Blanca 381

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ISSUE 381

COSTA blanca

10 -16 jun

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2

June 2015

WAKING ON SUNSHINE!!!!

Yes, the heading might be a play on a famous song but is that not what most of us do every morning? As soon as you open your eyes 99 times out of a 100 that lovely, warm, health enriching big ball in the sky is shining down on you saying “Get out here and enjoy me!” and make the most of outdoor living.

Treat your outdoor space differently to the way you did in England, remember you will be outside far more here, and so will your friends and family when they come to visit you. I always look at my outside space as an extra room and have extended my patio area so when I have visitors they have a place to sit and relax and a place for eating and doing the B.B.Q. while I have a glass of wine and enjoy their company. Hey, don’t keep a dog and bark yourself!

So use your budget wisely, buy the best quality you can afford, this is not the U.K. where you may only sit on your patio a few days a year, your terraces, swimming pool surrounds and barbeque furniture will be used daily, yes even Christmas as the sun is warm during the day then too. Ensure it is of a standard up to Spanish climatic conditions with excellent guarantees, not every chair disintegrates because Billy Bunter sat on it you know!!!!

Think about what you will be using your various areas for, getting the sun, shade or some peace and quiet away from the visitors.

(Don’t worry, we all think this but don’t always say it) Are you a party animal requiring more chairs and tables for buffets or perhaps you are sun worshippers where sun beds are more important to you?

Treat the outside as another room extension (can’t say that enough) if you are limited for space stackable chairs are great at parties allowing Uncle Nobby plenty of room to perform his John Travolta “80’s” party piece, the wiggle may have vanished but the suit remains the same!!

The choice for patio furniture is limitless, aluminium, wood, steel, mosaic, rattan for the colonial look. The rattan colours popular for this year are white or grey, don’t worry if you need to match with anything you already have, brown is still around.

Before you hit the shops full of ideas with what you are doing with your outside space, measure so you know what size table or sofa set will fit into the area.

If you are buying a base for your parasol find one in stone / concrete with wheels and brakes, this allows you to push your parasol around as the sun moves. It beats lifting the base and hurting your back. None of us are getting any younger!! Another little tip

regarding your parasol, do not place it in the centre of your tables even if there is a hole for it. It may look great but when that gust of wind comes along it empties your glasses of wine and beer quicker than “her indoors” Tell your visitors if they are not using the parasol put it down as those gusts of wind will blow it over and could break it or do some damage to poor Nan sitting their minding her own business. Always good to use plastic glasses on your patio and around your swimming pools because when glass hits the tiles it flies everywhere and the children cry a lot when they get cut feet. If glass goes in your swimming pool the only way to get it out is to drain the water out, clean and then refill it again – yes expensive!!

Enjoy your summer with your families and most of all have fun, with or without the G & T´s.

Written by Chris of Furniture Plus

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Horse saved in Mazarron

Many people pull together to save skeletal horse locked up without food or water A group of people based in the Mazarron area have moved heaven and earth to save a skeletal horse locked up without food and water and destined to be sold to a butcher.

Sue and Rod W e e d i n g , founders of the Rojales rescue centre, were contacted by a Spanish group of ladies that rescue abused animals in the Mazarrón area, in the Murcia province.

The horse had been given to local gypsies who had stopped feeding him. These Spanish ladies attempted to feed and water the horse but the food was taken away and sold.

It is understood the gypsies were offered €20 for the horse by a local butcher and swift action was needed to save the horse.

The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre agreed to give the horse a permanent home so the group of Spanish women were able to very quickly to raise enough money to buy the horse, named Tormento from the gypsy`s They then walked him to a temporary place and then

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paid for transport to take him to another person that would care for him properly until he could be brought to the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre.

“This rescue has involved so many caring people that have helped and donated funds to help him on his journey to freedom. It is amazing what can be done for animals when people all work together,” Sue Weeding said.

“I think everyone deserves a huge pat on the back for not just looking the other way but for actually doing something. Because of their teamwork we’ve been able to save this horse.”

Tormento will be brought to the Rescue Centre next week by yet another supporter in the chain of people involved in saving him. We are honoured to be part of the group that has secured this beautiful horses future.“Our trailer was damaged in January and although we’ve had it fixed, it’s not up to such a long

trip,” Sue Weeding said.”

3

Air-traffic control strikes start this week

The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre relies on donations to fund its important animal welfare work, including the feeding and care of the A WEEK of air-traffic control strikes starts over 90 horses, ponies and donkeys today (Monday) in Spain and will continue every other day until Sunday, potentially that live at the Rojales centre.

Donations of cash or items for the centre’s network of eight charity shops across the Alicante province are gratefully welcomed. Please contact the charity shop hotline on 652 021 980 for more information about furniture pick-ups and volunteering.

The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre opens to the public on the first Sunday of every month between 1pm and 4pm. The centre is located just outside Rojales at Partido Lo Garriga 59.

For more details and directions, visit www.easyhorsecare.net.

affecting up to 5,300 flights daily to and from the country. Staff will down tools for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening today, Wednesday (June 10), Friday (June 12) and Sunday (June 14), but in keeping with industry rules is obliged to ensure at least minimum services, meaning 70% of flights will be running normally.

Affected times are between 10.00hrs and noon, and from 18.00hrs to 20.00hrs. Flights not due to take off or land between these hours may still be affected because of the knock-on effect of delays and cancellations.

The pickets have been called by the airtraffic controllers' union, USCA, over the State's decision to sanction 61 of these workers for having ignored the government's implementing a state of emergency in December 2010 and going ahead with a strike they had planned. All those who joined in the 2010 strike will be suspended from their jobs for a month without pay.

When they threatened to down tools fourand-a-half years ago, the then socialist president, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, called a state of emergency, a situation rarely seen except in times of armed conflict and in which all members of the public and authorities are required to follow the government's instructions.

The idea was to stop the strike, but 61 airtraffic controllers went ahead, forcing Spain to close its air-space. Between 2,500 and 2,800 air-traffic controllers are expected to join this week's strikes, which will affect around 5,330 flights today, 5,200 on Wednesday, 6,100 on Friday and 5,600 on Sunday.

Anything from 560 to 800 flights, twice daily on the strike days, are likely to be directly affected through cancellations or long delays.

Source: thinkspain

4

June 2015

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Artificial Grass is the inspired, maintenance- free answer to a lush green lawn in Spain.

Neil started his business in 2007 and has since transformed hundred´s of neglected, dusty gardens into attractive, green lawns.

With Neil´s experience he can create a green haven in any location; • onto rough ground • tiled-terraces and patios • private/Urbanisation pool surrounds • Communal garden areas Why chose Artificial Grass?

The advantages are endless; no more hefty water bills or tedious mowing. the grass is extremely resilient, able to endure UV rays and extreme temperatures, with a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. The various grasses

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come in a choice of either 4m or 2m wide rolls and are 25m long for practically seamless joining.

No more weeds, it´s allergy free and is both child and pet friendly.

Neil works only with approved products, adhesives and equipment; and follows a rigorous quality control system. He sources the best quality grasses at competitive prices extending professional advice during and after the installation guaranteeing complete satisfaction and all our grasses have an 8-year manufacturer’s warranty!

For a free, no-obligation quotation please call 968 543 077 or 693 496 510 Or e-mail us at mands24@googlemail. com or visit our website www. artificialgrass.pro On the Murcia Today site.

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The Austrian manufactured “ Solcrafte Style “ ultra compact water heating system is now available, with limited stocks, at an incredible fully installed price from 1495€!!!!!

This system is an attractive alternative to the water systems you may see dotted around your neighbourhood. The water tank is built into the system, offering the same efficiency, but without the size.

It requires less space for installation and is available in 100, 150 and 200 litre options. It has a great proven track record with installations across the rest of Europe and is now ready to be installed at YOUR property.

All year round hot water without the huge bills!!!! Take advantage of the weather we enjoy, let the Sun work for you!!!!

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With a combined experience of over 20 years in the UK and Spanish Solar Sector, and an up to date knowledge of Spanish Legislation and the Registration Process, you can be totally assured of unbiased information and a 100% Legal Installation.

There team consists of Trained Energy Surveyors, Accredited Technical

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Sunlife also offer a Repair and Registration Service for previously installed systems, to comply with current legislation.

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June 2015

Sometimes we all need a helping hand but at no time more so than when dealing with the loss of a loved one.

Having a prepaid funeral plan will not ease the pain of losing a loved one, But will save a lot of added stress at the time of need, not only in a supportive but also a financial capacity.

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Ronaldo's mum stopped at airport with €55,000

The mother of star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was stopped at Madrid's airport for trying to take far too much cash out of Spain on her way home to Portugal.

The 61-year-old mother of the Real Madrid football star, Dolores Aveiro, was stopped last month while trying to leave Spain for Portugal with €55,000 inside her carry-on luggage, newspaper El Mundo reported on Monday.

Officers of the Spanish Civil Guard temporarily t o o k Ronaldo's mum, a cook by profession, into custody because the amount exceeded the travel limit of €10,000 for traveling abroad.

Because Aveiro could not account for how she had obtained the €55,000, officials confiscated €45,000, but allowed her to continue on to Portugal with the permitted €10,000 amount.

This remaining money will stay in police custody until Aveiro can present documents to show from where exactly

7

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the money came.

Trying to leave Spain with an amount of money that exceeds legal limits is not considered a crime, according to El Mundo, but rather an administrative offence.

Aveiro's money is in the custody of customs officers with the Tax Agency, who will negotiate an economic sanction against her because she infringed regulations designed to prevent m o ney

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laundering.

Aveiro will have to pay the fine to recover the rest of the funds.

Sources told El Mundo that in Aveiro's case, the infringement was most likely due to her lack of knowledge about the legislation.

The newspaper also noted that such cases are quite common at the Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas airport, though most people are not connected to someone famous. thelocal.com

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June 2015

Arranging Your Bedroom Furniture

By Katharine Kaye McMillan and Patricia Hart McMillan from Home Decorating For Dummies, The bed is the key piece of furniture in any bedroom, and it naturally becomes the focal point. Bedroom furniture is traditionally arranged according to a few general rules. For the most part based on common sense, here are some general guidelines for you to follow: Traditionally, folks tend to place a double, queen-sized, or king-sized bed against the center of the wall opposite the main door to the room. With this arrangement, the headboard is the center of attention as you enter the room.

If the dimensions of your room prevent you from positioning your bed on the wall across from the door, other possible choices depend on which walls are long enough to accommodate the bed. Diagonal placement works well when you have the space.

Do not place a bed under a window, if the window will frequently be open. Open windows can create uncomfortable drafts. Positioning a bed between two windows, however, works well. If your home is air-conditioned or heated year-round and the windows are seldom

open, you may be able to ignore this rule. Do not place the bed where it obstructs a door into the room or a walkway through the room.

Consider nontraditional furniture arrangements if doing so will free up space or use space in a more interesting way.

The ultimate in concrete design

For example, a bed may look dramatic placed in front of a secure window; on a diagonal, which takes up extra space; sideways along a wall, to maximize floor space; or in an alcove (a technique called lit clos).

If your closet is large enough and you’d like to free-up floor space, put your chest of drawers inside your walk-in closet. Doing this will let you add additional pieces of furniture, such as a writing desk, a seating group, or a big screen TV, to transform any bedroom into a luxury suite.

Bedrooms used by a specific group of people have unique needs. Whether you’re decorating a master bedroom, a guest room, or a room for children, the following sections provide you with the tips you need.

Master bedrooms A master bedroom doesn’t have to be huge, but it does need to offer the amenities you need.

If your space is less masterful than you’d like, look at some of the following suggestions for decorating your bedroom: Make the bedroom look larger by eliminating clutter.

Use only necessary furniture. If you can, push a chest of drawers into a walk-in closet to free up floor space.

Keep the bed visually low. Use a headboard, but don’t use a footboard, and opt for something other than a four-poster bed, all of which tend to take up space visually, making the room seem smaller.

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Keep all your furniture — like the rest of your color scheme — light. Light colored furniture, walls, floors, window treatments, and bedding make a room seem bigger.

Regardless of the size of your master bedroom, the following tips can help you to make it as comfortable as possible: Add bedside tables that are as big as space will allow. If you read or watch TV in bed, you’ll find these tables helpful.

You can buy restaurant café tables for very little money and drape them with quilts.

Try to make room for at least one comfortable chair. Chairs are great for company on a sick day, for daytime resting, or for reading.

Consider carpeting all bedroom floors to reduce noise in the room.

Add a lady’s desk — a small, delicately proportioned furnishing for writing letters and so forth — if you have room.

Teen bedrooms Teenagers usually know what they want in a bedroom and aren’t slow to tell you that they need storage for books and music and space for their collections of just about anything you can name. They have firm ideas about style and colors, so ask! And when your son or daughter requests a wild color, do your best to persuade him or her to use it as an accent.

More and more activities from surfing the Net to entertaining take place in a teen’s room.

Extra seating and small tables provide space for visitors. Keep furnishings practical and easy to care for.

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C hi l d ren ’ s bedrooms Nurseries must be planned with the child’s future years in mind. But from the beginning, make room for a changing table near the crib. As always, keep safety in mind. The following tips will help you do all of these things: Keep cribs away from windows and window blind cords.

Make sure cribs and bunk beds meet federal safety standards. Check to see that mattresses fit snugly against the crib’s sides. Slats, spindles, rods, and corner posts should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart from each other. Make sure a child can’t release the drop side of a crib.

Choose chests and cabinets that can’t be tipped over (even when drawers are opened and a child crawls up and into them). This may call for fastening them to the wall for security.

Find hardware that’s rounded, sanded, and has no sharp edges.

Equip all electrical outlets with plastic safeguard plugs.

Eliminate any small throw rugs on slippery floors.

Make sure all flooring is skidproof.

Eliminate dangling cords on window blinds.

Choose bunk beds with sturdy ladders, handrails, and safety rails.

Make sure you have a guest bed for occasional sleepovers.

A trundle bed, which neatly stores a second bed beneath a regular one, is the ideal solution for children’s rooms.

Guest bedrooms Setting aside a room for guests makes their stay more

comfortable not only for them, but also for you.

You can furnish the guest room with a marvelous bed and all the necessary furnishings and forget about it. Check out the following suggestions for ways to make your guest room comfortable: Buy a handsome, space-saving daybed or sofa bed that fits smartly against the wall and out of the way.

The versatility of these beds makes them a delightful option in a home office or other double-duty room. You may even consider installing a Murphy bed that hides away in a closet.

Make sure that your guest has plenty of closet space.

Dedicate two sets of sheets, a comforter, special pillows, a duvet cover, and pillow shams to your guest room.

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June 2015

“Some Enchanted Evening”

‘SMILE’ for ‘TORREVIEJA STROKE SUPPORT’

Costa will perform.

There are two shows on the day, a Matinee at 2pm and an evening performance at 8pm.

The biggest event on the Costa is scheduled for Saturday 27th June in the Orihuela Costa Resort, La Zenia.

“Some Enchanted Evening” - A Tribute To Rodgers & Hammerstein will be performed by the Costa’s largest popular choir, the 60 strong Melody Makers International, along with the ever-popular Cantemos! Youth Choir, both conducted by Nigel Hopkins.

Tickets are available from La Ponderosa gift shop at La Zenia, as well as The CardPlace at both Punta Prima and Benimar.

Johnsons Supermarket at the Citrus Centre and Bargain Books in C/ Ramon Gallud, Torrevieja also have tickets. The shows are supporting the Pink Ladies for AECC this year.

Conductor and producer Nigel Hopkins promises a superb evening of entertainment including beautiful harmonies and several surprises which audiences always look forward to. Tickets are on sale NOW.

SMILE Charity Groups’s next charity fundraiser, on the 27th JUNE, at the ‘RESTAURANTE EL ALTO LA DOLORES’ in Guardamar will star the fabulous entertainer ‘DEE’ when funds are to be raised for ‘TSS’.

the end of

the

show

‘DEE’s’ enigmatic show will be of interest to all, with her ability to provide high-quality vocals across all genres, from rock to slow ballads.

are

only

Since forming , less than 2 years ago, THE SMILE CHARITY GROUP has raised 12,500€ for various charities, and are looking to exceed 13,000€ by

obtainable from ‘Restaurante El Alto

Tickets for

10€, which includes a 2 course meal, and are La Dolores’, The Post Room Benijófar, or by calling 966 712 382.

FUN DAY REACHING OUT Eddie Coleman, event organiser of the annual Fun Day, which was held on Sunday 24th May at Playa Flamenca beach side, is shown here presenting Karolina Leonard, the President of ‘Reach Out Torrevieja’, with a donation of €600.

This very worthwhile local charity rely on the public, not only money, but clothes, toiletries, and saleable goods that they can move on through their retail outlet.

The concert will include many of R&H’s fabulous hits from such shows as Carousel, Oklahoma, South Pacific, King & I, State Fair, and of course the Sound of Music.

June.

function, with the first prize of a very generous Food Hamper, won by Mrs Christine Nickel, who kindly donated the basket, also to the charity.

Reach Out is an entirely voluntary organisation and 100% of all donations are used to benefit the homeless and poor in the Torrevieja area.

A further €250 was also given to Karolina for the mother and baby home which is also located in Torrevieja.

A professional band from the UK will accompany the shows and some of the finest soloists on the

Additionally, a Fund Day Raffle was held during the

Welcome GO SATELLITE!

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

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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.

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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.

COME AND MEET US! We have an 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.

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11

Home & Garden

Summer Patio Fix-Ups:

6 Ways to Light Your Outdoor Room

Let the good times roll well into the evening with string lights, sconces, pendants and more to illuminate your patio or deck Enhance those long, leisurely evenings on the patio with the right lighting. From subtle landscape lighting and string lights that cast a soft glow to sconces, pendants and more, these ideas will help spark your imagination and plan that perfect patio.

