ISSUE 631 • 6th - 12th April 2018
EST 2005
Expats’ desperate plea EXCLUSIVE By Benjamin Park THE wife of a popular British expat who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis last year with has launched an urgent appeal for funding to help get her husband on a new form of treatment. Popular plasterer/builder Paul Morrison and his wife Claire first moved to Almeria before a diagnosis shocked the couple and their three children Charlotte, Ben and Alvaro, last year. Paul was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis last April; a disease which now forces him to walk with crutches and has also affected a number of other aspects of his day to day life. Paul’s wife, Claire,speaking exclusively to the Sol Times: “We’ve had the year from hell; we just desperately need everybody’s help for our family. “His (Paul’s) speech has deteriorated and more frequently he can’t get his words out and struggles to keep up with conversations. “His spatial awareness has gone so simple tasks like cooking are a challenge. “Some days are worse than others and these symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg.
“For a man who worked six days a week in a physical job this is life crushing. The impact on our family is immense. “From a stay at home Mum I now work full time to keep the family afloat. Forty-five-year-old Paul currently undergoes a treatment known as Disease Modifying Treatment (DMT) which requires him to have injections every 48 hours as well as taking a number of daily tablets. But with his situation deteriorating, the family has applied for Paul to have a more intense chemotherapy treatment known as Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in Moscow. Claire continued: “The treatment has been available to a small number of sufferers in London and Sheffield and it will soon be recognised as an established treatment in the UK but we cannot wait. “Paul is progressing at a rapid rate and he will soon be in a wheelchair. “This has forced us and many other MS sufferers to go abroad as time is of the essence. We have spoken to neurologists far and wide and this is our best and only chance to halt the disease. “Paul applied to Moscow, one of the leading HSCT clinics at the forefront of stem cell treatment and the good news is Paul has a place but
CREDIT: GOFUNDME
British family launches urgent funding appeal
Paul, pictured with wife Claire, was diagnosed with MS last April. this comes at a price.” Paul is set to begin his treatment in early August, but the cost of everything including treatment and care comes to €45,700 (£40,000). Claire recently set-up a gofundme page to help raise the funds, with the site already raising more than €4,000 (£3,500). A number of events to help raise funds will be held in the coming weeks, beginning with an initial launch party set to be held in Vera Playa on April 29, which will see participants walking 40,000 steps, coinciding with the 40,000 target. To help the fund, or for more information, visit the ‘Paul’s Fight to Walk’ gofundme page at: https://www.go fundme.com/paulsfighttowalk.
NEWS BITES
Big investment SPAIN’S government is expected to invest an estimated €60 million in Almeria this year providing the General State Budget is passed, with more than €35 million expected to be spent on projects for state-run-companies.
Drug bust NINE people have been arrested and two others are currently being investigated on suspicion of drug trafficking and money laundering in Vicar. Police have also seized €16,000 in cash and six high-end vehicles as part of the operation.
Fire ball ASTRONOMERS have spotted a trail of flames in the sky believed to have been caused by a rock from an asteroid over Almeria, a phenomenon that could also be seen in Murcia and Granada on Monday.
News
6th - 12th April 2018
Albox murder probe A LITHUANIAN man accused of killing his wife in their Albox home in an alleged case of domestic violence has been remanded in custody. Maria del Carmen Ortega, 48, was found dead by paramedics in the toilet of the house on Calle Longo. The man reportedly called an ambulance and told the 112 emergency services line his wife has stopped breathing. Emergency services personnel then alerted the Guardia Civil whose officers said the 48-yearold’s body showed ‘obvious’ signs of violence. A post-mortem examination is set to try and establish the cause of death. Police said their current theory was that she was attacked with some form of weapon and died as a result of blood loss. The 38-year-old suspect has since appeared in court and re-
CREDIT: GOOGLE MAPS
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GENDER CRIME: The woman was found dead in her house on Calle Longo in Albox. manded in custody without bail. Dozens of Albox residents reportedly gathered outside the town hall to protest against gender violence in the wake of the killing. A message was read out by workers of the Albox Women’s Information Centre before those attending the rally observed a minute’s silence. “Gender violence has sadly taken Maria del Carmen. She
was our neighbour, a citizen, a mother and a daughter. Maria del Carmen was a woman,” the statement read. “Once again, gender violence has manifested itself in the most extreme way. This killing has exposed inequality in personal relationships and in society,” it added. Albox Council issued a statement in which it expressed its ‘sincerest condolences’ to the 48-
year-old’s family and friends. “We also express our firm commitment to continue fighting against domestic violence,” the authority said. Carmen Gonzalez, from the leftist Podemos party’s Women’s division, said the killing came in the wake of a state pact against gender violence which she said had failed. “This is victim number 14 this year. Just one day after Maria was killed there was another crime committed in Alicante, bringing the number to 15,” she said. “Since 2003, 959 women and children have been killed in such cases. These figures tell us about the magnitude of male violence but they do not hide what we are talking about which is people’s lives being cut short,” Gonzalez added.
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News
6th - 12th April 2018
Radioactive report SPAIN’S National Court has requested that the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) submit a report on the current radioactivity levels in Palomares. It comes after environmental group, Ecologists in Action, filed a lawsuit at the cour t, claiming that targets and deadlines for the initial cleanup of the area have not been met.
ACTION: Walkers will have the opportunity to visit the locations for famous Westerns and other films.
Walk this way! THE Diputacion de Almeria has announced its series of Cinematographic Hiking Routes for April and May. Three proposals have been put forward for the routes as part of an announcement from Antonio J Rodriguez, the authority’s culture spokesperson. The routes are set to see walkers tour the Cabo de Gata Natural Park and the Tabernas Desert, which are co-ordinated by film expert Juan Enrique Perez Miranda. Rodriquez said the walks aimed to promote film tourism and show off the province’s cinema
heritage. “We want Almeria to have the best cinema offering with its landscapes and wealth of legacy,” Rodriquez said. Two of the routes on offer run through the Tabernas Desert and one through the Cabo de Gata. They will cover all genres including the dramatic, the biblical, adventure, fantasy, war and westerns. Walkers will get the chance to see the backdrops of films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Conan, Indiana Jones and The Nameless Man. The Tabernas Desert trek
will be one to sign up to for fans of Spaghetti Westerns, with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly shot there in the 1960’s. Rodriquez said walkers would learn about the historic and future value of the film industry in Almeria and abut conservation and protection needs. The Tabernas Desert routes will run until Tuesday April, while the Cabo de Gata walks continue until May 8. Sign up costs €5 and is available via the website: http://www.dipalme.org/ Ser vicios/cmsdipro/in dex.nsf/index.xsp?p=cul tura.
