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SolTimes issue 262

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24-30 january

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A cold front moving in from the north west will bring plummeting temperatures and snow to 12 Spanish

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regions from Wednesday according to the latest weather forecasts.

The first snowfalls will begin in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and although huge quantities of snow are not expected, some problems are anticipated on the roads in mountainous areas.

The communities of Andalucía, Aragón, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla León, Madrid, Navarra, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, the Basque Country and Asturias are all on either yellow or amber alert for snow as from Wednesday.

In the Community of Madrid up to 5cm of snow is expected in the capital city and in Henares; in the surrounding mountains there could be up to 8cm of snow.

In the north western corner of the country, Galicia and Asturias are on amber alert and the areas around Lugo and Orense could see as much as 20cm of snow.

With regard to the temperatures, a spokesperson for

the Spanish Met. office said a sudden drop is expected, especially in Madrid, where “the difference between today and tomorrow will be very noticeable”.

Northern areas like Huesca are on yellow alert for low temperatures, with -6ºC forecast for some areas of the Pyrenees.

High winds and coastal storms will affect the Cantabrian and Galician coastlines as well as the Basque Country with force 7 or 8 gales and waves of five or six metres.

The provinces of Pontevedra and A Coruña are on red alert (extreme risk) for force 8 or 9 westerly and northwesterly gales, and waves as high as seven metres.

Authorities are encouraging people to use public transport in the towns and cities as much as possible, in particular local train and metro services, to avoid problems on the roads.

They have also confirmed that snow-clearing, salting and gritting machines are at the ready across the country in preparation for the forecast snow.

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

Lorca

The projected ‘Chinatown’ development in Lorca will not now go ahead.

The project, which would have covered 3 million square metres and consisted of eight zones including business premises, shops, leisure facilities with a golf course and hotel, 1,800 private residences and a University, was to have been constructed in the Pedanía La Toya, on the site of the Finca El Churtal.

It would have been landscaped to reflect a Chinese ambience, with appropriate landmarks and plantings.

In 2011 Alcalde Fransisco Jodár, on behalf of ZEIC (Zona Especial de Inversiones Chinas) signed an agreement with Wang Juanhua – Conferencia Política Consultiva Popular of Nanjing. However, the finances were not firmly

Sport

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in place, and the investors have now lost interest in the project.

This cooling off is most probably a result of the depressed financial climate, though doubts about the suitability of the site were voiced shortly after the earthquake in May 2011, which occurred only weeks after the agreement was signed.

cartagena

Cartagena is being dragged into the 21st century with the new legislature regarding shop opening hours, which have just come into force.

The Boletin Región de Murcia has designated certain areas of Cartagena as ‘Areas of Major Tourism Affluence’, and as such has given freedom to individual businesses to open on Sundays.

As expected, the larger shops are delighted with the change in the law, and some are already recruiting extra staff to cope with the longer opening hours, but some of the smaller outlets are not so happy, pointing out that for them the extra outlay involved will not be recovered by extra trade turnover.

However, it has given them the opportunity to open when large cruise ships dock, and many of them are saying that these are the only occasions when it will be worth their while to open out of hours.

Full liberty to decide opening hours has been given to the areas of historical interest, such as the Old Quarter and the Port. These areas will include: Capitanes Ripoll, Paseos Alfonso XII and XIII, Calle Real, Plaza de España, Alameda de San Anton, Plaza de María Cristina, Avenida de Colón, Calle Ramon y Cajal and Calle Puyola.

The Polígono Cabeza Beaza, the Parque and Espacio Mediterráneo has been given a slightly less generous brief; they will be able to open from Good Friday to 30th September.

Corte Inglés has already put in place its plans to open from 11 am to 9 pm on Sundays. The Ayuntamiento has expressed the hope that all traders will embrace this opportunity to stimulate trade, saying that it is a move that has been called for by the general public for a long time.

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

murcia

Throughout the region the Feast Day of San Antón Abad, the Patron Saint of Animals, is celebrated on the Sunday closest to 17 January.

The Day is marked by special Masses in each of the localities, at the end of which animals brought to the church by members of the congregation are blessed - this includes all animals, from horses to goldfish!

San Antón is said to be the first Monk, as he shut himself up in his cell for 6 months so that he would be undisturbed, and better able to contemplate and reflect on his Faith.

During that time he ate only bread, prepared for him by the locals. To this day his Feast Day is celebrated with the baking of bread in the form of ‘panecillos’ little round loaves signed with a cross. Many churches will sell specially blessed panecillos at their doors, and they are said to bring good luck to those who buy them, and money to those who keep them in their purses!

Sangonera de la Seca

The Policía Nacional have intercepted 110 kilos of 90% pure cocaine, with an estimated street value of 18 million euros in Sangonera de la Seca.

The haul was found hidden in a consignment of 18,000 kilos of dried kidney beans from Columbia.

The drugs, in line with normal procedure, will be destroyed, but the beans will be distributed to the major Food Banks in Murcia and Cartagena.

Each of the Food Banks will receive half of the consignment of beans, that is 9,000 kilos each. The distribution of these will then be left to the individual Food Banks to donate as they see fit to other charities.

Approximately 121,000 people in the Murcia region received food aid from the Food Banks in 2012, an increase of almost 9% on the previous year.

The food is distributed through a network of soup kitchens, hostels, churches, food collection centres and shops, and reaches the needy through 304 non-profit organisations.

lorca

The bridge on the A7 Lorca – Puerto Lumbreras road, catastrophically damaged in the September Gota Fria, has been opened.

The Delegate for the Region de Murcia, Joaquin Bascuñuna, visited the site and declared that the works had been completed in the time estimated, and at a cost of 6.4 million euros. He said that this link, which handled 20,000 vehicles per day, was vital in the communications between the two cities, and for the onwards links to Granada.

The other bridge that suffered catastrophic damage was on the AP7 toll road at Vera. Works here were expected to be completed shortly.

tourism figures show 3% According to figures from the increase Consejal for Tourism, José Manual for 2012 Soria, there was a 3% increase in

the number of tourists to Spain during 2012.

He said: ‘2012 was a very good year for tourism despite gloomy forecasts, and the indications are that 2013 will see a growth in visitor numbers.’

‘Last year the total expenditure of tourists in Spain was 55.7 million euros, itself up 5.9% up on 2011 with the average spending per person rising to 968 Euros.’

‘The traditional holidaymakers come from the UK, Germany and France. However, the industry was strengthened by the growth of emerging markets with people coming from Russia, Brazil, China and India.

3

‘external audit’ of PP’s accounts in wake of Bárcenas scandal Spain’s prime minster, Mariano Rajoy announced on Monday that there will be an external audit into the Partido Popular’s accounts as a result of the ‘Bárcenas scandal”.

Rajoy also confirmed that there would be a parellel internal audit by the new treasurer, Carmen Navarro, to look into allegations of “extra” cash payments made by ex-treasurer Luis Bárcenas to high-level PP members and that all party members would be obliged to collaborate.

The prime minister also said that Cristobal Montoro, the Minister of Finance and Public Administration, would appear before the lower house to explain whether Bárcenas had taken advantage of the controversial tax amnesty.

Both Rajoy and María Dolores de Cospedal García, the Secretary-General of the People’s Party have denied ever receiving “black money”.

“The PP doesn’t have, and has never had, any bank accounts outside Spain, nor has it ever employed anyone to hold money on behalf of the PP outside of Spain”, maintained Cospedal today.

She went on to say that “the PP cannot, however, be held responsible if another person has overseas accounts relating to private business activity”, but did not mention Luis Bárcenas by name at any point.

Furthermore, she added that neither she nor the party knew about Bárcenas’ overseas accounts: “I didn’t know, and I don’t think anyone else knew either”, she said Rajoy confirmed that he would use the necessary “political force” to create a gran pact against corruption, “to try to bring in new measures to fight this scourge”.

Cartagena/Mar de Cristal

When officers of the Guardia Civil on patrol in Mar de Cristal stopped two vehicles for a routine inspection their suspicions were aroused by the nervous manner of the two male drivers.

They searched the vehicles, and found 4,000 packs of cigarettes with a value of 16,000 Euros stashed in the boots of the vehicles.

The cigarettes had come from Andorra. Cigarette smuggling, which used to be negligible, has increased dramatically since the rise in taxation has pushed up the price of a cigarette. It is thought that it now accounts for as much as 12% of the market, a loss of around a billon euros in revenue per annum for the Government.

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

Banco De Valencia To Shut Nine In 10 Branches & Sport Axe 890 Jobs

Banco de Valencia is about to close 90 per cent of its branches in compliance with terms laid down by the European Commission.

The ailing financial institution, which has been bailed out by the Ordered Bank Restructuring Fund (FROB), will shortly be bought for a euro by CaixaBank.

It has notified 890 of its 1,615 members of staff that they will be made redundant by the middle of February, and then will shut nine in 10 of its 350 branch offices.

Most of those affected by the closure are outside the Valencia region.

The bank has offered preferential early retirement terms to as many employees aged 50 and over as possible, to cut down on the number of people it leaves propping up the dole queue.

It has until December this year to complete the shut-down process

Night Closure Of A&E Units Could Spread To Other Parts Of Spain, Warns Health Authority

The closure of overnight A&E departments in 21 towns in Castilla-La Mancha could set a precedent for other parts of the country, warns the central government.

With the State health service in debt by 16 billion euros, regional authorities are being encouraged to make cutbacks.

In addition to Castilla-La Mancha, casualty units in health centres now shut for the night in various towns in the north of the Alicante province, including Pedreguer, El Verger, Ondara and Gata de Gorgos.

Between 22.00hrs and 08.00hrs, those who need urgent treatment which cannot wait until morning have to make their way to the nearest hospital, or wait for an ambulance.

Secretary of State for Social Services and Equality, José Manuel Moreno, says ‘around 80 per cent’ of health centres outside the provincial capital cities have ‘only two to three patients per night’ attending accident and emergency.

Although this sounds a low figure, in Castilla-La Mancha it now means

441 patients a week have to travel some distance to be treated outside of office hours.

He says the decision to shut local A&E units overnight was within the jurisdiction of the regional, rather than central, governments.

The Comunidad Valenciana is already considering following suit.

Moreno insists this would not leave any patient at risk because ‘this country has a network of land and air emergency transport’ to get them to hospital.

But the President of Albacete Medical College, Francisco Parra, feels differently.

It could leave someone who has had a heart attack having to travel up to 50 kilometres to get treatment, rather than a doctor from the village being able to get there in minutes, Parra cites as an example.

He says finances should not enter the equation when it comes to people’s health, and that if the State service wants to cut back on spending in this area, it ‘should have fewer management consultants’

Valencia switches off street lighting to save money

The thousands of drivers who frequently use the newly-widened CV-35 in Valencia, one of the busiest roads in the province, have got used to seeing the street lamps switched off, ever since the energy-saving (and costcutting) measure was introduced on August 1st last year.

However the ‘no-street-lighting-austeritymeasure’ has now been extended to all the major thoroughfares in the province, including important roads such as the Autovía de La Plana in Castellón or the Sax-Castalla road in Alicante.

The Autovía del Turia, is in complete

darkness along its entire route from 1am to 5am every day. During the remaining nighttime hours, only the sections from the Palacio de Congresos to Canal Nou and the link to the bypass are now lit. The authorities maintain it is an “energy-saving exercise” backed up by a reliable road safety study.

They also insist that Valencia’s roads were “more heavily lit” than those in Castellón or Alicante, which is why the change has been noticed more acutely.

Some local councils have complained about the lack of lighting on their turn-offs.

L’Eliana town hall, for example, has made an

official complaint to the regional goverment about the “decreased safety of circulating traffic and of pedestrians using the service road from the bus stop on the main artery”.

They have also drawn attention to the lack of safety for cyclists using the route.

In response, the regional authorities have defended their measures to restrict street lighting, insisting that they are in line with “policies to rationalise and cut back on public spending whilst maintaining acceptable levels of safety on the region’s roads” and quoting a saving of between 30% and 50% on their electricity bills.

Alicante and Valencia, home to Spain’s most expensive petrol & diesel

Spain’s most expensive petrol and diesel is sold in the provinces of Alicante and Valencia, a new report claims. Whilst the average price of 95 unleaded across the country is 1.3941 euros a litre, in the Valencia province this rises to 1.4059 euros and in Alicante, 1.4104 euros.

But those who live in the north of Valencia are advised to hop across the border into Castellón, the province that sells the cheapest petrol in Spain at just 1.3695 euros a litre.

For diesel A, prices shoot up even higher in these areas, with motorists paying nearly 2.6 cents a litre more in Alicante than the average for Spain, which is 1.3797 euros, compared to 1.4055 euros in the former.

Valencia is not the most expensive province for diesel, but it still costs more than the national average to fill up in the area – 1.3936 euros, nearly 1.4 cents more.

Again, Castellón, in the same autonomous region, sells some of Spain’s cheapest diesel at 1.3634 euros a litre.

The Alicante Province Economic Studies Institute (INECA), which produced these figures, has decided to name and shame the towns where drivers pay the most for fuel.

A difference of as much as 9.7 cents per litre for unleaded 95 petrol can be found between towns in the province of Alicante, INECA says, with Hondón de los Frailes in the south-west being among the cheapest at 1.35 euros a litre and Callosa d’en Sarrià near the coast being the most expensive at 1.447 euros a litre.

For diesel, Hondón de los Frailes wins again with prices of just 1.339 euros a litre, whereas Pedreguer, in the north of the province, sells the most expensive diesel at 1.4426 euros a litre.

Three dead as high winds wreak havoc across country

Two men, aged 49 and 67, who are yet to be identified, have died when strong winds blew over a wall in El Llano del Beal (Cartagena).

Exact details of the incident have not been disclosed, but it appears that both men were crushed at 10.20am by a two metre-high dividing wall, close to a recycling plant in the town.

The victims went to the farm in the Camino de San Ginés to feed their livestock as they did every morning when they were caught in the freak accident.

In Badajoz, a 54-year-old woman has died after the wind blew a metal door on top of her at a rural house.

The victim was still concsious when relatives

found her around seven thirty yesterday evening lying crushed beneath the huge door.

She was rushed to the Almendralejo health centre, where she later died.

The woman had apparently gone to the isolated property alone during the afternoon.

The town’s mayor, José Ramón Prieto, has confirmed that the victim was married with two children.

Civil Protection officers have issued warnings to people out in the countryside, advising them to stay away from loose cornices, unstable walls and trees that could blow over, and to take precautions when near to half-built or tumbledown properties.

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

5

21% of mayors and County Council heads earned more than Zapatero in 2010

The Court of Auditors has published a report naming ten mayors or regional government leaders who earned more than the Spanish prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, in 2010.

Alicante County Council is top of the list, followed by Barcelona County Council. The list continues with the mayors of Zaragoza, Barcelona, Alcalá de Henares (Madrid), Madrid, Valencia, Alcobendas (Madrid) and Las Rozas (Madrid). Last on the list is Girona County Council.

The study is based on a questionnaire filled in by 172 county councils and town hall offices relating to areas with more than 50,000 inhabitants, and has just been submitted to parliament.

The Court of Auditors did not only take official salaries into account, but also expenses, meal allowances, etc, in 2010, the same year that Zapatero made extensive cuts to public officials’ salaries.

The average remuneration for local leaders that year was 37,970 euros per annum, rising to 52,439 euros for provincial leaders, 60,975 euros for deputy mayors 74,463 euros for mayors.

However, the leader of Alicante County

Council, José Joaquín Ripoll, earned a total of 141,428 euros, double the average salary, and the highest-earning mayor took home 121,466 euros.

Comparing local officials’ salaries with those of other insitutions, the Court of Auditors found that 9% were earning more than regional political leaders, and 6% were earning more than ministers in Spain’s central government.

Furthermore, 31% of mayors and County Council leaders were earning more than their regional presidents and 21% were even earning more than the prime minister.

The Ministry for Finance and Public Administration is believed to be working on establishing salary tables to standardise the salaries of those in public office, whether it be in local, regional or central government, taking into account the number of inhabitants in any given region.

Healthcare cash cutbacks ‘could affect life expectancy’ in Spain

Funding cuts in healthcare could lead to a fall in life expectancy in Spain, which is currently one of the highest in the world.

A spokesman for the Federation of Associations in Defence of Public Health (FADSP), Marciano Sánchez Bayle, says a notable difference in average life expectancy exists between those regions with more cash to spend on their medical services.

Aragón (provinces of Teruel, Zaragoza and Huesca), Madrid and Navarra have the best records, with life expectancy currently at an average of 83.3 years for men and women – because a higher percentage per head of the GNP is spent on healthcare.

The Canary Islands and Andalucía, where the least funding is available for medical assistance, have a life expectancy of 80.5 years.

Huge disparaties are seen in the amount per capita spent on healthcare in different

regions, with the Basque Country near the top at 1,596 euros, and the Comunidad Valenciana near the bottom at 1,125 euros per resident.

Sánchez Bayle says there is a ‘very significant distance’ in terms of healthcare quality between Navarra, at the top, and the Canaries, at the bottom.

It also has an impact on how family doctor surgeries run, he says.

Where the public is generally in better health because of more efficient and widelyavailable treatment, medical centres have less work to do, can spend more time with patients and appointments can be booked much more quickly.

Poorer regions try to do as much as they can in local GP practices, whereas richer regions are less reticent about referring patients to hospital for more specialist examination and treatment, says Sánchez Bayle.

35 suffer carbon monoxide poisoning at Barcelona church

A total of 35 people suffered carbon monoxide poisoning during a concert in the parish church of Sant Vicenç de Gualba (pictured) in Barcelona yesterday evening. 130 people were at the concert - part of the town’s Winter Festival.

According to the emergency services, three of the 35 affected are in a serious condition - an 81year-old woman, a 50-year-old woman and an eight-year-old boy - another is in a less serious condition and the rest have

Slippery Floors?

The Court of Auditors has recommended the introduction of measures to ensure greater transparency with regard to the salaries and expenses of public officials, and to ensure that limits are put on the number of paid positions they can hold.

suffered only mild ill-effects.

difficulties.

The alarm was raised at 8.30pm and the cause of the intoxication was found to be the “faulty combustion of the heaters used during the concert”. 13 people were allowed home after being treated at the church, but a further 12 were taken by ambulance to Girona’s Hospital de Palamós and four to the Hospital de Sant Joan d’Espí Moissès Broggi in Barcelona because of breathing

One person was taken by ambulance to the Hospital de Sant Celoni in Barcelona and five more were treated there after making their own way to the hospital.

After venilating the church thoroughly overnight, firefighters confirmed this morning that the levels of carbon monoxide were back down to normal and that it could be reopened to the public.

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

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On February 8th & 9th the fabulous Elvis tribute artist Paul Larcombe will be appearing at camping Marjal Guardamar del Segura with his backing group “the Passionettes” Paul is officially endorsed by Elvis Presley enterprises, Graceland Memphis USA. He has appeared on numerous television channels including ITV and BBC and has performed for the queen and royal family on three separate occasions.

In 2007 he won the European Elvis tribute competition, the prize entitled him to enter the world competition in Memphis organised by E.P .Enterprises, he came in the last ten with only the first three being announced.

He is a fabulous entertainer & the last 2 years have been a sell out on both nights.

Tickets are now on sale the price is 16€ including a meal To book a table tel:- 966 727 001

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

Strong winds set to blast northern and eastern Spain

The Spanish Met. Office has issued warnings of strong winds in Galicia, Cantabria, the Ebro Valley, the Balearic Islands and along parts of the Mediterranean coast for this week.

Snow is forecast for areas above altitudes of 500m in the north of the country, at altitudes of between 900 and 1,200m in central areas, between 1,200 and 1,400m in the south and above 1,200 in the Balearic Islands.

Sport

Heavy cloud and some rain is expected in Galicia and Asturias, and the rest of the country is set to be cloudy with some light rain,

especially in Mediterranean regions and in the west of the country. Cloudy weather is forecast for the Balearic Islands, especially in the east, where there will also be some light to moderate rainfall.

In the Canary Islands heavy cloud is expected in the north of the region, especially on higher ground, with some scattered showers. Light northerly winds are forecast.

There will be no major changes to temperatures in general, with light frosts expected in central and northern areas.

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Granada becomes an open-air rubbish dump as street-cleaners go on strike

Granada city centre is knee-deep in rubbish due to a strike called by refuse collectors and road-sweepers.

They object to being forced to work extra hours – bringing them to a total of 37.5 a week – at the same time as their pay is being cut by five per cent and will be frozen thereafter for the foreseeable future, not increased in line with inflation.

The employees are also being forced to re-juggle their shifts and breaks.

Negotiations between the 540 staff members and the company Inagra, which is contracted by the city council, have failed.

Other than the market sites in the souks in the central Zaidín and Almanjáyar districts, which are heavily frequented by tourists, plus hospitals and health centres – all of which are being cleaned and the rubbish removed as normal – the rest of the city has nearly 1,000 tonnes of rubbish lying around the roads and pavements.

Two women were arrested on Thursday for setting fire to wheelie-bins, but Inagra denies that this had anything to do with the strike action.

Officials insist there is no risk to health but some are considering bringing in the army to clear the backlog.

UK Fears Of New EU Immigration

About 50,000 people from Romania and Bulgaria will come to the UK every year when restrictions are lifted next year, think tank Migration Watch suggests.

According to a report by the BBC, Migration Wacthpredicts this level annually in the first five years after these controls end, warning of “significant consequences” for housing and jobs.

Citizens of both countries will have free movement across the EU in 2014.

Ministers say calculations are difficult but the Home Office said it was working to cut net migration.

Prime Minister David Cameron said earlier this week the detail for such calculations “wasn’t there yet”.

The Home Office said it wanted to move from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands of migrants by the end of this Parliament.

From next year, like other EU citizens, Bulgarians and Romanians gain the unrestricted right to live and work in the UK where currently, they require authorisation before taking a job.

Migration Watch, which supports tighter immigration controls, said its study suggested its estimates could be considerably higher if there were to be a movement of Roma people to the UK or if some of the nearly one million Romanians resident in Spain and Italy moved to Britain.

It said Germany and the Netherlands were “likely destinations” for Romanian and Bulgarian migrants because their youth unemployment rates were lower than other EU countries.

But it said the UK, with youth unemployment at 20%, “is nonetheless an attractive destination, partly because of its flexible labour market and partly because of the ease of access to its benefits system”.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migration Watch said: “It is not good enough to duck making an estimate of immigration from Romania and Bulgaria. It is likely to be on a scale that will have significant consequences

for housing and public services.

“It will also add further to the competition which young British workers already face.