1. String Lights Nothing can beat the soft, glowing light of café-style lights strung overhead, and since they are so inexpensive, you can use them liberally without denting your budget.

Good to know: Be sure to choose outdoor-rated string lights. LED bulbs will last practically forever, but incandescent bulbs will give you that trademark soft glow. Solar string lights are a great option if you want to hang them far from an outlet.

More ways with string lighting A note on extra outlets. Having adequate exterior outlets is a must for hanging string lights, lanterns and more (unless they're solar powered).

Make the investment in exterior outlets instead of running cords through a cracked window — not only will your home be safer, but you'll be able to choose exactly where you want the outlets to go.

Good to know: If you live in an older house, your exterior outlets might not have up-to-date safety features, so consider having them upgraded. All exterior electrical outlets should have a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) and a weatherproof box cover to keep the outlet protected.

2. Sconces

5. Recessed Lighting

Simple and sleek, recessed lights would be perfect tucked into the covered patio of a contemporary or modern home.

Good to know: Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the lighting to perfectly suit the mood — and a dimmer is something you can do yourself.

Extend dinnertime with a well-lit outdoor kitchen. If your grilling area is separate from your patio seating area, consider subtly linking the two zones with lighting.

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Especially at dusk, that single step can be easy to miss, so adding a light is a kind thing to do.

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Sconces are a great option when you want to cast a glow on an open patio.

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entertainment & celebs

June 2015

Game of Thrones will return to Spain for Season 6

‘The Clangers will be a little oasis of calm’

Great care has been taken to ensure a CBeebies revival of the knitted pink whistling aliens retains their gentle charm The Clangers The new CBeebies series of The Clangers will be narrated by Michael Palin.

Reviving classic children’s shows is all the rage at the moment, with Paddington, Thunderbirds, the Teletubbies and the Wombles all given a new lease of life. Next up is The Clangers, the show about pink, knitted, mouse-like whistling aliens created in 1969 by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. But fans of the gentle, slightly surreal series can rest assured the Clangers have not been given a CGI makeover or modernised for their new CBeebies series later this month.

As its narrator Michael Palin explains: “I’m very glad that they didn’t make major changes to The Clangers because it’s a lovely formula that works.

I think part of what makes it work is that in some ways it’s mundane – they use sort of tin lids and elastic bands and all sorts of things to make stuff and I like that.

“I think that’s encouraging children to think for themselves, not press a button and have it all done for them sort of digitally. There’s definitely an element of the old technology to the Clangers’ planet and the Clangers themselves. That appeals to me greatly.”

“I loved watching The Clangers with our children,” Palin recalls. “It calmed everything down and I think possibly these days when everything is such a rush and there are so many demands on our time, ‘Do this, do that, get that done, know about this, find out about that’. The Clangers will be a little oasis of calm and that’s what’s so appealing.”

Palin adds: “I find the Clangers’ world not only calming but therapeutic. There’s a Zen dimension to it. For anyone who says things are getting on top of them I’d say, ‘Don’t spend thousands on a spa, just spend a weekend on the Blue Planet!’”

The first two series were narrated by Postgate – who died in 2008 – and Palin, who has not voiced a regular children’s TV series before, said it was “an honour” to be asked to take on the role and even his children were impressed. “I decided to do it without a second thought because The Clangers is special, there’s nothing quite like that little world that was created by Postgate and Firmin all those years ago.

“I remember watching with my children and finding it just wonderfully peaceful with a little bit of wicked mischief to it throughout which was a very nice combination. To me it’s one of the great classics, it’s like being asked to be Biggles or something like that. I was honoured to be asked really.”

Jo Chalkley, one of the animators working on the series, came back into stop-frame animation from working on Lego computer games because of her fond memories of The Clangers. She was relieved to find out they are, “not wearing baseball hats

and texting. It’s like the original – it’s just lovely.”

Palin says, “the whole idea was to keep it as close to the original in the sense of the design and look of the planet”, with the series filmed in the same 12 movements per second. “They’ve made a new set of puppets that move cleverly [and] are quite complex creatures so you can get more movement out of them. But the sounds they make are the same, the people in their world are pretty much the same.

“The scripts are all freshly written but in the spirit of the old stories. So it’s very much like picking it up where it left off and I quite like that as one of the great things for me about The Clangers is they seem to be completely timeless, they’ll always be there, leading their lives and trying to get by day by day with their little problems that occur. There’s a lovely feeling of permanence that’s rather reassuring really.”

Postgate’s son Dan, who has written some of the scripts, said when co-producers Coolabi and the BBC first talked with his family’s company Smallfilms about reviving The Clangers, “I thought there might be a desire to speed things up and make things a bit more sugary, quick cutting and fast stories”; but he was relieved when they said, “no we don’t want to do that, we want to keep that sort of nice mellow, gentle approach to it.”

According to Entertainment Weekly, HBO has announced that Game of Thrones will be shooting portions of Season 6 in Spain. Two locations have been confirmed: the cities of Girona and Peñíscola.

However, it is still unclear if the show will return to The Royal Alcazar of Seville, which stood in for the Water Gardens in Dorne during this season. With a vocal number of fans unhappy with the show’s depiction of Dorne and its inhabitants so far, perhaps it would be wise to move away from that location all together.

Girona, Spain. The Cathedral of Saint Mary – The Citadel of the Maesters?

As far as the two confirmed locations go, it’s been suggested that the streets and cathedral of Girona would make it a good double for Oldtown, where the Citadel (Maester headquarters) is located. A couple of important characters visit Oldtown in A Feast for Crows, so presumably it’s going to be more important going forward. However, it may be a bit tricky to get around the red-tape of filming there, as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of Girona is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Girona.

Peñíscola, Spain – Casterly Rock?

The second location, Peñíscola, is without a doubt the perfect place to film scenes at Casterly Rock, the seat of House Lannister. George R.R. Martin has hinted that we may actually see Casterly Rock in The Winds of Winter, which would be very interesting and would make sense if the Game of Thrones showrunners are looking to film scenes there.

David Benioff and Dan Weiss have done quite well when it comes to scouting believable-looking locations for the show. Even though the Dorne storyline has not panned out this year, the Water Gardens are beautiful and look about how I imagined they would when reading the books. So it will be very interesting to find out exactly which scenes we will be seeing in these two new locations, especially since we book readers are now in the same boat as the Unsullied.

identally tweets acc BBC BBC officials have issued a public apology after a technical rehears al for an obituary, tweets were a royal obituary rehearsal went public and death Queen’s sparked false reports suggesting Queen

Elizabeth II had passed away.

BBC reporter Ahmen Khawaja was taking part in a training exercise to teach staff about how to handle a royal death when a series of misleading tweets were accidentally sent out from her official Twitter account.

The messages began: “BREAKING: Queen Elizabeth is being treated at Edward 7th Hospital in London. Statement due shortly,” and later added, “Queen Elizabeth has died.”

The tweets were picked up by news outlets across the world and sparked rumours of a real royal death, which were compounded as the 89-year-old monarch was coincidentally admitted to the London hospital on Wednesday morning for her annual medical check-up.

Khawaja later deleted the tweets and told followers the news was not true, and now BBC bosses have issued a public apology for the scare.

A statement from the organisation reads, “During

m i s t a ke n l y sent from the account of a BBC journalist... The tweets were swiftly deleted and we apologise for any offence.”

Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/ entertainment/

health & beauty

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Feel Great

Tel: 950 121 936 sales@soltimes.com

Reading labels is a great place to start. If you are unsure of an ingredient, question it! Go look it up. We have free access to this information at the tip of our fingers.

A simple Google search could save you a heartache of skin problems down the road.

Natural Tips for Treating Dry and Cracked Feet

It doesn’t need to be complicated! In fact, natural beauty is one of the simplest things going around and will leave your skin finally able to live out the natural beauty it was born to be.

Other than neglected hairy legs, one of the worst things about winter is having to put up with this frustrating and embarrassing problem of dry and cracked feet!

Four Simple Ways to Maintain Gorgeous, Smooth, Scale-Free Legs and Feet this Summer:

You know that feeling; the scratchy, itchy one. Just thinking about them sends a chill up my spine! I’m here to tell you that you needn’t put up with this nightmare of a thought come winter or any more winters to come!

Time to breathe a sigh of relief.

1. Dry brushing your legs

We all know that the winter air can be very drying for our skin, especially if you live in a drier region with low humidity or use indoor heating. Our poor feet often get neglected during these colder months. Whether you wear inappropriate footwear or rough it barefoot frequently; if you are someone who’s particularly active on your feet, overweight or pregnant; you are at particular risk of wearing down your soles if you don’t give them the appropriate TLC. When the sole loses its suppleness and elasticity, calluses may build up which can result in painful cracking and even bleeding.

Not to overlook the fact that in some cases, dry skin and cracking heels may be a sign of a zinc, vitamin or mineral deficiency. Most certainly, eating a healthy, whole foods diet will help significantly. It’s also important to nourish your body with lots of healthy fats which are vital for helping the body absorb the skin loving vitamins A, E and D and also for repairing and renewing skin cells. Ghee, coconut oil, butter, avocado and olive oil (to name a few of my favorites) are also great for promoting hormonal homeostasis and regulating your core body temperature. Be gone cold hands and feet!

Whilst nourishing the skin starts from the inside, it’s certainly nice to be able to moisturize your legs and feet after a warm shower (or shave!) when your skin is especially susceptible to being left dry and stripped of its natural oils. After all, you also want to be able show your pins without feeling embarrassed that you’re putting on a scaly reptile show for the public.

Now before you go out and stack your shopping basket with off-the-shelf commercial lines of moisturizers and serums, take a second look at what’s on their ingredient labels.

It’s a complex list of synthetic chemicals that even the smartest fifth grader spelling bee champ can’t pronounce or spell. A large percentage of them are neither good for your skin, your body or the environment because remember, what doesn’t get absorbed by your own body will simply get washed down the drain.

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A dry brush is simply a natural bristled brush that you use to exfoliate your skin with by brushing in large circular motions.

It’s effective in stimulating blood flow, removing dead skin cells and encouraging skin cell regeneration. Use this on your legs and the tops of your feet before a shower. Bonus – you save water in the process!

2. Foot Soak Avoid soaking your feet in warm water for prolonged periods of time as this can have the adverse effect of further drying your skin. What you can do though, is pour ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar into a small tub of lukewarm water that you can soak your feet in for 10 minutes. Do this no more than 3 times a week. The ACV will help to soften the skin, preparing it for the next step.

3. Pumice stone This is a must-have for removing the thicker layers of built up dry skin that sometimes accumulates on hard working feet. A pumice stone is simply natural volcanic rock that works away at smoothing calluses and hard, dry skin.

Do you suffer from mobility problems, Only do this when your feet breathlessness/pain or falls/stumbles? are wet! If you’re attacking Do you need help washing / dressing or a particularly difficult build supervision? up of skin on your feet, a You could be entitled to extra income by daily habit of using a pumice claiming UK stone when you shower will sickness / disabililty benefits while living in Spain drastically help to smooth For advice or to book a consultation down your soles.

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June 2015

Hello and welcome to CanDu Computer massive catalogues of Bytes. Today’s article is called “How to movies, TV shows, and Use the Internet to Never Leave Your original programming House Again”. I got inspired by an article that can reduce I was reading this morning about how you even the most stoic can get, and do, almost anything online!

Thanks to the Internet, activities like individuals into an “going outside” or “being a productive amorphous blob by the member of the community” are becoming time Monday morning increasingly optional parts of daily life. rolls around.

When your inner hermit feels like putting Amazon on his vampire cape, simple tricks like Though it shouldn’t come as news to ordering a pizza or calling in some anyone who’s owned a computer in the Chinese are old news, and only make up a small part of a much broader network of past 15 years, Amazon is the absolute delivery services which will keep you fed, easiest way to get anything and everything bathed, and entertained from the comfort you need in life dropped on your doorstep of your jogging-pants. With this guide, in two days or less. Lightbulb just went you may never have to taste fresh air or out or Kids need a new backpack, a pencil sunshine again. box, and notebook? As there slogan says For Today - ONLINE SHOPPING First, we’ll take a look at the essentials. “Amazon’s got it” YOU are in God’s waiting room! Enjoy Food ranks pretty high up on the list of “things you’ll need to survive today”, every day is if it was your last because one and with grocery delivery you can take day, it will be! Get out in the gloriously, all the hassle out of waiting in line at the wonderful climate that we have chosen to checkout and have your groceries brought live in, meet people and live. straight into your kitchen by the bagful.

There are so many things that you The reason there are so many different can do to get ‘out of the house’ For services is that their availability varies greatly by the region of the country example, you can learn classical ballroom you hail from, and for that matter, what dancing or traditional Swing-Jive, both country that you are in! Always check on a Wednesday afternoon, at different out who have been doing it the longest, venues, so no missing your favourite and, as such, have the widest maps of soaps, having to drive in the dark or be in serviceability. That said the increase in selection is substantial enough that the stifling hot room that has had a full days sun on it! Dancing has benefits to your wait is well worth it. health beyond the increased fitness you Netflix/Amazon Prime/Hulu Plus No wonder Blockbuster went out of will get, listening to music you love and business! Nowadays, you don’t even have maybe even grew up with, all make for a to have a cable subscription to amass better you! Look around, life is calling you! enough media content to last anyone Contact me for free advice concerning through the nuclear holocaust. Whether your computer, or to arrange an you’re watching from a bunker 100-feet under the surface or just want to veg out appointment, at the address or phone on the couch after a long week at work, number below. online streaming For further information or advice on services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and computing,contact Trevor on 689 892 745 or canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk Amazon Prime have

Spirit of Ecstasy

Motoring began as a luxury pursuit with only the richest able to purchase a motor car. ‘Pimping your ride’ is a craze over a century old; posh car owners commissioned mascots or bonnet ornaments to personalise their vehicles. Nowadays the name Lalique symbolises the epitome of fine glass and crystal making. Rene Lalique set up his jewellers company in the 19th Century; as well as making perfume bottles he made 30 different bonnet mascots. In 1925 Citroen commissioned the five flying horses ornament for their then latest five horsepower car.

Affluent British motorists clamoured for the mascots and Knightsbridge, London was the ideal place to set up shop. Bugatti and Bentley owners flocked to the store. Some mascots were huge with coloured lights inside, making driving dangerously difficult as they obscured the chauffeurs view.

My favourites however are two different car bonnet ornaments; firstly the Citroen figurine of 2 horses’ heads found on old 2CVs. The CV is short for chevauxvapeur which in English means two horsepower, hence the figurine. The other is the Spirit of Ecstasy who has stood on the bonnet of nearly every RollsRoyce motor car that’s been built since 1911.

Charles Rolls started manufacturing cars in 1904 with Sir Frederick Royce selling them from his showroom in Fulham. Their partnership became the Rolls-Royce Company in 1906. The first cars only sported a badge and customers added their own often tasteless and gaudy ornaments which horrified Rolls-Royce. John Montague was the editor of Car Illustrated magazine;

pause for thought It must be guilty conscience, but I always feel a rush of adrenaline whenever I see a police car, convinced I’m about to be booked for something! So it was with some apprehension that I greeted a home-visit from the Guardia at 8.00 am the other morning. The next house is nearly a mile away, so it could only be me they wanted; unless of course they’d just come to admire the view!

But no, it seemed they wanted a friendly chat – great practice for my limited Spanish, as they enquired about local wildlife and the whereabouts of my nearest neighbours; leaving me with the encouraging impression that they were actually checking that it really was my house, and that I had reasonable knowledge of the locality. We parted the best of friends, with promises of further Spanish lessons when duties allowed.

But I guess I’m not unique in harbouring a certain dread of authority, especially here where laws frequently seem to change retrospectively, leaving me with little certainty of being above reproach.

And in many ways I guess that’s how a lot of us think of God - a sort of policeman in the sky, with the best videosurveillance system going, ready to pounce on us the

minute we inadvertently put a foot wrong!

But as with my preconceptions of the Guardia’s visit, this view of God couldn’t really be further from the truth. For yes, He’s certainly aware of all I think or do and is grieved by my rebellion against Him, so often pleasing myself rather than others. But, this doesn’t lead God to instant judgement, condemnation and punishment as we might expect, but to providing an alternative in Jesus, who in his suffering and death has himself accepted any penalty required, and in so doing has expunged all record of my offence.

It’s almost like a policeman saying “You’ve been caught speeding, but don’t worry, I’ll pay the fine myself if you’ll just agree.” Now that’s the sort of policeman I could really like!

Details of a number of English Language Churches are given in Sol Noticeboard for any who wish to Worship, but further information about the Anglican Church and details of forthcoming events may be seen on the web site www.mojacarchurch.org Duncan Burr is Licensed Lay Reader for the Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Cálida and may be contacted at djburr@avired. com

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

he later became the 2nd Lord Montague of Beaulieu. He was a friend of Rolls and Royce and suggested that they ask John Sykes an artist friend of his to design a bonnet ornament for Rolls-Royce. Montague had already used Sykes to design an ornament for his own Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

As a car enthusiast John Montague was one of the first members of the Automobile Club in London (now the RAC) and a young lady worked there called Eleanor Thornton, Montague was instantly attracted to her. He was however married so they kept a respectable distance. Then in 1902 Eleanor became his secretary at Car Illustrated and their love affair started. Apart from close friends their relationship stayed secret, as the Edwardian vagaries of class distinction meant they could never marry as Eleanor was simply too ‘common.’ Eleanor bore his illegitimate daughter in 1903 but she gave her up for adoption.

