Blanca b312 hires

ISSUE 312

COSTA blanca

GREAT

29 JAN- 04 FEB

SolTimes

CK ME UP’ YOUR ESSENTIAL WEEKLY ‘PI NAVIGATE YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS advertise WITH SOL TIMES CALL 902 750 190 your free weekly newspaper

Specialists in Property Maintenance

Property & Garden Management Key Holding We Urgently Require Properties for Rental & For Sale in Quesada area.

€19.

95 full sky per month packages *conditions apply available SEE OUR MAIN ADVERT ON PAGE 11 Tel: 965 725 670

Or call in to our office on Calle Los Arcos No. 7 Ciudad Quesada

Tel: 966 717 043 www.pm-services.es Avda. de los Naciones 1/C, No. 10 Cuidad Quesada, 03170 Rojales, Alicante Open 7 days a week Mon - Sun 12pm - 10pm

A DA QUFishES& Chips

C/Los Arcos Local 1 Quesada (turn left just before the arches) We will beat any genuine quotation

CALL 950 121 936 SALES@ SOLTIMES .COM

Weekend Breaks Away page 6

PM-Services SL

Free help & advice

RATES

www.soltimes.com

wierd & wonderful page 13

Free storage on all removals

ADVERT

est. SINCE 2005

Menu of the day €6.50

12 noon till 5pm : COD OR HADDOCK, Chips,

Peas, Bread & Butter - takeaway also available

sunday 5,50€ NOW OPEN special all dayQuesada Fish & Chips 2 Villa Martin Plaza Fish, Chips and peas

966 719 136

www.freetvspain.com

Established 12 yrs on the Costa Blanca

Call Tim 66 22 11 993 Yvonne 61 00 50 099 NO more unwanted Suma bills, speeding tickets etc Cars legally transfered out of your name trouble free polite courtesy service 100s of satisfied customers

966 764 441

STORAGE

call us now we welcome you 7 days a week

2

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

News

Spanish photographer abducted in Colombia

A SPANISH citizen was kidnapped whilst on holiday in Colombia 19 days ago and no news has been heard since, according to his parents.

Borja Lázaro Herrero, who lives somewhere in México – the exact location not specified – was reported missing by his family, from Vitoria in the Basque Country, to their National Police force on January 8, and details were passed to the Spanish Consul in the northern holiday town of Cartagena de Indias, Juan Antonio Martínez.

Borja, a media photographer, was thought to have been visiting the remote La Guajira province alone, without his Mexican wife, as a tourist when he disappeared.

He had described on his Twitter site and on his blog how he had been to the capital, Bogotá, before visiting the coastal towns of Cartagena de Indias and Santa Marta and then travelled on to La Guajira.

Interpol has sent out a search order and the Consul says Borja was last seen in a hostel, or small guest house in the nature reserve of Cabo de la Vela in the La Guajira province on January 7.

His camera, passport and various items of clothing were found in his room.

The La Guajira area, a northern zone near the Venezuelan border and the site of a national park popular with visitors, is exactly where Spanish couple Ángel Sánchez Fernández and María Concepción Marlaska Sedano – both from Asturias and the latter being the daughter of famous High Court judge Fernando Marlaska – were abducted by opportunists.

They were released after several weeks in captivity and, as a result of their ordeal bringing them closer, Ángel asked María Concepción to marry him during a public press conference upon their release.

Source: thinkSPAIN.com

Bárcenas slush-fund case: Mercadona chairman Juan Roig to testify as witness

THE judge handling the Bárcenas’ slush-fund case and the alleged bribes and cash-in-hand dealings of the PP government has summoned the founder of Mercadona supermarket as a witness.

Juan Roig, one of the top five richest people in Spain, is not facing charges but is required to supply information to judge Pablo Ruz, who is also dealing with the infamous ‘Gürtel’ corruption trial.

Roig, chairman of the supermarket chain which started in the Comunidad Valenciana and is said to have some of the best working conditions in the country for its employees, is down on paper as having given 150,000 euros to the PP party.

He will appear in court in Madrid on February 5.

Three other possible donors to the PP are also summoned for hearings in their capacity as witnesses – Pilar Pulido, one of the directors of ADS Brokers, whom former party treasurer Luis Bárcenas has written down as having given them 36,000 euros, and Luis Gálvez, chairman of the company Ploder.

The latter is recorded in the so-called ‘Bárcenas papers’,

or ‘underground’ accounts as ‘supplier of unidentified funds, having allegedly given the PP a total of 50,000 euros.

A third individual or company, whom judge Ruz has been unable to formally identify as he is registered in the accounts as ‘Adolfo S.’, apparently donated 10,000 euros to the PP. Also, on Wednesday, February 5 when Mercadona’s chairman is due to make a statement, the regional manager of the PP in the La Rioja region from the year 2008 will appear in court together with the two individuals who ran his office, Carlos Cuevas and Ana Elvira Martínez, in connection with the sum of 200,000 euros which Bárcenas had written down on May 26 that year as ‘receipt of funds from La Rioja’.

According to the ex-treasurer’s own declarations in court on July 15, this sum was used to finance the purchase of the PP’s new headquarters in La Rioja.

In the ‘official’ accounts, the sum of 200,000 euros was given to La Rioja’s branch of the PP by the central group in Madrid, which is now in government, in June 2008.

There was no indication that

this had been refunded, but Bárcenas refers to the same amount of money received later from La Rioja as ‘donation or sum received from’ this region.

This is believed to have been in cash and had to be refunded in the form of ‘official funds’ for purchasing the head office in the northern area.

Judge Ruz recalled that although many of the alleged cash-in-hand transactions Bárcenas claims went on within the party have now expired under the Statute of Limitations, those that took place in 2008 are still current.

The judge also considers there may have been fiscal fraud involved with the Company Tax, or Impuesto sobre Sociedades – payable annually by firms in Spain on their profits – in 2008.

He has called for the tax collection authority, the Agencia Tributaria to supply the original declarations and payment receipts for the PP’s Company Tax in 2007 and 2008, or a document showing they had not been presented by the party, if this is the case.

Source: thinkSPAIN.com

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

Avalanche leaves 240 stranded in Huesca ski resorts AVALANCHES at the ski station of Benasque in the province of Huesca have left 58 guests and 20 employees stranded in a hotel on the resort.

In total, at least 240 skiers are said to be trapped in stations throughout the north of the province due to a series of avalanches falling over Friday night and Saturday morning.

Rescue workers have been trying to clear a path through the snowdrift, which has cut off the A-139 in Llanos del Hospital, the nearest village to the resort.

They are digging an ‘escape route’ out of the side door of the Hospital de Benasque hotel, because to do so from the main entrance would take them several days, says manager Jorge Mayoral.

The avalanche, said to be caused by rainfall and increasing temperatures in the last few days, is one of several which have hit the entire valley.

In nearby Senarta, three have blocked off the diversion to the hospital.

Further along the Spanish Pyrénées, an avalanche fell onto the C142b in La Pleta de Tanau, in the Naut Aran area of the province of Lleida.

A house with 10 occupants were left

News

Coca-cola shuts four plants in Spain, axing 1,250 jobs

COCA-COLA Iberian Partners is surrounded and had to be dug out and given temporary accommodation by set to close four of its 11 factories in Spain and make 750 people the town hall. redundant.

Four roads in the region of Catalunya Another 500 staff members will be have been blocked by snow and, in relocated.. some cases, avalanches.

According to the global soft drinks These are the BV-4024 from Bagà giant, the plant at Fuenlabrada to Coll de Pal and the BV-4031 from (Madrid), where the Spanish head Castellar de N’Hug to La Molina, office is based, together with those both in the province of Barcelona, in Palma de Mallorca, Alicante and and the C-28 from Vaquèira to Casa Colloto (near Oviedo in Asturias) will Sastrada-Els Avets and the C-142b be shut and redundancy consultations from Vaquèira to Pla de Beret, both in will be ongoing until Friday, February the province of Lleida.

21.

At least one ski station has been forced to close because of damage to pylons caused by avalanches – this is particularly the case at Astún in the Pyrénées of Huesca where an entire residential complex has been left without electricity and the resort is not expected to open again until later today (Sunday) after two days of being shut.

Coca-cola has around 4,200 employees in Spain, and wants to axe the factories where 1,250 of them work to ‘cut down on inefficiency and duplication of work’ and to ‘consolidate criteria’ in its activities and procedures.

The firm expects to be able to offer voluntary redundancies where this would suit certain workers, and early retirement packages, to reduce the So far, none of the avalanches number of people who will be forced reported have caused any injuries or into the dole queue. fatalities, or any significant property A total of 500 places will be offered damage. in other factories around Spain, Source: thinkSPAIN.com

Solar electric systems Solar hot water systems Buy direct - no middle men no sales people - no subcontractors Quality European products Guarantees backed by 10 years of training in Spain Complete solar systems from only 1500€ including installation 10% price beater promise we will beat any other like for like price

3

depending upon the extent to which

existing staff members are able to relocate.

The firm wants to spread out its production base more in a ‘new circular map’ to include more concentration on the north of Spain, the east, Balearic Islands and the centre of the country.

Considering this to be a ‘more efficient’ way of working, Cocacola will increase production in its remaining seven factories in A Coruña, in the north-western region of Galicia; Bilbao, in the Basque Country; Málaga, Sevilla, Barcelona, Valencia and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Customer services will be centred entirely in Madrid, Barcelona and Sevilla ‘to improve response time and efficiency’, according to the multinational.

Coca-Cola Iberian Partners claims its business structure and production activities have been ‘too fragmented’ in the country and wishes to create a tighter corporate framework.

Source: thinkSPAIN.com

office in Bolnuevo (near Farmacia) next to Cafe Colonia

euro

spas

we buy used spas

longest established spa dealer in this part of spain Spas from 2500€ Large Selection of Used & Ex-display Spas Supplier of Spares & Filters We repair all makes of Spa

NEW SPAS from 4995€

~ NO DEPOSIT ~ payment on completion & satisfaction

650 722 905 or 650 769 103

www.eurospas1.com eurospas@gmail.com

4

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

barnes bulletin

TRIBUTE TO A GENTLEMAN

ort DRAMA IN THE HILLS Mineral collector Fiona Pitt-kethley has, during her many years of wandering atop and beneath the Sierra Minera range, encountered many dangers such as rock / mine tunnel collapse and flooding adits, but an unexpected encounter with a thaemetopoea pityocampa was a confrontation this week, that Fiona could have done without. While cutting out a sizable emerald from rocks above Portman, Fiona removed her gloves, unknowingly providing an ideal burrow for a pesky processionary caterpillar, to wander into. These dangerous caterpillars build silky nests in the branches of Pine trees, and wander off during January & February, in search of food, and soft ground where they can crawl into and hide, until they pupate, and during the warm summer months, return to the surface as a moth. The processional caterpillar has around 60,000 fine hairs on it’s body, which contain an urticating toxin, similar but far stronger than that found in nettles. Should the hairs come in contact with the skin, or inhaled, can cause reactions that can range from a mild inflammation through to severe anaphylactic shock. Cats and dogs find the long procession of these caterpillars hard to resist. Inhaling the hairs can severely affect an animals breathing, and licking can cause necrosis of the tongue, such that parts of the tongue turn black, and may drop off, or have to be amputated by a veterinary surgeon. If caught early enough, high doses of cortisone will prevent permanent damage, and pets will make a full recovery. Returning to our intrepid prospector Fiona, having put her gloves back on, immediately felt the pain in her hand, removed the glove to see her finger now turning black, catching sight of the pest, falling from glove to ground. By the time Fiona made her way to the nearest village, her hand was now a very strange colour. With luck, a local veterinary practice was open, and managed to administer first aid assistance. This problem will be with us until about March, when all that have survived, will pupate into moths.

Latest news from our sufferer? Fiona is now fully recovered, and sports a glossy coat along with a cold nose.

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

Threatening sky’s and a cold wind blowing from the coast, did not prevent a goodly turnout of colleagues, close friends and family of the late Ramon Eugenio, on the evening of Saturday, January 18th., to gather at the Casa de Cultura, in Pilar. Led by the Pilar De La Horadada Town Band, younger members of Ramon’s family, headed the procession from the Casa de Cultura, along the streets to The Parque, which has been renamed in Ramon Eugenio’s honour. Here, a wreath was placed on the Costalero Plaque. Mari Carmen Villaescusa, Presidenta Junta Mayor De Corfadia y Hermandades de Semana Santa, along with local dignitaries, stood in silence for two minutes at the memorial stone, to remember Ramo’n Eugenio Escudero Albaladejo, who was, until his untimely death in 2012, Presidente de la Junta Mayor de Cofradias y Hermandades de Semana Santa de Pilar de la Horadada. From The parque, the parade made it’s way to the Church in the Square, where a short Mass service took place. It was good to see members of the Campoverde Costalero, marching in the parade, that evening. Ramo’n, a true gentleman, will not be forgotten.

Your right to vote!

Above our heads!

(Or not, as the case may be!)

As this weeks edition of Sol Times hits the news stands, we may be at the start, middle or in the final days of a Europe wide air traffic controllers strike. The E.C. has upset the controllers just a tad, because they want to cut costs, which one can assume, will necessitate job cuts. The body that represents some 28 different unions, ATCEUC, with many thousands of members, are not happy. Cathode Ray Tubes will go cold in Air Traffic Control Towers across Europe, 27th through to the 31st..

Radar, without which, air travel would never have “Taken off”, came to be through the pioneering work of Robert Watson Watt and Arnold Frederic Wilkins, with experiments in a field in Stowe Nine Churches, Northamptonshire, and later at the mysterious and windswept landscape of Orford Ness, Suffolk. Now under the protection of The National Trust. Well worth a visit when next in the old country.

In 1889, Emmeline Pankhurst, founded the Women’s Franchise League, which fought to allow, at the time, married women the right to vote in local elections. During October 1903, Emmeline help found the more militant Women’s Social and Political Union. Members in this “Union” were christened “Suffragettes”. WSPU member Emily Davison was killed when she threw herself under the king’s horse at The Derby, as a protest at the government’s continued failure to grant women the right to vote. Emmeline died in June 1928, shortly after women were granted equal voting rights with men, at the time, being 21. What made me wander off into history, was a missive from the Census & Statistics Department, Torrevieja, reminding residents of the city, that registration of intent to vote in the European parliament, ends on the 31st of January.

If you wish to vote in both EU and municipal elections, you must inform the padron office immediately. If you are a home owner, you will need to visit the “Estadistica” office, situated in Calle Union Musical Torrevejese, number 22, with (Wait for it!) your title deed to your residence (Escritura), a utility bill or SUMA receipt, which includes your name & address, and an identity document (ID card, or current passport) along with your resident’s certificate.

Blood group and inside leg measurements might also be helpful.

Remember, you have until the end of this week to support our Emmeline.

25’95 €

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

NEWS NSA and GCHQ target ‘leaky’ phone apps like Angry Birds to scoop user data

5

decade.

He said: ‘The Moab desert offers many different canyons perfect for all sorts of jumpers - from “wingsuiting” to “tracking” or performing big aerials all before deploying their parachutes.

‘The group are skilled but with only a 20-second flight time and speeding down into the depths of the canyon below there is a lot to do in a short space of time so there is no room for mistakes.

The National Security Agency and its UK counterpart GCHQ have been developing capabilities to take advantage of “leaky” smartphone apps, such as the wildly popular Angry Birds game, that transmit users’ private information across the internet, according to top secret documents.

The data pouring onto communication networks from the new generation of iPhone and Android apps ranges from phone model and screen size to personal details such as age, gender and location. Some apps, the documents state, can share users’ most sensitive information such as sexual orientation – and one app recorded in the material even sends specific sexual preferences such as whether or not the user may be a swinger.

Many smartphone owners will be unaware of the full extent this information is being shared across the internet, and even the most sophisticated would be unlikely to realise that all of it is available for the spy agencies to collect.

Dozens of classified documents, provided to the Guardian by whistleblower Edward Snowden and

‘And as if the jumps weren’t dangerous enough they have to dodge 20 foot tall cactus while landing.

You couldn’t ask for a reported in partnership with the New better way to feel more York Times and ProPublica, detail the awake in the morning.’

NSA and GCHQ efforts to piggyback on Read more: http://www. this commercial data collection for their dailymail.co.uk/news own purposes.

Scooping up information the apps are sending about their users allows the agencies to collect large quantities of mobile phone data from their existing mass surveillance tools – such as cable taps, or from international mobile networks – rather than solely Ant and Dec from hacking into individual mobile broke down in tears handsets. at the National Exploiting phone information and Television Awards location is a high-priority effort for the on Wednesday intelligence agencies, as terrorists night as they picked and other intelligence targets make up the prestigious substantial use of phones in planning Landmark Prize. and carrying out their activities, for It was the third example by using phones as triggering award of the night devices in conflict zones. The NSA has for the Geordie cumulatively spent more than $1bn in its duo, who also walked away with phone targeting efforts. the Entertainment The disclosures also reveal how much Presenter prize and the shift towards smartphone browsing Programme gong could benefit spy agencies’ collection for I’m A Celebrity... efforts.

Get Me Out Of Here!

But it was the Landmark Award - given to mark 25 years in showbusiness - that caused the popular pair to embrace and well up.

They told the crowd at London’s O2 And it’s all over in a flash - after a 20 Arena: “Neither of us would be here if it second adrenaline-fuelled sheer drop wasn’t for each other.” the group have to navigate their landing The pair were even sent a tribute through 20ft tall cacti adding a slightly from the Prince of Wales who said: different element of danger to their “The warmth and empathy they show morning towards charitable causes, their viewers

Ant And Dec Get Emotional At National TV Awards

Early morning wake-up fall Daredevils tackle series of spectacular sunrise base jumps hurling themselves off top of desert canyon A group of daredevils tackle a series of spectacular sunrise BASE jumps at the crack of dawn - all before heading home for breakfast.

The intrepid explorers pack up their gear and head out to the Moab Desert in Utah, USA, while it’s still dark outside ready to hurl themselves off cliffs thousands of feet above the ground.

After arriving at their breath-taking destination they sit tight and wait for the crack of dawn to provide an even more stunning backdrop for which to perform their death-defying stunts

Photographer Scott Rogers, from Denver, Colorado, is a member of the team dubbed the ‘Moab Monkeys’ and captured the heart-pumping morning last week.

Basejumping, which got its name because people leap from buildings, antenna, span and earth, is one of the most exhilarating but dangerous pursuits and has gone from an underground activity to the mainstream in the last

and their deep friendship towards one another are as great achievements as their countless and well-deserved awards.

“The nation has taken them to their hearts.”

It was also a good night for Coronation Street - which walked away with two of the main prizes - Serial Drama Award and the Serial Drama Performance award for actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, who plays Hayley Cropper.

Hesmondhalgh accepted her trophy on stage with her on screen husband David Neilson - who plays Roy. She told fans: “We said that if either of us were lucky enough to get this tonight we’d come up together because there ain’t no Hayley without Roy and there ain’t no Roy without Hayley.”

The prize marked a fitting end to 16 years on the Cobbles for Hesmondhalgh, who bowed out this week after her character committed suicide in a controversial right-to-die storyline.

Other winners on the night included Mrs Brown’s Boys - who saw off competition from Derek and Miranda - to win the Comedy Award for the second year running.

