ISSUE 633 • 20th - 26th April 2018
EST 2005
A real knock out Charity group knits cotton cancer implants EXCLUSIVE
The Knitted Knockers group make cotton implants (inset) for women with breast cancer.
By Joe Gerrard AN organisation that knits cotton ‘knocker’ implants for women living with breast cancer has said it is looking to raise awareness of its work. Knitted Knockers is a registered charity which provides its services to breast cancer patients, including those who have undergone operations due to the disease. Andrea Lowe works for the group in the Almeria and Murcia provinces. Speaking exclusively with Sol Times, she said that she was inspired to get involved after meeting other members at an event in Marbella on the Costa del Sol. “I’ve gotten very involved since. It’s a standing joke now that Andrea’s always going to get her knockers out!” Lowe said the organisation first began in Spain in around 2007 to 2008 after women were inspired by seeing similar cotton implants being made in the United States. “Groups like ours are now in 27 countries worldwide. There’s others in Spain but we’re the only one that’s a legally registered charity.” She added they were now seeking to promote its work and make women living with cancer aware of the services they offer. “It’s a matter of pushing and getting the word out now. It’s a case of letting women know it’s a completely free service.” Lowe said the knockers were made of cotton designed to offer a comfortable alternative to synthetic implants given to breast cancer patients. Silicon implants are often given to women who undergo mastectomies to remove breasts as part of their treatment. “I gave my first knocker to a lady recently. She went to try it on and she came back and said it would completely change her life,” Lowe said.
implant, including ones that can be readjusted by removing and adding stuffing. “We also make ‘aqua knockers’ so that ladies can use them while swimming. Women use them for different purposes: some wear them part time or if they have just had an operation,” she added. Lowe said anyone wishing to get involved could contact her directly. She added those interested could also visit the Asociacion Knitted Knockers Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kkscostadelsol.org/ - for more information on the group’s work and upcoming events.
She added the group’s light-hearted approach towards living with the illness had also gotten a positive reception. “When the ladies see the name and speak to us they tell us it’s wonderful that we can make a bit of a joke out of things.” Lowe said the group offer many different types of cotton
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News
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NEWS BITES
Brit drug bust
Security scam FOURTEEN people have been arrested in connection with an alleged Social Security scam by an agricultural company based in El Ejido who reportedly defrauded more than €155,000 in fake benefit claims.
Family fund MORE than €1 million is set to be allocated to the Treatment Programme for Families with Children in Situation of Risk or Deprivation, which currently helps more than 900 at risk children across Almeria.
RESCUE: The migrants were helped at the port of Almeria by volunteers from the Red Cross.
Migrants rescued SPAIN’S Maritime Rescue has saved 84 migrants, including two children and a pregnant woman from three boats from the Alboran Sea. According to Spanish media, the Salvamento Maritimo’s Salvamar Spica boat spotted a small craft carrying 24 people, including three women one of whom was in the advanced stage of pregnancy just after 2pm on Tuesday, 26 miles off of Alboran Island.
Shortly after, another boat, carrying a further 35 people, was a spotted by the Cuco de Guardia Civil helicopter just under seven miles off the island and the people were picked up the same night. All the people onboard both boats were taken to the port of Almeria and were treated by volunteers from the Almeria Red Cross before a third boat, carrying 25 people was found later in the evening.
A BRITISH man has received a two-year suspended prison sentence after he was found guilty of attempting to sell ecstasy at the popular Dreambeach Villaricos festival. According to reports, the incident occurred in 2015, when the man was caught at the electronic music festival, held in Cuevas del Almanzora, found to be carrying 37 ecstasy tablets, among other substances, which he intended to sell for almost €500. At the time of his arrest, approximately €220 was also seized from him, believed to have come from sales he had already made. Appearing at the Provincial Court of Almeria, the prosecution had initially requested three and a half years for the crime against public health. But after he pleaded guilty, an agreement was reached to reduce the man’s sentence to two years, which will be suspended.
CREDIT: GUARDIA CIVIL
THE Guardia Civil are reportedly investigating a man that allegedly punched the mayor of Albox, Francisco Torrecilla, who has claimed that he was punched by the man ‘without exchanging a word.’
CREDIT: @CRUZROJAALMERIA/TWITTER
Politician punched
SENTENCE: The man was found guilty of possessing ecstasy at Dreambeach Villaricos festival in 2015.
4 NEWS BITES
Highway improvement THE Diputacion de Almeria has continued improvement works on the AL-6108, which connects El Chive in Lubrin to the A-1101, which has reportedly cost an estimated €700,000 in the last three years.
New witnesses THE judge investigating the case against Ana Julia Quezada in the Gabriel Cruz case has reportedly taken statements from six new witnesses, who are believed to be relatives and close friends of the child.
Weed farm NATIONAL POLICE have arrested a man and a woman in Pescaderia after they seized more than 420 marihuana plants from three indoor plantations in the area, while they also retrieved three kilograms of buds.
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20th - 26th April 2018
‘Immediate and basic measures needed’ AUAN call for emergency meeting FOLLOWING recent conferences in Almeria and Mojacar on irregular planning in Andalucia, nonprofit organisation Abusos Urbanisticos Almanzora NO (AUAN) has called for an urgent meeting with the region’s parliamentary politicians. According to the group, during the recent conferences it became evident immediate and basic measures needed to be taken to deal with the issue currently affecting ‘some 300,000 houses in the autonomous community and perhaps up to one million people overall.’ The second conference, which took place on April 13 in the Parador de Mojacar, saw diverse authorities, associations and professionals attend the conference, including Ecologists in Action and representatives of political parties with a presence in the Andalucian Parliament.
CONFERENCE: Some of the organiser and speakers of the Mojacar conference, where there was a large public turnout (inset). At the conference, AUAN presented those in attendance with a text containing changes that the association asks to be made to article 183.3 of the LOUA, to allow houses on asentamientos (houses awaiting legalisation via a town plan) to have immediate access to
services, to be able to register title to their homes, and a minimum form of regularisation for social and humanitarian reasons. And following the conference, President of AUAN, Maura Hillen stated that the group has asked for a meeting with the leaders of
the Andalucian political parties to “emphasise the need for this change.” Hillen said: “I think that there is enough political, social and economic consensuses about the need to deal with the problem and I trust that the political parties will adopt this amendment which we would like to see approved during the current parliamentary term. “During the conference in Mojacar we emphasised that planning law must respect the human and social rights of the citizen, and that planning has its limits where the most basic rights of people begin. “This does not signify that the houses will be legalised, but it would take these houses out of a legal limbo, allowing them to have a form of legal recognition, and to take measures to reduce their impact on the environment.”
