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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
SOL NEWS
TV SUCCESS FOR EXPAT ACTRESS
Young Vicky Cartledge who lives in Los Montesinos is being propelled to
SPAIN MANUFACTURING SECTOR GROWTH Spain’s manufacturing sector expanded faster in January, a survey showed on Monday, as the recovery following years of on-off recession gained steam and helped create jobs at the strongest pace in over seven years. Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of manufacturing service companies stood at 54.7 in January, up from 53.8 in December and marking the 14th straight month the index was above the 50 line separating growth from contraction. Spain’s economy grew at its fastest pace in seven years in the last quarter of 2014, according to official data, building on hopes the slump prompted by the 2008 burst property bubble was over. “The Spanish manufacturing
sector began the new year as it ended the previous one, with solid growth of production and new business amid reports of improving economic conditions. Particularly welcome was a further acceleration in the rate of job creation,” said Markit economist Andrew Harker. The employment index was 53.8 in January - the highest since June 2007. Spain has the second-highest unemployment rate in the European Union at 23.7 per cent, though recent data has shown joblessness is falling. Low oil prices had lead to a sharp decline in input costs, prompting companies to lower their charges slightly, Markit said. reuters.com
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next production, the much anticipated “Sex and the Short working Week”. A
ON SET stardom in more than one language. Vicky, who is an actress playing multiple roles in the feature Film “The Cucaracha Club”, has shown so much versatility that she has landed a part in a new Spanish Police Drama being shot in the region playing a BBC reporter. In Aspe a while ago, she and 4 other Cucaracha Club Actors linked up with some of the cast of the new drama, on the set of another Spanishmade production about a woman who has a Compulsive Cleaning disorder. Not content with being on film and television, this pint-sized little power mite, will be treading the boards on stage in April in the ADHOC Players
Comedy set in the time of UK Miners Strike. Vicky will play a ‘Lady of the night’. Writers Philip Stephen Routledge & Billie Anthony’Gaddess, who wrote the script for the Feature Film she is currently involved in making, are so impressed with Victoria that she will be an integral part of the next plot. In the second outing for the Cucaracha Club, the details of which are secret at this time, the production process is already moving at a pace, with music and locations being organised. Details regarding these projects can be found on the following web site: www.siesta.productions
NEW APP EARNS YOU MONEY
Think of all the money you could have earned already this year? A recent study found 87 per cent of smartphone users don’t change their lock screen from the boring generic one that comes with the phone when you buy it. If you’re one of these people, maybe it’s time for a change? And no, we don’t mean you post a picture from your last romantic holiday with the boyfriend/girlfriend – not unless you want people around you to cringe every time you get your phone out. Instead, you could be using that redundant space for good and earning money with it. The average smartphone user checks their phone over 100 times a day. That’s 100 opportunities to pocket some cash, crazy right? The new app Sliide replaces the usual lock screen with geo-tagged offers, the latest articles, and other useful information depending on your location and the time of day. When you check your phone, you can then either swipe right and unlock your phone as usual, or swipe left to learn more about the deal on display. No matter which way you swipe, you still get to take part in the cash rewards they hand out every Friday, which you can either pocket or donate to charity if you’re feeling philanthropic. Tom, 21, from Liverpool downloaded the app a few days ago. He told The Tab: “It’s great, you don’t even notice it’s there until you realise how much money you’ve earned. “Every time I invite a friend to download it too, my credit goes up by £1. I don’t understand how they’re making enough money to be giving it
away, but I don’t really care either.” Unfortunately, any iPhone owners wanting to get in on the lock screen lottery will have to wait: at the moment the app isn’t available on iOs. This opportunity to make money without changing any of your daily habits has provided Android users with one more argument to throw in the face of iPhone users who insist they’ve got a better phone. How it works After you’ve downloaded Sliide, you select what you want to hear about (Food, Travel, Sport etc.) and then your lock screen will display a mixture of articles, local deals and interesting facts. For example, Sliide have signed deals with a number of venues to extend happy hours for Sliide users, and Union Cars (Manchester) will give you 20 per cent off your first journey if you show them the app on your phone. Mock-UpTo unlock your phone as usual, Sliide right. However, if you’d like to learn more about a particular offer, Sliide left. No matter which way you Sliide, you’re in it to win it. This is because a negative answer is just as important as a positive one in determining the types of content you’d like to see on your lock screen. If you want a more tailored experience answer the in-app questions. These are designed to further understand your preferences and improve your experience when using the app. If you tell Sliide it’s shown you something you’re not interested in, you’ll never be shown it again. http://tab.co.uk/
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
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SOL NEWS
PODEMOS KICKS OFF ELECTION CAMPAIGN WITH MASSIVE RALLY IN MADRID
Podemos party officials said on Monday that their anti-austerity movement and campaign to win the general elections had been galvanized by this weekend’s massive rally in downtown Madrid. On Saturday, Podemos initiated its campaign for this year’s local, regional and national races by organizing a rally in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, where party leader Pablo Iglesias demanded a break “from the old political guard.” Thousands marched from Cibeles square to Puerta del Sol, the same place where the Indignados protest movement began in May 2011. Many chanted “tick-tock, tick-tock” as they marched, in reference to Iglesias’s prediction that the rally would begin the countdown to the end of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s Popular Party (PP) government. Spaniards have quixotic dreams but we take them very seriously” Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias quoted. EL PAÍS calculated the size of the crowd to be around 153,000 at 1pm on Saturday, while police put the number at 100,000 and Podemos claimed that at least 300,000 attended the gathering. Despite their satisfaction over the massive turnout, some Podemos leaders acknowledged on Monday that the party might not be able to make a clean sweep in all local and regional elections. For example, the race for regional premier next month in Andalusia – expected to be a bellwether test for Podemos – will be a difficult one. Luis Alegre, secretary for internal participation, conceded in a SER radio interview that Podemos probably would not be able to wrest power from the Socialists in Andalusia, who have governed there for 25 years. But he was confident that his group would take the elections in Madrid,
Valencia and Asturias. “Andalusia is just around the corner, and we need to develop our platform there,” he said, referring to the early elections called for March 22 by Socialist premier Susana Díaz.”We don’t expect to take over the government in all of Andalusia during these elections.” “We begin this year with new things: this is a year of change and we are going to defeat the PP in the elections,” said Iglesias, who reminded his supporters about the January 25 victory in Greece by anti-austerity party Syriza. In his radio interview comments, Alegre said he did not see the rally as a “self-determination” initiative but as a calling from a social majority in Spain that was demanding “a major role in politics” and changes to institutions that only serve “a privileged minority.” Other than drumming up support for the movement, no specific demands were made on the Rajoy government at the gathering. All that was repeated was that “change was possible.” Iglesias was accompanied by fellow party officials Íñigo Errejón, Carolina Bescansa, Juan Carlos Monedero, Irene Montero and Alegre. “We have protested enough without anyone bothering to listen to us,” said Podemos number two Errejón. “We are here to celebrate that in 2015 people are going to regain their sovereignty and the people are going to win back their country.” Iglesias said Spaniards had “quixotic dreams but we take them very seriously.” On Sunday, Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez rejected that Podemos had the capacity to govern the country. “It is not the crisis that has abandoned the people, it is the center-right,” he said during the PSOE regional convention in Valencia. Sánchez reiterated that the Socialists were the only true leftist force in the nation and the only rival they recognized was the PP. For his part, Finance Minister Cristóbal Montero, who last week announced that inspectors would investigate Podemos official Juan Carlos Monedero’s past earnings as a consultant, said on Monday that Podemos formed part of the “radical left no matter how much it tries to disguise itself” and asked its leaders if they were not “embarrassed” about being radicals. In another development, right-wing
union Manos Limpias announced that it was filing a public prosecution complaint in a Madrid court against Monedero for money he supposedly earned from the Venezuelan and other Latin American governments while he was on the public payroll. Miguel Bernard, secretary general of Manos Limpias, said Monedero alleged extra earnings of €425,150 as a consultant while he was also teaching at Madrid Complutense University (UCM), in violation of public administration laws. Monedero accused Montero of going after him because of his role in Podemos but said he was not afraid. Elpais.com
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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
SOL NEWS
GOOGLE AGREES PRIVACY POLICY CHANGES The firm must make it easier for users to find out how their data is collected and what it is used for and submit to a two-year review. The deal follows an investigation by the regulator. Similar reviews are continuing elsewhere in Europe. It is understood that Google will seek to strike a similar deal with other European regulators. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found that Google was “too vague when describing how it uses personal data gathered from its web services and products”. The regulator - along with its continental counterparts - began looking into the Mountain View firm after its controversial privacy policy update in March 2012, which combined 70 existing documents. It was joined by other data regulators, which form the European Article 29 Data Protection Working Party. Following the investigation, Google has agreed to ensure that its privacy policy is more accessible and redesign its account settings feature to allow users to find its controls more easily. It will also provide “unambiguous and comprehensive information regarding data processing, including an exhaustive list of the types of data processed by Google and the purposes for which data is processed”. Among other clarifications, Google will have to include information about who may collect “anonymous identifiers” - which are similar to cookies - and the purposes to which
ort
they put that data. It will also be made to ensure that “passive users are better informed about the processing of their data”. The ICO defines passive users as people who use Google, but who are not signed in. Google has until 30 June 2015 to implement the changes and it is believed it will roll out a single policy across the European Union in order to satisfy each of the regulators that opened investigations. It has also dropped appeals related to investigations being undertaken by the French and Spanish watchdogs. “This undertaking marks a significant step forward following a long investigation and extensive dialogue,” said Steve Eckersley, the ICO’s head of enforcement. He added: “Whilst our investigation concluded that this case hasn’t resulted in substantial damage and distress to consumers, it is still important for organisations to properly understand the impact of their actions and the requirement to comply with data protection law.” A Google spokesman said: “We’re pleased that the ICO has decided to close its investigation. We have agreed improvements to our privacy policy and will continue to work constructively with the Commissioner and his team in the future.” Bbc.co.uk
DOES EATING EGGS AND SPINACH MAKE YOU MORE GENEROUS? Researchers have discovered that tryptophan, a compound found in certain foods, makes people more likely to donate money. When you’re hoping to borrow money off someone, cooking them a nice meal before you get down to business is always a good idea. But choose your ingredients carefully – because it turns out certain foods can make people more generous. According to a study from Leiden University in the Netherlands, a compound called tryptophan increases people’s willingness to donate money. The compound, which is commonly found in foods including eggs, fish, cheese and soya, is an amino acid that stimulates the production of feel-good chemical serotonin. Researchers organised a test in which they gave one group of 16 participants orange juice with added tryptophan, while a second group of 16 was given a placebo. Each participant was given €10
(around £7.50) for their involvement in the study, and were left alone to decide whether they were willing to donate part of their reward to charity. Collection boxes for four charitable organisations - Unicef, Amnesty International, Greenpeace and WWF – were left on the table. Participants who had taken the tryptophan gave significantly more money to compared to persons who had been given the placebo - €1 (75p), more than double the amount of the placebo group (€0.47). Psychologist Laura Steenbergen, co-author of the study, said: “These results support the idea that ‘we are what we eat’: the food we eat may act as a social enhancer that modifies the way we deal with the “social” world supporting the prosocial behavior of charity.” The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. telegraph.co.uk
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OBAMA PLANS TAX ON US FIRMS OVERSEAS APPLE TO BORROW Obama plans tax on US firms an immediate 14% tax would raise overseas to fix roads at home ‘$5BN’ DESPITE $238bn, which would be used to RECORD PROFITS
US President Barack Obama plans to close a tax loophole that allows US firms to avoid paying taxes on overseas profits, the White House says. His 2016 budget would impose a one-off 14% tax on US profits stashed overseas, as well as a 19% tax on any future profits as they are earned. The $238bn (£158bn) raised would be used to fund road projects in the US. But analysts say it is unlikely the Republican-controlled Congress will approve the proposals. Mr Obama told broadcaster NBC that despite several years of economic improvement, wages and incomes for middle class families were “just now ticking up”. “They haven’t been keeping pace over the last 30 years compared to, you know, corporate profits and what’s happening to folks in the very top,” he said. Research firm Audit Analytics calculated last April that US firms in total had $2.1tn-worth of profits stashed abroad. It found US conglomerate General Electric had the most profit stored overseas at $110bn. Tech giants Microsoft and Apple and drugs companies Pfizer and Merck all featured in the top five. No tax is currently due on foreign profits as long as they are not brought into the US. As a result some companies put their earnings in low tax jurisdictions and simply leave them there. The White House said its plans for
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fund a wider $478bn public works programme of road, bridge and public transport upgrades. “This transition tax would mean that companies have to pay US tax right now on the $2tn they already have overseas, rather than being able to delay paying any US tax indefinitely,” a White House official said. The official said that after this oneoff tax, the 19% permanent tax firms would have to pay on overseas profits “would level the playing field, and encourage firms to create jobs here at home.” The tax rate is far lower than the current US top corporate tax rate of 35%. Also expected in Mr Obama’s budget proposal is a tax cut on earned incomes, including tax credits for child care and “second earners”. Mr Obama will also seek to ease restrictions on military and domestic spending in place since a budget deal in 2011. Republicans in Congress have largely rejected many of Mr Obama’s proposals for increased domestic spending and tax rises on corporations but support increased military spending. Representative Paul Ryan, the Republican’s top budget official, accused Mr Obama of exploiting “envy economics” in his proposal. “This top down redistribution doesn’t work,” Mr Ryan told NBC. bbc.com
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Most profitable corporation in history takes advantage of low debt costs while hoarding tens of billions of 250€ PER COUPLE dollars offshore. INCLUDING NOTARY FEE The bond sale was revealed in a this offer cancels any previous offers regulatory submission on Monday. OTHER SERVICES INHERITANCE It comes after Apple said last week TRANSLATIONS AT NOTARY that soaring sales of the latest iPhone TITLE DEEDS models, especially in China, boosted CONVEYANCING FISCAL REGISTRATION its quarterly profits to $18bn. Call 609 656 056 or 96 535 2552 Apple has previously used the Email: info@costamedconsulting.com proceeds of bond sales to fund share www.costamedconsulting.com buybacks and appease investors such Office: C/Gabriel Miro, 1, 1D, Pilar de la Horadada as the activist Carl Icahn who want to under our program to return capital see it return more of its vast wealth to shareholders, funding for working to them. It borrowed $17bn in 2013 capital, capital expenditures and and sold €2.8bn (£2.1bn) in bonds on the European markets in November acquisitions and repayment of debt.” Apple’s policy of hoarding the profits last year. In its new Wall Street bond sale Apple of international sales of iPhone, iPads will raise $5bn, Bloomberg reported, and Macs offshore has prompted citing an anonymous source. criticism from American politicians. By taking on new debt for buybacks, A Senate Committee accused the Apple is able to avoid large US tax company of trying to find the ‘Holy bills for repatriating cash. Low interest Grail of tax avoidance’ via its complex rates mean corporate debt costs less network of international subsidiaries. than under more usual economic Apple’s tax arrangement with the conditions, and much less than paying Irish government is currently under tax. Apple said it would use the $5bn investigation by European competition for “general corporate purposes, watchdogs over allegations it amounts including repurchases of our common to illegal state aid. stock and payment of dividends telegraph.co.uk
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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
SOME THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A FURNITURE PACKAGE IN SPAIN FOR RENTAL.
There are lots of people about at the moment buying property, some are using them as their holiday homes and others are looking to rent. If you are looking to rent out your property, you need to have a business head on so you make more revenue. The best way to do this is to remember what you liked when you rented a property. The important things are comfortable mattresses on the beds and nice furniture and patio furniture, all important to aid you in this project and get repeat trade. Referrals are the cheapest form of advertising if you get it right. You have to have an edge on your property as there are hundreds of holiday homes out there for rent, in other words you have competition. Buying a furniture package is a good thing because you can buy everything under one roof. It saves you a lot of time and effort as everything is done for you after you have chosen your requirements. A good showroom will answer all your questions and guide you through the whole process for the needs of your property. Choose a range of furniture that is easy to clean, sturdy and solid, remember some people will not look after things as you would in holiday mode. People often ask for leather sofas, but you stick to them in the summer and they are cold to sit on in the winter as there generally is not the heating as in the U.K. Throws are untidy, get grubby and have been known to be taken to the beach and pool area. When choosing your materials for your sofas and chairs do pick light colours as people are using sun creams and lotions more here and we leave the word “Sweating” hanging – sure you know from whence I come! Try reds and oranges and terracotta colours, great amongst the white walls and gives a warming glow of welcome especially if arriving late at night coupled with a rotten journey. Beds need to be somier bases on legs or bedsteads, so cleaners can sweep and
mop under them, helps with air flow for those hot sticky nights plus somewhere to put cases. Please do not buy the cheap mattresses, buy reasonable quality ones if you want those recommendations. We are forever hearing that the “Super Cheap Beds” are so uncomfortable and we have a great trade replacing these beds and mattresses. If you are in Spain buying your furniture package, sit on the sofas, lay on the mattresses. Look at everything you are buying. Is the quality the correct standard for the job it is going to be doing, hardy against wear and tear? Remember, get it right first time! This will save you money in the following years. The other important thing is make sure you have your total package listed so you know just what you are getting for your money, get pictures because a few weeks later or more you may not remember what you should have had etc. Which can bring it’s own problems. Please get it right for your clients then you will not miss out on the referrals that they will send your way on their return to England or where ever. YES “That’s Right” your clients will be talking to their 2 lots of families, friends, work mates, social functions and even at the school gates. I hope they are saying “We had a great holiday in a lovely apartment in Spain”. I hope the reponse will be “Really where?”” We are looking for a place to go in Spain” Hay ho there’s your next rental on it’s way. Enjoy your new home in the sun and maximise the return on your investment. Written By Chris of Furniture Plus Centro Comercial La Piramide (Above Mercadona Opp. Lidl) Puerto de Mazarron Tel. 968 153 907
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Menu 1: Starters: Warmed “Organic Wheat-germ Oil” followed by “Dead Sea Salt Scrub”. Mains: “Organic Seaweed Clay” – Fresh Natural Sea Water Added Or Green Tea Benefits: Seaweed contains vitamins and minerals as well as iodine that is beneficial for relieving aches and pains. • Detoxifies. • Moisturizes and Nourishes. • Tightens Skin so therefore diminish stretch marks. • Helps with Fluid Retention. Afters: Lavished with an all over Body Moisturizer of Olive Soufflé. Menu 2: Starters: “Organic Sweet Almond Oil” followed by “Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub” Mains “Organic Chocolate Valentines Mud” – Peppermint Fresh Water. Benefits: Conditions and moisturizes the skin and eliminates impurities • Increases circulation and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth • Exfoliation and detoxification.