Eleanor modelled for Sykes in the designing of Montague’s bonnet ornament. The result is a woman wearing long flowing robes or a nightie according to rumour, pressing a finger to her mouth, a sign of their secret love. It was named The Whisper and the original can be seen at the Beaulieu motor museum in Hampshire. Rolls-Royce wanted to define their brand;

traits like grace and silent speed.

John Sykes said ‘here’s one I made earlier’ and altered the statue subtlety and so the Spirit of Ecstasy or ‘Emily’ came into existence As was often the norm with ‘those upstairs’ Lord Montague’s wife Lady Cecil Kerr tolerated the relationship between Eleanor and her husband, so when in 1915 he was asked to go to India as the Advisor on Mechanical Transport Services, Eleanor was allowed to accompany him instead of his wife.

On Christmas Day they left on the SS Persia, but tragedy struck five days later the ship was hit and sunk by a U-Boat torpedo. The lovers hit the water together but huge wave of water made him lose his grip on her and he was pulled underwater. When he got to the surface she was gone. Montague was rescued 2 days later and on returning to England he had the good fortune to read his own obituary. He searched for his beloved Eleanor for years, never believing she was dead. Heartbreakingly he wrote ‘I should have got a stronger grip on her!’

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PROPERTY supplement

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SOLTIMES PROPERTY SUPPLEMENT

THE ONLY PROPERTY SUPPLEMENT ON THE COSTAS!!!!

LOOKING TO BUY OR RENT? FIND YOUR DREAM HOME INSIDE! House Prices on the Coast Rose by 1.4% to May Canary, Islands

According to the latest Tinsa IMIE General and Large Markets Index, the average price of housing in Spain in May, was 1.6% cheaper than at the end of 2014, similar to the accumulated decline recorded in the Balearic and Canary Islands with respect to December 2014, which stood at 1.5%.

In contrast, the towns of the Mediterranean Coast are the only one of the areas analysed by the appraisal company who closed the first five months of this year with positive figures (+1.4%), although the average price is still 2.3% below that registered in May 2014.

Capitals and Large Cities registered the worst figures in May among the areas analysed, with a year-on-year decline of 4.9%. The Metropolitan Areas registered a decline of 3.8% over the same period of the previous year, and in the smaller towns, grouped in the Other Municipalities category, the average price fell by 2.7% compared with May 2014.

Thus, according to Tinsa’s data, the average price of housing in Spain has

1.8 Million Spanish Households Struggle with Utility Bills EconomyOne in ten Spanish households unemployment rate, are the main reasons have serious problems paying for their basic household utilities, such as electricity and gas supplies.

This translates to 1.8 million families, or around six million people. This rate has tripled in the past six years, from 3.6% to 9.88% today, according to the ‘Energy Poverty in Spain‘ report, presented by Economics for Energy, a private research centre, participated by universities, foundations and firms, that applies economic analysis to energy issues.

Spain’s economic problems, marked by the economic crisis, the fall of households’ income and the increase in the

accumulated a decline of 42.1% since the maximum values reached in 2007. The Mediterranean Coast is the area where prices have dropped most in the past eight years, registering an accumulated decline of 48.8%, followed by the Capitals and Large Cities and the Metropolitan Areas, with accumulated adjustments reaching 46.5% and 44.8%, respectively.

In contrast, El Mundo reported that the most moderate accumulated declines have been registered in the Balearic and Canary Islands, dropping by 32.1%, and in the Other Municipalities (-35.6%).

Source: keyero.com

that energy poverty has grown in recent years.

The main risks of energy poverty are based on the impact on the health of citizens against low temperatures, premature death which may occur in the winter among the elderly, or the social and economic impact.

Economics for Energy has introduced a new indicator to measure energy poverty, based on the minimum standard of life (MIS) i.e. the minimum income of a home that allows its members active integration into society.

On this basis, idealista. com reported that the Spanish regions which are suffering greater energy poverty are Melilla (23.4%), Ceuta (16.58%), the Canary Islands (15.09%) Andalucía (15.05%) and Murcia (14.59%), while the lower risk households are in the Basque Country (4.93%), Castilla y León (5.77%), La Rioja (6.18%) and Galicia (6.22%).

PROPERTY supplement

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• 4 bed/4 bath Ext Neptuno Villa.

• Large private plot.

• Private 9m x 5m swimming pool.

• Jacuzzi & much more.

LEIVA LONG TERM LET €700 + BILLS PCM

Ref No: 0196

Villas For Long Term Rent • 4 bed/4 bath ext Neptuno Delux • Amazing private pool area.

• Furnished to high spec.

• Free wifi & games station etc

(Clients Waiting)

Call: 671 188 808

• 4 bed/3 bath Spanish Finca.

• Amazing country kitchen.

• 8m x 4m swimming pool.

• Spectacular sea views + much more.

www.sensolgolfvillasales.com office spain (0034) 968 970 614 mobile: (0034) 610 152 682

VILLA ENCANTADORA/SECTOR D €124,950

Ref No: 0181

• 2 bed/1 bath Fortuna style villa.

• 8m x 4m private swimming pool.

• Glazed front Naya.

• Log burner plus much, much more.

APARTMENTO BOLEYN/PUERTO DE MAZARRON €69,950

Ref No: 0003

• 3 bed/1 bath 2nd Floor Apartment.

• Short walk to beach & amenities.

• To be sold fully furnished.

• Ideal holiday/rental investment.

CASA BRILLIANTE/CAMPOSOL LOWER C €59,995

Ref No: 0178

• 2 bed/1 bath Classico style villa.

• Maintained to high standard.

• Underbuild expansion opportunity.

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

Ref No: 0077

• 2 bed/1 bath Classico style villa.

• Quiet location.

• To be sold part furnished.

• Great investment opportunity

VILLA LISA/CAMPOSOL D €72,500

Ref No: 0179

• 2 bed/ 1 bath Rebecca style villa.

• Roof top jacuzzi with amazing views.

• Modernised throughout.

• Must be viewed.

VILLA PRIMAVERA/CAMPOSOL D €139,950

Ref No: 0177

• 3 bed/3 bath Neptuno Delux villa.

• AC, Sat TV + much more.

• Bespoke pool area with night lights.

• To be sold fully furnished.

MANY MORE PROPERTIES CAN BE SEEN ON OUR WEBSITES

PROPERTY supplement

www.soltimes.com

The Profile of Spanish House Hunters

A survey of the public attending the recent Madrid International Property Show (SIMA) reveals some interesting new trends in the Spanish housing market.

Attendees of SIMA tend to be well informed and ready to buy, with financing in place. A detailed study of visitor profiles carried out

by Planner – the organisers of SIMA – in collaboration with the Sociedad de Tasacion valuations company revealed that “yet again that the main SIMA visitor profile is of someone coming with the intention of buying in the short term,” explains Eloy Bohúa, the managing director of Planner. “ Compared to previous years they have a bigger budget and foresee fewer difficulties in financing their purchase”.

An analysis of budgets finds that, between the survey carried out at the last show and this one, the percentage of people looking for property at the cheapest end of the scale (up to €150,000) has dropped from 36.5 per cent of the total to 22.1 per cent. At the other end, those looking for property priced at over €300,000 have gone from 12.8 per cent to 21.6 per cent. Meanwhile, 29 per cent are searching for property between €150,000 and €210,000, and 28.3 per cent between €210,000 and €300,000.

The main finding of this budget analysis is that the public attending SIMA this year have bigger budgets than those attending last year. However, it is also true that many of those surveyed are trading up, so they need to sell their current home to help finance the purchase, leaving plenty of uncertainty in the process.

Perceptions of access to mortgage financing has also improved dramatically in a year. At the previous show in 2014, 67 per cent of those surveyed thought they were very or quite likely to get a mortgage approved. This year that percentage goes up to 80.2 per cent. Last year 18.3 per cent said getting a mortgage was an obstacle to buying, this year only 9.1 per cent say that. Clearly, the figures showing a large increase in mortgage lending

calida homes

are feeding through into buyer perceptions.

Job insecurity is another obstacle to home purchase surveyed by SIMA, falling from 8.9 per cent last year to 6.3 per cent now, so the stronger economy and employment growth figures are leaving buyers more confident.

EXPECTATIONS OF LOWER HOUSE PRICES

19

www.espanarural.com Avenida 28 de Febrero 34, Albox 04800- Almeria.

We are now on the A334 road coming into Albox on the left hand side between the Grand Sport Shop and the Heaven Cafe/Bar. Villa Trigal - ESP 2498

125,000€

Cortijo Nido - ESP 2499

79,950€

Expectations of lower house prices have also narrowed, going from 6.8 per cent in 2014 saying house prices would continue falling, to 4.6 per cent this year. Expectation of lower prices are no longer one of the main reasons for delaying a purchase.

The majority may no longer expect house prices to decline further, but that doesn’t mean they think Spanish property prices are cheap. Just over 50 per cent say that house prices are still the main obstacle to purchase, down from 65 per cent last year. So, despite the huge price adjustment, home purchase is still out of reach for many people.

Regarding the survey’s findings, the general manager of ST, Juan Fernández-Aceytuno says that “an improvement in the economic situation, the stabilisation of prices, and the increase in mortgage approvals” has led to “an increase in consumer confidence and appeal among those who are currently planning to buy a home”. “It’s precisely these factors,” he continues, “that has renewed interest in the sector and are reflected in the survey”.

On the supply side, the show also illustrated how the Spanish property sector is evolving after years dominated by bankruptcies and bank repossessions. Developers were once again at the forefront of project marketing, after years with almost no role to play.40 per cent of the property on offer at the show was on the market for the first time, in response to a reactivation in demand. http://www.spanishpropertyinsight.com/

A villa in the Velez rubio area

A country house in the Arboleas area

• EXCELLENT VALUE BANK REPOSSESSION.

•4 Bedroom, 3 bathroom traditional country property

• 3 Bed 2 Bathroom 150m2 large Villa

•Large renovated needing some repairs

• 20 Hectares of mainly useful land

•Stunning views and a few mins from Arboleas

• Mains can be Reconnected

•Mains connected, good access.

Villa Montaña Vistas - ESP 2493 219,000€

A villa in the Albox area • Detached villa, stunning location, 5 mins to Albox.

• 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, all with fitted wardrobes • Large plot of 2,698, private/walled, gated • Large stunning pool/BBQ area, changing room/toilet •All mains/A/C/fireplace/double glazed/garage, etc.

Cortijo Dios - ESP 2491

36,000€

A country house in the Lubrin area • Farmhouse in a small little Village 8km of Lubrin • Full renovation needed, 60m2 on to floors • Flat land of 600m2 excellent views • Good access, mains can be connected.

10-5pm Mon-Fri Sat 10-1pm Tel Office 950102505 Mobile: 654359607 e mail: info@espanarural.com web: www.espanarural.com

calida homes The Name You Can Trust Established In Arboleas since 2000 Now in new premises, Avenida Andalusia, Arboleas (the old Sofia's gym)

Price 174,950€

BOTH FULLY LEGAL AND CHARACTER PROPERTIES WANTED URGENTLY

cla 6571

3 bed 2 bath villa 930m plot with pool and views Arboleas

Price 199,950€

cla 6560

Immaculate 4 bed 3 bath luxury villa, Lots of extras including central heating, solar hot water, air con. beautiful low maintenance garden

Price 149,950€

cla 6561

Bargain 3 bed 2 bath villa Arboleas popular location close to the village private with lovely views swimming pool and summer house

From 123,000€

cla 6555

2 and 3 bed apartments Marcenas Golf Mojacar, ground floor and penthouse available finance available subject to status

Why choose us ?

Pro active, professional agents with over 15 years experience in the area • We do more than any other local agent to get your property sold • Extensive web and media marketing • Free videos of your property • Annual promotion of the area and properties at Belgian and Dutch property exhibitions • Competitive commission rates

Calida homes property Consultancy s.l - Almeria’s No1 Esatate Agent calidahomes@hotmail.com www.calidahomespropconsult.com

Office: 0034 950 430 763 - Richard: 0034 634 302 801 - Andrea: 0034 697 875 717

PROPERTY supplement

20

COMPLETE HOLIDAY HOLIDAY CARE CARE COMPLETE MOJACAR PLAYA

RENTALS - SALES -MANAGEMENT - MAINTENANCE

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

Ref: SP/LS - Beautiful, furnished 2 bed apart with aircon, private parking, pool & gardens. Terrace, mountain views, spacious lounge/diner with UK satellite channels.

MOJACAR - REDUCED -€94,950

Ref. CB/SK - Beautiful, modern, 3 bed, 2 bath villa with garage & large terrace with Jacuzzi with outstanding panoramic views of Mojácar Playa beach and mountains.

Ref. OA/RJ – Stunning 3 bed, 2,5 bath, 130 m2, duplex in renowned complex Oasis del Mar 1, terraces & solarium with sea views, fantastic pools/gardens, private parking, a/c.

MOJACAR – REDUCED - €249,950

Ref. ALB/MB/14 - Beautiful & modern, 2 bed, 2 bath apart. Private com pool, terr with sea views, air con, private parking space.

Mojácar REDUCED- €275,000 MOJACAR PLAYA - €149,950 Paseo del Mediterraneo 19, Mojacar Playa, Almeria (near the Hotel Best Indalo) Tel: 950 478 612 / 610 808 631 

info@almeriaholidays.com

www.almeriaholidays.com

June 2015

For sale: two-bedroom apartment, tenant included in the deal

Banks are selling off repossessed homes even when there are still people living inside Around 36 percent of homes being sold

by Catalan lenders to real estate firms and investment funds have a tenant inside, according to sources from the Catalonia regional government. The properties in question have all been repossessed by banks from borrowers in default, who then cut a deal with the bank: by turning in the keys, the home reverted to the lender, the mortgage was canceled, and the homeowners became tenants instead.

But now, Catalan authorities fear that those families may end up being evicted by the new owners of the properties. The Catalan Housing Agency fears that these families may undergo a “double eviction” To stop this from happening, the regional government is considering purchasing a portfolio of homes in partnership with the municipalities where the 774 families affected by the problem have their main residence.

The cascade of home evictions and the loan restrictions triggered by the economic crisis has increased social housing needs.

Yet austerity measures have left regional authorities without the resources to properly address the issue.

The Catalan department of land and sustainability affairs has found that banks are selling homes at bargain basement prices, sometimes for prices as low as €6,000, the same sources said.. The Catalan government saw an opportunity there to enlarge its own stock of social housing by exercising its preferential purchasing rights over any bank transactions.

Authorities are looking to buy homes at below-market prices in the 72 locations with the greatest demand. The regional

housing commissioner, Carles Sala, has asked banks for a list of all the properties they are putting up for sale. From now on, the government will have to be apprised of any similar transactions.

Over the last six weeks, lenders have provided details about 2,150 properties that are being taken to market. This list will provide the basis for the Catalan government’s first purchases.

Around 72 percent of buyers of these repossessed homes are businesses, followed by private individuals, who pay higher prices. Business clients include investment funds such as Blackstone, which recently acquired a package of 44,000 mortgage loans from CatalunyaCaixa. Of these, around a thousand had already reached the foreclosure stage by the time the new owner took control. Most of the buyers, however, are anonymous real estate firms taking advantage of the low prices. Some companies have purchased between 10 and 20 apartments in low-income neighborhoods in downtown Barcelona for €14,500 each. Although these vary in location and size (ranging from 40m2 to 70m2), the sale price was identical.

The Catalan government has confirmed that rental management is not what these companies do, leading it to believe that the move represents speculative investment.

The new owners are expected to refurbish the homes or hold on to them until the market improves, later reselling them at a higher price. Rental management is not what these companies do, meaning that the move may represent speculative investment What authorities are concerned about is that among the 2,150 repossessed homes being sold on the market, 774 of them have tenants living inside.

www.immo-carlos.com email: info@immo-carlos.com Address: La Plaza Nueva, No 10, Albox (Opposite the Donkey Statue)

Office: 950 102 191 • Carlos: 648 505 938 • Gavin: 671 293 942 Oria, nice villa with 3 bed, 2 bath, On a bigger plot of 1.380m²

Arboleas, nice villa with 3 bed, 2 bath & a private pool

Partaloa, nice quality villa with 3 bed, 3 bath on a bigger plot!!

94.950€

157,000€

169.950€

Arboleas, very nice villa with 3 bed, 2 bath, private pool & views!!

Albox, Beautiful penthouse with 3 bed, 2 bath & private parking!

Limaria, Nice Quality villa with 3 bed, 2 bath & heated pool

179.950€

183.000€

200.000€

Properties Urgently needed in all areas

O www.soltimes.com

PROPERTY supplement

21

Bedar, 04288 (next to Miramar Restaurant)

Tel: 607 705 085 or 687 938 466

Olive

Email: info@olivehouse-es.com www.olivehouse-es.com Monday - Friday 10am - 3.30pm

Sales Office Now Open in Bedar...it’s all in the detail

vera(valle de este) 69,000€

antas

OLV774

OLV943

This 3 bedroom, 2 bath apartment located on the sought after golf resort of Valle de Este comes fully furnished with private terrace, communal pools and secure parking. Recently reduced, a great buy!

bedar(El Pinar)

240,000€

OLV965

285,000€

OLV972

275,000€

This fabulous renovated Cortijo boasts separate annex, private pool and numerous outbuildings.

It has been beautifully restored with wonderful gardens and approximately 30 minutes to the coast.

LUBRIN

140,000€

49,950€

OLV744

This quaint country house is located in a great location between Turre and Mojacar Pueblo and just 5 minutes from the coast. The property boasts 3 bedrooms and a good sized plot of over 1,500m2.

