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We are reforming our kitchen and restaurant and the restaurant will be closed from Monday, 2nd Feb open again on Friday, 13th Feb.

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SOLTIMES february 2015

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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

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SOL News

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Spain manufacturing sector growth Spain’s manufacturing sector expanded faster in January, a survey showed on Monday, as the recovery following years of on-off recession gained steam and helped create jobs at the strongest pace in over seven years. Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of manufacturing service companies stood at 54.7 in January, up from 53.8 in December and marking the 14th straight month the index was above the 50 line separating growth from contraction. Spain’s economy grew at its fastest pace in seven years in the last quarter of 2014, according to official data, building on hopes the slump prompted by the 2008 burst property bubble was over. “The Spanish manufacturing

sector began the new year as it ended the previous one, with solid growth of production and new business amid reports of improving economic conditions. Particularly welcome was a further acceleration in the rate of job creation,” said Markit economist Andrew Harker. The employment index was 53.8 in January - the highest since June 2007. Spain has the second-highest unemployment rate in the European Union at 23.7 per cent, though recent data has shown joblessness is falling. Low oil prices had lead to a sharp decline in input costs, prompting companies to lower their charges slightly, Markit said. reuters.com

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Living in Spain? For nearly 25 years Avalon has been committed to informing people in Spain about how the complex funeral system here works. If you are a British, Irish or European citizen that lives, or spends more than four weeks a year in Spain then the information is essential to you. We oﬀer expert advice to you which will allow everybody to make an informed choice to fully protect you and your assets. Avalon is Europe’s leading supplier of pre-paid funeral plans. They will be able to oﬀer a tailor made funeral plan to suit every client which is fixed at today’s cost. All their members are covered in Spain and the UK. You will automatically be covered immediately regardless of health issues or age.

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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

SOL News

Podemos kicks off election campaign with massive rally in Madrid

the old political guard.” Thousands marched from Cibeles square to Puerta del Sol, the same place where the Indignados protest movement began in May 2011. Many chanted “ticktock, tick-tock” as they marched, in reference to Iglesias’s prediction that the rally would begin the countdown to the end of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s Popular Party (PP) government. Spaniards have quixotic dreams but we take them very seriously” Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias quoted. EL PAÍS calculated the size of the crowd to be around 153,000 at 1pm on Saturday, while police put the number “on parle at 100,000 and Podemos “English francais” claimed that at least spoken” 7 years experience in this area 300,000 attended the gathering. legal & fiscal advice for residents & Despite their satisfaction non-residents, Tax Payments and refunds over the massive turnout, • Wills and Inheritance process • Translations / Interpreter some Podemos leaders • Purchase / Sale private contracts • NIE’s, Residencia, Medical acknowledged on • Land property and Catastro Cards.... Monday that the party might not be able to registration licenses • Vehicle registration / driving make a clean sweep in • Conveyancing / Notorial licenses all local and regional documents • Mortgages elections. For example, • Taxes (local rates, rubbish collection, vehicle, tax returns for the race for regional residents and non residents and refund of the capital gains tax) premier next month in Andalusia – expected to

Podemos party officials said on Monday that their anti-austerity movement and campaign to win the general elections had been galvanized by this weekend’s massive rally in downtown Madrid. On Saturday, Podemos initiated its campaign for this year’s local, regional and national races by organizing a rally in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where party leader Pablo Iglesias demanded a break “from

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be a bellwether test for Podemos – will be a difficult one. Luis Alegre, secretary for internal participation, conceded in a SER radio interview that Podemos probably would not be able to wrest power from the Socialists in Andalusia, who have governed there for 25 years. But he was confident that his group would take the elections in Madrid, Valencia and Asturias. “Andalusia is just around the corner, and we need to develop our platform there,” he said, referring to the early elections called for March 22 by Socialist premier Susana Díaz.”We don’t expect to take over the government in all of Andalusia during these elections.” “We begin this year with new things: this is a year of change and we are going to defeat the PP in the elections,” said Iglesias, who reminded his supporters about the January 25 victory in Greece by anti-austerity party Syriza. In his radio interview comments, Alegre said he did not see the rally as a “self-determination” initiative but as a calling from a social majority in Spain that was demanding “a major role in politics” and changes to institutions that only serve “a privileged minority.” Other than drumming up support for the movement, no specific demands were made on the Rajoy government at the gathering. All that was repeated was that “change was possible.” Iglesias was accompanied by fellow party officials Íñigo Errejón, Carolina Bescansa, Juan Carlos Monedero, Irene Montero and Alegre. “We have protested enough without anyone bothering to listen to us,” said Podemos number two Errejón. “We are here to celebrate that in 2015 people are going to regain their sovereignty and the people are going to win back their country.” Iglesias said Spaniards had “quixotic dreams but we take them very seriously.” On Sunday, Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez rejected that Podemos had the capacity to govern the country. “It is not the crisis that has abandoned the people, it is the center-right,” he said during the PSOE regional convention in Valencia. Sánchez reiterated that the Socialists were the only true leftist force in the nation and the only rival they recognized was the PP. For his part, Finance Minister Cristóbal Montero, who last week announced that inspectors would investigate Podemos official Juan Carlos Monedero’s past earnings as a consultant, said on Monday that Podemos formed part of the “radical left no matter how much it tries to disguise itself” and asked its leaders if they were not “embarrassed” about being radicals. In another development, right-wing union Manos Limpias announced that it was filing a public prosecution complaint in a Madrid court against Monedero for money he supposedly earned from the Venezuelan and other Latin American governments while he was on the public payroll. Miguel Bernard, secretary general of Manos Limpias, said Monedero alleged extra earnings of €425,150 as a consultant while he was also teaching at Madrid Complutense University (UCM), in violation of public administration laws. Monedero accused Montero of going after him because of his role in Podemos but said he was not afraid. Elpais.com

SOLTIMES FERUARY 2015

www.soltimes.com

New app earns you money

Think of all the money you could have earned already this year? A recent study found 87 per cent of smartphone users don’t change their lock screen from the boring generic one that comes with the phone when you buy it. If you’re one of these people, maybe it’s time for a change? And no, we don’t mean you post a picture from your last romantic holiday with the boyfriend/ girlfriend – not unless you want people around you to cringe every time you get your phone out. Instead, you could be using that redundant space for good and earning money with it. The average smartphone user checks their phone over 100 times a day. That’s 100 opportunities to pocket some cash, crazy right? The new app Sliide replaces the usual lock screen with geo-tagged offers, the latest articles, and other useful information depending on your location and the time of day. When you check your phone, you can then either swipe right and unlock your phone as usual, or swipe left to learn more about the deal on display. No matter which way you swipe,

you still get to take part in the cash rewards they hand out every Friday, which you can either pocket or donate to charity if you’re feeling philanthropic. Tom, 21, from Liverpool downloaded the app a few days ago. He told The Tab: “It’s great, you don’t even notice it’s there until you realise how much money you’ve earned. “Every time I invite a friend to download it too, my credit goes up by £1. I don’t understand how they’re making enough money to be giving it away, but I don’t really care either.” Unfortunately, any iPhone owners wanting to get in on the lock screen lottery will have to wait: at the moment the app isn’t available on iOs. This opportunity to make money without changing any of your daily habits has provided Android users with one more argument to throw in the face of iPhone users who insist they’ve got a better phone. How it works After you’ve downloaded Sliide, you select what you want to hear about (Food, Travel, Sport etc.) and then your lock screen will display a

mixture of articles, local deals and interesting facts. For example, Sliide have signed deals with a number of venues to extend happy hours for Sliide users, and Union Cars (Manchester) will give you 20 per cent off your first journey if you show them the app on your phone. MockUpTo unlock your phone as usual, Sliide right. However, if you’d like to learn more about a particular offer, Sliide left. No matter which way you Sliide, you’re in it to win it. This is because a

SOL News

negative answer is just as important as a positive one in determining the types of content you’d like to see on your lock screen. If you want a more tailored experience answer the in-app questions. These are designed to further understand your preferences and improve your experience when using the app. If you tell Sliide it’s shown you something you’re not interested in, you’ll never be shown it again. http://tab.co.uk/

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Photo by Tony Unwin seeking properties to rent, long or short term. Wendy is also able to help property owners in the Mojacar, Turre and Vera areas to rent out their properties, especially with long term lets. Wendy and her team, Linda, Bill, Phil, Gill and John, are the benchmark for excellence in Property Rentals and Management and are waiting to welcome you to their new office at 77 Paseo del Mediterraneo, Mojacar Playa, at the Indalo Hotel end of the playa, near to Badgers Bar. The Blue Sea Villas team, in tandem with Photo by Tony Unwin professional tradesmen and cleaners, offers In these times of recession it is good to see a new business property owners and renters an exceptional service. opening its doors. On 27 January Wendy Lester, the new owner Contact Wendy and Linda on 950 478 643 of Blue Sea Villas, which has been established for over ten years, or by email at info@blueseavillas.co.uk & opened her new office on Mojacar Playa. view properties available to rent on the Wendy has been working in Property Rental Management in website: www.blueseavillas.co.uk Mojacar for over 12 years and will be happy to help anyone

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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A FURNITURE PACKAGE IN SPAIN FOR RENTAL.

There are lots of people about at the moment buying property, some are using them as their holiday homes and others are looking to rent. If you are looking to rent out your property, you need to have a business head on so you make more revenue. The best way to do this is to remember what you liked when you rented a property. The important things are comfortable mattresses on the beds and nice furniture and patio furniture, all important to aid you in this project and get repeat trade. Referrals are the cheapest form of advertising if you get it right. You have to have an edge on your property as there are hundreds of holiday homes out there for rent, in other words you have competition. Buying a furniture package is a good thing because you can buy everything under one roof. It saves you a lot of time and effort as everything is done for you after you have chosen your requirements. A good showroom will answer all your questions and guide you through the whole process for the needs of your property. Choose a range of furniture that is easy to clean, sturdy and solid, remember some people will not look after things as you would in holiday mode. People often ask for leather sofas, but you stick to them in the summer and they are cold to sit on in the winter as there generally is not the heating as in the U.K. Throws are untidy, get grubby and have been known to be taken to the beach and pool area. When choosing your materials for your sofas and chairs do pick light colours as people are using sun creams and lotions more here and we leave the word “Sweating” hanging – sure you know from whence I come! Try reds and oranges and terracotta colours, great amongst the white walls and gives a warming glow of welcome especially if arriving late at night coupled with a rotten journey. Beds need to be somier bases on legs or bedsteads, so cleaners can sweep and

mop under them, helps with air flow for those hot sticky nights plus somewhere to put cases. Please do not buy the cheap mattresses, buy reasonable quality ones if you want those recommendations. We are forever hearing that the “Super Cheap Beds” are so uncomfortable and we have a great trade replacing these beds and mattresses. If you are in Spain buying your furniture package, sit on the sofas, lay on the mattresses. Look at everything you are buying. Is the quality the correct standard for the job it is going to be doing, hardy against wear and tear? Remember, get it right first time! This will save you money in the following years. The other important thing is make sure you have your total package listed so you know just what you are getting for your money, get pictures because a few weeks later or more you may not remember what you should have had etc. Which can bring it’s own problems. Please get it right for your clients then you will not miss out on the referrals that they will send your way on their return to England or where ever. YES “That’s Right” your clients will be talking to their 2 lots of families, friends, work mates, social functions and even at the school gates. I hope they are saying “We had a great holiday in a lovely apartment in Spain”. I hope the reponse will be “Really where?”” We are looking for a place to go in Spain” Hay ho there’s your next rental on it’s way. Enjoy your new home in the sun and maximise the return on your investment. Written By Chris of Furniture Plus Centro Comercial La Piramide (Above Mercadona Opp. Lidl) Puerto de Mazarron Tel. 968 153 907

www.ecocorpshop.com

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Oil may last a few years or a few hundred Oil is a child of the fossil fuel age and prices will trend upwards. Solar is a child of the electronics age and prices will trend downwards. years. The sun will last a few billion years. All of the oil coal and gas known to humans has the same energy as 20 days 3kw power Swimming of sunshine reaching earth! 1 x Victron Multiplus 5Kw inverter/Charger 1 x Victron BlueSolar MPPT 150/70 Solar charge controller 4 x 12V/250Ah Deep cycle batteries (48V/250Ah) 12 x 250W Eurener panels (25 Year guarantee @ 80%) 1 x Inox aluminium Mounting frame for 12 panels. Cables, connectors, fuses and breakers. This system is normally 11,495€ installed.

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If you are getting frustrated at ever increasing electricity bills and want a clean, reliable energy alternative that can run in conjunction with your mains electricity. A system that you can add to, as and when you or your budget requires. free consultation and survey. With solar power systems that can pay for themselves in around 6/7 years. No more power cuts, we can supply and install a system to provide your whole home with a UPS system.With some of the highest sunshine in Europe, it is a great time to consider solar energy to reduce your electricity bills.

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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

www.soltimes.com

Google agrees privacy policy changes

The firm must make it easier for users to find out how their data is collected and what it is used for and submit to a two-year review. The deal follows an investigation by the regulator. Similar reviews are continuing elsewhere in Europe. It is understood that Google will seek to strike a similar deal with other European regulators. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found that Google was “too vague when describing how it uses personal data gathered from its web services and products”. The regulator - along with its continental counterparts - began looking into the Mountain View firm after its controversial privacy policy update in March 2012, which combined 70 existing documents. It was joined by other data regulators, which form the European Article 29 Data Protection Working Party. Following the investigation, Google has agreed to ensure that its privacy policy is more accessible and redesign its account settings feature to allow users to find its controls more easily. It will also provide “unambiguous and comprehensive information regarding data processing, including an exhaustive list of the types of data processed by Google and the purposes for which data is processed”. Among other clarifications, Google will have to include information about who may collect “anonymous identifiers” - which are similar to cookies - and the purposes to which

they put that data. It will also be made to ensure that “passive users are better informed about the processing of their data”. The ICO defines passive users as people who use Google, but who are not signed in. Google has until 30 June 2015 to implement the changes and it is believed it will roll out a single policy across the European Union in order to satisfy each of the regulators that opened investigations. It has also dropped appeals related to investigations being undertaken by the French and Spanish watchdogs. “This undertaking marks a significant step forward following a long investigation and extensive dialogue,” said Steve Eckersley, the ICO’s head of enforcement. He added: “Whilst our investigation concluded that this case hasn’t resulted in substantial damage and distress to consumers, it is still important for organisations to properly understand the impact of their actions and the requirement to comply with data protection law.” A Google spokesman said: “We’re pleased that the ICO has decided to close its investigation. We have agreed improvements to our privacy policy and will continue to work constructively with the Commissioner and his team in the future.” Bbc.co.uk

Civil Guard seizes Egyptian antiquities Civil Guard seizes €300,000 worth of Egyptian antiquities Five people arrested in Spain as part of smuggling ring after discovery of haul in Valencia The Civil Guard has announced the recent breakup of an international ring that smuggled ancient Egyptian archeological treasures through the port of Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast. Law enforcement officers confiscated a container filled with 36 pieces all estimated to be more than 3,000 years old and worth €300,000. Authorities made five arrests last November in connection with a haul following an undercover operation that began in June 2014, said Civil

Guard officials at a news conference held Wednesday at Madrid’s National Archeological Museum (MAN). Among the most valuable artifacts confiscated were a bust of the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet, various statues of the god Osiris, several small boxes and canopic jars. “Without a doubt, the most valuable piece is the bust of Sekhmet – it could be worth around €100,000,” said Captain Javier Morales, who was in charge of Operation Hierática (Hieratic). The law enforcement agency confiscated the goods from a shipping container that came from Alexandria, Egypt. Speaking alongside the Egyptian ambassador to Spain, Morales explained that the alleged ringleader had enough resources to organize a massive antiquities trafficking operation that allowed the group to smuggle valuables from the country and resell them

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at fairs and events in Spain and France. The conspiracy may have been in operation for years. Four Egyptians and one Spanish antique dealer were arrested in Spain while authorities in Egypt detained two people who acted as intermediaries. Those arrested in Spain face trafficking in antiquities, money laundering and criminal conspiracy charges. They could spend up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Civil Guard general director A r s e n i o Fernández de Mesa stressed the importance of breaking these smuggling rings because, according to him, they could be used to finance jihadist terrorism activities. “This deserves congratulations, as we must raise awareness within the European Union about the need to stop the trafficking of these goods, not just because they can favor conflicts and terrorism, but because they are part of the

culture of the country they were stolen from,” he said. For that reason, the treasures will not be placed on show in Spain, but instead will be sent back to Egypt as soon as the pieces are completely identified. “The bust of Sekhmet probably came from Luxor [in the Nile valley] because she was their goddess. The other pieces possibly came from Alexandria because they have Greek-Roman characteristics, but we are not exactly sure,” explained María del Carmen Pérez Die, an Egyptian art expert and head of the conservation department of antiquities at the museum. Pérez Die said that with the exception of the bust, the rest of the artifacts may have come from a tomb. Elpais.com

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

albox

SOL FEATURE

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iFi Open Monday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm FREE W 950 633 086 Saturday by appointment Now taking bookings for New Years Eve Prices are subject to change without notification. Please confirm on booking. We reserve the right to withdraw offers at any time.