News
6th - 12th April 2018
Surgery sanctioned CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Court orders €500,000 patient payout
PAYOUT: The patient was left blind and lost mobility following the operation at Torrecardenas Hospital. A COURT in Madrid has ordered compensation be paid to a 30-year-old patient who lost her sight and mobility while undergoing surgery at Torrecardenas Hospital in Almeria. The court ruled that the Andalucian Health Service (SAS) must pay out €546,386. The patient, from El Ejido, was left almost fully blind and disabled after the botched op-
eration. The 30-year-old approached the Patient Advocate group who then sued the SAS over the gastric band procedure performed in September 2007. The surgery involves shrinking the size of a patient’s stomach in order to help them lose weight. The Patient Ombudsman said the 30-year-old was left unable to properly
manage their food intake after the operation. She had to have her intestine reconstructed as a result, the Ombudsman added. “This patient has had her young life ruined because of this surgery. She was left almost blind in both eyes and had damage to her nervous system which caused a loss of mobility and left her disabled,” the Ombudsman said.
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NEWS BITES
Tourism boom TOURISTS visiting Almeria have increased by 40 per cent in the last five years, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Figures show a total of just over 1.4 million tourists visited the region last year.
Migrants safe SPAIN’S Maritime Rescue service have saved 231 people, including three children and eight women, from six boats in the Alboran Sea.
Garage fire TWO people were for treatment after a fire broke out in a garage in Roquetas de Mar. The blaze led to five blocks of flats being evacuated.
News
6th - 12th April 2018
Plodding along! Almerian tortoise population remains ‘stable’ SPUR THIGHED tortoise populations in the Sierras de Cabrera and Almagro continue to remain steady according to the University of Elche’s Society for the Study and Recovery of Biodiversity Almeriense (Serbal). A group of volunteers from Serbal spent three days locating the populations of the endangered tortoises, also known as common tortoises, in the two mountain ranges aiming to identify both the current numbers of tortoises remaining while also pinpointing the main threats to the species. They reportedly found 10 tortoises in Sierra de Alma-
CREDIT: SERBAL
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STABLE: The group studied populations in the Sierras de Cabrera and Almagro. gro while 15 were found in Cabrera by the volunteers. Serbal’s Emilio Gonzalez told local media that the populations currently remain stable. He told local Spanish media: “We have focused on these two places for their particular characteristics. “In the Turre mountain range, for example, there
was a fire in 2009 and in 2015 there was a significant release of specimens that came from captivity. “These results are in line with those of the last four years, so we think that these two populations remain stable.” Currently, it is believed that the only autochthonous spur thighed tortoise popu-
lations in Spain can be found in Almeria and Murcia. The species is currently under threat, being catalogued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the National Catalogue of Endangered species as ‘vulnerable,’ while the species is currently ‘endangered of extinction’ in Andalucia. The main problem that the species currently face is the destruction of their habitat for agricultural operations and new infrastructures meaning that some populations can no longer come into contact with others; causing a long-term breeding problem.
‘No cuts in green’ A CAMPAIGN has been set up by the Junta de Andalucia with the aim of promoting the marketing of Almerian melons and watermelons. The ‘No cuts in green’ campaign is similar to an initiative launched two decades ago in collaboration with Horty-fruta and the fruit and vegetable sector of Almeria. Cultivation of the two fruits has reportedly increased by 90 hectares over the past year, with Agriculture delegate, Jose Manuel Ortiz, saying the recovery is down to the ‘excellent produce’ provided by the region. The objective of the campaign is to raise awareness among farmers.
News
6th - 12th April 2018
Shoestring shows set to return
RETURN: Shoestring will perform the sequel to Hotel in Mojacar between May 4-6.
INDEPENDENT Performing Arts Group Shoestring productions have announced that their next production, Return to Hotel La Resistance, will arrive in early May. The local Mojacar-based group had seven sell-out shows for their original show ‘Hotel La Resistance’ and the and the sequel is expected to
have more laughter, fun and silliness while also having an unforgettable song. Three dates have already been confirmed at MontMartre Bar/Restaurant in Mojacar with the first taking place on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 at 8pm while two shows will also take place on Sunday, May 6
at 3.30pm and 6.15pm. Tickets cost just €8 with proceeds being donated to animal charity PAWS-PATAS. They can be purchased online via Facebook (@shoestringproductionsmojacar) or they can be bought directly from PAWS-PATAS locales in Mojacar and Las Buganvillas or from Connextions in Turre.
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National
6th - 12th April 2018
Police pooches get new pad POLICE dogs based in Madrid have begun to experience the ultimate in dog pampering when the doors of the recently upgraded kennels opened this week. Speaking to the Spanish media, Madrid’s Local Police said the 22 canines have moved back into their base after a threemonth renovation project aimed at improving their overall health and wellbeing. The redesigned accommodation now has its own vets, a pool and a personal care centre, as well as a grassed play area and
shaded patio where the dogs can keep cool in the summer months. A new audio system has been installed for the music therapy sessions, using a technique called the Mozar t Ef fect which the police said they had found to reduce stress in the dogs. They can even chill out listening to their favourite music as classical tunes will be played at different times throughout the day as part of music therapy sessions. Known as the Mozart Effect, the experience has been proved to reduce stress in the
dogs. All the dogs enjoying this special treatment are trained in a series of different specialised tasks, such as the detection of explosives, money and drugs. Others are usually assigned to helping with search and rescue operations. Now, following a day’s hard work, the dogs will be able to rest in modern kennels complete with heated beds; all par t of a new climate-control system that is expected to save up to 80 per cent of current energy bills
Express charging point given green light PLANS to introduce the first ‘express charging point’ for the growing number of electric powered or hybrid cars in Spain have been given the go ahead. The charging point will be located shor tly halfway along the A-3 motor way that links Madrid with Valencia.
It’s become a disadvantage for many current owners of the new breed of vehicles - it also puts off potential b u y e r s - w h e n i t ’s known to take several hours to totally recharge... and there are a limited number on Spanish roads. One of the main con-
PHOTO CREDIT: MARIO ROBERTO DURAN WIKIMEDIA
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GROWING: A-3 motorway to get ‘superfast’ recharging point. (File image)
cerns is that the vehicle will simply run out of charge on longer journeys before being able to reach a charging point. The initiative to set-up one of the points on the major motor way running from the Spanish capital to the east coast will have enough space for 10 cars to charge up all at once; and will be extra-fast to allow them to resume their journey as quickly as possible.
The new charger will b e p r o v i d e d b y Te s l a Spain SA and will be installed in the ser vice station located in the Cuenca Province town of Atalaya de Cañavate, and will be the only one on the A-3 at kilometre 175. Castilla-La Mancha’s regional government said that it has given its formal consent for the charging point to be set up, but at this stage couldn’t give a definitive start date.
Nationals
6th -12th April 2018
NEWS BITES
Bear found in boot POLICE in Navarra have opened investigations after officers found a fully grown stuf fed American black bear in the boot of a car during a routine stop, with the driver found to not have the correct paperwork.
Cheap chips DATA released by Iberian market Omie has reportedly found that the price of electricity on the Spanish wholesale market is the lowest in the European Union for the sixth time in recent weeks.
