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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

restaurant fire caused by jamon theft A Restaurant near El Palmar caught fire after suffering the theft of several jamones.

Firefighters from the Servicio de Extinción de Incendios y Salvamento (SEIS) del Ayuntamiento de Murcia were called to the incident scene, a fire in a restaurant 3 km from El Palmar on the Mazarron.

The fire was discovered after the theft of several hams by three individuals with foreign accents. There was also evidence that injuries had been sustained, and the Guardia Civil are investigating the circumstances of the case.

Sport laverdad.es

Sacyr and the Comunidad

The conflicted relationship between Sacyr and the Comunidad was dealt yet another blow by an incident at the airport in which the contracts of three technicians of the Obras Públicas y Hacienda were suspended.

The Ejecutivo alleged that the holders of the concession decided unilaterally suspended the officials. On the other hand, Sacyr claims to have acted according to an order of the Supreme Court, which suspended the deliveries and installations on the premises.

The TSJ (Supreme Court) will hear both sides of the argument before deciding on the merits of the case. laverdad.es

national catamaran championship Sailor Micky Todd, who competes for Murcia, was placed second in the National Catamaran

Championship in Águilas.

The Campeonato de España de Catamaranes was held in the Puerto Juan Montiel de Águilas, and attracted a field of more than 100 sailors, competing in heats.

Conditions ranged from between 5.4 and 8 knots of wind for the first three heats, with wind strength rising to 20 knots on the second day.

Santiago Nieto of Andalucia was the National Champion, Micky Todd of Murcia making sure of second place, while Abdon Ibález of Valencia was awarded third place. laverdad.es

80 minute conflict on the Muralla de una Batalla

More than 3,000 people packed in to the Cuesta del Batel to witness the 80 minute conflict on the Muralla de una Batalla, the final act in the Cartheginenses y Romanos celebrations.

The new format has proved to be a success, demonstrating that the Battle for Hadast Quart can hold the attention of more than 3,000 spectators, and still remain faithful to the original story.

It was staged in three acts, which eliminated ‘downtime’ and limited the duration of the spectacle to 80 minutes.

The battle was held on Friday. The preliminaries were simple and avoided delays.

The landing of the legiones de Escipión took place at a quarter past five at the Muelle Alfonso XII, and then marched through the Paseo del Muelle to the beat of the war drums, after which the Carthaginians took stations between the top of the Muralla de Carlos III and the south of the Cuesta del Batel.

After the failed negotiations between the Generals Magón and Escipión the battle for supremacy began, with catapults, arrows and fire.

The Carthaginians won the first skirmish, repelling the assault on the Muralla by the Roman archers and catapults.

The second battle was staged in the open, while the third and final act was the siege of the fortress. For the spectators this was the highlight, with fire and smoke bombs used to give more realism to the battle.

The entrance of the legions into the recinto amurallado of the Campus of the UPCT signalled final victory, and was followed by a re-enactment of the foundation of Carthago, the crowning of the Roman warriors and the proclamation of the Roman law, which were held in the auditorium, and finally the victory parade by Escipión, escorted by his army.

Winners and losers then partied together, to celebrate the finish of this great historical portrayal. laverdad.es

stolen lemons

The Guardia Civil of the Región de Murcia have arrested four people for the theft of a large amount lemons from a farm at Santa Cruz, as well as agricultural equipment from a storehouse in Torre de Miranda.

Investigation were started when a complaint was filed by a farmer that a large quantity of lemons of the variety ‘Rodrejos’ had been taken from a property in the village of Santa Cruz, Murcia.

A visual inspection of the farm revealed a cut in the perimeter fence, through which the thieves had entered.

Further investigations showed that the person who was behind the allegations was head of a citrus export company, and had earlier established business relationship with the owner of the property concerned.

The Guardia Civil launched a further investigation into the theft of agricultural equipment from a storehouse at Torre de Miranda. They found that the door had been broken, and items had been removed.

The officers determined that the objects had been disposed of in a junkyard near where the robbery had been committed, and that the items had been sold and subsequently sent to a recycling company.

After a search the officers located the three involved in the robbery, and arrested them for the theft of 2,800 kilgrammes of lemons, and various items of agricultural equipment.

Those arrested were: BCL, Spanish, 49 year-old resident of El Esparragal, Murcia. JCM, Spanish, 21, resident of Los Dolores, Cartagena. MBM, Spanish, age 18, also resident of Los Dolores, Cartagena. RCB, Spanish, 30 year-old resident of Los Dolores, Cartagena.

Two of those arrested have a history of similar crimes.

Both investigations have been carried out by officers attached to the newly created Equipos ROCA of Murcia and Cartagena respectively , which have the specific task of investigating crimes related to theft on farms and livestock , in order to obtain greater police efficiency in this type of crime. laverdad.es Sol Times would like to retract the letter regarding Mr & Mrs King published in last weeks issue and wish to apologise for any detriment that may have been imposed upon their business by the publishing of said letter and personal details as well as misleading or incorrect information therein contained

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

3

catholic university

The placing of an information post announcing the Catholic University, which has been

placed in the middle of the roundabout between the access road to the autovía and the Costera Norte has sharply divided opinion, but has all the necessary municipal permits.

A spokesman from UCAM insisted that they had ‘all the required permits, with favourable reports from Medio Ambiente, Tráfico, Calidad Urbana and Parques y Jardines, and had followed the procedure laid down in Municipal regulations.’

Guadalupe Neighbourhood Planning reported on Wednesday that a private institution, the Universidad Católica San Antonio, (UCAM) had ‘taken’ a public space for advertising.

They considered that UCAM already had enough land upon which to locate their billboards, and that its large size on a landscaped roundabout destroyed the visual environment.

Council leader Adela Martínez-Cachá insisted that in July, after three enquries, the Servicios Municipales de Tráfico, Calidad Urbana and Parques y Jardines had found the post met with all their requirements.

Adela Martinez-Cache rejected the claim that UCAM had been given preferential treatment or privileges. She also said that the technicians have taken into account the length of the post and the radius of the roundabout. laverdad.es

fruit companies by 800 hectares from Polaris World Two fruit companies have bought 800 hectares in the Condado de Alhama and in Puerto Lumbreras from Polaris World for a sum of 20 million euros.

Grupo Ciruelo and Agrodolores S.L have purchased the 800 hectares to cultivate for the growing of fruit, principally cherries and table grapes.

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‘The purchase of this land will create hundreds of jobs and enhance fruit exports.’ said José Francisco Velasco , owner of Grupo Ciruelo. He added that ‘we are convinced that the most economic resource of the region is its soil, its climate and its people, which after decades of work have turned Murcia in the garden of Europe.’

Carthaginenses y Romanos celebrations

The street bars and cafés of Cartagena were enlivened by the colourful presence of those partaking in the Carthaginenses y Romanos celebrations.

‘Troops’ and ‘Legionnaires’ shared terraces, bars and restaurants with the public, creating a celebratory atmosphere which was much appreciated by the patrons and customers alike.

The Tropas de Magón, including General Aníbal himself, the Legión XV Harpastum and the Escipión Troops gathered at the doors of local establishments, where they would discuss their ‘plans for the battle’ while enjoying local speciality tapas, much to the pleasure of locals and visitors.

These encounters filled the streets from the Calle Mayor to Sagasta. passing through the Puerta de Murcia, the Plaza Juan XXIII, and the Calles Jara, del Aire and Santa Florentina.

A new group this year, the Legión XV Harpastum, held their battle meeting in the downtown area, while the Romanos of the Legión de Escipión brightened the Calle San Miguel with their colourful robes.

Overall, bringing the celebrations into the streets has been a huge success, giving locals and tourists a unique feel for their own special celebrations. laverdad.es

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

barnes bulletin

A SABBATICAL FOR FREEWHEELERS? WELL NOT QUITE!

Sport It was around five years ago, over drinks and tapas, that friends Basil, Derek, Alan and Richard, had a thought to ask fellow classic car owners, along with friends who had, perhaps a more modern means of transport, but shared the common interest to visit sites of interest, around “The Costas”, if a day out together, with lunch, would be of interest.

And the rest, as is said, is history.

The thought behind Freewheelers, was to gather the owners of classic and modern cars together, for visits and outings to places of interest, without the confines, regulations and internal disharmony, that is often associated with “Clubs”, and it works.

The team, as the co-ordinators call themselves, are rightly proud of the list of visits made so far: Olive oil plants at San Isidro, Solar Farm at El Realengo, the Mines of Portman & La Union, Wine bodegas, Water treatment plants, Caves at Canelobre, along with chocolate factory tours and trips to Benidorm, to mention just a few.

Rob Barnes moved to live in Spain, 7 years ago. In the UK, amongst other things, he was the Chair of the Midlands Regions, Independent Television Commission. His hobbies include Industrial Archaeology, Mine exploration and photography (Sierra Minera) and is on a quest to get a quality cast conditioned real ale here in Spain!

Email Rob at garfieldglencroft@hotmail.com

MORE OF THE VERY BEST.

Derek tells me that as far as the team are aware, no other society has enjoyed visits and lunch with The Captain, on cruise ships. Not content with visiting the Queen Elizabeth and The Balmoral, it would seem that member Richard Nicholson, obviously has friends in high places, as liner number three, the Marco Polo, was also paid a visit.

Following a visit on October 13th., to Fawlty Towers, to celebrate birthday number five, the team tell me they are taking a well deserved rest, and will be asking “Friends” who have enjoyed outings over the past years, to give a thought to running one or two trips.

Derek tells me his list shows some 200 friends of Freewheelers, with over 100 e-mail address, so a happy gathering, of like minded people, is never a problem to organize.

More information on Freewheelers can be seen on: www.toreviejainformation.com/freewheelers

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It was in February this year, that “Active in Torrevieja”, organized a sell out concert presenting four Swedish artists. It was called “The Best of the Best”, holding it in the Palacio de la Mu’sica, in Torrevieja.

To enable more people to enjoy these talented musicians, the concert will be repeated on October 24th, with the same artists, in a similar programme, but this time, in the much larger Municipal Theatre.

It is to be called “More of the Best”.

Readers of my jottings may feel this is some time off, but I make no excuse, as this concert was a sell out in February, and I can see no reason, why the “House Full” sign, will not, again, make an appearance.

Johan Hugosson will again be seated at the pianoforte. His repertoire ranges from Bach to Beethoven, and everything in between. Johan is also an acclaimed soloist, conductor and accompanist.

Rimma Gotskosik is a virtuoso violinist, playing with The Royal Philhamonic Orchestra of Stockholm, and The Swedish Radio Orchestra. Rimma has, for a number of years, been the conductor at the Stockholm New Operetta Ensemble. Classic music, operettas, jazz, folk, country and flamenco, are all within her repertoire.

Niklas Andersson is one of the most successful Swedish artists on the international musical scene.

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Major roles in the West End, with such classics as Miss Saigon, Les Mise’rables and Phantom Of The Opera, give some indication to the talents of Niklas.

Mia Karlsson is a leading soprano and musical artist, taking leading roles in Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, and taking the role of Cosette in Les Mise’rables.

Mia recently appeared at The Forge in London, together with Sven-Bertil Taube, Johan Hugosson, and The Boyarsky String Quartet.

It’s going to be a cracker of an evening. Whether Johan Hugosson will delight us with a rendition of the Swedish Rhapsody, remains to be seen. We can only hope.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

POSSIBLE hunger strike FOR ALCALDE OF FINES Alcalde of Fines, Rodrigo Sánchez will shut himself into the premises of the Escuela del Mármol de Andalucía, and will go on a hunger strike if there is no formal commitment of payment by the Junta de Andalucía to the Consorcio Escuela del Mármol de Andalucía by 18th October.

He made this bold promise at a plenary session. He said ‘I will do this to support its workers (of the Consorcio Escuela del Mármol) and require the Junta to pay the debt owed to these 22 people and the Centre.’

The pleno approved a motion urging ‘the Consejo de Gobierno de la Junta de Andalucía to urgently and immediately pay the Consorcio workers, the suppliers, and the finance and social security debts to ensure the functioning of the school and the job security of its workers.’

The Consorcio Escuela del Mármol de Andalucía, a dependent of the Consejería

de Educación de la Junta de Andalucía, has accumulated debts dating back to 2011, and probably on total has outstanding commitment to pay one and a half million in outstanding debt.

The Alcalde said ‘So far I have wanted to stay in the background so as not to harm the school. There are families with children who have worked for 10 months without pay, and this situation is unsustainable. As Vice President of the School and as Mayor of Fines is my responsibility is to be at their side and this is the only alternative; this is the last resort left to me.’

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39 immigrants travelling in two boats have been rescued by members of Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil off the coast of Almería.

the town of Níjar, and they were rescued by the Guardia Civil.

One of the boats, with 30 Maghrebi (North African) immigrants, all older men, was seen 18 miles east of the Isla de Alborán. The Salvamento Marítimo took the occupants to the fishing port of Almería.

The Cruz Roja has taken charge of one hundred of immigrants who have arrived in less than twelve hours on the coast of Almería.

They have provided food, drink, blankets and health care to the immigrants, all of whom have been handed over to the Cuerpo Nacional de Policía for repatriation.

Last week 53 immigrants were taken to the capital’s port.

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Workers have organised a demonstration for October 15 that will leave the Centro and go to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. If there is no commitment by the regional administration the demonstration will terminate with a lockin.

39 immigrants rescued of the coast of almeria

At about the same time another boat with nine immigrants on board was spotted five nautical miles southeast of Punta Polacra, in

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

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Plan Andaluz de la Bicicleta The Grupo Municipal de Izquierda Unida de Vícar has called for an improvement to the Plan Andaluz de la Bicicleta, to include a cycle path to Vícar and also a dedicated stretch of road for cyclists at Zamora (Yegua Verde) with a connection to Roquetas.

The Grupo Municipal de IU de Vícar sees

the Plan Andaluz de la Bicicleta as an ideal framework for collaboration between all levels of government, providing an ideal opportunity to interconnect all cycle paths to the capital of the Province. teleprensa.es

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

ICELAND CHARITY AUCTION FOR APAH

The Iceland Charity Auction held on Saturday 21st September on behalf of APAH Animal Rescue Charity was a great success, with 80 lots on offer there was a great deal of variety, from a breadmaker to binoculars and a dining table and chairs to a digeridoo!

The Auctioneer was Peter Fryer who is a long-time staunch supporter of APAH. Peter has two x-APAH dogs and has played in several bands, all of whom have been involved in playing at fund-raising events for

The

APAH throughout the years.

Peter did an excellent job of keeping the Auction rolling and not many of the 80 lots were left unsold by the end. The unsold items are now for sale in APAH’s two Charity Shops in Pilar de la Horadada and San Miguel de Salinas.

The Auction raised 406 euros, and APAH would like to thank Peter, their volunteers and Paradine Pewter for their help and hard work, and most of all thank you to Iceland for their continued support.

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

BUTTERFLY CHILDREN FUND RAISER

On 2 October the Butterfly Children, DEBRA; are holding a fund raising event at their Pueblo Bravo shop just off the Lemon Tree Road near the Budapest Restaurant, starting at 10.00 and finishing at 17.00.

For more information and raffle tickets

contact either the shop or myself, Garry, on 692 767 242.

Looking forward to seeing plenty of people down there on the day with plenty more things going on to help support this very worthy cause.

5th Cross Popular Race at La Marina, 8.6K Close to 500 runners gathered at the Plaza de l ´Antina on the very warm Sunday morning, 22/09/13, for a 10am start. This “Grupo Brotons” event comprised of one complete lap of varying surface conditions &

a long climb towards the final section.

The only Age Groups available were Youth (18 yrs.), Senior (19 – 34 yrs.), Vets “A” (35 – 39), “B” (40 – 44), “C” (45 – 49) & “D” (50+). Local club, Running Wild A.C., were represented by 5 female & 2 male members, all vets, most of whom normally qualify for higher age categories.

The “magnificent” seven all ran well & finished in the following order:Paul Bell (VM “F”) – 46:56; Crecia Wilding (VW “E”) – 48:06 & 6th “D”; Helen Giles (VW “A”) – 49:04 & 6th “A”; Julia Skinner (VW “C”) – 59:54 & 9th “C”; Jim Gavin (VM “H”) – 60:58; Lin Gossage (VW “G”) - 62:07; & Frauke Gerlach (VW 75) – 67:31 & received the trophy as Oldest Lady to complete the event.

After a quiet July & August, the club is now gearing up for a number of Autumn races. First in line will be next Sunday (29/09/13) when a range of distances will be run at San Javier.

‘ROCK ‘N’ ROLL’ AT ‘EL ALTO LA DOLORES’ Yes folks, it’s that time again, to roll back the years, and enjoy the sounds of a real Rock ‘n’ Roll Band. Once again, Woody & The Peckers will be entertaining us with many of the old ‘rock ‘n’ roll’ hits of the late 50’s and 60’s, as well as performing their superb tribute to Buddy Holly & The Crickets.

Previous Rock ‘n’ Roll nights at ‘El Alto La Dolores Restaurante’ have been totally sold out, and they

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are flying ‘out of the door’ for our next event on Wednesday, 9th October.

Be there or be square!!

