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ISSUE 390

COSTA blanca

12 - 18 AUG

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August 2015

No Cause for Alarm as Oil Prices Skyrocket

Global oil prices have rocketed in the last 12 months and are set to continue this trend as production shortages take hold.

However, motorists needn’t worry as we’re referring to olive oil, not the gloopy black gold of barons and dynasties the world over.

In 2014, Spain and Italy, the world’s TWO largest producers of olive oil, released early warnings of shortages in the olive oil markets for 2015.

Spain suffered from extreme heat and drought affecting plantations across the nations, whilst Italy was devastated by insect infestation and bacterial infections, most notably in Puglia.

Spain and Italy produce a combined total of more than 70% of all olive oil in the world.

Interestingly, both Greece and Tunisia have experienced increases in harvests. Greece recorded 127% growth, whilst Tunisia reached 300% compared to the previous year’s figures, but the increased yie lds

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were not enough to shore up supply.

Exports of olive oil from Tunisia have mostly flowed into Italy and Spain as a result of the crisis.

Business intelligence outfit, Euromonitor, have said extra virgin olive prices have increased by as much as 10% since the 2013/2014 harvests due to an approximate 12% deficit in supply.

Brit trade journal, The Grocer, has reported that the average cost a litre of extra virgin olive oil in December 2014 was £6.32, whereas in July 2015 that price had risen to £6.95 a litre and will likely continue to rise.

Spanish olive oil prices are at their highest since 2006 reaching $4,272 a tonne (approx. £2,700) with no signs of the situation being alleviated anytime soon.

Spanish production of olive oil although high, has been declining on average, year on year. Extreme summers and drought are affecting olive groves across the country.

Summer temperatures for Spain in 2015 have already broken all previous records following a successsion of heatwaves being blown in from the Sahara desert.

Olive harvests in Spain are due to begin from September, yet early indications suggest this year’s harvest will result in further shortages of olive oil in 2016. tumbit.com

Spain sizzled in record month

Last month was Spain’s hottest July on record, the country’s meteorological agency said on Thursday, confirming what many long-suffering Spaniards already suspected.

A new Aemet weather summary for last month shows the average combined night and day temperature in Spain was 26.5C (79.7F). That is 2.5C warmer than usual, and above the 26.2C average experienced during the memorably hot summer of 2003.

The 26.5C benchmark also makes last month the hottest July since Spain overhauled its record-keeping systems in 1980. The Aemet report shows average day time maximum temperatures were 2.8C higher than normal, while the mercury hit night time levels 2.2C above average. The central and south-eastern

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parts of Spain saw the most extreme variations from the average. While the whole month may have felt warm to people outside of relatively cool areas such as Galicia and along the Cantabrian coast, there were actually three distinct heat waves.

On July 6th, a baking Cordoba had to put up with 45.2C while Zaragoza airport sizzled with 44,5ºC on July 7th. Murcia notched up 43C on the same day.

Anyone hoping for a cool autumn as compensation for the blistering weeks of July, may be waiting in vain. In a long-range forecast that even Aemet admits has limitations, the agency says there is a 60 percent chance August to October will be warmer than average in most of the country thelocal.com

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Spanish authorities urged France to take action

Spanish authorities urged France on Friday to take action against the increasing number of attacks on S p a n i s h trucks by France's s trik ing farmers.

Spain's Foreign Ministry released a statement on Friday calling for France to do something about its striking farmer community.

Madrid "expressed deep concern about the serious series of events" that it said have been taking place since July 21st and are ongoing, reported Le Figaro.

In an earlier statement issued in late July, the Spanish government had called on France to respect the "right to the free movement of people and goods".

Scores if not hundreds of farmers have been ransacking trucks coming from Spain in recent weeks, often threatening to unload any meat or fruit bound for the French market.

They have reportedly used tractors at times to block the motorway not far from the Spanish border, causing traffic jams can stretch for kilometres. Farmers have used similar tactics at the German border.

Why the French back their striking farmers The farmers have also blocked cities, roads, and tourist sites across France in

protest at falling food prices, which they blame on foreign competition, as well as supermarkets a n d distributors.

Farmers have dumped manure in cities, blocked access roads and motorways and hindered tourists from reaching Mont St-Michel in northern France, one of the country's most visited sites.

Fearful of France's powerful agricultural lobby, the government unveiled an emergency package worth â‚Ź600 million in tax relief and loan guarantees, but the aid has done little to stop the unrest.

A combination of factors, including changing dietary habits, slowing Chinese demand and a Russian embargo on Western products over Ukraine, has pushed down prices for staples like beef, pork and milk.

Paris has estimated that around 10 percent of farms in France – approximately 22,000 operations -- are on the brink of bankruptcy with a combined debt of ₏1.0 billion.

While Madrid may be unimpressed, the French are largely behind the striking farmers. Some 86 percent of the French public said they support the protests of the farmers, a survey on Tuesday revealed. thelocal

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Spanish ships accused of ‘violating’ Gibraltar’s territory

Spanish police chasing criminals have made several incursions into British waters in the past two days, it added. The Royal Navy escorted the Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera (SVA) the Spanish police’s drugs and money laundering squad - out of the waters. Minister Hugo Swire said the incursions were “completely unacceptable”. He said: “On 9 August Spanish state vessels repeatedly entered British Gibraltar Territorial Waters without notifying Gibraltarian authorities. “We understand that the Spanish were in pursuit of vessels who may have been committing crimes. However it is completely unacceptable and unlawful under the international law of the sea to enter our waters without notifying us.” He described the “repeated incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters” as a “clear

ort

August 2015 violation of UK Sovereignty by another EU country”. The UK would be raising the issue as a matter of urgency with the Spanish authorities, he added.

Spanish police also allegedly flew a helicopter over the Sandy Bay beach area of the peninsula, in a move described as “extremely dangerous” by the Gibraltar government.

And the Spanish have allegedly also boarded a boat and questioned crew while in British waters. Ongoing tensions The government of Gibraltar said it was “astonished and appalled” by the incidents. Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, said the incursions were a dangerous display of “bravado”. He also said police in Gibraltar should have been asked to assist in catching the criminals once the chase seemed destined to go into British-controlled waters, blaming the failure to do so for the escape of one suspected drug smuggler.

He added: “I am sure I am speaking for the whole of Gibraltar when I say that we consider this has been a serious and unnecessary failure on the part of the Spanish SVA which has had outrageous consequences in respect of the violation of our sovereignty.”

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Spain wildfires threaten homes amid Europe heatwave warnings

Wildfires have forced more than 1,400 people to leave their homes in western Spain as dry, hot conditions s p a r k warnings in other European countries.

Towns and campsites have been evacuated as planes and helicopters help to tackle the blaze in Spain’s Sierra de Gata mountain area.

Nearly 80% of neighbouring Portugal is experiencing severe or extreme drought conditions, experts say.

Meanwhile Germany is facing its hottest temperatures on record.

Meteorologists say temperatures in Germany’s south could exceed the country’s all-time high of 40.3C (105F) on Friday.

The current record was measured on 5 July in the town of Kitzingen in Bavaria.

Exceptionally dry Some 330 firefighters and other emergency crew members were deployed as fires, fanned by strong winds, threatened homes in Spain’s Extremadura region in the early hours

of Friday, according t o reports.

T h e blaze has burned more than 5 , 0 0 0 he c t are s (1 2 , 4 0 0 a c r e s), local police said in a statement (in Spanish).

More fires destroyed about 3,000 hectares of forest and scrubland near the towns of Lorca and Cieza, near Murcia, in the south-east of the country.

Exceptionally dry conditions, rising temperatures and moderate winds have also increased the risk of forest fires in Portugal, officials there said.

The Portuguese Weather and Sea Institute said in a monthly report published on Thursday that average rainfall in July was only 3.5mm (0.1 inches). The usual amount for July is almost 14mm.

Warnings are also in place for extreme heat in eastern France.

But the UK is forecast to see temperatures peak at about 25C over the weekend.

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August 2015

TV NEWSLETTER

august 2015

How a Mexican cowboy laid down a challenge for Hitler and the Nazis

In 1942, two months after Mexico formally declared war on Adolf Hitler and his Axis allies, Antolín Jiménez took it upon himself to organize a force of traditional Mexican cowboys – known as charros – to defend his country in case of an – albeit highly unlikely – Nazi invasion.

This army soon came to prominence throughout Mexico and became heroic symbols of the country’s patriotic values.

August is here and the coastal towns are full , the beaches packed and the bars /restaurants busy ....... for those who live here an intrusion but for those visiting it is their precious holiday time !

Patience is need by all to enjoy all Spain has to offer. It will soon be September and life will return to “normal”. Regular readers will know the garden at Casa Rainbow is an established mature garden but we have another year when the wells on the land (that we water the garden from) have dried out through the lack of rain and we are having to selectively water plants from the mains water supply ....... let’s hope this winter will bring some substantial prolonged rain and the water tables returning to the levels they were for years whilst at the house. Dogs , cat , terrapins and fish are all doing well although they all learn not to be active in the midday sun but enjoy the cooler evenings – if only we “mad dogs and English men” could learn as they have but we continue to work in the hot daytimes.

TV NEWS ........... Lots of clients are suffering weak signals with satellite reception systems ........ signals have always been weaker in the hot summer months due to attenuation of the signals in the hot air but this year with the weak levels we had to start with this summer phenomenon has reduced them below levels to receive a picture on many of the smaller dishes ......... in previous years we had enough to lose a little and retain a picture but not this year. Another issue is that there are pockets of weaker signals that can sometimes only be metres from pockets of stronger signals ...... we often get calls saying that a client has lost some channels but their neighbour across the road has not. Now this may be differences in reception equipment – even two digiboxes of the same make can have substantially different tuners in them – but differences in cable quality , cable length and installation can make the difference between getting a picture or not.

Dish size, make and model can be critical along with the accuracy of the alignment – at the moment without EVERYTHING being in absolutely A1 condition some channel loss can be experienced and that especially applies to the HD channels that require so much more data streamed than the SD versions ..........if you are getting the SD version we

suggest you live with that !

So are there solutions to the poor reception many are getting ? Well of course there are but money becomes involved ! Firstly get your system checked by a reputable installer who has experience and equipment to do the job ......... get a health check and report. It may be that just a small dish alignment will resolve issues or perhaps replacing that sun damaged 10 year old cable will help. Or a new upgraded LNB or decent tuner digibox will bring all back ............. but it may be that a new bigger / modern dish is required ....... a health check should not cost much and will tell you “where you are”.

The alternative is to go to internet based TV and do away with that huge dish .......... this is the way forward with TV and will be the way all TV is delivered in the not too distant future but you will need excellent internet which not all of us have. Internet speed and quality is improving almost weekly so if you have tried it and “failed” it may be worth trying again or having a “go” at your supplier to improve things or to change supplier. Many are now aware that they MUST support internet TV and are willing to do that – some just are not or perhaps not able to. We at RAINBOW have an excellent internet TV system (no computer or knowledge required – works just like a satellite TV system) – ask us for more details or a demonstration.

That’s about it for this month ........

Remember if you have a question about any aspect of TV or Radio we are here to try to answer it – an email is preferable so we can answer when we get a minute.

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Jiménez, a Tabasco state native, trained and organized thousands of men, who soon formed about 250 contingents throughout the country.

They called themselves the Legion of Mexican Guerrillas.

Despite its somewhat surreal tone, this story actually happened, and is a fine example of how the truth can often be more fascinating than fiction.

Over the years, documentary filmmaker Fernando Llanos has been collecting news clippings, photographs, pamphlets and other materials that detail the lives and exploits of this charro force.

The 41-year-old Mexico City native has put together a documentary called Matria, which was presented on Thursday at the “22 x Don Luis” Film Festival in Calanda, Teruel province, the birthplace of legendary Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel.

This is the first time that Llanos, who

is also an artist and performer, has produced a long feature documentary, the subject of which focuses on the life story of Antonlín Jiménez.

Besides being a politician, publisher, mason and president of the National Association of Charros – one of the most important and prestigious Mexican cultural organizations – Jiménez was also Llanos’s grandfather.

“Antolín Jiménez took part in major events in his time – it was Mexico’s golden era,” explains Llanos, who adds that his family was opposed to the project, especially his mother, who is the youngest of Jiménez’s seven children.

“He fought alongside Pancho Villa, and President Lázaro Cárdenas admired him so much that he gave him a horse.

But for many years to me he was just my grandfather, who died nine months after I was born.

“As I got older, I began to ask myself why his name was rarely brought up at home, why did it seem that everything he did was stunning but at same time cold and mysterious,” Llano recalls.

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He began to trace back his grandfather’s story through family documents and by tapping into the memories of those who knew him. That’s how he found out that Jiménez’s life had been entwined with some of the most important political and social events that took place in Mexico in the 20th century.

“It is a fascinating story but at the same time it shows how building a political system of excesses has greatly cost the Mexican people,” he says. elpais

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loaded card system operated meter will save you money by making your tenants pay for their electricity. It is so simple to use.

Secondary Electricity Meters for Rental Properties. Install one now before the summer season!

A secondary electricity meter is a separate meter that is compatible with the existing meter in any property but uses a “pre paid credit” system. This means that a property owner can totally control the electricity usage of all, or some electrical appliances within a property. The cost of electricity in Spain has increased dramatically over the last 2 years and these meters are an absolute “must have” for any property that is rented out either on a full time or a part time basis.

A secondary electricity meter will save you money from the very first day of installation. The return on your investment can be as little as 6 weeks in peak season.

This neat little device can sit next to your electricity meter and can be used for the” whole house” supply or just for the air conditioning, depending on the way in which the electricity circuits were installed. No mess, no fuss and an installation completed in just a couple of hours.

The system, however is flexible. It may be that as a landlord or owner you are happy to give for example €50 worth of electricity per week included in the rent but any more is paid for?

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Whether rentals occur during the busy summer season or during the winter season the issue is the same.

If 6 people are sharing a property for a week and they are all using televisions, radios, hairdryers, iPads, laptops, mobiles, washing machines and dishwashers you will see the electricity consumption soar!

The summer scenario is that you rent out your property to summer holidaymakers. They turn up, open all the windows, turn on the air conditioning and then head for the beach! During the winter, many properties may only have air conditioning for both heating and cooling or electric radiators. Your electricity meter is spinning like a top and at the end of the 2 month period you end up with a huge electricity bill which barely covers the rent. So what do you do?

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August 2015

smartie party smashes target

THE CLUB opens its doors wide to charities

up on Tuesday 18th August is an Afternoon of Clairvoyance with Alison Wynne-Ryder the Quirky Medium 12.00 midday until 6.00p.m.

Sunday Smartie Party Smashes Target and “Smarties” Ladies Julie and Paula take time out to recover!

Well a few hours sleep and then Monday 27th July was a day of counting and they are very pleased to announce that they have smashed their €2000 target!

The QUEEN of counting was Lynette who started counting brownies, peskies and shrapnel at 10.00a.m. and finally finished at 4.00p.m. on Monday afternoon. Julie Pritchard owner of The Park Inn and her manager and friend Paula Russell have worked their socks off for weeks and in this recent heatwave too! They would like to thank so many people, the talented artists who peformed for free the fabulous young girls from Totally Dance, the cooks, all the helpers and the stallholders and especially their regular customers - in fact their thanks go to everyone who helped to

make the day such a huge success.

From the FREE TO ENTER DRAW tickets and also the wonderful photographs from Kristoff we estimate that there were 200+ people at the Smartie Party.

