Soltimes Almeria – Issue 642

ISSUE 642• 22ndh -29th June 2018

EST 2005

Community spirit EXPATRIATE plasterer/builder Paul Morrison has spoken of his gratitude after the community pulled together to help him pay for medical treatment.

The dad-of-three, 45, was last year diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, forcing him to walk on crutches, while his speech has also deteriorated.

He is in August due to visit Russia for pioneering stem cell transplantation treatment in Moscow, with the procedure currently unavailable in the UK or Spain.

“We are nearly there, we have raised £41,500 out of our aim of £45,000.

“We have been to London to collect our Russian visas.

“I would like to give special

SPECIAL THANKS’: Paul, back left, receives a donation from the Antas community. thanks to my local community of Antas who with the help of all the local businesses raised over €2,000!

“The offers of help and the generosity I have received has validat-

ed my decision to move my family here over 13 years ago.

“Viva Almeria.”

The family continue to accept donations via the website www.go fundme.com/paulsfighttowalk.

On your marks IT’S almost time.

The first Paseo Mojacar Parkrun takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at 9am.

Starting from the Best Indalo Hotel, entrants will run, jog or walk from the start line to the Red Cross roundabout at the end of the paseo before heading back to the hotel.

The total distance is five kilometres, and entrance is free, although any

funds raised on the day will be donated to cancer support group MACS. Parkruns are running events that take place every Saturday morning in 19 countries across five continents.

Anyone interested to take par t should email organiser Kevin Rowe ironmankev08@gmail.co m.

Entrants are advised to bring water and a towel.

SUPPORT CALL: Why not head along to the Parkrun?

2 NEWS BITES

Death probe INVESTIGATORS are probing the death of a man whose body appeared floating off Los Cerillos beach in Roquetas del Mar after medics were tipped off by an environment agency employee, according to a police statement.

Blood up SOME 1,300 more people gave blood in the Granada-Almeria centre in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period last year, with mainly middle-aged women driving the surge, media reports.

Fruit joy AGRICULTURE minister Rodrigo Sanchez Haro has thanked Almeria’s female fruit and vegetable workers for their role in helping the province to become a ‘regional leader in production, quality and employment generation.’

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Murder case goes on

By Jimmy Grayling AN Almeria court has lifted the secrecy order on an official summary of the Gabriel Cruz murder case.

The tragic eight-year-old’s body was found in prime suspect Ana Julia Quesada’s car boot after an 11-day search.

Quesada has been jailed since and was advised by her legal team not to answer questions during a court summons earlier this week.

And judge Rafael Soriano has now brought a written synopsis of the enquiry to date into the public domain after Andalucia’s Superior Justice Court agreed to the move.

The document says that Quesada was remanded in custody on charges of murder, illegal detention and corrupt

‘EVIL WILL’: Prime suspect Ana Quesada, left, and victim Gabriel Cruz. moral integrity after she confessed to killing the son of her then-boyfriend Angel Cruz.

Investigators believe she strangled the child with her bare hands, and the judge further justified his decision to imprison her because she is from the Dominican Republic and “there would be a clear and high risk that she

could escape if released.”

The document continues that her role in the killing appears ‘unquestionable’ since ‘she has not only admitted the tragic incident, but through judicially agreed statements and evidence collected has revealed an evil will directed her especially towards committing the crime.’

It points out how on Februar y 27 this year Quesada ‘took advantage of a brief moment during which she knew she was going to be alone with the child that the paternal grandmother was unable to avoid,’ to take him to his father’s farm in Rodalquilar, Nijar, where she killed and buried him.

On March 11 she returned to the spot ‘to dispose of the child’s body while she was alone,’ digging up the corpse and transferring it to the boot of her car, where it was found

by Guardia Civil officers during her arrest in Vicar.

In the days leading up to her being detained she was pictured on national television campaigning in the hunt for Gabriel as the story gripped Spain.

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By Maura Hillen AFTER having spent the last two years fighting to finish the regularisation of houses that were built illegally and later sold to innocent buyers in the Valle del Almanzora, I have come to the conclusion that the autonomous government is not willing to finish solving this problem in a sensible way any time soon - in spite of the important steps that it initially took.

The problem is that the reform of the Planning Laws (LOUA) in 2016 excluded the regularisation of thousands of houses in the Valle del Almanzora, and I believe hundreds of thousands of houses in Andalucia.

We warned them about this at the time but they didn’t listen. This reform permitted irregular houses on parcelaciones, that is to say groups of houses sharing the same plot of land, to access services and to be registered at the Land Registry, but the

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Andalucian planning awards the law breaker reform created a sub-species of parcelación which was called an ‘asentamiento,’ that was left out of the reform. These houses on asentamientos are condemned to a lengthy treck via the labyrinth of municipal planning because, according to the autonomous government, these houses must be transferred onto urban land via a Town Plan.

It is said that those who broke the law must not be rewarded, and that they must contribute to the urban planning costs, and that these houses must be integrated into the urban grid of the town. Sounds good in theory, but in practice this attitude is damaging.

LIVES IN RUINS: The planning debacle has seen expats’ dreams destroyed.

In this system, the promoter who constructed the irregular houses and sold them to third parties, and who continues to own land on the asentamiento (as is usually the case), is graced with new urban land, multiplying

its value.

Not only that, the buyers of these houses are forced to pay a large part of the urbanisation costs, that the promoter should have paid. Moreover, to integrate the asentamiento

into the urban grid, the land between the asentamiento and the town centre is usually reclassified as urbanisable land, possibly awarding the promoter again if they own this land.

Over and above all this some promoter will have to construct the general infrastructure and get paid for it.

In contrast, the only thing we are proposing is a little bit of common sense - not an amnesty. We leave the giving of an amnesty to law

breakers to others. We are only asking for the minimum recognition for these houses, that the administration allowed to be constructed and sold to innocent third parties, so they can access services and register them at the Land Registry via what is called an AFO. At the end of the day, that which has been permitted and now cannot be demolished, must be regularised, minimising its environmental impact, and the sooner the better.

And don’t be fooled, an AFO is not a legalisation, it is much less than a licence of first occupation.

Giving an AFO to these houses is not a privilege because, among other things, the house must satisfy environmental considerations as part of the process of conceding the AFO, and fees and costs must be paid.

In contrast, the effect of the system devised by the current administration, and the one it wishes to maintain, isto multiply the effect of the irregularity on the environment, with new urban land and new houses, and to award the law breakers who were allowed to build these houses, something that in my opinion is neither sensible nor fair.

News

Taking the kiss

PUCKER UP! Prepare to fall in love with Mojacar.

MOJACAR is gearing up for its ‘Romantic Night’ and ‘The Most Beautiful Kiss in the World,’ extending an open invitation to everyone in the town, including holidaymakers, to come and enjoy this special evening.