This stunning and unique 6 bedroom property needs to be seen to be appreciated. There are few properties on the market with this style and attention to detail. Designed by an award winning international architect.

alfaix

180,000€

This lovely authentic 3 bedroom Spanish Cortijo located in a beautiful setting less than 20 minutes to the coast. There is a large plot surrounding the property with much of it being classed as “urban” meaning further building would be allowed.

bedar

499,950€

OLV624

A deceptively large 3 double bedroom, 1 bathroom Cortijo set in rolling countryside just 5 minute drive from the pretty whitewashed market town of Lubrin. The property has an abundance of potential.

BEDAR

395,000€

OLV974

OLV500

Villa Serrania is a charming 2 bed, 1 bath country villa located just minutes outside the beautiful and picturesque village of Bedar. The property boasts a private pool, various terraces and wonderful views of the countryside and coastline.

mojacar

This large detached former Mill house is situated in the country close to Antas. It’s a 4 bed, 2 bath with some fabulous features including a private pool area and large workshop easily converted into extra accommodation. A must see at this reduced price.

lubrin

tabernas OLV961

OLV864

Located in the popular, former mining village of El Pinar de Bedar, this sizable and rare property was originally built for the one of the mine managers. This spacious property boasts some wonderful features and includes 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

bedar

245,000€

369,950€

OLV812

This spacious and exquisite 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom villa is located minutes from the sought after village of Bedar, just 10 minutes from major road links and 20 minutes from the wonderful coastal resort of Mojacar Playa.

This truly stunning 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom Finca style property with splendid views of the Mediterranean and wonderful gardens is nestled in the hills within easy walking distance of the beautiful village of Bedar.

sorbas (Cariatiz) 85,000€ OLV973

This 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom village house is located in a small hamlet just a minutes drive from the friendly village of Cariatiz which boasts bar/restaurants, small supermarket and communal pool. A great lock up holiday home.

PROPERTY supplement

22

June 2015

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast !

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK API-V0174 VERA PLAYA

Casa Flor de Cerezo IA1496

• 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom • Large terrace of 19m² (south facing) • Fully furnished (sold as seen) • Outdoor communal pool • In the centre of the naturist area

LOOKING FOR NEW TIES COASTAL PROPER

www.almeriapropertyinvestments.com

SIERRO

This lovely private villa is for sale close to charming village of Bayarque The property is 3 bed, 2 bath, lounge, huge kitchen and dining area. Other features include walled garden and pool.

Casa Golondrinas IA1720 CANTORIA

Villa Irina IA1195

A beautiful high quality house in a peaceful location close to Cantoria. Property has a private garden with pool and barbecue area, a superb kitchen with granite worktops, large lounge/dining room with fireplace. Extra summer room.3e good sized bedrooms, two complete bathrooms with showers.

Ronda de las Buganvillas nº 42, Vera playa

Casa Bayarques IA1232

Large Villa in beautiful country location between Chirivel and Oria. house comprises, porch, lounge, kitchen, 3 double beds all with en-suite baths. Plenty of parking space and a 8x4 metre pool.

110,000€

71,500€

ANN 666 260 792 OFFICE 950 460 874

ORIA

174,950€

110,000€

ARBOLEAS

Beautiful luxury villa, at an amazing price!. This lovely property in Arboleas has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and is beautifully decorated throughout.The garden is landscaped with pool .A ‘must see’ property that is sold fully furnished.

140.000€

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

property group

Opening hours.

Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Saturday 10.00 am to 1.30 pm

DUE TO INCREASE IN SALES WE URGENTLY NEED PROPERTIES IN MOJÁCAR, GARRUCHA, VERA AND TURRE. FREE VALUATION. NO FEES FOR ADVERTISING. Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563 www.veritashomes.co.uk • info@veritashomes.co.uk

PROPERTY supplement

www.soltimes.com

Spanish holidaymakers prefer Benidorm and Peñíscola

23

the south coast of Portugal.

The cheapest international getaways searched for on Trivago are Bangkok, the capital of Thailand at €52 a night, followed

by Oporto in Portugal at €64 and the capital of Andorra - Andorra la Vella - at €76 per night, all these prices to include accommodation.

New York, at €308 a night, Edinburgh at €245 and London at €238 are the most expensive.

Spanish holidaymakers still prefer national destinations for their annual breaks, and

BENIDORM and Peñíscola are the most sought-after summer destinations among Spanish holidaymakers, according to online accommodation search engine Trivago.

to spend the night with an average outlay of €77, including accommodation.

The Costa Blanca (Alicante province) resort town of Benidorm continues to be number one both among Spaniards and British tourists, followed closely by Peñíscola on the Costa del Azahar, the coast of the province of Castellón, eastern Spain.

The most expensive is Salou (Tarragona province, on the east coast in Catalunya) at €271 a night including accommodation and all other expenditure, followed by Calpe (Alicante province) at €267, Benidorm just south of Calpe at €257 and Peñíscola, at €248.

In fact, most holiday favourites are in the Comunidad Valenciana and Andalucía, with the top 10 including Conil de la Frontera (Cádiz province), and Torremolinos and Benalmádena on the Costa del Sol.

Despite the price tag being higher, however, Benidorm and Peñíscola are the most likely to be searched for when seeking a summer getaway.

Madrid and Barcelona are third and fifth for city breaks, and Madrid is also third in terms of the cheapest Spanish destination

Granada is the cheapest overall at €65, followed by Sevilla with €73.

In terms of international destinations, London and Rome are the two most popular with Spanish holidaymakers, followed by Paris, Lisbon, and Albufeira on

According to Tinsa the average price of residential property fell by 3.6% between May 2014 and May 2015, taking the market further away from stability than in April, when a year-on-year depreciation of just 1.7% was reported.

The latest Tinsa report distinguishes different areas, and identifies capitals and other large cities as the ones with the sharpest price falls over the last twelve months (4.9%). Next are “other metropolitan areas”, with a decrease of 3.8%, and “other municipalities”, where a price fall of 2.7% is observed.

The Mediterranean coast fares rather better, with average price decreases of only 2.3% over the last year, while in the Canary and Balearic islands the drop has been an

even less significant 2.1%. However, in the first five months of five months 2015 prices in the islands are closer to the national average with falls of 1.5%, while on the Mediterranean coast prices have actually risen by an encouraging 1.4%, easily outperforming the market as a whole.

Whilst coastal destinations remain the most popular, Spanish families, couples, singles and groups of friends often prefer inland mountain locations to escape the heat, or urbanisations with swimming pools, especially those with plenty of activities taking place.

Source: thinkspain.com

PRICE BROWN PARTNERSHIP

ESTATE AGENTS/INMOBILIARIA/MANTENIMIENTO - MOJACAR

SALES, RENTALS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT VENTAS, ALQUILERES Y MANTENIMIENTO

Antas

Mojácar

129,000€

125,000€

LV582

LV602

5 bed, 3 bath, townhouse & annexe of 162 m2 + roof terrace & courtyard. In walking distance of all amenities & 10 minutes drive to local beaches.

Tinsa confirm Spanish property price falls in May

The Mediterranean regions fare better in the latest property price figures. The fragile nature of the incipient recovery in the Spanish property market has been illustrated over the last few days by various statistical publications which suggest that falling prices are not yet a thing of the past, [Image: Tinsa confirm Spanish property price falls in May] and the latest bulletin from property valuation form Tinsa seems to add some weight to thus theory.

tend to go away in summer, which means owners of apartments and villas geared for holiday letting potentially have a huge selection of customers on the doorstep.

2 bed, 1.5 bath, townhouse of 81m2 + 28m2 terraces in a complex just 400 metres from the beach. Private garden, parking, community gardens & pool.

La Huerta

La Huerta

(Antas)

(Antas)

179,500€

105,000€

SDV701

LV681

2 bed, 2 bath, house of 89m2 + independent 1 bed, 1 bath annex of 41m2. Easy maintenance terraces & gardens. Private pool.

3 properties for the price of 1! 3 separate, linked, houses with a minimum of 8 bedrooms. 1 property is for renovation but all are well maintained & in a habitable condition.

www.pricebrown.com Last month’s figures mean that 42.1% of the value of residential property in Spain Tel: +34 950 478 915 Fax: +34 950 478 963 has now been lost since December 2007, sales@pricebrown.com rentals@pricebrown.com before the economic crisis took hold, but Monday - Friday 9:30am - 6pm again there are considerable differences We are able to organise Energy Efficiency Certificates at very competitive prices Members of the Contact us for more details among the categories used by Tinsa. In the Members of the National Agrupacion Tecnica Association of Estate All properties listed with Price Brown comply with the consumer protection act Profesional Canary and Balearic islands, for example, Agents Overseas - decreto 218/2005 11 Octobre (Andalucia). the depreciation has totalled only 32.1%, Prices are correct for 7 days from going to print for all properties on these pages whilst in the Mediterranean areas the accumulated drop in value is 48.8%.

In capitals and large cities the e quivale nt figure is 46.5%, while in other now priced to sell 69,995€ metropolitan A lovely 3 bed, 2 bath 1st floor apartment in Turre with A/C, lift access, fitted kitchen & wonderful mountain views areas it All amenities are within walking distance comes to 44.8%. tel: 697 887 372

VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL

this is a little gem

detatched cortijo reduced

bargain

€125,000

2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM, pENTHOUSE APARTMENT IN VERA PLAYA ALL MOD CONS, BALCONY & ROOF TERRACE OFFERING FANTASTIC VIEWS

cALL 663 977 230 EMAIL: gedfab@yahoo.com Vera Playa Apartment

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

649 186 107

or email thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

PROPERTY supplement

24

June 2015

Second richest man in the world sees a future in Spanish property

FOR BUSINESS Internet anywhere

Carlos Slim acquires controlling share of Realia. Mexican businessman Carlos Slim, the second richest man in the world behind Bill Gates, has acquired a controlling share of Realia, the real estate wing of Bankia.

Mr Slim has sealed a deal to purchase 24.95% of the property company, whose leading shareholder is FCC, the construction group of which he is also the leading shareholder following an agreement reached last year with Esther Koplowitz. This latest transaction represents an investment by Carlos Slim of 44.5 million euros, generating surplus revenue of 9.6 million for the company.

However, this purchase will not make much of a dent in Carlos Slim’s personal fortune, which is estimated by Forbes to amount to over 77 billion dollars.

He has been keen to enter the world of Spanish real estate for some time, and the deal which has now been finalized was first mooted in March. Before it was allowed to go ahead a full report from the Ministry of Hacienda had to

be obtained and an investment bank valuation had to be completed, but with these procedures now completed the green light has been given by all those concerned. The price he has paid, of 58 cents per share, is the same as the one specified in Slim’s takeover bid for 100% of the shares, a bid which is awaiting approval from Spain’s stock market commission. It is currently 15.3% lower than the value of Realia shares on the stock market (68.5 cents), but is well above the 49 cents offered by George Soros’ company Hispania.

Among the assets on Realia’s books is a property portfolio of 419,000 square metres which is valued at 1,850 million euros, and Carlos Slim’s intention is to streamline the company so that it can make the most of the opportunities which exist. Included in this portfolio are the Kio Towers in the Plaza de Castilla, in the centre of Madrid.

The company also still owns a residue from prior promotions of 1.87 million square metres and 630 apartments.

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Volcano

The day was strangely quiet. A fundamental calm hung in the air. Noone hurried, life was in slow motion.

The windless heat of late morning had a soporific effect, enhanced by a certain mystery which seemed omnipresent, something unsaid, or yet to be done.

Loco Paco was seemingly in a trance most of the time but today he was more vacant, more confused, more preoccupied.

His pet Saharan Dung Beetle, Benjy hadn’t been watered or fed and ‘chirped’ noisily in its enclosure. Paco was deaf to the protests as he stared absent-mindedly towards the distant and pollution shrouded horizon.

Manuela, sleep deprived and fatigued after an adventurous night with the brass section of a visiting philharmonic orchestra wondered at the serenity of the morning.

The stillness was almost tangible. Manuela felt at peace yet a certain excitement ran through her every fibre. She knew the day would be different, she knew something momentous was brewing.

Rodriquez, who would usually be pulling the wings off butterflies stared at the wonders of his garden. He smelt the flowers instead of treading them under foot. He spread bread for the birds instead of removing the bell from the cat’s collar. He was euphoric.

He even kissed his wife before setting off for his day’s work. His wife was of course immediately suspicious and engaged a firm of private investigators to follow him, but we digress.

For the first time in living memory the Village was at peace. Bonhomie was everywhere. If it wasn’t such a novelty it would have been rather sickening. A black cloud was however on the horizon. A actual black cloud on an actual horizon rather than the metaphoric variety. First, the cloud appeared then the earth shook and banged. Manuela noticed

viewpoint it first, any sort of banging and her ears, as well as o t h e r strategic b i t s , pricked up.

L o c o Paco shook himself from his daydreams as his pet beetle picked up the first of the vibrations before hiding in the darkest recess of its kennel.

Paco watched the approaching cloud with awe, he was transfixed.

Rodriquez, apart from wondering why two men in trilbies and trench-coats were shadowing him mouthed the word ‘volcano’ as a white dust precipitated out from the cloud which now completely covered Alqueria.

Manuela remembered her visit to Pompeii, of the bodies petrified by hot ash while copulating. ‘What a way to go’ she thought and immediately propositioned a extremely grateful passer-by. Paco was still transfixed, in fact he was transfixed three weeks after the events which prompted this tale.

Rodriquez, ever the hero hid in the cellar of the Olive Mill until hunger and thirst drove him to the surface.

So, what mountain had erupted so suddenly and unexpectedly?

After some investigation it was found that a blocked condensation tube in Poyato’s illicit Remitroot still caused a blow back and flash-fire which resulted in the volcano-like eruption.

Poyato emerged smouldering and blackened but somehow elated after being covered from head to foot in Remitroot-theexplosion.

Found It!

The dread day was approaching ever nearer when both cats had an appointment at the vets on the same day.

In the past we have borrowed Nancy’s box, which opens on the top, and which serves the needs of cats, owners, and vet. It is a comfy box, easy to get the cat into, and from which it does not have to be removed for treatment.

But Nancy’s box is but one, and we have 2 cats. They can’t share – apart from the inter-cat bloodshed that that would provoke, the box is a one-cat size. So Pete and I began an intensive quest for a top opening box.

Pete trawled the Web, while I pestered everybody I could think of, but our efforts were in vain. Pete’s best shot was a dog box, which had a small top opening, so there was still far too much chance of resistance in the form of arms and legs appearing spontaneously and acting as entry-preventative braces.

I was listened to with interest, but with the invariable response: If you find one, let us know, we’ve been looking for something similar for ages!

I was becoming increasingly despondent. We would just have to use Nancy’s box twice and make 2 journeys. If we did this, we would get the first cat in, but by the time we returned the second cat would have either have disappeared, or, if confined to the house, would be in full combat mode.

Cats, or at least our cats, are not meek and subservient animals.

25

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk They are superior beings, to be treated with deference and respect, and stuffing them unceremoniously through a small hole into a cage, then heaving them out through the same small hole only for a stranger to poke a needle into their skin does not, in their opinion, come anywhere near deference and respect.

But the darkest hour, they say, is just before dawn. I went into the pet shop in Albox, and there, right in front of me, was a very small top-opening box, with a picture of a rabbit on it.

‘I want a box just like this, but bigger.’ I pleaded. ‘For a cat.’ I explained.

The owner is a tall man, but even he had to stretch up to reach a very dusty box on the top shelf.

‘Like this? This is the best type of box for a cat. It is difficult to get a cat in if the door is in the front.’

Oh yes, and do I know it!!

puzzle pages

26

June 2015

Take That are heading out on a MASSIVE arena tour

alan carr

Yapping his way around the UK with his brand new stand

The Open 2015

across the UK

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Experience The Open at the Home of Golf.

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Spot the Ball (or guess where it was before it was cunningly removed) Answers

wordsearch treasure island

soltimes general knowledge Quiz

2. In darts, what is the lowest with a single dart?....................

3. Which sports playing area is 2.7 metres by 1.5 metres?.........

4. Which sport do the Oklahoma City Thunder play?...

5. In Athletics, what is the last event of the Decathlon?............

6. Who was the first cricketer to achieve 10,000 runs in test cricket?....................................

7. What is the highest possible break in snooker, 147, 150, 155?

8. Who were the runners up in the Europa League Final of 2010?.......................................

QUARTERMASTER SAIL SCHOONER SEAFARING SEAMEN SHIP SKELETON SPY-GLASS SQUIRE TRELAWNEY THE BLACK SPOT TREASURE WALRUS TAXI THREE’S COMPANY WALTONS

9. James Naismith invented which sport?............................

10. 8 minutes and 47.8 seconds is the fastest ever winning time for what race?..........................

Answers

squiggle SUDOKU

wordsearch answer

COVE CREW CUTLASS DR. LIVESEY GUINEAS HISPANIOLA ISLAND ISRAEL HANDS JIM HAWKINS JOLLY ROGER LOGBOOK LONG JOHN SILVER MAROONED MUSKET MUTINY PARROT PIRATES PISTOL

standard SUDOKU

ADMIRAL BENBOW INN APPLE BARREL ASHORE BEACH BEN GUNN BILLY BONES BLACK DOG BUCCANEER BURIED GOLD CABIN BOY CANNON BALLS CANNONS CAPE CAPTAIN FLINT CAPTAIN SMOLLETT CHEST COAST COMPASS

easy SUDOKU

CRYPTIC crossword

6. A View To A Kill 7. Holland 8. King Arthur 9. Pyro 10. Frank Rijkaard

CROSSWORD

1. Methuselah 2. Michael Collins 3. Carousel 4. Singapore Sling 5. Some Like It Hot

SOLUTIONS

largest pitch?........................... score that CANNOT be scored

TREASURE ISLAND WAS WRITTEN BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

Answers

Find and circle all of the words and names from the book Treasure Island. The remaining 46 letters spell a secret message.