Trunk driving A LORRY transporting five elephants has overturned on a motor way in Albacete with the animals left to roam on the road. Following the incident, one of the elephants tragically died while two were left injured.
Boozy antics A ‘DRUNK’ British holidaymaker has been arrested in Benidorm after allegedly stealing a Coca Cola delivery lorry in Benidorm and crashing into a parked car while the driver and his colleague were making a delivery.
Death run A MAN in his 50’s has been left dead while 20 other people have been left injured after attending an Easter bull-running festival in Arcos de la Frontera in Andalucia.
PHOTO CREDIT: @BORDBIA TWITTER
FLYING THE FLAG: But should it be lowered at Easter?
Flag fury Half mast orders lead to Easter row A MAJOR constitutional row has broken out in Spain after the count r y ’s M i n i s t r y o f D e fence (MOD) instructed all of their installations to fly the flag at half mast over Easter to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. For the second consecutive year, the MOD issued an order which said: “From 2pm on Holy Thursday until one minute past midnight on Easter Sunday, the national flag must be flown at half mast at all militar y units, bases, centres and barracks, as well as the Ministr y of Defence and its regional departments.” A spokesman for the MOD said that “flying the flag at half mast for religious reasons was in keeping with tradition and was part of the secular tradition of the armed forces.” However, Spain’s national ombudsman, Francisco Fernandez Marugan, criticised the action on the grounds t h a t c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y, Spain is a secular state. According to the 1978 constitution, “No reli-
gion shall have a state c h a r a c t e r. T h e p u b l i c authorities shall take into account the religious beliefs of Spanish society and shall consequently maintain appropriate cooperation relations with the Catholic Church and other confessions.” The ombudsman went on to add that “even if this tradition has acquired a ‘secular’ connotation over the years there is no doubt that it also has a religious one,” and that “these practices could lead people to think that the state was more inclined to honour one religion than another” and that a non-confessional state had to demonstrate neutrality in regard to the various religions. As part of a major study carried out earlier this year by the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research, 68.5 per cent of Spaniards identified themselves as Catholics and 26.4 per cent as atheists. There are approximately 2 million Muslims and 50,000 Jews in Spain.
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High as a kite! Ed. 631
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NATIONAL POLICE continue to look for the person behind a prank with a kite that paralysed Valencia-Manises Airport. For more than half-anhour, both take offs and landings, were affected as a kite was spotted flying around in the airspace attached to almost 400 metres of string. At first, it was believed that the kite discovered at high altitude above the runways had simply drifted into the area as part of someone’s birthday celebrations. However, the section of police based at the Quart de Poblet police station, whose area covers the airport, now believe it was a
PHOTO CREDIT: ALEPH WIKIMEDIA
Prank disrupts air traffic
DANGER: The prank disrupted the Manises Airport in Valencia. deliberate act. According to the Spanish media, two planes were forced to abandon their taxiing procedure in preparation for take-off, and four
more were left in the air circling over Valencia - one due to arrive from Bucharest - until the police finally located the source of the kite. Officers eventually found it tied up on the airport perimeter fence between the taxi rank and the CV370 road that leads to the La Cova de Manises industrial estate. As soon as the alarm was raised, the National Police helicopter already in the sky close by diverted to the airport to find the kite
from the air. The offending object was a kite that can be bought online and in a number of Chinese supermarkets for just €12, although it was attached to a much longer cord than it would come with from the manufacturers. The string had in fact become tangled up in trees and the police had to cut the kite - with a wingspan of 123 centimetres - down before the airport could be declared safe again.
6th - 12th April 2018
Weekender A welcome boost Meat in sauce Page 18
Picky pets Page 23
Page 16
Futuristic film Page 22
Subaru Outback Page 31
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Weekender
Pause to confront our doubts ‘SEEING,’ they say, ‘is believing,’ yet how often do we also hear ‘I really couldn’t believe my eyes,’ indicating that at times, even seeing can leave us struggling to believe. And how much poor old Thomas has suffered down the centuries from criticism of his perfectly sensible adoption of that principle of putting hard evidence ahead of blind faith, earning himself, as a result, the title of ‘Doubting Thomas.’ For Thomas had seen Jesus die. There was absolutely no doubt. The cause to which he’d devoted himself was finished; its leader executed and buried. Thomas had seen it all with his own eyes, and utterly despondent, had given up and gone off to try and rebuild the life he’d abandoned three years earlier. And then he started hearing claims that Jesus wasn’t dead after all, but had been seen alive by many of his former colleagues. ‘Impossible! You’re having me on! It’s a wind-up!’ These, and many similar thoughts must have tormented him as Thomas, probably with a mixture of anger
Feature
6th - 12th April 2018
and hurt declared “Unless I see the nailprints in his hands and put my finger in them, and put my hand into the hole made by the spear in his side, I won’t believe.” Was that so unreasonable? Why, many of us regularly react in similar fashion, refusing to believe the possibility that Jesus could ever have come back to life after having been so brutally and effectively killed. The thought simply defies experience, so we, like Thomas, often find it impossible to accept. Yet, despite his doubts Thomas, perhaps reluctantly agreed to meet with his friends the following Sunday, when to his astonishment, Jesus, simply appeared, very much alive, and offered his hands and side for Thomas to hold. And for Thomas, seeing, really was believing. He didn’t need to touch. The sight was sufficient to convince him as he gasped “My Lord and my God.” There was, of course no other conclusion. For God alone has power over death, and in that instant Thomas at last appreciated who Jesus really was, and that changed his life.
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
Ocular conundrum By Jos Biggs PETER had once again thwarted the telly’s ambition of non-compliance with my wishes, even if I asked it ever so nicely. He had returned from whence he came, leaving me to grapple with l i f e i n g e n e r a l s i n g l e - h a n d e d l y. With a satisfied smirk I embarked on my day’s tasks - it was then that I discovered that I was missing my glasses. Not quite the end of the world - I only need them for reading print smaller than font size 12 - this size. But sooner or later I would need them, so I began a structured sweep of the house. I started with where they should be, moved on to where they could possibly be, and ended up with anywhere, where I hadn’t looked before, including the top of my head. Where could they possibly have
got to? Had the black hole, which seems to be based in my house, sucked them into space? I wandered the house like a substantial wraith, wringing my hands and repeating in tones sorrowful ‘Where are my glasses?’ No answer was forthcoming they didn’t call out with ‘Here! We ’ r e o v e r h e r e ! ’ C o u l d P e t e r have taken them in error for his own? No, he’d have noticed by now, and returned them. I began to resign myself to getting some more, at huge damage to the bank balance. In despair I slumped down on the spare bed - just missing sitting on my glasses, which were hiding in plain sight, in the middle of the bed! But that’s not all I lost…
josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk
Travel
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6th -12th April 2018
Ronda: a top destination SITTING about 750 metres above sea level on a hill next to the El Tajo canyon is Ronda, a city with hundreds of years of culture and heritage to explore. Located in Malaga Province west of Almeria and Granada, Ronda features winding streets, the oldest bullring in Spain and spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. It has been visited by writer Ernest Hemingway and film star Orson Welles. When taking a trip to the city it is not hard to see what drew those artists and other tourists to Ronda. The city as it stands today has its origins in Roman times. A settlement was founded where Ronda currently stands by the general Scipio Africanus in the
GREAT VIEWS: The Puente Nuevo Bridge connects Ronda which is also home to the oldest bullring in Spain (inset). third century BC with the location chosen for its strategic value. Ronda was later conquered by the Moors who named it Hisn Ar-Rundah, or Castle of Rundah in English. The city’s current name could well have its roots in the Arabic.