It takes place this evening (Friday), when Mojacar holds the event for the second year running, along with 350 other Spanish, French, Italian and Belgian towns that make up ‘The Most Beautiful Towns and Villages in Spain’ as well as other countries.

From 10pm, Mojacar will be ready with a heart-felt welcome for everyone to fall in love with the town and each other once more.

A night especially designed for romantics or those seeking a new love stor y of their own and, with a magical evening in an enchanting place like Mojácar, anything is possible.

It will be a night for the whole town to

give in to love, when everyone will be greeted with LED illuminated hearts and streets decorated with huge heart-shaped helium balloons and, no couple will resist pausing under the adorned arches, along with several romantic photo call points set up around the town so they can mark the moment, hand in hand.

There will be different types of live music in the squares of the Old Town and restaurants and bars are busy creating their own romantic menus as well as decorations especially for the occasion, with love themed food and drinks.

It will be an unforgettable experience with lots of surprises that will have its high point at midnight when everyone gathers under the stars, with fireworks from the Plaza de la Iglesia, to take part together in ‘The Most Beautiful Kiss in the World.’

Ex-mayor probed

THE exmayor of Cantoria is at the centre of an embezzlement probe.

Former Partido Popular politician Gaspar Masegosa, who served as head of the town council from 2013 to 2015 on Wednesday testified before a Huercal-Overa judge after in-

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vestigators found evidence of administrative crimes and irregular payments made under his tenure.

Both he and predecessor Pedro Llamas were in 2016 disqualified from public of fice for eight-and-a-half years over his part in allowing

construction on unlicensed land.

And he is now to be quizzed in connection with a series of payments for works carried out without a green light from the municipal auditor and in the absence of technical reports, according to the Almeria Prosecutor’s Office.

Just beachy!

BLUE flags are flying on Vera’s beaches.

Councillors Francisca Garcia and Isabel de Haro raised the coveted emblems, a worldwide standard for quality, at Las Marinas-Bolaga, Puer to Rey and El Playazo.

They are handed to sandy strips meeting strict criteria for water quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of ser vices and

BLUE IS THE COLOUR: Councillors Francisca Garcia and Isabel de Haro raised the flags. general environmental

management criteria.

News Photo credits Facebook Parque Acuatico Mario Park

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TRAPPED: Visitors enjoying a day out at Mario water park in Almeria.

Pool horror

By Francis Peach A CHILD has been in hospital for three days with serious injuries to his buttock after being sucked into a pool suction tube at an Almeria waterpark.

The boy was visiting the attraction on a family outing last Saturday when he became lodged in one of the pool walls, his father said He heard his son screaming and went to help, accompanied by a lifeguard.

But the pair were unable to free the youngster - who reportedly lost consciousness several times while trapped until the pool’s engines were stopped 10 minutes later, the family said.

An ambulance crew arrived at the waterpark and took the child to Almeria’s Torrecardenas hospital.

Medics continue to treat the boy with anti-inflammatories and painkillers.

Hospital staff want to carry out an ultrasound to explore the tissue damage, but the buttock’s swelling and severe bruising is preventing it, according to medical sources.

The family claims management at Mario water park in Roquetas del Mar have made no attempt to contact them since the incident.

Management have since released a statement saying they “regretted” the incident which they claimed was the result of “suction protection grid repairs.”

“The facilities meet all safety conditions and the park’s staff work very hard to ensure our users’ safety,” the statement read.

The victim’s father called Local Police after the event but it remains unclear whether a legal or criminal case has been opened.

Baking news Dead rat found at bread factory AUTHORITIES have closed an alleged clandestine bread factory because of a ‘serious and imminent health risk’ after finding a dead rat on site.

Almeria Local Police, working with the regional government’s provincial consumption service, found ‘a dead rat, remains of droppings and obsolete machinery’ in the ‘semi-abandoned’ establishment in Almeria’s El Puche neighbourhood.

Officers shut down the

Photo credits Ayuntamiento de Almeria

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TOASTED: The ‘unhygienic’ facility in El Puche has been shut down. facilities on Tin and Iron street on Thursday due to “unsuitable hygienic conditions,” according to a police report. And two

workers were spotted making bread while surrounded by “a lot of dirt and obsolete machinery,” the report read.

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By Francis Peach RED CROSS ALMERIA said a “coordination error” caused an incident which saw 46 sub-Saharan migrants - including children - abandoned for several hours at a bus station in northern Spain.

Upon arriving in Spain, the immigrants, 45 from Mali and one from Guinea, told Red Cross operatives they intended to travel to France.

The organisation - which cannot organise cross-border travel - instead sent them to San Sebastian in the Basque Country, just 25 kilometres from the French border.

But when the passengers arrived at the bus station, they found nobody waiting for them.

“Of course, the immigrants became disorientated” and

Photo credits Twitter/Cruz Roja Gipuzkoa

Red Cross shock ERROR: The Red Cross Gipuzkoa is caring for the 46 sub-Saharan migrants. did not know what was going to happen to them,” Francisco Vicente, Almeria’s Red Cross coordinator, said.

Their transport arrived “one and a half hours early,” he added, and confirmed it was the bus driver who raised the alarm about the absence of officials.

The Gipuzkoa Red Cross branch carried out its own investigation to get to the bottom of the muddle.

Officials found its Almeria counterparts had failed to communicate the bus’s arrival time.

The Gipuzkoa Red Cross has since tweeted it is continuing to ‘attend to’ the 46 migrants who arrived from San Sebastian last Monday.

Provincial social services interviewed the sub-Saharan newcomers to clarify the confusion and asked them where they wanted to go next.

“They are free people, which is why in the personal interviews, we asked each one what they wanted to do next,” Imanol Lasa, a Gipuzkoa provincial government official said.

They can “seek asylum or contact other institutions,” she said and confirmed the regional government has taken custody of the 16-year-old children.

When the immigration centres run out of space for new arrivals, the police release them almost immediately, instead of holding them for the usual 48 to 72 hours, according to Vicente.

At this point, the Red Cross takes over, organises a phone call to family members and a bus ticket to their desired location, he added.

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Missing at sea SPANISH coastguard rescued four people in the Mediterranean, but the 43 others who were aboard their sunken boat are still missing.

The ‘Ariadne’ ship spotted several people in the water on Saturday night and called coastguard headquar ters who launched a helicopter and lifeboat to rescue them.

Two of the migrants boarded Ariadne and the helicopter picked up the other pair and transported them to Almeria hospital.

Despite suffering from ‘severe hypothermia,’ they managed to tell authorities that there were 43 other people on the craft which sank.

A multi-service mission has been operating since Saturday night to locate the missing, but has so far been unsuccessful.

All four of the rescued migrants remain in Almeria’s Torrecardenas Hospital.

