been awarded the prestigious Gourmet Excellence award for their octopus powder product. The company will receive the award at the International Tourism Fair of Madrid (FITUR) next Wednesday.
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Lighting up ALMERIA City Council is set to replace the projectors that light up several historic properties in the City Centre with new LED lamps. The buildings are located in Puerta de Purchena, Calle Regocijos, Avenida Pablo Iglesias and Plaza de la Administración Vieja.
Tourist trade THE Costa de Almeria has been promoted in its first international market of the year, Dutch fair Vakantiebeurs. The event in Utrecht began on Tuesday and will run until Sunday, January 14.
AYTO HUERCAL-OVERA
Times change
WINNER: The winner of the men’s race, Camacho Tudela.
This little piggie came to town! THE sixth edition of the piglet race in Huércal-Overa has taken place, with 120 cyclists taking part in the annual event. Cyclists from towns such Pulpi, Albox, Lorca, Mojácar, Puerto Lumbreras, as well as Almería, Murcia, Granada and Alicante all took part in the enjoyable race. The test took place on Sunday with riders participating in different categories including infant, junior, amateur, female and men’s races. Designed on an urban circuit measuring almost four kilometres, cyclists had to complete a total of 17 laps (60 km).
In the men’s race, Murcian, Camacho Tudela, was crowned the winner beating second placed Ginés Navarro and third place for Lopez Urquizar. When delivering the trophies, mayor of Huércal-Overa, Domingo Fernández, was very satisfied with the test and thanked both the cyclists for their participation and the fans in attendance. He said: “The test has already become a great reference for cycling in the province, the turnout is more positive every year. The public has enjoyed a great show and the residents have thrown a great spectacle in the street for all to enjoy this sport.”
A BRAND new private medical centre has opened in Pulpi. The Vitaluna centre is the largest medical centre of its kind in northern Almeria and speNEW: The Vitaluna centre is the cialises in 13 diflargest in northern Almeria. ferent types of procedures, many not available anywhere else in the province. Services already available at the centre include General Medicine, Psychology, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Dentistry, Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Speech Therapy and Sports Medicine, among others. The centre also plans in the future to expand into General Surgery, Paediatrics and Early Care, Anaesthesiology, Cardiology and Psychiatry in the near future. A team of 23 professionals currently make up the team behind Vitaluna, including medical specialists, a plastic surgeon and a lightening technician. The Centre also hopes to provide training to health professionals and collaborate with leading health companies in the sector for support.
CENTROMEDICOVITALUNA/FACEBOOK
No botch job
NEWS BITES THE Museum of Almeria has got a new opening schedule for 2018. The centre will be now be open from 9am to 9pm from Tuesday to Saturday while it will be open from 9am to 3pm on Sundays and holidays, with the museum remaining closed on Mondays.
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Feeling hot
NEWS BITES
Feature film HUERCAL-OVERA will present a new promotional film at the International Tourism Fair of Madrid (FITUR). The HuercalOvera Town Hall hopes to promote all types of tourism in the region with the film.
Square open
Sport fund CARBONERAS’ Provincial Council has given the go ahead for renovation work to be carried out at the Municipal Sports Centre. The construction work has a deadline of 110 days and an estimated budget of €308,000.
Months added RENOVATION work on Almeria’s Constitution Square and town hall has been granted a three-month extension by Almeria Council. The initial deadline had been January 14 but has now been postponed until April 14.
AYUNTAMIENTO DE CARBONERAS
WORKS on the new Plaza del Carmen in Albox have finished and the square is officially open. The city of Albox has invested approximately €50,000 on the project which has doubled the size of the children’s playground. PRIZE WINNING: The ‘Diving between verses to honour poetry’ saw the library win the award for the seventh time.
On the right page THE Carboneras library has been awarded the Maria Moliner prize for the seventh time. The Librar y was awarded the prize for its project, ‘Diving between verses to honour poetr y,’ which hosted a number of activities in 2017, including meet and greets with writers, book presentations, poetry recitals, children’s workshops among many other different events. Councillor for Culture, Ana Maria Moreno, said: “Receiving this award for the seventh
year is an acknowledgment of the work we develop ever y day in the Municipal Librar y to promote their ser vices and encourage the habit of reading among all neighbours, through workshops and animation activities both in the library and in the educational centres. The Maria Moliner Prize aims to reward the libraries and municipalities that carr y out unique work in the year.
BELGIAN amateur team SK Deinze have arrived in Mojacar for warm weather training. The team, along with coach, Van Acker, will train at the municipal football field in Mojácar ahead of their next Belgian Amateur League meeting on Saturday. The SK Deinze team is the first of the Belgian amateur and professional teams that have come to Mojácar to train during the winter season. The team has reportedly found the climate and facilities in Mojácar ideal for their training. The collaboration between Kortweg, the company responsible for the team’s arrival, Hotel Servigroup Marina Playa and the city of Mojácar, has once again placed Mojacar in the spotlight, in a country where both disciplines: cycling and football, have a large following. The continued partnerships between sports professionals from northern Europe and Mojacar remain an important opportunity for local tourism.
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NEWS BITES
Big investment FOUR grants worth an estimated €700,000 have been awarded to commence works on three Almerian roads alongside the Lubrin water networks. Roads in Velez-Rubio, Almeria and Lubrin will all be improved as part of the works.
Getting help ALMERIA’S Provincial Service of Addictions (SPDA) helped more than 3,100 people suffering with addictions in 2017. A total of 22,270 healthcare consultations and reviews took place with those who requested help.
Food for thought THE Foster’s Hollywood chain will open a brand new restaurant in El Ejido’s Copo before the end of March. The American brand opened their first Spanish Foster’s Hollywood restaurant in Madrid in 1971.
Blood drive BLOOD donations are being held across the region this week. People were able to donate at Garrucha’s cultural centre yesterday (Thursday) and Wednesday, while those living in El Ejido can donate between 5:30pm and 10pm tomorrow (Friday).
Sport starts ALMERIA’S sporting calendar will begin this weekend with the eighth Mountain Race of Alicun. The race will take place on Sunday with more than 200 runners expected to take part.
INDALO PLAYERS: Some of the group’s members.
