Almeria 492

costa almeria

ISSUE 492

UK TELEVISION

24 - 30 JUN

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sunday Roast still the best deal in town!

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The famous duo Erroll Ross and Carlena (Queen Brit) appearing on Miraflores patio Fantastic bbq and show only €8.

why not upgrade to ribeye steak for only 4.50€ more

FridayS: Fish and Chips • SundayS: Carvery Roast

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4 courses with bottle of ESTE wine per couple & coffee inc Lunch 1pm - 4pm, Freshly Baked Bread Roast Lamb Shoulder & Pork Knuckle, 12oz Entrecote, 20oz T-Bone, 10oz Pork Tenderloin, children ’s Roast Potatoes & Fresh Veg. menu availa ble

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car of the week

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Mon: Roast Lamb Shank Tues: Rabbit in garlic & beer Wed: Roast Pork Knuckle

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All your favorite pasta dishes including Ravioli, Lasagne, Macaroni, Carbonara, Tortellini and a wide range of pizzas from Margaritas to a Meat Feast Open Mon - Sat 8am - 24pm,Sun 10am - 17pm

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2

June 2015

CLEAR AS MUD Have you spent hours pouring over other funeral plan websites?

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LET US HELP Iberian Funeral Plans offer straight forward, no hidden extras plans that are IVA (VAT) free and the chance to pay in INTEREST FREE instalments over a period of 60 months.

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For a no obligation chat or visit call: 965 993 498 • 951 203 994 • 952 595 691 or visit www.iberianfuneralplans.com Prices starting from 3,390€ Iberian Funeral Plans is a fully licensed and registered company in Spain, Portugal and the U.K. www.iberianfuneralplans.com

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Wikipedia to receive 2015 Princess of Asturias cooperation prize

Online encyclopedia Wikipedia has been named the winner of this year’s Princess of Asturias Prize for International Cooperation.

The jury of the prestigious annual Spanish awards highlighted how the website had “grown continuously” since its creation in 2001 to contain more than 37 million articles written in 288 languages by thousands of volunteers from all over the world.

In its Wednesday announcement, it compared the venture, which features among the world’s top 10 websites, to “the encyclopedic spirit of the 18th century” as, in a similar way, its model of “international, democratic, open and participatory cooperation” had “managed to make universal knowledge available to everyone.”

The site joins filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and basketball star brothers Pau and Marc Gasol among the 2015 laureates The site joins film director Francis Ford Coppola, basketball star brothers Pau and Marc Gasol and Cuban writer Leonardo Padura among the 2015 laureates for the Princess of Asturias Prizes, which are awarded each year to people and organizations around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities and public affairs.

Formerly known as the Prince of Asturias Awards, the 35-year-old prizes’ name was changed after Crown Prince Felipe became the king of Spain in June of last year, passing the heir title on to his eldest daughter Leonor.

Wikipedia, which had been among the favorites to scoop the International Cooperation award last year, has grown to receive around 500 million unique visitors a month and has around 25 million registered users, 73,000 of whom are active editors.

Born on January 15, 2001, the project was

the brainchild of American Jimmy Wales who teamed up with philosopher Larry Sanger to put it into action. The first site went live as a complement to Nupedia, a web-based encyclopedia written by experts that disappeared in 2003 in the wake of the runaway success of Wikipedia’s openaccess editing model.

Wikipedia has grown to receive around 500 million unique visitors a month and has around 25 million registered users Twelve of its versions, including the Spanish one, contain over a million entries and it also offers articles in indigenous languages, invented tongues such as Esperanto and dead languages like Latin.

“We are going to help boost small languages,” Wales said during an interview last month. “It will have an impact on the world. We are going to devote a lot of attention to supporting this.”

3

we buy

we sell sales rooms

the largest selection of second-hand goods in the area

sales rooms

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various dining sets available

The award comes with a cash prize of €50,000 and is given to those “whose work in areas such as public health, universal education, environmental protection and social and economic development, among others, constitutes an outstanding contribution at the international level.”

Among this year’s other aspirants to the award were Unesco, the Spanish Armed Forces and the European Space Agency.

Previous winners include education exchange organization the Fullbright Foundation, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, former US Vice President Al Gore, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Source: elpais

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4

Spain turns its back on the sun

In a country that has the fourth-highest electricity costs in Europe – around €80 per person a month – and where many regions enjoy plentiful sunshine, you might think it would make sense to encourage people to generate their own power.

Companies such as Ecooo and Solar Tradex, backed by powerful associations such as the Plataforma para un Nuevo Modelo Energético (Platform for a New Energy Model) and Som Energia (We Are Energy), are taking advantage of technological improvements to help people and businesses that want to produce their own electricity. But instead, the government seems set on protecting the interests of Spain’s power companies and is turning its back on solar energy.

The wave of technological advances begun in Silicon Valley is about to arrive in Spain and is set to topple the oligopoly enjoyed by the country’s electricity producers. Tesla, a company specializing in electric cars and electricity storage units, unveiled its latest development in April.

“The obvious problem with solar power is that the sun doesn’t shine at night,” said company founder Elon Musk, the man behind SpaceX and a cofounder of PayPal, at the launch. “We need to store the energy to use at night. But the issue with existing batteries is they suck.

They are expensive, unreliable and bad in every way,” said the man increasingly seen as taking on the visionary mantle left by Steve Jobs.

Tesla’s 10KWh battery costs €3,500 without fitting, and is designed for businesses. The 7KWh model can be

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bought for around $3,000. It stands 1.3 meters tall, is 86 centimeters wide, and 18 centimeters deep, and would be easily fitted into most homes.

The problem that Ricard Jornet and others who want to join the selfproduction revolution face is that the generation curve of solar energy tends not to match energy demand. In other words, solar energy is generated during the day, when the sun shines, but we tend to use more electricity at night, when it’s dark.

The rooftop of Montse Romanillos’ building in Madrid’s central Lavapiés district is lined with solar panels, but only 25 percent of the electricity they produce is used. The rest is given away, because it isn’t worth the hassle of filling in the forms to get a €100 refund, she says.

Proponents of self-production want to see a “net balance” introduced, which would allow the likes of Jornet and Romanillos to store their excess energy and then use it at night. They understand that this will involve costs, but point to systems already in place in Germany, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Denmark, the United States and Mexico.

But Spain, where 26 million households consume around 30 percent of total energy output – the rest being used by businesses, industry, schools, and government offices – is not only a long way from such regulation, but is about to publish draft legislation that will impose hefty taxes on small-scale renewable producers while ending payments for pumping their excess electricity into the national grid.

The first draft of the proposals was

June 2015

made public a year ago and either effectively put an end to many people’s plans to install solar panels or prompted them to do so without officially registering them. In response, the government, seeing difficulties ahead for the country’s power companies, wants to impose a tax on households that use newly developed batteries to store solar energy for use at night.

The latest version of the draft legislation comes just weeks after Tesla, a US company that also produces upscale electric cars, unveiled a range of batteries that are three times cheaper and more powerful than those available until now. In short, Tesla now presents a serious threat to the interests of Spain’s electricity producers and distributors.

Spain’s energy self-production policy is the opposite of that in most developed countries, says Cote Romero of Ecooo, a not-for-profit organization working to raise awareness among the public about home electricity generation.

Over the last decade, during which domestic electricity costs have risen by 80 percent, the country has gone from providing subsidies to small-scale solar energy producers to making people such as Ricard Jornet actually pay for generating electricity.

Since 2008, when Spain’s renewable energy boom was at its height, the cost of solar energy generation equipment has fallen by 70 percent. “It went from being a financial product to one about saving money,” says Jornet. But this government’s latest measures make

it practically impossible to recoup any investment in solar energy in the medium term. The new law will mean that it will take at least three decades to make good on self-production equipment, according to UNEF, the body that represents the solar energy sector.

A BRITISH woman has died in a paragliding accident in the province of Cádiz after her canopy folded in half in mid-air.

The 48-year-old, identified only by her initials of L. P., was a resident in La Línea de la Concepción, the southernmost town in Spain before the Gibraltar border.

She was an experienced paraglider and was only 30 metres into her glide when the wing folded in two, causing her to fall on her face and killing her outright in the impact.

Firefighters say the area where she fell, in the Sierra de Líjar mountain range near the town of Algodonales,

was very difficult to access and required helicopters to get there.

The Industry Ministry says it intends to push ahead with approving the legislation before November, when general elections are due in Spain, but many say that this is now unlikely, given that it will have to be debated in Congress, receive approval from the CNMC markets watchdog, and get the green light from Brussels.

“The objective is that the toll on regulated costs be the same for all consumers,” says the Industry, Energy and Tourism Ministry in a statement. “It is not possible to avoid the payment of tolls to use the national grid when there is no sun or wind. Therefore, this is not a tax to put a break on self-consumption.”

But Jorge Fabra Utray, an economist and expert in Spain’s energy sector, disagrees: “Two years ago, if a taxpayer put a solar panel on his or her roof and recouped the investment, the electricity produced would be cheaper than that provided by a utility. So why aren’t there more solar panels in our cities? Because the electricity companies are writing the rules.”

Source: elpais

British expat killed in paragliding accident They were called out at 14.45hrs yesterday (Sunday) and it took until 19.00hrs before her body was recovered.

Source: thinkspain

dinner ladies 5 boiling point

The pinnies are on, everything is prepped, the tea urn is full, and on Friday 26th of this month the shutters will go up at the Teatro Pedro Gilabert for the Luvvies production of Dinner Ladies.

Performances are on Friday 26th, Saturday 27th at 7.30 and Sunday 28th at 3.00.

Tickets are available from: Cat Services, Alfoquia.

1-Stop pools and Colin the Card, by Longos.

Total Entertainment, Albox and Arboleas.

Girasol and The Corner Shop, Albox.

Ideal and I-net Café, Huercal-Overa. or on the door before each performance.

For more information phone 634 346 309, or contact The Luvvies at their website, info@theluvvies.com

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Spanish shoe exports are growing faster than other goods

The region of Valencia accounts for over half of all Spanish footwear exports

The manufacture of footwear is a hugely important industry in the Comunidad Valenciana, Alicante Province [Image: Spanish shoe exports are growing faster than other goods] in particular having several key centres of shoe production.

The latest figures available show that in the first quarter of 2015 Spanish footwear manufacturers exported 46.6 million pairs of shoes with a value of 869 million euros, increases of 10.2% and 18.4% respectively in comparison to the same period last year, and an indication that footwear is one of the most prosperous sectors of the country’s economy at the moment. In overall terms, exports made by Spanish companies rose by 4.4% during the first three months of this year, meaning that shoe manufacturers outstripped the rate of growth four times over.

These are the best figures for the footwear industry in Spain since 2001, and

5

King Felipe's first year on the throne

are due largely to the success of selling Spanish products to other EU nation states. These sales have risen in 2015 by 16.5% in volume and 24.6% in value, with sales to France leading the way: exports to Spain’s neighbor in the north have risen by 24% in value and 26% in volume, and similar successes have been achieved in Italy (10% and -14.5%), Germany (21% and 28%), Portugal (24% and 1.8%), the UK (23% and 25%), Belgium (38% and 32%), the Netherlands (57% and 46%) and Poland (96% and 81%).

However, the same results have not been achieved in the rest of the world, where the value of exports has remained more or less the same but volume has dropped off by 8.7%. Only in the USA has the start of 2015 been positive, but this is offset by developments in Japan, China, Mexico, Turkey and Russia.

This is of particular interest in the east of Spain, due to 52% of all exported footwear in the first quarter having been produced in the Comunidad Valenciana, particularly the province of Alicante.

On the other side of the equation, footwear imports into Spain dropped by 7.3% in volume but increased by 15.3% in value, with China accounting for 67% of the total, followed at some distance

by Vietnam (9.5%). The overall footwear trade surplus came to 106.2 million euros during the first quarter.

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As King Felipe celebrates one year on the Spanish throne, The Local takes a look at what he has been up to during his first 12 months as Spanish monarch.

King Felipe VI boosts popularity of monarchy (16 Jun 15) King Felipe strips his scandal-hit sister of title (12 Jun 15) Spain's little Princess Leonor: A life in pics (20 May 15) King's Xmas speech hit by royal fraud case (23 Dec 14) On June 19th 2014, a Spanish prince became king as Prince Felipe took over from his father, Juan Carlos, who had announced his abdication on June 2nd.

Spaniards welcomed the new king, hoping he and his young family could bring a modern, more likeable face to the scandalhit royal family and during his first year, he seems to have succeeded.

According to a poll published on the first anniversary of his coronation in Spanish daily

El País, 81 percent of Spaniards support the way in which King Felipe is carrying out his duties, what could be seen as a resounding approval of Felipe's first year as king and a significant increase in support for the royal family.

But while Felipe has been praised for slashing his own salary by a fifth, as well as speaking out against Spain's brain drain his first year as king has not been completely plain sailing.

He has also been plagued by the scandals affecting other members of the royal family, including his sister's trial for tax fraud and the paternity claim against his father, King Juan Carlos.

Let us know how you think King Felipe has navigated his first 12 months as monarch in the comments and on our Facebook page.

Source: thelocal

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keeP the sun & heat out regulates body heat Here in Spain, we bring you a great value range of value for money essentials such as pillows, duvets, protectors, sheets and towels.

You´ll also find an amazing choice of curtains, voiles, poles and all those finishing touches such as cushions, bedspreads and throws.

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6

June 2015

7

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plas-tech

BUYING SOFA’S What Are Your Needs

Think before you hit the furniture shops. I would suggest one of the first

Windows

UK Window, Doors, Conservatories, Patio Doors and Guttering Enclosures Specialist

microfiber material. It’s hard wearing, sponge down or vacuum. I have sofas

70mm Profiles 28mm Glass Units things to do is sit in your living area and decide if you really need 3 + 2 Seater sofa set or would 2 x 2 seater sofas fit in better giving you more room and a better flow to your room. May be a 2 or a 3 seater sofa with one or two chairs would suit you better. If you have the energy have a little move around, it may give you a new vision to your needs for your room.

Are you a social person with lots of friends visiting and what time of the year does this occur. If you are more of a summer socialite does this mean most of your entertaining happens on your terrace rather than indoors, or are you a chef and prefer dinner parties and your entertaining is done more around the table in the winter.

What do you personally require from your sofas? Room for a kiss and cuddle or lay out with your head on you partners lap, well that’s enough of that said the actress to the Bishop.

This could affect your ideas for your living area.

Measure the sofas etc in the room so you are aware of the kind of space you have available to fit in your new buy, nothing worse than buying sofas just too big for your room. It’s an easy mistake to make as sofas always seem to look smaller in the shops set in a bigger area than your living room.

People come in wanting leather sofas and some people say they are cold to sit on in the winter and stick to them in the summer. This is just down to taste. Then we have the dog lovers, they want leather to wipe and their dog claws do not get stuck in materials, but will scratch leather. WELL great news for all these people, there is a range of

Have another look at your room, what colour is your furniture, what colour would you like your new sofas in? Not sure then get out your T-Shirts or scarves and try different colours against your furniture you will be surprised at what colour you may pick for a new image or a change.

One last word. If you are thinking of changing the rest of your living area furniture in the near future take this into consideration as well. Your new sofas may not be quite the ticket for a few months but it will mean they will suit your new furniture when it arrives.

Remember, they always say buy your most expensive item in the room first and build the rest of your furniture and accessories around it.

Sofas can be an expensive item so get it right first time and enjoy your comfort.

So try before you buy and find the right one to suit your body and requirements.

Written by Chris of Furniture Plus

Internally Beaded for Security Sola Reflective Glass For Hot Summers

in this material myself for the last year or so, my 2 dogs love it and cosy in the winter, no sticking in the summer. The colour ranges and designs are better than a year ago.