Fifty-seven more migrants, including 14 women, arrived in Almeria on Sunday after, the coastguard rescuing them from their vessel, which had departed from Morocco.

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Seven bikes, seven days, 700 miles Bikers growing old disgracefully, part 4

By Mark Porter ON the bikes once again, zipping through Garrucha, fighting diversions due to road works.

Why is it after the first diversion sign, none are to be found afterwards? Are you supposed to figure it out for yourself? Or maybe they just

want you out of the way and get yourself lost somewhere else. We wasted 20 minutes trying to get back to our original route with the constant voice of a GPS on speaker saying : “when possible, make a U-turn,- when possible, make a U-turn” on someone’s bike.

I’m surprised a Rap artist hasn’t made a hit song using sampled GPS command. I’m sure it will be a hit in the crib.

Villaricos next, all this time, my two wheeled friends enjoying every minute of every kilometre as they left the UK and disembarked in Santander under torrential rain.

For the first time in days, they weren’t wearing their rain gear. What a difference a bit of sunshine does to people. It’s almost like a drug.

Next stop, the ‘allegedly’ radioactive coastal town of Villaricos. Although recent studies have purportedly shown that levels are below

TOP STRIP: San Juan de los Terreros. what is commonly accepted as safe levels, the locals, especially the older generation are still very angry and vocal when it comes to the United States of America and her responsibility to clean up what they left behind, a beautiful town with a tragic past. I’m pretty sure there’s still an area that’s off limits to the public.

Sadly, the town is an innocent victim of the cold war.

With the regular stops for photos and selfies, for the consumption of wives and families of course, we were

getting behind on schedule so it was a mad dash to San Juan de los Terreros, my favourite beach. There’s part of the beach, well before the usual swimming area that you can actually ride up, right up to the sea, if you are so inclined. Of course we all did. Our BMW GS 1200 riding companion, with all the electric wizardry Berlin made available to him selected ‘enduro mode’ (ie show off mode) and off he went churning up the sand, sending a fantail of sand 10 metres behind him and snaking

left and right, generally enjoying himself.

Right up to the moment when he stopped and put his foot down. That’s when he realised that enduro mode also lifts his already Mount Everest proportioned bike to a stratospheric height. Oh how we laughed as he tittered on tip-toes, on the brink of dropping his fuel ladened 400 kilo two wheeled Panzer. It would have taken all of us to lift it back up again with the ensuing hernia, after we’d finished rolling about laughing of course.

NEWS

Show your support

Photo credit Maloan’s/Facebook

AGE SUPPORT ALMANZORA is holding a fundraising event at Maloans in Albox on Saturday June 30 from 5pm.

There will be stalls and a raffle with music starting at 7pm with Kay Francis, Emma Wild and DJ Mad Mark.

Tickets are only €5 from Maloans and the Age Support shop opposite the Peugeot garage in the village.

Donations for the raffle prizes will be gratefully received at the shop ahead of the event.

With plenty of music and the opportunity to dance, it is sure to be a good night.

at LOVING IT: The event is to take place

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Maloan’s.

See you in the autumn!

GREAT DAMES: The group is taking a summer break.

THE final Dames in Turre meeting before the summer break was held at The Hostel Rural in Turre on Monday May 28.

The Dames were very proud to be able to donate cheques to the Turre Food Bank, AECC, Stepping Stones, Asprodalba and Paws Patas charities.

The group has been proud to be involved with Susana Salamanca on a programme to help women suffering from domestic abuse. They also made a one-off payment to

the Paul Morrison fund for vital treatment in Russia.

On Monday June 11 the Dames’ AGM was held at The Hostel Rural, and the remaining committee members welcomed Marian Piggins and Maureen Sheriff aboard who will commence in September.

Leslie Barlow - who has been the President for years is standing down, and Chairman Soo Wallace thanked her for all the hard work she had put in over the years before

presenting her with a gift. The new season will see Soo as the new President and Carol Pazdzierski as Chairman.

Finally everyone enjoyed a beautiful lunch organised by Manuela and her staff.

The Dames wish everyone a safe and happy summer break and look forward to seeing everyone in September.

For info on Dames in Turre contact Soo Wallace on 667 362 713 or Eileen McGill on 652 208 072.

Keeping the faith THE Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida held a PCC and Friends Away Day at the Monaster y of the Virgin of Saliente.

The event was attended by 25 people from three churches, Aljambra Chapel Albox, Llanos Del Peral Cucador and Mojacar.

The day was opened with prayers and hymns followed by coffee. The group then held various discussions about the Chaplaincy and the way forward.

The day was guided

by Canon Vincent Oram, and was followed by a threecourse lunch which was enjoyed by all.

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Claws for concern Ed. 642

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This publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors as a result of poor quality artwork or logos supplied by advertisers and no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy or non-appearance of an advertisement or advertorial. Every effort will be made to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of articles and advertisements in this publication, however the publisher does not accept responsibility for claims or opinions in the same. The publisher does not accept responsibility for opinions expressed by readers in the ‘Mailbox’ section of this newspaper. Reproduction of any part of this newspaper without the consent of the publishers is prohibited. E:&O.E. All rights reserved / Todos los Derechos Reservados Deposito Legal Sol Times Almeria Edition MA 811-2017

By Chrissie Cremore COME on down and test your ‘grey matter’ on Friday June 29 at the stop bar in Turre.

Quiz master Tony Matthews will be firing questions about music, sport, history, science, fashion, royalty, movies and much much more... kicking off at 4.30pm.

Entry fee is €2 per person and a maximum of six members will be allowed per team. Food is available from 6pm. To book a table please phone Diane on 953 715 037.

Proceeds from the quiz and a raffle will go towards the PAWSPATAS TNR Feral Cat Campaign.

Cats will be trapped and neutered before being returned to their colony, but there are currently no funds to continue this extremely important and vital work.

An unspayed female cat, her mate and all of their offspring producing two litters per year with an

CAT PROBLEM: Support the PAWS-PATA campaign. average of 2.8 kittens surviving per litter can result in 11,801 kittens being born in a five-year period.

Just €100 can guarantee one male and one female undergoing this procedure and help stop the suffering and survival of so many kittens.

If you would like to adopt a bundle of fluff and fun, please come to the Kitten, Coffee and Cake morning at PAWS-PATAS locale in Las

Buganvillas tomorrow (Saturday) from 11am until 1pm.

As always the charity is in dire need of volunteers to help in all areas of the shelter and locales, plus administration and fundraising.

Please visit their website for all details including the £1/€1 donation link which to date has raised over €6,000. See www.paws-patas.org or email info@paws-patas.org.

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Weekender Albox Feature

Perfect palette Page 14

Baked dorado Page 18 - 19

Hotel change Page 15

Turn it off Page 21

Photo credits: Google

Pages 16 - 17

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Photo credit Matt Ford

Travel

PEAK BEAUTY: The Serra del Ports is a little-known gem.