And Doctor Who rounded off its 50th anniversary celebrations with two wins - Matt Smith, whose last appearance as the Doctor came on Christmas Day, was awarded the Drama Performance prize while the show was named Most Popular Drama.

6

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

Cazorla

With a size of 210,000 hectares, the Cazorla Natural Park is the largest protected natural area in Spain and one of the largest in Europe.

This is a complex core of rugged mountains, crisscrossed by fast flowing rivers that form numerous waterfalls, lakes and still pools sheltered by magnificent forests. It is orientated from southwest to northeast and divided by the headwaters of the Guadalquivir River.

Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO for its scenic beauty and biological wealth, which, together with the cultural heritage of the area, make this environment one of the most visited in Spain Its fauna is rich and varied; of note are its large populations of deer, mountain goats and wild boar, bobcat, fox, otter and fallow-deer.

Source: http://parquesnaturalesandalucia.com/

Granada

Weekend Breaks Away

Benidorm costa blanca

With 27 four star hotels, Benidorm offers an incredible selection of entertainment and excitement for people of all ages. Four of the biggestTheme Parks in Europe, a spectacular wine and dine theatre with fabulous international shows and a host of showbars with a variety of first class entertainment. …It’s just about the easiest place in the world to forget all those troubles & cares and simply give in to doing nothing but enjoying yourself - in a fabulous climate - at any time of the year.

You’ll find 6 big Nightclubs, plenty of discos and every type of bar you could wish for from sophisticated to Irish. A wide range of restaurants of all nationalities from A La Carte to Spanish tapas to the inevitable burgers or steak & kid.

Water sports include the famous cable-ski and there are 2 two top flight golf courses. Or you can relax in peaceful parks or take exhilarating walks along the promenade.

Source: http://www.benidormspotlight.com/

www.ecocorpshop.com Autoconsumo “Mini kits” these plug and play new systems will be available form next week. Incredibly easy to install and you can just keep adding as and when required. Using the highest quality panels from Eurener (Spanish manufactured in Alicante)

250W Complete kit with cables and fittings - everything only 595€ 500W Complete kit with cables and fittings - everything only 1045€ 1000W Complete kit with cables and fittings -everything only 1495€

Start small and keep adding as you save money on your electricity bills!!! Utilize free solar energy and save money in the process!!

Special Offer 5kw complete system with batteries. Only 6995€ A generator or mains electricity can be wired into this system also 5Kw 48V/5000W.../50A Inverter charger/built in solar charge controller 9 x 240W Panels (25 year warranty) Panel mounting structure for 9 panels (Inox aluminium) 4 x 12V/250Ah Tabs batteries (48V/250Ah @ C100) Cables, breakers and fuses.

All for just 6995€ Alternatively, you can have this system with 8 Trojan L16G-AC batteries (6V/433Ah = 48V/433Ah) for an additional 1495€

Special Offer 3kw complete system with batteries.

Only 4995€ A generator or mains electricity can be wired into this system also.

ECOCORP are proud to support Vera & District Lions Club 3Kw 24V/3000W/...50A Inverter charger/built in solar charge controller Helping local charities 6 x 240W Panels (25 year warranty) & other good causes Panel mounting structure for 6 panels (Inox aluminium) www.veralions.com Welfare 4 x 12V/250Ah Tabs batteries (24V/500Ah @ C100) Call 634 338 322 Cables, breakers and fuses.

All for just 4995€

WE SERVE

Alternatively, you can have this system with 4 Trojan L16G-AC batteries (6V/433Ah = 24V/433Ah) for an additional 795€

Contact us via the web for a FREE, no obligation consultation and survey, alternatively call 950 930 187, 671 716 597 or for UK numbers call 01332 896510 We now accept all major credit cards !!!

www.soltimes.com

s t fi e n e B e Th of Travel e c n a r u s n I

Travel insurance may be the last thing on your mind when you’re booking a holiday, but there are many benefits to taking out travel insurance particularly if you are travelling long haul. It can turn out to be the most important thing to have if you’re in a crisis situation.

Medical Care & Transport If you fall sick on your trip you will be covered for your medical needs. Most insurance policies will also pay for you to be transported by road or air to a medical establishment such as a hospital. Be aware of any limits such as pre-existing conditions not being covered for example. If you were located somewhere far from a decent hospital and extremely sick, insurance would cover you to be evacuated to somewhere that can provide you with treatment even if this means to another country.

Cancellation or trip curtailment This element covers the cost of you having to change the length of your trip to come home because of some unforeseen event such as a death in the family or a fire or burglary at home.

Personal Liability This gives you cover if you damage someone’s property or hurt them in some way.

Personal Accident If you are hurt or die during your holiday you would be entitled to some money to compensate you or your loved ones.

Legal Expenses If you have any expenses of a legal nature due to a personal accident or personal liability, for example, this covers at least an element of these.

Personal Possessions, Luggage, Money and Passports This covers your bags and belongings while you are away including for things such as cameras, laptops and jewellery. There are usually limits on what is covered, but it does mean you’ll receive some compensation for items that are lost or stolen, and if your passport is amongst these that you will receive a replacement in a timely manner.

All policies vary in terms of the exact elements and levels of cover they offer, so it’s important to make sure you read all the fine print and make certain that the insurance policy you are taking out covers anything you want it to. For example many standard policies won’t cover injury during an extreme sporting activity, so if you’re planning on white water rafting you’ll need to make sure you get a policy that will cover this.

There are two main types of travel insurance policy that you can take out. Single Trip insurance, and Annual insurance. With a single trip insurance policy you are covered just for the one trip the details of which are specified in the documentation. An annual travel insurance policy will usually cover you for multiple journeys during a fixed period of time, but can be limited to just a specific area of the world for example within Europe but not covering trips outside Europe, or may cover you for all journeys but in a limited way. It is important to make sure that you pick a policy that will insure you in the best possible way.

Annual policies are usually more expensive than single trip policies but are worth investigating if you are planning more than two trips during any 12 month period.

Source: http://blog.netflights.com/the-benefits-of-travel-insurance/

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

Quirkies Artist creates paintings underwater

7

A Peruvian artist has found a new way of creating seascapes - by donning scuba diving gear to paint underwater.

Pascual Mimbela dives into the Pacific waters of Talara province with his brushes, spatulas,

oils and canvases.

He paints the colourful fish he sees glide by, as well as the reefs and other aquatic sea life, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Mimbela said he became fascinated with the sea when he was a child, and dreamt of one day painting from the ocean floor.

“All my life I’ve painted boats, fish, beaches and waves. But this time, I decided to take it further,” he said.

“I wanted to do something different. I wanted to see for myself, with my own eyes the depths of the sea.”

He has created 16 underwater oil paintings since he started in 2013 and a display of his work has gone on display in the town square of Los Organos.

Source: http://web.orange.co.uk/

Animal-rights campaigners in China are calling for a ban on a ski competition in which winter sports enthusiasts are encouraged to bring pets onto the slopes.

The more bizarre the pet, the more points the owner is given in the contest held at Sanmenxia in central China’s Henan province.

As well as dogs and cats there were even rabbits, tortoises, chickens and ducks.

The tortoise which normally should be hibernating at this time of year failed to come

out of its shell and the cats, ducks and the chickens spent most of their time trying to go as far away from the dogs as possible.

But the display still attracted a large number of watchers who cheered the animals on for the bizarre stunt.

The tortoise came in third ahead of the rabbit after it was strapped onto a snowboard, and the duck took first place after using its wings to get ahead.

Organisers defended the event that attracted 40 pet owners as “harmless fun” and added that they planned to stage it again next year and hopefully have even more bizarre pets.

A spokesman said: “Anything goes, we even had a goldfish this year but decided not to let it take part because the fishbowl was not watertight and we feared the fish could have been spilled onto the snow.”

Source: http://web.orange.co.uk/

Call to ban ski competition for pets

Skateboarding cat too cool for words

A video of a pet cat skateboarding through an Australian seaside town is proving a smash hit on YouTube.

Didga even performs stunt tricks during his journey, including jumping over a Rottweiler dog to land again on his moving skateboard.

The clip begins with the skateboard nudging Didga who then jumps aboard and speeds off through Coolangatta on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Didga gets some odd looks from passers-by, gets overtaken by people on skateboards, jumps over people’s shoulders and eventually stops for some water.

But keen to carry on, he then heads home, jumping over the large dog’s

back on his way.

All the animals were trained for the video by Robert Dollwet of Malibu Dog Training.

Didga has since become a viral sensation with his video getting more than 450,000 hits on YouTube.

Source: http://web.orange.co.uk/

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

NHS Waiting Times: ‘Unreliable’ Stats Hide Delays

Patients can not rely on NHS waiting time figures when choosing a hospital because the information is often recorded wrongly, the National Audit Office has found.

Treatment statistics are often inconsistent and unreliable, with waiting times shortened in a fifth of cases, the watchdog found.

The National Audit Office reviewed 650 cases of patients having orthopaedic surgery in seven trusts and found that overall there was a tendency for misrecording data to hide delays rather than exaggerate waiting times.

In 129 cases the waiting times had been shortened, with patients actually having their operations six weeks later than suggested by the official record.

The figures were recorded accurately in 281 cases - fewer than half.

The NAO said that it was not possible to tell if the inaccurate reporting was deliberate, but that it should be investigated.

The NAO’s Keith Hawkswell told Sky News: “We think the Department of Health and NHS England need to make sure that consistent and reliable waiting time information is provided by hospital trusts in future.

“At the moment we don’t think the data provided by hospital trusts is sufficiently comparable and that means as a patient, if you’re trying to decide which hospital to go to and waiting time matters, you haven’t got a solid basis on on which to decide.”

NHS targets say 90% of admitted hospital patients should start their treatment within 18 weeks.

Of those patients who do not need admitting to hospital, 95% should be seen within 18 weeks of referral by their GP. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told Sky News that waiting times were “low and stable” and said he wanted to reassure people they would not face lengthy waits for procedures.

He said: “The report is not talking about hospitals falsifying figures, it’s talking about different methods of collation and we want to make sure we get those right.

“But overall it recognises the changes that this Government has brought in have actually led to a dramatic fall in the number of people waiting a long time.”

At Colchester Hospital University NHS

Foundation Trust, police are already investigating allegations that cancer waiting times were deliberately falsified.

Cutty Sark in Greenwich to become theatre venue

image http://www.london-attractions.info

8

will host the e u en v t a e -s 85 The ies oble & Al an Dav N s s Ro f o s e k li

Mr Hunt will today try to improve patients’ experience in hospitals by saying that they must offer patients “whole stay doctors” who will look after them throughout their treatment.

He wants to tackle the “fragmentation of care experienced by patients in hospitals” and to make sure patients are treated like people rather than numbers or problems.

Later in a speech at St Thomas’ Hospital The Cutty Sark in Greenwich is set in central London Mr Hunt will highlight how action is needed to stop patients to become London’s newest theatre feeling like they are being passed from venue. pillar to post.

From 29 January, a fortnight of It comes after an announcement in special performances will feature November that patients should have the comedians such as Ross Noble and name of a consultant above their bed.

Alan Davies.

conservation restoration project after it was badly damaged by fire.

As part of the restoration, visitors are able to walk under the three-masted ship as well as go on board and learn about its history in the museum.

He will say: “Every day, the first thing I do The 85-seat venue is located in when I arrive at work at the Department the lower hold of the 19th century of Health is to read and reply to a letter from someone whose NHS care has clipper, where precious cargoes of tea and wool were stacked during its gone wrong.

Cutty Sark’s director Richard Doughty said the studio theatre project was designed to attract new audiences who might not usually consider visiting the historic ship.

“But as Health Secretary I want to know theatre producer behind comedy where the problems are because I want Barking in Essex, who is also a Cutty to sort them out.”

Sark trustee.

“Our aspiration is that the development of Cutty Sark as a flexible theatre space will enable us to reach out to new audiences who can discover the ship in a whole new way,” he said.

“Of course I know that for every mistake voyages. there are many instances of superb It has been named the Michael care.

Edwards Studio Theatre after the

Mr Hunt will describe a letter he received The ship reopened to the public in from a lady whose husband passed away 2012 after a £50m refit following a fire after “what can only be described as two in 2007 years of chaotic care”.

The tea clipper, built in 1869, Individual hospitals will be asked to reopened in 2012 following a £50m develop their own plans for how whole stay doctors will work in practice.

Professor Norman Williams, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “The progressive fragmentation of care that we have seen in the NHS is not only confusing and damaging for patients but also undermines the professionalism of medical teams.

“We have to end the situation where patients are shuttled from one member of staff to another with no one individual taking responsibility for ensuring they receive the right treatment at the right time and in the right place.

“Having one named consultant in charge across a hospital stay will help bring about an important cultural change and reassure patients that they are not lost in the system, with no-one overseeing the totality of their care.”

Source: http://web.orange.co.uk/

“This opening fortnight sets the agenda for Cutty Sark to become a unique new venue in the heart of Greenwich and London.”

Source http://www.bbc.co.uk/

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

Pool Construction

From design to completion All work carried out by fully qualified tradesmen One call takes care of it all Relax and enjoy your new pool in your wonderful new look garden Call now

Maintenance

From 39€ per month Call now 966 763 072 or 680 308 588

LEAK DETECTION

OCEAN POOLS

• Re grouting full or part • Light replacement • New pumps & filters Any problems give the professionals a call We repair others mistakes

CALL NOW 966 763 072 or 680 308 588

We trace all leaks and repair them with no fuss and the minimum of disruption to you and your garden All our staff are fully trained to use nothing but the most up to date equipment We only consider drainage of your pool as a last resort with most pool leaks repaired with our qualified divers Save Time, Save Money,

Call The Experts Now 966 763 072 or 680 308 588

• Tile replacement

• Sand change

966 763 072 or 680 308 588

SAVEEY MON W NO

Repairs

Pool covers, rollers & heat pumps

All pool supplies & cleaning equipment delivered direct to your door

Unbeatable prices

Call now for a Quote 966 763 072 680 308 588

jasonfowles@hotmail.com

9

homes & gardens 10

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

Established 40 years in the UK

Britannia pool covers, heatpumps & safety fencing

400 MICRON COVERS 500 MICRON COVERS 500 geo BUBBLE COVERS 6x3m...................180€ 6x3m................250€ 6x3m...........310€ 8x4m...................290€ 8x4m................385€ 8x4m...........410€ 8x5m...................360€ 8x5m................450€ 8x5m...........495€ 10x4m.................360€ 10x4m..............450€ 10x4m.........495€ 10x5m.................460€ 10x5m..............550€ 10x5m.........610€ Small Roller.......220€ Large Roller 370€ All the above prices include supply and fitting protect-a-child pool safety fencing available

Britannia dream heatpumps 10Kw 12.5Kw 15Kw

1,750€ 18Kw with soft start 2,800€ 2,200€ 23Kw with soft start 3,400€ 2,450€ 28Kw with soft start 3,900€

supplied & fitted electrics included For more prices & information Ian 966 765 378 : 664 367 512

trade enquiries welcome www.britanniapoolcovers.com www.poolsafetyfencing.es

part 1

Pick your paint colors last, choose mismatched seating, and don’t forget the closet lighting. Here are the best tips and tricks that nobody ever tells you about decorating.

1. Pile On the Pillows One pair of pillows always looks skimpy.

Use two pairs, in contrasting patterns, colors, and textures.

2. Buy a Bigger Bed Small-scale furniture only makes a small bedroom look smaller.

Try a high bed and a tall headboard. Your room will grow.

3. Leave Cabinets Open An open armoire is more interesting than a closed one.

Let people into your secret world.

The Mosquito Screen & Window Co

Serving the Coast and Inland for over 10 Years

Manufacturers & Installers of Insect Screens, Aluminium & UPVC Windows & Doors

Tel: 966 716 329 or Spanish Mob: 722 763 055

www.mosquitoscreenco.com email: the.mosquito.screen.company@gmail.com Find us at Moncayo Market on Saturdays & we are pleased to announce we are now at Lemon Tree Market on Sundays

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

Opening Hours - Mon-Fri 10am to 4.30pm Sat - 10am to 1.30pm

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.kb@gmail.com

4. Go Dark Dark walls do the opposite of what you’d expect: They make a small room feel bigger.

5. Wallpaper Is Easy The fastest way to make over sliding closet doors is to wallpaper them 6. Large Collections Need Order Wall brackets can bring order to a large collection or odd shapes.

7. Use a Real Rug in the Bathroom Use a rug instead of a bath mat. It was made to withstand a lot more wear than the occasional wet foot.

8. It’s Okay to Skip the Sofa There’s no rule that a living room has to have a sofa.

9. White Works You’ll never get tired of a white living room.

10. Mix Styles A four-poster bed will take the chill out of a modern bedroom.

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

11

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

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

Welcome GO SATELLITE! 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!

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

SERVICES WE OFFER We are here to help!!!! We can arrange Installation of TV direct from the satellite with no monthly subscription. We are able to make repairs to

existing satellite systems, potentially saving you from additional costs.

We are suppliers of Sky and humax receivers direct from the UK. You will find we are the cheapest on the Costa Blanca. Ask us about Sky cards and subscriptions as well as Al Jazeera cards for bars enabling viewing of Premier League Football matches. Our latest additional service is VPN routers, pop in to the office or give us a call for more details. We are not only here for your TV and Satelite solutions, but are able to offer help with Internet and Telephone.

WHERE ARE WE? GO SATELLITE is based in

Ciudad Quesada and covers most of the Costa Blanca.

WHY ARE WE DIFFERENT? Ian said “Being a small company has its advantages. We offer a personal service and get to know all our customers by name. It’s important to us that people fully understand and are happy with the service we are providing. We realise that the technology involved can be confusing but we are happy to spend time with our customers to ensure that they get the best system for their needs”.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Any concerns or queries are dealt with in a clear and professional manner and clients can call Ian at any point if they have any queries.

This ensures that all of their customers have complete peace of mind throughout the lifetime of the service. Added to that is the fact that GO SATELLITE is a fully legal,

Stop Wasting

money

Spanish registered business that provides individual, company and community installations with a free no obligation site survey.

Go Satellite is going from strength to strength!

SATISFIED CUSTOMERS! Over the past 8 years the company has installed hundreds of satellite TV systems for individuals, companies and communities.

The Go Satellite system uses highest quality Portuguesemanufactured dishes and 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 call into our office to find out more about GO SATELLITE and its services. Alternatively

check out the website: www.freetvspain.com

Would yo but wa u like to watc nt to s ave you h British TV Go Sate r cash llite ca ....? n now o ffer you Rental Sc High ga a in Dish heme: 50€ insta with receiver llation 19.95€ p charge & er mon *condit th* ions

1.4 metre dish with HD mini receiver

apply

3 4 9€ www.freetvspain.com

one off payment Come and visit us in our office based at: Calle Los Arcos No 7, Ciudad Quesada Open: Monday – Friday

Tel: 965 725 670

USUAL PRICE 399€

all major credit & debit cards accepted

12

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

Look Good Feel Great

Cambridge diet 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

Avenida Federico Garcia Lorca No 88 Benijofar Phone number 637 473 190 Opening Hours 10 - 6 MON TO FRI Trade and Public welcome New Hair and Beauty Wholesalers Open

MODA LA FINCA Fashion Outlet & Boutique

Special Bargain Sale on our terrace every Saturday from 2 - 8pm

Cons:

Pros:

ry low-calorie Many people on vee weight loss to th diets (VLCDs) find ite dramatic. The qu d be sudden an ally ts are all nutrition meal replacemen likely to be getting re balanced so you’ minerals you need d an s all the vitamin al food. fr t albeit no om re The Cambridge Weight Plans are based around buying and eating a range of mealreplacement products with the promise of rapid weight loss.