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Stage 1 At “Oceanic Massage Therapies” We offer either: Pure Organic Wheat-germ Oil or Sweet Almond Oil (please note *Nut Allergy) which is heated before application to your dry skin. Naturally Rich in Vitamins and Minerals, helping to nourish and moisturize the skin before Exfoliation. It acts as a lubricant to the Salt Scrub. Wheat-germ Oil contains Antioxidants known for its health giving benefits & more powerful than Vitamin C or E. These Antioxidants can help slow down the process of aging and have Anti-Inflammatory as well as Anti-Oxidant properties. Wheat-germ Oil is absorbed into the skin instead of just sitting on the top thus helps fight Free Radicals. They help stop the Enzymes that destroy Collagen, Elastin and other connective tissue. It is very good for Oily skin and does not leave a greasy residual. Sweet Almond Oil is Rich in … vitamin A, B and E, which are great for skin health. In fact, most skin care products have these vitamins loaded in them. The oil helps maintaining moisture levels of the skin and gets absorbed in a jiffy without blocking the pores. Overall, almond oil for skin care helps: • Improve the complexion and retaining glow • Moisturize better and deeper • Soothe skin irritation and skin inflammation • Relieve dry and irritated skin • Nourish skin, making it softer and smoother • Cures chapped lips and body rashes. Avoid if:• You are pregnant• You have uncontrolled high blood pressure• You have allergies to the product used • You have low blood pressure
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Stage 2 “Dead Sea Salt” or “Himalayan Pink Salt” is then rubbed into the whole body to Exfoliate, Invigorate and Increase Blood Flow. Please Note!: “Dead Sea Salt” contains only 10% Sodium Unlike Regular Salt which contains 90% Sodium. With over 80 Minerals rich in Vit A,C,D,E, and B12 “Dead Sea Salt” Revitalises the skin to prevent premature aging by Rejuvenating and Nourishing the Skins Tissue. It Sloughs off Dead Skin Cells, leaving you all Polished! Stage 3 After you rinse off in a shower, the therapist applies the wrap ingredients to your body, covering it with a sheet then a Thermal Wrap such as Specialised Foil. When you’re all wrapped up, you will be covered by a blanket and then you’ll be left alone to relax -- and sweat -- for about 30/40 minutes. The Wrap will then be removed by using Steamed Towels. Stage 4 Your Body will then be Nourished and Moisturized in the product suggested. *please note that intake of water is essential before and after wrap … this will aid you detox and speed up the whole process. Relaxation is probably the one body-wrap benefit that anyone would be hard-pressed to dispute. Regardless of what might or might not be happening with your skin and cellulite, you’re spending quality time alone, listening to calming music in a sweet-smelling, low-lit room at night fall. At “Oceanic Massage Therapies” Day Treatments …... you have the natural sound of the Sea and a View to die for!!!
N-332Cartagena PuntaPrima Rounabout CorteChino
How They Can Help you Start your Detox Plan. Get you over the Winter Months and into the Spring. Body wraps are all the rage at spas these days – Oceanic Massage Therapies brings you their unique treatment for after the holiday season when we need to recover from all the food and drink we consume. Not only does your skin become dry from heating but also the winter elements such as the wind. You may be feeling Sluggish this time of year due to Slow circulation/hibernation due to the fact we are not so active in the Winter to Summer months. We need to rejuvenate the body as well as flush out those Toxins smoothing out the Skin and Cellulite. The “slimming” wrap treatment is only the tip of the body-wrap iceberg. “Oceanic Massage Therapies” we prefer to look at the needs of the body & Skin. Our New Organic Wraps are made to order and does not contain any preservatives so naturally best for you. For a gardenvariety body wrap, you lie on a massage table and get rubbed down with an exfoliating scrub, in whatever variety you picked from the menu … but we have developed 2 New Ones that are Organic and good for this time of year . (Seasonal Treatments of Scrubs & Wraps will Change depending on the Elements) We are choosing these Two:
• Softens skin and helps with skin conditions.
OCEANIC BODY WRAPS
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...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
n e d r a G me & o H PREPARE FOR SEVERE STRONG WINDS
Gales are the most common cause of damage and disruption in the UK. Once a major wind storm hits, it may be too late to protect your home and property. There are several things that can be done beforehand to ensure wind damage is limited. Strong winds can put pressure on the exterior of your home but keeping on top of repair work will help reduce the damage during storms. SAFETY FIRST: Do not use ladders during adverse weather conditions. When weather is suitable, the safest ladder to use is a heavy duty triple extension ladder. Place the bottom quarter of its total height away from the base of the house. Make sure it’s on firm, flat ground and not tilting left or right, and at least 3 rungs should be overlapping for stability. Always have someone holding the ladder at the bottom. ROOFING The roof is one of the most vulnerable parts of your home. During high winds, speeds vary and quickly change direction. This puts enormous pressure on all parts of a building, especially the roof. Be sure to secure the roof properly to avoid damage. One of the easiest things you can do to check the status of your roof, especially if you’re not comfortable getting on a ladder to look at your roof, is to check it from the attic. What’s happening inside can tell you a lot about what’s happening on the outside. Most of the below can be spotted just by looking at it, great if you don’t want to risk damaging insulation. Outside light showing through the roof If you spot any of the above, have it checked over by a roofing specialist. One small issue can often be Creations of Gardens and Re-style Garden Maintenance Construction of Pergolas Fencing Terraces Gazebos Many Pots and PlantsSoils - Compost - Abon’s
a symptom of a much larger problem. When inspecting your roof from the outside, stay off it unless you know what you are doing. Either view from the ground with binoculars or walk around your home’s exterior, inspecting for signs of damage, sagging, and aging. Take notes of any possible problem areas, or parts in need of closer inspection. If you’re confident enough to make a closer inspection, carefully use a ladder to give it the once over. You should never try to walk across your roof and if you are in any doubt about the condition of your roof, have it checked over by a roofing specialist. SHEDS If you have a shed, make sure that it is in good condition to withstand adverse weather conditions. In particular, check that your roofing felt is secure. Replacing split and worn roofing felt shed is an important task you need to do if you want your garden equipment, tools and furniture to stay dry. Roof sealants will help ensure that joins are secure and weatherproof. If you’ve not got roofing felt on your shed, it’s easy to install and flexible, strong and durable. Felting your shed roof will go a long way to weatherproofing and protecting valuable tools in extreme weather conditions. GUTTERING Regular checks of your guttering will help you avoid damage during harsh weather conditions. The small amount of time taken to properly maintain your guttering will benefit you in the long term, so use dry days as an excuse to get outside and check that your guttering is properly prepared for the worst of weathers. The correct type of drainage allows the flow of water to be directed away from your home without building up onto your roof. If water penetrates your home, woodwork can perish, mould will
begin to grow, condensation forms and brickwork can erode. Damp patches quickly spread and health problems can become an issue. Because of its positioning, the weather will inevitably cause wear and tear in your guttering. If you’re expecting strong winds, you’ll need to stabilise guttering to avoid permanent damage to your roof. Ensure all guttering is securely fastened to your roof to avoid it loosening, and coming away from the house. Hips, ridges and flashings can become detached in windy weather if pointing is not maintained. Look in gutters or gullies for signs of mortar droppings. FENCING Fences provide practical privacy and shelter against the blustery weather, but can also bear the brunt of much of the bad weather, be it rain or high winds. Make sure all your boundary fences are secure and posts are firmly set in the ground. Wooden fences are prone to rot or attack by insects, making them weak. To prolong their life, treat them regularly with wood stain and preservative. The part of a wooden fence post most likely to rot is the section buried underground. If not reinforced in time, it will eventually collapse and pull down the entire fence, especially in high winds. If you live in an area prone to high winds, it’s worth rethinking your fence. Wooden fences create a block for the wind that eventually forces the fence to the ground. For strong wind resistance, you need to build a fence with gaps in it to let the wind blow through. This reduces the force the wind has on the fence and therefore reduces the chances that it will fall. MAINTAINING LARGE TREES
FEBURARY OFFER
Falling trees and blowing debris in storms often cause fatalities and severe structural damage. It is your responsibility to maintain trees in your garden, removing weak branches and trimming trees that could fall on your home and cause damage during a storm.
COME IN & SEE OUR SPRING OFFERS
Many people have a tree topped or removed because they are afraid it is too big and will fall over. Trees do sometimes fall over or drop limbs, but never because they are too big.
Jardinería ALCAYNA
NCE ERIE 20 YEARS EXP
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The Mosquito Screen & Window Co
Serving the Coast and Inland for over 10 Years
Reforms Architectural Service & Plans Painting Construction & Maintenance Decorating Interior Design Legally registered family business Quality workmanship guaranteed Tiling, Flagging, Electrics, Plumbing, Aluminuim, Swimming pools, teddybearbuilders@yahoo.com Key-holding & Maintenance
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Removing whole tops of trees or large branches creates unsightly and sometimes hazardous rotten trees. It stimulates rapid growth of small, weak limbs which are more likely to drop, damaging your home and the surrounding areas. If you want to keep your tree small and safe, topping is not the way to go.
SWIMMING POOLS POOL SURESTE SL MADE WITH “GUNITE” FREE Dolphin & Seal Mosiac Design on base of pool. Ask for details. AL & SIZES L S HAPES
Manufacturers & Installers of Insect Screens, Aluminium & UPVC Windows & Doors Tel: 966 716 329 or Spanish Mob: 722 763 055 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
eg.
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Good pruning will reduce the bulk of a tree, letting in more light and allowing wind to pass through. Reducing wind resistance by “taking out the sail” will make your tree safer. If you’re worried about the size of your tree it’s a good idea to contact a local tree surgeon. IMPROVEMENTS INSIDE
Good ventilation helps POOL REPAIRS ~ reduce condensation TERRACES ~ POOL COVERS and damp, but draughts
968 461 404 - 630 810 299 poolsureste@gmail.com www.poolsureste.com
are uncontrolled: they let in too much cold air and waste too much heat. B&q.co.uk
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
www.soltimes.com
REPAIR AFTER SEVERE STRONG WINDS
Once the winds have lightened you may be faced with a range of problems to deal with or repairs to make. Deal with danger first If your house has suffered d a m a g e from severe weather, you must treat gas leaks or flooding as a priority. Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies at the mains if necessary Have a qualified tradesman fix the problem Do not accept help from an un-registerd person whose approached you about damage they say needs to fixed right away as your insurance may not cover the cost Make sure you keep receipts for any work you have paid for, for insurance purposes. Its important to carry out internal and external checks for anything
that may effect the stability of your roof and surrounding areas. Internal checks The first place to check for possible damage is internally, via your loft hatch. If you’re confident climbing your loft ladder, then get up there and have a look around but you may be able to spot an issue without even entering into the loft. One small issue can often be a symptom of a much larger problem. Inspect the interior of your roof for the following: Sagging of material Rusted nails or stains around nails Signs of water damage or leaking. Dark spots and trails Outside light showing through the roof If you spot any of the above,
have your roof checked over by a roofing specialist. One small issue can often be a symptom of a much larger problem. External checks When inspecting your roof from the outside, its best to first view it from the ground using binoculars and walking around your home’s exterior. Take notes of any possible problem areas, or areas in need of closer inspection. Stay off the roof unless you’re confident in what you’re doing, in which case, carefully use a ladder to reach the roof but you should never try to walk across it in case it’s weak. Inspect the exterior of your roof
9
for the following: Missing tile or slates Defective or missing flashing (this is the lead or zinc sheet used to prevent the passage of water where the roof joins any parapet walls or chimney stack) A leaning chimney stack or parapet wall Sarking boards or sarking felt is secure. If tiles or slates have failed, sarking is the second line of defence. This must be secure and free of holes to provide weatherproof protection If you spot any of the above, have your roof checked over by a roofing specialist. B&Q.co.uk
Welcome GO SATELLITE!
g Getting British TV here in Spain can be a confusing and daunting task and findin ABOUT US GO SATELLITE was set up 10 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
a reliable and informative company is vital.
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. 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, 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
3 49€
USUAL PRICE 399€
communities. The Go Satellite system uses highest quality Portuguese-manufactured dishes and requires NO monthly payments. Packages are available to suit everybody´s requirements and budget. GO SATELLITE offer expertise, reassurance and a proven track record, which can be backed up by many a satisfied customer. OTHER SERVICES Go Satellite not only provide television but are also able to provide internet and telephone services. Packages are available to suit all with a switch on/off service available for non residents. COME AND MEET US! We have an office in the Business Centre Calle Los Arcos No7 Ciudad Quesada, so you can now come and meet us and we will endeavour to help you with all of your TV queries. DISH ISSUES? Here at Go Satellite, we use only Top Quality Portugese dishes and Invacom LNB’s. Sky Packages are also available. If you do not have room or do not wish to have a dish, give us a call as we have a solution! At Go Satellite, we will endeavour, to provide TV for everyone. So, if you are fed up of missing your favourite programs or you have lost your TV signal and do not want to lose out any more, then call 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
1.4 Metre Dish with HD Receiver
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 www.freetvspain.com All major credit & debit cards accepted
10
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
DENISE VAN OUTEN TO JOIN EASTENDERS
CIVIL GUARD SEIZES EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES Civil Guard seizes €300,000 worth of Egyptian antiquities Five people arrested in Spain as part of smuggling ring after discovery of haul in Valencia The Civil Guard has announced the recent breakup of an international ring that smuggled ancient Egyptian archeological treasures through the port of Valencia, on the Mediterranean coast. Law enforcement officers confiscated a container filled with 36 pieces all estimated to be more than 3,000 years old and worth €300,000. Authorities made five arrests last November in connection with a haul following an undercover operation that began in June 2014, said Civil Guard officials at a news conference held Wednesday at Madrid’s National Archeological Museum (MAN). Among the most valuable artifacts confiscated were a bust of the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet, various statues of the god Osiris, several small boxes and canopic jars. “Without a doubt, the most valuable piece is the bust of Sekhmet – it could be worth around €100,000,” said Captain Javier Morales, who was in charge of Operation Hierática (Hieratic). The law enforcement agency confiscated the goods from a shipping container that came from Alexandria, Egypt. Speaking alongside the Egyptian ambassador to Spain, Morales explained that the alleged ringleader had enough resources to organize a massive antiquities trafficking operation that allowed the group to smuggle valuables from the country and resell them at fairs and events in Spain and France. The conspiracy may have been in operation for years. Four Egyptians and one Spanish antique dealer were arrested in
Spain while authorities in Egypt detained two people who acted as intermediaries. Those arrested in Spain face trafficking in antiquities, money laundering and criminal conspiracy charges. They could spend up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Denise Van Outen is set to make a guest appearance on EastEnders. As part of the show’s 30th anniversary celebrations, the BBC soap will see the return of old characters as well as the reveal of some new faces. While the presenter’s role has strictly been kept under wraps, show bosses have revealed that Denise’s character will send “sparks flying” as she gets close to one of Walford’s men. “It was only a matter of time before Denise Van Outen walked onto the Square,” said executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins. “We cannot wait to have Denise join us for a few episodes, where she will definitely make her presence felt.” The actress and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, who is well-known for playing Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway and London’s West End, also shared her excitement. “I’ve been a fan of the series for years,” she said. “2015 marks the show’s 30th anniversary, so it feels even more special to be part of this year’s celebration.” This is not the first time that the 40-year-old, who used to present
Civil Guard general director Arsenio Fernández de Mesa stressed the importance of Truckers in Spain concerned breaking these smuggling rings over plans to force them on to toll because, according to him, they highways could be used to finance jihadist Truck drivers are worried about terrorism activities. a new plan by Spain’s government “This deserves congratulations, to force heavy vehicles off conventional roads and on to toll as we must raise awareness highways wherever possible. within the European Union about The sector fears that the Public the need to stop the trafficking of Works Ministry’s proposal will these goods, not just because they tack additional costs on to their can favor conflicts and terrorism, business, since the government is only planning to subsidize 50 but because they are part of the percent of the road tolls truckers culture of the country they were will have to pay as a result. stolen from,” he said. Industry representatives are not
The Big Breakfast in the nineties and noughties, has been linked to EastEnders. Denise was previously said to be joining the cast as a glamorous new landlady for the Queen Vic pub in May 2013. Speaking three years ago, the blonde beauty also said that she wouldn’t turn down the opportunity. “I’d never rule it out, I’d love to do it and pull a few pints! You never know, if they’d have me,” Denise told This Morning. EastEnders’ upcoming 30th anniversary shows, some of which will take the form of live episodes, will focus on the big reveal of who killed Lucy Beale. Characters Ian and Jane Beale will also be celebrating their second wedding, and viewers will be asked beforehand to vote for which song they want to see the couple walk down the aisle to. Other confirmed actors and actresses who are set to make a special return include John Partridge, who plays Christian Clarke, and Jo Joyner, who will reprise her role as Tanya Branning. Bbc.co.uk
TRUCKERS IN SPAIN CONCERNED which is already very aware of the
For that reason, the treasures will not be placed on show in Spain, but instead will be sent back to Egypt as soon as the pieces are completely identified. “The bust of Sekhmet probably came from Luxor [in the Nile valley] because she was their goddess. The other pieces possibly came from Alexandria because they have Greek-Roman characteristics, but we are not exactly sure,” explained María del Carmen Pérez Die, an Egyptian art expert and head of the conservation department of antiquities at the museum.
certain that the shorter routes will save them enough on fuel to compensate for the new expense.
“We will not accept a ban on trucks on national roads,” said Dulsé Díaz, communications director for the Spanish Federation of Freight Transportation (CETM), an umbrella group for over 35,000 businesses. “They must have a free option.” The ministry claims that the new regulations will improve road safety and reduce accident rates There are around 310,000 commercial trucks circulating on Spanish roads, of which 220,000 are heavy vehicles, according to official figures.
Pérez Die said that with the The ministry claims that the exception of the bust, the rest of new regulations will improve road safety and reduce accident rates. the artifacts may have come from But Díaz said responsibility a tomb. for road safety should not fall Elpais.com exclusively to the trucking sector,
need to follow road rules. “We are not the main problem on the roads,” said Díaz, suggesting that the real motive for the proposal may be quite different. “We could for instance wonder whether what they really want is to encourage the use of toll roads,” he said, a reference to the fact that several Spanish toll road operators were brought to the brink of bankrupcty by the economic crisis, forcing the government to rush in with a bailout. Ramón Valdivia, director general of the International Road Transportation Association (Astic), says it is too early to pass judgment on the plans. “We still need to know details such as the map of affected roads, and the underlying reasons for the change. For now, the way it’s being framed, we are not happy about it,” he said. If it does go into effect, it will not be the first time that such a measure has been tried in Spain. Trucks used to make up 40 percent of traffic on the national N-II road in the Catalan province of Girona, but these vehicles are now obliged to drive on the AP-7 toll road. Luis Montoro, president of the Foundation for Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility (Fesvial), said there are European studies proving that banning heavy vehicles from conventional roads reduces accident rates by between five and 15 percent. Elpais.com
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
www.soltimes.com
OPENING HOURS : MON-THURS 9am-8pm FRIDAY 9am-5pm SATURDAY 9am-6pm
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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
TOP QUALITY ARTIFICIAL GRASS Installed by Qualified Professionals
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
EFFECTIVE MAINTENANCE
To look after your home properly you need to carry out regular maintenance checks and fix any problems you find straight away. All buildings deteriorate with age, but good maintenance will slow that process and keep your home a safe and pleasant place to live. Maintenance is also cost effective. Tiny problems can soon escalate and even risk permanently damaging your home if they're not tackled when they're first spotted. Ignoring them can prove costly at a later date. A properly maintained home will also keep its value. KEEP THE BUILDING DRY The most important thing in any maintenance plan is to stop damp from getting into your home. You need to check roof coverings, gutters, downpipes and drains regularly to make sure they're working properly. A leaky roof is the most obvious issue, but damp from overflowing gutters or badly ventilated spaces can also cause timbers to rot, plaster to flake off, and bricks to crumble. It can eventually lead to major Single Ovens, Range Ovens, structural problems.