“Would you do it again?” both ladies were asked and the reply was: “Just give us a week or two to recover but we think so!” Julie and Paula would also like to say special thanks to their respective husbands Tony Pritchard and Dez from BIG FM Radio and also BIG thanks to Richie the owner of BIG FM and his team! The feedback from customers has been amazing with the question when is the next one?..... both Julie and Paula feel this will be an annual event at The Park Inn Quesada and that it will get bigger and bigger each year!

The Club in Quesada whilst always open to charity events has recently had no less than 3 events in 4 days!

Starting with a Fashion Show and Ladies Pamper Day and then an evening peformance by Stevie Spit followed by a fun day on Friday organised by Nicola Etheridge and Suzi Cooper with a Free to Enter Draw sponsored by local estate agent Spanish Life Properties sl and Blacktower Financial Management Group.

Tickets for this event are €10 and Alison will also have a few slots for one to one readings - email sueinthesun@ hotmail.co.uk for full details and to reserve a ticket.

A selection of tempting snacks and lunches will be available during the day. In the future there are plans for a whole range of events including a Magic Show, Afternoon Tea, Art Competition, Casino Night, and a BIG 50% OFF Sale Fashion Show in October.

Pam Donovan and Glynis Chapman visitors to The Club on Friday 31st July are pictured here with Dave Diggle from Blacktower doing his version of Harry Worth!

The Club always well known for entertainment and very popular artists will now be hosting even more daytime events, coming

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Ask us about Sky cards and subscriptions as well as Al Jazeera cards for bars enabling viewing of Premier League Football matches.

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

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”.

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lifestyle tips

to help protect against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

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We are living longer than ever before. And healthy seniors can look forward to many years of active life, thanks to the ability to repair or replace damaged joints, remove cataracts, treat heart problems, and other advances.

But there’s a downside. Because we are living longer, we’re more likely to suffer from age-related memory loss and dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. For many seniors, dementia is the worst fear of old age.

Research shows that the risk of some cognitive problems is inherited. But there’s also evidence that a healthy lifestyle and good medical care may help keep the mind, like the body, active and vital well into old age. WebMD went to the experts to get the latest advice. Here are eight ways to keep your mind as sharp as possible.

1. Stay Physically Active By keeping your heart, lungs, and blood vessels healthy, exercise helps ensure that all parts of the body, including brain rates of obesity. Diabetes occurs when the body is no longer able to breakdown sugar normally, causing levels of glucose in the cells, receive the oxygen and nutrients they need.

“A healthy brain really depends on a healthy body,” says Aron blood to soar. These high blood sugar levels result in damage Troen, PhD, a neuroscientist at the Jean Mayer USDA Human to the lining of blood vessels. In a study, researchers at the Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. “If Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience in the Netherlands blood supply is impaired to the brain because of vascular damage, compared a range of cardiovascular risk factors, including high it’s clear that it won’t function as well. Physical activity is crucial.” cholesterol, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. They found a In fact, a healthy circulatory system may be particularly strong association between diabetes and declines in mental important for a healthy mind. Although the brain represents only flexibility, memory, and the speed of brain processing.

6. Keep Cholesterol in Check about 2% percent of body weight, it uses about 25% of the energy we consume. So maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system to Elevated blood levels of cholesterol can clog arteries, raising deliver that energy is critically important. Keeping muscles fit the risk of a heart attack. But even before damage to the heart also matters. In a 2009 study of 900 seniors, researchers at Rush shows up, abnormally high cholesterol levels may cause University Medical Center in Chicago reported that those who damage to brain cells. Several studies have shown higher risk maintained muscle strength were significantly less likely to go on of cognitive decline among people with elevated cholesterol. to develop memory impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.

Preliminary evidence also suggests that efforts to lower 2. Challenge Your Mind cholesterol levels, both through a healthy diet and cholesterolThe old saying “use it or lose it” applies to our brain and muscles lowering medications, may protect against age-related memory alike. “Many new lines of research show that the human brain has loss and dementia. much more plasticity than previously thought,” says Troen.

7. Take Depression Seriously In many ways, it’s like a muscle. Challenging the brain to learn Along with its short-term consequences, chronic depression new things -- by reading, taking up a language, doing crossword may permanently alter the brain, increasing the danger of puzzles, or playing a musical instrument, for example -- can help cognitive problems later in life. A lifetime history of major keep the brain and informational processing in top form and may depression is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. even reshape brain circuitry.

Some researchers now 3. Eat a Diet Abundant in Fruits and Vegetables believe that chronic depression Researchers are only beginning to understand the many can cause inflammation in healthful components in plant-based foods that help protect areas of the brain, which in against chronic diseases. For a healthy brain, antioxidants such turn may increase the risk of as vitamin C, E, and A may be especially important. Dozens age-related dementia. There’s of studies have shown that foods high in antioxidants, such no solid evidence yet that as blueberries and walnuts, slow age-related decline of brain antidepressant medications function in laboratory animals. will protect the brain. Still, “Antioxidants clearly prevent or delay oxidative damage,” says researchers say the long-term Troen. “Again, that may be especially important for brain health. risk of cognitive decline is one Since the brain is the most metabolically active organ in the more reason to take depression body, it is exposed to the most oxidative stress. The brain also seriously and seek help. contains high levels of lipids, or fats, which are especially prone http://www.webmd.com/ to oxidative damage.”

4. Control Blood Pressure Over time, chronic high blood pressure, or hypertension, damages blood vessels, particularly small capillaries -- including the tiny at the vessels that deliver nutrients and oxygen to the brain.

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August 2015

home & garden Contact 950 121 936

or email sales@soltimes.com to Advertise in this section If you’re lucky enough to have Friday off this week, now is the time to start planning which projects you want to tackle for the long weekend. There’s something about having an extra day that makes it easier to get a few things crossed off your to-do list.

If you’re in the market for a home project, consider one of these 1o ideas that will help you spruce up your space, fix what’s broken, or make your kitchen a bit more functional. The only question now is, which one will you tackle first?

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How to Plant Succulents in Eggshells What You Need

Potting soil

Supplies

Equipment

A half-dozen carton of eggs

Butter knife

An assortment of small succulents (enough to fill six eggshells)

Please contact us if you have other issues not listed

Spray bottle

Instructions 1. Open the shells. With the back of a butter knife, carefully tap the pointy top of the egg, just until you create a small crack. Using your fingers, remove bits of the shell from the top until you have a hole big enough to pour out the whites and yolk.

2. Clean the shells. Pour out the contents of the eggs (see ideas for using the leftover eggs above!) and set aside. Gently rinse the eggshells out with warm soap and water and set them back into the carton to dry.

3. Fill the shells. Using a small and narrow spoon, fill each eggshell about 3/4 of the way full with potting soil.

4. Add the succulents.

Carefully remove succulents from their original containers.

Create a small well in the soil with your finger, gently place the succulent root into the well, and lightly pack the soil around it. If needed, cover with a small amount of additional soil to help anchor the succulent.

5. Maintain the succulents.

Immediately give the succulents a light spritz of water from a spray bottle and set them in a spot with great natural light. As far as future watering goes, just keep an eye on the succulents. To avoid overwatering, the soil should feel completely dry to the touch before you spray with water again.

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How to Turn an Old Ladder Into a Kitchen Storage Shelf What You Need

Wooden plank(s)

Supplies A medium- to small-sized ladder, roughly 4 feet in height 1 or 2 quarts of self-priming paint in the color of your choice (depending on the size and condition of your ladder)

Equipment Sandpaper Paintbrush Large piece of cardboard

Brian Jones & Co Property Maintenance Est 2004 Puerto de Mazarron

Instructions

PERSIANAS window BLINDS

1. Prep the ladder. Scrape off any existing paint and sand down any rough edges.

2. Paint the boards for the shelf (and the ladder, if necessary). Pour paint into a paint tray or onto a large piece of cardboard. Paint the entire ladder and boards and allow an hour for drying. After the first coat is dry, paint a second coat and allow another hour or more for drying.

3. Add the boards. Slide the boards onto the ladder to make a shelf. I used the shelf for cookbooks, but you could use it for anything from holding plates to organizing a row of potted herbs.

4. Decorate the caddy. This is the fun part! Fill up the caddy with the items you want to be easily accessible. Putting in a small nail at the top of the ladder is useful for holding a dishtowel or a potholder. Fresh herbs, jars of spices and grains, and your favorite plates or pots are also great additions.

Notes •My ladder had a space underneath one of the steps to slide the boards into, which held them in place and allowed them to sit level with the rungs across the frame. If yours does not have a similar setup, you may need to adjust for the difference in height across the ladder frame by propping up the boards on the lower-side rungs.

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August 2015

braben’s blog...

It’s the way you say it

Hello and welcome to CanDu enough Android phone, Computer Bytes. What a week it has been! you can quickly set up No time to even look back over the passed Smart Lock and pair few months changes in technology (It’s your Chromebook with the best way to have an educated guess your phone without any as to where it is heading – and that is third-party software. more important, wouldn’t you agree)! So This feature doesn’t it’s Friday morning and I’m just starting to yet support Android write my article for you! Fortunately, I’m Wear watches for some no longer part of the local computer club reason — you need an Android phone. and therefore don’t have any dealings with Windows PC’s, Unfortunately, for now, do the charity recycling arm of the club either, not have anything remotely as polished. which gives me even more time to give to Previously, the most popular option was anyone that needs help! So to start!

BTProximity, which used the proximity of Everyone wants to replace the password a Bluetooth-enabled device (such as your with something better. Well, we already smartphone) to automatically unlock your have smartphones — and some of us even Windows PC. However, BTProximity has have smartwatches. These tools can log been discontinued and I can’t find any you into your computer with a smartphone comparably polished solutions to replace it or smartwatch. The best, most polished at the moment. You can still rig up something options are available for Mac users with to do this yourself with various tools on iPhones. Solutions available for Windows Android. This solution requires EventGhost and other platforms are much more limited, on your Windows PC to do the unlocking But as a Linux advocate I have tried and work, AutoRemote for communicating really like their way of locking/unlocking from your phone to your Windows PC, and the computer without a password.

Tasker for automatically sending a signal to Mac and iPhone or Apple Watch.

EventGhost via AutoRemote when certain Knock allows you to use either an iPhone conditions are met.

I haven’t tried or Apple Watch to unlock your Mac. Walk these instruction and have taken them at up to your Mac with your iPhone on you face value as a workable solution. and it will communicate with your Mac

And Finally, Linux AND Any using Bluetooth Low Energy. Knock on Bluetooth Device! On Linux, try the your phone’s screen — even if it’s just in BlueProximity application for locking and your pocket, knock on your pocket — and unlocking your PC in response to the it will unlock your Mac. There’s no need to proximity of a Bluetooth device. It should even pull your phone out of your pocket, be available in your Linux distribution’s much less turn its screen on. software repositories, but may require There’s now a Knock Apple Watch app for some configuration before it automatically unlocking your Mac, which provides some locks and unlocks the PC correctly, but this good security — if someone puts your watch is normal for Linux and the configuring is on, they won’t be able to authenticate and usually straight forward and easy! Did I unlock your Mac. If someone grabs your mention that it is free (better than $3.99 phone and you’ve set up Knock, however, from Apple – apply smug grin here)! they’ll be able to log into your Mac unless Just as a passing thought, have you you remotely disable Knock. It cost the notices that the light used as part of the princely some of $3.99 for the iPhone app. Window10 Logo is very similar to glow You’ll also need the Mac app installed on around “The Ring” in the horror movie of your Mac — that’s available for free. the same name :-) Chromebooks deserve an honorable Have a great week until next time. mention here because Google has integrated Contact me for free advice concerning your a way to unlock your Chromebook with computer, or to arrange an appointment, an Android phone. This feature is named at the address or phone number below.

Smart Lock, and it requires an Android For further information or advice on phone with Android computing,contact Trevor on 689 892 745 or 5.0 or newer. If canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk you have a modern

L i v i n g abroad is an amazing e xp e rie nc e and I bet we’ve all seen a few very strange things in our travels. We’ve lived in the Arabian Gulf for 17 years and during that time seen so many things that have made us do that famous cartoonstyle double take swivel of the head. For instance, I was driving along a road in the UAE, when I saw a man riding a camel on the opposite side of quite a busy highway! You don’t see that every day.

Those of you who know that region will surely be well aware of the fun to be had on the roads! Only last week, a car overtook me and the driver had one child on his knee with his mobile phone in his other hand.

I shudder to think what he was using to steer! All I can say is that the driving test must be pretty darned good to produce drivers who juggle so many things at the same time.

But it’s not just the roads that can be fun. We were at a well known family restaurant which is always pleased it’s Friday, where we came across an interesting menu item.

This restaurant has a kids’ menu and one of the dishes on it was a beef burger, served on a “toasted bum”!

Yes you read it right. I wonder

if anyone, whilst keeping a straight face, actually ordered the burger and bum?

I could never bring myself to be brave enough to do it! Was it a spelling mistake, or was it a comment on the the food?

It isn’t just in countries where English isn’t a first language that things make you smile . For many years, there was a road sign directing people in Liverpool to Oxford Street Maternity Hospital (Non-Accident Only).

Really? Then I saw a great road sign from America for a “Scoohl” crossing. I wonder what English tests are like at that scoohl?

What’s really scary though are mistakes made by people who really should know better.

You’d imagine that whoever said, “I oppose breaching those dams, I know human beings and fish can coexist peacefully…” wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near power tools, let alone have control of some pretty important stuff. Well, we’d be wrong.

The speaker was, allegedly, George Bush who was at that time President of the USA! Did I say scary? No… absolutely terrifying!

Graham is married to Helen and has a daughter, Alice. He lives part of the year near Albox, but works in Qatar, teaching. If you wish to contact Graham regarding this article email: helenandg@yahoo.co.uk

Spanish government rethinks tax on small-scale solar power producers

Individuals with smaller installations will be exempt from levy on electricity they generate

Spain’s Industry Ministry says it will lower the charges it intends to impose on individuals who install solar panels to generate electricity for their own use. Those with installations producing up to 10 kilowatts will be exempt from a tax on electricity generated outside the national grid, although they will still be liable to pay a toll to cover maintenance of the system and other costs faced by Spain’s electricity companies.

The modification, which has been introduced to the latest version of legislation covering the use of renewable energies that is due to be approved in September, will only affect the production of solar power for residences and small offices or stores.

Larger companies looking to make savings from self-generation using bigger installations will continue to

have to pay both taxes.

Larger companies looking to make savings from self-generation will continue to have to pay both taxes The move is a response to widespread opposition to the legislation’s socalled “support toll,” or tax on domestic and business producers of solar and wind energy who want to supply the national grid with their surplus electricity. The first draft of the proposals was made public a year ago and either effectively put an end to many people’s plans to install solar panels or prompted them to do so without officially registering them.

The Industry Ministry says ending the planned tax on domestic producers of solar energy “is a tax break that other consumers will have to pay for,” because self-generators do not pay the sales tax and other levies on the energy they generate, and because “they are benefiting from the national grid as a back up, even if they do not consume energy from it,” noted

Industry Minister José Manuel Soria.

The latest amendments to the draft proposals will also reduce the paperwork needed to install solar panels, particularly the required viability study for connecting to the national grid, which can cost up to €1,000, when there is a device that prevents surplus energy from being fed into the national grid. Selfgenerators who meet the required criteria will also be able to benefit

from discount rates for low income households that contract under three kilowatts of power.

At the same time, exemptions and discounts on the self-generation tax will be available in the Canary Islands, the Balearics, and the Moroccan enclaves of Ceuta and Melillas, regardless of how much generating capacity is installed. elpais.com

www.soltimes.com

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Spain leads the way out of recession

http://eurokulture.missouri.edu/

contrast, underlines the continuing fragile nature of the eurozone’s recovery with a 0.6% drop in retail sales growth in June, its slowest pace for nine months.