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Issue certificate for change or renewal of Spanish English licence Opening Hours: Tues - Fri 10:00 - 13:00

Mon & Thurs 17:00 - 20:30 Ramon y Cajal, s/n. - Edif. Almanzora B II 950 431 535 04800 ALBOX (Almeria) 677 324 344 Email: crcvirgendelsaliente@hotmail.com Facebook: psicotecnico virgen del saliente

Facilities Albox is a traditional whitewashed Spanish market town with a population of around 11,000 inhabitants, of which a small percentage are foreign ex-pat residents. The town has all the facilities and service one would expect from a modern small town: shops, banks, post office, restaurants, bars, schools and a 24 hour medical centre. The nearest major hospital is in Huercal Overa, approximately 21km away. Albox has a municipal swimming pool, very typical of inland Spanish towns that don’t have access to beaches. You will find most locals frequenting the pool during the weekends and summer holidays. It opens throughout July and August. There is also a sports centre and tennis club, which also has its own swimming pool. The name derives from the Arabic word for forest and sounds similar to the Spanish term for forest ‘el bosque’. The origens of Albox date back to Medieval times when the ancient fort town was located on a hill nearby to its current location. In 1503 it was completely destroyed by an earthquake and most of its historical buildings were lost. The town was reconstructed from scratch in its current location. Market Town A large market is held every Tuesday morning and a smaller market on Saturday mornings. On market days the neighbouring streets are shut off to traffic and stalls open up selling fresh fruit, vegetables and bread. Jamons (cured ham on the bone) can be found hanging from stalls and shop windows; dozens of varieties of queso (cheese), chorizo (cured sausage) and many more delicacies are on show. The market is extensive, with street upon street, a myriad of noise, colour and smells. In fact you can find just about anything in the Albox market. Source www.spain-holiday. com

Tel: 666 020 797

sale 50% off

NOW OPEN AFTER REVAMP

& Showing Full Sky Sports All Day Breakfast €3.50 Kitchen Also Open Friday Evenings from 7pm – 9pm Traditional Sunday Roast served from 1pm - 4pm €6.95 incl. dessert

FRIDAY 6th FEBruary FROM 7PM - 9PM

KFC STYLE CHICKEN BOOKINGS ONLY Tel: 634 357 455

· Sale and repair of car & home bowlers · Sale and repair of keys and remotes for cars and garages ·Duplicate all kinds of keys ·Personalized Stamps and Ink ·Shoe Repair and shoe sundries ·Locksmith · We also stock Home Safes and Mail boxes

674 141 559 or 950 431 497

www.guzmanseguridad.es ·info@guzmanseguridad.es Albox (Almeria) Avda.America esquina Poeta Villaespesa

Avda Lepanto Esquina Calle Asturias, Albox TRE

CEN

Tyres, Services, Spare Parts & Rapid Mechanic repairs Neumaticos y Servicios Albox, S.L Behind the BP, 04800 Albox (Almeria) Tel: 950 430 855 - Fax: 950430 855

albox@grupo-driver.com

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

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SOL FEATURE

a g a l a m calle

Calle Malaga is one of the main streets in Albox , which has an array of shops for your everyday needs , whether you are looking for everyday essentials from fruit & veg to healthy living or something new for your home from beds to soft furnishings to wall art and ornaments. Even if you feel like treating yourself or have a special occasion there is ladies boutique and a hair salon also Don’t forget to support your local charity shop Puppy Rescue and then finish your visit with a delicious treat from scrumptious ,whichever shop you choose to visit you will be greeted and welcome by the team at Calle Malaga.

better job satisfaction than seeing that customer leave with a smile of satisfaction & feeling good about themselves, plus this is not a service you will get from high street stores & big shopping centres. Why travel miles or pay high UK delivery charges when you have a fantastic choice & personal service right on your doorstep. If you haven’t paid me a visit before, pop in and have a browse in the welcoming warmth that is GLADRAGS.

Scrumptious, your local friendly cafe/tearoom serving a wide range of homemade goodies at outstanding value for money. From pasties to cakes, or our delicious heart warming oven baked jacket potatoes, why not try a Scrumptious sandwich, full to the brim with a filling of your choice. Pop in and Sleepcentre in see our daily specials, from the beautiful freshly Calle Malaga is now made soups to our very own tantalising nachos under new ownership. bowls. Customers can eat in or take away, or They will continue to simply just pop in for a coffee and a chat. stock quality UK beds, Scrumptious, for that slice of home! mattresses, bedding, Living Design is a unique Art and Gift shop and soft furnishings that has been trading for 9 years. John and Sue whilst introducing new showcase local artists and source beautiful ranges. New stock is handcrafted gifts and Home décor. There are lots of ideas for your home, original art, metal wall now in so why not pop in décor, shabby chic wall plaques and clocks. The and see Ruth and Becky home fragrance department is exceptional quality, for a warm welcome. not forgetting the many gifts to choose from. New in....Handcrafted Bali range of wooden elephants, ducks, owls and candlesticks. Sue is a fully qualified Interior Designer and artist and can help you redesign your home or stage it to sell. Worth a visit !! GLADRAGS I am now into my 2nd Year as the Owner Of Gladrags & couldn´t be happier or enjoying it more. It is lovely to see so many customers old & new who come to the shop looking for help & advice on either purchasing a whole new outfit, a complete image chance or just accessorising an existing outfit they may have. You cannot get

calle malaga, albox 04800

Glad rags ladies fashion

FEELING THE COLD? IhavealovelyselectionofBeautifulJumpers,WarmJackets&Cardigans &Longsleevecottont-shirtsthatwillnotonlykeepyoulovely&warm butwillhaveyoulookingbeautiful.What'smoretheyareallheavily reducedintheWinterSalesoitwillsaveyouafewpenniesalso!!! JUSTARRIVED:BodyWarmers,FineKnitKimono´s,Tunics& Sweatshirts,straightlegtrousersinassortedcolors,manyitemsavailable uptosize24.Lotsoflovelynewbags&accessories&plentyofscarves, hats&furlined&trimmedglovestokeepyoutoastywarm. NEWTOTHESALE:Manymoreitemshavebeenaddedtothe numerousdiscountedrailssobargainsgaloretobegrabbedatGladrags. Be quick as once they have gone they have gone!!! NEWIN:SterlingSilverjeweleryatamazingprices,Necklaces,bracelets, bangles,earringsandrings.Pricesstartatonly4€.Idealgiftsespecially with Valentines day only round the corner!!! NOTSUREWHATTOBUY?:Giftvouchersforanydenominationare also available and come with a free greetings card. For Stylish Quality Clothing in Beautiful Fabrics, there is nowhere like Gladrags in Calle Malaga, Albox Winter Opening hours: Mon to Fri 10am-3pm & Sat 10am - 2pm For an appointment outside of these hours

please call Jenni on 634 313 071

puppy rescue

Careing for abandaned puppies

original art handcrafted gifts interior design Calle Malaga, ALBOX (one street up from Mercadona) Tel: 678 308 073 www.livingdesigns.es

www.puppyrescueinspain.org

Jilly Lewis

Shop Manager Tel: 618 202 204 Helpline enquiries for puppies Tel: 690 143 140 all donations welcome to support puppy rescue

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

SOL FEATURE

servicio rÁpido fÓrmula 1, s.c y compra - venta de automÓviles de ocasiÓn y nuevos Carretera Estacion, no43 04600 HuÉrcal Overa (Almeria)

950 471 042

HUERCAL OVERA

info@camconceptssl.com closed for christmas on 24th December & re-opening on 7th January

Our Legal services include Conveyancing Purchase Or Sale Spanish Wills & Inheritance NIE’s & Residents Certificates offering a Forming Of Companies wide range Setting Up Business of legal Registering With Social services in English to Security Office the expat Car Registration & Importation community since 1994 Translation Work Funeral Directors & Insurance

CAM. Concepts, S.L. C/. Montilla 1A, 04600 Huercal Overa (Almeria)

24 HOURS A DAY 365 DAYS A YEAR BECKIE HARRIS

617 45 63 35 610 86 55 45 C/Carri 13 04600 HUERCAL - OVERA, ALMERIA beckie@collyfer.com

TEL/FAX: 950 471 357

SE VENDE LEŃA FIREWOOD SALE

Legal adviser - insurance agent Juan Rubio Granados - Director Conveyancing ● vehicle registration & all other Legal requirements ● NIE / Residencia ● Wills Fiscal & much more C/Balcones Portal 1, 1B 04600 Huercal overa (Almeria)

Email: juanrubio@asesoriajrubio.com Tel: 0034 950 471 596 0034 950 135 489 Fax: 950 616 621

FULL LOAD/PART LOAD OLIVE/EUCALYPTUS @150€/75€ ORANGE @100€/50€ collect your own olive @ 10€ orange @ 6€

Tel: 617 966 373 (pedro)

Carretera nacional 340 (next to atalaya) 04600 huercal overa

merka

deposito & venta

Sales & Repairs Catering Equipment Electrical Goods Air Conditioning Industrial Freezers Avda. Guillermo Reyna (Junto Campo de Futbol)

04600 HUÉRCAL OVERA (Almeria) frimaser@yahoo.es Luis Perez Alcolea Tel: 950 134 147 Mobil: 637 817 966

recycla

todo tipo de articulas second hand shop. deposit sale

nuevos y usados

muebles - electodomesticos - informatica libros - juguetes harramientas - antiguedades - deportes - musica - video - etc furniture - electrical appliances - computers books - games - tools - antiques - sports - music video - etc

www.merka-recycla.com carretera nacional 340 no54, 04600, huercal overa tel: 666 577 006 merka-recycla@merkla-recycla.com

ofertas per kilo

Special offers per kilo

chuleton @ 10.50€ entrecot @ 12.50€ cordero @ 8.90€ secreto de cerdo @ 5.80€ chuletas de lomo @ 2.90€

beef steak lamb pork pork loin chops

Ctra.340, 128. Bajo. Huercal-Overa (Almeria)

Telf: 950 950, 147 - 640 510 110

HUERCAL OVERA

SOL FEATURE

British products on your doorstep Groceries, freshly baked bread/cakes/pies, household goods and more

Huércal Overa Opposite the football stadium

Open hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 9pm Sat 10am - 3.30pm Sun 10.30am - 2.30pm T: 950 135 222 E: sparhuercalovera@hotmail.com

Internet sin Teléfono

SIN PAGAR DE MÁS Tenga Internet sin necesidad de linea telefónica tan sólo siga los siguientes pasos

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950 61 60 06 695 91 37 12

NOVEDAD

Winter’s here and that can only mean one thing- the ■ Saturday, february 14. musical season is upon us. 19,30h. GRAND CARNIVAL This year, the season is one EVENTS PARADE, year increases HUÉRCAL-OVERA, CULTURAL & each EXHIBITIONS of the busiest ever in the the number of costumed Huércal-Overa Theatre. people and music groups FEBRUARY parading through the streets ■ From the 5th to 26th of our town in a spectacle full february, “ ALMERÍA EN of colour and fun. BLANCO Y NEGRO “an ■ Sunday, february 22 , extraordinary selection of 10:30. Municipal Sports vintage photographs by Pavilion . JESUS DE PERCEVAL. VII MEETING OF BOLILLO Primarily known as a painter Huercal-Overa . and sculptor , Perceval was also an exceptional ■ Saturday, February 28 , photographer who was 17:30. Theatre Villa Huércal –Overa presents ahead of his time. The exhibition includes 34 images "THE TOY STORY . THE taken in Almería during the MUSICAL " Preserving the 1950s and 1960s , most of humor and heart of the them unpublished, from the original “Toy Story” film from photographic archives of the Pixar Animation Studios, Museo Casa Ibañez. “Toy Story-The Musical” ■ Friday, 6 february. 21:00 explores the true meaning of h. Theatre Villa de Huércal- friendship as Buzz Lightyear Overa. and Woody transform from “DON ARMANDO GRESCA”. jealous adversaries to best – Spanish Comic Play in friends with an unbreakable bond. The show’s elaborate three acts from the early seventies. On stage by LA costumes capture the vibrant colors and playfulness of the LEGUA TEATRO ■ Sunday, february 8 , animated characters. Guests 19,00h. NOCHE DE LAS of all ages will delight in an original collection of show LUMBRES. tunes that retell the story in Celebration of Holy Mass a fun and energizing way. and traditional procession of Christ through the ■ Saturday & Sunday, february 28 to march 1. streets of our town and lighting bonfires on his way VILLAZGO MEDIEVAL through the main streets and MARKET squares. During these days in ■ Friday, february 13. 16,30h. Constitution Square ( CHILDREN'S CARNIVAL next to the church) the HUÉRCAL - OVERA . atmosphere of a medieval market with artisans, This day the smaller will be workshops, merchants and the stars with the Children's Parade running through our live performances will be recreated . streets and ending in the

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Calle Carretera, Bajo 124. 04600 - Huercal (Almeria) Telephone: 950 61 60 06 - 695 91 37 12 Email: clents@aplinfo.es

Serving English breakfast Various tapas cana & tapa 1.20€ Happy hour Thursdays 7-8pm 2+1 gratis

Avda Guillermo Reyna, 53 Huércal Overa

Tel: 603 761 731

Taberna La Tinaja opening hours: 7.30am - close

www.1001juguetes.com

We are located at the rear of the Correos opposite the Phamacia

Carne a la brasa     tapas variades     montaditos - 1€ 



menu de dia @ 8€ 1pm - 5pm Carretera estacion, 04600, Huercal Overa

Tel: 637 007 220 / 677 590 796

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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

SOL FEATURE

Focusing on a smaller area to give our buyers and sellers a better service.

WE ARE READY FOR A VERY BUSY 2015

PROPERTIES WANTED

Voss Homes has a fantastic 2014 selling many, many properties in our area of Huercal-Overa, Zurgena, La Alfoquia, Taberno and San Juan de Los Terreros. Our success is simply due to being proactive, focusing on a smaller area, selling legal properties, working hard, our integrity and our strong desire to get all our properties sold. 2015 HAS STARTED OFF EVEN BETTER! If you are thinking of selling or long term renting your property in our area then please contact us asap to arrange a free, truthful valuation, free paperwork check and suggestions on how Voss Homes can sell your property!

URGENTLY WANTED FOR OUR MANY DUTCH & BELGIAN CLIENTS 2 & 3 BED VILLAS AND COUNTRY PROPERTIES IN THE HUERCAL-OVERA, ZURGENA AND LA ALFOQUIA AREAS Voss Homes is a local, friendly and professionally run family business and we offer: • 9 years proven track record of selling properties locally • Office in prime location to give clients confidence • Free realistic valuations, no over valuations just to get your property listed • We bring real buyers, not time wasters • Multi-lingual team for multi-national clients • Extensive internet advertising inc Rightmove, A Place In the Time, Kyero etc • Extensive newspaper & magazine advertising • Suggestions on how to help us to sell your property

• Effective working partnerships with other estate agents to increase your chances of selling • Free paperwork checks and advice on updating your deeds. We speak and read Spanish • No sole agency lock-ins • No upfront charges. We get paid when we have done the job • Low commissions for the hard work and quality service provided • Huge amount of Belgian & Dutch buyers

Please call 0034 950 616 827 / 0034 678 002 006 / 0034 667 891 741 or email: info@vosshomesspain.com

www.vosshomesspain.com

Office: 155a Carrerera Estacion, Huecal-Overa. 1km off the A7 motorway at exit 553. 100metres from Lidl.