Would you like recliners in your sofas, now these are great to get your feet off the cold floors in the winter and put your feet up in the summer when those ankles swell up, would not be without mine. One word of warning, if you want your husband to stay awake during the winter evenings - may be not such a good idea.

Happy in the knowledge that they didn’t buy a fly enclosure because they’re going to be nice ‘n’ warm this winter just as they were nice ‘n’ cool this summer!

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8

June 2015

An Elegant Year For Katie

Twelve months ago hairstylist Katie Foxhall

FREE LUNCH SPAIN

I would like to congratulate the team at Free Lunch Spain as they are celebrating their first anniversary of informing the community about life in Spain.

In the last year experts from four local companies have answered over 1,000 questions from the people who have attended. This has been a fantastic and a really great opportunity to get all the facts.

Everybody is able to ask the experts in various fields about how things work in Spain which is a fantastic opportunity.

Once again the highly respected UK & Spanish companies based in Almeria are inviting all British, Irish & European nationals, spending time or living in Spain, to a meeting to answer all the questions they have regarding life in Spain. Some of the topics that will be covered will be as follows:1. Savings 2.

Wills – New law in place from August 17th 3. Pensions 4.

Inheritance law and taxes in Spain 5.

Currency exchange 6.

Spanish funeral system Experts from four companies will

also be providing professional advice on all these topics and answering all the questions.

Everybody who wishes to attend the event can send their questions in advance and the answer will be provided at the meeting. How fantastic is that!! We could have all done with this type of event years ago.

Once all the questions have been answered then everybody will get a free lunch at Camping Los Gallardos.

The events will begin at 12 noon on Thursday 25th June 2015. Lunch will be served at 1.30pm To register your question and to attend this unique event you can e-mail freelunchspain@gmail. com with your name address and telephone number or call 966 799 070. Spaces are limited so I am off to register right now. The thing is I have about ten questions that need answers. Apparently the experts will have an answer for each one! Great news.

Almeria, Murcia & Alicante

Tel: 950 092 602 or 634 317 666 Email:

info@exclusiveairportshuttles.co.uk

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selecciones NEW STOCK ARRIVING DAILY REGULAR MONTHLY ikea runs call in to place your order

Delivery, STORAGE & collection available house clearances - items taken in on consignment find us on

Buy & sell turre

set out her stall when she named her brand new salon Elegance.

Since then, her many loyal clients have tracked her down to the Turre sidestreet which is home to the wellequipped premises, and new customers are flowing through the door, seeking out the skills of a hairdresser trained

by Teasy-Weasy Raymond, the most famous stylist of his time.

Katie’s well known and unique brand of cheerfulness always makes a visit to Elegance a pleasure, whether for cut, colour, a change of look, or pampering by top beauty therapist Lorraine or ace nail technician Natalie.

Open to Ladies and gentlemen Tues-Sat until 3.00 pm, why not call 634 30 88 77 for an appointment?

Jose Morales Hair Extensions • Head Massage Hydro Therapy Brazilian Hair Treatment Bridal Packages • Make-Up Avda Almeria 45 Turre Call 950 479 415 or 667 554 968

The Treasure Trove dealers in quality furniture & household items Antiques & Bric a Brac Collectables & Pet supplies

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9

Home & Garden piece of advice she always gives to customers, Cathy D’Ascenzo, a Home Depot kitchen designer in White Lake, Michigan, says, “Non-buyer’s remorse: Don’t allow it to happen.”

A lot of times, consumers scrimp on budget and miss out on features they later regret not purchasing. She explains to go ahead and spend the extra money now for organizational pieces people often overlook, like rollout drawers, because it can be

kitchen design

modern look without being too harsh,” Lenwai concurs. “[They] want a sleek look without being medicinal or clinical.”

As a general rule, advises Fishburne, rooms that are lighter in color feel more open.

Drainage Solutions

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

FIRST STEPS harder to add them later.

“It all starts with a dream,” says Sarah Fishburne, the DEAL WITH SMALL SPACES director of trend and design for The Home Depot. She Sarah says the key is to maximize your vertical space. advises customers to do their homework: Get familiar “[Being] well organized makes small spaces function with what’s in the market, start clipping inspiration better. Taller cabinets and super cabinets [from the photos, and start saving money!

Martha Stewart Living line] are super space-saving Once that’s done, “... make an appointment with pieces.” a kitchen designer. A designer will point out things you wouldn’t have thought about, like kid-friendly Hallie seconds that. “Be thoughtful about the type of organizational pieces, two dishwashers if you’re cabinet you’re using. Get the most out of your storage, a busy family, or banquet seating.” A designer, she like adding more drawers to create easier access.” says, can help customers fill in the blanks of their TREND ALERT! kitchen design, and really get the kitchen they want When asked about what’s big in kitchens right now, and deserve Fishburne says open floor plans are on her radar. “And invisible kitchens,” or kitchens designed to effortlessly KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES Make a list of needs and wants. If you make a list transition into a living or dining space, she says. of things you have to have versus things you can Cool colors, like whites and grays, are hot on her live without early in the process, it will really help list as well, like the Sharkey Gray cabinets from the with your budget later on, advises Fishburne. Most Martha Stewart Living important, understand the flow of your kitchen -- or line. She says using like the “work triangle” -- and the lighting! Says Fishburne, colors and then tying “A lot of customers forget about lighting. There are so the look together with a many ways to light [a kitchen], and you want a well-lit contrasting or textured pool sureste sl made with “Gunite” kitchen. Lighting can really elevate a kitchen design.” backsplash is definitely a trend she is seeing.

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Greece debt crisis: EU leaders hold critical summit

Greece faces a critical 24 hours as European leaders hold an emergency summit that could break the deadlock around the country’s debt crisis.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras said he hoped Greece would “return to growth within the eurozone”.

But European ministers have said there is still no basis for making a decision for aid for Greece on Monday.

On Sunday, Mr Tsipras set out new proposals to try to prevent a default on a €1.6bn (£1.1bn) IMF loan.

But he has ruled out pension cuts, higher power rates, and an excessive budget surplus.

Greek debt talks: Main sticking points · Greece will not accept cuts to pension payments or public sector wages, saying two-thirds of pensioners are either below or near the poverty line · International creditors want pension spending cut by 1% of GDP - it accounts for 16% of Greek GDP. They say they want to target early retirement not lower-income pensioners · EU officials say Greece has agreed to budget surplus targets of 1% of GDP this year, followed by 2% in 2016 and 3.5% by 2018. Greece says nothing is agreed until everything is agreed · Creditors also want a wider VAT base; Greece says it will not allow extra VAT on medicines or electricity bills · Greece complains creditors focus on increasing taxes instead of cracking down on tax evasion; IMF is concerned Athens is not offering credible reforms But on Monday Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said there were “no

substantial proposals” from Greece.

Arriving for the summit, he told reporters he had nt seen anything new from Greece so far and “without anything new, there is nothing for the ministers to prepare for their leaders”.

The head of the group of eurozone finance ministers, Jeroen Dijsselbloem of the Netherlands, said it would be “impossible to have a final assessment” as the Greek proposals were very recent, but they would “hopefully [form] the basis for final talks”.

Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb said he did not see a deal being reached on Monday. “We have wasted a lot of air miles, both on the finance ministers’ side and on the prime ministers’ side,” he said.

Greece must repay the loan by the end of June or risk crashing out of the single currency and possibly the EU. Talks have been in deadlock for five months. The European Commission, the IMF and the European Central Bank (ECB) are unwilling to unlock the final €7.2bn tranche of bailout funds until Greece agrees to economic reforms.

Source www.bbc.co.uk

June 2015

More than half of voters unhappy with results of municipal elections

Survey reveals rejection of the pacts reached between parties to attain power Spaniards have reacted with dissatisfaction to the pacts and agreements reached between political parties in order to choose mayors, after the recent municipal elections of May 24 left many city and town halls without a majority leader. That’s according to a post-electoral poll carried out for EL PAÍS

by Metroscopia between June 15 and 17.

The municipal elections saw the conservative Popular Party (PP) lose huge ground, leaving it without majorities in municipalities up and down the country. As a result, other parties were able to do deals to see their candidates voted in as mayor, despite not having been the most-voted group. The most high-profile examples of this came in Madrid, where Manuela Carmena became mayor after running with Podemos-backed group Ahora Madrid, and in Barcelona, where former anti-eviction activist Ada Colau took city hall, running with Barcelona en Comú.

The municipal elections saw the conservative Popular Party lose huge ground, leaving it without majorities in municipalities up and down the country According to the poll, 57% of voters say that they are not satisfied with the choice of mayors across Spain. However, of those respondents, 49% say that they are happy with the mayor voted into power in their own municipality, compared to 43% who say they aren’t There is no such nuance when it comes to the dissatisfaction of PP leaders, however, when it comes to their having lost power in many councils where they were the mostvoted group. And that feeling has trickled down to the majority of the party’s voters.

A total of 82% of PP voters say that they are unhappy with the election of mayors in Spain, while 64% of those who voted

“English spoken”

for Ciudadanos – an emerging center-right party, which has entered into pacts with the PP based on anti-corruption measures, among other requirements – say that they are unhappy with the results.

Not so for voters of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Podemos, however, whose agreements have held the key to power in many councils, including Madrid. For the PSOE supporters, 52% are happy with the results, and 67% for Podemos voters.

What’s more, 88% of Podemos voters said that they were satisfied with the pacts that the party had reached in the wake of the elections. For PSOE voters, the figure is 75%.

88% of Podemos voters said they were satisfied with the pacts the party had reached in the wake of the elections Again, the opinion of PP voters follows the public statements of their leaders. The agreements reached between the PSOE and emerging parties such as Podemos were slammed by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (PP), who described the PSOE as being “radical” and as having embraced parties of the “extreme left.” The survey revealed that 77% of PP voters deplore the pacts that the PSOE had reached.

PP voters also had harsh opinions of the electoral system itself, with 92% stating that “the most democratic result is for the party that obtained the most votes to govern, even if it didn’t achieve an absolute majority.

That statement garnered the support of 72% of Ciudadanos voters, while 52% of PSOE voters and 73% of Podemos voters stated that they disagreed, according to the Metroscopia poll.

The one thing that voters from all four parties agree on is the objective of the pacts: to remove the Popular Party from power. el pias

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law company in Albox, dedicated in offering its clients a professional service. Here at Mario solicitors office, we specialise in different law areas; Conveyancing, tax, Inheritance, Spanish wills, traffic issues, translations along with obtaining Spanish Identifications numbers, Catastral issues and obtaining documentation for escritura. Mario solicitor´s office has and always will be dedicated in helping expats relax and enjoy life in Spain. Call now and make an appointment to see Mario with any legal queries you have, on 950 430 222 or come visit us at Calle Andalucia, 2, 04800 – Albox (next door to Taberno el Saliente bar, on the same road as the Guardia Civil.

Lulu’s Dog Grooming Parlour

City & Guilds trained Lisa looks after and handles all dogs with the utmost care. Lisa opened after years of working for various vets in and around the area. So much was the demand for her skills that she opened a parlour of her own next to Eurowise on Avda.

Lepanto. Your pet will certainly be pampered after a visit there! Lisa also stocks a wide accessories for your pooch. Pop in for details of her new stock, including Scalibor, flea, tick & dental treatments and the cheapest prices on Royal Canine food in the area! Now Closed on Mondays. For more information or to book an appointment call 950 952 940 / 600 046 557.

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The hot weather is here and we want to offer you a wide range of products to keep your devices fresh. Also, we can clean your laptop/desktop from 20€, we are sure they are quite dirty now the winter and the wind has finished.

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Summer is here, so what better time to relax by the pool with a good book... Look no further than The Book Box in Longo’s courtyard. Jay has a fantastic selection of quality books, all in good condition.

In fact, Jay has more than 20,000 books across all genres, so you’re bound to find the right book. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, have a chat with Jay and she will add the details to her “Wanted” list. When the book comes in Jay will contact you – how’s that for service?

Every book is cleaned and catalogued before being displayed, and prices range from 1.50€ to 4€ maximum. You can also drop your old, good condition books off here.

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12

June 2015

Make your own tee pee

Every kid (or mum) loves a good cubby house and this beautiful tee pee and cover can be sewn at home by an experienced crafter.

again. Frame is done, now we are half way there.

Step 4. Lay your fabric out and using the measurements provided on the layout images (below main image), mark out the layout on your fabric with a ruler and fabric marker. Don’t forget your seam allowances! See images in our notes section What you need: for the layout. Cut out your fabric pieces remembering to cut 5x 18mm diam wooden out the slit in the door. dowels 180cm long (about 71″) power drill 5mm drill bit 5mm thick cotton rope bundle, min length 1m measuring tape pencil sticky tape sandpaper (optional) 1x queen size bed sheet (flat) Sewing machine and general sewing supplies 3m bias tape for trims and ties measuring tape (with inches) soluble fabric marker or tailors chalk long ruler or piece of dowel Activity: Step 1. Gather your supplies and clear a suitable work area for using your power drill.

Step 2. Mark the hole positions by measuring 26cm down from the top of the dowels with an X then Step 5. Add bias tape/binding around the door opening. carefully drill one hole in Step 6. Make 6 x 30.5cm bias tape tie cords by sewing your each dowel. Thread the rope bias in half. Pin and sew 4 ties to the door panel about 30cms through the holes that you apart so they are equally spaced from the top and the bottom. have created.

Reserve the 2 remaining ties for later.

Step 3. Pull a good length Step 7. With WRONG sides of fabric together, sew together through to leave a couple of the long edges of the 5 panels. The seams should be on the long ends. Tie a knot firmly outside of the cover at this stage (as pictured) then wrap the rope around a few times and knot firmly Step 8. Now we will hem the top opening edge. Roll a small edge over twice so there are no raw edges exposed towards what will be the inside of the tent and sew hem 1.25cm seam.

Kinetic sand molding set. It plays a lot like play doh type of Step 9. To make the tubes that the poles will feed through to toy but the feel is a bit difference. It is great for playing in the keep everything together, sew a seam down the long sides of garden or outdoors during the summer season. each long panel with the correct sides of the fabric facing each However, do note that the set comes with only 1 pound of other. The seam width should be about 2.5cm but depending sand. It is not nearly as much as being shown on the box. If you on your dowel or your first seam you may have to make it just think you need more sand, please order more when you are slightly wider or narrower. Try testing if the dowel fits snugly buying the Kinetic Sand. though one tube before you sew the rest. The photo shows you Insect lore live butterfly what the top of the cover should look like inside out.

Cultivating your own butterfly is very cool way of playing.

Step 10. Before feeding your frame through the cover, the This purchase comes with a couple of caterpillars in a box bottom seam needs finishing. Poles shouldn't stick out the with some food for them to chew on. However, you need to bottom. Feed frame in to guide tubes through top opening. buy the habitat for them during their chrysalis stage. Without Two people may be required for this step. it, the caterpillars can’t change into butterflies.

Step 11. Using the two remaining ties that we reserved earlier, The best way to move the caterpillars when they in their pin them in your desired position. These tie onto the bottom chrysalis stage is to move the lid only since they will attached door ties to hold the door open. Sew into position. themselves to it. This will save you the trouble of dealing with Notes: their poop which is smelly and disgusting.

Try adding on small loops for tent pegs at the base of each pole.

Best water play table from Little Tikes By pegging the Tee Pee in place when outdoors, it prevents One toy that is truly belonging to the summer toy category gusts of wind blowing it over. is this water play table from Little Tikes. There are lots http://www.kidspot.com.au/ of fun things your kid can play with as each corner represents a different activity. For example, you have one corner for the kid to press the button you can make so with this Fireman Minion toy form 2014. The siren can be activated by hugging with the lights lighting up. It and produce underwater bubbles. is a pretty amusing tool that can brighten any kid’s day.