Smile Charity Group, in association with ‘El Alto La Dolores’ have also organised another night of top entertainment on Friday 25th October, when we have ‘Just Woody’, showcasing his excellent guitar skills, and diverse vocal range with songs from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Joining ‘Woody’ will be everyone’s favourite comedian ‘Justin Sane’, who also delivers a superb Elton John tribute. This promises to be another great night, and one not to miss.

Tickets for both events are available from El Alto La Dolores, The Post Room Benijófar, and The Card Place in Benimar, or by phoning the ticket hotline on 692 866 536. Priced at just 10€, this represents excellent value for a two course meal and top notch entertainment. Doors open at 7pm.

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

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

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SATISFIED CUSTOMERS! Over the past 8 years the company has installed hundreds of satellite TV systems for individuals, companies and communities. The Go Satellite system uses highest quality Portuguese-manufactured dishes and requires NO monthly payments. Packages are available to suit everybody´s requirements and budget. GO SATELLITE offer expertise, reassurance and a proven track record, which can be backed up by many a satisfied customer.

OTHER SERVICES Go Satellite not only provide television but are also able to provide internet and telephone services. Packages are available

to suit all with a switch on/off service available for non residents.

COME AND MEET US! We have an office in the Business Centre Calle Los Arcos No7 Ciudad Quesada, so you can now come and meet us and we will endeavour to help you with all of your TV queries.

DISH ISSUES? Here at Go Satellite, we use only Top Quality Portugese dishes and Invacom LNB’s. Sky Packages are also available. If you do not have room or do not wish to have a dish, give us a call as we have a solution!

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

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

Alternatively check out the website: www.freetvspain.com

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USUAL PRICE 399€

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image: www.hdwallpapers.in/walls/sweet_home-wide.jpg

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

HOMES & GARDENS Gi ve L ife to Yo ur L i vin g Ro o m

Soft Furnishings & Re-Upholstery

Fabric Flair

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

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

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

Does your living room need updating but you don’t know where to start? You want to work hard at getting it right but the result has to look as though it’s been thrown together in five minutes, right? So where do you start?

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

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

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

Inspiration Start with a fabric you love and then worry about what to do with it! Whatever you choose, this will form the basis of your colour palette for the room and gives you something to build on.

Highlight!

Use ‘pattern’ to pick up colours; patterned fabrics are great for dressing up a room and giving it a fresh look and can be used to cover furniture or parts of furniture, from a chair cushion to an entire sofa.

Bold or Delicate?

Consider the scale of the pattern when deciding its use; a large-scale pattern may be too much for a small living room if used on all the walls but can make a feature of an armchair. Similarly, a smallscale pattern could add a delicate look to a large room or make a smaller room appear more spacious. Try taking samples of fabric and placing them in different areas to get an idea of how it will look.

Texture Texture is important when building a room because it adds homely ‘layers’ and movement. Textures to consider include velvet; sheer; fake fur; suede; leather; flocked cottons and silks; chenille or crewel.

Easy Does It A successful room needs balance; too much of one colour, pattern or texture and a room can look busy and you don’t want this for your main living space. The

trick is to blend well, so offset a smallscale pattern with a large-scale one nearby. Use neutral tones to break up brighter colours & remember – less is more!

Balance Create a floor plan – it doesn’t have to be a professional job - you just need to be able to see where windows, lighting and furniture are positioned, helping you to decide which fabrics work best where.

If you keep large objects, such as the sofa, in a fairly plain fabric - particularly if the room is small – you then have the perfect canvas for colourful accessories such as cushions and throws.

Dos and don’ts Do... use magazines for inspiration. Tear out pictures of furniture items, rooms, colours and patterns and create your own mood board which you can use as a point of reference. ...have furniture of varying heights to add interest to a room and create a homely effect. ...place lighting at different levels in the room. A combination of uplighters, table lamps and standard lamps will add warmth and atmosphere.

Don’t...worry about what your friends will think - this is your room so please yourself, literally!

Don’t be afraid of colour or patterns... have fun! You can always change it back again!

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

formerly gemenis NOW Under new management come along and see sandy

Z

Hi

OPENING HOURS: MON-FRI 10 - 6PM SAT 10 - 2PM

Tel: 672 571 745

‘n’

Fashions

Z

Her

E L SA E V MASSI UP TO 50% OFF NOT TO BE MISSED EVERYTHING MUST GO

New Autumn / Winter Stock now arrived Marlboro Classics Mens Shirts

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€65 NOW €10

Ladies t/shirts

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or

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Find us next to Quesada fish & chips and Yorkshire linen - Turn left before The Arches

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

CRESCENDO INTERNATIONAL CHOIR “PLAY & PERFORM” AT PINOSO If your life as an expat is going a bit “flat” you make like to consider joining a choir – as long as you can sing in tune. Writing from personal experience you will find life takes on new “highs”. So “be sharp” and get singing! You will also find it is good exercise for aging lungs, improves posture and memory and creates a new group of friends.

Contact details for Crescendo International Choir www.crescendo-choir.com If you are a tuneful male member of society, you will be made more than welcome as the numbers of men need a boost.

On Saturday 21st September twenty six songsters and friends filled a coach for a trip to Pinoso. This small town has an interesting claim to fame as its home owners do not pay rates. Thanks to the local marble industry it has been listed as the 5th richest village in Spain.

After a coffee break in the main street the coach trundled down narrow country lanes to a local hamlet called Lel. There they found tables laid in front of a rustic finca for a barbeque in the garden. This country pile

is owned by Jayson and Glenn. The house is 212 years old and at one time the owners produced their own wine. Little by little it is being renovated to its former glory and Jayson & Glenn invite groups of any size to enjoy their hospitality – they catered very well for 60 people on the day the Choir visited. Contact 608383019 or email casamaryandes@hotmail.co.uk.

Like most towns in Spain, Pinoso boasts a purpose built theatre. This proved to be high quality venue for the evening concert – the first of Crescendo’s 2013/14 Season.

The programme consisted of 4 sets of 3 numbers – some familiar and very much associated with Crescendo programmes, and a sprinkling of recent additions.

Although the audience did not take up all the comfortable seats on offer, the local Red Cross received a sizeable donation of €360 from a retiring bucket collection.

The next Crescendo concert is planned for 2nd November at the church in Dolores Main Square.

The Lions Club of Mazarron Emergency Data Link This is a Project started by Lions in the SW of Surrey in the UK in 2003, currently all 700+ clubs in UK are supplying bottles.

Scotland recently recorded 40,000 bottles supplied in the western part of the country in one campaign. This simple arrangement, now recognised and respected by all emergency services in the UK is believed to have saved hundreds of lives.

The scheme has been piloted in Mazarron

by Mazarron Bahia Lions, all costs for bottles; printing and translation of the form have been met by Mazarron Bahia Lions. We are grateful for any contribution to help with this scheme, having so far supplied close to 3000 bottles. The scheme is currently being considered by Murcia Region for roll out across all of Murcia.

Lions Message In a Bottle Emergency Data Link does what it says.

This scheme

is free to the user. Whilst it is focused on the more vulnerable people in our community, anyone can have a fall or suffer injury so this scheme can benefit anyone. As a minimum it will save the Emergency Services valuable time identifying you and your emergency contacts. With clear indication of medication being used (special or not) or allergies and such complications, it is a potential lifesaver and provides peace of mind to users and their friends and families. The Lions Message in a Bottle scheme is a simple idea designed to encourage people to keep their personal and medical details on a standard form and in a common location - the Fridge.

All Emergency Services are made aware of the Lions Emergency Data Link scheme, and will look for the sticker with a cross on the rear of the front door and another on the Fridge door, The container contents can travel with patients and save much valuable time for the doctor or hospital personnel in an emergency.

Bottles, which are free of charge, can usually be found in your local Chemist or Doctors Surgeries. If you are unable to find a Bottle, please contact your local Lions Club Mazarron Bahia Lions www.lionsmazarron. org or see us at Camposol B every Friday or phone Lions Welfare 654874563

Stand up straight and be counted

TRI NGLES

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965 325 055

30 minute Swedish Massage

(Back, Neck, Shoulder) & File + Polish on Fingers + Toes

hair nails beauty

find us on the ground floor flamanco beach commercial centre

right! all the visitors have gone...time to get rid of those unwanted kilos for quesada & surrounding areas

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

13

Look Good Feel Great

The two-second trick that boosts your health, happiness, career and body Your career

Your figure

Standing up straight could help improve your job prospects.

‘People who slump look like they’re ashamed to take up space,’ says presentation and posture coach Michele Paradise, who works with professional models to help improve their posture. ‘However, if you stand tall and straight and look confident, people will respond positively, making you feel better about yourself and in turn increase the likelihood that you will get a positive response.’

Her advice is backed up by research: a US study found that powerful posture makes people think and act more powerfully. So even if you’re not the boss, stand like you are and you’ll command respect.

When you stand up straight, you look taller, thinner and more confident. By lengthening your back and neck, you automatically draw your stomach muscles in, creating a longer, leaner body line.

The result? You can look 5lb thinner, according to Deborah Mullen, a strength and conditioning specialist. In the same Louisville study, when subjects looked only at the women’s bodies, researchers found that the woman who weighed 20lb more than the others was perceived as thinner and more attractive simply because she was standing up straighter than the lighter woman.

Your concentration If you’re finding it difficult to focus, your posture could be to blame. That’s because although it only accounts for two per cent of your bodyweight, your brain uses 20 per cent of your oxygen to do its job properly. Since poor posture can make it difficult to breathe deeply, it restricts your oxygen intake and interferes with your ability to think. So make sure your brain gets what it needs by keeping your back straight, which lifts your heart, lungs and diaphragm, improving your breathing and boosting your

oxygen levels.

Your happiness Research has found that maintaining an unnatural position (ie, slumping) actually uses 60 to 70 per cent more energy than keeping your body in proper alignment. ‘All this extra effort makes you tired and increases the likelihood of depression and illness,’ explains Ian Horseman, a chiropractor and postural specialist. This may be due to the link between the body’s position and what consultant psychologist Ingrid Collins terms our ‘psychological posture’. She says: ‘If we arrange ourselves in a positive manner, with our shoulders back, chest open and spine straight, our brains send out endorphins that circulate in the blood, triggering happy feelings.’ And standing tall won’t just put a smile on your face.

Researchers have found that adopting a ‘power posture’ – body and limbs stretched out – decreases the stress hormone cortisol, helping you feel calmer.

Your health Poor posture is an obvious cause of lower back problems and shoulder and neck pain but it might also be at the root of sluggish digestion and severe headaches. According to a study published in the journal Headache, people whose posture made their heads jut forward had more frequent, longer and severe headaches than people with a correct posture. This finding doesn’t surprise Charles Hunt of the British School of Osteopathy, who says that, ‘because your body’s usually fighting on lots of different fronts, work, stress, environment, if it’s working harder to maintain a poor posture, you could start to feel symptoms.’

Your looks ‘The most ageing thing in a person is bad posture,’ says Michele Paradise. ‘It projects a wordless message about a person’s age and health.’ There’s proof, too. When researchers at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, US, asked people to rate the appearance of two women in a series of pictures, in the pictures of them standing up straight, they were consistently judged to be younger and more attractive than in those of them slumping.

Turn back the clock by following our guide to better posture.

How to… improve

Now you know why you should, here’s how to do it...

Sit well ‘Be mindful about how you sit when you eat, drive and work at a computer,’ says Alexander Technique teacher Angela East (www. stat.org.uk). ‘If you’re guilty of contorting your body to get nearer your plate, sit up straight and hinge from the hips instead of curving your spine and use your fork to bring food to your mouth.’ In the car, try not to grip the steering wheel; instead, Angela recommends holding it lightly with your elbows by your side and remembering to rest your arms in your lap when you stop at traffic lights to help your muscles relax. ‘In the office, seats should be parallel to the ground at knee height, your feet flat on the floor and your arms dropping downwards,’ she says. ‘Whatever you’re doing, you need to be sat directly on your sitting bones, which are the knobbly bits you feel if you sit on the palms of your hands.’

Roll your shoulders ‘Stand with your feet slightly apart and rotate your shoulders backwards three to four times by bringing them up to your ears then back and down and finally around to the front while bending your elbows to relax your muscles and release any tension,’ says Michele. On the final rotation, take a broom handle or stick and slide it through your elbows behind your back, letting it sit in the crook of your elbows for a few minutes. ‘This will instantly correct your posture, engage your core muscles and take pressure off your lower back’, she explains. Practise this daily for 15 to 30 minutes, after checking with your GP, to create a new muscle memory and a better default posture.

Look forward ‘Most of us spend too much time looking down and, if your eyes are focused on the ground, your head tends to tilt forward, your chest collapses and your spine will begin bending,’ warns Lyn Breakwell, Bodywork therapist, (www.osteopathicpractice.com).

She suggests keeping your gaze level and straight in front of you, lifting your chest from your breastbone and checking that your head is balanced on the top of your neck to lengthen your body and boost your energy.’

Pretend you’re a puppet Instead of trying to stand bolt upright like a grenadier guard, Charles recommends thinking of yourself as a Thunderbirds puppet. ‘Lift up through your head and allow everything else to hang off it.’ But aim for smooth rather than stiff, jerky movements.

‘Good posture is about making your body work as well as it can while using the least amount of energy,’ he explains.

Shani’s • Wide range of beauty & holistic treatments • toning tables • vibration plates • semi-permanent make-up • Acrylic & Gel Nail Extensions • permanent hair removal & photo rejuvenation • Hair Salon

Tel: 966 719 067

Avda Del mar, 1 bajo,Pueblo Bravo, Ciudad Quesada, Rojales, 03170 Alicante

thebeautyandwellnesscentre@hotmail.com

your posture

Lingerie

The largest retailer of top - quality branded British lingerie in the Costa Blanca. With over 2000 branded bras, underwear and nightwear, including Naturana and Marks & Spencer at bargain prices Specialising in bras up to 48J Find us on facebook www.facebook.com/happynewyear123 email me: shanimalyon@hotmail.co.uk

Telephone: 622 280 043

Where to find us: at Zoco sunday Market and Now at playa flamenca market

As you walk into Zoco, turn immediate left, walk toward the very end, turn right and we are the 2nd stall on the right

Darren the barber The Barbershop at Quesada Country Club

Cuts from

Modern & Traditional Gents Hairdressing

5€

Tel: 616 592 887 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am- 5pm OUT OF HOURS BY REQUEST Drive through Quesada Arches up main street, take left fork at Parque Acuatico sign. Continue to Consum sign and turn right onto Avenida Costa Azul, continue uphill and take right turn onto Calle Toledo.

Country Club / Barber is 200mtrs on right - Look for Childrens Play Area.

Kim Clar k benefits consultancy Do you suffer from mobility problems, breathlessness/pain or falls/stumbles?

Do you need help washing / dressing or supervision?

You could be entitled to extra income by claiming UK sickness / disabililty benefits while living in Spain

For advice or to book a consultation call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 or visit www.ukbenefitsinspain.com

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

Medcare supports diabetes campaign with €1 screening tests Medcare, the British GP practice in Spain, is throwing its support behind the biggest ever diabetes awareness campaign in the UK by offering fasting blood tests to screen for the disease for ONLY €1.

The tests, which usually cost €25, can be booked at the incredibly low price during the two-weeks the UK campaign is running.

Said Dr Najma Hussain from Medcare: “We are pleased to support the UK campaign and provide cut-price screening for expats who may see the campaign messages in the UK media but have no way of accessing a GP for testing even if they feel they are at risk.”

Medcare sets aside a budget of thousands of euros annually for health initiatives to help expats on the Costa Blanca and diabetes is one of its top priorities.

The UK campaign, launched this week, is being run by the charity Diabetes UK in conjunction with supermarket giant Tesco.

The £2m drive is urging all those at high risk of type 2 diabetes to see their GP to get a blood test, and aims to make everyone aware of the main risk factor of type 2 diabetes – being over 40, having a large waist

and being black or South Asian.

Specsavers Opticas & AESFAS collaborate to offer over 50s more affordable eye care

Diabetes UK estimates there are around 850,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes in the UK and many more who are likely to go on and develop the condition in the next few years, yet awareness of the condition and its complications remains very low amongst those most at risk.

Said Dr Hussain: “Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that can have devastating complications. But with better diagnosis and assessment of risks, up to 80 per cent of cases can by delayed or prevented. Once developed the disease can by managed with careful treatment, or in some cases even reversed with the right diet and lifestyle changes.

But first it must be diagnosed.”

Many ex-pats in Spain who may unknowingly have the disease or be at risk of developing it fail to get screened, so Medcare is urging everyone to take advantage of its €1 fasting blood tests, which can be booked before the UK campaign ends on October 6. To book an appointment contact Medcare on 966 860 258 or email doctors@ medcarespain.com. Please quote promotion code TESCO. Read more about diabetes at www.medcarespain.com

UDP, Specsavers Opticas and AESFAS shake hands to seal the agreement.

