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SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

Michelangelo work restored It has been bombed, burned and smashed into pieces.

Now, after nearly two decades of restoration work, Spain’s only sculpture by Michelangelo is triumphantly on display at the Prado museum, its turbulent history merely hinted at by cracks and burn marks.

Young Saint John the Baptist, one of the few Michelangelo pieces outside of Italy, is thought to have been created around 1495. Some 40 years later, the second Duke of Florence gifted the sculpture to Francisco de los Cobos, the secretary of state for the holy Roman emperor Charles V. Cobos sent the sculpture, which is more than a metre tall, to Spain in the 16th century, where it ended up

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in a chapel in his southern hometown of Úbeda, 90 miles east of Córdoba.

In 1936, as Spain descended into civil war, the chapel came under attack. The sculpture was smashed and burned. “It was a complete destruction,” said Nuria de Miguel of the Friends of the Prado Museum Foundation.

From fragments of a forearm to a handful of curls, just 14 pieces remained of the sculpture, amounting to around 40% of the original work. Some attributed the attack to anarchists, but it is not known for sure who was responsible. The fragments remained in Úbeda, preciously guarded in a museum.

In the early 1990s, buoyed by new developments in art restoration, its owners began talks with Italy’s Opificio delle Pietre Dure, one of the world’s leading art restorers, based in Florence.

Rapidly advancing technology meant that a previously unimaginable reconstruction of the sculpture was now possible, said Ignacio de Medina of the Ducal House of the Medinaceli Foundation, which owns the sculpture.

Even so, he said, “accepting this challenge was a brave thing, given the technical challenges”. In 1994, the sculpture fragments were sent to the restoration group in Italy.

The process lasted 19 years. Using various photographs and written accounts of the sculpture before it was destroyed, the team in Florence created a digital 3D image. This became their guide as they reassembled the piece using the original fragments of marble, and created missing pieces from fibreglass coated with stucco. A laser was used to clean off the original parts that had been blackened by fire. The restoration was completed in 2013.

As more than half of the piece had to be rebuilt, the restoration walks a fine line between capturing the original work and reflecting its tumultuous history, said Medina, pointing to several long scars and burn marks that can still be seen on the sculpture. “It restores the dignity of a sculpture that has been absurdly mistreated,” he said.

Calling it an “historic restoration”, the Prado museum director, Miguel Zugaza, pointed to its political undertones. Along with being a tale of pioneering artistic accomplishment, he said, the restoration was also a scathing rebuff of those who sought to destroy priceless artefacts for political gains, such as the recent apparent actions of Islamic State militants in Mosul’s central museum.

“We want this to be a social criticism against all the barbaric actions by iconoclasts that sadly continue to occur around the world,” he said.

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2015 sees rise in number of deaths on Spanish roads

A total of 248 people died in Spanish road accidents during the first quarter of the year – the highest number of traffic victims within that period since 2002, according to Spain’s DGT national highway agency.

The death toll is also up 28 victims from the same quarter last year.

DGT general director María Seguí has attributed the high number of fatalities to “improvements in the economy” and falls in gasoline prices, which encourage more people to take journeys in their own vehicles.

When there was an economic boom in the mid-2000s we were able to reduce the number of accidents” Former Socialist Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba “That brings with it an increase in the risk of accidents,” she said.

But her arguments have met with harsh criticism from opposition politicians.

Former Socialist Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, who was responsible for the DGT between 2006 and 2011, said that during his tenure traffic fatalities were reduced to 1,484 from 2,989.

“The reasons given by the person in charge of the DGT for those bad figures are just as odd as they are false. It’s a lie because when there was an economic boom in the mid-2000s we were able to reduce the number of accidents. But now if there is an increase it is because someone – and this work that has to be undertaken by all of us – has let down their guard,” said

Rubalcaba.

Advocacy groups, such as the State Association for Traffic Victims (DIA), are concerned about the growing trends in road death figures and said there is “no reason to relax.” They have called for more incentives and preventive measures.

Last year, the decline in road deaths began to bottom out. During just a sixmonth period in 2014, there were more traffic fatalities reported than throughout the previous year.

The State Association for Traffic Victims (DIA) has called for more incentives and preventive measures In January, the death toll increased by 44 percent with 88 persons losing their lives on Spanish roads compared to 67 in the same month in 2014.

This trend continued in February with 78 deaths reported compared to the 69 from the same month last year. March showed a slight improvement in the inter-annual figures with 82 fatalities, below the 90 reported in 2014.

In February, the DGT announced a new strategy to curtail speeding: it will inform drivers where speed cameras and radars are located and install mobile radars on secondary roads.

Elpais.com

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SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

Two Spanish cavers die in Morocco

ort A lawyer and police inspector are the two victims that went missing last Wednesday Two out of the three Spaniards who went missing during a cave exploration expedition in Morocco died over the weekend after waiting three days for rescue teams to reach the rugged mountainous area where they had been trapped.

The victims were identified as 41-year-old Gustavo Virués, a lawyer from Cádiz, and Police Inspector José Antonio Martínez, also 41. Juan Bolívar, another member of the National Police force, was rescued uninjured on Sunday night, authorities said.

The three spelunkers were reported missing on Wednesday in an area known as the Uandras Canyon, located between Marrakech and Ouarzazate in the south of the country.

Lawyer Gustavo Virués seen in a photo from his Facebook page.

Spain offered help as soon as the three men were reported trapped, and Spanish police were prepared to send a plane with a rescue team on Friday, but Moroccan officials reported that

they had the situation under control.

But after Virués’ death was reported on Saturday, Morocco gave authorization for a Spanish team to fly in the following day. Seven officers, including three Civil Guard mountain specialists and three agents of the Spanish Police Special Operations Unit (GEO) arrived at the scene at around 5pm on Sunday.

A few hours later Martínez was also reported dead.

The Andalusia Speleologist Federation has also complained that the government in Rabat delayed in accepting help from a 16-member specialized rescue team from Spain.

This team had been ready to fly in since Friday.

“Since Friday morning we had been requesting authorization from the Moroccan government, through the Spanish Interior Ministry and Spanish Embassy in Morocco, to participate in the rescue operation as a civilian team. Moroccos’s reply was that they would take care of it,” said José Enrique Sánchez, federation secretary,

rise in number of deaths on Spanish roads

A total of 248 people died in Spanish road accidents during the first quarter of the year – the highest number of traffic victims within that period since 2002, according to Spain’s DGT national highway agency.

The death toll is also up 28 victims from the same quarter last year.

DGT general director María Seguí has attributed the high number of fatalities to “improvements in the economy” and falls in gasoline prices, which encourage more people to take journeys in their own vehicles.

When there was an economic boom in the mid-2000s we were able to reduce the number of accidents” Former Socialist Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba “That brings with it an increase in the risk of accidents,” she said.

But her arguments have met with harsh criticism from opposition politicians.

Former Socialist Interior Minister Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, who was responsible for the DGT between 2006 and 2011, said that during his tenure traffic fatalities were reduced to 1,484 from 2,989.

“The reasons given by the person in charge of the DGT for those bad figures are just as odd as they are false. It’s a lie because when there was an economic boom in the mid-2000s we were able to reduce the number of accidents. But now if there is an

in statements to EL PAÍS. Spain offered help immediately, but Moroccan officials reported that they had the situation under control The area where the men were trapped is especially dangerous for air rescue missions because of its complex terrain incline, which varies between 600 and 700 meters. The entire canyon is eight kilometers in length.

The three spelunkers had traveled to Morocco from Seville as part of

a nine-member group. They were physically prepared and had the proper equipment to take part in the expedition.

However, they separated from the group on March 30 and agreed to meet up with the other members that afternoon or the following day. When they didn’t show up, the expedition leader filed a complaint with the Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie and the Spanish Consulate. http://elpais.com/

PP ‘losers’ in Andalucía

PP 'losers' in Andalucía are 'trying to destabilise the party', says Cospedal GOVERNMENT secretary-general María Dolores del Cospedal has slammed her counterparts in Andalucía for 'losing' the regional elections, accusing them of trying to 'destabilise' the PP. Although he was not named, Cospedal's criticisms were clearly aimed at Andalucía's regional PP leader and vice-secretary of regional and local policy, Javier Arenas (pictured right), a close confidante and key colleague of Spanish president Mariano Rajoy.

Arenas and Cospedal have never seen eye to eye – a factor partly blamed on Arenas' now 'taking orders' from Cospedal, who used to be under him, and partly blamed on a latent jealousy over each other's friendship with Rajoy – but this has rarely gone beyond the four walls of the PP headquarters.

Now, it has hit the press at a time when the PP is standing on very shaky ground and its former regional

president for Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre – candidate for Madrid city hall mayor – has admitted publicly that the party is going through a very bad moment.

The flare-up between Cospedal and Arenas has upset Rajoy and it looks likely he will be forced to pull them up for airing their dirty laundry in public.

Accusing the PP in Andalucía as a whole – without specifically naming anyone - on behalf of Cospedal, Riolobos said: “Those who lost in Andalucía, those who have never won or have never stood for elections or, even, who know nothing about politics, are hell-bent on destabilising the PP. “Just weeks away from the regional and municipal elections, in a supine act of irresponsibility, these losers are determined to destabilise the party, its president Mariano Rajoy and its secretary-general María Dolores del Cospedal by leaking to the press socalled 'decisions' which only exist in their own heads.”

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Advocacy groups, such as the State Association for Traffic Victims (DIA), are concerned about the growing trends in road death figures and said there is “no reason to relax.” They have called for more incentives and preventive measures.

Last year, the decline in road deaths began to bottom out. During just a six-month period in 2014, there were more traffic fatalities reported than throughout the previous year.

The State Association for Traffic Victims (DIA) has called for more incentives and preventive measures In January, the death toll increased by 44 percent with 88 persons losing their lives on Spanish roads compared to 67 in the same month in 2014.

This trend continued in February with 78 deaths reported compared to the 69 from the same month last year.

March showed a slight improvement in the inter-annual figures with 82 fatalities, below the 90 reported in 2014.

In February, the DGT announced a new strategy to curtail speeding: it will inform drivers where speed cameras and radars are located and install mobile radars on secondary roads. http://elpais.com/

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SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

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SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

New renewables broke through 100GW barrier in 2014

New renewable generating capacity broke the 100GW barrier in 2014, equivalent to the entire fleet of nuclear power plants in the US, a UN report shows.

Global investment in renewable energy during 2014 increased by 17% from 2013 levels to US$270bn (£183bn).

Investors have been attracted by the increasing cost effectiveness and low risk of the solar and wind sectors. The analysis has been published by the UN Environment Programme (Unep) and Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

“We have a continuation of what we have seen in previous years, which is a concentration of investment in two sectors - solar and wind,” explained Eric Usher, lead editor of the Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment.

Offshore wind projects in Europe was a driving force behind European investment in renewables. Mr Usher, head of the Unep Finance Initiative, said that both sectors had recorded a good year.

“Solar was up 29% to US$150bn, while wind was up 11% to almost US$100bn. The other sectors did less well, some are maturing but others have yet to mature.

“Technologically, solar is doing well at both smallscale (roof tops) and larger scale.

“The big story in wind, in developed economies - Europe particularly - is large-scale off-shore, which had a very good year receiving US$18.6bn in financing in Europe alone.”

The increase in investment was the first rise for three years after the global sector recorded a dip in investment levels during 2012 and 2013. The report said the commitments made in 2014 were just 3% below the record level of financing in 2011.

Globally, renewables accounted for an estimated 9.1% of the world’s electricity generation. The report calculated that this contributed to saving of

1.3 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions - about twice as much as emitted by the global airline industry - if the electricity had been generated from fossil fuels.

Achim Steiner, Unep executive director, observed: “Once again in 2014, renewables made up nearly half of the net power capacity added worldwide.

Man walking through a solar power array (Image: Reuters) Solar recorded strong levels of growth in both large-scale and small-scale projects “These climate-friendly energy technologies are now an indispensable component of the global energy mix and their importance will only increase as markets mature, technology prices continue to fall and the need to rein in carbon emissions becomes ever more important.”

China was by fair the biggest investor, pumping a record US$83.3bn into the sector - up by more than a third on its 2013 financing.

The US was second, investing US$38.3bn. Japan was a close third with US$35.7bn.

Mr Usher said that innovation in the sector was being recorded around the globe, in developing nations as well as in the industrialised world.

“On the technology front, China has really scaled up, giving most countries and manufacturers a run for their money particularly when it comes to manufacturing solar and wind turbines,” he said.

“At the same time in Europe, because we are getting the penetration levels of 25% or even higher in countries like Germany, Denmark and Spain, a lot of the innovations here relate to how you manage a grid with large-scale variable supply.

“So a lot of the technical innovations are coming from the grid operators.”

Mr Usher added: “In North America, we see the financial sector doing some very exciting innovations.