“We have therefore produced our own estimate as a contribution to an important debate which must include the ease with which migrants to the UK can currently access the welfare state.”

It analysed migration from other European countries and the number of Bulgarians and Romanians already in Britain before making its estimates.

Sarah Mulley, of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank said that although it was “very difficult to predict migration flows with any degree of confidence in these circumstances” the estimates put forward by Migration Watch “look high”.

She said: “The UK is opening access to its labour markets along with the rest of Europe and the process of opening up to Bulgaria and Romania has been a gradual one, in contrast with 2004 when the UK was the only large EU country to open its labour market and when borders and labour market access were opened at the same time.

“So it would be very surprising if net migration from Bulgaria and Romania was on the scale predicted by Migration Watch.”

Temporary curbs on Romanian and Bulgarian migration were imposed by the Labour government in 2005 to protect the UK labour market.

The Labour Party has said it would support any moves to extend the measures.

But Home Secretary Theresa May said in November temporary curbs could not continue under EU law and the government was looking instead at limiting access to benefits and the NHS to reduce the “pull factors” that encouraged migrants to come to the UK. Last weekend, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles warned an “influx” of Romanians and Bulgarians would add to the existing housing problems in the UK.

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

José Bretón ‘has no money to pay compensation or search costs’

The father of two children who went missing in Córdoba and whose remains are believed to have been found on a bonfire is ‘insolvent’ and cannot pay the legal costs and compensation.

José Bretón could be ordered to pay 140,000 euros to cover the costs of the search for Ruth, six, and two-year-old José after he reported their having gone missing from a park in Córdoba during a weekend access visit.

The children’s mother, Ruth Ortiz, is said to have applied for two million euros in compensation, one million for each child, but her solicitor has refused to confirm this.

Bretón faces 20 years in jail for the death of each of his children, who lived with their mother in Huelva, if he is found guilty

– the maximum sentence permitted, even after including the aggravating factors of his being a direct family member and the victims being underage.

During forensic investigations on a bonfire in the orchard behind Bretón’s parents’ house, remains of charred bones were found and initially thought to be those of rodents.

But two private investigators appointed by Ruth Ortiz showed them to be the remains of human children of the same age as Ruth and José, the missing infants.

Attempts to extract DNA from the burnt remains proved fruitless.

Their father remains in custody pending trial, and continues to deny charges of murder.

Mali revenge attack on BP gas field Hostage death toll ‘rises to 48’

At least 48 hostages are now thought to have died in a four-day siege at an Algerian gas plant, as reports say that 25 bodies found at the complex on Sunday were all those of captives.

It had initially been unclear whether the bodies found were those of hostage-takers or staff at the facility.

A search is continuing at the In Amenas gas plant, where as many as 20 hostages remain unaccounted for.

Five suspected Islamist attackers were reportedly arrested on Sunday.

The Algerian authorities had said on Saturday that all 32 hostage-takers had been killed. The suspected organiser of the attack, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, said 40 militants had taken part.

The siege ended when troops mounted an assault on Saturday, saying the militants had begun killing foreign hostages.

Western leaders condemned the attack with French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian describing it as an “act of war”.

The plant, which is responsible for more than a tenth of Algeria’s overall gas output, is expected to resume production by Tuesday, Algeria’s energy minister said.

Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal is due to give a new conference about the attack later this week.

Youcef Yousfi also pledged to boost security at energy installations but insisted it was “out of the question to allow foreign security forces to handle the security” of Algerian oil facilities.

During a visit to the affected plant on Sunday, Mr Yousfi said it would resume production within two days.

Security forces reportedly discovered the bodies of 25 hostages as they searched the complex for booby-traps

and mines.

The militants had threatened to blow up the site and kill their hostages, officials said.

Belmokhtar, who is not thought to have been among the actual attackers, said his group had carried out the attack. He was speaking in a video message carried by the Mauritanian website Sahara Media.

The website said the video had been recorded on 17 January while the siege was still going on but not posted on the website.

It shows Belmokhtar, who has convictions in absentia for murder, kidnapping and terrorism, saying he was prepared to negotiate with Western and Algerian leaders if operations against Islamists in Mali were stopped.

The crisis began last Wednesday when militants attacked two buses carrying foreign workers to the remote site in south-eastern Algeria.

A Briton and an Algerian died in the incident.

The militants then took expatriates hostage at the complex, which was quickly surrounded by the Algerian army.

Algerian state media said later that 685 Algerian workers at the plant had been freed but it is unclear if any Algerians were actually taken hostage, with reports that militants told them they were only targeting nonMuslims.

A statement from the kidnappers said the assault on the gas plant had been launched in retaliation for French intervention against Islamist groups in neighbouring Mali.

However, France only decided last week to intervene militarily in Mali.

Analysts say the assault on the gas facility was wellplanned and would have required advance research, as well as possibly inside help.

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

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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

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!

7

8

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

music with mark

Michael McDonald (Born February 12, 1952 in St Louis, Missouri) is a 5 time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter.

McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan, and became famous when he became a member of the Doobie Brothers from 1976 to 1981, a period which resulted in several hit songs for the band.

Michael McDonald became one of the many in-studio adjunct members of the group Steely Dan, providing back-up vocals on tracks for the 1975 album Katy Lied. He would return on subsequent Steely Dan recordings including The Royal Scam in 1976 and Aja in 1977. He also played keyboards on some other Steely Dan tracks. McDonald continued to do background vocals for Steely Dan through to their 1980 release, Gaucho.

He was part of Steely Dan’s last touring band in the 1970s, playing keyboards and singing backup.

McDonald was recruited by the band The Doobie Brothers in April 1975 when lead singer Tom Johnston became ill during a national tour. His time with the band proved so successful that they decided to retain him as a full time member. As a member of The Doobies he recorded some of his best-known songs such as “Real Love”, “Takin’ It to

the Streets”, “Little Darling”, “It Keeps You Runnin’”, “Minute by Minute” and “What a Fool Believes” (which became a number one single in the U.S. and earned him a 1980 Grammy Award for Song of the Year along with co-writer Kenny Loggins). At the same time he appeared as a session singer and piano player for artists such as Christopher Cross, Stephen Bishop, Jack Jones, Bonnie Raitt, the rock band Toto and Kenny Loggins.

After the Doobies’ first farewell tour, McDonald compiled some of his earlier songs in the 1982 release “That Was Then: The Early Years” which bought him critical acclaim in his own right. His first solo album, “If That’s What It Takes”, also released in 1982, featured the hits “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” a duet with his sisters Kathy and Maureen, and “I Gotta Try,” a song co-written with Kenny Loggins, who recorded it as well.

“Ya Mo Be There”, a duet with James Ingram, won the 1985 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

He followed that up with “On My Own”, a duet with Patti LaBelle, which reached Number 1 on the U.S. charts in 1986. Also in 1987 McDonald did a featured collaboration with American gospel group The Winans from their Decisions album: “Love has no Color”. That same year he performed the single “Sweet Freedom” that appeared on that summer’s hit movie Running Scared soundtrack.

McDonald’s 1990 album Take It to Heart featured a minor hit with the title song, co-

Michael McDonald

written with Diane Warren.

The following year he joined the New York Rock and Soul Revue, put together by Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen. 1991’s “Ever Changing Times” a duet with Aretha Franklin, had moderate success and radio play. In 2003, he earned two Grammy nominations for his album Motown, a collection of classic tracks in tribute to the Motown sound.

In 2008 McDonald released his Soul Speak album which (in addition to including three new songs penned

by McDonald) featured his interpretations of 11 carefully selected soul-inspired songs.

Ranging from universal evergreens like Dionne Warwick’s “Walk On By” and Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” to lesser-known numbers like Van Morrison’s atmospheric “Into the Mystic” and the late 60s Chicago soul of Tyrone Davis’ “Baby Can I Change My Mind”.

McDonald has reunited as a guest performer with the Doobie Brothers several times since their initial dissolution in 1982 and joined Steely Dan on their 2006 summer tour, both as the opening act and as part of the band.

In the summer of 2010, McDonald began a tour with Donald Fagen and Boz Scaggs.

They are performing together as one band billed as The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue. The show includes classic rock, soul/ R&B songs by various artists and personal repertoire songs from all three headliners.

Michael Mcdonald is my all time favourite Male vocalist and his music a must for any music fan. I can personally recommend the Motown album, if you like the Motown sound you will find this a pleasure to listen to. I play a lot of his tracks on my shows so listeners will be familiar with some of his songs and will continue to do so.

You can listen to Mark Davies on Costa Calida International Radio, Mon, Wed and Fri evenings 7.00 till 9.00 on 90 and 100 FM or www.costacalidaradio.com

J Galvez Renero S.L.

Translations, Property Sales and International Services

Office located opposite Mercadona car park in Puerto de Mazarron

” 3 1 20

We are once again in a New Year and not sure where the previous one went to! There are always “ things to do which are put off until another day and yet suddenly another year has passed.

NOW is the time to attend to those jobs and make sure that when living in a foreign country that your affairs are in order.

“

Checklist

Do you have a Spanish Will or does it need revising?

Are you making a tax return either as resident or non resident?

Has your residencia expired and needs renewing?

Are you thinking of selling your property and need advice on costs and taxes?

Does your home insurance need revising?

At J Galvez Renero SL we can assist and advise on all of the above and more. Please call by our office or telephone for free no obligation advice.

Do not let another year pass by with things to do tomorrow!

Do it today!

For assistance & translation in obtaining legal documents required to purchase property in Spain please contact us on

Tel: 968 153 707

For properties for sale see our website www.translationsmazarron.com

THE FRIENDSHIP GROUP OF HELP MURCIA MAR MENOR is holding a Beetle Drive

Friday 25TH January at 12.30 at the Caravan Club, San Javier Entry tickets are €7 which includes a fish and chip lunch.

Come along and support a worthy charity and have a good time as well Tickets are available from: HELP‘s office Calle Penelope No 11, Urbanization Oasis, Los Alcazares (behind the Deutsch bank) or by ringing Joan Mitchell on 868 185 685 or 678 135 467, Janice Clark on 968 134 355, the office 968 570 059

The Beacon of Light

Centre for Spiritual Awareness Meetings held every Wednesday from 7pm - approx 8.30pm: The Old School House Canadas del Romero dates for Our guest mediums:

January 23rd - Sammy Fitzsimmons January 29th - Mercedes Garcia Fundraising Event at Condada de Alhama 8pm doors close at 7.45 pm Tickets 5 euros 30th January - Mercedes Garcia For more info please call 620 877 326

www.beaconoflightmurcia.webs.com email: beacon.of.light.murcia@gmail.com Healing is available after the service by request.

Funding for the meetings will be raised by donations collected during the evening...

Join us on Facebook: Beacon of Light Murcia

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

DIAMANTE’S SMASHES TARGET FOR MABS

Since the beginning of 2011, Diamante’s Restaurant in El Mojón has been hosting the Ladies’ Lunch Club on the third Tuesday of every month, with the sole aim of raising funds for the MABS Cancer Support Group in Murcia. In 2011, they exceeded their target of 1000€ by 149€ and in 2012 they have smashed their target again. Terri LtoR: Lyn Baines (MABS Director), Janet Bell (MABS Hughes, co-owner of Diamante’s, Fundraiser), Terri Hughes (Diamante’s) raised the 2012 goal to 2000€ and, once again, the lunching ladies have excelled themselves. MABS continue in 2013, with the first one Murcia Director, Lyn Baines, attended scheduled for Tuesday 19th February, the January ladies’ lunch to receive 1.30pm for 2.00pm, with the three their donation of 2,587€. “This group of course lunch and class of wine for just ladies is truly amazing; they meet every 10.50€. All Ladies are welcome to come month, donate raffle prizes, buy tickets along to meet and make new friends. to raise funds, and have fun at the same Book your place with Diamante’s on 965 time. I’d also like to thank entertainer, 352 947.

Paul Allen, who donated his fee for MABS Murcia is a registered charity the Christmas lunch to MABS Murcia.”

(No. 7261) offering help and support commented Lyn. to local people of all nationalities who Terri announced that the Ladies’ Lunch have been diagnosed with or are being Club will once more be raising funds for treated for cancer. If you or someone MABS Murcia in 2013, this time raising the bar to 3000€. “We are extremely you know would like some confidential grateful to Terri, Karla and every one of help or support call our HELPLINE 693 the ladies for their continued support 275 779 or visit their website: www. in 2013. Without the generosity of mabsmurcia.com businesses like Diamante’s and the CANCER DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE AND ladies who lunch, we would not be able NEITHER DO WE to carry out the work that we do for all those affected by cancer in the Murcia MABS HELPS ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY region.” said Lyn. CANCER, WHATEVER THEIR NATIONALITY The popular Ladies’ Lunch Club will

Photographer: Janet Bell

Delhi gang rape case moved to fast-track court The case of five men charged with the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi has been moved to a fast-track court for trial.

Lawyers for the defendants say that the case will get under way on Monday.

A sixth suspect, who is thought to be 17, will be tried separately in a youth court if it is confirmed he is a minor.

The case has shocked India and sparked a debate about the treatment of women.

If convicted, the men could face the death penalty.

In the wake of the public outcry and nationwide protests, the government promised a fast-track legal process for this and other rape cases.

It announced it was setting up six fast-track courts in Delhi to allow crimes against women to be dealt with swiftly. Legal proceedings in India sometimes involve years of delays.

In Delhi, six fast-track courts were ordered for the trial of cases related to crimes against women, especially rape. Some other states such as Punjab and Maharashtra are also setting up fast-track courts for this purpose In 2000, central government started a scheme for more than 1,700 fast-track courts to try to clear the backlog of cases clogging up the Indian judicial system, partly related to a shortage of judges Funding is an issue because the central government said it could no longer fund them after March 2011, leaving future funding

The

decisions to individual states The five accused have been named as Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur.

The lawyer for Ram Singh, said he would file a petition arguing for the case to be transferred out of Delhi, fearing that the proceedings might be prejudiced because of the intense media interest.

“We are sure we will not get justice in Delhi,” VK Ananad said.

Last week another lawyer claimed that the men had been tortured and coerced into confessing they were guilty. Officials refused to comment on the allegations, citing legal restrictions.

The lawyers for two of the suspects have said they will plead not guilty. It is unclear how the three accused will plead. Prosecutors have said they have extensive forensic evidence.

The victim, a physiotherapy student who cannot be named in India for legal reasons, and a male friend were attacked on a bus in south Delhi on 16 December. She died two weeks later in hospital in Singapore.

Campaigners are calling for tougher rape laws and reforms to the police, who - critics say - often fail to file charges against accused attackers.

The government has said that it will bring in stronger sexual assault laws and has established several committees to recommend changes in the law.

BEST EVER

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EVERY SAT

All you need in one place: monday

Bowling ∙ Snooker ∙ Darts Quiz Nights Pool Table Social Dancing Comedy & Entertainment Nights

Open 10am - late

Late licence (3.30am) if needed T he Cadillacs 4.30pm to 6.15pm , Entry 5€

tuesday Ballroom Dancing 8pm -10pm Thursdays FUN QUIZ 8.30pm Friday Closed from 6pm for private parties.

Book yours now!

Saturdays See guide below

SATURDAY 26th january

AIRPORT

Paul Allen, entertainer

Lunch ladies enjoying themselves.

P

Year Contract from €199 Dual Contract Murcia & Alicante Airport

∙ New: Now indoor parking too!! ∙ 100% secure and insured, 1 week parking €29 ∙ Meet & greet valet parking service ∙ Only 2 mins from the terminal (closest airport parking) ∙ 24 hr short/long term parking

Tel: 965 040 315 Email: info@europarkingalicante.com www.europarkingalicante.com 200 metres BEFORE petrol station ‘Galp’ along the airport road, N338 easy website booking system!

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‘THE STONEd’ ROLLING STONES TRIBUTE + DJ HELEN 2 COURSE MEAL + SHOW 8PM 10€ Show only 9.30pm 3€

SATURDAY 2nd febuary

THE KATHERINE JENKINS TRIBUTE plus ANGIE Mckay+ DJ HELEN 2 course meal + show 8pm 10€.

Show only 9.30pm 3€

SATURDAY 9TH FEBRUARY

BUDDY HOLLY AND THE CRICKETS by WOODY AND THE PECKERS + DJ HELEN 2 course meal + show 8pm 10€, show only 9.30PM 3€

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10

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

a straight-sets loss, the Javea-born star finally found a way through to break his Davis Cup team-mate’s serve and stop the rot.

Ferrer stormed back into the match to take the third set 7-5, after Almagro had served for the match at 54 up and the comeback had begun. The number four seed then shook off an early deficit in the fourth, only to find himself trailing again at at the end of the seventh game.

Almagro served for the match for the third time at 5-4 up in the fourth, but Ferrer, despite playing far from his best tennis, somehow managed to fight back and force a tie-break, which he won to take the match into a fifth and deciding set.

Epic comeback by Ferrer to land place in Aussie Open semis

David Ferrer pulled off an epic comeback against fellow Spaniard Nicolás Almagro today to book himself a place in the semi-finals at the Australian Open.

For two and a half sets it looked as if Almagro was going to thrash his higher-ranked compatriot in straight sets and land himself in his first ever Grand Slam semifinal. However, Ferrer’s grit and then, in the latter stages of the match, an untimely groin strain, put paid to any thoughts the player from Murcia had of grabbing a long

sought-after win over his countryman.

Almagro, who had never beaten Ferrer in any of their 12 previous meetings, came out with all guns firing, playing aggressively from the start and quickly taking a two-set lead.

Ferrer, who had the best year of his career in 2012, did not appear to wake up until the tenth game of the third set, when, faced with the imminent prospect of

ETA Members Jailed For Trying To Set Up Terrorist Base In Portugal

Spain’s High Court has sentenced Garikoitz García Arrieta and Iratxe Yañez Ortiz to 37 and 22 years in prison respectively, for trying to set up an ETA base in Portugal in 2010. A third alleged terrorist was acquitted of collaborating with the terrorist group.

The alleged ETA terrorists were arrested in January 2010 after being caught trying to smuggle weapons, explosives and forged documents into Portugal from France in a van driven by García Arrieta.

The latter - found guilty today of being a member of a terrorist organisation, transporting arms, ammunition and explosives, causing harm through terrorist attacks and aggravated theft - pushed police officers into the van when they stopped him in Zamora, making off in their marked vehicle and reaching Portugal, where he was arrested the same night. On the way, he tried to steal another car, but failed.

The other defendant, Yañez Ortiz, admitted she had been an ETA member for ten years and had driven a car for them from France to Portugal, where she was arrested as

soon as she crossed the border.

The judge decided that Yañez Ortiz’ confession, García Arrieta’s “conduct” coupled with their “intense” relation with the terrorist organisation in their role of transporting explosives, “was conclusive evidence of a permanent and voluntary link” with ETA. The prosecution proved that both defendants “were commissioned to transport weapons, ammunition, explosives, components for making incendiary devices, false car number plates and equipment to manufacture other false number plates from France to Portugal, in order to set up a base in the latter, specifically in a house in Óbidos, to plan and supply terrorist attacks from there”.

García Arrieta was sentenced to nine years behind bars for being a member of a terrorist organisation, ten more years for possessing arms and explosives with the intention of using them for terrorist attacks, three years for forging official documents, 12 and a half years for causing actual bodily harm through terrorist attacks, and two and a

half years for stealing a police car.

He was also ordered to pay 3,075 euros in compensation to the guardia civil officer who was injured in the incident.

Yáñez Ortiz was sentenced to nine years behind bars for being a member of the ETA terrorist organisation, ten years for terrorism and transporting weapons and ammunition, and three years for forgery.

A third defendant, Luis María Cengotitabengoa Fernández, for whom the prosecution had demanded five years in prison for collaborating with ETA because his passport was found in one of the vehicles, was acquitted because there was insufficient proof that he had willingly given his personal documentation to the terrorist organisation. His defence successfully argued that his passport could have been taken without his knowledge by his brother, who is serving a custodial sentence in Portugal for being an ETA member, or even by his sister-in-law, who had access to his home.

Almagro served for the match three times; three times he was just two points from victory - the closest he has been to beating Ferrer in their 13 encounters. With his movement severely hindered by his groin strain, the fifth set was a foregone conclusion and Ferrer finally claimed a 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-2 victory and the chance to play Novak Djokovic or Tomas Berdych for a place in the Australian Open final.

Despite producing 16 aces, Ferrer’s performance was lacklustre and erratic. After the match he said, “I try always to fight [...] I’m happy because I played well on the important points but against Djokovic or Berdych I need to play my best tennis... better than today”.

This will be Ferrer’s fifth Grand Slam semi-final. He has never won a Grand Slam title.

In the doubles tournament, the Spanish pairing of Marcel Granollers and Marc López eased their way into the semi-finals with a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 win over Thomaz Bellucci and Benoit Paire. The Dutch pairing of Robin Haase and Igor Sijsling now stand between them and a place in their first Grand Slam final.

Duke Of Palma To Go Back Before The Judge In Nóos Case

The State Prosecutor yesterday requested another court appearance from Iñaki Urdangarin and his exbusiness partner Diego Torres, after the tax authorities confirmed that they had committed company tax fraud to the tune of 240,000 euros in two quotas of 120,000 euros, both relating to personal income tax in the case of the King’s son-in-law.

This latest chapter in the infamous Nóos Case is now delving into claims by the tax authorities that Urdangarin and Torres diverted public money into personal accounts in offshore tax havens.

The Nóos Case is the investigation of the alleged expropriation by the Nóos Institute of over 6.1 million euros belonging to the regional governments of the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community between 2004 and 2007.

Urdangarin declared before the judge José Castro in February 2012 and said Torres was responsible for tax affairs at the Nóos Insitute, claiming his role was purely to mantain “high-level institutional relations”.

In a marathan declaration that lasted from 9am until 4am the following morning, the Duke of Palma took responsibility for his own “actions and omissions” at Nóos, but not for those of his subordinates.

Urdangarin’s nephew, Jan Gui Urdangarin, was called to give evidence before the judge in Palma yesterday, and admitted to working as a “messenger” for his uncle, saying that he was employed to deliver sealed envelopes but never opened them, so never knew their contents. He confirmed that he delivered them and received other sealed envelopes in return, which he delivered to his uncle, the Duke of Palma.

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

www.soltimes.com

FUNDRAISER FOR QUARTETS

TO REPRESENT SPAIN IN DUTCH CONTEST

As members of the Spanish Gail. “Details will be announced in Association of Barbershop Singers the press and we’d love to see all our (SABS), Spangles Ladies’ Harmony supporters there.”