The set comes with little accessories like a squirting ball for kids to squirt Lawn mower toy water at each other. There is also a water Another great outdoor summer toy by Little Tikes. This time, bucket for kids to play with such as it is a fun lawn mower toy for kids to stimulate the real thing. It refilling water etc al. is packed with features such as You have to do a little set up but the producing sound when being moved water play table promises to be a fun producing engine rolls when the cord is pulled summer toy. It is very affordable too! removable parts to played with Fireman Minion Overall, this is a well made toy that you kid will love to move With a 2015 movie on its way, Minions around in the garden when summer comes. Recommended! looks to be another summer toy that many kids will desire. Since there are no new toys being annouced yet, http://kidcrave.com/

Best summer toys for 2015 With summer coming in a matter of months, here is a handy guide for you to consider what summer toys you might want to buy for your kid. Since summer is usually associated with the outdoors, most of the toys recommended here will be more outdoor based to let your kids and yourself enjoy the sun while playing.

High back swing with coated chains Nothing beats the old fashioned swing if you want a classic summer toy that kids will enjoy using for a while. This high back full swing from Easter Jungle is not only more comfortable but has a deeper seat for extra safety. It is great for really young kids between the age of 2 to 4.

Trike with parent handle Another cool summer toy for 2015 is this red and white tricycle, or tike for short, with parent handle for them to exercise better control when their kid is riding. From all the trike with parent handle reviews on Amazon, this Schwinn model seems to be the most top rated choice.

Most parents found it to be well built and secure.

They also reflected that kids generally love riding it. However, there is a main flaw which is the squeaky sound that the trike makes. It takes quite a few months for it to go away and adding oil doesn’t solve the problem.

Lego Minecraft Although not an outdoor toy but the Lego Minecraft set will surely be on the wishlist of every kid who has played Minecraft. There are a couple of different Lego Minecraft sets available for sale but this one on the ender men seems to be the most popular. If your kid loves Minecraft, buy this!

Kinetic sand One of the hottest new toy in town is the

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8 Summer Steps for

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Improve your health with steps so simp le you'll barely notice the effort.

By Kathleen Doheny

some are sport-specific.

6. Vacation Time!

Improve your heart health: take advantage of summer's slower schedule by using your vacation time to unwind.

Vacations have multiple benefits: They can help lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones such as cortisol, which contributes to a widening waist and an increased risk of heart disease.

7. Alcohol: Go Lite Summer's a great time to skip drinks with hard alcohol and choose a light, chilled alcoholic beverage (unless you are pregnant or should not drink for health or other reasons).

A sangria (table wine diluted with juice), a cold beer, or a wine spritzer are all refreshing but light. In moderation -- defined as one to two drinks daily -- alcohol can protect against heart disease.

In the warmer, longer, lazier days of summer, the living may not be easy, but your life probably feels less chaotic.

Even adults tend to adopt a "school's out!" attitude in summer. That's why this is a perfect time to improve your health in a fashion so seasonally laid back you'll barely notice the effort.

reading on your patio, or when watching TV -- and the task will breeze by.

To get you started, WebMD went to eight health experts in fields such as diet, fitness, stress, vision, and oral health. We asked them this: If you could only suggest one simple change this season to boost personal health, what would it be? Here are their top eight tips.

4. Get Outside to Exercise

1. Give Your Diet a Berry Boost If you do one thing this summer to improve your diet, have a cup of mixed fresh berries -blackberries, blueberries, or strawberries -- every day.

They'll help you load up on antioxidants, which may help prevent damage to tissues and reduce the risks of agerelated illnesses. Blueberries and blackberries are especially antioxidant-rich.

A big bonus: Berries are also tops in fiber, which helps keep cholesterol low and may even help prevent some cancers.

Flossing reduces oral bacteria, which improves overall body health, and if oral bacteria is low, your body has more resources to fight bacteria elsewhere. Floss daily and you're doing better than at least 85% of people.

Pick one outdoor activity -- going on a hike, taking a nature walk, playing games such as tag with your kids, cycling, roller blading, or swimming -- to shed that cooped-up feeling of gym workouts.

And remember, the family that plays together not only gets fit together -- it's also a great way to create bonding time.

5. Be Good to Your Eyes To protect your vision at work and at play, wear protective eyewear. When outdoors, wear sunglasses that block at least 99% of ultraviolet A and B rays.

Sunglasses can help prevent cataracts, as well as wrinkles around the eyes.

And when playing sports or doing tasks such as mowing the lawn, wear protective eyewear. Ask your eye doctor about the best type;

2. Get Dirty -- and Stress Less To improve your stress level, plant a small garden, cultivate a flower box, or if space is really limited, plant a few flower pots -- indoors or out.

Just putting your hands in soil is "grounding." And when life feels like you're moving so fast your feet are barely touching the stuff, being mentally grounded can help relieve physical and mental stress.

3. Floss Daily You know you need to, now it's time to start: floss every single day. Do it at the beach (in a secluded spot), while 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

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8. Sleep Well Resist the urge to stay up later during long summer days. Instead pay attention to good sleep hygiene by keeping the same bedtime and wake-up schedule and not drinking alcohol within three hours of bedtime.

It's also a good idea to avoid naps during the day unless you take them every day at the same time, for the same amount of time.

There they are: Eight super simple ways to boost your health this summer. Try one or try them all. They're so easy you won't even know they're -- shhhh -- good for you.

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June 2015

LEGAL CORNER Hello and welcome to CanDu Computer bank details, or social Bytes. Last week I had the delightful security number. Maybe company of a professional singer who had the odd key logger to several problems with her laptop. This lovely steal your personal lady uses a laptop, as do many artists out information, but only if here, to provide the backing to the songs that she sings (a backing group can be so you had been extremely inattentive as to what expensive).

First, I have never had the pleasure you were downloading. of hearing this lady sing but am looking It is sad to say, you and forward to the opportunity. My skills, as I I aren’t anywhere near important enough to have demonstrated time and time again, are warrant the time and effort that these people in the diagnostic and repair of computers. have to expend getting onto our computers!

In this case the problem was that the lady couldn’t find the program that she liked to We would have to be a high-value target — use and the updated version had changed so say, at a big business or government agency.

The next part of their article suggested much that the comfortable feeling you have that there are no longer any clean and with a familiar program was lost!

With a little effort I managed to find the safe Freeware Download Websites. I have version of the program she liked and through to agree that there are many websites pigheaded determination, installed and that I avoid because they insist on using configured it. After all this I found that the a ‘downloader’ which in turn ‘encourages’ computer had picked up some malware and other assorted ‘junk’ (I really should have you to download this or that program, checked that first but, as I like to give value some of them are out and out malware! So for money, I did what was asked of me). my advice is to be very wary when using After less than an hour, start to finish, the an unfamiliar freeware download site. Most laptop had the correct software, properly sites will plague you with adverts about this install and configured and was virus, adware and that, but they are annoying rather than and malware free! being harmful. Having said that there are The moral of this little tale was summed up sites like NINITE who repackage software beautifully by the lady who said “I have had many computers ‘fixed’ by other people, but to remove the ‘junk’. There are others of a you are the only one who has actually done similar nature with a far better selection of what I ask, leaving the computer exactly as programs. Windows 10 are finally following I wanted it and taken the time to show me the Linux model of having a centralised place what your are doing!” This was the loveliest for all the good stuff without the dross! So thing that anyone has said to me for a while maybe in the near future this article will be and maybe you will remember it as long as exiled with all the other article on windows I will.

95, DOS and Wordstar (Remember any of Now on to other things. I have been reading about 12 myths about computers them? :-) Finally, just a thought. Why wait a week or that just won’t die! So I decided to look at a couple of them and have a debunking more for someone to come out to resolve (putting the truth out there) session. The your computer problems, using the excuse first of these myths is that there is someone that they are too busy or worse short staffed. out there constantly trying to get into your There are a few of us highly qualified and computer. Tosh!!! trained professionals who can come out the Yes, it’s a dangerous Internet full of malware same day and have you up and running. Just and social engineering schemes out there.

But the Hollywood fantasy of a “hacker” a thought :-) Until next week have a good actively trying to compromise your PC is just one.

Contact me for free advice concerning your complete BS (Bull ….). Attacks are generally automated, using scripts to search for open computer, or to arrange an appointment, at security holes on unpatched computers. the address or phone number below.

You probably will get the occasional For further information or advice on phishing email computing,contact Trevor on 689 892 745 or trying to get your canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk credit card number,

Phone Stress 1

That magical time approached; when the shackles of my phone contract after 2 years could be thrown aside and my megalithic mobile could be upgraded to a shiny new thing. After too many years with Movistar and being driven mad by the ‘happy happy happy’ song when put on lengthy holds by what they loosely term customer service; I’d changed to Vodafone two years previously.

For one the music wasn’t as bad and more importantly the customer service people were always prompt, polite and helpful. Thumbs up from me and even though the bills were just as horrifically high as before at least they were cheerful about it.

I decided to give Vodafone another go and popped along one afternoon to the same store I’d got my current phone from. I carried every conceivable piece of ID I could think of plus my old contract.

Also a few days earlier, I’d been through the latest brochure and made a list of the tariffs and phone I needed. In short I was brimming with confidence.

A helpful lady called Ana looked at my old contract and pressed a few buttons on her keyboard; the computer said no! She tried again, still No! Ana told me that I didn’t exist which was strange asa I was standing in front of her. She tried again and the computer kept Ana and me waiting for nearly half an hour as she said it was ‘processing.’ Eventually we

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 Less inheritance tax for non resident heirs starting 2015: Inheritance tax discrimination of non residents finally ended this Christmas: Q. I have been told that non resident heirs now pay less inheritance tax if the inherit from their parents or spouse. Is this correct?

A. On the 3rd of September of 2014 the European Court of Justice sentenced Spain to pay a specific person back some of their inheritance tax on the basis that if they had been a resident in Spain they would have been allowed higher exemption rates. (In Spain each autonomous region has created extra exemptions for their residents , and as non residents can not take advantage of this they are discriminated (more or less depending on which autonomous region we compare their situation with.).

Unfortunately the sentence itself did not change the SPANISH legislation and did not provide a system establishing who could claim money back or any way of non residents not having to pay their inheritance tax as usual.

All it did was recommend that Spain adapt it´s legislation.

In other words after the sentence of 3rd of September of 2014 non residents still had to pay as usual with the only difference that if they took the

Spanish government to court after a few years they may obtain a similar sentence by the ECJ. We wrote about this when the sentence was dictated and you can find it on www. daviessolicitors.com (on the blog) Spain in this case has acted quickly and has adapted it´s legislation.

We have just got back from the Christmas Holiday to find a new norm signed during the holiday (31st of December 2014) that creates new forms for non resident heirs that allow them to apply the deductions that they would have been entitled to if they had been a resident of the autonomous region of Spain with higher exemptions (1. as long as they consider that a. they are indeed being discriminated which is not always the case and 2. and that they invoke the autonomous region with the largest connection (mainly where the assets are situated which is easy when their is only one or they are all in the sam autonomous region).

For further information about this and who is actually affected by the situation, please read our previous article which we printed back back in September of 2014 (copy on our blog) when the sentence was issued by the ECJ.

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.

Enjoy Stephens musings? Pop over to www.findmeahome.eu as the articles are posted on there too...and they’re a bit longer too! Findmeahome are always looking for quality homes for their sales and rental portfolios, please contact Stephen for a valuation: info@findmeahome.eu Telephone: 636 266 641

were told again that I didn’t exist.

Customers came and went, each clutching their shiny new phones. Ana to cheer me up went to the stockroom and put a shiny new phone on the desk ready for when the computer finally said yes.

Eventually it again said no and gave a number to call instead.

I had the brainwave of calling the number whilst still in the shop; thank goodness as how dare they not speak English at the Spanish Vodafone renovar (renewal) office. Now my grasp of Spanish isn’t bad after 9 years but talking about the intricacies of talk plans, a dongle and a second phone for my wife was almost beyond me so Ana helped me out and told the operator what I needed. At this point I realised that the shiny new phone on Ana’s desk wasn’t going to be mine. Vodafone in their wisdom think it easier for existing business clients to do all their renewal business over the phone and not use the original shop.

After half an hour on the phone it was 8pm and the shop was closing but they let me stay there whilst I then grappled with the 101 questions the various operators threw at me to prove who I was.

They weren’t going to send a shiny new phone to

an imposter. I can’t imagine any fraudster would put himself through this. All went well till a nice man told me that next I’d hear to a pre recorded message that would confirm my talk plans and also ask me more questions where I would have to say ‘si’ or ‘no’ at the appropriate places. The man was very good as he knew I was struggling and he told me when to say si, then no, then si again and not to deviate or the whole system would come crashing down upon my virtual head.

By this time I was out on the street, it was 830 and the shop was shuttered up. I was in the second hour of my quest for a phone. All went well till the computerised voice asked me a question that I hadn’t been coached on by helpful man; that question was ‘titular?’ I ventured my name and also tried my bank name; too late the computer said no and the computer lady disappeared. Helpful man came back on the phone and said we would try again the next morning. I got in the car and drove home a defeated man. Part 2 next week!

www.soltimes.com

15

16

entertainment

Top Gear ited back to BBC denies Clarkson inv ed. announc the told March,

Sun that returning to the Top Gear role "was never an option".

Chris Evans will replace Clarkson on the motoring show, with open auditions taking place for his co-hosts "Too much has gone on. After I'd been compared to Jimmy Savile by someone from the a Clarkson, 55, was sacked from BBC and it was splashed all over I go his role as the host of Top Gear in Sunday newspaper, how could back?," he said.

March "The spotlight would have been The BBC has denied it invited end Jeremy Clarkson back as host of on me and the show would be would It d. neutere being up was he after months Top Gear, difficult to do anything without axed from the job. interference."

Clarkson told the Sun, for whom The 55-year-old presenter has also he writes a regular column, that g an unnamed BBC executive had revealed plans for a new motorin set is which Gear, Top rival to show Top to back come I'd if "asked to return to BBC screens next April.

Gear" last week.

It is anticipated that Clarkson's "It refused: he But Clarkson said would have been impossible to former co-hosts, James May and make the show I'd want to make," Richard Hammond - who decided against returning to the BBC he said. without him - will also join the new Evans Chris named has BBC The venture. an spokesm A as the new host.

Meanwhile, The One Show has said: "We haven't offered another confirmed Chris Evans is to leave Top Gear contract." the BBC One programme.

"The BBC had placed on record On its Facebook page, an entry its thanks to Jeremy for his read: "Breaking News! Chris me posted program the on broadcasting Evans is leaving The One Show!" and wish him well for the future."

His replacement for the Friday Clarkson, who was sacked for punching a Top Gear producer in evening show is yet to be

Open audition Evans launched a search for new Top Gear presenters on Friday.

An open audition invites fans to post a short video to the BBC. It should be no longer than 30 seconds, and must not feature cars, stunts or gimmicks - just the applicant talking directly to the camera.

Evans said the hosts could be "male, female, young or old, it doesn't matter".

"If you're up for it, we want to hear from you," said the Radio 2 DJ, "but you've got to know about cars".

However, he clarified, the job on offer was not necessarily that of presenter. "You could be auditioning to be a driver. You could be auditioning to be a film reporter.

Or you could be auditioning to be a co-host."

"If we don't find anybody who's good enough, if there's nobody right for this from these videos, we will not be appointing anyone. Or the whole new team might be from these videos. We don't know."

Evans added that the age limit had been raised to 17. "Yesterday I said 16, sorry about that."

Submissions can be made through the Top Gear website: bbc.co.uk/ topgear. The deadline is 20 July.

Source: BBC

Cyndi Lauper and Van Morrison both performed at the New York ceremony Cyndi Lauper, Van Morrison and Lady Gaga have all been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The stars received their honours at a three-hour ceremony in New York, and many expressed surprise in their acceptance speeches.