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CAPITVATING mystic Anthony Blake is set to ‘take spectators beyond their imagination’ in his spectacle which begins at 9pm on April 28 at Adra’s Cultural Centre. The mind magician will use a black vault, table with stool and a dim light to stretch time and space, marvelling spectators with his close-up and interactive spectacle. The atmosphere will be intimate and mysterious, the creepy music and unique voice capturing the audience. Blake has been stunning audiences since 1983 with shows in Spain, abroad
IMAGE CREDITS: @BLAKE_OFICIAL
Mind games and mystery IMPOSSIBLE: Mind magician Anthony Blake will stretch the imagination in his upcoming show in Adra. and on TV screens. He has starred in Spanish TV shows like ‘Domingo a Domingo’ (Sunday to Sunday) and his own programmes including ‘Entierra de nadie’ (in nobody’s land). Tickets for the show can
be bought for €10 with a spectator’s card at the Cultural Centre, Adra Town Hall or at www.giglon.com. You can buy a card for an early-bird price of €14 or €18 from the ticket office on the night.
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NEWS BITES
Man dies in car crash A 69-YEAR-OLD man has died in Huecija after he was involved in a car accident that saw his car come off the road, trapping him inside, while his passenger was also injured in the accident.
Marble mine ALMERIA’S Economy Minister, Miguel Angel Tortosa Lopez has permitted the Triturados Macael SA mining company to open a 36.5-acre mine in Lijar which he claimed has the capacity to generate ‘wealth and employment.’
Boss back THE former director of the Grand Hotel Almeria, which closed its doors for maintenance work in 2012, looks set to be reinstated to the company following a court ruling.
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20th - 26th April 2018
Plain sailing!
Ruta returns
Santa Irene Club de Vela to hold Open Day THE Garrucha dinghy sailors of ‘Santa Irene Club de Vela’ are set to hold an Open Day later this month in the hope of attracting new members and visitors. The Open Day, which will be held on Sunday April 29 from 11am until 3pm, will provide visitors with information regarding both single and family membership, including introductory offers for the remaining year till January 2019. There will be several dinghies for sale on the day, while a barbecue and refreshments will be available. It will be possible to book a time slot for a ‘taster’ session in a club dinghy for absolute beginners to the sport, and they hope to be able to offer this on the day after the Open Day, on Monday April 30, weather permitting. The club is a friendly,
CREDIT: SANTA IRENE CLUB DE VELA
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OPEN DAY: The club will host an open day on April 29.
welcoming, international group of both experienced and novice sailors, who meet every Sunday, in the dinghy park situated at the very north end of the marina/Puerto Deportiva, Garrucha. Although the club does not offer formal training, it is possible for complete beginners, or those with some prior experience, to crew with
one of the experienced members, in a club ‘Wayfarer’ sailing dinghy. Advice will be given on the day about more formal training in the region. Boat owners have the possibility of keeping their boats in their dinghy park for a yearly fee. www.santaireneclubdevela.com or search for Santa Irene Club de Vela on Facebook.
GARRUCHA’S third Ruta de la tapa is officially underway. The popular event, which finishes on Sunday, sees restaurants in the town offering a tapa and a caña for just €3. This year, 58 local establishments will take part; with diners asked to collect stamps in a free booklet. There are 15,000 booklets distributed to the participating hotels in both Spanish and English, while there will also be a ‘free travel ticket’ for diners. Participants that collect 10 stamps from different places will have the chance to be entered into a draw to win a trip for two to New York.
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The Actress set for Arboleas THEATRE group Independent Theatre have announced that they will perform their brand new show ‘The Actress’ at Arboleas’ Teatro Gilbert at the beginning of next month. The group are currently hard at work in rehearsals for their show ‘The Actress,’ a comedy written by Peter Quilter and directed by Roger Dickman. The story of ‘The Actress’ revolves around the dressing room of a theatrical star who is full of as many conflicting emotions as there are when she is on stage. And so it proves, in this delightful and light-hearted play, as the famous Lydia Martin sweeps in for the final performance of her long and glittering career. Around her are her dresser, her agent, her daughter, her ex-husband, her new fiancé and the company manager, bringing with them a flurry of goodbyes, tears, insults, laughs, recriminations, kisses and regrets. On stage she takes her final bow to storms of applause before returning to the dressing room to reminisce and consider her future. Alongside their show, the group have also announced plans to form a new society in the Almanzora Valley, called The Almanzora Performing Arts Society (TAPAS). TAPAS would be an informal collection of like-minded people who enjoy the performing arts and who could support each other in their endeavours to bring music and theatre to those in the region.
PERFORMERS: The cast of ‘The Actress’ hard at work ahead of next month’s show.
Out with a bang THE Indalo Players have held their last performances of ‘The Speakeasy Murder’ in the Mojacar area at Le Magnifique. The venue was packed to capacity with a fun loving appreciative audiences on both nights and despite having performed the play in 11 very different venues, it is a credit to the cast that the play has remained just as fresh as when it was first performed a few months ago. The final performance of ‘The Speakeasy Murder’ will be performed in Legends, Albox on Wednesday May 30, before the group will then begin commencing rehearsals for their brand new mystery ‘The Mississippi Murder.’ Indalo Players are always on the lookout for new actors, back stage and front of house, publicity and logistics, make-up and wardrobe. For more information on how to become a member, call Bill White on 671 810 819 or email williamwhite9552@aol.com.
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8 NEWS BITES
80’s Festival THE first ‘Festival Pop Los ’80,’ which will see performances from some of the most popular Spanish bands from the 1980’s, will begin tomorrow (Saturday) at 9pm in Roquetas de Mar’s Plaza de Toros.
Staff cuts THE Emergency Service of El Ejido’s Hospital de Poniente has been forced to cut staff numbers, which has seen the loss of two nurses, a nursing assistant and a caretaker.
Book fair THE Almeria book fair will officially get underway on Wednesday, with a full schedule taking place in the city at libraries and other venues until May 1.
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Walk for Life! Annual charity walk to return in May ARBOLEAS’ annual Walk for Life charity event is set to be held on Saturday, May 5 this year. The walk itself will begin in front of Arboleas Town Hall at 5pm with registration from 4pm. There will be 3km and 6km routes which will allow all those involved to run, walk, walk with friends, walk with your kids, walk with pets and even walk in fancy dress. All this year’s walkers will be given a number to wear and winners will be awarded medals with gold, silver and bronze medals, while there will also be prizes for fancy dress.
RETURNING: The annual Walk for Life charity event.
Prior to the walk, there will be several events held throughout the day, which will be hosted by local radio station SmoothFM. Events are set to begin just after 1pm, with registration for the first event, the Fun Dog Show, at 1.15 and the show itself will begin at 2pm.
This is followed by a flamenco display, Carrie’s Dusty Boots and Fusion International. Events continue after the Walk for Life with the Party in the Plaza, which kicks off at 7.45pm with singer Kayleigh Easton, followed by Danny, solo guitarist and vocals, be-
fore Danny is joined by Jordan and Roadrunner to finish off the night at 11pm. All the entertainment is free, while food and drink will be on sale all day. It will be a day full of fun, but those taking part must remember their sponsorship form. It is, after all, about the money or what we can do with the money. There are more people being affected by cancer and there are many more people surviving after having treatment. Walk for Life needs the sponsorship money to keep helping them and their families.