Chorus of Los Alcázares organised a Following on from their gold medal series of concerts to raise funds to success, Spangles has released a CD help two young Spanish barbershop called ‘Pure Gold’, which includes quartets to represent Spain at the their two winning contest songs and European Contest in Holland in March many audience favourites. ‘Pure Gold’ this year. is on sale at just 5€. Call 968 432 525 Torrevieja quartet, Fourmidables, or 968 334 527 to order your copy.

SABS 2012 Silver medallists and Spangles welcomes new members Cataluña-based quartet, Hanfris, so, if you’re looking to make new , SABS 2011 Gold medallists, friends and enjoy singing, why not appeared with Spangles (SABS 2011 visit Spangles when they rehearse at Gold medallists) and the Torrevieja Las Claras? They meet every Thursday Harmonisers (SABS 2011 Bronze from 10.00am to 1.00pm. medallists) at two concerts in Los Please call Lyn on 968 432 525 or Alcázares and Castalla, and the two quartets also sang to a packed house Anthea on 968 334 527 to book at Diamante’s Restaurant in El Mojón. Spangles or to find out how to join, or visit the website: www.

Audiences, whose vision of spangleschorus.com. barbershop may have been of four men in boaters and stripey waistcoats, were blown away by the stunning voices of the two young men’s quartets and the entertaining and professional performances of the choruses. Their comments ranged from “I didn’t realise that barbershop could be so entertaining” to “The show was unbelievable value for Fourmidables 2012 money”.

SABS President and Spangles Musical Director, Gail Grainger, commented: “These young guys are great ambassadors for SABS and we are so proud that they have qualified to represent us on the European stage. It will cost approximately 2,400€ for each quartet to compete in Holland and Spangles wanted to show their support by helping to raise funds for their trip. I’m delighted to say that we raised 1000€ from Hanfris 2012 the series of concerts and we’re extremely grateful to our wonderful audiences.”

After winning a Gold medal, quartets and choruses cannot compete in the following year, so Spangles and Hanfris will be going for gold again at the SABS Convention in Benalmádena, Málaga in April this year. “The Chorus is working hard on our two contest songs and we will be showcasing them at a show Spangles En Armonia 2012 in March this year. “ remarked

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YOUR Camposol Fiesta! d

e t r a t S s a H n u F The The Camposol Fiesta 2013 is now confirmed as Friday and Saturday 14th & 15th June. Although the finer details are still to be worked out, it is proposed to start the event at 7.30pm on Friday evening with a Music Extravaganza by local acts followed by a fun packed Saturday with events for all the family.

We will be holding a Camposol’s Got Talent Competition on the day which will be open to all with a cash prize for the lucky winner.

There will be the usual Paella and Fireworks and a programme of British and Spanish events to entertain young and old.

However, the fun of the Fiesta is not limited to the weekend itself and we have already held events to engage the community and raise funds.

We held a Three Kings Children’s’ Party which was held in Oscar’s Bar and Trevi Restaurant supported the Fiesta with a Race Night.

It costs around 10,500 Euro to stage the Fiesta and we have to fund this from the Fiesta Funds.

Over the next few months we have various entertainment events planned and a number of raffles. All you have to do is purchase tickets…. enjoy the events and help us raise funds at the same time! Simples!

Design a Logo Children’s Competition for the

Camposol Fiesta 2013

Winning logo will be used for all official Fiesta purposes.

Award to be presented on the Main Stage with a framed copy of their design and trophy !!!!

Entries must include name, age, parents name, signature and contact number.

Entries cost 1 Euro

all proceeds to the Camposol Fiesta Fund. Open to all children under 16 years old.

Competition closes 31/1/2013. Judges decision is final.

TBH 2012

Drop off points: Paramount Resort Villa Rentals - Camposol Sector C Alley Palais - Camposol Sector B Healthy H2O stand - Thursday Market Sector A ASSSA Seguros - Puerto de Mazarron Sara Lara´s Bar – Puerto de Mazarron

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

DIGS 4 DOGS 2012 / 2013

Firstly we would like to thank all the clients who have continued to support our business and a big welcome to all the new comers, we in return for this take extra special care of your dogs. Once again we have passed another year without one incident requiring treatment for a dog in anyway. All the dogs this year at Xmas have had a good time and is reflected in our annual Xmas Video we shoot for our clients, this can be seen by going to our web site www.digs4dogs.info an going to the Xmas Video menu down the left hand side. Just click each year to see how happy our dogs were each year, it might appear to be a bit noisy but its only while we pass by, all day and night its very peaceful.

So whether its anytime during the year or Xmas your dogs will be looked after well, we do not mix dogs and all dogs eat their own food. All owners receive photos and emails while the dogs are here to confirm their health and condition which is always appreciated.

We know we might no be the cheapest

thank you from taabs

We, the members of TAABS (Torevieja Amateur Association of Ballad Singers) would very much like to thank the audiences who during 2012 attended our many concerts (37 in all) and who gave very generously, this helped to raise money for various charities.

We should also like to thank the charities, to name but a few, DEBRA, EHCRC, RBL, AFC, HELP AT HOME, EMAUS, REACH OUT, for inviting us to sing for them, in order to raise funds. It would be our pleasure to sing for each of them again. but we do go the extra mile for each and every dog which is confirmed in our testimonials page on the web site www. digs4dogs.info click testimonials at top of page.

The question to ask yourself is….is saving a few Euros worth the risk for your dogs happiness???? And or maybe a vets bill at the end costing more than you saved!!!

So book an appointment come and see us and we can arrange a suitable price for your dog/s to stay here at Digs 4 Dogs in 2013.

Happy New Year to you all.

Gary and his Helpers @ D4D

Santa Pola Half Marathon 20/01/12

Four members of Running Wild A.C. braved the extreme windy conditions to join the 7,000 plus entrants at this year´s annual event.

The Club´s present youngest competitor, Helen Giles (Vet A, Over 35 category) was well pleased to achieve a “pb” with 2hrs. 01´ 18” following a recent good spell of distance training.

Newcomer, Craig James (Vet B) completed the 21.1 K course in 2hrs. 13´ 29”, while Julia Skinner (Vet C) was only 61 secs. behind him.

Vet E, Helen Mitford, one of the Club´s quicker lady runners, had failed to recover from recent health problems & subsequently took just over 2hrs. 20mins. to finish. She hopes to be back to strength for the Torrevieja race in 5 weeks´ time.

Jim Gavin, was unable to run in Santa Pola, due to a thigh-strain but attended as support and hopes to resume training shortly in order to compete along with Helen Giles, Julia Skinner, Howard Bednall & Ingrid Patursson at the prestigious Paris Marathon in April.

The Club also hopes for a good turn-out for both the 10K & the Half Marathon, jointly run events in Torrevieja on 24th. February.

In 2012 we were pleased to sing at various themed functions, ie 40’s nights etc. We

would like to thank the organizers of LA MARINA FESTIVAL, SUNSHINE RADIO, LA ZENIA FUN DAY, INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, LO CRISPEN, LA SIESTA CHURCH, ORIHUELA CATHEDRAL and many many more. It has been an honour to sing for everyone.

As we are about to start 2013 and the bookings are rolling in already, we should like to say if any bar, club, venue or charity would like us to help them raise funds, with our new season program or any special occasions, Easter, St Georges, Valentines, Halloween, Christmas. please contact Cathy on 666 180 118 as soon as possible because we do get booked very quickly.

ADHOC Theatre Company

ADHOC Theatre Company are buzzing with excitement about their upcoming Music Spectacular Night, taking place at ‘Restaurante Los Rosales’ in Guardamar.

Star of the show will be PETER SAUL, an international artist, who lists among his credits the role of Jean Valjean in ‘LES MISERABLES’ at The Queens Theatre in London’s West End. Peter has recently been touring the world with a spectacular production of ‘Burn The Floor’, which features some of the professionals from Strictly Come Dancing in the UK and Australia.

The show will be opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London during March, and ADHOC are very privileged to have the talents of Peter, for what will be a one time only show.

Peter will be entertaining the audience with a range of singing styles, which will include a set from the Musicals. Also on the bill for the night are two of the Costa Blanca’s favourite artists – Nick Gold – a man who has a truly golden voice, and the irrepressible Justin Sane – a very funny man, who does a good Elton John tribute too.

This promises to be a very entertaining and fun night. Tickets, priced at just 12.50 euros for the show and a meal, are available from the following outlets: Restaurante Los Rolales; The Post Room Benijofar; Kennedy’s in Montesinos; Cards and Gifts in Quesada and the Card Place in Benimar.

ADHOC can be contacted by email on adhoctheatreco@ gmail.com or on Facebook – ADHOC THEATRE COMPANY

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

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13

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

CRESCENDO INTERNATIONAL CHOIR ENTERTAINS NOSMO-KING CLUB

70 plus members of the Nosmo-King Club were entertained by Crescendo Choir at their venue in El Paraiso on the morning of Thursday 17th January. The Ladies’ shiny red jackets added sparkle to the whole programme. A new pianist, Jose Alberto Morales Rodriguez made his debut and offered a very high standard of accompaniment, working well with the Spanish Director of Music Irene Andres.

The programme opened with a Spanish song ‘Besame Mucho’ which was indicative of the improvement in the choir’s Spanish language skills thanks to having a Spanish leader. Throughout the programme every word was heard clearly despite the choir consisting of 10 different nationalities. The words of a line in one of the songs outlined the need to “join our voices in unity” which can be achieved when music is the common language. The programme was varied and included, opera, Spanish songs, musicals, folk songs, songs with a message e.g. ‘I have a dream’, traditional, national and African and was much appreciated by the attentive audience. The choir chairman, Mary Mitchell was presented with a cheque for 100 euros at the end – the choir support various charities throughout their year.

CRIME WATCH SPAIN

Openedin1999,inTorrevieja,andlegalized in 2000 by the Alicante Generalitad, to try to reduce crime and vandalism, the Association is now represented in many Villages and Towns in the Costa Blanca, such as Almoradi, Dolores, Montesinos, Guardamar de Segura, Callosa de Segura, Catral, Torrevieja, Quesada, Rojales, Ibi, Altea, Teulada, Alicante, Benidorm, etc.

During 2012, we received twenty five (25) complaints about barking dogs and fifty (50) complaints about loud music.

We reported twenty eight (28) robberies; ten (10) abandoned cars; five (5) stolen cars; seven (7) road attacks on people; eleven (11) street thefts; ten (10) internet and telephone scans; twenty three (23) pick pockets robberies at markets, supermarkets and parking places; eleven couples (11) that left their houses to go to the nearest bars to meet their friends, were followed by intruders that run away after being surprised by neighbours that sounded the whistle.

We are lucky to say that many of the complaints relating to barking dogs and loud music were sorted out by our own coordinators after visiting and speaking to the dogs owners and loud music bars/ restaurants.

We would like to remind the citizens to

be aware of Internet and telephone scans.

Please do not open any message that does not involve anything you really know. Please do not entertain any suspicious phone call.

If they persist phoning you please put your phone down or phone the Police. This is up you. Your house is your castle, please do not entertain anyone that comes to your door or gate asking to donate money for charity, or to repair your gas or electrical house’s equipment...

Usually insurance companies will not entertain any house’s claims if alarms are not installed.

You do not need to be a member of our Association to be helped and our service is free. To have a community group is a convenience, but not an obligation.

The most important thing is that we, as a responsible community’s citizens, in order to help our areas, we must report any serious incident to the Local Police Tel. 092, or Guardia Tel. 062, or Emergencies Tel. 112, or Domestic Abuse Tel. 116, or National Police Tel. 091.

If we do not report any serious incidents to the Police or Guardia, they will not be able do anything to help us.

Our Association Email is: colaborando. crimewatch@skynetlink.com

‘CARNAGE’ AT THE CLUB Friday 15th February 2013

7pm for 7:30pm

Murder Mystery Supper Night (served 2 course supper)

at The Club, Quesada TICKETS 12€ FRIENDS UNLIMITED - FUND RAISING Tickets available from the San Miguel Office Tel: 966 732 733 Monday - Friday 10-13:30

Whittington takes the Gold On Saturday 19th January at the Escuela de Musica in Los Montesinos,I Attended the evening performance of the Rojales Pantomime’s production of Dick Whittington.Over 100 people were thoroughly entertained by this traditional Panto. The auditorium was warm and comfortable,the house lights were dimmed and we met the evil King Rat most impressivly portrayed

by Peter Sinclair.His interaction with the crowd had them all hissing and booing at every opportunity,he was soon put into place by Fairy Bowbells (Gina Menzies)who coped with the role extremely well ,considering this was the first time she has appeared on stage.

We were then introduced to the Dame,Sarah the cook (Lynden Bartlam) he very quickly had the audience at ease and established a rapport with the enthusiastic crowd.

Mr Fitzwarren (Cyril Derbyshire) coped admirably with his alter egos, the Captain and the Emperor and the audience were in stitches with his hats.

Dick Whittington (Tina Sinclair) and Alice (Jaqui Reed) provided the very credible hero and heroine.Idle Jack (Barry Cox) portrayed the sterotypical Fool with much aplomb and sincerity, and his interaction with the Dame and King Rat was met with much delight.

Tommy the cat (Mandy Bartlam)played a very convincing part,her mannerisms at times had the audience howling with delight,especially amongst the younger members.Interspersed with the action, the chorus entertained us with several chorus numbers that had the audience singing along.With a special guest appearance from Footwork dance who portrayed the rats.

The show was’nt without its flaws,as with all amateur productions it had its problems,but the ad libbing made us all laugh along with the group and to my mind,thats what panto is all about.

The costumes,courtesy of Christine Smith and Tina Sinclair were again outstanding and the scenery was very impressive,especially during the storm scene,when the mast came tumbling down. I suspect very little acknowledgement is given to the backstage crew, but from lighting to sound and the scenery shifters, Dick Whittington ran as smoothly as one could wish for. Christine Smith (Director) can be justifiably proud of this production.As several audience members remarked upon leaving.”They just get better and better”.Are the streets of London really paved with the blingy stuff?

No, but Dick whittington,you got the gold I very much look forward to the groups next production. Snow White written by Barry Cox and jointly directed by Barry Cox and Christine Smith, as the song says. I’m dreaming of a Snow White christmas. Well done Rojales Pantomime Group.

Jiminy Critic Attachment shows cast and crew of Dick Whittington 2013

BLOSSOM TRAIL – THU 28th FEB 2013 Travelling direct to the outskirts of Gata de Gorgos our first stop will be for a visit to the Flores Garden Centre, run by Lee Charlesworth. Lee qualified in General Design (BSC) and his experience includes the construction of two gardens at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. We can tour the centre, have a coffee and speak to Lee about any problems or advice on what plants are best for you.

Suitably refreshed, we will continue towards the town and stop in this Artisan town, with enough time to browse some of the many shops selling craft products, before travelling onto Parcent and the restaurant El Paraiso, set at the foot of the Col de Rates mountain, for a 3 course lunch.

We will leave El Paraiso about 4.00pm for our homeward journey and enjoy the views and blossom through the valley and stop for a short comfort break in Castalla, before continuing our journey back to Quesada and should be back at The Arches around 7pm.

The cost for this customised trip with lunch, is 22€ and tickets can be purchased from the HELP San Miguel Office 966 723 733 Mon-Fri 10-13:30

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

15

16

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

viewpoint

BEANS!

All outbound flights had been cancelled, and the airport departure lounge resembled the atrium of the Tower of Babel on the morning after Sports Day – filled beyond capacity with athletes from every nation, all intent on getting home as soon as possible. People of all creeds and colours were milling aimlessly around, still high on the adrenalin of their achievements, and as yet all in good humour.

Due to the delay we were to be given breakfast; poached egg on toast, a sausage, two rashers of bacon and a spoonful of beans.

‘You go after the French girls and before the Egyptian boys.’

The hostess smiled as she handed me the menu slip and indicated the monster Conga that was the breakfast queue.

With my team tucked obediently behind me I inserted us into the Conga behind the red sweatshirted and black ponytailed French girls, gently but inexorably pushing to the side the Egyptian boys in their smart sandcoloured kaftans.

We reached the head of the queue and I proffered my tray to the girl behind the counter, who was operating with the timing josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk and mechanical

By Jos Biggs

precision of an automaton. I watched as she scooped from their individual dishes onto my plate the perfectly round poached egg on toast, the sausage and the two rashers of bacon.

She pushed the tray back to me. ‘Beans?’ I asked pleasantly, indicating the full tray of steaming hot beans.

‘No beans.’ She replied in a monotone.

‘It says beans.’ I held up the menu slip for her to see, my voice and manner the epitome of reasonableness.

She looked up and met my eye. I have seen more signs of life in a slice of Gorgonzola cheese than there was in her gaze. She shifted the gum she was chewing from one side of her mouth to the other side.

‘We don’t have any beans.’

‘Those are beans.’ I indicated the still steaming tray of beans.

‘No beans. Please move along, you are holding up the queue.’

I folded my arms. My team folded their arms.

‘We are not moving’ I said firmly, ‘Until we have our beans.’

A fat man with a dirty apron, his dark hair streaked with sweat emerged from the background, presumably the kitchen.

‘What’s the hold-up?’ He enquired.

‘They want beans.’ She intoned without emotion.

To be or not to be . . . what was the question?

Some years ago, a poor soul who knew no better, asked me to captain our village pub quiz team, and I reluctantly accepted.

One reason I agreed to his request was because the outgoing skipper was so indecisive, that rather than make a guess on those questions where none of us could agree on the answer (about 98% of them) he would mumble and frown until time ran out and another ‘zero points’ was registered.

Another reason was that he was usually Brahms and Liszt by round two and thirdly; he was a Scot who was so antagonistic to the rest of his English team mates, we usually spent more time having a go at each other rather than at the opposition.

Oh and fourthly; nobody else

was prepared to do it.

Like most unsuccessful pub quiz teams - or in our case, an utterly useless pub quiz team – we covered up our total ineptitude by declaring that we were just there for the beer and a good laugh, and whilst there was some truth in the beer pre-requisite, underneath it all we were desperate not to look completely clueless even though we were.

By way of over compensation, we would celebrate long and loud in the unlikely event of a victory over a team composed of bigger turnips than us. Unlikely is probably putting it mildly, because a win for us was about as rare as hair on a cucumber.

Then in the true spirit of unsportsmanship we would taunt the vanquished enemy with chants of ‘Yoos-lesss’ and thoroughly rub their noses in it, until with heads lowered, they would slink out of the bar and drive off into the night – much to the chagrin of our landlord who had just seen a useful few quid disappear before his eyes.

Such was our ignorance of geography, sport, history and such

By Colin Bird : badbirdnow@gmail.com

like, some people were convinced that our aim was not only to lose matches, but to score as few points as possible. This was not true, but rather than disabuse them of this idea, we revelled to some extent in our image on the pub circuit, of being good hearted dimmo’s We would always get enthusiastic welcomes when we travelled to away matches; after all, another large win was a matter of absolute certainty, and the landlord’s eyes would light up as we entered the bar, because we were also known as big spenders and good losers.

Bad winners . . . but good losers.

Most of the other teams on the circuit were composed of individuals who specialised in one subject or another as well as possessing a good all round knowledge.

We on the other hand had nobody with anything resembling a good all round knowledge, although we did have our own specialists within the team.

Trouble was, the subjects in question were of sewerage disposal, housework and pond maintenance and in my case Cornish pub names.

Unfortunately not too many questions of this nature came our

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way.

Cyril, (sewerage) was asked once, to name the nine planets of the solar system. He looked as baffled as Adam on Mother’s Day before answering that he only knew three – the Earth, Mars, and the moon, although he wasn’t convinced that the Earth could be classed as a planet.

The frightening part was that the rest of us were nodding sagely at Cyril’s pronouncement and although we were not permitted to give assistance to team mates, I surreptitiously passed my struggling colleague a scrap of paper with the word Krypton written on it.

Another time, confronted with the question – ‘Which actress played the part of Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street?’ Agnes (housework) our token lady member, put down her knitting and beaming, declared loudly - Ena Sharples!

These days of course, you are a sad case if you actually can name soap characters, even the correct ones.

Amazingly, Splint (Pond Maintenance) whose nickname is derived from his surname of Harwood, was on one memorable occasion, posed a question about newts. He was so taken back with this turn of events that he almost ran out of time due to his premature celebrations involving his pint of Greene King and a good part of mine.

However, he not only gave the correct answer in the nick of time, but went on to give a full length lecture on the life cycle of the Great Crested Newt and precise locations in the British Isles where they could be found. All 700 of them.

Splint was the hero of the night however, because that point he managed to score was the difference at the end of the evening between the two teams. A rare win.

He had bored our opponents into submission.

Anyway, I’m available if anyone wants me.

ald John MacDon

(El Sordo) - ww

Canal Alqueria

u w.caratacus.e

Museo Parque de las Ciencias in Granada very kindly supplied an array of television broadcasting equipment.

They didn’t exactly donate it. A small but badly trained commando unit from Alqueria moved not so swiftly across the Spanish border and made off with it. Although antiquated it did transmit television pictures. From a shed on the Calle Generalissimo the sparking, smoking and shaking apparatus sent the Canal Alqueria Television signal across the village.

The Alquerian Parliament had decided to set up the service to meet the peculiar requirements of the village’s population. Local news, the singular Alquerian weather and entertainment designed for their strange tastes were all to be broadcast.

Blythe Gruntmore the resident Englishman and Geordie was to read the news. His grasp of Spanish was akin to a politician’s concept of truth. This was intentional as ninety percent of Alquerian news was bad and the other ten so trivial that not being understood by anyone sober enough to switch on their television set was a distinct advantage.

Rodriquez the most loathsome and hated man in the village took on the role of children’s entertainer in the guise of the lovable Rody el Payaso. His large bulbous red nose and clown’s baggy trousers simply made him even more hideous and grotesque than usual. One knew when he was performing in front of a live audience from the children’s screams and sobs. Prime time slots were filled by transmitting films from DVDs on hire from Dodgy Diego’s Film Rentals in Viator.

Manuela being Minister of Culture needed to be included but her usual contribution would be x-rated and only suitable for transmission in all but the most broadminded of Scandinavian states. She was therefore given a craft show demonstrating knitting techniques. Manuela is however an inventive girl with the result that her show could only be broadcast at two in the morning. Recordings of her show are changing hands for 200€ in the back streets of Almería.

Sacerdote del Semblante Lánguido, the village priest and existentialist rounded off the day’s programmes with a half hour spot. He spent the whole thirty minutes banging on about the meaningless universe and the contingency of all life. Some thought he was working hand-in-hand with Francisco Cabezacaso AKA Paco the Shrink the village psychiatrist. His patient numbers increased proportionally to the priest’s air-time.