Chris Williamson, the chief economist at Markit, said: “The eurozone economy showed reassuring resilience in the face of the Greek debt crisis in July. Despite a record deterioration in Greek business conditions amid extended bank closures, the overall pace of economic growth across the region barely slowed from June’s four-year high.”

As the impact of the Greek debt crisis continues to be analysed, Spain emerged as the best performer of the eurozone’s big four - Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Spain’s services sector is the impulse behind this recent growth, with recent output back to levels last seen in 2006, when the economy was booming.

•

According to the latest data on economic activity across the eurozone, published by the information services company Markit, Spain has shown consistent growth of around 0.4% per quarter and displays no signs of slipping back into recession.

“Of the region’s largest economies, Spain is the current star performer, with the PMI signalling ongoing economic growth of approximately 1% at the start of the third quarter. Italy and Germany are also showing sustained recoveries, albeit with growth running at more modest 0.3%-0.4% rates. France remains a straggler, but is still joining in the recovery, with the PMI signalling a mere 0.2% rate of expansion.”

Data from the EU’s statistical agency Eurostat, in

August 2015

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Hickstead is proud to present BOOMERANG, a brand new two-day music event at the world-renowned Hickstead International Arena on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September 2015.

Source: thinkspain.com

THE PAIN IN SPAIN FALLS MAINLY ON… THE BRITISH • Spanish government begins paying out after thousands of Britons with holiday homes were wrongly hit by “discriminatory” Inheritance Tax charge • British holiday homeowners were taxed up to a third of their property’s value when inheriting, yet residents paid almost nothing • Spanish authorities now forced to reimburse millions in overpaid tax following a landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice Barcelona, 25th July 2015 – The Spanish government has started to repay millions of Euros to British holiday homeowners who were hit with punitive Inheritance Tax charges.

The tax charge – which in many cases was as much as a third of the property’s value – has been levied on up to 30,000 Britons inheriting a holiday home in Spain, according to research by the Spanish solicitors Spanish Legal Reclaims.

The Spanish government has now hastily changed its Inheritance Tax law after the European Court of Justice ruled the legislation which exempted residents from the charge - was discriminatory.

Under the law, Spanish residents were exempted from up to 99% of the tax charge, while homeowners living abroad had to pay the full amount within six months of inheriting.

With more Britons owning holiday homes in Spain than any other nationality, UK citizens were disproportionately affected.

The average repayment is €25,000, according to Spanish Legal Reclaims, a Barcelona-based law firm which specialises in helping non-residents to reclaim overpaid tax.

Luis Cuervo, CEO of Spanish Legal Reclaims, comments: “Losing a loved one is hard enough,

but to then receive an unfair tax bill rubs salt in the wound. Yet for years this is what happened to thousands of Britons inheriting holiday homes in Spain.

“Spain’s authorities have agreed that nonresidents who inherited a Spanish property during the past four and a half years can claim back the tax they paid – but doing so is a complex and daunting task, as there is no single form to fill in.

“Inheritors can only claim once and there are time limits for claiming, so it’s essential they seek expert legal advice to ensure they get it right first time.

“Spanish Legal Reclaims is representing hundreds of families from across the EU who find themselves in this position, and since the ECJ’s landmark ruling our firm has had a 100% success rate, securing a full refund of tax in every case.”

For more information about claiming back your inheritance tax contact: Donna Knight Spanish Legal Reclaims Tel Spain: (0034) 936 804 563 UK: 0845 680 3849 Email: info@spanishlegalreclaims.com www.spanishlegalreclaims.com

Back together again; Simply Red mark their 30th anniversary with a world tour, the UK leg features 14 dates including two hotly anticipated shows at London’s O2 Arena December 17th and 18th 2015.

For the 2015 QBE Internationals: England v France (15 August) and England v Ireland (5 September) the RFU and England Rugby 2015 are working with TfL and Richmond Council to trial some of the additional transport measures that will be put in place for the 10 matches at Twickenham Stadium during Rugby World Cup 2015.

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LOOKING TO BUY OR RENT? FIND YOUR DREAM HOME INSIDE! House Prices on the Mediterranean Coast Up 2.8% in July

According to data from the real estate appraisal company Tinsa’s latest IMIE General and Large Markets index, which analyses the evolution of the average price of finished new and used housing in Spain, the residential market is demonstrating signs of a widespread recovery in 2015, with the stabilisation process initiated in the second half of 2013 continuing to gain ground. In Spain, the average price of housing in general decreased by 2% year-on-year in July, marking the lowest decline since May 2008, while of the areas analysed in the index, the Mediterranean coast stands out as the area with the best performance, registering growth in the average house prices between July 2014 and July 2015 of 2.8%.

On the Mediterranean coast, where prices have fallen by an average of 47.6% during the crisis, the average price of a home has increased by 3.8% since the end of 2014.

Moreover, so far this year, in the Capitals and Large Cities category and in the Balearic and Canary Islands

group, average prices have risen by 0.2% and 0.9%, respectively. With the exception of the Mediterranean coast, El Economista reported that the year-onyear figures are negative in most of the areas. In July this year, average house prices in the Capitals and Large Cities and the Other Municipalities stood at 1.8% below the levels of July 2014. The decline was more pronounced in the Metropolitan Areas, which registered a year-on-year decrease of 4%, and in the Balearic and Canary Islands, where average prices fell by 4.8% over a year earlier. Since 2007, the adjustment in house prices in Spain has reached an average of 41.5%. The greatest decline remains the Mediterranean coast, (-47.6%), followed by the Metropolitan Areas, with an accumulated decline of 45.1% (the same rate as the Capitals and Large Cities), while the areas to register the lowest declines since the maximum values reached, are the Balearic and Canary Islands (-30.5%) and the Other Municipalities’ (-36.4%). keyero.com

Licences for Residential Construction Up 28.2% to May

The number of building permits authorised for the construction of new homes in Spain rose to a total of 19,134 units in the first five months of this year, which represents an increase of 28.2% over the same period of last year, when 14,928 permits were issued, and is the best figure registered for this period since 2012, according to the Ministry of Public Works.

Moreover, the total number of permits granted up until May for new builds, renovations and extensions was 30,140, which represents an increase of 20.5% over 2014.

However, El Economista reported that despite the increase in the number of building licences registered up until May, the figure is far from the record high figures registered in 2006, in the middle of the real estate boom, when over 217,000 were authorised in the first three months of the year, 94% more than those registered this year.

The Ministry’s data shows that, of the total number of licences granted up until the end of May, 13,585 were for apartments in blocks (with a year-on-year increase of 35.6%) and 5,257 were for individual family homes (+13%).

The average surface

area of the new apartments stood at 112 square metres, while the average size of the individual family homes was 201 square metres. In addition, there were 12 permit applications for other types of buildings not intended for family dwellings, three more than last year.

This significant increase registered in the five months to the end of May comes after the increase in new builds registered in 2014 (up 1.7% to a total of 34,873 permits), which followed seven consecutive years of declines.

This real estate market indicator recorded an all-time low in 2013, when only 34,288 licences were authorised.

This means that, since the maximum number of permits registered in 2006, which reached a total of 865,561, the decline in the number of licences issued has reached 96%. keyero.com

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August 2015

Cilla Black left £11m in property: How singer rose from humble beginnings living above a barber’s shop in Liverpool to owning portfolio of luxury homes from the Caribbean to the Costa Del Sol

Spaniards Need 5.5 Years’ Salary to Buy a Home

According to a study by Spanish real estate portal, fotocasa, and the employment website, Infojobs, Spaniards would need to allocate an average of 5.5 full years of their wages to pay for an average-sized home.

The study’s data, which was obtained by calculating the relationship between the average Spanish salary (taken from the InfoJobs annual report) and the average price of housing in Spain (provided by fotocasa’s real estate index), show that during the month of June the average price for an 80 m2 apartment would cost 1,635 €/m2, based on the average Spanish wage of 1,969 euros gross per month.

The Basque Country is the region

where it takes most financial effort to buy a home (with 9.7 full years of salary), with the average price of housing there in June standing at 2,827 €/m2. The Balearic Islands is the second region in the ranking, with a financial effort of 7.2 years and an average price for housing of 1,864 €/m2, followed by Madrid (7.1 years), Catalonia (6.9), Cantabria (6.4) and Galicia (6). In contrast, the regions requiring the least number of years’ salary to purchase a home are Castilla-La Mancha (4.1 years), Extremadura (4.2) and Murcia (4.3).

The study also highlighted that, by profession, taking into account the average price of housing in June of 1,635 €/m2, the persons requiring most financial effort to acquire a home were those in sales and customer service, with an average of 8.1 years’ salary, and those involved in arts or crafts and tourism and restoration (7.2 years), while those requiring the least time to pay for housing are those in the field of engineering (4.5 years), followed by those in finance and banking, real estate, construction, education and training, all with an average of 4.7 years. keyero.com

Cilla Black grew up in cramped flat above barber’s shop in Liverpool. But by the time of her death she owned portfolio of luxurious properties Included Buckinghamshire family home and Spanish villa where she died. Cilla Black: Had property portfolio worth £11million Clilla Black came from modest beginnings, growing up in a cramped flat above a barber’s shop on Liverpool’s ‘Scottie Road’ which did not have an indoor toilet.

To enter the property, she and her three brothers had to make their way through the shop below or via a Chinese laundry next door.

But by the time of her death, the singer and TV presenter was worth £18 million and owned a portfolio of luxurious properties around the world – from the Caribbean to the Costa del Sol. Her main family home was bought in 1970 – under her married name Priscilla Maria Veronica Willis – and is on a 17-acre estate near the affluent commuter belt village of Denham, Buckinghamshire. It boasts a putting green, indoor swimming pool, tennis court, ten bedrooms and five bathrooms and is conservatively worth £5 million.

She also owned a sixth-floor penthouse property in Westminster, Central London, which was once an

VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL

office she shared with her husband Bobby, who died of lung cancer in 1999 at the age of 57. The property – complete with two bathrooms – is worth about £2.3 million.

The singer also owned the villa where she died in Estepona, just a 20-minute drive from Marbella in southern Spain, which was bought in 1996. That house had four en-suites and is worth an estimated £2 million.

Finally there was Miss Black’s Barbados beachfront home at the Reeds House complex between Holetown and Speightstown where she bought a three-bathroom penthouse.

Properties in the converted hotel are worth about £1.5 million and rent out for between £300 to £800 a night. Miss Black’s wealth will be divided between her three sons.

Robert Willis, 44, acted as her manager after Bobby died and is a director of the firm CB Prime Limited, which was formed as she began her career in 1964. Brothers Ben, 41, and Jack, 35, are also directors.

Miss Black was a millionaire by the age of 25.

At one stage, she was the biggestselling UK female artist of the Sixties and was selling 100,000 records a day.

Read more: http://www.dailymail. co.uk/

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

19

www.soltimes.com

SOL Y MAR

Contact us now on

950 064 584 609 199 394

Office : Avenida 28 de Febrero, 44, Albox

Many more properties on our website: www.solymarspain.com

Arboleas - villa sol088 - 179,950€

LOCaiba - Villa sol510 - only 229,000€

This quality 3 bed, 2 bath detached private villa of 116m set on a 638m plot with private 8x4 swimming pool is located within walking distance of the local village and only 20 mins from Vera Playa.

This beautiful 3 bed , 2 bathVilla sits on a 3200m2 plot with stunning 360 degree views. Before entering the driveway leading to theVilla and large garage there are old ruins which add to the feel of old Spain.

cantoria villa sM004 - 160,000€

sorbas town house sM003 - 85,000€

Villa 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, enclosed covered terrace, jacuzzi, fully fenced, quiet location near town.

Town House 4 bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Plunge pool, tastefully refurbished

almanzora - villa sM008 - 125,000€

Email: info@solymarspain.com

Taberno cortijo sM002 - 144,000€

cerricos - detached sm011 - 225,000€

extensive 6 bed detached home, with pool, set in fantastic grounds with spectacular views. Potential for B&B , recently rewired and replumbed

Arroyo Albanchez CORTIJO sM007 - 116,000€

Detached Villa with 2 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms, 7x4 fenced pool. Pretty garden, fully enclosed with parking. Quiet area close to town.

3-4 bedrooms 2 bathrooms room for pool, elevated side of valley good views, 176 m2 build

Cortijo, 2 bedrooms, 1 Bathroom in main house Plus 1 Bedroom Apartment with Bathroom 240m2 build. Solar in addition A/c throughout 10x3 Pool.

baza - townhouse sm001 - 95,000€

oria - villa sol 054 - 94,950€

ALMANZORA CORTIJO SOL 072 - ONLY 75,000€

RENT TO BUY OPTION fully refurbished 4 bed detached townhouse, elevated views of town & surrounding countryside. underbuild garage, storage space useable caves beyond.

Immaculate villa,1430m2 plot, fantastic views of Oria & surrounding countryside. Modern kitchen, white goods, lounge/diner, 3 bedrooms,en-suite & a family bath.

Lovely property has 2 double beds one with a walk in wardrobe and 1 bathroom in the main house and a casita with 1 bed & bath to the rear of the property.

WE URGENTLY REQUIRE PROPERTIES BETWEEN ALBOX & THE COAST FOR OUR GROWING SALES PORTFOLIO. ALMOST ALL OUR RENTAL PROPERTIES ARE OCCUPIED AND WE HAVE MORE CLIENTES TO SATISFY! CALL US 950 064 584

attention all landlords!

tenants waiting now for 1 to 2 bedroom apartments in albox.

Also various rental properties required between Albox and the coast

oria MAR620 - RENTAL ONLY 350€ PCM

La Cinta - Albox RSM002 - RENTAL ONLY 250€ PCM

Pretty traditional cortijo with 3 double bedrooms, ensuite, log burner, fantastic views, in tranquil setting.

Separate one bed apartment in traditional Spanish house, short drive to Albox market town.

Price includes all bills.

20

Licences for Home Reforms Rise by 11.2%

Permits for Housing Reforms Down 4.7% to AugustThe number of building permits authorised for the reform and restoration of homes in Spain amounted to a total of 10,428 certificates issued between January and May 2015, which represents an increase of 11.2% compared to the same period of the previous year, when 9,375 permissions were granted.

Thus, according to recent data from the Ministry of Public Works, in the first five months of this year, permits for the reform of housing have maintained an upward trend.

In 2014, licences for home reforms or restoration accumulated four consecutive years of declines and registered a record low in the

Ministry’s comparable series.

In contrast, El Mundo reported that the number of applications for licences to build home extensions decreased by 18.1% in the five months up until May, with only 578 certificates issued.

One of the Spanish Government’s main initiatives is to encourage housing reform and restoration and with that aim in mind the Ministers approved the Law on Rehabilitation, Regeneration and Urban Renewal, as well as the State Plan of Rental Housing and Rehabilitation 20132016, where aid for this activity can be obtained. keyero.com

COMPLETE HOLIDAY HOLIDAY CARE CARE COMPLETE MOJACAR PLAYA

RENTALS - SALES -MANAGEMENT - MAINTENANCE

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

Ref. UC/DZ – Beautiful, Andalucian style, 3 bed/2.5 bath, villa, 130 m2, pool & gardens in 25,000 m2, olive & almond trees, 40 mins to Mojácar

NR SORBAS - NEW- €340,000

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

August 2015

Number of National Insurance Contributors Increases in July

According to the Spanish Government website, La Moncloa, the number of National Insurance contributors continued to rise in July with an additional 58,792 people registered in the Spanish Social Security System (up 0.34%). The total now stands at 17,315,188 contributors, which is an increase of 568,085 over the last 12 months (up 3.39%). The State Secretary for the Social Security System, Tomás Burgos, said that “the number of people contributing to the system continues to rise at a sound and constant pace, leading to a recovery of over one third of those people who lost their jobs during the crisis (1,164,441). This trend is strengthening the fundamental pillars of the Social Security system – employment and the implementation of administrative reforms – and making it a factor for stability and certainty in our economic future. Each new contributor represents additional security for the future of the system”.