More Murder Mysteries LOCAL community group the Indalo Players are looking to build on their fantastic year in 2017 with even more performances this year. The group are looking to pick up where they left off with a performance of last year’s popular show ‘The Speakeasy Murder’ on Friday, January 19 in the already sold out Rose and Crown. They are also hoping to be back with more performances very soon and have other venues lined up for February and March from Mojacar to Huercal-Overa. As the topic has proved to be so popular, the group have further Murder Mysteries planned, with one set on a Mississippi river boat in the mid 1800’s and another to be set in a desert hotel. As usual, there will be music, dancers, high stakes gambling and a dastardly crime to solve. As a proper drama group they also want to take advantage of the facilities available and stage some full productions in the Cine Teatro Regio in Vera. This year is expected to be a great time for the group, and for anyone that wants to be part of the exciting group, give president Bill White a ring on 671 810 819 or send an email to williamwhite9553@aol.com. New members are welcomed with open arms. The members have many, many years of experience and are more than willing to pass it on.
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Active ageing Ed. 619
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MORE than 3,000 people across Almeria Province have taken part in ‘Active Ageing’ workshops’ held by Almeria’s Provincial Council. Up to 88 projects have been held across the region aimed at people aged over 60 and offer resources, training and information to those taking part. The Active Ageing workshops are weekly sessions, lasting between one and two hours for groups sized between 25 and 35 people. Three main activities make up the workshops including, promotion of autonomy and self-care: set of ac-
tions aimed at raising awareness, and training older people in the promotion of healthy living habits and self-care. They also provide actions aimed at promoting physical activity among the target demographic, in order to stop physical deterioration associated with age and prevent mobility problems. Finally, they focus on continuous cognitive development, with activities aimed at the conservation of the cognitive functions of the elderly and the prevention of cognitive deterioration and the deficits associated with it.
Worth the weight ARBOLEAS charity Age Support has announced the winner of their annual Christmas cake
competiion. W i n n e r, David guessed the closest to the weight of the cake
and collected his prize from Maggie, who leads the fundraising for the charity. When presenting the prize to David, Maggie extended her thanks to ever yone who bought tickets from the charity’s shop in Arboleas and at Los Llanos market. All the money raised will go towards supporting the welfare work which the charity does with the elderly in the area.
NEWS BITES
Tennis dream ALBOX tennis star Cecilia Martinez has been training at SANO Albox. She is set to compete in the second division of the Mountain East Conference in the USA for a second year in a row.
English class FIFTY young people between the age of 14 and 30 have taken part in new English courses in Arboleas and Berja. The courses involved elements of Commercial English alongside the Monitor of Leisure and Nature Tourism.
War stories NIJAR Town Hall will host a presentation of a new book by Antonio Gil Albarracín about the Second World War. The book, entitled ‘Fire Destruction, Blood and Laziness,’ commemorates the 80th anniversary of the 1937 bombings of the city of Almeria by Germany.
School open ONLINE enrolment for the seahorse infant school in Carboneras has opened ahead of the new school year. Applications for children aged between four months and three years close on January 30.
Football fiesta THE third Carboneras football tournament, for children between the ages of six and 11 will be held on Sunday, January 21. The Titanitos Cup will begin at 11am.
Big turnout
GUESS WHO: Guess the weight competition winner David with his prize.
MORE than 6,000 people have already visited the ‘Gods, Tombs and People’ exhibit at the Museum of Almeria. A total of 6,697 people have seen the exhibit since it opened.
Weekender
12th -18th Jan 2018
Pages 18
Property
An art form Page 15
Roasted salmon Page 23
Organ donation Page 21
Sporting deaths Page 30
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Weekender
Pause for thought for Epiphany SO how was your Christmas/New Year? Good, I hope; and trust you also managed to join with our Spanish hosts in celebrating Three Kings’ Day, which I find can often be more meaningful, more fun and more relevant than Christmas itself. For despite our fixation with ever more expensive Christmas presents, the Bible never suggests any gifts were exchanged on the day when Jesus was actually born. The only time when the Bible mentions any gifts being offered to the infant Jesus, was some months after his birth, when ‘wise men from the East’ came and gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh. And it is this visit that inspires the tradition of ‘Three Kings’ Day,’ with the associated giving of presents. But the Bible doesn’t give names for these ‘Kings,’ which isn’t particularly helpful, nor any detail other than that they came from the East, following a particularly bright star, which they believed indicated the birth of a great king. Equally unhelpful is the fact that,
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contrary to what most of us may believe, the Bible doesn’t actually say there were three of them; that presumption being made solely on the basis that they brought three gifts. There’s little to suggest they were Kings, for the Bible merely refers to them as ‘Wise Men’ or Maji. But the thing is they came, and almost certainly travelled a long distance to bring their presents, of huge value, to this apparently insignificant child, who they believed was to change history. They weren’t religious men, and knew little or nothing of the practices or beliefs of the Jewish leaders they consulted on their arrival in Israel, but in addition to their gifts, we’re told they fell down and worshipped the child. So the joy of ‘Three Kings’ Day’ to me, lies not only in the giving of presents and the excited laughter of children, but in the fact that this aspect of the Christmas period emphasises it’s not the religious, but the wise who find Christ and worship him, and for some, this can require a very long journey.
Duncan Burr is Licensed Lay Reader for the Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Cálida (further details available at www.mojacarchurch.org) and may be contacted at djburr@avired.com
Fffffffffffffffffffffffff By Jos Biggs EVERY autocracy maintains peace by the sympathetic and fair administration of sympathetic and fair rules. Her Royal Highness Sayyida al Hurra, Queen of the Mediterranean, a k a S o m e o n e E l s e ’s C a t , u n d e r stands and accepts this, thus human/cat harmony is maintained. Her son, Mr Tommy Fluf fipants, understands perfectly, but sees no reason why it should apply to him. He believes that as he is cute he must be above the law. Cat food has to be kept off the floor, otherwise Lucy, the Dog That Is Not Ours, hoovers it up - purely in the spirit of helpfulness, she says; Food should not be left lying around wasted. So cat food is served on separate tables, and each cat has its own table; Tommy’s on the breakfast bar, and Si’s on the so-called office desk,
which she shares with my laptop. Normally this is no problem - she has her bowl in the front of the desk while the laptop gets pushed to the back. However, the other day something distracted me, and I was called away, leaving her food bowl awaiting replenishment and the laptop, open and on, on the front of the desk. With royal good grace she waited patiently for my return, sitting serenely on the keyboard. When I got back she arose, leaving behind her four pages of ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff! I think it was a dignified expression of her opinion - her bowl should have been filled, and her place should not have had a laptop on it! She is, after all, Royalty!
josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk
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Give me the simple life by Sandy Shore A LOVER of the simple life I recall with some amusement being contacted by a regional radio station in England. Theirs was a reasonable request. The newsroom editor asked if there was a client of mine who might like to tell the folk back home what life was like in Spain. The broadcaster had called me because I was the MD of a properties abroad company. I say a simple request but it isn’t that easy to find someone prepared to take part in a radio broadcast. Scratching my head I recalled a lady who had bought through me. As bright as a soldier’s button Vera was willing and able and the telephone radio connection was set up. Any thought that the show’s presenter would be the anchor evaporated as Vera got into her stride. Her personality blossomed and for 20 minutes my client ruled the airwaves. I grinned as she compared the simple life in Spain to that
BRITISH BINS: The Spanish adopt a simpler system. of her home country. “Bins,” she exclaimed. “Here, there’s a community bin in each road. Each day, we take our carrier bag of rubbish and drop it in. As we sleep the garbage truck picks it up and disposes of the community’s rubbish. Where is your problem?” My delightful client then compared the simplicity of the operation with the cost and complexities of rubbish collections in
Britain. Each house has up to six different coloured bins for various grades of rubbish. Collections are expensive, sporadic and problematic. Earlier today I kept an appointment at Torrevieja Hospital. Simplicity itself, the needs of patients burdened by multiple ailments are ef ficiently and satisfactorily served on one wellkept floor with a nice waiting room
flanked by 40 analysis rooms. Patients outnumber visible staff by about 50 / 1. This is quite unlike the NHS where staff seemingly exceeds patients 50 / 1 but do so far less efficiently. There are 20 countries with larger populations than Britain’s but the NHS with 1.3 million staff is one of the world’s biggest employers. At my British hospital there was a confusion of multiple waiting rooms scattered over a bewildering complex larger than a small town. The eye department alone ‘boasted’ four waiting rooms. One of the UK’s top ophthalmic experts often missed appointments due to patients being misdirected by sloppy staff. We spoilt expat brats complain about random bumper-to-bumper traffic on three miles of N332. Then I remember that most roads in Britain are just as stuffed. However, Britain’s network of roads covers 243,000 miles with most of them clogged 24 / 7 like Torrevieja’s three miles of slow moving traffic - in August. Give me the simple life any time.
Advertising Feature
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something happens to me, and whilst statistics show that air travel is a safe mode of any transport, we haven’t considered what if something happens, and therefore insuring ourselves.
The creators of www.millionaircover.com believe their product fills a gap in the market in that it provides worthwhile financial stability to dependents and loved ones at a very affordable price. Customers may obtain this new policy via an online application process through the www.millionaircover.com website that has been made as simple and transparent as possible. Currently, any European Union resident over the age of 18 can apply for cover before they travel on scheduled flights, including most package holiday flights, using their debit or credit card. Customers can apply for cover up to the time of boarding their aircraft and may apply to cover any additional pre-booked flights in advance. The creators of www.millionaircover.com are confident that this new product underwritten by
first class, secure insurers will give travellers real peace of mind at a price point that is accessible to all. As a reader of Sol Times, you can enter our free to enter prize draw with a prize of €200, by emailing your name, and entering S18 in the subject line to free draw@million-aircover.com. The free prize draw closes at midnight on March 31, 2018, any entry received after then will not be eligible for inclusion in the free draw. No purchase is required to enter the draw, you must be over 18 years old. We will email you details of the free draw rules when you enter. An independent person will oversee the draw. million-aircover® and or their representatives may contact you about million-aircov er® Please also see our Facebook page www.facebook.com/mil lionaircover.
Home & Garden
12th - 18th January 2018
Weekender 15
Hydroponic gardening USING hydroponics for growing your fruit and vegetables isn’t just the preserve of indoor enthusiasts in colder climes, but can actually greatly increase your growth rate and yield. Hydroponics is simply growing without the use of soil and has been made into something of an art form with the various techniques available. Typically it involves plants with their roots suspended into a pH balanced nutrient solution of water and fertiliser. It uses growing mediums to channel and support the roots and help the nutrient flow. The use of growing mediums provides much more oxygen and means the hydroponic plant uses less energy to find and
IF you live in an apartment building with a terrace and don’t have access to your own garden or plot of land, there’s still plenty of options available to grow an impressive array of fruit and veg. Follow these tips to make sure you make the most of your space. You can warm up your micro-climate in the evenings by using a wall of glass water bottles, a technique favoured by the ancient Greeks. They’ll absorb heat even on cloudy days and radiate a buzzing warmth throughout the night. Hang your plants vertically by constructing a multi-level grid which will improve air circulation and sun exposure for each plant. Fungi is your friend, by harvesting spores, isolating mycelia, adding
NO SOIL: Hydroponic salad vegetables.
Terrace tips Make the most of your home’s green potential agar and putting the mix into a jar with grain you’ll have a compact nutritional source. Protect crops from the sun using a translucent box of polyethylene sheeting that allows the photosynthetically active spectrum of sunlight to get through.
Lastly pick your crops wisely, one tomato plant can produce 16 pounds of tomatoes, while a beet plant produces a solitary beet. Carrots, for example, need three feet of soil which is highly impracticable for a terrace garden.
break down food. Considerably less water is used with hydroponic systems because nutrients can be reused and fewer pesticides are required. pH levels are extremely important in hydroponic systems, with a range of 5.8 to 6.8 considered optimal and the pH levels are much easier to check than in soil, with many stores now selling meters. One of the best features of going hydroponic is the enormous versatility that you will encounter. Readymade systems are available for those just dipping their toes in the water, while more adventurous experts can construct their own systems as a pet project or fully blown hobby. Ultimately almost every aspect of hydroponic gardening can be automated and even controlled from your mobile phone or laptop.
Weekender
PLANTS are hardy creatures, which comes in handy in Spain where a dr y climate might lead you to believe constant watering is essential and even forgo creating an elaborate garden if you can’t guarantee a year-round supply.