Left to right Marisa Gimeno, President of UDP Alicante, José Ángel Moral-Tajadura Retail Development Consultant and Business Development Manager, Jose Manuel Cebrian, National Partnership Coordinator for AESFAS

On Monday 23rd September Specsavers Opticas became the first optician to collaborate with The Asociación Española de Funcionarios y Amigos Senior (AESFAS) and the Unión Democrática de Pensionistas (UDP). There was a well-attended event at Specsavers in Torrevieja to mark the signing of the agreement with representatives from AESFAS, UDP, Specsavers, Councillors from the Torrevieja Council and local organizations including Age Concern, Lions Club, the Casa Regional de Asturias and Hospital Internacional Medimar de Alicante.

AESFAS is a non-profit making organization which works in conjunction with UDP to improve the quality of life of its members in areas of health, education, finance and more. It is free of charge to join and all members receive a card which entitles them to discounts with partner companies. As the financial crisis continues and retired people are being asked to support their extended families as well as survive on a limited pension, organizations such as these become increasingly important and look to the private sector for support.

Now Specsavers have become an official partner, all AESFAS and UDP members will receive 25€ off all glasses over 75€ across their stores on the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Mallorca. This includes a

free eye test, frames and single vision pentax lenses as standard. Members will need to show their card to qualify.

José Manuel Cebrián, Delegado Nacional de Convenios de Aesfas commented, “We are pleased to welcome Specsavers as one of our partners today. As one of the world’s leading opticians, this collaboration shows their awareness of the problems that older people face and we believe that through our long term partnership we can offer lots of benefits to older people.”

Specsavers Opticas’ Retail Development Consultant José Ángel Moral-Tajadura added; “Since 1984 our company has been focused on providing the best possible optical care at affordable prices. The value for money proposition has become more and more important as times get tougher and we are determined that people should not go without good visual care due to not being able to afford it.

Collaborating with organizations such as AESFAS and UDP, who help the over 50s access services they may not have been afford, is a wonderful way to do our bit to make glasses and high quality eye tests and service accessible to all. We look forward to welcoming their members to take advantage of their discount.”

For more information on AESFAS and to become a member visit www.aesfas.org, to find out about the Union Democratica de Pensionistas visit www. mayoresudp.org. To find more about the Specsavers / AESFAS discount visit your nearest Specsavers Opticas store or the website www.specsavers.es

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

property group

Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria

Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563

www.veritashomes.co.uk info@veritashomes.co.uk You can find us on La Alfoquía

€69,950

Nice 3 bed / 2 bath semi-detached Townhouse with plot of 107 m². Car port. Communal pool & gardens. Ref. 1051

Mojácar playa

€98,000

Vera

€70,000

2 bed / 1 bath fully furnished Penthouse with terrace & roof solarium near amenities.

Underground parking. Lift . Ref. 1020

marina de la torre €89,950

2 bed / 1 bath fully furnished Apartment with back and front terraces near beach. Sea views. Ref. 1176

€80,000

Vera playa

El Largo

€94,950

Fantastic 4 bed / 3 bath Townhouse with garage set on quiet hamlet within 10 minutes drive to beach and golf. Ref. 1165

Mojácar playa

€99,000

THE BEST INVESTMENT PROPERTY:

3 bed / 2 bath Penthouse apartment. Terrace of aprox. 50 m² with sea and mountains views.

Allocated parking. Pool. Ref. 1167

2 bed / 1 bath fully furnished Apartment with terraces and sea views near promenade & amenities. Lift, tennis & pool. Ref. 1100

Villaricos

El Cucador

€105,000

2 bed / 2 bath fully furnished Penthouse with large terrace & parking place. Gated complex with lift, heated pool, outdoor pool, gym & tennis court. Ref. 1022

2 bed / 2 bath pretty townhouse with private plot on charming community with pool near beach and amenities. Ref. 1006

Mojácar Playa

€114,000 Mojácar Playa

€124,950

Mojácar Playa

€129,950

South facing 2 bed / 1 bath Apartment set on well established development near beach & amenities. Ref.1513

End of terrace south facing 2 bed / 2 bath Townhouse with sea views within walking distance to beach & amenities. Ref.1534

Nice south facing 2 bed / 2 bath Townhouse with terraces & roof solarium near beach & amenities. Ref.1535

mojacar playa

mojacar playa

Mojacar Playa

€170,000

2 commercial properties, terrace with sea views by the hotel Puerto Marina. 2 floors. Total Built: 214 m². Mains water & elec 2 toilettes. Ref 1086

€197,000

Lovely 3 bed / 2 bath Townhouse with terraces & roof solarium with sea views, nice development , pool, nr promenade. Ref 1523

€110,000

Priced to sell! 3 bed / 2 bath Villa on plot of 769 m² near Zurgena. Fully fitted kitchen. Ref. 1516

Cantoria

€149,000

Charming 4 bed / 2 bath Villa with pool on plot of 2.620 m² on a very tranquil setting in El Fas with lovely mountains views. Ref.1517

€199,995

3 bed / 2 bath detached Villa with pool and terrace with sea views on plot of 218 m² near beach & commercial center. Ref 1510

Please visit our office or refer to our website for more “bargains”. Vendors: If you are seriously considering selling your property please visit our office to discuss effective ways of achieving your goal.

As per decree 218/2005 the “Documento de Información Abreviada” (D.I.A) for any property sold

by Veritas Homes is available at our office.

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

LEGAL CORNER WITH MICHAEL DAVIES, ABOGADO/SOLICITOR

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

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

pause for thought

Q. My cousin has deceased in Spain and has left me as his only beneficiary of his worldwide estate by a will which he signed in Spain. He had a house in Spain worth approx 200000 euro and a bank account in Jersey worth 60000 pounds sterling (approx. 70000 euro). He was a Spanish resident. I am domiciled in the UK. My solicitor in Spain says that I have to pay inheritance tax in Spain on the house in Spain and on the bank account in Jersey, while my accountant in the UK is telling me that he thinks this is incorrect and I should consult another solicitor in Spain.

A You need to pay inheritance tax in Spain on the inheritance of the house, but not on the account you have inherited in Jersey. You will need to consult your accountant regarding possible inheritance tax obligations in the UK but in Spain, it is clear that you do not pay inheritance tax on the account in Jersey.

The law in Spain is simple: If the heir is a Spanish resident he/she pays inheritance tax on anything he/she receives anywhere in the world, (unless bilateral agreements with the country where the assets are situated say otherwise which is not the case with the UK.).

If the heir is non-resident of Spain he/she only pays inheritance tax in Spain on the assets he receives that are situated in Spain at the time of death.

Michael Davies is a Spanish Abogado and has been practicing law in Almería since 1993. He is member of the Law societies of Almería and Madrid and has offices in Mojacar and Almeria High Street.

We all like to feel appreciated, don’t we? Whether it be just the simple wave from a fellow motorist when we allow them to come in front of us, or the letter of thanks from a returned visitor after enjoying our hospitality, a “thank you” can really make a difference to the way we feel and our perception of others. I know we once had guests, who just treated us like a hotel, continually requesting service, never offering help and always ready to complain, who left without any word of thanks, and who, we presume, will fortunately never want to come again. It’s a simple courtesy, we hope we’ve taught our children, to show real appreciation and gratitude whenever someone does us a kindness, and never to take others for granted.

But just how much we take God for granted and how rarely do we take time to acknowledge His goodness. How quick we are to protest when storms and floods destroy our crops and infrastructure as happened last year. How quickly we complain when sickness or tragedy strikes us or those we love. And how often do we pause in our busy lives to “count our blessings”; thanking God for the health and happiness that over the years we have come to presume is our right. How often, as we prepare to enjoy a good meal with friends, do we thank, not just the cook, but God for His provision of food, health and friendship, using the words along the lines of: “For food to eat and those who prepare it; for health to enjoy it and friends to share it, we give you thanks O Lord.”

So now, at this time of year, as many of us join together to celebrate harvest, let’s take time for true gratitude for all we have; and remembering those who can’t afford such celebrations, make some effort to share our abundance with them, either through giving to a Church Harvest-Thanksgiving or by donating to one of the official foodbanks in this area.

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

Further information about the Anglican Church and details of forthcoming events may be seen on the web site www.mojacarchurch.org . Duncan Burr is Licensed Lay Reader for the Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Cálida and may be contacted at djburr@avired.com

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

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

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

‘Strictly Line Up for 2013’ wee k 1

By Lyn Aspden of ‘Strictly Dance’

With a total of 15 celebrities taking to the floor for this years competition, who will go all the way to hold up that glitter ball trophy this year? From the Friday show 6 celebrities took to the floor and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with the standard for the first week. Normally there is the token joker in the pack but this year it didn’t happen (I’m pleased to say!) There was nobody eliminated from the first show and the judges marks and the public vote will be carried forward to next week. This way it gives the celebs an extra week to show what they are capable of and believe me it is not easy to carry out the amount of multi-tasking that is necessary to perform the choreography plus all the techniques each week, not to mention trying to capture the essence of each individual dance into the bargain.

With the daunting task of opening this years show were Hollyoaks heart throb Ashley Taylor Dawson and Ola Jordan who was expecting his second baby on the 26th and up to the shownight was still waiting! How on earth could he concentrate with this on his mind - my hat’s off to you Ashley.

His first dance was a Cha Cha Cha and despite his leg and knee action being missing and him looking at the floor a bit too much he performed quite well, he has good rhythm and timing, was finishing his lines well and looked confident with his performance. Well done Ashley! I awarded him a 6 and the judges a total of 25.

Next to the floor was golfing legend Tony Jacklin with Aliona Villani with their interpretation of a Waltz. I must say that Tony surprised me, I was expecting a ‘dance disaster daahling!’ but on the whole it wasn’t that bad. OK he forgot his steps several times and his frame wasn’t perfect but at least he was lifting well up onto his toes so a good attempt. I awarded him a 4 with the judges a 20.

Third to perform were Waterloo Road’s Mark Benton with Iveta Lukosiute and their Tango. Mark managed to capture the essence of the Tango quite well, his frame was not too bad albeit he needs to straighten up a bit and not stick his bottom out! He was not low enough into his knees and as a

consequence the Tango was missing the sharp staccatto action but he showed a good variety of basic steps. I awarded him a 5 and the judges 29.

body movement or stretch, no hips and his timing was very poor. What a pity with a body like his......... I awarded him a 4 and the judges 23.

she had a poor top line and messed up her choreography. The judges marked her much higher than I thought she deserved, I gave her 3 and the judges 24.

Following were BBC News Presenter Susanna Reid with Kevin Clifton and a Jive. Susanna showed great timing and rhythm albeit a bit stilted in action. To correct this she needed to soften the knees to give a more ‘springy’ softer action and her kicks and flicks needed to be faster, which is what the jive needs. She did however perform some quite tricky choreography, I’m looking forward to watching her develop.

The judges awarded her 35 and I gave her 7.

Next to dance were bond girl Fiona Fullerton with her partner Anton Du Beke and a Tango with a Bond flavour!

Even though there were errors in the choreography Fiona did manage to portray the essence of a Tango. The common upper body posture was a problem for Fiona which left her with awkward neck lines. However the errors got worse as the dance progressed which was a pity. The judges awarded her a 29 and I gave her 5.

Actor Patrick Robinson of Casualty together with partner Anya Garnis then took to the floor with a Jive. This is an extremely difficult dance to perform well and Patrick had some fairly tricky choreography for a first week. He was a bit flat footed and a softer knee action would have improved his performance but he did have great musicality, rhythm and energy. A good first week. I gave him 7 and the judges 28.

Next to perform was pop star Sophie Ellis Bextor with Brendan Cole and their Waltz. For a first performance this was very good. This girl actually danced (as opposed to walking) and she looked quite comfortable in Brendan’s arms (who wouldn’t be!) Her core needs to be lifted a bit more and because of this she was showing slightly awkward neck lines but once corrected she could do very well in the ballroom section. Her Waltz was soft and flowing and she was driving nicely through her feet to move across the floor. Well done Sophie keep up the good work! I gave her a 7 and the judges 28.

Following were hairy biker Dave Myers and his partner Karen Hauer with a Cha Cha Cha. I thought we had got away from the comedy element after the Friday show but no here it was!

He basically stood for as long as possible and the few cha cha steps which were there were attrocious. However because of his infectious enthusiasm he will probably gain the public sympathy vote! I gave him 2 for effort and the judges 16.

Closing the Friday show were Corrie’s Natalie Gumede with her partner Artem Chigvintsev and a Cha Cha Cha. Wow, wow, wow!!! I think this must be one of the best opening dancers we have seen in any ‘Strictly’ series. She displayed all the characteristics of the Cha Cha Cha, bending and locking out of the knees, tracking of the feet on the floor, great upper body and arms. The only thing she could have improved was her hip action which wasn’t quite enough but I will be watching her progress with interest and think she has to be a top contender for this years glitter ball trophy. Watch this space!

I gave her an 8 and the judges 31.

The Saturday show was opened by rugby international player Ben Cohen and his partner Kristina Rihanoff and their Cha Cha Cha. Although he did perform a good variety of steps that was where it ended for me. Ben was wooden with no

Next out were Broadcaster and Journalist Vanessa Feltz performing a Cha Cha Cha with partner James Jordan. Her acting skills were good and she showed a good array of basic steps with good rhythm. However for me it came over as ‘plonky’ and because she was lifting her feet off the floor lacked any Cha Cha action. I awarded her 4 and the judges a total of 19.

Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev then took to the floor with a Waltz. Rachel was fairly soft and looked elegant apart from not stretching upwards, leaving her bottom stuck out and her neck poked forward. She was however a bit careful and will need to attack more to grab higher marks from the judges, if she can put in more acting to her performances Rachel could do well. I awarded her a 7 and the judges 34.

Closing this weeks epic show were Model Abbey Clancy with Aljaz Skorjanec and their interpretation of the Waltz.

Abbey is the total package, her top line was superb, her Waltz was elegant and fluid with beautiful lines and extensions. She told a beautiful story and her feet and ankles were excellent.

She is on a par with Natalie and if she continues should be a finalist. I gave her an 8 and the judges 32.

Fashion designer Julien MacDonald with Janette Manrara performed next with their Cha Cha Cha. Julien definitely has rhythm and danced into the floor but unfortunately all in bent knees. He will need to learn to bend and straighten his legs to produce the required hip action. He did however look to have enjoyed his performance. I gave him a 4 and the judges 20.

So from the first week there are 2 definite front runners in Corrie’s Natalie Gumede and Model Abbey Clancy. One Latin the other Ballroom. Next week will be interesting as I presume they will show the other discipline. It will be the one who is great in both sections who will have the best chance of holding up that glitter ball. But will anyone else come up the ranks to challenge these 2 early runners? Only time will tell.

Don’t forget that you can come and learn the same dances as the celebs at one of our classes and don’t forget girls that we currently have guys with no partners!!! For more info call me on 635584431, until next week Keep Dancing!!............

Dragon’s Den Deborah Meaden together with partner Robin Windsor and their version of the Tango performed next. I felt that as Deborah was not low enough in her knees her Tango ended up being ‘hoppy’ instead of staccatto. For me she looked as if Robin was dragging her around the floor,

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Three weeks ago we rescued five donkeys from appalling conditions at a property in Redovan. We were contacted by a Spanish friend who had alerted us a few years ago about the plight of Captain and Hope.

The donkeys, along with twenty dogs were in a very sorry state and to our delight, when Sue and Rod arrived there they were greeted by the local Spaniards, the Guardia Civil and Policia Local and three dog rescue agencies. It is so pleasing to see now that an English run charity is welcomed by the Spanish people and we are no longer considered to be foreigners who are sticking their noses into their business. Thanks to Sue and Rod’s efforts over the past five years we are now taken very seriously indeed by both the public and the police. We will update you soon on the donkey’s progress but they are settling in with us very well.

We are also now working very closely with Rojales Town Council and we have collaboration between us and the Mayor, Councillors for Tourism, Education and Foreign Residents.

Dexter our Andalucian mule was not too well recently but he is over that now and seems to have a new lease of life and has taken a fancy to ladies handbags. Dexter is normally present mingling with the crowds on our Sunday afternoon open days, but, due to his naughty behaviour we have had to confine him to the donkey paddock on Sunday afternoons only.

CLIPPERS

Valentino, his donkey best friend has taken over his job of nudging peoples bottoms and demanding Thankfully, unlike Dexter got a taste for Gucci gentlemen’s Rolex

attention. he has not handbags and watches.

Faith is still residing at Gasper’s equine hospital near Barcelona while they monitor her new prosthetic leg during the hot spell. She is looking fantastic (Faith has her own Facebook page) and has a new boyfriend so we may have a problem getting her to come back when Rod has built her new stable.

I think we will leave it to Sue and Rod to tell her that her relationship with her stallion boyfriend is going to end.

Away from the centre, we are opening a new charity shop in Rojales town centre in a few weeks time right next to the Town Hall in the indoor market. We will have to be on our best behaviour in case the Mayor pops in unannounced.

Our fundraising events organised by the other David include:-

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Saturday October 12th at Los Rojales restaurant on the Lemon Tree Road near Guardamar. We have a Bon Jovi Tribute band playing called Midnight Riders. There is a raffle on the night and all proceeds from that come to us. See our Facebook page for more details.