The number of people registered under the General Regime, the core of the system, rose by 59,847 (+0.43%) in the last month. Specifically, the most dynamic sectors were the Hospitality Industry (up 51,849); Healthcare Activities and Social Services (+44,954); Trade and Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles (+42,802); Administrative Activities and Ancillary Services (+16,531); and the Manufacturing Industry (+13,243).

In contrast, and as expected for this

month, negative figures were posted for Education (-91,788) and Public and Defence Administration; Compulsory Social Security (-9,017).

In turn, the Special System for Agricultural Workers posted a decrease of 38,198 workers (-5.01%) to stand at a total of 724,282 contributors. This coincides with the end of the strawberry and raspberry season (particularly affecting Huelva and Almeria). Due to the end of the academic year, the Special System for Domestic Workers shrank by 2,784 (-0.64%) to a total of 430,578 contributors. A total of 3,178,352 contributors were registered under the Regime for Self-Employed Workers, following a decrease of 2,734 (-0.09%), while 1,663 more people were registered under the Regime for Seamen (+2.65%), reaching a total of 64,491, particularly boosted by the octopus and anchovy season. Finally, the Regime for Coal Workers, which has an average of 3,769 contributors, increased by 16 people (+0.42%).

When compared with the previous month, worthy of note are the growth rates posted for the Balearic Islands (+2.66%), Cantabria (+2.31%) and Galicia (+1.48%), while the largest decreases were recorded for the autonomous city of Melilla (-0.91%) and La Rioja (-0.58%). Year-on-year, growth was posted in all regions when compared with 2014, led by Melilla (+5.7%), Murcia (+4.88%) and the Balearic Islands (+4.86%).

Buy a castle for the price of a Mayfair flat

For those who want to buy a piece of history, look no further than the Grade I listed Norris Castle in East Cowes.

Built in 1799

by James Wyatt for Lord Henry Seymour, in the joint neoclassical and neo-Gothic styles, the castle sits on 225 acres in the Isle of Wight, overlooking the Solent.

Fear not, mainlanders, the isle is modern now. It even has a Waitrose.

In a chopper you can get to London in half an hour, and the Cowes-toSouthampton boat takes 25 minutes.

From there, you’re a hop away from the capital – 80 minutes to Waterloo.

It was once a haunt of Queen Victoria who flirted with the idea of buying it after visiting during the early 1830s.

Destined to house nobility it was snapped up in 1880 by the ninth Duke of Bedford, and became a place for royal relations to visit and frolic.

With its sweeping staircases and grand hall it is suited for balls and holding court.

Many period features are still on show; the circular drawing room

contains the bookshelves designed

by Wyatt, and the majority of the fireplaces are original.

The basement boasts extensive cellars and the kitchens, plus a billiard room and old indoor pool.

The castle comes with the Norris Castle Farm, of the same age and design.

This comprises a two-bedroom Lodge Cottage, the three-bedroom Farmhouse Cottage and four-bedroom Norris Farmhouse, plus stabling and walled gardens.

Norris Castle is on the market with Knight Frank for £1 million. But be warned, this is a renovation challenge for the most adventurous of DIY hobbyists. knightfrank.com

21

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Ana Marín Buchanan of RMB Spain, the Real Estate Agent that goes above and beyond for clients.

“Ana is a rare example of an estate agent - compassionate and caring, resourceful, honest and tireless. She always has her clients best interests at heart and works hard to turn client’s hopes and expectations into reality. She knows the area really well and you would be seriously hard pressed to find a better agent to market your property”. Susann Kulhas

We urgently require Rental Properties for waiting clients Cortijo Jacintos IA1534 Rambla de Oria

RMB Spain is a continuation of REALTORS Servicios Inmobiliarios, S.L, that was originally established in 1979 and enjoyed many successful years in the Real Estate business aiding both vendors and investors in buying and selling property in and around Mojácar. Ana Marín Buchanan joined the Realtors team in 2002 and bought the business herself in 2008, working relentlessly through good and bad times, going above and beyond for her clients. With a supportive independent team always at hand, Ana manages the Sales, Rentals, Property Finder and Mediation services. Giving guidance and unbiased representation with many years of experience coupled with a great knowledge and passion for this area.

RMB Spain is an ambitious and forward thinking company who combine flexible and innovative solutions in Property Investments, Sales and Residential Lettings in Almería Spain. A small company built on integrity and reputation; most of our business is generated through word of mouth and from our loyal clients referring family and friends. We work hard to find your home in Spain.

Please visit the NEW website, to see just how Ana keeps one step ahead of the others: www.rmbspain.com.

If you’d like help marketing your property to rent or sell, with rental insurance policies and similar services, or would simply like more information regarding her property portfolio, properties that are live or pending, then please contact Ana on: 678 347 125 / email: info@ rmbspain.com / skype: rmbspain / website: www.rmbspain.com

Two storey farm house in Rambla de Oria .A real bargain.

Seron

Lovely village house in the town of Seron.

100,000€

79,950€ Cortijo Nikki IA1751

Casa Hughes IA 1179

Fines

Lovely Cortijo with fabulous views close to Fines.

Casa del Montes IA1719

Albox

Villa complete with pool surrounded by stunning mountain views.

205.000€

139,950€

Plaza Nueva, 9 Albox (Almería)

Tel: 950 120 406

info@inmobiliaria-almanzora.com www.inmobiliaria-almanzora.com

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

August Opening Hours: 10am-2pm Office: 950 102 191 • Carlos: 648 505 938 • Gavin: 671 293 942

110.000€

Zurgena, Lovely villa with 3 bed, 2 bath.

Big plot & stunning views.

169,950€

Partaloa, Spacious villa with 3 bed, 2 bath and a totally private pool!!

El Chopo, Beautiful villa with 3 bed, 2 bath.

157,500€

174,950€

Wonderful views!!

Cantoria, Spacious villa with 3 bed 2 bath.

Walking distance to the town.

159,950€

Cerro Gordo, Fantastic villa with 3 bed, 2 bath, pool & beautiful views.

Limaria, High quality villa with 3 bed, 2 bath

175,000€

& beautiful garden.

Properties Urgently needed in all areas

22

August 2015

O

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

OLV505

Antas

A great opportunity to purchase a detached 4 bedroom property situated just minutes from the market towns of Antas, Vera and just over a 10 minute drive to nearest coastal resort.

Well maintained and ready to move into.

114,950 Euros

OLV993

...it’s all in the detail

OLV939

Sorbas (La Mela)

Superb opportunity to buy a successful operational Restaurant due to retirement.

Set in the pretty location of La Mela, this destination Restaurant has been finished some 8 years ago and built and fitted to a very high standard.

399,950 Euros

Bedar

This Cortijo style property boasts 4 reception rooms, 6 bedrooms & 4 bathrooms, on a plot of 5,000 m2 and located just a short walk from the picturesque village of Bedar. This wonderful property also includes private swimming pool and full size tennis court.

570,000 Euros New

OLV300

Mojacar

This great property is situated between the towns of Mojacar and Garrucha, a 2 minute stroll from the beach with views to Mojacar pueblo and the the 17th fairway of the Marina Golf resort.

169,500 Euros

House prices dip in July but the 'warning light is still flashing

Property values fall in Britain for the first time since February, according to the Halifax The post election surge in house prices has petered out as the residential property market enters the quiet summer selling season, but experts have warned that despite stricter lending, the homeowner is still vulnerable to “boom and bust”.

House prices fell 0.6pc in July to £198,883, according to the Halifax House Price Index - the first drop in value since February.

The average house price in the UK has increased every month since February, with a 1.6pc rise in June caused by a short burst of high-end sales following the Conservative victory at the general election and an increase in consumer confidence.

• The unhappiest place to live in Britain, according to Rightmove • UK city guide: The 11 spots to suit you and the family Monthly house price surveys can often be volatile and don’t necessarily reflect the long-term underlying trend in the residential properyt market.

This week, for instance, Nationwide reported that house price growth actually picked up in July.

However, Halifax’s quarterly and annual figures, which better reflect the state of the housing market, suggest growth is easing. Although house prices are now 7.6pc higher

than they were in July 2014, this marks the slowest pace of annual growth so far this year.

House price growth peaked at 9.6pc in the 12 months to June, but has fallen back to 7.6pc in the year to July, the data showed.

The Halifax also said that confidence in the outlook for house price growth hit its highest level in four years following the general election in May but dropped back in June.

Independent buyer Henry Pryor attributed the slowdown to a deliberate policy by the Bank of England to address the “boom and bust” of the market.

Mark Carney, Governor of the central bank, concerned by the frenetic rise in prices - particularly in London and the South East - tightened lending last year. Talk of an interest rate rise will also cool the market further.

“But the warning light is still flashing on the Bank of England’s dashboard,” Mr Pryor said.

He cautioned that the growing number of buyers paying with cash will continue to inflate prices in the long run making it harder for first time buyers with a mortgage, and adequate deposit, to get on the ladder. In turn this will drive up rental prices in popular areas. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Focusing on smaller area to give our clients a better service.

WE URGENTLY NEED PROPERTIES IN THE Huercal-Overa, La Alfoquia Zurgena & Taberno Areas.

Voss Homes is a local, friendly and professionally run family business and we offer:

• 10 years proven track record of selling properties locally • Office in prime location to give clients confidence • F ree realistic valuations, we do not over value just to get your property listed • We bring real buyers, not time wasters • Multi-lingual team for multi-national clients • E xtensive internet advertising inc Rightmove, A Place In the Sun, Kyero etc • Extensive newspaper & magazine advertising • Suggestions on how to help us to sell your property

• Effective working partnerships with other estate agents to increase your chances of selling • Free paperwork checks and advice on updating your deeds.

We speak and read Spanish • No sole agency lock-ins • No upfront charges. We get paid when we have done the job • Low commissions for the hard work and quality service provided • Huge amount of Belgian & Dutch etc buyers

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

www.vosshomesspain.com

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

23

www.soltimes.com

WhymuchofruralSpain is up for sale

Olmeda de la Cuesta is a tiny community in La Alcarria, an isolated region of deep gorges and rolling farmland stretching between Madrid, Guadalajara and Cuenca, in central Spain. With just 35 residents on the electoral roll, and barely 10 during winter, it is literally dying on its feet. In a bid to attract newcomers, the local council is selling off land at bargain-basement prices. Next summer it intends to auction some six or seven plots. So far, the experience has proved positive. Last year, the mayor, José Luis Regacho, auctioned off 14 plots at €5 a square meter: that’s 200 square meters of land for €1,000.

Attracted by those prices, buyers have come from outside the country. Some are looking to make their home in the community, among them a British sculptor who intends to build a house and a workshop there. A Venezuelan woman intends to move from Denmark, bringing the rest of her family.

An Iranian who works as a chef in Madrid says he’s going to construct a vacation home in Olmeda.

There are thousands of communities throughout Spain that face a similar life-and-death struggle – for example, A Xesta, in the hills of Pontevedra province, in the northwestern region of Galicia, has been offering rents of €100 a month.

There is demand for rural properties, especially from city dwellers looking for a weekend retreat. And if demand continues, more people will be inclined to sell, says Elvira Fafián, who runs a website called Aldeasabandonadas.com, which specializes in selling entire villages, as well as individual properties.

“Many people with homes in villages are putting them up for sale now that they can see people are interested. Selling was not well looked upon until recently,” she says. The site, which controls around 95 percent of the market, says that demand for rural properties is growing by around 35 percent a year and is “struggling” to keep up.

Starting prices for properties are between €15,000 and €20,000, although at this end of the price range, major work will be required, which can typically cost up to €40,000.

villages are repopulated, particularly in Galicia and Asturias, the areas where demand is highest.

Around 1,500 entire villages are on the market, with some going for as little as €50,000

Esblada, in Tarragona, which has 14 homes and a price tag of €280,000.

And that demand comes from Spaniards and foreigners. “According to our data, this year half of buyers will be Spanish, and the other half from abroad,” says Fafián.

Some communities are already English-speaking, she adds: “There are places where four or five villages are bought by a family, who then bring their friends and create a little community of their where they’re going to find the most properties is Galicia, where around own.”

35 villages are for sale. Catalonia, Castilla y León Abandoned villages are particularly popular with American, German and French buyers, and tend to be and Aragón also face depopulation, with many bought on the basis of personal recommendations. abandoned villages.

Particularly important is the agricultural quality of Most of these communities are owned by one or the land. Up until the crisis kicked in, there was a lot two families. In other cases, such as Cortegada, in of interest in buying land to build hotels or houses Orense, Galicia, the local council is prepared to sell to let. “Around 65 percent of buyers are private, and the rest is business,” says Fafián. The lack of villages to investors prepared to pay €1 million and subsidies and banks’ reluctance to lend has hit the then build, say, a luxury hotel. Similarly, anybody looking to buy Porciedo, an ancient community in rural tourism sector hard. the Picos de Europa mountains of Cantabria, in How much does a Spanish village cost? Around 70 northern Spain, would have to respect its unique percent require major construction and restoration work. In Lugo province, in Galicia, villages with six architectural heritage.

houses, a spring and some 13,000 square meters of This is a very attractive, unique, sale. But few of land can be found for as little as €62,000. It needs the people interested actually have the cash” work, but the main property, which has 140 square Property agents Mikeli, who specialize in luxury meters of living space, could be easily done up. homes, have put Porciedo up for sale: 3,052 square Abandoned villages are particularly popular with meters, which have been zoned for construction, American, German and French buyers for €1.5 million. One prospective buyer wants to La Alameda, in Segovia, around 150 kilometers completely overhaul the village and build some 45 northwest of Madrid, is an abandoned village that apartments to let. These would be built from the 10 is going for €380,000. Around 60 percent of the semi-demolished buildings in the village, and would properties in the 1,800 square-meter community are in ruins. “You’d have to hook it up to the national require subsidies from the EU and the regional grid, but it has sewage and water pipes, and government of Cantabria.

Starting prices for properties are between €15,000 and €20,000, although major work will be required permission has been given to build seven houses,” says Rústicas Singulares, the agency selling La There is also growing interest in buying up entire Alameda. villages, particularly when the price is the same as buying an apartment. Of the 3,500 abandoned At the upper end of the scale, there are villages with villages in Spain, around 1,500 are up for sale. “Of a €15 million price tag, and that come with already these, between 110 and 120 have all the paperwork restored houses. The most desirable villages are in order and are ready to be bought; the rest need located in the interior, surrounded by woodland and the paperwork sorting out, and that will take a couple fed by rivers or streams. Most buyers are looking more months,” says Fafián. Each year, a couple of to spend up to €240,000 maximum, and the region

“This is a very attractive, unique, sale. But few of the people interested actually have the cash,” says Antonio Avilés, Mikeli’s CEO, adding: “We are expecting a counter offer by a Russian investment group and a Madrid-based businessman. If the deal comes off, we have a lot of people who would be interested in buying an apartment in Porciedo.”

Source: http://elpais.com/

24

August 2015

A $100 billion Spanish retailer is outsmarting everyone else in the industry

FOR BUSINESS UK - SPAIN - UK From A Parcel To A Small House Move, Professional, Friendly & Caring, Fully Insured, Scheduled Monthly Door To Door Service, Removal Van

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Zara’s parent company, Inditex, just reached a monumental achievement. Inditex’s valuation mark surpassed 100 billion euros (about $109 billion) on Wednesday. Shares have been up 36% in the last year.