Dames date for the diary DAMES IN TURRE’S April meeting will be held at The Hostel Rural in Turre on Monday, April 30 at 11am, with the guest speaker set to be Sharon Fitzpatrick. Sharon will be giving a talk on the Benefits of Yoga and Meditation which will undoubtedly be a great interest for the entire group. Turre Dames is a friendship group raising money for local charities; those who want to attend don’t have to be a member to come along and will always be welcome. For more information on the group, please contact Membership Secretar y, Eileen McGill on 652 208 072 or President Lesley Barlow on 661 085 551.
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NEWS BITES
Church fayre THE Anglican Church Fayre is on Saturday April 28 at Levantes Car Park (opposite Price Brown) in Mojacar Playa from 9.30am to 1pm. There will be a number of stalls and admission is free.
Serrat show POPULAR Spanish musician Joan Manuel Serrat will perform his show ‘Mediterraneo da Capo at Roquetas de Mar’s Auditorium Theatre on Sunday as part of his 2018 global tour.
Popular app MORE than 158,000 people in Almeria have downloaded the ‘Salud Responde’ app which allows patients to manage appointments with their doctor, with an estimated six out of 10 appointments now made through the app.
Boat tour A SPANISH navy patrol boat is set to dock in the port of Almeria later today (Friday) with public tours available from 5pm-8pm today. It can also be viewed from 10am and 1pm tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday.
Road visit THE mayor of Cuevas del Almanzora, Antonio Fernandez and the territorial delegate of Development in Almeria, Antonio Martinez, have visited the road safety improvement works on the A-332, which will reportedly have a €1 million investment.
IN CONCERT: The Rose Singers.
A harmony of spring THE ROSE SINGERS have announced the dates for their spring concert which is titled Harmony of Springtime. The group’s concerts will be held on Thursday April 26 at 7.30pm at the newly refurbished Miraflores Restaurant, Camping Los Gallardos and on Friday, April 27 at 3pm at the Hotel Parador, Mojacar Playa. The programme of songs, to be sung in harmony by the local Mojacar ladies choir, will aim to put the warmth of spring in the audience’s step.
A raffle will be held at both events with proceeds going towards local charity PAWS PATAS’ Cat Neutering programme. Tickets are €8 and can be bought in advance from Forget-Me-Not (Las Buganvillas), Total Entertainment (Turre), The Shop, Camping Los Gallardos and Abodes Homedecor Shop (Mojacar Playa between Koi and Café 353). They are also available on the door, through the choir’s members or by messaging the Rose Singers Mojacar page on Facebook.
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Ed. 633
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ARBOLEAS charity Fundraising in Arboleas, Caring for Everyone (FACE) have announced that their annual ‘Summer Night Market’ will instead be held in spring this year. The event will be held at the Bar Kubatin underneath the Hostal Meson in Arboleas on Friday, April 27, opening to the public at 6pm, which should hopefully alleviate many of the overheating problems that were caused at last year’s night market which took place in the middle of June. According to the organisation, the reason for the change is that last year’s market, held on June 23, happened to coincide with one of the hottest evenings of the summer, which made it very uncomfortable for
CREDIT: F.A.C.E
Spring in their step
MARKET: Changing to April after last year’s heatwave. Committee Members, stall holders and guests alike. There will be a variety of stalls including cards and gifts, candles, windchimes, beers, silver and gemstones, with lingerie and menswear also available. There will also be a raffle and a tombola which will be run by FACE themselves.
For anyone who would like to make a donation of a prize for these games, please get in touch with any of the FACE Committee Members or leave the donation at either of the Total Entertainment Shops in Albox or Arboleas, or at Maloan’s Bar in Albox. Entertainment on the night will be provided by a team from 89.8 SmoothFM Radio led by Jack Savage. FACE will also have the pleasure of popular singer Emma Wilde, who is going to sing a few songs throughout the evening, while various presentations will be made to organisations that operate in the
Arboleas, Albox and Almanzora areas. Food and drink will be available throughout the evening from the Bar Kubatin and admission to the market will cost just €1. For further information about FACE and the work it undertakes, or if you are interested in joining this dedicated group of fundraisers, contact FACE by using the telephone number 634 306 727. FACE can also be contacted through social media, on Facebook or its new Twitter account @FACECharity www.twitt ter.com while they can also be contacted on their website www.face-charity.com.
Weekender It’s a record!
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Judas tree
Death tax
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Best remedies Page 20
Harmful to pets Page 23
IMAGE CREDITS: @PORSCHEROADRACE
20th - 26th April 2018
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Weekender Pause to prepare
LIFE’S been a bit interesting these past couple of weeks! Concerned at our increasing age, our daughters, knowing the remoteness of our Spanish home, have been encouraging us to consider a move, with questions like “How would Mum cope if anything happened to you, Dad?” So, to pacify, knowing how long it takes to sell a property in this part of Spain, we made preliminary enquiries of a few local Estate Agents as to the possible value and potential difficulties in trying to sell our exceedingly unusual abode. Imagine then our shock when a day or so later, one agent telephoned asking if they could visit, as my description closely matched the stated requirements of one of their clients. Worse (or better, depending on your outlook) was to follow, as just hours later, visit over, those clients confirmed their desire to purchase! It was all so quick. We were utterly unprepared and found ourselves in disbelief, having to come to terms with the reality of moving from the
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20th - 26th April 2018
home we’ve been developing and putting so much of ourselves into these past 15 years. And where were we going? We had absolutely no idea, except we wanted to stay relatively local whilst finding somewhere more suitable for impending old age. And, as any who know me might expect, under these circumstances I couldn’t help but think of the Bible, where I’m reminded of Abraham, having received God’s call, left home and family, having no idea where he was going. Just when he might have expected to be putting his feet up and relaxing, God had other ideas, uprooting him and setting him in an entirely new direction. And he didn’t argue or worry, as is my tendency, but obeyed without question to incredible effect. And it was this obedience, which we call faith, that resulted in Abraham over the centuries being revered by so many. I don’t expect our move to have quite such a dramatic effect as Abraham’s, but I have no doubt that God has a few lessons and a purpose in mind.
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
What happened next #2
By Jos Biggs
I LEFT the Farmacia of the sainted Felix and drove home, concentrating on how to remedy the slur on the House of Biggs. As I went in the kitchen door the phone warbled. ‘Josephine? This is Felix. I think you have left something behind.’ I had! ‘Oh Felix, yes - I’ve left my husband behind! Can you look after him until I collect him? He’ll be no problem, I promise.’ Knowing that Pete was in good hands I decided to leave him until my next Albox trip, two days hence. En route to redeem him the phone warbled once more. Like a good girl I pulled over and switched on the hazards. ‘This is the Guardia Civil.’ My mind did a couple of somersaults and came up innocent. ‘Why?’ ‘We have an urn.’ He said in sepulchral tones. ‘Oh yes, that’s my husband. I’m com-
ing to collect him.’ ‘When?’ ‘Now.’ ‘This week?’ ‘In 10 minutes.’ ‘Today?’ ‘Yes. Right now.’ End of conversation. I ascended the Guardia Civil steps 10 minutes later to be faced with a posse of uniformed faces, all trying not to laugh, but with varying degrees of success. No word was said. Pete was handed to me; I thanked them and departed, the suppressed laughter following me down the steps. As I passed the Farmacia I popped my head through the door. ‘We have people leave things behind all the time.’ Felix told my head. ‘But never an urn!’ I am now known to that corner of Albox as the ‘Woman Who Forgot Her Husband.’
josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk
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Islands by Gwen GB Review by Carol Naylor “How could a child, let alone several children, have gone missing without anybody noticing, without somebody querying where they'd gone?” Islands is a powerful and personal stor y based around the tragedy of miscarriages and the horrors of physical and sexual abuse. It is Gwen’s debut novel and worth a read. The timeline covers Katherine’s late teenage years in 1976 into the 1980’s and to her maturity in 2008. In the background we are reminded of actual historical events such as the Shannon Matthews case, Haut de la Garenne, Elisabeth and Josef Fritzl and the Lockerbie Pan Am 103 flight. Footloose and fancy-free, that’s how Katherine was as she took her final exams, inseparable from her friend
Anne. Both are relishing the prospect of leaving school with boys on their minds, obsessed with Darren Le Brocq and Mark Vibert. Katherine’s mother, Marie indicates her displeasure in her daughter’s relationship with Anne creating tension which soon escalates. The Sands nightclub should have been the highlight of the summer, a ‘culmination of a thousand teenage dreams’ with growing physical and sexual awareness. It turned out to be a nightmare not for Katherine and Darren but for Mark and Anne.
Whilst Katherine daydreams about Darren she has disturbing thoughts over Anne and what happened between her and Mark. The girls’ relationship becomes strained, a bond that is damaged beyond repair. Soon she confronts Darren over Mark’s alleged ‘rape’ and Anne sees this as a betrayal. Mark taunts Anne in front of his friends and Anne resorts to suicide. Katherine blames herself but is this the full story? Katherine fell in love and married John but their problems begin with pregnancy and miscarriages, hope followed by despair on each occa-
sion. Katherine throws herself into her work, her sanctuar y as she calls it and moves to London away from her mother and sister Margaret and her family. John tries to settle but finds it difficult and soon returns to Jersey so this puts further strain on their marriage and they become estranged. Whilst Katherine’s life fell apart we are told about the abuse at Haut de l a G a r e n n e i n S t M a r t i n ’s . T h e i s landers are shocked by this. Jersey has to face up to its hidden past simultaneously as Katherine Gaudin has to face up to hers and this means retur ning to Jersey, her estranged husband and finally facing her demons - a failed mother, a failed baby-making device.
“We are each of us islands, everyone an individual, full of secrets and experiences no other can see or understand!”
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Lifestyle
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Go native when planting SPAIN’S natural landscape and native plants v a r y w i t h t h e c o u n t r y ’s d i f f e r e n t c l i m a t e s ; warmer in the south and cooler in the north, so when planting choose according to your region. Here are some native plants to Spain you may, or may not, have heard of. Anthora: also known as healing wolfsbane and yellow monkshood, anthora (Aconitum anthora) is native to Spain, Europe and northern Asia. The plant grows to three feet in height and thrives in partial shade to full sun conditions and moderately moist soil. Ornamental Onion: a member of the Alliaceae family, ornamental onion (Allium senescens) grows throughout Europe. It grows to an average two feet in height and thrives in par tial shade to full-sun conditions and is tolerant to drought as well as thriving in moist soil. Bee Orchid: is a versatile perennial orchid that grows in a variety of landscapes in Spain and is named as its blossom resembles the form of a bee. Grey-Leaved Cistus: is also known as sun rose and rock rose and continuously produces oneday pink, lilac or purple flowers that have yellow centres. The evergreen plant grows up to three feet in height and thrives in full sun.
Judas tree look than it soun
EASTER is always a time of flowers in Spain as so many wild flowers have emerged to brighten up the countryside and the gardens are flourishing with moist soil and warmer, longer days giving them more sunlight. A striking flowering deciduous tree that blossoms at this time of year is the Cercis siliquastrum, more commonly known as the Judas tree or, in relation to its heart-shaped leaves, the Love tree. It is so stunning because it is covered in flowers, even emerging from the branches and trunk, before the leaves appear. It is not a very large tree unless in ideal conditions so it can suit even small gardens and large containers if kept well pruned in late spring. If you are in a region where there are colder winters the leaves will turn bright yellow before falling in autumn. The pods also mature in autumn with a brownish red colour. The tree structure has a
hint of eastern Mediterranean form that is very noticeable in winter when bare
of leaves. It is important to consider the form when pruning to allow the reten-
tion of its natural shape by only removing unwanted new growth as preventative
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ks better nds
Judas tree in full flower. PHOTO CREDIT: ALEXTYPE SHUTTERSTOCK
pruning to maintain the natural form rather than wait for the tree to exceed the desired height and spoil the tree with corrective pruning that requires pruning off the mature branches that produce the flowers. So with the right care, it is a tree of year round interest with a beautiful spring display, summer shade, autumn colours, an interesting inher-
ent sculpture like design structure and the advantages of deciduous trees that allow in sunlight during winter. There are legends the Judas tree was the type of tree that Judas Iscariot hung himself from after betraying Jesus and it was once a white blossom that turned pink after the occasion. The story fits very well with the blossoms appearing at the time of year the incident occurred, the manner in which the flowers and seed pods hang from the tree and that it is a native of the Mediterranean region. It is a tree that needs some care as it grows best in a protected zone such as courtyards rather than open fields. It is best to improve the soil with compost and loosen the natural soil to give it a good start. Most Mediterranean soils are ideal for the Judas tree and once established they don’t need additional soil improvement fertilisers. Once established it will need minimal watering but it will respond well if given additional water especially if you wish to have a large tree during its first few years. It is relatively hardy in a warm position with a long summer. It will tolerate short periods of frost and cold in winter while bare of leaves but they don’t respond well to being moved so it is best planted when young into a permanent position.
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Join the trend of wood pallet furniture WOOD PALLETS are increasingly trendy in decorating homes. Whether varnished, painted or just sanded this good value material provides many possibilities. Wood pallets are easy to handle as they are light and can be transported without difficulty. In addition, they can be given any shape using basic tools present at home. Side tables made of wood pallets are a good example of the versatility of this material. They will turn into a piece that can be used inside or outside the home just by adding a set of wheels to its base. Making a pallet sofa only takes flexible foam, a couple of cushions and the desired furniture fabric. They change any room by turning empty spaces into a lovely corner where to read or to just lay down and relax. Books and magazines can be stored inside to make
LOVELY CORNER: Using wood pallets.
the most of the space. A change of fabric and colour and the pallet sofa will be adapted to the latest trend. A different and bolder approach to wood pallets as furniture is to use them as bed headboards. Their natural wood tone especially suits bedrooms painted in white or beige, although they can always be painted to fit to any environment.
(CREDIT TO PIERRE VEDEL ON FLICKR)
Wood pallets also make good storage furniture. Stacking wood pallets would make an original shoe rack, and nailing them to a wall would turn them into shelves. Space will no longer be a problem as these pieces can be easily made bigger or, if necessary, smaller.