Thursday October 24th at Alfies Place in la Zenia near our shop we are holding a charity auction. This will start at 2pm and we have some wonderful items going under the hammer.

Finally we are getting prepared for our AGM. It would be great to see as many of you as possible. We are now a Foundation not just a charity so copies of our accounts are available for scrutiny, and you can see where the money that you donate goes, whether it be sponsoring a horse, annual membership fees, charity shop income or even funds collected from our open days here at the centre, we are totally transparent.

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Long hailed by tourists and expats as the idyll from which to escape the dreary climes of the UK, the Costa Blanca is no longer the inexpensive haven it once was. However, some areas still retain an old fashioned sense of style and are filled with whitewashed houses that have a wealth of period features and offer the expat the opportunity to experience the laid back lifestyle enjoyed by the Spanish.

Getting There Costa Blanca is serviced by the airport in its capital city, Alicante, which is a large connecting airport that runs direct flights to most major European cities. Budget airlines also fly into Alicante, with the most popular being Ryanair, Easyjet and BMIBaby.

Schools Costa Blanca is loaded with international schools, although again this is only true for the larger cities. The richest pickings are to be found in Alicante, Valencia and Javea, where British expats are especially well-catered for. International schools offer a foreign curriculum and the IB, and most classes are conducted predominantly in the home country´s language, with some Spanish included. Many expats choose not to send their children to international schools though, as there is a risk of ´ghettoising´ expat kids into expat communities and never giving them a chance to assimilate. Luckily for these families, school in Spain is free.

Villamartin is a town which attracts many tourists each year and this is mainly due to the world class golf courses in the area. The area is popular with expats, particularly those from northern Europe and many of the apartments in the area are used as second homes, so they are not always occupied. There are not as many houses (casas) and villas on offer as apartments (pisos), as there has been a great deal of development in recent years.

Moraira is a coastal town which began life as a fishing village and is now an attractive destination for those who are looking to retire

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to Spain. It is still a relatively small town and there are no high rise developments.

Orihuela is a coastal town and like the rest of the Costa Blanca, attracts a large number of tourists due to the exceptionally good weather. The property prices are quite low when compared to other towns in the region and there is a growing community of expats in the area. There are employment opportunities in the area, though mainly in the retail sector.

Benitachell is a relatively small town in the northern part of the region and is attracting growing numbers of expats. The development of Les Fonts is particularly popular with expats, though mainly British. The small size of the town means that there are not as many employment opportunities as in other areas.

Pinar de Campoverde is a hillside village, just 8 km from the coast. It is not as well populated as some of the coastal areas and the expats in the area are mainly British and German. The properties in the area are mostly large detached houses (chalet) and the prices are on a par with the regional average. The village has everything an individual needs for daily life from shops to sporting facilities.

Guardamar del Segura is a traditional fishing area but now attracts large numbers of tourists thanks to the sandy beaches. Property in the area ranges from holiday apartments (apartamento de vacaciones) to traditional Spanish homes and is much sought after.

Benissa is a small town in the northern part of Alicante. Much of the older part of the town has been restored and the town is known as ‘little Europe’, as many of the residents are now from other countries.

The town still manages to keep its Spanish style and the expats here integrate well into the community.

Denis is one of the most northern parts of the Costa Blanca and the area is popular with those who like outdoor activities such as hiking and horse riding. The town is large and is less of a tourist town than many of its neighbours. Expats who come to the area are those looking for work as there is a growing commercial sector.

Cabo Roig is a tourist area and is a very popular beach resort, though while it is very busy in the summer the winter months are far quieter.

The area is known for its shopping and fine restaurants and property on offer is mainly apartments. Away from the coast there are traditional

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The Costa Blanca (or White Coast) is a 200 kilometre stretch of coastline between Gandia in the north and the region of Murcia in the south. The area is popular with both expats (expatriados) and tourists and is filled with pretty fishing villages and sandy beaches. Some areas have taken advantage of the influx of visitors and many developments have appeared, with high rise apartments and hotels a common feature of some areas.

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Algorfa is a small town located inland which is popular with golfers, as there are many good quality courses nearby. Agriculture is still strong in the area and there are only around 2000 permanent residents of the town. There are some expats living in the area and many apartments which are used as second homes.

Orba is a rural town which is within easy travelling distance of the beaches and has managed to retain its old Spanish style. Some people may not approve of the running of the bulls each summer through the town, but the area has other attractions. The restaurants in the area serve nearly every type of cuisine and the cost of living is relatively low.

The town of San Miguel de Salinas is fairly small and located inland.

It was just a small village until the large amount of development which has taken place in recent years. The town has seen a large influx of expats and the demand for property has increased. The prices may be slightly higher than the average in the surrounding areas but this is due to the fact that the town offers the traditional laid back lifestyle that Spain is famous for.

Campoamor is just a quarter of an hour’s drive from the airport at Murcia and is becoming an increasingly popular seaside resort. There are a number of new developments which are aimed at expats and those looking for holiday homes. The town has everything the visitor needs, from shops to restaurants, and the area is expected to develop further.

Calpe has become home to high rise developments (complejo residencial) and is very much aimed at the tourist market. It is far removed from the fishing village that it used to be. The old town still retains some traditional charm, but this is now a very small part of the town. The town of Pedreguer is in contrast far removed from the tourist trade. It is a traditional Spanish market town that is slowly being discovered by expats.

Gata de Gorgos is also a market town in the north of the region. It is set away from the coast and is known for its furniture manufacturing.

There is a small community of expats and properties in the area are very reasonably priced. Santa Pola is another former fishing village that has gradually become a tourist resort. There are many high rise properties and new developments in the area.

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As we will be holding our Dance-A-Thon this Sunday, the 6th of October, where we will be celebrating all types of dance with our ‘Free’ Lunchtime Show, I thought it would be interesting to delve a little deeper into the Spanish world of dance and music.

When you think of the English folk dancing scene, one generally conjures up men and women dancing around with hankies! - Likewise here in Spain - many first-time travellers think that the passionate flamenco as being Spain’s so-called “national” dance.

However, traditional Spanish music and dance is far more complex. In fact, flamenco music didn’t even formally hit the Spanish music scene until around the beginning of the 19th century. However there can be no dispute that Flamenco is the best-known Spanish dance and has eclipsed the performance of other Spanish dance forms outside of Spain. This week I will attempt therefore, to introduce you to other styles of Spanish dance, enriched by Spain’s long and colorful history.

Spanish culture is jam-packed with traditional music and dance - in fact, at one point there were over 200 traditional dances documented in Cataluña alone!

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Traditional music and dance vary as you travel from region to region. The traditional music of the Islas Canarias (Canary Islands), for example, boasts influences from the archipielago’s mysterious indigenous Guanche civilization while the bagpipe music of Galicia and Asturias speaks volumes about these northern regions’ rich Celtic heritage.

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Spanish Dance, therefore, is a complex dance form and can be difficult to explain, but can be categorized in 6 groups: Flamenco(the most widely known) Folklore (which we will discuss today), Classical Spanish Dance (“Estilización”), Eighteenth Century Dances, Ballet (Classical Dance), and Castanets.

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We will start with Spanish Folklore! Centuries old, Folklore is the most distinctive cultural expression of each region and through these beautiful dances, the people can express their uniqueness and proud cultural heritage.

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The dance is visual more than anything with dancers wearing traditional, regional costumes. Jota is typically danced in two’s as couples raise their hands above their heads playing castanets. I watched a couple dancing this ‘traditional dance’ on ‘You Tube’ and it was great to see both dancers, both male (yes the men too) and female, playing the castanets. There is even a commemorative stamp made of the dance which clearly shows both dancers playing them.

I was correct in thinking, that the castanets are held differently in the Jota. They seem to shake them in their hands, rather than roll their fingers over the ‘shell’ as in flamenco.

A wide range of instruments are used: Guitars, bandurrias, (similar to a mandolin) lutes, dulzaina, (type of Spanish flute, with or without keys) and drums are used in the Castilian style. In contrast the Galicians use bagpipes, drums, and bombos. Bombos are a type of drum which is considered to be one of the oldest instruments in human history,

One such as these, is the Jota, which dates back as far as the 18th century and is the national folk dance of Aragon. Jota is derived from Latin and means ‘jump’ which describes the lively, bouncy movements to the dance. It is a quick dance and the steps are similar to the waltz however with much more variation.

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The songs are based on diverse themes such as patriotism, religion, sexual exploits, love and marriage and are intended to arouse a sense of local identity and cohesion for the community. The patriotic Aragonese believe that when a girl is dancing the Jota she is able to capture the heart of any man. aaah!!

I do believe we do not dance enough and that is all about to change on Sunday at our Dance-a-thon, with Lunchtime Show and Tea Dance.

It is a celebration of all styles of dance and music and all for a good cause, raising money for the AECC. Starting at 10am are the girls from Cindy’s Zumba who will dance non-stop for an incredible 3 hours - so if you love Zumba do join in and get sponsored or simply pay 5 euros on the day to take part. Alternatively why not pop up anytime Many of the people of Aragon are of Iberian descent and this part in the morning and cheer the girls on and stay on for our ‘free’ lunch of the country has great Moorish influences hence some say that the time show which features the dynamic Suzy G, with her backing dance is, in fact, of Moorish origin. Nevertheless, there are many dancers. Also dancing will be the amazing Ruth Kingsbury who has different variations of the dance depending on the region such we live just performed a ‘pointe solo’ at the Benidorm Palace and will be doing in, which includes Valencia, and Murcia. In Valencia, funerals and one for us to enjoy. Also performing will be her pupils with some tap wakes are an opportunity to dance the Jota as it is often performed dancing along with some singing.

We also have the fabulous Christine from Polenastics who bringing ‘Booaika’ to the Costa SOLAR POOLS COVERS - ROLLERS Established Blanca and finally we have the 40 years in the UK beautiful voice of Jannelle, who HEATPUMPS - FENCING will be entertaining us with songs from Adele, Jesse J and Alicia Keyes amongst others. In the afternoon from 2.30pm we have a tea dance, led by Lyn from Strictly Dance, so if you love Ballroom and Latin American www.poolsafetyfencing.es www.britanniapoolcovers.com dancing, get down to Casa La Pedrera with your partner and Swim ‘waltz’ the afternoon away, with 6x3m.................165€ 6x3m.................220€ the backdrop of the beautiful 8x4m.................270€ 8x4m.................355€ sooner blue lake. The Cream Teas and 8x5m.................330€ 8x5m.................420€ in a and all day BBQ will be served, 10x4m...............330€ 10x4m...............420€ warmer so make a date in your dairy.

10x5m...............420€ 10x5m...............520€ Call Jenni on 660816620 or visit Pool 12x6m...............600€ 12x6m...............750€ www.thingstodoinspain.info for For more prices & information Trade Enquiries more information. See you all WELCOME Ian 966 765 378 / 649 784 193 there!

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

23

HOME & GARDEN...

Spanish Winter Evergreen Plants October and November just before it gets colder here in Spain is time to plan your winter spanish garden Just because it is going to turn cold in a few months, does not mean your garden has to look dull or lifeless. Believe it or not, there are many plant options that you can use to make your yard and garden look great year round.

colourful and look good through the winter when many other plants turn brown and leafless. Actually, anything that remains evergreen throughout the winter months may be considered a candidate for winter interest, but I have chosen some plants that flower, have great structure, or produce berries.

So instead of thinking about plants going dormant, it is time to start planning and planting a few things that will stay

Many more perennials could have been listed here, but hopefully you will get some inspiration from some of these:

Sedum ‘Herbstfr e (‘Autumn ude’ Joy’)

Rosa rugosa Rugosa Rose

Produces neat flowers with faces in shades of yellow, blue, violet, and white. Flowers in fall and often in winter. Selfseeds readily

This is a large shrub that grows to 8 feet (2.4m) and has good autumn colour. What makes this plant appealing for winter are the large tomato-like hips that are produced after it flowers. The hips are quite a feature and last all winter long.

Dianthus s gr atianopolitanu Cheddar Pink Has neat and tidy mounds of bluegray, linear leaves that develop into broad mats that are 12 inches (30 cm) or more in width. The lowgrowing silvery foliage contrasts nicely with other perennials. Flowers will continue all winter.

This plant has fleshy leaves and grows to 24 in (60 cm). It has large heads of pink flowers that appear in the fall and eventually fade to copper colour and then turn red. So do not cut them back until the spring to get the most interest from this plant.

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

Jukebox Promotions Patrons of Help at Home (Costa Blanca)

elvis & Frientdos ur

Tribute Express

This show will tour over eight venues at the very end of Oct and during the first two weeks of November. Elvis fans who were disappointed by the cancellation on the Elvis week special in August due to a bereavement will be pleased to know that the best Elvis show to be seen anywhere in the Costa Blanca will be on this tour portrayed by Peter Day as Elvis 2000. It’s going to be a great Elvis special with the King being portrayed in his Vegas white jumpsuits and also in his “rehearsal” mode puff shirts.

Appearing with Elvis on this fast moving “Express” tribute show will be “Mr Voice” Andy Jones plus Fiona McLean and Peter Day of Jukebox Legends.

Together they will portray a selection of Neil Diamond, Robbie Williams, Michael Buble, Buddy Holly, Connie Francis, Barbara Streisand, Karen Carpenter and more. Who knows who will appear but one thing is for sure, it will be a show to remember featuring the music of some of the best known and loved International music legends since the 50s. Laced with fun, this show is a must for all lovers of music and a fantastic night out!!

Dates & Venues

(Tickets (at venues now - 8.50€ unless stated) Wed 30th Oct - Los Rosales, Lemon Tree Rd, Guardamar 606 192 691 (tickets 12.50€ - includes meal) Sun 3rd Nov - The Rendezvous, Campoamor (nr La Fuente Centre) 608 467 597 (tickets 10€ - includes a great buffet) Mon 4th Nov - Emerald isle, La Florida 647681294 Tue 5th Nov - La Marina Sport Complex 966796389 Wed 6th Nov - The Club, Quesada - 966717028 Sun 10th Nov - Restaurant Fu, Av Baleares, Torrevieja 965 703 170 (tickets 16.95€ - includes fantastic meal and a drink) Tue 12th Nov - The Club House, Camposol Golf 968 978 855 (MABS) Wed 13th Nov - Arroceria el Sarmiento (Old Asturias) N332 (next to go carts), Punta Prima 617 263 922 “This venue has a very up market feel and fabulous food. You can book a pre show meal there at 7-00pm. Why not take a look”?

Info at www.jukeboxpromotions.co.uk - November events page This fantastic tour completes our 2013 events so get tickets booked NOW as we are certain that venues will sell out. For the best seating and guaranteed seats, don’t leave it and, Whatever you do, don’t miss it!!!

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Weekly Craft Fair in La Nucía starts again From 13 October La Nucia will once again set up a small but attractive craft market every Sunday morning. This time, because more stalls want to participate, the market will be set up in the Plaza de los Músicos. Every Sunday, from 10 am to 2 pm, about 15 stalls will set up to sell their work - made by hand by the people on the stalls. That’s what Artesanía de Autor means - real craftwork made by dedicated people.

Even a good map of La Nucia doesn’t show where the Plaza de los Musicos actually is. In fact, it’s just a large square in the middle of the village, on your right if you’re driving from Benidorm to Polop, easily seen from the car as you drive past.

Parking is a little more difficult - you might try parking on the street where the Sunday market used to be held, and then walk through the attractive old town centre.

Walk by the stalls, look at the work and talk to the people who spend their week working at their craft.

Leather,

silk, bone, wood, clay, paper all form the materials used to make handbags, hair pins, jewelry, toys, lamps and many other delightful and original items. Think of this craft market as an art gallery in the street, with each artist at his stall. This is where you can buy items which you will never see in a shop, items made with the love and attention to detail which is so often missing from massproduced goods.

Every week the group will be a little different. Some of the people will travel to other parts of Spain for a weekend fair elsewhere, while other people cannot make enough goods in one week to replace what they sell. A list of people at any given weekend will be posted on www. amata.es (in English and Spanish), where you can also take a look at the type and quality of goods to be found. Perhaps a revelation if you have visited other so-called medieval or craft markets this year.

Every Sunday from 10 am till 2 pm, Plaza de los Músicos.

More information (also in English) on 639 979 678.

TO ADVERTISE CALL CHRISTINE ON 966 719 647

don’t forget to send your news & views to editor@ soltimes. com

Andy Wilson Photographer

image:blog.prufoxroach.com

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

property guide....

O Olive

have you got a property for sale or rent? advertise it here! reach over 30,000 readers!!!

...CALL 902 750 190 EMAIL: SALES@SOLTIMES.COM

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Call 0034 950 616 827 / 0034 678 002 006 155a Carretera Estacion, Huercal Overa. 100m from LIDL

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to advertise in our next monthly property supplement contact the sol times sales team on 950 121 936 or 902 750 190

Mobile: (00 34) 616 760 409

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email: sales@spanishestateagent.com

avenida puente 11 albox 04800 almeria

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We are able to organise Energy Efficiency Certificates at very competitive prices Contact us for more details Members of the National Association of Estate Agents Overseas

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All properties listed with Price Brown comply with the consumer protection act - decreto 218/2005 11 Octobre (Andalucia).