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

www.soltimes.com

Some Makeup Tricks for Eyes

1. If you have a hard time using soft eyeliner pencils, draw a thick line onto your hand, use a stiff eye brush to pick up the pigment and then apply to your eye. 2. Need eye drops but don’t want to ruin your makeup? Breathe air in through your nose as you drop them into your eyes. Your tear ducts will suck in the drops before they have a chance to fall down your face. 3. Use a flesh colored liner on the water rim of your lower lash line to make eyes look bigger and brighter. 4. Apply a shimmery champagne color in the inner corner of your eyes to brighten your whole face. 5. Apply highlighter onto your brow bone. 6. Swap out your neutral black or brown liner for a brightly colored one instead. 7. Apply concealer to your under-eye circles after foundation (not before) to better camouflage them. 8. Use eye shadow made for your eye color. 9. To correct eye makeup mistakes or sharpen a cat eye, dip a Q-tip in eye makeup remover and erase the offending makeup. 10. To make your eye color stand out, apply black liner around the entire eye, including the water line. 11. Instead of swiping on eye shadow, press the color into your eyelid with a brush or finger. This will give your lids a more pigmented look. 12. Keep a clean eye shadow brush or Q-tip in your purse. Whenever you touch up your makeup, run it over your lids to get rid of any excess shadow that has collected in the crease. 13. Camouflage crow’s feet with lighter colored concealer. 14. Use blue eyeliner to make the whites of your eyes appear brighter. 15. Apply eye cream under the eyes and onto the lid before applying your makeup. It will make it go on smoother. 16. For a dramatic eye, apply darker shadow to the crease, as well as a benefits consultancy small triangle of color Do you suffer from mobility problems, at the outside corner of breathlessness/pain or falls/stumbles? your eye. 17. Use coconut oil Do you need help washing / dressing or supervision? as an all-natural eye You could be entitled to extra income by claiming UK makeup remover. It’s sickness / disabililty benefits while living in Spain gentle, yet effective. 18. After you’ve applied For advice or to book a consultation your eye makeup, dab call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 dots of highlighter along or visit www.ukbenefitsinspain.com the brow bone and around your eye and blend in to brighten the Catherine Mcandrew -(deb) whole area. DMA Hypnotherapy. HTR registered 19. Apply products to your delicate eye area Hypnotherapy can help with many using your ring finger, long standing issues, anger, low self which uses less force esteem, confidence, loss of sleep, than your other fingers. 20. To get a classic relaxation, pain relief, smoking, smoky eye look, combine a little bit of shimmer, eating habits and many more. tons of dark eye shadow Working from Arboleas & Almanzora - Call for free confidential advice and a whole lot of Appointments also available for past life regression smudging.

Monica Algañaraz Over 40 years experience in physiotherapy and osteopathic treatment. General postural assessment and holistic health checks available English spoken PLEASE CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT MONICA ALGANARAZ: 695 355 381 Email: monica@centrophysis.net www.centrophysis.net EAST VALLEY (A7 Exit 529 Golf Course - Business Centre) Very near Garrucha, Turre, Los Gallardos Mojacar-Vera, Albox

STELLA’S

Great Gift for Valentines Clay body wrap

Tuesday - Friday all day & Saturday 11am - 2pm Closed for all National Fiestas

Stella Wil

Therapeutic Massage Treatments Indian Head/Luxury Facials Hot Stones/Thai Compress Balinese/Shirodhara Ayurvedic Body Brushing/Exfoliation/Body Wraps Are you a fully qualified Chiropodist or Podiatrist? If so contact me to rent a room and join our team. YMCA/BABTEC.....REPS Registered

Phone: 687 619 239

www.debbie-james.com debs@debbie-james.com

Baileys Coffee & Cake back tor the Winter, Cocktails still available, all created by Victor’s Bar

VALENTINE PRIZE HAMPER All Clients will receive a complementary raffle ticket for the hair care hamper prize draw this will take place on 13th February HAIR BY GILL Tuesday 1.30 - 5pm(Appointments only) Wed & Frid 10am - 5pm BEAUTY & CHIROPODY BY FIONA

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Thursdays, other days by appointment

Natural Face Lift massage & Kansa Vatki foot massage with Jo. Wednesdays, by appointment only

O nly at S tella ’ s do you get the star treatment , because you are worth it ! !

euphoria The Best There Is In Hairdressing & Beauty welcome the new year in with a new look, new you! euphoria, where you get what you really want!

we require a beauty therapist part time hours to suit great prices!

Oceanic MassageTherapies

950 699 973

Hair by Stella

Telephone 622577379

La Perla Nr. Arboleas

Hairdresser Peluquería

Las Buganvillas 13, Vera Playa (next to Forgetmenot)

kim clark

Back to Balance & Medical Massage for treating Sciatica - Joint and Posture Problems Nerve Entrapments Muscle Imbalances Lymphatic/Arthritic/Inflammation Disorders Pain Relief

great hair & beauty treatments! Gel nails! great offers! Gift vouchers now in stock!

every friday - blowdrys only 5€ Also, Handmade Birthday Cards, Handbags & Jewellery

Rio Guadalquivir 1 Bajo, Esparragal, Puerto Lumbreras Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm, Saturday by appointment 10am - 2pm

Tel: 868 188 706 or 657 713 571

Osteopath

Naturopath Enrique Arias, N.D, D.O

Tel. 629 289 385

for info and appointments

Health Care For Adults and Children • Emergency Home Visits • English • Spanish • French • German • 20 Year’s Serving the community

UK Registered - Treating

Sciatica - Back Pain - Sports Injuries Digestive and Cardiovascular Disorders Headaches - Arthritis - Skin Conditions Centro Cueva Del Lobo Paseo Mediterraneo 10, Mojacar Beach Centro Medico Indalo C/ Manuel Azaña, Almeria

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

Welcome to CanDu Computing Bytes. Some 6 month ago we discussed Skype as a means of audio-visual communication. Did you know that there is a usurper in our midst? What is the name of this usurper? The challenger to the title of “Best free communications program” is ‘Viber’. What do you mean, you have never heard of it? That is probably because it hasn’t been around for quite as long as Skype! Today I would like to do a comparison between the two, not to influence you, but to try to save you having to do the legwork that I have done to create this article. You are more than welcome to check my facts. Registration Both Viber and Skype are free to download and register. Whether you want to download the app on your PC, laptop, tablet or your Smartphone, you can do so without having to pay anything. However, with Skype offers you a complete no hassle registration process, but you have to register your phone number with Viber to receive a code that enables you to active its services. My experience showed that this wasn’t a hassle at all. Viber imports contacts from your phone, unlike Skype. Therefore, if you are slightly finicky about giving an app access to your phone number and your contact list, and I’m am one of those, you might be slightly uncomfortable using Viber. ‘Viber Out’ and ‘Skype to Phone’ calls are both chargeable, so in that sense, both of them are at par. However, Skype is the clear winner when you talk of ease of registration. Video Calls Skype has had a video call feature since as long as anyone can remember, and this feature has been tried and tested across all platforms. In fact, Skype grew in popularity because it allowed users to make video calls to one another free. You can use it on your computers, tablets and your smartphones – free of cost. Viber has recently introduced a video calling feature, which is still in its beta phased. The feature has not been optimized and is only available for PCs and Macs. Therefore, if you

are smartphone user, it may take a while before you will be able to use Viber’s video calling function. So again, Skype is a clear winner. Call Quality Since you can make voice calls through both Viber and Skype, the comparison of call quality will always be made. Both have good audio calling quality, and if the internet signal is strong enough, you can have a great call. However, things are very different when you make video calls. Video calls demand more of your internet’s bandwidth, so the audio calls which may be great, often deteriorate when you convert them into video calls. Since Viber’s video calling feature is still in its beta phase, problems persist, even when you use a highspeed data connection. When using Viber, call quality on your PC would be much better than call quality on your smartphone app. So once again, Skype wins this round as well. The Verdict Both Skype and Viber are great programs, but Viber is a relatively new entrant, as compared to Skype. Skype has already established itself as a leader in communications, and though Viber is a great program, and is generally competent, it faces tough competition from Skype, which clearly wins on many counts. However, Viber has been improving and adding many new features, so it is possible that it would soon catch up with Skype in this race for number one. One final point that wins me, personally, over to Viber is the fact that there are absolutely NO ADVERTS! Skype, now that it is a commertialised Microsoft product and can’t say the same! I will be looking for you at Jack’s bar in Albox from 13:00 on Fridays (and any other day by appointment) for my clinic of free diagnosis, and solutions.

For further information or advice on computing,contact Trevor on 689 892 745 or canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk

Il Duce - part II Mussolini made the ‘Pact of Steel’ with Germany in 1938, as both he and Hitler believed that in event of Germany invading Poland; Britain and other countries would remain neutral. Mussolini also thought that Britain and France were finished as players on the world stage, that any war would be short lived and Germany would win. Mussolini even ordered his army to adopt the German Goosestep march. Britain wanted Italy to side with the Allies; France tried to negotiate secretly to get Italy to side with them but Mussolini didn’t pick up the phone when they called. Italy was massively under prepared for war so when Hitler generously suggested that Italy invade Yugoslavia Mussolini declined the offer. Germany then invaded Poland yet Italy stayed neutral. When however Germany invaded France, Italy joined in ending up controlling much of southern France including Nice. Mussolini had a million soldiers in North Africa; in the autumn of 1940 they successfully attacked the mere 36,000 strong British forces in Egypt, Sudan and Kenya in East Africa. Luckily the Italians stopped short of taking the Suez Canal at a place called

RAIN, WIND, HAIL, SNOW & FIRE. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR HOME IS DAMAGED BY ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENON Registering a non-Spanish vehicle in Spain is a complex and potentially costly procedure. However, you may be exempt from Spanish registration tax by getting Spanish number plates within one month of entering the country. But to do this, you need to become a resident. Linea Directa has been insuring expat drivers in Spain for over a decade and understands all the steps involved. Below we outline this process. STEP 1: OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY This is a statement by the car’s manufacturer that it conforms to EU regulations. You will need the car’s chassis number to complete this straightforward process online at www.eurococ. eu/en/certificate_of_conformity. The charges for this service will vary according to type of vehicle, make and country of 1st registration. STEP 2: CURRENT LOG BOOK The vehicle’s original log book showing your name as the owner, the vehicles age and a valid UK address. You will also need the bill of sale for the car. STEP 3: RESIDENCY IN SPAIN The Spanish residency certificate (Certificado de Empadronamiento) is your official proof of residency in Spain. Your local town hall can provide you with this document. You will need to take your passport and proof of Spanish address (rental contract, contract to purchase or

property deeds). STEP 4: OBTAINING A SPANISH MOT CERTIFICATE All vehicles over 4 years old must be roadworthy and clearly display a valid ITV sticker. The ITV (Vehicle Technical Inspection) must be tested at an authorised centre, just as for an MOT test. You can find out the location of your nearest ITV centre on DGT website (equivalent to the DVLA). You can also call your local centre to make a booking. If the centre is busy, especially pre-summer, this can save a lot of time. The cost can vary but generally is around 40€ for petrol-engine cars and 56€ for diesel-engine cars. Step 5: OBTAINING A SPANISH EQUIVALENT OF A TAX DISC The Spanish Tax Agency can provide your vehicle with a valid “tax disc” for Spain, which must be carried in the car when in use. You will need to complete the relevant form online and pay the amount according to your car’s tax band. You can carry out all these procedures yourself or you can seek the assistance of an accountant to do this for you. We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 902 123 161 More information on Linea Directa online at www. lineadirecta.com

Enjoy Stephens musings? Pop over to http://findmeahomeinspain.wordpress.com as the articles are posted on there too...and they’re a bit longer too! Findmeahome are

Mersa Matruh as they’d always looking for quality homes for their sales and rental portfolios, please contact run out of supplies. This Stephen for a valuation: stephen@findmeahome.es Telephone: 636 266 641 was about controlling the oil supplies coming from were gassed with their bodies burnt throw their lot in the Arabian oilfields and although in ovens. The chimney and ovens with the Allies. massively outnumbered the British were blown up by the Germans near In September courageously fought back. The the end of the war to cover up the German Italians were pushed back nearly war crimes. Another camp at Rab 1943 1000kms and in June 1941 lost the saw thousands killed. After the war paratroopers rescued Mussolini port of Tobruk in Libya which had been instead of prosecuting the main Italian without a shot being fired at a place their many supply route from Italy. culprit Mario Roatta for genocide; called Gran Sasso. Mussolini greeted Germany initially saved the Italians he escaped to Spain where he lived his rescuers by saying ‘I knew my ‘pancetta’ by sending Rommel and his under Franco’s protection until 1948. friend (Hitler) would not forsake Afrika Korps to fight the British. He then returned to Italy where Mussolini’s grand plan for the New he died in 1968. In 2003 Mussolini’s me!’ The Germans set up Mussolini Roman Empire inspired him to declare admirer Silvio Berlusconi, made in northern Italy as the ruler of a war on Greece at the same time as puppet state; the Italian Socialist battling the British in Africa. Greece his now infamous comments that fought back with great success and Mussolini had only sent people on Republic. The Allies advanced north and took Monte Cassino with 75,000 the Italians were losing badly until the vacation. Mussolini supported the Germans in casualties. The end was nigh, a Germans sent reinforcements which ended with Greece under control of the invasion of the Soviet Union but the disguised Mussolini attempted to Italians suffered huge casualties; the the Axis powers. Slovenia was next and Mussolini campaign was massively unpopular flee Italy to Switzerland in April 1945 favoured ethnic cleansing by deporting with ordinary Italians. When the Allies with his mistress Clara in a German Slovenians to concentration camps. invaded Italy in 1943; the Italian convoy; but they were recognised at The Slovenia campaign ended with Grand Fascist Council issued a vote of a checkpoint at Lake Como and shot. countless murdered or interned. In no-confidence against Mussolini. King Their bodies were strung up from a northern Italy are the remains of the Victor had Mussolini arrested and Risiera de San Sabba concentration imprisoned. The Germans had other lamp post in Milan, then dragged camp where 10’s of thousands were ideas though as they rightly feared through the streets as proof of the tortured and up to 5000 people the Italians would capitulate and dictators’ demise

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Samaritans in Spain & the 902 number

Every now and then someone begins complaining that Samaritans in Spain are making money from the distressed callers who use the service. They base this claim on the fact that all 902 numbers are premium rate numbers. This claim could not be further from the truth; in fact it costs SiS money to run this service. The problem arises from Telefonica lumping premium RATE and premium SERVICE into the one 902 range. Whether the number is premium rate or premium service depends on the fourth number. 902 followed by 1,2,3 or 4 are premium rates costing up to four times the standard rate, and from which the receiving company benefits financially. 902 numbers followed by 5,6,7,8 or 9 are to provide a premium service, from which the receiver gains no financial benefit, but does benefit from a premium service. For example the charity Samaritans in Spain uses the number 902 88 35 35, hence the fourth digit is 8. This means that the number is not connected to any local telephone exchange. This allows the Samaritans to have several phones in several locations attached to the 902 88 35 35 number. This means that whenever someone calls their number, whether they are calling from Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella, the Balearics or wherever, they are connected to the next available listener. And it doesn’t matter where that listener is physically located. All for the same fee! All Samaritans in Spain calls to 902 88

numbers are charged at national call rates. From landlines and public phones the connection charge is €0.08 plus €0.04/ min: Mon-Fri 20:00-08:00, weekends & public holidays and €0.07/min: Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00. Sadly calls from mobiles are CONSIDERABLY more. Each mobile provider sets their own rates and, sadly, they can, and often do, range from 0.20 cents per minute, to over 0.80 cents per minute, plus a connection charge ranging from 0.12 to 0.20 cents. Unfortunately, Samaritans in Spain have absolutely no control over these charges, nor do they benefit from them. All the profit goes to the mobile provider. Samaritans in Spain recommend that the caller bears these charges in mind and where possible use a landline or public phone It is so sad when we read that ALL 902 numbers are premium rate numbers when only some are. Many, like Samaritans in Spain are premium service numbers which actually benefits both the caller and the receiver. Further information and all the details about Samaritans in Spain can be found on their website at www.samaritansinspain. com or on Facebook at ht t p s://w w w.fa c e b o o k .c o m/p a g e s/ Samaritans-in-Spain/342312575891259 The Samaritan service in Spain is provided by Costa Blanca Samaritans, a not-for-profit organisation registered with the Generalitat Valenciana, with the Registration Number: CV-01-042952-A and NIF: G54341466 pat@samaritansinspain.com Lubbertus

LEGAL CORNER

WITH MICHAEL DAVIES , ABOGADO/SOLICITOR If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic, please e-mail info@daviessolicitors.com - www.daviessolicitors.com

On the 17th of August of 2015 European Union Directive 650/2012 comes into force: Make sure you have stated on your will that you wish U.K. law to rule your inheritance or your children will inherit instead of your spouse. Question. A solicitor spoke the other day on television about the new directive 650/2012 saying that it was essential that people retired in a country different of their country of nationality within the European Union revise their wills. What is all this about? A : This is correct and most have already had the changes made to their wills, but there are still plenty that have not. This regulation of the EU 650/2012 deals with different things, but the reason English citizens need to look at their will is that this new Regulation of the EU establishes that: 1. When a person dies resident in one country of the European Union but national of another, the law applicable to his/her inheritance will be the one that he/she has established expressly in his will and not the one established by the International Norms of each country (which may be in conflict). This is good news because an English national living in Spain can establish that he/she wishes English Law to rule his/ her inheritance and this will avoid any possible risk of claims from children against the spouse on the basis of the system of obligatory heirs established in Spanish law, which has always caused worry and concern in the case of children from previous marriages etc. 2. If a person passes away after the 17th of August of 2015, unless he has said differently in his will (as explained above), the legislation applicable to his inheritance will be that of his country of last residence. This is very important for English people

living in Spain, because under Spanish law you cannot leave everything to your wife as 2/3 of the estate have to be left to children. In other words if you are resident of Spain, have children and do not establish on your will that you wish English Law (your national law) to rule your inheritance your Spouse will not be allowed to receive his/ her full inheritance, as this would contradict the Spanish rules of obligatory heirs which would be applicable automatically because of the new regulation. Consequences: 1. If you have children but have made a will leaving all assets to your spouse, make sure that you have clearly stated on your will that you wish your national law (English law) to rule your inheritance. If you have not, you need to speak to a solicitor about this new European directive and add this statement to your will. 2. If you are married and you have been concerned with possible claims by your spouse’s children against your estate, this risk can be completely removed by your spouse stating on her/his will that it should be English law that rules the inheritance. Conclusion:The new regulation has given much more strength to the testators / testatrix, letting them choose between English or Spanish Law, which is good, but precaution is a must because under the new regulation if nothing is said and you are a resident in Spain, automatically the law applicable will be Spanish law which does not permit that spouses leave everything to each other if there are children. Solution: Contact us and we will see if your will needs changing. If not we will not charge you.