Given an extra touch with a glass jar RETURNING home from work can be discouraging, especially when the decoration at home has been the same for years. So why not give your home a boost whith some DIY ornaments? A good way to give any room an extra touch is to turn used glass jars into decorative elements. The possibilities are endless as jars can be filled with almost everything.
From flowers to more unusual options such as colourful bottle caps. The key is to look for the perfect combination. Jars can even become holiday souvenirs when filled with seashells or sand. Combining different shapes and sizes with the appropriate furniture can bring harmony to a room. Filling the jars is also a fun family project and children can cooperate in decorating their bedrooms customising them to their likings.
Weekender
Franco’s summer retreat under siege MANSION that served as the summer residence of 20th century dictator Francisco Franco is now the subject of a legal battle. The provincial authority of A Coruña in north-western Spain has decided to take action to argue that the late leader’s heirs have no right to benefit from ‘plunder.’ Franco’s grandchildren put the impressive Pazo de Meiras palace up for sale last month, which has prompted a strong reaction from politicians and public alike. Nestor Rego, one of around 25 Galicians who invaded the property in protest last year, said: “It’s a scandal that this property continues to be controlled by the dictator’s family.” A similar view is held by Goretti Sanmartin, deputy president of the A Coruña authority, who would like to see a ‘consensus between
Property
20th - 26th April 2018
all political forces and all levels of government’ to open the palace and grounds up to the public. She has presented a report which questions the way in which Franco acquired the property during the Spanish civil war of the 1930’s. Some claim that leaders of both A Coruña Council and the business community obliged local people to hand over a portion of their income for the purchase and expansion of the estate. The palace’s grounds were expanded from 5.7 acres to the pristine 16acre site currently being advertised by real estate company Mikeli under a price tag of €8 million. An overall figure on how much the state spent on the property, which became the Franco family’s summer residence for 36 years, is difficult to establish.
Irvine drives up mansion price FORMER Ferrari ace Eddie Ir vine is selling his incredible mansion on Miami Beach for a cool €23.8 million. The stunning house includes a dreamy pool, sliding glass walls, a chef ’s kitchen and a cinema. It overlooks the pristine Florida waters and is set to make the exFormula 1 star an eyep o p p i n g €1 2 . 2 5 m i l lion profit after only having the building completed last December. Miami Beach is the party capital of the US’s east coast, attracting visitors from all over the world. The house, called Casa Ischia, boasts a dock big enough to cater for a 130ft yacht, seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a wine cellar and even a lift to move between the two floors. Irvine stays there frequently to enjoy the amazing views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. Having driven for Ferrari, Jordan and
FORMER FERRARI ACE: Eddie Irvine. CREDIT: LIFESTYLE PRODUCTION GROUP
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CLASSY CASA: Irvine’s house has stunning views. J a g u a r i n h i s c a r e e r, the racer turned to fulltime property developing when he retired
COMMIS SSIO
ONLY 1.5%
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from the track in 2002. The mansion sits behind security gates and Hibiscus Island and is one of the area’s most prestigious gated communities. Irvine bought the plot in 2012 for €4.25 million and spent around €7.54 million on architects, reconstruction work and materials. Other luxurious features of the 10,400ft pile include a water-
BEACHSIDE BEAUTY: A home with a view.
front garden, two outdoor kitchens, two outdoor spas, and a beach area with a sand pit.
Food & Drink
20th - 26th April 2018
Weekender 17
Scrumptious steak and kidney pudding ANOTHER filling supper favourite at Olive Tree Farm is a good old fashioned, steak and kidney pudding. Traditionally the filling would be put in raw prior to steaming for a few hours, but as one person here doesn’t like suet pastry, I pre-cook the filling, allow to cool and make a small pie using short crust pastry. This is my version which I have been working on the red wine, herbs and garlic really enhances the flavours. I make a big one (eight servings), so doubled up on everything apar t from the stock which I added about an extra 200mls of, the amounts below are for four servings. For the filling 110g (4oz) kidney (pork / beef / lamb) chopped coarsely - white bits removed 450g (1 lb) stewing steak (cubed to about 1.5 / 2 cm size) - dipped in seasoned flour 2 tablespoons olive oil Small to medium white onion finely chopped about 110 grams (4oz) 110g (4oz) sliced mushroom (optional) 2 carrots sliced (optional) 1 clove garlic - minced 425 ml (¾ of a pint) of beef stock 2 bay leaves Small glass red wine Put ever ything in the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours until meat is tender, check seasoning and leave to cool. Alternatively fry off the onions in the oil, fry off the meat, add all the other ingredients mix it all through, cover and simmer for about two hours until the meat is tender, check seasoning. Leave to cool.
Suet Pastry It is always half fat to flour so easy to increase the amount if you want to 225g (8oz) self raising flour ¼ teaspoon salt 110g suet Mix it through with a fork and add water a bit at a time (it doesn’t need much), to get a nice pliable dough consistency. Now to put it all together … Butter a suitable heatproof deep bowl, about a 2 pint one will be perfect. Take one quarter of the dough and put to one side. Roll the rest out to more or less the size needed to line the bowl. Using a bit of dough press it to shape, don’t break the dough, it must stay intact. Bring it right to the top of the dish. Fill with your meat mixture to about an inch from the top. Then roll out the rest of the dough to make a lid and gently press to seal the edges. Tear a piece of tin foil off to cover the bowl to about 2 inches down the sides, making a pleat along the middle to give space for the pastr y to rise. Tie string around the top to make sure it is well sealed; you do not want water getting into the bowl. Make a handle
SUET PASTRY: Half fat to flour. STEAK AND KIDNEY: Cook in a slow cooker until the meat is tender.
out of either string or a good length of foil folded a few times so you can lift the pudding out of the water when cooked. In a deep pan, bring about 3 to 4 cms of water to the boil, lower in the pudding using your handle, cover and simmer. Keep the water level to about half way up the sides of the bowl, top up as and when necessary, and simmer for about 1.5 - 2 hours. Alternatively, use a pressure cooker and cook on high pressure for about 40 minutes, using the same amount of boiling water as above. When cooked, remove the foil and you can either tip it out upside down to serve, or wrap it in a white tea towel and take the whole pudding to the table, which is the traditional way of serving!
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 har vest our 70 olive trees each year for oil. We also grow a variety of fruits and vegetables.
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Weekender
Food & Drink
20th - 26th April 2018
Playing ketchup YOU DON’T SAY: Restaurant-goers will often not order dishes they can’t pronounce.
Trip of the tongue MILLIONS of Britons struggle to pronounce the names of exotic foods and delicacies now gracing our plates on a regular basis. Researchers found common mistakes include the mispronunciation of the Greek dip Tzatziki and the Italian ham prosciutto. Other difficulties include pronouncing the silent G in the dish Gnocchi and struggling to say nicoise correctly with many saying ‘nick-oi-see’ rather than ‘nee-swaz.’ The poll by Glorious! Foods also revealed that one in five people will avoid ordering food they want in a restaurant simply because they don’t know how to pronounce it. BOOST: The fruit has a range of benfits. EATING tomatoes has long been linked to helping to p r o t e c t a g a i n s t prostate cancer and heart attacks, but now it is thought they could ward off depression. R e s e a r c h e r s analysed the mental health records and
eating habits of 1,000 men and women aged 70 or over. They found that those
eating tomatoes two to six times a week were 46 per cent less likely to suffer from depression than those eating them less than once a week. Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that gives them their deep red colour. It is believed that it could be the lycopene that helps promote psychological well-being well as well as physical health by reducing stress or damage to healthy brain cells.