There are six flexible diet plans ranging from 415kcal to 1,500kcal or more a day, depending on your weight loss goal. There is also a long-term weight management programme.

The bars, soups, porridges and shakes can be used as your sole source of nutrition or together with low-calorie regular meals.

While on the programme, you receive advice and support on healthy eating and exercise from a Cambridge adviser.

La Finca Golf - Algorfa 966 729 544 • www.modalafinca.com

Darren and his young family have settled into Spanish life well after relocating from Nottingham 6 years ago After building up a strong client base at La Finca Golf, Darren is now very well established at the Quesada Country Club Barbershop, having been based there for the last 18 months With all the facilities of the Bar, Swimming pool, mini-golf & Children’s play area, plus easy parking, it is so convenient to get trimmed up Modern & Traditional at this superb location Gents Hairdressing Things are Call Darren The Barber definately Tel: 616 592 887 going well Opening hours: for this time Mon-Fri 10am- 5pm served Barber with over 20 OUT OF HOURS BY REQUEST

5€

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.

Ross At studio six

Massages, Hopi Ear Candling, Reflexology, Beauty Treatments & Much More at The Commercial Centre Los Balcones above the Court Yard Pub and now also at cc/ Torregrosa next to Consum & Lidl between San Luis & Quesada on the Crevillente Rd

Jo Call: 687 651 212 Lorraine Call: 693 268 139 Getting Fit Just Got Easier

t: BDA vl-reeprladceic ay ment products to st

mea it is You need to like the n be motivating but s ca ss lo ht ig we d pi with the plan. Ra ting 1,000 calorie CD that involves ea VL A e. bl na ai st su more than 12 un not be followed for 600 calories ld ou sh r we fe or y a da r than If you are eating fewe pervision. continuous week s. su l ica ve med a day, you should ha

Cuts from

Fantastic January Sale Now On

lude bad breath, a Initial side effects can inc ess, insomnia, zin dr y mouth, tiredness, diz m cutting down fro on ati tip nausea and cons rdest part of on carbs and fibre. The ha g up normal Givin the plan is sticking to it. for a snack bar m the g pin meals and swap and feel socially g rin bo be or a shake can n you can stick to in isolating. This isn’t a pla the long term.

Unisex Stylist

years experience running businesses both here and in the UK, Darren can offer a wide range of cutting styles from the latest modern cuts to traditional male Barber cuts using top quality products.

The Barbershop offers a relaxed and friendly welcome, set in a modern, airconditioned comfortable surrounding, so why not pop in for a chat and a trim up soon The Barber Shop is Open Monday Friday, 10 am - 5 pm with no lunchtime closing ( out of hours are available on request ) offering a walk in service, no appointments are necessary With Cuts starting from as little as 5 Euro, why not pop along and visit Darren the Barber for a tidy up soon at The Quesada Country Club Barbershop, 16 Calle Toledo, Ciudad Quesada, postcode 03170 for sat nav´s.

Further information can be found by visiting the facebook page https://www.facebook. com/quesadacountryclub. barbershop?fref=ts

Shani’s 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

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

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

Avda del Romero Local 6, Urb. Montebello, Algorfa Open Tuesday - Saturday (incl.) from 9am 03176

Near Zoco Market Late night opening AP7 Junc 745 by appointment only

633 161 555

talkingtherapiesinspain@hotmail.com

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

Night work

Weird and Wonderful Greyhounds have taken the place of traditional fashion models in a new campaign for the Italian label Trussardi. The dogs were dressed in sunglasses, jackets, and handbags from its spring 2014 collection

Three-yearold Charlie Parker has made a new friend for the New Year - in the form of a four metre albino Burmese python called Baby.

The pair are seen getting to grips with one another at Ballarat Wildlife Park in Australia, which is owned by Charlie’s dad Greg.

‘throws body into chaos’ Doing the night shift throws the body “into chaos” and could cause long-term damage, warn researchers.

Shift work has been linked to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and cancer.

Now scientists at the Sleep Research Centre in Surrey have uncovered the disruption shift work causes at the deepest molecular level.

Experts said the scale, speed and severity of damage caused by being awake at night was a surprise.

The human body has its own natural rhythm or body clock tuned to sleep at night and be active during the day.

It has profound effects on the body, altering everything from hormones and body temperature to athletic ability, mood and brain function.

The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, followed 22 people as their body was shifted from a normal pattern to that of a night-shift worker.

Blood tests showed that normally 6% of genes - the instructions contained in DNA - were precisely timed to be more or less active at specific times of the day.

Once the volunteers were working through the night, that genetic finetuning was lost.

13

It would appear that the surf’s up for this radical rodent.

It’s one of a group of mice which have been trained to surf in Australia by Shane Willmott. He regularly takes his furry entertainers surfing in summer, but says they prefer the skatepark in winter.

Chrono-chaos “Over 97% of rhythmic genes become out of sync with mistimed sleep and this really explains why we feel so bad during jet lag, or if we have to work irregular shifts,” said Dr Simon Archer, one of the researchers at the University of Surrey.

This twoheaded turtle belongs to a teacher, in Qindao, China, who says both of the heads can eat - but only one can duck back into its shell at a time.

Fellow researcher Prof Derk-Jan Dijk said every tissue in the body had its own daily rhythm, but with shifts that was lost with the heart running to a different time to the kidneys running to a different time to the brain.

He told the BBC: “It’s chrono-chaos. It’s like living in a house. There’s a clock in every room in the house and in all of those rooms those clocks are now disrupted, which of course leads to chaos in the household.”

Studies have shown that shift workers getting too little sleep at the wrong time of day may beincreasing their risk of type-2 diabetes and obesity.

Others analyses suggest heart attacks are more common in night workers.

Prof Dijk added: “We of course know that shift work and jet lag is associated with negative side effects and health consequences.

“They show up after several years of shift work. We believe these changes in rhythmic patterns of gene expression are likely to be related to some of those long-term health consequences.”

Prof Hugh Piggins, a body-clock researcher from the University of Manchester, told the BBC: “The study indicated that the acute effects are quite severe.

“It is surprising how large an effect was noticed so quickly, it’s perhaps a larger disruption than might have been appreciated.”

He cautioned that it was a short-term study so any lasting changes are uncertain, but “you could imagine this would lead to a lot of healthrelated problems”.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/

This stag deer appears to be sporting an eye-catching tangle of red hair.

Photographer Fran Veale spotted the unfortunate animal - which had somehow got red string tangled up in his antlers - during a walk through Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

Source: http://web.orange.co.uk/

14

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

I just want a stamp!

Just before Christmas, my wife Katherine needed a letter to go registered.

Nowadays with internet banking, paperless bank statements and emails for business rather than letters; I don’t have much to do with the post other than collecting my weekly newspaper subscription from the UK. Having lived in deepest darkest Almeria I was used to the strange opening hours post offices adhere to come hell, high water or the urge for a coffee break. 11151145 I remember being one such example, very convenient. Albox being a cosmopolitan place has a post office which stays open until the early morning hours, well 230 in the afternoon so is a much more convenient place to post a letter.

Not being near Albox that day I instead hitched up the horses and headed for Sabanillas near Estepona where by now regular readers will have deduced I live 3/4s of the time. Queuing not being a natural act for our Spanish hosts I prepared for a scrum, instead I wondered why the place was silently packed with people looking like they had lost the will to live.

Taking number 83 from the ticket dispenser, realisation dawned as the monitor displayed……26.

There are only two

counters and being Christmas both were manned but only one was open, the lady at the other counter chatted to her colleague and carefully shuffled papers. Folk who knew the game would pop in, grab a ticket and then do the weekly shop, or visit relatives abroad returning later. Being a novice I sat patiently. The numbers slowly progressed, once in a while they would race forward 2-3 places as people in the queue either forgot what they had come for and left, or died of old age.

After an hour still nothing! The numbers crawled into the 60s and I felt dizzy with anticipation, I couldn’t imagine why it took so long to be served. Finally after an hour and half it was my turn. I passed the letter to the assistant who gave me a form to fill in, why the forms couldn’t be left for people to fill in while they wait is anyone’s guess. A long wait aside that was that or so I thought.

Two weeks later Katherine asked me to buy some stamps. A look of terror passed across my eyes and I begged not to have to go back. Craftily I thought I would try the local newsagents, but no stamps. Thinking out of the box, I tried the greetings card shop. The

owner wearily told me that it’s almost impossible to get a licence to sell stamps so I headed again for the post office.

After only 45 minutes of queuing I asked for a 1.50€ stamp, the lady apologised saying only 75x stamps were available – sell me 2, I said helpfully.

Being a post office I assumed stamps would be close to hand but no; – the lady now sloth like went and collected a file from a locked cupboard, then sat and searched for the stamps within. More difficulty as they were joined together, much bending and tearing took place until finally my stamps were free. My money was on the desk and I prepared to collect my prize but at this point so pleased with her exertions the lady stop to chat to her mate. My patience snapped, ‘Give me my stamps’ I growled, shocked that someone could be in a rush she handed them over and I ran for the exit.

Next day Katherine came home with her tail between her legs and told me she had lost the stamps, I didn’t offer.

Monday morning and a news report said that someone had been shot outside that very same post office, the lengths poor people have to go to get served quicker!

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

Last week I read an intriguing article. The author suggested that Tablet devices, that are currently so popular, will replace the desktop and laptop! Having given it some thought, as articles like this sometime do, I would like to make a counter proposal.

First, let’s consider the fact that they are the ‘Latest, Greatest Thing’. We are genetically pre-disposed, not too unlike the magpie, to ‘Shiny New Things’, usually with the utterance of “Oooh Shiny”!

We could go on to say that this innate curiosity is genetically encoded to ensure our continued existence, and that fire, the wheel and everything else that man is proud of, is a result of this curiosity – but that is just high brow and boring!

We have evolved (insult the religious zealots), or been given (insult the evolutionists) the ability to reason. To have developed tools that allow for logical progression towards a ‘correct’ answer.

Today I would like to use some of the logic that Huddersfield Uni crammed into my head during my time, 23 years ago, very successfully studying for my computer qualifications.

Consider, if you

will, the power to size ratio of modern computing devices. The ‘Mainframe’ is still the ‘Daddy’ by being the most powerful of all computer systems because of the workload that is has to deal with. Although there are steps between, for you and I, the next in line is the Desktop.

This tool is the defacto standard for all ‘real’ business work and has been for decades. The benefits are: easily accessible and replaceable parts should anything fail, which in time, everything does, and solid reliability. I could not complete half the work that is required of me on anything less. The drawbacks take the form of a lack of portability. Who wants to lug a tower, monitor, keyboard and mouse, when a laptop is so much easier?

The Laptop has been the ‘Yuppy’ tool of preference for several decades, becoming more compact, lighter and more powerful.

For the vast majority of the people who have retired and are ‘Living the dream’, this tool is not only the most appropriate but the best. It’s usefulness is only limited be your ability to dream up alternative uses for it and it’s relative power. It is a fact that the power house processor in a laptop is, and always has been, a ‘cut down’ version of the processor in it’s desk bound cousin.

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

braben’s blog...

oscar

I’ll be honest, I’ve never won an Oscar. Have you? I did win a tin of biscuits once in a competition to see who could collect the most milk bottle tops for Blue Peter when I was in the Cubs.

I won by a mile-you probably saw my picture in the 9th Fairfield Cubs Newsletter. Just as well I won because since thennothing!

Shortly after that my Cubs career ended when it became clear that I didn’t know the difference between a bowline on the bite and a sheepshank. Akela told me I’d be useless on a camping trip.

He was right! The only time I ever went camping, the tent blew away in the middle of a windy Isle of Man night, the result of zero knot

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

knowledge and rotten tent putter upper skills.

But back to the Oscars, the reason I was enquiring as to the l i ke l i h o o d of you having ever won one in the past was to see if you could

Finally, we get to the tablet. The awesome strength of this device is it’s size and capacity. A book of similar size can hold a riveting novel of several hundred pages. The same tablet can hold several hundred riveting novels! It’s point and shoot technology, fragile input / display screen and very restricted multitasking ability prevent it from ever being more than a sophisticated toy.

It is a fact that technology shrinks, but despite that, gets evermore powerful.

These are separate but linked factors in the evolution (and I can say that now) of these devices. Science fiction writers have been aware of these levels of usability and portability for as long as there has been science fiction. H.G. Wells was travelling to the moon in 1901 and Gerry Anderson’s ‘Thunderbirds’ in 1964. As a side note, he was investigated by the American and English Military on the possible charge of espionage because of the striking similarity of the puppet driven vehicles and those being envisaged and designed by the military intelligence agencies (did I just use the word intelligence and military in the same sentence?).

Conclusion, If you want a tablet, get the best you can afford. If your need is for a laptop, same advice! If you need to do hard processing (video conversion / manipulation, Spreadsheets number crunching of biblical proportions or just have something that can be upgraded after 10 years) get a tower / desktop.

For more free telephone advice ring me. I’m at Jack’s Bar, Albox on Friday afternoons for advice, computer diagnostics and repairs or just come and put forward suggestions for future articles. chucks and puts chunk 1 on server A, chuck 2 on server B and chuck 3 back on

help solve a mystery. I’ve always wondered, what do the winners do with their statuettes when they get them home? As far as I can tell, and bear in mind here that I’ve never got within touching distance of one, the Oscar doesn’t seem to serve any useful household purpose.

My biscuits for example, although not having the same glamour as an Oscar, were enjoyable and once they were eaten, I kept my Lego in the empty tin. Now be honest, will the winner of the Best Director be able to say the same about their Oscar?

I’d like to suggest to the organising committee that there’s an addition to the whole ceremony, something which would add some much needed edge-of-the-seatishness to the whole thing. Each nominee must write, in a sealed envelope, what they’ll do with the Oscar after the ceremony, if they win. If the scores are level after extra time, this can be used as a tie breaker; each of the envelopes will be opened and the contents read out.

After each one, the audience would applaud and a Clapometer, like the one once used by Hughie Green in Opportunity Knocks, records the loudest applause and that decides the winner.

Okay, I’m off to work on those Blue Peter skills to see what I can do with an Oscar and two Squeezy bottles, just in case I win one when I grow up.

server A – and so on. Method 2 will copy any changes, as they happen to a second server to make an exact duplicate of the information.

Response: This is what I call a technical smoke screen. A way to misdirect you away from your concerns by bamboozling you with BS. Whereas what they say is true and has merit, the question is ‘Why must they use this method to confuse you into feeling safe?’.

Myth: Your data isn’t any more secure at home than on their, paid for, service.

Response: You can use any one of hundreds of free and inexpensive programs to encrypt your data and data storage drives that would make even the most determined thief (civil or military) give up before getting any where near your information. Buy a safe or create a hidden place in your house / casa / villa / cortijo to store your external data drive.

In the time that it has taken you to read this article you know EXACTLY where your information is, You know that it is as safe as it can be and finally have saved yourself a tidy sum.

I think the final words should be from someone who, after reading one of the same articles I did, just had to comment.

‘Cloud storage is all well and good if you are happy to have the Americans crawling all over your data and you have plenty of time and money to pay for and wait for the data uploads and downloads. A gimmick to attract the hard of thinking’. A sentiment that I can agree with!

As always, you know where I am, what skills I have, how long that I’ve been doing I.T. and the telephone number to get hold of me. So see you at my regular clinic at Jack’s Bar, Albox on Friday afternoon 12-4 (1200 – 1600h).

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

LEGAL CORNER WITH MICHAEL DAVIES, ABOGADO/SOLICITOR If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic, please

e-mail info@daviessolicitors.com

Q. My husband deceased nine months ago in the U.K. with an English will, but no Spanish will. We had a holiday home in Spain in joint names.

What do I have to do now?

A. As there is no Spanish will unfortunately it will be necessary to convalidate your husbands U.K. will and probate document for use in Spain.

The first step will be to obtain probate on the U.K. will. When this has been done it will be necessary to have Hague´s Apostille affixed to the U.K. documents and then have the translated and stamped by an official translator.

When this has been done your solicitor in Spain will inform you if any further documents need to be obtained for the documents to be acceptable in Spain. (English wills very often refer to trusts, which cause complications and

expense when convalidating for use in Spain).

In this case I am afraid your inheritance tax will be subject to surcharge as the time limit to deal with the tax office in Spain is 6 months unless you request and extension in writing within the first 5 months.

As you and the deceased are non residents of Spain, the inheritance tax is paid in Madrid, but no travelling is needed as your solicitor will have and agent in Madrid who for a very small fee will do the legwork in Madrid under the solicitors instructions.

The expense and timescale of the convalidation for use in Spain of the English documents will depend on the wording of the will.

To avoid complications in the future make sure you instruct your solicitor to prepare a Spanish will for yourself after you have finalized your acceptance of inheritance.

properties for sale houses and land can be separated with own escrituras or sold as one lot.

Two detached villa shells built up to and including roofs 125m2 built on flat 3000m2 plot. Secluded position, unspoilt countryside views across orange and lemon groves front and rear.

Fully Legal & with Full Title Deeds

• E ach villa spec: 3 beds / 2 baths. Size 125m2

• Space for pools (12mx6m) • Exceptional uninterrupted views of orange and lemon groves to front & rear • Situated between Almanzora & Arboleas overlooking Almanzora valley • 10 minutes to nearest town with all amenities • Inland country setting, but only 30 minutes to coast.

• Ideal for builder to complete internals.

Private sale - Priced to sell Must be viewed to appreciate this golden opportunity

Tel: 609 199 394 / 647 379 878 / 950 064 801

15

16

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

17

stick-on screens open up a new vista for window projections

The researchers demonstrate the plastic screen they say could turn any window into a movie screen Scientists have created a transparent screen that can turn any window into a display for moving images.

The screens, which are made by adding tiny nanoparticles that reflect blue light into a liquid polymer, can be stuck on to any window.

The nanoparticles are invisible to humans, creating the transparency, but images projected in blue light show up.

The team asserts in the journal Nature Communications that it is simpler to make than existing similar screens.

Stick-on screens could be used to host advertisements on shop windows or for office presentations.

Pour it on Transparent screens themselves are not new; from Google glass toMinority Report-style computer screens, there are many now in commercial development.

But while these employ complicated, expensive technology - a head-up display projected onto a tiny prism embedded in Google glass, or LEDs actually embedded within transparent computer screens this new method is very simple.

“We literally just pour the nanoparticles into the polymer before it solidifies,” explained lead researcher Chia Wei Hsu, a graduate student from MIT and Harvard University, US. Only a few thousandths of a gram of nanoparticles are needed per square centimetre of screen, meaning the technology is also relatively cheap.

‘So simple’ In the case of this latest development, since each type of particle reflects only one colour, the screens display just one colour of image.

The researchers say it would be possible to have multiple colours, but the more nanoparticles that are added to the screen, the more opaque it would become.

“Since it’s so simple to deploy, you could paste this [plastic] sheet onto any surface,” Mr Hsu told BBC News.

“You could put it on store front windows for advertisements or information about what’s inside the store, or we could use it for office windows, so you could then have your presentation [shown] on the window of your office.”