Michael Davies is a Spanish Abogado and has been practicing law in Almería since 1993. He is member of the Law societies of Almería and Madrid and has offices in Mojacar and Almeria High Street.

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Sometimes it can be cheaper to buy than to rent

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Potential downsides of owning It’s a big financial commitment – you need to be sure you can afford what you’re taking on. SeeCan you afford to buy?

PROPERTY SUPPLEMENT

When interest rates rise, your repayments will also go up. It’s important to know how much a rise would be. There are ways you can get ready for changes in the rate

LOOKING TO BUY OR RENT?

FIND YOUR DREAM HOME INSIDE!

Rent or buy? Buying a property is probably the biggest financial decision you’ll ever have to make. How do you know whether it’s the right decision for you right now – or whether you’d be better off renting instead? Mortgage or rent? Owning your own home is a huge commitment, not just to the building you buy and the area you choose to live in, but also to your life (and to another person if you are buying with a loved one or friend). Benefits of owning your home There are many benefits to home

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

ownership. Here are just some of them. Once you’ve paid off your mortgage, your home will be yours and it could be worth far more than you paid for it If your home increases in value you can use that equity to help you afford a bigger home or to fund a more comfortable retirement if you downsize When you retire you won’t necessarily have the income you need to keep on paying rent – if you have paid your mortgage off you’ll be living there ‘rent free’ You can spend money improving your home and increasing its value, whereas you can’t alter a rented home without the landlord’s permission

You also need to be sure you can afford maintenance costs such as replacing a boiler if it packs up or fixing a leaky roof. If you stretch yourself too much when you buy you may resent not having money for meals out, holidays and entertainment You have less flexibility than when renting. For example, if you want to move for work or personal reasons selling up and moving on is far more expensive if you own as you’ll have all of the associated estate agency and legal fees. Also bear in mind that it may not always be easy to sell your home – you’ll be dependent on what’s happening in the market If you’re living with someone else and split up, the process of sorting out the property will be far more complicated and expensive Are you better off buying or renting? You’re not necessarily going to be better off financially buying rather

than renting your home. If the value of your property falls, you may find yourself unable to sell because you owe more to your mortgage lender than your home is worth. On the other hand, if house prices rise, you could make a nice profit that could help fund a move to a bigger home or give you a lump sum if you choose to downsize later on in life. Can you afford to buy? The first step towards buying a property is figuring out whether you can afford to do so. There are many costs associated with buying your own home, beyond your mortgage repayments, including: Deposit Legal costs such as solicitor’s fees Survey cost Stamp Duty Removal costs Your monthly bills – such as gas, electricity, home phone, etc. Use the links below to get a better idea of you likely costs. If buying isn’t an option for you right now, think about setting up a savings plan to achieve your goal in the future. Estimate your overall buying and moving costs How much can you afford to borrow? How to set a savings goal

APARTMENT WITH SEA VIEWS IN MOJACAR 139,000€ Immaculate 2 bed / 2 bath south facing Apartment within 300 meters from the sea and the promenade. The apartment has a total built area of approximately 91,10 mts2 distributed between Apartment: 64.70 mts2 and Terraces: 26.40 mts2. The block has a lift and therefore it can be step free. The mountain and sea views from this 3rd level south facing property is simply unbelievable. The property also benefits from an allocated parking space. This fully airconditioned apartment is comprised of a spacious lounge /

dining room, kitchen, master bedroom with en suite bathroom, double bedroom and family bathroom. The 26,40 mts2 south facing terrace is accessed via French windows in the lounge and master bedroom. The terrace also has an awning, potted plants with battery operated watering system and granite worktop to aid a BBQ preparation which is so popular in this part of Spain as its fine weather all year round stimulates outdoor living! The property is very light and airy and is in immaculate condition. It is being sold unfurnished but the

kitchen white goods will stay. The communal swimming pool is nearby for one to comfortably walk to it but at the same time far enough away to guarantee peace during the peak of the summer months when occupancy at the complex and Mojacar in general is at its peak. The sea and the promenade are just a couple of minute walk as are the local shops, bars & restaurants. An excellent opportunity not to be missed. For more information or to book a viewing appointment please visit our office or contact us via phone or e-mail. Ref: 1622

Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria

Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563

property group

www.veritashomes.co.uk info@veritashomes.co.uk

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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

Telephone: 950 460 999

MUNDI

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Ronda de Las Buganvillas, Local 22, (nr Garrucha) www.mundiabogados.com info@mundiabogados.com

ABOGADOS

Maria Maroto Perez: Solicitor/Barrister - Esther Serrano Saez: Solicitor/Barrister

• NIE Cards • Residency Cards • Social Security Cards • • Company Setup • Insurance • • Conveyancing • Translations • Litigation • Wills & Inheritance Tax • Tax Returns • We are pleased to introduce ourselves

MUNDI ABOGADOS SOLICITORS

We are a multidisciplinary law firm based in Vera (Almería) and as such we deal with many different aspects of law, specialising in litigation, conveyancing, taxation, civil, commercial and fiscal law. Our aim is to provide a personal, quality service, in plain English and to do so promptly, efficiently and in a friendly manner. We will keep you up to date and fully informed throughout and all at a very competitive price. We can also arrange the following if needed: • Open a Spanish bank account • Connection of utility services • If you are considering renting your house or land we will negotiate your letting agreement, ensuring that the terms of your contract meet your requirements • Write your Spanish will • As your Fiscal Representatives, we will assist you in any dealings with Spanish Tax Office and explain to you all the taxes that you are liable to pay. For those that become residents of Spain, we can also assist in other legal matters, such as matrimonial issues or business contracts.

International Tourists Again Register Record Spending in 2014

In 2014, for the second consecutive year, Spain beat their best historical record for international tourist spending, reaching 63,094 million euros, an increase of 6.5% over the figure for 2013, which was also a record year. While presenting the data from the Egatur tourism expenditure survey this week at the Spain Global Tourism Forum, organised by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, as a prelude to the opening of Fitur 2015, the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, said that these figures have turned tourism into “a flagship” of the Spanish economy. All the main tourist source markets increased their total spending in the year, with notable increases being registered in the expenditure of tourists from the United Kingdom, with 12,746 million euros and an increase of 5.9%, followed by Germany, with 10,024 million euros (+3%), and France, with 6,555 million euros (+9.7%). The largest increase, however, corresponded to the U.S. market, whose expenditure amounted to 2,849 million euros, representing an increase of 15.5%. Catalonia led the ranking of preferred destinations, with respect to tourist spending, receiving 15,100 million euros last year, representing an increase of 6.7%, followed by the Canary Islands, with

12,444 million euros (+6.6%), while the Balearic Islands received 10,380 million euros in tourist expenditure, but registered a decline of 2.4% over the previous year. Receiving 9,349 million euros of international tourists’ spending last year, Andalucía registered the greatest increase, rising by 11.4%. El País reported that the favourable expenditure data for Spain is in line with the improvement in global tourism, which also closed 2014 with record figures, registering growth of 4.7%, and a total of 1,138 million travellers around the world, according to data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). By world regions, significant increases were recorded for the two Americas (with growth of 7%), plus Asia and the Pacific (+5%), while the growth was more moderate in Europe (+4%), the Middle East (+4%) and Africa (+2%). The Secretary General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, congratulated Spain on receiving a record of almost 65 million tourists in 2014, representing an increase of 7.1% over the previous year, which ranks it as the third most visited country in the world, and as the second destination in terms of tourism revenue. Read more on: keyero.com

We are now open at Plaza Nuevo, 10.

In the centre of Albox (opposite Donkey statue).

Your Belgian estate agent for inland, specializing in the area of Arboleas, Albox and surrounding towns and villages.

We have been trading sucessfully in the Arboleas and surrounding area for the past 6 years.

We would like as many new legal properties as possible in the Arboleas and surrounding areas, we are also looking to expand into Huercal Overa to take to our next exhibition in Belgium.

Office: Carlos: Gavin:

We have gone from strength to stength and we are now able to expand our company.

Come and meet us and meet our new sales person Gavin

950 090 875 www.immo-carlos.com 648 505 938 671 293 942 email: info@immo-carlos.com

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How to Makeover Your

Rental Property

Time is money. For every day your rental property sits on the market, you are losing potential rental income. Whether your property has been on the market for months or for minutes, there are steps you can take to make your property more appealing to potential tenants. Here are three tips on how to makeover your property so that it will be more desirable to the masses. 1. Curb Appeal Start on the outside. While you may have focused all of your energy on sprucing up the inside of the apartment, if you can’t get people through the door, your efforts are all for naught. First impressions are lasting impressions. If the exterior of your building is not up to par, more often than not, a tenant will have already written the property off, whether or not they even venture inside. Here are some inexpensive ways to increase your curb appeal: Remove any weeds, trash or debris. Make sure the lawn and shrubbery are well manicured. If you have a porch or outdoor area, add a few flowers and plants to create a more inviting, lived-in feel. Make sure to keep them alive, because dead plants are worse than no plants. Remove any chipped paint, broken banisters or torn window screens. Make sure the mailbox, light fixtures and address numbers are in good condition. -If not, purchase new ones at the local hardware store, or simply buy a can of outdoor spray paint to quickly breathe new life into them. Have a designated area (preferably out of sight) with the proper receptacles for all garbage and recycling. 2. How to Makeover With Paint For about €25, a can of paint has the ability to completely transform a space. A fresh coat of paint can revive tired walls, brighten dim hallways and highlight architectural features such as built-in bookcases or high ceilings. In a rental, your best bet is to go with a satin or semi-gloss paint. While it may be slightly more expensive now, it will save you money in the long run. With satin or semi-gloss, crayon marks, scuff marks and even grease can easily be wiped off, as opposed to flat paint, where you

COMPLETE HOLIDAY HOLIDAY CARE CARE COMPLETE MOJACAR PLAYA

RENTALS - SALES -MANAGEMENT - MAINTENANCE

We urgently need more properties for sale & rental for waiting clients

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

usually have to paint over the stains to remove them. Don’t forget to paint any trim you may have. You don’t want your sparkling clean walls to be accented by dirty, chipped molding. If you are painting outdoor railings, siding, shutters, etc., make sure to choose a suitable exterior paint, as it will be formulated to handle harsh weather conditions. Properly preparing the exterior surface to be painted is a crucial step if you want long-lasting, quality results. 3. Neutral, Neutral, Neutral!!! You want your property to appeal to the masses. Even though you may think a hot pink bathroom is spunky or that lime green kitchen cabinets lend a cool modern twist, the majority of people don’t. Stick to neutral paint colors such as tan, beige and cream. You can always offer the tenant the option to paint the apartment to their taste upon move in, as long as they paint it back to a neutral color when they move out. The neutral theme extends to tiles, hardwood floors, carpeting, light fixtures and cabinets. Picking neutral, timeless design will save you money in the long run, as you will not have to spend money to constantly update to the most current trend. According to design guru, Nate Berkus, examples of timeless finishes include shaker style kitchen cabinets, stainless steel appliances, pedestal sinks in the bathroom, white subway tile backsplashes, carrera marble and slate tile floors.

PRICE BROWN PARTNERSHIP

ESTATE AGENTS/INMOBILIARIA/MANTENIMIENTO - MOJACAR

SALES, RENTALS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT VENTAS, ALQUILERES Y MANTENIMIENTO

Properties of the week

Ref: CM/RB / Secluded 3 bed, 2 bath, det. villa, nr centre of playa, gardens, terraces & parking, 126 m2 build, 540 m2 plot. MOJACAR PLAYA - €239,000

Ref: PM/TW - 2 bedroom, 2 bath/shower room, first floor, furnished apt, a/c, large terrace with spectacular views

Ref: VA/TL Beautifully presented modern 1 bedroom/1 bathroom apt, private underground parking, private large lock-up store room.

MOJACAR €379,950 Paseo del Mediterraneo 19, Mojacar Playa, Almeria (near the Hotel Best Indalo)

MOJACAR PLAYA €109,950

Tel: 950 478 612 / 610 808 631 

info@almeriaholidays.com

www.almeriaholidays.com

Arboleas

169,950€

220,00€

DV1336

DV1337

3 bed, 2 bath, villa of 134m2 on 750m2. A/C.

3 bed, 2 bath, furnished villa of 160m2 on

Private pool & carport. Fabulous country views.

1,973m2.Private detached garage & private

Short drive to local towns.

pool. Many extras included. Car negotiable.

MOJACAR PLAYER €109,950

Ref: ES/TS - Det. Villa, 100m to beach, sea views, 3 bed, 2 bath + 2 bed apt below, private pool, lge garage, solarium, gardens.

Arboleas

Mojácar

Puerto

Pueblo

Rey

150,000€

124,000 €

SDV679

A1225

6 bed, 2 bath, village house of 162m2. Great potential. Lower ground floor for renovation & large terrace. The new escalator provides easy access.

2 bed, 2 bath, south facing ground floor apartment with all new appliances. Great rental potential. 2 community pools & child’s playground.

www.pricebrown.com Tel: +34 950 478 915 Fax: +34 950 478 963 sales@pricebrown.com rentals@pricebrown.com

Members of the National Association of Estate Agents Overseas

Monday - Friday 9:30am - 6pm We are able to organise Energy Efficiency Certificates at very competitive prices Contact us for more details All properties listed with Price Brown comply with the consumer protection act - decreto 218/2005 11 Octobre (Andalucia).

Members of the Agrupacion Tecnica Profesional

Prices are correct for 7 days from going to print for all properties on these pages

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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

murcia webcams

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www.sensolgolfvillarentals.com office spain: (0034) 968 970 614 mobile: (0034) 608 631 700

CAMPOSOL LOWER C HOLIDAY LETS FROM €450 PW

Ref No: 087

•3 bed/2 bath luxury villa. •Large private pool. •AC throughout. •Close to golf course.

Camposol D Holiday Rentals from €450 pw

Ref No: 0023

Ref No: 0186

• 3 bed/2 bath. • Private 6m x 3m pool. • Fantastic outside dining area. • Furnished to high standard.

BOLNUEVO – LONG TERM LET €400 + BILLS PCM

Ref No: 0147

CAMPOSOL D HOLIDAY LETS FROM €300 PW

Ref No: 0031

•2 bed/2 bath detached villa. •Oil fired central heating. •Many extras. •Amazing sea views.

CAMPOSOL D – LONG TERM LET €425 + BILLS PCM

•3 bed Rebecca style villa. •Detached end of terrace. •8m x 4m private pool. •Many extras. CAMPOSOL D LONG TERM LET €550 + BILLS PCM

Ref No: 0181

•3 bed/2 bed Carmen style villa. •8m x 4m private pool. •Glazed front terrace. •Set in lovely surroundings

• 2 bed/2 bath Carmen style villa. • Large private pool. • Furnished to high standard. • Set on large plot.

www.sensolgolfvillasales.com

CASA orme, CAMPOSOL SECTOR C €47,000

Ref No: 0092

office spain (0034) 968 970 614 mobile: (0034) 627 784 669 VILLA bella, CAMPOSOL SECTOR b €100,000

Ref RefNo: No:0040 0078

CASA IGLESIA, RURAL MURCIA 105,000€

Ref No: 0059

new •2 bed “Rebecca” style villa

•3 bedroom detached Fortuna style villa

•Excellent value for money

•Walking distance to shops and facilities

•Fully furnished, viewing recommended

•Carport, rejas, fly screens, underbuild

CASA SARRA, CAMPOSOL SECTOR D 120,000€

Ref No: 0080

CASA OLEANDER, CAMPOSOL SECTOR D 125,000€ NEW

•3 bedroom Spanish town house •Village location of El Pareton close to facilities • Spacious accommodation for a bargain price CASA ZARA, CAMPOSOL SECTOR A 149,950€

Ref No: 0072

Ref No: 0091

new •2 bed, 2 bath detached Rosa style villa •400sqm plot, swimming pool, sun terrace •Mountain views, roof solarium, viewing recommended

•Fantastic value Neptuno, 3 bed, 3 bath, priced to sell •Private pool, low maintenance gardens •Rooftop solarium, fully furnished, well maintained

•Ext det villa with flexible accommodation •Beautiful position overlooking the countryside •110 sqm living space, private pool, viewing essential

MANY MORE PROPERTIES CAN BE SEEN ON OUR WEBSITES

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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

Calida homes property Consultancy s.l calidahomes@hotmail.com www.calidahomespropconsult.com Richard: 0034 634 302 801 - Andrea: 0034 697 875 717

We have been established in the area for 13 years and have a vast database of existing clients looking to purchase.