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Weekender
Health & beauty
20th - 26th April 2018
Forget about hangovers! THE best remedies for hangovers are not found in chemists but in the supermarket. Orange juice is one of the best cures, as juices and fruits can mitigate pain. This is so because vitamin C and fructose help the liver to wash out the alcohol from the body, according to the British Medical Journal. Isotonic drinks will
HANGOVER CURES: Orange and tomato juice can help fight a hangover. rehydrate your body. Alcohol works as
a diuretic and leads to dehydration. Isotonic beverages have electrolytes
which help with rehydration and function better than coffee and tea. Milk is one of the many ways to improve liquids absorption, also very high in calcium, which can alleviate some of the symptoms of a hangover. Also good are eggs as they contain a high amount of cysteine which some reports say helps the body metabolise alcohol. Tomato juice holds a high quantity of electrolytes that will help balance the fluids in your body and get rid of the nausea and headache. Garlic, (cysteine) ginger (reduces the risk of vomiting), mint (anaesthetic) and bananas (vitamin B6) are other solutions to cure that problematic hangover and feel fresh.
Weekender
Leisure
20th - 26th April 2018
Endeavour set to return for a sixth series in 2019
Film & TV Guide
OUR PICK OF THIS WEEK’S MUST-SEE
FILM REVIEW
Red Sparrow Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton and Jeremy Irons IMAGE CREDITS: RED SPARROW/TWITTER
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Richard Shanley
Dishing the Dirt OF EUROPA DIGITAL
A SIXTH series of Endeavour was expected even before the announcement, given the commercial and critical acclaim of the show this season. The latest series launched with consolidated figures of 6.7m and a 25 per cent share, with the consolidated figures for the first four episodes the highest for three years. So what’s next for Morse and pals? Well, the next series will be set in 1969 and go into production later this year for transmission in 2019. “As our story reaches the last year of the 1960’s, and mankind makes its giant leap, all at Team Endeavour look forward to exploring further ear-
SASSY SPARROW: Jennifer Lawrence plays Dominika Egorova, a ballerina turned seductive spy.
ENDEAVOUR: Confirmed for series six. ly chapters in the casebook of Colin Dexter’s beloved creation,” said series creator Russell Lewis. “Endeavour continues to be hugely popular with ITV audiences and we’re delighted to be bringing viewers more
films to enjoy,” added ITV’s head of drama Polly Hill. “Thanks to Russell Lewis’s consistently intriguing scripts and the excellent production values at Mammoth Screen, it is a high quality drama that ITV is immensely proud of.”
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 every 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.spectrumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite television.
JENNIFER LAWRENCE plays Dominika Egorova,a modernday Moscow ballerina who is forced into the Russia’s dark underworld of spying to pay for her sick mother’s care. The story begins when Dominika’s uncle Ivan - a Russian Intelligence leader - tasks her with seducing Russian politician Dimitri Ustinov, who is then killed by Russian operative Simionov. The operative gives her a choice, either to be executed so there are no witnesses, or to work for Russian intelligence. The one-time ballerina then find herself being totally degraded at ‘school,’ ran by a matron played by Charlotte Rampling, which teaches Russian ‘sparrows’ how to seduce foreign enemies into giving up information. On her first posting in Budapest, she is tasked with
smoking out a Russian mole code-named Marble, played by Jeremy irons, working for CIA agent Nate Nash. But Nash is quick to cotton on she is a Russian ‘sparrow.’ With her cover blown, she decides to switch sides and become a double-agent for the CIA, despite seeing her spy friend butchered by the Russians as a warning to traitors. When the ‘ red sparrow’ starts to exchange information with a US senator, the senator is accidentally mowed down and Russian agents, who were observing the incident, uncover Dominka’s involvement. She is beckoned to Russia to be tortured and investigated, knowing she must keep quiet to prove she is not only a credible source for the CIA but she is capable of resisting gut-wrenching pain as well.
PETS
20th - 26th April 2018
Weekender 23
Feeding foibles Don’t poison pets with food harmless to humans Processed foods can be dangerous as many contain white potato, including the skin which contains solanine, a highly toxic compound to some animals. Keep snacks such as crisps, pizzas, biscuits, and pretzels off the table and away from roaming pets. The key is to stick to food that is evolution-
Part of the family SEVENTY per cent of people sign their pet’s name on greetings cards and 58 per cent include their pets in family and holiday portraits, according to a survey carried out by the American Animal Hospital Association. Also, 80 per cent of people buy their dog a present for holidays and birthdays.
arily sound from the p e t ’s p e r s p e c t i v e . I n p a r t i c u l a r, c a t s a r e carnivores and should feast on a high protein, high fat and ver y low carbohydrate diet. Also remember that most cats are lactose
tolerant and that chocolate can be lethal. As always a balanced diet in concordance with veterinar y recommendations is in order.
FLOCKING HELL: Birds do have dreams.
Sleeping birdy BIRDS actually dream when they sleep. According to research conducted by the University of Chicago, USA, they dream about their songs, have dream rehearsals, and sing the same songs better the next day.
Age is only a number PHOTO BY ELENA RUDYK VIA SHUTTERSTOCK
EXERCISING caution when feeding your pets is a key component in preserving their overall health, preventing needless trips to the vet, and sparing them from serious illnesses. There are some foods in particular that can cause harm and which many cat and dog owners might not be aware of. Common problems can be observed when owners coat medications in foods such as peanut butter which can pose digestive issues. Other human foods can cause significant harm, particularly those containing corn, wheat, s o y, and very sugary foods.
TOXIC: Some foods can be dangerous to pets.
i n -
IT has always been commonly believed that each year of a dog’s life is equivalent to seven in human years. However, since the world’s oldest living dog made it to 29, this would be 203 in human years! If a dog is a year old, it is the equivalent of 15 in human years, not seven. When a dog reaches
the age of two, he is already approximately 24 in human years. Then add four years to every year following. Similarly with cats. At one year of age, kitty is the equivalent of a 15-year-old human. At two years of age, your cat is equal to a 24-year-old human. For every year after that, add four.