This accomplishment makes Inditex the most valuable company in Spain. Its achieved market value is only held by about 80 companies worldwide, according to The Business of Fashion. Inditex’s founder Amancio Ortega is the second richest man in the world. His company’s subsidiaries include Zara, Zara Home, Massimo Dutti and Bershka among others.

Zara is so successful because of its unique business strategy, which involves stocking very little and updating collections often. The retailer is known for crafting pieces inspired directly from the runway. It often designs and releases new styles in as little as two weeks.

That strategy is successful for two reasons, according to Suzy Hansen at The New York Times.

It promotes loyalty among consumers as many people feel that they have to continue visiting the store to check for new inventory. It also means that if the customer is looking to buy an item, he or she will feel more inclined to buy it out of fear that it will sell out as the store’s popular styles can go pretty fast.

Zara also tends to create its designer-inspired merchandise

with cleaner designs than competitors like H&M and Forever 21.

Plus it does it a lot more often and sometimes releases the inspired looks before the designers they’re referencing for inspiration are even able to.

A report by Goldman Sachs perfectly sums up why Zara is challenging retail giants.

“Unlike fast-fashion retailers, which have buying teams sourcing current trending fashion from third-party vendors, traditional specialty retailers have design teams creating product they believe is going to be trending 12 months out,” the researchers write.

The risk of trying to predict fashion trends a year in advance is weighing on the success of retailers such as Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, American Eagle, and others, according to Goldman Sachs.

If these retailers have a “fashion miss,” it means markdowns, which hurts profits. www.businessinsider.com

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Channelled as it is through the valleys of the Sierra Alhamilla the light northerly breeze never caresses Alqueria. It leaves the village breathless in the searing cauldron of the Alquerian valley. This climatic anomaly is known locally as La Sartén, The Fryingpan.

Several of the village boys demonstrated the suitability of the name by frying an egg on the bonnet of Rodriquez’s white Mercedes. This was much to the annoyance of the mill owner and the delight of the village scamps.

The scallywags hastily dispersed as the ranting, puffing Rodriquez appeared.

With temperatures in the mid-forties there was no relief from the oppressive heat. Houses remained shuttered while air conditioning units whirred and rattled.

Alqueria was too exhausted to squabble. Overheated dogs slept restlessly in whatever shade they could find, panting, tongues lolling.

The village was quiet, calm holding its breath until evening. The stillness of the day emphasised the smallest sound sending a slammed door or a dog’s bark resonating through the streets.

The brightness of the day hurt the eyes while cooking odours hung in the still air.

Inside the dwellings of Alqueria a struggle to stay cool was being waged.

Inside or out it was too hot to move, too hot to talk, even too hot to think. This is just as well as the thinking process eludes most of Alqueria’s inhabitants at the best of times.

The young men thought the answer lay in consuming vast quantities of

viewpoint

cold lager. The young ladies used the opportunity to wear their skimpiest outfits, which caused the young men to drink even more lager. The older and wiser stayed near the stone flagged ground floors, inanimate and semiconscious. The affluent Newcomers however, splashed in their pools, luxuriating in the cool chlorinated water.

One group of youngsters enjoyed the air conditioning of an emergency ambulance after swimming in the Río Verde. Not only did they contract the usual foot fungus but also a strange puce tint to the skin which emitted a faint glow. Antonio Poyato, in order to keep his precious Remitroot crop irrigated, diverted the Hill People’s water supply. All the taps ran dry and beer was drunk as an alternative.

As the sun sets, so Alqueria begins to cool. Pigeons return to the rooftops and the canine population becomes animated in their evening search for food. Voices are heard in the streets as the village comes to life once more. Invigorated by their enforced inactivity, the people of Alqueria return to their belligerent selves with renewed determination.

25

We’re Out

We had forgotten to renew our house insurance, due the following day.

However we were off on holiday early, and without said insurance it was an absolute certainty that we would get burgled, or the house would burn down, or both. Pete gave the multi-talented Andy some money and pleaded that he would go in on the morrow and renew the insurance for us.

We departed for Portugal in an atmosphere of calm relaxation, but as we were enjoying the architectural magnificence of Jerez de los Caballeros’s Cathedral our mobile rang.

‘Hello, it’s (name redacted) Are you in?’

‘No.’ ‘Will you be out long?’

‘About a week.’

‘Oh.’ ‘Why?’ ‘We’re at Almeria airport, and I’ve forgotten our Spanish house keys. I left them in England.’

‘No panic. Andy has our house keys; he can go into our house and get your spare keys. They are in (location redacted)’ End of conversation.

Half a Plaza later: ‘We’ve been to Andy’s house and he’s out. Have you got his number so that I can ring him and ask him when he’ll be back?’

‘Yes, but it’s on my phone. You’ll have to ring off, and ring back again in 5 minutes, when I’ve found it.’

Now all I had to do was find someone with a pen I could borrow, search the internals of the mobile for Andy’s number and then write it down – no chance of me remembering it, even for 5 minutes!

5 minutes later the phone rang. I

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk passed the number on, handed back the borrowed pen and relaxed.

15 minutes later the phone rang again. ‘Andy was out renewing your house insurance. He’s back now, and we are outside your house. Where did you say the keys were? I’ve forgotten and he doesn’t know.’’

‘They are in the (location redacted)’ End of conversation. Crisis over, until: ‘We’re in your house, but we can’t find them. We’ve looked everywhere.’

‘They are in the (location redacted.

Detailed directions given.) They’re attached to a keyring with a pistol on it.’

Short pause. ‘Got them.’

The conversation ended, and stayed that way.

So if we hadn’t forgotten our house insurance Andy would have gone to the beach instead of Albox, and (name redacted) would either have had to stand outside her house all day waiting for his return, or phone me yet again for the number of Phil the Pick!

Funny how things turn out!

2015 Aguilas Carnival

The 2015 Aguilas Carnival was again an event not to be missed with over 20 different dance groups performing throughout the main streets of aguilas don’t miss this event nex t year!

puzzle pages

26

August 2015

jimmy carr

the ashes

Funny Business Tour, TVs Funnyman is on the road in another side splitting tour.

Watch England take on the Aussies in the 5th Test at the Oval.

new order

Formed in 1980 the Manchester band have regrouped & are touring the UK

GET YOUR TICKETS TO THESE plus MANY OTHER EVENTS AT WWW.SOLTIMES.COM

Answers

dog family to live in Britain?...................

2. Which was the first European country

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

The remaining 26 letters spell a secret message.

to host the Football World Cup?..............

3. In which country was Pablo Picasso born?.....................................................

4. Which Ford played the starring role in the film “The Fugitive”?..........................

5. What is the world’s longest river?.......

6. What type of Apple Brandy is named after the area in France (department) where it is grown?..................................

7. What is the correct first name of former cricket Umpire, Dickie Bird?........

8. Which country has the Star of David

10. Kate Winslet has received how many Oscar nominations?...............................

CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC crossword

6. Calvados 7. Harold 8. Israel 9. Peanuts 10. Six

SOLUTIONS

1. Fox 2. Italy 3. Spain 4. Harrison 5. Nile

Answers

wordsearch answer

PAWS PLAY PUPPY ROLL OVER SHAMPOO SLEEP TRAIN TREATS TRIM NAILS WAG TAIL WALK WATER

GROOM GROWL GUARD HAIR HARNESS HOUSE ID TAG JUMP KENNEL LEASH LICK LOYAL OWNER PANT

standard SUDOKU

creation of which cartoon strip?.............

easy SUDOKU

9. Charles Shultz is famous for the

BARK BATH BONE BOWLS CANINE CHASE CHEW TOY COLLAR COMPANION FAITHFUL FEED FETCH FOOD FRIEND

DOGS LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY

on it’s flag?............................................

1. What does the abbreviation ‘st’ stand for?.................................

2. Who was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket?.........

3. The Oval is the home of which county?.................

4. Which county did Jack Hobbs play for?...............

5. Who won the county championships in every season from 1951 to 1958?..............................

6. Who did Ray Illingworth replace as England’s chairman of selectors?.......................

7. At which ground did Malcolm take nine wickets in a 1994 Test innings?..........................

8. Garner and Roberts were pacemen for which international team?.........

9. How many stumps are there on a set of wickets?

10. Which batsman’s nickname was ‘The Barnacle’?.......................

Answers

squiggle SUDOKU

1. Which is the only member of the wild

soltimes sports Quiz

7. The Oval 8. The West Indies 9. Three 10. Trevor Bailey

wordsearch pet dog

soltimes general knowledge Quiz

1. Stumped 2. Sunil Gavaskar 3. Surrey 4. Surrey 5. Surrey 6. Ted Dexter

sol IDENTIFY THE FAMOUS MUSIC CARICATURES picture quiz!

1. Van Morrison 2. Madonna 3. Bruce Springsteen 4. Robbie Williams

on this day 13th august

523 – John I becomes the new Pope after the death of Pope Hormisdas.

1532 – Union of Brittany and France: The Duchy of Brittany is absorbed into the Kingdom of France.

1814 – The Convention of London, a treaty between the United Kingdom and the United Provinces, is signed in London, England.

1898 – Spanish–American War: Spanish and American forces engaged in a mock battle for Manila, after which the Spanish commander surrendered in order to keep the city out of Filipino rebel hands.

1969 – The Apollo 11 astronauts are released from a three-week quarantine to enjoy a ticker tape parade in New York, New York. That evening, at a state dinner in Los Angeles, California, they are awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Richard Nixon.

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puzzle pages

across

STANDARD CROSSWORD

6. Aluminum foil (7) 7. German submarine (5) 9. Fragrance (4) 10. Orgy (10) 11. An elementary particle with negative charge (8) 13. Boundary between 2 nations (6) 15. Meal in a shell (4) 17. Arcade coin (5) 18. A type of edible bean (4) 19. Invented the lightbulb (6) 20. A persistent false psychotic belief (8) 23. Unquestionably (10) 26. Winged (4) 27. Artist’s workstand (5) 28. Salacious (7)

Down

1. Lacking social graces (10) 2. Anagram of “Resold” (6) 3. Smooth-tongued (4) 4. Neither urban nor rural (8) 5. Kid (4) 6. Like some currents (5) 8. In a concise manner (7) 12. Nude (5) 14. Opposition (10) 16. A moderately slow tempo (7) 17. Touchable (8) 21. Provide a detailed plan or design (6) 22. Female internal reproductive organ (5) 24. Consequence (4) 25. Drill (4)

SUDOKU PUZZLES

easy

squiggle

27

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 8 Most short beers fit when drunk! (8) 9 Mutu turning up in a new fall (6) 10 Circumstances of 100 vegetables taking the turning tide (almost) (10) 11 Uncommon for run-time to be over (4) 12 The Free-Ad production having plumage! (9) 14 Comes down by 9 seconds (5) 16 One talking at the top with hesitation, after stuttering at first (7) 18 Affected Mrs Ali and I alike (7) 20 Start to live on drink! (5) 21 Reportedly ruined fish shape (9) 24 A mode of transport, thanks to a football team? (4) 25 Instrument is in final song for orchestration (10) 27 Some clean edifices are slanted! (6) 28 Mostly, Bill and Terry produce awfully! (8) Down

1 Go over new furrow (6) 2 Turn little Benjamin with daughter! (4) 3 Blokes for Spooner’s crazy Jenny (9) 4 Stroked a good man, OK, getting embarassed on the outside! (7) 5 Loud, drunken Elsa? It’s not true! (5) 6 Hunger caused by a first-rate tax - one in operation after ‘The Way’ (10) 7 Covering many things, or just one person? (8) 13 Customs almost swap it with particles (10) 15 They hear ears (9) 17 Gets ready for quiet fixes, we hear (8) 19 Heavy with number (7) 22 One with not a friend outside might be this (6) 23 A lot of burdens (5) 26 Quiet number returning to vessel (4)

famous bithdays on this day

standard

Cuban lawyer and politician Fidel Castro (1926) English comedian Bernard Manning (1930) English race car driver Keith Ahlers (1955) English footballer Gary McSheffrey (1982)

soltimes Minion moment

28

August 2015

FOOD & ENTERTAINING... spanish summer

Make-ahead this crowd-pleasing, vegetarian starter and get a good dose of vitamin C and one of your five-a-day method Put the onion, garlic, pepper, tomatoes and bread in a food processor and blend until finely chopped, but not too smooth. Tip into a large bowl with the passata, stock, oil, vinegar, Tabasco or harissa, sugar and seasoning. Mix well, cover the bowl with cling film or foil and put in the fridge for at least 2 hrs or overnight.

To serve, pour into small bowls or glasses, drizzle over a little olive oil and sprinkle with a few torn basil leaves.

Recipe from Good Food magazine

Spiced tortilla

Gazpacho Ingredients 1 red onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped 4 ripe tomatoes, chopped 1 slice white bread, crusts

Perfect for dinners, lunches and snacks, this spiced tortilla is a great in-the-fridge standby for many occasions removed and torn 500ml passata 300ml / half pint vegetable stock 5 tbsp olive oil, plus extra 4 tbsp wine vinegar 1 tsp Tabasco or harissa 1 tsp sugar basil leaves, to serve

Ingredients 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 onion, sliced 1 red chilli, deseeded and shredded 2 tsp curry spices (we used

coriander, cumin and turmeric) 300g cherry tomatoes 500g cooked potatoes, sliced bunch coriander, stalks finely chopped, leaves roughly chopped 8 eggs, beaten

method Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Fry the onion and half the chilli for 5 mins until softened. Tip in the spices, fry for 1 min more, then add the cherry tomatoes, potatoes and coriander stalks to the pan. Season the eggs well, pour over the top of the veg and leave to cook gently for 8-10 mins until almost set.

Heat the grill and flash the tortilla underneath for 1-2 mins until the top is set. Scatter the coriander leaves and remaining chilli over the top, slice into wedges and serve with a green salad.

Recipe from Good Food magazine

29

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FOOD & ENTERTAINING...

Roast cod with paella & saffron olive oil

Impress your friends with Jason Atherton's luxurious shellfish rice, topped with juicy cod and drizzled with saffron

Ingredients For the paella 1 tbsp olive oil 200g raw chorizo, diced 3 large shallots, thinly sliced 3 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tsp smoked sweet paprika (pimenton)

For the saffron oil 75ml extra-virgin olive oil juice ½ lemon pinch saffron threads For the cod 1 tbsp olive oil knob of unsalted butter 6 x 175g/6oz cod fillets, skin on squeeze lemon juice

300g paella rice 1l fish stock method Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. To make the paella, put the olive oil, chorizo, shallots and garlic in a large pan and fry for 7-8 mins until the chorizo releases its oil and the shallots have softened. Add the paprika and cook, stirring, for 5 mins, then add the rice, mix well and cook for a few mins more.

Pour in 600ml of the stock, season and mix well to combine. Cover and put in the oven for 15 mins. Uncover, give everything a good stir, then return to the oven for 10 mins. When almost cooked, remove from the oven and spread onto a tray to cool. Chill and reserve for later. You can make this a day ahead.

To make the saffron oil, whisk the olive oil and lemon juice together in a small saucepan. Add the saffron and heat gently for 5 mins, then remove from the heat and leave to infuse and cool. You can make this a day ahead.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. For the cod, put the olive oil and butter in an ovenproof frying pan over a high heat, but don’t let it burn. Season the cod with sea salt and black pepper, then cook, skin-side down, in the hot pan, for 4 mins, then carefully turn the fish over and put the pan in the oven for a further 3 mins, finishing with a little more sea salt and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Meanwhile, put the paella back in the pan, stir in the remaining fish stock and cook for 2 mins until completely heated through. Stir through a knob of butter,the prawns and shelled mussels. Taste, season with lemon juice, salt and pepper if necessary, and finish with the chopped parsley. Serve with the roast cod, mussels in their shells and steamed purple broccoli or a green vegetable, if you like. Finally, drizzle everything with the saffron dressing.

sangria

Mix an ice-cold jug of this traditional Spanish sangria recipe: a perfect cocktail for hot summer days.