For example, they are bundling together tens of

Sol Times – 153mm x 225mm – 3rd April / 10th April

thousands of household-scale systems into financing structures that can get Wall Street bankers excited.”

He explained the financing packages were set up for the gas and renewables sector, but renewable projects were “pulling away” from gas projects.

“They are very low risk. Once you have set up a wind farm or solar system, the risks are actually much lower than running a gas plant because you do not have a pricing risk.

Therefore the cost of financing renewables has come down remarkably. Now projects can raise financing at very low cost and that leads to a lower end-use cost of electricity.”

Despite the return to growth in investment after a two-year dip, the report’s authors say that a number of challenges still factor the sector as a whole, despite the growing strength of the wind and solar industries.

One was the fall in the global price of oil. But Udo Steffens, president of the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, was cautiously optimistic: “Oil and renewables do not directly compete for power investment dollars.

“Wind and solar sectors should be able to carry on flourishing, particularly if they continue to cut cost per MWh.” Another challenge that the report highlighted as an area of concern was the “erosion of investor confidence” caused by increasing uncertainty surrounding government support for renewables projects.

Michael Liebreich, chairman of the advisory board for Bloomberg New Energy Finance, explained: “Europe was the first mover in clean energy but is still in a process of restructuring those early support mechanisms.

“In the UK and Germany, we are seeing a move away from feed-in tariffs and green certificates towards auctions and subsidy, which are aimed at capping the cost of the transition to consumers.”

Bbc.com

SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

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Artificial Grass in Spain

There are a lot of questions from villa owners in Spain about the principles behind low maintenance drought resistant grasses for lawns. The advantages are understandable and clear to all. And whether you believe that warm season grasses are the grass equivalents to cacti or that they just need less water, then the arguments for their use are pretty straight forward and easy to understand.

Not so with Artificial or Synthetic Grass. In comparison with real grass, the underlying issues with Artificial grass are numerous, and are well documented in America where artificial or synthetic grass has been used for many years.

It does not take a lot of searching on the Internet to uncover some rather disturbing facts about Artificial or synthetic Grass. Facts

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SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

www.soltimes.com It’s one of the sporting events even the casual fan circles on their calendar, but what makes the Grand National a British institution? Here some top facts about the great race.

1. The first Grand National was held in 1839 but it started in inauspicious circumstances – going off two hours late after confusion over weighing procedures. The aptly named 5-1 favourite Lottery was the winner.

2. The 1929 National featured the most starters in the race’s rich history when 66 horses lined up. The smallest field was in 1883 when just ten set off.

3. The fastest ever time is the eight minutes 47.8 seconds recorded when Mr Frisk sluiced home in 1990.

4. The greatest number of horses to complete the course was 23 in 1984 when Hallo Dandy, ridden by Neale Doughty, was the winner. The smallest number of finishers was in 1928 when Tipperary Tim, a 100-1 outsider, was the first of only two past the post.

5. Richard Johnson beat the record for the most rides in the Grand National without a win last year when he took part for the 16th time without success. His best effort was second on What’s Up Boys in 2002.

6. Charlotte Brew was the first female jockey to ride in the race when she was on board 200/1 chance Barony Fort in 1977. Their adventure ended with a refusal at the 26th fence. The best finish by a female jockey was last year when Katie Walsh steered 8/1 chance Seabass into third place.

7. The first five Grand Nationals included one jump that was a stone wall, situated where the water jump now stands. Becher’s Brook earned its name when a top jockey, Captain Martin Becher, took shelter after being unseated and said: ‘Water tastes disgusting without the benefits of whisky.’ The Chair is the tallest fence at 5ft 2in.

8. Red Rum is the most successful horse, winning three times in 1973, 1974 and 1977.

The oldest-winning horse is Peter Simple, who was aged 15 when triumphant in 1853.

The youngest winners – all aged five – were Alcibiade (1865), Regal (1876), Austerlitz (1877), Empress (1880), Lutteur III (1909).

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SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

Not Just a Coffee Morning Following the recent cold spell the glorious sunshine arrived just in time for the 'Not Just a Coffee Morning' event held at the MABS Centre in San Javier last Friday. It was a huge success raising €253.

San Javier Nails offered free manicures and the recipients made donation to MABS in lieu of payment. Sylvia Blamires, one of the MABS volunteers, demonstrated card making and there was also a foot practitioner on hand to offer advice and a free foot consultation.

A raffle for a gorgeous Easter cake and Easter eggs was made and the cake was won by Vicki Kemp who is the volunteer shop manager and she shared it with the other shop volunteers who went to the

shop on Saturday to change the stock from winter to summer.

Another raffle was held by Taylor's Butchers at Oasis Boulevar, this time it was a meat raffle and it raised €71.

Cancer doesn't discriminate and neither does MABS. We help anyone affected by cancer.

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

MABS Cancer Support Group

FROM THIS…………....……….TO THIS

This remarkable transformation shows the incredible determination and tenacity of MABS Mazarron; given just 7 weeks´ notice to quit their home of 5 years in Totana and find a new location for their Charity Shop, they proved beyond doubt that they were up to the challenge.

and airey, a far cry from the old place and being all on one level it offers much improved working conditions for the volunteers and for the customers there is plenty of space to browse the extended range of goods that are now available.

Located on the main road into Totana, close to the Bus and Train station, the new shop is light, bright

local people who have been diagnosed with cancer. If you would to join us call on 620 582 418

MABS Mazarron would like to sincerely thank the MABS who worked Showing true grit and Volunteers enthusiasm when faced tirelessly to get the new with a seemingly impossible shop up and running – it is a task they set to and ´made credit to you all! it happen´ . Behind the The shop is open Mon to Fri scenes negotiations meant from 10am – 2pm. Donations they were given a few weeks are always welcome. grace to get the new shop MABS Mazzaron is a ready, and WOW what a registered charity offering fantastic place!!!! practical help and support to

SOLTIMES april 2015

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Things you should know before buying a funeral plan!

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SOLTIMES april 2015

Don’t Ditch The Grains: A Bowl A Day Keeps Diabetes At Bay

Low-carb dieters, quinoa dodgers and cave man fans be warned - grains have a vital place in our diets With all the anti-carb feeling in the health food camp right now, it’s easy to forget how important grains and cereals are in our diets.

And now experts have found that a bowl of grains a day can help prevent cancer, heart disease and diabetes, among other chronic health complaints.

But hold your horses, that doesn’t mean you can start snaffling down a bowl of Frosties for breakfast every day again under the guise of a healthy bowl of cereal. The ‘right’ grains are those much-touted wholegrains, such as oats, quinoa and brown wheat-based grains including (brown) bread.

The new research has shown that good quality, wholegrains keep the body healthy by feeding it essential dietary fibre, minerals and antioxidants.

Researchers looked at more than 367,000 people across America over a 14 year period, measuring their diet and their general health.

They found that the risk of premature death decreased by 17 per cent for individuals who ate around 34 grams of whole grains per 1000 calories a day.

Study leader Dr Lu Qi said: “Our study indicates that intake of whole grains and cereal fibre may reduce the risk of allcause mortality and death from chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disease.

“Our findings should motivate future

studies especially clinical trials and experimental studies to further testify the beneficial effects of whole grains and potential effective components such as fibre and other nutrients, and explore mechanisms.”

Quinoa-lovers will be delighted, as it’s just the right kind of grain to show the benefits, but wholegrain wheat cereals, porridge oats and even brown bread and pasta offer the benefits too.

It could be something to seriously think about if you are on a low-carb diet, as some of the first foods to go are bread, pasta and breakfast cereals.

But the difference between refined carbs (white bread, pasta and rice, for example) and wholegrain carbs is huge.

Wholegrains are unrefined and contain the bran and the germ, which takes the body longer to digest and provides more nutrients. White grains are rapidly digested, meaning when they’re eaten we get a blood sugar spike that gives us easy-access energy, which most of us don’t use and is then stored as fat.

Atkins, Dukan and Paleo/Cave Manbased diets are all low in grains and shouldn’t be used longterm without medical advice because of the essential nutriets and fibre we get from grains.

The best diet is a balance - lots of veg, lean meat, good fats, whole grains and limited processed foods, red meat and dairy.

You know what they’ll say - a bowl of quinoa a day... uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com

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

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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

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SOLTIMES april 2015

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Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break.

Wrist fractures and hip fractures and fractures of the vertebrae (bones in the spine) are the most common type of breaks that affect people with osteoporosis. However, they can also occur in other bones, such as in the arm, ribs or pelvis.

There are usually no warnings you've developed osteoporosis and it's often only diagnosed when a bone is fractured after even minor falls.

What causes osteoporosis?

During childhood, bones grow and repair very quickly, but this process slows as you get older.

Bones stop growing in length between the ages of 16 and 18, but continue to increase in density until you're in your late 20s.

You gradually start to lose bone density from about 35 years of age. Women lose bone rapidly in the first few years after the menopause.

Losing bone is a normal part of the ageing process, but for some people it can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures.

Other factors that increase your risk of developing osteoporosis include: • inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) • conditions that affect the hormone-producing glands, such as an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or an overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism) • a family history of

osteoporosis, particularly history of a hip fracture in a parent • long-term use of certain medications that affect bone strength or hormone levels, such as oral prednisolone • malabsorption problems • heavy drinking and smoking Diagnosing osteoporosis If your doctor suspects you have osteoporosis, they can make an assessment using an online programme, such as FRAX or Q-Fracture. They may also refer you for a scan

Osteoporosis

to measure your bone mineral density.

This type of scan is known as a DEXA (DXA) scan. It's a short, painless procedure and your bone mineral Other groups who are at risk of developing osteoporosis density can then be used to assess your fracture risk. include: Treating osteoporosis • People who've been taking steroid medication for more Treatment for osteoporosis is based on treating and than three months preventing fractures and using medication to strengthen • Women who've had their ovaries removed bones.

• People with a family history of osteoporosis The decision about what treatment you have – if any – will depend on your risk of fracture. This will be based on • People with an eating disorder, such as anorexia or a number of factors, such as your age and the results of bulimia your DXA scan.

• People who don't exercise regularly Preventing osteoporosis • People who smoke or drink heavily If you're at risk of developing osteoporosis, you should take steps to help keep your bones healthy. This may include: • taking regular exercise benefits consultancy • healthy eating, including foods rich in calcium and Do you suffer from mobility problems, breathlessness/pain or falls/stumbles? vitamin D Do you need help washing / dressing or • making lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking supervision? and reducing your alcohol consumption You could be entitled to extra income by Living with osteoporosis claiming UK sickness / disabililty benefits while living in Spain If you're diagnosed with osteoporosis, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of a fall, such as For advice or to book a consultation removing hazards from your home and having regular call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 sight tests and hearing tests. or visit www.ukbenefitsinspain.com To help you recover from a fracture, you can try using: • hot and cold treatments such as warm baths and cold packs • transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – where a small battery-operated device is used to stimulate the nerves and reduce pain • Relaxation techniques At-risk groups Osteoporosis often affects women, particularly after the menopause (when monthly periods stop).

However, it can also sometimes affect men, younger women and children.

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SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

Hello and welcome to CanDu Computer and you don’t always Bytes. Chromebooks – Are they worth it? get much more from a I know that this is an odd way to start Windows laptop for the the article and it is also an odd question! extra cash paid! It’s Where did this question come from? value for money will Wednesday, I was asked to go to a client’s always depend on the home and install their printer onto their use that you intend to put it to! new laptop. When I arrived, I found that Now the less attractive part of Chrome the laptop was a Chromebook.

OS. As I mentioned earlier, it is a ‘cut down’ Before I get to the problems, I would like version the free OS Linux. How much has to walk you through the many qualities it been cut down? If your Chromebook has of this device. It is, first and foremost, a USB port it will have the drivers to ‘see’, an internet oriented machine. It was and connect to, a USB external storage conceived as a result of the need to access device (Memory Stick, External Disk Drive) the internet in the quickest, most efficient but will not be able to connect to your manner possible. It was designed to start printer. If it has vga or HDMI port, it will be quickly and as Chrome OS was taken from able to connect to your monitor or TV. With Linux source, which is free, it is MUCH more all obvious external connection port there virus resistant. It has frequent updates will be the drivers to run it. If it doesn’t and so maintains its stable security base. have something, then it probably won’t It was designed to start up quickly. be supported and THIS is the trick that Typically, it takes 45 seconds for a Windows gets the Chromebook, up and running, so based machine to become usable, and that quickly! is when it is new – as time goes on it takes It generally has little internal storage as longer! It takes 55 seconds for an identical it uses the internet for most of the normal Linux based machine, which doesn’t slow storage functions. For me, and this is a down over time! The Chromebook, due personal choice only! I use the internet to its Chrome OS will start up in about as a tool, a means to an end, and spend 10 seconds. I’m sure you have seen adverts where a Windows machine starts much more time OFF the internet as ON it.