A review of Canal Alqueria in a Spanish newspaper simply said. “The most exciting thing to happen to television since the off switch.”

Unfortunately electromagnetic waves do not conveniently stop at borders with the result that Spanish homes were receiving the Alquerian signal. Complaints reached such a peak that the Spanish authorities had to act. A week after Canal Alqueria started transmitting it stopped, blocked by elements of the Regimiento de Guerra Electronica 31.

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

17

Grand Opera Returns to Bargain Hunt / Auction GOING, GOING, GONE! San Miguel de Salinas

As February approaches, it is once more nearing the time when Strains of Grand Opera will be heard in San Miguel de Salinas. Opera San Miguel is returning to present its 5th Opera Workshop under the guidance of Tom and Katy Pargeter.

After the last very successful production of Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” set in ancient times in what is now Tunisia - see photo the staging moves across the Mediterranean to 19th century Sicily, with the wonderful melodramatic opera “Cavalleria Rusticana”

by Pietro Mascagni. Undoubtedly the composer’s best known work, it takes place, almost in real time, in a rural Sicilian village on the morning of Easter Sunday.

The full range of human emotions are played out in this One Act opera - love. hate. jealousy, revenge and death. The setting of the story to Mascagni’s beautiful music catapulted the composer to international fame after its first performances in 1890.

The music is as fresh and powerful today

as it was when it was written, the best known item being the glorious “Easter Hymn”, sung in the village church while the drama unfolds outside.

As ever, singers from the United Kingdom come to San Miguel to join together with singers from the Costa Blanca area to rehearse and present the fully stage opera in a week. Quite an undertaking!

Rehearsals start in the Casa de Cultura in San Miguel on Sunday 10th February, and continue every day during the course of the week. These rehearsals are open to the public to come and watch the work in progress. The performances will take place on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th February in the Casa de Cultura at 8.00 pm. Tickets for the two performances are €5 and will be available soon from the Box Office. More details will be available nearer the time.

In the meantime, if further information is required, please call 96 572 0919.

On Thursday 21st February at the Novo Carthago (renamed Paddy Singh’s) in Los Urrutias

Bring items for auction to the restaurant between 10-12 noon Hammer down at 2pm. €10 fee for 3 items or €4 for one item.

The auction fees will be donated to HELP Murcia Mar Menor The money raised on your items goes home with you Tel. Janice 650 737 383 or Bernard 659 751 611

Ladies who lunch

The Ladies who lunch friendship group kicked off 2013 with a lunch at Viloriens restaurant, Rojales on 9th January.

The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at different restaurants to enjoy a friendly social gathering with the aim of raising money for the Paul Cunningham nurses, and other charities.

With 33 ladies attending, The January lunch raised €160 including €37 collected that has become known as “pesky coins” - small value copper coins which the ladies collect during the month. It really is amazing how such small denomination coins mount up.

At the lunch venue volunteers also sell good quality donated second hand clothing with many bargains at only €2, as well as the “bling stall” selling bargain costume jewellery which brings in even more money for the charity.

Limited membership is still available, and should you wish to join, or perhaps donate saleable goods, then please contact Janine on 96 626 1359 or Maddie on 96 607 8646

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

Look Good Feel Great

the power of meditation People who suffer from painful conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis could ease their symptoms using a form of meditation, say researchers.

They added that the treatment, known as mindfulness, could prove a cheaper alternative to prescription medicines.

Mindfulness meditation involves ‘being present’ by focusing on breathing patterns and bodily sensations. This reduces worrying about the past and future and has been shown to be effective at alleviating depression.

The latest study suggested its calming effect could help those with stress-related chronic inflammatory conditions - such as bowel disease and asthma.

It is also a convenient technique as people can do the meditation exercises while sitting down or walking, according to the authors from the University of Wisconsin.

It comes as family doctors in the UK are being told to slash prescriptions of painkillers and sleeping pills amid concerns that patients are becoming addicted.

New guidelines now urge doctors to consider alternative treatments such as physiotherapy and counselling.

Study leader Melissa Rosenkranz, said some people don’t benefit from regular medicines with many suffering from negative side effects of drugs or failing to respond to standard treatment.

Ms Rosenkranz said: ‘Our study shows that there are specific ways mindfulness (meditation) can be beneficial and that there are specific people who may be more likely to benefit from this

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approach than other interventions.

‘The mindfulness-based approach to stress reduction may offer a lower-cost alternative or complement standard treatment and it can be practised easily by patients in their own homes, whenever they need.’

The study compared two different methods of reducing stress, one related to meditation and the other involving exercise and musical therapy.

The content of the program was meant to match aspects of the mindfulness instruction in some way. For example, physical exercise was meant to match walking meditation, without the mindfulness component.

‘In this setting, we could see if there were changes that we could detect that were specific to mindfulness,’ Rosenkranz said.

Cream containing heat from chilli peppers was used to inflame the skin of participants in both groups. Although both groups felt calmer after therapy, only mindfulness proved effective at reducing the inflammation.

Ms Rosenkranz added: ‘The study suggests that mindfulness techniques may be more effective in relieving inflammatory symptoms than other activities that promote well-being.

‘This is not a cure-all, but our study does show that - there are specific people who may be more likely to benefit from this

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If your resolution to exercise more is leaving you tired out, put your feet up.

Research suggests that short rest periods are just as important as the exercise itself.

Taking it easy now and again not only allows the muscles to recover, it also makes the body fitter faster, Stirling University sports scientists believe.

Their study was of keen cyclists but they think that men and women who are simply trying to get a bit fitter could also benefit from building periods of rest into their exercise programme.

In the study, 12 cyclists were split into two groups. One did bursts of high intensity exercise, interspersed with short rest periods, three times a week.

In each session, they pedalled hard, but below sprint pace, for four minutes, then stopped for two minutes, before repeating the pattern five times.

The second group rode continuously for an hour at a slightly easier pace, three times a week.

After four weeks, the two groups swopped programmes.

Tests showed the first programme, which involved a mixture

of tough training and taking it easy, to be the most beneficial, leading to twice as big an improvement in power and performance.

Researcher Stuart Galloway, an exercise physiologist, said: ‘It is a case of training smarter.

‘We found in these cyclists that if you can make the hard sessions harder and the easy sessions easier, then you will likely see better progress.

‘Amateur athletes tend to spend a lot of their training in the moderate intensity bracket which in our study showed smaller improvements.

‘For the wider public, most people were advised to do moderate intensity exercise for around three hours a week.

‘More recently, high-intensity bouts of exercise such as spin cycling classes or interval running have been presented as the best option.

‘We would suggest that while high intensity is still important, it’s the combination with low intensity which has the biggest impact.’

It is thought that muscles find it harder to recover from long periods of exercise, than from short bursts, even if they are physically tougher.

Dr Angus Hunter, co-author of the study which appears in the Journal of Applied Physiology, said: ‘Your muscles may be fatigued more quickly when you work at high intensity but they recover more quickly too.’

This could leave people feeling less tired in between exercise sessions.

Dr Galloway said: ‘Often everything merged into the middle, so the hard sessions aren’t hard enough and the easy session aren’t easy enough.

‘If you feel fatigued after exercising and are taking too long to recover, it is probably because you have done a session of continuous, moderate intensity exercise.’

The study is one several to extol the virtues of short, sharp bursts of exercise.

Aberdeen University research suggests that short, sharp burst of exercise are better at warding off heart disease than much longer, but less strenuous, sessions.

Concentrated effort may also burn off more calories - as well as being easier to fit into a hectic day.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

MAYOR EDUARDO DOLON

CREATES HARMONY WITH CRESCENDO INTERNATIONAL CHOIR

on ice dancing eek3 W

This week we saw all ten celebrities performing together for the first time but with a twist from the normal show format. This week took the form of a duel between 2 couples who ended up in the same position from the first two shows. As only 6 celebrities skated for the first two weeks it meant that there was a different winner from the first two weeks and so winner of week 1 skated against winner of week 2, second position against second position etc.

Opening the show were the first and second week winners Matt and Gareth and as two winners, it turned out to be a great duel. However the strength, speed and musicality of Matt came over in his performance and he looked much more confident and secure over the ice both in the skating and lifts. Gareth was excellent for this stage of the competition but not in the same league as Matt. There was a unanimous vote for Matt which meant that he gained immunity from the public vote but Gareth went into the vote but should be safe as there are other much weaker skaters.

Next out were Luke and Samia. This duel was much more evenly matched on paper but unfortunately Luke looked less confident and had his shoulders hunched up for much of his performance whereas Samia despite severely bruised ribs showed more musicality and nice body positions through the routine.

Again the judges unanimously voted immunity for Samia leaving Luke to the public vote.

Beth and Oona followed with their duel and Beth had improved vastly from last week she showed more feel for the choreography and coupled with her incredible gymnastic flexibility will progress as the weeks go on. Oona is technically a very good skater but this week appeared not so comfortable with her performance. Again a unanimous judges vote with Beth immune and Oona for the public vote.

Next out were Shayne and Anthea.

Shayne still looks uncomfortable on the ice and will need much more knee depth to gain the necessary speed and confidence over the ice.

His upper body line was much improved but he still has a long way to go. Anthea on the other hand looked much more at home and she has such a grace and elegance on the ice. Yet again the judges were unanimous with Anthea immune leaving Shayne to the public vote.

By Lyn Aspden of ‘Strictly Dance’ For Class Info & Venues 635 584 431

Closing this weeks show were the comedians Joe and Keith. I love these two celebrities. Even though two of the weakest celebrity skaters they are just so entertaining. Keith always looks as if he is having the time of his life and Joe hoping to stay on his feet for the whole performance! He still looks a bit like bambi on ice. Keith gained immunity and Joe faces the public vote.

My bottom 2 for this show were Joe and Shayne or Luke. However I have a feeling that Joe may not end up in the bottom 2 because of his popularity.

The bottom 2 actually were: Oona and Gareth much to my surprise, probably because the public presumed they would be safe. Gareth performed his skate off well but unfortunately Oona’s partner Mark fell coming onto the ice and dislocated his shoulder but there was only a short delay before he performed the skate off and against any other of the bottom 5 she would have remained in the competition as she has a serene elegance on the ice. Neither of these celebrities should have been in this position and unfortunately Oona lost out with a 3 to 1 vote from the judges and has lost her position in the show. You never know what will happen in this competition from one week to the next so let’s see how next week goes? Until next week - keep dancing!

Their title of Crescendo International Choir is made manifestly clear when you consider the members currently include, English, Irish, Dutch, German, Welsh, Danish, Swedish, Russian and a Spanish choir leader and accompanist.

Half-way through their weekly rehearsal on January 16th, whilst practising songs for the following day’s concert at the Nosmo-King Club, the members must have thought the quest for more male singers was about to be partially satisfied as in walked 2 men – a Spaniard and a Brit. Not to be – unless the Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon and Graham Knight would care to audition for a vacancy?

The contingent of 3 included Rosario Martinez of the Concejal de Extranjerias fulfilling a promise to pay an informal visit to become more aware of the activities of the International Community within the Torrevieja area.

Well Senor Dolon, you could be in for a very busy but rewarding time. The ex-pats who have come to share your bountiful Spanish sunshine and hospitality have brought with them a wealth of life-time

experience, expertise and knowledge. We widen our own horizons as we share in a huge diversity of social and educational gatherings – right on your doorstep.

What is more, a great many of these groups would desire to encourage more Spanish interest to ensure integration is a two way process. The leader of the choir, Irene Andres would encourage anyone of any nationality to join the choir (especially men). The only requirements are a tuneful voice and a commitment to attend a weekly rehearsal.

The benefits are obvious – improved language skills, a greater understanding and tolerance of cultural differences, enjoyment of all types of music, the making of new friends – the list is endless.

Music is an international language par excellence. The choir meets at El Paraiso (near Carrefour) on a Wednesday morning.

For information contact www.crescendochoir. Pay them a visit, listen to a rehearsal and meet the leaders and members.

The mayor has led the way by his visit.

Follow his lead – you may be surprised too!

Legionnaires” Bowling The “Legionnaires” Bowling Section had a brilliant day out at the Emerald Isle Bowls Club.

The results didn’t go our way, but the friendly atmosphere made up for our disappointment with a wonderful meal and company of our host’s. We won on two rinks, lost on six, total 99 shots for.

161 against.

Our winning rinks were, Irene Laverick, Ken Archer, & Dave Laverick. 13 - 11,

Sandy Needham, Dianne Budd, & Malc Ayton 14 - 12.

Well done the “Legionnaires”, we are getting better and our new bowlers are a credit to the Royal British Legion, keep it up, results will come our way eventually.

Thanks to everyone from Alan Budd for his hard work, and Rick the Capt.

Rick Shiel (Capt) 966 790 441

The B Boppers Bop in Bigastro

On Friday 25th January from 9pm, this time for Help Vega Baja at La Terraza Cafe Bar and at just €3.50 a ticket you are in for a real treat with Pete, Lee and Izzy who also perform as The Fabulous PDQ!!

Pat and Ron Perrin will be hoppin and boppin as they run a raffle and some fun fundraising for Help Vega Baja on this sixties music night. See if you remember this?

If you do then you are sure to have a great time!!!

He rocks in the tree tops all day long, hoppin’ and a-boppin’ and singing his song.

All the little birdies on Jaybird street love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet!

Rockin’ robin. rock rock Rockin’ robin Blow rockin’ robin ‘cause we’re really gonna rock tonight!

If you are foot tapping already Darren and Hazel from La Terraza Bar in Bigastro know you will be on your feet hoppin and boppin and dancing all night! Call into the bar or phone 625 272 256 or email darrenyar1967@yahoo.co.uk or Pat patmperrin@hotmail.com to reserve your tickets for this great night out.

www.soltimes.com

I was reading an older copy of your favourite free newspaper yesterday when I read an article on this new(ish) laptop caught my eye. The article was about the Google ChromeBook and it got me wondering exactly what makes this such an innovation.

The only claim to fame for this device is that it has not got a hard drive, and neither goes my laptop but that isn’t innovation as much as it is despiration! The Chromebook runs Chrome OS, an operating system that have been written by Google. Google Chrome OS is the little brother of Chromium OS which is a Linux-based operating system and is open source (meaning anyone can examine the source code and modify it!). It was designed by Google, with a simplified user interface, to work exclusively with web applications (direct from the website!). Google Chromebook is aimed at users who spend most of their computer time on the Web, the only application on the device is a browser incorporating a media player and a file manager.

So far this does sound like a good deal, doesn’t it? Well it is lighter than an equivalent laptop, claims to start up within 10 seconds and unlike normal laptops maintains this speed regardless of how much it is used.

There are 2 basic levels that the OS performs on, these are what is built in and what is stored on the cloud. So let’s start with what is built in. The system is populated with Apps which are the programs that you use on a Chromebook to do things like create documents, listen to music and edit photos of your puppy. Google claims that there is no more buying and installing software as thousands of apps are free.

Now let us examine what is in the cloud. Chromebooks have an auto-update mechanism so you always get the freshest software and security features. The applications also have the option of auto or manual update which you can expect every couple of months.

Chromebooks use an online file storage service, so you can save and access your stuff safely online and won’t need to back up your files manually.

So far, so good. Now here is where I start to have a few problems.

I like to have my files where I can get to them! I like the idea that I don’t have to be connected to the internet to be able to access this information. Like many, but not all, I have different password combinations some of them long and randomly generated. I have to store them in a file that has been encrypted, on a USB chip that has been encrypted and then store the chip in the most improbable of places. Can you guarantee that someone, who you have never met, is willing and able to provide the same level of security for your secure information?

In America, where WIFI is everywhere, working on-line is feasible. Here in Spain we are still some 10 year behind the UK and many more years behind america. Maybe this technology isn’t quite ready for Spain or Spain isn’t quite ready for this technology.

So in conclusion, Your Chromebook can update your software either automatically or manually. Your data is stored “in the cloud” by some unseen divinity and you need internet access to work at more than 10 percent efficiency. Or you have access to hundreds of thousands of free programs that will update automatically or manually, do not require the internet to do 90 percent if your workload and know exactly where all your passwords and important documents are!

This piece, for example, is being written on my cheap and cheerful ancient laptop without the internet as the winds have blown over my internet receiving dish! Something I wouldn’t be able to do if I had to work exclusively on-line. Just a thought ;-)

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

Address To A Haggis...

BIOGRAPHY:

Robert Burns was born at Alloway, near Ayr, on 25 January 1759.

His father William was a gardener to the Provost of Ayr. Robert was educated briefly at John Murdoch’s school in Alloway and later in Ayr. Family financial worries forced Burns to work as a farm labourer, and it was while thus occupied that he met his first love, Nelly Kirkpatrick. She inspired him to try his hand at poetry, a song entitled “O, once I lov’d a bonnie lass”, set to the tune of a traditional reel.

Burns worked at a succession of labouring jobs, including flax dressing, and began writing poetry regularly. When his father died in 1784, Burns and his brother Gilbert rented a farm near Mauchline.

Burns spread his affections freely, and the next decade saw 8 illegitimate children born to him through 5 different women. One of these, Jean Armour, became Mrs. Burns in 1788.

SUCCESS: The first published work of poetry by Robert Burns was “Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect” which saw the light of day on 31 July 1786. This collection of verse contained many of Burn’s best works, including “To a Mouse”, and “The Holy Fair”.

The success of “Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect” convinced Burns to abandon plans to emigrate to Jamaica. Buoyed by his burgeoning reputation as an unschooled “ploughman poet”, Burns moved to Edinburgh and became part of the thriving cultural

scene there. He was unable to find a patron to support his writing, but publisher James Johnson gave him work editing a collection of Scottish folk songs. This work, titled “The Scots Musical Museum”, was published in 5 volumes over sixteen years. Burns himself contributed over 150 songs, including “Auld Lang Syne”, a reworking of an earlier folk song of unknown origin.

Burns and his wife Jean moved to Mauchline, where in 1790 he produced “Tam o’ Shanter”, which was first published merely as an accompaniment to an illustration of Alloway Kirk, in a volume of “Antiquities of Scotland”. The growing Burns family moved again, this time to Dumfries.

Burns contributed 114 songs to “A Select Collection Of Scottish Airs” by George Thomson, but he received very little payment for his efforts. In 1795, Burns was inspired by the events of the French Revolution to write “For a’ that and a’ that”, his cry for human equality.

One year later, on July 21, 1796, Burns was dead of rheumatic fever. He was buried in the churchyard of St. Michael’s in Dumfries, even as his wife Jean was in childbirth with their ninth child.

LEGACY: Robert Burns gained more fame after his death than he ever did during his lifetime. Many of his songs and poems have become international favourites - even among those who find his use of Scottish lowland dialect difficult to decipher!

Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care, And dish them out their bill o’ fare, Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware That jaups in luggies; But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer Gie her a haggis!

21

Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish culture for about 200 years as a means of commemorating the birth of Robert Burns.

Burns Suppers range from ostentatiously formal gatherings of aesthetes and scholars to uproariously informal rave-ups of drunkards and louts. Most Burns Suppers fall in the middle of this range, and adhere, more or less, to some sort of time honoured form which includes the eating of a traditional Scottish meal, the drinking of Scotch whisky, and the recitation of works by, about, and in the spirit of the Bard!

And when Burns immortalised haggis in verse he created a central link that is maintained to this day.

22

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

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

THE SPAINIAC | Plaza de España (Seville) | Candice Parsons

Until physically facing the building up close, the grandiosity of Plaza de España lies almost hidden on the edge of Parque de María Luisa’s lush and leafy gardens.

With its construction beginning in 1914 and design overseen by Sevillian architect Aníbal González, the Renaissance/neo-Moorish styled landmark was built specifically as the centerpiece of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 (‘Expo 29’).

Located next to Avenida Isabella La Catolica, Plaza de España was designed to showcase both the industrial and craft talents of Seville.

The initial idea was that this presence and hosting of the world Expo would enhance and modernize the image

of the city, and thus increase its civil works, employment and international relationships.

Due to the outbreak of both World War I and political issues between Spain and Morocco, the completion of the site was delayed.

Its progress also faced aesthetic criticisms and financial difficulties caused from Seville’s poor economic status during the construction period.

In 1926 Gonzalez resigned from his position in the project and was replaced by Vincente Taverner, who oversaw its final completion in 1928. Taverner added the central fountain to the site, where King Alfonso XIII

inaugurated Expo 29.

Today, Plaza de España houses government offices and the regional army’s general office.

Measuring 50, 000 square metres, the plaza covers the size equivalent to five football pitches.

The two tall towers at each end, connected by a long and curved colonnaded gallery structure, all echo a majestic awe within and throughout the whole site.

Known as the ‘Venice of Seville’, Plaza de España is surrounded by a 500-meter canal with four bridge crossings, all intricately decorated with ceramic tiles.

Small rowing boats can also be rented along the canal for around five euros per 45 minutes, or the motorboat, Enriqueta, for nine euros.

The curved wall following along the canal holds 48 alcoves; of which each of their benches represent the different provinces of Spain. The alcoves boast relevant tableau and maps, illustriously designed using colorful azulejos.

Over the decades, Plaza de España has been used as a filming location for several movies, including Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia, and more recently, The Dictator with Sasha Baron-Cohen.

As both an emblematic site of Seville, and a significant representative for Spain and Spanish history, Plaza de España is a landmark not to be missed in this city.

Candice Parsons is a writer and avid Spain and Spanish culture lover from Melbourne, Australia. ‘Like’ my Facebook page: www.facebook. com/pandemicrhapsody and follow me on Twitter @MiLlamoCandi

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

Q: I have heard that a new law has been passed that is going to permit the obtention of title deeds for many of the “illegal houses in the Almanzora Valley” What you have heard about is a new law passed in February of last year. This law has indeed established different certifications that town halls can issue depending on the situation of a property with ought a building license, and which under certain circumstances will offer access to a title deed to the house and access to the property register (this will not be the solution to all illegal properties).

These documents are going to have a cost attached to them. (Which could vary between 2 and 5% of the building cost of the property depending on the town hall). Many town halls have not decided yet on the percentage that they will be charging. In addition most town halls will not issue these certificates until they have established the exact situation themselves of all the properties built with ought a license in their territory. Not all illegal houses are the same and not all town halls and registrars will interpret the norm in the same way (specially at this early stage).

We suggest consulting how the law may affect your particular situation as soon as possible

CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEFICIT: TAX AUTHORITIES ARE HOT AT COLLECTING NON- RESIDENT INCOME TAX

(Do not confuse with your rates /IBI which are generally paid by direct debit) Do not forget that if you are a non-resident of Spain (and you are making no income). You must present a non-resident income tax return every year. It is obligatory, and if you are not doing so you must start. If you wish to receive a full explanation about this tax, please email me and I will send you the article...