Gavasker 7. 155 8. Fulham FC 9. Basketball 10. The Grand National

1. Which ancestor of Noah is also the name of an oversized Champagne bottle that holds six litres?............................................

2. Which Apollo 11 astronaut did not set foot on the moon?...............................................

3. FC Liverpool’s signature song ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ stems from which musical?......................................................

4. Which cocktail, named after a city, was invented by the Raffles Hotel barkeeper Ngiam Tong Boon in 1915?............................

5. Spats Columbo is the bad guy in which popular black and white film?.......................

6. Which James Bond theme song that starts with the words “Meeting you” was the only 007 theme song to reach number one in the US charts?....................................................

7. Which national team introduced ‘Total Football’ at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in Germany?....................................................

8. According to legend, which man rode horses named Llamrei, Hengroen and Passelande?................................................

9. What is the Greek word for fire?................

10. Which Dutch footballer earned the nickname ‘Llama’ after spitting on the West German striker Rudi Völler during a 1990 FIFA World Cup game?..................................

soltimes sports Quiz

1. Which sport is played on the

1. Polo 2. 23 3. Table Tennis 4. Basketball 5. 1500m 6. Sunil

sol

1.A1 2. F2

on this day 12th JUNE

1381 – Peasants’ Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath.

1665 – England installs a municipal government in New York City (the former Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam).

1889 – Eighty are killed in the Armagh rail disaster near Armagh in what is now Northern Ireland.

1942 – Anne Frank receives a diary for her thirteenth birthday.

1994 – Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman are murdered outside her home in Los Angeles, California. O.J. Simpson is later acquitted of the killings, but is held liable in wrongful death civil suit.

1994 – The Boeing 777, the world’s largest twinjet, makes its first flight.

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27

To advertise in this space

across 1. Assortment (7) 5. Group of insects (5) 8. Large herbivorous mammal (5) 9. Pagan (7) 10. Unfeigned (7) 11. Ledge (5) 12. Lifted (6) 14. Appraise (6) 17. Notions (5) 19. Fruit (7) 21. Direction (7) 22. Taut or rigid (5) 24. Days of the month (5) 25. Embroiled (7)

Down 1. Chart (3) 2. Inert gas (5) 3. Dissimilar (7) 4. Reverberated (6) 5. Photos (5) 6. Attain (7) 7. Public declaration (9) 10. Decorated food (9) 13. Imprecise (7) 15. Abridge (7) 16. Captured (6) 18. Secret agents (5) 20. Invalidate (5) 23. Conclusion (3)

STANDARD CROSSWORD

STANDARD CROSSWORD CLUES

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

SUDOKU PUZZLE s

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

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

standard

easy

squiggle

ACROSS

Down

7 Move stealthily south, before Kane has another look (5) 8 Get in - in French, Eric’s lively (9) 10 Church - true grain? (6) 11 Most fortunate cults Ike produced (8) 12 Brought out dress set when moving (8) 13 Completed some love rituals (4) 15 Large first year intake of nothing?

Look for science! (7) 17 Is Student’s Union good when taking in and giving out? (7) 20 Part of the world is brought up in a note (4) 22 Record about soldier, saint and queen (8) 25 Water edge, surrounding universal home for fish? (8) 26 Didn’t remember to do without time (6) 27 Places with the best view of art?

(9) 28 Produces brands? (5)

1 Hesitant international body destroys a cretin (9) 2 Parting with freshers at 6 - “are we learners?” (8) 3 Let in and incorporated lustful reports (7) 4 Cherished, as a metal might be (8) 5 Next to live dies out (6) 6 Opening trees, trees opening (5) 9 First lecture in the morning’s “charity” (4) 14 Seven pole-dancing letter holders (9) 16 Large ice sections, initially moving, not English? (8) 18 Increase flow towards the source? (8) 19 Attempted to take 2000, then cut back (7) 21 Constant horses (6) 23 Present soldier with newspaper (4) 24 The same peer? (5)

FOOD & DRINK

28

FOOD & DRINK... Mexican

Is Mexican Food Really Mexican?

June 2015

know that Native Americans are the originators the corn tortilla? Or that the quesadilla, a staple food in Mexico, is a blend of Spanish and Mexican foods?

The Spanish invasion in 1521 led Cortez to bring unknown meats and spices to Mexico. Animals that had never been seen in Mexico arrived; cows, sheep and pigs. Spices such as garlic, black pepper, cinnamon, coriander and oregano also arrived. These additions changed the flavors and dishes of Mexican cuisine forever. The chili pepper is truly indigenous to Mexico.

It can be grown and harvested from mild to absolutely scorching hot! As Mexican food began to enter the United States, another alteration occurred.

Americans added more fats and cheeses to the food to make it taste better, thus adding to the caloric count of many dishes.

The largest American influence on Mexican cuisine occurred in the Southwestern United States. You have probably heard of ‘Tex-Mex’ food or New Mexican food. New Mexico food is a blend of Native American, Mexican and American foods.

New Mexican cuisine is best known for its green chili dishes. Just knowing Mexican food is a delight with all the spices and unique tastes that some of the basic facts about Mexican food does not change the delightful come with our favorite dishes such as enchiladas, burritos and fajitas. taste and flavor of the food. Mexican food can be easily cooked at home, but Most of us believe that all of these dishes and flavors are derived from who doesn’t enjoy a fabulous meal at a Mexican restaurant? foods that are indigenous to Mexico.

Many of your favorite Mexican restaurants offer restaurant delivery. By using This is not entirely true. The Mexican food that we enjoy today is a restaurant delivery service you can enjoy the rich taste of your favorite a blend of Mexican, Spanish, French, and Native American. Did you restaurant dishes in the comfort of your own home.

Smoky pork & black bean tacos

Mexican pork chilli with a smoky barbecued flavour, served in crispy tortilla shells with ripe avocad o

Ingredients:

Spicy seafood stew with tomatoes & lime

2 tsp vegetable oil ½ red onion, chopped 2 tsp each smoked paprika and grou nd cumin 500g pack lean pork mince 300ml passata 5 tbsp barbecue sauce 400g can black beans, drained small bunch coriander, chopped 8 taco shells 1 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced ½ iceberg lettuce, finely shredded soured cream, to serve (optional)

Mexican-inspired one-pot casserole is packed with shellfish, white fish and plenty of chilli

Method:

Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and cook for 5 mins until softened. Sprinkle over the spic es and cook for 1 min more. Add the mince, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon, and stir until cooked through.

Stir the passata and barbecue sauc e into the pan along with 4 tbsp water. Increase the heat and allow the sauce to bubble and reduce until it clings to the meat. Add the beans, season and cook for a further 2 mins, then stir in the coria nder. Heat the tacos following pack instructions.

Use the pork and bean mix to fill the tacos, top with slices of avocado, shredded iceberg lettuce and a dollo p of soured cream, if you like.

2 dried ancho or guajillo chillies 1 tbsp olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 4 garlic cloves, chopped 1 tsp chipotle paste or 1 tsp smoked hot paprika 1 tsp ground cumin

Ingredients:

700ml chicken stock 250g chopped tomatoes 200g large peeled raw prawns 300g halibut or other firm white fish fillets, cut into 2½ cm pieces 300g clams 500g small new potatoes,

Method

halved and boiled juice 2 limes To serve lime wedges 1 avocado, chopped handful coriander leaves 1 small red onion, finely diced corn tortillas, sliced and baked

Toast the chillies in a hot dry frying pan for a few moments (they will puff up a bit), then remove. Deseed and stem chillies, and soak in boiling water for 15 mins.

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, season and cook for about 5 mins or until softened. Add the chipotle paste, reconstituted chillies, cumin, stock and tomatoes. Sauté for 5 mins, then purée until very fine in a blender. Pour back into the pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 mins. When close to eating, add the prawns, fish fillets, clams and potatoes. Place a lid on top and cook for 5 mins over a medium-high heat. Add the lime juice and serve with lime wedges, avocado, coriander, red onion and tortilla chips for sprinkling over.

FOOD & DRINK

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29

Tres Leches Cake with Crema de Coco

Indulge in a classic rich Hispanic dessert made with three forms of leche, Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom and sides of 11x7-inch (2-quart ) glass baking dish with shortening. or "milk."

2. In large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed until frothy.

Gradually beat in granulated sugar; beat on high speed about 5 minutes or until very thick and lemon colored. Beat in water and vanilla on low speed.

Gradually add flour, baking powder and salt, beating just until batter is smooth. Pour into pan.

3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 1 hour on wire rack.

4. Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir together all Tres Leches Sauce ingredie nts.

Refrigerate until ready to use.

5. Poke top of cooled cake all over with toothpick or fork; slowly pour sauce over cake, allowing it to soak in. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours until most of the sauce is absorbed.

6. In chilled small bowl, beat whipping cream and powdered sugar with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Serve cake topped with sweetened whipped cream, coconut, strawberries and kiwi fruit.

Margarita

Ingredients: Tres Leches Sauce 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed 3/4 cup granulated sugar milk 1/4 cup cold water 1 cup whipping (heavy) cream 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup canned cream 1 cup Gold Medal™ allof coconut (not coconut purpose flour milk) 3 tablespoons 1 teaspoon baking powder light rum or 1 tablespoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon salt Cake

4 eggs

Ingredients:

Garnish 3/4 cup whipping (heavy) cream 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 cup flaked coconut, toasted 1 pound sliced strawberries 5 kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped

Top 10 tips for healthy Mexican cooking 1. Char your salsas The secret to a good salsa is to dry-roast the tomatoes, chillies and onion to get maximum flavour. Other than that no fat is needed in the salsa at all so you can ladle on heat, flavour and a touch of sparkle (and vitamins) to simple, healthy food.

2. Slow-cook fattier, cheaper cuts When you slow-cook the cheap cuts, an amazing flavour comes from the marbled fat running through the joints. But by slow-cooking meat like this, the fat slowly dissolves in the sauce. If you slow-cook a cheap cut one day and allow to cool, you can spoon off excessive fat the next day, whilst also allowing all the flavours to improve overnight making healthier, better tasting food.

3. A little goes a long way Mexican food is all about balancing the different food groups. Whilst you might have a deliciously fatty cut of meat that you have cooked for dinner, you don’t have to have too much of it if you have a delicious, healthy bowl of baked beans, some corn tortillas, rice and lots of fresh salsas. Limiting how much of the fattier, more calorific meats you serve will drastically reduce the amount of bad fats and cholesterol you are eating.

4. Add a touch of fire Chillies are known for their ability to get the digestive system going, facilitating weight loss. If you really are determined to fit into a bikini that’s too small, up the ante with the chillies and you will have your system flying at full speed in no time. Try light, healthy starters like ceviches and tostadas that are big on flavour and protein but low in fat.

5. And a touch of spice Seasoning food with Mexican spices like cinnamon, cloves, allspice and oregano will result in deeply-flavoured, delicious tasting food. Eating food that is full of flavour (rather than bland low-fat foods specially geared for dieters) will leave you feeling more satisfied with what you’ve eaten and less like craving other bad foods afterwards.

6. Sweeten with agave syrup Agave syrup is a low GI, slow burn sugar from the agave plant, grown in

If desired, rub rims of margarita glasses with Lime wedge (optional) lime wedge; dip rims into l) (optiona a shallow dish of coarse sugar Coarse salt or coarse salt or sugar and shake off rate 1 6 ounce can frozen limeade concent excess. Set aside.

3/4 cup orange juice 2/3 cup unsweetened grapefruit juice 25 - 30 small ice cubes (about 4 cups) Green food coloring (optional) Lemon or lime slices (optional)

In a blender, combine concentrate, limeade grapefruit and orange juice, blend and Cover juice. until smooth. With the blender running, gradually add ice cubes through the hole in the lid, blending until slushy. If desired, tint with a few drops of green food coloring. Pour into margarita glasses. If desired, garnish with citrus slices. Makes 8 (4-ounce) servings.

Mexico. If you do have a sweet tooth, try sweetening your coffees, puddings and fruit salads with agave rather than conventional sugar.

7. Eat proper chocolate Mexico is home to the cacao plant. Eating chocolate that has more cacao and less sugar is far better for you and will lessen your sugar cravings. Try working your way up the cacao scale from milk chocolate (which can be as low as 24% cacao) to darker milk chocolates and finally to deeply dark chocolates. The rich flavour of the dark chocolate will mean you won’t be able to binge on it quite as much too.

8. Eat up your greens Mexico is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, home to a whole host of wild greens, pumpkins, courgettes, cacti, tomatoes and wild herbs. Eating more fruit and vegetables will give you a healthier, lower fat diet full of the right vitamins and minerals.

9. Be full of beans Beans are an amazing source of protein. Black beans, black eyed beans, borlottis, flor de mayo, pinto, chickpeas and lentils are all different types of beans and pulses favoured by the Mexicans. Bake em, fry them, boil them, puree them, just add them to your meals as an alternative or an addition to meat and you will be packing your body with the right things.

10. Just add seedsPumpkin seeds Amaranth and pumpkins seeds are both packed full of good oils and essential minerals as well as protein.

Sprinkle them on salads, use them in puddings, fuel that body!

30

June 2015

Top 10 Costa Blanca Fiestas 1. Moors and Christians, Alcoy This exciting and noisy spectacle takes place every April. Thousands of people dress up in lavish costumes to re-enact the battles between the Moors and Christians. Smoke fills the streets as the two groups fight it out with muskets accompanied by the sound of kettle drums and trumpets. As well as being the best Moors and Christians fiesta i n Spain, it is also said to be one of the best spectacles in the world – no mean feat indeed.

by the carnival spirit.

2. Fallas, Denia

4. Easter Parades, Orihuela

Denia takes part in the unique Valencian fiesta called fallas which commemorates St Joseph on March 19.

For several days large papier-mache statues, often taking a satirical swipe at politicians or celebrities, are mounted in the streets . On March 19 they are burnt to a cinder. This is a fantastic fiesta – and very noisy – with fireworks and firecrackers being let off at all hours of the day and night.

Thousands of Orihuela's residents take part in the solemn parades through the old quarters to commemorate the events leading up to Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection.

The Good Friday procession is particularly poignant as it takes place in complete silence with the only sound being the marching feet. The magnificent sculptures by renowned artists including Salzillo, from nearby Murcia, are paraded through the streets throughout the week.

3. Carnival, Benidorm

5. San Juan bonfires, Alicante

Many towns enjoy a carnival parade before the 40 days of Lent begin. Benidorm can boast one of the biggest and best on the Costa Blanca. Enjoy the glitz of the parade, dance to the music and get swept away

Families and friends flock to the beaches armed with food and drink where they light bonfires for St Juan night to celebrate the summer solstice. Daredevils will jump over the flames in the hope it will bring luck and prosperity.

6. Elche Palm Sunday As befitting the city of 200,000 palm trees, Elche puts on a grand show on Palm Sunday.

Sombre processions are held in the historic city centre with intricately-woven palms taking pride of place. It is so spectacular that the parade has been declared a Fiesta of

International Tourist Interest.

7. Bous a la mar (bull running), Denia Twice a day during the bull-running festival, youngsters and the young at heart test their nerves and their speed against the bulls. They head for the makeshift bullring by the port and get ready for their biggest test of all. After the adrenalin rush of the bull running, they have to encourage the bulls to jump into the sea .

8. Oktoberfest beer festival, Calpe The German population on the Costa Blanca has transported the special Munich Oktoberfest to Calpe for several years now. Tankards of foaming ale are washed down with the finest German cuisine. After several glasses of fine ale, it is tempting to join in with the singing, dancing and general merriment.

9. Three Kings, Benidorm On the night of January 5, excited children line the streets to watch the Three Kings arrive in town to give out presents (but only if they have been good). This is a colourful parade for the entire family to enjoy.

10. Mystery Play, Elche Elche hosts its unique mystery play which dates from the Middle Ages, which has been declared a Masterpiece of World Oral and Intangible Heritage by UNESCO. The play tells the story of the Assumption and Coronation in Heaven of the Virgin Mary and is held in the Santa Maria Basilica every August.

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Tel: 950 121 936

- community news -

Home Owners and PASO A PASO MODERN Residents in Camposol JIVE DANCE FUSION are invited to join “Camposolers Political” MAY / JUNE UPDATE in FaceBook. Burying ones head in the sand is tantamount to putting ones hands up and surrendering your fate to “some” self serving politicians that, when in Office with a fat pay cheque, could not give a rat’s behind that your investment, and in a lot of cases life savings, continues to go down the drain as the condition of the failing infrastructure deteriorates further with each day.To join just copy and paste…. https://www.facebook. com/groups/camposolers.poltical in your Browser or e-mail reg_rogers@hotmail. com

50+ SOLOS

Is open to ladies and gentlemen over 50 years of age who are on their own and wish to get ‘back into the social scene.’

We meet normally twice a month at different restaurants for lunch and a chat at 1.00-1.30 hrs.. There are no subs or fees, just the cost of the meal. There may be a fun quiz or a raffle. For information and to book please contact Ruth on 966789063

Casa Tom Community Choir:

Casa Tom Community Choir meets every Monday at 2.00pm for 2.30pm.

It is a mixed choir and all levels are welcome. No auditions, no solos.

Make new friends and have a good time. Location: CASA TOM, Avenida JACA 31, San Luis, Torrevieja. Phone or email Terry for further details. Phone: 647-189-135. Email: casatomsanluis@ gmail.com.