FROM crystal-clear rivers to stunning rocky outcrops, the little-known Serra del Ports is a haven for those wishing to get off the beaten track.

Located close to the River Ebro delta, the massif offers a dramatic, rugged landscape which covers around 60,000 hectares of the CataluĂąa, Valencia and Aragon regions.

The rivers Senia and Matarranya rise in the mountains and have carved out spectacular

Ports of call limestone formations, with impressive cave and pothole systems and plenty of hidden pools where you can take a dip.

There is also a range of signposted hiking and cycling trails covering all types of ground, from ravines to streams, thick

forest or high plains.

Wildlife includes Spanish ibex, wild boar, roe deer, badger, fox, wildcat, squirrel, and otter, plus numerous bird species including eagles and an important griffon vulture colony.

There is a small museum at Horta de Sant Joan and information centre at Roquetes, and La Senia.

Accommodation, including camping, can be found around various of the villages in the area.

Bear-ing with it

By Jos Biggs

MY new, small, simple microwave sat on the hallowed space recently vacated by his predecessor, the Empress.

He looked very small, very black, but above all he looked very uncomplicated - just two knobs, each clearly explained pictorially.

However, simple is as simple does. I read his instruction book, which was, like him, small and simple. As I did so I wondered who in the world would put their clothes in a microwave to dry? I was almost tempted to try it, just to see what would happen!

I boiled the obligatory cup of water, then got very ambitious and grilled a slice of bacon. Of course that meant that I had to unfreeze (using the defrost setting) and toast a slice of bread to go with the bacon.

I achieved all this advanced culi-

nary practice with surprise and relief and without an operational hitch and so I welcomed the new microwave into the household as a friend.

As is right and proper all household appliances who are my friends have names; the latest is Heironymous, the Bosch vacuum cleaner (the printer has no name, it is not my friend, but it does have a middle name, which is Awkward!).

As I looked at him, so neat, efficient and compactly put together his name came to me, loud and clear - Bear.

Why Bear? Because he has Grill written boldly on his front. He is named after the compactly put together Bear Grylls, who also can probably defrost bread by sheer power of personality

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk

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Lifestyle

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Shed some light

DE VIAJES Y

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TRAVEL AGENCY NOW IN TURRE WE SPEAK ENGLISH

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LAMPSHADES can often be the final thing we think about when decorating our homes.

But these simple covers can make or break the look you’re aiming for within your home.

They can come in every shape and size, from pendant lampshade fixtures that hang from the ceiling to floor lamps that lighten your favourite reading chair.

But before you go shopping, or ordering online, take note of these illuminating tips.

Firstly, stand back and look at the space where the shade will be placed and decide if your lampshade is for ambiance, function or both.

PERFECT PALETTE: Lampshades should complement the colour and style of your interiors.

Then look around your room and see what colours and style you have.

Your lampshade should complement the colours and fabrics of your furniture as well as the colour palettes of your interior tex-

tiles, wallpaper, rugs, throws and pillows. Think of the colour scheme in the room as a whole.

If you want your shade to be the focal point of the room choose a bold colour that will stand out.

If you prefer your shade to do its duty more discreetly in the background then select a more subtle neutral tone. Choose lighting that is right for the function.

When selecting a lampshade, look at the base and the lampshade as a pair. The shape of the

shade will dictate the shape of the shade. A broad shade will often suit a tall and slender base.

A lamp on your bedside table ought to be smaller than a lamp in the corner of your room for example.

The lampshade should be low enough so that you can’t see the switch, but not so much that you find it difficult to reach.

If you have the wiring already done, or don’t mind getting the electricians in, wall sconce lampshades can really lift a room and complement the interiors.

If you live in a space that craves for more light then using white lampshades will really allow that light to shine through and brighten up your surroundings.

If you want softer lighting, then choose a shade which will diffuse the light from the light bulb to create a relaxing ambiance.

In recent years, there has been a return to large print, strong colours and broad round lampshades that are a throwback to the 60’s and 70’s.

If you go for something stylistically bold like this be sure to mimic the style with the other interiors in the room.

Property

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By Gregory Kirby SPAIN’S Barcelo Group has failed to become Spain’s largest hotel corporation as it is outbid by a Thai-based conglomerate to purchase NH group.

The Minor International group has reportedly made a successful bid to buy 25.2 per cent of Spain’s NH hotel group for €619 million from HNA group, a Chinese corporation.

Minor is a Thai-based global conglomerate with stakes in restaurants, hospitality and lifestyle brand distribution.

And to secure its major purchase Minor had to outdo stiff competition not only from Barcelo but also from Elliott Management and Apollo Global Management. Barcelo made a €3 billion bid for the NH group in January which was turned down. Spain’s largest hotel group would have been born from the merger with 478 properties and a combined total of 89,000 rooms.

Spanish law dictates any party which owns more than 30 per cent of a com-

Photo credits: Google

Barcelo budged out

TAKEOVER: Minor International takes over Spain’s NH hotel group. pany must launch a takeover bid.

And Minor hotels already had a 9.5 per cent stake in NH hotel group, explaining its ability to take executive control of the company.

“We are embarking on a new era, driving investment strategy to further cement our footprint in the European hospitality industry,” said Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels.

“Minor can also support the NH Hotel Group with its food and beverage expertise where appropriate to enhance customer experience and maximise revenue potentials,” he added.

The Asian hotel giant which has five subsidiary brands, including Anantara, Avani and Tivoli - is expected to complete its purchase in September 2018.

‘Picasso pool’ pad sold THE ‘El Martinete’ mansion in Marbella, once belonging to the prolific Spanish dancer Antonio Ruiz Soler, has been sold.

The property was sold through Concierge Auctions for €14 million, but the final purchase price is unknown as the sale is still listed as ‘pending.’

It is one of Marbella’s last remaining mansions from the 60’s boom-time era.

The property’s first owner, Antonio ‘el Bailarin’ is considered Spain’s best dancer and artistic director

from the second half of the 20th century.

The property has several unique selling points.

Perhaps the most desired of those is an artistic mes-

sage at the bottom of the pool. This is dedicated to ‘Antonio’ by none other than eminent artist and friend of the dancer, Pablo Picasso.

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Albox

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State of the art A NEW Almanzora Va l l e y e x h i b i t i o n opens today (Friday).

It comes as the Ibañez Museum in Olula del Rio debuts a brand new galler y space with a showcase of sculptures from renowned Murcian artist Antonio Campillo.

A total of 41 of the virtuoso’s works will be on display, ser ving up a timeline of his work from 1957 to 2008, alongside a series of 26 drawings.

The museum is open from 11am to 2pm, and 6pm to 8pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

€1.3m he bonanz THE Albox UGC (Unidad de Gestion Clinica) has received a new addition after the Junta de Andalucia regional government revealed it has sunk €1.3 million into a new family care clinic.