Ingredients 3 parts red wine 1 part orange juice 2 parts lemonade ice fresh mint sliced fruit such as oranges and lemons method 1.Mix all the ingredients together in a large jug and add more red wine, orange juice or lemonade according to taste and desired strength.

2.Pour into glasses, garnish with mint sprigs and fruit.

knob of unsalted butter 300g prawns, chopped into bite-sized pieces handful cooked, shelled mussels, plus 18 in their shells juice ½ lemon (optional) small bunch parsley, chopped

T

I C P A NA O R EXC I NEW TING MEN U

W R NE T E D EN UN GEM A N MA

ALGORFA NOW SERVING Genuine Home Cooked ENGLISH FOOD A la Carte Menu English Tapas Selection available

POPULAR RELAXING BAR AREA Enjoy our Tuesday Curry Night Drink & Curry

only 7.95€ Open: Mondays 5pm til late Tuesdays - Saturdays 12noon - 3pm & 5pm til late Tel: 645 179 443 C/Mayor, 16 (20mts from the square)

30

history of

August 2015

gazpacho

Summer is truly here. And so it’s gazpacho season again.

Gazpacho, Andalusia’s trademark food, is a cold soup or liquid salad made with fresh, raw vegetables.

Gazpacho, in one form or another, is nearly as old as these hills.

It probably derives from a Roman dish, a gruel of bread and oil.

The name gazpacho may come from the Latin caspa, meaning fragments or little pieces, referring to the breadcrumbs which are such an essential ingredient. The Moorish influence is evident too, especially in some of the variations on the basic theme, such as ajo blanco, made with ground almonds.

Of course, none of those forerunners of gazpacho contained tomatoes, considered basic today. That’s because tomatoes were unknown in Spain, until after the discovery of the New World. During its long hot summers, Andalusia refreshes itself daily with a cold soup that has become world famous. With many local variatons, gazpacho is almost a complete meal by itself.

We are in the sixties, somewhere to the south of Seville at the beginning of summer.

The harvesters have not stopped since daybreak. Very soon it will be lunchtime. In the shade of a tree, a woman is pounding garlic cloves in an earthenware mortar.

Adding a crumb of stale bread that she has soaked in water, then olive oil and salt, she forms a very nourishing paste. She has also brought some very ripe tomatoes.

Squeezing them out inot the mortar, she keeps stirring the mixture and then adds vinegar. Kept cool by evaporation through the unglazed wall of an earthen pot called bucaro, water is then poured. Gazpacho is ready. The tapping of the pestle in the mortar has given the men an appetite. Each of the has his own spoon. Gathered around the large bowl, they follow an ancient ritual whereby they approach after each other and then “step back” at the moment of eating.

Which type of food could be healthier, due to the high energy value of it’s components, more refreshing and easier to absorb in extreme temperature conditions? Such good sense is not included in any other dish. It is the result of many centuries of culinary culture which was handed down almost in its original form.

The whole story begins with the Roman legions carrying bread bread, garlic, salt, olive oil and vinegar along the roads of the Empire, with each soldier making his own mixture to taste. Pure symbols of Mediterranean culture which, a few centuries and a couple of civilisations later, will be supplemented by an innovation coming from the West. Tradition has it that, before leaving on his first voyage, Christopher Columbus loaded up with barrels of this old mixture which had fed so many peoples. With the addition of the tomato from the Andes, what will later be called gazpacho, will gain an international reputation.

However, for all the fame of red gazpacho, we should not forget that local variations abound. Remembering that the base is always bread, garlic, oil, vinegar and salt, let us try to classify them by colour; red, white and green. Red gazpacho, the one which is just called gazpacho, is basically a cold and uncooked vegetable soup. In its most concentrated form it is the Cordob salmorego, a very thick creamy soup with no water init, which just adds tomato to the base. In Cordoba itself, it is served with hard boiled eggs, quartered or chopped and strips of ham. In the rest of province, it might be garnished with chopped almonds, cumin crushed with mint, or with orange segments. The salmorejo is also on of the components of a very nice tapa, the pan de pueblo (country bread) an uncooked dish combining tomato, salt cod, garlic and parley. The best known red gazpacho is the more liquid Sevillian type, which to a certain point reflects the general formula. The original mixture is supplemented here with large quantities of tomaato and smaller proportions of cucumber and green pepper. It is served garnished with green pepper, hard boiled egg, fried bread, onion, tomato and cucumber, everything being finely chopped.

White gazpacho is typical of the south and east of Andalusia. This is Malaga’s famous ajo blanco (white garlic) which, according to some people, dates back to Moorish times and which according to others is a peasant dish adapted for city tastes in the nineteenth century. It consists of pounding peeled almonds with cooking salt before crushing the basic elements into the mixture and then adding water to get the smoothness of a soup. Outside Malaga, which gazpacho can be made with pine seeds. At the beginning of summer, the strong flavour of garlic is sweetened with

cubes or little balls of melon or apple and in September, with grapes.

Finally, less know but by no means less attractive is the green gazpacho from the Huelva region and the Sierra Morena where flavour is given by chopped herbs and green vegetables. In the first group, coriander, mint and parsley and basil can be combined or alone, while lettuce, green pepper and endive bring freshness and texture.

These countless regional variations result from the extreme simplicyt of a dish which nevertheless has a secret; subtlety of proportions. To give enough flavour but not too much, it is necessary to taste it frequently. Quantities indicated in a recipe cannot take into account the ripeness of the tomatoes, the specific strength of the garlic and much less the personal tastes of the guests.

You will probably eat these cold soups as a first course, just as they have been served for about thirty years in the restaurants and private homes of the large cities in Andalusia. But it is interesting to know that it is still customary in village homes to have gazpacho after the first course, and before dessert. In this manner a usual summer lunch could be,: chick pea stew, gazpacho and melon. Another delicious way to serve it would be with pescaito frito (fried fish).

Gazpacho should be drunk slightly chilled, but not iced. As its purpose is to quench thirst as well as nutritious, there should no need to supplement it with a drink. What is more, the need for a drink would probably mean an excess of salt or vinegar.

Unless you really want to savour it with a glass of dry sherry.

Gazpacho belongs especially to Andalusia, southern Spain. Here day labourers working in vineyards, olive plantations, citrus groves, wheat fields or cork forests were given rations of bread and oil for their meals. Bread soaked in water made a simple soup, to which was added oil, garlic and salt for flavour, plus whatever fresh vegetables were available--tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in the summer.

Everything was pounded together in a mortar or dornillo, a large wooden bowl.

Gazpacho provided nourishment, quenched the thirst, and sustained a body working in the hot sun.

From these humble beginnings, gazpacho has become quite the cosmopolite, appearing on the menus of sophisticated restaurants in many parts of the world.

Recipes which appear abroad sometimes call for tomato juice, beef broth, ketchup or chili-hot salsa. Unfortunately, something is lost in the translation--namely, the freshness of gazpacho made with raw ingredients.

Cooking in Spain This is not to say you can’t experiment with the basic gazpacho. For instance, chopped basil--which no self-respecting Andalusian housewife would add to gazpacho--is a nice addition, and a dash of piquant chili or Tabasco adds pizzazz.

Some innovative chefs have turned gazpacho into something else altogether with the addition of prawns, lobsters, clams.

A Spanish refrain says, De gazpacho no hay empacho--there’s never too much gazpacho. It hits the spot any time of the day or night--a mid-morning snack, a starter at lunch, an afternoon refresher, an evening’s supper. It travels well--take it on a picnic. Should there be any gazpacho leftover, use it as a salad dressing or let it come to room temperature and toss with hot pasta. http://www.andalucia.com/magazine/english/ed3/gazpacho.htm

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31

Home Owners and PASO A PASO MODERN QUESADA LADIES CLUB Welcome to A.C.T.S. Residents in Camposol JIVE DANCE FUSION MAY The Annual General Meeting of the We are a new drama group made up are invited to join “Camposolers Political” / JUNE UPDATE of novices and some folk from the 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.

CASTILLA AMIGOS

We are a friendship group for single people. We meet every Wednesday from 3pm at RAYZ Bar on El Raso urbanisation (off the Lemon Tree Road, Guardamar) ANN – 966 717 390 - 666 747 398

art club

Art Club, all mediums, no charge, in the Playa Flamenca area. Anyone interested, please contact Lyn tel: 966 189 118

COFFEE MATES

If you would like to have a coffee and a friendly chat, please join us at the La Laguna Hotel, Lo Marabu every Friday morning from 11am ANN - 966 717 390 - 666 747 398

Wednesday 11am Castillo Restaurant, Cl San Fulgencio (Forest Rd) La Marina Urb) Beginners/Imrovers Thursday 8pm Los Rosales Restaurant, CV895 Campo De Guardamar. Beg followed by int/adv and social dancing till late.

Great to see past members joining us for the social...€5 whole night €2 social.

Food available at both venues.

New classes and venues starting September 26th September will be our dance clubs 10th Anniversay Party. More details to follow.

Mondays we have managed to get the use of Totally Dance Studios in Benijofer.

We shall be using the studio for one hour style and advanced workshops, we have room there for five couples.... anyone interested in reserving a place at possibly 4pm (which would be a good time for us) We will be charged hourly for the venue so cost will reflect on the price of the class and how many are interested.

If this works well we may use the studio for other classes.

I now have the tickets for the Benidorm October Jive weekend.

Just €10 for the whole four day event... please obtain yours asap..everyone will need a ticket even if you are entering the competition.

More details on how to enter and what you can enter will be available from Thursday at Los Rosales.

Although these details have already been sent out so you should have some idea on which events you would like to do....remember its a FUN weekend event of modern jivers who love to dance Please join the face book page for all updates....Benidorm Modern Jive Champs 2015.

All rooms at the hotel now fully booked but please many apartments / hotels available in the same area.

Hope to see you soon....and please put Saturday 26th September in your diary for our anniversary party...not to be missed.

PS Thanks to everyone that joined us on the beach for my birthday....it was simply the best chilled afternoon/ evening with amazing friends. x Maxine 670 711 408 Adam 638 330 342 face book Paso A Paso Dance www.modern-jive-spain.com

stars in bars

DATE ARTIST VENUE

AREA INFO

12th Lynden B Billees Bar Algorfa 12th Richie C La Manga Camping La Manga 12th Rob Bonovox Bar Sioux Gran Alicant 12th Andy Jones Arches Cafe Bar Los Alcazares 13th Las Vegas Tribute Show The Park Inn Quesada Start 8pm 13th Luke Wilder Arches Cafe Bar Los Alcazares 14th Samantha Curtis Arches Cafe Bar Los Alcazares 14th Debbie Slater Summers Bar El Galan 14th Richie C Hillside La Marina 15th Gemma Vistabella Golf Entre Naranjas 15th Cherry K Arches Cafe Bar Los Alcazares 15th Lynden B Inn at the Green Entre Naranjas Rock n Roll 15th Ricky Patton The Nook El Galan 15th Graham Alexander Billees Bar Algorfa 15th JJ Soulman & Terry Jay The Tavern Lo Crispin Fiesta Party 15th Shirelle La Campaña El Eden Guardamar 15th Rob Bonovox Bar Amigos San Pedro 15th Andy Jones The Clubhouse Camposol 15th Diverse Duo The Posh Club La Marina 16th Lynden B La Taberna Entre Naranjas 16th Dee Maggie OBrians Campoverde 16th Ricky Patton The Snug Torre de la Horredada 17th Lynden B Bar Horacios Las Mimosas 17th Terry Jay Arches Cafe Bar Los Alcazares 18th Diverse Duo The Sports Complex La Marina 18th Lynden B Arches Cafe Bar Los Alcazares

Quesada Ladies Club will be held at

now disbanded Dramatic License.

We rehearse every Thursday at 6.30 Tuesday 8th September 2015. This at Cafeteria Trasgu, Calle Alicante, is for members only, and they will be Formentera. If you have ever had the admitted at the usual time of 2.30pm. desire to try your hand at amateur dramatics we would be pleased to Pilar Christian hear from you. You don’t need any Community Church experience ( although this is always Calle Canalejas 3. Pilar de la Horadada. welcome ) just enthusiasm. So, if Sunday Service at 11am, and Thursday you would like to appear on stage or at 5pm for Prayer and Praise and assist back stage, you would be most Worship welcome. Anybody interested and for Home groups meet during the week.

All welcome from any church more information should either pop background or none. along to a rehearsal evening or contact For further information contact Tony Goddard on newleaf2014@ PilarChristian.CommunityChurch@ hotmail.co.uk. gmail.com 966 849 448 - 966 848 806 the Cooper’s Arms, Dona Pepa, on

BADMINT0N AT PILAR DE LA HORADADA

Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs. 10-1pm. For information ring John McGilvray on 966 786 774 or Mobiles 634 658 506/695 871 707 or e mail carolejohn_3@ hotmail.com

La Bamba’s - Ballroom / Latin / Sequence Dancing

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 starting 2nd September 2015 [new beginners welcome every Wednesday] 2pm -3pm Intermediate Class 3pm - 4pm Intermediate Plus Class 4pm - 5pm Andrea Murphy [0034] 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

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 on the beach.

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

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.

THE PHOENIX CONCERT BAND As the band is growing in numbers and going from strength to strength, now presenting music proven to be popular with the audiences, they still need Trombone, Bass/Tuba and Saxophone players, especially Baritone Saxophone and 2nd Percussionist.

Any experienced players , who are permanent Residents or Semi resident on the Costa Blanca South or Costa Calida interested in joining a well established band and able to commit themselves to regular rehearsals are welcome.

Contact : our email address : the phoenixconcertband@gmail.com Tel : Bill (Chairman) 634.310.309. Julie (MD) 634.184.747.

The band rehearses every Tuesday 2.pm. - 4.pm at San Miguel de Salinas FAN CLUB: Anybody wishing to be informed of forthcoming performances please email, your email address and Telephone Number to : Bill at : rytethen@gmail.com

send all your birthday wishes and information on whats on to

editor@soltimes .com

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

TV LCD Sony Bravia 26’’ HDMI/HD Ready/TDT. Model KDL-26U2000.

Approx. 10 Kgs. 100€ excellent condition used as second TV. Tel: 966 712 200 (Benijofar).

Table & 6 Chairs white aluminium table glass top good condition 95€ Tel: 865 774 401 / 653 561 952 Los Montesino's area.

Thomas Taylor woods a set of four size 3 ex. condition 65€ Quesada area Tel: 966 716 646

made payable to

MATHEWS mEDIA s.l

pool tables snooker tables, table tennis tables, darts.

Tel: 666 933 726 www.spainpool.com

Taylor ace woods size 5 a set of four great condition 75€ Quesada area Tel: 966 716 646

HP printer 5652 series also Scanjet 3600 series both in good working order complete with software 40€ Quesada area Tel: 966 716 646

alternative power

14 Glasses Engraved Very Fine Crystal: 5 Champagne & 4 Wine.

20€. Tel: 610 910 978. (Near ITV Torrevieja)

www.ecocorpshop.com are you getting frustrated at ever increasing electricity bills do you want a clean, reliable energy alternative if so call ecocorp on 671 716 597 or 950 930 187 for a no obligation quotation

sunlife solar solutions

The finest solar installations on the costa blanca

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transfer & Cheques

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Fender American Stratocaster Neck. Year 95 with maple board and original tuners in good condition.