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Prices are correct for 7 days from going to print for all properties on these pages

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from 150€ (VAT included), fully registered with Conserjería de Innovación y Ciencia - Junta de Andalucía

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Private garage, terraces & gardens. Furnished. Hot & cold A/C.

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Avenida 28 de Febrero 44 Bajo 04800 Albox Almeria, Spain Office +34 950 064 584 01293 735 088 Mobile +34 635979829 E-mail:info@solymarspain.com Website:www.solymarspain.com

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

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

coffee break

STANDARD CROSSWORD

Across

Down 1 Units of area (5) 2 Toting (7) 3 Deliberate (7) 4 Drilled (5)

5 Embolden (9) 6 Where planes land (7) 7 Ennoble (7) 8 Chief foe (9) 13 Banging a nail (9) 14 Light and delicate (9) 17 Solemn promises (7) 18 Expanses (7) 20 Edible (7) 21 Japanese warrior (7) 23 Breast (5) 24 Jargon (5)

York, initially (4) 5 Meeting regarded as a normative example (10) 6 Individual for each child, Alex (8) 7 Dissent over professional exam (7) 8 Try us out - we’re out of practice (5) 13 Numerical calculations?A Red Indian thought he might eat toffee in class initially! (10) 16 Pious, silly girlie is nothing to America (9) 17 Food that South Africa and America have for a long time (8) 19 Telly or silly thing to put your shopping in (7) 21 Manila’s odd beasts (7) 22 6 across reflector (6) 23 Sinbad lying disguised being not well (5) 25 Shock a French saint first (4))

Down 1 Untidy USA - a trial country (9) 2 Stops us making unpredictable events (4-3) 3 First men without help (6) 4 Very small team in New

Very Hard!

SUDOKU PUZZLE CRYPTIC crossword

CROSSWORD

SOLUTIONS SUDOKU PUZZLE

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

1 Permissible (9) 6 Sporting venue (5) 9 Ordinary (7) 10 Misbeliever (7) 11 Inhaled audibly (7) 12 Disciple (7) 13 Most memorable part (9) 15 Not here (5) 16 Official tree of Canada (5) 19 Without fault or transgression (9) 22 A daughter of

Agamemnon (Greek mythology) (7) 23 In good time (7) 25 Naive young woman (7) 26 Northern Russia (7) 27 Vapors (5) 28 Whining (9)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

HARD SUDOKU

Across

1 Robotlike gold cat in the loft, it sounds like (9) 6 Stop a person including the Guardian, say (5) 9 Sounds come back without second sitting (7) 10 Contracts for nitrogen weapons (7) 11 Ways out in mid-dress (6) 12 Retrieval that every orc makes (8) 14 Tilt Joseph, without hesitation (4) 15 Mathematical instrument in favour of vehicle (10) 18 Tart action spoilt pulling power (10) 20 Drop everything on Friday! (4) 23 Flowers defeat manic mobs outside (8) 24 Growing teacher comes back in middle-age (6) 26 Joy of French luminosity (7) 27 Twister returns at a party, or nothing initially inside (7) 28 You don’t finish twice, then you get small toys (2-3) 29 Dissimilarities surprising or scant when good man is inside (9)

STANDARD SUDOKU

26

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

27

Children from the Kingsbury Academy of Dance in Cabo Roig had their awards ceremony Sunday 22nd September held at Breakaways in Pueblo Principe. All the students won a medal and students also collected their certificates from the June examinations with many gaining UCAS credits. Trophies were also given to those that had most improved in many styles of Dance and who excelled in their performances and exam results throughout the year. A massive Thank you to C & M cleaning services, Mosquito screen and window company, Campoamor Golf, La Moda La Finca Golf, Paddy’s Point, Ibex Insurance and Spanish Solutions for donating generously in sponsoring the medals and trophies. Without these kind sponsors the awards would not have taken place and have rewarded so many children.

Classes have started back after the summer holidays and the free classes for the scholarship tap and ballet are every Friday. Audition only for girls and boys studying Primary level and above.

If you are a new student please come along and try your first class free.

New classes have now started in Flamenco Mondays and Wednesdays at 5.30pm for 5-7 yrs and 6.30pm 8-12 yrs at the Academy. Adult classes will also begin if there is enough interest.

Another class that is suited for parent and baby interaction is baby massage Wednesdays at 12.30pm with Mini Amigos. There is limited spaces on this course and is almost fully booked so please hurry!

For more information please contact Ruth 663 879 839 or 966 846 606 www.kingsburyacademyofdance.com

My name is Pete and my company is AA Free English TV...

I have worked in Spain for over 10 years assisted by Dave and Stuart a FULLY SKY TRAINED engineer, giving quality service and satisfaction.

You may have heard again of another new Astra Satellite going up shortly. Channel 5 will be an issue we believe the rest should be ok in our area. We will always do our best to find an alternative if you lose signal, 5 is still available on a 1.1 but we would strongly recommend a 1.4 dish - BIGGER is always BETTER in Spain because of the reduced signal.

We have between us a wealth of knowledge regarding all types of installations, from single dishes, Spanish Tdt, German, French or Norwegian TV and a lot more of it’s up there and AA Free English TV can find it. We also specialise in community systems large or small from as little as 200€ per property. We can install a single satellite or 3 or 4 satellites on the same system incorporating German, English, Spanish, French, Norwegian etc. If you want any Sky TV packages in English, German, French or Spanish we can supply it for an incredibly low price. We can supply standard definition. High Definitions plus receivers where you can watch one programme and record another. We now have High Definitions Receivers that you can connect to your internet and get FREE OF CHARGE catch up TV on iplayer’s BBC, ITV 4 OD plus all your favourite series FREE OF CHARGE 100’s of the latest Movies Free of Charge direct to your TV BEFORE SKY.

Visit our website now for further information realignments from 25€ www.aafreeenglishtv.com or call me on 606 297 825 for a free quotation

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Rising stars!!

28

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

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

...send your letters to editor@ soltimes.com

JAGUARS - Pussycats and Poppy’s.

In aid of the Royal British Legion

alarm scam

Apology to Therese King

To be published in response to her complaint that a Letter to the Editor included her phone details.

Sol Times would like to apologise to Therese King, whose name was mentioned in a letter received from a reader and published under the heading Alarm Scam.

Mrs King was in no way involved in the matter, which concerned her husband, Dave King, from whom she is separated.

Mrs King assures us that she has no connection with her husband’s transactions, and does not in any way condone his behaviour.

With sincere apologies, Sol Times

event for the aecc The Casa La pedrera, Grand Design House are holding an event for the aecc Maria and the pink ladies on Sunday the 6th of this month. Its going to be ‘’All day Dance Explosion’’ Zumba party, talented pupils from the kingsbury school of dance, Christine from polenastic introducing ‘’Booaika’’ the new dance!! there will be a lunch time show with ‘Suzy G’ and lots of other artists, All day BBQ, afternoon Tea and lots more going on. Maria and her pink ladies will be there joining in the fun and also making appointments for early detection program for Men and Ladies, offering a very important free service.

Full packed fun day for all.

Written by Eric Arnold The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club in Spain latest event happened on the 21st September at The Manor House in Parendon, near Pinoso.

This time the JEC brought their beautiful Jaguars to support the Pinoso Branch of the Royal British Legion. One member, Mark Davy and his wife Sue came all the way from Almeria, over 350 km each way in his fabulous Jaguar XJS coupe, well done Mark & Sue. As well as the Jaguar’s on show, there were side shows and events to suit everyone. If you want to see more pictures from the event or find out more about the JEC in Spain go to our dedicated web site http://www.jec-spain.es The weather was very kind to us, as usual in Spain, making a perfect day for cruising our “big cats”. The Manor House had provided a privileged parking area to display the cars in the grounds. A few drinks and a chat and a look round the various stalls then lunch.

The JEC had been given a private dining area in The Manor House Theatre. A selection of starters, pate and toast, egg mayonnaise, soup or fruit juice to start. A really good carvery for the main and a selection of deserts, I had the Lemon Meringue, beautiful.

Including a glass of wine, they only charged us 10 Euros a head, fantastic value for money. May I take this opportunity to thank all those that attended and to thank Ian our Events Manager for putting together another brilliant day, I know he put extra effort in to this one. Ian also arranged a raffle which was called at the end of the meal, loads of prizes which raised 110 Euros which was donated

to the Royal British Legion.

The superb selection of 11 Jaguars at this meeting, a little down on our normal numbers but this one was a bit out in the wilds and a long way for some people to travel, but those few cars brought 25 enthusiastic members. More photographs and a last chat and people started to depart just after 5.00pm. A great day, supporting a great cause, good food, fabulous cars. Our next meeting will be mid November, the exact date and location is yet to be finalised.

I also feel I have to give a special mention to John Parkin who has set up and manages our new web site www.jec-spain.es and David Shea who set up and manages our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ JaguarEnthusiastsClubSpain. Check them out.

The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club is the largest of the worlds Jaguar Clubs, apart from joining in the fun at the meetings, full members also benefit from a glossy 132 page A4 monthly magazine, Jaguar spares department and a technical advice service second to none. If you live in Spain and own a Jaguar you should be a member of The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club.

The JEC in Spain is organised by Eric Arnold, Chairman and Ian McMenemy, Events Manager. Eric can be contacted by email at jaguarspain@outlook.com or by phone on 609931647 or alternatively check out the JEC spain web site www.jec-spain.es Our Events Manager, Ian McMenemy can be contacted at McMenemy@JEC-events.com

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

29

food & entertaining...food & entertaining...food & entertaining...

Fraud & intimidation

Should you be, like many Brits, a convert to the cult of the extra virgin, a devotee of the Mediterranean magic potion that is olive oil, then I’m afraid we have some bad news.

According to Tom Mueller, author of a new book on the subject, Extra Virginity: The Sublime And Scandalous World of Olive Oil, not all virgins are as pure as they might seem — and the world of olive oil is increasingly beset with fraud, smuggling and even poisoning. The problem is that where there’s money, there’s crime, and olive oil is a very valuable commodity.

In July, Spanish police arrested the leader of a gang responsible for the theft of more than a million litres of the stuff, siphoned from storage tanks in Murcia, and shipped under false paperwork to Italy for sale. Italian newspapers regularly report producers being robbed at gunpoint by drivers who arrive in the middle of the night with tankers.

A few years ago, Bertolli, the biggest olive oil brand in the world, suffered a multi-million euro theft at its plant near Milan — with sophisticated thieves using jammed security cameras, guns and lorries to secure their bounty.

Olive oil occupies a unique place in culinary history. Humans have been eating the fruits of these gnarled and tenacious trees for as long as the two of us have coexisted on this planet. But since then, too, the olive oil industry has been dogged by fraud.

Clay tablets found at Ebla, in Syria, describe the activities of a 2,500 year-old anti-fraud squad who were responsible for ensuring the purity of oil, while the classical philosopher and doctor Galen complained of unscrupulous traders adulterating their olive oil with liquid lard to make it go further. But ancient foodies were lucky — the Roman Empire had strict controls in place to minimise such double dealing.

Two thousand years later, olive oil regulation is back in the Dark Ages. As Mueller’s book observes, when you buy wine, you can usually trust that the contents match the label: if it says Chateau Margaux 1949 on the bottle, you’re not going to find last year’s Chilean Malbec inside.

Olive oil labels, by contrast, give very little information to the consumer: an oil costing £20 a bottle will look, on the shelf, very similar to one retailing at a tenth of the price. And with one former producer claiming 98 per cent of what is sold in Italy as extra-virgin olive oil is actually nothing of the sort, how on earth can shoppers tell what they’re getting?

In theory, it should be easy: olive oil is graded into several different types for sale, the most common of which is extra virgin. Extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality, made from the very best olives. Virgin oil, meanwhile, is made with slightly riper olives and so is deemed to have a less superior flavour.

European legislation dictates that any oil labelled virgin must have been extracted from the olive by physical means, such as

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The unpalatable truth about your supposedly extra virgin olive oiL

pressing, rather than by chemical refinement. It also has to pass a taste test conducted by EU experts.

Rigorous enough, you might think — if only the law was properly enforced.

Olive oil doesn’t come cheap —beware of anything under about £6 a litre — and many have succumbed to the temptation to cut a few corners. The most common fraud involves diluting extra virgin oil with a lesser grade — such as lampante, or lamp-oil, judged unfit for human consumption because of its high acid content.

Another option is to substitute a different type of oil entirely, often originating outside the EU where production is cheaper.

Last year, two Spanish businessmen were sent to prison for selling extra virgin olive oil that turned out to be 75 per cent sunflower oil, while Mueller recounts the story of a shipment of Turkish hazelnut oil which, after a voyage around Europe, arrived in southern Italy in September 1991 with papers declaring it was Greek olive oil.

There it was mixed with the real thing, and sold to unsuspecting customers including Nestle, owners of Buitoni oil, and Bertolli for use in their products.

The substantial profits associated with such fraud, Mueller says, enable crooks to bribe low-paid customs officials and police to turn a blind eye to such arrivals.

But this deception isn’t just confined to smugglers and gangsters.

In 2004, an olive oil producer called Andreas Marz, concerned about the declining quality of Italian olive oil, decided to conduct his own test. He bought 31 different kinds of extra virgin olive oil from German supermarkets, and sent them to three expert tasting panels in Florence for analysis. Only one was judged to meet extra virgin standards, nine were downgraded to virgin, and the rest, including offerings from several major Italian brands, were graded as lampante.

When Marz published the results, those involved in t h e revelations found themselves hit with lawsuits by Carapelli, makers of ‘Italy’s most beloved extra virgin olive oil’, who seemed to have friends in some very high places indeed.

In fact, ‘intimidation’ is the word used by one of the experts concerned.

No wonder, then, that

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Los Alcazares Market - Monday Moncayo Market - Saturday El Zocco Market - Sunday Tel: 676 527 348 Email billsinspain@hotmail.com

Marz’s shocking findings changed absolutely nothing. Such adulteration is deceitful, certainly, but pales in comparison to the toxic oil scandal which killed more than 1,000 Spaniards, and seriously injured 24,000 others, in the Eighties. They fell ill after consuming rapeseed oil intended for industrial use, which had been rendered inedible by the addition of a toxic compound called aniline, used in the production of plastics.

Unscrupulous traders had taken advantage of the low pricetag, repackaged it as olive oil, and sold it for culinary use.Even companies which act within the law are happy to appropriate the premium image of Italian olive oil for lesser blends.

Don’t be fooled by Italian flags or Tuscan olive groves on a label. Italy is one of the world’s largest importers of olive oil, much of which is then blended, stuck into suitably Italian packaging and re-exported. About 80 per cent of the oil produced in Jaen, southern Spain, for example, is shipped to Italy, where it can be packaged and sold by Italian brands as ‘packed’ or ‘bottled in Italy’, for a far higher price than poor old Spanish brands can get.

Indeed, Bertolli, for all its rustic Italian advertising, tells Mueller it actually imports about four-fifths of the oil it uses, mostly from Spain, North Africa and the Middle East.

While it doesn’t really matter, from a health point of view, whether our olive oil comes from Tuscany or Tunisia, the much vaunted advantages of this cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet — its apparent ability to help protect the body from some forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease — depend very much on the quality of the oil. Only virgin oils can claim the full range of health benefits attributed to olive oil, because the refining process strips lesser oils of its vitamins.

But until the EU imposes tighter controls of the kind in place for wine, there seems little incentive for the olive oil industry to clean up its act.

In the meantime, there are a few things the consumer can do to help ensure that the oil they’re buying is of the quality that they’d expect it to be.

Go for virgin or extra virgin oil, where the golden rule is that sadly, if it seems too cheap to be true, it probably is.

Look for dark bottles, which will protect the contents from damaging UV rays that make it rancid, and search out the longest sell-by date you can.

Olive oil may be sacred to many British foodies, but it’s not immune to corruption.

It seems that, for the unwary consumer at least, healthy eating is a very slippery business.