The money was used to build the facility in Arboleas, providing a boost to healthcare facilities in the Almanzora Valley.

It comes after regional health minister Marina Alvarez visited the building, and she explained: “The Junta de Andalucia’s investment in this primary care centre will offer close attention based on family care units, in which family

CARE BOOST: Marina Alvarez and

medicine and nursing professionals will work in a coordinated way.”

She added: “The recuperation of such teams is one of the measures included in our Primary Care Renewal Strategy, with the Andalucian gov-

x

Feature

22nd - 29th June 2018

ealth za Photo credit Ayuntamiento de Arboleas

HAMAZING: Local firms will each receive €285,000.

d clinic staff outside the new centre.

ernment committed to increasing the diagnostic and care capacity of local health centres for the benefit of residents.”

The 1,500 square-metre clinic opened last December and is available to more than 4,500 people.

Tasty outlay TWO local ham producers have been chosen for a €285,000 regional government payout.

Jamones Segura and Jamones de Seron Cortijo de Canata, both based in Seron and featuring the Jamon de Seron stamp of quality on their products, will each receive the amount from the Andalucian Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development.

Around 60 ham producers are based in the Almanzora Valley and together they own some 34,000 pigs, producing 1.6 million kilos of the delicacy annually.

More than 85 per cent is sold within Spain, but local firms are keen to tap into a recovering export market, and already sell to Andorra, Japan, the United States and Switzerland.

Weekender 17

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Weekender

Food & Drink

22nd - 29th June 2018

IN this final piece on seafood (for now!) I thought it would be interesting to look at one of the types of fish you might see in the fish shops and supermarkets here in Spain.

Fish is a massive par t of the Mediterranean diet and you have probably noticed on cer tain days of the week, the fish counter is packed with people waiting to be served. I do love the way the assistants take pride in cleaning and cutting the fish into how the customers want it to be.

Interestingly, there are some fish that you buy which you must have gutted (I like to save these parts for our chicken, they love them!), but now and again something in season has to be cleaned by the assistant and the guts have to be thrown away there and then.

One day, I must ask why this is?

Dorada is the fish I c h o s e f o r t h i s w e e k ’s recipe and is a firm favourite here at Olive Tree Farm. In English it is called Gilt-Head Bream.

It is a lovely silver fish, with a white creamy flesh and is perfect for baking in the oven and ser ved with a salad. I usually buy one fish per person and they cost around 3â‚Ź each.

They are the perfect fish to serve whole, so no messing about tr ying to fillet it as once cooked it is easy to remove the

Sea Fo

SOMETHING FISHY: Gilt-head bream is known as dora flesh from the bone.

The following recipe is extremely easy and uses things most people have in their cupboards.

Dorada oven baked in white wine Ingredients 1 Dorada per person White wine Olive oil Half a lemon per fish Mixed herbs Salt and pepper Parsley for serving

Method Pre-heat the oven to 200 deg C Wa s h t h e f i s h u n d e r cold running water and pat dry with paper towel Season inside the fish with salt and black pepper, a sprinkle of mixed dried herbs and a squirt of lemon juice Sit the fish on an oven proof dish and pour a good splosh of wine over each fish Season each fish again and drizzle a little olive oil over them Squirt a little lemon juice over the skin and place 2 or 3 thin slices of lemon on top of each fish Bake in the oven for about 30 mins until the skin is slightly crispy Remove for the oven and sit on a serving dish adding a sprinkle of chopped parley Ser ve immediately along with a mixed sal-

Food & Drink

22nd - 29th June 2018

ood part 3 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.

ada in Spain. ad, rice, baked potatoes or chips Alternatively…

To make an all in one dish... Add ver y thinly sliced unpeeled potatoes and thinly sliced bell peppers to the oven proof dish, sprinkle over a crushed fish stock cube, seasoning and a sprinkle of dried herbs and then sit the fish on top following the same method as above.

To make it look a little more decorative, you can make 3 diagonal slits across the top of each fish and sit half a slice of lemon into each slit before putting into the oven.

To help me understand the names of the seafoods you see in the shops, I bought a book called ‘The Tio Pepe Guide to the seafood of

Spain and Portugal by Alan Dividson’ take a look on Amazon, it is well wor th getting hold of a copy and taking

with you when you shop.

Here are a few familiar names to help you out!

Fish

Crustaceans, Shell Fish and Cephalopods

Cod - Bacalao Hake - Merluza Sea Bass - Lubina Sole - Lenguado Trout - Trucha Angler Fish - Rape Frigate Mackerel - Melva Mackerel - Caballa Red Mullet - Salmonete

Cuttlefish - Jibia Little Cuttlefish Chipirón Squid - Calamar Octopus - Pulpo Barnacle - Percebe Mussel - Mejillón Cockle - Berberecho

-

Weekender 19

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Weekender

22nd - 29th June 2018

Boozed up AGAINST the trend of tradition, young women are drinking as much as men.

This is partly due to the fact that more alcohol is marketed specifically to women and partly due to the changing nature of gender roles in society. However, there’s wider issues at play here, beyond a balancing out of the sexes.

Alcohol actually affects women’s bodies differently than it does men. And not simply because of the usual differences in the shape and size of their bodies.

Research has shown that women pro-

duce smaller quantities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). This is the enzyme which is released into the liver to break down alcohol in the body.

They also have higher levels of body fat and lower levels of body water.

The research concluded that women who drink to excess develop damage to their liver, hearts and nerves faster than their male counterparts. Added to this is the fact women who drink excessively also tend to develop addiction and other medical issues more quickly than men.

MODERATION: Research has shown that alcohol affects women differently.

Health & beauty

Pesky p THIS is the time of year when people can really suffer from the symptoms of hay fever.

As grass, plants and trees release pollen into the air which is blown about in the wind and easily inhaled by humans and pets.

With one in five Brits thought to suffer from hay fever you aren’t alone, but there are some things you can do to reduce the symptoms.

Of course, you’ll know if you’re affected. Your eyes will become watery and itchy, you’ll begin to sneeze and your nose will run.

These symptoms will often be combined with headaches and tiredness.

In addition to taking some antihistamine tablets, here are a few other tips. Try to avoid being outside in the early morning and the late evening. In the morning pollen gets lifted and carried up into the air, descending again in the evening. These

ACHOO!: High pollen counts a unbearable for some.

Let’s squ AS World Continence Week gets in full flow, a new health campaign has been launched.

The campaign has adopted the hashtag #pelvicroar and calls for closer collaboration between professionals and individuals to educate and manage problems such as incontinence and pelvic organ prolapses.

The campaign is spearheaded by three pelvic health physiotherapists who wish to encourage pelvic floor exercises and good pelvic health.