DOES YOUR EXISTING ESTATE AGENT DO THIS FOR YOU? We charge competitive commission rates and have a pro-active approach to getting your property sold. We advertise on more property portals than any other agent, Rightmoves, A Place in the Sun, Kyero, Thinkspain, Spain Property websites, Inspain tv, Property Net Spain, and all the Belgium and Dutch portals. We attend 3 property exhibitions each year in Belgium and Holland.

Welcome to our new Prestige Property section. A handpicked selection of properties which stand out from the crowd. â&#x201A;Ź

189,950

â&#x201A;Ź

240,000

thin i w r ffe listing o r e Unddays of 3 Top spec 3 bed 2 bath villa with stunning views, heated pool. Arboleas

Huge 4 bed 3 bath villa easy walking distance to Arboleas village , 10x5 heated pool

Not every buyer is looking to purchase a bargain basement property. Some are looking for something more superior in terms of quality of build, design and location and are prepared to pay that little bit more. To cater for this we have created the prestige property section, visit our website for more details http://www.calidahomespropconsult. com/prestige-properties-for-sale/ If you have a Prestige Property for sale then get in touch with us urgently to see how we can help you.

Property urgently needed

We have clients waiting for fully legal properties in the following areas, Arboleas, Zurgena, Albox and surroundng areas, Vera, Los Gallardos, Turre, San Juan. If you are looking to sell your property give us a call for COMPETITIVE COMMISSION RATES and to see how we can help you.

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Spain – Second EU Country with Most Overnight Stays in 2014

According to figures published last week by the European Commission statistical agency, Eurostat, in 2014 Spain was once again the second European Union country to record most overnight stays in hotel establishments, registering 401.3 million, just behind France. In the whole of the EU, the total number of overnight stays in hotels, by both residents and non-residents (EU visitors travelling to another Member State and non-EU visitors), reached a new record in 2014, of 2,700 million, representing an increase of 1.7% over the previous year. Following the decline experienced in 2009, with the onset of the financial and economic crisis, the influx of visitors has increased steadily in the EU during the past five years. Last year Spain recorded an increase in overnight stays of 3.1% compared with the figures for 2013, well above the EU average, while France registered a decline of 1.2% over the previous year, but nevertheless recorded 402.9 million overnight stays and remains the first country in the EU with most overnight stays in hotels. Other countries with the largest numbers of overnight stays in 2014 were Italy (369.9 million, down 1.8%) and Germany (366.2 million, up 2.9%). The number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation increased in the majority of the EU Member States in 2014, with the highest increases being registered in Latvia (+11.1%), Belgium (+7.2%), Portugal (+7.1%) and Greece (+6.9%). In contrast, the greatest declines in overnight stays were registered in Slovakia (-5.5%), Finland (-1.9%) and Italy (-1.8%). The Mediterranean islands of Malta and Cyprus recorded the highest percentages of overnight stays by non-residents with 96% and 94%, respectively, followed by Croatia (92%), Luxembourg (88%) and Greece (79%), while the lowest percentages of overnight stays by non-residents were recorded in Romania (18%), Poland (19%) and Germany (20%). In the EU, between 2013 and 2014, the number of overnight stays in hotels

by non-residents increased more (by 2.3%) than those by residents (+1.1%). The largest increases in overnight stays by non-residents last year were registered in Holland (+10.2%), Latvia (+9.9%), Denmark, Portugal and Romania (all +8.3%) and Greece (+8.0%). The most notable increases in overnight stays by residents were recorded in Latvia (+13.9%), Malta (+11.2%), Hungary (+8.2%) and Belgium (+8.1%). In absolute terms, Diario Sur reported that Spain and Italy recorded the highest numbers of nights spent by foreigners in their hotel establishments, with 259.5 million (or 21% of all nights spent by non-residents in the EU), and 183.9 million (15%), respectively.

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Gap Between Buying and Selling Prices Grew by 7.5% in 2014

The difference between the asking price for an apartment in Spain and the budget a potential buyer is actually willing to pay, was 27,810 euros at the end of 2014 – representing 25% of the average apartment value – and is 7.5% higher than a year earlier, according to a study carried out by property portal, pisos.com. While sellers have continued to adjust their prices, dropping apartment prices by 8.5% during the past year, transactions have been much influenced by the delicate employment situation, the slow recovery of access to financing and the continuing search for real estate opportunities at below-market prices. The portal’s study notes that, in 2009, the difference between the selling prices listed by the owners and the prices offered by the buyers was 55% of the apartment value. In 2013, this gap reduced to 20%, but in 2014 increased again, to 25%. On the other hand, if in 2013 an apartment for sale in Spain cost 153,360 euros, in 2014 the price it reached was 140,310 euros, far from the price of 220,500 euros achieved in 2009. In terms of expenditure and demand expectations, between 2009 and 2011 the typical home was 90 square metres in size and cost 142,500 euros on average, but between 2012 and 2013 this budget fell to 127,500 euros, while maintaining the same surface area. In 2014, the budget lowered once again, to 112,500 euros for a home of the same size. Nine regions lowered their budget when looking to buy a home in 2014 and only in Extremadura did it increase. The highest starting price for an apartment was in the Basque country, despite dropping in a year from 337,500 euros to 217,500 euros. In contrast, the regions of Aragón, the Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Valencia and Murcia all had initial prices of 67,500 euros on average. The regions where supply and demand are closer are Navarra (3%) and the Basque Country (8%), while the most significant imbalances are in Murcia (51%), Andalucía (45%), the Balearic Islands (45%) and Madrid (43%). With regard to rental prices, El Economista reported that the difference between the initial rental price and the amount offered by future tenants in their searches was 13% at the end of 2014, compared to 27% five years ago. The average rental price sought after up until 2013 was 450 euros per month for an apartment of 90 square metres, compared with 350 euros in 2014. In terms of the supply, an average apartment rental has dropped from 571 euros per month in 2010 to 394 euros in 2014. The 177 euros of difference represents an annual saving for the tenant of 2,124 euros.

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viewpoint

Rodriguez: Legends and Myths

Fernándo Rodriguez, is he really the most hated man in Alqueria? Is the title justified? Rodriguez inherited the village’s olive Mill from his father when it was a thriving concern. Under Rodriguez’s careful and committed guidance the Mill is now derelict, bankrupt and employs one tenth of the original workforce. Money set aside to invest in the fabric and infrastructure of the Mill has been systematically squandered. Spent on Abyssinian Goat Shirling for which Rodriquez has a passion. If he had been any good at shirling the Abyssinian Goat one could have had some sympathy, but he wasn’t. He has a legacy of bad decisions for which he blames others. He has two principles in life. The first being he is always right and the second, if he is ever wrong refer to the first. He is a stupid man who thinks he is supremely clever. A dangerous combination when the livelihood of others is at stake. He has been described by one not particularly observant individual as an obese foul mouthed bully. The general consensus is that this statement describes the man’s best attributes. He accomplished his obesity quite easily and efficiently. He simply shovelled vast quantities of the most disgusting food into his system. One luncheon guest described the experience as like eating next to a bucket-dredger. The man became so overweight that before his last haircut he was mistaken for a bedraggled herd of Aberdeen Angus. It soon became impossible for him to wear trousers. They simply refused to stay in position and fall around his ankles.

The resulting spectacle of a half-naked Rodriquez was a warning to us all. Several villagers who witnessed such a scene are still receiving therapy. A kaftan had to be specially made which necessitated the opening of three cotton mills in Málaga. The first time he wore the garment people thought he was a refreshment tent and Amelia de Vega tried to hire him for her daughter’s wedding. His foul-mouth has uttered every profanity available in three languages, he even invented a few of his own. He will swear at anyone and in any circumstance. The Women’s Institute have even stopped inviting him to talk at their meetings and they are well used to such obscenities. Perhaps Rodriquez reached his zenith when he tried to sell the entire village, population and all, to an Arab consortium after suffering devastating losses at the shirling track. The Arabs however demanded their cash back after meeting Loco Paco. So in answer to our question, yes he is the most hated man in Alqueria.

Tempus Fugit Uncovered When I was a child the days were unimaginably long, weeks lasted forever, and years would stretch away into the future further than my young brain could comprehend. Should I ever be so bold as to mention that tomorrow was a long time coming, some sage grownup would pat me condescendingly on the head and intone in that infuriating voice that is only used when speaking to a child, a foreigner or an idiot, that ‘You should make the most of it, because when you get older, time goes by more quickly.’ Now that I am a grown-up, I realise that there is a perceived truth here. However, those same patronising elders were a good way short of the full truth, which is; As you get older, time goes by more quickly, especially if you retire to Spain. Theoretically I should have oodles of time over every day – I have a house that is so easy to maintain that it is almost self-cleaning, and I don’t have to spend ages every morning getting dressed in half a dozen layers of woolly thermals topped with a small bespoke waterproof tent known as a raincoat. Yet still the day races by, the weeks accelerate towards me like an oncoming train, and before I have blinked it is another year! I couldn’t account for where all the time that used to hang so heavy and pass so sluggishly now races off to – until I met Sue. Sue comes from Lancashire, therefore she is sensible. She has a firm grasp

Arms at Frogham. Travel feature: New Forest Foresters This break is all about relaxing for us; we have

New Forest artist Claire Wiltsher loves watching how the light dances amongst the forest shadows. She says it becomes a natural cathedral when a backdrop of light comes into play among the trees. We experience this staying in our Premium Lodge at Sandy Balls holiday village. The first night is always difficult for our two daughters: Harriett (3) and Heidi (1) because they need time to become accustomed to their surroundings. We forget to tire them out sufficiently before bedtime and live to regret it. We must remember to do that in future. It is so lovely and toasty warm inside the lodge that when we emerge into the chilly cold of the forest it is quite a shock. But very refreshing nevertheless. With a bike and trailer from the cycle centre I take my daughters on an early morning ride around the local area while busy mummy Caroline has chance to relax. An extremely good aid to relaxation is the bathroom incorporating a shower and a large corner bath with its water jets that provide a good massage. The beds are also extremely comfortable. This certainly gets the heart pumping; I forget how heavy Harriett and Heidi are becoming and so it is impossible for their unfit father to ride up any of the hills in one go. But after numerous stops we make our way round and see the world as it wakes up; ponies in the fields and even some squirrels gathe ring their nuts. We spy s o m e donkeys outside T h e

such a fast paced life that there is generally very little time to do mundane things like curling up and watching television of an afternoon. We actually manage to do this and it is thoroughly enjoyable. But we also go for a swim and relax in the sauna. A real luxury is to have a meal out and The Forest Table restaurant is a fabulous place in which to treat yourself. It offers surprisingly good value for money, too. Thumbing through the menu with my chilled Peroni in hand I notice that a coffee and a slice of cake is under £4; you’d be lucky to get a slice of cake for that on Britain’s high streets. Convivial surroundings, friendly and attentive staff and a really buzzing atmosphere with numerous families eating provides a really memorable occasion. For me the haddock, mozzarella and spring onion fishcake is a must. This is followed by duck breast and chocolate pudding. Presentation is high, service is unhurried and the experience is fantastic with plenty of choice. Sandy Balls, which has been a holiday village for over 90 years, provides everything for the holidaymaker. From The Forest Table restaurant to The Woodside Inn pub and takeaway there is something for every budget. There’s even a good value onsite supermarket, The Village Store, so there really is no need to venture into the outside world. And there is plenty to entertain the children too from the Toddlers’ Wood and two indoor play areas through to the outdoor play areas and swimming pool. There are even craft activities laid

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk of the workings of the Universe, and can separate the factual from the perceptual as easily as peeling potatoes. She explained that the hours are still the full 60 minutes – the difference is what we do with that 60 minutes. Well, yes, maybe we do move more slowly in our mature years, or with more deliberation, as I prefer to call it, which would account for an hour here or there, but that is not the whole answer. No, we lose the time wondering where we put something we had just a minute ago, what we are looking for, and why we came into the kitchen/bedroom/living room in the first place. Then there is the time spent wondering what it is called and why we wanted it, unless in the meantime we have forgotten that we were supposed to be remembering it at all! Sue is right – time disappears down the black hole of bad recall!

on throughout the year and this is particularly enjoyed by Harriett and Heidi. It is so nice to be able to spend time with your children seeing them be creative. Sandy Balls runs a programme of weekly activities, including biscuit decorating, fabric painting, working with wood, woodland walks, collage making and bug hunting. Parents wishing to pamper themselves can do just this at the Retreat where they can book a haircut or a massage.Back at the ranch or the premium lodge as it is referred to in the Sandy Balls literature it is an idyllic setting where unlike many holiday parks there is privacy and the lodges are not overlooked. They fit in extremely well with their surroundings and it is just a pleasure to sit and watch the world outside through the large expanses of glass. You really do get a chance to explore the inner oasis of the forest and it is lovely to watch the birds. Stay at Sandy Balls for a week and you will feel rejuvenated. Watch the videos at www.travelwriter. biz. Claire Wiltsher’s book Journeys from the forest to the sea published by Creative Coverage is available for £9.50 from May 2015. By Tim Saunders

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SolPUZZLES wordsearch

American Sports Quiz

Animals

Find and circle all of the animals that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell the name of an additional animal.

soltimes Food & Drink Quiz

3. How many yards must the attacking team gain in four downs to keep hold of the ball in American Football?.............................

1. Chablis comes from which French wine region?.......................................... 2. Creme de Menthe and brandy make which cocktail?......................................

4. What is the name of Miami´s American Football team?..................................

3. From what 2 words did SPAM take its name from?...........................................

5. Who is said to have invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York, in 1839?..................................

4. From what German region do Hock wines come?..........................................

6. Which basketball team is as well known for their comedy routines as their on-court skills?....................

5. From which fish do we get caviar?...................................................

7. Why was there no baseball World Series in 19 94?......................................

6. How many noggins in a pint?.............. 7. How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?...........................................

10. In which order do you drink lemon, salt & tequila?........................................

Brain Teasers Answers 10. Salt, Tequila, Lemon

5. Sturgeon

9. Hawaii

4. The Rhine

8. Glasses of beer

3. Spiced Ham

7. 3 (UK, USA

2. A Stinger

6. 4

CRYPTIC crossword

CROSSWORD

1. Burgundy

SOLUTIONS

wordsearch answer

LIZARD LOON MARMOSET MARTEN MOLE MONGOOSE MULE MUSKOX OCELOT OSTRICH PANDA PHEASANT POSSUM

PUFFIN PYTHON SHARK SKUNK SNAKE SQUIRREL SWALLOW

8. Which quarterback, famed for wearing the number 16, shared his name with the name of a US state?.................................. 9. In which city do icehockey´s Penguins’ play their home games?.............. 10. Nolan Ryan was a famous player of which American sport?..................

Answers

VULTURE WARTHOG WILDEBEEST WOLF

squiggle SUDOKU

pineapples grown?.................................

EGRET ERMINE FALCON FERRET FINCH GERBIL GIBBON GROUSE GULL HARE HYENA IGUANA LEMUR

standard SUDOKU

9. In what US state are 75% of world’s

ALBATROSS ALPACA ANACONDA ARMADILLO ASP BADGER CARIBOU CHAMELEON CONDOR COUGAR COW CROCODILE DINGO

easy SUDOKU

a “schooner”?........................................

JAMAICAN WOODPECKER

8. In Australia, what are a “middy” and

2. Which baseball player is the subject of the legendary Curse of the Bambino??.......

Globetrotters 7. The players went on strike 8. Joe Montana 9. Pittsburgh 10. Baseball

1. Which American Football team won the 2001-2002 Superbowl?.........................

1. New England Patriots 2. Babe Ruth 3. 10 4. Dolphins 5. Abner Doubleday 6. Harlem

on this day february 7

1301 – Edward of Caernarvon (later King Edward II of England) becomes the first English Prince of Wales.. 1783 – American Revolutionary War: French and Spanish forces lift the Great Siege of Gibraltar. 1812 - Charles Dickens is born, English author. 1935 – The classic board game Monopoly is invented. 1992 – The Maastricht Treaty is signed, leading to the creation of the European Union.