Costa Bäcker German Bakers

freshly made daily

Baked on the premises not from frozen Cakes, bread and rolls English spoken Mon - Fri 8am-3pm • Sat 8am-1pm

Phone: 96 684 55 04 Urb. San Luis ( Behind Restaurant Elvira)

30

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

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

! e d t t o Sp

DO YOU KNOW WHERE THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN? IF YOU DO, SEND YOUR ANSWER AND YOUR NAME & WHERE YOU’RE FROM TO BLANCASALES@ SOLTIMES.COM - AND IF YOU’RE THE FIRST TO GUESS RIGHT, WE’LL PRINT YOUR NAME HERE!

to Advertise your bar or restaurant

stars in bars DATE ARTIST VENUE

AREA INFO 3rd Gregg Lomas YOLO Cabo Roig 10.30pm Start 3rd Terry Hart Black Horse Cabo Roig 4th JJ Soulman Rusty Nail Campoverde 4th Elvis Experience El Parque Onil 4th B Boppers Casas Galliana Hondon 4th Andy Jones Lo Marabu Dona Pepa 5th Elvis Experience The Olde 9th Marquesa Golf 5th JJ Soulman Arches Cafe bar Los Alcazares 5th Cherry K Bar Sioux Gran Alicant 5th Woody Sensol Golf Mazarron 5th PDQ Bar Carlos Torrevieja 6th Stevie Spit YOLO Cabo Roig 10.30pm Start 6th Cherry K Camping International La Marina 1pm Start 6th Lynden B Lo Marabu Dona Pepa 6th Andy Jones The Snug Torre de la Horredada 7th Stars Charity Night Hillside La Marina 7th JJ Soulman Celtic Drop Playa Flamenca 9th Terry Hart Arches Cafe Bar Los Alcazares

gig guide www.starsinbars.org

Call our costa blanca sales office on

966 719 647

quesada gold rush jeweller’s c/los Arcos 17 - Quesada Buy And Sale Tel: 966 716 620 Pawn LA ZENIA GOLD RUSH  Workshop CC Zenia Boulevard (On Site Only In Torrevieja And Quesada) (Dentro de la galleria de ALCAMPO) TORREVIEJA GOLD RUSH 3d Design C/ Caballeros de Rodas, n 35 - TORREVIEJA Instant Repairs Tel: 965 712 029 Exclusive Jewellery goldrushzenia@gmail.com goldrushtorrevieja@gmail.com

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

31

C O M M U NIT Y NE W S THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH, QUESADA

Meets at NEW ADDRESS: with immediate effect at Hamilton´s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Service at 11.30 a.m., a Tuesday Evening of Mediumship at 7.30 p.m. And every Thursday there is an Open Circle where you can develop your skills commencing at 7.30 p.m. Spiritual healing is available every Sunday and Tuesday after the service. Gail Ross (UK Medium) will take the Divine Service with Mediumship on Sunday, 6th October. On Tuesday 8th October there will be an Evening of Mediumship again with Gail Ross – entry 3€ There will be a Fundraiser on Thursday, 10th October with Gail Ross and Lesley Pickering – entry 3€. Please support your church. Everybody welcome. Contact Wendy on 965323028. www.spiritualistchurchquesada.com New email is phoenixchurch23@gmail.com

Ayuntamiento San Fulgencio On Tuesday the 15th of October at 4pm, there will be a talk regarding the municipal padron and also how to vote at the European Elections, in the Social Centre of Urbanisation Marina.

It is very important that you confirm your intention to remain on the padron. If not, community services are at risk.

Please bring your passport or NIE number with you to one of the municipal offices at Calle Madrid no 5 or no 7, the Tourism Office, the Local Police Station on the Urbanisation or at the Plaza de la Constitucion No 26, San Fulgencio.

INFORMATIVE TALK ABOUT HEALTHCARE IN SPAIN FOR BRITISH EXPATS THE EUROPEAN HEALTH

INSURANCE CARD (EHIC) Wedn 2nd October at 12:00 Ayuntamiento de San Fulgencio Centro Social...

Ave San Fulgencio, Marina Urbanización, San Fulgencio ORGANISED BY: THE HEALTHCARE TEAM, UK DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPRESENTATIVES BASED AT THE BRITISH CONSULATE IN ALICANTE IN COLLABORATION WITH: UK DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AGÈNCIA VALENCIANA DE SALUT PART-FUNDED BY: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. Please visit www. healthcareinspain.eu for further information.

Strictly Social Club

We are the Strictly Social Club, a non profit, English speaking club.

We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, at the New Asturias Restaurant in Punta Prima on the N332. At the present time, we are actively looking to recruit new members to our club.

Our club activities include, Bingo, Open the Box, raffle for wine, and a quiz, with a guest speaker from time to time. Each Christmas, we hold our annual lunch which is always well attended, and good value for money. At this time, the club will subsidise part of the cost from club funds, for regular members. During the year, we also organise trips out to places of interest. So, if you would like to join our merry throng, please contact: Brian Tanner on 678 807 159 or Margaret on 966 730 569, where you will made to be very welcome.”

ACE-Autos Caravanas España

During or last rally in Torre de la Horadada we held our annual meeting to plan our rallies for 2014. Although not confirmed proposed rallies include visits to, Biarritz, Navarrenx, Mojacar area and Cuenca.

Meanwhile we still have our remaining rallies for this year.

4-11th October Fuseta, Portugal 7-12th November Javea, Spain 23 Dec-4th Jan Christmas and New Year in Benidorm, Spain So if you have a motorhome, caravan or tent come along to a rally and meet some new friends, it costs nothing to join us so what do you have to lose. Contact ACErallies@gmail.com for further information or telephone Pauline 965076667 / 617114933

THE RAINBOW CENTRE FOR SPIRITUAL AWARENESS at Sacko’s Bar, El Limonar near Torrevieja,

meets for Divine Service on 6th. October with medium Angie Jenner, on Wednesday 9th. October for an evening of clairvoyance with Jacqueline Holland Hunt and Pamela Booth and again for Divine Service on Sunday 13th. with Debbie Blevins who also appears on Wednesday 16th for an evening of clairvoyance. Everyone is welcome and there is healing during the Sunday Service. rainbowcentre cos t ablanc a@ google.com

2 CHANCES TO WIN!!!

FREE competition

Every week 1 lucky couple can win a fabulous Menu del Dia… … 1 couple can win a delicious, 9 item English breakfast, including tea or coffee (between 9.30am – 5pm)

AT MANHATTAN, CABO ROIG

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

BADMINT0N AT PILAR DE LA HORADADA

Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs. 10-1pm. For information ring John McGilvray on 966786774 or Mobiles 634 658 506 / 695 871 707 or e mail carolejohn_3@hotmail.com

CASTILLA AMIGOS

We are a friendship group for single people. Meeting every Wednesday from 3 pm at BAR SOFIA on the El Raso urbanisation (off the Lemon Tree Road) Guardamar. - ANN - 965070247 666747398

COFFEE MATES

If you would like to have a coffee and chat, exchange news etc. please join us at La Laguna Hotel, Lo Marabu, Friday mornings from 11.00 Ann - 965 070 247 - 666 747 398

rascals

A group of Rascals having a break during rehearsals for their December production of Odyssey. Rascals is a social group who raise money for local charities by performing Variety shows from which all the ticket sales goes to a nominated charity.

New members are always welcome to come along and be part of this well established group. At present they are looking for somebody to join

their team who is interested in music and has a reasonable knowledge of computers and how to download/splice tracks from the internet and who would be willing to play the music through the theatre sound systems.

For further information of the group look on our website www. therascals.org or contact Jill on 96 672 7282 or mobile 676 363 465.

space for a little one?

Stanley is four years old and was signed over to APAH because his owners couldn’t care for him anymore. He is very friendly towards people, walks well on a lead and is very clean in his kennel, but he doesn’t like to share with other dogs, so needs to have a home of his own. To arrange to meet Stanley please contact Yvonne on 630 422 563.

Jet and Jinty are a devoted brother and sister who were found in a cardboard box when they were four weeks old. A loving home for both of them together would be a wonderful future for them. To arrange to meet Jet and Jinty please contact Yvonne on 630 422 563.

To arrange to meet APAH’s dogs and cats who all need loving homes, please contact Yvonne on 630 422 563.

32

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

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

SOL CLASSIFIEDS

SOLTIMES www.soltimes.com see us online everyday

glass curtains

TELEPHONE: 966 719 647 for sale

create extra living space advertise all your unwanted choose from glass curtains, double items for sale in this section glazing, bi-folding doors. for a free any single item up to 300€ free of charge estimate. Tel: Peter on 646 111 825 email: blancasales@soltimes.com

hearing aids

awnings

From

550€

pool tables, snooker tables, table tennis tables, darts. tel: 666 933 726 www. spainpool.com area 966716646.

Sta i n le s s Steel inset sink, 780 x 430 with Roco mixer tap ,Left hand drainer,good condition.

20e .Camposol area.

Tel.676028725 BOOKSALE – 120 (V.G.C.) 25€ Tel: 966 716 599

www.digitalhearingspain.com

house clearances

boats IT IS ILLEGAL TO SKIPPER BOATS WITHOUT A VALID LICENSE. If you are caught skippering a power boat without a license you WILL BE FINED Possessing an (internationally recognised) RYA license saves money. Contact us now with NO OBLIGATION: Richard Plaster Tel: 638 056 224. enquiries@serenitysailing.com / http://serenitysailing.com/powerboatinglevel-2

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

Furniture

Furniture first

est 2006

sl

ROJALES SPECIALIST OF PRE - OWNED FURNITURE & AccESSORIES AT SENSIBLE PRICES

house clearance specialist FREE LOCAL DELIVERY SERVICE WE BUY, SELL & PART EXCHANGE QUALITY FURNITURE Open Mon - Fri 10 - 18.00, Sat 10 - 14.00 C/Pablo Neruda 2, Local 5, Rojales

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

garden services

A1 ground & gaRDEN SERVICES Diggers, Skips, Garden Re-form & Maintenance Telephone 628 505 733

quick cash house clearance

cars & motorcycles also wanted transport in 1 hour

tel: 669 723 709

REFRIGERATOR (nearly new) 80cm x 50cm 45€ Tel: 966 716 599 CANE WALL MIRROR 85cm x 60cm 10€ Tel: 966 716 599 Pine bedside cabinet (Masa) 20€ Petanque set of 8 metal balls complete with carry case 15€, Electric heated foot massager as new and still boxed 10€, Tel: 635885062 Camposol

Tel: 693 026 927 jewellery

CurverKitchen Pedal Bin in black and grey 5€ Campoamor Tel: 698 289 324

IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT Call Peter

664 890 990

Member of the National Association of Goldsmiths

DON’T LET YOUR POOL & WATER BILLS DRAIN YOU!!

www.leak-tech.net

Tel: 627 752 965 | 622 400 365 | 966 194 179

info@leak-tech.net locksmith

Locksmith locked out!! Call Me Telf: 647 151 972 (24hrs) Put This Number In Your Phone – 24 Hrs Call Out! Commerical, Residential, Cars Locks Changed - Dierre Locks Changed - All Locks To Work Off I Key – Motura Gardesa Locks Changed – Window Locks - Cars Opened To Retrieve Keys – Alarms Fitted

musician

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

Available to play in any venue. tel: 658 321 891 or solid wood medium Car trailer email lennymitchell@live.co.uk pine in colour Fue-vert-400 with

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

insurance

GOLD WANTED asssa medical

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

POOL AND WATER LEAK DETECTION & REPAIR SPECIALISTS

3 x glass half bowl ceiling light fittings 15€ the lot for sale Campoamor Tel: hp printer, hp 698 289 324 english TV Stand with scanner, 3 glass shelves keyboard, 17inch beneath.

Silver LCD flatscreen, 2 grey colour 20€ speakers, mouse Campoamor Tel: can be seen working 698 289 324 bargain 295€. price Bowl i n g includes all loaded Almark software. quesada woods Commander size area 966716646.

3 medium great and condition 70€ Two quesada area t h r ee - s e a t e r sofas, cream with 966716646 pale green stripe.

Dinning room VGC. 150€ the two. table 160/80cm El Pareton, Totana. also extends at both ends a further 40cm 968484151.

6 solid m atc h i n g great chairs condition excellent value only 300€.

Pine Unit 60cm quesada area wide x 90cm tall 966716646. x 20cm deep, cupboard below D e s kto p with mirror above. co m p ute r Antique colour complete= tower,

we buy anything

House Clearances All Types Of Vehicle (With Or Without Problems) Also Delivery & Collection Available For Personal Goods

100€ Campoamor Tel: 698 289 324

leak detection

insurances

Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan, 968 153 396 mazarron@asssa.es

paperwork 750kilo load with waterproof cover, private use only, good condition ideal for home and garden or small builder. cost 500€ only 295€ quesada area 966716646.

plumber

EMERGENCY

PLUMBER

WANTED

under counter double freezer can collect tel: 672 033 676

commercial kitchen oven

must be in good working order

can collect call 609 199 394

Juicin Jack fruit / veg juicer in good condition Quesada area. Tel 669 552 401 Wanted Man’s Mountain Bike must be excellent condition up to 75€ paid. Tel: 698 289 324

pets

All plumbing work undertaken, from full bathroom installation to small leaks.

Need a plumber in an emergency then call now

966 763 633 650 587 361

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

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

18 month old male donkey (rescued). kind knowledgeable home with plenty of space ony. 90€ fuente alamo. tel 634334169

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

www.soltimes.com

Tel: 966 719 647 or 902 750 190 ext 330

property for sale / rent for SALE detatched cortijo 20mins from mojacar Spanish cortijo with 4 beds, 2 baths, Open plan, kitchen & diningroom,workshop, courtyard front & back reduced €140,000 Tel: 649 186 107 or email thunderpaul2003@ hotmail.com

RENTAL PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED

in Cabo Roig/Villamartin, Orihuela Costa Playa Flamenca

We have clients enquiring in this area

Contact CASASOL REAL ESTATE

tel: 965 325 601 tony@casasolrealestate.com

FOR SALE Apartment (Top floor / Penthouse) Almoradi,Costa Blanca

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

Overlooks a newly reformed Plaza, church & mountains, unusually large terrace. 2 min walk away from the town’s attractive central square, all other amenities are also within easy walking distance,12 mins drive from the resort of Guardamar del Segura. Close to La Finca Golf course Private Sale €75,000

33

removals

Just Removals Friendly Low Cost

Full or part loads spain-uk-spain

Local Van & Pets Welcome Moves Trailer Motorbikes - Caravans Call Brian 965 326 920 - 666 847 648 email: beechdale@hotmail.co.uk

UK - SPAIN - UK From a parcel to a small house move

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

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

Sky Digibox, Pace with sky card, BBC 1, 2, 3, 4 ITV1, 2, 3, ch4 & 5, 60€ can deliver. Tel: 667 235 205 Rainbow Satellites for all your TV needs with clients all over the Murcia Region. Contact Matt or Alan 686 358 Tel: (0034) 676 534 978 475 or rainbowsats@terra.es

Large 22 cubic metre van with tail lift available for all removals & deliveries call Dave on 693 251 562 email davendonc@aol. com 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

De Lima’s removals Local, National & international REMOVALS & STORAGE Quality Second hand furniture showroom

263 Paseo del Mediterraneo Mojacar Playa, Next to Sal Marina Hotel Mon-Sat: 10am-2pm Call Marc on 647 006 183 or Jo on 600 344 565 or e-mail enquiries@delimas.biz

www.delimas.biz

fortnightly SERVICE TO & FROM UK FULL OR PART LOADS

ONE WAY

UK to Spain or Spain to UK

* COLLECTION & DELIVERY *STORAGE

TEL: 667 235 205

Pick up/drop off locations Throughout UK, France and Spain

CLASSIFIED 966 719 647

Telephone Dave on

693 251 562 email:davendonc@aol.com

Spain ‹ UK › Spain



SOLTIMES

Large box van with tail lift for all removals & deliveries inc uk - Spain & handyman

simply removals

Van hire

*LOCAL *NATIONAL *EUROPEAN

move it vantastic

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

Tel: 603 192 957/966 848 607

UK: 00 44 790 519 8895 MEL LANDON melvyynleo@yahoo.com wigs

Salon Margarethas 24 years in Torrevieja hair / wig specialist for medical illness and hair loss problems. We offer different hair replacements, top fillers, hair prostheses, toupees & wigs. Natural & artificial hair & much more. Also fashion / festival accessories. TV/TS are welcome to our service. Call Margaretha on 966 921 846 for an appointment.

34

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

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

trade Businesses can advertise in the classified section

Classified box from 9€. lineage only 45 cents per word - Deadline 5pm Friday Contact Christine 966 719 647

recruitment RAY ARE YOU A ?

E OF SUNSHIN

SOLTIMES are looking for A

Bright, enthusiastic person with an outgoing personality to join our sales team in Costa Blanca based at our office in Quesada.

Full or part time sales position available.

Experience not essential as full training will be given as long as you’re organised, enjoy meeting people & can work to deadlines

Send your CV to rob@soltimes.com

Tele/sales Marketing Person With Experience Preferably French & English Speaking

Willing To Work Flexible Hours

motoring starts here situations vacant

WANTED

wanted uk cars & vans bought for cash Tel: 667 235 205

ALL VEHICLES

Contact: 669 866 252 Or 966 764 017 Email Matt@costablancasales.com

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

personals

Telephone: 699 805 995

Based In Villamartin

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

FOR CASH

info@carsrus.es

wanted cars for cash

Best prices paid

Spanish English Anything considered

telephone Tim on 662 211 993 Vehicles registration

“RE-PLATE” R A S C

ELEGANT SLIM, SEXY, naughty ITALIAN LADY available home/ GB house visits.

WE BUY Torrevieja, La Cars, Vans, Bikes Damaged or Scrap Reliable Cars Bought For Cash Manga, Torre urgentely wanted Pacheco & jet skis any condition bangers4cash@yahoo.co.uk M a z a r r o n , quesada and Don’t take a chance! other areas.

Don’t break the Law! Let us take the hassle Escort available away from you and home & house re-register your vehicle visits Tel: 693 357 on to Spanish plates 526 Same day collection 490€ plus Road Tax We pay instant cash same day plus CO2 emission if applicable for cars, vans, bikes, quads, WE PROMISE TO BEAT caravans, trailers, ANY GENUINE QUOTATION For a full service contact: absolutley anything!