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 JANUARY 2013

23

Holiday Camp Antics

Campoverde Theatre Group are preparing for their next production Di de Di. The company is getting ready for the new holiday season when they will again be offering Pensioner Specials. The year remains 1959, and the entertainment staff have aged considerably since we last encountered Gladys, Jeffrey, Ted, Peggy and the Bluecoats, but their hopes and dreams remain the same. We still have our very aged dancing couple hissing at each other, Partridge is still as grumpy as ever and Spike is still trying to bail Ted out of his woes. At least the Craplin Debonaires are a delight in the Hawaiian Ballroom with their excellent cabaret shows. Come and join us for the holiday camp antics at Craplin’s Holiday Camp.

Staged at San Miguel Casa de Cultura , show dates are Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March. Tickets are now available from Colin on 96 677 4127

HARMONY IN CASTALLA WANTED URGENTLY Tony Henderson, a member of the Torrevieja Barbershop Harmonisers booked the Castalla auditorium for the last of 3 concerts spread over 3 days, for The Spanish Association of Barbershop Singers (SABS). The singers participating included The Harmonisers, The Spangles and two Male Quartets - The Hanfris and Fourmidables.

The show was to help raise funds for last year´s Spanish Gold Medal quartet winners - the Hanfris (based near Barcelona) to compete in the European Championship contest which will be held in Holland later this year.

The performance was well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.

Tony Henderson was proud to conduct the Harmonisers for the first time on his home ground.

For the Finale everyone gathered together to sing an Eight part composition called ´Harmony´ which is a joy to hear with the male and female´s vocals coming together!

Everyone would like to wish ´The Hanfris Quartet´all the best for their future competitions and hope to celebrate another Gold medal in the not too distant future!

For more information log onto www.theharmonisers.com PHOTO BY KRISTOFF

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

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Contact Steve on 610 004 698 for a prompt and reliable service.

The Green Baize Snooker and Pool Hall, in Quesada is the ideal venue for a relaxing game of snooker , pool or darts, with full size snooker tables, pool tables (including 2 American) and match play dart boards. Why not enjoy a bite to eat from aried menu, while watching all the big sporting events on the creens. A great venue with a great atmosphere - Telephone 966 15 - find us right next to Quesada Fish & Chips!

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

D

octor Doctor Digital Satellite Systems are based in Digital Ciudad Quesada and cover the Costa Blanca region.

We pride ourselves on our after sales service and will not only look after our customers but will also respond with the same priority to other dissatisfied customers who have been let down by their own providers. Doctor Digital only uses high gain prime focus Portuguese dishes and the latest LNB’s. We can supply and fit all types of satellite and internet tv systems for bars, domestic households and also community installations. If you require subscription television then the Doctor can advise and provide for you fully legal packages which are available. We can also supply Internet television at a cost. To keep costs down we also provide non subscription television packages, this means no monthly payments. Upgrades are not a problem and if your system needs a health check just call the Doctor. Please be aware this is not a re-broadcast signal, it is direct from the satellite to your home.

This means you are in control of what you watch and you are not breaking any copyright laws. Call John on 686 814 642 or 966 718 367 - EMail: doctordigitalsatellites@hotmail.com

Table tennis tables darts pool tables snooker tables tel: 666 933 726 www.spainpool.com

Tel: 966 716 315

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

605 319 889 or 966 753 375

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25

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26

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

HOME & GARDEN...

CAMPO LIFE

WITH JENNI.......

Campo life, ie. living in the country does have wonderful advantages, the views, space and fresh air but it does have its draw backs too!

In our case it is not being connected to mains water or electricity. In both instances, it has been a struggle and a very expensive journey to get to where we are now and we are still not even there yet!

Self sufficiency and sustainability are the buzz words of today, but more and more people are now finding with the rising costs of fuel and electricity year on year, that green

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energy is becoming a viable alternative. We have become conditioned to accept that food somehow magically arrives on the table, as long as we can make the money to buy it.

However making that money and ‘chasing the green dragon’ leads to lifestyles so far removed from the land, that we never think how much effort and energy it takes to produce what we consume on a daily basis.

I firmly believe that the more that we chase the economic dream, the more trapped we become. Modern lifestyles today cannot exist without electricity and fuel. Technology needs electricity to function, and I don’t think anyone can imagine a life without computers, the Internet etc. I am not knocking the use of this medium as I embrace it wholeheartedly, it is just that when your computer or your phone runs out of battery, you just plug it into a socket and it recharges, ready to use again. One takes these things for granted and the thought rarely crosses our mind eg. Where does the electricity come from and how is it made? – Until you do not have or when it becomes too expensive!

Fortunately here in Spain we do have 2 things that we can use to generate our own power and hep towards sustainability and that is the sun and the wind.

Galicia currently leads in wind power development in the autonomous regions for the third consecutive year closely followed by Castilla La Mancha, Aragon, Navarre, and Castile-León. The Valencian Community is 6th on the list and Murcia is double that at 12th. Spain made the world’s headlines in March 2011 when Wind power became Spain’s main source of electricity for the first time ever in history.

The president of the AEE, Jose Donoso was reported saying “This historic milestone reached by wind energy shows that this energy source, as well as being indigenous, clean and increasingly competitive, is also capable of providing three million Spanish households,” Unfortunately in our case our 20 KW wind turbine has not proved that successful and has been beset by problems and in hindsight we were far too ambitious.

For the first year,it lay on the floor while we waited for the massive 20m tower to be sent from China. Derek dug the footings of 5 x 5 x 4 metres - copious amounts of concrete and tons of steel were required for the foundations.

Finally the day finally

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arrived to put up the tower and up it went, only to find that the direction finder did not work and it would not turn out of the wind, so we had to do it manually. Being so high in the sky means that is it not easily fixed, requiring a crane at a considerable cost.

Contrary to popular belief, just because there is wind does not mean the wind turbine works perfectly, Sometimes, like this weekend, with wind speeds topping 90kmp hour it is just too windy and other days the wind is just too light.

Our turbine and not worked for over a year and a half and my neighbour who has also spent a considerable amount of money on his, does not work effectively either. I would like to comment here, that we have just been unfortunate and if we purchased a wind turbine now, it would be completely different.

Technology has improved beyond recognition and will continue to improve and get more productive.

In general windpower in Spain is accepted but in the UK it has received a lot of bad press but a recent national study in the UK in 2012 shows that eight in ten people (82%) agree that ‘The UK needs a mix of energy sources to ensure a reliable supply of electricity’. While the perception of wind turbines is a matter of personal taste, the survey shows that 66% of public support onshore wind in the UK, with 12% opposing (5% of which strongly). The potential risk to wildlife is one of the primary arguments used to oppose large scale developments but again studies do not support this view.

Whatever your view, whether you think they are ugly, they are here to stay. We simply had no alternative as we tried for many years to connect to Iberdrola but to no avail and for the amount of electricity required to run a house of this size, wind energy was the best solution. We are now in the process of repairing the Turbine with an Expert from Holland who has worked exclusively on these turbines before, in fact he has one of his own. With his help it is hoped that it will be up and running and working to its full capacity in the not too distant future.

We have recently put up some solar panels but more about that next week Until then keep warm and don´t forget we are walking again every Monday at 10.30am for experienced walkers and again at 2pm for those who need to build up their fitness to participate In the lake Charity Challenge on March 3rd in aid of HAH and Elche Children´s Home.

Jenni

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Events: Annual Lake Charity Challenge, Walk or cycle Sunday, 3 March www.thingstodoinspain.info or 660 816 620 Jenni

www.soltimes.com

The yucca plant is a popular indoor and outdoor plant. One problem in caring for yucca plants that indoor owners have that outdoor owners generally do not is that indoor plants can grow too tall. They need to be trimmed back. Pruning a yucca may look harsh, but it is an excellent way to not only keep your yucca plant manageable but propagate the plant.

A C C U Y r o f s Yi

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

27

Yucca Plants – Care & Pruning

With yucca plants, care and pruning are easy. When your yucca plant becomes too tall for the space it is in, gently remove it from the pot. Determine where the halfway mark is on the trunk or a point where you wish to be pruning a yucca that is above the halfway point. Using a saw or a sharp pair of loppers, cut the trunk in half.

Repot the bottom, rooted end of the trunk. Water well and then you are done with your pruning. While the plants are recovering, continue caring for the yucca plants as you normally would. In a short time, the plant will produce new leaves. It will recover to look as good as it did before, except that it will be much shorter and more appropriately sized.

Propagating A Yucca Plant

If you wish to produce more yucca plants, take the top half from pruning the yucca and use a marker on the trunk to indicate where the leaves are. After you have marked the trunk, cut off the leafy top. Plant the trunk in potting soil, making sure to have the end that previously had the leaves pointing up. Check the mark on the trunk if you have forgotten which end is which.

In a few weeks, the trunk will have rooted itself and a few weeks following this, the trunk will start producing new leaves. Continue caring for the yucca plants as they grow.

Best time For Pruning A Yucca

Like most plants, the best time for pruning a yucca is right before it goes into its growth period. This will be in early spring. While early spring is the ideal time, a yucca can be pruned anytime. Just make sure the yucca plant gets plenty of light while it is recovering.

Pruning Yucca Flower Stalks

Though not exactly pruning, many people wonder about cutting off the yucca’s flower stalk after the blooms have faded. The flower stalk can be pruned off at any time, even before it is done blooming. Simply cut the stalk off with a sharp pair of pruning shears or cutter at about 3″-4″ above where the stalk emerges from the main stem.

Like all things about yucca plants, care and pruning is very easy. It may seem drastic, but I assure you that your yucca plant considers this to be a very normal thing.

28

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

UP THE GARDEN PATH

Get your spirit level, spade, trowel and cement mixer out and start laying some garden paths!

The secret to laying successful gravel, slate, shingle or granite chippings paths is to plan carefully and have all the required materials and tools to hand before you start work. For all loose surfaces, an edging of some description is required, to prevent it escaping to the rest of the garden.

Step 1: Clear the site and markout Using a scaled plan of your garden design, mark out the position of your paths, with pegs and line. Clear any vegetation from the area and dig out soil to a depth of approx. 150mm (6”) with a spade Step 2: Edging in stone or concrete needs mortar For stone or concrete edging mix a mortar at a ratio of 3-4 parts building sand to 1 part cement. Place the mortar at the edges; position the edging material into the mix ensuring the correct height by gently tapping with a rubber mallet. Use a spirit level to ensure they are level Step 3: Edge higher than surface Remember, the edge should be higher than the surface to stop the gravel spilling out. If it is placed next to grass, ensure that the top is at least 10mm below the height of turf to prevent mower damage. Instead of stone edging, you could use planed timber, logs, or wooden sleepers which don’t need concrete - secure with wooden pegs.

Step 4: Layer of hard-core Now place a layer of hard-core over the base, to a depth of approx. 100mm (4”) and firm with a vibrating plate. If you have a small path you could do this with a garden roller Step 5: Layer of sharp sand, hoggin or fine gravel Cover this with a layer of sharp sand, hoggin or fine gravel to a depth of approx. 25mm (1”) and firm again. This will help the hard core from showing through the top layer in the future Step 6: Gravel, slate, shingle, granite chippings Now place a layer of gravel, slate chippings, shingle, granite chippings, or any other loose surface of your choice. Rake to correct level, and gently hose with water to clean the material DIY tips for your gravel path project If you spill mortar on edging, wash with water to prevent stains...

For a curved edge, use a hose or rope as a guide...

Although many people lay a weed proof membrane over the soil and then add gravel to create a path, this does not provide a firm foundation for gravel, but will be fine for bark chippings...

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advertising feature

...HOME & GARDEN

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

We have now been manufacturing and doors to roller blinds, both pull down and installing all types of mosquito screen for side to side, also American swing doors. the past 10 years, from the Costa Blanca Because we manufacture our turnaround to the Costa Del Sol. is usually within 5 to 7 days. But Summer Dave Edgar, wife Carol and son Carl months can be a lot busier so why wait opened the company on the Costa Del Sol for the first bite? Take advantage of a then branched out into the Costa Blanca 20% discount ONLY WITH THIS EDITORIAL, 5 years ago. for immediate installations DON’T DELAY Dave says we opened our business to solely CALL DAVE TODAY Tel: 966 716 329 Mob: concentrate on screening, manufacturing 722 763 055 and installing all varieties of screens from Aluminium Sliding Screens for windows and Mike Robinson, Mollina

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

Battery Heated Socks ~ 22€ Ideal for inside your wellies, these heated socks come with a battery pack on each sock which sits neatly and virtually unnoticeable on the outside of the calf. All you have to do is insert 1 “D” size battery (per sock) and flick the switch to on.

Very safe, the low amperage electronics eliminates all possibility of any shock or burn, even when wet. Battery power can last up to 10 hours with a good branded battery…mmm…. cosy!

Colour Changing Umbrella ~ 25€ The Colour Changing Umbrella has four pictures of clouds made from colour changing materials. When these get wet they will change colour and when they dry turn grey again.

You might even be slightly disappointed to see it stop raining and your umbrella reverting back to its former dull and dry state!.

Michael Fish Mug ~ 10€ Bring some sunshine in to your day! Now you can be a legendary weather forecaster with your very own official licensed Michael Fish Weather homeware. The Michael Fish weather mug is a great way to cheer up your day. Let some sunshine in to your day by pouring hot liquid in to the mug and see the clouds disappear!

Gadgets …for dodgy weather!

Doggy-Dryer ~ 14.50€ Drying the dog with your Egyptian cotton matching towel set is far from ideal The Doggie Dryer is made for the task in hand. It dries faster and more completely than any other towel to help keep his/her coat shiny and healthy. Made of an Aquitex® microfibre material, it rapidly and gently draws water from her coat and wicks it away to dry hair quickly, reducing chills and discomfort while saving us time!

Weather Forecaster Fridge Magnets ~ 18.27€ Your very own fridge forecasting kit, complete with magnetic snow, sunshine and rain clouds!

All the familiar icons are there from the good old days when Michael Fish and chums used to stick symbols on notice boards, keeping their fingers crossed that they’d stay up until the end of the news. The kit contains over 30 fridge magnets featuring everything you need to announce the climate in your household. Will it be a hurricane warning or a ridge of high pressure!

please note, prices do not include p&p all of these items are available online through various retailers - for more information about any of these PRODUCTS, PLEASE EMAIL: EDITOR@SOLTIMES.COM

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

email your favourite recipes to editor@soltimes.com

cereal controversy

Breakfast cereals sold in Britain contain as much as 30 per cent more sugar than the same products in the United States.

Kellogg’s Special K is sold as a healthy option for women trying to lose weight but contains 17g of sugar per 100g. That is equivalent to more than four teaspoons of white sugar and is 30 per cent more than the 13g of sugar per 100g in Special K sold in America.

The British version of Cheerios, made by Nestlé, has 21.5g of sugar per 100g, more than five times the amount of sugar as the American version (4g per 100g).

Nestlé said the British version of Cheerios more closely resembled Multi Grain Cheerios, a cereal with a similar amount of sugar which is not sold in the UK. Weetabix flagship health brand Alpen muesli was found to have 15% more sugar than the version sold in the US. The manufacturer claimed that the difference

in levels of sugar was not a result of extra additives in the UK product. Weetabix said that the difference was because of ‘locally sourced ingredients’.

Calorie content was also found be divergent between UK and US cereals. Of the 16 brands of Kellog’s cereals sold in both countries, 11 had had a higher number of calories per 100g.

The findings come on the back of Government moves to regulate sugar content in products available to children.

A recent report by the Organisation for the Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that English children were the third fattest in Europe, after Italy and Greece – but almost twice as obese as the French. Almost 27% of girls in England were overweight and 23% of boys.

The OECD estimated that a comprehensive antiobesity strategy in England would cost less than £12 per person and save 70,000 lives per year.

The Government has responded to the obesity problem by drafting a public health responsibility deal that will require manufacturers to meet a series of commitments.

Nestle has already signed up to all commitments, including reducing calories.

However, Kellog’s have only committed to a reduction in salt content.

All manufacturers are expect to report on their progress by next month.

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Easy Entertaining Celebrity recipe books too much for us to digest

40% of the celebrity recipe books are never used by home cooks! They may look magnificent when propped up against the latest hi-tech kitchen gadget, suggesting this is someone who could take on any TV chef in a battle of knife skills. But many are intimidated by the unfamiliar ingredients, recipes and language used by the likes of Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay.

By contrast, mums and dads creating a family meal, or even a dinner party, are much happier with the style, ease and simplicity offered by the likes of Delia Smith and, particularly, Jamie Oliver.

The findings may well send a message to the bosses at Waitrose who have, controversially, dropped Delia from their advertising while keeping the more adventurous Heston.

Two in three - 67% - said they find the recipes in many glossy cookbooks intimidating, according to the survey commissioned by Italian food company Sacla. Some 35% said they were put off by the cost of ingredients, while 29% said recipes were too complicated.

More than a quarter - 27% - said hard-to-find ingredients stopped them using the books.

The cooking terms that largely sent home chefs into a spin were ballotine, where 45% had no idea what it was, umami, cartouche, concasse and chiffonade.

The research found the typical British home has 10 cookbooks, however the owners have only tried an average of four recipes from

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People admitted that 40% of recipe books have never been used at all.

Waitrose has suffered a backlash for sticking with Heston and his chemistry set approach to cooking ahead of Delia Smith Heston Blumenthal’s ‘In Search of Perfection’ and Gordon Ramsay’s ‘3 Star Chef’ were cited as the books most likely to gather dust.

This is not surprising when creating Heston’s Black Forest Gateau recipe involves the need to knock-up a makeshift vacuum chamber, while his Perfection Chicken Tikka Masala takes three days to cook.

Waitrose has suffered a backlash for sticking with Heston and his chemistry set approach to cooking ahead of Delia, who has spent much of her career taking the mystery out of preparing good food.

The research found that many have given up on cookbooks completely, with more than half - 53 per cent - now searching for recipes online based on what they have got in the fridge and cupboard.

The Sacla managing director, Clare Blampied, said: ‘The Italians have taught us that simple recipes featuring four or five key ingredients are the key to successful every day cooking.

‘Perhaps it’s time to learn from them and de-clutter our kitchens of complicated books we don’t use and embrace the Italian way of cooking fresh, seasonal recipes using simple methods and relatively cheap ingredients.’

Fantastic winter SPECIALS BOARD €4.50

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Always fresh, always exciting, always incredible value!

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after Perfect for a relaxing lunch

31

per person

Valentines Night

Thursday 14th February 2013 Sizzling Garlic Prawns Chilli and Cheese Nachos Fine Herb Pate Homemade Soup

Chicken and Bacon Carbonara Roast Duck Breast in Orange sauce FreshSalmon Fillet Rib Eye Steak

Medley of miniature homemade desserts Carafe of house wine per couple

Tel: 966 111 605

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

32

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

Easy Entertaining Fast-food ‘linked to childhood asthma and eczema’

Eating fast food three times a week may lead to asthma and eczema in children, say researchers who have looked at global disease and dietary patterns.

researchers.

In the study, children in their early teens who ate three or more weekly servings of fast food had a 39% increased risk of severe asthma.

Six and seven year olds had a 27% increased risk.

Eating three or more portions of fruit a week cut the risk of severe asthma, eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis by between 11% and 14%.

The study authors, Prof Innes Asher, from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and Prof Hywel Williams, from the University of Nottingham in the UK, said: “If the associations between fast foods and the symptom prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema is causal, then the findings have major public health significance owing to the rising consumption of fast foods globally.”

Generally, people with asthma do not have to follow a special diet.

In some cases, certain foods, such as cow’s milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, yeast products, nuts, and some food colourings and preservatives, can make symptoms worse.

Malayka Rahman of Asthma UK, said research suggests that a person’s diet may contribute to their risk of developing asthma and that eating healthily may have a beneficial effect.

“Evidence suggests that the vitamins and antioxidants found in fresh fruit and vegetables have a beneficial effect on asthma therefore Asthma UK advises people with asthma to eat a healthy, balanced diet including five portions of fruit

Data from more than 500,000 children in more than 50 countries suggests poor diet may be to blame for rising levels of these allergy-related conditions.

Those who ate fast food, such as take-away burgers, risked severe asthma, eczema and itchy, watery eyes.

Eating plenty of fruit appears to be protective, Thorax journal reports.

Fast food often contains high levels of saturated- and transfatty acids, which are known to affect immunity, while fruit is rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds, say the

La Vista The Deli with a Difference!!

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Burns supper

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Day in 25TH JANUARY 7:30pm Valentines style. Our fabulous For those timorous beastie nights menu and entertainer €12.50 per. person will be announced Cock – A – Leekie Soup shortly.

Tippsy Laird Haggis Tatties and Neeps Cheese and Oatcakes Bookings may be made at the bar Toasts include whisky or sherry

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or vegetables every day, fish more than twice a week, and pulses more than once a week.”

CHEF’S SPECIALS

Wednesday from 1pm Special Menu del Dia

3 Courses including small glass of wine or small beer

All for €4.95

Menu changes weekly

SATURDAY SPECIAL FOR 2

Choose from 8oz Sirloin Steak Or Hunters Chicken,Chips, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes.

Includes bottle of house wine per. couple or small beer or water €14.95

Our Sunday Lunches are great value

Beef or Pork 2 courses €5.95 3 Course €7.95

Includes glass of beer or wine or small bottle of water

By popular demand our Sunday Lunch will include Lamb Shank (€2 supplement) If possible please book at the bar by Friday.

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

email your favourite recipes to editor@soltimes.com INGREDIENTS 2 tsp cumin seeds large pinch chilli flakes 1 tbsp olive oil 1 red onion , chopped 140g red split lentils 850ml vegetable stock or water 400g can tomatoes, whole or chopped 200g carton chickpeas or ½ a can, rinsed and drained (freeze leftovers) small bunch coriander roughly chopped (save a few leaves, to serve) 4 tbsp 0% Greek yogurt, to serve

INGREDIENTS

METHOD Heat a large saucepan and dry-fry the cumin seeds and chilli flakes for 1 min, or until they start to jump around the pan and release their aromas. Add the oil and onion, and cook for 5 mins. Stir in the lentils, stock and tomatoes, then bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 mins until the lentils have softened.

Whizz the soup with a stick blender or in a food processor until it is a rough purĂŠe, pour back into the pan and add the chickpeas. Heat gently, season well and stir in the coriander. Finish with a dollop of yogurt and coriander leaves

Spaghetti with Walnuts,Raisins & Parsley

300g/11oz spaghetti 2 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, sliced 5 tbsp raisins or sultanas 250ml/9fl oz chicken or vegetable stock 50g/2oz Parmesan, grated 5 tbsp chopped walnuts Small bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped METHOD: Cook the pasta in boiling water, following pack instructions. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the onions until soft and golden brown about 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the raisins and stock and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until hot through. Toss with the pasta, Parmesan, walnuts and parsley.