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

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Across 1. Gusto (4) 3. Brings to an address (8) 8. Feast (7) 9. Tag (5) 10. Performer (5) 11. Trade barrier (7) 12. Voice box (6) 13. Large numbers of people (6) 16. Closest (7) 18. One of the senses (5) 20. Cajoled (5) 21. Before (7) 22. Fragile (8) 23. Unsightly (4)

Down 1. Striped equine (5) 2. US legislator (7) 4. One or the other (6) 5. Hot remnants of a fire (5) 6. Bars (7) 7. Secured by written agreement (10) 9. Research workplace (10) 12. Lackadaisical (7) 14. Hoping for (7) 15. Certify (6) 17. Spiritual being (5) 19. Ahead of time (5)

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Sudoku is a placement puzzle. Enter the numbers 1 to 9 in each row and column of a grid, made up of 3 x 3 subgrids. The catch is that each row, column and grid must contain only one instance of each number or letter.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

standard

ACROSS 9 Country morning girl (7) 10 Relative to a thousand thousand before Asian leader (7) 11 Took a photo of Shanghai initially, then had a short sleep (7)

easy

squiggle

12 A nest lies disturbed, as is vital (9) 14 Lift more money? (5) 15 Incomings of headless guards (7) 18 Counts on parts of swimming pools lacking extra opening (7) 19 Train manager? (5) 20 Choices made by icon’s side? (9) 24 Sanction a very soft wander (7) 25 First in Italy, almost - I moved around (7) 27 All-purpose military man? (7) 28 Good start, way to go outside northeast complained (7)

Down 1 Complication of Taiwan’s first fish (6) 2 Came across Alex’s substances (6) 3 Bound to be on the same score (4) 4 Starts to help animal with an increasingly irate state (6) 5 Card game came first, and made a shrill sound (8) 6 Parts of a text are standard, as surrounding diagram (10) 7 Tangy pie cooked from an African country (8) 8 Large numbers shudder all over the place, taking in new leader (8) 13 Enough ribs to change those living nearby (10) 15 Switch former partner’s money? (8) 16 Snaring and bugging without redhead (8) 17 Dens duly collapsed without warning (8) 21 Holds on tight to China’s first adapted sling (6) 22 The East part of Bangor I enthralled (6) 23 Half of soap covers shapes (6) 26 Smooth element (4)

28 SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015 tel: 950 121 936

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ce i p S e v Fi e s e n i Ch n Chicke

gluten free recipes

SOL FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

Ingredients

Ser ves: 2 2 chicken breasts bone in and skin on 1 dessertspoon Chinese five spice powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon olive oil

Method Prep: 5min › Cook:45min › Ready in:50min Sprinkle chicken breasts with five-spice powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Wrap tightly in aluminium foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas mark 4. Remove foil from chicken breasts and place them in a 23x33cm (9x13 in) baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 45 minutes, or until cooked through and juices run clear. http://allrecipes.co.uk/

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Ingredients

For the filling 75g dates zest 2 oranges, juice of 1 50g coconut oil 175g clear honey 140g raw cacao powder (find it in health food shops or online), plus extra for dusting For the crust 100g coconut oil 140g ground almonds 175g desiccated coconut 2½ tbsp clear honey 1 tbsp raw cacao powder

Method

Put the dates in a bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak for 20 mins. Meanwhile, whizz the ingredients for the crust in a food processor until combined. Tip the mixture into a 23cm loose- bottomed fluted tart tin, using your fingers to spread it evenly across the base and push into the fluted sides. Cover with cling film and chill while you make the filling. Drain the dates and put in a blender with the zest and juice of 1 orange, the coconut oil, honey and cacao. Whizz together until mostly smooth, then scrape into the chilled crust and smooth with the back of a spoon. Chill for at least 1 hr. Remove from the fridge 10 mins before serving and sprinkle with the remaining orange zest and extra cacao. bbcgoodfood.com

10 Signs You’re Gluten Intolerant

More than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It’s estimated that 99% of the people who have either gluten intolerance or celiac disease are never diagnosed. t is also estimated that as much as 15% of the US population is gluten intolerant. Could you be one of them? If you have any of the following symptoms it could be a sign that you have gluten intolerance: 1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation. I see the constipation particularly in children after eating gluten. 2. Keratosis Pilaris, (also known as ‘chicken skin’ LOOK AT on the back of your arms). This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency everything to make a CAKE and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fatthestore.danoes@hotmail.com malabsorption caused by Tel: 634 305 144 gluten damaging the gut.

www.danoes.com

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

tel: 950 121 936

3. Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten. 4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis. 5. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance. 6. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or unexplained infertility. 7. Migraine headaches. 8. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pin point the cause of your fatigue or pain. 9. Inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips. 10. Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and ADD. How to test for gluten intolerance? I have found the single best ways to determine if you have an issue with gluten is to do an elimination diet and take it out of your diet for at least 2 to 3 weeks and then reintroduce it. Please note that gluten is a very large protein and it can take months and even years to clear from your system so the longer you can eliminate it from your diet before reintroducing it, the better. The best advice that I share with my patients is that if they feel significantly better off of gluten or feel worse when they reintroduce it, then gluten is likely a problem for them. In order to get accurate results from this testing method you must elimination 100% of the gluten from your diet. How to treat gluten intolerance? Eliminating gluten 100% from your diet means 100%. Even trace amounts of gluten from cross contamination or

NNER DANCE VALENTINE’S NIGHT DI nti Enjoy a Roma c Night, Saturday 14th February 7pm for 7.30pm STARTER

eese soup Homemade Broccoli & Blue Ch rmalade ma Homemade pate with red onion sauce de ma me ho r Prawn Cocktail in ou

MAIN COURSE

apple Pork Wellington with smooth a Pan-fried Chicken Breast with ce sau on creamy tarrag et poached in wine on spinach Fill n Salmo with lemon & caper sauce request Vegetarian option available on ionoise Potatoes All served with Saute or Dauph DESSERT ’s Cheesecake Triple Chocolate Cake ~ Bailey dley Profiteroles ~ Ice Cream Me

sales@soltimes.com

Tel: 950 634 562

lavidacucador@gmail.com Open every day 12pm - late

SOL FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

medications or supplements can be enough to cause an immune reaction in your body. The 80/20 rule or “we don’t eat it in our house, just when we eat out” is a complete misconception. An article published in 2001 states that for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity eating gluten just once a month increased the relative risk of death by 600%. Still unsure? Seek out an integrative practitioner or functional medicine physician to help to guide you, or check out my Guide to Gluten-Free Living. (Sourced from MindBodyGreen)

alices sports bar serving the coldest beer in the area

all your major sports

on tap here Mesón de

Irene

3 large screens inside & out

winter crazy offer

Free Bottle of wine

per couple to take away after having our night menus Valid only with this voucher dinner 19.00-22.00 until 28TH FEBRuary

english breakfasts served everyday

fish & chip live music

friday

served from 4 - 8pm

every friday from 1pm

join our golf society call in for info

find us on turre high street open every day from 10am sunday from 12 noon

find

us on

620 876 485 from

8.95€

Noche

menu de la

Starters Homemade Soup of the Day Smooth Chicken Liver Pate Breaded Mushrooms with alioli dip Tuna & Mozzarella Fish Cakes, served with sweet chilli dip Prawn Cocktail in homemade sauce Mains Pork Fillet on a bed of creamy leeks & bacon Chicken Breast in a parmesan crumb with fresh tomato salsa Fillet of Mediterranean Cod, roasted pepper, onion & tom. salsa Desserts 3 courses Selection of our delicious fresh homemade desserts 12.95€ Includes a glass of house wine, tubo of beer or soft drink

traditional Sunday lunch from 12.30pm

Selection of Delicious Homemade starters and puddings to include a glass of wine or tubo. Our main menu includeds a selection of fine fresh vegetables and homemade gravy, and included a FREE glass of wine, tubo or soft drink booking recommended

from

5€

selection of Relax and enjoy a wonderful music with amazing vocalist Melanie Howard-Coles

14.95€ per person Booking Essential

from

5.95€ Cod & chips

FRIDAYS 12.30pm - 9pm

bar specials from 6pm

Tuesdays: Chilli Night 5€ Wednesday Supper: Liver & Onions with mashed Potatoes 5€ Thursday Pie Night: Homemade Pies, Chips & Peas 5.50€

LIVE PREMIER FOOTBALL

We are here

Albox Arboleas Zurgena La Alfoquia

Mojacar

E15

1km

La Vida

Cucador Huercal Overa

Junc 547

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

Tel: 950 121 936

community news

sales@soltimes.com

LEARN SPANISH WITH“PACO” CAR PROBLEMS

VALENTINES NIGHT Sat 14th February Special Valentines Menu Then music with Geoff Murrell 8pm till late

BOOK NOW!

pick up the menu at Jacks or email jacksalbox@gmail.com

- Book Sale Sat 7th Feb

BREAKDOWN -averia SHOCK ABSORBER-.amortiguador GARAGE-taller ENGINE-motor MECHANIC -mecanico

BATTERY-.bateria. PUNCTURE -pinchazo CLUTCH- embrague SPARE PARTS-piezas de repuesto AIR FILTER-.filtro de aire

MY CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN COULD YOU SEND A TOW TRUCK? MI COCHE SE HA AVERIADO PODRÍA MANDAR UNA GRUA? COULD YOU CHECK THE ………. PODRÍA COMPROBAR EL/LA………. THE BATTERY IS FLAT LA BATERÍA ESTÁ DESCARGADA COULD YOU REPAIR A PUNCTURE? PODRÍA REPARAR UN PINCHAZO HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO REPAIR IT? CUANTO TARDARÁN EN REPARARLO? COULD YOU GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE? PODRÍA DARME UN PRESUPUESTO? COULD YOU REPAIR IT TODAY? PODRÍA REPARARLO HOY? Learn more Spanish with Paco-661 142 606 at Campsite Los Gallardos, Lessons based in conversation, All levels catered for plus Private lessons!

Every Thurs @ 8pm

Fun Quiz!

Happy 65th Birthday to Eleanor Tolman From Her Ever Loving Husband Richard Taekwondo Lessons

LIVE PREMIER LEAGUE

FOOTBALL

GASTONOMIA DELICATESSEN ON LAS BUGANVILLAS Richard & Spencer would like to welcome the British

See our main ad on page 31 for fixtures

Butcher to their shop. Come along and look you won’t be disappointed Tel 950 132 048 or 603 431 220

Living water Church

remember step aerobics?

old school moves 2014 style

From Every one at Eleanor & Gilly’s Line Dance Class, Bar Jack’s, Albox

Global Taekwondo Federation. Martial Arts training for children and adults. Held at Indigo Gym on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. Come and try for free. Have you got what it takes to get your Black Belt??? Tel@ 646 844 708 www.tkdspain.webs.com

lots of interest in our quiz but room for more!

come & join us every wednesday 11.30am at Jovasport gym in Mojacar Parque commercial with Alison

Happy 65th Birthday Eleanor Tolman!

WHAT’S GOING ON IN MOJACAR?’ To receive regular newsletters with Mojácar events

call 666 273 168 for more info please send your email address to info@mojacar.es

Mojacar. An Evangelical informal service at 4.00pm every Sunday, opposite Red Cross Centre on Mojacar Playa. Contact Pastor David Hamilton 697 522 521 John 950 529 321 Margaret 950 477 063 For more info visit www.livingwate rchurchmojacar.com

rastro : mojacar playa

La Cabina every wednesday 10am - 7pm

For more info: 674 767 801 or 607 403 195

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

www.soltimes.com

out & about

...to advertise on this page call 950 121 936

La Cena

Restaurante

Albox

menu del noche €10.95

Includes a caraffe of wine per couple 7 starters, 6 mains & 5 Desserts Full A La Carte also available Monday - Saturday 7pm - late. Closed Sunday

Call 950 430 930 after 5.30pm

Find us across the old bridge from Palza Mayor Albox, opp Bar Wassy

La Cena in Albox is a fine dining experience without the expense. A beautifully decorated restaurant, run by husband and wife team Simon and Carol. At the moment they are serving a superb Menu Del Noche for only 10.95€ which includes a Caraffe of wine and you can now choose from a choice of 7 Starters, 6 Mains and 5 Desserts. Full A La Carte is also always available. Please call 950 430 930 after 5.30pm today and reserve your table, you will not be disappointed!

Wednesday and Thursday Thai Chi, Friday

The Beachcomber John and the team at The Beachcomber always ensure your food is beautifully cooked and is served with a smile. With fish and chips to die for plus all the traditional favourite meals you would expect.

and speciality food. All freshly prepared so

Monday and Tuesday Spanish Lessons,

www.bistobonita.alittlebitofengland.es.

Some Tips for Eating in Spain

9AM-LATE MON-SAT 10-6 SUN ALL DAY BREAKFAST from 9AM

about any of our many events: 950 473 099. Bistro Bonita is situated in the pretty village of Cerro Gordo and just 10 minutes outside Albox. They do delicious homemade food including beef wellington, orchard pie booking is essential. Try their homemade 3 course Sunday lunch at 8.50€. Free venue for your Party or Get Together just phone Chris for details - 950 930 169 or 650 599 739.

Av•••A . L LB ep OX an → to

LIVE FOOTBALL

3.95€

Home made tapas which will you try today?

Fri 12 - 9pm Sat 12 - 5pm

Cod ‘n’ ChipS or homemade pie 5.95€

ALBOX

BAR MENU AVAILABLE EVERY DAY

TAPAS Daily

served with chips/peas or salad

5.95€

Bookings Advisable Takeaway option available

From

Telephone now to book or to find out more

•••

9am - 4.30pm (Sun 10 - 12)

includes free tea or coffee

6.95€

and Halloween party.

← ARBOLEAS BAZA →

ample parking Free Wi-Fi

Beer-battered atlantic Cod, Homemade Chips, with Mushy/Garden PeaS

Friday 31st October 10 year anniversary

BP Garage

jacksalbox@gmail.com

1€

Art Classes, Saturday Computer Club

the more populated cities.The most common time to eat is during the siestas, from about 2-5 o’clock. You’ll see everyone else eating then too. Many restaurants automatically serve olives or picos (tiny round crackers) before their meal. In most cases, if you eat them, you will have to pay. In the more touristy areas there are many establishments that have waiters standing outside trying to convince you into coming to their restaurant. Just be prepared for that…and don’t cave if you aren’t interested. Sometimes they catch you off guard. http://www.southern-spain-travel.com

Tapas are the common food eaten by Spaniards. Order a few, share with your group, and order more later if you’d like. Waiters can take their time. You’ll need to ask for your check when you are ready. Do not aggravate them or you might be embarrassed. Tipping is not big while eating out in Spain. A typical tip is about 5% of the total bill. Fine dining restaurants are around, however, they are considerably more money then tapas restaurants. Many display menus outside of the establishments. You can find many ethnic restaurants in many of

950 120 718

Traditional Sunday Lunch fr om 12 .3 0

FOOTBALL MATCHES SHOWING AT JACKS

SAT 7th 20.45

SPURS V ARSENAL

SUN 8th 13.00 15.05

BURNLEY V WBA NEWCASTLE V STOKE

WED 11th 20.45

CHELSEA V EVERTON

...............and others on request...........

SIX NATIONS RUGBY BEING SHOWN AT JACKS

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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

SOL CLASSIFIEDS Air-con

MD Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration S.L.

MD S.L

City & Guilds Fully Qualified F-Gas Certified

25 years sole experience in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

not a jack of all trades

For all your installation or service MD Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration S.L offers requirements including our latest info@md-aircon.com telephone 950 432 110 / 607 364 917

607 364 917 or 950 432 110 email: info@md-aircon.com

md_aircon@mobileemail.vodafone.es

Digital Vision

Air Conditioning Services based in Mojacar & all areas with 10 years experience covered

We offer competitive affordable rates visit

www.digitalvisiones.com email: info@digitalvisiones.com

Tel: 645 294 064/950 472 081

Airport services

alternative energy

www.AAparking.es Tel: 639 081 067

Solar Wind Power Solutions. Over 15 years installation experience. established 12 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices 636 261 240 email: info@sunergy almeria.c om www.sunergy almeria.com

Cheap

Airport Parking

Alicante Almeria Murcia New Servicing / Repairs

SOLTIMES

To advertise your business here Tel: Kate 950 121 936

available venues

Venue @ La Vida El Cucador

in Albox

Private parties Private parties Birthday etc, Birthday etc, all events all events catered for catered for call for more call Bar for more information: information

business opportunity

BABY HIRE

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

950 436 581/666 375 688

expectingababy.2006@gmail.com

drainage cont...

“Internet Millionaire Reveals Secrets Of Making £1,000 A Week & More Without Any LICENSED POZO/septic tank emptying Previous Experience” • Installation of new septic

If you would like to start earning extra money now! Then the internet is definitely the place to do this. You can earn money whilst relaxing by the pool or even earn whilst you’re sleeping. This is the reality for people that are making money online.