MATE

4 CASH

E

603 100 692

CASH CASH CASH

SOLTIMES

CLASSIFIED Contact Christine 966 719 647

Blanket factory tours

require for the new season inviters and booking agents for all areas of Calida and Torrevieja ,

please call Sue on 628 857 156

Hairdresser & Beautician wanted for 2 busy salons Part/full time in Mazarron area.

Tel: Jane on

611 611 858

or send CV to janes.salon.bolnuevo@gmail.com

From 1€ to 10,000€

Call Phil: 607 848 332

Ed’s mobile

CAR REPAIR SERVICE

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

610 078 940

recruitment

car parts

Do you need to step out side the rat race, are you fed up with your current job ? Then be different , join our team, we are currently looking for quality leaders of all ages who would like to own there own business in Spain, no start up capital needed just the ability to learn and teach. We have the latest and best nutritional and anti ageing products available.

Please email ageloc.mk@ gmail.com or call Martin 629293042

Car parts

MITSUBISHI CARISMA 1.9 DIESEL

www.carpartsinspain.com

or telephone 692 930 326

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

PEUGEOT 307cc

CONVERTIBLE 2004 SILVER, TOP MODEL WITH

for sensible prices on all parts Free quote go online or phone

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

cars for sale

Need quality new parts for any car

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

Alan 662 249 159

www.replatematecostablanca.com

2,000€ rhd, Spanish reg, hatchback in very good conditio, New tyres , cambelt ,waterpump, discs & pads fitted in the last, 3,000 miles. ITV until June 2014. Reliable &economical returning In excess of 50 mpg tel 672 863 514.

red/black leather interior, fsh, 94K One previous owner New tyres, brakes, discs

6995€ O.N.O.

Tel: 966 185 242

email: info@chiropractor-benijofar.es

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter to his friend JeanBaptiste Leroy that ‘In this life nothing is certain except death and taxes.’ However, Jean-Baptiste was French, and as Benjamin was good at French, what he really wrote was probably along the lines of ‘Dans cette vie, rien n’est certain, sauf la mort et les impôts.’

I have no knowledge whatsoever of French, far less 18th century French, so I have had to trust to Google for this translation!

I understand what he meant, but there is more to it than that; There are no end of things which have a certainty factor - I call it the Butter Side Down Phenomenon.

Here are a few of my most commonly encountered ones: A watched saucepan comes to the boil with all the speed of a sloth on holiday, but will overboil at the precise moment when I am the maximum distance away from it, and doing something else.

Likewise the phone only rings when I’m nowhere near it, and am doing something else, like dealing with an overboiled saucepan. However, as soon as I have got to it, it stops.

Items which I

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk

had to hand only a minute ago can dematerialise, only to rematerialise somewhere else as soon as I have given up looking for them.

One item in a matched set of anything fragile, such as teacups, will break, whereas any unmatched items will endure to eternity.

A glass, dropped and broken in the kitchen, can send shards throughout the entire house, and under every single piece of furniture. And how is it that I can always find tinsel somewhere in the house, even in July?

Anything that can break down will only do so on a Saturday afternoon, and after the guarantee has run out.

The water only goes off when I have a load halfway done in the washing machine, and if there is one garment which I really want to wear, it will be in that load.

My gardening clothes can remain spotless under virtually all circumstances, yet should I don a white blouse or trousers, I can guarantee something will have got spilt on them before I reach the front door.

Weeds can see me coming, trowel in hand, and retract into the ground only to pop up behind me as soon as I have passed.

But the most infallible Fact of Life is this: As soon as Pete has shut his eyes for an afternoon siesta, the dog will bark!

What are your Facts of Life?

Spit It Out and Mind Your Language There is no individuality these days. I was watching Match of the Day on telly last Saturday night and after each goal scored in the eight matches screened, the players concerned all seemed to be working from the same script. They either slid on their backsides across the pitch with arms raised; went down on their knees skidding across the turf, or they trotted round the pitch holding their forefinger to their lips at the spectators, as if to indicate that they should be quiet. What’s that all about?

In the first two scenarios, I would be bloody annoyed if I was the groundsman who had taken countless hours to bring the pitch up to match readiness and mowed it to within an inch of its life, and provided a pristine playing surface. And I wouldn’t want to have to launder their kit after ploughing up the grass with their backsides either.

Goal scorers used to do a thing where they pulled the front of their shirts over their heads and dashed round the pitch with arms akimbo after each goal. But you don’t see so much of that

now, mostly I suspect since a certain player ran into a goal post, rendering himself unconscious and leaving him concussed - which earned him a suspension from his manager for being a pillock.

That probably never happened, but it’s a nice thought and conjures up some gratifying images.

Why can’t some player come up with another form of celebration instead of copying everyone else week on week? Something to do with having all their talent in their feet and very little between their ears in most cases I suspect.

If a player decided to do something really different and – heaven forbid – congratulate team mates with a traditional hand shake after each goal; how refreshing that would be.

As for kissing . . . if I was a player and somebody tried to plant one on me, I would deliver a Glasgow kiss right back a bit sharpish.

And don’t get me started about the players hawking out great gobs of spit every five minutes. There are just clearing their throats of mucous someone once told me . . . a necessity when you are playing a high powered sport. Oh really. So why did the likes of Matthews, Moore, Charlton and Pelé not feel the need to indulge in the habit. Get some throat pastels or expectorant if you have a problem lads.

By Colin Bird : badbirdnow@gmail.com

But once again, some goon started this nauseating practice a few years ago and now they all follow suit.

Mister Rooney must end each game seriously dehydrated if the amount of slobber he expels is anything to go by.

But worst of all, is that kids playing footy in the park are doing it and mirroring the actions of their overpaid heroes – because that’s what kids do. There were even some members of the English ladies team decorating the pitch with their spittle during the recent World Cup qualifier against Belarus, I noticed.

Charming, and what a great example.

We seem to have gone into reverse since those days when NO SPITTING signs were displayed on buses and trains and offenders fined for doing it in public.

And another thing . . . what is this nonsense where it seems fashionable with many youngsters to abandon the Queens English in favour of some strange quasi Jamaican dialect? It’s great if you come from that exotic region, but other than that, a bit ridiculous if you are of Caucasian origin with red hair and born in Banbury.

Dey has got dis weird way of walkin’ too, sort a like a swagga dat da Noo Yawk pimps do, know wha ah meen. An dey wave dhere hans abaht like dey is all rappers or sumfin, innit.

It’s not only the youth either.

Many people from all walks of life seem to be losing the ability to communicate in a clear and interesting way. And every time I hear somebody on television about to address gatherings or being interviewed, and start each sentence with the word Ummm, I want to jump through the screen and give them a serious shaking.

Even that nice young man Prince William is an offender, bless his cotton socks.

So yeah, I mean, it’s about time someone like, in Government or something, started like, you know, some scheme to improve public speaking and that. It would be well good and so cool, you know what I’m saying?

I mean, like really awesome.

And guess what . . .

Doesn’t it all make you want to . . . well no, perhaps not.

If this sounds dangerously like the rantings of a grumpy old man – good. Because Ohhhh Miiiiy Gooood! - I quite like that title.

alqueria - EL MONO COLGANTE

B l y t h e Gruntmore, Alqueria’s very own Englishman resident and Geordie made one of those decisions that arrive with a flash of inspirational brilliance. The flash however wasn’t inspiration but the effect of downing a large glass of Remitroot Liquor. The idea, simply induced se nt ime nt alit y born from melancholy brought about by the after effects of downing a large glass of Remitroot liqueur.

Blythe’s grand plan, to build an English pub in Alqueria. It was to be built on waste ground to the east of the Río Verde. It was to be called El Mono Colgante, The Hanging Monkey. This was in honour of a brave and gallant act performed by his forebears in the north-east of England during the Napoleonic Wars.

Every detail was to be faithfully followed, even the depressing red brick was imported.

One very important aspect of an English pub is the beer.

Blythe, however failed to grasp the fact that beer at room temperature in England is quite different from beer at room temperature in southern Spain. Most who drank the tepid liquid thought it was a treatment for Pharyngitis.

The subtleties of another British tradition were also overlooked by Gruntmore. Puddles of beer on the bar. In the cool climate of Britain people wear long sleeves, when one leans on the bar these sleeves soak up beer. Wet elbows are an integral part of the ‘Pub’ experience. In southern Spain people mostly wear short sleeves, bare elbows are not absorbent and therefore do not diminish the amount of beer on the bar counter. At the end of the first evening there was so much liquid on the bar it had developed its own tidal system. People were being treated for alcohol poisoning of the elbow, it was costing the Alquerian Heath Service thousands.

Food consisted of pickled eggs, pickled onions and what Gruntmore described as ‘Mushy peas and a grunter’. This delicacy consists of Marrowfat Peas, presumably with indigestion as they are treated with bicarbonate of soda, then generally mistreated until they become a green amorphous mass. The ‘peas’ are then served with a barely warm pork pie.

The sight of a Spaniard trying to decide what to do with this dish is an interesting one. Some simply opted for bouncing it off the ceiling.

British pubs do not offer a table service and Gruntmore followed this tradition. Poor old Alfonso Delgado sat expectantly for four hours before being rushed off to Alqueria General Hospital by paramedics suffering from severe dehydration.

Once the unpleasantness of an English pub outweighed its novelty value Gruntmore’s clientele diminished to a critical level. El Mono Colgante soon became another statistic in the list of pubs closed and up for sale. And there’s no sadder sight than a closed and bolted pub.

John MacDonald (El Sordo) - www.caratacus.eu

facts of life

viewpoint

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

Cyber-Bullying What is it and How do we deal with it?

What is Cyber-bullying? Simply put, it is a form of coercion enforced with threats and menaces.

You could also call it Cyber-Terrorism.

We have all heard of children who’s lives have been made unbearable due to the vicious undermining of their confidence, with the intention to control and manipulate them to the attackers own ends. Some have even taken their own lives as a result of this harassment because they couldn’t see a way out of it. This is using extreme fear (terror) to control and manipulate (terrorism)!

There has always been a debate as to the best way to deal with bullies. From the bleeding hearts who would send them to Barbados to show them what a “correct attitude” can give, through the normal penal (borstal – isolationist techniques) currently favoured, to mine which involves a packing crate, a label address “Middle of the Sahara” and constantly repeating message “There will always be someone bigger and nastier than you”.

Let’s make one thing absolutely and abundantly clear. Bullying is bullying whether face to face, or in the form of a beautifully hand-crafted note on the finest velum or on a screen 18 inches from your nose! And it should be dealt with promptly, and with a finality that leaves the attacker shellshocked and ready to consider their actions as wrong (standard behavioural theory states that no change can occur until the individual is motivated enough to WANT TO CHANGE)!

What might surprise you is that it isn’t only children who suffer from this type of terrorism.

When I first came to Spain I saw that many properties were being left by their owners and as a result being looted and vandalised. I had the simple and obvious idea to allow people of good character to look after your property, ensure that maintenance was regularly done and all bills would be paid!

I put this notion on the “Arboleas Forum” and in return got a vicious and vindictive response far beyond the threat of my simple suggestion. I can only assume that most of these responses came from irate property owners who would rather risk damage to their property than lose a single cent! My response to this was surprisingly adult, (I know – Trev and Adult in the same sentence is an Oxymoron), and involved a disassembly of their arguments. I had the advantage of being a man and not a child, with a University Education and Martial combat skills that an introverted teenage “target” wouldn’t have!

WE, every last one of us, MUST be aware of this problem. Why? Next time you get a warning that the FBI or GUARDIA are watching you and you must pay 200€ fine to get your computer fixed, remember YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF A BULLY! But be assured that there are people out there, like me, who can remove this problem and that greater powers are hunting down these gangs and shutting them down by locking them up!

See you Friday afternoon 12-4 at Jacks Bar in Albox. The fixing costs but the learning experience is free.

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

REVIEW it...

Shorts for Autumn by Various Writers Deception Unlimited by Betty Woodcock.

With his bloated belly, matchstick legs and tangled punkrocker style fur, he looked like a child’s drawing come to life and he also looked pregnant.

Woodcock overemphasises the message through the plot which has so many twists and turns that you wonder if you are on a rollercoaster which is about to crash: don’t be deceived by first impressions. True nature will out. Things aren’t always what they seem. Fortunately the bad guys are caught and everything turns out satisfactory after chaos and mayhem dominate the lives of the Bennetts. And this is NOT Pride and Prejudice or the Waltons. As one might say: never a dull moment in the Bennett household.

The Bennetts have more than the average number of skeletons in the closet even for a dysfunctional family at constant war with each other and the world at large, with the occasional truce. The story cleverly satirises a working class family at its worst being battered from pillar to post with drug scams, surrogacy, infidelities and pregnancy scams. It’s all there in abundance to entertain and amuse you. Perhaps even confuse you. Crystal Bennett is a battleaxe of a woman, seething that she has been displaced by a Scrubber and you will lose count of the number of times she attacks her estranged husband, Robert trying to kill him with the bread knife. It turns out that he is an innocent party with a squeaky clean image after all (apart from the spell in jail) but worryingly, crazy enough to move back in with his loony wife and unpredictable, unstable children: Bryony with the pink hair, Tommy and “ it rocks man,” Malcolm.

Crystal despises poor Robert when she has hidden secrets that would detonate a bomb and cause destruction on a large scale. The truth will out woman as they say. And what an idiot she seems to be. Robert is a saint in comparison.

These people are sad little people trying to make their lives that bit more interesting so what do they do? Yes you’ve guessed it! They invent stories and they pursue lives full of deception and once their lies are discovered they become neurotically emotional, turning on crocodile tears for show of illusionary remorse. Bryony is a pro at this.

Our heroine, Tommy Bennett, takes us on this frenetic journey returning from a holiday in the States to the realisation that her holdall has been swapped and a disturbing noise from her car boot confirms that something is seriously amiss.

My holdall convulsed and heaved as if about to vomit. Startled I stumbled back…

What is inside? Nothing other than a frightened dog, its mouth taped and its feet bound smuggled into the UK for a

pretty obvious purpose. A brief mention of gleaming drug-filled condoms and you’ve cracked it.

Was it anything to do with the man on the plane emitting sinister vibes with a saturnine face more akin to the underworld of L.A. or who would do such a thing to a harmless beast of a dog? That’s one of the storylines waiting to be unfolded.

Tommy’s boss has transformed his garage where Tommy worked as a mechanic into a Speed-Dating Agency because of his car business which had gone belly up with crooks and some dodgy deals and this garage is the main setting for the action with many unwholesome characters coming and going with police activity on overdrive. Gordon is a decent guy just wanting to make a living. He is low in confidence after the scams and his wife’s affair. He sees himself more as Ozzy Ostrich ( not Ozzy Osbourne although I see a resemblance) with his head in the sand than George Clooney or for you young ladies, Justin Bieber. Tommy was engaged to Mitch until he shot her but he still gives her goosepimples when he smiles at her. No comment. As a policeman he breezes in and out of the action like the bad penny that won’t go away. Tommy also has this thing with one of the bad boys, Hopshead who has a reputation for getting involved with drugs and irritatingly has a limited vocabulary of “hello gorgeous.” He must be okay because he has an Elvis smile. But perhaps he’s not one of the baddies after all? Perhaps Tommy is just a poor judge of character. She is after all one of the Bennetts. Say no more.

Just when we think we’re on top of it all, we have a Tommylook-a-like, attacked just outside the garage, followed by a big police investigation to find out who this identical twin is and why she was attacked. What has this got to do with feisty Tommy who spends more time looking pale and droopy like a Victorian heroine being attacked and beaten up? Was she the intended target? More skeletons in the closet and a Charmaine takes centre stage with a phoney French accent and an interesting story of make-believe. Not another Bennett? Is it harmless make-believe or just a bit O.T.T? Tommy sees through it but what should one expect in the house of secrets or the lives of the Bennett family?

Appearances can be deceptive…..it’s all a question of psychology or unlimited deception perhaps as you will discover when you read the book!?

Available on ekindle/ereader or Createspace.

Carol Naylor - writing exclusively for the Sol Times...

Naylorcl@hotmail.es & www.carolnaylor.blogspot.com

The brilliant Nikola Tesla

Tesla was born in 1856 in what is now Croatia; academically gifted at 14 his teachers suspected him of cheating as he’d work out complex sums in his head. He went on to finish the 4 year course in just 3. He was then bedridden for 9 months with cholera and then ran away to avoid the draft.

At Polytechnic in Vienna his claim that he studied from 3am to 11pm is probably true as he admitted in later years to never having more than 2 hours sleep a night. He excelled in his first year though his family were warned he would die from overwork. Then he argued with his tutors and got addicted to gambling, losing then winning back his allowance and tuition fees. By exam time he hadn’t studied, was refused an extension and left without graduating.

In 1882 Tesla worked for the Edison Company in France, then when relocating to New York a couple of years later his money was stolen and arrived penniless.

He started work for Thomas Edison who allegedly offered him $50,000 if he could fix all the problems with his DC motor system. Of course Tesla did exactly that yet when he asked for the reward he was told it was just ‘American humour’, he resigned and set up his own company in 1886.