33

...FOOD & ENTERTAINING Starter

Red Lentil, Chickpea & Chilli Soup

dessert

Baked Raspberry Cheesecake

main

INGREDIENTS

8 digestive biscuits 50g butter , melted 600g cream cheese 2 tbsp plain flour 175g caster sugar vanilla extract 2 eggs , plus 1 yolk 142ml pot soured cream 300g raspberries icing sugar

METHOD: Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Crush the biscuits in a food processor

(or put in a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin). Mix with the butter. Press into a 20cm springform tin and bake for 5 minutes, then cool. Beat the cream cheese with the flour, sugar, a few drops of vanilla, eggs, the yolk and soured cream until light and fluffy.

Stir in half the raspberries and pour into the tin. Bake for 40 minutes and then check, it should be set but slightly wobbly in the centre. Leave in the tin to cool.

Keep a few raspberries for the top and put the rest in a pan with 1 tbsp icing sugar.

Heat until juicy and then squash with a fork. Push through a sieve. Serve the cheescake with the raspberry sauce and raspberries.

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

STANDARD CROSSWORD

6 Explode, but outside of river banks finally (5) 9 Part of church, or part of chap’s empire? (4) 14 Bird taking cat’s tail is shocking! (9) 16 Hitting the drink in middle-age (8) 18 Bet on coming back OK, having taken nothing for writing in (8) 19 Funny dive into new net is obvious (7) 21 Persuades company with weapons (6) 23 Dynasty’s first storyline’s almost gone awry! (4) 24 Endured first parts of Shanghai’s trade orders on demand (5)

Down

26 A long-handled curved blade (6) 27 Relieves constipation (8) 28 Fool or trick (6) 29 Makes bigger (8) Down 1 Imbedded (6) 2 Dare (9) 3 The smallest amount (5) 4 List of names at the end of a movie (7) 6 Australian marsupials (9)

7 Entice (5) 8 Marked by excessive selfindulgence (8) 11 Chooses (4) 15 Not having come in contact (9) 17 Etching (9) 18 Hated (8) 20 Perishes (4) 21 Choose to refrain (7) 22 Evaluate (6) 24 Faithful (5) 25 Type of vine (5)

1 Funny looking oily ‘Quo’ lads lacking commercial speech (to oneself) (9) 2 Particle as America decided to do in 1980 and 1984? (8) 3 Living outside Japan’s first island city (7) 4 Awful East takes up gas to be different (8) 5 Flies with small (but important) number before large number? (6)

HARD SUDOKU

Very Hard!

SUDOKU PUZZLE CRYPTIC crossword

CROSSWORD

SOLUTIONS 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 1 Pearls or a pendant (8) 5 Glided on ice (6) 9 Mariner (8) 10 Lacking vigor (6) 12 Acclaim (5) 13 Imbedded (9) 14 Results (6) 16 Snob (archaic) (7) 19 Thrown out (7) 21 Delegate (6) 23 Ones who contaminate the air or water (9) 25 Jumps (5)

CRYPTIC

7 Aims to leave Al second (5) 8 Tasty slice I demolished with duo (9) 10 Temporary setback in greeting China’s leader with trophy? (6) 11 I, in Paris, with a very bad, mistrustul vigilance (8) 12 Number reportedly in favour of new leader embracing support (8) 13 Go up to rebel leader that is without final profits (4) 15 Hung up, returning without a river in China (7) 17 Not much to eat as a snack? (7) 20 Examine Shanghai’s first prison (4) 22 6 sit, or initially stand, for guests (8) 25 Fastened together cadet with hat perhaps (8) 26 Bite gently for two business leaders in long river (6) 27 Having control over poor inn taken in by heartless gang (9) 28 Find some of ammo under a pile (5)

CROSSWORD

coffee break

Across

STANDARD SUDOKU

34

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

REVIEW it...

Lady of the Shades BY Darren Shan

Shan is a successful writer of children’s horror stories. His first attempt at writing for adults didn’t do particularly well although he did acquire an adult following with the publishing of The City Trilogy and then Lady as he affectionately calls it. The idea for Lady was conceived in 1999 and the book was finally published in 2012, 13 years in the making!

The book was based around the old film noir movies such as Double Indemnity and Hell’s Horizon. Including a number of ghosts who haunt the protagonist because of his murky past was Shan’s additional contribution to this popular genre.

In exploring the boundaries of a dark supernatural thriller Shan admits to his purpose which was “to really mess with the minds of readers.” What he does in fact, is to “mess” initially with the mind of Ed, the main character who is forced into questioning what is real and what is unreal. We discover the truth when Ed discovers it but what is fascinating is that we rarely understand the truth. It’s a bit like saying that the goalposts are constantly changing.

The story has a dramatic opening with an assassination in Chile with a graphic description, typical of Shan’s style: “His head exploded in a cone of bone, brain and blood.”

Then we discover that the assassin has been approached by the “tight-fisted gangster” Mikis Menderes to perform another “operation.” The thriller angle is developed from the start, Ian Fleming style, engaging and gory.

Ed is an American writer, interested in the paranormal and SHC-Spontaneous Human Combustion. His main belief is that ghosts might be the result of a “violent, unnatural death.” He meets Joe in London who shares his interests but all is not what it seems!

The pair are conducting some ghostly research for the new novel:”immersing himself in the murky world of the dead” is how Ed describes it. He admits to “hovering on the abyss of an insane pit” but he is determined to prove that ghosts are real and that his mind is not “deluded.” We are given insight into his deep insecurities and disturbed mind constantly questioning his own sanity throughout the novel. He thrives on danger and finds “normality” tedious. “The quest for answers has kept me sane.”

The shades represent the apparitions that haunt hum and the lady is Deleena Emerson who Ed falls passionately in love with. And yet is she another of Ed’s spectres? Ed knows that the apparitions want him destroyed and the story reveals horrendous details of Ed’s past showing cruelty and ruthlessness. Hard to believe for a writer of fiction.

He becomes infatuated and obsessed with Deleena the “ghost of the girl” he thinks about constantly and this distracts him from writing his novel although she does have a calming effect on Ed and makes him feel “different, less complicated and reserved.”

It is a “chaste affair” with feelings of lust and longing without the sex! Ed becomes hopeful that she will cure him of his ills and “banish the spectre of the ghosts.”

The two major themes are betrayal and deception and as the novel progresses the revelation becomes apparent that Ed’s “creature of the shadows” the love of his life doesn’t exist. Murders ensue followed by a dabbling in the paranormal and a visit to a mystic to make contact with Deleena’s spirit and discover the truth. Shan plays mind games with Ed and of course the reader until the bitter and twisted truth rears its ugly head. Ed’s soul is destroyed and he plunges into hell a broken man bearing maudling thoughts of death.

“I’ve been a figure in a tragic play. Now I must accept my fated end with the same dignity and resignation as Othello or Macbeth.” The fatal flaw? Greek tragedy?

Shakespearian tragedy? Call it what you like. Dark and chilling but thrilling.

Publisher: Orion Books. ISBN: 978-409-4360-4 Carol Naylor - writing exclusively for the Sol Times Naylorcl@hotmail.es & www.carolnaylor.blogspot.com

your news! your views!

your events! your recipes!

we want to hear from you! email: editor@soltimes.com

The shirt you can’t get dirty

35

Scientists have revealed the answer to every clumsy eaters worst nightmare - a coating that can be applied to clothing to make it repel almost anything you throw at it.

The unique coating, which is 95% air, can repel everything from coffee and alcohol to oil and even acid.

It is so light it can be used to create ‘breathable’ clothes to protect soldiers on the battlefield.

The nanoscale coating that’s at least 95 percent air repels the broadest range of liquids of any material in its class, causing them to bounce off the treated surface, according to the University of Michigan engineering researchers who developed it.

In addition to super stain-resistant clothes, the coating could lead to breathable garments to protect soldiers and scientists from chemicals, and advanced waterproof paints that dramatically reduce drag on ships.

Droplets of solutions that would normally damage either your shirt or your skin recoil when they touch the new ‘superomniphobic surface’.

‘Virtually any liquid you throw on it bounces right off without wetting it,’ said Anish Tuteja, who led the study, which is published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

‘For many of the other similar coatings, very low surface tension liquids such as oils, alcohols, organic acids, organic bases and solvents stick to them and they could start to diffuse through and that’s not what you want,’ He and his colleagues tested more than 100 liquids and found only two that were able to penetrate the coating.

They were chlorofluorocarbons—chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners.

In Tuteja’s lab, in a demonstration, the surface repelled coffee, soy sauce and vegetable oil, as well as toxic hydrochloric and sulfuric acids that could burn skin.

Tuteja says it’s also resistant to gasoline and various alcohols.

To apply the coating, the researchers use a technique called electrospinning that uses an electric charge to create fine particles of solid The coating is a mixture of from a liquid solution. So far, they’ve coated small tiles of screen and postage-stamp-sized rubbery plastic particles of swaths of fabric. ‘polydimethylsiloxane’, or PDMS, The coating is a mixture of rubbery plastic and liquid-resisting nanoscale cubes particles of ‘polydimethylsiloxane,’ or developed by the Air Force that PDMS, and liquid-resisting nanoscale cubes developed by the Air Force that contain contain carbon, fluorine, silicon and carbon, fluorine, silicon and oxygen. oxygen.

The material’s chemistry is important, but so The key to its effectiveness is its is its texture. texture.

It hugs the pore structure of whatever surface it’s being applied to, and it also creates a finer It hugs the pore structure of web within those pores. whatever surface it’s being applied This structure means that between 95 and 99 to, and it also creates a finer web percent of the coating is actually air pockets, so any liquid that comes in contact with the within those pores. coating is barely touching a solid surface.

This structure means that between Because the liquid touches mere filaments 95 and 99 percent of the coating is of the solid surface, as opposed to a greater actually air pockets, so any liquid that area, the developed coating can dramatically reduce the intermolecular forces that normally comes in contact with the coating is draw the two states of matter together. barely touching a solid surface.

These forces, known as Van der Waals Because the liquid touches mere interaction forces, are kept at a minimum. filaments of the solid surface, as ‘Normally, when the two materials get close, they imbue a small positive or negative charge opposed to a greater area, the on each other, and as soon as the liquid comes developed coating can dramatically in contact with the solid surface it will start to reduce the intermolecular forces spread,’ Tuteja said. that normally draw the two states of ‘We’ve drastically reduced the interaction between the surface and the droplet.’ matter together.

With almost no incentive to spread, the These forces, known as Van der droplets stay intact, interacting only with Waals interaction forces, are kept at molecules of themselves, maintaining a a minimum. spherical shape, and literally bouncing off the coating.

With almost no incentive to spread, One classification of liquid that this coating the droplets stay intact, interacting repels is the so-called non-Newtonian only with molecules of themselves, category, which includes shampoos, custards, blood, paints, clays and printer inks, for maintaining a spherical shape, and example. literally bouncing off the coating.

HOW IT WORKS

36

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

3 CHANCES TO WIN!!!

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)

FREE competition

AT MANHATTAN, CABO ROIG

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: MRS SHERLAW THOMSON - DINA GRIGORYEVA BREAKFAST FOR 2: PAT QUILAN

space for a little one?

Leo is a year and a half old. He was found under a tree in Playa Flamenca with his two brothers when he was 8 weeks old. 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, he was found on an urbanisation near Los Montesinos. He was in very good condition but when he was examined by our vet they found that his previous owners had cut his vocal chords, so Apollo does not bark like a normal dog. He gets on well with other dogs and loves to play and go for walks. He has been castrated, micro-chipped and vaccinated.

Both dogs have been with us for a long time, if you cannot have a dog permanently have you ever thought of long term fostering for more information please contact Natasha on 616210850 or visit our website www.apahrescue.org Please visit our website www.apahrescue.org under urgent appeals to see our other dogs in need of finding a foster home.

€645 Kimberton Obscure

€649 Earith Obscure

Queens Sold

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OVER 40 STYLES TO CHOOSE FROM with colour options on composite doors

Essex Brilliance

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€849

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€595

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

E D I T OR @ S OLT I M E S . C O M ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS – Open Meeting.............................................

Friday (25th January) Calle San Miguel de Salinas 2, (Corner of Calle Santomera), Torrevieja. 1.00pm. If you are worried about your own level of drinking or concerned for the well being of someone close to you, please come along. No obligation. Helpline 625 912 078. www.aa-costablanca.org.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS................

leo

Are concerned about your own level of drinking? Does your personal or professional life bring you into contact with a problem drinker? Members of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS invite you to attend, without obligation, a special Open Meeting on Friday 25th January at Calle San Miguel de Salinas 2, (Corner of Calle Santomera), Torrevieja at 1.00pm.

Helpline 625 912 078. www.aa-costablanca.org.

LINE DANCING..................................

apollo

€595 Essex Fusion Tile 1 Green

c o mm u n i t y NE W S

Every Friday 10.30am Bar Sofia, El Raso. Fun Learn to Line Dance for Absolute Beginners with Adam (all the basic dances to get you line dancing) No previous dance skills required, but a sence of humour a must.TEL 670711408

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

C O M M UNI T Y NE W S 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. Deanna Sparks will take the Divine Service with Mediumship, on Sunday 27th January followed by an Evening of Mediumship with The Fledglings on Tuesday, 29th January. The Divine Service with Mediumship on Sunday, 3rd February will be taken by Marilyn Webb. WE MOVE TO NEW PREMISES ON 3RD FEBRUARY. (SEE WEB FOR DETAILS)) or pick up directions at present church.

Everybody welcome. Contact Wendy on 965323028. www. spiritualistchurchquesada.com

‘Strictly Dance’.................................

‘Strictly Dance’ Monday ‘The Palms’ Punta Prima (old Asturias) 8:00-8:45 Tuition 8:45-10:15 Social Dancing Tuesday ‘The Club’ Quesada 8:00-8:45 Tuition 8:45-10:15 Social Dancing Saturday ‘Sophia Wellness Centre’ Cabo Roig Your Requests Social Night ballroom/latin american/old time & sequence/ line dancing on a wooden floor 7:30-10:30. New courses every 3 weeks ballroom and latin american tuition for both beginners and intermediates, singles welcome.

Come and join our fun nights. For further details contact Lyn on 635584431 or 966188430

ROJALES ARTS & CRAFTS MARKET..

A GAME OF LOVE a new play from NETWORKS THEATRE. ORIHUELA - January 25th & 26th at 9pm www.networksenglishstudies.com/theatre www.martin-enterprises.eu martinrobinson.deviantart.com www.CostaArt.Net 965 724 927

37

E M AIL E D I T OR @ S OLT I M E S . C O M

Ceroc Style Modern Jive............

Every Thursday from 7pm CerocStyle Modern Jive.The easy jive with latin style.

Never Danced-No Partner-No Problem.

New dancers joining us every week at Los Rosales Restaurant, Guardamar.

Tel 670711408 LEARN TO LINE DANCE WITH ADAM. ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS, NO DANCING SKILLS NECESSARY BUT A SENSE OF HUMOUR A MUST. HELD EVERY FRIDAY 10.30am AT BAR SOFIA, EL RASO. GENTS ALSO WELCOME

Q&A Session with Pedro Mancebo...........................................

On Wednesday 30th January at 6pm there will be a Question and Answer session with Pedro Mancebo, Councillor for the Coast at the Sophia Wellness Centre in La Regia. All are welcome. Those actually in attendance, whose questions have been sent in advance will be given priority. Please enter your questions on www.CLR-OrihuelaCosta.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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.....................

(Mormons) meet at 10.00 each Sunday at their Torrevieja meetinghouse in the Torreaguas building on the corner of Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 104, close to the windmill in Torrevieja, 667 533 597

Torrevieja Christian Fellowship (TCF)..................

This English-speaking evangelical Church is located on Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas 68, Torrevieja (opposite Maxi Dia). Sunday Service with Communion and Sunday School 10.30 am. Wednesday night Fellowship Meeting 6.00 pm. A warm welcome awaits you!

Contact Secretary 966 788 771 for further information

Rojales Neighbourhood Watch

The next meeting of the Rojales Neighbourhood Watch Group will be held on Monday 4th March 2013 at 11am in the Municipal Centre in Ciudad Quesada.

The meeting is open to all residents living in the 03170 postal area and we look forward to welcoming you. Please tell your neighbours and come and join us.

For further information about Neighbourhood Watch in Rojales please see our website www.rojalesnw.info or contact: David East (LeadCoordinator) david.east82@gmail. com or Helen Tudor (Secretary) helentudor22@gmail.com

38

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

SOLTIMES www.soltimes.com see us online everyday

BY TELEPHONE Between 10am & 5pm

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

SOL CLASSIFIEDS beds

Sweet Dreams sale now on See our Advertisement on page 13 for more information

Centro Commercial, Flamenca Beach, La Planta, Playa Flamenca

Monday to Friday

Tel: 965 321 701

902 750 190 ext 330

boats

966 719 647

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

BY E-MAIL

Send your advert or Classified lineage to

blancasales@soltimes.com

IN PERSON

Quesada Business Centre, calle Los Arcos No 7, ciudad Quesada Mon to Fri 10am - 5pm

PAYMENT

VISA ,Paypal, bank transfer & Cheques made payable to MATHEWS mEDIA s.l

businesses for sale/rent

All adverts Friday at 5pm prior to publication

Furniture first

est 2006

Pool tables, sl snooker tables, ROJALES SPECIALIST OF PRE - OWNED FURNITURE table tennis tables, darts.

Tel:666 & AccESSORIES AT SENSIBLE PRICES 933 726 www. house clearance specialist spainpool.com FREE LOCAL DELIVERY SERVICE WE BUY, SELL & PART EXCHANGE 100’s Garden QUALITY FURNITURE plastic pots, all Open Mon - Fri 10 - 18.00, Sat 10 - 14.00 sizes €10 the lot C/Pablo Neruda 2, Local 5, Rojales Quesada Tel: 654 PLEASE CALL JAMIE ON: 666 686 evenings

966 713 075 OR 680 545 923 www.southcostablancaonline.com

garden services

A1 Group

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

Telephone 628 505 733

Mañanas

hearing aids

S hop / O ffice Counter Less than 6 Months Old, Light Pine, As New, Paid 295€ will accept 185€ contact 693 980 397

TV decoder with optional languages, complete with remote control, still under guarentee. as new and boxed 18 euro Dainese Full Tel 635885062 face motorcycle Camposol helmet Size XL Only 25€ ono, Location 13 boxes of new Cuidad Quesada, golf balls, 3 balls Tel 965725573 / in a box, Topflight, Wilson Pro, 659013882.

Spalding 1.50 a One pair of Frank box Tel 635885062 Thomas Motorcycle boots White red and Camposol Large amount of VHS videos and DVD,s, CD’s and Games, Low prices, negotiable.

Quesada Tel: 654 666 686 evenings

heating

horse riding

NEATER

Horse back riding

See our main advert on the news pages

Murcia, cartagena Telephone 679 572 690

house clearance

steakhouse

quick cash

restaurant for rent

contact mark 966 714 318

blue size 11, only 15€ ono. Location Cuidad Quesada, Tel 965725573 / 659013882.

Office Desk Less than 6 Months Old, Light Pine, As New, Paid 149€ will 1 folding single accept 80€ contact bed €15 Quesada 693 980 397 Tel: 654 666 686 Nilox anolog evenings to digital Spanish

HEATER

Please contact Tel: 966 781 307

fully equipped low rent great opportunity for the right people

for sale

Electrician , available for all VGA cable and works. Small or large. Call Dave 693 251 audio cable only 562. davendonc@aol.com 25€.

Location Cuidad Quesada, Tel 965725573 / Furniture 659013882.

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

electricians

DEADLINES

electricians

hearing aids

new ex demonstration models b.t.e only 4 channel aids €250 each 1 pair 8 channel aids €600 a pair

digital hearing tel: 698 418 642

ELECTRICS & PLUMBING IN THE COSTA BLANCA

no job too small & free estimates! specialists in all electrical & plumbing works

new icp’s fitted - swimming pool heaters & air-con, electric gates & burglar alarms hot water boilers,gas heaters & solar new bath/shower suites - spanish legal

call clive: 617 268 346 or frank: 639 988 487 www.electriciancostablanca.co.uk

for sale

house, hotel & bar clearance transport in 1 hour tel: 669 723 709 jewellery

GOLD WANTED

A L U M I N I U M English jeweller wishes to buy broken GATES Double & or unwanted Gold jewellery, silver and Electric Sliding. coins Guaranteed no rust. Call Tracy on IMMEDIATE CASH 966 726 891 C omputer Monitor 15” flat screen with built in speakers model L5EX-TA complete with power cord,

PAYMENT Call Peter

664 890 990

Member of the National Association of Goldsmiths

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

39

www.soltimes.com limousine hire

CALL

SOLTIMES

RENTAL PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED

CLASSIFIED

902 750 190 ext 330 insurance

asssa medical insurances Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan, Tel: 968 153 396, mazarron@asssa. es

property for sale / rent

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

locksmith

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

Reduced

24 HR EMERGENCY LOCKSMITH Window / Shutter / Door locks Opened, Changed & Fitted Telephone: 653 145 300 Email:locksrus@hotmail.co.uk Special Deals for Urbanisations

musician

personals

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

“Readers of a sensitive disposition may find some of the ads in this section offensive”

PETS

pet taxi TRAVELLING IN AIR CONDITIONED VEHICLE DELIVERED TO DOOR PETS STAY IN PET FRIENDLY HOTELS. ACCOMPANIED TRAVEL AVAILABLE

(0034) 667 235 205 (sp) (0044) 7850 575862 piano player

Piano Player

able to play for small functions, cocktail music etc.

Would suit over 50’s ex London Pub Pianist.

Can let you have demonstration if required.

natasha , Divorced, diverse super sexy, private apartment, complete massage with massage bed.

Very discreet. Call 677 676 554 San Policarpo No. 87 Apt 1-17 Cerca Calle Orihuela.

Can accommodate one person or accompanied.

plastering E N G L I S H PLASTERER internal finishing, external rendering, 15 years experience, good rates. FULLY LEGAL IN SPAIN. Call Chris 671 444 246 / 965 078 866 email: c_pettit@ hotmail.co.uk

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 red 0 y l on 2 9.00

€4

Apartment For Sale

cortij0 grande golf course 1 bed, 1 bath apartment fully fitted kitchen, white goods, parking, lovely views. Ideal golfing holiday apartment.