FOR BUSINESS We will move it!!

Pets, boats, caravans, trailers Full and part loads. Full roof-rack for long loads 3 long wheel-based vans/twice per month Travelling to South/North UK Based in Mar Menor, Murcia

Spain-UK-Spain Tel: (0044) 7783 222 251 / (0034) 634 360 846

Email: wewillmoveit@hotmail.co.uk

A-Z

property management proerty maintenace services in spain removals & storage property & vehicle house clearance maintenance & plumbing management electrics painting & decorating patios & tiling

Lowest Prices in the Area

We offer washing, drying & ironing for a cheap all inclusive price open: Mon - Sat 10am to 2pm

CalleIsla Isla Calle

Formentera Formentera

Sophia Wellness ◄ ◄ ◄ WE ARE HERE Centre

Global cars

LA REGIA Formentera

◄ Cartagena N332

Torrevieja►

Tel:616 719 207 THE READY MADE Est. 2006

CURTAIN & BEDDING STORE Quality Textiles For Your Home Sewing Service

www.readymadecurtainoutlet.com At Los Dolses Commercial Centre, Villamartin Next to the card shop near the canal.

SARAH & TONY TURLEY 966 848 980 or 642 308 654

Professional marble polishing • Marble floor restoration & repairs • Marble floors cleaned & buffed to a high sheen • Marble stairs, worktops & fire places renovated • Rugs & upholstery cleaned Call Mike: Day 691 649 515 Eve: 966 721 331 www.simplyprofloorcare.com simplyprofloorcare@hotmail.com Alicante to Cartegena & the Murcia region

colin Fredericks

Tel: 965 071 549 Mob: 635 133 403 Email:

Car Maintenance Pre-ITV Checks

NO JOB TOO SMALL atozspain@gmail.com FREE Estamites FREE Call Out

Foam cut to size

(sofas-boats-caravans etc)

Free home quotations mobile showroom covering

costa blanca Covering the Costa Blanca loose covers & re-upholstery 677 825 149 965 699 305

www.complete-upholstery.com

over 30 years experience

Cleans Builders Cleans ss SpringGeneral ’ Cleans Holiday Change Over e l l he ice Cleaning for British Expats in Torrevieja Micleaning serv and surrounding areas since 2003 hener

fres ec hous glade air y clean free th ever wi

ff €40 o ver7.02.2014 o 5 € an valid until

cle her anyith this vouc only w

39

76 3 11 3 6 : ll

Ca

Z HerZ

Hi

‘n’

Fashions

Tel: 672 571 745 OPENING HOURS: MON -THURS 10 - 6PM FRI 10 - 8PM SAT 10 - 2PM

LADIES & GENTS UK FASHIONS AT FACTORY PRICES. ALL ITEMS ARE NEW AND PERFECT, WE DO NOT SELL SECONDS. CANNOT BE BEATEN ON PRICE.

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

G.T.AUTOS LOS DOLSES S.L

THE ONE STOP CAR CENTRE

WANTED

BEST PRICES PAID CARS FOR CASH

Call Spencer on 637 090 665 MECHANIC WORKSHOP PHONE JAMES on 672 532 758

18

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

ENJOY YOUR

PHOTO: www.howtofindareversemortgage.com

GOLDEN YEARS Golden oldies: Retirement home residents recreate classic movie moments for calendar

TRANS LINGUA

• • • • • •

Translation - Notary Services - NIE Number - Wills - Residencia - Transfer of Vehicle Ownership

2 X Wills €175

Written & Verbal Translations

CALL NOW

634 174 978 “RE-PLATE” MATE GB

Don’t take a chance!

Don’t break the Law! Let us take the hassle away from you and re-register your vehicle on to Spanish plates

E

490€ plus Road Tax plus CO2 emission if applicable WE PROMISE TO BEAT ANY GENUINE QUOTATION For a full service contact:

Alan 662 249 159

www.replatematecostablanca.com

A group of pensioners in Germany are proving that classic films really never get old, as they pose for a calendar recreating some of the most iconic scenes in the history of modern cinema.

The cheeky OAPs all live in a retirement home in Essen, Germany, and dressed up as the leading men and women from famous movies.

The images, for their annual calendar named ‘Classics 2014’, includes picture perfect recreations of famous moments from James Bond, Mary Poppins, Titanic, Dirty Dancing and The Blues Brothers

representing Easy Rider’s Wyatt told Der Spiegel.

‘Ideally, I would just set off’

‘I am not quite strong enough to lift a lady over my head anymore,’ said John Liedtke, 92, or Patrick Swayze, who is seen holding ‘Baby’ Marianne Pape, 79, high in the lake scene from Dirty Dancing.

‘Back when I was young, it would have been easy.

Nowadays I need the computer tricks to do it,’ he said.

A total of 5,000 copies of the calendar were printed and given to retirement home staff members, residents and their families.

In other months, Erwin J. von der Heiden, 80, raises his arms in triumph as Rocky, James Bond is finally allowed to age in the shape of 89-year-old Wilhelm Buiting and Ingeborg Giolbass, 84, is stunning as a silver-haired Marilyn Monroe.

But since the images made their way onto the web, demand has shot up, and fans from all across the country are trying to get their hands on a copy.

And, with the help of professional hair and makeup artists, Marianne Brunsbach, 86, poses as Holly Golightly in the iconic scene for Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

The residents are aged from 75 to 98, the oldest being Walter Loeser, who pulled a suave pose on a motorcycle, as he re-enacted a scene from 1969 movie Easy Rider.

Heinz-Jurgen Heiske, a member of the board at Contilia, said: ‘Everyone was surprised we succeeded in making such a well-made calendar - the residents and others were delighted with the outcome.’

‘It was really exciting to sit on one of these rides, Walter’s companion on the shoot, 90-year-old Kurt Neuhaus,

Dr Hans C. Madsen DC

(over 21 years experience with lasers)

Member of the Danish, Spanish & European Association

“Laser therapy specialist be free from pain”

• OSTEOARTHRITIS • SPINAL INJURIES • SPORTS INJURIES • BACK PAIN

SHOCKWAVE THERAPY FOR ARTHRITIC JOINTS

www.chiropractor-benijofar.es info@chiropractor-benijofar.es

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

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

SAN LUIS COMPUTERS

YOUR FIRST STOP COMPUTER SHOP

NEW ENGLISH LAPTOPS WINDOWS 8 from 349€, inc iva NEW TOWER WITH WINDOWS 7

from 379€ inc iva

REPAIRS, VIRUS REMOVAL, UPGRADES ETC

In spain for over 11 years Commercial zone 3, San Luis

www.sanluiscomputers.com john@sanluiscomputers.com

tel: 619 963 018

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

19

WE OFFER â‚Ź200 FOR YOUR OLD SOFA WHEN BUYING A NEW ONE. OFFER ENDS 28TH FEB factory outlet beds, garden sofas

Large Range of Fabric and Leather Sofas, Leather Beds & Garden Furniture

Electric and Manual Recliners

HOUSE CLEARANCES

FREE

LOCAL

DELIVERY Calle Ferrers 81B, Ind Estate Santa Ana, Guardamar del Segura, 03140 (Next to Pick and Pay) Tel: 690 947 048

20

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

Let Us look after Your Home This Winter

The Do Something hobby: upholstery

Desperate to break out of her office routine and find a new creative outlet, Caroline McGivern discovered upholstery was the perfect choice I’ve always enjoyed my day job as a graphic designer, but spending eight hours a day sitting at a computer drove me to look for an alternative creative outlet. I felt like something was missing – I wanted to do something physical and hands-on.

I loved cooking, but already knew how to do that: I didn’t need a course to teach me.

I’ve always had a love of design and interiors, so I decided to look for a course in traditional upholstery.

B.D. Security Big enough to cope, small enough to care

GRILLES - GATES - FENCING - Arches

I was fed up with coming across old chairs with their stuffing hanging out at Portobello market, and not being able to fix them myself. I wanted to bring them back to life, but in the traditional way: no foam or staple guns, it had to be horsehair, tacks and webbing.

I wanted to follow in the footsteps of 18th-century craftsmen and women.

That was seven years ago, at a time when there were no evening courses in traditional upholstery, so I approached the London Metropolitan University and they said that if I could find 10 people who would join an evening course, then they would consider teaching one. It wasn’t difficult to find people and now, seven years on, they have three thriving evening courses, with a fourth being added this year.

There has been a real return to learning to make things in the past few years, and, in part, I think it has to do with the economic climate – I see a lot of people in their 30s joining the course and many of them say they’re doing it to learn a new skill alongside their full-time jobs. There’s a lot of uncertainty and job insecurity around these days and having a skill is viewed as a good fall-back plan.

Call for a free quote for all your metalwork and security needs phone david on: 679 360 744 email: davegrilles@hotmail.com

Are your security grills/gates rusty?

Do they need a professional facelift so they look like new again?

We take away your existing grills, sandblast them back to bare metal removing all old paint and rust.

We then prime and powder coat them to your required colour and taste.

I think it’s important to have a balance in life, to have something else to focus on outside of an office environment. Upholstery is still creative, but almost the exact opposite of what I do sitting at a desk all day. It is three-dimensional, very real and tangible.

From sourcing and finding a chair, to fixing the stuffing and choosing the top fabric, it’s a process. People tend to wince at the cost of having furniture reupholstered, but when you think about how long it should last (a well-upholstered chair should be good for 30 years) there’s nothing throwaway about it.

I never thought I would feel a sense of pride at seeing my fingers bleed after three hours of hand-stitiching, and I often find myself holding back from tapping the last tack into a piece of furniture for fear of finishing the project.

It takes dedication to work upholstery cleaning specialists on a piece, and there are definitely weeks when * Sofas, Suites, Fabric & Leather Cleaned I’d rather be spending * Rugs, Carpets, Curtains, Blinds the evening watching * Mattresses Steam Cleaned television. * Car, Caravan Boat Interiors

C & M Cleaning services

* House Cleaning, Spring Cleaning * Bars & Restaurants, No Job To Small * Call For a Free No Obligation Quote

ALL CLEANING WORK UNDERTAKEN

Tel: 966 789 370 or 660 718 259

Trade call

FULLY LEGAL IN SPAIN

carpetheaven@hotmail.es 966 720 782

CARPET HEAVEN

AVENIDA DEL MAR 33B (HIGH ST) LOS MONTESINOS, ALICANTE • Wide range of modern & traditional rugs • Traditionally fitted or edged carpets • Vertical blinds • Burmatex carpet tiles • Cushioned vinyl flooring • Luxury bar stools

FREE gordonsutherland1967@gmail.com

NO OBLIGATION QUOTES IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME New Opening Hours Monday to Saturday 10am - 2pm

But then I have to remind myself that the chair I’m sitting on – which I inherited from my aunt – is the one I’ve upholstered, with horsehair, and covered in a fabric of my choosing.

Low cost self storage Personal/Commercial Storage Mailboxes Car Storage Removals/Transport House Clearance Internet Sales/Marketing Warehousing/Logistics

968 580 759 info@bigboxstorage.eu www.bigboxstorage.eu

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

You deserve Privacy, Peace, Harmony ...

21

! t i d r o f f a n a c u o ...and y

Please call for viewings and/or appointment.

Thank you.

Phone / Fax Office: 966 180 004 Mobile Eva: 669 621 173 www.spain-fincas.info info@spain-fincas.info ASPE € 179,000

Abanilla (Murcia) € 75,000

Ref.: E-1716

fortuna €105,000 Ref.: E-1892

Ref.: E-1944

Fantastic bargain, reduced by €100.000- to €197,500. Impressive family home 5km near to Aspe. Strong and solid construction of 275m2 on 2.300 m2 fenced and walled plot. 4 plus 2 double bedrooms with built in wardrobes, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), toilet, kitchen, utility room, diner, 2 lounges, open fireplace, large porch, wide views, big garage, fire wood room, BBQ and summer kitchen, fronton court, 9 x 5 m pool with plunge pool and large terrace, established garden with high palm and pine trees, 3-phase electricity, oil central heating. A comfortable family home for whole year living. www.spain-fincas.info

La Zarza: Cozy mountain retreat 10 mins drive to Pinoso. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, dressing room, open plan kitchen/diner, lovely lounge with rustic open fireplace, workshed, large terrace off mains bedroom, wide views to mountains, garden with high trees, off-road parking, space for pool. Neighbours around. Beautifully fitted and furnished. A lovely low maintenance country retreat with character. www.spain-fincas.info

Country home fully re-furbished 75m2 on 6.800m2 plot, 10 mins drive to Fortuna, neighbours around. Asphalted access, 2 bedrooms, lounge with open fire place, large country style kitchen, utility room, bathroom, large porch with stunning views to mountains, roof terrace, dogs garden. A beautiful character home to relax and to enjoy nature . Mains water and electricity, internet. www.spain-fincas.info

ORIHUELA (Alicante) €129,000

orihuela (Alicante) €132,000

orihuela (Alicante) €149,000

In the “campo“: Stylish villa of 147m2 living area on a plot of 1.600m2 fully walled, between orange and limon horchards, 8 m drive to Orihuela town. Large porch, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), spacious kitchen, utility room, lounge/diner with open fireplace, tower room, Pool 8 x 4m. A modern home for a comfortable country life. Distance to airports Alicante and Murcia: 40 min., beaches of Guardamar 25 min. www.spain-fincas.info

Hurchillo: Dream country home, 5,090m2 plot with high, shady pine trees. 2 wooden luxury, cozy houses of together 120m2 living area, very private but with neighbours, all services. South facing, big living room, open plan kitchen, 2 beds, walk in wardrobe, direct access to amazing pool area, aircon. Pool 8x4, summer kitchen and bar. Outside toilet. Completely self contained guest cottage, 1 bed, bathroom, kitchen, aircon, garage for 2 cars. Stunning views to la Pedrera lake, asphalted access, electric gate, impressive drive in area, terraces, vegetable garden, walk to bar/restaurant. 25 Mins from Mediterranean and Mar Menor, 8 mins drive Orihuela town. A relaxing retreat for friends of nature, near to ameneties .www.spain-fincas.info

Ref.: E-2215

Sunny and cozy 125 m2 detached country home, 2 minutes drive from the al ameneties vil age of La Murada, next to Orihuela town, on 2,000 m2 of plot, with apartment annex on first floor. The main house consists of 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge, kitchen with center worktop and open fireplace, utility room. The separate access 35 m2 approx. first floor apartment has two bedrooms and a bathroom, for visitors or for a small B&B business offering a lovely 10x5 m pool area with bar , BBQ and shady sitting areas, most beautiful wide views. Just a home to enjoy the relaxed Spanish life the whole year round.

The plot needs TLC, the house is to move-in immeditaly. Unique opportunity to get your country home near to all ameneties at this incredibly low price of € 129.000,-, (this means more than 50% reduction of the original price) www.spain-fincas.info

D L SO

MAR MENOR AREA (MURCIA)

Abanilla (Murcia) € 174,950

€120,000 Ref.: E-2214

This traditional Spanish country property is located between Sucina and San Javier, 10 mins drive to beaches, 2 km from the new Mar Menor hospital, 10 minutes from the San Javier airport . The house which would need some TLC offers 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), lounge/, kitchen/dining room, large southfaced porch. It benefits of oil central heating, landline phone, internet. It is built on a 890 m2 plot with trees and plants, with a 42 m2 garage, workshop and an indoor pool of 8x4 m. Price reduced to now € 120,000,-- . A fantastic opportunity to live real country life, only some minutes away from the beaches and ameneties.www.spain-fincas.info

Ref.: E-2177

Ref.: E-2137

Orihuela €139,000 Ref.: E-2217

Ref.: E-2175

Luxury, spotless country villa of 150 m2 living area, 5 years young, on a walled and fenced plot of 1.700 m2 : 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, (1 en-suite), lounge with open fire place, large kitchen/diner, spacious utility room, beautiful summer kitchen, outside toilet/changing room, lovely 10x5 m pool area with gazebo, stunning views to mountains, neighbours around. Central aircon hot and cold, solar panel for water, telephone, internet, satellite TV and alarm. 5 min. drive to the historic town of Abanilla with Saturday street market, 50 minutes to airports, 20 min. to Murcia town. A wonderful place for an enjoyable country life. www.spain-fincas.info

EVA VERONIKA

Beautiful and cozy country home in walking distance to Orihuela town with all ameneties. Ther 110 m2 living area consists of an entrance halle, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge with open fireplace, diner, lovely kitchen and a fantastic outside area of 4.200 m2 plot (1.500 m2 fenced) with a private pool of 10 x 6 m surrounded by a large terraced area. The property is in very good conditions, ready to move-in. There is mains water, electricity and landline/internet www.spain-fincas.info

Your Country Property Advisor Pinar de l Perdiz, 94A

22

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

Andy Wilson Photographer

AA FREE ENGLISH TV BBC1, BBC2, ITV1,2,3,4,C4,Sky News + more.

No monthly subscriptions direct from satellite.

Full installation including receiver from...

OVER 200 Channels ALL FREE

195€

UKTV’S LATEST TECHNOLOGY IPTV Player BBC ITV FREE

FOR ONLY 199€ MOVIES BOX SETS FREE

world cancer day 2013

Tuesday 4th February 2014 is World Cancer Day and the day will be marked by Maria and the Pink Ladies in conjunction with Zenia Boulevard, the management at Zenia Boulevard have decided to recognise this day once again with Maria and her Pink Ladies at the Boulevard for the benefit of the AECC, the Spanish cancer charity. Maria has arranged for a number of the top entertainers on the Costa Blanca to perform a live set on the centres stage from 12.30 pm to approximately 6.00pm.

The day will start with a minutes silence to commemorate those who have lost the fight to this heinous disease, this will take place in the main area in front of the stage. After the minutes silence then there will be live entertainment for all those who attend.

There will also be a chance to book an early screening mammogram or cervical test for ladies and a prostate

test for the gentlemen; Maria and the Pink Ladies will be on hand to take your details and book the relevant test, these tests are free although a small donation will be gratefully received to help to finance the early screening program.

The entertainers who will be donating their time once again free of charge for the benefit of the AECC are as follows, Nick Gold, Dan Davy, Flamenco for all with Raquel Peña, Texas Ted, Nikki G, Ricky Valance, Johnny Lea, Ashley Tweddle, Richie Alexander, Paul Michael and the Ruth Kingsbury Dancers. Sunshine radio station will also be in attendance for the whole day providing public announcements and music to keep the day entertaining for all. All money raised on the day will be donated to the AECC to help fund their early screening program and towards research into a cure for ALL cancers.

