Blanca B257

Sweet Dreams Up to 50%

DISCOUNT See our ad on

page 13

COSTA blanca

SolTimes issue 257

your free weekly newspaper

6 - 12 DECember

est. 7 yrs

www.soltimes.com

THE COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS CONTINUES...

GREAT CHRISTMAS FOOD IDEAS: PAGE 29

WIN 25€ IN OUR WORDSEARCH COMPETITION PAGE 19-21

new menu at

free bottle of wine with takeaway orders over 20€

special offers for Groups

INDIAN RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY Winners of the

coastrider culinary awards

best indian restaurant & finalist best chef

Open Mon - Sat 12.30 to 3.00 & 6pm - 11pm Sunday - Buffet & A la carte menu 6pm - 11pm Avda. De Las Naciones, Ciudad Quesada - through the arches at the top of the high street

kim clark benefits consultancy ■ if you suffer from...

■ or you need help...

• mobility problems • pain/breathlessness • falls/stumbles

•h elp with washing/dressing • supervision

rule changes mean that you could now be entitled to extra income by claiming UK Sickness/Disability Benefits while living in Spain For advice or to book a consultation call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568

kimos28@hotmail

TEL: 966 731 063 or 620 386 078

A D A QUFishES & Chips

C/Los Arcos Local 1 Quesada (turn left just before the arches)

Menu of the day €6.50 12 noon till 5pm

COD OR HADDOCK, Chips, Peas, Bread & Butter takeaway also available sunday ,50€ NOW OPEN

5 special all dayQuesada Fish & Chips 2 Villa Martin Plaza Fish, Chips and peas

Open 7 days a week Mon - Sun 12pm - 10pm

966 719 136

966 764 441

Dr Hans C. Madsen Laser Specialist

(over 20 years experience)

Member of the Danish, Spanish & European Assoc.

“PUT PAIN BEHIND YOU & MOVE FREELY” Non-invasive Laser Treatment.

Helps to regenerate damaged joints, tissues & ligaments...

Shock Wave Therapy for Arthritic Joints...

Mon: Tues: Weds: Thurs: Fri:

● SPINAL INJURIES ● BACK PAIN ● SPORTS INJURIES ● ARTHRITIC JOINTS

C/Federico Garcia Lorca, 10am-1.30pm & 3pm-6pm No.90 –L8, 03178, Benijofar (Opposite the Citroen 3pm-6pm Garage) 10am-1.30pm & 3pm-6pm 966 185 242 3pm-6pm 693 371 616/617 10am-1.30pm

ATTENTION LOST YOUR TV SIGNAL? WANT IT BACK? WE HAVE THE SOLUTION!

CALL GO SATELLITE

965 725 670 699 352 574

Tel: 965 725 670

G.T.AUTOS LOS DOLSES S.L

WANTED

CARS FOR CASH

Call Tim 66 22 11 993 BEST PRICES PAID www.gtautospain.co.uk

READ THE SOL TIMES ONLINE @ WWW.SOLTIMES.COM

2

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

TRANS LINGUA

local NEWS UPDATE......

Alicante

• • • • • •

An event with the SubDelegación del Gobierno, chaired by the British Consul, Paul Rodwell, with the Delegada del Gobierno, Paula Sánchez de León Guardiola and the Subdelegado del Gobierno, Alberto Martínez Díaz, was held at the British Consulate. Also in attendance were more than sixty representatives of International and Spanish community organisations.

The meeting was timed to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and aimed to advise women of the support available to them, to encourage victims to denounce their aggressors, to remove themselves from situations of risk or danger, and to remove any feelings of guilt or stigma.

Paul Rodwell said ‘The Province of Alicante is the area of Spain with the highest percentage of British nationals registered as residents, so it’s not surprising that a number of these will get in to some kind of difficulty. Nonetheless, the fact that one third of our arrests relate to domestic violence is a serious concern. I think we are extremely fortunate that Spain is a country that takes this kind of crime very seriously and I am impressed with the level of support that is available.’

Women who feel threatened should call the special National Domestic Violence Hotline Number 061 for professional advice on support and services available, or if they feel they are in danger they should call the emergency services helpline 112.

The Diputación in Alicante provides a comprehensive information guide on welfare rights for victims of gender-based violence, available in English and Spanish, at www. residenteseuropeos.com. The Generalitat Valenciana has 24-hour Women’s Centres - tel.

900580888. The British Consulate can be called upon to offer help and support to British nationals. Their office is at Plaza Calvo Sotelo, 1, 03001 Alicante. Tel. 902 109 356. Or go to www.ukinspain.fco.gov.uk; e-mail: info@ consulate@fco.gov.uk

PROBLEMS WITH HEALTH CARE IN SPAIN? WE HAVE THE SOLUTION!

TRANSLINGUA WILL BE HOLDING AN OPEN DAY ON THE 15TH OF DECEMBER 2012 IN ORDER TO RESOLVE ALL PROBLEMS AND GENERAL ENQUIRIES REGARDING SIP CARDS, PRESCRIPTION REFUNDS AND ADMINISTRATION DUTIES REGARDING INHERITENCE. ALL INITIAL CONSULTATIONS ARE FREE SO DON´T HESITATE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY!

FROM 11AM UNTIL 3PM

Sport Tel: 966 184 805

Office Address; No. 6 Calle Los Arcos ( 200 metres from the Ciudad Quesada Arches), Ciudad Quesada

Mobile: 650 130 853

SOL TIMES COSTA BLANCA

Torrevieja

There is currently a new internet scam doing the rounds. It takes the form of an e-mail, purporting to come from the local Trafico, and claiming that you have parked illegally, and have been spotted by one of their CCTV cameras. Torrevieja does have a similar system in operation, so if you are in receipt of one of these e-mails, check the Penalty Charge Notice and the amount of the fine.

A genuine ticket will have the location of where the offense ‘allegedly’ took place, and the amount of the fine due. If you get such a demand, and there is no location mentioned, report the matter to the local Neighbourhoood Watch or Policia Local.

CHRISTINE : 902 750 190 (EXT: 330) ANDY: 693 803 409 OR MARK: 693 775 347 email: blancasales@soltimes.com

COSTA CALIDA/MAR MENOR ROSEMARY - 647 379 795

Classifieds - Paulette: 902 750 190 - 950 121 936 Costa blanca office email: calidasales@soltimes.com QUESADA BUSINESS CENTRE,

Sol Times Calida and Sol Times Blanca are 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 Calida and Sol Times Blanca are independent publications. Published weekly and produced exclusively in Murcia & Blanca. 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. Deposito Legal Sol Times Calida AL 851-2010. Sol Times Blanca AL 852-2010

CALLE LOS ARCOS 7, 03170, CIUDAD QUESADA

Cracking Christmas Prices at

l s l i M n e n i L

PLUS.....

BEDS MATTRESSES TOPPERS QUILTS THROWS RUGS

From €150

From €49

from

€9.95

QUILT SETS

Over 100 designs

from

€3.95

From €9.95

From €25.00

inc filler

cushions

From €49.94

From €5.50

€5.95

from

towels

Different designs + colours

Mattress & TV BED complete

excludes TV

€995

MON - FRIDAY 10AM – 6PM, SAT 10AM – 2PM

2ND FLOOR

NOW OPEN

800 sq. ft.

SHOWROOM aVDA. lAS NACIONES

DON’T MISS OUT - WHEN IT’S GONE IT’S GONE CALLE LOS ARCOS CIUDAD QUESADA

NEW

TEL: 652 634 714

Calle los ARCOS

Linen Mills QUESADA

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

Calpe

The Charity Shop of Calpe held a Christmas Fair in aid of Calpe’s EMAUS home and the council’s food bank.

Shoppers were offered a complimentary glass of Cava to give the Fair a Christmas feeling while browsing along the shelves, packed with gift ideas and cakes.

A magnificent Christmas Hamper was raffled, and in all the afternoon raised a staggering 1,556€!

Throughout the year the shop has raised a truly amazing 15,000€. Shop President John Bridge said: ‘the people of Calpe gives us things to sell to make some money, and we want to give it back to the town. We are helping local schools by buying equipment that they can not afford because of the lack of available funds from the government. This year we have concentrated mainly on the schools and the food bank, though we are open to other causes. The money is there and we might as well use it.’

He concluded by offering his hearty thanks to ‘all the people in the town who donate items to the shop.’

Mazarrón

The tomato industry, which has traditionally been the mainstay industry of the Municipality of Mazarrón, has been hit by the worldwide recession. Many growers have turned to other forms of agriculture, or have sold their land for development.

This shift in emphasis has resulted in hundreds of agricultural workers being unemployed.

The Councillor for Agriculture and Rural Development of the municipality of Mazarrón, Magdalena Mendez, has visited a Valencian fruit farm dedicated to the production of kiwi fruits in order to gain first-hand knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of growing different crops.

She toured the plantation, and was shown the farming techniques used and infrastructure required. Farmers and growers from other parts of the region have been trialling alternatives such as peaches, paraguays and cherries, as well as switching from traditional iceberg lettuces to other more specialist varieties.

She concluded her visit to the region at the Estación Experimental de Cultivos Tropicales de Cajamar, in Las Palmerillas in Almería, to see how various subtropical species such as avocado, mango and cherimoya (custard apples) are grown.

Costas

The bogus gas inspectors are doing the rounds once again!

Bear in mind that if you are confronted on the doorstep by official looking inspectors, who usually have very official looking papers, remember that the gas company CESPA never sends inspectors or technicians on house calls unless they have specifically been requested to do so, or if there is an emergency.

Should they arrive on your doorstep, claiming that they have been authorised to carry out an inspection, do not let them in. Request their ID, and even if that is forthcoming and appears in order, phone CESPA and the Policia Local.

If CESPA denies knowledge of them and their authorisation to carry out an

inspection, inform them that the police have been notified, and request that they leave.

Under no circumstances allow them into your home, or allow them access to your gas supply. If you do, then they can claim that you authorised the inspection, and they can then legally charge whatever they like, which you will have to pay!

Jalon Valley Jalon Valley HELP’s annual Christmas Bazaar has raised over 3,000€.

Entertainment was provided by Val de Pop U3A’s Casual choir and local singer and guitarist JJ Jones, and there was a very enjoyable seasonal sing-song of festive songs and carols.

The Hall was packed with stalls selling gift ideas, decorations, Christmas cards, toys, books, jewellery and other craft objects. There were all the usual fun offers, tombola, raffle, guess the name of the furry dog, guess the weight of the Christmas Cake, as well as mince pies, mulled wine, cava and beer – even tea and coffee!

Further information about Jalon Valley Help visit www.jalonvalleyhelp.com, or call 659 624 643.

Murcia The Teatro Circo Murcia is offering an extravaganza of dance on 6th December.

The evening, entitled El Despertar del Corazon, Las Mil y Una Danzas, (the Awakening of the Heart, the Thousand and One Dances) is a mix of ethnic, oriental, indian, contemporary, gypsy and fusion; a spectacular show of music, rhythm and colour.

Tickets are priced at 12, 10 and 8€, and to book and for more information and parking details, go to Teatro Circo Murcia.

Torrevieja Torrevieja’s Alcalde Eduardo Dolon has taken possession of the draft of the general budget of the City for the next financial year - 2013.

Torrevieja is the fifth largest city in the Valencian Provence, and its budget for amounts in its Statement of Income and Expenses is 92,345,678€.

Torrevieja once again is one of the first municipalities of Valencia to approve the draft budget for 2013. Alcalde Eduardo Dolon, with Councillor of Finance, Joaquín Albaladejo, said that ‘the budget for next year is the most social and balanced in the history of the city. Despite the decrease of 3% in the budget, there is a 4% increase in spending on all items of a social nature.’

He concluded: ‘This is despite the severe economic crisis in our country. The city of Torrevieja is showing its commitment to continue to support the needy families in the city.’

Anyone wishing to view the complete draft of the budget should visit www. torrevieja.es

NAMASTE NAMASTE CAMPOSOL B

3

Indian Restaurant & Beer Bar

NEWYEARSCELEBRATIONATNAMASTE JOIN US FOR AN EVENING TO BE REMEMBERED.... FROM 7.30PM

HUGE BUFFET

HUGE

FIREWORK

DISPLAY

UNLIMITED FOOD!!!!

INCLUDES CHOICE OF LAMB & CHICKEN STARTERS & MAIN DISHES

UNLIMITED DRINKS INCLUDES DRAFT BEER – HOUSE WINE SOFT DRINKS – SPRITS (BRANDY, GIN, VODKA)

25€

ONLY

PER PERSON

ENTERTAINMENT

BY BOLLYWOO D DANCERS & AD UNTIL THE EARLYJ HOURS

Reservations essential please call 968 131 721 / 637 189 114

4

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

Ryanair to slash flights in Spain due to soaring airport taxes If you want to, have to, need to sell your property then call us!

maple

global proper ty services

WE BUY PROPERTY

Sport

Stuck with a mortgage? Need to move? WANT to change, Fed up?

Then pick up the phone!

We have already helped many people in difficult situations.

We might be able to help you NO catches, NO costs, NO nonsense!

Call Patrick on 0034 966 111 978 www.maplegps.com

Office 0034 966 761 266 Espanol 0034 610 496 980 Deutsch 0034 663 302 532

moncayo market CHRISTMAS FAIR and MARKET on

Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced it will drastically reduce its flights to and from Spain as a result of rocketing airport taxes. This will mean the loss of around 4.5 million passengers and 4,500 jobs, plus a reduction of 25 million euros received annually by airport governing body AENA. The Irish carrier will cut its number of flights by 35 per cent at Madrid’s Barajas airport and 23 per cent at Barcelona’s El Prat terminal, the overall total being 648 fewer journeys.

Ryanair will cut its fleet from 14 to 10 aircraft, and passenger numbers in high season will go down from 5.3 million to 3.4 million.

Airport tax hikes mean airlines have to pay out up to four times the average of the 170 destinations Ryanair operates to and from. If they continue the same number of flights and aircraft as they have in Spain at present, the company will shell out between 75 and 80 million euros more than they have this year.

Airport taxes make up 40 per cent of ticket costs for Ryanair’s flights to and from Madrid and Barcelona, meaning the company ‘cannot make any profit’ from these routes.

“We cannot operate these flight paths when it means our costs will double,” says vice-president Michael Cawley, who has slammed AENA for ‘failing to listen to its largest client’ and neglecting to visit Ryanair’s headquarters in Dublin.

He has also criticised AENA’s ‘disproportionate airport expansions’, which has involved ‘building new terminals that are totally unnecessary’.

Among the flight routes to and from Madrid and Barcelona which will be cancelled next year are Almería, Bari, Ancona, Girona, Eindhoven, Faro, Frankfurt, Geneva, London Gatwick, Poznan, Stockholm, Turin and Verona. The frequency of flights to and from Spain’s two largest airports will drastically reduce for Alghero, Bilbao, Bolonia, Brussels, Budapest, Cagliari, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Marseille, Milan, Niederrhein, Oslo, Asturias, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Pisa, Oporto, Rome, Santander, Santiago de Compostela and Tenerife South.

Yet outside of Spain, Ryanair expects to continue increasing its number of routes and flights by four per cent in 2013, reaching a total of 79 million passengers and earning a profit of between 490 and 520 million euros.

The European Commission has demanded that Rajoy’s cabinet justify the increase in airport taxes by proving that this is necessary to cover Spain’s own costs in respect of air travel.

If Spain cannot show it has good reason to apply these high taxes, the EC may force them to withdraw the increase.

Ryanair has said that if this happens, it will continue to operate as normal from all bases in Spain.

at MONCAYO

SATURDAY

8TH DECEMBER Come along and visit Santa at the fabulous Moncayo Market

Slippery Floors?

Loads of stalls, fantastic re-sale market, thousands of bargains and a wonderful festive feel Ironart

Moncayo Market

procomobel

torrevieja N332

N332 Guardamar

Find us behind the Procomobel Home Centre

Tel: Martin 659 232 507 martin.freeman@free-sol.com

www.free-sol.com

Suitable for ceramic tiles, slate, terrazzo, quarry tiles, marble, stone, concrete and more...

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

Family lets their flat free to repossession victims A family in Gijón (Asturias) has offered to rent their twobedroomed, top-floor flat in the city for free to a person or family who is genuinely in need.

They said they are ‘fed up’ with trying to ‘look the other way’ when they see so many reports of people having their homes repossessed and being left on the street due to having been made redundant.

The couple live in Bilbao, in the Basque Country, and have one adult daughter, who has a property of her own and has so far escaped the negative effects of the recession, and they own a flat in Gijón – which used to belong to the husband – and is currently empty.

In the three days since the advert was published in their local newspaper, La Nueva España, the family has received over 800 calls.

“There is nothing behind it, no ulterior motive,” said the wife, who was interviewed under the pseudonym of Isabel.

“We simply want to help – it’s a gesture from one family to another.”

The flat still has a mortgage on it, and until two years ago, was rented out, but has since stood empty – during which time they have used it merely as a holiday home.

Isabel, 33, is a public sector worker in the legal profession, and her 40-year-old husband is a high-flying company boss.

Both are in salaried employment and, as Isabel states, “luck has smiled on us and, fortunately, we are in a good position, financially.”

Their only conditions are that the successful applicant is able to prove they are in financial need, such as having their home repossessed, and are able to produce evidence that they have previously had a job.

“A few years ago in Spain, in 2005 or 2006, you could find a job – but if a person of, say, 50 years of age, is unable to prove they were employed during this time, we would have to filter them out and look for someone who is more directly affected by the recession,” Isabel explains.

They say they have heard numerous horror stories and desperate situations, including immigrants who want to bring their family members over to Spain, a couple and their 31-year-

old son who are all unemployed and living in a hostel, and another family which only survives by selling scrap metal.

But the couple say they are soon going to have to make a very tough decision – that of deciding whose situation is the most desperate – although they have decided to give priority to families with dependants who are disabled or still children.

They are due to travel to Gijón this weekend to start interviewing candidates, and expect to be able to hand over the keys to the flat within three weeks, although they say they will take as long as they think they need to find the family who most needs their help.

They say they will not ask for explanations as to how each family ended up having their homes repossessed, nor how they managed their finances.

“We are not here to judge people,” Isabel explains.

She said the recent suicides, among these a former female councillor from the Basque Country town of Eibar, has meant they can ‘no longer turn the other cheek’.

“For us, it’s not an act of charity – it’s a moral obligation,” Isabel insists.

“Nobody needs to thank us for it.”

The advert in La Nueva España reads: “Because today more than ever, we cannot close our eyes to the dreadful things happening around us. Because some of us can contribute to alleviating the suffering that many families are going through today.

“Family who feels the moral obligation to share their luck with those in need is offering the use, free of charge, of a twobedroom property, fully furnished, in the centre of Gijón.

“This will be for one year, and the property will be let to the person or persons who most need this honest and genuine offer of help.

“We do not belong to any political or religious group, or any other type of movement, we are just people with a conscience.

“You must be able to prove you are genuinely in need – priority will be given to families with one or more children who have been evicted after their home has been repossessed.”

5

Driving instructor found drunk in charge of a pupil

Barcelona police have arrested a driving instructor who was three times over the limit whilst giving a lesson.

Juan José D.G. was accompanying a young lady, who was driving the learner car, when he was caught by the Guàrdia Urbana.

He was pulled over on the city-centre Avinguda Paral·lel after officers were tipped off by a local resident.

Police say the instructor reeked of alcohol and his pupils were dilated and eyes shining, which immediately led them to ask for his identification and driving licence and to breathalyse him.

They found he had 0.75 milligrams of alcohol per litre of blood, which is three times the legal limit.

His licence was immediately confiscated and he is due to appear before a judge shortly.

Officers say the accused has no previous record for drinkdriving or other motoring offences.

Drunk drivers are the main cause of accidents in Barcelona city, say police.

Last year alone, a total of 396 crashes caused by alcohol were reported

CaixaBank buys Banco de Valencia for a euro Banco de Valencia has been bought out by Caixabank for just one euro, according to the FROB. The Ordered Banking Restructure Fund has recently given the ailing Banco de Valencia a cash injection of 4,500 million euros, and its nationalisation means it will be one of four financial entities to get a slice of the 37,000-million-euro bailout from the EU. Banco de Valencia registered losses of 389.4 million euros in the first nine months of 2012, after having cut its deficit by 55.5 per cent – from 876.44 million – thanks to the grant from the FROB. The FROB has resurrected the auctioning off of Banco de Valencia – a former affiliate of Bancaja – along with Catalunya Banc, but the former was given priority due to its smaller size.

Resistance tests – devised by the management consultancy Oliver Wyman – found that in the event of adverse economic conditions, the entity would need up to 3,462 million euros in capital. CaixaBank has worked out that it will be forced to carry out a restructure of the Banco de Valencia in the gross sum of 233 million euros, although it believes that from 2014 onwards, this will generate savings of 85 million a year in costs.

The sale is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2013.

6

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

news flash

Afghan wedding party hit by bomb Work begins on draft UK press bill Work is beginning on a draft bill to regulate the UK newspaper industry - amid open divisions in the governing coalition.

------------------------

Court in Russia bans video clips of Pussy Riot online

Sport A Moscow court has ruled that websites must remove video clips of the Pussy Riot female punk band, two of whose members are in jail.

------------------------

Concorde killings verdict quashed

A French court clears US airline Continental of criminal blame for the Concorde crash in 2000, two years after another court ruled it responsible.

---------------------

UK stops £21m payment to Rwanda The UK suspends aid to Rwanda worth £21m, amid concerns about the country’s role in the conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo ------------------------

Supermarkets pledge prices action

Eight major supermarkets agree to ensure that special offers are fair, following a regulator’s investigation into unfair or misleading promotions.

------------------------

TenTenBritons arrested in Spain over ‘boiler room fraud’ Britons are among 22 people arrested in Spain during an investigation into an alleged 8m euro (£6.5m) “boiler room fraud”.

According to a report by the BBC, more than 200 members of the UK public were persuaded to put their savings into non-existent shares, police said.

The arrests were carried out by the Spanish police, supported by the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and the City of London Police.

Four guns, ammunition and 367,000 euros were also seized, police said.

Boiler room scams are estimated to cost the UK about £200m a year.

The 22 people were arrested on

6 November but the news has only emerged now, after a Spanish judge lifted a blanket ban on publicity.

All 22 people - who have not been named by the Spanish police - have been charged with being part of an organised crime group, as well as with fraud offences. Five of the British nationals were remanded in custody and the others were released on bail.

Soca said several addresses in Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia were searched and police found seven false British passports

and numerous computers, hard drives, USB sticks and mobile phones, all of which need to be scrutinised by detectives.

They also found lists of target clients and “manuals on how to get people to part with their money”.

Soca’s Head of Operations in Europe, Ian Milne, said: “We believe this organised crime group was running a sophisticated and complex boiler room fraud.

“Shutting it down has put a stop to more members of the public being duped into parting with their hard

earned cash.”

Detective Superintendent Tony Crampton, from City of London Police, said: “Investment fraud is all too often a crime created abroad to target people back here in the UK, with the vulnerable members of society being most at risk.

“This successful operation in Spain provides further evidence of how these partnerships are now delivering the sort of results that should make organised crime gangs think twice before starting their criminal enterprise.”

Iberia workers to strike before Christmas

Employees at the troubled Spanish national airline Iberia are to go on strike in the run-up to Christmas.

Unions representing ground staff and cabin crews voted to hold a six days of stoppages on 14 and 17-21 December.

The industrial action is in protest at plans by International Airlines Group which owns Iberia and British Airways - to cut 4,500 staff at the Spanish firm.

Earlier this month, the IAG and Iberia heads both said the Spanish airline was “in a fight for survival”.

Iberia, which has been hit among other things by a prolonged recession in its home market of Spain, has been suffering record losses, and is unprofitable in all its markets.

The 4,500 job losses represent almost a quarter of Iberia’s workforce, but were not as steep as the 7,000 figure that had been expected by the airline’s unions prior to IAG’s announcement.

However, the restructuring plan also includes pay cuts of between a quarter and a third for the staff being retained.

The airline has set a deadline of 31 January next year to reach agreement with unions over the cuts, failing which it has threatened even bigger cuts in jobs and in the number of flights operated by the airline.

“We are ready to negotiate salary cuts and increased productivity, but we don’t want outright sackings,” said Jose Carillo, a spokesman of the main CCOO union.

The Spanish pilots’ union, Sepla, was not among the six trade unions to vote in favour of the industrial action, because it is currently in industrial arbitration with Iberia, which precludes it from involvement.

However, other union officials suggested that individual pilots may nonetheless choose to join the strikes.

Madrid Arena Hallowe’en party may have doubled the venue’s maximum capacity

Investigations show that the maximum capacity of the Madrid Arena was far exceeded on the night of the Hallowe’en party tragedy that cost the lives of four teenage girls and left a fifth in intensive care fighting for her life.

The total allowed in, according to the licence – based upon the constraints of the venue – was 10,650 people.

And although the company organising the party assure they only sold 9,650 tickets, an inquiry into the stampede which killed the four girls revealed that at least 16,791 people entered the building.

In fact, the police have told the court handling the case that there could have been as many as 23,000 revellers that night -well over twice the capacity of the premises.

Investigators opened four boxes of sold tickets out of a total of eight, and counted 9,257.

This means there could have been double that many sold, since they only inspected half of the boxes.

The organisers, from the company Diviertt, had originally said they did not know where the boxes of tickets were, but the police found them in the Satellite Pavilion at Madrid Arena.

Head of Diviertt, Miguel Ángel Flores, said the safety rope had broken and that a large number of youngsters gatecrashed the party.

He has also accused the police of ‘manipulating’ the boxes of tickets, which they deny.

Three girls aged 18 were killed outright in the crush, and a fourth, aged 17 – despite the party being for 18-year-olds and over only - died later in hospital from her injuries.

A 20-year-old girl suffered serious injuries and is critically ill in hospital.

Man who fOUND and handED in 12,000 euros promised a job by the owner

A 31-year-old man who found an envelope containing 12,000 euros in cash handed it in to the staff who traced the owner.

And the gentleman who had lost the money has pledged to help him find a job.

The owner of the money, a businessman, said he was ‘overwhelmed’ by the honesty of the customer, who could have easily kept it and made his own situation much easier, given that he is out of work.

He gave the finder 200 euros

in cash as a reward.

The man who found the money said the café was full of lorry drivers and he could not immediately see who had dropped the envelope, so he handed it to a waitress who quickly found the person who had lost it.