Would I have a Chromebook? Hell YES, almost instantly, well it does ONLY if your computer is in sleep mode. The Chrome but only if some kind soul offered to buy OS is ready in 10 seconds from pushing it for me! I will always need a computer that has the capacity to be whatever I the power button!!!

What Google have done is to take the web need, when I need it and, although the browser (firefox, Internet explorer and in Chromebook is a superb, beautifully this case Google’s Chrome) and build the designed computer in it own right, it will computer around it! Nearly everything never be able to replace my Linux based that you will need is ‘out there’ on the workhorse!

Although I have a clinic at Jacks Bar in internet. Word processors, Speadsheet, Presentation applications, Email, in fact Albox on a Friday Afternoon, I’m always just about everything that you might need available in Partaloa for the surrounding to keep connected to family, friends and area (including Albox) if you feel that you aren’t getting the professional help your “enemies to be kept closer”.

The key issue is the price, or rather, WAS computer deserves. Contact me for free the price. When the Chromebook first advice concerning your computer or tablet came out it was the cheapest laptop on at the address or phone number below. the market when compared For further information or advice on to similar Windows computing,contact Trevor on 689 892 745 or based laptops. The price canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk difference is much less now

Guernica

Gernika (Basque spelling) in northern Spain is strategically important as 2 main roads intersect there linking the Atlantic port town of Bermeo and the Basque capital Bilbao. The river In Gernika is also deep enough for trading boats to navigate the estuary to the Bay of Biscay.

Across medieval Europe; meetings were held and new laws passed under oak trees. In Gernika there’s been an oak on the same spot since the town was founded in 1366. The first lasted 450 years being replaced in 1742.

The third tree was planted in 1858 but this was replaced in 2005 after it died from a fungus. In 1810 William Wordsworth wrote a poem about Gernika’s oak. The town gardeners have always grown oaks from the acorns and there is a stock of descendants which are given as gifts to towns and organisations friendly with the Basque region.

Gernika is the traditional seat of the Biscay Province Parliament; Basque laws were passed under these oaks up until 1876 with a meeting house built

REGISTERING YOUR VEHICLE IN SPAIN. SPANISH LICENSE PLATES AND REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 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 always looking for quality homes for their sales and rental portfolios, please contact Stephen for a valuation: stephen@findmeahome.eu Telephone: 636 266 641

nearby for this purpose.

When the Basque region became part of Castille it became customary for new kings to come to Guernica to swear an oath under the tree to uphold the laws of Biscay. The symbol of the oak leaf features on many Basque logos and coats of arms.

So Gernika has always held special significance for the Basque people and it’s regarded as their spiritual heart. During the Civil War most Basque regions voted to side with the ruling republicans which pitted them against the nationalists led by Franco.

Northern Spain was hugely important for both sides as it has coal, iron and the subsequent heavy industry in abundance.

The nationalists were aiming to take Bilbao and on March 31st leaflets were dropped from planes across the region bearing a message from General Mola telling people their lives and possessions would be spared if they surrendered. The same day the town of Durango became the first

ever defenceless civilian European town to be bombed from the air.

Hundreds died and fighter planes straffed people in the streets as they ran. Franco’s General Queipo Del Llano claimed over the radio that only military targets has been hit and that the priests and nuns that died; had been locked in by communists in the churches and burnt alive.

Monday is market day in Gernika and was a huge affair taking on a holiday feel. On April 2nd 1936 the town held 10,000 people; locals, market goers and also refugees fleeing the first bombings from a few weeks earlier.

At 1630 hours all hell broke loose; for 2 and ¾ hours the German Luftwaffe (Condor Legion) and the Italian air force carpet bombed the defenceless town. Wave upon wave of explosives and incendiaries rained down, with fighter planes shooting people as they fearfully scattered. The town was all but destroyed.

The supposed military objective was

to destroy the river ; however this remained untouched as did the two munitions factories.

Journalists arrived quickly to the scene and reported the bombing but the Francoists denied any bombing had taken place instead blaming the republicans for setting fire to the town as they retreated. It’s estimated around 1500 people lost their lives.

A few days later the town was taken unopposed. The oak tree and meeting house were luckily untouched by the bombs and locals held an armed guard around the tree to stop the victors felling it as a symbolic act against the Basques. At the Nuremberg trials Goering confessed that Guernica was used by Germany as a testing ground for the ‘total war’ carpet bombing techniques for the war to come!

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SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

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SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

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JAGUARS – THE BIG ONE Largest collection of Classic Jaguars ever in Spain Written by Eric Arnold

After months of planning The Big One as it became to be called actually happened. A joint meeting between The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, Spain and The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club, France, plus a few guys from the Madrid Jaguar Club. The result was 73 fabulous

the Grand Draw, prizes included bottles of 40 and 20 year old Cognac, an Iberico Cured Ham, a gold plated Jaguar fob watch, a 7” Android Tablet, HD DVD Car video recorder, display and camera, various bottles of superb wines, a cheese and many other items. At the end of the evening we held a Grand Auction. All the items in the auction were donated by some of the members. Many, many thanks to those who donated items to this fantastic auction. We made just slightly over 1,800.00 Euros, of which 600.00 Euros will be kept for club funds and the remaining 1,200.00 Euros will be donated to Cancer Research UK. Sunday started early, breakfast then “start your engines” was called at 09:30 and 73 glorious Jaguars snaked through the little town of Siguenza and then squeezed in to the town square.

I am not quite sure how we got them all in but we did. I have never seen a site quite like it, a phenomenal photo opportunity.

A meeting with the Mayor then at Jaguars cleaned and polished to “within an inch of their lives” and 151 very enthusiastic Jaguar owners. The roughly 11:30, start your engines was called and the main event took place on Saturday 28th March and Big Cats cruised out of the town and into the Spanish Sunday 29th March 2015 but many of the participants country side on their way to another Parador hotel in took two or three days to travel to and from their home Soria, where a very special “posh tapas” lunch had been organised. That brought the organised parts of to the event in Northern Spain. the event to a close. People made their own way back Cars and owners came from all over Spain and France to Siguenza in their own time and congregated at the fabulous Parador Siguenza hotel in Siguenza. A 13th Century castle that has been May I take this opportunity to offer a very special thank you to all those that attended, I know many of

through the day.

I am already getting requests to “do it again”, just Bigger & Better, April 2017 is the target date. For our next meeting will be on 10th May 2015 when we will be visiting Restaurant, La Cova in Campello again, a firm favourite with our members and a beautiful location.

Ian our Events Director is planning something special for September and we will be “cruising” down to Malaga for our “Trip Down South” in November. Why not come and join us. Our Costa Del Sol region has just been launched and is holding their first meeting on 19th April just outside Nerja, details can be found on our web site under Regions, check it out.

The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club is the largest of the

you travelled many hundreds of kilometres to attend this event. A very special thank you to Graham Searle, General Manager, JEC UK who came all the way from England to give us his support. Special thanks to Chris Park and Tim Sankey from JEC France, without their help and support The Big One would not have been such a tremendous success. As always a big thank you to Ian McMenemy, our dedicated Events Director for all his help and his hard work organising our normal events which allowed me the time to conceive and organise this event, and a special thank you to David Shea for his sterling work on our Facebook pages. Last but not least Alfonso Cuervo-Arrango, the events Press Officer who helped in so many ways not only with the press but with the organisation and arrangements

worlds Jaguar Clubs, apart from joining in the fun at the meetings, full members also benefit from a glossy 140 page A4 monthly magazine, Jaguar spares department and a technical advice service second to none. If you live in Spain and own a Jaguar you should be a member of The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club. The JEC in Spain is organised by Eric Arnold and Ian McMenemy. Eric can be contacted by email at jaguarspain@outlook.com or by phone on 609931647 or alternatively check out the JEC Spain website www.jec-spain.com Our Events Director, Ian McMenemy can be contacted at McMenemy@JECevents.com. Our Costa Del Sol Region is organised by Phillip Wray who can be contacted on jec.costadelsol@ gmail.com Come along and join us, you will not be disappointed.

converted into a glorious luxury hotel. An outstanding collection of Big Cats graced the cobbled grounds of this iconic building. It made “an old man” very happy, what an amazing sight. I am not going to try and mention all the cars, there were so many that deserved a special mention but, to do them justice would take up too much room in this article. If you want to see just some of them, visit our web site www.jec-spain. com and visit the Events pages and the Gallery pages where you can see examples of “just the best motors in the world”!

On the Saturday evening we all gathered for the “Black, White & Bling” Gala Dinner, held in the medieval hall.

A selection of exquisite “tapas” starters then either beef wellington or a fish dish, accompanied with some stunning wines. Dessert and coffee was preceded by

PROPERTY supplement

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SOLTIMES april 2015

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Building Permits for New Homes Grew by 38.9% in January

The number of building licence applications for new housing grew by 38.9% in January, to a total of 3,466 certificates, after ending last year registering the first upturn since 2006, in anticipation of a certain recovery in developer activity, according to data from the Ministry of Development.

However, the figures are still far from those reached just prior to the bursting of the housing bubble at the beginning of the crisis when, in January 2007, a total of 59,268 building licences were registered for the construction of new homes in Spain.

More than two-thirds of the total number of building permits requested

(2,436) relate to houses built in blocks, which is an increase of 51.8% over the previous year.

According to El Economista, the remaining 1,028 authorisations relate to the construction of individual family homes, a figure which is 15.7% higher than that registered for the whole of 2013.

In January a total of 1,856 licences were also requested for the reform or restoration of homes, resulting in an increase of 10.6% compared to previous year, while, in contrast, the number of applications for authorisation to extend housing fell by 16.9%, to 145 requests http://news.kyero.com/

Building Permits

A licencia (building permit) must be obtained before the construction of any building can begin, regardless of whether the structure is to be used as a dwelling, or whether or not it has foundations. This same permit is compulsory for any work carried out on an existing building where this work would; change the usage, exterior appearance, modify the volume, or where extra storeys would be created.

(Note: you need a building permit for a prefabricated wooden house.)

There are two types of building permits: Permit for minor works: walls, terraces, and barbecues. Permit for major works: new buildings, alterations, and demolitions.To obtain a building permit for minor works, you need simply request a licencia de obra menor at your Town Hall. Normally this should include a small description of the work to be undertaken and an estimation of the costs. This so that taxes can be calculated. The tax is paid at the end of the job and is normally calculated at around 4 to 6% of the construction cost.

To obtain a building permit for major works you will need: Technical dossier (proyecto) created by an architect registered in the Spanish architecture college A technical architect (aparejador), normally chosen by the architect. The technical architect is the site manager in official control of the building site A builder All three of these professionals have to sign the application.

Submitting the solicitud de licencia The application is submitted either in person or by registered letter to the

local alcalde, where a receipt (recibo) will be issued; the application is usually processed within two months of receiving the registered letter.

A letter of notification will be sent following the submission with the application number. After an examination confirming that the correct information has been presented, details of the request will be posted in the Town Hall. The application will be verified for compliance with the building rules. A tacit approval may be assumed two months from the date of submission and the permiso de construir (building permit) will normally be delivered within that time.

Note: If the building authority does not give you a notification within two months, you will automatically obtain the license, assuming that the correct information was submitted and it complies with building regulations.

Responsibilities The building act LOE of 5th November 1999 (Ley de Ordenaci贸n de la Edificacion), considers all parties involved in the construction of the building to carry some responsibility. Without prejudice to their contractual responsibilities, the individuals or legal entities who assist in the building process are liable to the owners and third party buyers of the building or any parts thereof, should the building be divided. The following property damages affecting the building within a specified time, starting on the date of the commencement of the works without reservation or starting on the date of the correction of such reservations: http://spain.angloinfo.com/

18

SOLTIMES april 2015

PROPERTY supplement

Building your own home Cost, architects, contracts and guarantees

If you want to be far from the madding crowd, you can buy a plot of land (parcela) and have an individual architect-designed house built to your own design and specifications or to a standard design provided by a builder However, building a home isn’t recommended for the timid. Spanish red tape and the often eccentric ways of doing business can make building your own home a nightmare and it’s fraught with problems. Nevertheless, there are many excellent builders who will build an individuallydesigned house on your plot of land or will sell you a plot and build a house chosen from a range of standard designs.

Checks When you’re looking at a particular area, you should check the medium-term infrastructure plans for that area, with the regional and national authorities. It’s worth remembering that the road and rail infrastructure in Spain needs upgrading in many areas and many new road and railway projects are in the pipeline. This could mean that, although a quiet rural plot may seem miles from anywhere today, there could be plans for a motorway passing along the boundaries within the next five to ten years.

This is the case, for example, with the toll-motorway planned from Torremolinos to Las Pedrizas in Malaga, which will run through a large section of currently unspoilt countryside. Check plans for airports as well and find out where flight paths will run. An airport is currently under construction in Castellón (Costa del Azahar) and others planned for Antequera (Malaga, 2010) and Corvera (Murcia, 2009). Unfortunately many long-term plans are unavailable to the public or they may change, but information about infrastructure development for the next ten years is usually available.