Tesla favoured AC motors yet his investors disagreed and sacked him, again he was penniless and worked as a labourer before setting up the Tesla Electric Company. Within a year he had perfected his own AC motor, selling the system in 1888 to Westinghouse for $60,000, a $2000 a month (nowadays equal to $60K) consultancy position and future royalties on the electricity his motors produced. This was the time of the ‘War of Currents’ which pitted Edison against Westinghouse to decide whether AC or DC would be the future power supply for America and the world.

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As the stakes were so high Tesla was able to negotiate this almost extortionate price as his was the first commercially available AC motor.

Within a few years Edison was broke; by 1897 Westinghouse had paid out over $200,000 in royalties and was close to bankruptcy, so a negotiated final payment to Tesla of $216,000 (about $6m nowadays) bought out the royalty clause on Tesla’s patents they were using. In 1899 Tesla moved to Colorado Springs and set up a laboratory for his high voltage experiments. He created artificial lightning which was so powerful that its thunder was heard 15 miles away, light bulbs glowed even when turned off and sparks flew between the earth and peoples feet as they walked. The generator six miles away burnt out.

Tesla was way ahead of his time; he experimented with radio, radar, wireless power a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft, even a Death Ray. One year before the X-Ray was officially discovered Tesler took the first ever X-Ray picture when trying to photograph the hand of his friend Mark Twain. Tesla even built a radio controlled boat which the audience were convinced had a trained monkey inside steering it. Like the Death Ray before, he tried to sell the design for use in torpedoes to the American military without success.

Tesla chose to live in hotels, dining alone at precise hours, he had friends amongst his contempories yet seemingly never had relationships with women. Tesla was a brilliant man and was awarded about 300 patents in his lifetime yet he died alone and penniless in 1943.

The American Government seized his possessions in case they could help the enemy!

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

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

sport

SPORTSMAN GOLF SOCIETY, QUESADA CD JUVENIA 4 MAZARRON FC 2

@ La Serena Golf Wednesday 25th September 2013 14 of the 24 players descended upon the Bar bright and early prior to leaving for La Serena to divulge in a hearty breakfast. Yolanda was heard saying “I’ve never driven to work in the dark since I’ve been here” !!!!!! Upon arrival at the course the groupings got together with every intention of burning up the course, however, I think the heat burned up a few players as reflected by the scores although a few players managed to play well. Unusually some of the more Stead”y” players found the going tough and came in with less points over 18 holes than some of the players managed over nine holes !!!!! A big thank you to Ron and Yolanda at the Sportsman for cooking a pre round breakfast and a great feast after the game not forgetting

Hello

the vino for Nearest the Pin prizes. Thanks to John Sanchez, Spice Hut & Gingerbreadman for also donating prizes on the day. Jake at long last the bones were forthcoming “that’s given Spanish a reprieve for a month at least !!!!

Winners of the Day: Winner: John Fullicks 35 points, Runnerup : John Sanchez 34 points Nearest the Pins : 3rd John Sanchez, 9th Tom Coleman, 15th Graham Pattenden, 17th No Winner Front 9 : Nikki Ead 16 points Back 9 : Brian Ead 18 points Football Card : John De Vere Thanks all for a great day, next outing Wednesday 23rd October @ Font del Llop.For more info email : sportsmangolf@hotmail. com

amigo Ca r s La Marina

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Mazarron’s fine start to the season came to an abrupt end when they failed to capitalise on a 2-0 lead and, in the end, were well beaten by CD Juvenia who had drawn their first two games.

Mazarron took the lead after just five minutes when Pescao ran on to a fine through ball from Alcaraz and slotted the ball home past the advancing keeper.

Young goalkeeper Ruben came to Mazarron’s

Mazarron continued to press forward and Tico’s free kick was headed wide by Jose Ruben. Then, after 20 minutes, Mazarron increased their lead.

Chema was fouled on the edge of the penalty area and Tico’s perfectly flighted free kick nestled in the top corner of the net.

CD Juvenia came more into

The Lions are reaching out Following their highly successful Summer fund raising for ALPE in Torrevieja where in excess of 5,000.00 euros was raised, the Torrevieja Costa Lions Club have now embarked on a series of fund raising events to raise funds to help the homeless and needy people in our area.

The Lions are hoping to raise sufficient funds to be able to help those in need in Torrevieja, San Miguel and Rojales. The fund raising kicked off this

FC TORREVIEJA

FC TORREVIEJA SURRENDER A TWO GOAL LEAD AND THE GAME ENDS WITH HONOURS EVEN Last Sunday evening Torry made the short journey to Orihuela to play local rivals Orihuela CF. The game kickedoff in brilliant sunshine in front of a good crowd containing 50 or so Torrevieja supporters. There was a good atmosphere and a lot of noise from a contingent of young Orihuela supporters located behind one of the goals.

The Torry manager made one change from the previous

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rescue four minutes later with a superb save from point blank range.

CALLE LOS ARCOS 7, 03170, CIUDAD QUESADA

the game as the first half progressed and Ruben had to be alert to save a free kick from 30 yards. However, poor defending

by Mazarron allowed the home side back into the game three minutes before half time when a right wing cross was turned in at the far post to make the score CD Juvenia 1 Mazarron 2.

The experienced Cecilio replaced Pescao at half time but Mazarron were never in the game after the interval. Too many players were ineffectual and CD Juvenia grew in confidence as the half progressed. They equalised after 54 minutes after a goalmouth scramble ended with a far post header which gave Ruben no chance.

Cecilio broke through minutes later but his poor cross failed to find a Mazarron forward and the ball was cleared. Juan Andreu had a shot saved following an Alfonso free kick but it was CD Juvenia who took the lead for

week with a fun race night at the Courtyard Bar Restaurant in Los Balcones which raised 363.00 euros, and the evening was enjoyed by a host of local people and holiday makers alike. Lion President Janette Bennett thanks everyone who participated and of course Veronica the proprietor of the Courtyard and all the staff for looking after everyone so well. The monies raised at the Courtyard will be donated to

Reach Out in Torrevieja.

week bringing in Vicente for the veteran Valdeolivas who I believe was suspended. Vicente played at right back with Eloy moving across to left-back and Dani Meseguer taking up a position in midfield in front of the back four.

from outside the box which rattled the Torry crossbar. The home side won a number of corners which Torry managed to defend but not without a few close shaves. Obele posed a threat to Orihuela with his pace on the counter attack and despite the attentions of both Orihuela central defenders was proving to be a handful. On 40 minutes Carrion produced another super save to keep Orihuela out. The half-time whistle blew to end what had been a very entertaining first half. A minute into the second half Torry struck again. Pastor had a cross blocked and the loose ball was curled into the far corner of the net from an acute angle by Obele – yes – Obele.

This gave Torry the comfort of a 2-0 lead. It didn’t last long as a couple of minutes later Orihuela won a free-kick on the right of the Torry penalty area and a tremendous strike from an Orihuela forward clipped Carrions fingertips and came back into play off the crossbar and the rebound was blasted high into the Torry net. 2-1 to Torry. After 67 minutes another direct free-kick from range by Orihuela clipped the upright and went out of play. After 75 minutes Torry conceded a freekick on the edge of their box.

The free-kick was taken quickly and released an Orihuela forward in the Torry box. He was brought down by a lunging challenge from Dani Meseguer which earned him a red card and Orihuela a penalty. The

Torrevieja: Carrión, Vicente, Eloy, Alexis, Rafa, Dani Meseguer, Pastor, Obele, Dani Lucas (Burguillos 60 ‘), Gasch (Carrasco 66’) and Micro (Rafa Gomez 74 ‘). Not Used: Carlos Moreno and Alberto.

The game started evenly but as it wore on the home side began to take territorial advantage.

After 13 minutes a Torry corner was hand-balled in the area by an Orihuela defender and the ref pointed to the spot. Dani Meseguer struck the penalty low towards the bottom right-hand corner. The Orihuela keeper got down well to save the spot kick.

After 15 minutes an Orihuela corner wasn’t cleared properly and the influential Orihuela midfielder Alcolea struck a vicious shot which produced a magnificent save by Carrion at the expense of another corner.

A minute later Torry broke clear and Pastor found Gasch in space and he took the ball on and then finished clinically with a shot across goal into the far corner of the net. 1-0 to Torry. After 26 minutes Alexis sustained a head injury and had to go off for treatment. He returned 5 minutes later with a bandage round his head. During his time off the field Alcolea for Orihuela hit a venomous shot

Any bar owner/landlord who would like to hold such an event on their premises should contact Iain on 966 731 495, or idsbennett@hotmail.co.uk Supporting the Lions is a guaranteed way of ensuring that those less fortunate in the community are provided for.

The next Major event for the Lions is the promotion of the theatrical production of

the first time after 70 minutes when poor defending by Mazarron allowed a right wing cross to be forced home at the far post.

Then in the final minutes an error by the usually dependable Juan Andreu let in a Juvenia forward who easily beat the advancing Ruben to make the final score 4-2 in favour of the home team.

The result showed that Mazarron have a lot to do to maintain a push for promotion.

Too many players had an off day but hopefully normal service will be resumed at the next game, at home to Sangonera La Verde, next Sunday 6th October kick off 5.30 pm Team: Ruben, Victor (Juanillo), Juan Andreu, Alcaraz, Dani, Alfonso, Moha, Tico, Pescao (Cecilio), Chema (Randey), Jose Ruben Man of the Match: Tico

South Pacific. The show will be performed by the excellent Footlights Theatre Group, in the Teatro Municipal, Torrevieja on Wednesday 20th November 2013 at 2000hrs. Tickets priced at 12.00 euros will go on sale at the theatre box office shortly.

In the meantime the Lions will happily respond to any request to hold a race night at any local venue. To find out more about your local Lions Club go to www.torreviejacostalions.org

spot kick was dispatched into the back of the net. 2-2 with 15 minutes to play and Torry down to 10 men. New Torry signing, striker Rafa Gomez, came on for the last 15 minutes and showed a few promising touches. Torry managed to hang on in an anxious last 15 minutes. Yellow cards were picked up by Carrion, Alexis, Rafa, Eloy and Pastor. A thoroughly entertaining game of football which I am sure those that witnessed it will concur.

Just a pity Dani Meseguer didn’t put away the penalty for Torry early in the game and then give away a penalty and get himself sent off. A draw was a fair result over the ninety minutes.

On Sunday at 6.00 pm Torry entertain newly promoted Paterna CF who have got off to a decent start to the season and lie in 7th place in the table with 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat.

Now that Torry striker Obele has got off the mark let’s hope he has regained his confidence and s ”hooting boots” in front of goal and adds to his tally. Try to be at the Vicente Garcia on Sunday.

To catch up on up to date information about Torry visit the new Torry Army website www.fctorrevieja.net or the clubs website www. futbolclubtorrevieja.net .

A delighted but a bit disappointed Darrylldinho, following his adopted team in Spain come away with a point from their local rivals after surrendering a two goal advantage.

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

sport

CLAPTONS GOLF SOCIETY EL VALLE 20TH SEPTEMBER Results as follows.

2013 Here we are at the picturesque course of El Valle for the September meeting.

Unfortunately we got off to a bad start as the restaurant was not open when we arrived so it meant a lot of the members rushing around for coffee and to get down on the driving range before the starting tee of 9.30.

Having said that the course looked in really good condition apart from the horrible grassy mounds. As we set off the dew was still on the greens, this made the going to start with slow but as the sun rose the greens began to get faster and faster which always makes life difficult. At the end we did manage some quite reasonable scores all round. This was the last of our Polaris World trilogy for this summer. Most of the courses have been enjoyed with odd reservation.

Everybody having finished we journeyed back to the Clubhouse for the refreshments and presentation.

Our thanks to Chris and his staff.

ROCKETS G.S RAY BATTISTE TROPHY

MEMORIAL

ALICANTE GOLF TUESDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER It was fitting that the venue Alicante Golf was in very good condition following recent tinning and with fairways to dream of, unfortunately the scoring was below Par and only 3 members broke 30 points.

28 Members and Guests attended and played with a 09.30 tee off, it was a very good turnout for our long remembered friend.

Time does fly by as this was the third year we have remembered him by holding this tournament.

Thanks also to the various sponsors who donated prizes; Marife and staff at Alicante Golf a Green Fee Voucher for the winner, Mick the Grip for Sponsoring all 6 nearest the pins and to Pablo Riestra at Vistabella Golf for his Green Fee donation.

The results of the day Gold Category 1st MERV WILLIAMS 36 pts 2ND LES YATES 31 pts 3RD PETE ROOT 29 pts 4TH RODNEY SMITH 28 pts Silver Category 1ST KEN HOPKINS 32 pts 2ND RON CHAMBERS 27 pts 3RD ALAN BROOKER 25 pts 4th GEOFF WILD 24 pts

Overall Winner (El Bandido Royal) Bob Eaton 38 points Gold Winner: Ian Faulkner 37 points Gold Runner Up: Tony Stead 33 points on c/b Silver Winner: Mike Bates 33

ITV ORIHUELA RFC

Silver Runner Up: John Stones 31 points

FIRST FRIENDLYROLLING

Best Front Nine: John Harvey 18 points

In the first friendly of the season ITV Orihuela RFC played at home against a Alcoy/ Aspe combined side who are in their second season of playing rugby.

Best Back Nine: Brian Abbott 17 points Nearest the Pin 6th

Phil Cooke

9th

Chris Gridley

12th

Dave Pretty

15th

Steve Craven

Best Guest: Gary Strowger 35 points Most Potential: Dave Temple Two’s Competition: Phil Cooke, Mark Pollitt, Bob Eaton Next meeting Alenda 18th October.

NEAREST PINS Hole 3: Mick Hithersay.

Hole 6: Geoff Cogswell.

Hole 8: K en Ogden.

Hole 12: Merv Williams.

Hole 15: Alan Moody.

Hole 17: Athur Williams.

Best Guests: Ken Ogden 34 pts, Mark Taylor 33 pts Longest Drive: Ken Ogden RAY BATTISTE MEMORIAL TROPHY WINNER: MERV WILLIAMS Next Game: Tuesday 8th October at Vistabella the first tee time is 09.00 am, so be there by 08:30.

We hope we can play all the outstanding Singles & Doubles matches because Arthur Williams is in the Final of the Singles and is champing at the bit, wondering who he is going to beat in the Final. His words not mine.

As always we were welcomed back at IZZY’s bar for the customary sandwiches and the best chips on the Costa’s thanks as always Tony, Jackie and Roxy.

For more information or if you wish to play with the arguably the friendliest Golf Society contact Ron Nicholson on 678849142 or email sanmigron@gmail.com Photo: Ray Battiste Trophy: Winner Merv Williams being presented by Rodney Smith Gold Category: Pete Root - Les Yates – Merv Williams

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KEEP

ON

Orihuela RFC put in two teams, in the first half the experience side and in the second half the vets and mainly new players to give them a taste of what rugby is about and some experience.

Within the first minute Jose scored the first try of the game for Orihuela RFC, followed by another from Fran converted by Tirso. Experience was showing all over the park, and could easily have been more with some determined defending from Alcoy.

The tries kept coming with Alcoy changing players to put fresh legs on, with more tries coming from Rafa, Tirso, Jose again,,Alvaro, and two from Alex on his debut for the club. With Tirso getting five conversions, bringing the half time score 50-0 to the home side.

In the second half Orihuela RFC brought on their second team of vets players together with new ones to the game and players stepping up a level.

With yours truly playing at number 8, the try festival kept coming with seven more tries in the second half, but only two conversions, bringing the final score 89-0 to Orihuela RFC. It was a good warm up for the club who will definitely have harder games during the season, but all credit must go to the Alcoy/Aspe players who never gave up and were determined to battle until the final whistle. Keep up the good work lads and never give up.

Also I will be at the Moncayo Market on Saturday from 09.00 to 13.30 so if you want to know anything about rugby in the area come down and see me there. Also the club are helping the Butterfly Children raise money for their fund raising day on 2 October by selling raffle tickets with first prize been a Canterbury casual shirt worth 75€. Tickets can be got from me at the market, The Card Place, Benimar, and Debra charity shop in Pablo Bravo.

Also new in the area in Guardamar is a beach fitness training starting at 18.00 on Monday 23 September behind Guardamar Beach Hotel ideal for anyone of any age and fitness level. So come down and have some fun there with Trainer John every Monday evening.

Training is at the Miguel Hernandez

Breakers yard ooking for runners/non runners l

Free collection Best prices paid Baja issued

(All paperwork taken care of with certificate of destruction)

NO MORE SUMA BILLS TO PAY Also parts available

607 848 332 Ask for Phil

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t n i a p y k a % of f f l er w i t h t his

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University ground at 20.00 on Tuesday and Thursday for the seniors and juveniles. The juniors start at 18.15.

So if you are interested, dig out those rugby boots and come along and see for yourself what it is like.

New players are always welcome no matter what age or skill level you are.

If you would like more information about what is going on in the club, you can contact the club by phoning myself, Garry on 692 767 242, and for the juniors contact Oscar on 600 871 606 (Spanish

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40 SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2013

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