They recommend pelvic floor exercises should be as standard

Health & beauty

22nd - 29th June 2018

pollen times can be particularly troublesome on warm, humid and windy days.

And in Spain, night time can be particularly worse. With the higher temperatures here, the pollen often doesn’t descend until long after sunset, meaning sufferers can really struggle if they’ve left their windows open. Pollen can also stick to your hair and clothing, so be sure to change your clothes and shower as soon as you’re through the door.

The NHS offers some additional advice. They suggest to wear wraparound sunglasses and to put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap the pollen.

However, the bad news is that they also recommend avoiding beer, wine and spirits as these contain histamine, the chemical that sets off allergy symptoms in the body.

at this time of year can be

DEATHLY STARE: Research shows that watching too much TV can reduce lifespans.

What a turn off YOU may be addicted to staring at your screen for hours upon end. But a new study has shown that high-levels of screen time are associated with a higher risk of ‘allcause mortality’ as well as a higher risk of both heart disease and cancer.

The research carried out by the University of Glasgow looked at the amount of time 390,089 volunteers spent staring at a TV or computer screen during their free time.

They found a link between high levels of screen time and poor

health. In fact, being stuck to the screen outside of work is a symbol of a sedentary life-style which is associated with a higher risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease.

The findings were independent of BMI, diet, smoking, physical activity and other major factors such as socio-economic status.

Dr Carlos Celis, who authored the study, said: “the findings suggest people with the lowest levels of strength, fitness and physical activity could potentially gain the greatest benefit from

ueeze as brushing teeth twice daily.

The #pelvicroar campaign aims to break taboos surrounding pelvic health issues.

The campaign has been launched in the UK, but it aims to become the leading, global forum for ‘pelvic health.’

It’s important that the pelvic floor is functioning correctly, otherwise you may suffer from bladder leaks.

This can cause many people’s daily life to be dominated by the need to plan loo trips, causing anxiety and risking social exclusion.

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health promotion interventions aimed at reducing sedentar y behaviours.”

So, yet again, more confirmation that turning off your devices and increasing your physically activity are essential elements to stay in good health.

Weekender 21

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Weekender

Leisure

22nd - 29th June 2018

FILM REVIEW

Hereditary IT has been dubbed the most singularly terrifying, singularly disturbing horror films in years.

And writer-director Ari Aster’s debut feature Hereditary certainly lives up to its billing.

When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying

to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited.

Aster unleashes a nightmare vision of a domestic breakdown that exhibits the craft and precision of a future household name, transforming a familial tragedy into something ominous and deeply disquieting, and pushing the horror movie into chilling new terrain with its shattering portrait of heritage gone to hell.

TERRIFYING: Ari Aster’s debut feature is a new kind of horror movie.

Film & TV Guide OUR PICK OF THIS WEEK’S MUST-SEE

FILM OF THE WEEK

PHOTO CREDIT PALMSTAR MEDIA

ONE TO WATCH

Match of the Day live: England v Panama Sunday 12.10pm-3.30pm, BBC One GARY LINEKER presents coverage of both sides’ second Group G match at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. Gareth Southgate’s men come into this fixture on the back of a last-gasp 2-1 win over Tunisia on Monday, with captain Harry Kane proving to be his country’s hero with both goals.

Tournament debutants Panama did well to hold Belgium in the first half of their CAPTAIN opener, but eventually lost 3-0 to group favourites Belgium.

KANE: Scored twice England will be looking to make it out of the group stages of the World Cup against for the first time since 2010 after their poor performance at the tournament Tunisia. four years ago.

They will be facing opponents playing in their first-ever World Cup, with Panama progressing after finishing third in the qualifying group.

With analysis from Alan Shearer, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, and commentary by Guy Mowbray and Danny Murphy.

OUR CHOICE CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL: Oasis.

Supersonic Sunday, midnight-2am, BBC Two THIS hugely enjoyable documentary focuses on the early years of Oasis, the iconic rock band who rose to fame during the early 1990s.

Blessed with a wealth of behind-the-scenes footage, it shows how they went from being freshly signed newcomers to era-defining superstars.

The archive footage is fascinating to watch, and it’s accompanied by voiceover interviews with everyone who contributed to the band’s success.

These are dominated by Noel Gallagher and his younger brother, Liam, both of whom are genuinely funny and unusually frank.

A Place in the Sun Monday 3pm - 4pm, Channel 4 RETIRED couple Roger and Obie Pearce want a slice of the Spanish good life.

Obie has never been to Spain before, and Roger hasn’t visited since he was in the army 40 years ago, but they are determined to relocate to Almeria where Roger’s health could benefit from the warm climate. Ben Hillman sets out to find them their perfect home on a budget of £120,000.

HOUSE HUNTER: Ben Hillman.

PHOTO CREDIT BBC

PHOTO CREDIT ENGLAND/TWITTER

PETS

22nd - 29th June 2018

Weekender 23

Sponsored by

Cat sitting at home safely CAT-SITTERS can give peace of mind Whenever we go away from home, whether on holiday it can be a worry when we have to leave pets behind.

Meet Jake and Jelly, a couple of rescue cats who now live in Altea. Their owner has had them for five years and still worries they may go native or get hurt if they stay out at night. A couple of years ago the owner joined the HouseSitMatch network, and now finds cat-sitters to come and live-in when she goes away. That way their routine can be maintained and there is someone to close them in at night.

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The management is friendly and helpful, and the site is easy to use. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who needs to have their house/pets taken care of so they can leave them happy in their own home!

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ters. We don’t reveal your contact details, or your address. You post an advert, then house-sitters apply. You can view their profiles and chat with them before you choose.

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Pet bird care MOST birds which are kept as pets within the home are kept in cages. And the different species have different needs, but there are a few things that you must be aware of before you commit to keeping a caged bird as a pet.

It’s really important that your bird’s cage is large enough to give it plenty of room to fly and move around. But a bird also needs time outside of its cage every day. A couple of hours should suffice, with even longer for larger birds.

When your bird is outside of the cage, take this opportunity to clean and wipe down the perches. Once a month, take everything out and completely disinfect the cage.

Make sure your bird has toys to keep it distracted. Intelligent birds, like parrots, enjoy puzzles. Experiment with different types of toys to see what kind your bird prefers.

Some smaller birds, such as finches, don’t need any human interaction, but it’s really important for other birds, such as parrots. Talk to your bird, whistle to it, play games with it and let it cuddle up to you.

You will know that your bird is getting stressed or anxious if its starts plucking or screaming. If you are unable to identify the cause and the problem is prolonged, then speak with your vet.

It’s important to remember that this is for birds which are bred as pets, never birds which are taken from the wild.