And the finder says that if he does in fact get a job as a result, it will be worth far more to him than having kept the money he found.

Passenger on Iberia aircraft bitten by scorpion An Iberia aircraft had to be cordoned off after a passenger was found to have been bitten by a scorpion. Sources from the airline say the Airbus 340 covering flight IB6316 had just landed in Madrid’s Barajas airport from San José, the capital of Costa Rica, when a Swiss woman on board had to be taken to hospital. She was kept in observation overnight due to a bite on the arm and was

released the next morning.

The woman and another five in her group were due to catch a connecting flight to Zürich, but one of them stayed behind with her in hospital. An Iberia spokesperson said the scorpion must have got onto the plane at the point of departure, in Costa Rica. It had to be cordoned off and fully disinfected once the scorpion was found.

www.soltimes.com

CAR CLUB CONVOYS - NEW LAW

There were statements issued and circulated that a new law relating to Car Club Convoys was coming into force in January 2013. These statements turned out only to be ill founded rumours. Unfortunately these rumours grew like wild fire and there were some very worried car club officials, me included. I am very happy to say that these rumours have proven to be completely false.

I cannot take all the glory for getting to the bottom of this, most of the work was done by Bruce Rowbotham of the Pheonix Car Club and I must thank him for his sterling efforts and for letting us breath a sigh of relief.

Now we can relax again, if you live in Spain and own a Jaguar you really should be a member of the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club in Spain. Our next meeting is on 27th January at Restaurant Los Almendros in Torrellano.

For more information please contact Eric Arnold at jaguarspain@outlook.com

lost dog

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

7

The Christmas Fayre in Altea - a repeat performance

The good burghers of Altea seemed to have enjoyed last year’s Christmas Fayre and so once again Amata has been asked to organise this year’s combined craft and Christmas fair in front of the Town Hall in Altea, from 6 to 9 December. Some thirty or forty craftsmen and women will set up their stalls - just in time for us foreigners to find something really original for our nearest and dearest.

The old centre of Altea, in front of the big church, is where all summer some twenty or so stalls with excellent and genuine craft work are set up each night. Last year the Town Hall decided to organise something similar in the central shopping area down below, just before Christmas. Amata, the craft association of the province of Alicante, was chosen to organise this event, mainly because Amata concentrates on maintaining rigorous standards - everything must be made by the people on the stalls, and no selling of work from small factories or imported from Third World countries Some forty stalls with interesting and original craft work, from Christmas decorations and beautiful ceramics, to candles, exclusive leather bags, jewellery, puppets and toys - there’s something for everybody. You can

watch Chema binding books in the medieval manner, Tomás painting original designer T-shirts, José the glass blower or Nino making marvellously intricate jewellery with macrame set with semi-precious stones. Most of the people on the stalls have their equipment and tools with them, and can add that personal touch to a present, or even take orders for something really original to be finished before Christmas.

For the younger visitors there are workshops where they can learn to make their own Christmas decorations, there are very kempt donkeys, a miniature Ferris wheel and an area with traditional children’s games. Then there is Toni who can paint a child’s face to look like somebody out of a fairy tale.

The Fayre opens on Thursday 6 December (a bank holiday in Spain) and finishes on Sunday 9 December.

It is open every day from 11 till 2 and from 5 to 9 o’clock. The square lies on the big shopping street parallel to the main N332 road through Altea, and there’s an underground car park under the Fayre. Or you can live it up by taking the train in either Alfaz del Pi or Calpe station and stepping out on the platform that leads directly to

the Fayre.

For more information (even in English) try ringing 639 979 678. For photographs of last year’s Christmas Fayre, take a look on Amata’s web page http://www.amata.es/Altea11. html. From Torrevieja you can take a tour with David’s Coach Trips (966 785 910; in English) which includes a visit to the Fayre.

HAS ANYONE SEEN BAILEY? SHE IS WEARING A RED COLLAR

CALL 648 609 438 OR 630 187 041

Gateway To India t n a r u a t s Re

Camposol Sector A

e v E s r a New Ye SPECTACULAR

& n o s r e p r e p € 25 ly n o r fo ht azing n,ig irits in sp Join in this amdraft drinks and ma fro m soft , on ly ine w use ho beer enjoy unlimited ,

y) (i.e vodka, gin and brand

5.35€

n 2 people One mixed starter betwee beef or Vegetable curry b, m La n, ke ic Ch y an se oo For your m ain cour se ch na an bread) or Come alo ce ri er th ei h it w d ve er (s ng & see

Entertainment includes a Fabulous Firework Display plus Karaoke & Flamenco Dancing

in the New

Year with style !!

From 7pm – Late

Reservations are essential ~ Book now to avoid disappointment!

For reservations please call 968 199 226 or 652 126 668 (Ricky)

8

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

music with mark Classic Albums… Bat Out of Hell Bat Out of Hell is the second album by American rock musician Meat Loaf, and his first collaboration with composer Jim Steinman, released on October 21st 1977 on Cleveland International/Epic Records. The album developed from a musical, Neverland, a sci-fi update of Peter Pan, which Steinman wrote for a workshop in 1974, and performed at the Kennedy Center Music Theatre Lab in 1977. Steinman and Meat Loaf, who were touring with the National Lampoon show, felt that three songs were “exceptional” and Steinman began to develop them as part of a seven-song set they wanted to record as an album.

Steinman and Meat Loaf had immense

difficulty finding a record company willing to sign them. According to Meat Loaf’s autobiography, the band spent most of 1975 writing and recording material, and two and a half years auditioning the record and being rejected. Manager David Sonenberg jokes that they were creating record companies just so they could be rejected.They performed the album live in 1976, with Steinman on piano, Meat Loaf singing, and sometimes Ellen Foley joining them for “Paradise”. Steinman says that it was a “medley of the most brutal rejections you could imagine.” Meat Loaf “almost cracked” when CBS executive Clive Davis rejected the project. The singer recounts the incident in his autobiography. Not only did Davis, according to Meat Loaf,

Kitchens1 Just NEW DOORS or a COMPLETE NEW KITCHEN?

before

after

plus

We now cover Costa Calida & Inland areas

It makes no difference! before

after

v Ovens, Hobs, Cooker Hoods v Worktops in all materials. v Superb Prices with no need for gimmicks.

Our doors start at only 12.50€ each, v you cannot go wrong! v Design Service, 20 YEARS of knowledge, v English Speaking

Find us in San Pedro Del Pinatar, Murcia, on the N332,100 yds past Lidl on the opposite side email: info@kitchensplus1.com www.Kitchensplus1.com

968 184 235

say that “actors don’t make records”, the executive challenged Steinman’s writing abilities and knowledge of rock music.

Finally Singer/Producer Todd Rundgren agreed to do the album. He thought the songs hilarious and Meatloaf quotes him as saying “I have to do this album it’s so out there” Steinman said of Rundgren “He is the only genuine genius I’ve ever worked with. The album opens with its title track, “Bat Out of Hell,” taken from Steinman’s Neverland musical. It is the result of Steinman’s desire to write the “most extreme crash song of all time. It features a boy who is riding so fast and ecstatically that he is unable to see an obstruction until it is “way too late.” The next track, “You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth,” opens with spoken word, performed by Steinman and Marcia McClain, that was also taken from the Neverland musical, as were the next two tracks, ‘Heaven Can Wait;, and “All Revved Up with No Place to Go”. Side two opens with “Two out of Three Ain’t Bad,” which was written near the end of the album’s production.

The song documents the break-up of two relationships: first where the singer says he is not in love with his partner, and the second where he recalls when the “only girl ... [he’d] ever love” left him. The sixth track, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”, is an epic story about teen romance and sex. A duet between Meat Loaf and Ellen Foley, the couple reminisce about driving to a secluded spot, at which he plans to have sex. They “make out” heavily in the middle instrumental section, described in metaphor in a baseball commentary by New York Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto.

However, she stops him just before they have sex, insisting that he first proclaim that he will “love her forever.” He swears to love her until the end of time. The final part of the song displays the couple in an acrimonious relationship, in which they are “praying for the end of time” because “if I got to spend another minute with you I don’t think that I can really survive.” Whereas the title track is the “ultimate car crash song,” this, according to the writer, is the “ultimate car sex song.”

It epitomizes the albums, as Ellen Foley describes, “pre-pubescent sexual mentality.

The seventh and final track, “For Crying Out Loud”, is a more sedate love song. It recounts

the positive changes that a girl has made to the singer’s life, which had “reached the bottom”. The song also incorporates some sexual innuendo with the line “And can’t you see my faded Levi’s bursting apart.” Steinman is credited with the album cover concept, which was illustrated by Richard Corben.

The cover depicts a motorcycle, ridden by a long-haired man, bursting out of the ground in a graveyard. In the background, a large bat perches atop a mausoleum that towers above the rest of the tombstones. In 2001, Q magazine listed the cover as number 71 in its list of “The Hundred Best Record Covers of All Time.”. The album was not an immediate hit; it was more of a growing one.

Bat Out of Hell still sells about 200,000 copies per year and has sold an estimated 43 million copies worldwide,14 million in the United States alone, over 1.5 million (22 times platinum) albums in Australia becoming the second best-selling album there., It stayed on the United Kingdom charts for 474 weeks, a feat surpassed only by the 478 weeks of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. In 2003, the album was ranked number 343 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In 2006 it was voted number nine in a poll conducted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to discover Australia’s most popular album. In November 2007, Meat Loaf was awarded the Classic Album award in Classic Rock’s Classic Rock Roll Of Honour. Personally I love the Album it is a timeless piece of music classic rock at its best someone hearing the album for the first time would not know it is 34 years old it will sound fresh for many more years to come.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

Come, Sing and get a ‘little Horse’ at the Rescue Centre Carol Concert...........

The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre is having its Magical Christmas Carol Concert at the Rescue Centre on Friday, 14th of December at 6.30pm.

Come sing with Cathy Carson and the TAABS Singers, Enjoy Mince Pies with Brandy Butter, Mulled Wine, Roasted Chestnuts, and take part in our Fantastic Prize Draw. With a very special appearance from Father Christmas and his Mini Reindeer We would love to see you, so please come and have a good old sing-song For more information and directions, see our website, contact Sue at the Rescue Centre on 0034 652 021 980 or Email: info@ easyhorsecare.net

The

Club

Ballroom Dancing 8pm -10pm

Thursday

FUN QUIZ 8.30pm

Friday

Closed from 6pm for private parties. Book yours now!

Saturdays See guide below Sundays

TOM JONES TRIBUTE PLUS SUPPORT ACT rock ‘n’ roller kye james + DJ HELEN 2 COURSE MEAL + SHOW 8PM 10€ Show only 9.30pm 3€

SATURDAY 15th decemBER

Little & Large duo

SUZY G’s CABARET SHOW & dj Helen

with the award winning & the super smooth vocals of

2 course meal + show 8pm 10€. Show only 9.30pm 3€

SATURDAY 22ND DECEMBER

Dan Davy

This December 24t h kick off your festive fun with the best duo around.

2 course meal & show 12.50€ Show only 4€

Happy hour 8 - 9.30pm PLUS Karaoke 9pm

SATURDAY 8th december

Nick Gold & the Gold Diggers

Nick Gold

On the 30th November, and the 1st and 2nd December.Vivace choir under the directorship of Tom Parteger gave a series of recitals by the English composer John Rutter in the churches of San Luis, San Miguel and Los Montesinos. Yours truly decided to attend the performance in Los Montesinos. Some of you may remember from my previous review of Vivace that i’m not an aficionado of classical music,but after their performance of Carl Orf’s Carmina Burana last March i was truly ‘blown away’ and was curious enough to experience another dose of what i always thought of ‘high brow entertainment’.

This time it was Rutters Requiem preceded by 2 short pieces that also involved Rutter. The Cantique de Jean Racine and To Everything There is a Season. None of which i had heard before. It was a most memorable, moving and atmospheric performance.

Once again Tom Parteger can be

tuesday

Christmas Eve Special with

a show not to be missed!

Bringing you a medley of festive tunes, swing & pop all tinselled up with the usual wit & flare of the

Viva Vivace.................

The Cadillacs 4.30pm to 6.15pm, Entry 5€

monday

LENNON AND McCARTNEY TRIBUTE Plus DJ HELEN 2 Course meal + show 8pm 10€ Show only 9.30pm 3€

966 717 028

Calle El Pino esq. Calle Abedul, Ciudad Quesada theclubatquesada@gmail.com www.theclubquesada.com

justifiably proud of this fantastic choir’s achievement.Their soloist Eve Suffield during the ‘pie jesu’ gave a truly moving performance.

I notced too that they had a new Accompanist. Toni Guillén,a young Spanish gentlemen who played with confidence and feeling.

Another very well deserved standing ovation at the end of their performance and the Parish priest gave thanks to the choir saying that “he was moved to tears by a stunning performance.” I echo that sentiment exactly,it was my late fathers Birthday and this Requiem would have been a most fitting tribute to him.

Viva Vivace. You have convinced me that classical music is not just for the ‘high brow’ and i look forward to your next performance.

Review: Jiminy Critic Photo shows Vivace getting ready to give their performance of Rutters Requiem

BEST EVER

LIVE SHOWSDAY

EVERY SATUR

NEW YEARS EVE PARTY Dance the night away with Big FM’s DJ Richie Sparks Glass of Champagne on arrival Large Buffet at 9m Plus Dessert Buffet Plus Party Bags

Tickets €25

WEDNESDAY 12TH DECEMBER 8.30pm Wednesday 19th December 9pm

THE CABALLEROS CHRISTMAS SHOW Barry White

A tribute show

Tickets €5 Pr

Diana Ross Lady Gaga with a difference … Freddy Mercury e Show meals available Never the same show twice ! & many more

9

The Fantastic

HARRY VALENTINES Free Entry BAND and FRIENDS Christmas Bash

10

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

PATRONAL FIESTAS UNITE AND BLINGING GOOD IT WAS! NATIONALITIES Whilst a host of activities, some traditional, some new, have been organized with a view to celebrating Torrevieja’s annual, patronal fiestas in honour of the ‘Inmaculada Concepción’, SUNDAY 9th DECEMBER has been set aside for a huge get together of the numerous clubs and associations which meet in the cosmopolitan ‘city of salt’.

“Associations Day”, as part of Torrevieja’s patronal fiestas, takes place in the huge ‘fiestas marquee’ which has been set up in the harbour area alongside the regular fairground. From 10.30 am through to the evening, around 50 different associations, many of them representing the various nationalities resident in our cosmopolitan town, will participate in this exhibition of culture, gastronomy and co-existence.

Included within a host of stands representing various ‘associations’ of distinct nationalities will be ‘COSTA LIONS CLUB’ (Lions International), environmental group, ‘Rutas y Caminos de la Sal’, ‘NOSMO KING CLUB’, TRAC (Torrevieja Retired Activities Club) and the ‘ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION. Meanwhile, alongside the marquee, Torrevieja Cricket Club will be offering a display of England’s favourite sport whilst the CLASSIC CAR CLUB will set up its own exhibition on the seafront promenade, Paseo Juan Aparicio, alongside the ‘Hombre del Mar’ statue.

An extensive programme of entertainment will accompany the exhibition with live music from local artists displaying their talents on

€645 Kimberton Obscure

€649 Earith Obscure

the extensive stage. As well as local choirs, musical groups and individuals, some offering a taste of their own ethnic styles. The British musical representation will be in the form of an hour long concert from the recently formed “Campoverde Reef Band”. “REEF BAND”, formed only one year ago, is made up of six, former professional, British musicians, all of whom have been members of some of the more ‘well known’ popular bands during the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. Inevitably, their extensive repertoire reflects this vast experience and offers music of the Beatles, Eagles, Travelling Wilburys, Bee Gees or Take That as well as the songs of Rod Stewart, Beach Boys or Dr. Hook. REEF BAND is entirely dedicated to charitable fundraising through their offer of free concerts for the benefit of those most in need. CAMPOVERDE REEF BAND will be on stage as from around 13.30h.

“ASSOCIATIONS DAY” is an event intended to offer something for all tastes, for residents of whatever nationality. It promises to be a great way to spend a few hours on a cold December Sunday as well as celebrating together the town’s annual fiestas.

€595 Essex Fusion Tile 1 Green

Queens Sold

UK MANUFACTURED, MADE TO MEASURE, COMPOSITE AND PVC DOORS and windows With up to 25 YEARS GUARANTEE.

Essex Brilliance

€849

€595

BBC1 BBC2 ITV1,2,3,4 C4 Sky News + more. No monthly subscriptions direct from satellite. Full Installation Including receiver from...

ITV BBC CHANNEL 4 CHANNEL 5

with colour options on composite doors

Fully d le instal from

Agency in Ciudad Quesada was the main sponsor for event and continuing the cookery theme he donated a “cook it yourself” Turkey Dinner for two as well as providing all the table decorations which just happened to be in his company colours red yellow and green!

Pepe is now going to sponsor the next event which is a Black and White Sixties Night on Friday February 8th. Once again PDQ will be the band and guests will be asked to enter into the spirit of the Sixties Night by dressing the part whilst also trying to stick to the Black and White colour theme! We hope this will be a magical evening as we have also invited along the wonderful magician Graeme Mykal who will do table magic during the evening.

Tickets for this next event are €13.50 and are on sale now - once again the raffle and any fundraising at this event will be to support the children, Pepe along with several of the guests are keen to hear more about the “The Garden Project” which we hope to start in February, the idea is first to get a working party together and then help and guide the children and young adults to grow some of their own food. If you are interested to hear more about the garden project or if you would like tickets for the Black and White Sixties Night, which is three courses and a bottle of wine between two please email Anne Day at rod. day01@gmail.com

One off price €195

OVER 40 STYLES TO CHOOSE FROM

All coloured door styles shown,are available in white, fully installed for

Taking the total raised for the Children’s Home in Elche to over €900, Quesada Country Club was once again the venue for a great charity night out, Anne Day the organiser of The Cinderella Bling Ball said: “I was very pleased to see so many people having a good time and as always with PDQ and The Variety Show Group the 95 guests really did dance the night away!!! Once up and dancing to the sounds of PDQ not many get chance to sit down again!!” The Cinderella Bling Ball held last Friday was to raise money for The Childeren’s Home in Elche and many thanks go to The Variety Show Group who performed a wonderful show during the evening.

The Variety Show Group now five members and led by Eileen CarpenterWalker have done several shows this year all to raise money for the children.

Many thanks to all the Jamie Olivers and Delia Smiths who entered the pudding competition - Maddie Pinfold was the winner for the second year running with her fabulous Bread Pudding. Maddie’s prize was Sunday lunch for two at QCC and a beautiful indoor plant from Diamond Flores. Many thanks to the sponsors of our raffle prizes, Panache Hair and Beauty, Reeves Butchers, The Vestry, Let’s Eat and Eileen Wallace who donated two prizes. Jose Antonio Gonzalez, better known as Pepe Barcelo, Managing Director of Grupo Barceló building company and Real Estate

Kent 4 with Fusion Tiles

Simply Doors Espana (Quesada)

CALLE AZUL, TURISMA 1J, CIUDAD QUESADA

TEL: 966 718 738 or 671 260 204

Email: simplydoorsespana@fsmail.net www.prestigeguides.com/simplydoors Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 10am to 2.30pm | Saturday:10am to 1.30pm

SKY Full package on

20 € ly per month

Internet High Speed Unlimited downloads from

€15 per month

Phone 200 minutes only €4

Free landline to UK, Europe, America, etc Call for installation quotations in your area 606 297 825 or see our website for more information. www.aafreeenglishtv.com or email: pete@aafreeenglishtv.com

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

11

Getting British TV here in Spain can be a confusing and daunting task and finding a reliable and informative company is vital.

Welcome GO SATELLITE! Getting British TV here in Spain can be a confusing and daunting task and finding a reliable and informative company is vital.

Welcome GO SATELLITE! GO SATELLITE was set up 8 years ago by husband and wife team Ian and Deborah. Ian has more than 20 years experience, having spent 10 years with SKY In Home Services in the UK, where he worked on the specialist heights team as well as SKY´S Prestigious VIP Team which caters for the “stars”, therefore the quality of his workmanship is extremely high!

After leaving SKY, Ian set up his own business in the UK and ran this very successfully for 5 years before moving to Spain.

WHERE ARE WE? GO SATELLITE is based in Ciudad Quesada and covers most of the Costa Blanca.

SATISFIED CUSTOMERS! Over the past 8 years the company has installed hundreds of satellite TV systems for individuals, companies and communities. The Go Satellite system uses highest quality

Portuguesemanufactured dishes and r e q u i r e s NO monthly payments.

Packages are available to suit everybody´s requirements and budget.

GO SATELLITE offer expertise, reassurance and a proven track record, which can be backed up by many a satisfied customer.

WHY ARE WE DIFFERENT?

Ian said “Being a small company has its advantages. We offer a personal service and get to know all our customers by name. It’s important to us that people fully understand and are happy with the service we are providing.

We realise that the technology involved can be confusing but we are happy to spend time with our customers to ensure that they get the best system for their needs”.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Any concerns or queries are dealt with in a clear and professional manner and clients can call Ian at any point if they have any queries. This ensures that all of their customers have complete peace of mind throughout the lifetime of the service. Added to that is the fact that GO SATELLITE is a fully legal, Spanish registered business that provides individual, company and community installations with a free no obligation site survey.

Go Satellite is going from strength to strength!

COME AND MEET US!

They have now opened a new office in the Business Centre Calle Los Arcos No7 Ciudad Quesada. So you can now come and meet us and we will endeavour to help you with all of

your TV queries.

OTHER SERVICES Go Satellite not only provide television but are also able to provide internet and telephone services. Packages are available to suit all with a switch on/off service available for non residents.

DISH ISSUES? Here at Go Satellite, we use only Top Quality Portugese dishes and Invacom LNB’s. Sky Packages are also available: Full HD Package 20€ per month (which includes Sports & Movies). If you do not have room or do not wish to have a dish, give us a call as we have a solution!

At Go Satellite, we will endeavour, to provide TV for everyone.

So, if you are fed up of missing your favourite programs or you have lost your TV signal and do not want to lose out any more, then call Ian or Deborah on 965 725 670 or 646 645 579 or call into our office to find out more about GO SATELLITE and its services. Alternatively check out the website: www.freetvspain.com

e l s b 4 e u 3 M YOUR 1 STOP FURNITURE SHOP

THE HOME OF PRE-OWNED FURNITURE

DUE TO EXCESSIVE SALES we REQUIRE YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE

WANTED WANTED WANTED TOP PRICES PAI D

PHOTO’S FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY

LEAT HER SOFAS * FABRIC SOFAS * TABLES CH AIRS QUICK IT D W HITE GOODS * DISPLAY UNITS CRE OR J *FREE* ALL MA D CARDS ACCEPTE

DELIVERY

“THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO ENHANCE YOUR HOME”

CALLE LOS ARCOS 11, CIUDAD QUESADA

CALL LISA ON: 965 997 209 or 680 884 155

Open: Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 2pm NO SIESTA

12

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

Look Good Feel Great

www.soltimes.com

BB creams : the hottest thing in Hollywood! kim clark benefits consultancy

■ if you suffer from... ■ or you need...

• mobility problems •h elp with washing/ dressing • pain/breathlessness • supervision • falls/stumbles rule changes mean that you could now be entitled to extra income by claiming UK Sickness/Disability Benefits while living in Spain For advice or to book a consultation call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 www.ukbenefitsinspain.com kimos28@hotmail.com

Ross At studio six

Unisex Stylist Over 29 years experience S.R.H “Senior Stylist” City & Guilds of London

also Rosa ~ Beautician Tel: 966 714 970 | Mob: 677 897 788

Avda del Romero Local 6, Urb. Montebello, Algorfa 03176

Open Tuesday - Saturday (incl.) from 9am

Near Zoco Market AP7 Junc 745

Late night opening by appointment only

BB creams are multi-functional products that harness smart new technology and ingredients so you can replace your serum, moisturiser, primer, foundation and sun block, all presented in one neat little all-in-one package

This new hybrid product, which sits between skincare and make up, gives skin a natural luminous look meaning BB creams are fast becoming the beauty secret of celebrities and their makeup artists worldwide.

BB creams originated in Germany where a dermatologist gave it to her clients who had undergone laser treatments, which left the skin sensitised and vulnerable to the sun.

BB creams then quickly become popular in Korea and across Asia in the midNoughties and most recently amongst A-listers and makeup artists for their amazing skin nourishing benefits, which also leave skin primed and with a healthy glow.

Lieve Declercq, Origins Global Spokesperson of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology explains: ‘BB Creams should provide broadspectrum SPF protection from UVA and UVB rays to protect against sun damage but can also help conceal hyper-pigmentation, acne, scars and blemishes, hydrate,

Moda la finca

fashion outlet & boutique  for men & women  

whitening as well as having anti-aging benefits’ Rodial, the go-to beauty brand of celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Lady Gaga, have just launched their new Rodial BB Venom Skin Tint (£35, www.rodial. co.uk), which comes in three shades, rather fabulously named Capri, Hamptons and St Barts.

For the eye area, there is a triple-action brightening concealer, Rodial BB Venom Eye (£29, www.rodial.co.uk), which comes in two shades: a cooler pink-toned shade called Aspen and a warmer yellow tone called Malibu (you get it), which sold out within a week of their launch this summer.

The success of these BB creams is based on SYNAKE, a neuropeptide, which inhibits the contraction of innervated muscle cells, thus providing a mild, non-invasive temporary Botox-like effect on fine lines and crow’s feet.

The BB venom skin tint even made an appearance at the closing ceremony of the Olympics this summer when the Spice Girls’; makeup artists used it - the result being that the girls looked like they hadn’t aged a day since they taught the world

how to Spice up their lives more than 10 years ago.

Jessie J is also a huge fan of BB creams and her new softer, more sophisticated look can be put down to James Read BB Tan Face Pen (£22.50, www.jamesreadtan. co.uk) which she is said to carry around with her everywhere.

Clever James Read, the celebrity tanner to the stars whose fans include supermodels Lara Stone and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, has just launched a range of 11 at-home professional self tanning products and his BB cream pen with added gradual fake tan is the fastest selling product in the range.

If you’ve been suffering with dry, post-summer, back-to-school skin which is now taking a battering from the cold, wet and windy conditions outside, check out the Body Shop’s BB offering. Their All-inOne BB cream (£12, www. thebodyshop.co.uk) is highly rated, and has sold at the rate of one every 27 seconds since launching in August this year.