You must take the same care when buying land as you would when buying a home. The most important point is to ensure that it has been approved for building (land classified as a finca urbana can usually be built on) and that the plot is large enough and suitable for the house you plan to build. This is done by obtaining a certificate (certificado de situación urbanística) from the local town hall. It may also be possible to build on agricultural land (finca rústica), but there are strict limits on plot and building sizes (the minimum plot that can be built on is usually 3,000m2 and may be as high as 10,000m2 or even 15,000m2 as in the Balearics). There are also limitations on the type of building allowed in some regions. If the plot is part of an urbanisation, the contract must state that the plan has been approved and give the date and authority.

You can obtain this information (informe urbanístico) from the local town hall.

Beware of Spanish building regulations Never assume that you will be able to build the same sort of house as your neighbours, as regulations vary according to the situation and type of plot or regulations may have changed since the property was built. Some plots are unsuitable for building, as they’re too steep or require prohibitively expensive foundations. It’s prudent to consult an architect who will be able to tell you whether the plot is suitable for construction and if you will need costly retaining walls or foundations. You should also have a land survey, which costs from €1,800 to €4,200, before you commit yourself to a purchase. A survey can also check the boundaries (rural plots commonly have more or less land than officially stated) and water rights.

Also check that there aren’t any restrictions such as hightension electricity lines, water pipes or rights of way that may restrict building. It’s advisable to consider the access to a plot if this isn’t along a surfaced road. Rainfall in winter is often torrential and many tracks turn into impassable mud and some are even washed away completely.

Before you buy land, particularly in rural areas, you should take comprehensive advice from a professional (preferably

a lawyer) who should thoroughly investigate the conditions and regulations affecting the land. Never believe an owner or estate agent keen to sell you a plot who says there will be ‘no problem’ getting planning permission. All too often, foreign buyers have found themselves the proud owners of a rustic plot they cannot build on! If possible, always make obtaining building approval a condition of the purchase of land.

The cost of providing services to a property in a remote rural area may be prohibitively expensive and it must have a reliable water supply. If you don’t have mains water and must rely on other sources such as wells, you should make sure that the supply is adequate for your needs.

Bear in mind that drought is common in most of southern Spain where it doesn’t usually rain from the end of May to September. Always get confirmation in writing from the local town hall that land can be built on and has been approved for road access.

Ensuring a building licence in Spain Before buying land for building, ensure that the purchase contract is dependent on obtaining the necessary building licence (licencia de obra). Obtain a receipt showing that the plot is correctly presented in the property register (registro de la propiedad) and check for yourself that the correct planning permission has been obtained (don’t simply leave it to the builder). If planning permission is flawed you may need to pay extra to improve the local infrastructure or the property may even have to be demolished! Note also that it can take a long time to obtain planning permission.

Most builders offer package deals that include the land and the cost of building a home. However, it isn’t always advisable to buy the building plot from the builder who’s going to build your home and you should shop around and compare separate land and building costs. If you do decide to buy a package deal from a builder, you must insist on separate contracts for the land and the building and obtain the title deed for the land before signing a building contract. If you’re having a home built on an existing urbanisation, you must ensure that the urbanisation has been approved, as some are illegal.

Cost The cost of land varies considerably depending on the area, e.g. from around €50 to €300 upwards per square metre (m2), and has escalated sharply in recent years in some areas, fuelled by speculators. However, in rural areas agricultural land can be exceedingly cheap, costing as little as a few euros per square metre.

Land usually represents as much as half the cost of building a home, although it’s still possible in many areas to buy a plot of land and build a bigger and better home for less than the cost of a resale property. Building your own home allows you not only to design your home, but to ensure that the quality of materials and workmanship are first class. Building costs range from around €700 to €1,500 (or more) per square metre in resort areas, depending on the quality and the area.

However, you should add an extra 10 to 15 per cent to the estimated price, as the cost of building a house is always more expensive than originally planned. Note, that labour costs may be considerably higher if your plot is situated

www.soltimes.com in a remote area where you must also pay extra for transportation of materials. Value added tax (IVA) of 16 per cent is payable on building land (terreno urbanizable) and 7 per cent on building costs.

If you want a swimming pool or a garage built, it’s advisable to have it constructed at the same time as the house, when IVA is 7 per cent; if they’re constructed separately, IVA is 16 per cent.

Finding an architect & builder in Spain When looking for an architect and builder it’s advisable to obtain recommendations from local people you can trust, e.g. a bank manager, estate agent, lawyer, notario, or neighbours and friends. Note, however, that estate agents or other professionals aren’t always the best people to ask, as they may receive a commission. You can also obtain valuable information from expatriates in local bars and from owners of properties in an area that you particularly like.

Many Spanish architects speak English and there are also architects from other EU countries working in the main resort areas. Architects’ fees are usually calculated as a percentage of the total costs of the work, usually between 5 and 10 per cent, which doesn’t encourage them to cut costs. However, there are no longer mandatory minimum fees for architects and you may be able to negotiate a good deal.

A good architect should be able to recommend a number of reliable builders, but you should also do your own research, as the most important consideration when choosing a new home is the reputation (and financial standing) of the builder. However, you should be wary of an architect with his ‘own’ builder (or a builder with his own architect), as it’s the architect’s job to ensure that the builder does his work according to the plans and specifications, so you don’t want their relationship to be too cosy.

Inspect other homes the builder has built and check with the owners as to what problems they’ve had and whether they’re satisfied. Building standards in Spain vary considerably and you shouldn’t assume that the lowest offer is the best value. Your best insurance when building a property is the reputation of the builder and his liquidity.

It’s important that the builder provides a ‘termination’ guarantee (backed by a bank or insurance company) to cover you in the event that he goes bust before completing the property and its infrastructure, which must be specified in the contract.

If you want a house built exactly to your specifications, you must personally supervise it every step of the way or employ an architectural engineer or technical architect (aparejador) to do it for you. Without close supervision it’s highly likely that your instructions won’t be followed.

Around 70 per cent of an architect’s fees are payable when a building is started, the balance becoming due upon completion when the ‘certificate of new work’ (certificado de fin de obra nueva), the ‘licence for the first occupation’ (licencia de primera ocupación) and the declaration that the house is habitable (cédula de habitabilidad) have been issued by the town hall or regional government.

Contracts You should obtain written quotations (presupuestos) from a number of builders before signing a contract. One of the most important features of a home in Spain must be good insulation (against heat and cold) and protection against humidity.

The contract must include a detailed building description (memoria de calidades) and a list of the materials to be used (with references to the architect’s plans); the exact location of the building on the plot; the building and payment schedule, which must be made in stages according to building progress; a penalty clause for late completion; the retention of a percentage (e.g. 5 to 10 per cent) of the building costs as a guarantee against defects; and how disputes will be settled. It may be difficult or impossible to get the builder to accept a penalty clause for late completion, as buildings are rarely completed on time.

Ensure that the contract includes all costs, including the architect’s fees (unless contracted separately); landscaping (if applicable); all permits and licences (including the costs of land segregation, the declaration of new building, and the horizontal division for a community property) and the connection of utilities (water, electricity, gas, etc.) to the house, not just to the building site. The only extra is usually the cost of electricity and water meters.

/www.justlanded.com

PROPERTY supplement

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

19

A Fresh Look at Marbella’s Old Town

Now, a lot of people will prefer modern shopping malls and we have our share of those along the coast, but for me it is hard to beat the atmosphere of an old town centre like that of Marbella.

The problem is that while shopping centres feature some great shops and international brands they are pretty much the same wherever you go. From my perspective you must have a pretty narrow outlook not to get bored by the same chain store names on every high street and mall from ‘Lake Geneva to the Finland station,’ but maybe I’m just being cynical.

Give me the sights, scents and impressions that are unique to a certain location and that are deeply rooted in its history and cultural heritage. Marbella’s old town is a fine example.

Situated just off the main shopping boulevard, Avenida Ricardo Soriano, and less than a kilometre from the beach, its maze of cobbled pedestrian streets are a welcome change

Spain Housing Transactions Moved 46,996 Million Euros in 2014

Transactions for private housing in Spain reached a total of 46,996.2 million euros in 2014, representing an increase of 23.4% compared to the same period the year before (38,075.6 million euros) and breaking three years of declines, according to data published by the Ministry of Development and prepared

by Servimedia.

The 46,996.2 million euros corresponds to 347,202 private housing transactions carried out in the year (21.7% more than in 2013). Specifically, transactions on second-hand dwellings accounted for 39,727.6 million euros (+30.8%), while the amount corresponding to new builds was somewhat lower, with 7,268.6 million euros (-5.6%).

The region to register the greatest value in housing transactions in 2014 was Madrid, with 9,292.9 million euros, followed by Catalonia (8,576 million

euros), Andalucía (8,225.4 million) and Valencia (5,521.7 million), while at the lower end stood the Basque Country (2,394 million euros), the Balearic Islands (2,228.9 million), the Canary Islands (1,951.8 million), Castilla y León (1,567.5 million), Galicia (1,470.8 million), CastillaLa Mancha (1,145.2 million), Aragón (1,066.3 million) and Murcia (1,038.7 million).

In contrast, El Economista reported that the regions where private housing sector transactions moved least money last year were Asturias (608.9 million euros), Navarra (560.6 million), Cantabria (513.9 million), Extremadura (438 million), La Rioja (265.8 million) and Ceuta and Melilla (129.3 million euros between the two). keyero.com

from tall buildings, loud signage and noisy traffic.

What’s more, this is the old heart of Marbella, so its whitewashed houses arranged around narrow alleyways and lovely squares are a historical delight that still buzzes with the everyday life of a vibrant community. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that washing hangs over your head in the classic Mediterranean tradition – Marbella’s a bit too refined for that – but the old town’s charm lies in the way it is quaint, clean and very well preserved.Marbella Old Town While people still live here it is also the setting for some of the nicest antique shops, boutiques, shoe shops, cafés, tapas bars, restaurants and specialist outlets in Marbella.

Good bargains can be had and one of the main attractions is the lively yet traffic-free ambience and feeling that you’re in the real Spain. As a result, this is also one of the very best places to head for lunch or to go out at night, with excellent tapas bars, restaurants (avoid the more touristy ones) and some really great nightspots.

Where Puerto Banús is about flashing your Rolex and/or Roller, old town Marbella is about having fun in a more relaxed and understated way. The locals love it here, as do those foreigners in the know – and keep an eye out for the special events and activities organised on a regular basis.

So for something a little more authentic give the shopping mall a miss and make the most of a sunny day. keyero.com

Your Belgian estate agent for inland, specializing in the area of Arboleas, Albox and surrounding towns and villages.

Cantoria, Villa with 4 bed, 2 bath on a plot of 5.160m² and in walking distance to the village.

122.500€ Partaloa, Very big house with 4 bed, 4 bath and room for a pool.

165.000€

we’ve been very busy scouting new customers in Belgium so contact us if you wish to sell

Now you can easily find us in the centre of Albox at La Plaza Nueva, No. 10 (Opposite the donkey statue). Come and meet the team for free and friendly advice. After yet another successful exhibition, we are still looking for lots of new properties to offer our Belgian clients!

We are also looking to expand into the area of Huercal-Overa for the new up and coming Belgian market!

Office: Carlos: Gavin:

950 102 191 www.immo-carlos.com 648 505 938 671 293 942 email: info@immo-carlos.com

20

PROPERTY supplement

SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

www.soltimes.com

property group

Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria

Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563

www.veritashomes.co.uk info@veritashomes.co.uk You can find us on Mojácar Playa

€79,950

3 bed / 2 bath Apartment with nice sea views in Marina de la Torre. Front covered terrace. Fully furnished. Ref. 1559

Mojácar Playa

€115,000

Beautiful sea facing 2 bed / 2 bath Apartment with private parking. Terraces of 25 m² & 6 m².

Fully furnished. Ref.1595

Mojácar playa

€120,000

Nice southeast facing 2 bed / 1,5 bath Townhouse with sea views near promenade & amenities. Large sunny terrace. Ref. 1572

mojacar Playa

€199,950

Palomares

€85,000

Marina de la Torre €90,000

Mojácar playa

Fantastic 3 bed / 2 bath furnished Townhouse with underground garage, terraces and roof solarium near amenities. Ref. 1629

1 bed / 1 bath fully furnished Apartment with underground parking place and store room. Lift Heated pool. Ref. 1626

2 bed / 2 bath ground floor Apartment set near Las Ventanicas beach & promenade. Terrace of 15 m² & patio of 27 m². Ref.1625

DUE TO INCREASE IN DEMAND WE URGENTLY NEED PROPERTIES IN MOJÁCAR, GARRUCHA, VERA AND TURRE. CALL US NOW ON 950 472 430 Or 610 053 563

FREE VALUATION Mojacar Playa

€199,950

Mojácar playa

€249.950

3 bed / 3 bath semi detached Villa with sea views on small community with pool near amenities. Terraces & solarium. Ref.1137

3 bed / 2 bath detached Villa near beach, amenities & promenade. Air con & fire place.