24

Weekender

Puzzles

22nd - 28th June 2018

Wordsearch Disney Animated Movies

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:

PINOCCHIO

MONSTERS INC

BOLT

FANTASIA

BROTHER BEAR

POCAHONTAS

TARZAN

BAMBI

CARS

JUNGLE BOOK

ALADDIN

PETER PAN

WALL-E

CINDERELLA

HERCULES

TANGLED

MULAN

DUMBO

Quick

Across 1 New World vulture (6) 4 Writing implement (6) 9 Be in accord (5) 10 Less rational (7) 11 Unforeseen obstacle (4) 12 Friendly and pleasant (8) 13 Let for money (5) 15 Strikingly odd or unusual (5) 18 Reticent (8) 21 Blemish made by dirt (4) 24 Disease (7) 25 Accumulate (5) 26 Wayward (6) 27 Place where bread and cakes are made or sold (6)

Down 1 State of extreme confusion and disorder (5) 2 Give a spoken or written account of: (7) 3 Kitchen cooker (4) 5 Check closely (7) 6 Ascend (5) 7 Small storeroom for storing foods or wines (6) 8 To say again or imitate (4) 12 Prosecute at law (3) 14 Operating physician (7) 15 Take in marriage (3) 16 Put back (7) 17 Cook in liquid (6) 19 Relating to the sun (5) 20 Posing no difficulty (4) 22 Savoury, appetising (5) 23 Spanish sparkling wine (4)

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

• Average: 19

• Very good: 38

• Good: 26

• Excellent: 49

jotted jotter jots josh joss jest jests jess ditto dittos dent dents dentist dentin dentins denim dermis hotted hotter hottish hone honed hots hose host hosts estop edit erns sire hush hurst hurt hurts huts indite into inter intern interns inert inst inrush inrushes

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 Good man has help to get sober (5) 4 Street telephone line (6) 9 Church renews lease for a football team (7) 10 Sense some of his mellowness (5) 11 Foolish King is with Cinders (4) 12 Delight in French song (7) 13 Liberal left slum the lot (3) 14 Delight some eagle-eyed viewers (4) 16 Upset pet’s gait (4) 18 The dish is from occupied France (3) 20 A sabre I broke in a military installation (3,4) 21 Call for part of a book (4) 24 Enthusiastic approval is lost in a terrible clatter (5) 25 I posed a problem being fat (7) 26 Substitute a small sorceress (6) 27 Wimbledon champion Chris is always on time (5)

Down 1 Observe dog being kept safe (6) 2 Raves about claims (5) 3 Sleep like a tramp in Barbados shack (4) 5 Examine luggage to establish legal precedent (4,4) 6 Repeat some of the composite rates (7) 7 For a change, go late for an Italian ice cream (6) 8 Corrupt males in Oregon (5) 13 Times can change meaning of words (8) 15 Knowledge Garland added for enchantress (7) 17 Harbours with own poles (6) 18 Bar some flopped albums (5) 19 ‘God without end’ admitting church is fake (6) 22 Poem for a sailor to remind him of home (5) 23 Textbook item contains mention of bird of prey (4)

Puzzles

22nd - 28th June 2018

IRREGULAR SUDOKU

SOLTIMES STAR QUIZ : A CAPITAL IDEA All the answers contain the name of a capital city 1. Also known as the ‘butter bean,’ Phaseolus lunatus is the scientific name for which legume, grown for its edible seeds?

2. The Call of the Wild (1903) and White Fang (1906) were both written by which American novelist?

3. Tom Dooley (1958) was the only UK Top 10 hit single for which American folk and pop music group?

4. What was the name of the Duke of Wellington’s war horse, which he most famously rode at the Battle of Waterloo?

5. What was the name of the English beauty who was the mistress of Admiral Nelson?

6. Which American author, essayist, biographer, historian and diplomat of the early 19th century is best known for his short stories

Rip Van Winkle (1819) and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820)?

7. Which former footballer and television presenter, born in Leicester in 1969, had spells with Norwich City (twice), Cambridge United, Manchester United, Coventry City, Millwall, Aston Villa, Leicester City and Celtic?

8. Which former professional triathlete, born in Bury St Edmunds in 1977, won the Ironman Triathlon World Championship four times (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011)? She is the only triathlete, male or female, to have won the World Championship less than a year after turning professional.

9. Which Jamaican recording artist rose to prominence in 1974 after releasing his Grammy Award-winning single Kung Fu Fighting?

Kakuro

Answers 1. LIMA bean (Peru), 2. Jack LONDON (UK/England), 3. The KINGSTON Trio (Jamaica), 4. COPENHAGEN (Denmark), 5. Lady Emma HAMILTON (Bermuda), 6. WASHINGTON Irving (USA), 7. Dion DUBLIN (Republic of Ireland), 8. Chrissie WELLINGTON (New Zealand), 9. Carl DOUGLAS (Isle of Man).

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

22nd - 29th June 2018

Who was that you were talking to?

by Sandy Shore PUFFED up with pride I explained to my friend that my wife and I had just returned from a 3,200 km driving tour of some of Spain’s most beautiful cities; all in 10 days mind you.

Raquel did take the wind out of my sails when she cheerily told me she had just returned from a trip to Switzerland.

“You flew?”

“No, I drove,” she laughed. “My boyfriend lives there and I saved money by sleeping in my car in petrol stations.”

Mentally calculating the return distant between Murcia and Lucerne at 3,000 km my next question was how long it had taken her.

The lady, petite enough to fit into a backpack, had driven off at 10am and arrived the following day. What a girl; love will indeed surmount every challenge.

Truth is we never really know the strengths of otherwise ordinary people.

Nor are we aware of their achievements, which are often considerable.

I WOULD DRIVE 3,000KM: To Switzerland…

Eddie McGee was a friend of mine until his sad passing at just 64 years of age.

Eddie had voluntarily allowed himself to be a castaway on a desert island for a month and survived. Everything he needed for self-sufficiency was in a matchbox.

A man of small stature, Eddie had once

disembarked after his vessel docked in Mozambique situated on Africa’s Pacific coast. With just a backpack Eddie set out across the African continent to the Atlantic Ocean.

Africa is big enough to absorb the United States, Mexico, Europe, China and In-

dia, and still have enough space for more nations. I seem to recall he was the only man to walk from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

It is true, ‘it isn’t the size of the dog in the fight it’s the size of the fight in the dog.’

Without fanfare, there are many ordinary folk who achieve their dreams. They don’t do it to impress anyone, only for the satisfaction of their soul.

I respect my very rich friends but never envied them. I have never been impressed by wealth or the accumulation of it. In fact, the feeling is mutual for I recall that wealthy friends conceded that they envied me, my modest achievements and my nofrills simple lifestyle.

I have never spent a penny on the lottery as quite honestly, the thought of becoming extremely rich terrifies me. There’s much more to wealth than a big house and car.

My utmost admiration is for those who come into the world with nothing and go out of it with as little. But, they lived several times in a space of time in which many people don’t live even once. That’s living.