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Drawing Up a Maintenance Plan Your maintenance plan should take into account how your home is constructed, what changes have been made over its lifespan, and its overall condition. Identify weak points and anticipate where problems might occur. For example, in many older houses hardto-access gutters, particularly if they're hidden from view, can get forgotten.
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
www.soltimes.com
LOOKING AFTER YOUR HOME
Think of the building as a whole, including its interior and the surrounding site. Consider such issues as surface water drainage or the proximity of trees. Take into account your home’s position and exposure to the elements. A building in an exposed upland area or close to the sea will need a different approach to one on a sheltered inland site. Include services in your maintenance plan, especially electrical and plumbing systems: fire and flooding pose particular threats to historic fabric. KEEPING A LOG BOOK Consider creating a log book for your home. Make a note of when you last did a maintenance check and what you found. You can record what repairs needed doing, when they were done, and who by, particularly if you had to use a professional. You can also use it to record details of alterations you may have had done. All this information will be very useful not only to you, but also to any professionals who have to carry out work on your property, and to any future owners should you move on.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AT IT’S BEST On the Orihuela Costa
- Key Holding & Security Checks - Property Cleaning & Laundry - Airport Transfers arranged
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POOL COVERS, HEATPUMPS & SAFETY FENCING
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BRITANNIA
TRADEcall
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• Authorised Yale Installer • Grille Alarms • Wire Free Specialist • Window Locks • I.P.Wifi Cameras • Servicing
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Every year a small percentage of children that go on holiday drown in pools in spain. Not because of negligence or that they are unsupervised. The safety fencing that we offer will give you peace of mind against accidental drowning of children or even pets. The fence is a removable, transparent mesh that can be rolled up and put away once you are confident with your children around the pool. So give us a call for a free no obligation quote. Contact Ian at Britannia Pools for more prices & TRADE ENQUIRIES information - 966 765 378 : 664 367 512 WELCOME www.britanniapoolcovers.com www.poolsafetyfencing.es
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...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
Welcome to CanDu Computing Bytes. Some 6 month ago we discussed Skype as a means of audio-visual communication. Did you know that there is a usurper in our midst? What is the name of this usurper? The challenger to the title of “Best free communications program” is ‘Viber’. What do you mean, you have never heard of it? That is probably because it hasn’t been around for quite as long as Skype! Today I would like to do a comparison between the two, not to influence you, but to try to save you having to do the legwork that I have done to create this article. You are more than welcome to check my facts. Registration Both Viber and Skype are free to download and register. Whether you want to download the app on your PC, laptop, tablet or your Smartphone, you can do so without having to pay anything. However, with Skype offers you a complete no hassle registration process, but you have to register your phone number with Viber to receive a code that enables you to active its services. My experience showed that this wasn’t a hassle at all. Viber imports contacts from your phone, unlike Skype. Therefore, if you are slightly finicky about giving an app access to your phone number and your contact list, and I’m am one of those, you might be slightly uncomfortable using Viber. ‘Viber Out’ and ‘Skype to Phone’ calls are both chargeable, so in that sense, both of them are at par. However, Skype is the clear winner when you talk of ease of registration. Video Calls Skype has had a video call feature since as long as anyone can remember, and this feature has been tried and tested across all platforms. In fact, Skype grew in popularity because it allowed users to make video calls to one another free. You can use it on your computers, tablets and your smartphones – free of cost. Viber has recently introduced a video calling feature, which is still in its beta phased. The feature has not been optimized and is only available for PCs and Macs. Therefore, if you
are smartphone user, it may take a while before you will be able to use Viber’s video calling function. So again, Skype is a clear winner. Call Quality Since you can make voice calls through both Viber and Skype, the comparison of call quality will always be made. Both have good audio calling quality, and if the internet signal is strong enough, you can have a great call. However, things are very different when you make video calls. Video calls demand more of your internet’s bandwidth, so the audio calls which may be great, often deteriorate when you convert them into video calls. Since Viber’s video calling feature is still in its beta phase, problems persist, even when you use a highspeed data connection. When using Viber, call quality on your PC would be much better than call quality on your smartphone app. So once again, Skype wins this round as well. The Verdict Both Skype and Viber are great programs, but Viber is a relatively new entrant, as compared to Skype. Skype has already established itself as a leader in communications, and though Viber is a great program, and is generally competent, it faces tough competition from Skype, which clearly wins on many counts. However, Viber has been improving and adding many new features, so it is possible that it would soon catch up with Skype in this race for number one. One final point that wins me, personally, over to Viber is the fact that there are absolutely NO ADVERTS! Skype, now that it is a commertialised Microsoft product and can’t say the same! I will be looking for you at Jack’s bar in Albox from 13:00 on Fridays (and any other day by appointment) for my clinic of free diagnosis, and solutions.
For further information or advice on computing,contact Trevor on 689 892 745 or canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk
Il Duce - part II Mussolini made the ‘Pact of Steel’ with Germany in 1938, as both he and Hitler believed that in event of Germany invading Poland; Britain and other countries would remain neutral. Mussolini also thought that Britain and France were finished as players on the world stage, that any war would be short lived and Germany would win. Mussolini even ordered his army to adopt the German Goosestep march. Britain wanted Italy to side with the Allies; France tried to negotiate secretly to get Italy to side with them but Mussolini didn’t pick up the phone when they called. Italy was massively under prepared for war so when Hitler generously suggested that Italy invade Yugoslavia Mussolini declined the offer. Germany then invaded Poland yet Italy stayed neutral. When however Germany invaded France, Italy joined in ending up controlling much of southern France including Nice. Mussolini had a million soldiers in North Africa; in the autumn of 1940 they successfully attacked the mere 36,000 strong British forces in Egypt, Sudan and Kenya in East Africa. Luckily the Italians stopped short of taking the Suez Canal at a place called
RAIN, WIND, HAIL, SNOW & FIRE. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR HOME IS DAMAGED BY ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENON Registering a non-Spanish vehicle in Spain is a complex and potentially costly procedure. However, you may be exempt from Spanish registration tax by getting Spanish number plates within one month of entering the country. But to do this, you need to become a resident. Linea Directa has been insuring expat drivers in Spain for over a decade and understands all the steps involved. Below we outline this process. STEP 1: OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY This is a statement by the car’s manufacturer that it conforms to EU regulations. You will need the car’s chassis number to complete this straightforward process online at www.eurococ. eu/en/certificate_of_conformity. The charges for this service will vary according to type of vehicle, make and country of 1st registration. STEP 2: CURRENT LOG BOOK The vehicle’s original log book showing your name as the owner, the vehicles age and a valid UK address. You will also need the bill of sale for the car. STEP 3: RESIDENCY IN SPAIN The Spanish residency certificate (Certificado de Empadronamiento) is your official proof of residency in Spain. Your local town hall can provide you with this document. You will need to take your passport and proof of Spanish address (rental contract, contract to purchase or
property deeds). STEP 4: OBTAINING A SPANISH MOT CERTIFICATE All vehicles over 4 years old must be roadworthy and clearly display a valid ITV sticker. The ITV (Vehicle Technical Inspection) must be tested at an authorised centre, just as for an MOT test. You can find out the location of your nearest ITV centre on DGT website (equivalent to the DVLA). You can also call your local centre to make a booking. If the centre is busy, especially pre-summer, this can save a lot of time. The cost can vary but generally is around 40€ for petrol-engine cars and 56€ for diesel-engine cars. Step 5: OBTAINING A SPANISH EQUIVALENT OF A TAX DISC The Spanish Tax Agency can provide your vehicle with a valid “tax disc” for Spain, which must be carried in the car when in use. You will need to complete the relevant form online and pay the amount according to your car’s tax band. You can carry out all these procedures yourself or you can seek the assistance of an accountant to do this for you. We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 902 123 161 More information on Linea Directa online at www. lineadirecta.com
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
Mersa Matruh as they’d always looking for quality homes for their sales and rental portfolios, please contact run out of supplies. This Stephen for a valuation: stephen@findmeahome.es Telephone: 636 266 641 was about controlling the oil supplies coming from were gassed with their bodies burnt throw their lot in the Arabian oilfields and although in ovens. The chimney and ovens with the Allies. massively outnumbered the British were blown up by the Germans near In September courageously fought back. The the end of the war to cover up the German Italians were pushed back nearly war crimes. Another camp at Rab 1943 1000kms and in June 1941 lost the saw thousands killed. After the war paratroopers rescued Mussolini port of Tobruk in Libya which had been instead of prosecuting the main Italian without a shot being fired at a place their many supply route from Italy. culprit Mario Roatta for genocide; called Gran Sasso. Mussolini greeted Germany initially saved the Italians he escaped to Spain where he lived his rescuers by saying ‘I knew my ‘pancetta’ by sending Rommel and his under Franco’s protection until 1948. friend (Hitler) would not forsake Afrika Korps to fight the British. He then returned to Italy where Mussolini’s grand plan for the New he died in 1968. In 2003 Mussolini’s me!’ The Germans set up Mussolini Roman Empire inspired him to declare admirer Silvio Berlusconi, made in northern Italy as the ruler of a war on Greece at the same time as puppet state; the Italian Socialist battling the British in Africa. Greece his now infamous comments that fought back with great success and Mussolini had only sent people on Republic. The Allies advanced north and took Monte Cassino with 75,000 the Italians were losing badly until the vacation. Mussolini supported the Germans in casualties. The end was nigh, a Germans sent reinforcements which ended with Greece under control of the invasion of the Soviet Union but the disguised Mussolini attempted to Italians suffered huge casualties; the the Axis powers. Slovenia was next and Mussolini campaign was massively unpopular flee Italy to Switzerland in April 1945 favoured ethnic cleansing by deporting with ordinary Italians. When the Allies with his mistress Clara in a German Slovenians to concentration camps. invaded Italy in 1943; the Italian convoy; but they were recognised at The Slovenia campaign ended with Grand Fascist Council issued a vote of a checkpoint at Lake Como and shot. countless murdered or interned. In no-confidence against Mussolini. King Their bodies were strung up from a northern Italy are the remains of the Victor had Mussolini arrested and Risiera de San Sabba concentration imprisoned. The Germans had other lamp post in Milan, then dragged camp where 10’s of thousands were ideas though as they rightly feared through the streets as proof of the tortured and up to 5000 people the Italians would capitulate and dictators’ demise
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...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
SAMARITANS IN SPAIN & THE 902 NUMBER
Every now and then someone begins complaining that Samaritans in Spain are making money from the distressed callers who use the service. They base this claim on the fact that all 902 numbers are premium rate numbers. This claim could not be further from the truth; in fact it costs SiS money to run this service. The problem arises from Telefonica lumping premium RATE and premium SERVICE into the one 902 range. Whether the number is premium rate or premium service depends on the fourth number. 902 followed by 1,2,3 or 4 are premium rates costing up to four times the standard rate, and from which the receiving company benefits financially. 902 numbers followed by 5,6,7,8 or 9 are to provide a premium service, from which the receiver gains no financial benefit, but does benefit from a premium service. For example the charity Samaritans in Spain uses the number 902 88 35 35, hence the fourth digit is 8. This means that the number is not connected to any local telephone exchange. This allows the Samaritans to have several phones in several locations attached to the 902 88 35 35 number. This means that whenever someone calls their number, whether they are calling from Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella, the Balearics or wherever, they are connected to the next available listener. And it doesn’t matter where that listener is physically located. All for the same fee! All Samaritans in Spain calls to 902 88
numbers are charged at national call rates. From landlines and public phones the connection charge is €0.08 plus €0.04/ min: Mon-Fri 20:00-08:00, weekends & public holidays and €0.07/min: Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00. Sadly calls from mobiles are CONSIDERABLY more. Each mobile provider sets their own rates and, sadly, they can, and often do, range from 0.20 cents per minute, to over 0.80 cents per minute, plus a connection charge ranging from 0.12 to 0.20 cents. Unfortunately, Samaritans in Spain have absolutely no control over these charges, nor do they benefit from them. All the profit goes to the mobile provider. Samaritans in Spain recommend that the caller bears these charges in mind and where possible use a landline or public phone It is so sad when we read that ALL 902 numbers are premium rate numbers when only some are. Many, like Samaritans in Spain are premium service numbers which actually benefits both the caller and the receiver. Further information and all the details about Samaritans in Spain can be found on their website at www.samaritansinspain. com or on Facebook at ht t p s://w w w.fa c e b o o k .c o m/p a g e s/ Samaritans-in-Spain/342312575891259 The Samaritan service in Spain is provided by Costa Blanca Samaritans, a not-for-profit organisation registered with the Generalitat Valenciana, with the Registration Number: CV-01-042952-A and NIF: G54341466 pat@samaritansinspain.com Lubbertus
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 - www.daviessolicitors.com On the 17th of August of 2015 European Union Directive 650/2012 comes into force: Make sure you have stated on your will that you wish U.K. law to rule your inheritance or your children will inherit instead of your spouse. Question. A solicitor spoke the other day on television about the new directive 650/2012 saying that it was essential that people retired in a country different of their country of nationality within the European Union revise their wills. What is all this about? A : This is correct and most have already had the changes made to their wills, but there are still plenty that have not. This regulation of the EU 650/2012 deals with different things, but the reason English citizens need to look at their will is that this new Regulation of the EU establishes that: 1. When a person dies resident in one country of the European Union but national of another, the law applicable to his/her inheritance will be the one that he/she has established expressly in his will and not the one established by the International Norms of each country (which may be in conflict). This is good news because an English national living in Spain can establish that he/she wishes English Law to rule his/ her inheritance and this will avoid any possible risk of claims from children against the spouse on the basis of the system of obligatory heirs established in Spanish law, which has always caused worry and concern in the case of children from previous marriages etc. 2. If a person passes away after the 17th of August of 2015, unless he has said differently in his will (as explained above), the legislation applicable to his inheritance will be that of his country of last residence. This is very important for English people
living in Spain, because under Spanish law you cannot leave everything to your wife as 2/3 of the estate have to be left to children. In other words if you are resident of Spain, have children and do not establish on your will that you wish English Law (your national law) to rule your inheritance your Spouse will not be allowed to receive his/ her full inheritance, as this would contradict the Spanish rules of obligatory heirs which would be applicable automatically because of the new regulation. Consequences: 1. If you have children but have made a will leaving all assets to your spouse, make sure that you have clearly stated on your will that you wish your national law (English law) to rule your inheritance. If you have not, you need to speak to a solicitor about this new European directive and add this statement to your will. 2. If you are married and you have been concerned with possible claims by your spouse’s children against your estate, this risk can be completely removed by your spouse stating on her/his will that it should be English law that rules the inheritance. Conclusion:The new regulation has given much more strength to the testators / testatrix, letting them choose between English or Spanish Law, which is good, but precaution is a must because under the new regulation if nothing is said and you are a resident in Spain, automatically the law applicable will be Spanish law which does not permit that spouses leave everything to each other if there are children. Solution: Contact us and we will see if your will needs changing. If not we will not charge you.
Michael Davies is a Spanish Abogado and has been practicing law in Almería since 1993. He is member of the Law societies of Almería and Madrid and has offices in Mojacar and Almeria High Street.
PROPERTY SECTION
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Sometimes it can be cheaper to buy than to rent
SOLTIMES
POTENTIAL DOWNSIDES OF OWNING
PROPERTY SUPPLEMENT LOOKING TO BUY OR RENT?
FIND YOUR DREAM HOME INSIDE!
RENT OR BUY? Buying a property is probably the biggest financial decision you’ll ever have to make. How do you know whether it’s the right decision for you right now – or whether you’d be better off renting instead? MORTGAGE OR RENT? Owning your own home is a huge commitment, not just to the building you buy and the area you choose to live in, but also to your life (and to another person if you are buying with a loved one or friend). BENEFITS OF OWNING YOUR HOME There are many benefits to home
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
ownership. Here are just some of them. Once you’ve paid off your mortgage, your home will be yours and it could be worth far more than you paid for it If your home increases in value you can use that equity to help you afford a bigger home or to fund a more comfortable retirement if you downsize When you retire you won’t necessarily have the income you need to keep on paying rent – if you have paid your mortgage off you’ll be living there ‘rent free’ You can spend money improving your home and increasing its value, whereas you can’t alter a rented home without the landlord’s permission
It’s a big financial commitment – you need to be sure you can afford what you’re taking on. SeeCan you afford to buy? When interest rates rise, your repayments will also go up. It’s important to know how much a rise would be. There are ways you can get ready for changes in the rate You also need to be sure you can afford maintenance costs such as replacing a boiler if it packs up or fixing a leaky roof. If you stretch yourself too much when you buy you may resent not having money for meals out, holidays and entertainment You have less flexibility than when renting. For example, if you want to move for work or personal reasons selling up and moving on is far more expensive if you own as you’ll have all of the associated estate agency and legal fees. Also bear in mind that it may not always be easy to sell your home – you’ll be dependent on what’s happening in the market If you’re living with someone else and split up, the process of sorting out the property will be far more complicated and expensive Are you better off buying or renting? You’re not necessarily going to be better off financially buying rather
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than renting your home. If the value of your property falls, you may find yourself unable to sell because you owe more to your mortgage lender than your home is worth. On the other hand, if house prices rise, you could make a nice profit that could help fund a move to a bigger home or give you a lump sum if you choose to downsize later on in life. CAN YOU AFFORD TO BUY? The first step towards buying a property is figuring out whether you can afford to do so. There are many costs associated with buying your own home, beyond your mortgage repayments, including: Deposit Legal costs such as solicitor’s fees Survey cost Stamp Duty Removal costs Your monthly bills – such as gas, electricity, home phone, etc. Use the links below to get a better idea of you likely costs. If buying isn’t an option for you right now, think about setting up a savings plan to achieve your goal in the future. Estimate your overall buying and moving costs How much can you afford to borrow? How to set a savings goal
APARTMENT WITH SEA VIEWS IN MOJACAR 139,000€ Immaculate 2 bed / 2 bath south facing Apartment within 300 meters from the sea and the promenade. The apartment has a total built area of approximately 91,10 mts2 distributed between Apartment: 64.70 mts2 and Terraces: 26.40 mts2. The block has a lift and therefore it can be step free. The mountain and sea views from this 3rd level south facing property is simply unbelievable. The property also benefits from an allocated parking space. This fully airconditioned apartment is comprised of a spacious lounge /
dining room, kitchen, master bedroom with en suite bathroom, double bedroom and family bathroom. The 26,40 mts2 south facing terrace is accessed via French windows in the lounge and master bedroom. The terrace also has an awning, potted plants with battery operated watering system and granite worktop to aid a BBQ preparation which is so popular in this part of Spain as its fine weather all year round stimulates outdoor living! The property is very light and airy and is in immaculate condition. It is being sold unfurnished but the
kitchen white goods will stay. The communal swimming pool is nearby for one to comfortably walk to it but at the same time far enough away to guarantee peace during the peak of the summer months when occupancy at the complex and Mojacar in general is at its peak. The sea and the promenade are just a couple of minute walk as are the local shops, bars & restaurants. An excellent opportunity not to be missed. For more information or to book a viewing appointment please visit our office or contact us via phone or e-mail. Ref: 1622
Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria
Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563
PROPERTY GROUP
www.veritashomes.co.uk info@veritashomes.co.uk
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PROPERTY SECTION
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS AGAIN REGISTER RECORD SPENDING IN 2014
In 2014, for the second consecutive year, Spain beat their best historical record for international tourist spending, reaching 63,094 million euros, an increase of 6.5% over the figure for 2013, which was also a record year. While presenting the data from the Egatur tourism expenditure survey this week at the Spain Global Tourism Forum, organised by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, as a prelude to the opening of Fitur 2015, the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, said that these figures have turned tourism into “a flagship” of the Spanish economy. All the main tourist source markets increased their total spending in the year,
with notable increases being registered in the expenditure of tourists from the United Kingdom, with 12,746 million euros and an increase of 5.9%, followed by Germany, with 10,024 million euros (+3%), and France, with 6,555 million euros (+9.7%). The largest increase, however, corresponded to the U.S. market, whose expenditure amounted to 2,849 million euros, representing an increase of 15.5%. Catalonia led the ranking of preferred destinations, with respect to tourist spending, receiving 15,100 million euros last year, representing an increase of 6.7%, followed by the Canary Islands, with 12,444 million euros (+6.6%), while the Balearic Islands received 10,380 million
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euros in tourist expenditure, but registered a decline of 2.4% over the previous year. Receiving 9,349 million euros of international tourists’ spending last year, Andalucía registered the greatest increase, rising by 11.4%. El País reported that the favourable expenditure data for Spain is in line with the improvement in global tourism, which also closed 2014 with record figures, registering growth of 4.7%, and a total of 1,138 million travellers around the world, according to data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). By world regions, significant increases were recorded for the two Americas (with growth of 7%), plus Asia and the Pacific (+5%), while the growth was more moderate in Europe (+4%), the Middle East (+4%) and Africa (+2%). The Secretary General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, congratulated Spain on receiving a record of almost 65 million tourists in 2014, representing an increase of 7.1% over the previous year, which ranks it as the third most visited country in the world, and as the second destination in terms of tourism revenue. Read more on: keyero.com
CAMPING LOS GALLARDOS
MOBILE HOMES
FOLLOWING AN AMAZING SALES YEAR IN 2014, PROPERTY URGENTLY REQUIRED With large stands at both the London and Birmingham A Place In The Sun exhibitions in the UK, a 400% budget increase in online marketing and with ever more northern European agents deciding to send their buyers to us, there has never been a better time to SELL your property via Coast and Country Spain. With buyers now waiting to invest in properties from the Mar Menor area to the Orihuela Costa, both coastal and inland, contact us now for free, no-nonsense marketing advice. Don´t miss out and become one of our happy vendors in 2015.