NO DISH REQUIRED

SKY Full PACKAGE

15 € Y L ON per month

One off payment Internet connection needed ITV BBC CHANNEL 4-5 Dave Pick Yesterday

ERTISE TO ADV HRISTINE C L L A C 47 6 9 1 7 6 6 9 ON

Call for installation quotations in your area

606 297 825

or see ourwebsite for more information WWW.AAFREEENGLISHTV.COM or email: pete@aafreeenglishtv.com

PREMIER

TOP DIVISION REMOVALS & STORAGE

SPAIN - UK - SPAIN

•• •

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

RING FOR OUR COMPETITIVE REMOVAL OFFERS

TEL: 966 772 153 627 463 523 www.premiermovespain.com

Professional Family Run Business HO

Inter nal Local Moves Full/Par ts Loads Fully Insured

• •

Packing Supplies Available For tnightly Ser vice

US All i E CL tem E s co ARAN nsid CE ere d

CASH

Fully Alarmed & Secure Storage Facilities Available PLEASE RING FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE

PAID

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

23

Sweet Dreams

dulceS sueños

BIG OFFERS

e bl rs la ou ai ol av t c n ow e N ffer di

in

until 28th Feb

All Can apes in wood Now wit h optiona laterall opening

Canape Wood Scuare

150 x 190

260€

With 4cm Viscoelastic memory foam mattress

380€

Canape Wood Scuare

135 x 190

220€ With 4cm

Viscoelastic memory Canape Wood foam mattress

Scuare

90 x 190

190€

4cm Memory Foam Mattresses Medium or Firm densities 135 x 190 €200 150 x 190 €220

INCREDIBL E O FF E R canape w

350€

ood sCUAR e 135 BUY WIT H MATTRESS X190

over Mattress

4cm Visco Elastica 90x190 68€ 105x190 68€ 135x190 98€ 150x190 104€ 180x190 120€ Toppers now in. 80kg density.

Ask Sue for mor details.

Look out for the

BLUE STAR DISCOUNTS

20% OFF price Plus another 20% OFF plus another 20% OFF

20% Off Pillows

Limited Playa Fla Stock me Store On nca ly

90 x 190 Electronic Base with Sanitario mattress With Visco 4cm mattress

€350 €399

Mattre sses with

2 0 % d iscount

s

free delivery www.sefredescanso.es

Villamartin

Playa Flamenca

N332 ◄Cartagena La Zenia

MPLETE

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

Sweet Dreams Top Floor Shopping Centre Playa Flamenca

La Roig

Mattress Eliocel take away price 90x190 50€ & 135x190 70€

2 50€ CO

Torrevieja►

Centro Comercial 1a Planta, Playa Flamenca

Torrevieja

C / Conception No. 8 Torrevieja

Orihuela

C / Aragon No. 2 Orihuela

Tel: 965 321 701 Tel: 965 710 058 Tel: 965 325 56

24

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

animal corner

dogs : travel Tips Bringing your dog on vacation with you just adds to the fun and alleviates the worry of not knowing what’s happening with your dog while you’re on the road. You need to do your homework on dog travel though. Planes and cars aren’t designed with dogs in mind, and you need to know what to expect when you reach your final destination. By planning your dog travel ahead of time, you can make the vacation a truly relaxing time for you and your dog. Here are my best dog travel tips to help make that happen: Crating your dog for travel It’s natural to feel bad about crating your dog.

After all, you wouldn’t want to be crated. But don’t project your feelings onto your dog. They don’t mind the crate and some even feel safer in one.

• The most important thing you can do is make sure your dog has been well exercised before he goes in the crate. If he’s burned off his excess energy, he’ll be more inclined to rest.

• Make sure there’s nothing in the crate that can harm your dog. Leashes and loose collars are especially dangerous items that could present a strangling hazard.

• Keep your energy positive. Don’t present the crate like it’s a prison. Show the dog the crate and open the door. Don’t shove the dog in the crate. Let him go into the crate on his own. When he’s inside and comfortable, you can close the door. Walk away with good energy and body language. If you affect a sad voice and say things like “Don’t be sad. Mommy and Daddy will be back soon,” your dog is going to think something’s wrong and get anxious.

not projecting that the crate is a bad thing. Just open the door and he can come out when he’s ready.

Driving with your dog It’s usually a good idea to crate or harness your dog when riding in the car. You’ll be less distracted while driving which is safer for both of you. It also prevents your dog from becoming a projectile if you have to stop fast, also reducing the chance of injury for both of you. Speaking of projectiles, don’t feed your dog a lot before the trip as they are prone to motion sickness. Don’t feed your dog while you’re moving either. Wait until there’s a break and you can give her a small snack, preferably high in protein. It’s also good to spend a little time playing or walking during the break to get rid of some pentup energy. And of course, don’t leave your dog in a parked car, especially when it’s warm out. Even with the window cracked open, the car can quickly turn into an oven, and your dog will get dehydrated.

Taking your dog on an airplane The first thing you need to do is check with the airline for their rules regarding pet travel. Many require a health certificate and may have other rules you haven’t thought of that you don’t want to be surprised with at the airport. Your dog will almost certainly be travelling in a crate and it will probably make everyone’s lives easier if you crate your dog • Come back in 15 minutes. This will ease the dog’s before you enter the chaos of the airport.

As with car travel, it’s smart not to start the trip on separation anxiety next time you crate him. But don’t take him out of the crate. Remember that you’re a full stomach or bladder (dogs should fast for at least 6 hours before the trip) and to make a pit stop as close to the departure time as possible. However, make sure your dog has access to water—enough to keep hydrated but not full.

Mountain View

Cat hotel Hondon de las Nieves/Frailes

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

Pick up & delivery service offered for coastal areas

Telephone: 966 195 816

Answerphone - we will call back: Mobile 654 155 473

www.mountainviewcathotel.webs.com

Domino Pet Hotel

Domino Petshipping worldwide

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

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

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

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

• We take care of all documentation • Travel Crates in all sizes from small up to extra large (best Price guaranteed) • IPATA Member

Tel: 654 168 366

info@dominopetshipping.com www.dominopetshipping.com

in the new room. Don’t inadvertently encourage the barking with affection. Stay calm and assertive and take him out for some exercise to calm him.

Go on a long walk once you reach the hotel A recently exercised dog will be in a more relaxed state during any long trip. Your dog may growl at strangers and that’s ok. It’s natural for your dog to be a little nervous around new people. She’s out of her element and may growl. This isn’t because she’s being aggressive, but because she’s a little freaked out and needs reassurance that everything’s under control. If you pull her away from the new person, you’re indicating that there is something wrong and she’ll freak out more. Again, be calm and assertive and show your dog that you’ve got it covered.

How to enter the hotel room with your dog

Now you are ready to go to your hotel room.

Enter first. Get the dog to stay where he is. Don’t let him wander around or he’ll assume control of the situation. While you are unpacking, showering, or making phone calls, he is waiting. The only one who should move in the environment is you—until you If your dog isn’t flying with you in the main cabin, are ready, then you initiate activity. It’s important don’t have a big goodbye scene. You’ll only upset that your scent is everywhere before the dog settles your dog. If you’re calm, he’ll be calm. in.

To medicate or not to medicate your dog Exploring a new place With almost as large a selection of pharmaceuticals You’re away from home and that means a lot of new as humans, it may be tempting to medicate your sights, smells, sounds, and potential food items for dog with a sedative or calmative for the trip. I don’t your dog. Make sure you’re vigilant wherever you go recommend medicating your dog. You don’t want to about what’s around, especially in the area of things start a pattern that ends with a reliance on pills for your dogs could ingest. Also, especially around the you or your pet. You possess all the tools to keep holidays, there may be a lot of lights, decorations, your pet calm with your voice, attitude, and body and snout-level treats that can be distracting or language. dangerous for your pooch. Keep an eye on him and the new place.

Keeping your dog calm during travel Can’t bring your dog along?

Make sure you bring your dog’s blanket or his Find a good substitute pack. In a kennel, your dog favourite stuffed animal, toy, bone—any item which should be immediately adopted as a member of is familiar to your dog and will comfort and relax the pack. The staff should be able to get your dog him. focused on what is there for him – and not leave him For a little extra calm, try rubbing a little lavender mourning over the fact that you left. It is a big deal oil between your hands and give your pet a little for a dog to detach himself from a pack. The new aromatherapy or deep tissue massage at the pack should equal or better the pack he just left. beginning of your dog’s spine or base of her head.

Travelling with a dog can be a fun experience for Staying in a hotel with your dog both of you. Just remember to be as prepared as As with flying, a little pre-emptive research is in possible wherever you go. The more homework order. Does the hotel you’re considering even allow you do on dog travel, the fewer surprises there will pets? Better to find out before you arrive. Pet- be. Don’t forget to make sure your dog gets plenty welcoming hotels like Best Western will be prepared of exercise and above all, of course, be calm and for your visit, and can even recommend parks, hikes, assertive. A balanced dog makes the best travel and other dog-friendly activities. At other hotels, the companion. only thing fit for a dog is the Continental breakfast. It Happy travels! can also be embarrassing if your dog barks or howls Source: http://www.cesarsway.com/

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

25

Dancing on Ice 2014

By Lyn Aspden of ‘Strictly Dance’

week 4

This weeks theme was different styles of dance and what a diverse show it proved to be. With only 9 pairs remaining one slip and it is all over.

Opening the show were ex champion Kyran Bracket and Nina with their version of Rock and Roll to Great Balls of Fire. For me this week Kyran didn’t look as comfortable and he was a bit unsteady on some of his lift entry and exits. It was however a performance which was fast and furious and full of energy. I awarded him 7.5 and judges 31.5.

Next to skate were Susanne Shaw and Matt with The Flower Duet Ballet.

Susanne has beautiful arms and lines and her transitions between lifts was seamless. Her interpretation was soft elegant and graceful exactly as it should have been. I gave her 8.5 and the judges 33.0.

Next out were Gareth Gates and Brianne with Street Dance to Hot In Here. Oh dear! a person less ‘street’ than Gareth you couldn’t meet, however he gave it his best shot and

really entered into the spirit of the performance. He is not really up to the standard of some of the other skaters but a nice attempt nontheless. I gave him 7.0 and the judges 28.0.

Next to skate were Bonnie Langford and Andre with a Waltz to What The World Needs Now. I found it difficult to believe that the professional skater had never performed a Waltz before so Bonnie was immediately on the back foot. The performance was tentative and unsure, not as clean as normal but her elegance and posture and position in lifts is second to none.

She needs much more power and speed over the ice to keep up with the serious challengers. She was awarded 27.5 from the judges and 7.0 from myself.

Sam Attwater and Vicky then turned to India and Bangra skated to Work for their performance. This was a fast, furious performance full of Bangra movements and well matched through most of their skate. I awarded him 8.5 and the judges 34.5. Next to skate was Zaraah Abrahams and Andy

pause for thought

A friend recently told me she could never be a Christian as the Bible was so unscientific; quoting Richard Dawkins as supporting her view that no reputable scientist over the last century had believed in God. Strange how many people share this view, but clearly they never met Professor David Ingram CBE, one of the greatest and most respected physicists of our time, who also had a strong Christian faith.

For myself, I was privileged to attend a symposium at Keele University in the early 60s, when Prof Ingram was head of the Department of Physics there. When at the end of his lecture he invited questions, one mischievous individual enquired how he, as a respected scientist could also claim a faith in God. Unruffled, the professor responded that he considered the two to be complementary; that science sought to answer questions of “how”, whilst the Bible addressed the issue of “why”.

To illustrate the point, Dr Ingram gave a scientific explanation of how his car came to be parked outside the hall, with a detailed analysis based on its speed and weight; its momentum and kinetic energy, being overcome by a gradually increasing frictional force, as hydraulic pressure caused callipers to grip discs attached to the wheels, which brought it to a stop in its present position. He then continued, suggesting that a Biblical approach would probably have simply explained that the Professor stopped his car outside the lecture hall as he was addressing a symposium there.

Both explanations, he asserted were equally true, and both were needed, taken together to understand fully how and why his car was car was parked

outside, “always assuming”, he added with a grin, “that it hasn’t been stolen since I left it there”. So it is that Science and Scripture are equally valid in addressing their own issues, but don’t expect Science to answer accurately questions about the meaning and purpose of life, nor Scripture to explain precisely how it all came into being.

Once the applause subsided, there were no further questions.

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 PROFESSOR DAVID INGRAM, CBE 1927 - 2001 Research Fellow at Southampton University 1952-1959 Head of Department of Physics at Keele University 1959-1973 Principal of Chelsea College 1973-1980 Vice Chancellor of University of Kent 1980-1994 Chairman of the Universities Central Council on Admissions Treasurer of the Committee of ViceChancellors and Principals Trustee of Canterbury Cathedral Deputy Lieutenant of Kent

with a Jazz number to Putting On The Ritz. This week she was lacking in performance level looking heavy getting both into and out of lifts probably due to lack of body and arm extension. I awarded her 7.5 and the judges a total of 32.0.

Next to skate was Beth Tweddle and Lucasz performing Scottish Dancing to Hey Brother.

This was nicely performed with good characterisation of Scottish dance moves and hand positions. It was to be the seasons best score (until the following skates) with a total of 36.5 from the judges and 8.5 from me.

The penultimate pair were Hayley Tamaddon and Dan skating Charleston to Bang Bang. Wow!! this was a fantastic performance from start to finish, it was fast slick with loads of Charleston moves packed in. I gave her a maximum 10.0 with the judges 38.0.

Closing this weeks show was my boy Ray Quinn and Maria dancing Flamenco to Malaguena. Fantastic! Wow! Wow! Everything it should have been and

much much more. It was a slick dramatic skate full of flamenco lifts, poses and shapes and with the power of Ray’s dance expertise excellent.

Ray ended up with a maximum 40.0 from the judges and of course a 10.0 from yours truly.

After the public vote the bottom 2 were: Kyran Bracken skating to Chasing Cars and Zaraah Abrahams skating to Don’t Cry For Me Argentina and this was one of the closest skate offs there has ever been. It was a 3 to 1 split with the judges but Kyran won out so Zaraah sadly had to leave the competition. Next week there is to be a ‘winner takes all battle’ but what will this entail? Tune in to find out!

Every week we are getting closer to crowning the ultimate champion but who will it be? Ray Quinn, my favourite? or do you prefer someone else? Until next weeks exciting show - Keep Dancing and don’t forget you can come and join our friendly gang at one of our classes.

SPORT SHORTS

* The 2014 Six Nations Rugby tournament starts on Saturday when Wales play Italy and France meet England, while on Sunday Ireland oppose Scotland. * In tennis, GB (with Andy Murray if fit) play the USA in the Davis Cup in San Diego, California this weekend. * Also this weekend, top Premiership matches are Arsenal v Crystal Palace, Manchester City v Chelsea, the Tyne-Wear derby featuring Newcastle and Sunderland, Stoke v Manchester United and WBA v Liverpool. * In the Championship, it’s Bournemouth v leaders Leicester and the big one, QPR v Burnley, while in FL1 Brentford visit Shrewsbury and in FL2 it’s Hartlepools v Scunthorpe. * And this evening, in the PL, Aston Villa play WBA and Chelsea take on West Ham, Liverpool having played Everton last night plus Southampton v Arsenal and Tottenham v Manchester City. * Congratulations to Stan Wawrinka on beating Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open - his first-ever Grand Slam title. The Swiss also k’od Novak Djokovic and by beating Nadal, became the first man to defeat the

world’s top two players in the same tournament since 1993. * Chinese superwoman Li Na defeated Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova 7-6, 6-0 to win her second major trophy, following her 2011 triumph in France. * Two Premiership clubs went out in the FA Cup 4th round - Crystal Palace lost to holders Wigan while Stoke were beaten

by Chelsea. * Manchester City, 20 down, knocked out Watford 4-2; Arsenal (v.

Coventry) and Everton (at Stevenage) both recorded 4-0 victories and Liverpool won 2-0 at Bournemouth while Sunderland accounted for the last non-League club, Kidderminster. * In round five, it’s Arsenal v Liverpool, Brighton v Hull, Cardiff v Wigan, Manchester City v Chelsea, Everton v Swansea, Sheff Utd or Fulham v PNE or Nottm Forest, Sheff Wed v Charlton and Sunderland v Southampton. The ties will be played on 15/16 February. * Here in Spain there were wins for Barcelona (v Malaga), Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid and even Almeria (v Getafe). * Everton’s Costa Rican

midfielder Bryan Oviedo suffered a double fracture of his left leg at Stevenage and will possibly miss the World Cup. * Manchester United have paid a club record £37.1m (44.7m euros) for Chelsea’s Juan Mata.

David Moyes also wants Southampton’s Luke Shaw. * Chelsea have spent £11 million on Basel’s Mohamed Salah. * Chris Wilder has left Oxford to become manager of Northampton and Sheffield Wednesday’s new boss is Stuart Gray. * WBA may sack Nicolas Anelka if his loses his ‘Quenella’ case with the FA. * England’s men ended their tour ‘down under’ with a win and a defeat in their last two ODIs against Australia while their female counterparts (leading 8-4 on points) require one win from their last three 20/20 games v. the Aussies to clinch the Ashes. * My Black Country colleague, ex-Tipton Harrier, Andy Holden has died, aged 66. RIP.

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

Down 1 All (10) 2 Speech-giver (6) 3 A three-tone Chadic language (4) 4 Weekly TV series are this (8) 5 Sound from a contented cat (4) 6 Liquoriceflavored seeds (5) 8 A light-hearted

joke (American slang) (7) 12 Locations (5) 14 The leading sheep in a flock (10) 16 Notion (7) 17 Craftsmen (8) 21 Leased property (6) 22 Slides uncontrollably (5) 24 Not fake (4) 25 Missile (4)

CRYPTIC crossword

CROSSWORD

STANDARD SOLUTIONS

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.

Very Hard!

SUDOKU PUZZLE

Down

1 Dance that sounds overly plain (3-4) 2 A headless bird at a

place of great activity (5) 3 Cut a jewel to confront Edward (7) 4 Tastelessly bright bird in one’s family - note, that is where you’ll find over-optimistic people! (5-6-4) 5 You must make this to compensate (6) 6 Nearly dress beneath container with which you might wash or dry (9) 7 Element of witchcraft in polonium, with half gone missing (7) 13 Overthrow of French central state following a masterstroke (4,5) 15 Loud and long complaint is very bad (7) 17 Try to win the support of the French, wearing Liberal new garment (7) 18 Weakness of 22 going wrong in the outskirts of Filey (7) 19 With regard to man, one governing temporarily (6) 22 Attempt to get King and Emperor in most of story (5)

HARD SUDOKU

6 Harmful (7) 7 Deplume (5) 9 A coffin stand (4) 10 Write out a speech (10) 11 False teeth (8) 13 Rubble (6) 15 Pocketbook (4) 17 Caper (5) 18 Indolent (4) 19 Purchased (6) 20 Nagging (8) 23 Hostility (10) 26 Journey (4) 27 It travels on

rails (5) 28 Laboratory flasks (7)

STANDARD SUDOKU

Across

1 Few find car at start of road, wrongly positioned, but this person might! (7,6) 8 Failed on entry into ‘German Energy’ (4) 9 Do less damage in church work, where you need to be in union (6,4) 10 Narrow strip of water with second identifying feature (6) 11 Intended to teach a court, in charge after policeman finally died (8) 12 Being in a dazed state at intervals? (6,3) 14 State of mind over inescapable ruin (4) 15 Enjoyment without a mythical creature (4) 16 Crooked w-when nearly shifted into small boat (4-5) 20 Agonised about city (3,5) 21 Horrible lout with a Welsh criminal (6) 23 Waste outside of Thailand cut and left to be unorthodox (33-4) 24 Python not in use (4) 25 Unit lay about with tidal lake parallel to the equator? (13)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

STANDARD CROSSWORD

26

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

27

SolPUZZLES

Q&A

1. Which singer had hits with Rubber Ball and The Night Has A Thousand Eyes? ................................................................................................................

2. What sized ball is a game of netball played with? ................................................................................................................