Muslim rulers governed the city for hundreds of years and left a rich legacy behind, with baths built by the Arabs still visible. Ronda began to take on its Spanish character following its takeover by the Marquis of Cadiz in 1485. Its new catholic rulers quickly began Christianising the
city and creating its skyline of churches. The Spanish also set about building bridges across the El Tajo gorge to connect parts of Ronda divided by the geographical feature. The Puente Nuevo was one of the results of this. Completed in 1793, it is one of the city’s most popular attractions and sightseers have views down into the canyon and across the countryside. The Plaza de Toros de Ronda was also constructed roughly around the same time. Designed by architect Jose Martin de Aldehuela, it is the oldest bullring in Spain. Ronda’s cultural offering also extends into the 20th century with Orson Welles’ ashes said to be buried in a well nearby. Passages from For Whom the Bell Tolls were said to be inspired by Hemingway’s trips to the city.
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Weekender
Lifestyle
6th - 12th April 2018
Back to black! THE Black Spanish radish (Raphanus sativus) is known as an heirloom variety which has been grown in Spain for centuries. It is an annual plant, meaning that it grows best for one season only and the smoky black fruit is both tasty and nutritious. Grown from seed, it is normally quite easy to bring on and grows to a mature height of 15.0 cm as long as it is cared for during the year. Not only does it have a tasty flavor and is not too hot, it is said to be very healthy and is used in China as a medicine. When used as food, the dull black skin should be removed, and the white inner flesh is steamed, sautĂŠed, braised, or stir-fried. Black radish can also be eaten raw, in which case it is usually grated or sliced, and added to salads or eaten as a snack. In addition, the leaves are edible and can be added to salads. The black radish root has been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years as a gallbladder tonic and as a natural remedy for impaired bile function and digestive problems. In India, black radish or black mooli as it is sometimes called is a popular liver tonic.
ONCE YOU GO BLACK: An unusual vegetable, easy to grow and keeps you healthy.
GENTLE: Take care when handling the softwood.
LAVENDER is the simplest plant to propagate from softwood cuttings and now is the best time of the year to do the job. This fragrantplant is drought tolerant and looks fabulous in any terrace or garden and growing new plants from cuttings is the cheap and easy way to multiply your flora and attract more pollinators this summer. To propagate a lavender plant, cut three inches off the tip of a stem of a new green shoot. Dip this softwood tip into some hormone rooting powder and then bury two-thirds of the length of this stem into some soil. Keep the soil moist and at a constant temperature and eventually new roots will grow from the buried stem. Cuttings should generally take root in three to five weeks, under
Get some softwood the right conditions. Once it has taken root, your softwood will eventually grow into an erect stalk, producing purple flowers in clumps. The new plant will be an identical clone of the parent plant. When in full blossom, lavender stalks are frequently dried for fragrant bouquets or potpourri as
they hold their fragrance well. The best time to do this is immediately after the plant has flowered. The many varieties of lavender include English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Spanish lavender (Lavendula stoechas) and the hydrid Lavandin (Lavendula x intermedia).
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Weekender
Property
6th - 12th April 2018
Death tax shakedown INTERNATIONAL homeowners in Spain have received a welcome financial boost. It comes after the Spanish Supreme Court ruled that the longstanding and controversial Spanish policy of charging non-residents a higher rate of inheritance tax (IHT) is unlawful. And according to the latest judgement, this also applies to natives of countries outside the European Union. The landmark case means that property owners who have paid the higher rate of Spanish IHT over the last four years could be entitled to a refund. Antonio Barba, a tax
REBATE DEBATE: Non-EU nationals who own Spanish property could be entitled to a rebate after the Spanish Supreme Court.
par tner of Barcelonabased legal fir m Cuatrecasas, the much-criticised practice of charging non-residents higher rates is derived from the Spanish ‘regional inheritance taxation system,’ which left decisions on tax breaks and deductions in the hands of regional governments. But non-residents’ IHT was calculated under “central state rules, where no tax breaks are available,” Barba said. The European Union have been examining the system for a number of years, with a 2014 Court of Justice
case concluded that the regional disparity constituted an ‘unjustified breach’ of EU law. Barba added that the latest ruling is likely to have a “huge impact” in Spain, as lawmakers will be forced to change legislation while it also “opens the door for taxpayers to claim refunds of all taxes paid under the discriminative rules in the past four years, the standard term of the statute of limitations for taxes. “Just think that many provinces of Spain, [including] Baleares and Andalucia, where where foreign investments in real estate are huge. “Most of the investors are EU residents - who are not affected by this last judgement, as the law was amended to give them tax breaks two years ago. But there are still quite a few investments from the US, Latin America, China, etc.”
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Weekender
Food & Drink
6th - 12th April 2018
MEAT IN SAUCE: And don’t forget the crusty bread to go along with it.
Carne en Salsa!
ONE of our family favourites when we go out for tapas is meat in sauce. There are many bars that make it, each cook having developed their own version. There is one bar we frequent the most, and it is their version of this classic Spanish dish which pulls us in. This is my version, which after a number of attempts, I finally managed to get pretty close to our favourite. Chunky cubes of pork which melt in your mouth, cooked with herbs in a rich tomato sauce, and usually served with chunks of crusty bread to dip in the sauce. If you happen to have a Slow Cooker, then this dish is perfect to cook that way. If you are off for a day out,
simply put everything in, all at once, stir through, turn on low, and enjoy your day. On your return even eight hours later, you will be thrilled to come home to this hearty delicious stew, ready to serve. • 1kg cubed pork (a shoulder cut works the best) • 2 tins chopped tomatoes • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 6 - 8 tablespoons tomato frito (the more intense the better) • 1 red pepper chopped • 1 green pepper chopped • 1 onion finely chopped • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped • 1 chicken stock cube • 2 small cups of water • 4 tablespoons flour - just
normal plain flour • Good splash of red wine • 2 or 3 bay leaves • A good sprinkle of mixed herbs • 1 teaspoon hot paprika • Salt and black pepper Just put everything into your Slow Cooker, give it a good mix through making sure the meat is covered in the juices, turn your Slow Cooker to low and leave for around eight hours until the meat is tender … and don’t forget the crusty bread to mop up all that lovely sauce! Alternatively, you can put everything into a casserole dish with a lid and oven cook for about three hours at 200ºC.