D L O
S
EL CARMOLI
D L O
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ROLDAN
D L O
S
VALLE DEL SOL
www.coastandcountryspain.net info@coastandcountryspain.net C/Mayor 135, Pilar de la Horadada
TEL: 966 347 966
COMPLETLY RENOVATED TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD
The owner has upgraded the home to the highest standard with a new kitchen, stunning bathroom etc. There are 2 bedrooms, an office and a conservatory. Rent paid until June 2015. Must be viewed FULLY EQUIPPED ON SECURE SITE WITH BOWLING GREEN, BAR / RESTAURANT / SHOP / SWIMMING POOL
SUNDAY CARVERY 1-4 PM EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT
ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON! VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT ONLY PHONE SHIRLEY - 679 970 399
PROPERTY SECTION
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HOW TO MAKEOVER YOUR
RENTAL PROPERTY
Time is money. For every day your rental property sits on the market, you are losing potential rental income. Whether your property has been on the market for months or for minutes, there are steps you can take to make your property more appealing to potential tenants. Here are three tips on how to makeover your property so that it will be more desirable to the masses. 1. Curb Appeal Start on the outside. While you may have focused all of your energy on sprucing up the inside of the apartment, if you can’t get people through the door, your efforts are all for naught. First impressions are lasting impressions. If the exterior of your building is not up to par, more often than not, a tenant will have already written the property off, whether or not they even venture inside. Here are some inexpensive ways to increase your curb appeal: Remove any weeds, trash or debris. Make sure the lawn and shrubbery are well manicured. If you have a porch or outdoor area, add a few flowers and plants to create a more inviting, lived-in feel. Make sure to keep them alive, because dead plants are worse than no plants. Remove any chipped paint, broken banisters or torn window screens. Make sure the mailbox, light fixtures and address numbers are in good condition. -If not, purchase new ones at the local hardware store, or simply buy a can of outdoor spray paint to quickly breathe new life into them. Have a designated area (preferably out of sight) with the proper receptacles for all garbage and recycling. 2. How to Makeover With Paint For about €25, a can of paint has the ability to completely transform a space. A fresh coat of paint can revive tired walls, brighten dim hallways and highlight architectural features such as built-in bookcases or high ceilings. In a rental, your best bet is to go with a satin or semi-gloss paint. While it may be slightly more expensive now, it will save you money in the long run. With satin or semi-gloss, crayon marks, scuff marks and even grease can easily be wiped off, as opposed to flat paint, where you
COMPLETE HOLIDAY HOLIDAY CARE CARE COMPLETE MOJACAR PLAYA
RENTALS - SALES -MANAGEMENT - MAINTENANCE
WE URGENTLY NEED MORE PROPERTIES FOR SALE & RENTAL FOR WAITING CLIENTS
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
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usually have to paint over the stains to remove them. Don’t forget to paint any trim you may have. You don’t want your sparkling clean walls to be accented by dirty, chipped molding. If you are painting outdoor railings, siding, shutters, etc., make sure to choose a suitable exterior paint, as it will be formulated to handle harsh weather conditions. Properly preparing the exterior surface to be painted is a crucial step if you want long-lasting, quality results. 3. Neutral, Neutral, Neutral!!! You want your property to appeal to the masses. Even though you may think a hot pink bathroom is spunky or that lime green kitchen cabinets lend a cool modern twist, the majority of people don’t. Stick to neutral paint colors such as tan, beige and cream. You can always offer the tenant the option to paint the apartment to their taste upon move in, as long as they paint it back to a neutral color when they move out. The neutral theme extends to tiles, hardwood floors, carpeting, light fixtures and cabinets. Picking neutral, timeless design will save you money in the long run, as you will not have to spend money to constantly update to the most current trend. According to design guru, Nate Berkus, examples of timeless finishes include shaker style kitchen cabinets, stainless steel appliances, pedestal sinks in the bathroom, white subway tile backsplashes, carrera marble and slate tile floors.
PRICE BROWN PARTNERSHIP
ESTATE AGENTS/INMOBILIARIA/MANTENIMIENTO - MOJACAR
SALES, RENTALS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT VENTAS, ALQUILERES Y MANTENIMIENTO
PROPERTIES OF THE WEEK
Ref: CM/RB / Secluded 3 bed, 2 bath, det. villa, nr centre of playa, gardens, terraces & parking, 126 m2 build, 540 m2 plot. MOJACAR PLAYA - €239,000
Ref: PM/TW - 2 bedroom, 2 bath/shower room, first floor, furnished apt, a/c, large terrace with spectacular views
Ref: VA/TL Beautifully presented modern 1 bedroom/1 bathroom apt, private underground parking, private large lock-up store room.
MOJACAR €379,950 Paseo del Mediterraneo 19, Mojacar Playa, Almeria (near the Hotel Best Indalo)
MOJACAR PLAYA €109,950
Tel: 950 478 612 / 610 808 631
info@almeriaholidays.com
www.almeriaholidays.com
Arboleas
169,950€
220,00€
DV1336
DV1337
3 bed, 2 bath, villa of 134m2 on 750m2. A/C.
3 bed, 2 bath, furnished villa of 160m2 on
Private pool & carport. Fabulous country views.
1,973m2.Private detached garage & private
Short drive to local towns.
pool. Many extras included. Car negotiable.
MOJACAR PLAYER €109,950
Ref: ES/TS - Det. Villa, 100m to beach, sea views, 3 bed, 2 bath + 2 bed apt below, private pool, lge garage, solarium, gardens.
Arboleas
Mojácar
Puerto
Pueblo
Rey
150,000€
124,000 €
SDV679
A1225
6 bed, 2 bath, village house of 162m2. Great potential. Lower ground floor for renovation & large terrace. The new escalator provides easy access.
2 bed, 2 bath, south facing ground floor apartment with all new appliances. Great rental potential. 2 community pools & child’s playground.
www.pricebrown.com Tel: +34 950 478 915 Fax: +34 950 478 963 sales@pricebrown.com rentals@pricebrown.com
Members of the National Association of Estate Agents Overseas
Monday - Friday 9:30am - 6pm We are able to organise Energy Efficiency Certificates at very competitive prices Contact us for more details All properties listed with Price Brown comply with the consumer protection act - decreto 218/2005 11 Octobre (Andalucia).
Members of the Agrupacion Tecnica Profesional
PRICES ARE CORRECT FOR 7 DAYS FROM GOING TO PRINT FOR ALL PROPERTIES ON THESE PAGES
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PROPERTY SECTION
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
MURCIA WEBCAMS
www.soltimes.com
WWW.SENSOLGOLFVILLARENTALS.COM OFFICE SPAIN: (0034) 968 970 614 MOBILE: (0034) 608 631 700
CAMPOSOL LOWER C HOLIDAY LETS FROM €450 PW
Ref No: 087
•3 bed/2 bath luxury villa. •Large private pool. •AC throughout. •Close to golf course.
CAMPOSOL D HOLIDAY RENTALS FROM €450 PW
Ref No: 0023
Ref No: 0186
• 3 bed/2 bath. • Private 6m x 3m pool. • Fantastic outside dining area. • Furnished to high standard.
BOLNUEVO – LONG TERM LET €400 + BILLS PCM
Ref No: 0147
CAMPOSOL D HOLIDAY LETS FROM €300 PW
Ref No: 0031
•2 bed/2 bath detached villa. •Oil fired central heating. •Many extras. •Amazing sea views.
CAMPOSOL D – LONG TERM LET €425 + BILLS PCM
•3 bed Rebecca style villa. •Detached end of terrace. •8m x 4m private pool. •Many extras. CAMPOSOL D LONG TERM LET €550 + BILLS PCM
Ref No: 0181
•3 bed/2 bed Carmen style villa. •8m x 4m private pool. •Glazed front terrace. •Set in lovely surroundings
• 2 bed/2 bath Carmen style villa. • Large private pool. • Furnished to high standard. • Set on large plot.
WWW.SENSOLGOLFVILLASALES.COM
CASA ORME, CAMPOSOL SECTOR C €47,000
Ref No: 0092
OFFICE SPAIN (0034) 968 970 614 MOBILE: (0034) 627 784 669 VILLA BELLA, CAMPOSOL SECTOR B €100,000
Ref RefNo: No:0040 0078
CASA IGLESIA, RURAL MURCIA 105,000€
Ref No: 0059
NEW •2 bed “Rebecca” style villa
•3 bedroom detached Fortuna style villa
•Excellent value for money
•Walking distance to shops and facilities
•Fully furnished, viewing recommended
•Carport, rejas, fly screens, underbuild
CASA SARRA, CAMPOSOL SECTOR D 120,000€
Ref No: 0080
CASA OLEANDER, CAMPOSOL SECTOR D 125,000€ NEW
•3 bedroom Spanish town house •Village location of El Pareton close to facilities • Spacious accommodation for a bargain price CASA ZARA, CAMPOSOL SECTOR A 149,950€
Ref No: 0072
Ref No: 0091
NEW •2 bed, 2 bath detached Rosa style villa •400sqm plot, swimming pool, sun terrace •Mountain views, roof solarium, viewing recommended
•Fantastic value Neptuno, 3 bed, 3 bath, priced to sell •Private pool, low maintenance gardens •Rooftop solarium, fully furnished, well maintained
•Ext det villa with flexible accommodation •Beautiful position overlooking the countryside •110 sqm living space, private pool, viewing essential
MANY MORE PROPERTIES CAN BE SEEN ON OUR WEBSITES
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Calida Homes Property Consultancy S.L calidahomes@hotmail.com www.calidahomespropconsult.com Richard: 0034 634 302 801 - Andrea: 0034 697 875 717
We have been established in the area for 13 years and have a vast database of existing clients looking to purchase.
DOES YOUR EXISTING ESTATE AGENT DO THIS FOR YOU? We charge competitive commission rates and have a pro-active approach to getting your property sold. We advertise on more property portals than any other agent, Rightmoves, A Place in the Sun, Kyero, Thinkspain, Spain Property websites, Inspain TV, Property Net Spain, and all the Belgium and Dutch portals. We attend 3 property exhibitions each year in Belgium and Holland.
Welcome to our new Prestige Property section. A handpicked selection of properties which stand out from the crowd. â‚Ź
189,950
â‚Ź
240,000
thin i w r ffe listing o r e Unddays of 3 Top spec 3 bed 2 bath villa with stunning views, heated pool. Arboleas
Huge 4 bed 3 bath villa easy walking distance to Arboleas village , 10x5 heated pool
Not every buyer is looking to purchase a bargain basement property. Some are looking for something more superior in terms of quality of build, design and location and are prepared to pay that little bit more. To cater for this we have created the prestige property section, visit our website for more details http://www.calidahomespropconsult. com/prestige-properties-for-sale/ If you have a Prestige Property for sale then get in touch with us urgently to see how we can help you.
PROPERTY URGENTLY NEEDED
We have clients waiting for fully legal properties in the following areas, Arboleas, Zurgena, Albox and surroundng areas, Vera, Los Gallardos, Turre, San Juan. If you are looking to sell your property give us a call for COMPETITIVE COMMISSION RATES and to see how we can help you.
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SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
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SPAIN – SECOND EU COUNTRY WITH MOST OVERNIGHT STAYS IN 2014
According to figures published last week by the European Commission statistical agency, Eurostat, in 2014 Spain was once again the second European Union country to record most overnight stays in hotel establishments, registering 401.3 million, just behind France. In the whole of the EU, the total number of overnight stays in hotels, by both residents and non-residents (EU visitors travelling to another Member State and non-EU visitors), reached a new record in 2014, of 2,700 million, representing an increase of 1.7% over the previous year. Following the decline experienced in 2009, with the onset of the financial and economic crisis, the influx of visitors has increased steadily in the EU during the past five years. Last year Spain recorded an increase in overnight stays of 3.1% compared with the figures for 2013, well above the EU average, while France registered a decline of 1.2% over the previous year, but nevertheless recorded 402.9 million overnight stays and remains the first country in the EU with most overnight stays in hotels. Other countries with the largest numbers of overnight stays in 2014 were Italy (369.9 million, down 1.8%) and Germany (366.2 million, up 2.9%). The number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation increased in the majority of the EU Member States in 2014, with the highest increases being registered in Latvia (+11.1%), Belgium (+7.2%), Portugal (+7.1%) and Greece (+6.9%). In contrast, the greatest declines in overnight stays were registered in Slovakia (-5.5%), Finland (-1.9%) and Italy (-1.8%). The Mediterranean islands of Malta and Cyprus recorded the highest percentages of overnight stays by non-residents with 96% and 94%, respectively, followed by Croatia (92%), Luxembourg (88%) and Greece (79%), while the lowest percentages of overnight stays by non-residents were recorded in Romania (18%), Poland (19%) and Germany (20%). In the EU, between 2013 and 2014, the number of overnight stays in hotels
by non-residents increased more (by 2.3%) than those by residents (+1.1%). The largest increases in overnight stays by non-residents last year were registered in Holland (+10.2%), Latvia (+9.9%), Denmark, Portugal and Romania (all +8.3%) and Greece (+8.0%). The most notable increases in overnight stays by residents were recorded in Latvia (+13.9%), Malta (+11.2%), Hungary (+8.2%) and Belgium (+8.1%). In absolute terms, Diario Sur reported that Spain and Italy recorded the highest numbers of nights spent by foreigners in their hotel establishments, with 259.5 million (or 21% of all nights spent by non-residents in the EU), and 183.9 million (15%), respectively.
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Tel + 34 637 309 092 - www.indalocasas.es info@indalocasas.es Arboleas
Cuevas de Almanzora
€165,000
A 3 bedroom, 80m2 farmhouse set in 14,000m2 of land situated just 5 minutes from the village and 10 minutes from the beach and several golf courses. It has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a fitted kitchen, a lounge-dining room with an open fireplace, a porch overlooking the valley, an inner courtyard with 2 caves. The property is sold with antique furniture. There are vines, fig trees, olive trees and prickly pears on the farm.
A nice 90m² 4 bed villa set on a plot of 600m² situated just a few minutes from the village and 25 minutes from the coast and various golf courses. It has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a lounge-dining room with an open fireplace, a fitted kitchen and an arched porch area. The plot has a garden shed and a small
€ 98,500
€299,000
Construction year: 2005
Vera
Mojacar
Magnificent 250m², 3-beds chalet situated close to Mojácar beach. On a plot of 500 m², it has 3 levels: semi-basement, ground floor & upper floor. Semibasement is an open space that occupies the entire floor of house, high windows to the outside. Ground floor: large lounge-dining room with sliding glass doors opening onto a 35 m² covered porch leading out to the garden, Large fitted kitchen, entrance hall, toilet, a large garage connected to house. Upstairs: 3 beds, 1 bathroom and a large terrace with sea views. The large 500-m² garden is well established with lots of trees and bushes making it very private
workshop is walled and gated.
€95,000
Large 97m², 3 bed duplexes situated on a magnificent urbanisation just minutes’ drive from the beach. Downstairs: lounge-dining room, kitchen, laundry, storeroom, bedroom with fitted wardrobes & a bathroom. Upstairs: 2 beds with fitted wardrobes, a bathroom & terrace. Garden: covered porch & lawn. All equipped with security doors, aluminium windows, double-glazing, Mallorcan type shutters, oak inner doors, fitted wardrobes, pre-installation for A/C & private parking. 22 m² terrace & 25-50m² of garden. Urbanization has spacious & attractive public areas, a 'spa' and 'fitness' centre with a heated swimming pool.
Tel + 34 637 309 092 - www.indalocasas.es - info@indalocasas.es
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GAP BETWEEN BUYING AND SELLING PRICES GREW BY 7.5% IN 2014
The difference between the asking price for an apartment in Spain and the budget a potential buyer is actually willing to pay, was 27,810 euros at the end of 2014 – representing 25% of the average apartment value – and is 7.5% higher than a year earlier, according to a study carried out by property portal, pisos.com. While sellers have continued to adjust their prices, dropping apartment prices by 8.5% during the past year, transactions have been much influenced by the delicate employment situation, the slow recovery of access to financing and the continuing search for real estate opportunities at below-market prices. The portal’s study notes that, in 2009, the difference between the selling prices listed by the owners and the prices offered by the buyers was 55% of the apartment value. In 2013, this gap reduced to 20%, but in 2014 increased again, to 25%. On the other hand, if in 2013 an apartment for sale in Spain cost 153,360 euros, in 2014 the price it reached was 140,310 euros, far from the price of 220,500 euros achieved in 2009. In terms of expenditure and demand expectations, between 2009 and 2011 the typical home was 90 square metres in size and cost 142,500 euros on average, but between 2012 and 2013 this budget fell to 127,500 euros, while maintaining the same surface area. In 2014, the budget lowered once again, to 112,500 euros for a home of the same size. Nine regions lowered their budget when looking to buy a home in 2014 and only in Extremadura did it increase. The highest starting price for an apartment was in the Basque country, despite dropping in a year from 337,500 euros to 217,500 euros. In contrast, the regions of Aragón, the Canary Islands, Castilla-La Mancha, Valencia and Murcia all had initial prices of 67,500 euros on average.