For Free Information Visit

www.howtomakemoneyfrommembershipsites.co.uk

computers

Steve Hayes Informatica

Pc’s, Laptops, Printers etc. Sales & Repairs on-site Callout/Tuition. Consumables Albox, Almeria Tel: 950 120 900 Don Robinson pc consultant

Advice, Help, Training, Diagnosis & Repair, 15€ per hour min charge 1 hour + parts +IVA I come to you established 2008 comp TIA A+ certified Tel: 646 587 746 donald_gunn_robinson@msn.com

drainage

Drainage Solutions

• Emergency Drain Cleaning • High Pressure Water Jetting • CCTV Surveys • Drainage Repairs • Location of Cesspits • Qualified Engineer • Expert Reports

Established 10 years in spain

950 634 562 950 120 718 Tel: 616 531 283 or 670 088 966 baby equipment hire

Tel: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ext 332 sales@soltimes.com

Cleaning of Septic Tanks ▪ Emptying of septic Tanks & Cesspits, with high pressure cleaning ▪ Small unblockages of pipes & drainage

Pool Cleaning & Water Tanks

Contact: 675 838 808

tanks with certificates • Repairs to existing pozos • CCTV Camera Inspection Call Andy on 950 091 109 or 648 768 587

for sale

soundlab combi mixer/ amplifier 10 channel with effects little used 450€ 654 066 538

SOLTIMES 950 121 936 www.soltimes.com

LADIES BIKE as new never used under electrics half price 40€, WARDROBE Radio mics for all your electrical needs light wood 2 (2) with base doors 2 draws, Rewires, fuseboard upgrades & surge station etc v.g.c. 1.75 tall protection, boletins, security lighting, new condition 70 wide 40 deep water heaters. little used AIR CONDITIONING & ALARMS for quick sale 80€ 30€ Almerimar FREE ESTIMATES & ADVICE area Tel: 950 654 066 538 Office: 617 410 534 497 122/616 885 each Please 849 Mobile: 662 414 043 call 634 328 142 Email: info@cdelectricalservices.com Gas fridge Paul www.cdelectricalservices.com 200€ - 47 x 21 S t a in l ess inches approx. ENTERTAINMENT steel floor Fully working no b a t h r o o m longer required cabinet with 2 Contact by email shelves and :- goldward64@ door 80x30 yahoo.c omTel: 15.00 Please 0044 127 335 call 634 328 142 8550 or mobile Paul (Not always a signal) 0034 687 S tee l gardening 332 036 racking for a garage or shed therm a l in white with 6 window shelves 180x75 professional tree blinds, keep the 20.00 Please cold out and felling & pruning, call 634 328 142 the warmth in Paul including all types of palm trees 100x150 grey strimming of overgrown in colour 10.00 A u t o m a t i c

Email: blockeddrainsrus@albox-online.net

CD Electrical Services

BLUES MAN CHARLIE

NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED HARD DRIVING BLUES TEL: 645 086 441 potty finca services

gardens & hedge cutting spanish registered. ring john or Ruth on 616 855 294 or 950 163 930

health & beauty pamper yourself at R Retreat El Cucador, beauty treatments, hair salon, holistic massage, waxing, pedicure etc. Therapists all established & UK qualified. Email retreatcucador.gmail.com or call 647 379 878 or look at our main advert on the ladies page inside & call the therapists direct avon cosmetics Tel Claire 691 987 454 avonfromclaire @yahoo.es NEW COMBINATION of Hits high intensity Interval training toning & conditioning of entire body Tel Viki on: 650 764 623 for more info

see us online everyday watering system timer for those hot summers to water your plants 10.00 Please call 634 328 142 Paul Gas fridge for sale. 200 euros - 47 x 21 inches approx. Fully working no longer required. Contact by email :- goldward64@ yahoo.com Phone:0044 1273 358 50 or mobile (Not always a signal) 0034 687 332 036

S hower base (70 x 70 cm. Ceramic), mixer/shower tap complete, with sliding shower screen... 65 Euros. Contact 950 439 hobby/craft 234 or 694 446 ELAINE’S WOOLS Quality UK 444 (Arboleas) Wool & Accessories. Come & view my DISPLAY. Also Available at CAT S a msung Services & Total Entertainment Call N etboo k 667 273 889 elaineswools@gmail. with windows 7, Microsoft word, com built in web cam. wanted As new. 120 Mans bicycle wanted for euros. Contact 950 439 234 or a charitable gift for a family with 694 446 444 no transport, good condition and (Arboleas) reasonable price please Tel: 607 gener ator 675 394 for sale 180€ ono for a quiz compare wanted more info phone Monday evenings 8pm - 10.30pm 649 186 107 at la vida cucador, A compare to compare our weekly quiz. For table tennis size more information please ask at full table 120€ the bar or call Rob on 609 199 394 Tel: 649 186 107

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

www.soltimes.com

www.soltimes.com insurance

iron/metal

albox

The Metal works Grills, railings, gates of all types, security/sliding/ roller, rejas, concertina doors etc. Tel: Keith Wood on 638 900 949

insurance

Award winning agent For all your Insurance Needs Please contact

Glenn & jayne 950 121 943

infoalbox.libertyseguros@gmail.com

legal services

Pets

Tel: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 ext 332 sat/tv services

removals

safe&securetransport Digital Vision 1.9 satellite dishes

No need for kennels or cattery Pet sitting in you own home, Arboleas & local area. Call Vanessa to & from uk 637 061 482 thermal lined & controlled

plasterer

ventilation ideal for pets

200€ dog - 179€ cats British plasterer All work 100€ birds

Guaranteed Tel:Paul: 634 327 201

PROPERTY detatched cortijo reduced

bargain

heavy loads welcome 4700kg with speed limiter fixed price quotes fully legal operation shop & offices to visit px goods to offset costs

www.movemypetsandstuff.com

call: 634 368 430

Satellite Services

based in Mojacar & all areas with 10 years experience covered

We offer competitive affordable rates visit

email: info@digitalvisiones.com

Tel: 645 294 064/950 472 081

removals

From a parcel to a small house move 20mins from mojacar, Professional,Friendly & Caring spain uk spain 4 beds, 2 baths, Open plan living areas, kitchen & diningroom as well as friendly Fully insured, scheduled

REMOVALS

a workshop, courtyard front & back & room for a pool. Mountain views. €125,000 ono 649 186 107 oremail thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

monthly door to door service

uk@fmtransport.co.uk

from a box to a full load Cars, Pets & passenger if req

Legal Services including: Conveyancing, NIE, Wills & Inheritance, Residencias, Cadastre, Notary / Court, Translations and much more. We speak English, Spanish, French & Swedish

Two bedroom beautifully furnished and equipped apartment in Cuevas LOCAL REMOVALS de Almanzora. 200€ per month plus electricity and water. Contact by email ALSO Calle Dinamarca 8,Mojacar Playa goldward64@yahoo.com Tlf. 646 844 708 SECURE STORAGE Phone:00441273358550 or mobile www.4wayconnections.webs.com (Not always a signal) 0034 687332036 LUBRIN ALMERIA SPAIN & ESSEX UK

Unwanted items bought for CASH locksmith Call: 634 310 512/634 349 347 Phil the Pick Locksmith 24 VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT or 07434434820 SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL hours. Locked Out? Locks fitted/ upgraded house safes. Arboleas & surrounding area. Special weekend rates. Tel: 697 243 181

De Lima’s

removals Local, National & international REMOVALS & STORAGE

logs for sale load of small or big Olive logs, no roots €165 load of mixed Olive some roots €145 load of eucalyptus, no roots €165 all loads 2 tonnes Arboleas & surrounding areas Call Lee on 636 092 632 eliteplanthire@hotmail.co.uk

2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM, pENTHOUSE APARTMENT IN VERA PLAYA ALL MOD CONS, BALCONY & ROOF TERRACE OFFERING FANTASTIC VIEWS cALL 663 977 230 EMAIL: gedfab@yahoo.com Vera Playa Apartment

for sale

mojacar playa front line apartment

1 bed apt with private, gated parking & gardens. Communal pool. Walking distance to amenities, shops and restaurants. Opposite beach. Sea views.

painter & decorator

friendly - professional -reliable all types of exterior & interior work

ring for a free quote

Tel: 649 186 107 or

email thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

€69,000

T: 646 844 708

Specialising in rural property with character Whether you are buying or selling we will be delighted to hear from you

Call Stephen 636 266 641 email info@findmeahome.es Find us online at www.findmeahome.es facebook.com/findmeahome

reliable All jobs considered

Call John on UK: 00447 939 +44 (0) 1582 499 836 88 0110 +44 (0) 7977 754 389 Spain: 0034 634 368 071 C & A REMOVALS & STORAGE chalmersJ8@ UK-SPAIN - SPAIN - UK hotmail.co.uk www.fmtransport.co.uk

Quality Second hand furniture showroom

263 Paseo del Mediterraneo Mojacar Playa, Next to Sal Marina Hotel Mon-Fri: 10am-3pm sat 10am-2pm Tel: 950 615 364 Call Marc on 647 006 183 or Brian on 674 280 268 or e-mail enquiries@delimas.biz

www.delimas.biz

fortnightly SERVICE TO & FROM UK FULL OR PART LOADS

SPAIN UK SPAIN Removals

Friendly Reliable Service Fully Legal Special deal from UK - Spain Office: 968 564 298 Mobile: 696 621 884

marmenorremovals@hotmail.com

advertise your business

Your business will appear as shown below and be seen by 55,000 Sol Times readers!

tel: Kate on 950 121 936

now in stock

we are the cheapest in the area

Tel: 620 112 193 642 310 103

www.digitalvisiones.com

UK - SPAIN - UK

If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic in our regular space on pg 17, please email info@daviessolicitors.com

upholstery

CUSHIONS CUSTOm MADE

•Foam replacement •Interior/Exterior Fabrics •Free estimates

Tel: 692 176 069

SOLTIMES 950 121 936 www.soltimes.com see us online everyday

TELEPHONE 950 121 936

Monday to Friday Between 10am & 5pm

or EMAIL us Send your advert or lineage to

sales@soltimes.com

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

are you a trade Business? advertise in the classified section & reach over 30,000 potential customers

Classified box from 9€. lineage only 45 cents per word Deadline 5pm Friday Contact Paulette on 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 ext 332

situations vacant

SOLTIMES

mobile mechanics

Mobile motor

have a vacancy at the office of Los Carasoles

mechanic

We are looking for a talented artworker to join our expanding team in our production department. You must be able to use

covering all areas, fully qualified & legal, over 30 years

INDESIGN & PHOTOSHOP

experience, Call Paul on

have a creative eye, love the pressure of working to a deadline and have a good sense of humour! If this sounds like you we want to hear from you

Please send your CV to editor@soltimes.com

SOLTIMES

We have a sales position to work from our local office in Zurgena. Do you enjoy a fast paced working envi r o nment ? newspaper group If you have an outgoing personality with bags are looking for of enthusiasm & enjoy the pressure of weekly Bright, enthusiastic sales people deadlines then we would love to hear from Send your CV to you. rob@soltimes.com or Experience is not essential as ful trainning wil be given call Paulet e on 950 121 936

mercedes

sprinter lwb van

excellent driver gets 35mpg ideal for return to uk 3500€ tel: 634 326 402 email: mikeannemojo@yahoo.co.uk Red Artic Cat Quad Bike for sale

situations vacant cont... Distributors

wanted

in all areas for new weight loss plan Effective product, no stock to buy, no minimum sales figure!

Great earning potential Call

678 99 20 93 urgently required warehouse staff must be

wanted

Casa Naranja Motos Motorcycle Breakers

Anything considered

350cc 4 Stroke 2x4 Road Legal disc breaks ,front and rear racks 13,500km clean quad 3500€ ONO Tel:610032459 Renault Kangoo Comfort Registered 2006. 150,000Km / 93,000Mls ITV June, Clean and reliable car which €4200 ono is a pleasure to drive. Excellent fuel consumption. A full tank will get you to the French boarder from Mojacar Full service in the UK 10,000Km/6,000 mls ago. Engine refilled with long life oil. Full track and wheel alignment. New Cam belt and tensioner kit installed when serviced New brake pads, stainless steel brake hoses, drive shaft boots, battery, air con radiator and air con service, Tow Bar Receipts available. Finance clear Call 638 195 077 / 07836 351776

number plates

“RE-PLATE” MATE

responsible hardworking & friendly part or full

2007 opel corsa essentia 1.3 CDTI, 5 door diesel cruise control, Drivers seat & steering wheel with height adjustment, 32387 kms, excellent condition, ITV due in June, Sale due to ill health 4100€ ono Phone: 950 334 397

We buy your unwanted bikes for cash, runners, non-runners or accident damaged.

617 150 300

Tel: 950426904 or 600384265 email

casanaranjamotos@hotmail.com

Do you have

a caravan, vehicle, boat or motor bike for sale To advertise your vehicle in the motoring section & reach over 32,000 readers

call Kate on

950 121 936 This size advert is only 15€

time tel: 681 095 096 or 622 288 750

SOL TIMES COSTA ALMERIA SALES HQ: 902 750 190/950 121 936 OPEN: Mon-Thurs 10am-5pm Fri 10am-4pm

ALBOX, ARBOLEAS, ALFOQUIA, ROQUETAS, ALMERIMAR coastal & mojacar areaS

EDITOR: editor@soltimes.com sales@soltimes.com POSTAL ADDRESS: Matthews Media SL, Los Carasoles, 27 - 04650, Zurgena, Almeria

motoring section for sale

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Film Review Magic in the Moonlight

“The world may or may not be without purpose but it’s not totally without some kind of magic.” Whether you’re interested in science or logic is there a place in your heart to believe that magic can and does exist? Sophie Baker (Emma Stone The Amazing Spider Man 2012) quotes Nietzsche as saying that we need our illusions to live. Stanley’s response is categorical: We can’t go round deluding ourselves.” More importantly, what about deluding others? “Magic” is regarded as being a lightweight American romantic comedy by Woody Allen. It is not considered one of his finer films although it has been described as being accomplished and worth watching for the two main characters when they are sparring. Imagine chalk and cheese. It’s just like that. Insults bounce off each other like a ball constantly hitting a brick wall. Meagre attempts at philosophising which just skirt around the meaning of life and the purpose of existence. Not altogether convincing but entertaining to watch. Stanley is so set in his ways, a stubborn man who always has to be right. The film attempts to explore illusions, trickery, deception however you want to describe it just like A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, The Railway Man) plays an obnoxious but world-famous illusionist and the film opens with Wei Ling Soo performing to a Berlin audience in 1928, mesmerised when he makes an elephant vanish into thin air. This is Stanley Crawford, an arrogant, bitter,

stuffy, egotistical and priggish man. He patronises the stage hands calling them Neanderthals and Assassins. The conductor is a blithering idiot and for the autograph hunters they are mental defectives. Watching the performance in awe is fellow illusionist and so-called friend, Harold Burkhan (Simon McBurney) who visits Stanley’s dressing room to congratulate him. His compliments are double-edged: “A genius with all the charm of a typhus epidemic.” Is this a friend speaking? Howard persuades Stanley to travel to the south of France with him, the Cote d’Azur, to abandon his fiancee Olivia and the promise of a holiday to observe a mystic who is preying on wealthy families like the Catledges. Stanley is notoriously regarded as the “greatest debunker of fake spiritualists” and he is delighted for this invitation to expose this sleezy fraudster. Visiting Provence also allows him the opportunity to visit Aunt Vanessa (Eileen Atkins), sharp-tongued and full of sarcasm for Stanley who welcomes him with the innuendo of being “boring to the point of perfection.” We do learn that Stanley had an unhappy childhood which he compares to a dark cloud that has followed him dogging his life. His life is shallow and meaningless until his beliefs are challenged by Sophie, another lost soul subjected to a poor childhood who has found an opportunity to break free of this poverty trap with her mother to lead a life of luxury with one milksop of a man, Brice Catledge who sees her as

pause for thought

It was in 1837 that Hans Christian Andersen wrote that wonderful children’s story about the Emperor’s New Clothes. One of the World’s great scams, where two decidedly ‘dodgy’ weavers persuaded the Emperor that they could create the most exquisite suit of clothes, visible only to those who were truly intelligent and completely fit for the office they held. So the Emperor was deceived, and wearing this imaginary suit paraded on a civic procession, accompanied by a host of fawning sycophants, all of whom were assuring him of how magnificent he looked – until a child, observing declared “But he’s naked!” and the deception fell apart. And what a great lesson this story teaches. Who really served the Emperor best? Certainly not the weavers; nor of course his courtiers who merely served their own interests by going along with their master’s delusion. So of course it was the child, who actually served him best by honestly confronting him with the truth. Yet doubtless the child was rapidly removed by his embarrassed parents and quite likely punished for his honesty. And how true still. How often in our working careers we’ve met people who use meaningless ‘managementspeak’ to cover their incompetence, surrounded by flattering toadies repeating phrases they don’t understand, lest acknowledgement

of their incomprehension should confirm their own ineptitude. The Emperor’s courtiers indeed! And let anyone raise an honest question, and they’re instantly labelled as troublemakers! And of course it’s not just at work, but in all walks of life, that deluded Emperors and fawning aids exist. And as Christians, we’re encouraged to be open and honest, not serving our own best interests by fanning the flames of delusion, but speaking the truth in a spirit of love, not confrontation. And as Christians, we need to recognise when we too may be in danger of becoming deluded Emperors, so recognising and accepting, rather than resenting, honest, childlike intervention. So, when Jesus met Nathanael, who’d asked how anything good could come from Nazareth, he described him as one who honestly spoke his mind. Details of a number of English Language Churches are given in Sol Noticeboard for any wishing to Worship, whilst additionally, further information about the Anglican Church in this area may be seen on the web site www.mojacarchurch. org Duncan Burr is Licensed Lay Reader for the Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Cálida and may be contacted at djburr@avired.com

the bees’ knees! “Sophie sees all, she can predict the future. She’s a visionary and a vision.” Is she really? Not according to Stanley! He is absolutely besotted with her and serenades her tempting her

reflection he rejects God and admits the act of prayer is twaddle. So we are back to where we started with Stanley believing that if God doesn’t exist, Sophie must be a charlatan. Interestingly, both sell illusions but in different ways. And that’s probably where the similarity ends. They spend time together and Sophie starts to develop some romantic feelings for a man who is unable to feel emotions in a similar way. And yet, he is the one who experiences an epiphany although vulnerable and susceptible to trickery, something he should understand well. His lifelong rationalism and cynicism have been misguided. Is this what he decides? Yes his world is turned upside down but can he come out of the experience a better and wiser person? “I’m a rational man who believes in a rational world. Any other way lies madness.” Apply his logic. If you believe in magic, if you ever delude yourself you inflict insanity upon yourself? Hopefully not. Allen’s ideals are not water-tight so enjoy the contrived romantic comedy and solve the riddle. How can a match made in heaven ring true for an atheist like Stanley or Allen?