Home & Garden
12th - 18th January 2018
Spain’s sun lovers Plenty of plants thrive on very little water and can help you transform an arid summer into an
abundance of colour and style. Cacti are plentiful across southern Spain and lend a bold, even psychedelic, dimension
to a garden of terrace with their wild individualism. They handle cooler weather well and will easily sur vive lengthy periods without
attention. Cycas might take a while to grow but can be acquired in a mature condition and can provide an architectural
PAMLA J. EISENBURG VIA WIKIPEDIA
16
SUNNING IT UP: Several plant species enjoy Spain’s sunny climates.
backdrop to any home. Lavender relishes the full sun and will provide a terrific fragrance on balmy summer evenings, as well as a bountiful supply of flavour for any home cooked dishes. The bushy Hypericum of fers a wonder ful ornamental style and handle heat naturally, while Plumbago can add colour and trap ants and insects. If you’re feeling ambitious you could even secure some passion fruit for breakfast, as the passion flower grows like a weed in the hot Spanish summer. These are just a few examples of the sun lovers that can brighten up your proper ty. Just ensure they have plenty sun, are protected from wind, and let nature takes its course.
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Weekender
Property
12th - 18th January 2018
RENTING: A few precautions can help ensure a dream home doesn’t turn into disaster.
Avoiding the pitfalls of renting a home FOR many people in Spain, renting is a more attractive option than
buying a home. But for some, it is not always the easiest
process. Here are some pitfalls and misunderstandings you need to
avoid to be sure it really is home sweet home rather than a rental nightmare. - Failing to read (and understand) the whole contract: Yo u a r e a g r e e i n g t o everything you sign, so take your time and make sure you understand it a l l . D o n ’t l e t a n y o n e rush you, and if necessar y ask for a copy of the contract in advance so you have time to query any unclear points before signing. - Renting from an acquaintance without signing a contract: Although golden opportunities can sometimes arise, when someone you trust offers you property at a great price you never know what the future may b r i n g . I t ’s a l w a y s a good idea to write everything down, if only for both parties’ peace of mind. - Not negotiating the price or worr ying points:
If you think a clause is abusive or you’ve given a bit over one point and want the owner to do t h e s a m e o n a n o t h e r, make sure you make this clear. You’ve nothi n g t o l o s e a n d i t ’s a good idea to make sure ever ything is cr ystal clear from the start. - Failing to check the property before signing: Rental contracts almost always carr y a clause stating the tenant will pay for any damage caused. But unless you check the state it’s in before signing you could find yourself lumbered with paying for damage previous tenants made. To a v o i d t h i s , c h e c k the proper ty carefully and list any imper fections before signing a contract. This list should be signed by both parties and attached to the contract. - Paying in advance: Don’t hand any money over until you’ve seen the proper ty and
signed the contract. If you’re pushed for adv a n c e d e p o s i t s , i t ’s a good idea to make sure you have a document specifying what the payment is for. - Taking on expenses y o u s h o u l d n ’t h a v e t o pay: Make sure you know exactly which expenses and bills will be paid by each party, and also that the contract specifies who will pay for repairs that may be needed. - Accepting verbal agreements the owner refuses to put in writing: If the owner makes promises verbally but doesn’t want to put them in the contract, there is no guarantee they will be met. If they really m e a n w h a t t h e y s a y, they should have no reason not to include their promises in the contract, which when all is said and done is a private agreement between two par ties and can be written to measure.
O
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Weekender
Health & beauty
12th -18th January 2018
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD) is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. The symptoms often begin in the autumn as the days start getting s h o r t e r, b u t t h e y a r e typically most severe during December, January and February. Symptoms of SAD
can include a persistent low mood, a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday a c t i v i t i e s , i r r i t a b i l i t y, f e e l i n g s o f d e s p a i r, guilt and worthlessness, feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the d a y, s l e e p i n g f o r longer than normal and finding it hard to
You can still feel ‘SAD’ while living in the sun VULNERABLE: Some cases of SAD known to run in families. get up in the morning, craving carbohydrates and gaining weight. You should consider seeing your doctor if
you think you might have SAD and you’re struggling to cope, and they can carr y out an assessment to check your mental health. They may ask you about your mood, lifestyle, eating habits and sleeping patterns, plus any seasonal changes in your thoughts and behaviour. The exact cause of SAD isn’t fully under-
s t o o d , b u t i t ’s o f t e n linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter autumn and winter days. The main theor y is that a lack of sunlight might stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus working properly. This affects a number of the body’s natural functions such as production of melatonin, the hormone
that makes you sleepy, and those suffering from SAD may produce it in higher than normal levels. T h e b o d y ’s i n t e r n a l clock (circadian rhythm) may also become af fected as your body uses sunlight to time various important functions, such as when you wake up, so lower light levels during the winter may disrupt your body clock and lead to symptoms of SAD. I t ’s a l s o p o s s i b l e that some people are more vulnerable to SAD as a result of their genes, as some cases appear to run in families. The main treatments for sufferers of SAD are trying to get as much natural sunlight as possible, exercising regularly and managing levels of stress. In extreme cases, light therapy can be adopted where a special light box is used in the home to simulate exposure to sunlight.
Health & beauty
12th -18th January 2018
Weekender 21
Spain is world leader in organ donations and transplants SPAIN has once again found its way to the top spot in the world when it comes to the numbers of organ donations and transplants. According to the National Transplant Organisation (ONT), a total of 5,359 organ transplants were carried out in Spain during 2017. In total, 3,269 were kidney, 1,247 liver, 363 lungs, 304 heart, 70 pancreas and eight intestines. The leader of the ONT - Dr Rafael Matesanz had reportedly previously said that 5,000 transplants was the goal for the year 2020, and Spain has surpassed it three years early. Over the last 25 years, more than 100,000 organ transplants have reportedly been carried out in Spain, although the figure rises to half a million when transplants such as bone marrow, stem cells and skin grafts are taken into account. This puts Spain at more than double the European Union’s figure, and 13 per cent above that of the USA. “Anyone living in Spain who has needed a transplant to be able to carry on living has been fortunate enough to
be in the place where they have the best opportunities of this happening, and with no discrimination whatsoever, either positive or negative,” Dr Matesanz stressed late last year. As well as internal organ donations - which include livedonor kidney and
PIONEERS: Spain leads the rest of the world as the best country for transplanting operations.
partial liver transplants - Spain has been a pioneer in transplanting limbs, even legs above the knee and arms above the elbow, and was the first country in Europe to carry out a successful face transplant. The ‘Universal Spaniard Award,’ presented every year by the Independent Foundation and, this time, jointly with HM Hospitals, has been won by Spanish household names such as the author Camilo José Cela, Margarita Salas, Miguel Induráin, Vicente Ferrer, and world number one tennis player Rafa Nadal.