OLIVE TREE FARM was set up about four years ago with the intention of achieving a level of self sufficiency. We have poultry for meat and eggs, goats for milk, rabbits and small pigs for meat and harvest our 70 olive trees each year for oil. We also grow a variety of fruits and vegetables.
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Weekender
Health & beauty
6th - 12th April 2018
‘Groundbreaking’ cancer discovery by the Spanish SPAIN continues to be at the forefront of some of the most impor tant discoveries in the ongoing fight against cancer. According to reports, a group of scientists b a s e d a t C a t a l u ñ a ’s H o s p i t a l C l í n i c ( I D I B A P S ) have recently worked out why the most aggressive form of brain tumours found to be malignant are resisting radiotherapy treatment. The latest groundbreaking research by the oncology experts in Spain investigating all forms of cancers have found a protein which causes some tumours to duplicate into a subtype. These are highly resistant to radiotherapy and are most like to metastasise. This par ticular type of cancer of the ner vous system - known as glioblastoma - is ver y rare, but is one of the worst possible types of cancer to be diagnosed with as, according to Dr Nuria de la Iglesia who led the latest research, there is no cure. This brain tumour can be as individual as a
DISCOVERY: Made at the IDIBAPS Hospital Clinic de Barcelona.
person’s fingerprint and so makes it almost impossible to treat by normal and trusted methods. To quote directly from the repor t, “The study represents a starting point for designing diagnostic tools that can predict the response to radiotherapy treatment in glioblastoma, and a therapeutic target to resolve resistance to radiotherapy in this type of tumour - and it is possible that these can be used to treat other types of cancer,” As with all work involved with cancer research, these discoveries are the beginning of a long road and it could take many years to come up with the specialist treatment needed to target the causes.
Stairs can leave some breathless THREE in 10 people feel out of breath after walking up stairs, according to reports of a recent study. The average adult felt breathless six times a week. Four in 10 people struggled with breathing after running for a bus and one in four were out of breath after having sex. Mike McKevitt, from the British Lung Foundation, said the amount of people who felt breathless after performing simple tasks was “worrying.” “Breathlessness doing everyday tasks could be a symptom of lung disease and is something that shouldn’t be ignored,” he said. The study surveyed 2,000 adults and found that more than 25 per cent exercise less than once a week. A quarter said they felt they would be comfortable playing football or netball at their current fitness level.
Mike McKevitt said lung health was important to a person’s overall well-being. “There are many people in the UK who may have a lung disease but do not have a diagnosis. “Even though more than four in 10 people think they’re fit and healthy, you can see from the results this may not be the case,” he said. Around 15 per cent of people said an injury stopped them from doing exercise. The same amount said they felt too tired to do so. One in 10 said they enjoyed not moving around too much to get up and work out. McKevitt said it was possible to get a little fitter by making small changes to your lifestyle. “Walking up the stairs rather than taking the lift or getting off the bus a stop early can make a real difference,” he added.
Health & beauty
6th - 12th April 2018
Short and sweet
SHORT BURSTS: Smaller durations of exercise can be just as beneficial as longer, more intense workouts. DOING short bursts of exercise can be just as beneficial as longer workouts are for your overall health, a new study has reportedly found. According to the UK’s NHS, adults between the ages of 19 and 64 should partake in at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity; with the
BREATHLESS: Many respondents to the survey said doing everyday tasks left them out of breath.
service recommending that the 150 minutes of weekly activities should be split into 30-minute segments. However, new research conducted by William E Kraus from the Duke University School of Medicine, alongside investigators from the National Cancer institute, has quashed claims that workouts have to be
longer in order to be more effective. Kraus along with his team of researchers assessed 4,840 adults aged 40 and above who took part in a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2006. The study reportedly concluded that a person’s risk of developing disease or dying prematurely can be significantly reduced with more daily exercise. But it was also found that the daily exercise amounts can be split into smaller periods of moderate exercise and still have the same benefits as a more intense, longer workout. “For about 30 years, guidelines have suggested that moderate-tovigorous activity could provide health benefits, but only if you sustained the activity for 10 minutes or more,” Kraus told the media. “That flies in the face of public health recommendations, like taking the stairs instead of the lift, and parking farther from your destination. “Those don’t take 10 minutes, so why were they recommended?”
Weekender 21
Weekender
Leisure
6th - 12th April 2018
The Missing to get new spin-off Baptiste starring Tchéky Karyo
Film & TV Guide
OUR PICK OF THIS WEEK’S MUST-SEE
FILM REVIEW
Ready Player One Directed by Steven Spielberg PHOTO CREDIT; TWITTER/DMOVIES
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Richard Shanley
Dishing the Dirt OF EUROPA DIGITAL
TCHÉKY KARYO will reprise his role as Julien Baptiste in new BBC One drama Baptiste, a spin-off of The Missing. Tchéky starred as the detective in both series of The Missing’s original run, which aired from 2014 to 2016. While the first series saw Baptiste take on the case of missing children in France and the second series took him to Germany, new spin-off series Baptiste will take place in Amsterdam and follows Baptiste and his wife on a visit to The Netherlands. While there, the couple’s trip is interrupted when the Chief of Police (an old girlfriend, coincidentally) seeks out Baptiste’s help on a case and the detective finds himself quickly sucked into a case that exposes the seedy underworld of Amsterdam beneath the pretty streets and canals. “Julien Baptiste is very dear to me, so I’m really excited to be following his journey to
READY SET GO: Get lost in the utopic playground of OASIS.
TCHÉKY KARYO: Reprising his role as Julien Baptiste. the streets of Amsterdam and seeing what dark secrets he unveils this time,” actor Karyo said. “No doubt he’ll continue to take great risks all in the name of justice.” Creators and writers Jack and Harr y Williams also shared their excitement at the spin-off announcement, saying: “Julien Baptiste lives! It’s an absolute pleasure to be writing the character of Baptiste again, and working with the utterly brilliant Tchéky Karyo, who brings such depth and individuality to Julien.” Filming for Baptiste starts later this year in Amsterdam and Belgium, with no release
date confirmed yet. If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europa-digital.com. I look forward to your comments and questions. Don’t forget to listen to my radio show ever y weekday from 10am on Spectrum 96.1 and 106.8FM, now covering almost 3,000sq kms of Costa Almeria and Calida or listen online at costaalmeria.spec trumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite television.