with a life of luxury: yachts, expensive designer clothes, travel around Europe. The sky’s the limit. Sophie is tempted. Allen’s views on atheism come through solidly with Stanley, a bit of a contradiction himself. Acting out REVIEW it by Carol Naylor. of character, he attempts to pray www.carolnaylor.blogspot.com / to God for a full recovery for Aunt www.carolesleynaylor.wordpress.com Vanessa who has had a serious car naylorcl@hotmail.es crash, left in a critical condition. On

Greece bailout ‘troika’ may go The European Commission says the controversial EU-IMF troika supervising Greek finances could be replaced. The troika is a group of auditors representing the Commission, the European Central Bank and IMF. They carry out regular checks to see if Greece is sticking to its commitments under the EU-IMF bailout agreement. Greece’s new left-wing government does not accept the troika’s agenda. Instead it aims to renegotiate the bailout, to get a huge reduction in Greece’s debt. At a news conference on Monday, the Commission chief spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, quoted a pledge by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to replace the troika. “In the future, we should be able to replace the ‘troika’ with a more democratically legitimate and more accountable structure, based around European institutions with enhanced parliamentary control both at European and at national level,” Mr Juncker said in his mission statement last year. Mr Schinas did not expand on Mr Juncker’s proposal, stressing that “first we need clear understanding” of

the Greek position. Mountain of debt Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will hold talks with Mr Juncker in Brussels on Wednesday. Mr Tsipras, leader of the radical left Syriza party, won the Greek election on 25 January on a platform rejecting the troika and vowing to pull Greece out of the austerity imposed by international lenders. Syriza says the EU-IMF bailout conditions have impoverished Greece, fuelling unemployment and failing to reduce the massive debt pile. Greece still has a debt of €315bn (£237bn; $357bn) - about 175% of gross domestic product - despite some creditors writing down debts in a renegotiation in 2012. Mr Schinas called the existing bailout deal for Greece a “contract” and stressed that any revision of its terms would require “the unanimous agreement of all 19 members of the eurozone”. Greece’s current programme of loans ends on 28 February. There is no agreement yet on disbursement of the final bailout tranche of €7.2bn - and Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has said Athens does not want it. bbc.co.uk

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While pandas are often criticised as slow, lazy and maybe not the brightest of the bears, the young ones at a Chinese breeding centre are far from that, when motivated enough. In their case, the lure of milk in a neighbouring enclosure is enough to inspire a bit of extra effort from these giant pandas who manage to contort their cumbersome bodies through cell-like bars. These pieces of footage comes from CCTV cameras behind the scenes at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The centre is the same one that tourists can go to if they want to volunteer to be a panda keeper for the day for about £35, with a oneminute cuddle with one of the teenage bears an added bonus for £200. And for superfans of the cuddly panda, the cameras show rolling footage of the animals online. Known as PandaCam, the cameras broadcast the daily lives of the animals around the

world, allowing viewers to flick between cameras in the cages of both youngsters and adults with their babies. Footage shows how curiosity gets the better of the pandas as they squeeze through the bars of neighbouring cells. The first clever one has no problem getting next door without the key on New Year’s Day 2014, and shows how much fluff makes up its body mass while going through the metal bars. Of course, it’s not so easy for some, especially if they try to go back the other way. Footage of another from December 17, 2013, is a little tough to watch given how cute the creature is as its head gets stuck. dailymail.co.uk/

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Home & Garden

Top Tips For Buying An Overseas Property Every year, thousands of overseas property buyers proceed with their purchases, oblivious to just how much impact the exchange rate is having on the cost of their dream home, according to a new report from currency and overseas property specialist, Smart Currency Exchange. As exchange rates fluctuate on a minute by-minute basis, these can dramatically affect the price of the property. If exchange rates change during the purchase process, the price could change significantly, even taking it beyond budget. David Comber, a trader at Smart Currency Exchange, has seen this problem time and again, particularly with fluctuating sterling rates affecting property purchases outside the UK. He shares his top five currency tips and ‘tricks of the trade’ for a smooth overseas property purchase: Understand the consequences of currency fluctuations For example, a couple set their heart on a €250,000 property in Spain. When they first looked at the property, the available exchange rate was £1/€1.1807. If they were to buy it there and then, it would cost £211,738. As often happens in the property market, unforeseen circumstances occurred, meaning that their plans were delayed. When they were next in a position to look at exchange rates, they were at £1/€1.1624. This meant that the house had gone up in price to £215,072. They decided to wait a while, in the hope that the rates might move in their favour, but unfortunately they went the other way, ending up at £1/€1.1290.

For peace of mind, use a tool called a forward contract to ﬁx the property price Not many people know about forward contracts and how they can be used to avoid losing money when purchasing overseas. Forward contracts help remove the risk involved in buying abroad by helping to lock in exchange rates at the point that you commit to buying a property. Through using this technique, when the time comes to transfer the final balance for the property purchase, the currency rate remains the same, regardless of how the markets are moving at the time. Don’t wait to set up an account with a currency specialist – the sooner you act, the sooner you can

get access to valuable market guidance and current exchange rates If you know that at some stage in the future you will have to transfer money abroad, and are considering using a currency specialist for the international transfers, it’s important to sign up for an account and get access to a trader’s guidance and the currently available rates as soon as possible. This helps with budgeting and allows the opportunity to use products such as a forward contract to set the price of the property.

Know your budget before you travel This might seem like common sense, but it’s easy to get carried away in viewing overseas property. By having a clear budget from the outset, overseas buyers can ensure they get the most from their viewing trips and don’t waste time looking at properties that will be out of their price range. It also helps when looking at the exchange rates and deciding when and how to purchase.

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SOL SPORT & MOTORING

Almeria Bowling Club final score of 14-9 on the twentieth

Once again it was nice to see the very good support for our Two Wood Singles knockout competition which began on 24th and was completed Sunday 26th January. This is played as the title suggests with two woods and played to twentyone ends. The winner being, the first to twenty-one shots within the metre stick or with the most shots on completion of twenty-one ends. The winner was defending champion, John Fitzgerald who beat Jim Pike in a game that had everything in bowling skill sets. John playing his normal steady way and did not disappoint us with some superb shots, which at times was equalled by Jim. However, although this was a low scoring game it was John’s day, not letting Jim get in front throughout the game and finished with the score at 15-10 on the nineteenth end. John played Roy Tonkin in the first semi-final and as expected, Roy was his usual competitive self with the game level at the thirteenth end with the score 7-7. However also expected was John’s resilience and endeavour to win, which then put pressure on Roy to come in comfortably with the

end. Well done to both players for an entertaining game. In the other semi-final, Jim’s opponent was our strong singles player, Chris Ewer. Chris started well going into the lead on the twelfth end by one shot, Jim then consistently scored single shots for the next five ends when Chris just could not get the better of Jim. A no score end followed and although Chris scored two shots on the ninetieth end with the score at 12-10 and still had a chance to win, Jim scored the single shot on the next end to finish the game. Once again the standard of bowling was excellent throughout the competition On completion, Chris Brown presented the trophy to John and thanked the spectators for supporting all players. The markers were then thanked who without, we couldn’t run the competition. This report with photographs taken by Allan Deacon and Martyn Hayhow be found on our website www. bowlingalmeria.com Vic Parsons

19th Hole Golf Society

35 points securing 3rd place and collecting a Nearest the Pin on the 14th which he converted into a Two . In the Ladies Division Chrissie Dow is unstoppable, scoring 33 points; she comfortably took the Ladies top spot, Results - Mens Stableford; 1st Nigel Greenwood 37 points (18), 2ndTerry Caddick 36 points (18), 3rd Jerry Edwards 35 points (28). Ladies Stableford - 1st Chrissie Dow 33points (33), 2nd Ann Clough 26 points (36). Twos - Hole. 14 Mark Danson. Jerry Edwards Hole. 12 Don Harbron. Nearest the Pin 3rd Chrissie Dow, & 8th Christine Edwards 11th (with second shot) At Los Llanos Market. Arboleas Mark Danson 17th Pat Is offering a wide range of golfing services including: Odwyer. If you are - Supply and fit most types of grips interested in joining - Excellent selection of good quality balls the 19th hole give the - Extensive range of gloves - Large range of second hand irons, drivers, putters and sets of clubs. secretary a ring on - We can sell your used clubs for you. 610340653. or email www.randsgolf.com gs19 thhole@hotmail. daveandzeta@gmail.com 610 340 653 co.uk

On Thursday 29th January 24 eager golfers set off round the beautiful Aguilon Course to play this Stableford Competition. With Mark Danson back playing everybody knew that to win today would require a good score. With conditions best described as perfect it was Nigel Greenwood who raised his game to take 1st place with a Nett 37 points from Terry Caddick returning to good form on 36, and a really good result for Jerry Edwards scoring

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Cabrera Lawn Bowling Club stride and after 15 ends the score

Cabrera Lawn Bowling Club hosted the Ladies Singles Club Championship starting on 22nd January with the final being played on Sunday 25th January. There were some excellent rounds one of them seeing Lyn Stoyles knocking out last years ladies champion Judy Abel. The final, however, was contested by two ladies, Sandra Marriott and Sylvia Byrne, who had both played the more consistent bowls throughout the competition. The many spectators who had come to watch the final were not disappointed as Sandra and Sylvia both bowled beautifully. Sandra took an early lead and was 4 ahead after 4 ends but then Sylvia got into her

was level at 13 all. It is the first to 21 shots and after 25 ends Sandra was leading by 1 shot at 20 -19. On the next end Sandra managed to win the shot and the final 21 - 19. A thrilling final by

enjoyed everyone.

Congratulations to Sandra and well

done

Sylvia

to both

deser ving finalists.

CG MARINA GOLF SOCIETY Noel Smith 32pts, 3rd Richard Hine

We are a Golf society who play twice weekly, Wednesdays and Sundays, at Marina Golf Club in Mojacar. (Contact details are at the end of this report.). Sunday 18th January and a really good field of 26 players contested a for prizes in three divisions. Division 1 - 1st Andy Dennis 38pts, 2nd Jose Maria Ruiz 35pts, 3rd John Hill 33pts. Division 2 - 1st Tony Stubbs 37pts, 2nd Bob Winter 34pts, 3rd John Noel Smith 29pts (on countback from Tony Webster). Division 3 - Mary Higgins 34pts, Sylvia Bradfield 31pts (on countback), Jose Antonio Urroz 31pts. Wednesday 21st January and another terrific turnout of 28 players and good scoring after a cold start. Division 1 - 1st Andy Dennis 34pts, 2nd John Park 33pts, 3rd John Geaves 31pts. Division 2 - 1st Bob Winter 32pts(on countback), 2nd John

30pts. Division 3 - 1st Jose Antonio Urroz 33pts, 2nd Chris Lomas 32pts, 3rd Sylvia Bradfield 31pts. There were two 2,s at the second hole for John Park and Sylvia Bradfield and a great Eagle at the par 4 13th for Andy Dennis! For more information please contact Frank Button 625 131 513 or John Park at “parkie60@gmail.com”. (Apologies for the delay in publishing, ED)

SPORTS SHORTS from Tony Matthews

Having travelled over 25,000 miles by land, sea and air, I am now back in sunny Spain and this is his first set of sports shorts since early January * Andy Murray was beaten by world number one Novak Djokovic in the final of the men’s singles final in Melbourne, while Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova in the women’s final. * Also ‘down under’ England were thrashed by Australia in the final of the Tri-Nations cricket competition. The Aussies won by 112 runs. * England’s Moheen Ali has been named Wisden’s 2014 Cricketer of the Year. * Chelsea remain four points clear of reigning champions Manchester City after the top two drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. Manchester United are third after beating Leicester 3-1; Arsenal walloped hapless Aston Villa 5-0; Swansea won 1-0 at Southampton, their first victory on Saints’ spoil for 62 years, Celtic beat Glasgow rivals Rangers in Sunday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final and will now play Dundee United (2-1 conquerors of the holders Aberdeen) in the final. * Here in Spain, Barcelona came back twice to beat Villarreal 3-2 at the Nou Camp, Lionel Messi scoring a brilliant winning goal. Barcá remain a point behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

* Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Stuart Pearce - Duggie Freedman takes over. * AC Milan want to build a new 48,000 all-seater stadium. * Former Portugal and Real Madrid star Luis Figo is to stand for the Presidency of FIFA. * Football’s January 2015 transfer deadline ended on Monday night and it was expected that the ONE billion euro barrier will be smashed for the season. * Scotland’s Elsie Christie is the new European short-track speed skating champion. * Top boxing will make a return to ITV on 28 February when Carl Frampton defends his IBF super-bantamweight title against Chris Avalos in Belfast. * South African Brooks Koepka has won his first PGA title, claiming the Phoenix Open in The USA. * New England Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in rosing 2015 Super Bowl in Arizona. * F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has yet to sign a new contract with Mercedes. Ferrari are keeping an eye on the situation. * The 2015 Six Nations Rugby tournament starts on Friday with Wales v England; Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy play on Saturday. * Big PL derby games this weekend are Tottenham-Arsenal and EvertonLiverpool.

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SOL SPORT & MOTORING

huercal-overa cf slip up on the road

Edgar inspires Almería The Canary Islander’s goal against Getafe earns the Andalusian side an important win that pulls them out of the relegation zone. UD Almería beat Getafe CF 1-0 on Liga BBVA matchday 21, a result that saw the Andalusians record their first home victory of the season and also climb out of the relegation zone. The first half was a very even affair although neither side managed to trouble the opposition backline too much. The Madrid outfit looked the slightly more threatening of the sides and Julián Cuesta, between the sticks for the home team, managed to keep it all square by denying Álvaro Vázquez in a one-on-one situation. In the end, it was Almería who took the lead just before the half-time break, to put Quique Sánchez Flores’s men on

the back foot. A great bit of build-up play between Julián, Fernando Soriano and Tomer Hemed, ended with Edgar Méndez making it 1-0. Almería came out to defend their lead in the second half and the Canary Island striker came close to getting a second. Getafe, for their part, were unable to get into their stride and had to deal with another setback when Escudero was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card. From that point on, the Juan Ignacio Martínez-led team were on top and hung onto their slim advantage until the final whistle, even though Hemed was also sent off in the closing stages of the game. lfp.es

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Overa left back. Next up for Los Rojos is a home tie against a strengthened La Union side on Sunday the 8th Feb contact Lee Rickard Graham for more info via facebook or lee@r-gconsultants.com. Other results from Tercera G13 - F.C. Jumilla 1 – 0 La Unión C.F., C.D. Cieza 1 – 1 Huercal-Overa El Castillo CF, Águilas F.C. 2 – 1 Mar Menor C.F., A.D. Caravaca 2 – 1 E.F. Alhama, C.D. Plus Ultra 2 – 1 P.M.D. Fortuna, R. Murcia Imperial 3 – 1 E.G. El Palmar C.F., F.C. Pinatar 3 – 1 C.F. Molina, Cartagena F.C. 3 – 1 Yeclano Deportivo, C.D. Minera 0 – 2 Muleño C.F.

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Full Alarm System Full CCTV Fully Insured You are welcome to visit our premises to view before parking

40 SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015

Tel 902 750 190

www.soltimes.com

Do you feel like your home could do with some modernisation?

Then call into Homes & Beyond in Garrucha Your Kitchen & Furniture Store s n c g o i m p s l e e t e d k it s c e h ens t o u q e e r f

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Lounge and bedroom furniture

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Tel: 950 132 458

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Arrange a homesandbeyond2004@gmail.com Free Design Visit Urb La Solana Del Mar Local18 Today Garrucha,04638

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