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The regions where supply and demand are closer are Navarra (3%) and the Basque Country (8%), while the most significant imbalances are in Murcia (51%), Andalucía (45%), the Balearic Islands (45%) and Madrid (43%). With regard to rental prices, El Economista reported that the difference between the initial rental price and the amount offered by future tenants in their searches was 13% at the end of 2014, compared to 27% five years ago. The average rental price sought after up until 2013 was 450 euros per month for an apartment of 90 square metres, compared with 350 euros in 2014. In terms of the supply, an average apartment rental has dropped from 571 euros per month in 2010 to 394 euros in 2014. The 177 euros of difference represents an annual saving for the tenant of 2,124 euros.
VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT
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Sale properties urgently required in Cabo Roig / Villamartin We have clients enquiring in this area. Contact Casa Sol Real Estate
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RENTALS?
Short and long term lets available, in & around Camposol. More properties also needed.
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producers might be preparing to cut output. Meanwhile, US giant ExxonMobil reported a 21% fall in quarterly earnings on lower oil and gas production. Buying opportunity On Friday, data showed that more than 90 US oil rigs were idled, the largest number to be wound down in a single day since the mid-1980s. Continue reading the main story[an error occurred while processing this directive] "There were a lot of people on the sidelines waiting for an opportunity to buy," said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodity analyst at SEB. Monday's price rise extended the gains made last week, and boosted oil and gas share prices. Tullow Oil rose almost 7%, while BG Group climbed 5%. Since last summer, the prices of Brent
and UK West Texas Intermediate Crude have fallen from above $100 a barrel. "Most market observers have been surprised by the scale of the decrease, and expectations of US oil output this year will no doubt be lowered accordingly," analysts at Commerzbank said in a research note. "The foundation for a steady price recovery in the second half of the year has thus been laid." Meanwhile, Exxon, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, saw profit in the fourth quarter fall to $6.57bn (£4.37bn), from $8.35bn for the same three months the year before. Oil and natural gas production fell 3.8%, Exxon said. Source: BBC news
OIL PRICES REBOUND ON SIGNS OF OUTPUT CUTS
he price of oil rallied on Monday as investors speculated that the falling cost of crude may have ended.
Brent crude was up 1.3% at $53.65 a barrel, having reached $55, while US oil rose 1.7% to $48.52. It followed the release of data showing that US demand for leasing oil rigs was slowing, suggesting that
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VIEWPOINT
RODRIGUEZ: LEGENDS AND MYTHS
Fernándo Rodriguez, is he really the most hated man in Alqueria? Is the title justified? Rodriguez inherited the village’s olive Mill from his father when it was a thriving concern. Under Rodriguez’s careful and committed guidance the Mill is now derelict, bankrupt and employs one tenth of the original workforce. Money set aside to invest in the fabric and infrastructure of the Mill has been systematically squandered. Spent on Abyssinian Goat Shirling for which Rodriquez has a passion. If he had been any good at shirling the Abyssinian Goat one could have had some sympathy, but he wasn’t. He has a legacy of bad decisions for which he blames others. He has two principles in life. The first being he is always right and the second, if he is ever wrong refer to the first. He is a stupid man who thinks he is supremely clever. A dangerous combination when the livelihood of others is at stake. He has been described by one not particularly observant individual as an obese foul mouthed bully. The general consensus is that this statement describes the man’s best attributes. He accomplished his obesity quite easily and efficiently. He simply shovelled vast quantities of the most disgusting food into his system. One luncheon guest described the experience as like eating next to a bucket-dredger. The man became so overweight that before his last haircut he was mistaken for a bedraggled herd of Aberdeen Angus. It soon became impossible for him to wear trousers. They simply refused to stay in position and fall around his ankles.
The resulting spectacle of a half-naked Rodriquez was a warning to us all. Several villagers who witnessed such a scene are still receiving therapy. A kaftan had to be specially made which necessitated the opening of three cotton mills in Málaga. The first time he wore the garment people thought he was a refreshment tent and Amelia de Vega tried to hire him for her daughter’s wedding. His foul-mouth has uttered every profanity available in three languages, he even invented a few of his own. He will swear at anyone and in any circumstance. The Women’s Institute have even stopped inviting him to talk at their meetings and they are well used to such obscenities. Perhaps Rodriquez reached his zenith when he tried to sell the entire village, population and all, to an Arab consortium after suffering devastating losses at the shirling track. The Arabs however demanded their cash back after meeting Loco Paco. So in answer to our question, yes he is the most hated man in Alqueria.
TEMPUS FUGIT UNCOVERED When I was a child the days were unimaginably long, weeks lasted forever, and years would stretch away into the future further than my young brain could comprehend. Should I ever be so bold as to mention that tomorrow was a long time coming, some sage grownup would pat me condescendingly on the head and intone in that infuriating voice that is only used when speaking to a child, a foreigner or an idiot, that ‘You should make the most of it, because when you get older, time goes by more quickly.’ Now that I am a grown-up, I realise that there is a perceived truth here. However, those same patronising elders were a good way short of the full truth, which is; As you get older, time goes by more quickly, especially if you retire to Spain. Theoretically I should have oodles of time over every day – I have a house that is so easy to maintain that it is almost self-cleaning, and I don’t have to spend ages every morning getting dressed in half a dozen layers of woolly thermals topped with a small bespoke waterproof tent known as a raincoat. Yet still the day races by, the weeks accelerate towards me like an oncoming train, and before I have blinked it is another year! I couldn’t account for where all the time that used to hang so heavy and pass so sluggishly now races off to – until I met Sue. Sue comes from Lancashire, therefore she is sensible. She has a firm grasp
Arms at Frogham. TRAVEL FEATURE: NEW FOREST Foresters This break is all about relaxing for us; we have
New Forest artist Claire Wiltsher loves watching how the light dances amongst the forest shadows. She says it becomes a natural cathedral when a backdrop of light comes into play among the trees. We experience this staying in our Premium Lodge at Sandy Balls holiday village. The first night is always difficult for our two daughters: Harriett (3) and Heidi (1) because they need time to become accustomed to their surroundings. We forget to tire them out sufficiently before bedtime and live to regret it. We must remember to do that in future.
It is so lovely and toasty warm inside the lodge that when we emerge into the chilly cold of the forest it is quite a shock. But very refreshing nevertheless. With a bike and trailer from the cycle centre I take my daughters on an early morning ride around the local area while busy mummy Caroline has chance to relax. An extremely good aid to relaxation is the bathroom incorporating a shower and a large corner bath with its water jets that provide a good massage. The beds are also extremely comfortable. This certainly gets the heart pumping; I forget how heavy Harriett and Heidi are becoming and so it is impossible for their unfit father to ride up any of the hills in one go. But after numerous stops we make our way round and see the world as it wakes up; ponies in the fields and even some squirrels gathe ring their nuts. We spy s o m e donkeys outside T h e
such a fast paced life that there is generally very little time to do mundane things like curling up and watching television of an afternoon. We actually manage to do this and it is thoroughly enjoyable. But we also go for a swim and relax in the sauna. A real luxury is to have a meal out and The Forest Table restaurant is a fabulous place in which to treat yourself. It offers surprisingly good value for money, too. Thumbing through the menu with my chilled Peroni in hand I notice that a coffee and a slice of cake is under £4; you’d be lucky to get a slice of cake for that on Britain’s high streets. Convivial surroundings, friendly and attentive staff and a really buzzing atmosphere with numerous families eating provides a really memorable occasion. For me the haddock, mozzarella and spring onion fishcake is a must. This is followed by duck breast and chocolate pudding. Presentation is high, service is unhurried and the experience is fantastic with plenty of choice. Sandy Balls, which has been a holiday village for over 90 years, provides everything for the holidaymaker. From The Forest Table restaurant to The Woodside Inn pub and takeaway there is something for every budget. There’s even a good value onsite supermarket, The Village Store, so there really is no need to venture into the outside world. And there is plenty to entertain the children too from the Toddlers’ Wood and two indoor play areas through to the outdoor play areas and swimming pool. There are even craft activities laid
By Jos Biggs
josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk of the workings of the Universe, and can separate the factual from the perceptual as easily as peeling potatoes. She explained that the hours are still the full 60 minutes – the difference is what we do with that 60 minutes. Well, yes, maybe we do move more slowly in our mature years, or with more deliberation, as I prefer to call it, which would account for an hour here or there, but that is not the whole answer. No, we lose the time wondering where we put something we had just a minute ago, what we are looking for, and why we came into the kitchen/bedroom/living room in the first place. Then there is the time spent wondering what it is called and why we wanted it, unless in the meantime we have forgotten that we were supposed to be remembering it at all! Sue is right – time disappears down the black hole of bad recall!
on throughout the year and this is particularly enjoyed by Harriett and Heidi. It is so nice to be able to spend time with your children seeing them be creative. Sandy Balls runs a programme of weekly activities, including biscuit decorating, fabric painting, working with wood, woodland walks, collage making and bug hunting. Parents wishing to pamper themselves can do just this at the Retreat where they can book a haircut or a massage.Back at the ranch or the premium lodge as it is referred to in the Sandy Balls literature it is an idyllic setting where unlike many holiday parks there is privacy and the lodges are not overlooked. They fit in extremely well with their surroundings and it is just a pleasure to sit and watch the world outside through the large expanses of glass. You really do get a chance to explore the inner oasis of the forest and it is lovely to watch the birds. Stay at Sandy Balls for a week and you will feel rejuvenated. Watch the videos at www.travelwriter. biz. Claire Wiltsher’s book Journeys from the forest to the sea published by Creative Coverage is available for £9.50 from May 2015. By Tim Saunders
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THE X FACTOR LIVE TOUR 2015
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ANIMALS
Find and circle all of the animals that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell the name of an additional animal.
SOLTIMES FOOD & DRINK QUIZ
3. How many yards must the attacking team gain in four downs to keep hold of the ball in American Football?.............................
1. Chablis comes from which French wine region?.......................................... 2. Creme de Menthe and brandy make which cocktail?......................................
4. What is the name of Miami´s American Football team?..................................
3. From what 2 words did SPAM take its name from?...........................................
5. Who is said to have invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York, in 1839?..................................
4. From what German region do Hock wines come?..........................................
6. Which basketball team is as well known for their comedy routines as their on-court skills?....................
5. From which fish do we get caviar?...................................................
7. Why was there no baseball World Series in 19 94?......................................
6. How many noggins in a pint?.............. 7. How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?...........................................
10. In which order do you drink lemon, salt & tequila?........................................
BRAIN TEASERS ANSWERS 10. Salt, Tequila, Lemon
5. Sturgeon
9. Hawaii
4. The Rhine
8. Glasses of beer
3. Spiced Ham
7. 3 (UK, USA
2. A Stinger
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
6. 4
CROSSWORD
1. Burgundy
SOLUTIONS
WORDSEARCH ANSWER
LIZARD LOON MARMOSET MARTEN MOLE MONGOOSE MULE MUSKOX OCELOT OSTRICH PANDA PHEASANT POSSUM
PUFFIN PYTHON SHARK SKUNK SNAKE SQUIRREL SWALLOW
8. Which quarterback, famed for wearing the number 16, shared his name with the name of a US state?.................................. 9. In which city do icehockey´s Penguins’ play their home games?.............. 10. Nolan Ryan was a famous player of which American sport?..................
ANSWERS
VULTURE WARTHOG WILDEBEEST WOLF
SQUIGGLE SUDOKU
pineapples grown?.................................
EGRET ERMINE FALCON FERRET FINCH GERBIL GIBBON GROUSE GULL HARE HYENA IGUANA LEMUR
STANDARD SUDOKU
9. In what US state are 75% of world’s
ALBATROSS ALPACA ANACONDA ARMADILLO ASP BADGER CARIBOU CHAMELEON CONDOR COUGAR COW CROCODILE DINGO
EASY SUDOKU
a “schooner”?........................................
JAMAICAN WOODPECKER
8. In Australia, what are a “middy” and
2. Which baseball player is the subject of the legendary Curse of the Bambino??.......
Globetrotters 7. The players went on strike 8. Joe Montana 9. Pittsburgh 10. Baseball
1. Which American Football team won the 2001-2002 Superbowl?.........................
1. New England Patriots 2. Babe Ruth 3. 10 4. Dolphins 5. Abner Doubleday 6. Harlem
ON THIS DAY FEBRUARY 7
1301 – Edward of Caernarvon (later King Edward II of England) becomes the first English Prince of Wales.. 1783 – American Revolutionary War: French and Spanish forces lift the Great Siege of Gibraltar. 1812 - Charles Dickens is born, English author. 1935 – The classic board game Monopoly is invented. 1992 – The Maastricht Treaty is signed, leading to the creation of the European Union.
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ACROSS 1. Gusto (4) 3. Brings to an address (8) 8. Feast (7) 9. Tag (5) 10. Performer (5) 11. Trade barrier (7) 12. Voice box (6) 13. Large numbers of people (6) 16. Closest (7) 18. One of the senses (5) 20. Cajoled (5) 21. Before (7) 22. Fragile (8) 23. Unsightly (4)
DOWN 1. Striped equine (5) 2. US legislator (7) 4. One or the other (6) 5. Hot remnants of a fire (5) 6. Bars (7) 7. Secured by written agreement (10) 9. Research workplace (10) 12. Lackadaisical (7) 14. Hoping for (7) 15. Certify (6) 17. Spiritual being (5) 19. Ahead of time (5)
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CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
STANDARD
ACROSS 9 Country morning girl (7) 10 Relative to a thousand thousand before Asian leader (7) 11 Took a photo of Shanghai initially, then had a short sleep (7)
EASY
SQUIGGLE
12 A nest lies disturbed, as is vital (9) 14 Lift more money? (5) 15 Incomings of headless guards (7) 18 Counts on parts of swimming pools lacking extra opening (7) 19 Train manager? (5) 20 Choices made by icon’s side? (9) 24 Sanction a very soft wander (7) 25 First in Italy, almost - I moved around (7) 27 All-purpose military man? (7) 28 Good start, way to go outside northeast complained (7)
DOWN 1 Complication of Taiwan’s first fish (6) 2 Came across Alex’s substances (6) 3 Bound to be on the same score (4) 4 Starts to help animal with an increasingly irate state (6) 5 Card game came first, and made a shrill sound (8) 6 Parts of a text are standard, as surrounding diagram (10) 7 Tangy pie cooked from an African country (8) 8 Large numbers shudder all over the place, taking in new leader (8) 13 Enough ribs to change those living nearby (10) 15 Switch former partner’s money? (8) 16 Snaring and bugging without redhead (8) 17 Dens duly collapsed without warning (8) 21 Holds on tight to China’s first adapted sling (6) 22 The East part of Bangor I enthralled (6) 23 Half of soap covers shapes (6) 26 Smooth element (4)
28
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
ice p S e v i eF s e n i h C n Chicke
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
GLUTEN FREE RECIPES 10 SIGNS YOU’RE GLUTEN INTOLERANT BY DR. AMY MYERS
Ingredients
Ser ves: 2 2 chicken breasts bone in and skin on 1 dessertspoon Chinese five spice powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder salt and pepper to taste 1 tablespoon olive oil
Method Prep: 5min › Cook:45min › Ready in:50min Sprinkle chicken breasts with five-spice powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Wrap tightly in aluminium foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas mark 4. Remove foil from chicken breasts and place them in a 23x33cm (9x13 in) baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 45 minutes, or until cooked through and juices run clear. http://allrecipes.co.uk/
ge n a r O te a l o c o Ch Tart
Ingredients
For the filling 75g dates zest 2 oranges, juice of 1 50g coconut oil 175g clear honey 140g raw cacao powder (find it in health food shops or online), plus extra for dusting For the crust 100g coconut oil 140g ground almonds 175g desiccated coconut 2½ tbsp clear honey 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
Method
Put the dates in a bowl, cover with boiling water and leave to soak for 20 mins. Meanwhile, whizz the ingredients for the crust in a food processor until combined. Tip the mixture into a 23cm loose- bottomed fluted tart tin, using your fingers to spread it evenly across the base and push into the fluted sides. Cover with cling film and chill while you make the filling. Drain the dates and put in a blender with the zest and juice of 1 orange, the coconut oil, honey and cacao. Whizz together until mostly smooth, then scrape into the chilled crust and smooth with the back of a spoon. Chill for at least 1 hr. Remove from the fridge 10 mins before serving and sprinkle with the remaining orange zest and extra cacao. bbcgoodfood.com
More than 55 diseases have been linked to gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It’s estimated that 99% of the people who have either gluten intolerance or celiac disease are never diagnosed. t is also estimated that as much as 15% of the US population is gluten intolerant. Could you be one of them? If you have any of the following symptoms it could be a sign that you have gluten intolerance: 1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea and even constipation. I see the constipation particularly in children after eating gluten. 2. Keratosis Pilaris, (also known as ‘chicken skin’ on the back of your arms). This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut. 3. Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten. 4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Lupus, Psoriasis, Scleroderma or Multiple sclerosis. 5. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance. 6. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or unexplained infertility. 7. Migraine headaches. 8. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pin point the cause of your fatigue or pain. 9. Inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees or hips. 10. Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings and ADD. How to test for gluten intolerance? I have found the single best ways to determine if you have an issue with gluten is to do an elimination diet and take it out of your diet for at least 2 to 3 weeks and then reintroduce it. Please note that gluten is a very large protein and it can take months and even years to clear from your system so the longer you can eliminate it from your diet before reintroducing it, the better. The best advice that I share with my patients is that if they feel significantly better off of gluten or feel worse when they reintroduce it, then gluten is likely a problem for them. In order to get accurate results from this testing method you must elimination 100% of the gluten from your diet. How to treat gluten intolerance? Eliminating gluten 100% from your diet means 100%. Even trace amounts of gluten from cross contamination or medications or supplements can be enough to cause an immune reaction in your body. The 80/20 rule or “we don’t eat it in our house, just when we eat out” is a complete misconception. An article published in 2001 states that for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity eating gluten just once a month increased the relative risk of death by 600%. Still unsure? Seek out an integrative practitioner or functional medicine physician to help to guide you, or check out my Guide to Gluten-Free Living. (Sourced from MindBodyGreen)
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Ingredients
Ser ves: 12 100ml (4 fl oz) olive oil 4 tablespoons lemon juice handful chopped fresh thyme per to salt and freshly ground black pep
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
Lemon and Th yme Lamb C hops
taste 12 lamb chops
Method Prep:10min › Cook:10min › Ready in:20min Stir together olive oil, lemon juice and thyme in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place lamb chops in a shallow dish, and toss with the olive oil mixture. Marinate for 1 hour. Preheat barbecue for high heat. Lightly oil cooking grate. Place lamb chops on barbecue, and discard marinade. Cook for 10 minutes, turning once, or to desired doneness. http://allrecipes.co.uk/
E E R F N E T U L G S I ? E B O T Y A W E TH
Author: It’s the diet hailed by celebrities to be the latest and trendiest way Steph Posted to lose weight. The major increase in the availability ofinglutenLose free products on our supermarket shelves shows that Weight, many of us have followed suit. But why have people become so Nutrition obsessed with gluten-free diets when only ~8-12% of us are buying these products for medical reasons? GLUTEN-FREE DIET Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. In order to eat gluten-free, you must remove any foods containing gluten from your diet. Foods which contain gluten include bread, pasta, cake, biscuits, crackers, some sauces, batter and ready meals. However, due to the increased popularity of this diet there are gluten-free alternatives to the majority of these foods in the supermarket. If you want to stick with naturally gluten-free foods, you can eat unprocessed meat, fish, fruit, vegetables (including potatoes), rice, quinoa and lentils. Oats are a grey area when it comes to the gluten-free diet. They contain avenin, which is a protein similar to gluten. Oats are also often produced in the same place as wheat, barley and rye which means the gluten contamination risk is high. If you are certain that the oats are produced separately from gluten containing foods, feel free to add it to your diet. Personally, I would steer clear just in case. GLUTEN-FREE SUPPLEMENTS If nutritional supplements are part of your healthy lifestyle, there are products available which are gluten-free and completely safe for those with gluten sensitivity. CNP Professional Pro Recover and Pulsin Maple and Peanut Protein Bars are popular gluten-free supplements. We have approximately 20 gluten-free supplements available to customers, so if you do struggle to find supplements which are suitable for those with gluten allergies, be sure to visit our website.