• Starring: Olivia Cooke, Tye Sheridan, Ben Mendelsohn and Lena Waithe SET 27 years in the future, where the world looks so bleak that its inhabitants immerse themselves in a virtual reality realm called OASIS to escape the daily grind. Wade Watts lives in Stacks - a shanty town comprised of caravans stacked on top of each other - and like his neighbours, plugs into OASIS to find meaning in his otherwise lacklustre existence. The real world is not quite a dystopia - but certainly heading that way - and is eerily not so unimaginable given how close to the present day the film is set. In OASIS, however anything is possible. This VR utopia was created by socially awkward genius James Halliday, who launches a competition on his deathbed to find his successor. The Willy Wonkerish prize would be life changing to whoever gets the keys to this trillion dollar kingdom so Watts, as his OASIS avatar named Parzival, goes on the hunt to find the three keys Halliday has hidden somewhere in this virtual world. Whoever is the first to find them will automatically be crowned the winner. Watts, along with his VR comrades such as Art3mis, must battle against Nolan Sorrento, the reprehensible CEO of rival company Innovative Online Industries, who has hired a group of thugs to find the keys and plans to enslave those who fall into debt to work in VR labour camps called Loyalty Centres. Spielberg seamlessly switches the action between the real and virtual world as the high stakes are upped in both versions of reality and the game reaches a dizzying climax.
PETS
6th - 12th April 2018
How to deal with picky pets LIKE children, pets rely a great deal on the food which you purchase and prepare for them, and like people, pets rely on a varied, healthy diet to be at their absolute best. It is important to remember that, while animals have very different palates and nutritional needs, there is a core set of tenets that can serve well as the basis of your pet’s diet. For all pets the fresher and less processed the food the better. While it may be cheaper and easier to purchase bulk processed foods, the bottom line is that they possess much less nutrients. While cats are almost exclusively carnivores, dogs can take advantage of the vitamins and anti-oxidants found in fresh fruit and vegetables, even though it may not be their
CHOOSY: Pets can be very particular.
favourite item on the menu. Neither cats nor dogs function well with high volumes of carbohydrates and are particularly adverse to grains which will likely see them put on unwelcome weight. Fresh, raw meat would be terrific to have handy for your pets and many
brands offer this frozen with bio-available nutrients added in for extra benefits. Although canned food loses some of its nutritional value it can be especially good for picky eaters. Finally a good multivitamin as advised by your vet will work wonders.
Pets with a purpose USING pets for a domestic purpose, other than as company or out of love, doesn’t have to invoke images of exploitation, many animals are well suited to helping humans with their daily needs while being excellent companions to have around. Keeping chickens for instance can see you reap many rewards, from freshly laid eggs to a wholesome clucking to keep up that countryside ambiance. Dogs of course can offer protection, especially if you live in an isolated finca, while cats provide excellent pest
control if you let them embrace their predatory instinct. Pygmy goats are fantastic creatures, highly independent and intelligent, adorable, and also provide an excellent reservoir of fresh goat milk and an abundance of babies if you’re looking to run a little business of the side. Insects are very handy if you’re looking to feed your other pets (or even yourself in a pinch) while pigs can help clear up any gardening or household mess that may have accumulated. PYGMY GOATS: Highly independent and intelligent.
Weekender 23 Feline blue
YOUTUBE and internet sensation Bento the Keyboard cat has died at the age of nine. The famous feline shot to fame playing the piano in viral videos which have been shared thousands of times. His owner, Charlie Schmidt, made an official announcement on Facebook of his death by posting a tribute video to Bento, which has now been shared over 15,000 times, while an image posted of the cat a day later also received over 36,000 shares.
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Weekender
Puzzles
6th - 12th April 2018
Wordsearch Bedroom Items
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:
RUG PHOTO MIRROR SHELF SHEETS
TEDDY BEAR DUVET NIGHTSTAND CURTAINS WARDROBE
RADIO ALARM CLOCK BED PILLOW LAMP
SLIPPERS CLOSET
Quick
Across 1 Enforce (6) 4 Object used in throwing events (6) 9 Absence of sound (7) 10 Looks at with amorous intentions (5) 11 No longer fresh (5) 12 Lacking in energy or will (7) 13 Needless (11) 18 Jumped over (7) 20 Walk leisurely (5) 22 Approximately, especially of a date (5) 23 Chemical-free (7) 24 More elevated (6) 25 Facially attractive (6)
Down 1 Be demanding (6) 2 Bohemian dance (5) 3 Open and genuine (7) 5 False gods (5) 6 Coal miner (7) 7 Female sibling (6) 8 Having great beauty and splendour (11) 14 Impartial (7) 15 First course (7) 16 Shore bird (6) 17 Reproduce a recording on a recorder (6) 19 Barely detectable amount (5) 21 Basque headgear (5)
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
• Average: 20
• Very good: 39
• Good: 27
• Excellent: 51
errs erst erica eras caws cant ires intact awls awless acts airs airless airer airers attire attires attic attics antre anti antic antics antipasti arrest ares arts astir astatic atria apian hare hares hart harts hast hats attar attain
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 7 Claret is drunk in lobby (6) 8 Pushes steamship around East Sussex resort (6) 9 North is French retreat (4) 10 Is a huge fan of dual seat contraption (8) 11 Followed cart back to the middle of Dukedom (7) 13 Knock the beer back like a king (5) 15 Hypnotise a church member (5) 17 Money that is right for the till operator (7) 20 Worker gets part of liberal (8) 21 Included in the Royal Society (4) 23 Get away from test centre with carbon copy (6) 24 Some nudism album photos are depressing (6)
Down 1 Running Bear display (4) 2 Still hiding in attics? (6) 3 A hundred and one departing by chopper (7) 4 Question children (5) 5 Present Spanish gentleman with brewed tea (6) 6 Burmese leader always has time for a brew (8) 12 Go over soldiers' vehicle (8) 14 The first of the state borders (7) 16 Warder is back to sketch again (6) 18 Sounds like an equine or husky (6) 19 Springfield's Greek poet? (5) 22 Employee's wage packet contains stolen goods (4)
Puzzles
6th - 12th April 2018
IRREGULAR SUDOKU
SOLTIMES STAR QUIZ : MOUNTAINS The UN General Assembly has designated December 11, 2016 International Mountain Day 1. ‘As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry mountains’ is the first line of which 1973 UK Top 10 hit single by Thin Lizzy? 2. Charleston is the capital of which US state, nicknamed the Mountain State? 3. From which 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical does the song Climb Ev'ry Mountain come? 4. In Scotland, what name is given to mountains with a height of over 3,000 feet (914 metres)? 5. Mount Logan is the highest mountain in which country? 6. Olympus Mons, the tallest known volcano and mountain in our Solar System, is located on which planet? 7. On which of the Canary Islands is Mount Teide, Spain’s
highest mountain situated? 8. The name of which famous large, colourless diamond that was discovered near in India, possibly in the 13th century, is derived from the Persian for ‘Mountain of Light’? 9. Which famous mountain pass of great strategic and commercial value did Rudyard Kipling describe as ‘a sword cut through the mountains’? 10. Which mountain in central Greece was believed by the ancient Greeks to be the home of the Muses? Not a lot of people know that … the distinctively pyramidal emblem of Paramount Studios’ mountain has been the company's logo since its inception and is the oldest surviving Hollywood film logo
Kakuro
Answers 1. WHISKEY IN THE JAR, 2. WEST VIRGINIA, 3. THE SOUND OF MUSIC, 4. MUNROS, 5. CANADA, 6. MARS, 7. TENERIFE, 8. KOH-INOOR (also spelled KOHINOOR and KOH-I-NUR), 9. KHYBER PASS, 10. MOUNT HELICON
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
by Sandy Shore THOSE who are happily retired or otherwise living in Spain still face daily challenges. At least the weather and the bumper to bumper traffic tailbacks are a thing of the past. Easter being a time for reflection it occurred to me that all too often we take for granted those who make our lives better without expectation of thanks. For long happy hours my wife and I were fascinated and our spirits uplifted by those who, at great cost in time and money, took part in so many Easter parades. Thank you. As my wife and I ramble through plazas and esplanades we enjoy street theatre. Such entertainers don’t ask for wage, they simply invite appreciation. To make certain they continue to bring pleasure I drop a Euro into their violin cases. The shop till you drop enthusiasts might sometimes complain about standing at the checkout for five minutes. The young mum
Feature
6th - 12th April 2018
Sorry if I took you for granted
APPRECIATION: Many professions seem to be taken for granted. who serves us has been there for six hours and has two more to go before she can see her family. Thank you. My jaw drops if I find our eight till late is closed and shuttered. I then remember it is Christmas Day. Retailers margins are small; the customer traffic unpredictable, and through trying times declining.