Car port . Partial sea views. Ref.1560

3 bed / 2 bath newly renovated Villa with pool . Plot of 246 m² within 1 min to beach. Air con. Roof terrace with sea views. Ref.1610

Puerto Rey

turre

Vera

€279,000

Amazing 3 bed / 2 bath Penthouse apartment on 2 levels with more than 100 m² of terraces, private pool and parking. Ref.1627

€299,999

Fantastic opportunity! 4 bed / 4 bath Villa with pool & basement on plot of 10.648 m² near village. Mature garden. Ref.1551

Mojácar playa

€90,000

€119,950

2 bed / 1 bath fully furnished Apartment with a large terrace set in nice community in front of the promenade. Ref.1083

Mojácar playa

€170,000

3 bed / 2 bath nice semi detached House with private plot of 230 m² on gated community with pool near beach. Sea views. Ref. 1618

Mojácar playa

€250,000

Amazing sea views. 3 bed / 2 bath Villa with garage, utility room, roof solarium & terraces on plot of 417 m² near beach. Ref.1062

€350,000

Nice 3 bed / 4 bath Villa with pool and garage on fully fenced plot of 3.000 m². Mature landscaped garden. Ref.1565

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

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

by Veritas Homes is available at our office.

PROPERTY supplement

www.soltimes.com

Spaniards 'happy with their homes', especially location, light, size and comfort

MORE than eight in 10 Spaniards are ‘very happy’ with the homes they live in, particularly their location, natural light, and size, according to research carried out by DIY and decoration chain Leroy Merlín.

The majority - 82.3% - gave their homes a rating of 7.69 out of 10, with over a third saying they most liked the area their property was situated in, just under a quarter saying its amount of natural light was what made them happiest about their houses or apartments, and one in five putting its size top of the list of its assets.

Comfort was most valued by 17.3%.

Main concerns when choosing a home to live in included, in two-thirds of cases for each, the fixtures and fittings working properly and being in a good state of repair, and its insulation against noise and smells, whilst 59.2% were most conscious about how safe the property is.

What the property is like for actual daily living, including being pleasing to the eye, has become one of the top concerns when choosing a new home with 28.5% saying the decoration scheme was important to them, 26% basing their choice on how comfortable the house or flat is, and 12.6% looking at practical aspects.

For six in 10 Spaniards, the relationship between their home and the environment has come into focus more in the last five years - nearly a third have taken steps to save energy and natural resources such as water.

Environmental aspects are more important to the 25 to 34 age-group with children and living in large towns or

cities of between 50,000 and half a million inhabitants than to any other segment interviewed.

With the economic crisis, Spanish homeowners are becoming more practical and willing to get their hands dirty - 41.2% are more inclined to carry out DIY than call in a trader, with women in general concerned with home decorating and men seeking to improve practical aspects of the property.

In terms of type of property, for nearly half of those surveyed - 48% - the different life-stages of their children influenced the home they would choose or renovations or repairs carried out in it.

The birth of a first child had the greatest impact on home choices, with 22.7% admitting this would condition the type of property they sought to buy or the work they carried out in it, and children leaving home in second place, at 17.8%.

21

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MOBILE HOMES for sale or rent

fully equipped mobile home on secure site with bowling green, bar/restauarant, supermarket, swimming pool.

Top entertainment on a Saturday evening.

Additionally, selling a home and buying a new one, is likely to be caused by having to take care of a dependent relative in 38.7% of cases.

Sunday carvery 1.00 - 4.00 pm fish and chips all day friday.

The financial crisis has led to a greater consciousness about saving electricity and water, and 54.8% say they carry out as much of their own repairs, renovations and redecorations as they can rather than paying an outside contractor to do so.

ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON! VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT ONLY phone Shirley 679970399

http://www.thinkspain.com/

mortgage lenders Price war seeking customers

MORTGAGE lenders in some parts of Spain have gone from practically refusing to loan money to cold-calling estate agencies and launching price wars in a bid to capture clients.

Head of the College of Economists in the province of Castellón, on the east coast just south of Catalunya says banks are offering fixed rates with nominal interest of as little as 2.5%. Jaime Querol reveals that an 'excess of cashflow' in Spanish high-street banks, as a result of bailouts, buy-outs and strict conditions imposed by the Central European Bank (BCE) means entities are seeking to 'go back to what they have been doing business in all their lives', or 'lending money'.

“They have a much more open outlook than a year ago, and have started a price war,” reveals Querol.

He says the College of Economists has seen a 'change in trend' in the past 12 months, but as yet this 'new attitude' has not translated into a 'notable increase' in housing purchase transactions in the province of Castellón – although buyers and sellers were moving more property in 2014 than the year before.

Last year, Castellón – the Valencia region's least-touristy of its three provinces – sold 5,737 homes, showing an 8.3% rise on the year before.

“For the first time since before the start of the financial crisis, sales staff at high-street banks are coldcalling estate agencies and visiting them at their offices to sell all types

SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

of mortgage offers, so that these agencies will recommend them to their customers who are seeking to buy and need finance,” reveals Francisco Nomdedéu of the College of Estate Agents in Castellón.

“They are also making more active use of advertising to reverse the reputation they have had lately of not being willing to offer mortgages and to end the resigned attitude of the home-buying public, who often did not bother to think about purchasing as they knew there was 'no point' in asking any bank for a loan,” Nomdedéu adds.

Spain's Consumers' Union, UCE, warns homebuyers to proceed with caution amid the graduallyexpanding sea of mortgage offers.

Its manager, Juan Carlos Insa, says: “Read the small print of any attractive offers carefully and, if you do not understand any of it, get independent advice before you sign.”

Consumer associations such as the OMIC and OCU, of which there is normally one in most small or middle-sized towns, will advise potential mortgage customers for free.

Insa says he hopes banks will still be prudent whilst launching offers and price wars, and that 'certain conditions will continue to apply' such as 'not lending 100% of the value of the property'.

But banks are showing more willingness to offer 100% mortgages, especially as home prices are at rockbottom meaning they are more likely

to rise significantly in value in the medium to long term, and for firsttime buyers it is often impossible to save up a sufficient deposit to take advantage of any other deal.

Castellón, however, continues to offer attractive prices, given that tourism and an influx of expatriates over the years seems to have largely missed the province.

Whilst Alicante and, to a lesser extent, Valencia are very multinational with a high percentage of northern Europeans among their population both year-round and parttime, Castellón is far less so, despite enjoying all the same features as its two southern neighbours: sundrenched beaches, 325 days a year of sunshine including four months of guaranteed beach weather, fiestas, excellent-quality restaurants which have cut their prices since the start of the recession to bring in more customers, spa resorts and golf courses, and a direct train from Castellón city to Valencia which is only a short ride from the metro station outside the terminus directly into the airport.

Now is probably an ideal time to seek out a holiday home in the Castellón province, particularly on its beautiful Costa del Azahar, since it is unlikely to ever become an overcrowded package resort destination with little beach-space, but once the economy picks up it is only a matter of time before discerning holidaymakers and expatriates begin to discover it. thinkspain

Warning to holiday home owners

If you let your property to tourists, you are probably in breach of the law. Second-home owners are warned to be on their guard as tourism and tax authorities in Spain are clamping down on unregistered lets. Those who advertise their properties on the web for holiday lets face fines of up to 30,000 euros if caught.

Legally, these apartments and villas should be registered with the tourism authorities, but conditions are extremely stringent. In practice, hardly any privately-owned properties are licensed for holiday rentals. In addition to fines for illegal holiday letting, owners of these properties could face the wrath of both the Spanish tax authorities and, if they are expatriates, those in their home country, if rental earnings are not declared.

More than 300,000 expatriate property investors in Spain are British. With recent interest rate rises and the slowing down of the housing market, more and more are turning to the tourism market to offset their losses.

Given the fact that buy-to-let mortgages are more readily available nowadays, many expatriates have been seduced into investing in property in Spain with rental income from holidaymakers paying their mortgage and providing them with an additional income. An average two-bedroom apartment with a sea view can net as much as 1,400 euros per week in the height of the summer season.

A number of Brits with property in the Balearic Islands and on the Andalucía coast have revealed that they were reported to the authorities by their Spanish neighbours for letting out their premises. Most say they bought their second homes for investment purposes and that, after advertising them on the Internet for holiday rental, were booked solid for most of the year.

However, they now face five-figure fines, in some cases considerably more than they have earned from letting the property – which was, in most instances, merely a way of paying the mortgage. Most have no idea the premises require licensing from the tourist authorities to be used as holiday rentals until they are

22

PROPERTY supplement

SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

www.soltimes.com

Spaniards Spend an Average of 535 Euros this Easter

Cortijo La Tejera IA 1205 Taberno Cortijo El Chaquetas IA 1091 Albox

Country house. This is a large 2 storey. Partially renovated. Land 15.000 m² Floor area 300 m². Easy To connect water. Good access road and great views of natural landscape.

35,000€

Country house . This is large 2 story.

Partially renovated. 3 beds, 1 bath.

In the area of land there are caves.

Land 1,500m2.

55,000€

Casa Los Blancos IA 1031 Chirivel Casa Graciela IA 1534 Rambla de Oria

Detached country house. The property was built in 2005. 2 bed, 1 bath, Land 1 ha. Just 2 km from the town and very near to the Granada-Murcia motorway.

Water & electric. Amazing views

65,000€

Price Negotiable Lovely property. Detached 2 beds, 2 baths, Garage. Great views.

Land 1,000 m² Floor area - 100 m²

110.000€

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

Bedar, 04288 (next to Miramar Restaurant)

Tel: 607 705 085 or 687 938 466

O Olive

Email: info@olivehouse-es.com

www.olivehouse-es.com

Monday - Friday 10am - 3.30pm

Sales office now open in Bedar

OLV878

BEDAR

A unique opportunity to purchase one of the largest town houses in the stunning and picturesque village of Bedar. Casa del Medico is a fine looking double fronted property boasting 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, garden/ terrace area and garage.

...it’s all in the detail

These stunning 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom properties are located in the beautiful and renowned coastal resort of Agua Amarga in the now protected

average of three nights per booking.

In addition, the portal noted that in the last three months reservations made via phones or tablets have also increased by 10%. Europa Press reported that sales of flights are expected to increase by 6% over the previous year. with the average price per reservation standing at 210 euros per passenger.

For those choosing to book a cruise, a holiday option increasingly in demand, the average price paid stood at 2,556 euros, exceeding the overall average.

Among the favourite international destinations of choice, according to reservations made, are Rome, London and Paris, followed by Berlin, Lisbon, Brussels, Marrakech and Budapest, while for those choosing to stay in Spain, some of the top holiday hot spots are the Catalan coast – Costa Dorada, Costa Brava – Madrid, Seville, Granada, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Ibiza and the Canary Islands. The online portal also pointed out that with Easter falling in early April this year, this has also boosted the reservations in the coastal destinations and islands, since forecasts for good weather have attracted more holidaymakers. keyero.com

COMPLETE HOLIDAY HOLIDAY CARE CARE COMPLETE MOJACAR PLAYA

RENTALS - SALES -MANAGEMENT - MAINTENANCE

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

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

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

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

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

MOJACAR - €99,950

National Park of the Cabo de Gata.

MOJACAR – REDUCED - €249,950

399,950€

169.950€

Lubrin

OLV059

Agua Amarga

OLV776

According to bookings made by users of the online reservations portal, Atrápalo, Spaniards are allocating an average of 534.67 euros on travel this Easter holiday week, between domestic and international destinations, with the most popular European destinations being Rome, London and Paris. Travellers are divided between those who choose international destinations – the majority of which mostly book package holidays which include flights, hotel and transfers – and those who choose to stay in Spain, who usually opt to purchase either just a flight or a hotel. The portal’s reservations centre has noted an increase in both the bookings and the average expenditure, with the average price for a flight package holiday for the Easter week standing at around 1,044 euros, representing an increase of 3% over 2014.

The volume of reservations have also increased by 29% compared with the same period of the previous year, and users of the portal have also been making their bookings well in advance, even reserving for the Easter period before Christmas.

With regard to hotels, travellers have so far spent 10% more on hotels than last year – 350 euros on average compared with 317.62 euros in 2014 – staying an

Antas

OLV221

This newly built detached villa overlooks the market town of Lubrin. It has fantastic views and a very large sized plot of 30,000m2. There is plenty of room surrounding the property for a private pool and terraces.

A fabulous 2 bedroom Cortijo with lovely views. This

239,950€

99,950€

spacious immaculate Cortijo is situated in a small hamlet just outside Antas town. A lovely setting with a peaceful ambience.