Behind THE MUSIC The Hitmaker V L James vljamesinfo@gmail.com Facebook: @vljamesinfo AT the start of the BBC documentary about Nile Rodgers, The Hitmaker, Nile himself declares ‘You may not know who I am but I MASSIVE INFLUENCE: Nile Rodgers. guarantee you will know at least one of my songs!’

Nile is underselling himself there. He has produced, written and performed many of would go on to be his biggest ever selling the biggest hits of all time. From his own single. It is estimated that Nile’s 1960 band Chic, to Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Fender Stratocaster can be heard on over Madonna, Duran Duran, David Bowie to $2bn worth of record sales. The bass line name just a fraction of his output, his influ- from Chic’s Good Times was sampled on The Sugar Hill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight... ence is huge.

Forty-plus years after forming Chic with thus launching Hip Hop as a genre. legendary bass player Bernard Edwards, He produced David Bowie’s biggest sellRogers is still producing hits. In 2013 he ing album Let’s Dance and Madonna’s Like co-wrote and provided his distinctive guitar A Virgin. Nile Rodgers just knows how to for Daft Punk’s Get Lucky . A track that make a hit record!

28

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Classifieds

22nd - 29th June 2018

COSTA Almeria and Costa Calida. Mojacar Eucharist Sunday 11am, at San Pascual. Aljambra Chapel, Albox, Eucharist, second and last Thursday of each month, 11am. Evensong, second Sunday of each month 6pm. Llanos Del Peral, Cucador, Eucharist or morning worship, Sunday 11am. Church Wardens: Pam Carter 667 947 573. Janet Smith 671 451 838. For more information go to their website at www.mojacarchurch .org

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

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Services

22nd - 29th June 2018

CAR VALETING

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29

30

Sport

22nd - 29th June 2018

Weekend above par JUNGLE LOOK: The group at the fancy dress party.

Day two saw 16 players (gluttons for punishment) head off to Marina Golf at Mojacar to play a different course, with the Stableford competition was won by Dave Wright.

Photo credit Atletico de Madrid/Twitter

Griezy does it

YOU BLEU-TY: Antione Griezmann, left, Thomas Lemar, middle and Lucas Hernandez, right.

SOUGHT after striker Antoine Griezmann has signed a new five-year deal at Atletico Madrid while the club has broken its transfer record for his France teammate Thomas Lemar.

The Rojiblancos have forked out €70 million to bring in the 22-year-old midfielder from Monaco despite him being widely-

tipped to join a Premier League club this summer.

And there was more good news for boss Diego Simeone after defender Lucas Hernandez, 22, became the third Frenchman to confirm his commitment to the club after also agreeing fresh terms until 2024.

The triple swoop was sealed after France coach

Didier Deschamps gave Atletico CEO Angel Gil Marin special permission to visit the Les Bleus training camp in Istria, Russia.

Griezmann, 27, had been linked to Barcelona before revealing he would be staying out in a bizarre documentary video called The Decision, which aired on Spanish television last week.

On day three, 28 players competed for the Valle Del Este trophy which this year was won by Steve Craven on countback.

The non-golfers in the group also

had a great time around the pool, visiting places of interest and shopping of course!

The purchase of the weekend was made by Mal George who bought a six foot raffia cactus, promptly named it Manuel and carried it around for the rest of the day, much to ever yone’s amusement.

In the evening we had a pairs putting competition which was won by Barry and Karen Wingate.

The weekend culminated with the final night fancy dress party, the theme of which this year was Jungle. All in all it was another great friendly weekend, great companionship, great golf and of course a little bit of drinking.

Happy Fleet TOMMY FLEETWOOD is aiming for major success after his record-equalling runner-up finish in the US Open.

It comes after the Southport-born golfer, 27, set a clubhouse lead of two over with a stunning seven-under-par round of 63, the joint-lowest in the competition’s history.

But American Brooks Koepka, 28, closed with a two-under-par 68 to top the leaderboard by a single shot and retain his title.

Wo r l d n u m b e r o n e Dustin Johnson shot a final round 70 to finish third on three over.

Fleetwood, who bettered his fourthplaced finish last year, said: “A 62 was more

Photo credit Twitter

By Ruby’s Golf Society THE society’s now annual pilgrimage to Valle Del Este took place during the last week in May and as usual the trip was terrific value, with great camaraderie and good fun for all 42 people who made the journey.

Day one is always a bit of a rush after booking in, but everyone managed to assemble on the tee for an afternoon Texas scramble which was good fun and also a good introduction to the members that had not played there before.

The winning team for this competition was Robert Scott, Bill Malcolm, Michelle Evans and Dave Shelton with 59.8 points which was a good score.

‘IT’S SPECIAL’: Tommy Fleetwood almost pulled off an epic US Open comeback. on my mind than where I was in the tournament coming down the last few h o l e s . I t ’s s p e c i a l t o shoot a 63 at the US Open. “Just getting that close is the ulti-

mate thing that I will take from this. It’s nice as a golfer to have that hard work start paying off.

“Hopefully this is just one stage in me winning majors.”

Motoring

22nd - 29th June 2018

MINI Pick ‘n’ Mix THE MINI car manufacturer has won Gold in the German Innovation Awards for its car customisation service which brings customers ‘the next level of individualisation.’

The British-inspired car manufacturer’s ‘Yours Customised’ service allows customers to design and order selected add-ons for their new MINI vehicles. The current range of personal tweaks include side scuttles, interior decorative strips on the passenger side, LED door sill finishers and LED door projectors.

The customisation service won the ‘Excellence in Business to Customer (B2C)’ category because of its userfriendly online ‘customiser,’ consistent digitalisation and the use of innovative production techniques such as 3D printing and laser inscription.

“Innovation and individuality are core values of the MINI brand that customers are especially keen on: MINI Yours Customised brings these ele-

SWIPE: The MINI Yours Customised service in action. ments together in a unique form,” according to Dr Fabian Baptist, Head of Innovation Management Aftersales.

The German Design Council founded by parliament in 1953 - is behind the prestigious industry awards. Its judge panel is made up of experts including physicists, IT specialists, patent consultants and tech-

nology historians as well as finance and marketing experts.

The jury were looking for innovation, user benefit and cost-effectiveness when selecting the award-winners, as well as sustainable impact.

Judges said MINI Yours customised was a “brilliant idea with enormous potential.”

HOT FUZZ: This Nissan GT-R police car is not to be messed with.

Need for speed A JAPANESE police force will be tough to escape in its new Nissan GT-R. This example, a ‘Pure’ edition model, was donated to Tochigi police by an unnamed private individual before undergoing a conversion at a local dealer.

No further information was released, but the

2017 model is able to hit 100kph in less than three

seconds and has been recorded to top 310 kph.

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