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Weekender
Puzzles
20th - 26th April 2018
Wordsearch Types of Gemstones
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:
RUBY TURQUOISE AQUAMARINE CITRINE SAPPHIRE
AMETHYST GARNET OPAL ONYX PEARL
PERIDOT TOURMALINE EMERALD JADE KUNZITE
TOPAZ AZURITE JASPER
Quick
Across 1 Feel remorse (6) 4 Smooth fabric (5) 8 Small adhesive token stuck on a letter (5) 9 Post conveyed by planes (7) 10 Within a building (7) 11 First light of day (4) 12 Beer (3) 14 Range of food of a particular type (4) 15 Artificial source of visible illumination (4) 18 Colour like blood (3) 21 Listen (4) 23 Ceremonial dress (7) 25 News (7) 26 Sound of any kind (5) 27 Hoard (5)
28 Edible seed (6) Down 1 Characteristic of rural life (6) 2 Mother of your father or mother (7) 3 Boss (8) 4 Arrange in order (4) 5 Jewelled head wear (5) 6 Hosiery (6) 7 Latin American style of music (5) 13 Refined grace (8) 16 Thousand thousand (7) 17 Snaps (6) 19 Put on clothes (5) 20 Father or mother (6) 22 Wireless (5) 24 Leg joint (4)
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
• Average: 24
• Very good: 48
• Good: 33
• Excellent: 62
babies bast baste bastes baster base baser bairn inept impend bias bier biers absent absentee absentees aster astern airs sire sett ires setts enter enters erst efts fete fetes fest feist fetus fern fries fret frets
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 Wise man chopped-up elm before excited choir (8) 5 Show Ruby around American capital (4) 9 Brags about clutches (5) 10 Drove back at pace to give information (7) 11 Some bottles of wine are stored next door (7) 12 Small beers for after Christmas events (5) 13 Support donkey and sit awkwardly (6) 15 Core gym is in shed for a change (6) 19 Chooses Portsmouth to host the game (5) 21 He levitates without this to improve (7) 23 Rubbish time to walk like a duck (7) 24 Are potentially about a foot past (5) 25 Fat little girl with tiny top (4) 26 Holds a rally in favour of experiments (8)
Down 1 Name tag rewritten in red (7) 2 Pack animal kept in cell a matter of hours (5) 3 Carelessly she lost lodging places (7) 4 Highly decorated in the Battle of Little Big Horn, a terrific achievement (6) 6 Record allowed to include gold US decoration (7) 7 Follows eating programme and dies with time inside (5) 8 Lofty pursuits, a right stop-start (4) 14 Or in stage warehouse (7) 16 A gentle dance is beautiful (7) 17 Grassier Rastafarian land contains mountain ranges (7) 18 Finish even confused the queen (6) 19 First staff at the Esso station fills up (5) 20 Reportedly joined the rush (4) 22 Singers lost a production (5)
Puzzles
20th - 26th April 2018
IRREGULAR SUDOKU
SOLTIMES STAR QUIZ : I’VE STARTED, SO I’LL FINISH All the answers begin and end with the same letter 1. By what name was the northeast African country of Ethiopia formerly known? 2. According to Queen’s hit single Bohemian Rhapsody, who ‘has a devil put aside for me’? 3. What name is often applied to someone who is abnormally afraid of closed-in places? 4. Which famous theme park in Anaheim, California was opened on July 17, 1955? 5. What is the name of the river in central Europe that arises in north-western Czechoslovakia and flows northward through Germany to empty into the North Sea? 6. Which famous comic character appears in three plays by William Shakespeare? In the two Henry IV plays he is a companion to Prince Hal and in The Merry Wives of Windsor he is the buffoonish suitor of two married women?
7. Which seaport in southwest Sweden on the Kattegat strait is the second-largest city in Sweden? 8. Which Leonard Cohen song was the UK Christmas number one in December 2008 for The X Factor winner Alexandra Burke? 9. Which type of canoe, originally used by the Inuit, is made of a light frame with a watertight covering having a small opening in the top to sit in? 10. What is the surname of the Czech-born former tennis player who won the Australian Open in1989 and 1990, the French Open in 1984, 1986 and 1987 and the US Open in 1985, 1986 and 1987? Not a lot of people know that... Abba is not only the name of a hugely successful pop act but also the name of a well-known fish-canning company in Sweden
Kakuro
Answers 1. ABYSSINIA, 2. BEELZEBUB, 3. CLAUSTROPHOBIC, 4. DISNEYLAND, 5. ELBE, 6. (Sir John) FALSTAFF, 7. GOTHENBURG (Swedish name GÖTEBORG), 8. HALLELUJAH, 9. KAYAK, 10. (Ivan) LENDL
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
Feature
20th - 26th April 2018
Mind your manners by Sandy Shore AFTER more years than I care to remember I still recall the elbow in the ribs. ‘Get up, son. Give the lady your seat.’ When I became less a callow youth I would volunteer my bus seat without mum’s poke in the ribs. It is still second nature to keep open a door for an approaching lady. I help elderly people on or off public transport or I take their bags whilst they alight. I am not sure who gets the warmest glow, them or me. Civility towards others was drummed into me but I confess there have been lapses. As I helped a new member of the staff on with her coat I sensed her discomfit. The same happened on a later occasion when I held open the car door for her. Jayne later told me that no one had ever done that for her before yet my assistant was in her late 20’s. There was a time when a man rose from his seat when a woman entered the room. How many recall that we once lifted our cap or at least touched our hat’s brim at a
MANNERS: Seem to have disappeared.
woman’s approach. Conversational good manners have disappeared. Everyone agrees with the principle, ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’ Don’t expect them to practise it.
Today, there seems to be a streak of almost medieval intolerance shown towards those of conflicting views. Unwillingness to simply accept an opinion often leads to a verbal brawl. During the 1930’s and earlier mining villages and working class communities across
England loved their debating societies. Each visiting speaker was accorded civility and debaters’ opinions were respected. I suspect that fear of a punch-up or a visit from Plod would discourage such freedom of expression these days. According to one survey many young people have never written a handwritten letter. It is inconceivable they might pen a few expressions of gratitude to someone who had given them a gift, shown them a kindness or perhaps provided them with a few days break. Recently our group was disappointed to find a Sunday dinner restaurant fully booked. Stuff happens but given the discourteous brush-off we will not now make a reservation. Many in public service are lacking in people skills yet ironically, the worst offenders are those old enough to know better. There are of course exceptions to the rule but the incivilities of an intolerant or rude minority can spoil everyone’s day. Perhaps it is our fault for tolerating the intolerance of others. I no longer do so.
Behind THE MUSIC The Beatles Let It Be By V L James RELEASED in May 1970 about a month after their official break up, ‘Let It Be’ was The Beatles’ 12th and final studio album. Although some fans claim the previous album ‘Abbey Road’ was really the last album because most of ‘Let It Be’ was recorded before ‘Abbey Road’ at the time of release ‘Let It Be’ was probably the most criticised of all The Beatles’ albums, with critics not seeming that enamoured with the production of Phil Spectre. However, fans ignored what the critics said and the album took the customary No 1 spot in the charts of many countries including the UK and the USA. Tracks such as Get Back, The Long And Winding Road, and the emotionally
poignant Let It Be would make it onto the list of The Beatles’ Greatest! The sessions for ‘Let It Be’ were filmed and released as a movie just after the album. The film contains glimpses of the tensions that were now within the band. ‘Let It Be’ may have been their final bow but The Beatles are still arguably the most influential band the world has ever seen.