It contains skin protecting and soothing vitamin E and hydrating community fair trade Marula oil for 24 hour

Darren the barber formerly La Finca Barbershop

relocated to The Barbershop at Quesada Country Club

Cuts from

Modern & Traditional Gents Hairdressing

5€

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am- 5pm OUT OF HOURS BY REQUEST

new: Frank Lyman collections coming in daily for the holiday season. Plus lots of new stock in the Mens Department  



open mon to sat 10am - 8pm sundays from 10am - 2pm

 

centro comercial la finca golf

calle antonio Pedrera Soler 10, 03169 Algorfa



(5min drive from AP7 exit Torrevieja North/ San Miguel  and sharp right at Masa sign)



Tel: 966 729 544 www.modalafinca.com

hydration that not only leaves you feeling good about your skin but also your conscience.

As well as tackling dehydration, fine lines and wrinkles, redness and radiance, at the very heart of a BB cream is a high SPF protection - no more excuses not to protect skin from the damaging and aging effects of the sun all year round, as advised by skin experts and dermatologists.

Giorgio Armani’s new Luminessense Bright Revelator Greige BB Fluid SPF 50/PA++ (£60, www. armanibeauty.co.uk) might be an eye wateringly pricey option when it comes to a BB cream but it does help you get your glow on and leaves all skin tones including the very deepest ones looking even - as well as having one of the highest SPF protection on the market.

Some BB creams - especially those created for the Asian market - can sometimes leave a white or chalky appearance on deeper skin tones but if you’re looking for light to medium coverage as well as anti-aging skin benefits grab yourself Origins A Perfect World BB SPF 15 Age-Defense Tinted Moisturizer with White Tea (£27, www.origins. co.uk). It smells heavenly with an essential oil blend of sweet orange, lemon and spearmint, which will put you in a good mood at the start of a hectic day and also comes in six shades with a blend of mineral pigments for super quick and easy airbrushedlooking skin.

And, even Mecadona has got in on the act (PICTURED) so there’s even more reason to give this product a go!

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

Sweet Dreams

13

dulceS sueños

! k oc t s d e it im l s r e f incredible of 260€

e bl la ai nt av ere ow iff rs N d u in olo c

Canape Wood Scuard 150 x 190

Canape Wood Scuard 135 x 190

220€

Canape Wood Scuard

90 x 190

190€

4cm Memory Foam Mattresses Medium or Firm densities 135 x 190 €180 150 x 190 €200

18€ Pillows Viscose Elastic All other Pillows

extra Special Offer

Sweet Dreams Top Floor Shopping Centre Playa Flamenca

4cm Visco Elastica 90x190 50€ 105x190 60€ 135x190 80€ 150x190 90€ With Cover

tTresses

Special Offeress

r over Matt Elastica 8cm Visco 105x190 90x190 90€ 90 140€ 120€ 135x1 0€ 150x190 18 r With Cove

N332 Playa Flamenca Shop Monday to Friday: 10am til 6pm Sat: 10am til 2pm

Playa Flamenca Centro Comercial 1a Planta, Playa Flamenca

Tel: 965 321 701

€350

INCREDI BLE OFFER

canape wood sCUARD 135X190 BUY WIT H MATTRES S

250€

COMPLE Limited S

TE

tock

price

◄Cartagena Torrevieja► La Zenia

90 x 190 Electronic Base with 4cm visco elastic mattress

49.90€ Mattress Take away

Villamartin

La Roig

70€

over Mattress

FROM 50% - 70% off all ma

50% off

Mattress es to take aw 135 X 190 ay

All Can apes in wood Now wit optionah laterall opening

Torrevieja

C / Conception No. 8 Torrevieja

Tel: 965 710 058

Eliocel 90x190

free delivery Orihuela

C / Aragon No. 2 Orihuela

Tel: 965 325 56

www.sefredescanso.es

14

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

TNT Painters arrives in Spain.....

Following the success of Cumbrian painting and decorating business TNT Painters Ltd, they have now spread their wings and arrived in Spain. Having family already living in the Almeria area, they have settled near Albox and joined forces with Two Strong Boys, and can now offer a complete, painting, decorating, building and garden maintenance service.

TNT are experienced in commercial and shop fitting work having given facelifts to many well known companies including Julian Graves, Primark, ASDA, H&M and many more. You can see examples of their work on http://www.tntpaintersltd.co.uk.

On the building side, services include, tiling, rendering, block work, roofing and general household repairs. Jonathan says “We are pleased to be here in this fabulous corner of Spain. We had built up an excellent reputation in the UK, so to be able to join forces with the rest of the family enable us to offer a larger variety of services to clients”.

Quality workmanship can now be affordable. Free quotations are offered for anyone affected by the recent bad weather that are not covered by insurance, plus TNT are pleased to offer a further 10% discount off any work carried out between now and the end of January.

Garden services include general tidying, clearing of weeds, installing irrigation, garden design, fencing, building of walls and water features and much more. A monthly return plan can also be put in place to keep on top of your garden areas.

Call them now on 634 388 243.

TNT

toy run alicante

This coming Saturday 15th December, 2012 SUMINISTROS HOSTALEROS TORREVIEJA S.L., as official distributor of the Nissei brand of “heladosoft” ice-cream machines in Spain, in collaboration with the CHAPTER SANTA FAZ and their HARLEY DAVIDSON motorbikes, will be carrying out a unique fundraising initiative as part of the “Toy Run Alicante 2012”, which will take place on December 23 for the benefit of the “Fundación Amigo” charity which supports families in need.

The Christmas holidays are approaching and this type of solidarity event puts smiles on faces where such smiles are scarce.

SUMINISTROS HOSTALEROS TORREVIEJA and the SANTA FAZ CHAPTER of Harley Davidson owners will be collecting charitable funds through the sale of yogurt ice cream in the very centre of Torrevieja, offering a selection of flavours at only 90 cents. As the principal importer of the ‘Nissei’ make of ‘heladosoft’ ice cream machines, Torrevieja-based company, VanH Catering Equipment S.L, will provide one of their new ‘heladosoft’ machines whilst ‘Productti Stella’, manufacturer of ice cream products will provide the basic materials for the preparation of this delicious product.

The ice-cream stand, accompanied by a host of Harley Davidson motor cycles from the surrounding area, will be located in the Plaza de la Constitución in Torrevieja on Saturday 15th December 2012 from 11: 00 hours to14: 00 hours as part of the Christmas Shopping campaign organised by the Ayuntamiento’s commerce department and local businesses associations.

At 10: 30 in the morning, before the start of the event, all those who own a Harley Davidson (or other two wheeled vehicle) is invited to meet with the members of the SANTA FAZ CHAPTER, at the door of the Policia Local police station (opposite Carrefour, Torrevieja) to make the journey

BRITISH TV SERVICES 622 31 58 19 - Est 1998* BBC - Channels, ITV - Channels Channel 4, More 4, Music Channels Why pay every month when these are free to view on a 1 mtr dish 1 59€ ~ fully installed ~

Call FOR DETAILS

Or Sky Package 13€ per/month Sky Sport 1-2-3 ESPN

steptoe & son wanted

house clearances

cash paid

clothes, shoes, washing machines, white goods, Tv`s dvd`s, bike & toy`s, games furniture, scrap metal, vans, cars removed working or not

We will take anything you don´t want from cars to clothes electrical items working or not one mans junk is another mans treasure so don`t delay call today

don´t throw it away we take it today

tel: 634 383 298

together to the town square under police escort.

A smile on the faces of the children who will benefit from this “Toy Run” is worth more much more than 90 cents.

The organisers invite everyone to join this worthwhile and satisfying initiative. And moreover to savor a healthy and delicious yogurt ice cream!!!

Soccer school say thank you

We would like to give our sincere thanks to Los Amigos Golf Mazarron for their support of the Soccer School in the region of Camposol and their sponsorship of our new Soccer School strip.

The Soccer School has been running now for two years and we continually look for children of all levels and nationalities to come along and take part. Coach Ronnie is a top level Youth Licence coach, trained to SFA high standards and has a fantastic rapport with kids of all ages. Coach Jelco is a UEFA A Licence holder and is able to share his professional match experience with the kids. Both coaches not only encourage the kids to improve their football skills but also their social skills in a fun and friendly environment.

We have a regular Tuesday evening training session held at El Pareton between 6pm and 7pm which all children from ages 4 to 17 are welcome to attend. We run special programmes during school holidays which not only include our normal coaching sessions but also have fun games and outings i.e. swimming, bowling and even beach training sessions.

Parent are also welcome to attend and are encouraged to take part in our popular parents v kids football matches. Always one to take the camera to!

This sponsorship will enable the Soccer School to continue to provide a high level of coaching to all kids in the area and will allow us to take part in local games with other teams.

Thanks once again from the coaches and kids of the Soccor School to Los Amigos Golf Mazarron for their support.

We hope to continue to grow with the help and support of the local community.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

Christmas Countdown

PArt 2

Start pl anning

Make a to-do-list and write the dates into your diar y or on your calenda r. Review it daily and cross out any thing that’s been completed remembering to add any thing new that’s cropped up.

TIP: If you use Microsoft Out look, enter key dates into the calendar and you’ll be reminded daily with an elec tron ic message

gift shopping

ays There are only FOUR Saturd you if so until Christmas Day haven’t already star ted gift shopping, get on with it!

Order your christmas flowers and table decorations If you’re hosting the Christmas dinner and don’t fancy decorating the table yourself, place your order with the florist in plenty of time.

Choose an arrangement that will last and keep it in a cool room, or in the garage, so that it still looks good on the big day

Write to Santa

So long as they still believe, while away an afternoon with the children writ ing letters to Father Christmas or, if they are too young, they can draw him a picture instead.

TIP: Make Christmas really spe cial with a return letter from Santa to you r child! Visit www.freeletter sfromsantaclau s.com

Order your turkey

Buy a poinsettia

be Although frozen turkeys can kly wee al usu the with up picked shopping, most supermarkets e and butchers will take advanc a to up eys turk h fres for orders month before Christmas.

The Spanish Christmas Lottery works differently to most lotteries in the world. Tickets are very expensive, but you don’t have to buy the entire ticket. However, if you don’t buy the whole thing, you can’t get the whole winnings!

A whole ticket ‘billete’ is very expensive – 200€ however, these tickets are split up into ten ‘decimos’ (tenths) costing 20€ each. When buying your tickets you have the choice of buying a single decimo, a whole ticket, or a fraction of your choice. If you don’t buy the whole ticket, someone else will buy the rest of your ticket.

Example of a Spanish Lottery Ticket May be Won: You buy two decimos. Person A buys three decimos. Person B buys five decimos. Your ticket wins 1,000€. You win 200€. Person A win 300€. Person B win 500€ - Got that?

Good!

It is common for a group of people to buy a whole ticket (ten decimos) together. This group could be a

family, some work colleagues or even the regulars at a local bar. In this way El Gordo becomes a social event as people ‘play together’ under the same ticket. In some bars you may see in the window “Jugamos con el numero...” (“We’re playing with number...”) to indicate that they are playing El Gordo this year and as an invitation to join in the fun!

As the wealth is often spread out among a group of people rather than a single person, a win in a small community can have a profound effect on the local economy.

The word the Spanish use for winning the lottery is ‘touch’ (‘tocar’) so they may say “Esperamos que toce aquí” (“We hope it touches here”).

El Gordo is drawn every December 22. The process is long (taking in excess of three hours) so you will likely see people sat by their radios for much of the day, waiting for the results.

The Spanish Christmas draw does not work anything

tailor made

start cleaning

Get ready for guests by giving the house a good clean.

Although the basic everyday cleaning tasks can be left until a few days before your guests arrive, you’ll need a er little longer to tackle the larg the jobs such as sor ting out guest bedroom, cleaning the windows and degreasing the oven – YUK!

declutter your home

Don’t leave it until the last minute, start to de clutter and make space for all the lovely Christmas gif ts tha t ar e on the way.

Order your alcohol

Don’t leave ordering your alco hol to the last minute if you’re throwi ng a Christmas or New Year par ty.

pl an your menu

istmas If you’re entertaining this Chr your ning plan t star now’s the time to g ppin sho r you up g menus and drawin the in r late e tim lf list. Save yourse frozen month by buying groceries and . now d foo

Poinsettia plants are lovely gifts and make any room shout Christmas.

CHRISTMAS IN Spain...

15

EEll GGoorrd doo!!!!

like a “normal” lotto draw.

Ticket play numbers range from 00,000 to 84,999.

There is a winning 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, as well as for over one thousand smaller prizes; players also win prizes for partially matching the top three winning numbers.

They have 2 huge spheres, one holds wooden balls with the 5 digit numbers on them and the other holds balls with the prize amounts. As the draw happens, there are 2 kids, each next to one of the spheres and one takes the ball with the prize amount while the other takes the ball with the play number.

16

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

soltimes

daily www.soltimes.com

Local News

What’s happening in your area?

What’s on?

Where to go? What to do?

Local Business Directory

All your local businesses at your fingertips

Sky News

Live local & international News feeds

LEGAL CORNER WITH MICHAEL DAVIES, ABOGADO/SOLICITOR

If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic, please e-mail info@daviessolicitors.com

BEING A RESIDENT OF SPAIN OR NOT CAN MAKE A CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCE TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX NASTY SURPRISE: HAVING WHAT EVERYONE CALLS ‘THE RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE’ IS NOT PROOF OF TAX RESIDENCY AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WILL BE TREATED AS A NON-RESIDENT AND 3% OF THE SALES PRICE WILL BE HELD BACK WHEN YOU SELL YOUR PROPERTY...

Q. I have sold my house. I was under the impression that I was a resident and that the 3% retention for non-residents would not be applicable, but the notary said that my residence certificate was not proof of residency and that he had to treat me as a nonresident which means that 3% of the sales price was retained and paid into the tax office . How can the resident certificate not be proof of residency?

A. What the notary is saying is correct. It is a common nasty surprise at the notary lately suffered by sellers that are not getting the correct advice prior to selling . The new resident certificates without a photograph, issued by the police, do not state you are a tax resident of Spain - what it says is that you are a resident of Europe.

To be able to be treated as a tax resident of Spain at the moment of sale, you need to provide the notary with a certificate issued by the tax office in Spain stating that they consider you a tax resident of Spain. This needs to be requested in advance of going to the notary by your solicitor or yourself to avoid the 3% retention. Some notaries will also accept as proof of residency your Spanish tax returns.

free to view

tv

& tv guide

game

zone

Space Invaders Pac Man Simon Crosswords

If you are thinking of selling, it is important to find out from the tax office well in advance if your status is that of a resident or non resident, and the certificate issued by them needs to be taken to the notary the day of signature.

P.S. If you are a non resident, do not forget it is obligatory to file a non-resident tax returns, and that the tax man has created a task force to go after those that have not been paying (and they are sending out letters since November 2011).

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.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

GemenisET READY FOR CHRISTMAS Opening Hours Mon - Fri 10am – 6pm Saturday 10am – 4pm

GET

s

Gemeni

THE BEST

IN BRITISH CLOTHING IN QUESADA !

UP TO 80% OFF UK PRICES ON

MENS

UK HIGH STREET FASHION

new arrivals CHECK OUT OUR

men’s & ladies fleeces CHECK OUT OUR

top quality

amazing!

€12

AMAZING PRICES!

OPEN ALL DAY Tel; 664 261 446

EVANS LADIES JEANS AND JEGGINS FROM €7.00 TO €15 MAX

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Gemenis has 1 branch in Benidorm.

Find us next to Quesada fish & chips & Yorkshire linen.

Turn left before The Arches

17

18

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

neighbourhood watch flowers

Neighbourhood Watch in Spain members ( Vecinos Cooperando y Colabando de Espana) once again paticipated in the annual floral offering to the patron of Torrevieja, ‘La Purisima’ which took place as part of the town fiestas, on Saturday1st December 2012, leaving from near the Sagrado Corazon church and making its way to the Inmaculada church where the flowers were displayed.

Christmas Show Debuts Starlet It’s party time, and there is something for everyone at Night Out Promotions’ Christmas Variety Show which will be held on Tuesday 18th December at Restaurante Los Rosales in Guardamar.

With a whopping 5 acts on the bill, tickets are already selling fast. Getting everyone laughing will be the hilarious comedian Justin Sane. The line up also includes the totally unique Elton John Tribute, provided by Ronnie Taylor whose tongue in cheek tribute has had rave revues from previous audiences at Los Rosales.

Paul Christie will be enthralling fans with his Gene Pitney Tribute.

Making her debut will be 14 year old Elise, who has been described as a starlet in the making. With a vocal range and strength beyond her years, she can belt out favourites as diverse as Cilla Black to pop with aplomb. The show is hosted by songstress Dee. There will be a raffle for Quesada based charity Animal Aid. With so many abandoned animals being fostered out all year long, the charity would like to be able to expand their work by being able to kennel rescued animals. They are looking for a benefactor who could donate a plot of land to be used to house more animals.

At present they rely on kindhearted foster carers. For more information please visit www.animalaidcostablanca. org Tickets are €12.50 for show and meal. Doors open at 7.30pm.

Available from – Restaurante Los Rosales Guardamar; Cards n More La Marina; The Card Place Benimar and Punta Prima; Hire Centre San Luis; The Postroom Benijofar; Quesada Fish and Chip Shop or call 606192691/ 697501992 /email - losrosalesshows@ gmail.com

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

AN INVITATION TO MASS, CAROL SINGING and NATIVITY SCENE Torrevieja is celebrating, once again this December, its patronal fiestas in honour of the ‘Inmaculada Concepción’.

Each evening, during the ‘novena’, the nine days following the main ‘Inmaculada Concepción’ celebration on 8th December, the evening mass has been dedicated to a particular section of the local community.

Mostly, each day is dedicated to the residents of a particular area or ‘barrio’ of the town.

Following this tradition, on Friday 14th December, 2012 at 7.30 p.m., all ‘nonSpanish’, residents or visitors, have been invited by the priest of the ‘Inmaculada Church’ Don. Manuel Martínez Rocamora, to join in a special celebration.

On this particular evening the mass will be dedicated to the ‘foreign’ residents of Torrevieja of whatever nationality. Local ministers from other churches such as the Anglicans, Church of Sweden, Norway, Finland etc., have been involved in some of the advance planning and it is anticipated that we shall all join together to sing at least one Christmas Carol where the music, albeit not the words, is internationally recognised.

An integral part of the celebration will once again, be the offering of nonperishable foodstuffs, (tinned food, packets etc) which will later be distributed to the needy of the town so that, they too, may enjoy the festive season.

Previously, the ‘foreigners’ have demonstrated an incredible generosity and there were more gifts received during the ‘foreigners mass’ than on any other evening! Everyone is welcome to come along to the event and several local

clubs and associations will, no doubt, be collecting ‘goody bags’ from their members in order to present a ‘joint effort’. Please come along and support this worthwhile effort.

CAROL SINGING TO COINCIDE WITH INTERNATIONAL MASS. TEN YEARS OF SINGING IN THE TOWN SQUARE!!!

This Christmas marks the tenth anniversary of the annual “Christmas Carols in the Town Square”. This popular and unique event has taken place each December in Torrevieja’s Plaza de la Consitución since 2003. The overwhelming success of previous “Christmas’s Carols in English” events, the singing of Christmas Carols in the main town square by members of various local choral groups accompanied by the PHOENIX CONCERT BAND, has resulted in the fact that this popular event has become a permanent fixture on Torrevieja’s Christmas cultural programme!

At 5.45pm. on Friday 14th December, just before the ‘International Mass’ (7.30pm), the public are invited to come along to the main town square and join in the singing of Christmas Carols, mostly in English but with a few in Spanish. Song sheets will be available and a collection will be made on behalf of local charity. Last year, well over three thousand people gathered in the main town square to enjoy this typical Christmas celebration, so make sure you get there early!

(N.B. The spectacular and typical nativity scene (“Belen”) will be on public display in time for the ‘Carols in the Square’. The “belen” will be open until after the visit by the ‘Three Kings’ on 6th January.)

quesada

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

MARTIN

3 PAGE SPECIAL

photo: duesyinspain.blogspot.com

The Origins Of Cuidad Quesada

Justo Quesada Samper: A real man of the people, a self-made man in what were undoubtedly difficult times, who at the end of the sixties dreamed of building a holiday city from scratch.

What today, in the midst of the 21st Century, is nothing new, was then a truly innovative project well ahead of its time.

In 1972 he began to build Ciudad Quesada starting out with just a modest family firm and no resources other than his own hands and, above all, a tremendous capacity for sacrifice and hard work.

He did not cease in his efforts even when faced with the tremendous problems and financial crises the sector has suffered over the years, a fact which makes the successes achieved even more worthy of praise.

With the support of his wife and five children, Justo Quesada gave shape to his dream and created what is now a model company with tremendous prestige within the sector as can be seen from some of the awards we have received: the Costa Blanca Tourism Award in 1991, Jaguar Award for the Best Spanish Developer in 1999, Alicante Chamber of Commerce Award or the Prestige Rating Book.

Over the years, Mr. Quesada has gradually passed on control to his son José Angel, the company’s current chairman.

Although still a young man, he has spent years training to continue his father’s work with the modern vision required for town planning in the new millennium, but also based on the intensive, invaluable preparation he has received since his childhood.

35 years ago, Mr. Justo Quesada Samper’s visionary approach began to give shape to an ambitious dream: to create from scratch a real city which would play a leading role in launching residential tourism on the Costa Blanca. This was the birth of Ciudad Quesada.

Thousands of people from all over Europe supported this first great project to be carried out by our company’s founder, and it became a model of a

& THE CUTTING CREW The Barber - El Barbero

Dry Cuts from €8 Pensioners €6 Wash and Cut from €12 All Over Buzz Cuts €6 Dry Cut and Sculpturing from €9 Children under 5 years from €5 Children under 16 years from €7 Ladies Dry Cuts from €8 Hot Towel Shave and Facial Massage €20.00 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday 9.30am - 6.00pm Friday 9.30am - 8.00pm, Saturday 9.30am - 2.00pm

Tel: 664 051 612 Through Quesada arches on the left

halfway house Café / Restaurant

services city in every way, offering amenities which for the time were considered daring and unimaginable, such as a nine-hole golf course and a landing strip for light aircraft.

Ciudad Quesada is now a reference in 21st Century Spain, one of the country’s leading real estate developments, with over 20,000 homes built on an area of 10 million m2 and

further areas still under development.

It also stands out for its impressive range of services open all year round: eight banks, an abundance of food stores, two medical centres, a service station, a Water Park, five supermarkets, a Norwegian state school, a town hall and the La Marquesa golf course.

Different nationalities living together in harmony

The George Pub Ciudad Quesada

Always a Warm Welcome

Good Food, Good Company

Daily Specials

Quality British Food prepared fresh to order

Kitchen Open

Monday to Friday 9:30 to 3pm Saturday 9:30am to 2pm Sunday - Kitchen Closed

K&S KARAOKE

Fridays 8:30pm to 12 Midnight

Open Early Till Late

Tel: 966 717 959 Next to the Chop Shop

The Service you expext ......

...also for your car

Follow us on:

965 72 54 52 www.opencar.es

has strengthened the bond between Ciudad Quesada’s thousands of residents.

In fact, it is the only urbanization which celebrates the fiestas of its own patron saint held every August, on San Justo day, with a fiesta committee and the participation of the Town Council of Rojales, the municipality which Cuidad Quesada forms part of.

19

Menu del noche

3 Superb Courses Only

€7.90

Saturday is Steak & Ribs Combo Only

€9.50

Every Wednesday

Quiz Night FREE

Buffet!!

For all taking part 8pm

Calle Los Los Arcos, Arcos, Ciudad Ciudad Quesada Quesada Calle Tel: 966 966 731 731 689 689 Tel:

20

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

win 25€ in our

wordsearch competition TO BE SPENT WITH ONE OF THE ADVERTISERS ON PAGES 19, 20 & 21 DC Bakery Bistro bakery

Freshly Baked Bread & Pastries

BISTRO

Come for Breakfast Lunch or Dinner or a Delicious Quick snack

Sandwiches - baguettes Burgers - Stews - Goulash Meatballs - Spaghetti Waffles - Pancakes Tea - Coffee Beers - Cocktails & LOTS MORE

Order your Christmas cake today baked & designed by us -don’t leave it too late

Tel: 965 076 873

calle Sola No2, Cuidad Quesada

Find and circle all of the Countries of Europe that are hidden in the grid.

The remaining letters spell a secret message.

Note: IRELAND and NORTHERN IRELAND are separately hidden and do not overlap

Send your answer to:

blancasales@ soltimes.com CLOSING DATE: 12 DECEMBER

Your unwanted or old gold turned into cash!!

Todays best rates paid same day in cash!

Meet me in DC Belgian Bakery on Thursday or Friday from 11am - 6pm

irst F e Phon

Ask For HEIKE

Easy, Fast, Professional, Trusted!