150€. No offers.

P A Speaker, Thomann 350 watt 15 in speaker with tweeter, and stand.

New condition, unused. Bargain.

80€Tel: 966 789 612 or 629 975 378 Folding wooden chairs, ideal for extra guests, 5€ each Tel: 690 772 178 (San Fulgencio) Jumbo ascending parachute for towing behind a boat (one or two person model) new in valise, less than half price 300€ ono. Tel: 606 075 644.

2 x electric built in under ovens, one white, one light grey (with timer), both ex. Con. can deliver reasonable distance. 50€ each ono. Tel: 606 075 644.

4 x childrens bikes, modern mountain bike style, age range from 3 to 6 years approx. 50€ the lot. or separate. Tel: 606 075 644

Advertise all your unwanted items for sale in this section

Any single item up to 300€ is free of charge email: blancasales@soltimes.com

wanted DO YOU HAVE A GARAGE TO RENT?

Looking for a single (family car) lockable garage to rent within 15km radius of Benijofar/Quesada area.

Needed from end August 2015.

Email: info@chiropractor-benijofar.es or call 602219502 with details

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

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,

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electricians

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insurance

asssa medical

Ana 865 646 437 lady available home/house visits. & Mazarron, Quesada plus all other areas.

Escort available home &

house visits. Tel: 693 357 526

pets

insurances Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan, 968 153 396

mazarron@asssa.es

want to know whats in the news?

go online:

www. SOLTIMES.com

Trixie is a 3 year German Shepherd cross, her owner is returning to Norway and cannot take Trixie with her. She is chipped, vaccinated and sterilised. Trixie is a great companion, good with other dogs and an excellent guard dog. Call: 645 469 253.

For More Information Please call 645 469 253 info@petsinspain.info www.petsinspain.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

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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

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

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

want to know whats in the news?

go online: www. SOLTIMES.com

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

spas euro spas Spas at factory prices.

Used & Ex display models.

Spares & repairs.

Part exchange Telephone 650 722 905

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

situations vacant

SOLTIMES newspaper group

Require a Sales Manager for the Quesada area.

You will have proven sales ability, can work to sales deadlines. You will be dealing with current advertising businesses but have the confidence to build new business. You must have a computer to work from a distance, own car and driving licence.

High commission package and bonus, contract and mobile phone and expenses. Full training at our head office in Albox Almeria will be required. This is an exciting opportunity. If you have what we are looking for,

Call Paulette on 950 121 936 or email your CV to sales@soltimes.com

Looking for a car

for sale

We have a good selection of LHD & RHD vehicles for sale or exchange Quality cars purchased all paperwork legally undertaken Telephone 600 726 221 or 965 687 976

www.fwreurocars.com

Do you have vehicle, boat or motor bike for sale

Hummer H3 - 4x4 2006 - 3.5 Automatic 85,000 with 2 owners Full service history Petrol, Met black, cream leather PAS, ABS, Cruise, Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors, Side steps A/C (Climate), Alloys, Heated seats CD, Rear privacy glass, Roof bars E. seats, Sunroof, Chrome mirrors

OpelCorsa June '12 - 5 door hatch 1.2 Selective (86 cv) 49,000 kms, 1 owner Full service history A/C, Alloys, PAS, ABS, Cruise Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors CD player Remote locking Rear head restraints Isofix Met champ./half leather

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This size advert is only 10€

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Phone Paulette on 950 121 936

Vehicles registration

“RE-PLATE” MATE GB

wanted

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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.

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

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tel: Tim on 662 211 993

34

August 2015

5

animal corner

To advertise here call : 950 121 936

pet pampering trends fuelling the

'parenting' boom

Owners are increasingly humanising their pets and redefining what it means to pamper their animal companions.

This "pet parenting" attitude, along with a surge in ownership among Asia's growing middle class, is leading to some big spending.

According to international market research company

showcased each year at Pet Fair Asia in Shanghai.

The trade show has been growing steadily since 1997, attracting 650 vendors and more than 17,000 pet-mad

keep pets instead of having children, Euromonitor said.

“The humanisation of pets is driving the demand for premium and natural pet food,” it said in a 2014 country report.

“Owners are also eager for their pets to have premium dietary supplements with niche ingredients such as deer and Chinese herbs.”

visitors to the exhibition in 2014.

This year’s Pet Fair Asia will start on August 27 and see agencies and dealers from all over the world showcase their pet products during the four days of the show.

According to a Euromonitor, South-East Asian pet care is consistently outperforming the rest of the world, with retail sales expected to pass $1 billion by 2016.

One of the region’s fastest growing pet markets is Indonesia, where the rate of urbanisation and pet ownership continues to increase.

“In bigger cities like Jakarta, pet shops can be found on almost every corner,” Euromonitor said.

China’s pet care sector is forecast to grow by more than half to 15.8 billion yuan ($US2.5 billion) to surpass the US as the world’s biggest pet market by 2019, the group said. http://www.abc.net.au/

APAH

Space for a little one?

Euromonitor, global sales of pet-related products and Dog bakeries, which offer home-made snacks and treats, services were estimated to have reached more than are another way owners are choosing to indulge their canine companions. $US100 billion in 2014.

Clement Lo, owner of the Hong Kong’s Three Dog Bakery Here are five pet pampering trends that franchise, said dog and cat portrait birthday cakes were a are fuelling the boom. huge hit with pet parents.

1: Pet services “We sell a lot of birthday cakes here,” he told the ABC. From pet hotels to doggie day spas, the growth in high- “We just can’t keep up with the production.” end pet services shows owners are sparing no expense on Market researcher Packaged Facts estimated the pet food lavishing comfort on their four-legged friends. sales in the United States were $28 billion in 2013, with In Japan, where pets outnumber children, pampered premium brands making up more than 40 per cent of total pooches can enjoy massages, doggie treadmills and a spa sales. at upscale pet hotels.

Nonalcoholic beverages with names like “Char-dog-nay” Even during periods of economic stagnation, people are and “Bark-deaux” are among some of the dog-themed turning to professionals to keep their pets impeccably wine products for pets. groomed.

3. Pet health care 2. Super-premium foods Australia’s pet industry is worth an estimated total of $8 A number of couples in Hong Kong are also choosing to billion a year, according to a 2013 report by the Animal Health Alliance.

The focus on pet health has seen alternative therapies becoming more popular, including acupuncture, massage and yoga.

Pet health insurance is popular in the US, reaching close to Hondon de las Nieves/Frailes $500 million in annual premiums, the North American Pet Centrally-heated houses with large individual runs Health Insurance Association said.

Love and care will be lavished during your cat’s stay Japan is a veritable pets paradise with a large selection My 29 years of experience in animal and veterinary care will give you piece of mind of clothes, accessories and even perfume for spoiled Pick up & delivery service offered for coastal areas pooches.

Canine couture ranges from frilly frocks to designer jeans, Telephone: 966 195 816 sunglasses to shoes and doggie buggies.

Answerphone - we will call back: Mobile 654 155 473 5. Trade shows www.mountainviewcathotel.webs.com The latest pet food, accessories and services are

Mountain View

Cat hotel

It’s always hard to rehome an older dog and poor Ruben a Spanish Water Spaniel would be much happier in a home instead of living in the APAH kennels.

If you can give an older dog a loving home and want to meet Ruben, please call 630 422 563 or 616 210 850.

Patches is a young, pretty cat who was rescued by APAH from the side of a busy road with four kittens. Her time with her kittens is finished now and she is looking for a loving home.

She is a lovely and affectionate cat who deserves a second chance with someone who will care for her. To meet Patches, or her three remaining kittens please call 630 422 563 or 616 210 850.

www.apahrescue.org

www.soltimes.com

Book Review

“I gazed into the water and saw a dream world, mirroring my own, where I could be happy. How wrong I was. For it was nothing-just the glitter of moonlight on the surface, the sheeny satin lustre of a dress.”

The author admitted to having had a love affair (so to speak) with Dutch paintings. What emerged was a love-letter sadly reflecting on the lost world of serene and dreamy domestic interiors otherwise known as Tulip Fever.

We are plunged into the 17C world of Amsterdam that saw the rise and obsession of tulip mania during the 1630s, at its worst symbolising human greed and passion. It made many men rich beyond their wildest dreams but once the bubble burst it brought inevitable ruin and destruction.

Sophia was 24, innocent and oblivious to the evils of the world. When her father had died leaving unmarried daughters and lots of debts, Cornelis, a wealthy merchant who owned a warehouse in the harbour which imported grain from the Baltic and rare spices from the Orient had agreed to marry Sophia and support her family. He was a good Calvinist although Sophia was a Catholic. His faith had been battered with the death of his first wife, Hendrijke when she was barely 40 and his two sons who had died in infancy. He was 61, longing for an heir. He does care about his young wife and worries that she has become withdrawn, no longer the lively, happy girl he had fallen in love with.

“She had brought him back to life when he had given up all hope. She rescued him, just as he himself, in another way entirely, had rescued her.”

He is a good man, providing a more than comfortable lifestyle for his young wife. She is www.carolnaylor.blogspot.com www.carolesleynaylor.wordpress.com naylorcl@hotmail.es

Special Offers Visit:

tulip Fever by deborah Moggach

35

beautiful and he counts his fortune in this respect.

Sophia cares for him and is grateful for saving her and her family from ruin and poverty but is repressed sexually and has not yet discovered passion and desire. When she becomes confused and metaphorically stripped naked by the painter she is uncomfortable and asks Maria about her feelings for her lover. In no time at all, Sophia fights against Jan’s advances of love because of loyalty towards her husband before eventually, succumbing.

“A woman like you deserves to be happy.”

Jan is initially portrayed as a bit of a cad, a man who has seduced lots of women and then discarded them. The reader worries that he will take advantage of innocent Sophia, ruin her and then discard her.

But no. He loves her with passion, admitting to being undone. Sophia had unknotted the ropes around his heart and he is entirely hers” and he wants to spend the rest of his life with her and he is prepared to do anything to win her completely. You have stolen my heart, he tells her. They are the star-crossed lovers, full of guilt, devising plots of betrayal upon betrayal in order to secure some kind of future together, even feigning death. However, more people end up with broken hearts especially the innocent victims.

Maria, their servant was a robust and passionate woman crazy about Willam her darling sweetheart.

Life was so uncomplicated for her and she knew that she would marry him, have six children and live in blissful contentment. Eventually, but with a few major complications she gets her reward. In fact she is very much in the minority. Willam leaves her high and dry suspecting her of cuckolding him so he signs up in the army and goes to fight the Spanish.

Probably a better alternative to drowning although

this thought did cross his mind.

“When he touches me I get these shivers all over my body. When he looks at me it turns my insides to jelly.”

She dreams of being her own mistress and wears Sophia’s blue velvet jacket with the fur collar and cuffs parading around the house and catching sight of herself in the mirror and willing it to happen. A simple dream.Where is the harm in it? This is Maria’s secret world.

The painter, Jan van Loos is engaged to paint a family portrait and Sophia encounters passionate love that will bring about ruin, a heavy price to pay. Cornelis craves immortality and the nearest to achieving this is through art. The painter is regarded as a promising artist in Amsterdam especially in portraitures. He has been highly recommended. Of course Cornelis regards himself as a connoisseur of paintings.

Sadly, he is betrayed by his young wife and seeks revenge. He becomes totally disillusioned with life and another casualty.

A 2004 Steven Spielberg film of Tulip Fever didn’t get off the ground because of changes to the tax laws although Ruby Films have recently begun filming on locations around the UK. This film is due to be released in the USA during 2015, directed

by Justin Chadwick (“Mandela” and “The Other Boleyn Girl”) and the screenplay is written by Sir Tom Stoppard. It stars Alicia Vikander as Sophia and Christoph Waltz as Cornelis. Judi Dench plays a cameo role as the Abbess of St. Ursula and Prince Harry’s ex, Cressida Bonas plays Mrs Steen. Watch this space.

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36

August 2015

motoring

Porsche 911 Targa 4S Exclusive Mayfair Edition: Named for London, Celebrates Targa Florio

Porsche’s mouth-watering Exclusive customization program has produced yet another gem, and this one will be quite the rare stone. Just 10 911 Targa 4S Exclusive Mayfair Edition cars will be built, all based on regular 911 Targa 4S models but equipped with nifty Exclusive bits to commemorate the Targa Florio Italian endurance race.

Before you get your Porsche crests in a knot over the Mayfair, know this: It’s a U.K.-only special edition. The “Mayfair” in its name has nothing to do with the Targa Florio, instead referencing Porsche Centre Mayfair, the dealer/Exclusive Center outfit with sole ordering rights to the special edition. Okay, so it’s still odd, and it makes for a clunky name. But those lucky 10 buyers surely will forget soon enough, as pretty much everything about the Mayfair makes our Porsche radars beep with glee.

Porsche 911 Targa 4S Exclusive Mayfair Edition First, there’s the Classic Silver paint, which gleams over 20-inch Fuchs-style black-painted wheels and a special front fascia. Inside, the adaptive sports seats feature the same gloriously retro houndstooth cloth inserts (Porsche calls the design “pepita”) that were used on the 911 50th Anniversary edition, as well as Rhodium Silver contrast stitching and embossed Union Jack flags. This being a modern Porsche, there are a few nonessentials pillaged from the automaker’s near-criminally-long options sheet, such as leather wrappings for the air vents, steering column, seatbelt buckles, and more, not to mention a leather key pouch and a “personalized photo book.” At least the good stuff’s included, too, with the 911 4S’s Powerkit (good for an extra 30 horsepower, for a total of 430), carbon-ceramic brakes, and Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers all part of the deal, as are a Burmester sound system and LED headlights.

Even though the Mayfair is off-limits to us

Yanks, Porsche tells us it is possible to loosely replicate it with Porsche Exclusive items here in the States. Certain bits, however, will be reserved for some time to ensure the Mayfair remains exclusive. If you happen to live in England and have a hankering for Porsches and anything to do with the Targa Florio, we suggest you hurry, as most of the Mayfair cars are spoken for. Oh, and bring £148,849.10—that’s $231,036 in American currency—as that’s what’s necessary to take one of these Exclusive 911s home.

If that sounds steep, it’s at least slightly less than what Porsche charged Netherlanders for their specialedition 911 Targa 4S. http://blog.caranddriver.com/ For almost 50 years, the iconic 911 has been constantly updated while retaining the same unmistakable look and design philosophy. Today’s modern, rear-wheeldrive versions have a 3.4-liter, 350-hp flat-six, while all-wheel-drive models get a 3.8-liter version with 400 hp; transmissions include a seven-speed manual or a sevenspeed automatic.

Three body styles are offered: coupe, convertible, and the cool-to-see-andoperate Targa. To us, the 911 is one of the best sports cars available, period.

Price: $85,295 - $133,795

in the news

Warning after security experts hack Tesla car

Tesla has issued a software update for its model S car after two researchers found a way to subvert its onboard systems. It is the second time in a month that a car maker has had to act to solve security problems with its vehicles uncovered by hackers.

In the latest instance, the researchers were able to shut off the car and force it to stop.

Tesla said that it had addressed all six vulnerabilities.

It told the BBC that it had worked closely with the security community to protect its systems.

Marc Rogers, of security firm Cloudflare, and Kevin Mahaffey, from Lookout, have released information about problems they found in Tesla’s Model S vehicle.

Details of their work will be disclosed at the Def Con hacker conference currently under way in Las Vegas.

The researchers praised Tesla for the way the vehicle handled the bogus commands and how the car maker responded to their findings.