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MEDICAL REASONS FOR AVOIDING GLUTEN Those who suffer from Coeliac Disease must avoid gluten for their entire lives. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition. If people suffering from this disease ingest gluten, it triggers the immune system to attack its own tissues (namely the lining of the small intestine). The damage caused means that the person is unable to properly absorb the nutrients of food and may suffer from severe symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, gastric pain and bloating. There is no current cure for this disease but a gluten-free diet reduces/illuminates the symptoms for most sufferers. Left undiagnosed, the malnourishment this condition causes can lead to infertility, anaemia, osteoporosis and an increased risk of developing bowel cancer. A gluten allergy/ sensitivity to gluten is another reason to avoid this protein in your diet. Research concludes that those with sensitivity to gluten (even those who are not aware of it) have fewer gastrointestinal issues and improved overall health when placed on a gluten-free diet. NON-MEDICAL REASONS FOR AVOIDING GLUTEN Members of the public with no sensitivity to gluten have been trying this diet in a bid to lose weight, increase energy levels, improve their complexion and to feel healthier. If you just eat naturally gluten-free foods and reduce your calorie intake you will lose weight. But if you merely substitute normal bread, pasta and biscuits for the gluten-free versions, it is highly unlikely that you will lose weight. The other thing to consider here is the cost of gluten-free substitutes. Expect to pay much more for your weekly food shop if you buy gluten-free substitutes of everything you would normally eat. If you are diagnosed as allergic to gluten or have coeliac disease, you will be able to purchase a limited number of gluten-free items for free. There is limited scientific support for eating a gluten-free diet if you have no medical reason to avoid it. However, studies have found it may help improve mental health, increase nutrient absorption and reduce digestive issues. If you want to try the gluten-free diet, I would recommend focusing on naturally gluten-free foods such as meat, fish, vegetables and fruit to optimize health and guide you towards your goal weight.
30
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
ANIMAL CORNER THE GREAT ESCAPERS!
flick between cameras in the cages of both youngsters and adults with their babies.
While pandas are often criticised as slow, lazy and maybe not the brightest of the bears, the young ones at a Chinese breeding centre are far from that, when motivated enough.
NURSE TO GET AWARD FOR SAVING ANIMALS IN FAR EAST
A VETERINARY nurse who has fought tirelessly against cruelty to bears and the illegal trade in dog meat is in line for a national award. Hayley Walters works in welfare and anaesthesia at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at Edinburgh University.
But her love of animals previously took her to the Far East for three years, where she worked to help captive bears used in traditional Chinese medicine. She has been shortlisted for a Ceva Welfare Award in the Welfare Nurse of the Year category for her overseas volunteering and her passion for teaching veterinary medicine. Hayley, of Brunstfield, now lectures at the university’s Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education. She said: “Education has to be the answer when it comes to the improving conditions for animals in developing countries, and if we teach the next generation of vets then we stand a much better chance of achieving this. I have loved animals all my life.” The 36-year-old has been a veterinary nurse for 18 years and worked close to Chengdu to rehabilitate bears who had spent long years in captivity in bile farms, in cramped conditions and in excruciating pain. Hayley, who is originally from Derbyshire, worked originally as a volunteer for the charity Animals Asia which has helped to rescue hundreds of bears, rehoming them in n atural enclosures. Her role involved health checks on the animals and monitoring them while they were receiving treatment. She said: “What’s wonderful is that after three or four years they start to trust you. Once they are with you they feel safe.
food and speak gently to them.”
While in Asia, she decided to adopt and bring home to Edinburgh a Thai street dog called Stewart, who had been destined for the dinner plate while living in a rescue shelter. He was one of 3000 dogs intercepted on the border with Vietnam where there is a m arket for dog meat. Because of her experience in China and teaching English in Paris, she was offered a position in Edinburgh. “They were looking for a veterinary nurse with experience overseas, preferably Asia,” she said. Judges described her as a caring veterinary nurse who goes “above and beyond the call of duty for animal welfare”. T h e y added: “She not only works hard looking after her day-today practice but also puts herself out to help others overseas.” T h e a w a r d s ceremony will take place on April 8 in Birmingham, during the same week as the British Small Animal Ve t e r i n a r y Association congress.
“All we had to do is bring them nice
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
In their case, the lure of milk in a neighbouring enclosure is enough to inspire a bit of extra effort from these giant pandas who manage to contort their cumbersome bodies through cell-like bars. These pieces of footage comes from CCTV cameras behind the scenes at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The centre is the same one that tourists can go to if they want to volunteer to be a panda keeper for the day for about £35, with a one-minute cuddle with one of the teenage bears an added bonus for £200.
Footage shows how curiosity gets the better of the pandas as they squeeze through the bars of neighbouring cells. The first clever one has no problem getting next door without the key on New Year’s Day 2014, and shows how much fluff makes up its body mass while going through the metal bars. Of course, it’s not so easy for some, especially if they try to go back the other way. Footage of another from December 17, 2013, is a little tough to watch given how cute the creature is as its head gets stuck. dailymail.co.uk/
And for superfans of the cuddly panda, the cameras show rolling footage of the animals online. Known as PandaCam, the cameras broadcast the daily lives of the animals around the world, allowing viewers to
APAH SPACE FOR A LITTLE ONE?
Lovely Benji is a medium sized, unique looking boy, who is very friendly and loves making friends with everyone he meets. Can you make this New Year his best ever by giving him a loving home? To visit Benji at the APAH kennels, please call 630 422 563 or 616 210 850.
All they need is a loving home !
CAN YOU HELP?
Benji
L o v e l y , affectionate Rogan is one of over 80 beautiful cats and kittens being cared for in APAH’s Cattery. Can you make this year the best one ever for one of them by giving it a loving home? To visit Rogan, please call 630 422 563 or 616 210 850
Rogan
EMILY 2
WWW.APAHRESCUE.ORG
WE HAVE 6 POINTER PUPPIES (5 BOYS AND 1 GIRL) WHO ALL LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE THESE 2, THEY ARE NOW AROUND 8 WEEKS OLD AND WILL BE MEDIUM TO LARGE WHEN FULLY GROWN. CALL: 645 469 253
PETS IN SPAIN Call: 645 469 253 www.petsinspain.com info@petsinspain.info
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
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COMMUNITY NEWS IMAGE: WWW.DDGWORLD.COM
The Costa Cálida (Spanish pronunciation) “Warm Coast” is the approximately 250 km stretch of Mediterranean coastline of the Spanish province of Murcia. This region has a micro-climate which features comparatively hot mean annual temperatures (and hence its name, “Warm Coast”) and a relative degree of aridity (precipitation averaging less than 34 cm annually). The Costa Cálida extends from El Mojón in the north near the province of Alicante, to near the municipality of Águilas in the south bordering on the region of Almería province. The northern end of this coastline includes the Mar Menor (“Little Sea”), a coastal saltwater lagoon
THE MAR MENOR is a huge (135 square kilometres) salt-water lagoon, separated from the Mediterranean by the 24 kilometre long La Manga del Mar Menor (The Strip). The average depth of the Mar Menor is four metres and at its maximum it is seven metres which means that the seabed slopes very gradually and you have to get several hundred metres in before the water is of any depth.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
The Mar Menor’s salinity provides buoyancy so it is, supposedly, one of the safest places to swim in the world. The mineral-rich waters are said to have therapeutic effects and because of this the area has a significant spa tourism industry. The sludge in the salt pans is also credited with beneficial effects on the health, so there are often dozens of mud people wallowing in it at any one time.
MABS Murcia North East - Sew’n’So’s - Sewing Group Every Mon Fortuna Taking place every other Monday at Urb. Las Kalendas from 14:00. For further information email: mabsmurciane@gmail.com
Every Day, Open from 10:30-14:00 and 17:00-20:00. Closed Monday mornings. At C/ Conde de Aranda. Tel: 968 493 287. Entry: Individual €1.20 Groups €0.60
A PARKINSONS SUPPORT GROUP
On Tuesdays at 11am At bobbie jo·s, los montisinos For a chat and a cup of tea For further information contact wally Williamson On 966 770 871
Cartagena and Mazarrón are two other important coastal towns in the region. Golf is a popular pastime for visitors and residents. There are many PGA championship courses such as El Valle which hosted the PGA European Seniors Tour in June 2011, Hacienda del Alamo which is the longest golf course in Spain and the famous La Manga Club. Read more: www.wikipedia.org
weekends it will be packed with Spanish families, who move most of their house onto the beach. The sea is very shallow, with netted off areas to exclude watersports, fishing and jellyfish. The jellyfish are mainly harmless and much reduced in numbers from previous years, apart from the summer of 2006 when they were back with a vengeance. Playa Honda beach During the week the beach is quiet.
Playa Paraiso beach on a summer weekendThe beach at Playa Paraiso is very popular, partly because it has road access right onto the beach. On summer
CHURCH OF ENGLAND COSTA CALIDA & ALMERIA Priest: Reverend Pauline Williams 950
Wish your Friends or Loved Ones Happy birthday, Anniversary or just send them a special message. Send details to production@soltimes.com
PALS EVENTS
WELCOME EVENTS
956 166 / 687 250 860
which at around 170 km2 is Europe’s largest. The Mar Menor is separated from the Mediterranean by a 22 km-long spit of land called La Manga, on which most of the tourism development for the region has been constructed.
HTTP://WWW.PLAYAPARAISO.ORG/
TALKS & WORKSHOPS
31
14th/20th May Coach trip to PORTUGAL half board Wednesday February 25th - Dance with Diverse Duo and Dan Davy. €8. and visiting fabulous locations 510 Euros pp sharing Wednesday March 4th - Ladies Evening with the usual double. fashion show, bingo, stalls, and dancing to Woody. For information please call 626 460465 or visit €3. www.pals.sm4.biz or see us at La Ratatouille on a Wednesday March 25th - Dance with Time Warp and wednesday from 1 till 3 or at The Trevi on a Saturday Karen Noble. €8. Sunday March 29th - Annual Treasure Hunt. See parts 11 till 1.30pm of our area not normally seen. €8 including buffet at MARKET DAYS IN THE AREA our mystery final destination. 2015 Trips. MONDAY - San Pedro del Pinatar TUESDAY - Los Alcazares / Alhama Valentines Weekend to Benalmadena now fully booked. de Murcia Monday May 11th - Trip to Cordoba for the “Patio Of The Flowers” festival. See all the patios in the old city WEDNESDAY - Santiago de la decorated with colourful blooms. 4 days 3 nights B&B Ribeira / Fuente Alamo / Totana in a 4-star hotel. €260 including trip to Ubeda. THURSDAY - San Javier / Camposol Wednesday May 27th - Cruise around the Mediterranean. Sector A / Lorca Overnight in Valencia, then on to Barcelona for 12 nights aboard Royal Caribbean “Vision Of The Seas.” FRIDAY - Isla Plana (Summer Calling at Villefranche, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, only) 2 days in Venice, Ravenna, and Kotor, Montenegro. All SATURDAY - Mazarron Pueblo / outside cabins. Aguilas Monday September 14th - Trip to Salamanca, staying 2 nights at Hotel Exe Hall, close to city centre, 2 nights in SUNDAY - Puerto de Mazarron / Leon, and 1 night in Valladolid. All B&B. €295. Mar Menor / Cabo de Palos For more details call Rosemary on 620 105 179
LEARN TO PAINT
Every Mon, Fri Using watercolour, pastels or acrylics these are small classes on Monday and Friday afternoons at Playa Paraiso, La Manga. For further information contact Bee Tel: 968 564 416 or 670 353 738
ST. NICHOLAS ECUMENICAL CHURCH
We hold services each week at 10.30am on Camposol, Mazarron. Everyone is welcome to join us. For further details, call Rev. Maureen Kent 968 970 637
Luz del Sol
new properties s.l.
Call us on 968 199 068 www.luzdelsol.co.uk
Centro Comercial #34, Sector A, Urb. Camposol, Mazarron 30875, Spain
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32
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
SOL CLASSIFIEDS
SOLTIMES 950 121 936 WWW.SOLTIMES.COM SEE US ONLINE EVERYDAY
TELEPHONE 950 121 936
Monday to Friday Between 10am & 5pm
or EMAIL US Send your advert or lineage to
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DEADLINES All adverts Friday at 5pm prior to publication
POOL TABLES
snooker tables, table tennis tables, darts. Tel: 666 933 726 www.spainpool.com DESK FOR SALE, good condition, 100cm x 78cm x 50cm approx, med brown, 30€, collect from Los Montesinos, Tel: 665 302 601. PA SPEAKER AND STAND. 350 watt Thomman The Box full range 15 in speaker with tweeter, New condition, 75€ Tel: 629 975 378. GENTS BLACK LEATHER jacket as new. Classic style with zip. Size 46 60€. Quesada Tel: 966 713 707.
made payable to
MATHEWS MEDIA S.L
50cm (wide) x (45cm deep) complete with log-effect electric “glow” brings instant cheer to your room for Christmas. Complete with wroughtiron fire guard. Make your room homely by a realistic log-effect fire to pop into that empty fireplace, 50€ o.n.o. complete,2 washable duvets snuggly warm, Immaculate condition 25€ the pair Matching single duvet covers, with p/cases and toning fitted sheets, one cream/jades - the other set cream plus traditional florals in pinks/greens with frilled p/cases and duvet edgings. Each bedding set 20€ Tel: 965 326 817 Ann or Ron (Playa Flamenca area).
TV 42” LG good working order with owners manual, faulty hand control 90€ Tel: 966 717 011 Quesada
UNUSED GIFT. 16 INCH HP LAPTOP COMPUTER, 3 months old with Windows 8 in English. Wi-Fi. 4GB memory. Still boxed cost 450€ accept 285€ Tel: 634 334 532
AUTOMATIC GARAGE door opener mechanism , connects to ceiling and garage door . Would need electric sensor connections, 500 when new with connection . 90€ Tel: 966 717 011
KENWOOD INDUSTRIAL FOOD MIXER with book and tools area los altos 50€, Panasonic fax machine with two phones, 20€, los altos Tel: 669 172 982
BROTHER CHUNKY punchcard knitting machine complete with ribber and pattern cards. Excellent working order, genuine reason for sale, 120€ Tel: 674 950 28
INVALID BUGGY: plus Galvanised Ramp, plus Invalid Shopping Trolley 299€ the lot, new gel batteries (good for flights), and tyres an absolute bargain,. Tel: 966 700 397/660 646 674 or photo neave2@live.com N.Johnson
IMMACULATE ‘HAWKSMOOR’ Black Evening Suit size 34” (87 cm) waist (expandable) 32” (82 cm) inside leg. 50€ ono Tel: 625 724 252 BLACK REAL FUR JACKEt Size 14 BARGAIN 75€ ONO TEL: 625 724 252 UNIVAC BUILT-IN VACUUM SYSTEM – Supply Only, 1500 watt Lamb Motor, full instructions Bargain 500€ Tel: 625 724 252 CERAMIC PENDANT LIGHT FITTING. Spanish design includes long chain. Brand new, never used, not suitable for our casa. 20€, Gig Bags for guitar and bass guitar. Ritter brand, v.g.quality, new, 30€ each, Microphone stands, new, heavy duty, good quality. Surplus to requirements 20€ each. Tel: 968 484 151 Near Totana.
KING SIZE MATTRESS firm 200/ 156 as new 80€ o.n.o. Tel: 966 718 805
TRANSFER & CHEQUES
Call Kate on: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ext 330 or email: sales@soltimes.com
FOR SALE
2 SINGLE BEDS with clean mattresses, 2 pine wood headboards, 50€ the pair, Quesada, Tel: 966 716 710
PAYMENT VISA ,PAYPAL, BANK
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CRYSTAL GLASS SET: 6 flutes, 6 wine, 6 brandy, 6 port, 8 liqueur, 55€ Tel: 966 700 397 KARRITE ODYSSEY 580 LTR ROOF BOX BY THULE. Perfect for large 4x4, SUV’s & estate cars. high strength ABS and Duotek. Used twice 200€ ono, Tel: 965 037 964 PACE 2600 SKY DIGIBOX, remote and leads, Ideal fringe areas 50€, Tel: 690 772 178 (San Fulgencio) “ STAINLESS STEEL INSET SINK.780 X 430 with mixer tap, good condition, can email photo 20€, Camposol area Tel: 676 028 725 WROUGHT-IRON
FIRE
BASKET
BROTHER KNITTING MACHINE and lace carriage, good working order. Extras include ribber and sack of yarn. 85€ ono, Brother Embroidery Machine fraction of new cost includes two embroidery cards and & large hoop, recently serviced by Brother €250€, Brother PE-Design V6 embroidery digitizing and copying software with USB writer box and card. fraction of new price 199€ Tel: 865 779 402 EXECUTIVE DESK, curved with locking drawers, matching filing cabinet with 2 wide lockable drawers, good quality, teak & black finish, executive chair in black upholstery. Bargain at 190€ ono Tel: 966 190 695/620 600 562
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
“Internet Millionaire Reveals Secrets Of Making £1,000 A Week & More Without Any Previous Experience” If you would like to start earning extra money now! Then the internet is definitely the place to do this. You can earn money whilst relaxing by the pool or even earn whilst you’re sleeping. This is the reality for people that are making money online. Read why you should be cashing in on today’s booming economy and discover for yourself how you can turn your passion into a large monthly wage, every single month. For Free Information Visit
www.howtomakemoneyfrommembershipsites.co.uk
Advertise all your unwanted items for sale in this section
Any single item up to 300€ is free of charge email: blancasales@ soltimes.com ELECTRICIANS
ELECTRICIAN AVAILABLE FOR ALL WORKS Small or large. Call Dave 693 251 562
davendonc@aol.com INSURANCE
ASSSA MEDICAL
INSURANCES Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan, 968 153 396
mazarron@asssa.es JEWELLERY
GOLD WANTED English jeweller wishes to buy broken or unwanted Gold jewellery, silver and coins
IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT Call Peter
664 890 990
Member of the National Association of Goldsmiths
PERSONALS “Readers of a sensitive disposition may find some of the ads in this section offensive”
SPANISH LADY Playa Flamenca near new Carrefour before La Florida. 37 years, attractive, classy lady, private house, parking. Offers all erotic services, massage, sexy lingerie, prices from 40€. Full discretion. Tel: Ana 865 646 437 ELEGANT slim, sexy, naughty italian lady available home/house visits. Torrevieja, La Manga, Torre Pacheco & Mazarron, Quesada plus all other areas. Escort available home & house visits. Tel: 693 357 526
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
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Call Kate on: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ext 330 or email: sales@soltimes.com
www.soltimes.com PROPERTY FOR SALE / RENT
PET TAXI
VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT
SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL
2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM, PENTHOUSE APARTMENT IN VERA PLAYA ALL MOD CONS, BALCONY & ROOF TERRACE OFFERING FANTASTIC VIEWS CALL 663 977 230 EMAIL: gedfab@yahoo.com Vera Playa Apartment (Top floor / Penthouse) Almoradi, Costa Blanca
BARGAIN
Bella is a lovely friendly little girl who is very affectionate and placid towards people. she loves people and wants to be with you at all times, She is fine with other dogs. Bella is a small dog about the size of a spaniel, She has been Spayed. D.O.B OCTOBER 2012 APPROX.