We will buy Rolex, Cartier, Platinum, Rings, all Jewellery

ALBANIA ANDORRA ARMENIA AUSTRIA AZERBAIJAN BELARUS BELGIUM BOSNIAHERZEGOVINA BULGARIA CROATIA CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC DENMARK ENGLAND ESTONIA FINLAND FRANCE GEORGIA GERMANY GREECE HUNGARY ICELAND IRELAND ITALY LATVIA LIECHTENSTEIN LITHUANIA LUXEMBOURG MACEDONIA MALTA MOLDOVA MONACO NETHERLANDS NORTHERN IRELAND NORWAY POLAND PORTUGAL

ROMANIA RUSSIAN FEDERATION SAN MARINO SCOTLAND SLOVAKIA SLOVENIA SPAIN SWEDEN SWITZERLAND TURKEY UKRAINE SERBIA/ MONTENEGRO VATICAN CITY WALES

TRIED - TRUSTED - TESTED

QUESADAS NO1 GOLD BUYER

Heike Verse, Jeweller

: 610 449 972

Christmas Specials

Every Monday Til’ the BIG Day! all items in store under 20€

Jewellery sets €5.50

Plus Handbags, lots costume jewellery

or try a gift voucher for someone special

Open Monday to Friday 10 - 4, Saturday 10 - 3 Calle Los Arcos 17, Ciudad Quesada

Tel: 637 137 878 • nicky•pace@yahoo.co.uk

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

Air-Con and re-gas ic diagnost € 5 2 from

UK Fashions in Spain

spend €50

quick-fit centre

autumn & Winter

Calle Los Arcos Left at the petrol station

quesada 965 701 106

Tel: 966 718 374

Yorkshire Linen co

home furnishing superstores FEELING BLUE or PRETTY IN PINK

British Dental Practice

WHATEVER YOUR MOOD, BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME WITH FANTASTIC NEW HOMEWARES FROM YORKSHIRE LINEN CO Calle Los Arcos No. 19, Ciudad Queasda Tel: 966 716 993 Centro Commercial San Jose, Nr. Habaneras Torrevieja Tel: 966 703 832 Avd. La Union 98, San Javier Tel: 968 193 912

Visit us atwww.yorkshirelinen.com

cafe bar

SUPER SUNDAYS, Happy Hour prices during the matches, 2-7pm Happy hour Mon-Fri 4-7pm, All bottle beers 1€, pint of house beer €1.60 FRIDAY IS Large Pizzas

NEW! Amigos Big Menu del dia, 12-4pm Mon-Sat €6.90 incl. wine & beer

SUNDAY ROAST AMIGOs PARTY NIGHT!

available all day every day for eat in or takeaway! from 5.50€

FREE shot on arrival, music, 5 vegetables, mash and roast special offers on cocktails & potatoes, yorkshire pudding 10am-3pm daily free food at 10.30! and gravy! 1 pm until we run buy 1 get 1 free out, please book to avoid Monday 26th November Breakfast disappointment! with Emma 8pm Quiz Fun Jam session 2 - 5 every Winning Team Wins Pot ! sunday afternooon Open Mon-Sat 10am-1am, Sun 11am-1am Avda. De la Naciones, Quesada Tel: 965 992 187 5€ choice of chicken or beef,

3€

Every Monday

Quiz Night with Play Your Cards Right

3 Course Sunday Roast only 9.95€

Wednesdays – Jammin’ Session ung alo

ws

from 4pm

e Avd. d

iza

cio

nB

We Are Here

zul

Costa A

Avenida Costa Azul (at the top of Quesada) Tel: 965 999 973

On the N332 Along from Pick n Pay

building our business on honest reliable service & on unbeatable price promise!!

Avda. de las Naciones 1-B Ciudad Quesada

Ur ban

Villamartin behind the garden centre

guardamar 966 726 641

FREE PRE ITV FREE LABOUR ON ALL SERVICE PARTS INCL. BRAKES/EXHAUST

Opening times: Mon - fri 10am - 5pm Sat 10am - 2pm

Bee Boppers Fri 14th Dec 2 Define Fri 21st Dec Christmas Eve Fun & Games with Martin from Radio Nova Fun Starts 6pm 2 Define Boxing Day Evening

La Zenia 966 765 319

WE WILL BEAT ANY QUOTE!!

special fashion offer

3 Amigos

TYRES DIRECT

and choose a handbag for just 20€

EEK LAST W

the

21

Same day denture repairs Implants We cater for nervous patients

Greet The World With A Smile Opening Times Mon - Thurs 9 - 5pm & Fri - 9am - 2pm Calle Los Arcos, 19 Cuidad Quesada Tel: 965 725 940

All Major UK Insurance Companies Covered

4x4 Specialists

Accident & Mechanical Repair Scrap Cars wanted in any condition All Paperwork completed legally

Fully Qualified Gearbox Repairs Technicians Manual & Auto Vehicle Respray 2nd Hand Flaking Paint Engines & Gearboxes Colour Matching Sold & Fitted

by RM Paints Clutches, Large & Small Repairs Brakes & Exhausts Paintless All Makes Dent Removal Supplied & Fitted

itv & pre-itv tests - recovery truck available

600 380 616 - 672 896 371

SolTimes wish Jeff and his team all the best with the business, which is one of the most established in the area, and is well known for going the Extra Mile....!

Remember you can choose where your vehicle is repaired. Call us before you commit to any other repairer and we will show you why we are the best.

966 720 851

Avenida del Mar No 14, Nave B Los Montesinos www.elite-bodyshop.com

22

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

Eco Build

Wall Insulation, Damp proofing & Dry Lining Specialist

CALL NOW ON

REDUCE HEATING AND COOLING COSTS BY 45% 965 319 512 or 634 009 109 e-mail : ecobuildspain@gmail.com or visit our website www.prestigeguides.com/ecobuild

leaky roof ? - we have the solution

Soft Furnishings & Re-Upholstery

Fabric Flair

• Over 30 years experience in soft furnishings and re-upholstery • Foam (All densities) superior quality, cut to any shape or size • Curtains and Blinds all made to measure • Loose covers that fit like upholstery made for all types of furniture indoor and out • Gazebo covers made in a waterproof canvas fabric from customers original template • Hundreds of fabrics to choose from

HOME & GARDEN...

CAMPO LIFE WITH JENNI.......

Last Thursday was the first of our craft days, where we collected greenery, herbs, berries and cones from the La Pedrera Reserve and brought them back to the house to make Christmas Table Centrepieces. Everyone was thrilled with their arrangements and even more importantly they have learnt a new skill and in the future will be able to make their own floral decorations, for whatever the occasion. More dates are available so see below if you would like to join us on one of the days.

We started the walk just over the road from the main gate and soon found a large section of Rosemary which was already in flower. I always make sure that when I take any cuttings, that is it in good supply, not just from one isolated plant, so the impact is minimal. Now you might just think, how is Rosemary connected to Christmas? - Well - it is in many ways.

Rosemary was connected with the Virgin Mary (because it was thought to be Mary’s favourite plant) and people thought that it could protect you from evil spirits. It is also sometimes called the friendship plant and it was the most common garnish put on the boar’s head that wealthy people ate at the main Christmas meal in the Middle ages! It is also known as the remembrance herb and was used at Christmas, as this is the time that we remember the birth of Jesus. It it also thought to only last 33 years which was the age that Jesus lived to. Rather a quirky use of rosemary was in the late 1700s a special Christmas Rosemary Service was started in Ripon Cathedral School where a red apple, with a sprig of Rosemary in the top of it, was sold by the school boys to the members of the congregation for 2p, 4p or 6p (depending on the size of apple!).

There are so many uses for rosemary. You can cut rosemary to provide fragrance in tabletop arrangements as we do or as a sprig tucked on a table napkin or even bundled on a gift instead of a bow on last minute gifts where the sprigs will be fresh.

They can be kept out of water for a day or so before starting to dry or shed.

All our work is professionally made at our premises in...

The Interior Centre, 1 Calle Portugal Los Maromas Pol, Ind Almoradi 03160 Contact Kim & Rick on 625 716 063 or email fabricflair@yahoo.co.uk www.prestigeguides.com/fabricflair

The Mosquito Screen & Window Co Serving the Coast and Inland for over 10 Years

Manufacturers & Installers of Insect Screens, Aluminium & UPVC Windows & Doors Tel: 966 716 329 or Spanish Mob: 722 763 055

www.mosquitoscreenco.com

email: the.mosquito.screen.company@gmail.com Find us at Moncayo Market on Saturdays

We continued to walk up the hill where it was a bit more rocky and came across the Esparto grass that covers the hillside.

Although not normally associated with Christmas this grass is similar to Bear Grass and provides the same function as its leaves are attractive and durable. Both of these grasses have been used for weaving, - The Bear Grass was used to make basket ware by the American Indians and here in Spain, the tradition of basket weaving still continues although due to modern methods, it is an art that has almost died out. This completely ties in my with craft interests as I am passionate about all things handmade and its seems that in a few villages, they are still proud of their heritage.

While once esparto weaving would have been a profession, the

STEELWORK DIRECT Manufacturers of high quality security grills and ornate iron work

covers all areas from Quesada Trade and Community Enquiries welcome •Security Grills/Handrails Arches •Electric and Manual Gates •Decorative Fencing •Garden Furniture •Gazebos, Car Ports, etc Calle Heredades, Almoradi

For a free no obligation quote call: Chaz 661 162 927 or 603 323 599

reduced demand for artisan-made objects has meant that those who work with the grass today, do so as a hobby rather than a trade. At one time, esparto weaving was a dominant industry in some regions of the country – particularly Valencia, Murcia (where most of our readers come from) and Andalusia. Fortunately much is being done to preserve the art of esparto crafts for the future, even though it may not be passed down from older family members to younger as in the past. Workshops and courses are available in many villages and towns, giving those who are interested the chance to learn this rewarding yet time-consuming craft There are also museums dedicated to esparto, in particular the Pequeno Museo de Esparto in Cieza, Murcia. It is important to buy locally produced handicrafts as it is an excellent way to support the people who still produce them, and helps to ensure that practice continues. In the same way that I support local expat´s who produce quality handmade crafts that I sell within the Grand Design House, it is my intention to expand the range to include Spanish Goods such as the above. Inland they tend to have more to offer the tourist but here on the coast, any visit to a souvenir shop will inevitably throw up the ´bull´magnets and a few plastic Spanish Flamenco Dancers which does not reflect the richness of the Spanish history or indeed culture. There is definitely more to the Costa Blanca than booze and beaches and perhaps in a little way I can change that perception slightly.

We continued up the hill and found some long stemmed thyme that was also full bloom with its beautiful, pink & mauve flowers.

Not normally associated with Christmas, apart from cooking, it is often used as a play on the word time... ie Christmas Thyme, which is rather quaint. It is easily incorporated into a more modern style of decorating as it is becoming more popular to use pinks, lime greens, purples etc. rather than just the traditional reds and greens.

Just to remind you then that the Grand Design House is open throughout December. We are also offering a Festive Afternoon Tea, (booking essential) so you can treat your family and friends to a full afternoon tea, served in the best of tradition with a round of sandwhiches with seasonal fillings, mince pies, or Christmas cake, mulled wine plus tea or coffee and all the trimmings.

Take a stroll in the grounds, admire the decorations and if chilly relax in front of a blazing fire. Alternatively if it is a lovely day, sit outside enjoy the sunshine and the mountains beyond.

Finally don´t forget if you are at a loose end this Thursday (Red Day), our fantastic Craft Fair & Christmas Fun Day is taking place from 11am - 4pm. Come and join in the fun with the Velvetones and the Footwork Dancers and of course Santa will arriving in a parade of horses at 11.30 onwards.

Seasons Greetings.... Jenni

Britannia

SOLAR POOLS COVERS - ROLLERS HEATPUMPS - FENCING

www.thingstodoinspain.info

Established 40 years in the UK

small ROLLERS FROM 200€

www.britanniapoolcovers.com

400 MICRON 500 MICRON 10% 6x3m.................165€ 6x3m.................220€ 8x4m.................270€ 8x5m.................330€ 10x4m...............330€ 10x5m...............420€ 12x6m...............600€

8x4m.................355€ 8x5m.................420€ 10x4m...............420€ 10x5m...............520€ 12x6m...............750€

THE GRAND DESIGN HOUSE & OUTDOOR ACTIVITY CENTRE

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

8.2kw heat pumps at 1,700€ 12kw heat pumps 2,000€ www.poolsafetyfencing.es

CASA LA PEDRERA

OFF These Prices

For more prices & information Trade Enquiries WELCOME Alan 966 765 378 / 649 784 193

660 816 620 GRAND DESIGN OPEN HOUSE throughout December Refreshments served + Crafts For Sale CRAFT FAIR with SANTA´S GROTTO & TREASURE HUNT - Thursday 6 Dec (Red Day) SANTA´S CHRISTMAS TREASURE TRAILS Weekends in December CRAFT DAYS - TABLE CENTREPIECES Mondays 10 & 17th Booking essential MUSIC EVENING & CAROLS

BY CANDLELIGHT Sunday 23 December ACTIVITIES: Open throughout the Christmas Period.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

...HOME & GARDEN

fastcat

removals & storage

local & international moves all goods fully insured

Between shopping for gifts, wrapping them and planning gatherings, there is a lot to prepare during the Christmas season. Decorating your home is another part of the preparation process as decorating helps to put you and your guests into the Christmas spirit. When decorating your home, don’t forget to trim your kitchen and make the heart of your home a festive place for friends and family to gather.

Countertop Tree

weekly UK - Spain Service

Storage Available from 5€ per month Pet & Car Transport Packing materials Available Designated Vehicle Service Available

Please call for a friendly No Obligation Quote Spain - 952 452 099 or 697 681 334

www.fastcatsl.com

email info@fastcatsl.com

dON’T FORGET YOUR KITCHEN THIS CHRISTMAS

If you have counter space that you can spare, place a small pine tree on top of it -- either real or artificial.

Wrap a string of white or colored lights around the tree, and trim it with kitchen utensils. See if you can find mini utensils at a novelty or home store, and make loops with red and green ribbon and place them on the utensils to use to hang them on the tree. If you can’t find mini utensils, use full-size utensils; just use less of them. Or instead of using utensils, use Christmasshaped cookie cutters on the tree -- stars, snowmen, even other Christmas trees.

Dish of Presents

Make a dish of presents for a table centerpiece. Wrap small boxes - either all the same size or in a variety of sizes - in Christmas paper. On a serving dish or a decorative dinner plate, arrange the presents in an attractive display.

Place the dish in the center of your table. To add more interest to the decoration, surround it with tea lights or place the dish on top of a runner or doily.

Pine Boughs

For a kitchen that has space on top of your cabinets, use it to display pine boughs. Purchase either artificial or real pine boughs and wrap them with artificial poinsettias,

LEAK DETECTION & REPAIR EXPERTS Contact Us:

Christmas ornaments, sprigs of holly and bows and strings of white or colored lights. Run them along the top of your cabinets to add interest to the space.

Chandelier of Ornaments

Spice up a chandelier over your kitchen table for Christmas with ornaments. Buy ornaments that suit your style, and hang them on the arms of the light fixture. To further embellish the chandelier, string silver, gold or green garland through the arms.

Christmas Dishtowels

Trade in your ordinary dish towels during the Christmas season for dishtowels that are adorned with Christmasinspired designs. You can purchase these towels from retailers, or you can make your own while enjoying a craft project with your family. To make your own, buy plain white, red or green dish towels. Use fabric paint and stamps to create patterns on the towels. Display the towels around your kitchen.

Leak Tech

Tel: 966 194 179 ARE YOUR POOL & WATER BILLS DRAINING YOU? Mob: 627 752 965 We guarantee to find leaks in any pipe work in We offer your pool, home, garden, paths or driveway. the best We have 100% success rate in leak detection. re-groutin g service We use the latest test equipment, tools, products and materials.

No need tor drain you pool for s! air in m or rep

We offer

Email: info@leak-tech.net Web: www.leak-tech.net

YOUR POOL MAY BE LEAKING IF:

Water level is dropping faster than normal.

There is a significant increase in your water bill You see cracks appearing in and around the pool You are using more chemicals than normal

• Underwater repairs (PADI qualified) • Pump repairs & replacement • Full pool re-tiling • Repairs to structural damage in & around the pool • Acid wash & grouting • Fully insured & legal • Construction & tiling • Domestic & commercial plumbing • Replacement electric hot water boilers

Spanish Property

Auctions

View properties before the live auction & make a bid

A SELECTION OF properties sold through our november’s live auction

hhgf 2 Bed Apartment,

hhgf 2 Bed 2nd Floor Apartment,

La Torre Golf Resort, Murcia

hhgf 3 Bed, 2 Bath

23

Los Altos

Semi-Detached House, Lo Marabu

hhgf 3 Bed, 2 Bath Villa,

Calasparra, Murcia

hhgf 2 Bed Ground Floor Apartment, Almoradi

hhgf 4 Bed Farmhouse + 2 Bed Villa, Fonollosa, Barcelona

hhgf 2 Bed Penthouse Apartment, Los Altos

is your property still not sold...?

For further information on all properties please visit

www.spanishpropertyauctions.com or telephone 0034 966 76 11 89

Auctions to be held at our premises located in Calle San Antonio 5, Local 5, La Zenia, Orihuela Costa, Alicante, Spain

www.spanishpropertyauctions.com • www.spanishhomesjustforyou.com • www.spanskahem4u.se Part of the Baldwin Hall S.L Group

24

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

week 9

By Lyn Aspden of ‘Strictly Dance’ With only 3 weeks left until the final the temperature is certainly hotting up with all the contestants putting in extra hours to try to give them the upper hand. With so many of the contestants having up and down weeks, it really is still anyones trophy and this week continued the trend.

Opening this weeks show were Kimberley & Pasha with a very fast Jive and Kimberley did extremely well to keep up with the speed.

She showed great kicks and flicks and it was a clean performance but I felt if she had just softened her knees a little more she would have upped her score of 34 which hasn’t moved now for the past 3 weeks. I gave her an 8 and the judges again a 34.

Next to dance were team smurf one of my favourites Dani & Vincent with a Viennese Waltz. This was a different interpretation to the norm but with excellent choreography and a great variety of steps never seen before

in this dance a nice sweet performance from Dani. The only thing lacking for me was a little more drive on the Viennese steps. I awarded her a 9 and the judges 34.

Next out were Michael and Natalie with a Samba. What more can I say, it was flat footed, clumpy, lacking rhythm, timing and hips and just the opposite of what a Samba should be. Sorry Michael you are definitely not a Latin dancer. The judges and I both had him at the bottom of the leader board with a 5 and 24.

Next to dance were Nicky & Karen and their Argentine Tango. Nicky was portraying James Bond performing to Skyfall and it was excellent. I thought that last weeks performance was a one hit wonder but he has proved me wrong. The choreography was excellent with great lifts and flicks albeit just a little too much like the Tango than Argentine which needs a slightly softer

“JINGLE BALLS” CHARITY DAY San Miguel Golf Society has organised a charity golf day which sounds like a real funday just before Christmas on Wednesday 19th December at La Finca. Going under the festive title of “Jingle Balls” the day will consist of a team golf competition in which visitors are urged to join the members in a joint effort to raise a chunk of money for a very worthwhile cause.

Sponsors from the business world have already committed hundreds of euros and companies including Moneycorp, Property Shop Spain and Spanish Life Properties will have a prominent presence on the day.

La Finca itself and other local businesses will also be contributing in different ways in helping to achieve the goal of an enjoyable and profitable day’s golf!

Format for the competition will be teams of four players competing in a Stableford game where the best 2 scores will count on the first 6 holes, the best 3 to count on the next 6 and all 4 will be used on the final 6 holes.

Presentations of the main prizes plus many more will take place during an après-golf meal at the course. All participants are

asked to bring their festive spirit along with a gift or two for the raffle….books, bottles, golf bags etc., all are welcome.

The charity “Us to Them” is the brain-child of the newly elected captain of the society, Steve Davis, who, along with his wife, Helen, has worked tirelessly for the last 5 years to help the thousands of innocent people affected by the devastating tsunami of 2004 in Sri Lanka.

“Us to Them” has no expensive premises, company cars, administration costs or overheads of any kind……..it is simply what it says – us to them!

Steve and Helen pay their own flights and all associated costs so every donated euro or pound goes directly to where it’s needed.

Further info is available on the society’s website www.smgs.org or anyone interested can contact Barry on 966 731 033. Either get your own four-ball together or simply add your name to the list and Barry will sort out the teams. €50 covers your green fee, entrance fee and the meal to which friends and partners are also welcome at only €15 each.

approach. I awarded him an 8 and the judges 30.

Following were Lisa & Robin and a Quickstep. I found Lisa appeared hesitant in several parts of her choreography and she didn’t appear as confident as she has in previous weeks and for me in next to bottom slot. I gave her a 6 and the judges a 31.

Denise & James then performed a Salsa which I found way below her normal. It was lacking Salsa action and there was insufficient armography for me. Her spins were great as always but this dance just didn’t suit her. I gave her an 8 and the judges 32.

Closing this weeks show were Lewis & Flavia with a Charleston. Last week he was accused of not acting out the character of his dances sufficiently and so Flavia ensured that he had an acting coach this week. I have to say it paid off handsomely as their Charleston was fantastic with some great

tricks using Lewis’ gymnastic ability to maximum effect. He received 37 from the judges and 9 from me and took the coveted top spot this week.

In the bottom 2 were Michael & Natalie and Nicky & Karen and Nicky was unanimously kept in by the judges for next week. Who can achieve the necessary consistency to close this years show? I think the top 3 will be Lewis, Denise & Dani with Kimberley & Nicky close on their heels.

Next week there is to be a dance fusion and this means that the couples will have to dance 2 dances within the same piece of music. I’m presuming that there will be a tempo change somewhere in the middle so should prove extremely interesting. Who will clock up the most hours? and who will have the staying power to lift that glitterball trophy? Come and join our gossip at one of our nights. Until next week - Keep Dancing!

The Lions Club of Mazarron Bahia

The work of the Lions of Mazarron continues with our Carrier of Happiness where we are helping brighten the lives of several hundred “less fortunate” children in our local area by marking their festive season with a special gift for each of them.

To help us in our endeavours we are seeking support as well from everyone. If you would like donate a small gift to a child such as crayons colouring books etc. In addition to asking you for contibutions of “ smaller presents” to help us amass sufficient gifts for the children.You may wish to donate a main present for our “Carrier of Happiness project” If this is the case please select a gift of up to approximately up to ten euros for any child up to the age of fourteen and bring it to the Lions stall at Camposol B on Friday between 11.0 0am until 1.00 pm . Or call 968 978 810. Due to the bridge at Camposol being closed the appeal is being continued until the 14th December.

We are also doing Operational Kilo at Consum supermarket at Camposol B where you can give an item of non- perishable food to us . All the food donated will be passed on Cruz Roja at Mazarron to help in their support of the families of the Mazarron area.

As always The Lions of Mazarron Bahia would like to thank everyone for all their support. We could not do it without you “HELP US TO HELP YOU”

camposol rambla road

Andy Wilson Photographer The Rambla road leading from Sector C to B in Camposol is now open at last! Following the awful floods at the end of September, the bridge has been closed and either side of it resembled a rather large car park. The problems encountered by the closure of the bridge have led to frustration by local residents and local businesses. People have had to take a rather long trip to get children to school and have also ended up shopping elsewhere which has taken business away from the area. Restaurants have also been picking people up and dropping them off at the bridge to make sure they keep tables full, all at their own expense. It’s been a few weeks coming to get to this stage, but it is still only a temporary measure and less than ideal. Let’s hope for all concerned, that the bridge is soon fixed and safe once more!

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

25

Property...

PRICE BROWN

ESTATE AGENTS • MOJACAR • INMOBILLARIA Valle del Este 85,000€ A1148 Quality 2nd floor apartment of 70m2 + terrace situated next to the golf course 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, underground parking, storeroom & furnished.

2 community pools For a superb selection of properties for sale & rent visit our office on the Paseo del Mediterrano and talk to our friendly, knowledgeable staff - or visit our website:

www.pricebrown.com

info@pricebrown.com

+34 950 478 915

in & around Spain

Whether you are house hunting or need help with a particular property matter, Sol Times are able to provide you with contact details of companies specialising in all aspects of buying, renting, translation and property maintenance.

Specialising in Property Sales & Rentals in the Huercal-Overa Area & San Juan de los Terreros

Properties for sale or rent between taberno, huercal-overa and san juan de los terreros Office: 155a Carretera Estacion, Huercal-Overa, Almeria 1km off the A7 motorway at Exit 553 100 metres from Lidl

Property sales 30 years experience multi lingual team resales offices in mojacar & Turre Maintenance property Vigilance

Tel: 950 478 935

RECOMMENDATION OF THE WEEK

Property Sales • Property Management • Long & short term rentals • Insurance

We Urgently Need Quality Properties Both For Sale & Rent

Last opportunity to buy at the reduced tax rate of 4% (deadline: 31.12.2012) 1 & 2 bedroom apartments in the Atalaya de Mojacar complex. Prices from 99.000 €.

Up to 100% mortgage deals , some with interest only periods available (subject to status).

The community has an indoor pool, an outdoor pool in fantastic tropical gardens, modern high quality fixtures and fittings. Outstanding sea views. Panoramic glass lift. One of the best quality complexes in Mojacar.

We Have Clients Waiting...

309 Paseo del Mediterraneo, Mojacar Playa (50m from Ferreteria Lopez)

invest in Mojacar Now!

Tel: 950 478 834 info@mojacarhomes.net www.mojacarhomes.net

www.mojacarestates.com info@mojacarestates.com

Do you have a property to sell?

only

2%

commission!

Considering letting? Holiday or long term?

Only 10% commission for full management

Office: Avenida Doctor Meca, 88 Portal B, 30860 Puerto de Mazarrón, Murcia Tel: 968 584 785 Mobiles: 648 609 438 or 630 187 041

Skype: mamaisonenespagne Email: info@maisonenespagne.com www.mamaisonenespagne.com

We are currently looking for more properties in Puerto de Mazarron, Isla Plana, La Azohia & Bolnuevo

Maybe you would just like us to advertise your property on our website and international portals for a reasonable fee?

We will listen to your requirements and will also give you open, honest advice

We are looking forward to working with you

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

coffee break STANDARD CROSSWORD

Down 1 Invariability (10) 2 Consultive (8) 3 Mercy killing (10) 4 Was indebted to (4) 5 Wicked (4) 6 Miserly (6) 7 In a little while (archaic) (4) 14 Groans (5) 15 Recorded officially (10) 16 Runs our country (10) 19 Pertaining to the Milky Way (8) 21 Ploy (6) 24 Assistant (4) 25 Bye-bye (4) 26 French for “Without” (4)

3 Ailing, or poorly first (8) 4 Thwart my return - in street, that is (6) 5 Miracles I’d performed for renunciation (10) 6 Muffler - no noise, right? (8) 8 Polish and English tramps move into bed that is approved (6-7) 13 Abduction of sleeping child? (10) 15 Picture left artist with it (8) 16 Exalt Ron in the “nearly new” turn first (8) 18 Drink some Asti, p-please (6) 20 Grows, or perhaps not - good grief! (6)

Down 1 Spoil me with second drink (4,2) 2 Remain in East Ayrshire? (4)

HARD SUDOKU

Very Hard!

CRYPTIC crossword

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across 7 The French remedy - taking time to initially recruit university worker (8) 9 Air-time returning without six unimportant details (6) 10 Spot - English secret agent? (4) 11 Astonished me with dog’s back mutilation (10) 12 Part of a wheel - new, it’s said (6) 14 Cheap, yet novel protection for the viewer?

(3,5) 15 Vessel becomes rotten at side in half of Persia (6,7) 17 Make a million within an afternoon’s refreshment?