3. What was Margaret Thatcher`s maiden name? .................................................................................................................

4. Who assassinated John Lennon? .................................................................................................................

5. Sicknote was the nickname of a character in which TV series? .................................................................................................................

6. Who succeeded David Steel as leader of the Liberal Democrats? .................................................................................................................

7. Who wrote the Waverley novels? .................................................................................................................

8. What is the modern-day name for the country formerly known as Kampuchea? .................................................................................................................

9. What country was formerly known as Persia? .................................................................................................................

10. Which comedy duo appeared in the last episode of The Sweeney? .................................................................................................................

11. What is the highest mountain that is not in a mountain range? .................................................................................................................

12. What is the capital city of Tasmania? .................................................................................................................

13. In Britain what shape is the road sign `Stop`? .................................................................................................................

14. In what year was the Great Train Robbery? .................................................................................................................

15. Who was Britain`s first black news reader? .................................................................................................................

16. What was the nickname given to the famous boxing match between Mohammad Ali and Joe Frazier in1975? .................................................................................................................

17. Which artist released an album and movie under the same title of Get Rich Or Die Tryin`? .................................................................................................................

18. What is the capital of the Caribbean island of Grenada? .................................................................................................................

19. What country has the largest coastline? .................................................................................................................

20. Which actor, who died on April 5th 2008, was originally considered for the role of Chief Brody in the 1975 film Jaws? ................................................................................................................

Amazing Facts… Each year 30, 000 people are seriously injured by exercise equipment • More than 50% of the world have never made or received a telephone call • The word “set” has more definitions than any other word in the English language • Due to gravitational effects, you weigh slightly less when the moon is directly overhead • A female ferret will die if it goes into heat and cannot find a mate • In its ancient form, the carrot was purple, not orange • Snails breath e through their feet! • It’s illegal to own a red car in Shangh ai, China • The first CD pressed in the USA was Bruce Springs teen ‘Born in the USA’ • The bat on the Bacardi symbol is the re because the soil where the sugar cane grows is fertile from the excessive guano (bat droppings) • 2 out of 5 people live in China or India • M o n t p e l i e r, Vermont is the only U.S. state capital without a McDonalds • Coca-Cola was originally green • It is impossible to lick your elbow • 90% of people who read that will attempt it... • Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to watch TV for 3 hours!

The Beach

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

The remaining letters spell an additional beach word.

ONLY LOOK IF YOU NEED TO......

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Q&A ANWERS:

BARE FEET BEACH BALL BOAT CLOUDS DRIFTWOOD HAT KITE LIFEGUARD OCEAN PAIL

PIER SAILING SAND SEAGULL SEASHORE SKY STARFISH SUNGLASSES SUNSCREEN SUNSHINE

SURFBOARD SURFING SWIMMING SWIMSUIT T SHIRT TOWEL VOLLEYBALL WADING WATER WAVES

Bobby Vee Size 5 Roberts Mark Chapman London`s Burning Paddy Ashdown Sir Walter Scott Cambodia Iran Morecambe and Wise

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Mount Kilimanjaro Hobart Octagonal 1963 Moira Stewart Thrilla in Manila 50 Cent St. Georges Canada Charlton Heston

28

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

FOOD & DRINK... FOOD & DRINK... FOOD & DRINK...

Smoked Salmon with Beetroot & Vodka Crème Fraîche

Baked pappardelle with pancetta and porcini INGREDIENTS

500ml/18fl oz milk 20g/¾oz dried porcini mushrooms 40g/1½oz butter 25g/1oz plain flour salt and freshly ground black pepper 100g/4oz pappardelle 50g/2oz pancetta, cut into 2cm/1in pieces 4-5 tbsp freshly grated parmesan

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.

Warm the milk in a saucepan, add the porcini mushrooms, remove from the heat and soak for 10 minutes.

NEW

Heat the butter in a clean saucepan, add the flour and stir over a low heat for 2-3 minutes without colouring the roux.

Pour in the porcini-flavoured milk all in one go and whisk together vigorously until smooth. Cook the sauce for a further 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.

Season lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper and set aside.

Bring a large pan of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain in a colander, tip into a roomy bowl and carefully stir in the sauce, porcini and pancetta until well combined.

Place the pasta into a lightly buttered oven-proof dish.

Smooth the surface and cover with two tablespoons of the parmesan. Bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until bubbling around the edges and goldenbrown.

Serve the dish piping hot at the dinner table and have extra cheese at the ready..

HOGGIES BAR

Monday Afternoon - Prize Bingo 2pm

•

Strain through a sieve suspended over a bowl, pressing lightly on the mushrooms with the back of ladle to extract all the milk.

San Luis

• Wednesday Evening - Karaoke with Michelle & DJ ONE

14th February

VALENTINES • Thursday Afternoon - Cards EVENING • DINNER • Thursday Evening - Ken’s�Crazy�Quiz 14€ PER • PERSON Friday • 4pm - HOT ICE/jose west alternate weeks • Saturday Evening - Karaoke with Michelle & DJ ONE All�Sports�Shown�Daily • Outside�Catering • New garden area Super Save Breakfast Menu • home�Cooked�Menu

find us on

thenewhoggiesbarrestaurant

Tel:�966�785�476

c/Beasain�Commercial, Phase�3�San�Luis�Torrevieja

METHOD

Beat the crème fraîche with the vodka and a little seasoning until it holds its shape, then stir in the horseradish.

Chill in the fridge.

Lay the slices of salmon over plates, then top with the beetroot and a spoonful of the crème fraîche.

Top with the salmon caviar, if using, then scatter with the dill. Grind over some black pepper and serve

Ingredients 200ml tub crème fraîche 3 tsp vodka 2 tsp hot horseradish sauce 6 slices smoked salmon 250g pack small, cookedbeetroot (not in vinegar), thinly sliced, then shredded salmon caviar (optional) few small, torn dill sprigs

GAMMON STEAK WITH BROAD BEANS

INGREDIENTS

400g podded broad beans 75g butter 4 gammon steaks 3 shallots , finely diced 1 garlic clove , smashed 1 bay leaf 1 sprig thyme 125ml white wine 75ml hot chicken stock 2 tbsp parsley , chopped

METHOD

Blanch the broad beans in boiling salted water for 1 minute. drain, drop into iced water, then drain again and set aside.

Warm a little of the butter in a large frying pan with a splash of olive oil.

When the butter is foaming, add the gammon steaks and cook for about 3 minutes or so on each side depending on the thickness. Season with pepper, but go easy on the salt gammon is already salty. remove from the pan and set aside somewhere warm to rest.

Put the rest of the butter in a saucepan and add the shallots. After 2 mins add the garlic clove, bay leaf and thyme. Cook for a further minute, then throw in the broad beans and white wine. Reduce till almost gone, then add the hot chicken stock.

Simmer for 2 mins until the beans are tender. Finally, just before serving, stir in the parsley. Check the seasoning and serve with the gammon steaks.

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

29

FOOD & DRINK... FOOD & DRINK... FOOD & DRINK... image: http://greytveganlife.files.wordpress.com/

Irish cream and chocolate cheesecake

INGREDIENTS

100g/3½oz butter 250g/8¾oz digestive biscuits, crushed 600g/1lb 5oz cream cheese 25ml/1fl oz Baileys or other Irish cream liqueur 100ml/3½oz icing sugar 300ml/10½oz double cream, whipped 100g/3½oz grated chocolate To garnish 200ml/7¼oz double cream, whipped cocoa powder, to dust

FANTASTIC WINES

METHOD

1. Melt the butter in a pan and add the crushed digestive biscuits. Mix well until the biscuits have absorbed all the butter.

2. Remove from the heat and press into the bottom of a lined 18cm/7in springform tin. Place in the refrigerator and allow to set for one hour.

3. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Lightly whip the cream cheese then beat in the Irish cream and icing sugar. Fold in the whipped cream and grated chocolate. When smooth, spoon evenly onto the biscuits.

4. Refrigerate and allow to set for a further two hours.

Once set, remove and decorate with whipped cream and cocoa powder dusted over the top. Serve.

Lemon Curd & Yogurt Fool

The Catalan word cava (masculine, plural caves) means “cave”, or “cellar”. Caves were used in the early days of cava production for the preservation or aging of wine.[3] Catalan winemakers officially adopted the term in 1970 to distinguish their product from French champagne History Spanish sparkling wine was first made as early as 1851,[4] although the roots of the cava industry can be traced back to Josep Raventós’s travels through Europe in the 1860s, where he was promoting the still wines of the Codorníu Winery. His visits to Champagne sparked an interest in the potential of a Spanish wine made using the same traditional method. He created his first sparkler in 1872, after the vineyards of Penedès were devastated by the phylloxera plague, and the predominantly red vines were being replaced by large numbers of vines producing white grapes

Ingredients

300g jar lemon curd (we used Duchy Originals Traditional Lemon Curd) 500g tub 0% Greek yogurt 200g punnet raspberries 1 tbsp icing sugar shortbread , to serve

METHOD

Put the lemon curd and yogurt into a bowl. Fold together for a rippled effect. Divide the mixture between four glasses and chill.

Mix raspberries and icing sugar together and gently crush, then spoon with their juices over the chilled mix and serve.

SPoRTSMAn BAR QUESADA

Dave Lane Guitar & vocals Saturday 1st February at 9pm kitchen opens 6-9pm

2 meals for 5€ lunchtimes

tel: 966 183 514

La Bohème

International bar restaurant & bakery

Special Valentines open Day Dinner 9am-late Booking Now 3 Course Meal with 1/2 Bottle of Wine, Glass of Champagne Chocolates for the lady 20€ pp

Plaza Tolosa No22 - San Luis opposite side to Mercadona roundabout

Tel: 966 189 868

HARRY’S BAR

QUIZ NIGHT MONDAYS 9PM WITH PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT JAMMIN’S BACK BY DEMAND WEDNESDAYS FROM 4 - 7PM SUNDAY LUNCH 12.30 - 5PM FROM €7.95 Ready to give a warm welcome to all existing and new customers.

Avda Costa Azul, Ciudad Quesada (at the top of the hill)

Tel 965 999 973

30

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

! d e t t stars in bars p o S DATE ARTIST

VENUE

AREA INFO

31st Soul Power Alley Palais Camposol 31st Done N Dusted El Mundos Benimar Start 2pm 31st Highway 61 Oscars Bar Mazarron 1st Fun Race Night Black Horse Cabo Roig 1st Danny Ray New Royal Puerto de Mazarron 1st Sunflower Valley Breakaways Bar Pueblo Principe 1st Davy Jones The Celtic Drop Playa Flamenca Start 10pm 2nd Nikki G Lansdowne Playa Flamenca 2nd Enigma Lo Marabu Dona PepaStart 5pm 2nd Groovy Nights YOLO Cabo Roig - 4 Live Acts 4th Lynden B Arches Cafe Bar Los Alcazares

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!

no one guessed correctly

to Advertise your bar or restaurant Call our costa blanca sales office on

966 719 647

BE SEEN 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR, with an entry in the

SOLTIMES business directory www.soltimes.com From just €15 for 3 months

Tel: Christine on 902 750 190 blancasales@soltimes.com

new fords available mercedes clk 200 auto cabrio 73,000kms

€19,950

peugeot 3008 Automatic 1.6 HDI Diesel 115,000kms

€14,950

mitsubishi montero Automatic 3.2 Diesel 2006 104,000kms

€13,950

mini cooper Automatic 1.6 petrol 2005 75,000kms

€8,950

All automatic • 2006 BMW X5 3.0 DIESEL AUTO 102,000 KMS............................................................ €21950 • 2005 MERCEDES E320 CDI DIESEL AUTO 167,000 KMS ............................................ €14950 • 2010 renault gran modus 1.6 PETROL AUTO 28,000 KMS.................................... €10950 • 2012 OPEL AGILA 1.2 PETROL AUTO 3,500 KMS............................................................ €10950 • 2009 FORD FOCUS 2.0 TDCI DIESEL AUTO 119,000 KMS .............................................. €9950 • 2004 MINI COOPER 1.6 PETROL AUTO 92,000 KMS.................................................. €8950 • 1998 RANGE ROVER 4.6 HSE PETROL AUTO 288,000 KMS .................................. €4950 • toyota hilux surf 3ltr diesel auto 1994 74,000 miles.....................................€poa • nissan primera 2 ltr petrol auto (rhd) 1998 91,000 miles........................€2,250

Calle Mallorca, San Javier Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511

www.specialistvehicles.com renault twingo Automatic 1.1 petrol 2009 44,000kms

€7,450

VW passat

Automatic 1.9TDi diesel 2004 102,000kms

€6,950

smart FORFOUR automatic diesel 2006 71,000kms

€5,950

opel corsa Automatic 1.2 petrol 2005 104,000kms

€4,950

~ RHD / LHD Taken in Part Exchange / purchased for cash ~ Full procurement service

Visit our website Over 40 cars in group stock

www.specialistvehicles.com

Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511

●Re-registration service available ●no obligation test drives ●we bring the vehicle to you

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

31

COMMUNITY NEWS CerocStyle Paso A Paso The Partner Dance With Latin Style Classes 2014 Sessions marked NEW CLASS commence week 20th Jan --------------Tuesdays 2pm The Club, Cl Abedul, Ciudad Quesada, Rojales 03170 ------------Tuesdays 5pm La Marina Sports Complex, Cl Berna 2A, La Marina Urb 03177 ------------NEW CLASS Wednesdays 5pm El Sarmiento (Palms room) Ctra Alicante-Cartagena N332 Km 5.7 (Next to Go Karts Orihuela Costa) -----------Thursdays 5pm Los Rosales Restaurant, CV895 Moncayo-Monesinoes Rd (known as Lemon Tree Road) Campo de Guardamar ----------NEW CLASS Fridays 4pm Camping International, (upstairs function room) La Marina.

(Beach road on N332, NOT THE URB) Ctr N-332 km.76-03194. €6 includes €2 drink token ------------No need to book just come along. All classes €5 unless stated All classes start with an ongoing beginners session New couples please say if you would like to dance together ------------------------------------------------------------Learn to Line Dance with Adam NEW CLASS Wednesdays 2pm Manisha Restaurant, Cl Antonio Machado, No 38. San Miguel de Salinas (behind Market Street) --------------------Mondays CeroStyle and Line classes at La Mosca Minigolf resume in MARCH Please call for updates on new classes, venues and possible changes.

Tel Adam or Maxine on 670711408 / 638330342 Face Book CerocStyle Modern Jive Email paso-a-paso@modern-jive-spain.com

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

Strictly Dance

Ballroom & Latin Tuition every Monday The Palms, Punta Prima (next to Go Kart Track N332) 3:00-3:45pm Beginner & Intermediate Tuition 3:45-5:15pm Social Dancing. Every Tuesday The Wok Royal, Benijofar 8:00-8:45pm Beginner & Intermediate Tuition 8:4510:15pm Social Dancing. New courses every 3 weeks singles welcome. Info Lyn 966188430 or 635584431 lynatdenelledance@hotmail.com

congratualtions on the safe arrival of

Eva Bethany Ross January 25th 2014 at 4.21pm 6 pounds, 13 ounces with love Jon, Kate, Ellie & Oz

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 - 965 070 247 - 666 747398

age concern FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday 27th January Menu-del-dia. Bora Bora (Playa Grande) 10€ Tickets from: Friday 11am to 1pm: Outside Bar Salud, Camposol B Camposol Cultural Centre Wed/ Thu 10am to 1pm Telephone: 634 310 215 Other areas: 634 336 484

50+ SOLOS The 50+ SOLOs is

open to gentlemen and ladies who are on their own for any reason. There are no subs or fees and we meet normally 2 Saturdays in every month. We have a meal, quiz but, must important, a good chat.

For further information and to book contact Ruth 966789063 or Anne 966786281

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. During the year, we 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.”

UK - BOXTV Has your TV gone off?

55+ channels of UKTV etc We have receivers PRICE from

249€

see web page for more info about us etc

2 Mbit for a stable line

EXTRAS

Paso A Paso Dance club

• Catch-up min 14 days on all channels • Radio • EPG Program guide • Video on demand

month included 29€/ IVA

With more that 10 years on the coast. Nb. looking for dealers as well

0034 952 850 503 • info@uk-boxtv.com • www.uk-boxtv.com

32

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

SOL CLASSIFIEDS

SOLTIMES www.soltimes.com

garden services

A1 ground & gaRDEN SERVICES

Diggers, Skips, Garden see us online Re-form & Maintenance everyday Telephone 628 505 733

BY TELEPHONE Between 10am & 5pm Monday to Friday

966 719 647

handy man

1.8x60x60 white 140€ Tel: 699 275 530 (Puerto Lumbreras)

DEADLINES

hearing aids

All adverts Friday at noon prior to publication

From

550€

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

Furniture

Furniture first

www.digitalhearingspain.com

jewellery

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

666 933 726

Radio/TV Aerial 30€ Tel: 634 826 373

B o s c h glass curtains create more living space, no unsightly frames, Samsung No Tassimo T20 fridge Coffee Machine reasonable prices, for a free Frost estimate tel: 646 111 825 freezer VGC new in box plus

BOB A JOB?

locksmith

Locksmith locked out!!

Call Me Telf: 647 151 972 (24hrs) Put This Number In Your Phone any single item up to 300€ – 24 Hrs Call Out! Commerical, Residential, Cars Locks Changed free of charge - Dierre Locks Changed - All email: blancasales@soltimes.com Waste Tank Large 50mm f1.8 lens Locks To Work Off I Key – Motura pool Showerhead 50€ Tel: 676 534 Gardesa Locks Changed – Window tables, 60€, with Hose 978 Locks - Cars Opened To Retrieve snooker complete with Keys – Alarms Fitted tables, table plug in adaptor Ladies set of tennis tables, 60€, Naucca Golf Clubs from musician darts.

www. spainpool.com

GOT AN ODD JOB YOU NEED DOING I AM 16 AND STRONG CALL TOM 687 363 540

electricians

TELEPHONE: 966 719 647

for sale advertise all your unwanted items for sale in this section

glass curtains

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

awnings

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

7 packets coffee 50€ Tel: 634 826 373

Black & Decker Jigsaw plus new blades €25, Black & Decker drill and bits 25€, Cane wall mirror 80cm x 65cm 12€ Tel: 966 716 599 Sony wide Quesada angle lens VCLStainless 0637H 20€, 4 inset New Duracell steel DR5 Camcorder kitchen sinks all Battery 10€, with Roco mixer Petanque set for 4 taps 780 x 430, players complete left hand drainer, in hard case 20€ good condition, Tel: 635 885 062 C a m p o s o l .

Tel.676 028 725 (Camposol) Te l e s c o p e multi-coated 100mm S11 with range finder 200€ ONO Tel: 966 841 946 (Playa Flamenca)

Round pine table and four chairs, table extends 80€ Tel: 646 552 731 / 966 722 157 (Los Altos) Musto Heavy Weather Boat Gear HPX Jacket & Bib/Brace Trousers size XS & M good clean condition 110€ each Tel: 634 826 373 Ca r ava n Accessories F i a m m a Undervan Roll/

NIKON D50 DIGITAL SLR CAMERA body 100€ plus fast

plastering E NGLISH PLAST E R E R internal finishing, e x t e r n a l rendering, 15 years experience, good rates.