Food & Drink
12th -18th January 2018
Weekender 23
Old Fashioned Potato Salad
CHICKEN STEW: Warming dish with sweet potatoes and aubergine.
Turmeric Chicken Stew Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cubed, 2 sweet potatoes, cubed, 1/2 red onion, chopped, 1 small aubergine, cubed, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root, 2 teaspoons ground turmeric, 1/2 cup chicken stock
Preparation Preparation time – 15 minutes. Cooking time – 28 minutes. Method Heat olive oil in a large frying-pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook until browned and no longer pink in
the centre, about 5 minutes. Add sweet potatoes and onion; cook and stir until onion is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add aubergine, garlic, ginger, and turmeric; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Pour in stock and simmer stew until thickened, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.
Orange Roasted Salmon Ingredients 2 oranges, sliced into rounds, 1 onion, thinly sliced, 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, 5 (6oz) salmon fillets, 1 tablespoon lemon pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon honey Preparation Preparation time – 15 minutes. Cooking time – 40 minutes. Method 1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC). 2. In a small bowl, stir the lemon pepper, garlic powder, and dried parsley. Place the slices from one of the oranges in a single layer in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place a layer of onion slices over the orange.
Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil, and sprinkle with half of the herb mixture. 3. Place the dish in the preheated oven, and roast for about 25 minutes, or until the onions are browned and tender. Remove the dish from the oven, and increase the temperature to 450ºF (220ºC).
4. Push the onion and orange slices to the edge of the baking dish, and place the salmon fillets in the centre. Season with the remaining half of the herb mixture. Whisk together the orange juice, lemon juice and honey in a bowl. Pour over salmon. 5. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the salmon is opaque in the centre. Remove fillets to a serving dish, and discard the roasted orange. Garnish fillets with roasted onions and fresh orange slices.
Ingredients 5 potatoes, 3 eggs, 1 cup chopped celery, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup sweet piccalilli, 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, 1/4 teaspoon celery salt, 1 tablespoon prepared mustard, ground black pepper to taste, 1/4 cup mayonnaise Preparation Preparation Time – 45 minutes. Cooking time – 15 minutes. Method 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool, peel and chop. 2. Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil; cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and chop. 3. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, eggs, celery, onion, piccalilli, garlic salt, celery salt, mustard, pepper and mayonnaise. Mix together well and refrigerate until chilled.
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Weekender
Puzzles
12th - 18th January 2018
Wordsearch The Wizard of Oz
Boggled How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules? The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms. No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice. No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.
TARGET:
WIZARD MONKEYS MUNCHKINS UNCLE HENRY GLINDA TOTO
SLIPPERS GALE DOROTHY WICKED WITCH WATER GARLAND
NIKKO JUDY AUNT EM MELTING RUBY TIN MAN
Quick
Across 1 Study of plants (6) 4 Full of high-spirited delight (6) 9 Skinny and gaunt (7) 10 Fried potatoes (5) 11 Selected (5) 12 Italian rice dish (7) 13 Detective (6) 15 Consider or hold as true (6) 18 Disposed to please (7) 20 Of or relating to the nose (5) 23 Earlier in time (5) 24 Far away (7) 25 Followed orders (6) 26 Oil-carrying ship (6)
Down 1 Fundamental (5) 2 Body excluding head, neck and limbs (5) 3 Disregard (7) 5 Fastening devices (5) 6 Floral emblem of Scotland (7) 7 Twist out of shape (7) 8 Bitter aromatic gum (5) 13 Hair cleaner (7) 14 Large building (7) 16 Card game similar to rummy (7) 17 Prepared (5) 19 Canal boat (5) 21 Roughly built hut (5) 22 After a while (5)
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
• Average: 14
• Very good: 28
• Good: 19
• Excellent: 36
gins kens inert inter inters inst instep insteps enate enter enters eaten eater eaters eats ease eases east easter easts hyena hyenas hens heat heater heaters heats hate hates hater haters hats hast haste hasten hastes hasp hasps heal anus ante antes ants antre asea aster asps ester sett setts etna etas erst
SCORING: • 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points • 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 4 points • 8 or more letters: 11 points
Cryptic
Across 1 Checked dessert I made (8) 5 Locks in humanely (4) 9 Some bargees entertained silly people (5) 10 Characteristic alternative of a rat (7) 11 About venom giving temporary relief (7) 12 Fake Ecstasy, what a disgrace (5) 13 Scottish beginners wrap an ancient manuscript (6) 15 Harbours new arrivals, we hear (6) 19 Dispatches crafts (5) 21 Former Liberal is a model (7) 23 A couple of bridge players with a quantity of money, said to be impressive (7) 24 Annoyance when range is redesigned (5) 25 Newts left standing inside (4) 26 Hired again and published (8)
Down 1 Respects judges (7) 2 Appears to look at manuscript (5) 3 Place is becoming exclusive (7) 4 Spain encounters rising value (6) 6 Pull a car over open land (7) 7 It’s creepy in Lake Erie (5) 8 Catches and bans characters (4) 14 Dress me in art fashion (7) 16 Issue English guy with a text edition initially (7) 17 Trimmed fancy headers (7) 18 During course, renegotiations were calm (6) 19 Start vehicle in southeast (5) 20 Work hard to produce last Beatles record (4) 22 Calls for attendants (5)
Puzzles
12th - 18th January 2018
IRREGULAR SUDOKU
SOLTIMES STAR QUIZ : PEACE OFFERINGS 1. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee elected by the parliament of which European country? 2. The name of which large square in the centre of Beijing adjacent to the Forbidden City, comes from the Chinese for ‘square of heavenly peace’? 3. Which Russian author wrote the novel War and Peace, first published in 1869? 4. Which major European conflict of the early 18th century ended with the Peace of Utrecht in 1713? 5. What, now famous, political term featured in Winston Churchill’s Sinews of Peace address of March 5, 1946, at Westminster College, when he said: “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an ---- ------ has descended across the continent”?
6. Which international organisation that campaigns actively but nonviolently for conservation of the environment and the preservation of endangered species, was founded by Canadian environmental activists in 1971? 7. What was the nationality of Le Duc Tho, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1973, but declined it? 8. In which decade was the volunteer programme run by the US government the Peace Corps formed? 9. What was the name of the Roman goddess of peace, the equivalent of Eirene in Greek mythology? 10. Who reached number two in the UK singles charts in July 1969 with Give Peace a Chance?