The newsagent has to serve a few thousand customers to make the same profit as an estate agent makes in a single sale. The retailer offers freebies like advertising space, loss leaders, and advice to aid the community. We pop in to pick up our freebie newspapers. A nice way of saying thank you would be to
purchase something while we are in there. After all, if he goes out of business there’ll be no free newspapers, loss leaders and advice available at corporate owned supermarkets. Out of sight out of mind until we need them are the local authority support services. These include the medical, fire and police services. These essential life-
savers are backed by thousands who give their time and experience without expectation of thanks, let alone reward. Our free newspapers aren’t free for those who make them possible. Every newspaper printed is consequence of 24/7 cooperation between a hundred or so professionals, advertisers and columnists. Another hardworking community are restaurant staff; imagine Spain without these saints and you will better appreciate this community too. Petrol station attendants, those working in transport, road workers and maintenance staff are all deserving of our gratitude. Have I missed anyone? Oh yes, the politicians. This is the time to remember that all those mentioned and some I missed are far more important and appreciated than the free-loading conceited politicians.
Behind THE MUSIC What Are Today’s Youth Movements? V L James vljamesinfo@gmail.com Facebook: @vljamesinfo FROM 50’s Rock & Roll right through until Brit Pop in the 90’s there has always been a strong connection between music, fashion and youth culture. When I was at school at various times my class was populated by Mods, Rockers, Punks, Skinheads, New Romantics and Rude Boys. I found that exciting, I also found music I liked in all of those movements. You weren’t supposed to like different sorts of music, you were supposed to pick a side and stick with it! The clothes, the records, the haircuts - it was all about being with your mates at the school disco on a Friday night. Kids who had outrageous clothes and hair, in the main, turned out to be perfectly
sensible adults. They will always have their memories (and embarrassing photos) to remind them of those times. I once showed my cousin’s son a photo of his mum sporting a pink Mohican hairdo. He couldn’t believe that was his sensible mother! He then checked out her old record collection and proclaimed it more exciting than anything his generation were listening to.
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BUILDERS ALMERIA BUILDERS: Fully Legal, Fully Insured, All Work Guaranteed. 659 685 133 www.almeriabuilders.c om (253556)
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
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
CHURCH SERVICES
Classifieds
6th - 12th April 2018
Evening of Mediumship at 7 p.m. Open/Development Circles held on Thursdays, where you can develop your skills commencing at 6.30 p.m. The next circle is 19th April. Spiritual healing is available every Sunday and Tuesday after the service. The Divine Service, with Mediumship on Sunday 8th April will be taken by Julie Grist and husband (UK Mediums). The Evening of Mediumship on Tuesday 10th April, will also be taken by Julie and her husband. The Divine Service on Sunday, 15th April will be taken by Annette Rogers. Contact Wendy on 965323028. www.spirit ualistcentrebenijofar.com New email is phoenixchurch23@g mail.com or info@spirit ualistcentrebenijofar.com Identific acion 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
HOME MAINTENANCE MARKS Home Maintenance services. Painting General Maintenance. Kitchen Unit Renovation. References available. 634 908 475 (259695)
DRAINAGE
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)
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 951 386 161 or email mark.w@euroweeklyne ws.com for more details.
LOCKSMITH PHILL THE PICK, LOCKSMITH-24hr. Locked Out? Locks fitted/upgraded, house safes. Arboleas and surrounding. Special Weekend Rate. Tel 697 243 181 (257799)
MOTORING 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. (200726)
REMOV ALS/STORAGE FULLY Insured UK/Spain Removals & Storage, UK Trading Standards Approved www.indalotransport.c om 634 33 64 68 or Freephone UK 0800 999 33 68 (253596)
SITUATIONS VACANT ARE YOU selfmotivated and hard working? We are looking for administration/telesale s candidates. Experience not essential as full training is given. Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@eurowee klynews.com.
SOLAR ENERGY SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 20 years installation experience. Established 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria.c om (257746)
Services
6th - 12th April 2018
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BUILDERS
BABY EQUIPMENT HIRE
REMOVALS & STORAGE
CONSTRUCTION
DRAINS
REMOVALS/STORAGE
30
Sport
6th - 12th April 2018
Almeria Bowling Club hosts annual 11-aside THE CAA 11-Aside League took place at various venues dependant on the schedule during bright, but cold and windy weather. All local bowling clubs took part from Januar y 9 until the final which took place towards the end of March, with 10 teams taking part. Three teams from Almeria (ALBC) and Indalo, two from Cabrera, one each from Mojacar and Zurgena Bowling Clubs. The teams were drawn into League 1 and League 2. The team for mat played was a Mixed Fours and Tr i p l e s p l u s M e n ’s P a i r s and Ladies’ Pairs. On the last day, the ALBC Blue team and Indalo Tinto proved to be the win-
ALL SMILES: Winners the Almeria (ALBC) Blue team. ners of each league res p e c t i v e l y. U n f o r t u n a t e l y for Almeria Red they just
missed out of being in the final by two points. The final took place at
Aguilon Golf members report TWENTY-FOUR members travelled to Hacienda del Alamo recently to take on Fuente Old Guard (FOGGS) in a pairs betterball match. On a day that was sunny with a cold wind, the team came out second best, although giving a lot of shots the result was 121 pts to 95 pts to the hosts. A few days later, the wind would still not give up for the Individual Stableford, making it dif ficult to score, with a four-way tie for the winner which was decided on countback. 1st Colin Waters 34 pts on a card play off 2nd Ann Miles 34 pts on a card play off 3rd Sandra Hooker 34 pts on a card play off Two’s: Peter Death, Bernie O’Brien,
8th, Chris Baker, Dave Sharp 12th. The last in the series of qualifiers, the Campbell Lamont Qualifier, was played a week later in lovely sunshine, with the added bonus of ‘no wind.’ The winner, Chris Tyler stole the show with an amazing score, not to mention a large handicap reduction. 1st Chris Tyler 43 pts 2nd Derek Manning 36 pts 3rd Peter Death 35 pts on a card play off Two’s: Chris Baker 3rd, Les Raufer 8th, Bernie O’Brien x2 12th and 14th, Eddie Vaughan 12th, Rich Hull, Norman Whibley 17th.