In late July, Fiat Chrysler issued a recall for more than 1.4 million vehicles after hackers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek showed how to use bugs in the onboard software of the Jeep Cherokee to shut it down remotely. By exploiting a connection between the car’s entertainment system and its onboard controllers, the two researchers were able to issue commands and take over the car.

Mr Rogers said car makers faced difficulties because they had little control over what was done to vehicles once they were in customers’ hands.

“With embedded systems like you find in cars, you cannot control who has access to it,” he said.

“Someone can take it home and apply any tool they want to it.”

Tesla said in a statement to the BBC: “Our welldeveloped safeguards protect every layer of our vehicle and network security system, including for the mobile app, Tesla’s servers, and the car itself.

“Through our responsible reporting process, a dedicated team of top-notch Tesla security professionals works closely with the researcher community to ensure that we continue to protect our systems against vulnerabilities by constantly stresstesting, validating, and updating our safeguards.” http://www.bbc.com/

North Yorkshire police discover sheep riding to McDonald’s in car boot Officers get more than they baa-gain for when they stop a driver with a sheep in his car near Leeming Bar services, who tells them he’s taking it out for dinner Police stopped a motorist in Yorkshire on suspicion of driving with two bald tyres only to find there was a sheep riding in the boot of his car. When questioned about why the sheep was in the car, the driver said he was taking it to McDonald’s for a takeaway.

North Yorkshire Police Roads Policing Group posted a picture of the car on Twitter, complete with the unexpected animal in the passenger seat, with the caption: “Ewe have got to be kidding!!!”

The Peugeot 206 was stopped near Leeming Bar services on the A1 in North Yorkshire on Wednesday night.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire police who spoke to the Northern Echo said the driver “told the officer that ‘some people take their dogs in their cars, I take my sheep’.” “He just wanted to go for a drivethrough at McDonald’s.” It is believed the driver with the unlikely passenger was pulled over shortly after a visit to the service station. Police said local press and social media had got excited over the sheepish tale, using the hashtag #sheepinacar. A spokesman told the Guardian the officer who had posted the image had dealt with the incident at the scene.

He added: “We have no other information apart from what the officer tweeted. Although we might equip our officers with better high-definition cameras.” http://www.theguardian.com/

37

www.soltimes.com

T.M.G.S. 3rd Anniversary at Campoamor

To celebrate our 3rd Anniversary we again returned to where it all began, Real club de golf Campoamor to play for the “Anniversary Shield”. We played just a few days after the annual competition in honour of the “Conde de Barcelona” this prestigious competition demands that the course plays at its most difficult, well it was certainly that when it came to the greens. They had not been watered since Thursday evening last week, which in this heat meant that they resembled the greens of the US Open. Although they were irrigated as normal from Sunday evening, some burnt patches were still evident, but the ball did roll true, happy to say that by the time that you read this they should be back to normal. Why should I be writing this, well we had no fewer than 5 players play better than par, yes ok, albeit by a shot or 2, that is until we come to the winner of the Silver Category.

In recent week’s I have written about the “Vikings” that make up our Norwegian members and a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the “Pirate raiders” had pushed off in their long boats heading up the North sea to the oil platforms, well it appears that I overlooked one of them, don’t really know how that happened, as he has frequently been in the frame, so much so that he even won the “Player of the Month” prize for July. This Viking will be pushing off in his long boat to take him and his contraband back home to Norway, at least until late October. That will give the rest of the membership a chance to win 1 or 2 prizes. It must be said that this guy has reduced his E.G.A. handicap by a full 6 stokes during the last 3 months.

Haven’t guessed who he is yet? Ok let me enlighten you. Here are the results for the Silver Category. 4th place Mick Kennedy on lower handicap with 34 pts. 3rd place Per Arne Skarnes 35 pts. 2nd place and with 38 pts. must have thought that he

had won, John Hillier but in 1st place with an incredible score of 46 pts. YES 46 pts. was that Viking, Carsten Landaas and of course is this year’s winner of the Anniversary Shield. Scores in the Gold Category were also good with Alan Rixson taking 4th place with 34 pts. 3rd place went to school teacher Derek “Peter” Sullivan 36 pts.; new member Stephen Ross took 2nd place with 37 pts. losing out on lower handicap to our Captain John Eyre. The best of just a few visitors this week was Fredrik Bjorling also with 37 pts. N.T.P.’s this week, Hole 4 Paul Aston, Hole 6 Mick Kennedy, Hole 10 Stephen Ross, Hole 15 Andy Skinner and Hole 17 Dag Lovas.

During the presentation the members enjoyed hot and cold tapas provided by the club. As in recent events after all winning cards had been removed, we did a card draw where almost everyone went home with a prize. Many thanks go to the members that generously donated the various prizes. Photos: Carsten Landaas and all of the day’s winners.

Our next event is at La Finca on the 12th August, Note for your diary 2 day golf trip to Las Pinaillas (Albacete) golf, buggy, hotel presentation meal all for just €100 everyone is welcome to join us for this event, you can find the full info and more at www.tmgs.org or call the secretary on 661 524 101 visit us at Facebook/ tmgsgolf or tweet us at @tmgsgolf

Quesada Golf Society

Last Wednesday the Society traveled inland from the City of Murcia to play Altorreal which offers golf societies value for money deals. The course was in good condition and a very thoughtful gesture made by the management of the course was to provide chilled bottles of water not only to start with but a couple of times more during the round. A very nice meaningful and well appreciated touch.

The turn out was low as it generally is in August as many members return to the UK for cooler weather and some prefer not to play in the intense heat. However, there are still quite a few “mad dogs” & Englishmen & Scotsman” around who don´t let the weather put them off a round of golf. The competition was an individual stableford with 18 members contesting it accompanied by 2 guests who were a bit younger than the rest and played off handicaps of scratch and 3. In first place was recently joined member, young “Rock & Roller” Bert Morl who did well on the dance floor today and came in with 31 points pipping, on C/B, Bonnie Scotsman Charlie Wallace who´s golf is improving since he had a new knee. In third place on 29 points was Mancunian and Man United fanatic Big John Dunnion with

29 points. In fourth place with 28 points was the effervescent and sometimes too talkative Darryll Wright. The nearest the Pins were won by Kenny McKinnon who had 2, Gordon McGregor, Chris Nield, Bert Morl and Tony Patterson. The two guests Richard Giles and Kenny McKinnon came in with 33 and 32 respectively. In the annual knock-out competition John Dunnion beat Iron Brian Smith. There was no winner of the 2´s so the pot is carried forward to the next game. For a bit of fun, one of the four-balls played a pairs betterball, England v Scotland and the Scottish pairing of Gordon McGregor and his sonin-law Kenny McKinnon beat the English pairing of Darryll Wright and Richard Giles 2 and 1 in a close encounter. I think the score when England play Scotland in the World Cup qualifiers will be a different.

The weary golfers returned to the Quesada Country Club for the presentations and a well earned beer or two and a hot and cold buffet kindly laid on by mine hosts.

There is a members meeting at the Quesada Country Club on Tuesday 11 August starting at 11.00 am.

The next game is an individual stableford for the Summer Cup at Roda on Wednesday 19 August.

Anyone in the Quesada area looking to join a very friendly golf society and play golf once a fortnight at a wide variety of courses at very reasonable cost, should contact the Membership Secretary Les Pancott on 966716723.

CD Torrevieja 0 - 0 Hercules CF

To quote a famous Portuguese manager who had just seen his team fail to win a single pre-season game, “the real football starts soon.” I doubt Jose Mourinho was really too bothered at Chelsea’s inability to claim a victory in their glorified exhibition matches and the CD Torrevieja coach, Pedreno, would be wise to follow suit.

Torrevieja were excellent on Friday night.

The Vicente Garcia welcomed it’s biggest crowd of the pre-season campaign and saw it’s team not just match, but out-play a side being tipped to win promotion from Segunda B. Pedreno shuffled his pack once more, giving first starts to Matheu and Sanchez and rested Luis Carlos. He was looking to Junafran to break his duck from open play and the striker, being supported from the flanks by Brani and Adrian, had a gilt-edged chance after just eleven minutes. Once again the burly front-man, signed with a reputation for being the poacher much needed by the club, fired straight at the ‘keeper.

There was also an early sign of the pre-season weakness that has troubled Pedreno’s men. The coach prefers a zonal marking system when defending corners, whilst leaving three men in attacking positions, and whilst the attacking intent must be applauded the fact that 50% of the goals conceded in pre-season have come from set-pieces must be a concern. Hercules should have gone ahead when a corner was delivered from the left. The big centre back Connor had a free header but was only able to direct the ball straight into the arms of Oscar.

From this moment the chances fell

exclusively to CD Torrevieja. In the twentyfifth minute they launched a quick counter.

Sanchez, looking tidier than his bushy beard in midfield, released Brani on the right. The young winger took one touch too many, allowing the angle to be narrowed, and his shot was beaten away by Ivan for a corner.

Ten minutes later the same two linked up again. Sanchez delivered the perfect weight of pass for Brani to attack, this time from the left. Again he took a touch or three too many and allowed the defender time to get back and block his shot.

Before half time there was a chance for another corner scare for Torrevieja, this time the free header going wide, before Juanfran had yet another chance. The free kick was whipped in by Adrian and Juanfran, wrestling free of his marker, headed the ball wide meaning the teams went in to the break at 0-0.

As ever, the second half had more substitutions than chances, the best of which falling to Sanchez on the final whistle. The ball fell to him just inside the area and the combination of ungainly bounce and horizontal body position saw the ball sail over the bar.

It may have been 0-0 but it would be a hard man who suggest this was not Torrevieja’s strongest pre-season showing.

Defensively they were solid, well marshaled

by Matheu and Eddy. In midfield they combined the grit of Jorge and Burguillos with the energy and vision of Sanchez, and in the front three they showed pace and movement that will, in time, lead to goals.

On Wednesday night the side travels uptheroadtoPreferentesideCDThader.

38

Trophies in the first night sea swim.

To finish of the 2014-2015 season Club Natacion Torrevieja swimmers took part in the first night sea swim hosted by PDM San Javier. The “1st Travesia A Nado Nocturna Mar Menor” started as the sun went down on the beach “playa de los Pescadores”.

Swimmers were divided into three age categories – the first - children 10 yrs and younger, the second group - 11-14yrs and then the third and broadest category - 14 years and older including all adults. Club Natacion Torrevieja had 11 swimmers participating in two of the races. In the 1114 yrs category Vicky Pigneur won third place and in the 14yrs and adult category Zoe Connolly won first place, being the first girl back with team mate Paula Garcia following shortly behind with 3rd place.

For Vicky and Paula these trophies were complimented by their recent participation in the Spanish National Championships.

Vicky has recently travelled to Coruna for the “III Campeonato de Espana Alevin”.

Racing in the 100m and 200m backstroke events Vicki was placed 28th in the 100m and 53rd in the 200m race. Colleague Paula Garcia travelled to Sabadell to race in the “XXXVII Campeonato de Espana Infantil”.

Paula raced in the 50m and 100m freestyle events and was placed 70th in the 50m event.

The club now takes a break over the month of August and returns to training in September and participation in the Next Torrevieja Travesia at the beginning of September.

For more information regarding Torrevieja Swimming Club please contact Rosa 665 454 126, President Felipe on 609 418 776 or Vicki 669 637 015 or by email on info@clubnataciontorrevieja.com

TORREVIEJA CC 95 for 9 PINATAR PIRATES 63 all out

Again fielding 5 juniors, Torrevieja CC played hosts to top of the table Pinatar Pirates. Pinatar won the toss and put Torrevieja in to bat. Batting proved difficult against some accurate bowling and after only 7 overs the first wicket fell with only 7 runs on the board. In the 16th over another 2 wickets fell with still only 15 runs scored.

Jahid Ullah and Michael Wareing steadied things somewhat and pushed the score up to 45, Jahid finishing with 18. Juniors Vishav

Thakur (26 ) and Tommy Knowles (5 ) put together a stand of 41 before both were out in the final over. Torrevieja total 95. Pinatar bowlers Lee Brown, Akash Panchall, and Vikash Singh finishing with 2 wickets each.

Pinatar found batting just as difficult and although they pushed up the run rate, the fall of wickets increased as well. Only Akash Panchall reached double figures ( 38 ) against some excellent bowling from Hasan Ullah,( 10 overs , 2 for 15 ) Vishav Thakur ( 2 overs, 1 for 8 ) and Torrevieja player of the match Michael Wareing ( 10 overs, 5 for 27 ) This win will give Torrevieja much confidence going in to their next match, away at La Manga on 22nd August.

Anyone wishing to join Torrevieja CC should contact Graham on 605 319 889 or visit torreviejacricket.com or cricketspain.es.

August 2015

San Miguel Golf Society at Villamartin.

Continuing to maintain a high turnout, 34 members and 6 guests made their way to Villamartin for SMGS’s monthly visit to this popular venue. Whilst greens were relatively slow, as they seem to be at most tracks at the moment, the course was in excellent condition. Accompanied by raucous parakeets which seem to be thriving around the course and which seem to be enjoying the hot and humid temperatures, scores were very decent with 6 players bettering their handicaps, with special mention going to Marg Birtwistle for the best score of the day and a further demonstration of a return to form.

The day’s stableford competition results, by category and in reverse order, were the following: Bronze Category: 4th Phil Birtwistle (32), 3rd Ian Parkinson (34), 2nd Norman Padmore (38), and 1st, once again in the winner’s circle and the day’s best score, Marg Birtwistle with 39 points.

Silver Category: 4th new grand mum Eva Pettersson (35), 3rd Ken Flaherty (37), 2nd John Aitchison (38)

and 1st, also with 38 and winning on count back, Captain Phil de Lacy.

Gold Category: 4th Steve Higgins (33), 3rd new granddad Bjorn Pettersson (35), 2nd Darren Hancock (36), and 1st, as last month, blob tin/football card specialist Tony Smale with 38 points.

Best front 9 and not in the prizes went to Mick Cook with 19 points, best back nine to John Osborne with 17.

The Abacus was won by John Parker, with the true winner defaulting on a very good bottle of wine by departing early.

Nearest the pins on the par 3’s (open to all) went to Joost Boelhouwer (6), Tony Smale (9), Mick Cook (13) and Joost’s dad Theo with a superb shot on 17.

The two best guest prizes went to Alan Ewing (32), just beaten in to 2nd place by winner Ian Hardy with 33.

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 Alenda.

-1La Martina G.S. at Font del Llop

The record breaking hot spell shows no signs of abating yet but neither do the ’hot scores’ being recorded by our members! The high points totals achieved by many of the day’s players were over 30 and more than a few were 36 or more.

The course was in really good condition but, like many courses at this time of the year, the greens were slower . Green keepers like to protect them from the blazing sun. Fortunately members are wise enough to protect themselves and an enjoyable round was had by all.

The high temperatures meant that members were even more appreciative of the buffet and cold drinks awaiting them

at La Marina Sports Centre and we thank Paolo and Helena for their kind hospitality After a few weeks rollover the 2’s competition was finally one by Alan Craig. It was a close call as he only achieved his 2 on the 17th hole!

Nearest the Pin Hole 3 Colin Hasler Hole 8 Alan Craig Hole 12 Eric Edwards Hole 17 Alan Craig Gold Division 37points Barry Thorogood Silver Division 39 points Alan Jones Our next competition is on Thursday August 20th when we will be playing the final round of the Summer Cup. This will be held at Las Colinas GC with a first tee time of 08.40a.m. The trophy presentation will be held at the La MarinaSportsCentrelaterthatevening.

Anyone wishing to play/join a friendly society, please contact Alan Craig on 634 347788 for more information

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