Our easy and fun dance classes are now aimed to give everyone the confidence to get ALL dancing. All sessions are now geared to the level of the dance student we have with no difficult footwork to learn.. unless of course you get the dance bug to.

MONDAYS 7.30pm at The Maymar Restaurant, (behind Dia supermarket) Catral NEW OUTSIDE CLASS TUESDAYS 7.30pm.

At the Fire Station, Top floor Cl Salvador Dali, Via Park 1, Le Zenia..Nr the Boulevard.

WEDNESDAY 11am Castillo Restaurant, aka Los Pinchos.

Cl San Fulgencio/ Forest Rd, La Marina Urb. THURSDAYS 7pm IS OUR MAIN CLASS AND SOCIAL NIGHT WITH CLASSES FOR THE BEGINNER AND THE MORE ADVANCED DANCER. SOCIAL DANCING UNDER THE SUMMER MOON TILL LATE WITH DANCE JUNCTION DISCO Los Rosales Restaurant, CV895 aka Lemon Tree Rd, Guardamar.

NEW CLASS FRIDAYS 12.30pm. commences 22nd May at Reflections, San Luis, Torrevieja Newcomers always welcome.

No Partner-Never Danced-No Problem All our other classes €5. Thursday social dancing €2 from 8.30pm.

---------------------------------------------------SHABBY AND CHIC SUMMER PARTY 7pm Saturday 18th July 2015 Los Rosales Restaurant, cv895 aka Lemon Tree Road, Campo de Guardamar.

Entertainment with Susanna Colt and Oscar.

Plus Dance Junction Disco. €12.50 meal with wine Dress up-Dress down the choice is yours.

Message or call Maxine to reserve your party table.

---------------------------------------------------Some times may vary during July and August.

For all updates and venue information Tel Maxine 670711408 or Adam 638330342 www.modern-jive-spain.com or find us on facebook

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Pilar Christian Community Church

Calle Canalejas 3. Pilar de la Horadada.

Sunday Service at 11am, and Thursday at 5pm for Prayer and Praise and Worship Home groups meet during the week.

All welcome from any church background or none.

For further information contact PilarChristian.CommunityChurch@ gmail.com 966 849 448 - 966 848 806

Los Rosales Restaurant, Guardamar CV895 [near Lemon Tree Sunday Market] Monday - SOCIAL DANCE 8.30pm 10.30pm [SEQUENCE CLASS 7.30pm - 8.30pm] Friday - SOCIAL DANCE 7.30pm 10.30pm Wednesday - New Beginners Class 2pm -3pm Intermediate Class 3pm - 4pm Intermediate Plus Class 4pm - 5pm For more information contact Andrea and Brian 616 478 157

COME SEQUENCE DANCING

In the air conditioned Olympia Restaurant, Mil Palmeras Monday evenings at 8pm in a very congenial atmosphere. Programme and music change weekly. New dances introduced at 7-30pm. For further details contact Sina and Terry. Tel. 96 676 9420

SPIRITUALIST BENIJOFAR

CENTRE,

stars in bars AREA INFO

10th Lynden B La Piscina Pool Bar Mar Azul 10th Samantha Curtis New Tavern San Miguel 10th Richie Alexander Gogartys La Zenia 11th Lynden B The Park Quesada Start 7.30pm 12th Andy Jones The Dog House La Marina 12th Lynden B Maggie OBrians Campoverde Rock n Roll Show 12th Samantha Curtis Marabu Lounge Dona Pepa 13th Vinny Mack PALS Social Club La Siesta 13th Rob Bonovox Vistabella Golf Entre Naranjas 13th JJ Soulman La Terraza Bigastro 13th Luke Wilder The Black Bull Castalla International 13th John E Wood Inn at the Green Entre Naranjas 13th Richie C Arches Los Alcazares 13th Backyard Session Los Rosales Guardamar €12.50 13th Richie Alexander The Lansdowne Playa Flamenca 14th Lynden B La Taberna Entre Naranjas 14th Andy Jones The Snug Torre de la Horredada 15th Lynden B Horacios Las Mimosas Caberet Night 15th Richie Alexander Tradewinds La Fuente 16th Vinny Mack Vistabella Golf Entre Naranjas 16th Lynden B Arches Cafe Bar Los Alcazares

TORRY ARMY EVENTS

LIVE MUSIC NIGHT On Saturday 13 June, at the Casa Ventura in San Luis, the Torry Army has organised a night of “live” music from the group “Timeless” which plays music from the 50´s onwards. The gig starts at 8.00 pm and a hot and cold tasty buffet will be included in the ticket price of 10€.

Tickets are on sale at the Torry Army office in San Luis. All are welcome to attend and enjoy an entertaining evening.

La Bamba’s - Ballroom BADMINT0N AT PILAR DE LA HORADADA / Latin / Sequence Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs. 10-1pm. For Dancing

Meets at Hamilton´s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Service at 11.30 a.m., a Tuesday Evening of Mediumship at 7 p.m. And every Thursday there is an Open Circle where you can develop your skills CASTILLO AMIGOS commencing at 6.30 p.m. Spiritual We are a friendship group for single people. healing is available every Sunday Now meeting every Wednesday from 3pm and Tuesday after the service. David at RAYZ Bar on El Raso urbanisation (off Darnbrough will take the Divine Service, the Lemon Tree Road, Guardamar) with Mediumship, on Sunday, 14th COFFEE MATES ANN 965 070 247 – 666 747 398 June at 11.30 a.m. On Tuesday 16th If you would like to have a coffee and June, Anna Marie will take an Evening friendly chat please join us at La Laguna of Mediumship from 7.00 – 9 pm. Ray art club Art Club, all mediums, no charge, in the Hotel, Lo Marabu, Bailey will take the Divine Service, with Playa Flamenca area. Anyone interested, Friday mornings from 11am.

Mediumship, on Sunday, 21st June. please contact Lyn tel: 966 189 118 Contact Wendy on 965323028. www.

ANN 965 070 247 – 666 747 398 spiritualistcentre-benijofar.com New

email is phoenixchurch23@gmail.com or info@spiritualistcentre-benijofar. com Identificacion Fiscal G54713789

DATE ARTIST VENUE

31

Strictly Dance Ballroom and Latin

with the Professionals. Every Tuesday, The Club, Quesada, 8-10pm Beginners and Intermediate tuition and social dancing.

Every Wednesday, New Venue, The Emerald Isle, La Florida 3-5pm Beginners and Intermediate Tuition and Social dancing.

New courses every 3 weeks, singles welcome. Info: 966 188 430, 635 584 431 or lynatdenelledance@hotmail. com

COSTA COBRAS RFC

new rugby club based at Daya Vieja sports ground.

Training juniors Monday and Wednesday 18.00-19.30, seniors 20.00-21.30 For more details contact Garry 692 767 242 or Robert on 697 286 416

information ring John McGilvray on 966 786 774 or Mobiles 634 658 506/695 871 707 or e mail carolejohn_3@ hotmail.com

Age Concern Costa Blanca Sur Summer Fair.

Sat 6th June at 11am at the Centre in C/Paganini, Urb. La Siesta, Torrevieja.

Prize draw tickets are on sale at €1.00 each. Available now from the Charity Shops. Great Prizes. Donations for the raffle, tombola and all the usual stalls will be gratefully accepted.

Please call 966 786 887 for more info.

New evening art class

Suzanne Stokes, who has been teaching art for more than ten years in the Quesada area, is considering starting a new evening class on Monday evenings at Restaurant Catorce in Benijofar. Beginners are welcome’. All drawing materials and projects are provided for the first few weeks, after which people can begin to try other mediums before deciding how they want to progress.’ Please contact Suzanne on 680 961 025 or see her website www.sue-stokes. co.uk for more details and please let her know if you are interested in the evening class. Suzanne also runs classes at PALS Social Club, La Siesta, on Monday mornings, and at La Herradura Restaurant (next to the REPSOL garage) in Los Montesinos on Thursday mornings, where an exhibition of her own work is on display.

THE ROYAL ASSOCIATION,

NAVAL

Torrevieja Branch, meet at 1700 on the first Wednesday of each month at the Restaurante El Paraiso, Urb. Jardin del Mar 3, (behind Carrefour), Torrevieja.

Contact Paul Edwards, Chairman, 618 644 934 or Margaret Forshaw, Secretary 966 921 996.

32

SOL CLASSIFIEDS

SOLTIMES 950 121 936 www.soltimes.com see us online everyday Advertise all your unwanted items for sale Any single item up to 300€ is

free of charge deadline thursday 5pm

Monday to Friday Between 10am & 5pm

or EMAIL us Send your advert or lineage to

sales@soltimes.com

DEADLINES All adverts Friday at 5pm prior to publication

alternative power

www.ecocorpshop.com

made payable to

MATHEWS mEDIA s.l

for sale

Advertise all your unwanted items for sale in this section

kitchens

just new doors or a complete new kitchen

Any single item up to 300€ is free of charge

968 184 235 email: info@kitchenplus1.com www. kitchenplus1.com

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

blancasales@soltimes.com

personals

pool tables

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

for a no obligation quotation

sunlife solar solutions

The finest solar installations on the costa blanca

sl registered company 100% legal installations we will beat any like for like genuine written quotation

tel: 965 271717

solar directa

slash your energy bills with a solar system from

solar directa

tel keith on 659 315 130

artificial grass

top quality artificial grass installed by qualified professionals

email:

snooker tables, table tennis tables, darts. Tel: 666 933 726 www.spainpool.com Mexican chess set, onix and obsidian, hand made. Board (very heavy) of wood and stones. To see it please call Adolfo at 610910978. I am close to the ITV. Price: 250€

english tv

aa free english tv

Spanish lady Playa Flamenca near new Carrefour before La Florida. 37 years, attractive, classy lady, private house, parking. Offers all erotic services, massage, sexy lingerie, prices from 40€. Full discretion. Tel: Ana 865 646 437 ELEGANT slim, sexy, naughty italian lady available home/house visits.

Torrevieja, La Manga, Torre Pacheco & Mazarron, Quesada plus all other areas.

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

pets

everything you need we have it

no dish required but a good stable 3mb internet

ring pete 606 297 825 www.aafreeenglishtv.com

electricians Electrician available for all works Small or large. Call Dave 693 251 562 davendonc@aol.com

​Meet Jake, 5 year old Labrador cross, House trained and friendly with other dogs

Please contact K9 or PHONE: 600 84 54 20 for more info

www.k9club.es

insurance call neil on 693 496 510 mands24@googlemail.com www.artificialgrass.pro

“Internet Millionaire Reveals Secrets Of Making £1,000 A Week & More Without Any Previous Experience”

transfer & Cheques

Call Paulette on: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ext 330 or email: sales@soltimes.com

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

business opportunity

PAYMENT VISA ,Paypal, bank

June 2015

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

Read why you should be cashing in on today’s booming economy and discover for yourself how you can turn your passion into a large monthly wage,

every single month.

For Free Information Visit

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asssa medical

insurances Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan, 968 153 396

Charlie and Pablo are around 14 weeks old and in need of new homes. Charlie is the snowshoe and Pablo a ginger point Siamese. Both boys are good with other cats, dogs and children.

mazarron@asssa.es jewellery

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

IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT Call Peter

664 890 990

Member of the National Association of Goldsmiths

Sooty and Sweep are 2 stunning black kittens, they were found with their siblings covered in ants but thankfully are now fighting fit and ready for new homes. They are around 5 weeks old and very affectionate.

Call: 645 469 253 info@petsinspain.info

www.petsinpain.com

33

www.soltimes.com

Call Paulette on: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ext 330 or email: sales@soltimes.com

www.soltimes.com property for sale / rent

VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT

SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL

removals

De Lima’s

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

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

detatched cortijo reduced

bargain

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

www.delimas.biz

fortnightly SERVICE TO & FROM UK FULL OR PART LOADS

James & Son Removals / Storage

UK, France & Spain 20mins from mojacar, 4 beds, 2 baths, Open plan living areas, kitchen & diningroom as well as a workshop, courtyard front & back & room for a pool. Mountain views. €125,000 649 186 107 oremail thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

choice rentals located inside property choice are you looking at renting your property we urgentely require all types of properties in Guadamar, El Raso & surrounding areas Contact Heidi on

645 140 718

email info@choicerentals.es

personalshoppingfromtheUK (Argos,Screwfix,Wickesetc) Pet Transportation & Competitive Rates

0034 627 968 434 0044 7874 638 330 Email: jsinternational@mail.com

sat/tv services Rainbow Satellites for all your TV needs with clients all over the Murcia Region. Contact Matt or Alan on 686 358 475 or rainbowsats@ gmail.com

spas euro spas Spas at factory prices.

Used & Ex display models.

Spares & repairs.

Part exchange Telephone 650 722 905

motoring section 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

wigs Salon Mar garethas 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.

situations vacant

We have a business opportunity in our costa blanca area

Do you enjoy a fast paced working environment?

Do you want to manage your own time & business?

Do you want to manage your income?

If you have an outgoing personality with bags of enthusiasm & enjoy the pressure of weekly deadlines then we would love to hear from you

Looking for a car

We have a good good selection selection of LHD & RHD of LHD & RHD vehicles for sale vehiclesor exchange for salecars or Quality purchased exchange allcars Quality paperwork purchased legally undertaken Telephone

for sale Ford Ka July '04 - 3 door hatch 1.3 25,000 kms, 1 owner Full service history A/C, PAS, ABS Electric windows Rear luggage cover, CD player Central locking Rear head restraints Super economical Metallic blue

€3,250

OpelCorsa 2014 - 5 door hatch 1.2 Selective (85 bhp) 17,500 kms, 1 owner Full service history A/C, Alloys, PAS, ABS Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors CD, Remote locking Rear head restraints Isofix, Multifunction steering wheel Dark pearl "bronze" Half leather interior

Telephone 600 726 221 or 600 726 221 or 965 687 976 965 687 976

€8,750 €3,450

€6,750 €9,950

www.fwreurocars.com

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600 726 221 965 687 976

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Seat Ibiza 2013 - 5 door hatch 1.2 TSi Style (Petrol) 28,000 kms 1 owner Full service history A/C, PAS, ABS Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors CD, Alloys Remote locking Rear head restraints Isofix Metallic silver

Hyundai Matrix 2006 - MPV Type 1.6 GLS 137,000 kms 2 owners Full service history A/C, Front fog lights PAS, ABS E. windows/mirrors Remote locking Multi airbags Serviced + new cambelt Dark metallic blue

SkodaFabia June '12 - 5 door hatch 1.2 HTP Young 37,000 kms 1 owner Full service history A/C PAS, ABS Electric windows CD Remote locking Rear head restraints Super economical Metallic grey

Hummer H3Auto 2006 - 4x4 3.5 Automatic 85,000 kms, 2 owners Full service history A/C (Climate), Alloys PAS, ABS, Cruise Fog lights, Side steps E. windows/mirrors, CD Electric seats, Sunroof Rear privacy glass Roof bars, Tow pack Chrome mirrors Met black, cream leather

€8,995 €9,450

€8,995 €4,600

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

600 726 221 965 687 976

600 726 221 965 687 976

600 726 221 965 687 976

600 726 221 965 687 976

€6,750 €7,800

€18,750

www.fwreurocars.com

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600 726 221 965 687 976

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Vehicles registration

wanted

“RE-PLATE” MATE

CASH CASH CASH

GB

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

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Don’t break the Law! Let us take the hassle away from you and re-register your vehicle on to Spanish plates 490€ plus Road Tax plus CO2 emission if applicable WE PROMISE TO BEAT ANY GENUINE QUOTATION For a full service contact:

Alan 662 249 159

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Email:info@replatematecostablanca.com

SOLTIMES newspaper group

Nissan Micra Aug '04 - 5 door hatch 1.4 174,000 kms, 3 owners Just serviced A/C, Alloys, PAS, ABS E. windows/mirrors CD Remote locking Rear head restraints Keyless start NEW ITV! 4 x new tyres Metallic black

Same day collection

From 1€ to 10,000€

Call Phil: 607 848 332

wanted cars for cash

Best prices paid Spanish English Anythingconsidered

tel: Tim on 662 211 993

are looking for a Bright, enthusiastic entrepreneur

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

Send your CV to rob@soltimes.com

www.spanish-number-plates.com info@spanish-number-plates.com

605 319 889 or 966 753 375

To advertise your vehicle from only 8€ in the motoring section & reach over 32,000 readers Call Paulette TODAY on 950 121 936

34

June 2015

animal corner

To advertise here call : 950 121 936

og on D r u o y g n i k a T you Holidays with

Can’t imagine leaving your pooch behind while you go on holiday? With just a little planning, you can bring all members of your family along on your next getaway, including your beloved dog.

Do you feel that your dog is a genuine part of the family?

Chances are your pet feels the same way. They are pack animals after all. Which is why it is unsettling for animals to be left behind when you go away on holiday.

Not so long ago, you had little choice but to place your beloved animal in a kennel or arrange for a dog walker while you were away. While these are still valid choices, they are costly and simply not suitable for some owners or their pets.

Fortunately, more and more destinations are willing to accommodate people holidaying with their pets. So with just a little extra planning, you can enjoy taking your furry best friend on your next trip away.

TRANSPORT Train, plane or automobile? Whether you are taking a driving holiday or flying to your destination, you will need the

APAH

Space for a little one?

Holly and her three brothers were found in a cardboard box in a terrible state.

Now thanks to APAH they are happy, healthy puppies who look like cuddly teddybears.

They will be quite large when fully grown, but will be wonderful family dogs. To arrange to meet them, please call Due to the kitten season, 630 422 563 or APAH has lots of lovely kittens who are all looking for their 616 210 850. first loving home.