Kakuro
Answers 1. NORWAY, 2. TIANANMEN SQUARE, 3. Leo TOLSTOY (Count Lev Nikolayevitch TOLSTOY), 4. WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION, 5. IRON CURTAIN, 6. GREENPEACE, 7. VIETNAMESE (born in Hà Nam Province, North Vietnam), 8. 1960s (1961), 9. PAX, 10. John LENNON and the PLASTIC ONO BAND
SUDOKU
Weekender 25
Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
CrosswordSolutions from last week Quick
Cryptic
Sudoku
Irregular Sudoku
26
Weekender
Leisure
12th - 18th January 2018
YOUR WEEKLY HOROSCOPES ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Education, media, creative and social connections are given star merit. The solar eclipse in your own sign bursts with vitality and success, more so for an array of bold moves, replacements and makeovers covering your personal affairs.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Stand by for a week of whoosh and whirl. More importantly, try to avoid getting tongue-tied or dogmatic on Tuesday and Friday. Promising potentials appear, especially if you spruce up your competitive streak.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Throughout this fortunate week, whatever else you decide, refuse to discard your hopes and wishes. As a Gemini, you like to have two strings to your bow of life, which gives you an alternative option, especially if the going gets tough.
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) A vivid star pattern portends a frantic personal and social diary. Ensure that any tight planning is carefully handled, especially if you hope to fit in everything you would like to say. Don't allow Monday or Wednesday's tensions to spoil opportunities for settling something important.
LEO (July 24 - August 23) Pave the way for any ambitious schemes you may have, rather than actually starting them. With your ruler the Sun eclipsing your kindred fire sign, determined Aries, you are now more likely to get the support and affection you need from the powers that be or someone who thinks the world of you. Loosen up on Tuesday and Thursday.
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Even if the opposite to what you want happens, it could prove useful. One clue to this week's planetary crossword puzzle is ‘What word could also mean success?’ Check it out, and make it work for you. Never forget that important ideas and developments can stem from seemingly trivial discussions.
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) The solar eclipse in your opposite sign of Aries intensifies your willpower. Before you say 'go', find out where you stand. It might pay you to leave things be for a little longer to see if anything begins to change. Some of the consequences of your actions will become obvious as your charming ruler Venus begins to have an effect.
SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) The planets mobilise your streak of Scorpio daring, but don't stretch your limits. Your most effective weapon against personal and workrelated pitfalls is your ability to be objective. Your desire to make specific situations and conversations work needs to be combined with your faith that they will work. Even if a different approach is required, try it and see.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) The main gist of the solar eclipse in fiery Aries and the link between plucky Mars and your ruler friendly Jupiter will stir surprises. Whether you create the right atmosphere all round depends on how you interpret other people's views. Stick to crisp, simple but sensitively tuned answers, then no one can accuse you of not trying.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Hard-working, enterprising and self-sacrificing are just some of the words that describe your zodiac sign. It will be these qualities that count. Friday will boost your powers of persuasion, but you won't have too much to complain about if you follow this lucky trend into next week's encouraging tide.
AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Eager Mars meets affluent Jupiter and enriches your financial forecast. It might show a foretaste of money to come, or on-stream benefits. If you intend to make alterations to your personal and home interests, you'll undoubtedly cope with both offbeat and upbeat activities.
PISCES (Februar y 20 - March 20) One thing is certain, when you come through this week's restless planetary antics, you won't be totally the same Piscean who walked in. Whether you're figuring out numbers, analysing your dreams, or getting into a playfully social mood, there'll be much to enjoy and put to the test.
BOOK REVIEW
Murder on the Lake of Fire By Mikel J Wilson
MIKEL J WILSON presents a gripping stor y centred on intrigue, mystery and murder. Emory Rome, a talented Special Agent working for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, is instructed to return to his hometown to solve a brutal murder case With one notorious case already under his belt, the 23year-old has already garnered fame as he continues to leapfrog his colleagues. But his seemingly ever-growing career comes to a sudden halt when asked to work on
this case as it is the one he desperately fought to avoid. A teenage girl, who seemed destined to turn professional, has been found brutally murdered while she was ice-skating and soon after her coach is killed as well with an apparent case of spontaneous human combustion. In the Smoky Mountain town he had once abandoned, bursting with friends and foes, Rome’s own secrets are also around ever y corner as he is drawn back into the tiny town life he left behind.
The race to find the murderer before they strike again sees Private Investigator, Jeff Wo o d w a r d , b r o u g h t i n o n t h e c a s e , d e s p i t e R o m e ’s plea that he will merely get in the way. PI Woodward is a smart, intuitive individual, the type who fits the murderer’s bill to a tee, but as they get closer to finding the killer, more and more lives continue to be put in jeopardy. Will Rome find the killer before it is too late? Wilson’s Murder on the Lake
of Fire is full of twists and turns throughout and a surprising ending leaves the reader wanting more.
MURDER MYSTER: Full of twists and turns.
Leisure
12th - 18th January 2018
Weekender 27
FILM REVIEW ruthless enemy that takes no prisoners. The American soldiers must adopt the tactics of their allies, riding horses across the uneasy terrain, in order to retake a key Afghan city. The film is based on Doug Stanton’s nonfiction book Horse Soldiers, and stars Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael
FILM OF THE WEEK
IMPOSSIBLE: Tom Cruise stars in the 1996 classic.
Mission Impossible Starring Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, Ving Rhames, Jean Reno Saturday, 9pm-11pm, Sky One A US government agent Ethan Hunt and his mentor, Jim Phelps, are sent on a covert mission that takes a dramatic turn and changes Ethan’s life forever. Jim is killed by an unnamed assailant and Ethan becomes the prime suspect. While on the run, Hunt recruits a team of people, the best of their trade, including brilliant hacker, Luther Stickell and maverick pilot Franz Krieger. The team are tasked with sneaking Ethan into a heavily guarded CIA building to retrieve confidential information that will prove his innocence and find the true killer.