(5,3) 19 Push most of the corrosion (6) 21 First cook-book about pepper containing a decorative material (5,5) 22 Admonish Romeo in pale surroundings (4) 23 Indicate slang I misused (6) 24 Gift from party to country? (8)

SUDOKU PUZZLE

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.

Across 8 Provide nourishment (4) 9 Steadfast (10) 10 Stubborn (6) 11 Persevering (8) 12 Toadfish (4) 13 Study of numbers (10) 17 Plant with trumpet-shaped flowers (4) 18 Jargon (5) 19 ____rn = rule (4) 20 Spectacles (10) 22 Former Italian currency (4) 23 Hairy elephants (8) 27 Live in a tent (6) 28 Access (10) 29 Hotels (4)

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence. Confucius

STANDARD SUDOKU

26

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

RASCALS CHRISTMAS SHOW WOWS SELL-OUT AUDIENCE

The packed audience at the Sunday performance of Rascals ‘Disney Delights and Christmas Crackers’ in Los Montesinos were left in raptures at the final curtain.

The show, which was fully sold out well before the performance date, promised all the makings of a good night and it certainly lived up to that. The first half opened with a scene set in Old Peking from ‘Aladdin’ with the cast dressed appropriately in their very authentic Chinese costumes. The show offered a very lively start with “Dancing in the Street and Uptown Girl. Later on, the dress changed from Chinese to very professional looking period costumes in the Cinderella style and the cast performed a beautifully choreographed dance to the music of the Cinderella Waltz.

There was also a hilarious scene from “Pirates of the Caribbean” which had the audience and particularly the children spellbound.

During the interval, the cast invited the audience to join them in a pre-Christmas drink and to have photographs with the principal characters.

The second half opened as lively as the first, and it wasn’t long before most people were singing along to what everybody regards as classic Christmas songs. By this time the cast had changed into yet another set of wonderful costumes which included red sparkly waistcoats for the men and lovely matching tops for the ladies. As in the first half there were some lovely solo numbers and a dance routine was performed by children from ‘Totally Dance’ in Quesada. After a lovely traditional rendition of favourite Christmas Carols and wonderful finale which included ‘Silent Night’ performed in both English and Spanish, the curtain closed to thunderous applause. If you were not lucky enough to see the show on Sunday, make sure you get tickets for the second and last performance at the Virgen Del Carmen Theatre next Tuesday December 11th at 7-30. Tickets are still available from the box office outside the Municipal Theatre in Torrevieja and they are open between Tuesday - Friday 11.00 til 13.00 hrs or you can book on Servicam. If you have any problems, please call Sue on 96 678 4874.

charity begins in 1948

Enjoy the best TV At the best price change your provider for free

€23

per month

70

27

TV and RadioChannels Including: Premier Movies

Adult Channels etc

55 TV CHANNELS & 15 RADIO OFFICIAL TORRESAT TECHNICIAN INSTALLED WITHIN 24 HOURS Tel: 687 684 815

Email: paul@torresat.info

Web: www.torresat.info

INSTALLATIONS

FROM 50€

INTERNET telephone High Speed Broadband

International Calls

All calls to fixed landlines, 24 hours a day to the following countries: Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland,Iceland, Holland, Portugal, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, USA and Canada.

Unlimited Access Unlimited Downloads

You don’t need an existing telephone line

20.50

No monthly Line Rentals

10.50

only euros month

only euros month

Telephone: 687 684 815 • email:paul@oleinternet.info

t t h a e n g n r i ee n e h T The Evergreen Eatery

Great Food Superb Value Looking Good Boutique has always raised funds for Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, from charity cocktail parties to fashion shows where our top attraction has been the fabulous four legged miniature horse Taffeta, supermodel and diva extraordinaire!! Our lovely customers have always got involved with whatever we are doing, constantly filling our collection tins in the boutique and donating to the Easy Horse Care charity shop just around the corner, however one customer has gone that extra mile and made an extra special and very personal donation.

Clare le Duc, a customer for many years and constant supporter of all our fund raising events for the rescue centre very kindly donated a beautiful porcelain stallion to Easy Horse Care. This magnificent statue had been in her family since her father

returned from Germany with it in 1948, Clare had always loved the statue but felt that it would be better used to raise awareness and funds for her beloved horses in need right here on her doorstep. The statue is by the famous German sculptor Gustav Gossenburger from Von Schierholz & Sons and hopefully it will raise much needed funds at a charity auction to be held next year.

We used our Looking Good Curvy Lady Fashion Show event to officially present Susan Weeding from Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre with the rearing stallion statue, Clare made the presentation with Taffeta looking on, as a mini horse in desperate need when she first arrived at Easy Horse Care, she perfectly demonstrated how important their work is and what a difference their intervention can make, Taffeta was so thin when she first arrived that her hip bones pierced her skin, now she is round enough to qualify for an appearance at a CURVY lady fashion show!

We are very grateful to Clare le Duc for making this special donation, and on behalf of Looking Good Boutique and Easy Horse Care rescue Centre we would like to say a huge thank you, your generosity is very much appreciated.

More details of the work of the centre can be found at www.easyhorsecare.net Or call Sue on 652021980 or email info@ easyhorsecare.net

Every Monday

Thursday Pop Quiz

Games Night

Chess Dominoes Cards Poker from 7pm

with Lynden B, from 9pm

e

Friday

e

e

Andy Jones 9pm

Saturday finals 9pm

Christian Kabaroke Sunday With Matt In Wales

san miguel de salinas

The entertainers choice of the best singer 9pm cv-95  commercial orihuela centre



inn at the green

san javier

ap-7 los montesinos

622 400 321 677 617 434

 www.theinnatthegreen.co.uk

alicante

28

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

CRESCENDO’S BUSY WEEK Crescendo International choir started their Christmas season of concerts with a busy week. On November 24th they gave a private concert for residents and their families at Casa Verde Retirement Home in Almaradi. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all the audience, and the choir have been asked to perform again next year.

The following day, Sunday 25th November, the choir hosted their Christmas ‘sing along’ at El Paraiso restaurant, Jardin del Mar. This concert is always a sell-out and this year was no exception with a waiting list for tickets. There was a hugely successful raffle organized this year by Sandra Martin with one special item auctioned. Soprano Phyl Webb sang “Some day my heart will awake” from King’s Rhapsody by Ivor Novello, making the rafters ring with her beautiful voice.

Contralto Mary Mitchell, the Choir’s chairman sang “Where is Love?” from Oliver with such feeling that there were tears in a few eyes! She received huge applause as it was her first ever solo.

Star of the afternoon however was the MYSTERY DIVA who turned out to be the choir’s own Lesley Rolls performing “Nobody loves a fairy when she’s 40/50/60 !!”

She appeared from the back of the room in full fairy costume complete with wonky wand singing and dancing her way through the song to the delight of everyone there.

Irene Oliva conducted the choir and audience in all the songs and carols, very ably helped by accompanist Toni Guillen.

As always, a really enjoyable concert putting everyone in a holiday mood.

Home Comfort

Spain

On Tues 27th, many of the choir and their ‘other halves’ met at El Paraiso for a menu del dia getting them all even more into the festive spirit.

Don’t forget that on Sat Dec 8th the choir are singing at the charity meal at Vilorian’s Rojales. On Wed Dec 12th they will be joined by “Just Brass” for the carol service at Torrevieja Christian Fellowship and Dec 15th will sing at Benejofar Church.

Please check the web site for last minute details. www. crescendo-choir.com.

Entre Naranjos celebrates new civil centro

Starting to feel the cold ?

Then let Home Comfort Spain help you into the warm Home Comfort Spain offer quality rugs, towels and homewares at affordable prices Delivery service available upon request Come along and see us between 09.00-14.00 in the Retail Village at Moncayo Market every Saturday in Cabin 222.

Also can be seen at Da Vincis Bistro at Lakeside, La Siesta, Torrevieja on a Tuesday morning from 11.00- 15.00.

Visit our website at www.homecomfortspain.com or telephone Ian on 617 659 282.

s t r a e l d e a s r t Ian and His Magic Carpets

Ex pat Ian Hill has decided to take the plunge and try his hand at a new venture.

After serving with the AA for 25 years in the UK (Automobile Association and NOT Alcoholics Anonymous) Ian moved to Spain 6.5 years ago with his wife Tracy .

In that time he has tried his hand at many things including gardening, painting, working on the markets etc and he has now decided to try it alone and has set up a small company called Home Comfort Spain based in cabin 222 at Moncayo Market on a Saturday morning.

The weather is much cooler now and we all like to be nice and cosy in our homes so Ians aim is provide quality goods to enable us all to do just that.

He has in stock at the moment a large selection of rugs priced between 15 and 60 euros, blankets, pillows ,snuggies and dog beds.

The rugs have proved to be a very popular addition to the market and if the rug you like isn’t there in your size you can order from Ians catalogue and he will collect from the manufacturer within a couple of days and if required even deliver it to your door.

In the oncoming weeks Ian will be adding to his stock by introducing quality towels and bedding at realistic prices.

Please come along to Moncayo Market on a Saturday morning between 09.00-14.00 and see what Ian and the other stall holders have to offer and you can even visit his website at www.homecomfortspain.com .

Moncayo Market is open every Saturday morning and can be found behind the Procomobel Home Centre on the N332 between la Mata and Guardamar Del Segura.

On Friday November 30th Entre Naranjos and Laguna Green celebrated the inaugaration of a new Civic Centro. Also known as the “Community Centre” for the two urbanisations, the building which is two converted locales on the Commercial centre, was officially opened by the Mayor Of Orihuela, Senor Monserrate Guillen along with Tripatite Councillors Rosa Martinez, Antonio Zapata and Emilio Zaplano. Also in attendance was Sebastian Andreu, Torremendo District Mayor and Joaquim Grau, the Landowner of Entre Naranjos and Laguna Green. At least 100 residents attended the celebration after first having their own meeting with Councillors and Sebastian Andreu to discuss urbanisation issues.

The Civic Centro was the brain child of Councilor Rosa Martinez, the Councillor for Education, and is a joint innitiative between the Department for Education and the Landowner. Knowing that residents for years have had nowhere to meet on the urbanisations other than in bars, Cllr Martinez began discussions to come up with solutions. The Centre is leased from the Landowner and managed through the Town Hall by the Education Department. Community groups will be able to use the facility and the Council will provide language classes, arts projects, performances and other activities to encourage participation by the whole community.

The inauguration of the CLR Supporter

The inauguration of the CLR Supporter’s Group Orihuela Costa took place on Friday afternoon. 37 people attended and offered their support to the group and CLR. The Supporters Group want to improve Orihuela Costa and move the coast forward in a positive way rather than looking back on the neglect of past PP governments.

Raymond Kearney, President of the coastal group, after explaining what CLR stood for said “I have known Pedro Mancebo for 12 years but have only been politically active for about four years. I know Pedro to be honest and hardworking and have no hesitation in supporting him.

Orihuela Costa is long overdue some positive attention, other parties have made promises but only CLR’s Mancebo and Lopez Bas are determined and prepared to do the work to make a real difference.” He went on to list some of Pedro’s achievements in only 4 months as Councillor for the Coast, opening and making safe pedestrian access, planting trees, renovating parks and improving access to the new commercial centre which will be a great boost to the economy of the coast.

CLR leader Pedro Mancebo was clear that “there was a lot of work to be carried out and he was not going to be distracted by those who had their opportunity and wasted it,” he continued by saying “I’m here to work, not waste taxpayers’ time arguing in the press.” Pedro later said “the speeches were short, the mood was buoyant and those who attended were of a positive frame of mind and ready for work, I am delighted with the turn-out and congratulated all involved.” Pedro will answer questions in a Question and Answer session at the Sophia Wellness Centre in La Regia on Friday 7th at 6.30pm.

To find out more about the Supporters’ Group or to participate in the Question and Answer session on Friday 7th go to www.clr-orihuelacosta.com or email coast.clr@gmail.com

www.soltimes.com

. . . s e i d o o G s a Christm

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

mince pies Makes 24

INGREDIENTS

560g mincemeat 350g plain flour a pinch of salt 75g lard 75g butter FOR THE TOP: icing sugar & milk YOU WILL NEED: One (or two) trays of 6cm (2½in) patty tins, one fluted 7.5cm (3in) pastry cutter and one 6cm (2½in) cutter.

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas mark 6. Make up the pastry by sifting the flour and salt into a mixing bowl and rubbing the fats into it until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

Then add just enough cold

Chestnut, Sausage & Marsala Stuffing

Cumberland Rum or Brandy Butter

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS

175g unsalted butter, at room temperature; 175g soft dark brown sugar; 6 tbsp rum or brandy

METHOD

Blend the butter and sugar together till pale, soft and creamy. Gradually add the rum or brandy a little at a time, beating well after each addition. Taste - add more rum or brandy if you think it needs it! Then place the butter in a container and chill thoroughly before serving.

It is important, I think, to serve this very cold, so that it can provide a wonderful contrast to the hot mince pies or pudding.

Rum or brandy butter will keep for 2-3 weeks in the fridge, so it’s not really worth freezing.

2 onions Butter – a thick slice Thyme – a large sprig or two Rosemary – a large sprig 400g sausage meat Fresh breadcrumbs – 3 handfuls 50g cooked peeled chestnuts, roughly chopped Madeira or dry Marsala – a wine glass

Method

Peel and cut up the onions just short of finely chopped (this is a roughtextured stuffing, but you don’t want the pieces so big that the mixture falls apart). Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the onions and let them soften and colour lightly, stirring from time

to time. While they are cooking, strip the leaves from the thyme and stir them in. Remove the needles from the rosemary twig and chop them finely.

Stir them into the onions.

When the onions are soft enough to crush between finger and thumb, add the sausage meat, breadcrumbs, chestnuts and the madeira or marsala.

Season generously with salt and black pepper. Shape the stuffing into balls slightly larger than a golf ball and set them in a buttered or foil-lined baking dish (they can remain here for a day or so, refrigerated, until you need them). Bake for about 30 minutes at 180C/160C fan/gas 4, till sizzling.

3.70€

Served 9.30 till 5pm (Sunday till 12)

5 C hoice of 2

RSES U O C N I A M 0 C hoice of 2 DESSERTS

water to mix to a dough that leaves the bowl clean. leave the pastry to rest in a polythene bag in the fridge for 20-30 minutes, then roll half of it out as thinly as possible and cut it into two dozen 7.5cm (3in) rounds, gathering up the scraps and re-rolling.

Then do the same with the other half of the pastry, this time using the 6cm (2½in) cutter. now grease the patty tins lightly and line them with the larger rounds.

Fill these with three snips in the tops with a pair of scissors.

Bake near the top of the oven for 25-30 minutes until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack and sprinkle with icing sugar. When cool, store in an airtight container.

Divitos Kitchen & Wine Bar

Open Tues till Sat from 10am till late.

Kitchen open 10am to 3pm, 6 to 10pm

Wine Bar Special Offers:

3 Spirit Mixers for 10€, 5 Shots for a Fiver, Wide Selection of Draughts and Wines

Take Outs Available

Freshly-baked pizza, always our own dough up to 4 toppings for only 7€ (feeds 2 to 4 people!!)

Big and Beautiful English Breakfasts from 3€ Happy Hours- Fri and Sat from 12 noon - free slice of pizza with drinks Com. Local 9, Avda Costa Azul, Quesada Contact Ian Hennessy, Tel: 966 717 095 divitos_kitchen_winebar@hotmail.co.uk

SPECIAL SOL TIMES OFFER WITH THIS ADVERT!!

F R E E G A R L I C P I Z Z A B R E A D when you pur c ha s e any pizza

Manhattan

9 Item English Breakfast

Quality HomeFood Restaurant “The best kept secret in Cabo Roig”

Hidden Within La Rotonda Aparthotel Cabo Roig

Fantastic WINTER SPECIALS BOARD €4.50

Changed twice weekly

Available till 9pm

ays exciting, lw a , h s e r f s y a Alw value! always incredible

Truly Fabulous

Homemade

food at pocket friendly prices

Real Hand Cut Chips  Delicious Homemade Pies  Mouthwatering Steaks  Fabulous Homemade Desserts Finest Teas & Coffee PRE – CHRISTMAS LUNCHTIME FAYRE  Homemade meals from €4.50 Turkey, Roast & Mashed Christmas Coffee & Pate, Perfect for a relaxing lunch after Pudding, Mini Mince Soup or Potatoes, Fresh Vegetables & all the Pies shopping at Zenia Boulevard 5 mins away Lemon Chocolate We Are HERE

Ca

rr er

de

Po n

en

t

dessert an

te

-C

trimmings Fudge Cake, Sole Goujons (or vegetarian alternative) Trifle

Tel: 966 111 605 www.Manhattancaboroig.com

Ct ra A

lic

Zenia Boulevard

ar ta

ge

na

29

Serving from 9.30am to 9.00pm Monday - Saturday Sunday 9.30am to 7.30pm

€9.95

per. per son

3 course HOMEMADE Menu del Dia €7.95 served 12 till 9pm

30

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

HELP VEGA BAJA Registered Voluntary Organisation CV-04-047761-A

On Tuesday 27th November, the Indian Ocean in Doña Pepa, held a ‘Tasting Afternoon’ and the owner Mohsin Reza invited HELP Vega Baja to hold a raffle during the course of the afternoon.

40 diners arrived with the majority of them tasting the Jalfrezi with Lemon Rice, Chicken Nawabi with Cheese Naan and Prawn Puri, no one ventured to the stronger curries. So impressed with their tastings, they then stayed to take advantage of the special offer on the menu del dia, which included a traditional and very delicious Sherry Trifle.

The very generous diners enthusiastically bought raffle tickets and tried the ‘shot game’ and in the process raised 76€ for HELP. In these lean financial times, it is with the assistance of establishments such as the Indian Ocean, that the money raised for HELP, enables it to continue its work in the local community.

We would like to thank Mohsin, for making this afternoon possible and his staff for all their help and the assistance, ideas and trifle from Susan Reader.

On behalf of HELP Vega Baja, from Pat

D D

animals D

D

in Donkeys get glow the dark eartags

CLIPPERS

Experienced Mobile Dog Groomer Based in Quesada Collection Service Available Pamper Your Dog For Only 17€ Ring Sue on:

659 458 161

Domino Pet Hotel

The local pet hotel where your beloved pet goes when you are on holiday or just away...

Domino Pet Hotel offers cattery with warm and cosy beds, daily grooming guaranteed! Large comfortable dog kennels, large exercise park, doggie wellness weekend Fri - Mon 25€ incl.

Wellness bath, Short / long term stay. Professional trained team

Professional

Pet Shipping Worldwide - UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand…

We take care of all documentation Travel

Crates in all sizes from small up to extra large (best Price guaranteed) IPATA Member

Tel: 654 168 366

info@dominopetshipping.com

www.dominopetshipping.com

Hundreds of donkeys will be fitted with glowin-the-dark ear tags in Botswana to stop accidents on rural roads at night.

The UK-based Society For The Protection Of Animals Abroad is paying for the Maun Animal Welfare Society, in Botswana, to carry out the project.

Laura Higham, outreach veterinary advisor for SPANA, said: “The people that own working donkeys are some of the very poorest in Botswana’s society and often have no choice other than to let their animals roam freely in search of food in the sparse desert environment.

“This practice is essential, but obviously makes the donkeys vulnerable to accidents and we hope that this simple solution will help reduce the number of collisions caused by the animals every year.”

The charities hope the project will be adopted in other parts of the country, and will be the first step towards making reflective tags a legal requirement for freely roaming livestock.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

COMMUNITY NEWS -

E M A I L E D I T O R @ S O LT I M E S . C O M

CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAYRE & Dinner Jazz..................... returns to El Pescadito, Mil Palmeras, on Monday FAMILY FUNDAY.............................. 10th December.Free admission for diners. Starting at at Casa La Pedrera: Grand Design House on THURSDAY 6th of DECEMBER (RED DAY) 11am - 4pm Santa´s coming.....

If you are at a loose end this Thursday, why not head on down to Christmas Craft Fayre and fun day and get into the festive mood?

Santa will be arriving at 11.30am in a parade of horses and will be in his grotto to meet all the boys and girls. Shortly after that the Footwork Dance Group will be entertaining us at 12pm with some fun Christmas Dances and finally the Velvetones will be appearing and singing Carols within the House at 1pm with their beautiful harmonies.

All the activities will be running including pony & horse rides, quad biking, air rifle and archery plus the very popular Santa´s Hay Ride - a bumpy tractor ride down to the lake - which is not to be missed!

The Christmas Treasure Trails will also be running through the day and needs to be booked in advance to ensure that there are enough treats for everyone!! After all that excitement you can meander through the craft fair which has many hand crafted gifts for sale including jewellery, paintings, preserves,candles, soaps, flowers and many other goodies for sale. Alternatively you can sit and relax in the tea garden with a slice of homemade cake or perhaps even a seasonal mince pie.

There is a HUGE hamper to be won and all proceeds for the Elche Children´s Home plus some of the children from the Orphanage will even be there on the day joining in on all the fun. For further information or if you would like a stall please contact Jenni on 660 816 620 or check the website at www.thingstodoinspain.info which has a link to the face book page which is regularly updated. You can find Casa la Pedrera off the CV95 km mark 13, left into the CV950 just after the Vista Bella & La Fortaleza Restaurants

MUSIC EVENT THIS FESTIVE SEASON.................................................

Sunday 16th December 2012 @ 8pm.

The NIGEL HOPKINS CHRISTMAS CONCERT

featuring ‘In Harmony’ Chamber Choir and the lovely voices of ‘Cantemos!’ Children’s Choir.

This ever-popular annual concert takes place at LA ZENIA Church ... just off the La Zenia roundabout. Many patrons now insist that ....’Christmas Starts Here ....’ with this concert - and we hope you can join us again this year. Entrance is 5€ each with the proceeds again going to charity. Tickets will again be available from choir members OR ... from MONDAY 26th November ... from CallNet Internet Cafe, along the lane next to Paddy’s Point at La Zenia.

Important Date for your Diaries ....

We hope you can join us in the above events, and we would take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. If you have any queries with any of the above events ... please telephone: 966 775 976

8.30pm. See you there

THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH, QUESADA...........

Meets at Sociedad Compas, 14 Calle de Toledo, Quesada. We hold a Sunday Service at 11.30 a.m., a Tuesday Evening of Mediumship at 7.30 p.m. And every Thursday there is an Open Circle where you can develop your skills commencing at 7.30 p.m. Spiritual healing is available every Sunday and Tuesday after the service. We are now closed from 11th December, for Christmas, until Tuesday, 8th January, 2013 Everybody welcome. Contact Wendy on 965 323 028. www.spiritualistchurchquesada.com

Successful Slimming....

Tuesday: Quesada,10am at Goyo’s Restaurant, opposite the town hall. Thursday: La Marina 11am at The Hillside Bar. A healthy eating food plan with very good results.Only 5 euros weekly with no joining fee or charge for missed weeks. For more information please ring Sian on 965 496 209 / 658 271 553. All are welcome

The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre

The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre are pleased to announce the opening of a NEW Sunday market.

Starting Sunday 16th December, there will be a new mercadillo/market at Daya Vieja being held on the municipal car park. The market will be open from 10:00am until 02:00pm for buyers and will be open for traders from 08:30am. For further details and availability of stalls, please contact Steve on 966 770 234 or 675 479 672

United Carol Service...

English speaking Churches of Torrevieja unite to celebrate the Christmas story. Featuring the Crescendo International Choir and Just Brass Band.

To be held on Wednesday, 12th December 2012 at 7.0 pm. (Doors open from 6.30 pm.) This event will be held at Torrevieja Christian Fellowship. Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas 68, Torrevieja, (opposite Maxi Dia).

Free entry. A collection will be taken during the event for Apanee Children’s Charity and the ‘Reach Out’ centre. A drop-off point will be available for anyone wishing to bring one item of food (or clothing) for distribution to the homeless and hungry of Torrevieja via ‘Reach Out’ . Information: 966700391 or 650336113.

Celebrate Christmas 3 CHANCES TO WIN!!! with Cantabile Cantabile Singers are staging a concert of Christmas Songs and Carols at La Siesta Church in support of Church Management Funds on Saturday 8th December commencing 7pm. Tickets are €5 and will be available at the door. On Sunday 16th December, a similar concert will be held at Sacko’s Bar, El Limonar commencing 7pm - tickets are €4 and this time the concert is in support of Age Concern. Tickets are available at the door or at Age Concern offices.

31

Charity for Charities for Alzheimer’s They’ve done it again! With over 20,000 Euros raised again in 2012 this group of wonderful people have not let a crisis deter them.

The Alzheimer’s Association of Torrevieja ~ AFA ~ were again just one of the beneficiaries from this fantastic fund raised again this year, with a donation of 1.000 Euros.

Judy Ferris, Treasurer and fund-raiser said “We cannot begin to tell you all, Sandra and team, how very much this is appreciated. Whilst donations from clubs and societies still keep coming in, the grants and donations from NGO’s have all but dried up due to the financial situation. Thus donations such as this are ever more precious as the need for our work is growing and growing.

Each week we look after more than 80 patients, their carers and families from all over the puma 22 health area and it is still not enough to meet demand however hard we try.

Our two Day Centres care for patients with this very cruel and sad condition, but our centres are not sad places. They are full of love and happy activity from our very dedicated staff who really give their all to everyone in our care.

So thank you Charity for Charities for this support, without which it would not happen.

Happy Christmas to you all.”

AFA Alzheimer’s Association Torrevieja is available for advice and support. We rely on voluntary donations to continue our vital work in our day centre and now have a “Buy a Brick” campaign to raise money to build a much needed residential care home for sufferers. If you need help or advice, or feel you can contribute, call at the AFA shop in Calle Maestro Francisco Valejos in Torrevieja, the AFA Centre in Avenida de La Estacion or by calling Matilde Sanchez on 647119991 or Judy Ferris on 610082593. Email: afatorrevieja@hotmail.com

Every week 2 lucky couples can win a fabulous, 3 course meal, from our Winter Specials Board menu, with a bottle of wine … and … 1 couple can win a delicious, 9 item English breakfast, including tea or coffee (between 9.30am – 5pm)

AT MANHATTAN, CABO ROIG

FREE competition

JUST FIND WHERE WE’VE HIDDEN A BOTTLE OF WINE IN THIS ISSUE AND SEND THE ANSWER TO BLANCASALES@SOLTIMES.COM OR DROP YOUR ANSWER INTO MANHATTAN’S DIRECTLY!