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

info@almeriaholidays.com

www.almeriaholidays.com

www.soltimes.com

Maintaining Your Home Through The Seasons

spring

When spring arrives, the weather starts to thaw, and hopes of the warm summer are on the horizon.

However, with spring comes a change of pace, a change of weather, and a whole new list of home maintenance to take care of.

Some of the most important things are simple checks, for which you will probably have to hire a contractor.

For example, you will want to have your house checked for pests such as termites and the beginnings of nests for stinging pests. You might also want to get your power tools, especially your lawnmower, inspected to make sure that they are in working order.

If you have a pool, you will want to “open” it for the swimming season. This involves much more than simply lifting off a few covers however.

Take your net and clear off any large debris that has settled in or on top of the water in the winter Then start up your filtration system, and make sure that the pump, filters, and baskets are all in working order.

Never drain your pool While many people fall into the habit of doing this, you could actually be doing more harm than good.

If your pool is not heavy enough, it could actually lift out of the ground when drained, and require a complete replacement.

If the water level has gone down over the winter, be sure to top it Balance your chemicals and get your water

PROPERTY supplement

Property Services BUY SELL RENT MAINTAIN

tested at a swimming pool store (this is usually free).

Other things that you will need to do for spring include fixing your screens and pressure washing the exterior of your home.

Another common spring time task is to clean out your gutters. You can do this using a garden trowel and ladder. A trick to check for leaks in your gutters is to blast them with a high pressure hose. The added bonus of this is that it will also clean them. www.discover.com

SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL

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

RENTALS?

Short and long term lets available, in & around Camposol.

More properties also needed.

For more info, contact Tracey Tel: 0034 699107072 Email: camposolvillas4rent@yahoo..co.uk Web: camposolvillas4rent.co.uk

23

Home Sweet Home

VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT

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

SOLTIMES april 2015

TREE SURGEON & GARDENER EST. OVER 25 YEARS Tel: Nick (+34) 634 396 327 (+34) 699 107 072 Email: rockatree@hotmail.co.uk

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3 bed park home for sale

price €59,000

Situated a short walk from the village of Los Lobos, the property comprises of 3 bedrooms, 1 with en suite bathroom, a large lounge/diner, fully fitted kitchen, shower room, private garden and parking.

The rear terrace benefits from a spacious lifestyle enclosure with mountain views.

Tel: 634 351 907

24

PROPERTY supplement

SOLTIMES april 2015

FOR BUSINESS Pension cash changes come into force

Sweeping changes to pension rules which will give savers much more control over their money have come into force.

The shake-up is one of the coalition government’s biggest reforms, allowing people who have saved for a pension to do what they want with their money.

It means people who are retiring

no longer have to buy an annuity to provide a fixed, regular income.

The changes were announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his March 2014 Budget.

Until now those who were retiring could cash in up to 25% of their pension pot as a tax-free lump sum.

They then had two options: reinvest their pension pot - or

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keep their current investments - and take an income from their funds as they needed. The second option open to them was to take out an annuity, which provided a fixed, regular income in their retirement.

The changes that have now come into force mean those due to retire now can do whatever they like with 100% of their pension pot, for example invest in property, although crucially they will still only receive the first 25% tax free.

The reforms have been welcomed in principle, but pensions experts have raised concerns about how they will operate in practice.

Many pension companies have said they are not yet ready to allow people to cash in their pensions because it brings extra costs to schemes as well as risk.

More than half of workplace pension schemes are still undecided about whether to offer access to the new freedoms, and 15% say they definitely will not, according to pension consultants Xafinity.

Pension changes 2015 pot of money People aged 55 and over can withdraw any amount from a Defined Contribution (DC) scheme, subject to income tax Tax changes make it easier to pass pension savings on to descendants Many people with Defined Benefits (DB) schemes will be allowed to transfer to DC plans All retirees will have access to free guidance from the government’s Pension Wise service Existing annuity holders unaffected for

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The government has promised impartial advice sessions on the reforms.

‘Completely wrong’ But despite government assurances that they will be ready for “pensions freedom day”, some pensions industry experts have voiced concerns.

There have also been claims that not all of the advisers needed have been recruited yet.

But Pensions Minister Steve Webb dismissed as “completely wrong” claims that two million people would immediately be looking to take advantage of the new rules.

He added there were hundreds of people specially trained to give advice - 300 at the Department for Work and Pensions and more at Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Pensions Advisory Service.

‘Emergency tax’ Last week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned that thousands of people withdrawing money might find themselves paying much more tax than they needed to.

Other experts have pointed out that, in any case, people taking out cash will have to pay what is called “emergency tax”.

Unless individuals can show a P45 tax form, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will treat any payments as if they are a new monthly salary. bbc.com

NEW BUSINESS? 2 WAYS TO ADVERTISE RING 950 121 936 OR EMAIL YOUR ADVERT TO blancasales@soltimes.com

DAVID THE PLUMBER Prompt and reliable service, no job too small.

Full bathrooms or just makeovers and handyman service.

24 hour call out Boilers: 80 litre fully installed from 160€

the time being, but there are plans for them to be able to sell their annuity

Est. 2006

CURTAIN & BEDDING STORE

large selection - great quality - great prices

SARAH & TONY TURLEY T: 966 848 980 or 642 308 654 C/C Los Dolses, Villamartin

Next to the card shop near the canal.

www.readymadecurtainoutlet.com

NICK THE TILER Call Nick for all your tiling & laminate floor requirements.

Tel.. 605 305 405

SOLTIMES APRIL 2015

www.soltimes.com

25

John MacDonald (El Sordo) www.caratacus.eu

viewpoint

Rodriquez Takes Over

After the ill fated game of ‘Stckitupemdoo’ at the Bar La Casa Devante, Rodriquez now controlled the Remitroot crop, processing plant and the manufactured products waiting to be shipped. In the two bars of Alqueria, drinkers unaware of the impending shortage consumed the remaining stocks at the usual alarming rate. Disaster was looming.

It was a fine, warm, early Spring morning when the first signs appeared, ‘No hay Remitroot’. The heat of the morning became chilled, metaphoric clouds filled the air.

Alqueria became a cold and desolate place.

Rodriquez was in high glee however and danced an Hispanic version of the ‘hornpipe’ in the overstocked Remitroot warehouse that was once Poyato’s.

Manuela began noticing a change in her men friends, they hadn’t been taking their morning Remitroot capsules. These tablets have a similar effect to Viagra, except it is accelerated, extended and certainly reaches the parts that other tablets fail to reach.

More and more Villagers failed to get their daily intake of Remitroot. More and more Villagers became morose, argumentative and started to shake in a strange circular manner as if driving a formula one car around endless chicanes. A contented Alquerian revelled in social unrest, bouts of rioting and the occasional fist-fight. A discontented one didn’t bear thinking about.

Crowds gathered outside the town-hall.

Windows were broken and graffiti daubed. Men cried openly. The womenfolk, only realising their men drank Remitroot after noticing the change caused by abstinence, especially in the bedroom, weren’t happy. Manuela and Loco Paco, the joint Prime Ministers of Alqueria instigated a meeting of the emergency thinktank VINDSCRNVIPER. These meetings are based on and are just as ineffective as the UK’s

Government’s COBRA get togethers. After discussing various alternatives which ranged from ‘doing nothing and perhaps it will sort itself out’, a common tactic of all governments to, assassinating Rodriquez.

They finally reached a decision, simply reaching a decision was progress indeed but there was more, the Government of Alqueria was to send a note to Rodriquez.

It read: ‘Unless you allow the free-flow of Remitroot and its associated products by eleven o’clock tonight then a state of nationalisation will exist between the Remitroot crop and the Republic of Alqueria’.

As the deadline approached so the atmosphere became more tense. Fights broke out regularly, old ladies were mugging teenagers in search of illegal stimulants.

Eleven O’clock came and went. Finally Manuela appeared on the steps of the town-hall, white faced and trembling she carried a crumpled note.

She read aloud, “I have to tell you now that no such undertaking had been received from Rodriquez, therefore a state of nationalisation exists”.

How will Rodriquez react to state intervention?

We shall see.

Honda Civic Review

Developing a brand and generating loyalty are two extremely difficult concepts. I know. My wife and I run our own business, www.creativecoverage.co.uk, which publicises professional artists. In a short space of time word of mouth has spread and renewal rates are high. We’re a very small business offering a service, which generally requires small investment compared to, say, manufacturing.

Looking at car manufacturing it must be one of the most expensive businesses to run when taking into account factories and staff and the expensive designers. In fact the DeLorean story shows how millions can be ploughed into a venture only to see it fail if pricing and demand are incompatible.

Honda has to be one of the success stories of the motor industry. When it launched the Civic in 1972 there must have been a little trepidation as to how the marketplace would take this new small hatchback car. I doubt it envisaged that 20m models would be sold across the world over the next 40 years or that the future would see the Civic being built in the UK, all those miles from Japan.

It’s certainly become a popular vehicle and this has subsequently boosted the Honda brand and promoted loyalty; a former colleague is now on her third Civic.

So countless facelifts later, the Civic, not my former colleague, is a futuristic, efficient and attractive family hatchback.

The 1.8-litre i-VTEC SR Manual I’m testing is finished in polished metal and as ever is pleasing to the eye as you can see in the video at testdrives. biz. As the weather becomes colder it’s good to see the heated front seats; complete with high and low

The Mystery of the Disappearing Key It was barely light and chucking it down with rain when we were boarding the coach for a day out.

Once seated and on our way I had a Joyce Grenfell moment – have I got the car key? No, I haven’t!

I must have dropped it. It is one of those plastic credit card type keys, and someone will find it and press it. Henry the car will flash his lights, and they will drive off with him, our address and house keys. Panic!

I rang our neighbour, Andy, and without vocally batting an eyelid he drove down to Albox in the early morning half-light and the pouring rain and scoured the Dia car park, all to no avail.

For other reasons the day out didn’t happen, and we were back where we started before 10 o’clock.

By now the whole coach knew of our loss, and searched diligently under seats and in all places likely and unlikely.

Mrs Coach Driver, 5 foot of ferocity and not in a good mood to start with, made me turn out my bag and my pockets yet again, but even the force of her character could not restore my key.

Poor Andy, who still hadn’t had breakfast, had to turn out once more to bring us our spare key so that we were mobile again. Unlike me, he seemed quite placid about the whole thing, but then it wasn’t he who had lost the key in the first place!

First priority was to get another key, so we headed Vera-wards, Pete keeping tactfully quiet and me looking likely to get a part as an extra in the terrified crowd scene of the slasher movie ‘Monster Mutant

settings. The panoramic glass roof allows greater amounts of light into the cabin, which is certainly helpful when the interior is black. It allows me to watch the trees above me blow in the autumn wind as I wait to collect my eldest daughter from preschool.

There are a couple of niggles though. Yes, the rear spoiler hampers vision but more importantly I have to watch my knees when I get into the cabin because the dashboard has been designed in such a way that the corner protrudes and my knee catches it, it hurts. Some might appreciate the warning beeps when reversing or when another vehicle is near but I find it offputting.

It’s an enjoyable drive and the six-speed manual box is a joy to use.

We visit the grandparents in Dorset and I drive onto their driveway. When we go to leave there is a thick layer of dew on the outside of all the windows while the inside of the windows are all misted up. I have to reverse out and the driveway is quite narrow with low stone walls on either side so it’s important that I have good visibility. Interestingly and a little frustratingly the front window demists far quicker then the rear window; you would have thought they would clear at the same time. So I have to wait patiently before I can see out of the rear window.

On the way home a lorry pulls out in front of me with little notice showing how effective the Honda’s ABS brakes are. There seems to be more traffic than usual on the roads and the dark night in the New Forest makes it difficult to see ahead to overtake

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk Killer Zombies.’

I knew that getting another key and reprogramming the remaining key would be expensive, and not straightforward, but it was a bullet we had to bite, so I sat quiet while the Renault man tapped computer keys and the printer reeled out page after page of – I’ve no idea what!

‘It will be ready in a week.’ He announced. That’s not bad, I thought as I stood up. He handed me the bill. I sat down again, quickly.

Dear reader, I entreat you, take good care of your plastic car key, for to get a replacement key is a pain in the pocket sufficient to make your eyes water and your knees weak.

Oh! for a good old-fashioned turn in the ignition key, which you can get copied cheaply and instantly in the Ferretería!

safely so we remain stuck behind this lorry for sometime.

It always pays to remain calm while driving because we all make mistakes at times and the well thought out well appointed interior of the Civic promotes an all round feeling of serenity.

“Now there’s the ninth generation Civic that’s not quite so radical,” writes Parkers, the used car experts. “At first glance not that much has changed. Yes, it’s still got a spoiler that serves to ruin the rear view, but Honda tells us that under the spoilered skin this is, in fact, a revolution that’ll take the Civic into the big league. One of the Civic’s strong points is practicality. The boot is far bigger than its competitors’ and there’s loads of room inside thanks to what Honda calls ‘Magic Seats’. These can fold in a clever range of combinations, freeing up plenty of space for transporting large items. The Civic has been awarded a five-star EuroNCAP rating thanks to its plethora of safety equipment including adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation – which applies the brakes if it thinks you’re about to crash. There’s a choice of four engines, two petrol and two diesel.