Alaska - Earth’s Frozen Kingdom
SUMMER
OUR PICK OF THIS WEEK’S MUST-SEE
ONE TO WATCH
BEARING ALL: Grizzly bears make the most of Saturday, 8pm-9pm, BBC FOUR the migrating salmon during the Alaskan EPISODE 2 in the three-part nature series sees summer. footage from Alaska’s summer months. During the short Alaskan summer, the land is bathed in 24 hours of constant sunlight luring man and different types of birds to the region including humming birds from Mexico. The documentary follows the Alaskan summer, including the seemingly endless Antarctic deserts that rely on parachuting firefighters to tackle consistent forest fires and Grizzly bears that fatten up for the winter on the sudden influx of salmon. A new caribou calf joins a giant herd on the great migration while a male moose’s unique display attracts female attention. While following the humans of the Antarctic, a giant vegetable grower tries his luck at the Alaska State Fair with a half-tonne pumpkin.
OUR CHOICE
Neil Armstrong - First Man on the Moon Sunday, 9pm-10pm, BBC Four MAN ON THE MOON: Neil Armstrong was DOCUMENTARY telling the story of former astronaut commander on the Apollo 11 in 1969. Neil Armstrong by the close family and friends who knew him best, many of whom have never spoken publicly before. Examining many parts of Armstrong’s life, topics include his childhood during America’s Great Depression, his time with America’s space programme and of course his historic mission as commander of Apollo 11 in July 1969. The documentary also delves into how he coped after life with NASA and the relentless demands of fame that have continued long after his death in 2012. It features interviews with his first wife Janet and their sons Rick and Mark, siblings Dean and June, best friend Kotcho Solacoff, fellow astronauts Mike Collins, Charlie Duke, Dave Scott and Buzz Aldrin as well as his widow Carol.
Film & TV Guide
Peña, Navid Negahban, Trevante Rhodes, Geoff Stults, Thad Luckinbill, William Fichtner, and Rob Riggle. “We’ve seen a lot of Navy SEAL movies, which are very smash-andgrab approaches, which is what they do best, better than anyone,” said actor Chris Hemsworth. “With Special Forces guys, they embed themselves in a community over a course of months or years, and it’s a diplomatic duty and relationship building within these communities to achieve their outcome.”
12 Strong
12 STRONG is an upcoming American war drama film directed by Nicolai Fuglsig and written by Ted Tally and Peter Craig. In the wake of Sept 11, Capt Mitch Nelson leads a US Special Forces team into Afghanistan for an extremely dangerous mission. Once there, the soldiers develop an uneasy partnership with the Northern Alliance to take down the Taliban and its alQaida allies. Outgunned and outnumbered, Nelson and his forces face overwhelming odds in a fight against a
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CARS WANTED CARS WANTED For Cash. Classic Cars & Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Defenders & Discoveries. Please call: 659 685 133 (253556)
CHARITIES/CHURCHES GIRASOL COMMUNITY CENTRE. Mosaic Classes, Art Classes, Karate, Yoga, Thai Chi, Pilates, Health Screening every 6 weeks. For Hire 5.00€ per hour. Tel 639 089 170
Classifieds
12th - 18th January 2018
The Spiritualist Centre, Benijofar meets at Hamilton´s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Service at 11.30 a.m., a Tuesday Evening of Mediumship at 7 p.m. Open/Development Circles will be held on Thursdays, where you can develop your skills commencing at 6.30 p.m. Spiritual healing is available every Sunday and Tuesday after the service. The Divine Service, with Mediumship, on Sunday 21st January will be taken by Matt and Kirsty Grogan (UK Mediums). The Evening of Mediumship on Tuesday 23rd January, will also be taken by Matt and Kirsty Grogan (UK Mediums). The Divine Service on Sunday, 23rd January will be taken by The Divine Service on Sunday, 28th January will be taken by David Darnbrough. Contact Wendy on 965323028. www.spiritualistcentre -benijofar.com New email is phoenixchurch23@gm ail.com or info@spiritualistcentre -benijofar.com Identificacion Fiscal G54713789.
DRAINAGE
HEALTH & BEAUTY GIRASOL HEALTH FOOD SHOP, Calle Malaga, Albox. For all your dietary needs, health foods, organic foods, supplements, super food powders, organic eggs and veggie box scheme. Est 2006. Tel 639 089 170
INSURANCE 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! (200726)
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GARDENING
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Sport
12th - 18th January 2018
SPORTS
A former player, Tony is now the world’s most prolific author of football books with 150 published since 1975. He has also been a PE teacher and a policeman, and is now a quiz-organiser, fundraiser, for various charities, and sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio.
By Tony Matthews
99, 98, 97 and out! CREDIT: TWITTER
By Tony Matthews UNFORTUNATE Australian batsman Clem Hill was dismissed for 99, 98 and 97 in successive Test Match innings against England in 1901-02. Lesser batsmen would have blamed fate about the distressing sequence of scores. Not Hill. He simply carried on regardless and became a top quality cricketer. In the second Test in Melbourne, Hill was dismissed by Sidney Barnes for 99 the first-ever such score by a batsman in the history of the sport. Two weeks later he followed up with a score of 98 in the first innings of the third Test in Adelaide, dismissed this time by seamer Len Braund. After those two near misses, everyone was asking the question could Hill finally bag that elusive hundred in the second innings of this match? Indeed, he was looking good on 97 not out but then, amazingly, he was dismissed again, this time just three runs short of his century. He played a defensive shot at a delivery from oc-
LEGEND: Clem Hill is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest batsmen. casional bowler Gilbert Jessop but to his horror, the ball rolled in a sickeningly slow trickle backwards towards the stumps. Hill tried desperately to stop it with his bat but the ball won the race, hit the stumps and displaced the bails. Hill’s sequence of 99, 98 and 97 has often been jokingly referred to as a ‘gradual loss of form.’ However, the English author Simon Wilde had the final say on this, calling the sequence an “unparalleled spell of nonagenarian’s neurosis.” For the record Hill had been out for a duck in the first Test and for 15 in the first innings of the second.
He followed up these three dismissals in the 90’s with scores of 21 and 30 in the fourth Test and 28 and 87 in the fifth. Australia won the series 4-1 - after England was victorious in the opening Test in Sydney. Hill went on to score 3,412 runs in 49 Tests at an average of 39.21 and despite being dismissed in the nervous 90’s on three more occasions, he ended his career with seven hundreds actually holding the Aussie record for 22 years for most Test runs scored. He was inducted into Australian Cricket’s Hall of Fame in 2005.
Apologies to all darts fans with regards to my notes on Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor in last week’s paper. I submitted the text before he lost to Robert Cross in the WDC final. I anticipated that he would win his 17th title.