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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
CHURCH SERVICES
Classifieds
20th - 26th April 2018
Tuesday 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 on April 19th. Spiritual healing is available every Sunday and Tuesday after the service. The Divine Service, with Mediumship on Sunday 22nd April will be taken by Linda Sheppard (UK Medium). The Evening of Mediumship on Tuesday 17th April, will also be taken by Linda Sheppard. The Divine Service on Sunday, 29th April will be taken by Jillian, Martin and Len. Contact Wendy on 965323028. www.spiri tualistcentrebenijofar.com New email is phoenixchurch23@g mail.com or info@spiri tualistcentrebenijofar.com Identific acion Fiscal G54713789.
DRAINAGE
HOME MAINTENANCE MARKS Home Maintenance services. Painting General Maintenance. Kitchen Unit Renovation. References available. 634 908 475 (259695)
INSURANCE FOR SALE 13 PIECE dining suite. Solid Oak unmarked as new. 1150€ ovno. Tel: 678 289 194 (276771)
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
DRAINAGE
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)
REMOVALS/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
20th - 26th April 2018
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BUILDERS
BABY EQUIPMENT HIRE
REMOVALS & STORAGE
CONSTRUCTION
DRAINS
REMOVALS/STORAGE
30
Sport
20th - 26th April 2018
Aguilon Golf members report Wednesday April 4 - monthly medal Continued a few days later, the day turned out to b e a s u n n y, w a r m a n d l a r g e l y w i n d l e s s d a y, n o t that the scoring improved much and the field was tightly bunched at the top of the leader board, our winner had learnt a few lessons, fresh back from Augusta watching the Masters.
T H E s o c i e t y ’s m o n t h l y medal round is hard enough in good conditions, but this month’s edition, held at the beginning of the month saw most of the scores blown away with the wind. 1st George Holland 8513= 72 2nd Rabbe Thun 85-12= 73 3rd Peter Death 86-9= 77 Tw o ’s : G e o r g e H o l l a n d , Kevin Manser 14th, Phil Miles, Rabbe Thun 17th. This was followed by a Stableford competition but yet again the day was blighted by the wind, this time so severe that it had to be abandoned after a few holes as conditions became dangerous.
1st Chris Baker 35 pts on a card play off 2nd Peter Death 35 pts 3rd Jim Laing 34 pts on a card play off Two’s: Ann Miles x2 3rd, 17th, Sue Phillips 3rd, Phil Miles 12th, Bill Gibb 17th
ALL SMILES: Medal winner George Holland (left) and Stableford champion Chris Baker (right).
2018 Avalon Inaugural Cup Open success THE Almeria Lawn Bowling Club Open Mixed Pairs, kindly sponsored by Avalon Funeral Plans, Inaugural Cup, took place earlier this month during wonderful hot sunny weather. In total, 20 pairs made up of players from Almeria (ALBC), Indalo, Mojacar, Zurgena and Cabrera Bowling Clubs took par t in the first edition of the event. The competition schedule was planned for four drawn groups of five teams, A, B, C and D. At the end of the second day the winners of A and B, C and D would play each other in the Semi-Finals. The respective winners would then play in the Final and the runners up in the third and fourth play-off. Points were awarded for win, draw and ends won. The winner would be the team with most points. In the final, winners were from D group, Austin Crilly and Maureen Sherriff. They played from B group, Bryan and Rachel Thompson group, both teams from ALBC. The score 8-3.
WINNERS: Austin Crilly and Maureen Sherriff. The third and fourth play-off were between winners from A5 group, Tony Lear, Carole Hollett (ALBC) against Keith Porter and Jean Larwood from Zurgena Bowing Club. The score 9-2. On completion, captain Reg Birmingham thanked all competitors for taking part and the supporters. Tony Lear for running the competition and the valuable help of Roy Ritson with his computer scoring program, assisted by Colin Wright.
For further information log on to the society’s website at aguilonmember sclub.com.
19th Hole host new competition THE 19th played an ‘any two from four’ competition with a difference on a warm but breezy day recently at Lorca. The teams chose two players to play from Red Tees and two from Blue Tees with one score to count from each Tee. After the initial confusion, it proved a great format with the team of Tommy Seed, Darren Banks, Ron Curtis and Syd Walker scoring an impressive 90 points. In second spot were Doug Birrell, Kar yn Esposito, Ralph Hunter and Mick Craswell with a very respectable 87 points. There were three two’s recorded on the day John Ball 4th, Tony Mackay
Nearest the pins:2nd in 2
Tommy Seed.
4th
Karyn Esposito.
6th
Ron Curtis.
8th
Eric Greenwood.
10th
Eric Greenwood.
12th
Doug Birrell.
and Terry Ayling both 6th. The 19th Hole Golf Society play every week on local courses.
Contact mikeesposito54@yahoo.com for information.
Motoring
20th - 26th April 2018
31
Porsche smash track record
RED RECOGNITION: Yamaha scooters win IMAGE CREDITS: YAMAHA prestigious award.
Scootering success! Yamaha scoop seventh design award TWO Yamaha scooters have won this year’s famed Red Dot design award. The TMAX DX and XMAX 300 scooters received the award for their outstanding product design. It marks the seventh consecutive Red Dot award for Yamaha. The awarding body Germany’s Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen - is widely recognised as among the most prestigious design institutions in the world. And the news adds to the scooters’ international design award collectionwhich also includes the ‘Good Design Award 2017’ and the IF Design Award 2018. The award brings continued success for the TMAX which has been Europe’s most popular scooter since its 2001 launch. Yamaha says that the models’ popularity is down to their “fun ride, sporty styling,” and “riding comfort.” The TMAX DX boasts
“motorcycle-type handling,” and a high-spec, making it fit for both daily commuting and fun weekend riding, said the Japanese manufacturer. Alongside its die-cast aluminum chassis, the deluxe model’s luxuries include cruise-control, a Smart Key and an electronically-adjustable screen.
PORSCHE’ s multi-Le Mans-winning Hybrid Evo has beaten Lewis Hamilton’s track record at Spa-Francorchamps. Thir ty-four-year-old Neel Janiset set the 1:41.770 minutes lap record at the seven-kilometre long grand prix circuit in Belgium’s Ardennes Mountains. The Porsche works driver pipped Lewis Hamilton’s record set on August 26 last year. Hamilton achieved his 1:42.553 record lap time at the wheel of a Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid. But the Le Mans-winning Porsche hybrid was 0.783 seconds quicker than Hamilton’ s Mercedes. The Swiss driver said: “I knew on the very first lap in the morning that the car’s per for mance was super.” Jani recorded a topspeed of 359 km/h in the unrestricted race car and an average speed of 245.61 km/h on his record-breaking morning lap.
And the record-setter said the car was “brutally impressive,” and the “fastest” car he ever drove. The driver said he was happy to beat the F1 record. He added the lap was 12 seconds faster compared to the WEC pole position set last year, thanking the engineers for the “great job” they did with the car. Fritz Enzinger, the team’s Vice President, said the result was down to an “outstanding driver’s” performance” and “great engineering.” The project’ s target was to show the Porsche 919 Hybrid’s true capacity by removing the limits set by World Endurance Championship regulations, said team princi-
pal, Andreas Seidl. Preparing for the project involved developing Porsche’s 2017 world championship car and making several aerody-
namic changes. Stephen Mitas, Chief Race Engineer, said that seeing the car reach its potentialwas an “engineer’s dream come true.”