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST WEEK’S WINNERS:

MEAL FOR 2: jill shorting - karen timbrell BREAKFAST FOR 2: eleanor hurlstone

For further information contact Phyl on 965077457 or M.D. Jennifer 966796866, e-mail jen-morton@hotmail.co.uk.

space for a little one?

Do you have any fundraising ideas? Would you like to organize or hold an event for APAH. If you have some great ideas and have some free time please contact Natasha on 616 210 850 or visit www.apahrescue.org

Leo is 2 years old. He was found under a tree in Playa Flamenca with his two brothers when he was 8 weeks old. He has lived in the kennels all his life and is desparate to find a home and people to love him. Leo would love to go to a home that already has another dog as he doesn’t like to be on his own. He has been chipped, castrated and vaccinated.

Apollo is a year and a half old, and has been with us for a while now. Every new friend he gets, very quickly finds a home but poor Apollo is left behind. He gets on well with other dogs and loves to play and go for walks. He has been castrated, micro-chipped and vaccinated. To arrange an appointment to see any of our dogs please contact Natasha on 616210850 or visit our website www.apahrescue.org Do you have a few spare hours a week? We are looking for people to work in our shop Pilar de la Horadada. If you are interested please contact Natasha on 616210850

Please visit our website www.apahrescue.org under urgent appeals to see our other dogs in need of finding a foster home.

leo

apollo

32

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

SOL CLASSIFIEDS boats

BOATING LICENSES ARE NOW A LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN SPAIN Serenity Sailing RYA Training Centre, Competent Crew to Yachtmaster, VHF & ICC. Own-boat tuition on sail and power. If you have a yacht or powerboat get qualified and certified.

Contact Richard +34 638 056 224 Email: enquiries@serenitysailing.com or visit: www.serenitysailing.com

beds

Sweet Dreams

50% off all matresses

See our Advertisement on page 13 for more information

Centro Commercial, Flamenca Beach, La Planta, Playa Flamenca

Tel: 965 321 701 businesses for sale

Mañanas

Popular Cafe Bar in Algorfa Traspaso/Lease for sale full legal license 40 covers inside 20 covers outside Fully stocked Existing business ready for immediate takeover

Please contact Tel: 966 781 307

25 vending machines for sale 20 with sites for more info phone 968 970 681 Thistle & dragon

Trapaso/Lease FOR SALE inside 50 covers Terrace 15 covers On the street 8 covers Fully equipped & stocked, Ready for immediate takeover Benimar area Contact: 634 322 344 or 672 829 760 price negotiable no time wasters please!

for sale Electric Golf Trolley Used for 12 rounds of golf.

Complete with battery, charger and instruction manual. Only just over one year old. Giving up golf membership forces sale. Selling for less than half of what it cost new 125€ Tel. 695 340 569 Toshiba 22” High Definition LCD TV with Built-In DVD, USB Media Player, Freeview Tuner, Brand new in box Bought 32” TV instead so surplus to requirements, 140€ Tel. 695 340 569 32” TELEVISION very good condition complete

with manual. Nice looking item.

150€. Tel: 968 970 684 Camposol B Mazarron SKY BOX complete with Card 20€ Tel: 968 970 684 Camposol B Mazarron Dartboard in wooden cabinet complete with rubber mat only 30€ Tel: 966 190 695 of 610 673 922 EDESA electric 4 ring ceramic hob.

Good Condition 40€ Tel: 698 289 324 Single Drainer Stainless Steel Sink with mixer tap. 204€ Tel: 698 289 324 Large Wall

ALUMINIUM GATES Double & Electric Sliding.

Guaranteed no rust. Call Tracy on 966 726 891 Pool tables, snooker tables, table tennis tables, darts.

Tel:666 933 726 www. spainpool.com TV unit, teak wood with frosted glass doors. Very good condition.

Buyer collects, Quesada

to place your advertisment....

Private sale ads are free under 300€ (3 ads per week) email them to: blancasales@soltimes.com

By PERSON: Quesada business centre, calle los arcos 7, quesada Costa blanca areas christine 966 719 647 Costa calida area Paulette 902 750 190 ext 332

for sale

area.

15€ ono. Christmas present buyer collects. Sky card, updated hand Telephone 966 716 40€ Tel 672960589 Quesada area. software, 529 or 676 754 520 (Camposol) Telephone 966 716 control, brand new power Honda EU10i Cir c ular 529 or 676 754 520 scartlead, Best Sky Generator. Boxed extendable dining 2 pine mirrors, 1 lead. as new, never table and 2 chairs. brand new. Medium box for the Costa Blanca.Can be used.

300€. Tel Solid teak wood. sized, ideal for seen working. 35€ 664450336. Punta Good condition. bedrooms etc. 10€ ono. Buyer collects, Prima area Buyer collects. 25€ for the 2. Quesada Quesada area.

Fujifilm Finepix ono.

Telephone: area. Buyer collects. Telephone 966 716 A610 Digital 966 716 529 or 676 Telephone 966 716 529 or 676 754 520 Camera.

6.3 754 520 529 or 676 754 520.

Mobile butane megapixels, 2.5 inch heater screen.

Includes Hi Fi/DVD/display Pace 2600 Sky room 512mb memory card unit with 2 drawers. Digibox with white including part used and battery charger. Teak wood. Very condition, garden services As new, in box. Ideal good

From a pocket watch to a piano....

If it’s under 300€ you can advertise your items

free of charge in the

SOLTIMES

SELL IT FAST SELL IT FREE

A1 Group

Complete Garden Maintenance & Property Services We cover Mazarron & surrounding areas

Telephone 628 505 733 heating

insurance

NEATER HEATER

asssa medical in s uran c e s Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan, Tel: 968 153 396, mazarron@asssa. es

See our main advert on the news pages

limousine hire

EMAIL YOUR ITEMS FOR SALE TO BLANCASALES@SOLTIMES.COM PRIVATE ADVERTISERS ONLY • NO PETS

for sale

doors

Unit.

Antique Pine Cupboards, Drawers, Open Shelves and glass display as new 100€ Tel: 698 289 324

Simply Doors Espana

H otpoint Free Frost Fridge Freezer, Good Condition.

1800H x 600 W X 600 D 150€ Tel: 966 717 147 Antique Pine tall narrow unit cupboard, drawer and mirror on top.

As new 80€ Tel: 698 289 324

hearing aids

(Quesada)

uk manufactured, made to measure, composite & pvc doors & windows with up to 25 years guarantee over 40 styles to choose from with colour options on composite doors

IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT Call Peter

664 890 990

Member of the National Association of Goldsmiths

musician Lenny Mitchell, guitarist singer, international, professional, solo act. lenny Mitchell & his musical time machine invite you on a trip back to the 60’s & 70’s.

Available to play in any venue. tel: 658 321 891 or email lennymitchell@live.co.uk

pets Max is approx 4 years old & was seen running around the streets so we took him in. He is a really gentle boy, good with other dogs & cats & is chipped.

Carlo, He has a very easy going Call: 645 469 253. nature and loves to be near people. www.petsinspain.com He is a very friendly dog, good info@petsinspain.info

contact emma mtmprints@hotmail.com

Electrician

C/Pablo Neruda 2, Local 5, Rojales

GOLD WANTED

English jeweller wishes to buy broken or unwanted Gold jewellery, silver and coins

p3p & xbox 360 repairs we also pay for damaged consoles & laptops

electricians

PLEASE CALL JAMIE ON: 966 713 075 OR 680 545 923 www.southcostablancaonline.com

jewellery

play station repairs

Calle azul, cuidad quesada tel: 966 718 738 see our main ad on page 8

Furniture first

with wall fixings, as new, cost 360 euro will except 100 or very near offer can deliver to Quesada area if required. Tel 966719491 baby bouncer (attaches to door frame) 5€ Bebe confort baby car seat 20€ Travel Cot 10€ clothes age 0 – 2 years ( most items 1€ Baby bath 1€ Cot mobile multi colour 2€ Grobags 0 – 6months & 6 – 18 months contact 603 209 177

with people and other dogs of all ages and sizes, but loves to chase cats and rabbits, He has been castrated D.O.B Jan 2009 The K9 Club Please call: 664 891 382 www.k9club.es E-mail: k9clubinfo@gmail.com

from €595 fully installed

Antique pine available for all works. coffee table with Small or large. magazine shelf, as new 40€ Tel: 698 Call Dave 693 251 562.

289 324 davendonc@aol.com 2 and 3 seater sofas.

Brown base with cream Furniture cushions.

Exc. condition. 100 & est 2006 150€ (200 the pair). sl Camposol area.

Tel. 968131797 / ROJALES SPECIALIST OF PRE - OWNED FURNITURE & AccESSORIES AT SENSIBLE PRICES 646771007 P O R T A B L E house clearance specialist AIRCON UNIT 72 FREE LOCAL DELIVERY SERVICE x 50 x 32 cms on WE BUY, SELL & PART EXCHANGE wheels.

50.00€.

QUALITY FURNITURE Open Mon - Fri 10 - 18.00, Sat 10 - 14.00 Tel 96 676 3081 BATH SHOWER SCREEN 80 x 40 cms, with wall fittings. 25€. Tel 96 676 3081

Tel: 968 969 648 618 315 933 (eng) 634 321 024 (esp) info@tuxedolimousines.es www. tuxedolimousines.es

cylinder - €50 Tel. 965 073 193 Book sale Quesada. 3 boxes – 80 best sellers, almost new €25 Tel: 966 716 599 Stiff, pre-shaped, moulded pond liner, used, but good condition, 1.2 metres x 0.80 metres x 0.40 metres deep - Ideal for small garden. €30 O.N.O. Tel.965 073 193.

Shower Screen Toughened 6mm glass 195cm high x 90cm complete

photography

house clearances

quick cash

house

clearance

transport in 1 hour

tel: 669 723 709

plastering English Plasterer internal finishing, external rendering, 15 years experience, good rates. Call Chris 671 444 246 email: c_pettit@hotmail.co.uk

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

33

removals cont...

property for sale

Linen Mills

Express

Don’t miss the biggest BARGAIN yet!

We have a key-ready block of apartments in Los Montesinos with full finance! All you pay is €3,000 to complete.

to ced u UK Spain Uk ly red 0

2 on €49.00

weekly service

Cheaper than renting?

All you pay is EUR 3,000 buying costs and the rest is mortgaged at around EUR 250 per month. Cheaper than renting an apartment in the area. Some of these 2 bedroom apartments have 2 bathrooms and some with only 1. It’s a first come, first served basis! Great deal!

The apartments do not come with white goods but do have pre installation air conditioning.

Quality and location The apartments are finished to a very high quality with communal areas decked out with marble floors and spacious corridors which make the building very light.

The location is second to none, on the entrance to Los Montesinos overlooking the Torrevieja salt lakes and every apartment has its own private roof garden but there is no communal pool.

Prices are 59.900 €, the payment plan is 3.000 € deposit and straight to mortgage. If a client wants a 30 year mortgage it works out at 266 € per month and if it is a 35 year mortgage it works out at 242 € per month.

TOWNHOUSe TORREMENDO

620 582 063

removals low cost spain - uk - uk - spain local moves full or part loads pets welcome

brian Playa Flamenca Tel: 965 326 920 666 847 648 email: beechdale@hotmail.co.uk

simply removals Spain ‹ UK › Spain • Full & Part Loads • Local-No jobs too small • Pets Welcome • Experienced owner/driver (Playa Flamenca)

Tel: 603 192 957/966 848 607

UK: 00 44 790 519 8895 MEL LANDON melvyynleo@yahoo.com From a parcel to a small house move

VANTASTIC 3.5 tonne removals or any handyman & van service Also Spain-UK tel: 693 251 562 e mail: davendonc@aol. com

uk@fmtransport.co.uk www.fmtransport.co.uk +44 (0) 1582 499 836 +44 (0) 7977 754 389

LWB Sprinter van going from south to North of the UK & back every 2 weeks, based near Murcia Airport. Tel: 610 846 260/ 0044 7519 186 355. or email: van. man@hotmail.co.uk

UK - SPAIN - UK

2 bedrooms & Family Bathroom, Built on 3 Levels, Spacious Living/Dining Room, American Style Kitchen, Solarium & Terrace, Gated Complex, Stunning Views of the Lake. Great Value €59,000

tel: 693 806 409

Professional,Friendly & Caring Fully insured, scheduled monthly door to door service

property for sale

wigs

FOR SALE

Bright spacious apartment in old part of Villamartin with Apartment (Top floor / Penthouse) Almoradi, Costa front line golf views.

Blanca The property consists of 2 4 Bed, 2 Bath, Large Terrace, Lounge, Sep bed, 2 baths, seperate Kitchen, Utility Room, Communal Solarium, kitchen, utility room, large Lift, Furnished inc. White Goods, UK TV , 90m² Interior Living Space plus, 15m² Terrace / Balcony room, large spacious lounge/ with Awnings diner, 2 large balconies with Spacious apartment overlooks a newly reformed ample space for entertaining

Plaza, views of the church & mountains, unusually large terrace. 2 min walk away from the town’s attractive central square, all other amenities are also within easy walking distance,12 mins drive from the resort of Guardamar del Segura.

Close to La Finca Golf course

95.000€

Tel: 656 447 060

Salon Margarethas 24 years in Torrevieja hair/wig specialist for medical illness and hair loss problems.

We offer different hair replacements, top fillers, hair prostheses, toupees & wigs. Natural & artificial hair & much more. Also fashion/festival accessories. TV/TS are welcome to our service. Call Margaretha on 966 921 846 for an appointment.

property rentals

RENTAL PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED

for rent, 3 bed, 3 bath spacious semi-detatched house with garage in Cabo Roig/Villamartin, situated in the popular area of Orihuela Costa & Costa Calida La Zenia, walking distance to We have clients enquiring in this area shops, beaches and the new Contact La Zenia Boulevard, Price (Private Sale) CASASOL REAL ESTATE Furnished, Long term, tel: 965 325 601 550€ monthly plus electric & Email: water, perfect family home Tel: (0034) 676 534 978 tony@casasolrealestate.com Tel: 966 733 079 or 619 098 543

€ 79,950

We Will Move It Pets, Boats, Caravans, Trailers, Full Roof Rack for Long Loads, Full or Part Loads, Based in Mar Menor, Murcia.

Spain UK Spain, North & South of UK, 3 LWB Vans Twice a month

Tel: 0044 7783 222251 0034 634 360 846

wewillmoveit@hotmail.co.uk

LowCostaMoves

personals CONT...

we shift most things

pacheco & Mazarron. Escort available, home & house visits Tel: 693 357 526

UK and Spain

Anthony Foster Local moves & deliveries Playa Flamenca

satellite tv

R ainbow for Satellites all your TV needs with clients all over the Murcia Region.

Contact Matt or personals Alan 686 358 475 or “Readers of 677 676 554 San rainbowsats@terra. es a sensitive

Mob: 616820232 0044 7976367559 tony-foster@live.co.uk

Policarpo No. 87

disposition may Apt 1-17 Cerca find some of the Calle Orihuela. ads in this section Can accommodate offensive”

nata s ha , Divorced, diverse super sexy, private apartment, complete massage with massage bed.

Very discreet. Call

one person or accompanied. elegant Slim, sexy italian lady available home/house visits. Torrevieja, La Manga, Torre

swimming pool safety

NEATER HEATER See our main advert on the news pages

34

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

wanted

translation

Vehicles registration

Steptoe & son

Translation Services

“RE-PLATE” MATE

we will take anything you don’t want from cars to clothes, electrical items working or not.

One man’s junk is another one’s treasure, so don’t delay call today

Name transfer on all types of vehicles 50€ Registering of vehicles from English to Spanish 80€

Tel: 634 383 298 recruitment

We are looking for an IT literate seasoned academical individual who is competent and knowledgeable in all areas of website optimisation to compliment our International business.

The ideal candidate will analyse, study competitors activities ,achieve and maintain PageRanking values. This person must be able to work on their own initiative and within a team, delivering positive results, and a professional attitude is essential.

This position is for an immediate start. The successful candidate will receive a basic salary with a generous bonus scheme based on achievement and results. Must speak English, and any other Languages would be of advantage.

Tel: 648 111 779 or 619 098 543

chef/cook wanted Must be able to cook Mexican Style Food Must be able to use own initiative, Reference required Tel: 622 315 819 ask for Dave

grab the future!

become an independent homeshopping catalogue agent with an 89 year old major british plc. fit your work around your life. full training & local support

950467769/663558143

info@pahomeshopping.com

GB

Don’t Get Caught Out!

All trafico work

Also available to do all types of translations 20€ first hour, 10€ every hour after

The police are cracking down on residents who still have a British driving licence. Call me to get yours changed over for a fee of

E

only 30€

Don’t take a chance!

Don’t break the Law! Let us take the hassle away from you and re-register your vehicle on to Spanish plates 490€ plus Road Tax plus CO2 emission if applicable

Please call Ashley McCulloch 638 899 350

body work

WE PROMISE TO BEAT ANY GENUINE QUOTATION

BODYWORK & PAINT SPECIALISTs

FULLY LEGAL WORK GUARANTEED LATEST PAINT TECHNOLGY COURTESY CARS AVAILABLE PLASTIC WELDING (BUMPERS) SAME DAY SERVICE FOR MINOR DAMAGE HEADLAMPS REFURBISHED

For a full service contact:

Alan 662 249 159

www.replatematecostablanca.com

vehicle imports & matriculation.fast and competitive rates. call 687 845 730

Approved Insurance Repairers

For re-registration of cars, motorbikes and motor homes contact Graham Shelton Who after re-registering over 1000 vehicles will put you on the right side of the road.

jig facilities

605 319 889 or 966 753 375 www.spanish-number-plates.com info@spanish-number-plates.com

Ken brooks: 645 162 808/654 907 247 Behind the Sunday Zoco Market CV940 Benijofar • San Miguel Finca Garroferos • Nave 8 • Algorfa 03169 Email: rapidrepairs2668@yahoo.co.uk

recruitment CONT...

Qualified & experienced

live in

Home Carers required to work in UK 2/3 weeks on 2/3 weeks off basis start Jan 2013,

top rates paid

£525

per week Telephone 685 406 881

Can you sell ice to an Eskimo?

car parts All vehicle repairs, servicing, small bodywork repairs, ITV and paperwork needs. Ken Sherwood, British Mechanic Tel: 679 646 859 (Costa Calida area only).

Car parts

Need quality new parts for any car

for sensible prices on all parts

Clutches, Brakes, alternators, service kits Starter Motors, headlights

Free quote go online or phone www.carpartsinspain.com

or telephone 692 930 326

SOLTIMES NEWSPAPER

GROUP Now offer our Classified advertisers

4 LOCAL EDITIONS

SOLTIMES

are looking for Full and Part-Time Sales Representatives in the Quesada area

Your role will be to let local businesses know how Sol Times can help them reach more customers and develop their business.

ARE YOU • • • Organised & able to work to deadlines?

• Do you have an outgoing, friendly attitude?

And more importantly...

you can sell ice to an Eskimo ...then we would really like to meet you!

Send your CV to: rosemary@soltimes.com or telephone Rosemary on 647 379 795

mechanic

costa blanca costa calida + mar menor Almeria Roquetas De mar

...Let the Soltimes team help you...

Also available online at

www.soltimes.com for more information Telephone

966 718 979 902 750 190

Ed’s mobile

CAR REPAIR SERVICE

CAR AIR CONDITIONING REGASING SERVICE SERVICING, REPAIRS ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS GARAGE SERVICES

610 078 940

cars for sale CHRYSLER VOYAGER, ITV till April 2013, Full Service, 97,000kms, Spanish Plates, Limited edition, 7 seater 6000€, Contact 634 322 344 or 672 829 760

WANTED

JT METAL RECYCLING NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL IN THE REGIONS OF Almeria & MURCIA Turn your old or unwanted CAR into CASH. We will dispose of in our Authorised Depollution End of Life Treatment facility.

We also take fridges, washing machines, microwaves, all electrical appliances

Certificates Issued

WANTED CARS, VANS, LORRIES, TRACTORS, TRAILERS, PLANT MACHINERY

House & gar den clearances , skips supplied

Spanish or English

Also buyers of COPPER, BRASS, ALUMINIUM, LEAD, STAINLESS STEEL

TEL: 645 094 339 / 950 064 763

motorhomes

Motorhomes for sale & wanted urgently

Motorhome & caravan Insurance arranged Motorhomes & caravan repairs & spares All vehicle imports, ITV & matriculations

Tel: 950 047 033 or 687 845 730 info@hispavan.com www.hispavan.com

Vehicles wanted

WANTED

ALL VEHICLES

Cars, Motorhomes, 4x4’s, Boats, Vans, Trailers, Quads, Classics

FOR CASH Telephone:

699 805 995

Used

Motorbikes

sell, buy & repair

transfer on Spanish reg home service pickup

Call Marcel 644 166 347 Guardamar

wanted cars for cash Best prices paid Spanish English Anything considered telephone Tim on 662 211 993

CASH CASH CASH Same day collection

We pay instant cash same day for cars, vans, bikes, quads, caravans, trailers, absolutley anything!

From 1€ to 10,000€

Call Phil: 607 848 332

CA4RS CASH

WE BUY

Cars, Vans, Bikes Damaged or Scrap Reliable Cars Bought For Cash

jet skis urgentely wanted any condition

bangers4cash@yahoo.co.uk

603 100 692

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

viewpoint

Essenti a l Shopping Accessory

By Jos Biggs

Underrated X Rated Viewing

One of the things I used to miss here in Spain was the Monday afternoon trip to the multi-screen Cinema at the Grafton Centre in Cambridge.

This was mostly a winter exercise, with my wife a hairdresser and traditionally taking Monday off, and me because it was the slackest day of my working week.

It was a great way to spend an afternoon which always culminated in a bit of Italian food at the nearby Mamma Amalfi noshery.

Afternoon off-peak viewing was half price and with eight screens to choose from, there was always a good choice of films.

Now, with the latest generation of TV screens that are the size of Denmark; high definition picture quality and Blu-Ray recordings – who needs the movies?

Designer entertainment is the order of the day, so why leave the house if you really don’t need to.

Visiting the local picture house was always a special outing when I was a kid and from quite an early age my Mum, who was a film buff, would often take me along to one of the town’s nine cinemas. One of my earliest memories is

the 1953 film Lili starring which was why we the young Leslie Caron fourth formers looked at and more particularly the admission to such movies infectious tune of the song as a real challenge.

Hi Lili Hi Lo. It was great to tell our about the Another film that classmates touched me emotionally terrifying details of films and had me in floods of such as ‘Pit and the tears two years later was Pendulum’ and ‘Circus of A Kid for Two Farthings Horrors’ and the fact that starring Diana Dors and we had managed to gain David Kossoff.

I was entry made us feel quite inconsolable when the superior. baby goat snuffed it and But I became to be honest, if I watched disenchanted with X it today, I would probably Films after two major find myself filling up disappointments. again. There’s nothing so X-rated to us meant only cute as a fluffy goatling. that there would be loads Films like this gave of scary bits and a good me a love for the cinema deal of blood and gore if which only came to an we were lucky, so gearing end in the mid sixties myself for another treat, I when I found that mini caught the trolley bus into skirted dolly birds with town one Sunday afternoon legs up to Carlisle were to see the movie, Town far preferable to sitting in Without Pity showing at the two and sixes at the the Central cinema – the Gaumont – albeit being a town’s flea pit. lot more expensive with But it turned out to their Babychams and Rum be a film that was all and Blackcurrants. about ‘issues’ and moral neither of Before this, in the fourth dilemmas, which held any interest year at secondary modern school, one or two of us 15 for me, so I left before the year olds would regularly end. try to blag our way in to The second was see X rated movies on a Splendour in the Grass, Sunday afternoon for no which was receiving rave other reason than to brag reviews and to add to my to our classmates about it persona as a worldly wise 18 year old, I purchased a on Monday morning.

There were three pack of ten Philip Morris British Board of Film cigarettes from the kiosk Classifications in those in the foyer – an unfamiliar days: ‘U’, ‘A’ and ‘X’ brand to me, but the only certificates. ‘U’ basically ones available.

My only experience with meant universal, whilst the ‘A’ signified that if ciggies up until then was under 18, an adult had the occasional Consulate to be in attendance. ‘X’ menthol tipped when meant that 18 was the we skived off during the minimum age for entrance cross country run during

By Colin Bird : badbirdnow@gmail.com games period and

took a short cut through a deserted RAF camp.

So I struggled with these strange American filterless fags.

The film was a complete waste of time to a 15 year old expecting blood and guts or at the very least some full frontal nudity –the nearest to which was Natalie wood up to her neck in soap suds – but it was another tiresome movie again dealing with boring ‘issues’ that were beyond me.

On top of this disappointment, I burned my hand and ruined a perfectly good pair of jeans when my cigarette stuck to my lips and my fingers slid to the end, knocking off a plug of glowing tobacco into to my lap.

The regular Sunday afternoon movie jaunt petered out after that – I had better things to spend my paper round money on.

Things like Health & Efficiency magazine.

A l q ueria THE COUP

It was a glorious morning too glorious for the criminal act which was about to be perpetrated. The pigeons weren’t the only creatures planning a ‘coo’ during that morning.

Rodriquez, Robles and the two hired hands Forcan and Olam were about to unleash their coup d’ état on the still slumbering people of Alqueria. Unleash is perhaps too strong a word. The four had little in the way of arms. Their arsenal consisted of an old shotgun with only one working barrel and an unconvincing replica Luger.

Logistical support existed in the form of a beaten-up panel van with four bald tyres and the olive mill’s push-bike.

Rodriquez and his co-conspirators planned to hold captive the three leading Hill People, Poyato, Gruntmore and the lovely Manuela and then to take control of the legal government of Alqueria. Poyato was easily taken. He had been drinking his own Remitroot liquor the night before so seeing strange apparitions in his bedroom was nothing out of the ordinary. Blythe Gruntmore, not understanding Spanish thought it was another strange Iberian custom so came willingly. The conspirators couldn’t understand why Blythe kept giggling as he was led away. Blythe thought he was being a good sport by joining in the spirit of the imagined occasion.

They could hear Manuela, her voice like a Spring breeze gently caressed the sleeping street. She had not been to bed and was at the window when the four entered the Calle del Siniestro. Realising something was wrong, she put into practice a long standing escape strategy. Originally designed to make herself scarce in case of visitations by the police, who have never really understood her, she made good her escape. Disappearing into the warm still night with an emergency backpack of clothes and other essentials.