They vary in age and colour but after their terrible start in life, they all need one thing, someone to love and care for them.

To arrange to visit APAH's Cattery please call 630 422 563 or 616 210 850.

www.apahrescue.org

right restraints to keep your dog safe.

For driving, a safety harness or a barricade across the backseat is important. Also make sure there is good ventilation. If your best friend is travelling in the back of a ute, take care with an ample size cage and don’t forget about shade.

For those taking to the skies, check with your airline as they will have strict rules about dog carriers and even dog breeds.

For instance, Qantas allows small to medium dogs but has some exceptions relating to dangerous breeds and puppies less than 8 weeks old. Excess baggage fees may also apply so do your homework in advance.

You will also need an authorised crate or carrier to fly on a plane. Luckily, there is no need to invest in purchasing an expensive carrier just for a one off holiday. You can easily hire one from places such as Jet Pets which are specifically designed for air travel.

TOILET STOPS AND BREAKS Head off on your Aussie road trip with a water bowl, treats, food tray and the leash for your dog. Keep plenty of bottled water on hand in case tap water isn’t available. You don’t want a thirsty hound on your hands.

Make sure you allow extra travel time for toilet and exercise breaks when planning your drive. It’s nicest, and safest, to take rest stops at a park or playground so you and your pooch can have a run around.

Dogs easily suffer heat stress, so never leave your pet in the car unattended. Also consider buying shade screens for the windows if the dog will be travelling in the back of your car.

ACCOMMODATION The internet is your best friend when it comes to finding pet friendly accommodation. This can range from farm stays (dogs love running in all that open space) to dog-friendly B & B’s, camping and caravan parks.

Before you book, it is important to check the in-house rules.

Do they allow animals matching your pet’s size? Do you need to bring your pet’s bedding? Are dogs allowed inside or outside only? Is there a fenced area for your dog to relax?

It is best to pick accommodation which allows a close match with your dog’s usual routine.

Best of all, you are no longer stuck with the outskirts of town. If you want to enjoy a city-escape, you can now stay in an inner-city Melbourne or Sydney hotel and not compromise on lifestyle. For instance, right on Woollahra near Centennial Park, The Hughenden hotel offers petfriendly hotel packages so why not let pooch enjoy a bit of pampering while you are away?

Mountain View

Cat hotel Hondon de las Nieves/Frailes

Centrally-heated houses with large individual runs Love and care will be lavished during your cat’s stay My 29 years of experience in animal and veterinary care will give you piece of mind

Pick up & delivery service offered for coastal areas

Telephone: 966 195 816

Answerphone - we will call back: Mobile 654 155 473

www.mountainviewcathotel.webs.com

PET HEALTH Although we hope it never happens, anyone can get sick on holidays, including Fido. So before heading off, find out where the local vet or pet hospital is. This is particularly important if you are going camping or heading somewhere remote. Also don’t forget to pack any pet medication you may need and take enough for the whole time you are away.

DOG SITTING Once you are on your fabulous holiday, what do you do if you want to check out that fantastic new show or gourmet restaurant up the road? If you think you will want some time without pooch in tow, enquire about a dog sitter. Check with your accommodation first. Do they offer this service? If not, are there any reliable sitters in the area? Will they come to you or do you take the dog to them? Just look into this before you go ahead and book your accommodation so you will not be disappointed.

PETS ARE A BIG PART OF OUR LIVES It’s great to be able to include pets in our family fun.

Although a little extra planning is needed, taking the dog with you on holidays is a rewarding experience for you and your pet. By choosing the right accommodation, taking the dogs favourite toy, familiar bedding and paying attention to details for your dog’s health and safety while on the move, your holiday can be fun and a stress free for everyone. www.lovethatpet.com/

Thousands of worms lined up neatly along a road and no-one knows why

If you were in the Eisenhower State Park in Texas this week, you’ll have seen thousands of worms separated into piles and lined up neatly along two parallel lines.

They appeared on the road after severe flooding in the area.

What’s odd is that biologists have absolutely no clue why they’re there nor what they’re doing. The rangers who discovered the worms initially thought they were piles of spaghetti because their alignment along the road was so tidy. The worms retreated back to the soil after a couple of days On closer inspection, it was clear that they were worms. ‘We’re still puzzled why they decided to line up in the middle of the road,’ Superintendent Ben Herman told abc News. ‘Even our biologist doesn’t know why they’re spaced so well and in the line.’ The worms remained on the road for a couple of days before retreating back to the soil. Park officials have two theories about the worms’ bizarre behaviour.

The first is that the ground become so wet that the worms were forced to move to the dryer parts. The second is that rain may sound like predators, so the worms moved and clumped together to avoid them. Neither case explains why they lined up so tidily along two lines, however.

How odd.

Read more: http://metro.co.uk

last hope dog rescue Duchess is 9 months old, weighing 6 kilos, height 38 cms.

She has been neutered, fully vaccinated waiting with her passport.

A wonderful playful puppy who was tied up to a car with a bag of food.

Can you offer her a forever

If you are interested please contact us either by email: lasthopedogrescue@outlook.com or mobile 634 065 540

www.soltimes.com

Book Review

35

An Essex Girl on the Costa Blanca by Jo Black

“Call her a bitch, slut, whore but never tell a woman she’s fat, especially an Essex girl!”

The book was written to help raise money for Emaus children and a percentage of sales of this book will go to this charity. Imagine it’s May 2005 and Michael is squeezed into a shoe-box sized toilet counting £50,000 in notes from a Tesco carrier bag. Talk about privacy. Jo Black had had her hairdressing salon for 10 years and had decided to sell without informing her staff officially. This money represented half of the payment up front and the remainder was to be paid that same afternoon once the contracts were signed. There had been two tax investigations so you can understand the need for caution and secrecy from the Inland Revenue. £100,000 was smuggled out of the country as the family set off on their adventure to Spain to live the dream. Sounds a bit corny nowadays especially when we remember the recession, the bubble bursting and the housing market going bust!

Unemployment and corruption amongst politicians.

Need I say more?

Jo’s father called Jo a “woman of substance” because of her successful career as well as being a single parent although there were plenty of times when she lost her bite. He miraculously survived a major stroke. Once Jo’s mission had been accomplished her aspirations turned towards the Costa Blanca and she became yet another Brit. wanting to live the dream. The jewel of the Costa Blanca was none other than Denia, cosmopolitan but still Spanish. Having seen a bar for sale on the internet in a beach location, Jo jumped in with both feet before she viewed it. Andrew’s Bar along Las Marinas from Denia to Els Poblets. Another dodgy deal perhaps, a big risk?

The Frenchman who owned it wanted to sell the lease secretly behind his son’s back. Nice man. Jo had married for wealth and security not love. It seems she was on the look- out for husband No.2. “I was looking for a man that wore one trouser leg so I could wear the other, I was bored of wearing both.”

Her accountant suggested that Jo should advertise her business by sponsoring a football team adding: “Also, while you’re at it, you might find yourself a

Special Offers Visit:

husband.” So, in a nutshell this is what she did.

Gary ran the Ashingdon football club and Michael, the man of the moment, a “ handsome, dropdead gorgeous guy” was co- manager. Jo was besotted but dismayed to find out about h i s Casanova reputation: three marriages, one engagement and currently a live-in girlfriend.

Back to business and Jo agreed to sponsor the home kit with her “Cuts N Curls” logo. Michael pestered Jo to go on a date and she eventually succumbed to this Romeo. After 6 months of dating in secrecy and constant texting the relationship got off to a flying start. By 2002 Sarina was born.

We now move into May with another visit to Spain and what a disappointment. 5,000e down payment for a dark, dingy, cold, dirty, shabby and run-down investment of a bar.

“I’m from Essex, get me out of here” kept going through her mind. This is a reminder of the risks in buying property in Spain as well as buying a business with the crooks and the cowboys not to mention the corrupt councillors. It’s something we all know too well.

They persevered against the odds working all hours to run the bar which proved detrimental to their marriage. During the tourist season the business thrived but once winter approached the business struggled with the locals. Michael tended to do the late sessions so Jo and Sarina would be left home alone. This is not what Jo had anticipated.

She felt that their relationship was drifting out to sea “like passing ships never having time for each other.” Something had to change and drastically.

We are presented with the usual motley of colourful locals from Denzel who’d had throat cancer and who drank alcohol free lager by the bottle. What an awkward man, extremely self-opinionated. Then www.carolnaylor.blogspot.com www.carolesleynaylor.wordpress.com - naylorcl@hotmail.es

there’s Paul and Alex, brothers. Paul was the carer.

“The two odd balls” as they were called. Alex had an abnormality in his brain. Sharon was promiscuous and “cocksure of herself.” She drank heavily and took drugs. And then what about more oddbods?

Patsy and Connor. He had a big tattoo encrypted on the back of his head so that you would never forget his name.

Patsy worked to support his drink habit.

She sold investment policies.

Glasgow Gary was another dodgy character, the local druggy, thief and conman. He never paid his tab and it was rogues like him who targeted English bars.

If you’re an ex-pat like me, you’ll know about the bous a la mar. Ironically, the teasers were more than likely to end up in the sea whilst the bulls remained on dry land. Very sensible. The Fallas I enjoy, heralding the arrival of spring. This fiesta is seen as one of the most spectacular festivals in Denia with the females in particular wearing beautiful gowns of brocade, lace and silk. And of course there’s San Juan.

“One is to jump over the fire three times at midnight or for the not so brave, to jump over 3 waves of the sea.”

Wacky but such fun. There’s a few silly gaffes showing Jo’s naivety over nightclubs and whorehouses, Sticky Vicky a la Benidorm, orange sellers and prostitutes and what about this one? “tengo una peinier en mi boca.” This should have read: “I have a mouth ulcer.”

Find out whether Jo and Michael survived and whether Jo is still following her dream or whether she’s given up on it and returned to England.

“If ever you’re on the Costa Blanca and you can hear an Essex girl singing in a bar, “It’s raining men” that’s me.”

Publisher: Brewster Publications.

ISBN: 978-0-9576734-0-3 REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

www.ecocorpshop.com

Oil is a child of the fossil fuel age and prices will trend upwards.

Oil may last a few years or a few hundred Solar is a child of the electronics age and prices will trend downwards. years. The sun will last a few billion years.

All of the oil coal and gas known to The latest in auto-consumo humans has the same energy as 20 days technology! of sunshine reaching earth!

Grid tie solar power systems from

3995€

Which one would you choose?

These systems can have more panels added to as and when required.

Self-monitoring so as no power is fed back to the grid!

1 x Victron Multiplus 5Kw inverter/Charger 1 x Victron BlueSolar MPPT 150/70 Solar charge controller 4 x 12V/250Ah Deep cycle batteries (48V/250Ah) 12 x 250W Eurener panels (25 Year guarantee @ 80%) 1 x Inox aluminium Mounting frame for 12 panels.

Cables, connectors, fuses and breakers.

This system is normally 11,495€ installed.

If you are getting frustrated at ever increasing electricity bills and want a clean, reliable energy alternative that can run in conjunction with your mains electricity. A system that you can add to, as and when you or your budget requires. free consultation and survey.

With solar power systems that can pay for themselves in around 6/7 years. No more power cuts, we can supply and install a system to provide your whole home with a UPS system.With some of the highest sunshine in Europe, it is a great time to consider solar energy to reduce your electricity bills.

Call Ecocorp on

671 716 597 or 950 930 187 for a no obligation quotation

La Meseta, Bedar, Almeria

WWW.ECOCORPSHOP.COM

Victron Energy Official Installers for Almeria and Murcia 5 year warranty Spanish qualified Installers Eurener, Sharp, Senersun official Installers Servicing, repairs and surveys Grid tie systems Off grid systems Water heating Swimming pool heating

sport & motoring

36

Road test: Peugeot RCZ

It has become apparent that sports cars are a young person’s game.

I draw this conclusion after my time with the magnificent Peugeot RCZ GT, the iconic roadster with the bubble roof.

When I first sit in it I find myself quite taken a back. I feel out of my comfort zone. Is it middle age creeping in? Have I become too comfortable in a middle of the road hatchback? There’s a car behind and I try and find the bite of the clutch and it is far higher than I am used too, which results in the car rolling a little too near for my liking. But I find it eventually and all is well. The handbrake is quite high up too and it’s going to take me a while to become accustomed to the height of that steering wheel.

I first drove the Peugeot RCZ in 2010 when it launched. Being back behind the wheel of this facelifted version is like being reunited with a long lost friend.

After all it’s a stunning sportscar and one that makes a significant birthday treat for my wife.

The 1.6-litre 200bhp engine can be quick if required. The low ride height and the hard suspension all combine to make it feel like you’re travelling even faster. Even just a quick glance at the wing mirror is a joy for the driver who cannot help but noticing the bulging rear haunches of this

BRADLEY BREAKERS

965 723 270 607 848 332

June 2015

By Tim Saunders beast.

Although it does have rear seats these are almost completely impractical.

I know. Against my better judgement I install my daughters’ car seats in the rear and find that the front seats have to be pushed so far forward that my knees are pushed up against my chin. I’m not that tall either.

I am no designer but I am surprised at the capacity of the boot compared to the size of the interior as you can see in the video at www.testdrives.biz.

We leave our daughters with their grandparents for the weekend and we’re able to really the RCZ through its paces over my wife’s birthday weekend by taking it on a trip to Bath. As a two-seater there is ample room for driver and passenger and there are all the luxuries you would expect from electric and heated seats to electric windows, air conditioning and cruise control and limiter.

This is not a vehicle where you watch the economy, it is a car for driving pleasure. And with its notchy six-speed manual gearbox it is a delight. When it is revved at a certain point there is a raspy note to the exhaust that makes you want to put your foot down continually. It is a more than capable over taker and this machine certainly puts the joy back into motoring. Dual carriageways allow the driver to really open her up and she is certainly responsive.

After a few hours with the RCZ I can report that the driving position is just right but I would still prefer the steering wheel to be lower and I cannot work out how to adjust it. This results in my hand mistakenly sliding onto the horn on a couple of occasions and embarrassingly tooting the car in front. Sticking at the ‘ten-to-two’ position avoids this problem.

Arriving on Bath’s cobbled streets judders the back a bit but it’s a good massage and we find a tight parking space in the Royal Crescent. Annoyingly the RCZ does not fit in perfectly on the first attempt but it gets in. The housekeeper at No. 1 Royal Crescent is watching and as I get out to ask about parking charges, she says: “Two other drivers have tried to get in there and they couldn’t so I am very impressed you managed it in that car.” The rounded design of the vehicle certainly helps when reversing but it is a bit tricky to gauge quite how much space there is at the front. The front and rear parking aid beepers are certainly helpful.

Facts at a glance Top speed: 146mph Power: 200bhp 0-60mph: 7.6secs Economy: 44mpg

Tha Las Salinas summer petanca league

Tha Las Salinas summer petanca league is now in week 10. Division 1 leaders are Amigos Belgas 1 who had a good away win against El Mirador blue 7-1. Second place are Los Bandidos who had a good win at home against Guardamar 6-2. Pirates 1 stay third place with a good home win against Pumas 6-2. Amigos Belgas 2 are now starting to move up the table into 4th place, with a good home win against Dominos red 8-0. In the second division all eyes were on

the top of the table clash between Doninos McCoys and El Mirador White with Dominos coming out on top 5-3. El Rancho had a good home win against Vista Bud 7-1.

Over in Daya Vieja all eyes were on the local derby with the Rednecks coming out on top against the Hillbillies 5-3. Laguna Rosa had a hard fought match against pirates 2 with the outcome being a 4-4 draw. Thanks to the sponsor of the summer leagues Reditel orange mobile press sec Linda S Haymes

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T.M.G.S. Visits Las Colinas 3/6/15

L a s Colinas is not on our frequent visits list, and after today’s visit I remember why. Yes it is in great condition and yes with the low season discount price it’s more affordable, but it’s no wonder that they have Sat/nav fitted to the buggies because you need it to find your way from hole to hole, and if you happen to have an invalidity certificate they very kindly adjust the “sat/nav” so that you can drive on the fairways and get closer to the greens, except when you get there the bloody thing stops and tells you to return to the pathway IN REVERSE! Added to that you also get the on board running commentary, which, by the time you’ve reached the 6th hole, you trying to find the button to turn it off! Seriously though this is one of the shortest courses (tee to green) but due to the lengthy trips between holes the round turns out to be nearer to 6 hours than 4 hours. Results for today’s competition, 28 members and guests turned up for another early start of 9am, this had the advantage of playing before it got too hot (late afternoon was 28º) and with 5 par 3´s the “2´s” pot was

looking vulnerable and rightly so, Mick Kennedy had a “2” on hole 7 and John Mellor and Joe Dean managed to hole their second shots on the 10th.to take home a share of the €18 in the pot. We categorize our N.T.P.´s so that everyone gets a chance to win a prize, however it can cause some confusion when players are so excited to be on the green that even while they write their name on the pin they fail to see that it isn´t for their category, this was the case on the 5th when a visitor claimed it but it wasn´t his hole so no prize could be awarded. The 7th hole was won by new member Kjell Johnsen in the Silver category. Hole 10; any competitor, Joe Dean, Hole 14; Gold Category, John Whitaker, Hole 17; any competitor, Joe Dean. Silver Category Winners; 3rd Roger Nilsen, 31 pts. 2nd Audrey Mellor, 32 pts. 1st John Hillier 34 pts. Gold Category; 3rd and in the prizes for the last time this year, as he leaves for the UK on Saturday, 31 pts. 2nd Kjell Aasebo 32 pts. and 1st with 33 pts. Tove Røed. Photo: Gold category winners.