“I still can’t believe I make a living making music,” said Lauper. “I’m blown away.” The Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, was also inducted posthumously alongside the band’s lyricist Robert Hunter.

Country artists Toby Keith, who has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, and Bobby Braddock, who wrote Tammy Wynette’s DIVORCE, were also honoured.

And “poet laureate of the blues” Willie Dixon, who died in 1992, was cited for songs including Hoochie Coochie Man, I Just Want to Make Love to You and You Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover.

Northern Irish songwriter Van Morrison accepted his award a week after being knighted in the Queen’s birthday honours.

The star performed a duet with Michael Buble on Real Real Gone, and noted that songwriting royalties had kept him afloat during dry spells in his career.

“The name of the game is hustle,” he said.

His appearance was particularly notable because he pulled out his induction at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

Gaga won the contemporary icon award, receiving her trophy from jazz star Tony Bennett, with whom she recorded an album of duets last year.

“I think she’s definitely underrated as a songwriter,” said Hall of Fame president Linda Moran, “partially because she was first known more as a personality.”

The singer also covered the 4 Non Blondes hit What’s Up in tribute to fellow honoree Linda Perry, who penned that song, as well as Christina Aguilera’s Beautiful and Pink’s Get The Party Started.

Other performers included Carly Rae Jepsen, who sang Lauper’s ballad Time After Time; and Buble, who crooned a finger-snapping version of Van Morrison’s Moondance.

Van Morrison and Michael Buble performed Real Real Gone, which featured on Morrison’s recent duets album Dr John played What A Wonderful World, which won the towering song award Lauper won a Tony Award in 2013 for best score for the hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots.

BBC

June 2015

Happy Valley and Marvellous lead BBC success at TV awards

A second series of Happy Valley is due to air later this year. BBC shows Happy Valley, The Missing and Marvellous have won multiple awards at the Monte Carlo television awards.

Happy Valley won best European drama series and Sarah Lancashire was awarded outstanding actress in a drama series.

The Missing won best mini series and outstanding actress for Frances O'Connor.

Marvellous picked up three awards - best television film and outstanding actor and actress for Toby Jones and Gemma Jones.

Crime drama Happy Valley was a ratings and critical hit when it was first screened in 2014.

It followed police sergeant Catherine Cawood, (played by Lancashire) who stumbles on a kidnap plot as she pursues a man she holds responsible for her daughter's suicide.

Written by Sally Wainwright, it won a TV Bafta for best drama and a new series is due to air this year.

BBC

Arnie Pranks Fans As Terminator Waxwork

The star sends people running when he pretends to be a statue of the robot at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood.

Not content with bringing the Terminator back to life in his new film, Arnold Schwarzenegger has done the same for fans in real life.

The film star pranked fans visiting Madam Tussauds in Hollywood, who thought there were posing with the T-800 robot from the classic movie series. Video shows seemingly unsuspecting visitors taking selfies with other famous figures before standing next to what they think is the Terminator.

Cyndi Lauper and Van Morrison added to Songwriters Hall of Fam e

One girl commented: "He looks real" before the actor turned to her and said: "Because I am!" Fans screamed when they realised they weren't standing by a statue. In another instance a mother and daughter stood on either side of what they thought was a statue to smile for a photo - before Arnie lifted his arms to put them around them.

They screamed and quickly ran away when they saw it was the actor himself.

The YouTube film also shows the 67-year-old walking along Hollywood Boulevard, mingling with tourists who seem unsure if it is really him. http://news.sky.com/

PROPERTY supplement

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17

SOLTIMES PROPERTY SUPPLEMENT

THE ONLY PROPERTY SUPPLEMENT ON THE COSTAS!!!!

LOOKING TO BUY OR RENT? FIND YOUR DREAM HOME INSIDE!

company tax or corporate income tax

In Spanish, this known as Impuesto de Sociedades. It is a national business or corporate income tax in Spain on all types of Spanish companies (as well as nonresident companies in Spain) except the Sole Trader (Autónomo).

(Sole Traders report their business and personal income together on their personal income tax return, IRPF, instead.)

The standard Company Tax rate is 30%, but small and medium companies (PYMEs), who are defined as having a net turnover of less than ten million euros each year, are only taxed at 25% on the first 300,000 euros earned and at 30% for income above that figure.

Spanish companies are taxed on their worldwide income. Nonresident companies in Spain, however, are only taxed on their Spanish income. In Spain, business income for tax purposes is defined as all business revenue and includes all capital gains (though a capital gains tax credit may be available), less authorized expenses and VAT payments.

An annual Company Tax return should be filed with the Spanish tax authorities, the Agencia Tributaria, no more than six months and twenty-five days from the end of the company’s fiscal year.

Businesses should also plan to pay three advance tax payment installments in April, October, and December. tax on business activity or iae tax In Spanish, this is known as Impuesto de Actividades Económicas. It is a local tax levied on resident and nonresident businesses in Spain with an annual income of more than one million euros.

Even if your business brings in less than

one million euros a year and you are not required to pay IAE tax, you should still make sure that you’re registered with the local authorities for IAE tax.

If you live in a town with more than 50,000 inhabitants, check with your local town hall (ayuntamiento) for the local requirements on registering. If you live in a town with less than 50,000 inhabitants, check with your local provincial government. vat in spain In Spanish, this is known as IVA or Impuesto Sobre el Valor Añadido). It isn’t a tax on you but on your customers, and more specifically, on the purchases that your customers make for your goods and services. The VAT rate ranges from 4% to 21%. However, as a business, you’re the middleman who has to collect the VAT and hand it over to the Spanish government via the Agencia Tributaria.

All businesses must file quarterly VAT statements and pay the corresponding amounts. other business taxes Depending on a particular business’s activities, businesses in Spain may also be liable for other taxes. These may include various real estate taxes (see the last section of Taxes in Spain) and a municipal tax on motor vehicles. Not a tax per se, but businesses must also pay Social Security contributions for each employee.

Tax Year: Spain’s tax year follows the natural calendar year. http://www.spainexpat.com/

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PROPERTY supplement

18

A strong pound is encouraging British investors to buy abroad, it is claimed

A strong currency in the UK is encouraging property investors to buy real estate abroad with some 46% keen to take advantage of the current state of the Pound, new research suggests.

The survey has found that 23% of respondents are considering buying property abroad in the next 12 to 18 months due to the stronger economic climate for business and residential lettings in foreign countries. The study, commissioned in the aftermath of the Conservatives securing a majority in the recent general election, shows how a combination of financial factors are persuading property investors that now is the time to seek opportunities abroad for higher returns.

Almost a quarter (23%) of respondents are considering buying property abroad in the next 12-18 months due to the

O Olive

stronger economic climate for business and residential lettings in foreign countries.

The poll commissioned by FXcompared Intelligence, the research division of money transfer comparison site FXcompared, also found that Conservatives winning the general election is also a significant factor with 20% stipulating this as a prime reason for buying abroad.

Other key influences include easier access to mortgage funding, cited by 22%, while some 16% said changes to UK Stamp Duty and property tax, 14% access to pension funds and 12% better mortgage deals abroad. The poll also asked what type of properties investors were interested in and found that 19 are looking to invest in multiple properties at one location, while the same number think coastal locations

offer the best return on investment.

Also 25% are now focusing on bigger properties as they seek to capitalise on the current opportunities in the market especially as a stronger pound has made it more affordable.

Better weather is still the main lifestyle factor when considering foreign property ownership, mentioned by 48%, but 42% said it was how easy the location of the property is to reach while 21% mentioned finding an up and coming area.

‘With unprecedented opportunities for overseas buyers given the low euro, property investors believe they can get more bricks and mortar for their money abroad.

'Over the next 12 to 18 months we could see a trend among residential and commercial property investors, focusing heavily on major European countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and France,’ said Daniel Webber, managing director of FXcompared. ‘Aside from the financial reasons for pursuing foreign property ownership, lifestyle choices are still playing a big role too, with better weather and transport links major factors when choosing where to buy investment property,’ he added. http://www.propertywire. com/

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on the contraction of the price per square metre of apartment type housing (-3.2% y-o-y), as well as the individual family dwellings (-2.9%).

The average price per square metre of second hand apartments stood at 1,299 euros in April (-3.3% y-o-y) while the new apartments’ average price per square metre stood at 1,457 euros, which is 2.7% more than in April 2014.

According to the Notaries’ statistics, the mortgage market for the acquisition of housing is showing the same stabilisation observed in the real estate sector, with the number of loans for the purchase of a home registering a 12.3% rise, year-on-year, and the average value of these loans rising by 9.2%, to 122,119 euros.

El Mundo reported that the Notaries’ data shows that the percentage of home purchases which were financed through a mortgage stood at 41.3% of the total, and that, in this type of transaction via mortgage financing, the average amount of the loan was 78.1% of the property value. keyero

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Home Sales Climb This reduction is based

As was the case in March, home sales in Spain continued to increase in April, and transaction prices fell, according to the latest real estate statistics from the General Council of Notaries. Thus, during the fourth month of 2015, the number of home sales transactions rose by 1.9%, while their average values fell by 3.9%.

Specifically, a total of 30,758 transactions were closed during April, which is 1.9% more than in the same period of 2014 – an increase which, according to the Notaries “reflects the stabilisation in monthly sales”.

By type of dwelling, the number of transactions on free housing increased by 1.1%, due mainly to the increase in sales of second hand homes (+5.9% year-onyear), since transactions on new housing registered a decline of 27.3%, while individual family homes registered growth of 4.2%.

In average price terms, the value per square metre of the homes purchased in April stood at 1,188 euros, which represents a reduction of 3.9% year-on-year.

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PROPERTY supplement

www.sensolgolfvillarentals.com

19

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.

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• Close to golf course.

CAMPOSOL UPPER C LONG TERM LET €575 + BILLS PCM

Ref No :0195

• 3 bed/3 bath Neptuno Delux Villa • Furnished to high standard.

• Log fire plus much more.

• Close to Camposol Club De Golf

CAMPOSOL B HOLIDAY LETS FROM €750 PW

Ref No: 0172

CAMPOSOL D HOLIDAY LETS FROM €560 PW

Ref No: 0181

• 4 bed/4 bath ext Neptuno Delux • Amazing private pool area.

• Furnished to high spec.

• Free wifi & games station etc

• 2 bed/2 bath Carmen style villa.

• Furnished to high standard.

• Fantastic pool area.

• Great holiday villa.

CAMPOSOL D – LONG TERM LET €650 + BILLS PCM

Ref No: 0126

• 4 bed/4 bath Ext Neptuno Villa.

• Large private plot.

• Private 9m x 5m swimming pool.

• Jacuzzi & much more.

LEIVA LONG TERM LET €700 + BILLS PCM

Ref No: 0196

• 4 bed/3 bath Spanish Finca.

• Amazing country kitchen.

• 8m x 4m swimming pool.

• Spectacular sea views + much more.

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VILLA ENCANTADORA/SECTOR D €124,950

Ref No: 0181

• 2 bed/1 bath Fortuna style villa.

• 8m x 4m private swimming pool.

• Glazed front Naya.

• Log burner plus much, much more.

APARTMENTO BOLEYN/PUERTO DE MAZARRON €69,950

Ref No: 0003

• 3 bed/1 bath 2nd Floor Apartment.

• Short walk to beach & amenities.

• To be sold fully furnished.

• Ideal holiday/rental investment.

CASA BRILLIANTE/CAMPOSOL LOWER C €59,995

Ref No: 0178

• 2 bed/1 bath Classico style villa.

• Maintained to high standard.

• Underbuild expansion opportunity.

• Close to Camposol Club De Golf VILLA TY BACH WEN/CAMPOSOL D €49,950

Ref No: 0077

• 2 bed/1 bath Classico style villa.

• Quiet location.

• To be sold part furnished.

• Great investment opportunity

VILLA LISA/CAMPOSOL D €72,500

Ref No: 0179

• 2 bed/ 1 bath Rebecca style villa.

• Roof top jacuzzi with amazing views.

• Modernised throughout.

• Must be viewed.

VILLA IMPRESIONANTE – CAMPOSOL D €125,000

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• 2 bed/2 bath Fortuna Delux Villa.

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PROPERTY supplement

20

June 2015

Mortgage Default Rate for Home Purchase Falls to 5.8%

COMPLETE HOLIDAY HOLIDAY CARE CARE COMPLETE MOJACAR PLAYA

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MOJACAR PLAYA REDUCED - €199,950

MOJACAR PLAYA REDUCED €64,950

Ref: PM/TW - 2 bedroom, 2 bath/shower room, first floor, furnished apt, a/c, large terrace with spectacular views MOJACAR PLAYA €109,950

The latest data published by the Bank of Spain reveals that the default rate of mortgage loans for the purchase of housing fell to 5.8% in March, in the same way that the rate for developer and real estate sector loans dropped to 34.7%.

In the last year, the default rate on home mortgage loans has remained relatively stable at around 6%, and at the end of the first quarter of the year, these overdue mortgages totalled 33,721 million euros – compared with 34,236 million euros in December – in a loan portfolio of 573,966 million euros.

Ref. AE/AB – Spacious semi-detached 3 bedroom house, terrace with sea & mountain views, garage, peaceful location near Mojacar Playa.

MOJACAR CAMPO reduced €137,000

Paseo del Mediterraneo 19, Mojacar Playa, Almeria (near the Hotel Best Indalo) Tel: 950 478 612 / 610 808 631 

Last year, in March 2014, the mortgage default rate rose to 6.3%, representing 37,858 million euros of

info@almeriaholidays.com

www.almeriaholidays.com

a mortgage loan portfolio totalling 600 million euros.

With regard to property developers’ loans with Spanish financial institutions, El Mundo reported that in March they fell below 150 million euros, to 146,613 million euros.

Of this total, 50,948 million euros (34.7%) were non-performing loans.

A year earlier, at the end of the first quarter of 2014, the developer and real estate sector loan delinquency rate reached 38%, when the loan portfolio of the sector stood at around 170 million euros, with overdue loans accounting for 65,000 million euros.

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PROPERTY supplement

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Your Belgian estate agent at the coast !

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

21

Information about the Comunidad de Propietarios part 1

API-M0120 MOJACAR PLAYA

Information about the Comunidad de Propietarios or committee of neighbours in the urbanisation or apartment block where your Spanish property is located. It tells you how they are elected to the property's committee, how you can be elected, what they can/cannot do and are supposed to do, and the function of the Administrator of your Neighbourhood Committee.

Whether you are planning to buy a Spanish property in an urbanisation, or rent or buy an apartment, you are going to have to deal with what is commonly known as La Comunidad de Vecinos. This is the committee made up of your immediate neighbours who, like it or not, have the right to meddle in your affairs in a way that is sometimes not exactly to your taste.

Remember that with real estate in Spain you generally have less rights and more obligations compared to some other countries!

• 2 bedrooms & 1 bathroom • Terrace & roof terrace of 57 m2 • Sea views • Furnished • Airconditioning • Excellent rental potential • 2 outdoor pools

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Questions asked What is this Community?

What does the Comunidad de Propietarios do?

75,000€

Meetings, Annual General Meetings (AGMs) Voting at the AGM and other general meetings What are the costs and quotas?

ANN 666 260 792 OFFICE 950 460 874

How can I become a member of the committee?

www.almeriapropertyinvestments.com

ARBOLEAS

A charming village house in a rural location with a traditional cottage feel with wooden beams and doors.Two good sized bedrooms.Private garden to rear and parking space

62,000€

Villa Ebro IA1733

ARBOLEAS

Beautiful three bedroomed villa near to Arboleas. The house has been beautifully decorated inside and out. Nice swimming pool with lots of privacy.

165,000€

Electing The Community President Who is the Administrator?