Petrol options are a 1.4-litre or a 1.8-litre engine, available with either a manual or automatic gearbox.”

Facts at a glance. New price: £24,635. Top speed: 134mph. 0-60mph: 9.1secs. Power: 140bhp.

Economy: 46mpg. Watch the video at www. testdrives.biz.

By Tim Saunders

Sol PUZZLE pages

26

The X Factor Live Tour 2015

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The Open 2015

Michael McIntyre Happy & Glorious Tour Following the successful “Showtime” tour 2013

Now is your chance to see The X Factor live

Experience The Open at the Home of Golf.

Practice day tickets from £10

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1

sol logo quiz ! can you name these famous brands?

2

3

4

5

wordsearch

Songs From the Year 2002

Find all of the songs from 2002 that are hidden in the grid.The remaining 21 letters spell an additional song title from 2002.

soltimes general knolwedge Quiz

ANSWERS

1. Amazon 2. Blockbuster 3. BMW 4. Nike 5. Pringles

on this day april 8

217 – Roman Emperor Caracalla is assassinated.

He is succeeded by his Praetorian Guard prefect, Marcus Opellius Macrinus.

876 – The Battle of Dayr al-’Aqul saves Baghdad from the Saffarids.

1730 – Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in New York City, is dedicated.

1886 – William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the British House of Commons.

1916 – In Corona, California, race car driver Bob Burman crashes, killing three, and badly injuring five, spectators.

2005 – Over four million people attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

soltimes Rugby Quiz

1. What is the nickname of the

Australian Rugby League team?

2. New Zealand has 2 rugby teams, one nicknamed the Kiwis, one the all black,

1. What book, written in the 1920s was the

which game does each play respectively?............................

subject of an obscenity trial when finally

3. What was unusual about the

published in 1960?..............................................

1973 5 Nations championship?.

2. The largest liner was launched in 1960 what

4. Name the player who scored

was its name?......................................................

in every game for 2 consecutive seasons in Rugby league?........

3. How did spurs player john white die in 1963?...

5. How long is a Rugby Union match?.....................................

4. Which UK channel started broadcasting in

6. Which 2 teams contest the

1964?..............................................................

Bowring Bowl?.........................

5. Who first walked the streets in 1960?...............

7. In Rugby Union, what is the colour of Australia?s Jersey?.....

6. What city was Martin Luther King killed in?......

8. Which player holds the 7. How die Rocky Marciano die in 1969?...............

CRYPTIC crossword

1. Lady Chatterley’s Lover

6. Memphis 7. Plane Crash 8. Nelson’s Column 9. The Post Office Tower 10. Ronald Reagan

CROSSWORD

2. SS France (Norway) 3. Struck by lightning 4. BBC2 5. Traffic Wardens

SOLUTIONS

wordsearch answer

in Rugby Union?.......................

9. What is the name given to the dance performed by the All Blacks?....................................

10. Which position is found in Rugby Union but not in Rugby league?....................................

Answers

squiggle SUDOKU

Brain Teasers Answers

standard SUDOKU

10. Who became Governor of California in 1966?..

easy SUDOKU

October 1965?.....................................................

MY LIST MY SACRIFICE NOTHIN’ OH BOY RAINY DAYZ SPIN STILL FLY THE MIDDLE TOXICITY UH HUH WITHOUT ME WORK IT

CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD

9. What became Britain’s tallest building in

FULL MOON GIRL TALK GIRLFRIEND HALFCRAZY HANDS CLEAN HAPPY HEAVEN HELLA GOOD HERE I AM HERO HEY MA IN MY PLACE LOSE YOURSELF MOTIVATION

Cambridge 7. Gold 8. Gareth Thomas (93 caps) 9. Haka 10. Flank or Wing Forward

for the first time since 1864?................................

ADDICTIVE AERIALS ALL MY LIFE BABY BLURRY

BY THE WAY COMPLICATED DAYS GO BY DILEMMA DISEASE ESCAPE EVERYDAY FOOLISH FOR YOU

1. Kangeroos 2. Kiwis - League, All Blacks - Union 3. 5 way tie 4. David Watkins 5. 80 minutes 6. Oxford and

8. Which London landmark was cleaned in 1968

record for most caps for Wales

Sol PUZZLE pages

SOLTIMES.com

car of the week

Antas across 1. Rub out (5) 6. Ransack (5) 7. Biographical sketch (7) 9. Mariner (3) 11. Gratuity (3) 12. Insane (3) 15. Object of worship (4) 17. Chrysalis (4) 18. Implied (5) 19. Fragrant flower (5) 20. Matured (4) 22. Apiece (4) 23. Indicating maiden name (3) 24. Globe (3) 26. Beverage (3) 27. Disclose (7) 30. Small boat (5) 31. Choose (5)

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Down 1. Make a mistake (3) 2. Violent disorder (4) 3. Attach to (5) 4. Small sheet of paper (4) 5. Snakelike fish (3) 7. Go ahead (7) 8. Strive to equal or match (7) 9. Colossus (5) 10. Byword (5) 13. Quickly (5) 14. Russian country house (5) 16. Covering (3) 17. Pastry (3) 21. Dried plum (5) 24. Ellipse (4) 25. Countries in special alliance (4) 28. Frozen water (3) 29. Acquire (3)

STANDARD CROSSWORD

STANDARD CROSSWORD CLUES

Parque Ind El Real, Antas 04628 Tel: 950 459 136

27

SUDOKU PUZZLE s

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

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

standard

ACROSS

easy

squiggle

8 Certain part of secret in, if editor comes back (8) 9 Some seven lying equally (6) 10 Mark used in writing operation with man after a silly strop (10) 11 Shapeless mass left university a politican (4) 12 Summing up with “dig and design” (6) 14 Chose first student to be voted in (8) 15 I’d enter a sporting competition, it’s apparent (7) 17 Most comfortable ties nearly seal awkwardly (7) 20 Throws rest out for sea creatures (8) 22 Bean smuggler? (6) 24 Carry an animal (4) 25 Consider key middlemen to set free (10) 27 In the film, eleven came after bodies of water (6) 28 Deciding on new test with Heather (8)

Down

1 Pay attention to, without record (assisted) (6) 2 Starts to break into twenty small pieces (4) 3 Gas - inert on good explosion (8) 4 Hate of French secret agents, we hear (7) 5 Uncover redhead girl with Alex (6) 6 Producing centre foil for contemplation (10) 7 Plants that you might find on mountains? (8) 13 Doctor left TARDIS with Uni involved in manufacturing, perhaps (10) 16 Producing nice love with intense force (8) 18 Athletic performers with boy in a musical (8) 19 It’s not beneficial to employ the French ship (7) 21 Held Estonians, including firstborn (6) 23 Scope of complex tenticles (6) 26 Govern first Romanian University a member short (4)

28

SOLTIMES april 2015

Tip Tester: Can You Substitute Strawberries For Tomatoes When Cooking?

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

Strawberry Pistachio Cream Tart A simple but elegant strawberry tart with honey pistachio cream.

Ingredients

Strawberries are at their sweetest right now, going all the way through the summer. And while everybody knows how delicious they are in desserts, we've actually heard you can use them as a replacement for a tomato. I decided to try this out and see how well it worked.

I can't take credit for this concept. That would go to Dave Woolley, a Denver-based culinary consultant (who, full disclosure, does work with California Strawberries).

He said: try using strawberries in place of tomatoes in a veggie sandwich with goat cheese, in a Caprese-style salad, or in a salsa with seafood dishes.

While there are plenty of savory recipes that call for strawberries, I loved the idea of strawberries as a replacement for tomatoes, so I decided to test a few more options. Strawberries, like tomatoes, are high in acidity and can be fairly sweet, and unlike tomatoes, which aren't quite in season yet, strawberries are coming into perfect ripeness right now.

One more note: Strawberries tend to be more expensive than tomatoes. This, however, can vary based on variety, seasonality, and supply; with strawberries in season now and tomatoes not, you may find the opposite to be the case. And let's be honest: sometimes you're simply trying to use what you have on hand.

Classic Caprese Salad A classic Caprese salad is pretty simple: just slices of fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato, and olive oil. I replicated that, simply subbing slices of vine-ripened tomato with sliced strawberries. The result was pleasant, if not a bit too subtle. To boost flavors, I added in a drizzle of balsamic reduction, and finished it off with chunky sea salt (I wanted an excuse to play around with my Hiwa Kai black lava sea salt). The added sweetness, acidity, and prune-like flavors of the balsamic glaze helped the salad really pop.

In a Grilled Cheese Sandwich Chef Woolley's sandwich suggestion had me most intrigued.

I didn't want to go with the goat cheese option, since strawberries and chevre are a pretty commonplace flavor pairing, so I went with something a little riskier: teleme, an American semi-soft cheese with brie-like texture and meltability and a mild, nutty flavor. I griddled sourdough bread in butter and topped it with slivers of the teleme, dedicating the middle to thick, juicy stemberry slices.

I've never made grilled cheese with teleme before, and the result was ridiculously rich, but the strawberries' acidity helped to cut the fat. The sandwich had a flavor that was reminiscent of a mildly savory strawberries and cream ice cream. I enjoyed it a lot, so much so that I'd suggest bumping up the savory factor even more: this sandwich would be doubly fantastic with thin slices of prosciutto slipped in.

In a Fresh Salsa Strawberry salsas also aren't anything unheard of—there are plenty of strawberrymango and strawberry-avocado salsas on the internet—but I wanted to see what would happen if I replaced chopped tomatoes with strawberries in a classic tomato salsa. So I took a basic fresh salsa recipe that called for standard Mexican salsa fresca ingredients, like garlic, onions, cilantro, and cumin, and used strawberries instead. This worked well visually and texturally (and bonus: I didn't have to seed any tomatoes!). The salsa did end up with more of a floral flavor profile, so if you try this, I'd also suggest tinkering with the sugar and acidity levels based on the ripeness of your strawberries. My salsa fared better with a squeeze of lime and an extra pinch of sugar.

The Verdict: Fresh Strawberries Really Can Replace Tomatoes Given that all three of my tomato swaps were a solid success, I'd say that strawberries really can stand in for tomatoes. Keep in mind that this substitution is for fresh versions of both kinds of produce. I won't be trying stewed strawberries in place of tomatoes in a pizza sauce anytime soon. http://skillet.lifehacker.com/

1 (1/2 package) frozen puff pastry sheet, thawed 8 ounces cream cheese, softened ⅓ cup ground pistachios ¼ cup honey cup heavy whipped cream ¼ cup powdered sugar 1 pint strawberries, stems removed and cut in half vertically cup chopped pistachios

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 400°F. Unfold and roll the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch square. Place the pastry sheet onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Allow the pastry to cool on the baking sheet.

While the puff pastry is baking, prepare the two different creams.

Using an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese, pistachios, and honey

until well combined. Set aside.

In a different bowl, whip the heavy cream and sugar with an electric beater until firm peaks form.

Evenly spread the pistachio cream layer over the pastry followed by a layer of the whipped cream.

Arrange the cut strawberries with the tips pointing up in layers of circles, starting with the outer one, making your way in.

Sprinkle the tart with the shopped pistachios. Serve immediately. http://savorysweetlife.com

parmesan-stuffed chicken & melted strawberries

Strawberry jam & Parmesan cheese give chicken main dish recipe a blend of sweet & savory goodness.

Ingredients

3 cups fresh strawberries (halve or quarter if large berries) 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar 1/4 cup strawberry jam Sea salt or salt and black pepper 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 3 lb.)

3 ounces Parmesan or white cheddar cheese 6 large fresh basil leaves 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced Snipped fresh basil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a 3-quart baking dish combine strawberries, vinegar, and jam.

Sprinkle salt and pepper; set aside.

Cut a horizontal pocket in each chicken breast half by cutting from one side almost, but not through, to the other side. Cut Parmesan cheese in six 3x1/2-inch pieces. Wrap a basil leaf around each piece of cheese; stuff into chicken breast pocket.

Secure pockets closed with wooden toothpicks or skewers. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

In 12-inch oven-safe skillet cook

garlic in oil over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add chicken and cook 5 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Transfer to oven.

Bake, uncovered, 5 minutes. Add baking dish with the strawberryjam mixture to oven. Bake 10 to 13 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F) and the berries are softened and jam mixture has thickened. Serve chicken with melted strawberries. Sprinkle with basil. Makes 6 servings. http://www.recipe.com/

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Key lime pie with strawberries Delight your tastebuds with this creamy sweet pie - every bite is an explosion of sweet, zingy and coconutty flavours.