Manuela climbed high into the Sierra Alhamilla before she stopped to look down at the village bathed in the morning sun.

She was eating her emergency rations when she became aware of another presence. Out of the long morning shadows stepped an old, old man, his face weather beaten and creased. Over his shoulder he slung an ancient smooth bored Mauser, his clothes patched and threadbare with age.

Old man Matas told Manuela how he was fighting for the Second Spanish Republic and how he would resist Franco’s fascists.

Manuela, not wanting to confuse her new found ally allowed him to continue in this belief. She gratefully accepted his offer of shelter and settled into his cave overlooking Alqueria.

Matas watched as Manuela washed and freshened herself, semiclad she was silhouetted against the glare of the morning sun. He felt a long forgotten but strangely familiar stirring, he wondered what it meant. Perhaps it is better he can’t remember.

www.carsupermarket.es

John MacDonald (El Sordo) www.caratacus.eu

Given the choice between going to the dentist or going shopping I’d choose going shopping, but given the choice between going shopping and not going shopping, I’d choose not going shopping.

However, if we are not to starve, shopping has to be done. Also, the vagaries of the climate, even here in Spain, suggest the wisdom of wearing clothes. Moreover, I feel that the majority of us present a more attractive appearance when any natural inadequacies or excesses are disguised by a considered choice of appropriate inner and outer wear.

The other day I discovered the correct way to ‘do’ shopping. Pete, who is temporarily confined to a wheelchair, came with me to the market.

I pushed while he directed – ‘Not too fast! Mind my toes! Forwards! Stop! You’re too close! Keep straight!’

– talk about front seat drivers!

I followed minutely detailed parking instructions, being careful to leave him in the sun and out of the wind while I fetched unreachable items for his perusal, and I angled his chair precisely to allow him maximum browsing range for things within his grasp.

All the while josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk the stream of

humanity flowed around and past us. I noticed that nobody looks at someone in a wheelchair; they would bear down upon us, and at the last minute, just as a crash seemed inevitable, they veered round us, still apparently oblivious to our presence.

I found the whole experience quite daunting. I felt I needed at the very least a large L sign on my back, plus bull bars on the front of the chair, and a flashing light with a Nee-Nah klaxon on Pete’s head.

A bit of fancy paint work and some blades on the wheels would have been nice, too.

However, I wasn’t jostled – you can’t jostle a wheelchair!

It was as we proceeded round the market, accumulating all sorts of necessary items, including a dustpan with a long handle, an excellent defence against toe tramplers, that I discovered the true benefit of a wheelchair with occupant – you don’t have to carry a thing, you simply load everything on them!

I left him, parked in the sun, while I collected something from a shop with steps and no ramp. I looked back; there he was, sitting patiently in the sun, only his nose and the peak of his cap visible above the piles of plastic bags containing the day’s haul.

I have discovered the essential shopping accessory – someone in a wheelchair!

35

36

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

The Tall Boys

braben’s blog....

Stuart and Doc are The Tall Boys

The Tall Boys are a fantastic new duo on the local music scene; Stuart Edwards and Dave ‘Doc’ Bawden have been friends for longer than they can dare remember from their Cornwall days playing a superb selection of country, rock and R&B. Stuart played lead guitar for Edison Lighthouse and enjoyed success with their million selling UK number One single in 1970, ‘Love Grows (Where my Rosemary Goes)’!

They are great musicians and only together until spring so look out for them.

I had an idea recently for a new television show; contestants would spend a week driving across the British countryside; begging, pleading and practically prostituting themselves, all in the hope of antique shop owners selling them stuff really cheaply in exchange for some free advertising. Then they would go to an antiques auction and sell the items for a couple of quid more than they paid (or a couple of quid less) to other antique dealers, who can take it all back to their own shops to sell at the same prices as before. Then I realised what a stupid idea it was after watching Antiques Road trip on the BBC. ‘I’m a celebrity’ hissed, bit and slithered to a close at the weekend, it’s so hyped by the media but I have to be honest and say I loved it! No huge fights as in other years between the great contestants and the challenges were horrific. Just the sight of a mosquito puts me in a panic so the thought of being covered in thousands of insects is too much to even contemplate.

Eastender’s star Charlie Brooks won after she and Ashley Roberts tucked into a delicious bush tucker challenge which included raw fish eyes, live witchetty grubs and cockroaches.

The cold snap came as shock last week but thankfully its put paid to the last of the mozzies and flies around so we all can breathe easy again until next year; the wet and cold winter has enabled the ski slopes near Granada to open last week much earlier than usual. I would love to try skiing but Eddie the Eagle is a true pro compared to my innate clumsiness and the missus has banned me from ever donning skis.

Earlier this year I discovered that as I had left the UK more than five years ago I was eligible to transfer a pension abroad and get a cash sum. The process was straightforward and although I had to pay some fees the cash certainly came in handy and opened up some new investment opportunities too. By all means email me if anyone is curious as to what pension funds they may have hidden away and I will pass on the details of the company I used.

Anyone else feel the earth tremors on Sunday in the Turre area? And finally, what is it with all these power cuts? The power has been going off a few times every day for weeks now. Sometimes briefly, other times for an hour. It plays havoc with all the communication devices in the house especially our internet connection which in the 21st century means I just as well be sitting naked atop of Everest waving semaphore flags!

Stephen Amore has lived in Almeria since July 2006 and owns Findmeahome estate agency. Writing on a variety of topics close to his heart such as environmental issues, animal welfare, food and drink, music and travel, as well as commenting on the absurdities of living in Spain! email: stephen@findmeahome.es - www.facebook.com/stephen.amore

Right, I’m okay for seven minutes! Why? Apparently it takes that long for the average person to fall asleep, so you should at least still be awake by the time you have finished reading this-although I can’t guarantee your levesl of boredom by that point! I’m also safe as long as I don’t write the word “yawn” because research has found that if we read or hear the word “yawn” we want to yawn and that can easily lead to unplanned dozing. I had better write faster, especially as I’ve just used THAT word three times in the same sentence.

If you’re reading this in bed, be careful, not only will you fall asleep and miss the end but, amazingly, one person in two million will die by falling out of bed.

If you’re in a bunk, fasten your safety belt.

I hope you’re not now dozing deeply because I wanted to tell you that I think memory is amazing. Don’t you find that you store so much information up there that’s at your fingertips? What bothers me is that I tend to remember the wrong things. Yes I can recall lots of trivial facts about music, film, sport and even the names of the seven dwarves. But, ask me to remember something very important then as my wife will testify through gritted teeth, it simply slips away.

Now an experiment. The index finger on the Statue of Liberty is eight feet long. If you can still remember that tomorrow, you’re doing well, but if you can also remember where your keys are and what your mobile telephone number is then it’s “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” for you pronto!

It’s a relief to me that I’m not alone having an empty space that once was my memory. Squirrels. They suffer from memory lapses. You’d imagine wouldn’t you that when they gather in the nuts for eating during the winter they would remember exactly where they buried them, is married after all they work hard hording them for the colder Graham to Helen and has weather. Funnily enough they often forget where they’ve a daughter, Alice. hidden half of them. Silly animals, I never forget where the He lives part of the year near Albox, chocolate is buried! but works in Qatar, Remember the earlier experiment? Eight feet. Yes, see, I teaching. If you wish Graham remembered…something or other, or someone or other to contact regarding this measured eight feet. What was it? Something to do with article email: chocolate? No, wait, don’t tell me, it was a giant squirrel… helenandg@yahoo. co.uk wasn’t it?

REVIEW it...

The Devil Rides Out BY Paul O’Grady Paul O’Grady? Lily Savage?

O’Grady takes us back to life in the seventies and gives us a glimpse of his life from the age of 18. He presents us with a vivid and usually a sordid and seedy picture of the Birkenhead club scene followed by the equally sordid London scene, dens of inequity for a troubled soul whose lifelong ambition seems to be to get inebriated every night and wake up with a stinking hangover.

Vanity and hedonistic pleasure dominated his life. At 18 he had to be “friggin’ gorgeous” dolled up in the tightest of garments to accentuate his sexuality and desirability before he could storm the club scene. His mother called it “tomcatting” and the expression “the devil rides out” is one of the phrases his mother used for his clubbing, dressed up to the eyeballs and on the pull!

Her prejudice was more evident when she called it “debauchery “ and then lashed out at him with: “You fornicating, no-good, dirty big who-er.” Don’t get the wrong impression. His mother loved him BUT also worried about him always getting into trouble, especially with the police.

At times the author allows us to see a vulnerable child, unsure of himself, immature and unable to face up to any kind of responsibilities. He was deeply affected by his father’s sudden death and made to feel guilty because of his troubled sexuality that created un-necessary tensions in the family. Mother had just had a near fatal heart-attack and was not expected to survive. Father was so shocked that HE then had an instantaneous heart attack and died immediately afterwards. Mother was “numb with shock” and far too ill to be allowed to bury her own husband.

His father’s death left a “raw gaping wound” and his guilt at causing his death was “growing heavier” as he quietly mourned the loss of his father’s “reassuring presence.”

Surprisingly for me, he had some girlfriends and seemed like any other heterosexual male. He slept with Diane who was one of his girlfriends who became pregnant with Paul’s daughter. In between this “hysterical queen” act there was a parent trying to establish itself. At 18, Paul was too immature and unable to face up to any responsibilities and he admitted that his blood ran cold when he saw the baby.

“Having sowed my wild oats I’d prayed for crop failure.” He was “going nowhere fast” or crudely put: “ up shit creek without a paddle.” Another big surprise was to agree to an arranged marriage to a lesbian. On paper this lasted 28 years. Very strange.

The other side you don’t hear about concerns the physical graft, caring for the disabled and the most vulnerable.

As an interesting diversion we hear about the author’s visit to East Berlin, Poland and Auschwitz with sobering recollection. This was riveting. In Manila we are exposed to abject poverty and sexual trafficking that appalled the writer. It was a “dirty, sprawling, poverty-stricken metropolis” with a booming sex trade, reeking of exploitation.

The desire to perform on stage seemed to be a niggling need throughout this period of life and his ambition is realised when he returns to London, to the Elephant and Castle the birthplace of Lily Savage.

He called it a “ persistent theatrical itch.” He longed for the “mayhem at the circus” a combination of the Weimar Berlin cabaret, the vaudeville, burlesque but also something that was “quintessentially” British. To continue this interesting saga about O’Grady’s phoenix you will have to read the third volume and discover the delights of Lily Savage for yourself.

Bantam Press: ISBN:978-0593064245

Carol Naylor - writ ing exclusively for the Sol Times Naylorcl@hotmail.es & w w w.carolnaylor.blogspot.com

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

new fords available BMW X1 AUTOMATIC, 2.0S DRIVE, DIESEL, 2011, 15,000KMS … €26,950 Jeep Cherokee 2.8CRDi , 2009 , 91,000kms, auto diesel

€21,950

37

Calle Mallorca, San Javier Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511 www.specialistvehicles.com

FORD FOCUS

TOYOTA YARIS

€8,950

€8,950

1.8 TDCi, DIESEL, 2008, 57,000KMS

1.4 D4D, DIESEL, 2008, 30,000kms

• BMW 135i, M SPORT, 2009, 13,000KMS........................€POA • MERCEDES ML 320, AUTO, DIESEL, 2006.................€29,950 • PEUGEOT 3008, DIESEL ELECTRIC HYbRID,AUTOMATIC, 2012, 8,000KMS .............................................................€27,950 • FIAT 500 CABRIOLET, 875 cc, 2012, 1,584 KMS ... €16,950

•H ARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL DUECE, 2003 ….. €11,950

HYUNDAI I20

2010, 1.2 PETROL, 6,500KMS

€8,450

• vw

bEETLE, 2.0 pETROL 2005 30,000KMS................€9,950

VW GOLF 1.6TDi, 2010 26,000 KMS

€14,950

• MINI

COOPER, 1.6 AUTOMATIC, 2004, 92,000KMS ...€9,950

• OPEL ASTRA 1.7 CDTi, DIESEL, 2006, 81,000KMS....€7,950 •J EEP CHEROKEE 2.5TD SPORT, 144,000 KMS ...........€7,250

• VOLKSWAGON 1.4 TDi DIESEL, 2005, 18,000KMS.....€6,450 •P EUGEOT 1007, 1.4Hdi, 2006, 108,000KMS................€6,450 • Mitsubishi Carisma 2000, a/c 1430,000kms..... €2,950 • FIAT BRAVA dIESEL,1.9JTD, 2000.98,000kms.........€2,950

BMW X3

AUTOMATIC ESTATE, 3 LITRE, DIESEL, 2005,129,000KMS

€14,950

• RENAULT CLIO DIESEL, 1.9D, 2000, 134,000 kms......€2,750 • SEAT INCA 1.4 PETROL, AIC, 2001, 94,000KMS.........€2,450 • MITSUBISHI PAJERO 3L, V6, PETROL, 1996..............€2,450 • RENAULT CLIO, 1.9 DIESEL, 1999, 127,000KMS........€2,250

• pEUGEOT 206 1.4 PETROL 5 DOOR 2000...................€1,950 •C ITROEN XSARA, 1.8 PETROL, AUTOMATIC, 1998,

TOYOTA COROLLA

2L, D4D DIESEL, 2006, 88,000KMS

€7,495

Citroen C4 VTS, 2006 , 2.0i , 29,000kms

€6,950

121,000KMS..................................................................€1,450

VAUXHALL

ZAFIRA, 1.9CDTi, DIESEL, RHD, 2010, 35,405KMS …

€12,950

•BOXTRAILER,APPROX1METRESQUARE....................€3950

Right hand drive vehicles • roll

s royce silver spirit, rhd, 51,000 miles..€13,950 • bmw x5, 3l dIESEL sPORT AUTOMATIC 2003 82,000K

TOYOTA AVENSIS 2.0 D4D DIESEL, 2005, 177,000 KMS

€6,950

MILES..............................................................................€11,950

FORD FOCUS 1.6 TDCi, DIESEL, 2010, 47,000KMS

€12,450

•J AGUAR S TYPE, 2.7 SE, DIESEL, 2007 …..................... €7,950 •R ENAULT GRAND ESPACE, 2.2 DCi, DIESEL, 2005.....€6,950 •K IA CARENS 2L CRDi, DIESEL, 2005, 90kMILES €5,950 • FORD

MONDEO 2L PETROL, HATCH, 2004, 120,000 MILES

OPEL COMBO

1.4 PETROL, 2005, 87,000KMS

€6,450

…........................................................................................€3,950

ford transit 2.6 diesel, 2008, 28,000kms

€11,950

•F ORD GALAXY LX, 2.3 PETROL, 1999, 116,000 MILES, MANUAL, 6 SEATS....................................................€1,950 • CITROEN C2 AIRPLAY, 1.4 PETROL. 2007 …................... POA

Right hand drive - spanish reg • MAZDA BONGO CAMPER VAN, 113,000KMS, 1999, 2.5TDi,

OPEL CORSA 1.2 AUTOMATIC 2003 94,000KMS

€5,450

DIESEL, AUTOMATIC …………................................…€9,950

toyota auris 1.6 WTi, SOL, 2008, 99,000kms

€8,950

•V AUXHALL ASTRA, 2002, 1.4 petrol, RHD, 119,000 miles,

HONDA HRV

Spanish Plates..................................................................€2,250

1.6 PETROL, 1999, 186,000 KMS

•V W GOLF CABRIOLET, 1995, 1.8 petrol, RHD, Spanish Plates …........................................................................ €1,950

~ RHD / LHD Taken in Part Exchange ~ RHD / LHD Vehicles purchased for cash ~ Full procurement service

€3,950

Visit our website for current stock Over 40 cars in group stock

www.specialistvehicles.com

Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511

●Re-registration service available ●no obligation test drives ●we bring the vehicle to you

38

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

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

sport

GREENLANDS BOWLS CLUB........... MAGGOTS END..................................

Torrevieja Swimming Group RODS AND REELS before and the fishing was hard

BY STEVE HIBBERD Having had my knuckles rapped by the press over a spot of fingerrhea in recent reports, I’ll try to cut the proverbial!

Following a run of bad results, captain Chris Dewar was true to his word by leading the team to a resounding victory over Emerald Isles Moonrakers (11-3) in the Saba Discovery League. Here’s one group of Chestnuts that certainly aren’t a joke: Terry Lawton, Charles Langlois, Graham Watt 17-15.

Helen Langlois, Mike Cassidy, Glyn Inwood 23-12.

Janet Webb, Lynn Morris, Phil Heyes 20-17. Margaret Dewar, Tony Coombs, Chris Dewar 19-14.

Nancy Inwood, Tony Sambrook, Dave Thompson 14-14. In the Enterprise league, Maples visited La Siesta to play the Apollos. Wins for Tony French, Mel Brown, Brian Pocock 16-15 & Fred Tilley, Steve Westall, Vic Mahomet 16-15, plus a draw for Brian Tomlin, Steve Hibberd, Dave O’Sullivan 2020, gave them 5 points, which at one time looked to be very generous. San Miguel Pulsars proved worthy opponents for the Sycamores, who couldn’t make home advantage count.

Going down 4-10, leaves them the Enterprise league’s strongest team, but fear not, for there’s still a long way to go. The reliable team of Zoe & Jim Willcock plus skip Ken Parker won yet again (20-16), alongside fellow victors Jim Oliver, Steph Taylor & Brian

Miller (19-10).

In the Winter league, a herculean effort by the rink of Mike Veale, Bobbie Sims, Tom Hill & Steve Cantley saved the day against Vistabella. Their superb 33-5 victory helped earn their team an extra 2 points, because although the other 3 rinks lost, a late revival ensured that overall shots were won by 76 to 70. On a more positive note, these 4 points keep them 2nd in the league. Jill Collins, Penny Tomkins, Steve Hibberd & Sandra Heath triumphed 18-17 in the Berleen league, earning 2 valuble points.

Not a good day for all 3 of our Southern league sides I’m afraid. At home to La Marina Sharks, the Oaks went down 3-11, with only the team of Mike Veale, Ronnie Cairns & Steve Cantley winning, whilst Sheila Stead, Ian Kenyon & Derek Toozer drew. Also in div A, Hilda’s Elms travelled to Montemar, and probably wished they hadn’t bothered!

Playing against the Matadors, only hubby Noel, Vic Mahomet & Ken Parker were victorious, as they went down 2-12. In div C, previous leaders the Cedars, visited close rivals Quesada to play their Swifts team. They too were unsuccessful, also only winning on 1 rink. The rink of Margaret Dewar, plus the ‘Posh and Becks’ of green bowls (Zoe & Jim Wilcocks), not only gained 2 points for their team, but they totally annihilated the opposition (35-4).

an e l c me e r o ut t & ex n i let we come to you

va 20 €

Mobile Car Valeting Tel: 680 184 829

Mobile Auto Electrician ENGINE MANAGEMENT DIAGNOSTICS

fault Finding & Repairs Engine Diagnostics Air-conditioning Re-gas & repairs Starter Motor & Alternator Repairs

Telephone Al - Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm FULLY MOBILE

638 323 499

Hello

amigo Ca rs

PRICES FROM 75On0ly€Stealing is Cheaper

La Marina

We can find any car you are looking for!!

Huge selection of well cared for second hand cars, coming with MOT and warranty.

Thankst A lo

Fully serviced & transferred into your name without hidden costs.

E03194 (old N332) La Marina Village Email: carsofconfidence@yahoo.de

965 419 857

This week,s competition, was the halfway point of the Coast Rider Challenge cup. The competition, being 6 matches with the best 4 results to count. The venue being the Eden canal. The weather on the day was probably one of the worst for years the wind blew a gale all day and was bitterly cold. The river was up from it´s normal level by a few inches and pushing through.

The weights, as can be seen reflected the conditions and there were 3 blanks. First time for a long time that this has

going with various baits taking fish. Lennie Bolton making the best of a good draw had the top weight of the day 1st Lennie (Ex Cultural Attaché) Bolton with 19.400kg fishing the pole using pellet and paste 2nd Alan (The Emperor) Roscoe with 9.300kg fishing the pole and feeder using corn and maggot and this weight included a carp at 4.42kg ( In old money 9.72 lbs ) 3rd Alan (The Chairman) Reid with 8.540kg fishing the feeder and using bread.

happened.

Top Rods on the day 1st Lenny (Ex Cultural Attachee) Bolton fishing the pole using pellet and paste with 17.72 kilo´s.

2nd Jim (The Chairman) Rouse fishing the pole using pellet and maggot with 5.74 kilo´s.

3rd Ian (Irish Wizard) Dalzell fishing the feeder using maggot with 3.90 kilo´s.

Coast Rider Challenge Cup points After 3 rounds accumulative points are Ian Dalzell with 11 points Stuart Taylor with 14 points Dave Hoare and Clive Cleghorn with 15 points.

PLEASE NOTE The club has some vacancies at present, if you are interested in joining please contact Derek Swann on 966 729 293 or 603 535 771.

Also members, the Murcia Federation dues are now required, money to be paid to Derek or Sue Swann urgently.

ABBEY ANGLING RESULTS Supplied by Terry Screen This week we held an open match on the River Segura on the 27th November, despite the awful weather 15 anglers braved the elements.

The water was coloured due to the heavy rain from the night

Our Dinner /Dance was held last Saturday at the Abbey Tavern with an excellent meal provided by them, along with entertainment supplied

by Steve Clarke a first class evening was had by one and all. The Abbey Taverns owner Alfredo presented the trophies to our cup winners, picture attached shows Ian Dalzell, Dave Hutchinson, Terry Screen, Bill Reade( accepting on behalf of Lennie Bolton) and Andy Stevenson with their cups.

All details are available on our website www.abbeyangling. com or from the Match Secretary Terry Screen on 965328368 ANGLERS TOGETHER The objective of Anglers Together was to introduce anglers to each other, who otherwise had no one to fish with or didn’t know where to fish.

It was successful in bringing together many anglers who established friendships and which continue to this day.

No meetings are held now but information is still available through our email address; anglerstogether@hotmail. co.uk.

TIGHT LINES DAVE HOARE

ST JAMES’S GATE..............................

AT BONALBA TUESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER When we left Torrevieja it had been raining overnight and we had some ugly clouds hanging about but the further North we got the brighter it got, and when we arrived at Bonalba golf course we were greeted by lovely sunshine, which lasted all day. With the exception of the company everything else was C==p.

I think most of us should have stayed in bed ,with the exception of Mick Hithersay, who returned the best score of the day with32 points, to take first place in the Gold category followed in Second and Third place by Geoff Cogswell and Malcolm Anderson with 27 points.. Micheal Davies took Fourth place with 23 points followed by Ivie Davies with 22 points.(No relation j The Silver category was a

Joke!! With Ron Chambers returning 23 points to take First place followed by Tom Richardson with 22 points in Second, followed in third place

by Rocket Ron with 19 points.

Fourth and Fifth was Malcolm Wood and Ken Hopkins 18 and 17 points respectivly. To try and justify the low scoring the course was wet from the overnight rain and the rough was deep, with balls being lost in ir, and the greems were very slow. We had the presentation of prizes in the club house after the game. Our next game (Which is our last one for this year) will be held at Vistabella on Tuesday 11th of December first tee 9.00am, The next day the 12th we will be having our Xmas Party at St James’s Gate. Please let me have your menu choise by the Saturday before hand. Iff I do not receive it by then you will be have what you get.

Results for Torrevieja young swimmers in 2nd League Event Saturday 1st December took Torrevieja’s younger swimmers to their second time control of the season in the municipal pool, Sax, Alicante. Due to the large number of swimmers in the regional the event was split into two events. Club Natacion Torrevieja competed against 6 other local clubs with a total of 178 swimmers participating in the 50m and 100m backstroke, 200m butterfly and 4x50m and 4x100m freestyle relay races.

First to swim were the older Alevin girls and boys. In the 100m backstroke Alexandra Amat, Zoe Connolly and Elian Rio Del Castillo all improved on previous times. Zoe placed 2nd, Alexandra 9th and Elian 6th.

These three swimmers later had to swim a gruelling 200m butterfly and all three did well, Zoe achieving second place.

Next it was back to the youngest members of the team, Amy Connolly, Serger Bous, Vitalio Veres, Artem Nikolaev all swimming 50m backstroke in the younger Benjamin category. All four swimmers improved upon their

previous times.

Then it was time for the older Benjamin swimmers Victoria Pigneur, Samira Lucumbi, Johann Cayuela and Johnathan Izquirdo. Vicky and Samira excelled and achieved 3rd and 4th position and Jonathan 6th and Johann 9th.

Followed quickly by the younger Alevin swimmers Paula Garcia and Eva Kovalenko and Georgy Murskiy won 5th, 11th and 8th position in their 100m backstroke events.

To round off a very good event for the club the two relay teams the Boys Benjamin 4 x 50m freestyle and the girl’s 4 x 100m Alevin freestyle won 2nd and 3rd place and ensured that all parents and friends watching returned home with tired voices from continual cheers of support. Another good achievement for the club – well done to all swimmers!!

For more information regarding Torrevieja Swimming Club please contact Rosa 665454126 or President Felipe on 609418776 or by e-mail on info@clubnataciontorrevieja. com

MAZARRON FC

MAZARRON FC 2 OLIMPICO DE TOTANA 3

Mazarron’s run of four games without defeat came to an end with a 3-2 defeat at home to Totana despite a spirited second half display. Twice they came from behind to level the scores before the best player on the field, Jaime Martinez Mora, scored Totana’s winner just three minutes before time.

Totana took the lead after only three minutes when a left wing cross saw Mora beating Diego in the air and placing a firm header beyond Jose Iker’s reach. Mazarron felt they should have had a penalty after 10 minutes when Ruben appeared to be tripped in the area but their pleas were ignored by the referee.

Diego headed just over the bar from a Santi free kick but Mazarron failed to impress in the first half apart from an excellent run and cross from Ruben which beat everyone at the far post and some excellent forays down the right hand side by full back Barrachina.

Alfonso and Panocha replaced Edu and Diego (2) at half time and Mazarron started the second half brightly. Urrea’s cross shot from fully 40 yards bounced back off the far post before Mazarron equalised after 56 minutes with the best goal of the game. A superb ball out of defence to Jose Ruben on the left was superbly flicked on to Panocha and his first time shot found the corner of the net.

Immediately afterwards

Mazarron could have taken the lead but Ruben’s header from a cross by Santi was saved. Two minutes later Totana regained the lead when Mora raced clear of the Mazarron defence and placed the ball firmly past Jose Iker.