Ronda de las Buganvillas nº 42, Vera playa

Casa Jenda IA1721

Who makes up the committee, or Junta?

Casa El Sueño IA 1512

ARBOLEAS

Charming villa for sale within walking distance of Arboleas town centre and with amazing views.The property has two bedrooms and a landscaped garden.

116,950€

Casa Tranquilidad IA1736

ALBOX

A beautiful luxury villa built to a high standard in a great locationThe property has 3 bedrooms,one en-suite,kitchen diner,lounge and extra bathroom.Outside there is a 10x 5 m pool and good size garden.Sun terrace with great views.Lots of extras with this property.

155.000€

Plaza Nueva, 9 Albox (Almería) Telf. 950 120 406 info@inmobiliaria-almanzora.com www.inmobiliaria-almanzora.com

what is this community?

The Comunidad de Propietarios is a legally constituted committee. Any property in Spain which is covered by the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal [translated]is obliged by Spanish law to have a Neighbour’s Committee. This idea usually starts the alarm bells ringing for many expats, so here I intend to clarify some legal and practical aspects and - hopefully - put you at ease with the idea. This same Law, the Ley de Propiedad Horizontal, very closely controls how the committee is to carry out its duties.

The first thing to note is that if you have property in Spain that is completely self-contained, then this article is not for you. But if your property forms part of a communal Spanish real estate ‘whole’ that is divided between various owners, such as a block of apartments, or an urbanisation with external limits and some common areas such as a swimming pool or a common garage etc. like most Spanish properties, then you had better read on.

The second thing to note is that, if you are buying a second-hand property in Spain, it is very important to find out how the Comunidad de Propietarios (Neighbourhood Committee) is set up. But if you are buying newly-built Spanish real estate, then it might be in your interests to be on the initial committee to have a real say in how you want things to be organised from the beginning. what does the comunidad de propietarios do?

One of the most important functions of the Comunidad de Vecinos—as it is more commonly called—is to fix the budget of community costs (see below) for the coming year for the common property, and from there organise the monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly quotas for which each household will have to pay maintenance of the property and services.

Another function is to set the rules of the community and enforce them.

This is where many people feel they are being dictated to. But the idea is to avoid friction between neighbours before it starts by setting some agreed guidelines and limits. The scope of action here is very wide, and will be covered in the second part: “The Nitty-Gritty of the Comunidad de Propietarios”. [link to article and replace ‘next article’ with title of article when finished].

But to give you an idea, here are a few aspects of the property requiring coordination: swimming pool rules, lifts, parking, cleaning, external appearance of the property. (They like properties in Spain to ‘co-ordinate’ as much as possible. Very appearance-conscious people, the Spanish) Structural work, noise, pets, security… the list goes on. This list will be amplified in “The Nitty-Gritty of the Comunidad de Propietarios”. http://www.spainexpat.com/

PROPERTY supplement

22

The Moving to Spain

TO DO list

The Moving to Spain TO DO list (checklist) of things you will need to take care of before moving/ relocating.

Information and preparations like: learning Spanish, business, visa, changing your home residency status, getting health insurance, a foreign bank account, purchasing electronics, and finding accommodations.

Our checklist of strong suggestions before moving or relocating to Spain: Look into a basic Spanish course before moving to Spain.

No matter who you talk to, this will be their #1 suggestion.

Depending on your financial independence and future plans, consider what type of work you’ll be looking for before you move to Spain. If possible, find gainful employment - a job - before you move to Spain.

If you’re looking into starting a business in Spain then you’ll want to talk to a Spanish lawyer who speaks English, which can be easy enough via email and phone.

If needed, apply for your Spain visa. In my case, once I got my paperwork together and presented it, the NY Consulate took a week to process it and issue the visa.

Otherwise you may have to move to Spain, wait up to four months for it to process, then return home to pick it up, then come back to Spain. Sometimes this is unavoidable though.

If you’re moving to Spain and will be away from home

for a long time, you may want to look into cancelling your residency in your home country (particularly for non-EU expats). In order to do this in Canada, for example, you must cut all ties such as asset ownership, memberships, and bank accounts (friends and family can be helpful in taking care of your belongings…). This doesn’t mean giving up your citizenship, but it does mean that you will be exempt from paying taxes at home. In some cases you may end up paying taxes twice, to your home country and Spain, while you’re working or doing business in Spain if you don’t do this.

Before moving to Spain, look into how you’ll cover your health costs, whether that’s the public health care system or private medical insurance. If you’re giving up your home residency then you’ll probably have to look to a Spanish company or health insurance for expats. Otherwise, you’ll have to take out health insurance with a company back home. Also take care to continue paying any home-country health care, as most travel health insurance providers only supplement that which you already have for free through the public system. Check with your public health care providers that there are no problems staying longer than 6 months.

Spain’s health care system, if you qualify, is quite good and free.

If you’re not moving to Spain permanently, you’ll probably want to keep a foreign bank account, and maybe your credit card account (if keeping your home residency status).

Find places that don’t charge extra for international ATM withdrawals and credit card use. (See more in Banking) Check with your home bank as to whether they have any problems with your account status as a non-resident, there may be better/cheaper options for you too.

Renew your driver’s license or passport, if they’re about to expire. This is really important! Don’t forget it!

Consider purchasing any electronics that are language intensive, such as a laptop or computer, before you leave. Getting stuck with a Spanish keyboard and Spanish language settings can be an exercise in frustration until

property group

June 2015

you learn Spanish.

Coordinate between buying your flight to Spain and your movers’ relocation schedule. Booking these as far ahead of schedule (and confirming it) will save you a lot of headache.

How are you going to get around in Spain? Buying a car or bringing a car? Or maybe you prefer public transit (which is very effective in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia). Talk to your insurance company about the your stay in Spain and what their coverage, um, covers.

Are your pets moving to Spain with you? This can be a real pain in the ass, so check the requirements and talk to your Vet pronto Sort out your mail. Go to the post office and set up a redirect for your mail (USA, Canada)for as long as you think is necessary. Some countries’ mail services will only do this for six months, so once you start receiving your redirected mail, be sure to update the senders with your new address in Spain. Some people want to maintain a mailing “presence” back home, ie. a PO Box with mail redirection services. I’m not going to suggest anyone in particular, just use Google.

Do you have a place to stay? Before you’ve actually moved to Spain, this could be difficult. You may want to look into rental flats/apartments by contracting an agency to take care of this for you. On the other hand, many long term flat rentals can be found if you know where and how to search and speak some Spanish (this will save you a lot of money, probably around 20%-50% on rent prices). It will be difficult to know the best location and do this over the Internet. You’ll want to stay off the beaten tourist trail, but find out (or ask your agent) about where to move to where there’s a large expat community - this is generally where you’ll want to be, at least initially. If your flights and movers are confirmed, book this as far ahead of schedule as possible, especially durin g the high tourist season (May-Sept). You’ll need about two weeks to a month to find a longer-term flat rental or property during this time. ht t p://w w w. spainexpat.com/

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PROPERTY supplement

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23

Six of the most strollable streets in Spain gardens' because of the fields that were Commons. once there in the 17th century. Now, Calle Cimadevilla within the Asturian however, it is more often characterized by capital leads La Plaza de la Catedral to La its endless bars, restaurants and nightlife Plaza de la Ayuntamiento. One of the best - perfect for grabbing a sangria or some known streets in Oviedo, it recalls the atmosphere fictionalized by Clarín in La Regenta.

Calle de Mateos Gago, Seville

To mark World Sauntering Day on Friday World Sauntering Day has been celebrated each year on June 19th since the 1970s as a way to remind people to take things slow, relax and enjoy life without rushing around.

As Cambridge dictionary defines 'saunter' to mean "to walk or stroll about without much purpose or hurry", Here are the best streets along which to perform such an activity around Spain.

Calle de las Huertas, Madrid Photo: Jorge6880 / Wikimedia Commons.

Calle de las Huertas runs from the Plaza del Ángel to the Plaza de la platería de Martínez and the name means 'street of

Walking this street within Seville's former Jewish quarter, Santa Cruz, is a must.

Seville is known for its winding, n a r r o w streets, and Calle other beverage for your stroll. de Mateos Gago will Passeig del Born, Barcelona take you from Photo: 1997 / Wikimedia Commons. the Seville Passeig del Born stretches from the C a t h e d r a l Born market to the Santa Maria del t h r o u g h Mar Basicila. Someone ambling along this route could easily turn the corner on Carrer de Montcada to find the Picasso Museum or the European Museum of Modern Art. This medieval passageway also hosts Holy Week processions and other fests.

Calle Oviedo

Cimadevilla,

Photo: Nacho / Flickr Creative

one of the prettiest areas to explore little alleyways and tiny passages, barely separating colourful Andalusian buildings.

Calle Sant Miquel, Palma de Mallorca Calle Sant Miquel is one of the most frequented by pedestrians, so you won't be alone on your afternoon excursion. The street runs cuts through the historic centre of the city and is dotted with numerous outdoor restaurants and terraces.

'Seven Streets',

Bilbao Photo: dalbera / Wikimedia Commons.

We are sort of cheating here, because our tip for Bilbao’s best strolling street is not one street, but seven. 'Seven Streets' is what locals call the medieval heart of Bilbao’s old town, home to pintxo bars, quirky shops and beautiful old churches. thelocal

old farmhouses s.l fuente alamo REAL ESTATE Est in Murcia 1991 INMOBILIARIO Specialists In Character Properties In The Region Of Murcia C/ PEDRO GUERERRO 14. FUENTE ALAMO. 30320 MURCIA

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EL MOLINO (TALLANTE) Traditional Finca with 2 guest annexes, total 4 bed 3 bath. Possible B&B or letting. 6.500m² plot.

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MULA (MONAS) Large town house, 3 bed. 2 bath.

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A great opportunity to own your home in the sun for only €28.000

PROPERTY supplement

24

June 2015

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viewpoint

Alqueria: The origins

The origins of Alqueria are a matter of record. Archaeological and documentary evidence supports local lore and tradition regarding the first major upheaval.

This occurred during the time of the Moors and involved the Caliph Rojeram-all and one Randy Rafael a local youth.

What occurred during the fateful year of AD932 is not on record. Compelling archaeological evidence suggests that the village underwent a complete but precise dissection and a later reconstruction in the valley below. Local legend suggests that the Caliph ordered the village moved after one of the inhabitants, Rafael, upset the venerable gentleman.

A sheep’s bladder, an amphora of olive oil and one of the Caliph’s wives formed the basis of the tale. Precisely following the original layout the builders faithfully reconstructed the village including the mirador and castle. The views from the mirador allow for scrutiny of the cliff face. While the village boasts the only castle which can be attacked from above making it useless as a piece of military architecture.

The second fateful episode occurred in 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand were busy dashing around the country reconquering it in the name of Christianity. After they had sorted out Granada and handed over wads of cash to an itinerant Italian by the name of Columbus they headed for the village of Alqueria bent on bringing it into the Christian fold. Entering the Village they were mediately belted with rocks, stones

and a wide variety of rotting vegetables.

The inhabitants of Alqueria hated authority and Isabella and Ferdinand, not being covered in effluent from the bad drainage like most Alquerians, were obviously of some importance.

While taking refuge in the Bar La Casa Devante, until some semblance of order could be established the two Monarchs had the misfortune of coming face to face with Tonto Leonardo, an ancestor of Loco Paco. Leonardo was just as daft as the present day Paco and he soon had Isabella and Ferdinand talking to and caressing his imaginary Patagonian Mara named Ronald. After extricating themselves from Leonardo ‘s lunacy they were immediately assailed by ‘Marta the Promiscuous’ an ancient relative of Manuela’s. She promptly made a pass at Ferdinand and when he rejected her advances she turned her charms on Isabella.

At this point the Monarchs had had enough and headed out of Alqueria as fast as their pampered horses could carry them. When asked if Alqueria was once again part of Christian Spain, Isabella’s reply was a hurried “Not bloody likely”.

plan a

After the rejection of Plan A, and the small but fatal flaw in Plan B, Pete suggested Plan C. ‘Why don’t you put corks in the holes in the bottom of the planters to keep the water in?’ He held up a cork, the only cork we possessed.

‘And then you can buy yourself 3 more bottles of wine and drink them really quickly, so that there are enough corks to go in the 4 holes in the bottom of the planters.’

This idea had obvious appeal, but Alas! the holes were completely the wrong size to be made watertight with a wine bottle cork.

Thus Plan C was overthrown in favour of Plan D – put empty flower pots right way up in the planters.

The thinking behind this was that the cat would jump up, find her spot taken by flower pots, realise that she couldn’t sit in an empty flower pot, so she would give up and leave us to slumber the last hours of the night in peace.

It sort of worked. Instead of jumping up and sitting quietly on the windowsill waiting for me to wake, she jumped up and marched to and fro along the windowsill, balancing precariously on the rims of the pots.

She normally moves as silently as a shadow, but she makes a terrible row when walking on flowerpot rims! As there was no Plan E we went back to Plan A. Once more out came the netting and the scissors and I cut along the previously marked line. Then with Pete inside the bedroom and me up a ladder on the outside, we cable

25

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk tied the netting in place on the outside of the rejas.

The end result gives the house an unusual look, but I don’t think Limaria is entering the Best Kept Village competition this year, and if it works it’s worth it.

The test came next morning. At 6.30 there was a Twong – the noise made by the Empress jumping up and catching hold of the rejas, just before squeezing through them and taking her regal perch on the windowsill. Usually this is followed by silence, but this morning it was followed by frantic scrabbling noises.

I pulled back the curtains to see Her Imperial Majesty briefly hanging on by all four fully clawed paws, arms and legs at full stretch and her underside pressed tight against the netting, all semblance of dignity totally shot.

For a second she hung suspended, before giving up and letting go. I couldn’t laugh, it would have been unkind!

puzzle pages

26

June 2015

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Answers

2. Which game, now a popular sport, was originally called whiff-whaff in the late 19th century?.......................................................

Find and circle all of the items that you might see when you look upward.

The remaining 24 letters spell an additional item you might see.

3. Which Oscar winning film holds the record with more than 300,000 people used as extras?.....................................................

4. Name the five most populous cities in India, as confirmed by the 2010 population..

5. Which very popular tv character has the E-mail address “chunkylover53 @ aol.com”?

6. Which country was the only undefeated team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup?.................

7. What is the Japanese word for Empty Orchestra?...................................................

Answers

CRYPTIC crossword

5. Homer Simpson 6. New Zealand 7. Karaoke 8. Belize 9. “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” 10. 58,220

CROSSWORD

1. On the Kellogg’s Cornflakes package 2. Table tennis 3. Gandhi 4. Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai

SOLUTIONS

HOT AIR BALLOON JET EXHAUST JUPITER KITE LIGHTNING MARS MERCURY METEOR SHOWER MOON PLANETS POWER LINES RAINBOW SATELLITE

wordsearch answer

standard SUDOKU

10. Plus or minus 10,000, how many U.S personnel lost their lives as a direct result of conflict in the Vietnam War?.........................

AIRPLANE BIG DIPPER BIRDS BLIMP BLUE SKY CHIMNEY SMOKE CLOUDS COMET DRONE FIREWORKS GALAXY HAZE HELICOPTER

easy SUDOKU

9. The trio with the names Mizaru, Kikazaru and Iwazaru don’t do what?..........................

SATURN SKYDIVER SKYSCRAPER SKYWRITING SMOG SOLAR ECLIPSE STARS STREET LIGHT THE SUN TREETOP UNIVERSE VENUS

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT

8. Formerly known as British Honduras, what is the only country in the world that depicts human beings on its national flag?...