FULLY LEGAL IN SPAIN. Call Chris 671 444 246 / 965 078 866 email: c_ pettit@hotmail. co.uk

the USA, (Ativa V2000 Aldila Graphite + L Flex incl. woods, sand iron, putter, large bag, short bag, Samsonite travel bag and folding trolley. 200 Euros.

Tel: 646 444 942( Camposol).

THREE SEATER Navy SOFA, Blue with small coloured fleck.

Nice clean condition.

Can email picture to you. €75 o.n.o.

Can be delivered if required. Tel Carole on: 606 850 666 3 PIECE YO U NGMAN aluminium extendable ladder 100€ tel: 625 724 252 Tavar Gas fridge freezer looks tatty but works well, it has to go, make an offer. Tel 699 275 530 Lorca area.

WANTED t w o hairdresser salon chairs and other related salon equipment required must be in good condition Tel: 647 379 878

Lenny Mitchell: Guitarist-singer, professional, international, solo act. Music can range from 60s, 70s pop, rock ‘n’ roll, big ballads, country, blues, classic rock, to 50s standards.

Tel: 658321891 or email: lennymitchell@live.co.uk or facebook”. pets

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

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

18 month old male donkey (rescued). kind knowledgeable home with plenty of space ony.

90€ fuente alamo. tel 634334169

property for sale / rent

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

want to know GOLD WANTED asssa medical whats in the news?

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

IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT Call Peter

664 890 990

Member of the National Association of Goldsmiths

insurance

insurances Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan, 968 153 396

mazarron@asssa.es

SOLTIMES go online

www.soltimes.com

detatched cortijo

reduced

20mins from mojacar, 4 beds, 2 baths, Openplanliving areas,kitchen& diningroomaswell as a workshop, courtyardfront& back&roomfor apool.Mountain views. €135,000 ono 649 186 107

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

www.soltimes.com

Tel: 966 719 647 or 902 750 190 ext 330 removals

property for sale / rent Completely refurbished & available for a long let 1 Bed ground floor flat with terrace, quiet area, 1 minute to the sea, all amenities close by Price reduced was 350€pcm now 300€ plus utility bills

Marazul/eliseos playa (close to new2you torrevieja)

tel: 695 063 890 or 868 182 495 email: robertsmith6292@yahoo.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

(0034) 676 534 978

33

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

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

Rainbow Satellites for all your TV needs with clients all over the Murcia Region. Contact Matt or Alan 686 358 475 or rainbowsats@ terra.es

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

Go Satellite

wanted

satellite tv

TV Installations and repairs

Humax HDR-1000s only 350€ Sky+ HD Receiver 295€ All latest models fully guaranteed

all major credit & debit cards accepted

Tel: 965 725 670

Or call in to our office on Calle Los Arcos No. 7 Ciudad Quesada www.freetvspain.com

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

Tel: Dave on 693 251 562

email:davendonc@aol.com

Spain ‹ UK › Spain



UK to Spain or Spain to UK

* COLLECTION & DELIVERY *STORAGE

TEL: 667 235 205

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

Thisbeautifulpupwas foundinabinwithher siblings when just 2 weeksold,Shewasborn around25thNovember and is now ready for a home.

Call: 645 469 253

lift for all removals & deliveries inc uk - Spain & handyman

simply removals

Van hire

*LOCAL *NATIONAL *EUROPEAN

move it vantastic Large box van with tail

• 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

want to know whats in the news?

go online: www. SOLTIMES.com

34

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

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

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.

CLASSIFIED

Contact Christine

966 719 647

recruitment Wanted experienced accountant for occasional book keeping in Guardamar JOLU1951@GMAIL.COM TELephone 644 166 347

ARE YOU A RAY OF SUNSHINE?

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

motoring section

SOLTIMES

WANTED

ALL VEHICLES

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

FOR CASH

Telephone: 699 805 995

info@carsrus.es

Contact Christine

966 719 647

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

tel: Tim on 662 211 993 Vehicles registration

CASH CASH “RE-PLATE” MATE CASH Same day collection

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

From 1€ to 10,000€

Call Phil: 607 848 332

car repair service

Ed’s mobile

CAR REPAIR SERVICE

GB

THIS SPACE, FOR PRIVATE ADVERTISERS,

IS ONLY 15€

INCLUDING A PHOTO

E

Don’t take a chance!

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

PHONE CHRISTINE ON 966 719 647

& REACH OVER 40,000 READERS

this space for only 15€

WE PROMISE TO BEAT ANY GENUINE QUOTATION For a full service contact:

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

610 078 940

cars for sale BMW 1998 Z3 1900cc convertible. 8mths MOT. All lights converted to Spanish spec so ready for ITV if desired. 2500 or nearest offer.....may swap for motorcycle 600cc and above.

Tel: 966 731 953 after 6.30pm Mob: 634 115 764 anytime.

sold€thanks to the 2500 soltimes ono

SOLTIMES

CLASSIFIED

Do you have a caravan, vehicle, wanted cars for cash boat or motor Best prices paid bike for sale Spanish English Anything considered

wanted

Alan 662 249 159

www.replatematecostablanca.com

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

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.

This size advert is only 10€

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

cars for sale cont...

chevrolet aveo

VW Polo, 1999 3-door

1.2 litre, may 2010, 46,000km, fully serviced, very clean car 4,950€ ono inc transfer, contact 649 152 854 or email kookaburra20@outlook.com

Hatchback. 90,000 kms Excellent condition throughout and economical to run €1,475 o.n.o Tel: 644 136 711

This size advert is only 10€

viewpoint

Not Our finest hour The door to the vet’s surgery crashed open with a force that tested its shatterproof integrity to the limit, and a small brown missile shot into the reception area.

The missile resolved itself into a Spanish lady in a brown coat and a bad mood. Among the verbal grenades that she was firing at top decibel and machine gun speed I gathered that a Renault Clio was in her way – my Renault Clio!

Fearing that she would spontaneously combust, I hurried out into the street to move the offending, but innocent, Del. I know that the Spanish fuse can be a short one, and once ignited, can lead to spectacular fireworks, but up until now I have found that the soft answer and a humble apology very effective anti-incendiary measures, so once out in the street I began to explain in Spanish why my car was parked where it was.

I would have explained, but she verbally steamrollered over the top of me as we strode up the street.

‘Why couldn’t you have parked here? Or here?’ she vociferated, without pausing for breath, moderating her volume or giving me time to answer.

I would have josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk explained that

By Jos Biggs

the white lines permitted parking, and that at the time that I parked it was the only space available. Unfortunately for me, the cars fore and aft of Del had gone, leaving him in solitary splendour, blocking her driveway.

We reached the object of her wrath, Del, and we stood opposite each other – blond and apologetic was clearly making no impression on dark and volatile with added arm waving.

It crossed my mind to point out that, if she would only stop hollering and listen, we would have reached accord by now, Del would have been moved and she would be on her way.

Hard on the heels of that quite reasonable thought came the desire to tell her that if she wasn’t so stingey, she could, for a small fee, get a Vado Permanente sign to stop innocent motorists from mistakenly parking in front of her garage.

I bit the words back; she was so busy shouting that she wouldn’t have heard them anyway.

She was 5 foot of unnecessary anger and dangerously high blood pressure, so I calmly began to climb into Del. As I did so I said, in English ‘Oh, shut up!’ in tones of the utmost boredom.

It was not my finest hour, but neither was it hers. But on measure, I think I lost less dignity!

Des Res with Many Features Our American tenants back home have recently been re-posted to another part of the world and it has given us the opportunity to undertake a bit of re-decoration and some other minor items that require attention before our new renters move in at the beginning of February.

In the meantime, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at other real estate in that area - just to get an idea on how property prices have changed in the three years since we first purchased.

In the process, I came across a couple of houses near the village where we had lived for thirty years and were therefore familiar to me, and the estate agents descriptive jargon for them made me smile.

One – a very old almost derelict cottage – carried the appetizing headline: ‘rarely available – viewing essential.’ Yes I thought; that’s because houses

By Colin Bird :

badbirdnow@gmail.com

rarely reach this condition without actually falling down, which of course makes the viewing essential before that happens.

The other was described as being in a ‘secluded location’.

This is definitely true, because not only is it a Tornado fighter flight away from the village centre, but it has no made-up road leading to it and there is not a vehicle made - short of a Caterpillar tractor - that could negotiate the crater like pot holes without taking out the suspension and floor, and possibly the driver.

This got me thinking about some of the other estate agent’s lingo that we are familiar with and backed by observation and personal experience over the years, I let my imagination out for the day, and came up with possible interpretations.

Most of us know that ‘bijou’ translates as being ideal for Dopey if the other six dwarves threw him out. But what about ‘compact’?

Well there is a formula for this and it is simply to divide a bijou by two.

‘Scope for improvement’ and ‘in need of modernisation’ can mean anything from complete demolition and starting over, to the fact that it has not been touched since its construction in Boadicea’s day.

Then there is ‘far reaching views to the rear’, which usually means no trees; no hills or mountains; definitely no water and on a clear day,

you can just about make out Abu Dhabi. Or ‘open aspect to the rear’ which is often a subtle indication that there is a planning application in the pipeline for a new abattoir or power station.

‘Internal viewing recommended’ is an obvious reference to the fact that it looks God awful on the outside whilst the more general ‘viewing recommended’ is self evident, given that you would never buy a property without looking at the damn thing.

Then we come to the enticing ‘easily maintained garden’ description, aka the pocket handkerchief concrete patio along with two window boxes. The other side of the coin is ‘mature gardens’ which I know from bitter experience is a reference to the dense jungle-like flora that has never experienced a lawn mower or machete and could quite easily be home to a tribe of pygmies or wild boar.

‘Has a homely feeling’ and ‘decorated in the modern style’ are usually mentioned in tandem and relate to a house that has been furnished in the sixties style and tarted up by an ageing hippy high on magic mushrooms and strong cider.

‘Convenient for the station’ is good, unless

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

alqueria

35

Waiting for Paco

(With apologies to Samuel Beckett)

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

www.soltimes.com

Antonio Poyato, sitting on a low mound is trying to take off his boot. He pulls at it with both hands, panting. He gives up, exhausted, rests, tries again.

Loco Paco arrives, dust covered and footsore.

Paco: Still a long way to go.

Shall we travel together?

Poyato: Yes, as soon as I take this ruddy boot off and put it on again.

Paco surveys the countryside, the Castle of Alqueria is in the far distance.

Paco: It’s a vast wilderness out there, completely devoid of humanity.

Poyato: Reminds me of my first wife, although she was a very attractive lady but unfortunately not from the front.

Loco Paco stares blankly at Poyato, as if someone has forgotten to plug him in.

Poyato: Can you smell burning?

Paco: Sorry, indigestion.

Poyato: Well? Shall we go?

Paco: Yes, let’s go.

They do not move.

Poyato pulls a hip-flask from his pocket, he offers it to Paco.

Poyato: Remitroot Whisky Paco? It keeps the demons at bay.

Paco looks around for demons with a worried frown.

Paco: I don’t like demons. They are always where you don’t expect them.

Poyato: How do those people who don’t drink keep their demons at bay Paco?

There are people who don’t drink you know!

Paco: I know, I remember reading about them somewhere.

Poyato: I don’t like sitting on this mound, nature has a habit of making a mad dash up your trouser leg.

Paco: That’s why I wear gaiters and drink Remitroot whisky.

Poyato: Well? Shall we go?

Paco: Yes, let’s go.

They do not move.

Poyato: Do you understand life the Bristol to London main line crosses the bottom of your garden.

When a room is described as having ‘electrical sockets and a telephone point’, it’s obvious that this is one boring room with no redeeming features that the agent can find worth talking about. And beware of the boast, ‘unusual feature’, because it’s a safe bet that it will be the first thing you rip out and take to the tip when you move in. Similarly the word ‘interesting’, which could easily be interpreted as ‘bizarre’ or ‘weird’.

And why say ‘on road parking’ or ‘space for three vehicles’, when all they need state is ‘no garage’ !

‘Studio’: a pad where you can sit on

Paco?

Paco: Enough to get by, enough to appear sane if I need anymore I adlib.

Poyato: That doesn’t make sense Paco.

Paco: No nothing does.

Paco sighs, a long long sigh.

Poyato: You can make a sigh last longer than a Mother-in-Law’s visit.

Paco sighs Paco: How long were you married Antonio?

Poyato: Four hundred and nine years. Can you remember your first love Paco.

Paco: Yes, I still have the receipt.

Poyato shielded his eyes and scanned the blueness of the morning sky.

Poyato: There is intelligent life out there in space Paco. What do you think?

Paco: Well they haven’t bothered to visit us, that must demonstrate a reasonable level of intelligence.

Poyato: We aren’t alone you know!

Paco: I know, I have my Saharan Dung Beetle, Benjy.

Poyato stares blankly at Loco Paco, as if someone has forgotten to plug him in.

Poyato: Back to Alqueria then?

Well? Shall we go?

Paco: Yes, let’s go.

They do not move. the loo whilst cooking your dinner and taking a shower at the same time. ‘Extended by the present owner’ - probably the same hippy decorator as before - who has built a lean-to shack with no planning permission or building regs. ‘Good use has been made of the available space’ . . . that’s because the attic space and bedrooms have been used as a marijuana farm. It’s that hippy again.

And the list goes on in the strange world of realtor speak. And no matter how tough the times or dire the economic situation, they all have ‘clients waiting’ !

36

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

sport

murcia golf matchplay Having walked the course when i arrived at Mar-Manor i was very impressed by the condition of the course in very good condition big well done to the staff.

SMGS VISIT LA TORRE SMGS VISIT LA TORRE A gorgeous day with cloudless skies and warm sunshine saw 30 odd of us make the southerly trek to La Torre, one of the ex Polaris courses. A shortish course with six par 3’s, its typical Nicklaus layout finds many raised greens protected by the characteristic array of bunkers.

A very generous smattering of sprawling waste areas together with the numerous bunkers does make possessing a certain degree of accuracy a very useful commodity. Teeing up, having a quick glance down the fairway and giving it an almighty thump is not the best approach……a little thought is required.

The society’s internal match-play knockout competitions have got underway and a couple of games in the preliminary round were fiercely contested, played in tandem with the day’s Stableford format.

A 3 & 2 victory for “Ken and Barbie” (Ken Flaherty & Phil de Lacy) saw the early exit of “George and Mildred” (Theo Boelhouwer & Shay Cunningham). I can personally vouch for the fact that the other match was a real “nip & tuck” affair in which neither pair deserved to lose. It was left to be decided on the putting surface of the 18th where a well holed six-footer put “Scouse and spouse” (Phil & Marg Birtwistle) into the next round beating “The High Fives” (Ivan Hanak & Mick Roscoe) by the narrowest of margins.

NTP winners on the day were Phil Birtwistle (Hole 3), Stanley Matthews (Hole 5), Steve Fleet (Holes 9 & 15), Marg Birtwistle (Hole 11) and Paul Guest (Hole 17). Paul Barton with a very acceptable 31 points took the guest prize before he then submitted his membership application….. welcome, Paul, good to have you on board.

Anybody could be forgiven for mistaking our Bronze category as this week’s “Celebrity Category” when you see the 3 winners ……… from the worlds of football, snooker and basketball, 3rd Stanley Matthews (35 C/B), 2nd Steve Davis (35 C/B) & 1st place Mike Jordan (38).

Silver division top three were 3rd Phil de Lacy (32 C/B), 2nd Alan Gilbert (35) and top spot went to John Drakesmith (36).

The “Golden Guys” were 3rd Geoff Giddy (33), 2nd

Paul Guest (34), and the tremendous top score of the day gives yet another win to in-form Steve Fleet (41). Well done to all the winners. www.smgs.org is the place to find all society info or give Phil de Lacy a buzz on 966 774 197 for news of forthcoming Wednesday meetings.

Visitors are always made very welcome. ...........................................

PLAYERS at LA TORRE on the 15th – IMPORTANT. As secretary of SMGS I have been informed by Chris Ahearn at La Torre that on Wednesday when we play there, all players will be “asked” to fill in a form requiring personal details.

I have expressed my concern under the terms of the current data protection rules over this action but I am disappointed to be told that anyone refusing to comply will not be allowed to play.

The form simply requires your full name, your nationality, your signature and your email address……. through which, I feel sure, you will then receive publicity emails.

This appears to be their heavyhanded way of forming a data base.

However, they have conceded that if a player doesn’t remember his/her email address or, in fact, does not have email, then to leave this section blank and insert nothing is to be deemed as acceptable.

This is the action that I would recommend if you don’t wish to disclose your email address.

Please note that they already have Barry’s and my email addresses, which were willingly provided, and we publicize on the website any info which we receive and believe may be of interest to the membership.

Please also be aware that the Murcian courses, because of their Golf Federation’s different rules, charge twice as much (€3 per person) as our local courses for the newly introduced “golf license”.

Regards…..Phil Birtwistle.

(Sec & President)

Eurogolf, La Marquesa

75 players took part in our Team Game today which was a Waltz, i.e. 1 to count, 2 to count. 3 to count than back to 1 again, on Thursday 23 January at our home course of La Marquesa.

The weather conditions could not have been better with very little wind and glorious sunshine, making ideal conditions for high scoring. As you will see there was only one point separating the first 3 places.

Once again the ghost player seems to have come up trumps, with the only 3 ball taking first place.

Well done to Cindi who is obviously having a purple patch at present. She was in the winner’s enclosure last Tuesday and this Tuesday, being cut on both occasions, but still managed to be in the winning group. Hope your success continues.

The results were as follows: 1st The Team of: Niko Baken, Brian Fenwick, Cindi Green, and a Ghost 84 points 2nd The Team of: Michael Lisamor, David Lewis, Bev Fairhurst & Petra van Dorp 83 points c/b 3rd The Team of: Keith Wright, Bruce Gordon, Morag Turner & Phyllis

Venables 83 points Nearest the Pins 5th Keith Wright 11th Brian Fenwick 15th John Barraclough 17th Bruce Gordon Football Winners: Ian Stewart, Marilyn Eckersall, Bob Buckeridge and Tony Hitt W TOFF’s Results Tuesday 21 January 2014 Overall Winner –Cindi Green Gold Division 1st Stan Low 37 points 2nd Bob Buckeridge 36 points 3rd Bill Martin 36 points Silver 1stCindi Green 39 points 2nd Bruce Gordon 37 points 3rd Alan Venables 36 points Bronze 1st Colin Hobden 38 points 2nd Liz Menzies 37 points 3rd Joe Ogden 5 points Nearest the Pins 5th Bob Buckeridge 15th Alan Caithness 11th Bob Buckeridge 17th Alan Caithness Best Front Nine – June Caithness 21 Back Nine – Terry Sayers 19 points.

Well done to Bob and Alan who monopolised the nearest the pins on Tuesday.

DAYA NUEVA 2 v. ORIEL 1 ALICANTE CADETES 2A DAYA HOLD THEIR NERVE IN A TIGHT FINISH After last week´s heavy defeat Daya were looking to getting back to winning ways with today´s match against the bottom team.

The opening 10 minutes saw a nervous Daya have most of the play but no real chances created.

This seemed to give Oriel confidence and they started to push the home side back.

Now it looked like the visitors would be the more likely to open the scoring. On the stroke of half time Daya had a good chance when a great through ball from Angel found Manuel but he failed to connect properly with the ball and the chance was wasted. Moments later Hugo also missed when it was far easier to score.