The Totana players took an age to celebrate the goal and from the restart, Jose Ruben ran through the Totana defence from the halfway line and slotted the ball into the net. The referee, however, who had whistled for play to restart with all the Totana players back in their own half, then signalled for the kick off to be retaken and the goal was disallowed.

Despite this, Mazarron did equalise after 71 minutes. A powerful free kick taken by Ruben was too hot for the Totana keeper to handle and the ball rebounded to Alfonso who headed into the roof of the net. With both sides looking to score the winner there were chances at each end and Ruben hit the post for Mazarron with four minutes remaining.

Mora, however, had the last word when his pace once again took him clear of the Mazarron defence and he lobbed the ball over Jose Iker to score the winning goal for Totana.

Team: Jose Iker, Barrachina, Diego (Pollo). Pepelu, Urrea, Poyato, Edu (Alfonso), Santi (Miguelon), Diego (2) (Panocha), Jose Ruben, Cecilio.

Man of the Match: Barrachina

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012

CORNISH PRIDE (LOS DOLSES)....

Eurogolf, La Marquesa 72 players took part in today’s competition, 29 November.

This week’s competition was one of our more light-hearted team games and was a Greensomes competition i.e. both players tee off and then once the pair has decided on the best ball, alternate shots are played. The conditions at La Marquesa were wild to say the least. Although the sun was shining we were battered by strong winds all the way round.

Today’s winners won by a clear 5 shot margin. However second place was a more closely fought battle with 6 teams all coming in with 35 points, and the second and third positions being decided on count back.

It also gives me great pleasure to report that our Match Secretary John is hoping to be back home later today following a recent operation. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

The winners were as follows: First: Robin Richards / Connie Parker 40 points Second: David Gregson / Marylin Eckersall 35 points (c/b) Third: Brian Green/ Rachel Leckey

35 points Nearest the pins: 5th Tony Stanley 11th Vince Tocker 15th David Gregson 17th Phyliss Venables Football Winners: Ian Turner, Beverley Fairhurst.

There were two other winners but unfortunately half an hour after the event, neither the Captain nor the Vice Captain can remember who they were.

Definitely a senior moment.

TOFF’s Results Tuesday 27November 2012 Overall Winner – Alan Marshall Gold Division 1st Bob Buckeridge 39 points 2nd John Fairhurst 35 points 3rd Tony Stead 32 points Silver 1st Debbie Weedon 35 points 2nd John Holland 32 points c/b 3rd Jill Young 32 points Bronze 1st Alan Marshall 42 points 2nd Jenny Cheetham 32 points 3rd Phyliss Venables 31 points Nearest the Pins 5th Tony Hitt, 15th Graham Cheetham, 11th Morag Turner, 17th Paul Manning Best Front Nine – Gloria Manning 17, Best Back Nine – Malcolm Foskett 19 Welcome to your new handicap Alan.

CD MONTESINOS...............................

MONTE GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS ATLETICO BENEJUZAR 1 – 4 CD MONTESINOS CDM TEAM: Cubano, Dimitry, Fernando, Yohny, Sergio, Rubio, Andres, Edu, Chulo, Omar and M & A CDM Subs: Sito on for Omar, Manuel on for Rubio and Fran on for Dimitry.

CDM Goals scorers: Andres (pen), Rubio, Edu (2) After two games without a win, CD Montesinos travelled to Benejuzar and came away with a very comfortable 1 – 4 away win. Once again Monte missed a hat full of chances and although they went in all square at 0-0 after the first 45 minutes, had they taken just some of their chances, they could very easily have been 0-4 up at half time.

As it was, just 2 minutes into the second half, Edu was brought down inside the area and Andres stepped up to slot home the penalty and put the visitors 0-1 ahead. But the lead lasted just 2 minutes when Benejuzar took a quick free kick, and with the Monte defence falling asleep, the home side drew level.

But just one minute later, a corner at the other end saw Rubio head home at the far post to restore the lead for CD Montesinos. Further goals from Edu after 78 and

85 minutes made the result safe for the visitors who, on another day, could have won by a cricket score. This latest victory keeps CD Montesinos in 3rd place in the league table.

A special mention must go to the Montesinos midfielder, Rubio, who worked his socks off winning everything in midfield and still getting up to score the 3rd goal for the visitors. Normally it is the forwards who take all the glory but this was an excellent performance from one of the team´s unsung heroes.

Next week CD Montesinos are at home against another of the top sides as they entertain Orihuela Costa. The game will be played on SUNDAY, 9th December with a 4pm kick off. For additional information regarding CD Montesinos and their International supporters club (THE FULL MONTE), take a look at our website on www. cdmontesinos.com The supporters club are organising a Christmas lunch at El Huertano Restaurant on THURSDAY, 13th December and there are still a few tickets available. Please contact Roger or Pauline Waller via email at rptorrevieja@hotmail.com VAMOS MONTE!!!

Ten Pin Bowling League Matches played on November 27th Splash beat Bar Mosquitos 62, the mossie’s were ‘washed’ away by Splash, as 2 of their 3 bowlers, Jesus Manso & Juanjo Carral bowled their top 4 scores of the season.

Their 3rd defeat in a row, saw Los Bandidos drop from 4th in the table, down to 8th position, when they were beaten 8-0 by Caballo Negro.

Top bowler for C.N. was Heikki Suomi with a 622 hcp series.

Lucky Strike are quietly creeping up the table, now in 5th place, helped this week by beating Carp-r-us 6-2.

Top bowler for L.S. was their captain, Norman Wylie with a 571 hcp series.

After some handicap discrepancies, the result of the match between Bandoleros and Team Finland was declared a 4-4 draw. So

the bandits moved up to 5th place and T.F remain in 2nd position.

Los Lobos stay in bottom place after being beaten 8-0

by Crazy Pinz.

Top bowler for C.P. was Philip Adams with his highest hcp series so far, 588.

The mid table battle between Cornish Pride and Mixers ended with them sharing the points 4-4, mixers first draw of the season.

The top of the table clash, first played third, ended with a 6-2 win for Hall y Day over Split Happens. That win keeps HyD at the top. Highest scorer in the match was Gary Walsh, who had his highest 4 scores of the season including a 210 scratch game.

It was the first week of our Bar Mosquitos sponsored ‘turkey shoot’ and 32 lucky tickets were won for the draw on December 11th.

San Fulgencio.................................

Ill-tempered affair ends in agony for Saints C.F Sporting de San Fulgencio 1-1 C.D Dolores A last minute free-kick broke San Fulgencio hearts in a fiery affair at El Nuevo Estadio Cañaveral. Braulio had given the hosts the lead in the first half.

Dolores could have been ahead with the first attack of the game, but Manuel Llopis did well to punch the ball clear from a dangerous cross. San Fulgencio then had a decent chance to take the lead, but Braulio’s effort flew harmlessly past the upright.

The Saints improved as the game went on and Braulio was at it again, this time his long range strike skimmed the past post with the keeper beaten.

There were a few quiet periods in the game when neither side were capable of breaking the opponent’s defence down. However, that would change just before the break when Braulio would get the goal he deserved. Marco Aurelio’s probing through ball found his strike partner inside the area and he set himself up perfectly before smashing it home.

As the saying goes, you’re the most vulnerable immediately after scoring,this was proved again today! Joaquin Rodriguez

had to be alert to deny Dolores’s number 9 shortly before Enrique Serrano blocked an effort on the line. The home side were relieved to enter the dressing rooms ahead.

Both sides began to give silly fouls away as tempers frayed in a tense second half. The visitors were the more frustrated of the two as they continued to search for an equaliser.

As the game neared the end, the Saints were looking to kill the game off, but after failing to do so they paid the ultimate price. Jose Bonmati received his marching orders for a second bookable offence and it would turn out to be costly for Claudio’s men. Aaron Lopez was judged to have fouled Dolores’s substitute on the edge of the area, although it looked like an extremely harsh decision. The resulting freekick was stunningly guided into the top corner leaving Manuel Llopis with no chance.

Overall, San Fulgencio will be disappointed having led for the majority of the game.

Our next game is at home against F.B Redovan C.F on Sunday the 9th December at 12:00.

Thank you to Telecom 900 and the rest of our sponors!

Match report by Jordan Lucas

INTERNACIONAL DE BENIDORM ROAD RACES......................................

(25/11/2012) During the Sunday morning, Benidorm held joint 10 Km & Half Marathon events.

Local athletic club, Running Wild (Orihuela Costa) fielded runners in both, as follows:The 10 K race started-off at 9:35am with a total of almost 400 entrants & included Frauke Gerlach (VW 74) who ran her usual consistent pace to finish comfortably in 68´ 33”, John McGilvray (VM 66) in a very respectable 48´ 41” & John Pascoe (VM 79) bettering his Over 75 age category pb with a 54´ 23” timing.

The Half Marathon had a much larger total entry of well over 1,500 participants & their race commenced 25 mins. later. Conditions were

ideal throughout the morning with cool temperatures & just a light sea breeze. Club members included Howard Bednall (Vet “E”, Over 55) who accompanied Helen Giles (Vet “A”, Over 35) completing together in just over 2 hrs. 7 mins., Julia Skinner (Vet “C”, Over 45) running well to finish in 2 hrs. 14 mins. and Jim Gavin (VM 71)who had an unusually poor result for him, 2 hrs. 30 mins. being way outside his normal achievements for this type of course & event.

The four “Half-Marathoners”, along with other members of Running Wild, will now start preparing for their organised trip to support & take part in the Paris Marathon, next April.

39

sport

Quesada Golf Society

Quesada Golf Society on Wednesday 28th November 2012 at La Perelaja 34 Members and guests set off for La Perelaja in what can only be described at VERY strong winds, this was the last round of our eclectic competition, as one member said to me after the game there were 34 men and ladies out there with a lot of wind , now you can take that any way you wish, all I can say is that the wind played havoc with your balls!!, many people were heard to say that they were robbed of a good score because the wind had moved their ball as they were about to putt, I myself was putting for a par on the 12th par 3 hole 3 ft from the pin in two and the wind took my ball away from the hole to about 10ft. The course was in far better condition than the last time we played and the greens were very fast, nice to play on if there had been no wind.

Some of us had problems standing up in the wind, Anne Day on hole 14 was stood on the green ready to putt, one minute she was upright and the next she was down and I dont think she had been drinking at this point, David Bartram on hole 16 par 3 hit his tee shot only for it to move about 2 inches due to the wind or so they told me, also on hole 13 as David teed off and his ball was taken by the wind straight into the toilets which was lucky for him as he needed to have a wee anyway, on one of the par 3,s Ted Hooker had his longest /shortest drive of the day when he didnt even reach the ladies tee, on hole 18 Ted also hit a cracking shot only for the wind to bring it back to him , Mick Rowan our newest member bought a spare hat out with him today which was just as well because not long into the game the wind took his hat off and straight into

the water, well as you can see from my report the wind had a lot to answer for but this next snippet I dont think they can blame on the wind, John Dunnion and his partner Janet started their round off of the 10th tee and some how they lost their way and ended up playing one hole twice. well done to all our players for finishing the game it was very difficult and very cold out there.

Results Gold Div Winner Alan Briggs 26pts 2nd David Winchcombe 21pts 3rd Charles Wallace 19pts Silver Div Winner Ann Hobbs 27pts 2nd Les Lindores 16pts on count back 3rd Tony Patterson 16pts on count back Nearest the pins Hole 2 Norman Lewis Hole 9 David McSweeney Hole 12 Gordon McGregor Hole 16 Sheila McSweeney Nearest the pin in 2: Hole 11 Alan Briggs, in 3: Hole 15 Brian Smith.

The Roy Mick Rowan Best Guest David Patrick Winner of the eclectic competition David Winchcombe with 45pts 2nd Brian Smith 42 pts 3rd Rod Day 42pts Our thanks to Anita & David at Quesada Country Club for the wonderful refreshments laid on for our return as they were very welcome after the battle out there today.

Our next members meeting is on Tuesday 4th Dec at Quesada Country Club 10.30 am and our AGM is on 8th January 2013 Our next game is at Mar Menor on 12th Dec, if you are interested in becoming a member of the society please contact Les Pancott Membership secretary on 966716723.

Reported by Pam Martin

Torrevieja 5.4K Road Race......

This annual “Carrera Popular Fiestas Patronales” event took

place on Sunday morning, 2nd December, from the Plaza de la Constitución in cool, breezy conditions & consisted of 2 laps over the slightly undulating course.

Over 200 senior & veteran athletes entered and they included 24 no. vets from Running Wild A.C., who contested the 5 vet categories available.

The Club was well pleased with their high turnout & happy to come away with 5 no. cup winners at the finish.

These included – Helen Giles (29´55”)-1st. Vet “A”, Ladies.

Julia Skinner (31´36”)-2nd.Vet “C”, “ Ingrid Patursson (27´43”)-2nd. Vet “D”, “ Crecia Wilding (28´26”)-2nd. Vet “E”, “ Helen Mitford (29´14”)-3rd. Vet “E”, “ Though not making the podium, the following members also had noteworthy results :- Karen Pemberton (35´12”)-4th. Vet “C”, Ladies.

Steve Hartnett (23´58”)-5th. Vet “E”, Men. Shirley Crandon (34´12”)-5th. Vet “E”, Ladies.

Meike Hendry (36´06”)-5th. Vet “C”, “ Footnote: Running Wild continue to train for future races, from their Los Dolses base throughout the week, in various groups of similar abilities. They generally gather on race-free Sunday mornings (8:30) from outside O.K. Gym & later for coffee plus race & important social planning at near-by “Hellies” bar.

40 SOLTIMES DECEMBER 2012 was a glorious day AND he wore shorts, took the visitors’ prize with 22 points while only 2 of the greens for the NTP’s were hit. Bill Preston and John Drakesmith were both on target for a sleeve of balls each.

WWW.SOLTIMES.COM

A biting wind whistling across the course and a very low mercury level are not the two best ingredients for a pleasant day’s golf. However they were the prevailing conditions that greeted members of San Miguel Golf Society at La Finca for their midweek meeting.

As a good Irish golfing pal of mine often comes out with when standing on a par 5 tee-box in such blustery conditions, “It’ll be taking you four good hits to get on in three today!”

Well, it was certainly one of those days only more like five good hits on a couple of the par 5’s when the wind really got up! On some of the more exposed greens there was even the faintest glimmer of a

touch of “ball wobble”.

Golfers the world over, from all levels of experience and skill, always seem to agree that on a windy day, no matter what course you’re playing…… there’s ALWAYS far more holes with the wind against you rather than helping you!

Why is that? It never seems right or fair, but it’s true!

How anyone managed to accumulate more than 30 points was a big surprise to our group – we reckoned around 28 ish was going to clean up.

Being the penultimate group to tee off, we put it down to the fact that the earlier groups must have had far better conditions!

Eric Strachan from Aberdeen, the only one who thought it

TORREGOLF.EU at Hacienda del Alamo

Our first visit to this what I can only call ‘a Jewell in the Crown’, yes, what a fantastic course very long in fact one of the longest in Spain but it has everything, so much it would take to long to put into print.

The day was very much a

test for us all with some very strong winds slightly wet from the overnight rain but greens that were in fantastic condition and as we play the slope in our competitions it was expected that we would see some high scores, WRONG, and only 5

ITV ORIHUELA RFC

VICTORIOUS WEEKEND FOR ITV ORIHUELA RFC AWAY At the weekend ITV Orihuela RFC were hoping to get a bit of good fortune, after throwing the last two league games away, at Albacete, hoping to continue to improve on last seasons results and that is just what happened with a huge turn around.

Orihuela RFC came here brimming with confidence determined to get something out of this game and also taking a full squad and more there as well, a great thing for the coach to have to pick from 27 players.

Orihuela RFC started as they meant to go on attacking the kick off with Alvin and Tirso combining to nearly open the score, but were stopped just short off the line. They were not going to give anything to Albacete and kept their discipline and after been

camped on their line Victor burst through the defence to open the score.

Albacete hit back with a penalty before the Orihuela got sucked into the rucks and Albacete spread the ball wide to get their first try of the game. Shortly after, after some poor discipline

by Albacete Alvaro tied the scores up going in at half time 8-8.

After a change at scrum half for the second half ITV Orihuela RFC started where they left off pressurising the Albacete line determined not to let the game slip through their fingers for a second time, but Albacete through some very good hands broke through to take the lead, but was not too last long.

But this is a different and more determined Orihuela RFC this season and do not know when they are beaten

Newly elected Captain Steve Davis and Vice Captain Phil DeLacy

league. League table - Week 9 26/11/12 PABLO´S 5 - 4 HORACIO A HORACIO B 4 - 5 CONCIERTO LIBERTY 1 - 8 OCHE-HOLICS BELUSHI 7 - 2 JJ BELUSHI High scores 120+ 140 G raham McNish (Horacio B) 140 R obert (Hitler) Baker (JJ Belushi) 136 Dave Laverick (Horacio B) 125 K en Nightingale (Horacio B) 121 D olly (Dangerous) Nicholl (Oche-Holics) 121 Bjorn Berge (Concierto) 121 Stewart Pickles (Belushi) 120 O llie (Awesome Guy) Walker (Concierto) 120 Bill Feyer (Concierto) 140 Bry Whyte( Pablos ) 133 R obert (Billy Bob) Wall (Pablos) 125 A lfonso Gonzales (Horacio A) 121 S tever Hollern (Pablos) League Table 72 OCHE-HOLICS 53 CONCIERTO´S 52 PABLO´S 39 BELUSHI´S 38 LIBERTY´S 30 HORACIO´S A 25 HORACIO´S B 15 JJ BELUSHI´S

players managed to make more than 30 points.

Results on the day were Category 1. 1st.Geoff Shand 34 points. 2nd.Geoff Betts 27.

3rd. Colin Holmes 25. Category 2. 1st. Alan Darby 38 points.

2nd. Andrew Barwood 30 and 3rd. Peter Kerr 27. Category 3.

1st. David Winder 37 points.

2nd. Bernard Ball 31 3rd. Henry Dryden 24.

On the par 3’s nearest the pins only 2 holes had names on them not easy par 3’s here with the shortest being 175 mtrs off the yellow tees. Hole 8 NTP. Geoff Betts and Hole 12 NTP. Geoff Shand What a great day and for sure we will be back, be it not till 2013 ….what a long time to

wait!.

Our next game is our Christmas Stableford Competion at El Plantio on Tuesday 18th.December with lots of things going on so if you would like to come and join in the fun then call David Winder on 626 774 157 or email him at davidwinder.torregolf@gmail. com. Remember also we do have a roll up most weekends at Vistabella Golf so give us a call and enjoy golf at affordable prices. Last week end the winners were 1st. Geoff Shand, 2nd. Geoff Betts.

Photo from the balcony of the Club House shows some of the days winners L to R. Andrew Barwood, Alan Darby, David Winder, Peter Kerr, Bernard Ball and Geoff Shand in the late evening sunshine.

and hit back with some forceful running and great work by the forwards, firstly, setting up Tirso for a try, followed by full back for the day Raffa, converted by Alvaro, and at the death Jose powering over for the fourth and bonus point try of the game. Giving a well deserved victory for the club 25-13.

This victory meant so much to the club as it is a ground where we normally come away completely empty handed.

All credit must also go to Albacete who made a very entertaining game of it and kept you on the edge of your seat.

The ITV Orihuela RFC players and coaches can hold their heads up high after a brilliant game of rugby and look forward to seeing a lot more of them this season.

This summed up a fantastic weekend of rugby after both the England men and women showing the All Blacks how to play the game.

This coming weekend we will be televising all of the live Heineken Cup matches at the rugby bar in Rojales, The Steakhouse, used to be Tylers Bar, on Thursday is the Varsity match at 15.00 followed by Worcester v Perpignan at 20.45, on Friday, Saints v Ulster at 20.30, on Saturday Toulouse v Ospreys at 14.00 followed by Sale v Toulon and

finally Munster v Sarries at 18.45. On Sunday Clermont v Leinster at 15.45 so come along to the only designated rugby bar in the area and join the Costa Blanca Rugby Supporters Club as well.

Looking forward to seeing another good turn out down there this weekend.

I am at the Moncayo Market every Saturday to Xmas with all of the rugby branded gear and club/international shirts etc, so see you all down there, also with the Help 4 Heroes fleeces and polos. Ideal Xmas presents.

The next league match is on 15 December at home against Cartagena.

Training is at the Miguel Hernandez University ground at 20.15 on Tuesday and Thursday for the seniors and juveniles. The juniors start at 18.15.

So if you are interested, dig out those rugby boots and come along and see for yourself what it is like. New players are always welcome no matter what age or skill level you are.

If you would like more information about what is going on in the club, you can contact the club by phoning myself, Garry on 692 767 242, and for the juniors contact Oscar on 600 871 606 (Spanish)

The silver division was won

by Ray Ewins (32) with John Sorensen (29) and Roger Pearson (27) coming 2nd and 3rd. Gold division saw an amazing tally of 35 from John Drakesmith claiming top spot with newly-elected captain, Steve Davis, as runner-up with 30 and our new vice-captain, Phil de Lacy, was 3rd with 28.

We’re holding a pre-Xmas “Jingle Balls” fun-day on 19th December at La Finca which will be a team game followed by a meal where we hope to raise a good chunk of money for a very worthwhile cause.

All teams of four will be made very welcome, please visit www.smgs.org or watch the local press for more details.

Alternatively you can always give Barry a ring on 966 731 033 for full “Jingle Balls” info.

Las Ramblas on 12th & 26th November 2012.

For this months meeting we paid TWO visits to Las Ramblas taking advantage of the excellent society deal obtained from Costa Blanca Green Fee Services.

The first visit was on Monday 12th November 2012 when we were RAINED OFF after only playing a handful of holes for which we were given a RAIN CHECK for 9 holes only and we replayed the society day on Monday 26th November 2012 and for a short time it looked like we would be FOGGED OFF but thank fully we did eventually manage to play the required 9 hole tournament.

The winners on the day were as follows: Winner – Kevin Robinson (on

3rd – Grant Goble & Peter Unsworth Nearest the Pins – Kevin Robinson and Karen Matthews Longest Drive – Bob Hewitson (All prizes sponsored by Costa Blanca Green Fee Services) After the game we returned to the bar which is located in La Mata for refreshments and the prize presentation.

Our next fixture is planned for Villamartin on Monday 10th December 2013 and there are still some places available.

New members and guest are always welcome so call Wayne Matthews on 671907458 or better still call in the bar.

Report by Mike Probert of Costa Blanca Green Fee Services on 966 704 752 or 661 345 931 or see us at our web-site at www.costa-blancagreenfees.com.

FC TORREVIEJA..................................

TORRY DRAW AWAY AGAINST HIGH FLYERS LA NUCIA Torry travelled up the coast last Sunday to take on 2nd in the table La Nucia, who surrendered their “Top of the Table” position and unbeaten record at Novelda the previous Sunday, going down 1-0 to a goal scored in the 90th minute.

This season they have been a particularly mean defensive machine having conceded only 6 goals in 14 games. In their side was popular ex-Torry striker Petu. The Torry Army took a coach-load of supporters to support their team and spent a couple of hours in the glorious sunshine on the seafront of Benidorm followed by Sunday lunch at Monroes carvery before going to the game. The Spanish supporters club, the Frente Salineros, also ran a coach to the game so Torry had a strong following at the game and made up over a quarter of the crowd at the game which was disappointingly only just over 300. The football ground is the centre-piece of a superb sports complex in La Nucia and it is always pleasant to go and watch Torry play in such splendid surroundings. The pitch is natural grass and was in immaculate condition. All that was needed was for the teams to serve up an exciting and entertaining game of football.

Torry were again without defender Rafa, who is still regaining match fitness, Pedro Lopez who I believe has had surgery on a niggling knee injury, and Manolo who wasn’t fully fit and took a place on the bench alongside Koeman, Manu Amores, Cuco Ros and Sergio .

The opposition got off to the better start and won a couple of free kicks inside the Torry half. As the game wore on Torry started to win the midfield battle and enjoy more controlled possession. La Nucia appeared to be content to allow Torry to keep the ball and keep men behind the ball and make it difficult in the their final third to penetrate their defensive lines. Torry indeed had some neat and tidy build-up play until it came to the final decisive pass or cross. Javi Tur had very little to do except for dealing with ball into the area from setpieces which he preferred to punch rather than catch. The opposition keeper wasn’t really threatened much either except for a couple of efforts from Luis Carlos, the first of which their keeper palmed away for

a corner and the second of which flashed wide of the post.

It was a stalemate at half-time.

When the teams emerged for the second-half the sun had gone down and so had the temperature which had dipped a few degrees and it was “mucho frio”. Torry made a change bringing on Cuco Ros for Dani, who had been cautioned in the first-half. Torry began to be less dominant in midfield without the hard working Dani and La Nucia came more into the game without being particularly threatening. Around the hour mark Torry took off Ernesto and brought on Koeman. The opposition then won quite a few free-kicks inside the Torry half and also a number of corners which Torry managed to defend. Towards the end Torry had chances to return home with all three points with Luis Carlos beating their keeper to the ball out wide but there was nobody in the middle to get on the end of his cross. Gasch and then Koeman then missed opportunities from inside the box to hit shots on target. The game came to a conclusion with neither side really having done enough to merit a goal and the game ended 0-0. The back four for Torry all played well and gave rookie keeper Javi Tur plenty of protection. Also Abel deserves mention for a battling display in central midfield. To be frank I expected more from a side which are second placed in the table. La Nucia played as if their underlying priority was to keep a clean sheet rather be more adventurous, especially at home, and push men forward in search of a goal. I’m not complaining though. On the negative side for Torry there were a number of bookings with Jorge, Javi Rosa, Abel, Dani and Inarejos all finding their way into the referees notebook.

Torry have now climbed to 5th in the table, equal on points with 4 other teams but with a superior goal difference in a closely contested league with everything to play for. On “Bank Holiday” Thursday they play at home at 5.00pm against 3nd from bottom Borriol. Be there but wrap up well. This is closely followed by an away match against Elche Ilicitano this weekend.

A happy Darrylldinho following his adopted team in Spain gain a well deserved point.

966 719 647 OR 902 750 190 EXT: 330

LA FINCA HOSTS SMGS

Orihuela Ship Hispaniola Golf Society (in association with Costa count back) Costa..............

Blanca Green Fee Services) at Runners-Up – Jim Speakman Monday night fun darts

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES

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