Answers

squiggle SUDOKU

1. Where is the world famous rooster named Cornelius found?..........................................

soltimes sports Quiz

1. In 2000 who equalled Willie Renshaw’s record of seven Wimbledon Men’s Singles titles?....

2. Who, aged 16 was the youngest winner of the Ladies Singles title in the 20th century?...........................

3. In which year of the 1980’s did the colour of the balls at Wimbledon change from white to yellow?..........................................

4. The first non British player to win the Men’s Singles title did so in 1907. What nationality was he?..

5. Who are the only two players other than the William’s sisters have won the Ladies Singles title in the 21st century..............................

6. In 1954 the Czech born player Jaroslav Drobny won the Men’s Singles title representing which country?.........................................

7. During the 20th century which player lost a record seven singles finals? (Clue: A former ladies champion)......................................

8. What did the Spanish lady Lili de Alvarez wear on court in 1931 to cause quite a stir in the staid tennis world?..................................

9. Following the retirement of Alan Mills in 2006 who was appointed the new Tournament Referee?.........

10. In the very first ladies final in 1884 two British sisters played each other for the title. They were Maud and Lilian, but what was their surname?...............................

Mauresmo 6. Egypt 7. Chris Evert 8. A divided tennis skirt 9. Andrew Jarrett 10. Watson

wordsearch Look Up!

soltimes general knowledge Quiz

1. Pete Sampras 2. Martina Hingis 3. 1986 4. Australian 5. Maria Sharapova / Amelie

sol picture quiz!

Can you name these famous board games

1. Cluedo 2. Sorry!

3. Mah Jong 4. Cranium 5. Pictionary

on this day 26th JUNE

687 – Pope Benedict II chosen.

1483 – Richard III becomes King of England.

1870 – The Christian holiday of Christmas is declared a federal holiday in the United States.

1909 – The Science Museum in London comes into existence as an independent entity.

1977 – Elvis Presley performs the final concert of his life in Indianapolis, Indiana.

2013 – Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani became Prime Minister of Qatar.

puzzle pages

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27

To advertise in this space

across 1. Anteater (8) 4. Parts of a play (4) 8. Unfathomable (7) 10. Declare invalid (5) 11. Permit (5) 12. Mariner (7) 13. Denunciation (6) 15. Polar region (6) 19. Amalgamated (7) 21. Publish (5) 23. Din (5) 24. Aromatic herb (7) 25. Hazard (4) 26. Edible snail (8)

Down 1. Intransigent (7) 2. Majestic (5) 3. Gusto (6) 5. Devise or invent (7) 6. Storage towers (5) 7. Cab (4) 9. Darned (5) 14. Dried grapes (7) 16. Salary increase (5) 17. Cigar (7) 18. Detestable (6) 19. Arm bone (5) 20. Notion (4) 22. Vernacular (5)

STANDARD CROSSWORD

STANDARD CROSSWORD CLUES

Contact our sales advisors on 950 121 936 or email: sales@soltimes.com

SUDOKU PUZZLE s

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

easy

squiggle

1 The majority of French on the inside are humble (6) 4 Shops in Harrods to restock (6) 8 Redhead girl without American language (7) 9 Portion of a book’s journey (7) 11 Extra plus for little Alexander (10) 12 Starts to let in evil students they’re not true! (4) 13 Exonerate some tragic learner (5) 14 Contrary to Pope is failure (8) 16 Company show-off takes a thousand for writer of music (8) 18 Lubricated love? I was first! (5) 20 Somewhere to sit for head of Society (stupid oaf!) (4) 21 Exaggerating good news at first, if negative principle of Chinese philosophy appears in magazine (10) 23 Gently hitting at can, within parental guidance (7) 24 New year illuminated inside for the truth (7) 25 Somehow sees 90 spare (6) 26 Remained a first year in Ted’s confusion (6)

Down

1 Shape of fungus? (5) 2 First degree is similar to aversion (7) 3 Europeans lift sewer in health resorts (9) 5 Dog track? (5) 6 Outcomes of student’s union Lieutenant entering about second (7) 7 Proposed guests almost edge off (9) 10 Confine without belonging to you and me to inspire (9) 13 Colour that might be preceded by milk? (9) 15 Striking ten in chaos after formal dance (9) 17 1down-able final in short photo (7) 19 Faithfulness of toy ally, perhaps (7) 21 Negative student body that I’m up before (5) 22 Wrote down “famous” (5)

28

FOOD & DRINK

10 Powerful Advantages of Eating Lettuce Lettuce has been called “the perfect weight loss food” and “rabbit food,” but it is so much more. With amazing healing benefits and calories comprised of 20 percent protein, it could be called “gorilla food” instead!

1. Low Calorie Content and Almost Zero Fat. Lettuce has only 12 calories for one shredded cup.

This is why it is so good for weight loss.

2. Helps Weight Loss Lettuce contains fiber and cellulose. Besides filling you up, fiber improves your digestion.

Improving your digestion may not sound like a good thing for losing weight, but it is actually essential for long term weight control.

Fiber also helps remove bile salts from the body. When the body replaces these salts it breaks down cholesterol to do so. This is why lettuce is also good for your heart! (See next point.)

3. Heart Healthy Lettuce’s vitamin C and beta-carotene work together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This prevents the build up of plaque.

4. Omega-3 Fatty acids.

Romaine lettuce has a two to one ratio of omega-3 to omega-6. That’s a great ratio.

The fat content in lettuce is not significant UNLESS you eat a lot–but we actually suggest you do!

5. Complete Protein Romaine lettuce’s calories are 20 percent protein. Like all whole foods, much of this protein is complete, but the amount can be increased by combining with balancing proteins.

6. Helps with Insomnia The white fluid that you see when you break or cut lettuce leaves is called lactucarium.

This has relaxing and sleep inducing properties similar to opium but without the strong side effects. Simply eat a few leaves or drink some lettuce juice.

7. Lettuce is Alkaline Forming The minerals in lettuce help remove toxins and keep your acid/alkaline balance in order.

Once you are balanced on this level there are a host of benefits including greater energy, clearer thinking, deep restful sleep, and youthful skin. To browse more benefits check out Benefits of An Alkaline Body.

8. Low Glycemic Index Lettuce has an average glycemic index of 15, but because it has so few calories, its glycemic load is considered zero. Foods with low glycemic indexes are great for anyone watching their blood sugars for medical reasons, or for weight management.

Of course, lettuce has no refined or white sugars and the host of problems that come with them.

9. Whole Life Food Lettuce is almost always eaten raw, providing us with many micronutrients not found in cooked or processed food. Eating raw food also adds vital energies not recognized by nutritional science.

Large food corporations have not found a way to package lettuce long term or stick it in cans or boxes. Let’s hope they never do!

In fact, lettuce is one of the few foods which can be found organic and prewashed already in bins for you to eat immediately.

10. Lettuce Tastes Great.

Even though lettuce is very low in calories, many varieties still have a sweet taste. To maximize benefits from your food you should really WANT to eat it with your whole body– not just your mind saying it is good for you.

If you like the bitter taste you can find more bitter lettuce options, too!

Read more: http://www.care2.com

June- 2015

Black bean and avocado salad This simple, hearty salad is a vegan feast packed with chilli, herbs and spices. It’s also gluten-free and dairy-free.

Ingredients:

For the dressing 4 tbsp lime juice 7 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 3-4 jalapeño peppers (or 1 red chilli), finely chopped, to taste 1 garlic clove, minced pinch ground cumin salt and freshly ground black pepper For the salad 3 x 400g tins cooked black beans, drained large handful chopped fresh coriander 4 medium tomatoes, chopped into wedges, seeds removed (or 16 cherry tomatoes, halved) Put all of the dressing ingredients in a jam jar, replace the lid and shake 1 large red pepper, stalk and seeds until well combined. Season with salt and pepper. Add more chilli if desired. removed, sliced into thin strips For the salad, rinse the black beans under cold running water and drain.

1 red onion, thinly sliced Put in a large mixing bowl and pour over half of the dressing.

5 spring onions, trimmed and thinly Add the remaining salad ingredients, apart from the watercress and sliced (or 1 small red onion, thinly sliced) avocado and stir well to combine.

200g/7oz fresh watercress, tough stems snipped into half To serve, divide the watercress among 4 serving plates. Spoon the salad 2 large ripe avocados, skin and seeds on top, then cover with the avocado cubes. Drizzle a little more dressing over each portion. removed, cut into cubes

Method:

Chicken Caesar salad

, crunchy croûtons and a This salad has so much to celebrate: salty cured ham, juicy chicken breasts creamy dressing. Wow.

Ingredients:

For the salad 4 slices of speck (or prosciutto) 2 cornfed chicken breasts, bone and skin removed knob of butter 2 thick slices white bread, cubed 2 cos lettuces For the dressing 2 garlic cloves 75ml/3fl oz white wine 2 eggs, yolks only 1 anchovy fillet 75g/3oz parmesan cheese, grated 150ml/5fl oz extra virgin olive oil 2 tsp Dijon mustard salt and pepper

Method:

Preheat the grill to high.

Place the speck or proscuitto onto a baking sheet and place under the grill for 3-4 minutes, or until crisp. Remove speck and place on a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain.

Cut both chicken breasts through the middle, without cutting through, to form one large flat piece. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper and brush with olive oil.

Heat a griddle pan until hot then

or until place the chicken breasts on it and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, just cooked through.

Fry Heat a frying pan until hot and add the butter and then the cubed bread. until golden brown, then remove.

Separate the leaves from the lettuce and cut into chunky pieces. a boil For the dressing, in a medium saucepan, bring the garlic and wine to to cool.

Leave . softened has garlic the until , minutes 5 about for simmer and in a Combine the wine and garlic with the egg yolks, anchovy and cheese Drizzle smooth. until or process food or blender hand a with mixing bowl. Blend otherwise in the oil in a thin steady stream, taking care not to add it too quickly, taste. to g seasonin add and it could split and curdle. Stir in the mustard to Add the crisp-fried speck, croutons and lettuce to the dressing and toss dressing the pour and combine. To serve, place salad on plate, top with chicken over.

FOOD & DRINK

www.soltimes.com

29

Roasted red pepper and artichoke salad

Method: Mix the peppers and artichokes together in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add a

This simple salad allows the wonderful flavours of roasted peppers and artichokes to shine through.

Perfect served with couscous on the side.

little oil from the jar, if needed, along with the basil leaves and balsamic vinegar.

Ingredients:

300g/10½oz roasted red peppers in oil, drained and sliced 175g/6oz chargrilled artichoke hearts in oil, drained

Camino aljambra No 116, albox 04800 Tel 950 064 615

and chopped 2 tsp shredded fresh basil leaves 2 tsp balsamic vinegar salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tuesday - Sunday

Mesón de

Dinner & Dancing with Live Music

Irene

House Speciality BBQ Meats

SPRING crazy offer

Free Bottle of wine

summer Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 6pm til late Sunday 1pm - 4pm & 6pm - 10pm Free salsa workshop every wednesday from 6 - 7 (booking only) sunday roast from 1pm - 4pm booking only main course 6.95€ including desert 7.50€

Menu del Dia & Menu del Noche with a wide variety of dishes

per couple to take away after having our night menus

FREE DESSERT WITH THIS COUPON with purchase of one main course Not valid for Sunday roast Offer valid from 10/06 to 31/06

Situated near Corner Shop & Loulou’s

call or Vist our facebook page for more Information

Valid only with this voucher dinner 19.00-22.00 until 30th june

La

V

air-conditioned

American Night In our Garden

Thursday 25th June from 7.30pm

Tel: 950 634 562 lavidacucador@ gmail.com Open every day 12pm - late

Highlights from our Menu Homemade Pie of the Day

Chef’s choice of filling, including : Steak & Ale, Chicken & Mushroo m, Minced Beef & Onion,

Homemade Beer-Battered Hake

Served with creamy homemade tartare sauce, hand-cut chips & peas

Pan-fried Chicken Breast

Juicy Chicken breast served in a creamy mushroom sauce

Vegetable Stir-Fry

North South Country Boys Free entry, American Themed Food Reserve your table, Priority given to diners Tel. 950 634 562 lavidacucador@gmail.com Have you tried our Sharing Platters?

Whole Roasted Chicken with lemon, garlic & onion Or Rack of Sticky BBQ Ribs Served with hand-cut Chips, alioli, bread & salad just 9.99€ for 2 to share

Assorted fresh Vegetables in soya sauce, ginger & garlic served with noodles

Rib-Eye Steak

Succulent 8oz Rib-Eye Steak serv ed with your favourite accompaniments

Sea Bass Fillet

Pan-fried fillet of Sea Bass serv ed on a bed of sautéed leeks & cabbage

Scrumptious Homemade Puddings

traditional home cooked sunday lunch

8.95€

Beer battered cod

from

from

topside of beef fillet of pork roast chicken fish of the day served with Roast Potatoes, Vegetables & Homemade Gravy inc a free glass of wine or tubo booking recommended served 12.30PM - 5PM

homemade chips & peas

5.95€ in the Bar

FRIDAYS 12.30pm - 9pm

lite bite snacks open for lunch 12.30pm - 4PM

We are here

Albox

LIVE PREMIER uk FOOTBALL

Arboleas Zurgena La Alfoquia

Mojacar

E15

1km

La Vida

Cucador Huercal Overa

Junc 547

30

Tel: 950 121 936

WORDSEARCH WINNER

The Soltimes are pleased to announce that Ann mills from Oria is the winner of our Albox word search competition.

Congratulations Ann your voucher will be with you shortly!!

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION MOJACAR BRANCH

Meetings are held 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month at the Artisan Centre of Mojacar Pueblo at 11.15am. There is no need to have served in the Armed Forces, all welcome.

There is a summer recess during July and August and the next meeting will be on Thursday 3 September, for registration and Bucks Fizz!

Social Events: July 6. Hawiian theme lunch at La Parata restaurant at 13.30 (Poppy appeal fund raiser) For more details please e mail Eileen Huard on socialevents. rblmoj.3485@gmail.com or 619372474.

BLACK AND WHITE JAZZ NIGHT SELL OUT!

This event was thoroughly enjoyed by a packed Restaurant Laguna. Everyone was in the spirit of the evening, dressed smartly in black and white. Good food, excellent entertainment by Dominic Doolittle, Pedro Clemente group, Lady Ellen and Nadine had everyone up dancing.

All profits raised, believed to be in the region of 1000€, will go to Poppy appeal. Well done to the Branch´s Social Secretary.

- community news -

sales@soltimes

MAN WITH A HEALING MINISTRY COMES TO MOJACAR

The June FGBMFI Ladies and Men´s Breakfast Meeting will take place on Saturday 27 June at the New Kimrick Restaurant, Mojacar Playa at 10.00a.m The cost of the full English Breakfast including Toast, Orange Juice, Tea or Coffee is 6 Euros.

This month´s Speaker, is David Rhodes, an ex Bank and Finance man, who will tell us of God´s intervention in his life.

We would encourage anybody who needs healing, to come along, as David has been gifted with a healing ministry from God and he would love to pray with you, in the name of Jesus.

Booking is required for catering purposes. Please contact David Templeman 950 168 349, mobile: 6611 40481, email: info@villas-in-spain.biz, mojacar@fgbmfispain.org

ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION BRANCH 1359

June 2015

Thursday 16th july - 11am - 3pm

la vida fayre Looking for stall holders please call 950 634 562 to book your stall

The Branch meets on the third Tuesday in the month at 14.30 hrs at the El Paraiso Restaurant, located in Jardin del Mar 3, which is located very near Carrefour. If you would like information please contact the Chairman on 692508916 or Welfare on 615048892 or visit the Website www.rafacb.com

F.A.C.E. Summer Market

F.A.C.E. (Fundraising in Arboleas, Caring for Everyone), is pleased to announce that it will be holding it’s Annual Summer Market, for the second year in succession, at the Bar Kubatin underneath the Hostel Meson in Arboleas, on Friday evening the 26th June.