Close to Mojacar / Turre.

T: 664 291 793

jescott29@hotmail.co.uk

4 Bed, 2 Bath, Large Terrace, Lounge, Sep Kitchen, Utility Room, Communal Solarium, Lift, Furnished inc. White Goods, UK TV , 90m² Interior Living Space plus, 15m² Terrace / Balcony with Awnings.

Overlooks a newly reformed Plaza, 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 Private Sale €79,950

Tel: (0034) 676 534 978 immaculate 2 bed, 1 bath ground apartmant situated in the very nice area of Lomas de Campoamar golf resort. very spacious accomadation of 86m2, furnished, walking distance to La Fuente Commercial centre, 24 hour security, includes use of communal pools, tennis courts etc, 395€ + bills, no offers

ring now on 648 111 779

for immediate viewing for SALE detatched cortijo 20mins from PROPERTY swap mojacar This is Cheaper than renting? a unique spanish For swap All you pay is EUR 3,000 buying costs and the rest is mortgaged cortijo with 4 beds, Modern 2 bed / 2 bath 2nd top floor apartment at around EUR 250 per month. Cheaper than renting an 2 baths, Open plan in Dolores town Alicante. Roof top pool, private apartment in the area. Some of these 2 bedroom apartments have 2 bathrooms and some with only 1. It’s a first come, first living areas, kitchen solarium, secure garage parking, lift and balcony & diningroom as with great mountain views. 15 mins from beach, 25 served basis! Great deal!

The apartments do not come with white goods but do have pre well as a workshop, mins to airport. Friendly international block and pets courtyard front & are allowed. Furnished inc all white goods, so ready installation air conditioning. back & room for Quality and location to move in immediately. Will swap for a country a pool. Mountain The apartments are finished to a property to reform in the Costa Calida region. very high quality with communal views. Build 256 Would also consider land / ruin in the same area. areas decked out with marble m², Terrace 100m², Cash either way floors and spacious corridors Plot 1200m² Tel: 968 157 268 or email which make the building very light. €150,000ono Tel: stevecoen@hotmail.co.uk The location is second to none, on 649 186 107 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

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

trade Businesses can advertise in the classified section

Classified box from 9€. lineage only 45 cents per word - Deadline 5pm Friday Contact Christine 902 750 190 ext 330 or 966 719 647

wigs

recruitment

removals

S alon M argarethas 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.

Pounce on the opportunity...

Linen Mills

Express

To join an expanding newspaper group SOLTIMES are looking for full and part time,

satellite tv

field and telephone sales people, to join their team.

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

Advertising sales experience is preferred but not essential.

UK Spain Uk weekly service 620 582 063

VANTASTIC 3.5 tonne removals or any handyman & van service inc furniture collection & assembly tel: 693 251 562 e mail: davendonc@aol. com

If you have an outgoing friendly personality, are organised and can work to deadlines we would like to meet you.

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simply removals Spain ‹ UK › Spain

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

• Full & Part Loads • Local-No jobs too small • Pets Welcome • Experienced owner/driver (Playa Flamenca)

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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

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want to know whats in the news? www.soltimes.com

Sky Digibox Pace with sky card BBC 1, 2, 3, 4 ITV1, 2, 3, ch4 & 5 60€ can deliver.

Tel: 667 235 205

swimming pool safety

UK - SPAIN - UK

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

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Pays good prices for programmes and other vintage sporting memorabilia. Please contact Tony on 07823 775900 during that period.

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

pets

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41

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

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D D

animals D

Getaway vehicle my ass!

DIGS 4 DOGS A good home for your dogs while you’re away, clean and safe environment.

New grooming centre open to everyone, wash & brush service after boarding

Call: 670 469 544 digs4dogs@ymail.com • www.digs4dogs.info See our clients Xmas videos and get a feel for how it is here. We’re smaller but very “one 2 one” as our testimonials tell you.

So come and see for yourself.

see our editorial on page 12

Domino Pet Hotel

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D D D D D Three thieves who tried to burgle a shop had to abandon the raid - when their getaway donkey made too much noise.

The trio had to ditch their ill-gotten gains in the early hours break-in in Colombia after the donkey started braying and alerted police.

The group had stolen rum, oil, rice, cans of tuna and sardines from a shop in the tiny town of Juan de Acosta, reports Noticias Caracol.

They planned to load the goods onto ten-year-old donkey Xavi, which they had stolen earlier, and make their escape.

But it let out a series of ‘hee-haws’ and the trio decided to ditch the animal, which was still carrying the stolen items, and make good their escape.

Shop owner Fabio Orozco said: “They came through the roof to rob. They took rum, rice, everything.”

The donkey was detained in the town police station for 12 hours until owner Orlando Olivares was notified and came to collect him.

Police dogs to be given shoes

Police dogs are to be issued with shoes to protect their paws from broken glass at riots and crime scenes after successful trials in Germany.

The protective boots attached with velcro - are lined with a thin coating of stab proof material to make sure the dogs are not injured in violent situations like clashes with football hooligans.

A trial of 12 dogs - led by four-year-old German Shepherd Rico (pictured) showed the animals were less likely to be injured with the boots in place.

Head dog handler Thomas Schulte explained that the real life hush puppies were not a fashion trend.

“This is not fashion frippery. It is purely a protective measure,” he said.

“Dogs’ paws are sensitive and easily damaged. They can easily cut themselves on broken glass and a bad cut can put a police dog are out of action for six months while they recover,” he added.

But the hardest part of the trial was persuading the long arm of the paw to keep the things on.

“When they first try them on they just pull them off with their teeth. They need about two weeks to adapt,” said Schulte.

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

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How bad spelling and grammar could be the key to choosing a good password Birthdays, pet names and your place of birth are already huge no-nos when choosing a secure password.

But researchers said today that the key to finding more secure passwords could be straightforward - just don’t use good grammar or spelling.

Ashwini Rao and colleagues at Carnegie Mellon University researched the current generation of password cracking systems.

They found that many people, on being asked to choose longer passwords, made them just as easy to guess.

‘Use of long sentence-like or phrase-like passwords such as ‘abiggerbetterpassword’ and ‘thecommunistfairy’ is increasing,’ the researchers say in their paper, due to be presented at the Conference on Data and Application Security and Privacy in San Antonio, Texas, next month.

The researchers say that other types of familiar structures like postal addresses, email addresses and URLs may also make for

less secure passwords, even if they are long.

They say bad grammar can make a huge difference, as hackers are increasingly searching for passwords using correct grammar and spellings in ‘brute force’ attacks that simply run through combinations of words in a dictionary.

Incorrect spelling and grammar can fool many of these attacks, the team found.

Using an analytical model based on Parts-of-Speech tagging we show that the decrease in search space due to the presence of grammatical structures can be as high as 50%. ‘ They found that in general, asking users for longer passwords didn’t work.

‘A significant result of our work is that the strength of long passwords does not increase uniformly with length,’ they said.

The team also developed an algorithm to improve the cracking of long passwords.

Gran, 61, takes up pole dancing

A 61-year-old grandmother has become massive hit in China - as the country’s oldest pole dancer.

Sun Fengqin took up the raunchy hobby after looking for a new type of exercise when she got bored with tai chi.

Now millions of viewers have watched the gran-offour grind through her gyrating routines either on TV or online.

“I can never say no to an audience because I love pole dancing and I love being on a stage, ” said Sun at her home in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, eastern China.

But she says some friends and family have shunned her because of pole dancing’s association with China’s sex industry.

“A friend I had known for 20 years told me I wasn’t welcome any more because I might corrupt her children, ” explained Sun. Her long suffering husband Cui added: “I can’t say I am 100 per cent happy and I’d rather she did yoga, but I will always support her.”

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

sport

Torrevieja Girls win Butterfly Relay...........................

Best Back Nine: Bev Evans OVERALL WINNER OF JANUARY MONTHLY STABLEFORD/PRESIDENT’S PUTTER IS TERRY SAYERS. Well done Terry.

Eva Kolenko then finished the last of the Breaststoke events with good swims both Eva and Paula gaining 4th and 5th place.

Saturday 19th January saw the third regional swimming event held in the Municipal Pool, San Vincente, Alicante.

Nineteen younger swimmers from Club Natacion Torrevieja competed against 9 other clubs and 169 children aged between 8 and 13 years.

This event saw the children being challenged in 50m and 100m Breaststroke, 400m freestyle and 4 x 50m and 4 x 100m butterfly events.

First the 12 and 13 yr old swimmers swam 100m Breaststroke, Elian Del Rio Castillo, Zoe Connolly and Alejandra Amat all improved upon previous times Zoe winning 2nd place and both Elian and Alejandra 10th position.

Amy Connolly worked hard and won 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th position respectively.

Following this the distances increased to 100m Breaststroke for the 10 and 11year olds, Jonathan Izquierdo, Johann Cayuela, Daniel Smilenov, Samira Lucumi and Victoria Pigneur all set themselves new personal bests.

Jonathan and Samira winning 5th places, Victoria 8th, Johann 11th and Daniel 13th. Five more members of the team in the Bejamin category, Timofei Pykin, Benjamin Teland, Bastian Martinez, Paula Garcia and

Lastly, before the relays, the older members of the squad completed in the 400m Freestyle event.

All three members excelled with new personal bests, Zoe Connolly with 2nd place and a new time of 5:49:55, Alejandra Amat 7th place knocking off a massive 44 seconds from her previous time with a new PB of 6:14:29 and Elian Del Rio Castillo winning 4th place with a time of 5:36:16.

To finish off an excellent day of racing the relay teams fought hard in the 4x 50m and 4x100m Butterfly relays. The boys Benjamin team of Jonathan, Artem, Serger and Vitalio won 3rd place in the 4x 50m relay with a time of 3:10:94.

The girls then excelled in the Alevin 4 x 100m Butterfly. Zoe, Alejandra, Paula and Eva flew through their legs of the event to win first place with a time of 6:33:88.

Well done girls and well done to all those who competed in the event.

For more information regarding Torrevieja Swimming Club please contact Rosa 665454126 or President Felipe on 609418776 or by e-mail on info@ clubnataciontorrevieja. com

Next the youngest members of the team swam 50m Breaststroke.

Artem Nikolaev, Vitalio Veres, Serger Bous and

Cornish Pride Los Dolses bowling league ...............

Ten Pin Bowling League

Matches played January 15th Top of the league Team Finland beat the all Spanish team Splash 8-0, the ‘new’ bowler for T.F. Jarmo Peltanen had a 578 scratch series, top bowler for Splash was Juanjo Carral with a 629 hcp series.

Los Bandidos made it 3 wins in a row as they beat Bar Mosquito 6-2. Top bowler for L.B. was Steve Hibberd with his best hcp scores of the season, a 227 game and a 613 series.

After

3 very

close

games,

Carp-r-us beat Bandoleros 62, Lynn Thompson bowling for the Carps had her best scratch game 140, and for Bandoleros Jamie Brian had his highest scratch series 507.

Lucky Strike lost for the second week in a row and dropped 2 places in the league, when they lost 6-2 to the Mixers. Top bowler for Mixers was Bosse Soderstrom with a 574 hcp series.

Second placed Hall y Day lost 6-2 to third placed Caballo Negro, and are only 9 points

behind them now. C.N. bowled their highest team scratch score so far, a 1582 series.

Sue Winfield bowling for Cornish Pride, had her highest hcp series, 616, and was top lady bowler of the night, as she helped her team beat Los Lobos 8-0.

Another bowler having their highest scores of the season, including a 228 scratch game and a 651 hcp series was Gary Walsh, the Split Happens skipper, as his team beat Crazy Pinz 6-2.

Orihuela Costa Monday night fun darts league...

Results - Week 12 14/01/13

League Table

HORACIO A

0-9

OCHE-HOLICS

97 OCHE-HOLICS

CONCIERTO

6-3

LIBERTY

73 PABLOS

PABLOS

7-2

BELUSHI

JJ BELUSHI

5-4

HORACIO B

High scores 120+ 140 Dave “ Daddy “ Frew ( Concierto´s ) 125 Jackie “ Jax “ Simmerling ( Pablo´s )

62 CONCIERTO 56 LIBERTY 45 BELUSHI 37 HORACIO´S A

122 Alan Benyon ( Oche-Holics )

32 HORACIO´S B

121 Damian “ 666 “ Lambert ( Conciertos )

21 JJ BELUSHI´S

121 Stewart Pickles ( Belushi´s )

Well done JJ Belushi for the first getting there first win.

121 Gwenn McNish ( Horacio´s B ) 120 “ Super” Mario Gomez ( Oche-Holics )

Cheers, Mark

43

Football Winners: (only 3 winners)

Eurogolf, La Marquesa

Keith Wright, Corine Jones, Julian Frutos.

66 members took part in the Monthly Stableford/President’s Putter Trophy game, played on Thursday 17 January at our home course La Marquesa.

The scores were reasonable considering the weather was very blustery, chilly early doors but verging on gale force as the day proceeded. It did not do a lot for the ladies hair styles (and some of the men were complaining too). Those playing towards the end of the field found that when they were driving into the wind the ball was almost coming back to meet them.

Gold Division

TOFF’s Results for Tuesday 15 January 2013 Overall Winner – David Gregson

1st Roy Lowe 34 points

Gold Division

2nd Keith Wright 34 points c/b

1st David Gregson 37 points

3rd Nico Baken 30 points

2nd David Blanchette 36 points

Silver Division

3rd Keith Wright 36 points c/b

1st Terry Sayers 37 points

Silver

2nd Jill Young 35 points

1st Jill Young 35 points

3rd Gloria Manning 32 points

2nd Gloria Manning 33 points

Bronze Division

3rd Marilyn Eckersall 33 points

1st Gordon White 36 points

Bronze

2nd Jan Shorley 35 points

1st Anne Duff 34 points

3rd Chris Stanley 33 points

2nd Cindi Green 33 points

Nearest the Pins

3rd Joe Ogden 32points

5th Stan Low

Nearest the Pins

It was very disappointed to see fewer and fewer people staying for the presentation.

Please try to make the effort to support the Society.

11th Nico Baken

5th David Gregson, 15th Keith Wright, 11th Doug Spring , 17th Bev Evans

The results were as follows:

15th David Gregson 17th David Blanchette Best Front Nine: Beverley Fairhurst

Best Front Nine – John Barraclough. Best Back Nine – Roger Richings

DAYA NUEVA 8 v. ORIEL 0...........................................................

INFANTILS G10s

DAYA ORIEL

OUTGUN

PLUCKY

It was a tentative start by the home side but on 5 minutes a shot by David, which the goalkeeper could not quite get to gave a somewhat flattering lead to Daya. This goal woke Daya up and they pushed Oriel back into their own half. Further goals seemed sure to follow and on 12 minutes Marcos doubled the home side’s lead with a low shot. More prolonged pressure followed and on 18 minutes Jesus scored a well taken goal for 3 - 0. This comfortable lead allowed coach, Paco, to give Miguel the reserve goalkeeper an extended run out. He had a good game and looks certain to be playing his part in future Daya sides. Daya had a goal rightly ruled out for offside on 22 minutes but the home side

were more dominant, that more goals were sure to come. On 33 minutes Francisco brought the ball out of defence and some wonderful inter-passing between Jesus and Francisco saw the latter score the 4th and best goal of the season so far.

So 4 - 0 at half time and Daya were well worth their lead.

Within minutes of the re-start a good ball from Youssef found Cuneo who took the ball forward to score Daya’s 5th with a fierce shot. On 41 minutes from a long throw in Manuel added a 6th and double figures looked a distinct possibility.

Oriel did have the ball in the Daya net on 46 minutes but it was ruled offside. On 50 minutes a goal mouth scramble saw Daya twice hit the crossbar when it was easier to score than miss.

Cuneo latched on to a Jesus cross to finish well for Daya’s

7th goal in the 53rd minute.

David set himself up for the 8th goal with some delightful footwork in the 65th minute, so final score 8 - 0 Daya. The blustery wind made for difficult playing conditions at times.

The visitors were no match for Daya today, they did try to play good attractive football in a sporting manner. They were a credit to themselves, their coach and their supporters.

Although making a couple of strange decisions (for both sides) the referee had a good game. Daya’s Man of the Match was a close run affair with many outstanding performances, Jesus just gets the vote, his interplay for Francisco’s goal was spectacular and his improvement in recent weeks has been huge.

Daya Dave Team Sponsor: Segurlab

Andy Wilson Photographer

44

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

MOTORING

TEST DRIVE: SEAT mii

Aren’t computer games a great escape from reality?

Up to the age of 16 I used to enjoy playing them but there’s thankfully no time for that anymore with my demanding wife and daughter.

As I sit inside the Seat Mii I find my mind wandering back to that distant past where I was the unbeatable Formula One champion of the world and I don’t mind admitting it, a dab hand at any rally circuit, too.

For the Mii name reminds

me of the Nintendo Wii video game console.

Perhaps the Seat marketing team felt that Wii gamers consist of the cool and hip 18 to 35 category that they want to appeal to. The sort of guys and gals who like to drive a bright red little city car and thereby stand out from the bland and characterless crowd.

The type of people who consider the Mii to be a reflection of their gregarious selves.

Ironically I have just driven the highly

Waxing & body polishing alloy & chrome wheels Windows, dashboard & door trims Seats, roof lining & carpets wet washed

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economical Skoda Citigo, which looks pretty much identical and scores highly with me. Aren’t they the same car? Isn’t history going to repeat itself? Will I not simply find myself rewriting the same article?

The diminutive Seat might share the same wheelbase as the Skoda Citigo and VW up! but there is more to it than just being a rebranded VW. Firstly, it incorporates Spanish flair and styling with German engineering, the press office is keen to point out. But where Skoda and VW target a more middle aged

motorist, the Seat is the young person’s choice.

The five-door model tested has a much smoother and decisive five-speed manual gearbox and there’s a sizeable electric sliding glass sunroof, which was missing in the Skoda.

Its two-tone grey and black interior is far more appealing than the black in the Skoda but it lacks the heated front seats.

The two share the same Navigon touch screen that is not only a sat nav but a useful trip computer that provides an up-todate mpg and distance to refill reading. The Mii also has cruise control

Advanced motorist Tim Saunders is the former Business and Motoring Editor of the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

His regular test reports appear in numerous newspapers, magazines and websites throughout the UK, Ireland & Gibraltar - and now here in Spain! For more information contact Tim on: timasaunders@tiscali.co.uk

Mobile Auto Electrician ENGINE MANAGEMENT DIAGNOSTICS

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as you can see in the video at testdrives.biz.

A criticism though is that when the temperature plummets to 1.5 Celsius during the test the side windows mist up despite the blowers being on full and pumping out warm air.

Parkers, the car experts, say: “Not since the days of the Arosa has Seat been involved in the competitive city car market, but it should be a big name again in the sector with the Mii. It offers good levels of refinement, is perfect for driving in tight town situations and has a high quality interior.”

In the same way that the Skoda Citigo makes a good long distance

Breakers yard ooking for runners/non runners l

Free collection Best prices paid Baja issued

(All paperwork taken care of with certificate of destruction)

NO MORE SUMA BILLS TO PAY Also parts available

607 848 332 Ask for Phil

companion, so too does the one-litre Seat Mii. These really are versatile little numbers and excellent small cars. The Seat Mii is the funkier version and should appeal to a younger market. The five-door model is best for practicality.

specification New price range: £7,925 - £10,890 Used price range: £6,393 - £8,232 2012 onwards Economy: upto 80mpg 0-60mph: 13.9secs Top speed: 99mph Power: 59bhp Watch the video at: www.testdrives.biz

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

new fords available BMW X1

875 cc, 2012, 1,584 KMS

€16,950

BMW X3

AUTOMATIC ESTATE, 3 LITRE, DIESEL, 2005,129,000KMS

€14,950 VAUXHALL

ZAFIRA, 1.9CDTi, DIESEL, RHD, 2010, 35,405KMS …

€12,950

SEAT LEON SUPERCOPA

1.6TDi, DIESEL, 2011, 61,000KMS

Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511 www.specialistvehicles.com

DIESEL, 2006, 123,000KMS

€8,450

€26,950

FIAT 500 CABRIOLET,

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COOPER,1.6AUTOMATIC,2004,92,000KMS.............€9,950 • OPEL ASTRA 1.7 CDTi, DIESEL, 2006, 81,000KMS.........€7,950 • RENAULT SCENIC 2L PETROL, 2006, auto, 105,000 KMS........ ............................................................................................................€7,750 • JEEP

CHEROKEE2.5TDSPORT,144,000KMS......................€7,250 • CITROEN C4 VTS, 2.0i, 2006, 29,000 K MS......................€6,950 •P EUGEOT 1007, 1.4Hdi, 2006, 108,000KMS................€6,450 • FORD FUSION 1.4 PETROL, 2004, 124,000 KMS …....... €4,950 • OPEL ASTRA 1.6 PETROL, 2001, auto , 79,000 KMs................. .................................................................................................. €4,250 •G RANDJEEPCHEROKEE, 4L, PETROL,AUTO, 1999, 152 KMs... .....................................................................................€3,950 • MAZDA PREMACY 1.8 petrol, 2001, 157,000kms …. €3,750 • SEAT IBIZA 1.9 TDi, diesel, 2000, 139,000 kms ….€3,250 • Mitsubishi Carisma 2000, a/c 1430,000kms..... €2,950 • CHRYSLERNEON 2L PETROL, AUTO, 2002, 117.000KMS....... .......................................................................................€2,950 • FIAT BRAVA dIESEL,1.9JTD, 2000.98,000kms.........€2,250 • RENAULT CLIO DIESEL, 1.9D, 2000, 134,000 kms......€2,750 • pEUGEOT 206 1.4 PETROL 5 DOOR 2000......................€2,450 • 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 •C ITROEN XSARA, 1.8 PETROL, AUTOMATIC, 1998, 12 1,000KMS..................................................................€1,450 • BOX TRAILER, APPROX 1 METRE SQUARE....................€395 • BMW X5, 3L DIESEL, AUTO, 2006, 96,000KMS............POA

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SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

sport

MAGGOTS END......................................... CLAPTONS GOLF SOCIETY......................

RODS AND REELS This week was the final round of the Presidents Trophy. The venue again was the Embalse de Pedrera ( still in line with Blanca as the place to blank.) Of the 9 anglers who turned up, we had 4 blanks (no change there then!!!). The embalse is still being filled. Deep water is still the order of the day, however this has to be as snag free, as you can find. The last 2 weeks has not only, cost me feeders and hook lengths by the dozen, but fish as well (which are hard enough to catch as it is).

The worst of it is they really know where the snags are!!!!.