Please contact K9 or PHONE: 600 84 54 20 for more info
www.k9club.es
4 BED, 2 BATH, Large Terrace overlooking Plaza, separate kitchen and utility room, lift, furnished incl. white goods, UK TV. 105m². Close to the town ‘s attractive central square and all other amenities. 10 mins drive from the resort of Guardamar and close to La Finca Golf.
REDUCED PRICE 72,950€
(0034) 676 534 978
Only 15€ per week!
PLASTERER
MOJACAR PLAYA FRONT LINE APARTMENT 1 bed apt with private, gated parking & gardens. Communal pool. Walking distance to amenities, shops and restaurants. Opposite beach. Sea views.
€69,000
T: 646 844 708
Papers arranged
Local Moves
* * * * Caravans & Motorbikes * * Tel Brian Torrevieja: 965 326 920 or 666 847 648 Email: beechdale@hotmail.co.uk
De Lima’s
Removals Local, National & international REMOVALS & STORAGE Quality Second hand furniture showroom
263 Paseo del Mediterraneo Mojacar Playa, Next to Sal Marina Hotel Mon-Fri: 10am-3pm Sat 10am-2pm Tel: 950 615 364 Call Marc on 647 006 183 or Brian on 674 280 268 or e-mail enquiries@delimas.biz
www.delimas.biz
FORTNIGHTLY SERVICE TO & FROM UK FULL OR PART LOADS
UK - SPAIN - UK
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Van Hire
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UK to Spain or Spain to UK
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TEL: 667 235 205
Pick up/drop off locations Throughout UK, France and Spain
lineage from only 45c per word SAT/TV SERVICES RAINBOW SATELLITES for all your TV needs with clients all over the Murcia Region. Contact Matt or Alan on 686 358 475 or
rainbowsats@gmail.com SPAS
EURO SPAS
Spas at factory prices. Used & Ex display models. Spares & repairs. Part exchange Telephone 650 722 905
LWB SPRINTER van going from South to North of the UK & back every 2 weeks, based near Murcia Airport. Tel: 610 846 260/ 0044 7519 186 355. or email: van.man@ hotmail.co.uk
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2015 PEUGEOT 208 GTI 30TH ANNIVERSARY THREE DECADES LATER, CAN THE PEUGEOT 208 GTI 30TH ANNIVERSARY REKINDLE THE MAGIC OF THE ICONIC 205 GTI ORIGINAL? WE DRIVE IT IN THE UK TO FIND OUT WHAT IS IT?: I’m not sure if the phrase ‘making a rod for your own back’ is common parlance on the other side of the channel, but if not, Peugeot’s probably introduced it to the Gallic lexicon.The ‘rod’ in this case is the iconic 205 GTi, a car so good in its day - and still adored now that in the succeeding three decades, every new sporty Peugeot has been compared with it and usually dismissed as below par. However, with 2014 marking 30 years since the company revelled in the hot-hatch big time, and using the respectable 208 GTi as a foundation, the chaps at Peugeot Sport were given the green light to go for gold once again and take on the standard-setting Ford Fiesta ST. The result is the rather obviously named 208 GTi 30th Anniversary, of which just 800 will be built. As you might expect, there is more power, heavily revised suspension and remapped steering, all of which has been dressed in a style that carries hints of the 1980s original but is thoroughly forward looking, modern and aggressive – especially with the optional red and matt black ‘Coupe Franche’ paint scheme of our test car. WHAT’S IT LIKE?: The changes start with the 1.6-litre turbo motor, which has been fettled to produce a further 8bhp and 18lb
ft of torque. The changes have also brought about a significant drop in CO2 emissions from the standard car, to just 125g/km. Such diminutive gains in output were never going to result in an exponential performance boost, but nevertheless, 0-62mph drops by 0.3sec to 6.5sec. Whether it feels much faster is arguable, but there’s no doubt the engine pulls well from low to mid revs, then invites you to rev it out, delivering an extra burst of enthusiasm in the final 2000rpm before the limiter. Mechanically, the engine has an inherent smoothness, and from the outside it sounds good, too. Sadly, that doesn’t percolate into the cabin, where a rather run-ofthe-mill engine note never manages to stir the soul like a Fiesta ST’s. Top marks to Peugeot for offering its hottest 208 with a traditional six-speed manual gearbox, with revised ratios matched to the engine’s power characteristics. It’s pleasantly slick, if lacking that rewarding clickety-clack of the best, such as the Fiesta ST’s. Peugeot Sport has effected the biggest changes to the 208’s suspension. The front and rear tracks have grown by 22mm and 16mm respectively and a further 10mm has been chopped from the ride height (the standard 208 GTi is already 8mm lower). Spring rates and damper settings have been tweaked, along with a modified front camber angle and wheel alignment. In a bid to dial out the standard car’s tendency to understeer, they’ve also softened the front anti-roll bar. Along with the suspension upgrades, traction and drivability are aided by the adoption the same Torsen differential as the RCZ R coupé, as well as 18in alloys, shod with sticky 205section Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. At the front, these are bolted to hubs carrying 323mm brake discs, clamped by four-pot Brembo calipers. The results are impressive. Despite testing it on freezing Surrey roads, the GTi 30th showed decent traction off the line and when powering hard out of corners. It will torque steer, but if you apply the throttle sensitively you can feel the diff shifting drive between each front wheel, searching for the one with the most grip. The less than ideal conditions meant there was always going to be a fight between those Michelins and the greasy road surface, but it’s impressive for a front-wheeldrive car with 205bhp. The front wheels tend to want to follow the road’s topography rather than your chosen line, but there is a quickness to the rack that means it turns in keenly, and it has a decent level of feel for an electrically assisted set-up. It’s spoiled slightly by a vagueness and lack of weight at dead centre, but once you get past this, it loads up nicely through the pleasingly small steering wheel. Read more on: autocar.co.uk
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Film Review Magic in the Moonlight
“The world may or may not be without purpose but it’s not totally without some kind of magic.” Whether you’re interested in science or logic is there a place in your heart to believe that magic can and does exist? Sophie Baker (Emma Stone The Amazing Spider Man 2012) quotes Nietzsche as saying that we need our illusions to live. Stanley’s response is categorical: We can’t go round deluding ourselves.” More importantly, what about deluding others? “Magic” is regarded as being a lightweight American romantic comedy by Woody Allen. It is not considered one of his finer films although it has been described as being accomplished and worth watching for the two main characters when they are sparring. Imagine chalk and cheese. It’s just like that. Insults bounce off each other like a ball constantly hitting a brick wall. Meagre attempts at philosophising which just skirt around the meaning of life and the purpose of existence. Not altogether convincing but entertaining to watch. Stanley is so set in his ways, a stubborn man who always has to be right. The film attempts to explore illusions, trickery, deception however you want to describe it just like A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, The Railway Man) plays an obnoxious but world-famous illusionist and the film opens with Wei Ling Soo performing to a Berlin audience in 1928, mesmerised when he makes an elephant vanish into thin air. This is Stanley Crawford, an arrogant, bitter,
stuffy, egotistical and priggish man. He patronises the stage hands calling them Neanderthals and Assassins. The conductor is a blithering idiot and for the autograph hunters they are mental defectives. Watching the performance in awe is fellow illusionist and so-called friend, Harold Burkhan (Simon McBurney) who visits Stanley’s dressing room to congratulate him. His compliments are double-edged: “A genius with all the charm of a typhus epidemic.” Is this a friend speaking? Howard persuades Stanley to travel to the south of France with him, the Cote d’Azur, to abandon his fiancee Olivia and the promise of a holiday to observe a mystic who is preying on wealthy families like the Catledges. Stanley is notoriously regarded as the “greatest debunker of fake spiritualists” and he is delighted for this invitation to expose this sleezy fraudster. Visiting Provence also allows him the opportunity to visit Aunt Vanessa (Eileen Atkins), sharp-tongued and full of sarcasm for Stanley who welcomes him with the innuendo of being “boring to the point of perfection.” We do learn that Stanley had an unhappy childhood which he compares to a dark cloud that has followed him dogging his life. His life is shallow and meaningless until his beliefs are challenged by Sophie, another lost soul subjected to a poor childhood who has found an opportunity to break free of this poverty trap with her mother to lead a life of luxury with one milksop of a man, Brice Catledge who sees her as
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
It was in 1837 that Hans Christian Andersen wrote that wonderful children’s story about the Emperor’s New Clothes. One of the World’s great scams, where two decidedly ‘dodgy’ weavers persuaded the Emperor that they could create the most exquisite suit of clothes, visible only to those who were truly intelligent and completely fit for the office they held. So the Emperor was deceived, and wearing this imaginary suit paraded on a civic procession, accompanied by a host of fawning sycophants, all of whom were assuring him of how magnificent he looked – until a child, observing declared “But he’s naked!” and the deception fell apart. And what a great lesson this story teaches. Who really served the Emperor best? Certainly not the weavers; nor of course his courtiers who merely served their own interests by going along with their master’s delusion. So of course it was the child, who actually served him best by honestly confronting him with the truth. Yet doubtless the child was rapidly removed by his embarrassed parents and quite likely punished for his honesty. And how true still. How often in our working careers we’ve met people who use meaningless ‘managementspeak’ to cover their incompetence, surrounded by flattering toadies repeating phrases they don’t understand, lest acknowledgement
of their incomprehension should confirm their own ineptitude. The Emperor’s courtiers indeed! And let anyone raise an honest question, and they’re instantly labelled as troublemakers! And of course it’s not just at work, but in all walks of life, that deluded Emperors and fawning aids exist. And as Christians, we’re encouraged to be open and honest, not serving our own best interests by fanning the flames of delusion, but speaking the truth in a spirit of love, not confrontation. And as Christians, we need to recognise when we too may be in danger of becoming deluded Emperors, so recognising and accepting, rather than resenting, honest, childlike intervention. So, when Jesus met Nathanael, who’d asked how anything good could come from Nazareth, he described him as one who honestly spoke his mind. 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
the bees’ knees! “Sophie sees all, she can predict the future. She’s a visionary and a vision.” Is she really? Not according to Stanley! He is absolutely besotted with her and serenades her tempting her
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reflection he rejects God and admits the act of prayer is twaddle. So we are back to where we started with Stanley believing that if God doesn’t exist, Sophie must be a charlatan. Interestingly, both sell illusions but in different ways. And that’s probably where the similarity ends. They spend time together and Sophie starts to develop some romantic feelings for a man who is unable to feel emotions in a similar way. And yet, he is the one who experiences an epiphany although vulnerable and susceptible to trickery, something he should understand well. His lifelong rationalism and cynicism have been misguided. Is this what he decides? Yes his world is turned upside down but can he come out of the experience a better and wiser person? “I’m a rational man who believes in a rational world. Any other way lies madness.” Apply his logic. If you believe in magic, if you ever delude yourself you inflict insanity upon yourself? Hopefully not. Allen’s ideals are not water-tight so enjoy the contrived romantic comedy and solve the riddle. How can a match made in heaven ring true for an atheist like Stanley or Allen?
with a life of luxury: yachts, expensive designer clothes, travel around Europe. The sky’s the limit. Sophie is tempted. Allen’s views on atheism come through solidly with Stanley, a bit of a contradiction himself. Acting out REVIEW it by Carol Naylor. of character, he attempts to pray www.carolnaylor.blogspot.com / to God for a full recovery for Aunt www.carolesleynaylor.wordpress.com Vanessa who has had a serious car naylorcl@hotmail.es crash, left in a critical condition. On
GREECE BAILOUT ‘TROIKA’ MAY GO The European Commission says the controversial EU-IMF troika supervising Greek finances could be replaced. The troika is a group of auditors representing the Commission, the European Central Bank and IMF. They carry out regular checks to see if Greece is sticking to its commitments under the EU-IMF bailout agreement. Greece’s new left-wing government does not accept the troika’s agenda. Instead it aims to renegotiate the bailout, to get a huge reduction in Greece’s debt. At a news conference on Monday, the Commission chief spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, quoted a pledge by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to replace the troika. “In the future, we should be able to replace the ‘troika’ with a more democratically legitimate and more accountable structure, based around European institutions with enhanced parliamentary control both at European and at national level,” Mr Juncker said in his mission statement last year. Mr Schinas did not expand on Mr Juncker’s proposal, stressing that “first we need clear understanding” of
the Greek position. Mountain of debt Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will hold talks with Mr Juncker in Brussels on Wednesday. Mr Tsipras, leader of the radical left Syriza party, won the Greek election on 25 January on a platform rejecting the troika and vowing to pull Greece out of the austerity imposed by international lenders. Syriza says the EU-IMF bailout conditions have impoverished Greece, fuelling unemployment and failing to reduce the massive debt pile. Greece still has a debt of €315bn (£237bn; $357bn) - about 175% of gross domestic product - despite some creditors writing down debts in a renegotiation in 2012. Mr Schinas called the existing bailout deal for Greece a “contract” and stressed that any revision of its terms would require “the unanimous agreement of all 19 members of the eurozone”. Greece’s current programme of loans ends on 28 February. There is no agreement yet on disbursement of the final bailout tranche of €7.2bn - and Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has said Athens does not want it. bbc.co.uk
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VETTEL PLEASED WITH EARLY PERFORMANCE SIX NATIONS: ENGLAND PROP DAVID WILSON OUT OF WALES GAME
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, Circuito de Jerez, 2015After topping the opening two days of the pre-season test at Jerez, Sebastian Vettel says he is ‘quite happy’ with the performance of Ferrari’s new SF15-T. The four-time champion completed a total of 149 laps over the two days and received a round of applause from his new Ferrari team after climbing out of the car at the end of the second day. “Everyone was happy that I kept the car on the track, especially with the rain at the end!” says Vettel. “They have a long night tonight anyway and I didn’t make it any longer for them.” But despite setting the ultimate pace on both days so far, Vettel is cautious about predicting whether the new Ferrari will prove a true challenger in 2015. “It’s still very early to tell,” Vettel says. “In the end, it all depends on how you compare to other people. Some people haven’t shown much and in that regard it’s difficult. “But speaking of the feeling inside the car, I’m quite happy. I think we definitely have a good platform to start working from and build up from, so that’s the target. I hope that for
tomorrow and Wednesday, Kimi has the same reliability, or even better.” Ferrari may have out-paced Mercedes’s new W06 at Jerez over the course of the opening two days of the test, but Vettel still believes that the reigning champions are the team to beat. “I think that generally we had a different approach today than Mercedes. They didn’t do as many laps as yesterday, but I still think even without any running here they would still go to Melbourne as the favourites. “We have to remember where we’re coming from. There’s a lot of change going on. A lot of new things and a lot of stuff that we learned So that’s the most important thing, to learn the car and all the numbers and make sure that we’re ready for the next test.” With the former Red Bull driver still adapting to life as a Ferrari driver, Vettel says he is settling in well to the famed Italian team. “It’s a lot of change, but it is for the positive, he says.” “I am very happy right now. The people here are making it very easy for me and giving me everything I need, so I’m very happy.” f1fanatic.co.uk
RORY MCILROY COASTS TO VICTORY Rory McIlroy coasted to a three-shot victory at the Dubai Desert Classic and was never seriously challenged on the final day in the Emirates. Four ahead overnight, the Northern Irishman, 25, did not need to repeat his first three days’ brilliance as a twounder 70 left him on 22 under. His nearest overnight challenger Morten Orum Madsen triple-bogeyed the first as Sweden’s Alex Noren (65) took second. Holder Stephen Gallacher (69) was in third place, six shots behind McIlroy. The victory means McIlroy has achieved four wins and three runnerup finishes in his last seven European Tour events. “I played a solid round of golf and did what I needed to do to keep my nose in front,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I was a little bit tentative over the first few holes but I guess we’ve seen what can happen to big leads these last few weeks with Martin (Kaymer) and Charl (Schwartzel) in Abu Dhabi and South Africa. Stephen Gallacher plays a bunker shot in Sunday’s final round in Dubai Defending champion Stephen Gallacher finished third, six shots behind McIlroy “I was conscious of that and making sure I didn’t make any mistakes.” Kaymer led by 10 shots early in the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship last month before his collapse handed victory to Frenchman Gary Stal while South African Schwartel’s late slump allowed England’s Andy Sullivan to clinch the
South African Open a week earlier. McIlroy, whose 2009 triumph at the Dubai event was his first professional victory, birdied the third and despite carding only his second bogey of the tournament at the seventh, remained in firm control at the turn. Former world number one Lee Westwood moved to within four shots of McIlroy after three early birdies but the Englishman’s challenge was ended by a bogey at the sixth and a further double bogey at the ninth. McIlroy led by five after producing routine birdie-fours at the 10th and 13th and despite Noren’s final-day charge, the world number one never looked like losing the lead. A successful 10-foot par-putt at the penultimate hole kept him three ahead and he avoided any mishaps at the last. McIlroy will head to Dublin on Monday for a High Court date to settle a long-running dispute with his former management company. Kaymer, 13 adrift of McIlroy after round three, moved up the field as a closing 65 left him sharing fourth with Sullivan, Dane Madsen and recent Abu Dhabi Championship winner Stal. Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (70) shared eighth spot with England’s Robert Rock after both shot closing rounds of 70. bbc.co.uk
Prop David Wilson has been ruled out of England’s Six Nations opener against Wales with a neck injury. The Bath tight-head joins a growing injury list featuring a dozen players. Fly-half Owen Farrell has been ruled out of the entire Six Nations with a knee injury, while centres Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond and forwards Geoff Parling and Tom Wood are also set to miss the Wales match. However, Leicester prop Dan Cole is fit and could replace Wilson in Cardiff. “He’s still got a nerve impingement issue, and he’s not going to be right for this weekend,” forwards coach Graham Rowntree said of Wilson, 29. “But we are hoping he will be in the mix for next week’s game against Italy.” Rowntree sounded an optimistic note on the readiness of Cole, who was initially thought to be unavailable for the early part of the tournament, having not played for his club Leicester since 27 December with a foot injury. “He’s ready, he’s trained very well,” Rowntree said. “I have every faith in him. “He’s been out for six weeks, not six months. I’m happy with his fitness, he’s not been sat twiddling his thumbs in that time.” Neither of England’s other tighthead options have started a Test. Newcastle’s Kieran Brookes, 24, has won six caps off the bench since making his debut in New Zealand last summer, while Bath’s Henry Thomas, 23, has featured seven times as a replacement since his first cap in Argentina in June 2013. England head coach Stuart Lancaster