The event is to be held in the evening and will open to the public from 6-00pm until late.

There will be a Raffle, a Hundred Numbers Game, Tombola and many market stalls. Some will be inside the Bar Kubatin it’s self and others will be in the large court yard to the rear of the bar.

Entertainment will be provided by Smooth FM Radio and an exhibition of Line Dancing will be performed by Carrie’s Dusty Boots.

Food and refreshment will be provided by the Hostel Meson.

Any one interested in running a stall on the evening can do so by contacting F.A.C.E through either its Facebook page or by visiting the website at www.face-charity.com and the price of a stall is only €5 per metre.

For further information on either F.A.C.E. or the Summer Market please contact Adele Wrigglesworth on telephone number 667 255 094.

to book a stall

Tel: 950 634 562

lavidacucador@gmail.com

We are here

Albox Arboleas Zurgena La Alfoquia

Mojacar

E15

1km

La Vida

Cucador Junc 547 Huercal Overa

WHAT’S GOING ON IN MOJACAR?’

to receive regular newsletters with Mojácar events please send your email address to info@mojacar.es

Llanos Del Peral Church Cucador

LEARN SPANISH WITH“PACO” SHOPPING

TO BUY - comprar SHOP ASSISTANT - dependiente SHOPPING CENTRE - centro comercial CHANGING ROOM - probador RECEIPT - recibo CLOTHES SHOP- tienda de ropa DEP. STORE - grandes almacenes SPORTS GOODS - articulos deportivos I would like to buy some perfume for my wife Quisiera comprar un perfume para mi mujer How much would you like to spend?

Not a lot between........... ¿Cuanto quiere gastarse?

No mucho entre..........

I like this one how much does it cost?

Me gusta éste ¿cuanto cuesta?

It’s very expensive/too expensive Es muy caro/demasiado caro Have you got anything cheaper? ¿Tiene algo mas barato?

Ok, i will take this one De acuerdo, me llevaré éste Learn more Spanish with Paco-661 142 606 at Campsite Los Gallardos, Lessons based in conversation, All levels catered for plus Private lessons!

market days

Mondays: Antas, Berja & Huercal Overa Tuesdays: Albox, Cuevas, Los Gallardos Wednesdays: Mojacar, Bedar, Lubrin, Velez Blanco Thursdays: Carboners, Cuevas, Sorbas Olula del Rio Fridays: Garrucha, Turre, Zurgena Saturdays: Vera, Aguilas, Arboleas Velez Rubio Sundays: Villaricos, San Juan de Los Terreros Nightly: Garrucha,

Sunday 28th June at 1pm Barry·s Music, Food and Fun. tickets cost 10€ from Janet email jansmet@btinternet.com

Classic car club move their base to the Hotel Overa

Amigos del Coches Clasicos announces its monthly meetings are to be held at the Hotel Overa, junction 547 on the E15 / A7 near Huercal Overa, Almeria. The move, from Aguilas, provides a more convenient and central meeting venue for its members within OUR hair, BEAUTY & the Almanzora Valley and surrounding locality.

MASSAGE THERAPISTS ARE Meetings are held on the first FULLY UK TRAINED Thursday of each month at 3.00pm and everyone owning Open 9 - 3pm Mon - Thurs. El Cucador or interested in classic cars will be made most welcome.

Additional information is available at: www.a-c-c.es Hair Treatments Asociacion De Our team is experienced & qualified to the Amigos De Los Coches Clasicos Del Levante highest standards on all hairdressing, colouring (Amigos del Coches and cutting techniques.

Clasicos) The Club was formed in Call Teri: 619 467 295 February 2008 and originally based in Aguilas. Membership beauty Treatments is multi national and open to For face & Body, Elimis Luxury Facials, Eye everyone interested in the restoration, preservation and Treatments. Nail Treatments, Shellac Nail, Waxing. use of classic cars.

Eyebrow Shape - Eyelash Tint - Eyebrow Tint Members’ cars are Call Sandra: 661 858 949 predominately Classic British and European Sports cars of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. In Dermal Fillers & Botox general they are maintained, For the next Clinic call: 647 379 878 and in many cases, were restored by their owners.

A full calendar of events are organised, which includes Massages monthly drives around the Beauty treatment, Facials, Manicures, Pedicures, local area, social lunches and Waxing, Lash & Brow Tinting & Body Treatments. shows. A monthly e magazine Holistic, Reflexology. Call Melissa: 626 144 680 is circulated to members and contains details of events, We are a self-contained private suite of rooms on the right hand side of technical tips and articles on La Vida Bar, El Cucador classic car ownership.

etreat

feature

www.soltimes.com

31

out & about ...to advertise on this page call 950 121 936 Menu del Dia 10€ Selection of Tapas English Speaking Everyone Welcome Friendly Atmosphere Bar-Restaurante

LA PALMERA

Avda Lepanto, 43 Opposite the BP Garage 04800 Albox-Almeria Tel: 950 430 993 Mobile: 659 056 082

La Cena

Restaurante

Albox

menu del noche €10.95

Includes a caraffe of wine per couple 11 starters, 10 mains & 9 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

Spain’s Best Culinary Value for Your Euro Last week, we visited the small town of Poboleda in the heart of DOC Priorat, located just south of Barcelona.

After a death defying jeep ride along the beautiful terraced vineyards of Mas Doix – Dramamine anyone?

– we huddled together in a family owned restaurant to enjoy an absolutely spectacular Menu del Dia. Savoring flavorful habas beans with chunks of butifarra negra, sumptuous roast duck and homemade flan, it occurred to us that to date, we have failed to share with you one of the best culinary values for your dollar.

Mind you, although we had heard about the menu of the day upon our arrival to Spain, we continued to order off the normal menu until it dawned on us that we were spending a considerable amount more for less food.

It wasn’t until we enjoyed our first menu of the day in Madrid that we finally understood how amazing the meal can be. (photo by luzezita (entesinada)) During Franco‘s 30 year reign, el menu del dia (menu of the day) was established to feed the starving masses a nutritious and balanced lunch on a budget: essentially, the working man’s meal. Served between 1 and 4 in the afternoon, when air conditioning was nonexistent and heatstroke was common, this 3 course menu came complete with bread and a beverage, allowing for the maximum amount of consumption for maximum savings.

Nowadays, prices will range dramatically depending on where you are on the peninsula. We’ve seen prices as low as 5.50 and as high as 21 euros. However, as a rule of thumb, the menu of the day will average around 10 euros. Will price dictate quality? Not necessarily. We’ve enjoyed amazing homecooked meals in Rioja for as low as 8 euros, far outweighing the 21 euro menu from the posh restaurant up the street. In reality, the quality is hit or miss, but its always worth a shot.

How do you know if a restaurant has a menu of the day?

El Menu del Dia will typically have their featured dishes scrawled in white on a chalkboard propped against the outer restaurant wall listed as El Primer Plato (first course), El Segundo Plato (second course) and El Postre (dessert).

However, if you find a restaurant that doesn’t have their menu listed outside, this doesn’t mean it’s not available.

In this case, simply ask the server “Hay un menu del dia?”

If it is available, they will list it for you verbally. If your

Spanish is rusty, politely ask them to list it in English. If their English is rusty, go for a game of Charades. Having spent over a year using this method, I can guarantee both entertainment and a learning opportunity. Granted, you may get stewed pigs feet instead of a chicken filet, but hey, that’s how we learn :) At least you’ll never forget the word for pig’s feet again.

What can you expect from a typical Menu del Dia? El Primer Ensalada Mixta (mixed green salad) Paella (traditional rice dish with saffron and various meats and vegetables) Sopa del dia (soup of the day) El Segundo Chuletas de cerdo (pork chops) Pollo asado (roast chicken) Filete de merluza con tomate (white fish filet with a tomato sauce) El Postre Flan (think

indian restaurant

tIGEr

bAR zurgena Telephone 950 449 000

Menu Del Dia 8.50€

Take away available Open every day

La Cena would like to invite you to sample the exciting new additions to the already successful menú of the night. With 4 new additions per the 3 course taking it to 11 starters 10 mains, and 9 sweets. With additions to include more choice for the high volume of gluten free people. Still Price at the value beating 10.95 for 3 courses, including a carafe of wine for 2 people. Full al-carte still available. Please call for reservation as our busy season is upon us.

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 and speciality food. All freshly prepared so 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. www.bistobonita.alittlebitofengland.es. creme brule without the hard caramel shell) Dulce de membrillo (quinze paste desert) Yogurt Beverage Glass of House White or Red Wine Water (with or without gas) Soda To be clear, the menu of the day is not your only option, as most restaurants will also have a full menu to choose from. There are times when we simply want a quick bite without a full three course meal, or have a specific dish in mind, motivating us to order from the main menu. In short, follow your taste buds.

A few rules of thumb: If the place is packed around 2pm, it’s generally a good option If you see a board propped outside with photos of the food, run If you’re in a tourist area, head to the side streets to find great little dive restaurants Use commonsense when choosing the restaurant. It may look sketchy, but if it feels right, take a risk. You may stumble upon a gem.

What has been your experience of the Menu del Dia? Are there treasures you’ve stumbled upon your stay? catavino.net

32

June 2015

SOL CLASSIFIEDS Air-con

MD S.L

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

2 & 3 seater Tan leather sofa 100€, Large display cabinet 50€ Ex. Con. Must be collected Almerimar area Tel: 0044 7956 318 005 / 0044 7412 663 219

md_aircon@mobileemail.vodafone.es Bed (3ft)

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

For all your Air Con

services

www.AAparking.es Tel: 639 081 067

Cheap

Airport Parking

Alicante Almeria Murcia New Servicing / Repairs

available venues

Private contact parties graham Birthday 620 112 193 etc, all events catered for alternative energy call for more Solar Wind Power Solutions.

Over 15 years information

www.ecocorpshop.com

950 634 562

in Albox Private parties Birthday etc,

all events catered for

if so call ecocorp on 671 716 597 or 950 930 187

950 120 718

baby equipment hire

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

email: sales@soltimes.com by thursday 5pm

E L A I N E ’ S WOOLS Quality UK Wool & Accessories.

Come & view my DISPLAY. Also Available at CAT Services & Total Entertainment Call 667 273 889 elaineswools@ gmail.com

New Including H e a d b o a r d Excellent Quality 80€ Tel: 950 475 455 / 661 016 366 2000 litre Water tank. only used 1 year. Buyer collects €175.00. Tel 677 171 333

Gents mountain bike 18 gears good condition €85 yellow & black, Antique pine bookcase 6ft H x 10” D x 2 ft W €75 1 fixed shelf 4 changeable shelves dark in colour solid piece of furniture, Baby's hanging nappy shelve unit and a 6 pocket cot

business for sale

Gardening Business for sale to include vehicle, trailer, tools and client list.

Can start earning immediately, est. over 8yrs, move forces sale, genuine enquiries only

please tel: 664 758 548 business opportunity

call Bar for more

information:

BE SEEN in the

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

mattress 45€, 2 fold up single beds no mattresses 10€ each, double sofa bed 60€ Tel: 642 821 328 Albox POKER TABLE -Seats 8 people, with trays for drinks and chips. Brand New never used.

Comes in its own carrying bag. 60€ ovno. Tel: 950 479 464

- Makes two cups Orbegozo Roma.

Hardley used. 35€ ovno. Tel: 950 479 464 B E N C H GRINDER NEW - 150w 6" Coarse and fine wheels, eye shield anti spark wheel guards, tool rest.

45€ ovno Tel: 950 479 464 Turre

SMALL CHEST FREEZER in working order 100€ ono, under work top fridge in working order 30€, 1 portable colour tv with wall brackets 30€, 1 E X P R E S S O A/C Unit 2.5kw with double bed and COFFEE MAKER portable remote control never used still in drainage box 100€ Tel: 602 660 903/0044 7850 099 044

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 Tel: 616 531 283 or 670 088 966

insurance

albox insurance

Award winning agent For all your Insurance Needs Please contact

Glenn & jayne 950 121 943

infoalbox.libertyseguros@gmail.com

iron/metal

The Metal works Grills, • Repairs to existing pozos railings, gates of all types, • CCTV Camera security/sliding/ Inspection roller, rejas, Call Andy on 950 091 109 or 648 768 587 concertina doors Email: blockeddrainsrus@albox-online.net etc. Tel: Keith Wood on 638 900 949

tanks with certificates

Cleaning of Septic Tanks

health & beauty pamper yourself at R Retreat El Cucador, beauty treatments, hair salon, holistic massage, waxing, pedicure etc.

Therapists all established & UK qualified.

Email r et r e a tc u c a d o r. 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

locksmith Phil the Pick Locksmith 24 hours.

Locked Out? Locks fitted/upgraded house safes.

Arboleas & surrounding area.

Special weekend rates.

Tel: 697 243 181

painter & decorator ▪ Emptying of septic Tanks & Cesspits, with high Steve Hayes painter & decorator Informatica pressure cleaning Pc’s, Laptops, Printers etc. friendly - professional -reliable ▪ Small unblockages of Sales & Repairs on-site all types of exterior & callout / tuition. pipes & drainage interior work Consumables Pool Cleaning & Water Tanks Albox, Almeria ring for a free quote Tel: 950 120 900 Contact: 675 838 808 computers

construction

for all your building needs

Tiling • Plumbing balustrade • block work business directory Re-forms • central heating

SOLTIMES

From just €1 per week www.soltimes.com Tel: Paulette on 950 121 936 Or email: sales@ soltimes.com

organiser very excellent condition beige in colour with teddy and star motifs €7 To be collected Vera playa area Tel: 634 302 967

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

www.howtomakemoneyfrommembershipsites.co.uk

are you getting frustrated at ever increasing electricity bills do you want a clean, reliable energy alternative

for a no obligation quotation

hobby/ craft

Single Brand Ladies mountain bike 18 gears good condition Airport €85 purple & white,

cheapest prices around Venue @ La Vida El Cucador

installation experience. established 12 years in Spain.

Call Phil for competitive prices 636 261 240 email:info@ sunergy almeria.com www. sunergy almeria.com

for sale

advertise your unwanted items up to 300€ for free

MD Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration S.L. City & Guilds Fully Qualified F-Gas Certified

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

Tel: 620 112 193

gardening

potty finca services professional tree felling & pruning, including all types of palm trees

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

Tel: 649 186 107 or

email thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

painter & decorator internal & external free quotes

tel: 620 112 193

33

www.soltimes.com

CONTACT SALES ON Tel: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 ext 332 Pets No need for kennels or cattery Pet sitting in you own home, Arboleas & local area. Call Vanessa 637 061 482

From just 10€ per week!

PROPERTY room to let in turre 50€ per week inc all bills own bathroom/ shared kitchen tel: 634 347 295 Apartment for sale 75,000€ Mojacar Playa. 1 bed, 1 bath. Community gardens, large swimming pool. Sea views.

Excellent rental potential summer months.tel: 646 844 708

NEED TO SELL YOUR HOUSE Need Cash……House Empty Divorce…...Financial Issues Can’t afford mortgage payments Unwanted property from a probate

WE CAN HELP 4everspain.com

Bringing Buyers & Sellers Together

Call Paulette TODAY on 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ext 332

now in stock crystal clear reception

Specialising in rural property with character

removals

Whether you are buying or selling we will be delighted to hear from you

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

C & A REMOVALS & STORAGE UK-SPAIN - SPAIN - UK from a box to a full load Cars, Pets & passenger if req

LOCAL REMOVALS ALSO

SECURE STORAGE

LUBRIN ALMERIA SPAIN & ESSEX UK Unwanted items bought for CASH Call: 634 310 512/634 349 347 detatched cortijo reduced or 07434434820

bargain

De Lima’s

removals Local, National & international REMOVALS & STORAGE Quality Second hand furniture showroom

20mins from mojacar, 4 beds, 2 baths, Open plan living areas, kitchen & diningroom as well as a workshop, courtyard front & back & room for a pool. Mountain views.