Top Rods on the day 1st Bill (The Master) Reade fishing the feeder and using tares with 5.56 kilo´s.

2nd Terry (Swing E´m) Screen fishing the feeder using tares with 4.86 kilo´s 3rd Dave (Yours Truly) Hoare fishing the feeder using maggot with 4.70 kilo´s.

This season´s winner of the trophy is Terry Screen with 11 points.

PLEASE NOTE The club has some vacancies at present, if you are interested in joining please contact Derek Swann on 966729293 or 603535771.

ABBEY ANGLING RESULTS Supplied by Terry Screen The venue for the 2nd round match of the Abbey Angling Cup was fished on the river Segura at Murcia on the 15th January.

The water is still low and coloured and the work has now started on the opposite bank, with large stones being laid up the bank

making a wall.

We arrived at our pegs and began fishing the match, but to the dismay of the anglers on pegs 6 to 13 to find that the work had started on the bank opposite them. There was a large noisy excavator banging the stones into place and so causing the ground to vibrate, which upset the fish and put them off feeding.

Workers should have completed the stretch from the weir to the bridge by the end of the week and we will keep you informed on their progress.

1st Alan (The Chairman) Reid with 23.420kg fishing the feeder using bread (Well Done) 2nd Bill (The Master) Reade with 9.040kg fishing the feeder using maggot 3rd Terry (Swing em) Screen with 6.540kg fishing the pole using paste 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.

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Fairwayz Golf Society......................

Another glorious day on the golf course for the Fairwayz golf society. Today, 17th January, although you would have thought it was mid April due to the super weather, we played at Altorreal golf course near Murcia. The course was patchy in places but overall in good condition. No excuses for poor scores, although the scores were pretty average.

The results were as follows:Gold category.

1st Alex Duchart 33pts.

2nd Colin Pepperday 27pts.

Best front 9 Steve Hamilton 17pts.

Best back 9 Roger Inwards 16pts.

Nearest the pin Gerry Williams.

Nearest the pin in 3 Alex Duchart.

Silver category.

1st Graham Butterworth 30pts.

2nd Steven Cleaver 30pts.

Best front 9 Iris Cleaver 16pts.

Best back 9 Stuart Taylor 15pts.

Nearest the pin - nil.

Nearest the pin in 3 - nil.

2 ball prize - Alex Duchart.

Thanks to Tony and Steve for arranging the day, along with Fran Cummins for the food at Fairwayz afterwards.

Our next game is at Vistabella on 24th January at 9:30 1st tee time.

The following game is at Alenda on 31st January at 9:50 1st tee time. Please arrive at the courses 1 hour before 1st tee time.

New members and guests always welcome, for more information telephone Tony on 966785781 or Steve on 966637449. Thank you, Steve Lawrence

LAS COLINAS hosts SMGS The attractive setting in the hidden valley where the Las Colinas course nestles was the midweek venue for San Miguel Golf Society. Forty members and guests had paired off into teams of two to do battle in a better-ball Stableford event.

It was an unusually cold and dull day coupled with an icy breeze and the conditions hardly changed for quite a few hours. When the sunshine did eventually break through we were halfway into the prize-giving.

Tight lies and super slick greens were the order of the day which made high scoring a tricky task, especially for the higher handicappers. Shots never seemed to carry their usual distance through the cold air as the golf balls often felt more like frozen lumps of lead.

One golfing accessory that hardly saw the light of day was the pitch mark repairer which became fairly redundant on the firm, slick greens.

On the other hand, the ball marker was frequently over-worked as two putting became more of a rarity rather than the norm’.

As might have been expected, it

CDMONTESINOS......................................

DEPORTIVO ORIHUELA VS CD MONTESINOS - MATCH POSTPONED Our match against Deportivo Orihuela, corresponding to Match number 18, due to be played on Sunday, 20th January 2013, was cancelled at the last minute as Orihuela Council deemed that the strong winds caused a public safety issue. Both sides and the match official turned up but were not allowed to play the game by the local Council officials present.

The match is being re-arranged for either TUESDAY 22nd or WEDNESDAY 23rd of January 2013. It will be played in the evening. As soon as either date is confirmed we will notify all our members by email. It will also be on the FORUM part of our website (www.cdmontesinos.com), so we suggest you all keep an eye on this.

VAMOS MONTE!!!

LAS SALINAS PETANCA LEAGUE.........................................................................

No distance too far Hello

VISTABELLA GOLF 18TH JANUARY 2013 Christmas and New Year well over this was the first match of 2013 to be played at Vistabella. The first tee was at eight minutes past nine, earlier than normal, but as the course is only 20 minutes from the Clubhouse, this was not a problem.

It was a chilly start but the sun soon came out and a difficult day followed for most players. The nearest the pins were shared by only two players.

The greens were fast and at times unreadable leaving us with lower scores than usual. As everybody finished it was

straight back to the Clubhouse for presentation and meal. Thanks to Chris and staff for their hospitality.

Scores as follows: Overall Winner Bill Martin 31 points Gold Winner John Stones 29 points on c/b Gold Runner Up Duncan Williamson 29 points on c/b Silver Winner Terry Smith 30 points Silver Runner Up John Harvey 27 points Best Front Nine Dave Pretty 14 points Best Back Nine Phil Docherty 16 points Nearest the Pin 4th Chris Gridley 8th John Harvey 15th Chris Gridley Best Guest Dean Parlour 28 points Most Potential Tony Wilson Next meeting at Los Colinas on 15th February.

Members please note, numbers at the moment are low so if you intend to play please sign up on the web as soon as possible or let someone in the Clubhouse know.

was the lower handicap players who went home clutching the lion’s share of the prizes – but, as usual when we visit Las Colinas, the day of keen competition at a classy venue was enjoyed by all.

Nobody in the silver division managed to hit and stay on the 14th water-side green but the other four NTP’s were claimed by Ben Price, Steve Fleet, Les Wilton and Darren Hancock.

As would normally be expected with this format, all five top pairs beat par with Tommy Boyle & Brian Mulligan taking 5th with 37 points.

Norman Padmore & Paul Cobain came 4th with 38, 3rd were Theo Boulhouwer & Ben Price (39), 2nd were Paul Guest & Barry Roehrig (40) with Steve Fleet & Ivan Hanik taking top slot with a very fine haul of 41 points.

Not a couple you’d normally associate with a performance which helped them collect the “Abacus” award…..in fact rumour has it that Colin & Jacqui Rust had their eye on the fine bottle of wine to help celebrate Colin’s birthday the following day. Hope it went down well, Colin.

Two more January meetings see us at La Finca and Bonalba.

Visit www.smgs.org or give Barry a buzz on 966 731 033 to find out all the details of forthcoming events and don’t forget – visitors wishing to join us for a game are always made very welcome.

Photo: Some of this week’s happy winners.

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KOSTA KITCHENS SPONSOR OF DIVISION 1 With the halfway stage now reached the leaders Rocajuna unbeaten visited second placed Lakeside Lakers, this was well contested with the Lakers winning the triples 3-1, the visitors hit back in the doubles, before going down by 4-3, this was the first defeat for the newly promoted Rocajuna team, but they still have a useful 4 point cushion. Third place Buccaneers won 5-2 away to XPS, a useful win over a XPS side missing several key players.

The reigning champions Castillo Musketeers, slipped up at home to Lakeside Vagabonds, by 3-4.

Two teams at the bottom needing points were Los Balcones and Blue Lagoon, this was a convincing win by 6-1 DIVISION TWO. This is dominated

by Amigas Belgas, the San Luis based Belgium club, they are really enjoying playing league matches and at the halfway mark are certain to play in division one, they

were promoted last season and have settled down well. In second place are Dominos Dragons they lead a pack with just 3 points separating them Torre Bears, were also promoted but have not settled down yet on their new pitches at Altos Del Limonar, they will have players back from Sweden any day which will help them. Castillo Cannons have slipped a little a couple of wins can change this as it’s still very close. Dominos Red, are just out of the relegation spot, they are occupied by Corsairs, who have struggled with team strength this should now be rectified by new signings which are allowed for a short period around Christmas they should move up the table.

Which leaves Castillo Caballeros in trouble already trailing by 8 points.

DIVISION 3. Halfway leaders are Danish Dynamite, who have set the pace with a 5 point lead over Lakeside Hellcats , both teams are playing well. In third place are Castillo Crusaders, they

have 3 teams breathing heavily, just 1 point behind Florentilles, El Presidente, and Danish Vikings, this is so well matched. In the relegation places are San Miguel and Buddies Bar. DIVISION FOUR. Leaders are Banditos with a six point lead over the 3rd placed team, a good start from this team, with La Dolores Peacocks holding 2nd place, 3 points clear of Danish team Laguna Rosa , they are followed by Danish Friends, who have a 1 point lead over Freebooters, and Laguna Vista, leaving Hideaways and La Dolores Blue in the relegation places.

DIVISION FIVE. Not surprisingly Torre Del Moro, from the Swedish league are clear cut leaders , they like all new members have to start in the lower division, and they are enjoying meeting new teams and playing at new venues, they will surely gain promotion.

Another new team Amigos Belgas 2, are also enjoying life they have formed a solid team. The

Panthers, also newly formed have settled in well are in 3rd place.

With the new teams experiencing league matches for the first time, Torre Bears, Torre Del Agua, Daya Vieja, El Raso, and Dominos 3, are all making good progress. Daya Vieja are very pleased with this there first time of playing so this has been a tough baptism, this was how we had hoped the new teams would progress playing each other.

The League which was formed in 2009 with just 6 teams has grown rapidly with 39 teams now competing, more so that we now have Danish, Swedish, Belgium, French and British all playing together which was a gamble that seems now to have paid off.

We still welcome new teams, with a 6th division a possibility, several teams have already shown interest for the Autumn start, we would like to hear from them for further information please cal 966785642.

Roger Seymour

www.soltimes.com

TMGS Oh the winter day`s of Spain and the chilly conditions where everyone wore trousers and, at least, a jumper and that was the order for the day of the latest event of TMGS. However, we were lucky and the threat of rain didn’t come to fruition and the Society played the full round dry, unlike 89 balls which is an average of 4 balls per player lost in the abundance of water. However, it is felt that some were embarrassed to reveal their exact number lost which must have pleased John Hillier who guessed the number lost and took the sweepstake.

There was a little trepidation as to the standard of the greens with rumours spreading like an Australian wildfire, but it was pleasing that, in general, the greens were in very good condition and although one or two were in need of TLC, the majority were in in a good state and very worth the 30€ (including buggy). Why pay double the price for courses that

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

don’t appreciate their customers?

The format of the day was a Stableford Joker competition, where there was to be a double pointer on the front and back nine, where the golfer chose one hole on each for double points.

The days Silver prizes were taken by, in 3rd place, Per Skarnes with 32 points, pipping his fellow Scandinavian friend of Roger Nielsen who came in 2nd with 35 points but the top score of the day was achieved by “F. B.” Colin Marsden with the best score of the day, 39 points.

The Gold Division didn’t fare much better and in 3rd place was the Hungarian Alex Alfody with 34 points, one behind Vice Captain Mick Kennedy on 35 and the 3 behind the winner of Steve Higgins with 37 points.

The Best Visitor prize went to Martin Donnelly with 29 points and was impressed with the professional way the Society was run. Photo is the Silver category winners, L-R Per Skarnes, Roger Nilsen and Colin Marsden Our next match see’s us at the wonderful and so undermined track of VillaMartin on the 23rd of January so if you fancy a game with the most diverse nationality Society, book in with us at www.tmgs.org or call our Match Secretary on 966 719 604. We will welcome you with open arms.

FC TORREVIEJA........................................

A DEPLETED FC TORREVIEJA BATTLE FOR A POINT Last Sunday Torry made the short trip to Crevillente, followed by around 40 of the Torry faithful, to take on 2nd bottom Crevillente who had lost only one of their last five games and included in their line-up ex-Torry favourite Carrasco.

Torry had only 12 regular squad members to choose from following the departure of Dani, injuries to Jorge and Ernesto, with the latter being long-term, and the suspension for the game of Vicente Boix.

Patri, who has plied his trade with Torrevieja CF in Second Regional for most of the season, got a start. 2 youngsters Guillem and Mati were on the bench for Torry along with keeper Manolo and forward Jose Manuel.

Torrys starting line-up: Tur, Manu, Abel, Rafa, Sergio (José Manuel, 72’), Burguillso, Cuco Ros, Patri (Guillem, 84’), Luís Carlos, Gasch and Koeman (Mati, 90’).

The game kicked of in front of a crowd of just over 250 on a windy late afternoon. Torry got off to the perfect start when after 7 minutes Patri took a free-kick from outside the area and his shot on target took a wicked deflection off the Crevillente defensive wall and wrong footed the keeper and flew into the back of the net for a GOALLLL to Torry. This gave Torry something to fight to preserve . As the half wore on Crevillente pushed Torry back and had chances to level which were squandered. However, Crevillente did get the breakthrough after 27 minutes when Torry keeper Tur failed to deal with a fiercely struck looping long range strike which he could only weakly palm to his left and the ball was swept into the back of the Torry net from close range for a GOALLLL and equaliser to Crevillente. Crevillente continued

to attack and their where some anxious moments for Torry and in particular keeper Tur who flapped at and thumbled crosses and shots but managed to get way with it.The game went flat in the first 10 minutes or so of the second half with neither side seizing the initiative but as the half progressed Crevillente’s momentum intensified and they won numerous corners which Torry managed to repel with Tur in the Torry goal showing a marked improvement in his handling of and punching clear of the ball than in the first half. Towards the end Abel had a fine header from a corner tipped over the bar by the Crevillente keeper with a very good reflex save. Torry then had a good break and Koeman, who timed his run to perfection, was free on goal but was flagged for offside, a very dubious decision in my opinion.

Soon after Cuco Ros had a driving run through the middle and was unceremoniously bundled over by the last defender on the edge of the box. The offender received a straight red card and rightly so. The free-kick was wasted. The game drew to a close with Torry returning home with a hard earned point. Abel and Rafa, in central defence, were immense for Torry and young Manu Amores, deputising for Vicente Boix, gave a very energetic and enterprising performance at right-back. Yellow Cards were shown to Torry players Gasch, Rafa, Cuco Ros, Koeman and Burguillos in a game which was hard fought but never nasty.

Torry are now, together with 4 other teams, 5 points outside the relegation zone. On Sunday Torry are at home to league leaders Novelda , 5.00 pm kick-off.

A slightly worried Darrylldinho hoping that Torry can add a bit more quality to the team quickly, particularly in the midfield area.

47

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GREENLANDS BOWLS CLUB.................. BENIAJAN CF 1 MAZARRON FC 1.......

BY STEVE HIBBERD In the Southern league, Cedars started 2013 where they left off in 2012, with a fine victory over Country Bowls Havesters.

Wins for Fred Tilley, Chris Dewar, Pete Tomkins 24-11. Keith Page, Mike Kilby, Allan Brown 26-9. Marina Beardsall, Zoe Wilcock, Jim Wilcock 14-13, plus a 16-16 draw for Nadine Bater, Val Duchart, Ted Upham, resulted in another 9 points towards promotion. Unfortunately, at the time of going to press, Oaks & Elms results had not been received.

The start of a new Fed 4s season, saw both the Bulls & Bears play at home.

Although the Bears recorded an impressive 6-2 victory over Horadada, details of who did what are unknown. Playing against Quesada, the Bulls won 1, drew 1, and lost the other rink, but alas had an inferior 54-66 shots difference, as they went down 3 points to 5. Well done: Sandra Heath, Bill Sims, Lynn Greenland, Dave Greenland 28-21. Graham Bater,

Steve Hibberd, Mike Veale, Steve Cantley 16-16.

Twas not a good resumption for our SABA league sides, as all 3 took a bit of a hammering. Over at San Miguel, Maples went down 4-10 against Pulsars, with only these 2 rinks securing points for their side: Jeannie Clements, Averil Toozer, Mike Edwards 17-10. Fred Tilley, Mel Brown, Vic Mahomet 16-15.

At Greenlands, Sycamores lost on all rinks against Quesada Pearls.

Also at home, Chestnuts earned 2 points against CB Supernovas, courtesy of a narrow 14-13 win by Margaret Dewar, Brian Hewitt & Chris Dewar.

A long trip to Javea proved fruitless for both the Winter & Berleen teams, although as with the Oaks, Elms & Bears, I have not been provided with details of the game.

Please could captains of these 4 teams, include me (steviehibberd@ yahoo.co.uk) on the distribution list for future results that one of the buggies probably wouldn,t make it back to the club house unassited so manfully pushing the buggy with the other buggy for the last 6 holes they played in, on their return to the pro shop they were told they should have phoned and a buggy would have been bought out to them, but no one appeared to have a phone on them that is until Bob piped up “ oh yes I had my phone on me “ well SECOND SENIOR moment for this group!!! after eight holes one of our guests Pat Ogden hadn,t lost any balls but had managed to lose 2 golf clubs now that has got to be a record for any one!! on hole 18 another guest Pete Theobald wished that he had taken his tree wood out with him as after hitting his tee shot onto the other fairway, he then tried to play it back to the 18th fairway only to find the trees all the way to the green ( ping pong ping pong) on hole 17 Les Pancott hit his ball into the trees so his driving partner decided to help him out by driving the buggy into the trees to find the ball unfortunately as they went through the trees a branch caught on the buggy sprang off and smacked Les in the face, whilst still seeing stars he took his next shot but wasn,t sure which flag he was aiming at as he could see two of them.

Results Gold Div Winner - Susan Smith - 30pts; 2nd Place - Vic Dew - 29pts; 3rd Place - John Dunnion - 27pts Silver Div Winner - Eddie Furness 29pts on count back; 2nd Place - Val Furness - 29pts on count back; 3rd Place - Pam Martin - 27pts Nearest the pin in 3 shots Gold Div Hole - Silver Div Hole 3 Sue Westerman Nearest the pin in 2 shots Gold Div Hole 12 Rod Day - Silver Div Hole 5 Les Lindores Best Guest Ted Tuvey 27 pts The Roy David Bartram.

Reported by Pam Martin

quesada golf Wednesday 16th January 2013 at Altorreal 35 members and guests played at Altorreal for the first game of the new year, and like a lot of courses at this time of year it was not in the best of conditions, they had also just dressed the greens that morning although this did not stop the greens from being fast, there were a few complaints from members about the state of the course but unless you travel around all the courses before booking which would be an impossible task you cannot know what condition the courses will be in, also the greens staff have to do the work on the course as and when they see fit. On the whole the consensus was that they enjoyed the course.

Snippets from the course were a bit sparse but here goes, on hole 14 one of our 4 balls decided to have a bit of a laugh on the players behind and on finding the body of a crow they placed this in the hole and when Tony Patterson reached the green and tried to putt his ball into the hole this was when he found that someone had already got the birdie ( Ha Ha John King nice one) , on hole 5 Brian Smith hit his ball into the green close to the pin so went and marked his ball, playing partner Bob Steward putted to the same place then putted into the hole picking up the marker as he went, they then spent the next 10 mins looking for Brians ball when they couldn,t find it walked to next tee whereupon Brian put his hand into his pocket and low and behold found his ball too late to take his putt, now this has definetly got to be one serious SENIOR moment!!! on hole 14 Brian Smith, Bob Steward , Ted Tuvey and Tony White all ex soldiers realised

Mazarron had to battle for 40 minutes of the second half with ten men after Alfonso was sent off in the 50th minute but hung on for a 1-1 draw to continue their impressive run of results.

In truth it was a below par performance but Mazarron were not helped by the antics of some Beniajan players and the inadequacy of the match officials who were intimidated throughout the game by the home players and supporters.

Mazarron got off to the perfect when they took the lead after just six minutes. Cecilio’s through ball found Ruben racing clear and his clever lob eluded the Beniajan keeper and nestled in the corner of the net.

Ruben was booked two minutes later following a challenge with the Beniajan left back who fell to the ground as though pole axed. After 15 minutes Ruben broke clear again but this time his lob was cleared off the line. Beniajan came more into the game and Jose Iker had to be

alert to tip a free kick over the bar.

Then a cross from the left wing deceived Iker and Matt Clarke did well to clear the ball off the line.

Beniajan equalised three minutes after half time when the Mazarron defence failed to clear and the ball was stabbed home to make it 1-1. Then two minutes later came another unsavoury incident, again involving the Beniajan left back who fell to the ground again as Alfonso ran past him. The linesman who had been intimidated by the home supporters behind him in the first half when a plastic bottle had been thrown at him, reacted to their appeals and called the referee over.

Alfonso was shown a red card much to the amazement and disgust of the Mazarron supporters.

Despite being down to ten men Mazarron’s defence,again marshalled superbly by Diego, held firm with Jose Iker making a number of good saves including a tremendous double save in the 84th minute. Mazarron were restricted to long range efforts but could have clinched it in the dying minutes when, first a Ruben header was cleared off the line and then a free kick from Baeza on the right just evaded desperate lunges from Barrachina and Diego at the far post.

Team: Jose Iker, Barrachina, Diego, Pepelu, Matt Clarke, Alfonso, Santi (Diego 2), Baeza, Panocha, Jose Ruben, Cecilio.

Man of the Match: Diego

ITV ORIHUELA RFC ITV ORIHUELA RFC HOPING TO KEEP ON ROLLING ITV Orihuela RFC head to play Murcia XV hoping to keep their 100% away record intact after two great wins against Albacete and Lorca this season.

With this being ITV Orihuela’s 40th anniversary this year, and was first formed forty years ago back on 8 January, are hoping to have a double celebration this year both on the and off the pitch. At the moment this seems to be the case and hoping that it will continue throughout the year.

Also in April we have Barnet Elisabethians RFC U18’s coming over on tour here, together with other teams looking at coming over.

They are also playing San Javier RFC as well.

This coming weekend we will be televising all of the live LV Cup matches at the rugby bar in Rojales, The Steakhouse, used to be Tylers Bar. Starting on Saturday with Sale v Scarlets at 15.30, followed by Dragons v Ospreys, and at 16.00 on Sunday Nottingham v Bedford in the championship. 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 down at the Moncayo Market on Saturday, 26 January, with all the rugby branded clothing, so come down and get all your shirts ready for the 6 Nations starting on 2 February. Also I will be at the rugby bar, the Steakhouse, on 31 January.

You can also get raffle tickets for the 6 Nations rugby match, Ireland v France, at both places, The prize includes flights and accommodation as well.

ITV Orihuela RFC’s next game is this weekend away to Murcia XV on 26 January at 17.00, at the moment. This will be followed by Murcia UCAM on 2 February.

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)

48 SOLTIMES JANUARY 2013

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