has now suffered six injury withdrawals in recent days. Farrell, Parling, Barritt, Eastmond and Wood were all injured on club duty during the final round of European Champions Cup pool games. Lancaster hopes Parling, Barritt and Wood could be in contention for England’s second game against Italy, and told BBC 5 live last Thursday that “the clock is definitely ticking” on Eastmond’s chances of playing a part against Wales. Number eight Ben Morgan, second rows Joe Launchbury and Ed Slater, and full-back Ben Foden are also longterm absentees. Despite the glut of injuries, Lancaster is confident England will be competitive in Cardiff. He said: “We certainly don’t lie awake at night worrying about the injuries we’ve got and we’re confident in the squad we’ve got.” England’s injury list Ben Foden (knee - out for season), Manu Tuilagi (groin - could return next month), Kyle Eastmond (shoulder will miss first Six Nations match), Brad Barritt (knee - will miss first Six Nations match), Owen Farrell (knee - out for whole Six Nations), Joe Launchbury (neck - could be fit by April), Courtney Lawes (ankle - could return mid-late February), Geoff Parling (knee - will miss opening Six Nations match), Ed Slater (knee - could be fit by April), Tom Wood (ankle - will miss first Six Nations match), Ben Morgan (leg - out for season), David Wilson (neck - will miss first Six Nations match) bbc.co.uk
KLAAS-JAN HUNTELAAR: SCHALKE STRIKER BANNED FOR SIX GAMES
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been banned for six games after his red card against Hanover 96 on Saturday. The 31-year-old Dutch international was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle from behind on Manuel Schmiedebach during his side’s 1-0 win. Schalke say they will appeal the German Football Association’s decision. “We believe this was not a matter of violent conduct,” club board member Horst Heldt told their website. “That’s not something Klaas-Jan would do.” He added: “Surely, the red card was justified, but we consider a six-matchban too high a punishment. This is
why we are appealing.” Huntelaar said: “I was completely perplexed with the red card because that challenge did not really look that hard and because I am not a hard player.” “In my entire time in the Bundesliga I have only once been sent off and that with a double booking.” Huntelaar has played in 17 of his side’s 18 league games this season, scoring seven goals. Schalke, who face Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 this month, are fourth in the Bundesliga and visit leaders Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
SOLTIMES FEBRUARY 2015
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SOL SPORT & MOTORING
SPORTS SHORTS from Tony Matthews
REAL MADRID 4 REAL SOCIEDAD 1 Comeback and victory for Real Madrid The Whites managed to overcome a goal from Real Sociedad in the first minute and ended with a 4-1 win. Real Madrid CF beat Real Sociedad with goals from James Rodríguez, Sergio Ramos and a brace by Karim Benzema. The match began shakily for the Whites as the Basque side went ahead in the first minute, but Carlo Ancelotti’s men drew level in the 3. When they went ahead, Real Madrid took control of the game and managed to take th’e three points to keep their Liga BBVA top spot. In the first move of the game, Yuri Berchiche got away from various opponents and forced a corner that led to a headed goal by Aritz Elustondo. Two minutes later, the Whites equalised thanks to a pass by Marcelo that went right into the heart of the area and was tucked away with a brilliant James Rodríguez header. In the early stages of the game,
Sergio Canales also had a great opportunity to put the visitors ahead although his shot narrowly missed. Half an hour into the game, the 2-1 arrived following a Rulli save that was chased down by Sergio Ramos. The home side continued to try and increase the margin, Gareth Bale missed a clear chance five minutes from the break following a great counterattack by Benzema. Following the restart, Ancelotti’s men were quick to score their third of the game. Benzema got the game, and he was the star player in the game, scoring two goals which mean that he has now overtaken Fernando Hierro in Real Madrid’s list of all-time leading goalscorers. The French player is on 128 goals, and in 12th place overall. The second goal from the Whites’ ‘9’ was a great right footed shot from an Isco Alarcón pass that left the final score at 4-1. lfp.es
Barcelona topple Villarreal in three chaotic minutesThe Azulgranas beat Villarreal 3-2 in an enthralling encounter packed full of goals. Rafinha and Messi turned the game on its head in 180 seconds. FC Barcelona are still well in the fight for the Liga BBVA title after beating Villarreal CF 3-2 in Sunday’s final game of matchday 21 in the the Liga BBVA. Denis Cheryshev and Luciano Vietto twice gave the visitors the lead, but their goals were cancelled out by efforts from Neymar, Rafinha and Lionel Messi. The first half at the Camp Nou made for stunning viewing. This was a clash of two teams with different styles of play but both on an excellent run of results. Although Barcelona made the better start the game, it was Villarreal who opened the scoring, with Cheryshev turning in a loose ball in the area. The goal only served to wake the
hosts, however, who kept prodding their opponents until Neymar finally provided the equaliser before the break, knocking a rebound past Sergio Asenjo after the goalkeeper had saved from Messi. The second half was even more exciting, bearing witness to three goals in three minutes that dramatically changed the outcome of the game. Luciano Vietto restored Villarreal’s lead at the start of the second half but Rafinha and Lionel Messi responded quickly to put Barça in command. Luis Enrique’s side held firm for the remainder of the game to pick up a fourth consecutive league win and bring an end to Villarreal’s record-breaking unbeaten run of 18 matches. lfp.es
Having travelled over 25,000 miles by land, sea and air, I am now back in sunny Spain and this is his first set of sports shorts since early January * Andy Murray was beaten by world number one Novak Djokovic in the final of the men’s singles final in Melbourne, while Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova in the women’s final. * Also ‘down under’ England were thrashed by Australia in the final of the Tri-Nations cricket competition. The Aussies won by 112 runs. * England’s Moheen Ali has been named Wisden’s 2014 Cricketer of the Year. * Chelsea remain four points clear of reigning champions Manchester City after the top two drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. Manchester United are third after beating Leicester 3-1; Arsenal walloped hapless Aston Villa 5-0; Swansea won 1-0 at Southampton, their first victory on Saints’ spoil for 62 years, Celtic beat Glasgow rivals Rangers in Sunday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final and will now play Dundee United (2-1 conquerors of the holders Aberdeen) in the final. * Here in Spain, Barcelona came back twice to beat Villarreal 3-2 at the Nou Camp, Lionel Messi scoring a brilliant winning goal. Barcá remain a point behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid. * Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Stuart Pearce - Duggie Freedman takes over.
BARCELONA 3 VILLARREAL 2
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* AC Milan want to build a new 48,000 all-seater stadium. * Former Portugal and Real Madrid star Luis Figo is to stand for the Presidency of FIFA. * Football’s January 2015 transfer deadline ended on Monday night and it was expected that the ONE billion euro barrier will be smashed for the season. * Scotland’s Elsie Christie is the new European short-track speed skating champion. * Top boxing will make a return to ITV on 28 February when Carl Frampton defends his IBF superbantamweight title against Chris Avalos in Belfast. * South African Brooks Koepka has won his first PGA title, claiming the Phoenix Open in The USA. * New England Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in rosing 2015 Super Bowl in Arizona. * F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has yet to sign a new contract with Mercedes. Ferrari are keeping an eye on the situation. * The 2015 Six Nations Rugby tournament starts on Friday with Wales v England; Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy play on Saturday. * Big PL derby games this weekend are Tottenham-Arsenal and Everton-Liverpool.
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SOL SPORT & MOTORING
ECCL JUNIOR CRICKET LEAGUE - ROUND 4
Torrevieja Juniors continue their stranglehold at the top of the ECCL Indoor Junior League and have stretched their lead over their main rivals La Manga Kings B and Sporting Alfas after the fourth round of matches. Game 19 pitched Sporting Alfas against La Manga Kings A and it was the Albir based outfit who came out on top with a convincing 41 run victory. Next up La Manga Kings B could not emulate the victory over
Torrevieja that they achieved in Round 3 and they went down by just one wicket in a closely fought contest. Game 21 created the first tie of the series as both La Manga Kings A and Torrevieja scored 47 runs a piece. However, Torrevieja secured a few more points than their opponents thanks to a strong bowling performance that claimed seven wickets/. The next game saw La Manga Kings B take over second place from Sporting Alfas as they claimed a comfortable 8 wicket victory over their rivals, knocking off the required 65 runs without losing a wicket. Game 23 was again one to forget for the Alfas Juniors as they lost out in a closely fought game with Torrevieja. The last match of the day was a great contest between both La Manga teams and it was Kings B who came out on top by just nine runs in a low scoring affair. The next round of matches is on Sunday 15th March again at the Torrevieja Sports Stadium ( blue building ) commencing at 10.00 hrs. Spectators welcome and there are refreshments available. Further info at torrevieja-cricket. com
GRANADA 1 ELCHE 0
Jhon Córdoba brings up Granada’s double centuryThe Colombian forward’s goal against Elche was enough to see the Andalusians claim their 200th win in the Liga BBVA. Abel Resino’s Granada CF returned to winning ways in the Liga BBVA, and did so in style as they sealed win number 200 in the competition. Jhon Córdoba’s solitary strike was the difference as the hosts beat Elche CF 1-0. Both teams offered up a first half with plenty of football to talk about. In the first minute, Córdoba and Rubén Pérez made it clear Granada meant business, but saw their efforts deflected. Although the home side made the quicker start, the guests enjoyed some
good minutes of play at Nuevo Los Cármenes. Before the break, Piti was close to breaking the deadlock as he advanced on the Elche goal, but the score remained 0-0 at the break. The second period was in its early stages when Córdoba popped up to take advantage of a lapse from keeper Przemysław Tytoń. The strike proved to be the only goal of the game, and allowed Granada to bring an end to a negative run of 16 matches without a win in the Liga BBVA. The result means Elche drop into the relegation places and are leapfrogged by their opponents, who climb out of the drop zone. lfp.es
QUESADA GOLF SOCIETY
Last Wednesday the Society played its second game of 2015 at Alicante. Thankfully nobody lost their way there and everyone arrived in time to enjoy a free coffee and tostado before the game. A nice touch. We were as usual greeted with a big smile from Marife who let us use some of their “Nearest the Pin” markers as we had forgotten ours. The course was in good condition and the weather was bright and sunny with only a slight breeze. Perfect for a good days golf. Some of the Yellow tee positions were well set back which made the course play long on the day. The turnout was again a bit low with 20 players contesting an individual Stableford competition for the Alex Starkey Memorial Trophy. Alex was a founder member of the Society who sadly passed away a few years ago and is fondly remembered. Alicante was his favourite course. The winner with 29 points on count-back was “Smokin” Tony Patterson, who has given up the real things in favour of one of those electronic things. Tony just pipped big Roy Kavanagh by virtue of having a slightly better back nine. In third place was the very consistent
Sue Smith. The best score on the day came from guest and prospective member Brent Hollins with 30 points. The “Roy” for the most shots played went to David Johnson. The ”Nearest the Pin” winners were Brent Hollins, Sue Smith and Ronnie “ The Brave” Spiers. Sue Smith, who had a very good day on the golf course also won the 2´s pot with a birdie on the 6 th hole. The football scratchcard winner was our treasurer Brian Airey. After the game the players returned to the society base at the Quesada Country Club for the presentations, a drink or two and a tasty hot and cold buffet kindly provided by mine hosts David & Anita. There is a members meeting at the Quesada Country Club on Tuesday 3 February at 10.30 am. Anyone in the Quesada area looking to join a very friendly golf society and play golf once a fortnight at a wide variety of courses at very reasonable cost, should contact the Membership Secretary Les Pancott on 966 716 723.
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SOL SPORT & MOTORING
SWIMMING MASTERS COMPETE IN ELCHE
TMGS MATCH REPORT 28th January 2015 – La Marquesa. 30+ golfers attended the latest TMGS match at La Marquesa which was the 3rd of 4 Captains Stableford competitions and the 30+ golfers were treated by, once again, smiling faces from the staff. The 4 NTP’s were all won and the recipients of a sleeve of Srixon Soft Feels were John Hillier, John Thurston, Alan Rickers and Robbie Rea whose smile was soon wiped off later as will be seen. We had 4 players achieving “Two’s” and were rewarded by a massive 6€ each. We had a few guests and the top two both came from Yorkshire and went away with a TMGS Society towel and fond memories of sunshine. Both Ian Sims and Colin Smith had 30points, but Colin with the lower handicap took the top prize. The Silver Division was a fairly tight affair and in 4th spot was Austrian member “meine Schatz” Olga Haubner with 32 points, the same points score as her “man” Robbie Rea who was totally (insert swear word here) off with the change in the way the tied results are resolved, lowest handicap. “2nd
and 3rd spots were also tied on the same point, but Ole Rong took runner –up slot over John Hillier on the lower handicap system. This left the top slot in the Silver Division to Alan Rickers on 35 points. The Gold Division was a little more open and John Eyre’s 32 points was enough for 4th 33 points from Hermes Woerdeman was enough for third place and way out in front were David Qualey taking the runners-up slot with 36 and 37 points saw Chris Oatley with the best score of the day and a muttering from the Handicap Secretary about “looking at his handicap next week”. Photo: Gold category winners. Our next game, Wednesday 4th February 2015 is at the tricky Campoamor where for 40€ (walking) you can enjoy the day so if you fancy a game just look at our website www. tmgs.org or call the Match Secretary on 966 719 604. Club de Golf El Paraiso, are playing at Villamartin on 1st February and 15TH February will be their 1st “Federated Competition” at Campoamor all Federated players are welcome to take part. Visit www.clubdegolfelparaiso. com for full details
This weekend “Club Natacion Torrevieja” Masters competed in the “2nd Masters Timed Control” in the Community of Alicante. The competition brought together 153 masters from 22 clubs across the region at the 50 m pool in Elche. Each Master was allowed 2 individual races plus a relay. Torrevieja’s 6 person team started the day well with Adam Stewart’s 400 m Freestyle, a good race by Adam, but not a personal best. Adam went on to race the 1500 m freestyle whilst sister Lucy swam the 50 m Breastroke event. In the 65-69 yrs category Paul Matthews was pleased with his 50 m Backstroke and 100 m Freestyle races, placed first in his category, after suffering neck injuries over the last few months. Rafael Bordes Alonso, unable to compete in the 400 m Freestyle, had a good swim in the 50 m Breaststroke and then went onto race in the 4 x 50 m medley relay. The final two women in the team had excellent swims Beth Altabas setting new personal bests in her 200 m Freestyle and 1500 m Freestyle events. In the 70-74yrs category Beth beat her European Championships times
with a swim of 3:27;42 in the 200 m and 28;17;75 in the 1500 m Freestyle. Colleague Vicki Connolly set a new best in the 50 m Breaststroke 46;29 and first place in the 45-49 yrs category , as well as 1st in her 1500 m Freestyle with a time of 23:55;63. This stands both team mates in a good position for the first Spanish Long Distance National Championships (3 kms) next weekend in Sabadell, Barcelona. The final event of the the day the 4 x 50 m mixed medley relay the team came 1st in the 200 yrs category. Rafa swimming the first keg, 50 m Backstroke, Vicki 50 m Breaststroke, Beth 50 m Butterfly and Paul the final leg, 50 m Freestyle. The team finished with a time of 3:03;46. For more information regarding Torrevieja Swimming Club please contact Rosa 665 454 126, President Felipe on 609 418 776 or Vicki 669 637 015 or by email on info@ clubnataciontorrevieja.com.
EMF FUENTE ALAMO 2 MAZARRON FC 1
IMANYO GOLF SOCIETY SCOTTISH CUP (QUAICH) 28TH JANUARY AT ALENDA It was another cold start but as soon as the sun burnt through T shirts were the order of the day and added to a great day of golf. The Scottish cup, a Quaich, was sponsored by our north of the boarder friends, Alex Portious, Andy Ramage and Chris Baillie. The day started with a full English breakfast in Imanyo’s where the draw was held for pairs playing Texas scramble. By the time we arrived at the course we lost two players, Ted and Brian, after a few phone calls the caddy master and Brian’s wife guided them to the course and we all teed off on time. The course was in great condition, the greens were fast and true like a snooker table. The winners were Chris Baillie and Phil Ward (Minty) with 36 points, runners up were Judy Evan’s and Terry Fitzgerald Snr with 39 points, the Endeavour award went to Eamon Murphy and Andy Ramage with 58 points (both previous
competition winners). Nearest the pin, hole 3, Andy Speck, hole 5 Brian Court, hole 13 Steve Day and hole 16 Dave Rotchell. The presentation was held in Imanyo’s at 7pm and was followed by a Burns Night event, we raised money for our sponsored charity Parkinson’s with a raffle, football cards and donations, Antonio and Norma kindly donated €100 from the ticket sales and supplied free entertainment, the total amount raised a fantastic €350.00, thank you to all the companies and people for all their donated prizes. To see all future competitions, which vary over different courses visit www. imanyogolfsociety.com and then all you need to do to join this new society is email your full name and handicap to imanyogolfsociety@gmail.com
Mazarron went into this game on the back of six successive victories whereas Fuente Alamo had been beaten last week 7-1 by AD Sucina who were then at the bottom of the league. However, if Mazarron and their supporters were expecting an easy game they were mistaken. The disgraceful dirt pitch and a blustery gale did little to help but, in truth, Mazarron were outfought by a team struggling towards the bottom of the league. Conejo easily dealt with a Fuente Alamo free kick in the fourth minute and then had to race out of his goal to deal with a long through ball which caught the Mazarron defenders napping. At the other end, good work by Tolo saw Stevens hitting a shot which was blocked and from the rebound Liders shot was turned away by the Fuente keeper. The home team took the lead after 31 minutes when Conejo fumbled another through ball allowing the Fuente striker to place the ball into an empty net. Mazarron’s only other chance in a dreadful first half was when Liders found Tolo who had to hit his shot quickly and the ball sailed wide of the far post. Toni replaced Stevens at half time for Mazarron and combined well with Alfonso on the right allowing Tolo to
swivel and hit a left foot shot into the corner of the net for Mazarron’s equaliser after 52 minutes. Fuente should have taken the lead three minutes later when a right wing cross was blasted over the bar from six yards but they did make it 2-1 after 63 minutes. Lorca had left the field after receiving treatment and was not immediately allowed back on by the referee. Fuente took advantage of this with their right winger running on to a through ball before rounding Conejo and firing home. Substitute Antonio hit the bar for Mazarron with a fierce shot from 40 yards and Tolo had a couple of half chances but, in truth, Mazarron struggled to put the home defence under enough pressure even when Fuente were reduc ed to ten men shortly before the end. After last week’s superb win against second placed Beniajan it was perhaps the most disappointing result of the season and Mazarron must strive to return to winning ways in next Sunday’s game at home to Edeco Fortuna, kick off 17.00. Team: Conejo; Alfonso; Mateo, Dani, Lorca (Antonio), Stevens (Toni); Andreo; Enrique; Liders: Manu (Juanillo); Tolo; Man of the Match; Mateo
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