Our next Competition is Wednesday 10th June at La Finca, so if you fancy a game with a multinational Society call the Secretary on 661 524 101 or visit www.tmgs.org Fancy a weekend game? El Paraiso are playing at La Marquesa on the Sunday 14th June for more info visit www. clubdegolfelparaiso.com

Mazarron Football Club are on the verge of returning to the Preferente Autonomica after a fine 2-0 away win at CD Esparragal in the first leg of the Primera Autonomica Play Off Final.

They continued their rich vein of form with a tenth successive game without defeat and dominated proceedings from start to finish. Both goals were scored by the league’s leading marksman Tolo who has now scored 38 goals from 35 appearances this season.

His first goal was a superb shot on the turn inside the six yard box which gave the Esparragal keeper no chance. His second was from a typical burst into the penalty area – his first shot was saved but he followed up to plant the rebound firmly into the net.

Tolo could have had a hat trick after

another superb run when he beat three defenders before shooting from just inside the penalty area only to see his effort well saved by the Esparragal keeper. It was another excellent team performance by a full strength Mazarron squad but they, like their excellent following of supporters, will be only too aware that it is only really half time in the game and there is still much to do to secure that coveted promotion place.

The second leg is at the Estadio Municipal in Mazarron on Sunday next, 14th June, kick off 19.00. Admission is just 3€ including season ticket holders with juveniles free. A bumper crowd is expected to cheer on the local boys so please come along and bring your family and friends to savour the superb atmosphere.

CD ESPARRAGAL 0 MAZARRON FC 2

25’95 €

37

San Miguel Golf Society at Villamartin June 3rd, 2015.

Another strong showing of 37 members and 7 guests found Villamartin in excellent condition on a perfect day for golf. Both greens and fairways have really come on during the spring and both were very lush, meaning the greens were a little slower than recently, but perfectly true and surprisingly untainted by the heavy traffic the course endures.

The ideal conditions were reflected by the scores, with 27 of those 37 members present scoring 30 or more points.

However, only 3 broke par, showing how tight the fight for prizes was, reflected in the one SMGS individual match play singles held, with Steve Davis eventually overcoming Ian Parkinson 1 up. Steve now moves in to the Quarter finals to take on Norman Padmore.

The day’s stableford competition results, by category and in reverse order, were the following: Bronze Category: 4th Keith Wraithmell (33), 3rd Norman Padmore (34 on CB), 2nd Norman McBride (34 on CB), and 1st, with a warm welcome back to the winner’s enclosure after a bit of a torrid time of late on the golf course, Mick Roscoe with 36 points.

Silver Category: 4th Mike Jordan (35 on CB), 3rd Eva Pettersson (35 on CB), 2nd Phil de Lacy (37) and 1st, with another welcome return to form and the best score of the day, Phil Birtwistle with an excellent 39 points.

Gold Category: 4th John Osborne (33 on CB), 3rd Theo Boelhouwer (34 on CB), 2nd Ivan Hanak (34 on CB), and 1st, once again beating his handicap and further extending his lead at the head of the Order of Merit table, Robin Eastman

with 37 points.

Best front 9 and not in the prizes went to Mike Fearnehough with 19 points, best back nine to Tony Smale with 18.

The Abacus was won by John Bodner Nearest the pins on the par 3’s (open to all) went to Keith Wickham (6 and 17), Barry Roehrig (9) and John Osbourne (13).

Two best guest prizes were awarded due to the high number attending, with Paula Haggart (33) taking 1st prize in the category at this course for the 2nd month in a row. Steve Higgins took the runner-up prize with 31 points. Paula and her husband John are now becoming members in order to give other guests a chance!!

Our thanks go to the staff at Villamartin golf course for their contribution to an enjoyable day.

Keep up to date with all SMGS matters by logging on to our website www.smgs. org or simply give Barry Roehrig a call on 966 731 033 to find out more about the society and its weekly golf get-togethers.

Next week we will be at Las Colinas.

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38

TORREGOLF.EU at Las Colinas, Friday 5th.June for PRESIDENT v CAPTAINS TROPHY

Today saw 40 members playing in the 1st. President v Captain 4 Ball Better Ball Competition at Las Colinas in what

can only be described as “a perfect day” to carry out this event with the course being in great condition and weather to match.

Besides a magnificent trophy donated by the President there was also over €300 of prize money and other items for some lucky players.

The day was split into 2 games with 1 being The Trophy game and the other an individual Stableford both starting at the 1st & 10th. Tees in order to not make it that long a day.

The scores on the day were not that high with only 11 managing to break the 30 points barrier, but then this is a course that tests ALL.

The individual prize winners being Category 1. 1st. Paul Hurrell 34 points 2nd. Phil Brigham 32 on c/b 3rd. Geoff Betts and 4th. Eric Garsde 31 points.

Category 2. 1st. Irvine Scott 36 points 2nd. Peter Kerr on c/b 3rd Dod Frieslick on c/b 4th. Rob Marchant all with 33 points. Category 3. 1st. Tom Curran 29 on c/b 2nd. Peter Sands 3rd. James Boyd 28 and 4th. Mike Zebedee 27 points.

Nearest the Pins: Hole 5 David Gill. Hole 7 Eric Garside Hole 10. Roy Middleton.

Hole 14 El Capitan, Phil Brigham. Hole 17…… and 4th. shot NTP Hole 15 and a foot from the flag, Dod Frieslick O ther ’s: Trophy for Best Score for the day, Scott Irvine. Best 4 Ball with a combined score of 49 points the team of Phil Brigham, Geff Betts, Dod Frieslik and Tony Jeff.

Our usual FULL MONTE in support of our football team CD Montesinos and today sponsored by Tony Rudd……

Simon Gray Our scratch card for 20 Euros was won by George Hall.

FINALLY the BIG ONE the President v Captain 4 Ball Better Ball Trophy with a total of 231 points El Capitan, Phil Brigham who it has to be said slaughtered the Presidents team by some 15 points. Sure next year David will want his revenge!! To-day was not his day, in more ways than one.

HAPPY GOLFING For more information please call David Winder on 626 774 157 or email him at davidwinder.torregolf@gmail.com

Ten Pin Bowling League

Furniture First Rojales Tuesday Night Trios Presentation Dinner 30th May 2015 The final event of this season was the presentation dinner, which was held at Stan & Ollies Restaurant El Raso. 84 bowlers and guests made their way to Stans' and, after a superb three course meal, the handing out of medals began.

We were pleased to welcome all four of our seasons sponsors and, first to present the individual winners awards was Steve Richmond of The Med Bistro & Bar El Raso, who kindly sponsored our Christmas Turkey shoot. Maria Jesus Perez of Splash was the major winner for the Ladies, collecting Most Improved Bowler, High Game Handicap and High Series Handicap. Lynne Ailsby of Los Bandidos received High Average and High Series Scratch, with Inga-Lill Soderstrom taking High Game Scratch. The Mens awards saw Tony Ray of Med Bistro & Bar claim the High Game Handicap, with Keijo Liikanen and Olli Leppanen both of Team Finland, picking up High Game Scratch and High Series Handicp respectively. Juanjo Carral of Splash received High Series Scratch and High Average and, one of the biggest cheers of the day saw Dave 'Hoss' Cartwright of Right Move Insurance claim the Most Improved B o w l e r.

Onto the team highs and, we welcomed our Easter

Egg sponsor D o n n a Lowman of Right Move Insurance Quesada, to hand out these awards.

Taking High Game and High Series Handicap was Team Finland, with Split Happens helping themselves to High Game Scratch and, Splash taking High Series Scratch. Onto our Knockout Cup, this year sponsored by Diego Munoz of Splash Torrevieja and, he was only to happy to present the runners up medals to Split Happens and, crown Med Bistro & Bar El Raso, KO winners for this season. Jamie Brian of Furniture First Rojales, our major League sponsor for this season, then stepped up to give out the main team awards, starting with “the strongest team in the League”. Don Galley of the Dreamers accepted the Wooden Spoon and pointed out that “We won't be winning this next year”!!

Finally, in third place this season, with 135 points was Splash and, in second place for the third year in a row, and with 152 points was Med Bistro & Bar El Raso. But this years League Champions with 156 points, were Team Finland. Our thanks again to Paul & Natasha of Stan & Ollies for looking after us so well, to our four sponsors for their commitment to the league and, to all the bowlers for providing some great bowling throughout the season. See you all in September.

VISTABELLA GOLF RYDER CUP

GB&I vs.Europe 4th Year 6th JUNE 2015 at Vistabella Golf This was the fourth year of the Ryder Cup style competition between a Great Britain and Ireland team and European team. The Vistabella course was in

very good condition and the greens at a high standard following pre-season maintenance.

Each team consisted of 28 players each and the format was a modified matchplay with the winning players scoring a point per hole, and a half for a half, so having a maximum of eighteen points.

The first 10 matches were singles match play playing off maximum handicaps and the remaining 9 matches being fourball better ball ¾ the difference, again a point for winning the hole. The champions would be the team with the best total number of points from both the singles and pairs.

It was an early “shot gun” start for the 56 players, with the weather just about perfect for golf, if a tad warm, and the course was set up well, with tricky pin positions for an exciting competition.

During the competition all the players were provided with a Bocadillo and water by clubhouse restaurant.

With a new Europe Captain, Phil Smith It was obvious that this year it was going to be a hard fought match; the ten singles matches were all close with GB&I gaining a small lead of just three points 91.5 to 88.5. (5.5 matches to 4.5) The highest score was Martin Oakley (GB&I) with a 13.5 to 4.5 win, followed by Carol Firth (GB&I) 13.0 to 5.

So it was all down to the pairings, and the first two matches went GB&I’s way with wins for two of the pairings of Andy Drinkall/ Ray Muttocks and Rodney Smith/ Mike Smith, But

June 2015

E u r o p e came back with two matches the pairings of Roger Packer/Dennis Hart and Uehara Shigieru/Juan Gabriel making things more respectable for Europe.

This made for a nail biting finish. But it all changed in the next five matches with GB&I taking four of them, GB&I’s Captain Ivie Davies among them. The pairings contained Europe’s Captain Phil Smith winning their match with partner Derrie Heywood.

The total pairings points score was GB&I 91.5 - Europe 70.5 (6 matches to 3) So the final score was a win, to GB&I 183 points to Europe 159 points (11½

to Europe 7½) who have now won four years in succession.

Following a BBQ (thank you Robin) and refreshments on the clubhouse terrace the Vistabella Ryder Cup Trophy was presented to the GB&I Captain Ivie Davies by Golf Manager at Vistabella Golf – Diego Garcia Escolar, he also presented the winning team with individual medals.

Thanks to the prize sponsors: Vistabella Golf, Mick Reeves at Mick the Grip, Quara Group, Marilyn and Simon at La Cosecha Restaurante – Benijofar, Briggita at The Vestry Restaurante – Algorfa, Terry Hewitt at El Tel Golf Products La Manga.

Congratulations to all the players for making this competition again such a memorable one and a big thank you to Diego Garcia Escolar – Golf Manager at Vistabella Golf and its very supportive staff for playing their part.

The trophy will be displayed in the Vistabella Golf clubhouse, until next year.

Photos: GB&I Winning Team European Team GB&I Captain Ivie Davies receiving the Trophy from Diego Garcia Escolar – Vistabella Manager

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39

Bradley Wiggins breaks UCI Hour Record at Lee Valley Velopark

Sir Bradley Wiggins has broken the iconic hour record by completing a distance of 54.526km (33.88 miles).

The 35-year-old smashed the previous mark, held by fellow Briton Alex Dowsett, of 52.937km (32.89 miles) that had been set in May. Sir Bradley Wiggins honoured to break hour record Roared on by a capacity crowd at Lee Valley VeloPark in London, Wiggins became the sixth rider to claim a Tour de France title and the hour record.

"I'm just glad it's done," he said. "It was torturous."

Wiggins, who becomes the fifth person in the past nine months to break the record, joked: "That's the closest I have ever come to what it's like to have a baby."

Wiggins, a multiple Olympic and world champion on track and road, surpassed Dowsett's record of 212 laps, set in Manchester, with 1min

"To get up there and do that, to put yourself on the line, takes a lot of courage and it's a mental game as much as anything."

Alex Dowsett Bradley Wiggins congratulatory tweet Alex Dowsett tweeted his early congratulations to Wiggins after seeing his record broken Former British cycling performance director Dave Brailsford said it was "an honour" to witness the occasion.

"Bradley rode well on what was a heavy and hard day," he said.

"I'm so pleased for him. It's his day and he is such a magnificent athlete." Since the UCI, cycling's world governing body, unified the regulations surrounding the event last year, four riders have held the record: Germany's Jens Voigt, Matthias Brandle of Switzerland, Australian Rohan Dennis and Dowsett.

BBC Sport's Matt Slater at Lee Valley VeloPark "It was never really in doubt, was it?

"The only question in the stifling heat of the Olympic velodrome before Wiggins rolled off - ahead of Sky Sports' schedule - was on whether he would take the record out so far that it would frighten off challengers for a generation.

"That is still the question as the temperature drops from the optimal 28 degrees to something more bearable: is the best part of 34 miles one of those iconic rides, or just a very long way?

"One thing is for certain, he did it in less than ideal conditions - the high-pressure front over London this weekend probably cost him another three laps and he did 42secs to spare and eventually completed 218 laps. it at sea level - which means Wiggins leaves this stage with his audience wanting But the 2012 Tour de France winner fell short of the more. target he had set himself of 55.250km, or 221 laps.

"Not a bad way to go, when you think about it."

Cycling's super six Source: BBC Six riders have managed to claim the Tour de France title and break the UCI hour record They are: Lucien Petit-Breton (France), Fausto Coppi (Italy), Jacques Anquetil (France), Eddy Merckx (Belgium), Miguel Indurain (Spain) and Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain) Luis Suarez and Neymar been united since the start of the scored second-half goals to season.”

"You're constantly looking at the clock counting give Barcelona a 3-1 Champions down," he said. "When you're out there, you never In 2009 Barcelona joined the League final victory over Juventus elite club of treble winners think it's coming to an end." on Saturday as the Spaniards Wiggins joins five other riders, among them Eddy became the first team to twice that include Celtic, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Merckx and Miguel Indurain, to have won the Tour de win the European treble.

Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.

France and broken the hour record. "I always compare Luis Enrique capped his first Now, they are the first to have myself to the greats and I am just glad to be in the season as Barcelona’s head coach company of those guys," said Wiggins. by matching Pep Guardiola’s done that twice.

juventus 1 barcelona 3

Legionnaires Bowls Pleasurable Cap and Hand events

The Royal British Legion Legionnaires Bowls Group held two pleasurable events at its home ground, Casa Ventura, recently. One event involving Caps and the other a Hand. For the one, new caps were donated to the members of the Legionnaires by sponsors Kuts & Klaws and they were kindly presented by Karl Blain, proprietor of Kuts & Klaws.

The caps bear the RBL crown and lion logo with the name ‘Legionnaires’ arched above it. They will greatly enhance what is already a very smart kit worn by Legionnaires members.

The other event was what has become an annual knockout singles trophy competition involving some six or more rounds of bowls to determine one eventual outright winner, the winner then being entitled to hold the very handsome Rita Hand Trophy for one year.

This year’s winner was Peter Cox, who was presented with the trophy by Rita Hand in person. Barry Edwards, the runner up this year, received a trophy cup, suitably engraved in recognition of his

win last year. One photograph shows Rita Hand presenting the trophy to Peter Cox and the other shows some of The Legionnaires Group members sporting their new caps and visors, with Karl Blain, centre right, receiving a thankful handshake from Captain, Brenda Brown.

W h e t h e r experienced or absolute novice, new members are always welcome to play with The Legionnaires Group, which regularly meets on Thursday and Saturday afternoons, 1:30 for 2:00 p.m. at Casa Ventura, San Luis. Just come along or contact the Secretary, Harry Epsom, on 966 849 075, a warm welcome will await you.

feat from the 2008/09 season when the Catalans captured the European, Spanish league and cup titles.

An early goal by Barca’s Ivan Rakitic was cancelled out by Juventus’ ex-Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, who equalised on 55 minutes.

But Suarez put the game beyond the Italian champions with a 68th minute strike off a rebound at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. Neymar added the third with the last kick of the game in the 97th minute.

Juventus suffered the indignation of becoming the first team to lose six European Cup finals, 30 years after winning the trophy for the first time amidst the tragedy of the Heysel Stadium disaster.

This was the fifth time Barcelona have been crowned European champions and it is their fourth Champions League title in the last decade after their 2006, 2009 and 2011 triumphs.

Suarez triumph For Suarez it was a triumphant end to a first season with the Spanish champions after his ignominious biting ban at the World Cup. “It’s incredible, it’s something unique. To win these trophies you have to suffer,” he said.

“The best thing about this side is the spirit and the fact we’ve

Despite brief moments of magic, Lionel Messi failed to become the first player to score in three Champions League finals as he equalled Dutch star Clarence Seedorf’s tally of four winners’ medals.

Barcelona showed early nerves with two uncustomary mistakes in defence straight from kick-off before Rakitic gave the Catalan giants the lead with just four minutes gone.

Neymar fed his captain Andres Iniesta from the left wing and the Spain international squared for Rakitic to drill home from close range, past Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon.

Juve came back into the game midway through the first half, but Suarez forced Buffon, who failed to claim a winners’ medal at the 12th attempt, into another save as it finished 1-0 at the break.

The Spaniards picked up where they left off in the second half when Rakitic fed Suarez, who forced Buffon into a diving save with 48 minutes gone before firing over moments later.

Messi, who showed glimpses of his brilliance with a first-half darting run through the Juve defence, then fired wide after exchanging two quick passes in the build-up move.

40

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