AMENDMENT
Farewell… and R.I.P. THESE are some of the 120 sporting folk who sadly died in 2017: American football: Red Miller (aged 89) Denver Broncos coach. Athletes: Derek Ibbotson (84) track runner/GB; Margaret Lambert (103) High jump/USA. Baseball: Bobby Doerr (99) Boston Red Sox; Ray Halladay (40) Philadelphia Phillies; Yordano Ventura (25) Kansas City. Boxing: Errol Christie (53) GB; Terry Downes (81) GB; Tim Hague (75) Canada; Jake ‘The Raging Bull’ LaMotta (95) USA; Larry Paul (65) GB. Cricket: Tom Graveney (88) Gloucestershire/England; John Hampshire (76) Yorkshire/England (also Test match umpire); Baroness Rachel Heyhoe-Flint (76) England (also Wolves FC director); Derek Morgan (88) Derbyshire; Tom Pritchard (100) Kent/Warwickshire/England; Peter Richardson (85) Worcestershire/Kent/ England; Don Shepherd (90) Glamorgan; Milkha Singh (75) India. Cycling: Serge Baguet (47) Belgium; Vincente Iturat (88) Spain. Equestrian: Gillian Rolton (61) Australia. Football: Graham Atkinson (73) Oxford United (brother of Ron); Camilio Cervino (91) Argentina; Les Cocker (77) Wolves, (also Leeds/England trainer); Lindy Delapenha (89); Middlesbrough; Ugo Ehiogu (44) WBA/Aston Villa/Middlesbrough/ England; Tommy Gemmill (73) Celtic/Nottingham Forest/Scotland; Tim Gudjon (87) BBC TV/radio broadcaster; Roger Hynd (75), Birmingham City, Crystal Palace/ Rangers; Piet Keizer (73) Ajax/Netherlands; Raymond Kopa (88) Reims/Real Madrid/France; Noel Kinsey (91) Norwich City/Birmingham City; Manuel ‘Moruca’ Mora (84) Racing Santander; Bobby Murdoch (81) Carlisle/Liverpool; John Phillips (65), Aston Villa/Chelsea; Frederick Rausch (77) FC Schalke; John Richardson (71) Derby County/Notts County; Feliciano Rivilla (81) Atletico
FAN FAVOURITE: Jana Novotna became a popular figure in the sport following her Wimbledon triumph. Credit: Twitter Madrid/Spain; Billy Simpson (87), Linfield/ Rangers/Northern Ireland; Graham Taylor, OBE (72) Watford/Aston Villa/Wolves/England manager; Cheik Tiote (36) Newcastle/Ivory Coast; Francois Van de Elst (62) Anderlecht/West Ham/Belgium; Santiago Vernazzi (89) AC Milan; Paul Went (67) Charlton/Portsmouth; Brian Whitehouse (81) WBA/Charlton/Crystal Palace/Norwich; Paul Wilson (66) Celtic/Motherwell/Partick Thistle; Alex Young (80), Everton/Hearts/Glentoran/Stockport/Scotla nd. Golf: Patricia Bridges (95) USA; Charlie Owen (85) USA; Ken Still (82) USA. Horse Racing: jockeys Edgar Britt (103); Tommy Carberry (75); Brian Fletcher (69) and Johnny Roe and trainers Pat Haslam (69); Martin Maloney (91); David Nicholls (61), Mary Reverley and Geoff Wragg (87). Ice Hockey: Ed Dyck (66) Vancouver Canucks/Canada; Vladimir Petrov (69) Krylya Sovetov/Moscow/Russia; Milt Schmidt (98) Boston Bruins. Ice Skating: Mary Parry (87) GB. Motor Cycling: Nicky ‘The Kentucky Kid’ Hayden (35) USA; Davey Lambert (48) GB; John Surtees (83) GB, also F1. Motor Racing: Daniel Hegarty (31) GB; Tim Parnell (84) GB F1. Rugby League/Union: Mick Adams (65) Widnes; Tony Barrow (45) Swinton; Steve Begley (42) Edinburgh/Glasgow/ Scotland (also triathlete); Willie Duggan (67) Ireland/British Lions; Colin Hutton (90) Hull/Widnes; Sir Colin Meads (81) New Zealand All Blacks; Cecil Moss (92) South Africa; Ian Smith (76) New Zealand. Skiing: Jean Vuarnet (83) France. Tennis: Jana Novotná (49) Czech Republic.
Motoring
12th - 18th January 2018
31
NEW car sales in Spain rose 7.7 per cent to 1.23 million last year, although dealers said the increase was helped in a large part by discounting and self-registrations. According to data from industry association ANFAC, the market had its best December result in 10 years with sales up 6.2 per cent to 102,943 year-on-year. ANFAC spokesperson Adolfo Randulfe said it was the first time sales had topped the 100,000 mark in December since 2007. December saw high demand from private buyers as dealers aiming to reach annual sales targets offered last-minute discounts, dealer association GANVAM said. More than 10 per cent of sales in 2017 came from self-registra-
PHOTO CREDIT: TWITTER
Spanish car sales record best figures in a decade
RENAULT: Ended the year as No1 in Spain. tions by automakers and dealers, said Raul Morales, from FACONAUTO dealer body. This was an ‘excessive’ volume which artificially inflated dealer stocks, he said. Demand from fleets was strong in 2017. Business sales rose by 13 per cent for the year and by 4.2 per cent in December. Sales to
rental companies increased 9.2 per cent over 12 months and 6.2 per cent in December. Sales to private customers were up 4.4 per cent in 2017 and 7.4 per cent in December. Renault ended the year as Spain’s top-selling brand overall but Volkswagen Group’s Spanish
brand Seat had a strong performance. Audi led the premium pack and Asian automakers had a good year. Renault brand’s registrations rose 12 per cent in 2017 and 15 per cent in December, wheras Seat’s volume gained 22 per cent over the full year with sales jump-
ing 39 per cent in December. Industry experts say the brand was helped by the introductions of its new Ateca and Arona SUVs. Volkswagen brand was No 3 by sales despite a sluggish 0.7 per cent increase for the year and an 18 per cent drop in December. Peugeot was fourth with registrations up 5 per cent in 2017 and 16 per cent in December. Opel was No 5, although its registrations fell 2.8 per cent over the year and 27 per cent in December. As in other European countries, SUVs are increasing in popularity in Spain. The four SUV categories - small, medium, large and premium - had sales increases of 20 per cent, 26 per cent, 40 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.