For further information, log on to t h e s o c i e t y ’s w e b s i t e a g u i l o n memembersclub.com.
Indalo with ALBC Blue winning the competition well. The fours winning team
was Siobhan Herrity, Shelagh Allen, Joe Sibley and Colin Wright who beat Lisa B r a y, P a u l C a r t e r, S u e Mannall and Alan Reynolds, 32-9. W i n n i n g Tr i p l e s w e r e Graham Patrick, Jette Kress, Catherine Patrick against Babs Davies, Paul and Judy Abel, 23-14. In the Men’s Pairs Almeria team Reg Bir mingham and John Burgess lost to John Mannall and Mike B r a y, 1 6 - 2 2 W i n n i n g Ladies’ team Lin Burgess and Sylvia Pritchard against Ann Reynolds and Jan Dando, 14-13. The third and four th position playoff between ALBC Red and Indalo Blue was won comfortably by Indalo.
The 19th waltz into a greener Lorca A MUCH greener looking Lorca was the venue for the 19th Hole Golf Society to play a Waltz competition recently, and it proved to be Ladies’ Day as Sharon Stevens and Kar yn Esposito, ably assisted by Jerr y Edwards and Steve Tucker, took the spoils with 84 points. In a ver y close second spot with 83 points was the team of Mark C o f f e y, To n y M a c k a y, J o h n B a l l and Ralph Hunter, who in turn triu m p h e d o v e r M i c k e y S m i t h e r, D a v e Wa d e y, A l a n B r i g d e n a n d Billy the Ghost in third place on 81 points. There were three two’s recorde d , N o r m a n We l l s a n d S t e v e Newberry on the 4th and Ray Wicking on the 12th.
Nearest the pins: 4th
Brian Lowden.
6th
Chris Gledhill.
8th
Dave Wadey.
10th
Ralph Hunter.
12th
Ray Wicking.
14th in 2
Sharon Stevens.
The 19th Hole Golf Society play ever y week on local courses. For more information, contact Mike Esposito on mikeesposito54@ya hoo.com .
Motoring
By Tim Saunders “IT’S too big, I can’t drive it,” says my wife when she tries to drive the Subaru Outback. True, it is a large vehicle. But if given the chance it exceeds expectations. Because here we have an estate that boasts a massive boot, large enough (once the retractable cover is removed) for all the stuff that the Saunders family regularly travels with: two pushchairs, travel cot, luggage and lots of food. And there’s still room to change my son’s nappy. But the great thing is that when behind the wheel the driver forgets that it’s an estate car. This is a thoroughly capable vehicle both on and off road because it is equipped with all symmetrical all wheel drive. Basically this is as safe as it gets with all the wheels talking to each other and working together to produce a perfect driving experience no matter what the terrain. “I can’t drive this it’s not a manual,” says my wife. “And where’s the handbrake?” It’s at times like this that Caroline and I are at loggerheads. I try as best I can to point her in the right direction, but she simply refuses to accept the changes in technology. Her loss is my gain because I can drive it even more. Instead of a traditional handbrake there’s an electric one operated at a push of a button. Its seven-speed automatic gearbox can also be driven like a manual thanks to the paddleshifts either side of the steering wheel but this isn’t up Caroline’s street either. Driving in automatic mode the dials have a blue glow but select manual mode and the glow changes to red. During my time with the Subaru I take it for a run down the M25 where I see
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6th - 12th April 2018
TEST DRIVE: Subaru Outback SUBARU OUTBACK: An extremely capable vehicle. some truly appalling erratic driving. A newish Mercedes undercuts at speed a row of crawling traffic in the outside line and then veers in and out of the traffic in a similar fashion to a slalom skier. This is a heart in the mouth moment. Moments later we pull over for a police car. Was the driver trying to evade the police, was he fed up with queues of traffic or was he on drugs? It’s a worry. Britain’s motorways do leave drivers feeling like they are on a conveyor belt; no matter what speed you do it seems impossible to become the car in front - during the day at any rate. The Scooby Doo is fitted with an intelligent cruise control which delights in moments like this because it will brake and accelerate itself all the while keeping a set distance behind the car in front. These systems are always too slow for me when it comes to accelerating but I expect this is all in the name of economy. What I do like is that the driver can override by pushing the accelerator to the floor and then once you’re going fast enough you can take your foot off the gas and the system will take over once again. Cruise control is useful on these dull motorway journeys. I soon discover that lots of fun can be had around the country lanes of Suffolk. There are some splendid roads near Halesworth in particular. With little traffic about it is possible to floor
Facts at a glance Subaru Outback 2.0D SE Premium Lineartronic AWD • Price: €40,000 • 0-60mph: 9.9secs • Top speed: 124mph • Power: 150bhp • Economy: 40mpg approx the Subaru on occasions and really put it through its paces and it does not disappoint. Well designed both inside and out, the ride height is higher than normal, which gives the driver greater confidence, I find. During a heavy persistent downpour I find when the wipers are at their fastest the right one rubs over the edge of the windscreen making an unnerving sound. I am sure this can be easily remedied. The car itself handles itself very well indeed no matter what the conditions. My wife and children complain about the sharp braking and naturally blame me. The suspen-
sion provides a comfortable ride, not too soft or too hard. Being slightly wider than most cars there is a good amount of space for rear passengers and three children’s car seats fit in without issue. However, it can be awkward to fit the seatbelts on the two outer seats when Henry’s car seat is fitted. I am fairly impressed with the satellite navigation in the Subaru. It can definitely be relied upon for those shorter journeys. However, there is room for improvement when using it for guidance over longer journeys. Returning from Suffolk it wanted to take me via Royston, Cambridge and Watford. My wife was adamant that we didn’t want to do this and so to keep the peace I followed her advice, which shaved 30 minutes off the suggested journey time. I am undecided about the power tailgate. During the test it is blisteringly hot and so parked by the roadside I push the button to open it. This saves me from getting
out of the car, which at this particular moment is a great help. A lovely draught wafts through and then even more of a breeze comes as I open the sunroof and all the windows. Great. But these power tailgates have their downsides; accidentally catch your finger under it and you could lose it;
these systems don’t seem to stop for anything. The Outback is an extremely capable vehicle but the fuel economy could be improved.