€125,000

649 186 107 oremail thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL

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

REMOVALS

spain uk spain 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

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

marmenorremovals@hotmail.com

safe & secure transport to & from uk

thermal lined & controlled ventilation ideal for pets

200€ dog - 179€ cats 100€ birds

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 upholstery

1.9 satellite dishes Digital Vision CUSHIONS CUSTOm MADE

www.4everspain.com

Call: 7-days: 647 875 992

SPAIN UK SPAIN Removals

sat/tv services

Tel: 620 112 193

642 310 103

No Sale – No Fee Free Consultation

removals cont...

friendly reliable All jobs considered

Call John on UK: 00447 939 88 0110 Spain: 0034 634 368 071 chalmersJ8@hotmail.co.uk

Satellite 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

•Foam replacement •Interior/Exterior Fabrics •Free estimates

Tel: 692 176 069

SOLTIMES

business directory From just €1 per week

Your business will appear as shown below & be seen by 55,000

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June 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 Thursday Contact Paulette on 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 ext 332 motoring section for sale

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Book Review

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galraith

“Her head had bled a little into the snow. The face was crushed and swollen, one eye reduced to a pucker, the other showing as a sliver of dull white distended lids.”

A dramatic opening, the death of a beautiful supermodel in suspicious circumstances, having fallen from her Mayfair penthouse caused a big stir with the paparazzi. Detective Inspector Roy Carver and Detective Sergeant Eric Wardle were on the case. Lula Landy, like the late Princess Diana was one of the most photographed women in the world. It seems that both women were hounded to death by the pressure of celebrity and attention.

Her death dominated the news showing her “flawless face, her lithe and sculpted body” but within three months “The frenzy wore itself into staleness.” Lula was an interesting character, having been adopted by a wealthy white family. She had been investigating her biological roots and had discovered a black half-brother who she had made contact with. She was expelled from school for dabbling in drugs and ran off to London to live rough with addicts. Her on-off boyfriend was an addict, violent at times, a musician called Evan Duffield and she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She had been signed up by Guy Some the fashion designer after winning a modelling contract worth 5 million pounds over 2 years. When she died she had accumulated a

final verdict of suicide. But he is fortune of 10 million.

Before her death there had interested to hear evidence from been a row with Duffield and he a neighbour, Tansy Bestigui who became chief suspect but at this overheard a heated argument stage, the conclusion amounted seconds before Lula died. She was to: “The poor cow jumped. There convinced that Lula was pushed was no one else there.” No over her balcony. The police had dismissed her evidence because further investigation. she had been taking cocaine.

Three months later we meet her adopted half-brother, Strike takes on the case and John Bristow, a lawyer for Landry, May and Patterson. he is offered twice the going He chooses Cordoran Strike , rate which will partly solve his Private Detective with an equally mountainous debts. A string interesting past who is down on of interviews with all of the his luck. His military career came characters who had had contact to an abrupt end with a serious with Lula make it compelling injury when he lost part of his reading and the suspense is kept leg. His long term girlfriend and ticking over until the finale which his turbulent relationship with is likened to an Agatha Christie Charlotte has finally floundered climax when the murderer is and he has nowhere to sleep revealed, and all the facts of other than his office in Denmark the case spilled out in thorough Street. His finances have hit rock- detail. Cormoran Strike comes bottom and he has acquired a out of this very well. He outwitted temp called Robin, intelligent and the police force and deserves our down-to-earth who he cannot uttermost respect. By the end afford without any paying clients. of the case his reputation has Bristow seems to be the lifeline spread and he has clients coming that Strike desperately needs. He to his dingy office. Things are chose Strike to reopen the case looking up. of Lula because of his connection You’ll have guessed by now with Charlie who was John’s that J.K. Rowling was the author. adopted brother who died when When she sent her manuscript he was 9 years of age. Strike and anonymously to Orion Books Charlie had been bosom friends it was rejected. The sequel for two months prior to Charlie’s was published recently: “The fatal accident. “They say my sister Silkworm” which I am sure will be killed herself. I don’t believe it.” as successful. Rowling is certainly Strike is initially sceptical and master storyteller and I loved it. reluctant to take on the case Publisher: Sphere. ISBN: 978having decided that the police 0-7515-4925-6 investigation was www.carolnaylor.blogspot.com thorough and he believed the www.carolesleynaylor.wordpress.com - naylorcl@hotmail.es

Special Offers Visit:

35

pause for thought

The other day, my wife asked me to investigate and fix a loose tile on one the terraces on our very steep garden. My heart sank, especially when closer analysis revealed not one, but around fifty tiles that were less than completely secure, which led to my growing awareness that this particular terrace covered the roof of our ‘grey-water’ storage tank built into the hillside, holding bath and shower waste for irrigation.

The true cause, in all its horror was fully revealed when I lifted the manholecover and hung head-first, complete with torch, over a six foot drop containing several thousand litres of interestingly perfumed waste water. The bardos forming the roof of this tank were supported by three steel beams – two of which had rusted completely away, leaving just stubs protruding from the sidewalls, whilst the third, which now alone was supporting my weight, was wafer thin, ready to collapse at any moment!

A very rapid, though extremely careful exit ensued, followed by equally careful removal of the bardos, during which the third beam did indeed eventually collapse, and a large amount of work I could well have done without!

Until Jean noticed a loose tile, the terrace

had looked fine and we’d never considered what may be beneath it. And as I continue to work on rebuilding I cannot help but reflect on the similarity with us humans. We may look fine to casual or superficial analysis, but what a mess we so often are beneath the surface; how flimsy and rotten the props that support the apparent order of our lives; and how putrid the reservoir of evil thoughts and deeds we keep hidden from general sight, identified in the Bible as sin. And just as my water tank needed radical surgery, exposing the problem in order to allow reconstruction, so too do we; to openly acknowledge our failings to Almighty God and allow Him, through Jesus Christ to clean and rebuild us. Or as Jesus himself put it, for us to be reborn.

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

www.ecocorpshop.com

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36

sport & motoring

Floyd Mayweather delivers new Amir Khan snub and says it’s Andre Berto or Karim Mayfield next

Marina Phoenix Golf Society

Floyd Mayweather: Due to quit boxing after one last fight in September Floyd Mayweather: Due to quit boxing after one last fight in September

Marina Phoenix played away on Thursday 18th June with a visit to La Envia, a long, tricky and testing course.

The main event was a team competition played between groups of twelve players and the team captained by Les Armfield won by a single point, to hold bragging rights until the next event. Individual winners were Don Atkins 41 points and Isobel Jones 38 points.

The individual event, on Monday saw John Kavanagh win with 37

June 2015

points, followed by Gordon Mahon (36) in second and Howard Roper (36) third, on countback. Janet King (34) won the ladies division with Margaret Budd (32) second and Jackie Dale (30) in third. Carole Taylor won the only two’s prize.

Floyd Mayweather says his September boxing swansong will be against one of two opponents - neither of whom is Amir Khan.

Mayweather is adamant he will walk away from the sport after one more

fight, and Khan has dedicated his recent career to chasing a dream date with the unbeaten American before his retirement.

Britain’s welterweight star has raised his profile in the United States and this month claimed he was “closer than ever” to securing a shot at Mayweather.

Source: skynews

Marina Phoenix play Mondays (individual) and Thursdays (team game). To join us for a €25 greenfee.

Ring Jim on 950 162 727 / 600 353 670 or Rosalie 950 397 117/ 697 512 882.

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www.soltimes.com

sport & motoring

SPORTS SHORTS By Tony Matthews

• Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa finished 1-2-3 in the Austrian Grand Prix. Hamilton still leads the driver’s championship by ten points.

• Jordan Speith (21) won the US Open at Chambers Valley... the youngest winner of the tournament for over 90 years. Aussie Jason Day battled vertigo to complete four rounds.

• Andy Murray beat Kevin Anderson to win ‘Queen’s’ for the fourth time; Roger Federer won Germany’s Weber Halle Cup for the eighth time; and GB’s Laura Robson, back on court after 17 months has been granted a wild card for Wimbledon which starts next Monday.

• England beat New Zealand in the final ODI by three wickets to win the series 3-2. ‘Man of the Match’ Johnny Bairstow smashed 83 to steer England home.

• England who played a T20 game against the Kiwis yesterday, fly to Spain on Saturday for a short ‘break’ ahead of the Ashes series against Australia as follows: 8-12 July (in Cardiff), 16-20 July (Lords), 29 July-3 August (Edgbaston), 6-10 August (Trent Bridge) and 20-24 August (The Oval).

• In the Czech Republic, England U21s , lost their European championship opener 1-0 to Portugal but won the second 1-0 v Sweden. They play Italy for a place in the quarter-finals tonight.

• England’s women lost 1-0 to France and beat Colombia 2-1 in their first two World Cup encounters in Canada; they played Norway in their third.

• Brazil captain Neymar has been banned for the rest of the Copa America after being sent-off at the end of his country’s 1-0 defeat

by Colombia.

• Ex-Chelsea and England star Kerry Dixon has been jailed for nine months for assault.

• The 2015 MotoGP season continues this weekend in Assen, Holland.

• Jockey Ryan Moore rode nine winners at Royal Ascot last week, beating the post WW2 record of eight achieved by Lester Piggott (1965) and Pat Eddery (1989).

• GB’s track, field and indoor athletes won five gold (one by 17 yearold Amber Hill in shooting), four silver and four bronze medals in the first week of the Athletics Championships in Russia and European Games in Azerbaijan.

• GB’s women’s hockey team have qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympics, twice beating China.

• The Almanzora cricket club wants players. Anyone interested can contact Dave on jo.bloggs79@yahoo.com • And finally congratulations to Benji Jackson from Camping Los Gallardos whose bid of €275 won him a signed 2015 Manchester United shirt. The money goes to the PAWS cat neutering unit.

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PLAS – TECH challenge

The biggest local golf event of the year, the third annual PLAS – TECH challenge organized in conjunction with Forum Golf Society attracted over 80 players to Aguilon Golf Course on June 19th, and was a huge success.

Prizes to the value of €2500 were donated by PLAS-TECH, who also made a very generous donation of €1000 to the AUAN. The players not only enjoyed a golf course in absolutely stunning condition, but for a total cost of only €20 per person including their green fee and a buggy, received a bacon roll & coffee on arrival, plus a barbecue and free beer afterwards and also a commemorative shirt. No wonder the event sold out months ago !

Many thanks are due to Howard Tyers and his Plas-Tech team, and

37

to Aguilon’s Jose Javier Serano and all his staff for ensuring that the day went so smoothly The day’s biggest smile however belonged to the winner, Joy Blake who’s score of 42 points was enough to nudge John Evans (41 points) into second, with Robin Hawkins (40 points) in third as the only other person in the field to better their handicap.

With 43 prizes up for grabs the list of winners is too long to detail, but honorable mentions should go to Terry Moore (35 points, fourth), Richard Price (34 points, fifth) & Marie Vickers (34 points, sixth), as well as Dave Sharp, Glyn Ombler & Kevin Manser who each won two nearest the pin prizes, and most impressively Lee Hunter who showed the low handicappers the way to really power a golf ball as he won both the longest drive prizes.

26th June Stableford at La Envia 10th July Double Par Medal at Aguilon 24th July Pairs Two Person Scramble

at Alboran For further information, contact Phil Elam on 666 847840 / philjelam@yahoo.co.uk, or see www. forumgolfsociety.webs.com

38

June 2015

sport & motoring

www.soltimes.com

upcoming Major events of

39

the summer

june 22-28: Tennis - Aegon International, Eastbourne 23: Cricket - England v New Zealand T20 international, Old Trafford 26-5 July: Beach volleyball - World Championships, Netherlands 28-6 July: Modern Pentathlon - World Championships, Berlin 29-12 July: Tennis - Wimbledon, London JULY 4: Copa America final, Santiago 4-26: Cycling - Tour de France 5: F1 - British Grand Prix, Silverstone 5: Football - Women's World Cup final, Vancouver 8-12: Cricket - start of the Ashes England v Australia first Test, Cardiff 9-12: Golf - US Women's Open, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 13-19: Swimming - IPC World Championships, Glasgow 16-19: Golf - Open, St Andrews 16-20: Cricket - England v Australia second Test, Lord's 17-19: Tennis - GB v France, Davis Cup quarter-finals, Queen's Club 21: Cricket - Women's Ashes first ODI, Taunton 23: Cricket - Women's Ashes second ODI, Bristol 24-25: Athletics - Diamond League, London 24-9 Aug: Swimming and diving World Championships, Kazan, Russia 25: Horse racing - King George VI &

Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot 25-2 Aug: Special Olympics World Games, Los Angeles 26: F1 - Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest 26: Cricket - Women's Ashes third ODI, Worcester 26-2 Aug: Archery World Championships, Copenhagen 28-1 Aug: Horse racing - Glorious Goodwood 29-2 Aug: Cricket - England v Australia third Test, Edgbaston 30-2 Aug: Golf - Women's British Open, Turnberry AUGUST 1-2: Rugby League - Challenge Cup semi-finals 6-10: Cricket - England v Australia fourth Test, Trent Bridge 7-16: Netball - World Championship, Australia 8-9: Football - Premier League and Football League season starts 10-16: Badminton World Championships, Jakarta, Indonesia 11: Football - Uefa Super Cup, Tbilisi 11-14: Cricket - Women's Ashes Test match, Canterbury 11-23: Equestrian European Championships, Aachen, Germany 13-16: Golf - PGA Championship, Whistling Straits, Kohle, Wisconsin 19-23: Sprint canoeing - World Championships, Milan 19: Cricket - Ireland v Australia first women's T20 international 20-24: Cricket - final Ashes Test -

England v Australia fifth Test, The Oval 21-25: Cycling - BMX World Championships, Zolder, Belgium 21-30: Hockey - Men's and women's EuroHockey Championships, England 21: Cricket - Ireland v Australia second women's T20 international 22-30: Athletics World Championships, Beijing 22-13 Sept: Cycling - Vuelta a Espana 22: Cricket - Ireland v Australia third women's T20 international 23: F1 - Belgian Grand Prix, SpaFrancorchamps 25-30: World Judo Championships, Astana, Kazakhstan 26: Cricket - Women's Ashes first T20 international, Chelmsford 27: Cricket - Ireland v Australia ODI, Stormont 28: Cricket - Women's Ashes second

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

Sol Times Almeria is independent of political parties, private investment and government. Our policy is to provide readers with a news and information service that is fair, accurate and balanced. Sol Times Almeria is an independent publication. Published weekly and produced exclusively in Almeria. Sol Times News Group cannot be held responsible for claims made by advertisers, nor can it be held responsible for errors in advertisements caused by poor quality text, photographs or layout instructions. Furthermore, no responsibility can be accepted for any loss or damage resulting caused by any error, inaccuracy or non-appearance of an advertisement.

EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER: Views & opinion in editorial copy are not necessarily those of the publisher. the publisher accepts no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.

Almeria Edition AL-344-2005/Roquetas Edition AL 956-2010

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

T20 international, Hove 28-6 Sept: Wheelchair Basketball European Championships, Worcester 29: Rugby League - Challenge Cup final, Wembley 29: Cricket - T20 Blast finals day, Edgbaston 30-6 Sept: World Rowing Championships, Aiguebelette, France 30: Motorcycling - British MotoGP round, Donington * 31: Football - Transfer deadline day 31: Cricket - England v Australia T20 international & Women's Ashes third T20 international, Cardiff 31-13 Sept: Tennis - US Open, Flushing Meadows, New York Source: BBC

40

SOLTIMES June 2015

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bespoke kitchens at great prices free design & quote new kitchens make overs replacing doors NEW worktops

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