So 0 - 0 at half time with both sides having played very poorly, surely there had to be improvement in the second session ?

With the high wind behind them the visitors started the second half with long balls over the Daya defence that kept Danni in goal on his toes. On 50 minutes coach, Paco, sent on Luis up front and this almost paid off immediately as he went close with a good effort to opening the scoring for Daya. The visitors took the lead on 55 minutes, Danni

had to come out of his area to deal with yet another long high ball. His clearance fell to an Oriel player who had the easiest of chances to lob the ball into an unguarded goal. The home side had two good chances shortly after but the ball would just not go in. At least now we had a game on and in Luis probably an equaliser. Then on 60 minutes Daya won a penalty for hand ball in the area, up stepped Jesus who thumped it home for 1 - 1. Perhaps now Daya could raise their game, but with the wind now blowing more strongly behind Oriel it was difficult for the home side to defend the constant long high balls. Then on 68 minutes Luis put the home side ahead following good work from David but the last few minutes were going to be nerve racking. This they were but Daya held on for the win they probably just about deserved. Man of the Match was Luis, he was only on for 30 minutes but was the main reason for Daya´s improved performance and scored the winning goal.

Danni in goal also had a good game in very trying conditions.

The Match Official had a good game and was well in control at all times.

Daya Dave Team Sponsor : Segurlab

I was less impressed with the price of the coffee 2 euros 30cents.So to the golf first into the fray were 2nd placed Roco-Juna v/s 4th placed San Javier a tight game looked on the cards which proved to be the case with a 4pts each & a 23 holes to 25holes result.

In the second game game La-Zenia met Marinasol resulting in another drawn game 4pts each & 25 holes to 20 holes won.Next on the Tee Was leaders Club 25 against third placed La Manga The leaders have now got the bit between their teeth and run out winners by 6pts to 2pts and 27holes to 16 holes won.

Hacienda were the favourites to beat Sierra Golf but came unstuck to a fantastic effort from the men

from the dessert who won by 6pts to 2pts 21 holes won to 24 holes pushing Sierra golf into second place Well done guys In our last game brought together were the two teams at the bottom of the league resulting in a win for the Sprightly Crew over the Costa-Blanca 6pts to 2pts & 31 holes won to 18 holes won. Altogether an other great Match with all to play for in this very competitive league.

1st Club 25 29pts 2nd Sierra Golf 25pts 3rd Roco-Juna 24pts 4th San-Javier 23pts 5th La- Manga 22pts 6th La- Zenia 20pts 7th Hacienda 18pts 8th Marinasol 17pts 9th Costa-Blanca 15pts 10th Sprightly Crew 10 pts Cant wait for the next match @ Saurines on Feb 10th Alex Mclennan

SPORTSMAN GOLF SOCIETY, QUESADA @ Alicante Golf Wednesday 22nd January 2014 A new Year brought together 20 players for the outing at Alicante Golf, taking advantage of the offer from the course of €40 including coffee and toast on arrival.

The course was in good condition for the time of year and as always with some tight fairways and long par 3’s it proved a test even for the best. The winning score of 34 points was Andy Trefry and having accompanied his 4 ball I witnessed some handicap protection, I’m sure !!!!

Upon starting out some players were concerned about the dodgy sky’s however, a dry round of golf was the order of the day and intervals of sunshine ensured constant removal and replacement of outer layers of clothing.

It was a good day on a testing course, I for one certainly enjoyed being back on the golf course even though it was only as a spectator to view some good, oh and some bad shots.

Due to our large donation of prizes we managed to cover all par 3’s NTP and even a longest drive, recorded at 295 yards into wind by Paul Whatley (I think it was the only fairway he hit !!!).

A big thank you to Ron and Yolanda at the Sportsman for cooking a great heart warming feast after the game not forgetting the vino for Nearest the Pin prizes.

Our thanks go to prize donations from Alec

Aspden,

John

Sanchez,

Spice Hut Quesada, The Gingerbreadman Quesada and

the

new

Restaurant,

Mexican Ciudad

Quesadilla.

Winners of the Day : Winner : Andy Trefry 34 points Runner-up : Tony Wilson 32 points Nearest the Pins : 3rd

Dave Smith

6th

Tony Wilson

8th

Jim Gaw

12th Dave Smith 15th Tony Wilson 17th Patrick McInerney Front 9 : George Curran 19 points Back 9 :

Peggy Hamilton

14 points Longest Drive : Paul Whatley Football Card : George Curran Thanks all for a great day, next

outing

Wednesday

26th October @ Font del Llop, €38 Green Fee & Buggy.

New

members

always

welcome

for

email

sportsmangolf@

:

hotmail.com

more

info

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

new fords available

37

Calle Mallorca, San Javier Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511

www.specialistvehicles.com

BMW X5 3L<

Diesel, Auto 2006 102,000kms

€21,950

MERCEDES CLK 200K, CAB AUTO, 2008, 71,000KMS

€19,950

MERCEDES E320 CDi

DIESEL, AUTOMATIC, 2005, 167,000KMS

€14,950

oPEL ZAFIRA 1.7cdti fsh Diesel 2011 95,000kms

€13,950

MITSUBISHI MONTERO 3.2

AUTOMATIC, DIESEL, 7 SEATS, 2006, 104,000KMS

€13,950

tOYOTA aVENSIS

2.0 diesel, 2010 46,000KMS

€13,950

opel agila 1.2 auto 2012, 3,500KMS

€10,950

audi a3

2006 93,000kms

€9,950

• ferrari f430, challenge car, 4.3l, v8, 2008, 7,000kms....................................................................... €89,950 • BMW X1 1.8 DIESEL, AUTO, 2011, 28,000KMS.................... POA • mercedes c220, cdi, diesel, 2009, 70,000km... €19,950 • Mercedes CLC Diesel 71,000KMS, 2009............ €16,950 • peugeot 3008 1.6 HDI automatic, 115,000KMS, 2011.... ......................................................................................... €14,950 • ford focus, 1.6 trend petrol, 2011 27,000kms.........................................................................€poa • Renault gran modus, 1.6 petrol, auto, 2010 28,000kms..................................................................... €10,950 • FORD Focus estate 2ltr, automatic, tdci, Diesel, 2009, 119,000 KMS, 1 owner...................... €9,950 • renault clio 1.2 exception, 2011, petrol, 31,000km ........................................................................ €9,950 • MINICOOPER 1.6 AUTOMATIC, 2004, 92,000KMS.... €8,950 • Mini Cooper 1.6 Petrol AUTO, 2005 75,000kms €8,950 • Ford Focus 1.6 Petrol, 2008, 72,000kms.................... €7,450 • renault twingo 1.1 petrOL auto, 44,000km, 2009........ ........................................................................................... €7,450 • renault clio 1.5 dci diesel, 2007 141,000kms €6,950 • RENAULT CLIO 1.2 PETROL, 2007, 63,000KMS......... €6,950 • OPEL MERIVA 1.3 DIESEL, CDTI, 2008 112,000KMS €6,950 • Renault megane scenic 2006, 1.6 petrol, 113,000KMS...................................................................... €6,950 • ford fiesta 1.3 petrol 2006, 23,000 kms ..........€5,950 • Hyundai i10 1.1 PETROL, 46,000KMS, 2008............. €5,950 • JEEP CHEROKEE 2.5TD SPORT, 144,000 KMS............€5,950 • RENAULT MEGANE SCENIC RX4, 168,000kms 1.9DTi, Diesel, 2001....................................................................€4,950 • Opel corsa 2004 1.2 automatic, 106,000kms... €4,950 • smartfortwo passion, 1 litre, PETROL, 2001, 51,000KMS .......................................................................€3,950 • RENAULT CLIO 1.2 PETROL, 2005, 128,000KMS.......€3,950 • HONDA HRV 1.6 PETROL, 4WD, 1999, 185,000KMS €3,950 • hyundai galloper 2.5tdi diesel, 7 seater, 1999..... ........................................................................................... €3,450 • HYUNDAI SONATA 2L PETROL, 1997, 109,000KMS €2,950 • Mitsubishi Carisma 2000, a/c, 143,000kms........ €2,950 • RENAULT CLIO, 1.9 DIESEL, 1999, 127,000KMS...... €2,250 • PEUGEOT 306 SEDAN, 1.4 PETROL, 104,000KM, 1998 ...... ........................................................................................... €1,950 • citroen xsara estate 1.6 290,000kms ............. €1,450

vw beetle 2L, 2005 38,692kms

€9,950

VOLKSWAGON Passat 1.9 Diesel

€6,950

opel tigra 1.3 Diesel 70,000kms 2006

€6,950

Seat ibiza 1.9 TDI

Diesel, 2007 107,000KMS

€6,950

smart forfour 1.5 Diesel 71,000km 2006

€5,950

Right hand drive vehicles

ford fiesta st

Right hand drive - spanish reg

PEUGEOT 307

2.0, petrol, • rolls royce silver spirit, rhd, 51,000 miles..................

86,000kms, ..................................................................................................€13,950 • RENAULT GRAND ESPACE, 2.2 DCi, DIESEL, 2005...... €6,950 2005 • RENAULT SCENIC 1.6, petrol, 2005, 47,000 MILES ................ €5,950 .........................................................................................................€5,450 • KIA SEDONA 2005, 2.9 TD DIESEL, 113,000 MILES... €4,250 RANGE • VAUXHALL ASTRA ESTATE, 2007, 1.3 CDTI DIESEL..€3,950 ROVER • citroen c5 estate 2l, 2003, hdi diesel, 70,000 miles 4.6HSE, PETROL, . ...........................................................................................€2,950 AUTO, 1998, • FORD TRANSIT L220 2004, 2.2 diesel, 129,000 miles......

268,000KMS . ...........................................................................................€2,450 • mercedes c200, 1994, petrol, 129,000 miles, tax, mot €4,950 ........................................................................................................€950 • toyota hilux surf 3l diesel automatic,.....................

74,000 miles......................................................................€poa • CITROEN C2 AIRPLAY, 1.1 petrol, 2007, 58,000 kms........ ................................................................................................€3,950 • MGB GT 1.8 PETROL, 1978......................................... €3,950 • nissan primera 1998 2L petrol auto.................€2,250

~ RHD / LHD Taken in Part Exchange / purchased for cash

~ Full procurement service

2.0L HDi, DIESEL, 2003, 144,000KMS

€4,450

Visit our website Over 40 cars in group stock

www.specialistvehicles.com

Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511

●Re-registration service available ●no obligation test drives ●we bring the vehicle to you

38

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

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

Renault Grand Scenic 7 seateR (2012)

 O ne day name transfer + 4% tax included!  Guarantee, including parts & labour  Professional valet  Suma (road tax) paid  Full service  Long ITV

hYUNDAI SANTA FE (2002)

“No Hidden Costs”

€19,995

IMAGE COMING SOON

IMAGE COMING SOON VW SIROCCO (2011) €19,600

BMW MINI (2012) €15,995

FORD FOCUS 1.6 AUTO (2012) €15,995

IMAGE COMING SOON RENAULT MEGANE 1.5 (2008) €9,995

CITROEN C4 Hdi (2010) €10,995

€5,995

BMW 320i 2.0 PETROL (2009) €14,995

IMAGE COMING SOON FORD KUGA 2.0 TITANIUM (2008) €14,995

IMAGE COMING SOON BMW MINI 1.6 MAN (2008) €11,995

FORD MONDEO 2.0 TDCI TREND (2010) €13,995

IMAGE COMING SOON

CITROEN BERLINGO 1.6 MAN (2010) €11,995

NISSAN MURANO 3.5 TEKNA (2007) €13,995

FORD MONDEO 2.0 TITANIUM (2008)€13,495

FORD FOCUS 1.6 TREND (2007) €7,495

HYUNDAI ACCENT 1.6 MANUEL (2008) €6,995

FORD KA 1.2 EDGE (2010) €6,995

IMAGE COMING SOON MITSUBISHI MONTERO 3.2 (2003) €9,995

FORD FIESTA 1.2 TREND (2010) €9,495

FORD FOCUS 1.6 TREND (2008) €8,995

IMAGE COMING SOON SEAT IBIZA 1.4 TDI (2006) €5,995

IMAGE COMING SOON FIAT STILO 1.9 JTD MANUEL (2005) €5,995

HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2.4 AUTO (2002) €5,995

OPEL TIGRA 1.4 MANUEL (2004) €6,495

FORD CMAX 1.6 TREND MANUEL (2004) €6,495

FIAT PUNTO 1.4 GRANDE PUNTO (2005) €4,995

Tata Indigo SW LX 1.4 HDi (2006) €4,995

JAQUAR S-TYPE 1.6 AUTO (2004) €4,995

IMAGE COMING SOON

IMAGE COMING SOON CITROEN C4 1.6 HDI (2004) €5,495

FORD FOCUS 1.6 MANUEL (2005) €5,995

HONDA HRV 1.6 MANUEL (2004) €5,250

PEUGEOT 206CC 1.6 MANUEL (2001) €4,495

www.autosdirect.es • 966 723 718 San Miguel de Salinas

SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

san javier

Mazarron FC 1 –Soho.Medi 1

Once again Mazarron dropped points with a poor display against an equally inept team which means they lose further ground in the race for promotion.

Mazarron were without some key players for a variety of reasons but this should not really serve as an excuse and more has to be done especially in attacking areas where once again the talents of Ruben were wasted by being played in a wide position, leaving Cecilio to plough the inevitable lone furrow up front.

There were early opportunities for Mazarron with a long range shot from Cecilio drawing a good save from Mazarron’s former keeper Jose Iker, and a powerful header from Juan Andreo which went just wide from a corner, but these were few and far between.

Soho.Medi took the lead before the interval when Moha was adjudged to have brought down an opponent in the area and Sergio gave Mazarron keeper Noguerra no chance with a well taken penalty.

Mazarron had most of the play in the second half. An overhead shot from Cecilio

was cleared off the line and Jose Ruben headed over the bar from a corner.

Then, following an intricate spell of passing down the right between Cecilio and Juanillo, the latter came down in the box. It was unclear whether the referee had awarded a corner, a penalty or a yellow card for simulation.

Eventually a penalty was awarded but Alfonso’s powerful spot kick was well saved by Jose Iker. Shortly afterwards, however, Mazarron equalised when a long free kick from the right was headed home by Enrique, his first goal for the Club.

Soho.Medi defended soundly for the rest of the game as Mazarron searched in vain for the elusive winning goal.

Team: Noguerra, Ishmael, Juan Andreo, Alcaraz, Dani, Alfonso, Moha (Gilberto), Enrique, Randrey (Juanillo), Jose Ruben, Cecilio.

Man of the Match: Cecilio Mazarron are at home again this Sunday, 2nd February, against EMF Fuente Alamo, kick off 4.30 pm. Admission is just 4€ for adults with juveniles free.

SOL TIMES

tmgs I suppose many, like me, woke up to a wet and potential rain filled day at Villamartin; but then again, those ‘many’ were happy when the day was filled with ( a little) sunshine and to be honest, a decent day of golf on one of the oldest, if not the oldest, course in this area.

This course has been much maligned in the days past, but with the footfall it gets it is surprising just how good of a condition this course is in and maintains.

34 members turned up and played and whilst only one person achieved handicap, there were many scores in the 30’s which does appear to be the benchmark of a ‘decent’ day of golf!

The NTP’s were kindly donated by Tom (No Knickers please) Jones and his much better half of Pearl Sabine and the recipients of their generosity were Dag Lovas, Peter Mason, Andy Skinner and Vernon Brown who exclaimed he was so embarrassed bot his NTP on the 17th as I would have been too.

The scores, on the day, were quite decent and Mrs

H Singer took the Best Guest prize with 28 points.

The Silver crew was a tight fought affair and both Peter Well and Alex Goslan scored 30 points, but Alex took the 3rd spot on the count back. In second place was Captain Mick Kennedy with 32 points and the winner for the Silver crowd was Per Skarnes with 34 points.

sport

This week we played our society game at Saurines Del La Torre the format being Better Ball Pairs. The weather was once again good to us looking a bit over cast when we started but the sun soon came out and warmed everyone up.

The result was very close between the top two pairs going to count back with both pairs finishing on 43pts. The winning pair being Kevin Parker and Ian Smith pushing Paul Hamlin and John Collins

Our next game, 29th January 2014 see’s us at the Seve designed course of Alicante, so if you fancy a game just look at our website www.tmgs.org or call the Match Secretary on 966719604.

COSTA BLANCA

info@rapidrepairs.es

www.offmetrolley.com Special Offer

Golf Trolleys with 36 Hole Gel Battery €250.00 - 6 Only

COSTA CALIDA/MAR MENOR

Latest Lithium Battery Metallic Red or Blue Lithium Models and Manual Golf Trolleys Sold Out!!

Supplied Locally, New Stock Competitive Pricing Arriving Mid Feb

PAULETTE : 902 750 190 (EXT: 332) email: calidasales@soltimes.com

Mobile Auto Electrician

ENGINE MANAGEMENT DIAGNOSTICS

fault Finding & Repairs Engine Diagnostics Air-conditioning Re-gas & repairs Starter Motor & Alternator Repairs

Telephone Al - Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm FULLY MOBILE

638 323 499

Costa blanca office QUESADA BUSINESS CENTRE, CALLE LOS ARCOS 7, 03170, CIUDAD QUESADA

into second well done lads.

Third place was a little way back on 36pts which was Alex McLennan and John Hillier.The nearest the pins prizes went to the following players.

Hole 3 Paul Hamlin, Hole 5 Paul Matthews, hole 10 Mick Hardy and Hole 18 John Hillier. One final word for the course it was in great condition so many thanks to the staff.

The next Society’s game is on Monday, 3rd February 2014 at RODA Golf.

The format will be Individual Stableford.

1st Tee time - 10.00am.

Payday is on Saturday, 1st February 2014 at La Serena, in the bar area, between 11.00 and 12.00 hours.

To be fair, the Gold lads didn’t fare that much better and it only needed 32 points for seasoned veteran Chris Oatly to take 4th spot with Vernon ”I am the original Fat Boy” Brown and Hermis Woerdemann to take 3rd and 2nd places. This left the winners spot wide open for the only one to achieve handicap, Steve Higgins on 37 points. Photo: Silver category winners.

CHRISTINE : 902 750 190 (EXT: 330) email: blancasales@soltimes.com

Sol Times Calida and Sol Times Blanca are independent of political parties, private investment and government. Our policy is to provide readers with a news and information service that is fair, accurate and balanced. Sol Times Calida and Sol Times Blanca are independent publications. Published weekly and produced exclusively in Murcia & Blanca. Sol Times News Group cannot be held responsible for claims made by advertisers, nor can it be held responsible for errors in advertisements caused by poor quality text, photographs or layout instructions. Furthermore, no responsibility can be accepted for any loss or damage resulting caused by any error, inaccuracy or non-appearance of an advertisement. Deposito Legal Sol Times Calida AL 851-2010. Sol Times Blanca AL 852-2010

39

Tel: 950 982 027

24 hours a day 7 days a week

Recovery Assistance

607 848 332

From 30€

Asistencia de Grua

692 190 880

No distance too far

Email enquiries: shankedit@offmetrolley.com

Breakersyard looking for runners/non runners

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

40 SOLTIMES JANUARY 2014

www.soltimes.com

Tel 902 750 190