Ingredients

250g pkt Arnott’s Granita biscuits 125g butter, melted 20g (1/4 cup) desiccated coconut 395g can Nestle Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 tablespoon finely grated lime rind 125ml (1/2 cup) fresh lime juice 4 eggs, separated 2 punnets strawberries, quartered Lime syrup, to serve cream,whipped, to serve Lime Syrup 2 limes 250ml (1 cup) water 220g caster sugar

Instructions

Process biscuits in a food processor until finely crushed. Add butter and coconut and process until combined. Press the mixture over the base and side of a 4cm-deep, 24cm (base measurement) fluted tart tin, with removable base. Place in fridge for 30 minutes to chill.

Preheat oven to 180C. Whisk the condensed milk, lime rind, lime juice and egg yolks in a bowl until well combined.

Use an electric beater to whisk egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until soft peaks

We talk to one of The Championships' main strawberry growers, Marion Regan.

The natural peak of the British strawberry season comes during the Wimbledon fortnight, so it’s no accident that Wimbledon is synonymous with strawberries.

My great grandfather’s family used to have a stall in Covent Garden market.

Since he was the youngest of several brothers, he was sent to run the farm in Kent, and he planted his first crop of strawberries in 1893. We rotate the crops around our 1300 acres, so we have strawberries from May all the way through to October. We plant the strawberries for Wimbledon the

form. Fold half the egg white mixture into the lime mixture until just combined. Repeat with the remaining egg white mixture. Pour mixture into the prepared tin. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until just set. Set aside for 30 minutes to cool. Place in the fridge for 3 hours to chill.

Place the pie on a serving plate. Combine strawberry and half the lime syrup (see right) in a bowl. Top the pie with the strawberry. Cut into wedges and drizzle with the remaining lime syrup. Serve with cream.

Make lime syrup: Remove rind and pith from limes.

Discard pith. Cut rind into thin strips. Juice the lime.

Stir lime rind, water and caster sugar in a pan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly.

Stir in lime juice. Transfer to a heatproof container.

Place in fridge for 30 minutes to chill. http://www.taste.com.au/

previous summer, and then in March we cover them with tunnels, which means that they ripen reliably without being stopped by the rain, unlike the tennis at Wimbledon!

FMC, who are the caterers to Wimbledon, came to us about 15 to 20 years ago and asked us if we’d like to do the Wimbledon contract, which was fantastic. As a single event, it is obviously one of the biggest, somewhere between 23 and 25 tonnes, and the spotlight is really on the quantity and reliability of supply.

During the Wimbledon fortnight, we start picking at five in the morning every day, the strawberries are cooled in our packhouse, and then the punnets are weighed. Reynolds, the company which supply FMC with all the fresh produce for Wimbledon, send a special truck to collect the order, and it goes into Wimbledon that afternoon. So some of the strawberries will actually be eaten on the day that they’re picked!

I don’t think there’s a single strawberry grower in the country who isn’t a Wimbledon fan. We have more than just a passing interest in it, because if it’s a good Wimbledon then it’s good for all strawberry growers because it really does showcase the best of

29

An introduction to strawberries

The strawberry, Fragaria, is one of the most popular berry fruits in the world. There are more than 10 species of Fragaria that differ in flavour, size and texture yet they all have the same characteristic heart-shaped, red flesh and seeded coat together with small, regal, leafy green caps and stems that adorn their crowns.

Did you know... ...strawberries are not actually fruits as their seeds are on the outside.

Strawberry plants are runners, and are not produced by seeds. They have an average of 200 seeds per fruit and are actually a member of the rose (rosaceae) family.

Big up the strawberrygarden strawberries Strawberries have a long history and have been enjoyed since the Roman times. Native to many parts of the world, hundreds of varieties of strawberries exist due to crossbreeding techniques. In 1714, a French engineer commissioned to Chile and Peru, observed that the strawberry native to those regions was much larger than those found in Europe. He decided to bring back a sample of this strawberry to cultivate in France. The end result was a large, juicy, sweet hybrid (the modern garden strawberry) that became extremely popular in Europe.

Fit for a king Like many other fruits, strawberries make their claim in history as a luxury item enjoyed only by royalty. It has been alleged that newly weds were entitled to strawberries with soured cream as a wedding breakfast, believing them to be an aphrodisiac.

Healthy benefits strawberriesNutritional highlights Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamins C and K as well as providing a good dose of fibre, folic acid, manganese and potassium. They also contain significant amounts of phytonutrients and flavanoids which makes strawberries bright red. They have been used throughout history in a medicinal context to help with digestive ailments, teeth whitening and skin irritations. Their fibre and fructose content may help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing digestion and the fibre is thought to have a satiating effect. Leaves can be eaten raw, cooked or used to make tea.

The vibrant red colour of strawberries is due to large amounts of anthocyanidin, which also means they contain powerful antioxidants and are thought to protect against inflammation, cancer and heart disease.

Choose berries that are firm, plump, unblemished and free of mould. Look for those that have a shiny, deep red colour and bright green caps attached.

Once picked, strawberries do not ripen further so avoid those that are dull, or have green or yellow patches. Wash and handle them with care. Bring to room temperature before serving.

British strawberries. We’re normally too busy in the Wimbledon fortnight to go, but I watch it on the television. www.wimbledon.com No one has ever accused the people who run Wimbledon of jumping on a bandwagon. They don’t follow trends or fads. In fact, it’s the competition’s strict adherence to tradition that separates Wimbledon not only from other tennis tournaments but also from other major sporting events.

Take, for example, Wimbledon’s trademark treat: strawberries and cream.

It took anywhere from a few decades to more than a century, depending on which reports you believe, to make the association official. But did Wimbledon adopt the fan favorite? Or was it created by vendors at the tournament?

Short answer: The dish predates lawn tennis by several centuries. While tennislike games involving balls batted around with paddles have been played since the time of ancient Greece, modern tennis, the kind played at Wimbledon, has been around only since 1874, when Major Walter Wingfield, then of London, patented a game called lawn tennis.

The strawberries and cream treat, on the other hand, has been around since the 16th century. References to the dish date back as far as 1542, when an Englishman named Andrew Boorde enthused about the addictive nature of a rural recipe for “raw crayme [cream] eten with strawbeyes [strawberries].”

Each year, more than 61,000 pounds of strawberries and approximately 1,800 gallons of cream are consumed at Wimbledon Strawberries and tennis, both arbiters of summer’s arrival, were symbols of prosperity back in 1877, when

the Wimbledon Championships first began. It would have been common to see the tournament’s upper-crust audience snacking on the sweet treat in between matches. However, the relationship between the two was not formalized until 1953, when vendors officially started selling Kentish Elsanta strawberries at Wimbledon’s concession stands. Thus, a great marriage between food and sport was made.

It’s unclear when cream was added to the mix. Some experts say that it became part of the Wimbledon tradition in 1970.

Others claim that there is more evidence of strawberries and cream being served as far back as 1881—or more than 300 years before, in Boorde’s day.

Strawberries and tennis, both arbiters of summer’s arrival, were symbols of prosperity back in 1877, when the Wimbledon Championships first began.

It would have been common to see the tournament’s upper-crust audience snacking on the sweet treat in between matches.

One thing is clear: More than 61,000 pounds of strawberries and approximately 1,800 gallons of cream are consumed every year during the 13-day event, according to the catering company that handles all the food and drink operations for Wimbledon. And despite an inability to pin down the exact date the tradition started, those numbers confirm that strawberries and cream and Wimbledon go together as well as, well, strawberries and cream.

This dish is not, however, the only culinary tradition that has taken root at Wimbledon. Here are three very popular and very British gastronomic delights also served during the event. http://global.ralphlauren.com/

30

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SOLTIMES april 2015

re Tr avel featu

Norfolk: Nelson's county

“Yes, it will be bliss, To go with you by train to Diss,” An extract from A Mind’s Journey to Diss (to Mary Wilson, the wife of Prime Minister Harold Wilson) by John Betjeman, probably my favourite poet. This is brought to my attention by the artist John Atkinson, who we meet at his studio with little dog Treacle that daughters Harriett (4) and Heidi (2) enjoy stroking.

“You get a lot for your money here,” says John, who relocated to Diss from London, eight years ago. “It’s only about an hour and half from the capital,” he adds, which has allowed him to hire a chef from London for his latest venture, a restaurant in Diss to compliment the delicatessen he already runs.

John, an entrepreneur, ran restaurants, delis and a graphics business in the city for a number of years. He then bought a property in Diss with his wife Juliette, which they renovated. A successful artist, it comes as no surprise when he says: “I will be exhibiting my industrial themed paintings in the new restaurant at The Boilerhouse in Cobbs Yard, whose name we are still deciding.”

We can see why Norfolk appeals to an artist not least because of the large skies and flat landscape, reminiscent of France. But the magical compositions of Nicholas Simington from Old Buckenham focus on people.

He studied at Glasgow School of Art and it is nice to drop in on him and his wife Barbara to see his latest picture. “Each one can take me six months to produce and parts are modified until I get it just right,” he reveals.

Norfolk is full of many more success stories and we are able to discover some of these during our stay at Fritton Lake Lodges, part of Lord Somerleyton’s estate, in Fritton in North Norfolk. The estate was purchased by carpet manufacturer Sir Francis Crossley in 1863 and has been in the family ever since, which is quite an achievement in itself these days. This has partly been made possible through the current Lord Somerleyton’s successful Fritton Lodge venture where there are 80 or so self catering lodges set in 250 acres.

Some are still available for purchase. We stay in a three bed lodge with all mod cons and views of the lake. My wife particularly enjoys the convenience of the washing machine after family days out when we return in a state. With two little rascals it is rare to have the luxury of relaxation but we are able to indulge in this precious pastime here. We enjoy watching a bit of television and having a lazy Sunday; the only lazy day we allow ourselves. Here, there is also an outdoor centre, a pub and hotel, too and it is possible to visit Somerleyton Hall, a wedding venue.

Fritton Lake Lodges certainly provides a good base for becoming better acquainted with Nelson’s county. It was on September 29, 1758 Horatio Nelson was born to a prosperous family in Burnham Thorpe. (Vice Admiral Lord Nelson died at the Battle of Trafalgar on October 21, 1805 aged 47.)

As it is not far from Great Yarmouth it is necessary to visit this seaside town. There are some pretty chilly winds

By Tim Saunders

during our winter/spring visit. The wonderful golden sand of the beach is arguably blighted by the numerous wind turbines in the sea. We note during our travels around the county that solar panels are becoming quite a popular choice for generating electricity, more so than in any other county we have visited.

At Norwich, again not that far from Fritton, we have chance to mooch around this historic city. Harriett walks with mummy while I push Heidi who is having a little nap in her pushchair. We find a nice spot in front of the market to eat our sandwiches and savour the afternoon sunshine. Afterwards we visit the castle, which dates back to 1096 and is constructed of flint and mortar, faced with a cream coloured Caen limestone. The cathedral was eventually completed in 1145.

Every morning the sun rises through the large windows of our lodge at Fritton Lake Lodges but today it turns grey and we are unsure whether it is a wise decision to spend the day outside at Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens in Great Yarmouth. But it proves the right choice. The first character we meet is Monty the talkative cockatoo who we discover is actually noisier than Heidi, which is quite an achievement.

We are all mesmerised by the crocodiles in the swamp house and cannot believe how long they can hold a particular pose; their mouths wide open – you have to go back a few times to check they are actually real! It is pleasing to see that all of these animals are given so much room to roam especially the gibbons, who enjoy a good swing during our visit. Harriett and Heidi enjoy watching a pair of them looking after their little baby and become incredibly curious when the baby starts feeding from the mother. Afterwards our two little monkeys chase each other along the wooden trails and enjoy the wooden tunnels for animal spotting. It is the close up look at the Sumatran Tiger through glass towards the end of our visit that truly captures Harriett and Heidi’s attention. With benches for picnics and mazes to provide yet more entertainment Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens is a must to visit; Caroline particularly enjoys the little egrets in the Chinese willow pattern garden complete with suspended wooden bridges, a joy to walk around.

It becomes clear that Norfolk is home to a variety of attractions and at Hoveton, Wroxham; the gateway to the Norfolk Broads, we find Wroxham Miniature World.

We’re not quite sure what to expect but when we visit we are surprised to find a variety of model railways and Scalextric sets. We are mesmerised at the size of these and our favourite is the Japanese railway complete with cuttings from Japanese newspapers. There is something very relaxing and enjoyable about watching model trains running across a track. The previous night we had been

watching a television programme about model railways.

Pete Waterman explained about Wenman Joseph BassettLowke who spotted that people were fascinated by trains.

He anticipated that there would be a demand for building model railways and so he began importing electric model trains from Germany and thereby started the British fascination with building model railways. This then saw Frank Hornby and others introduce cheaper models for the masses. Wroxham Miniature World is an award winning attraction which really does reinvigorate the model train enthusiast in us all and on leaving we wish we could buy our own model railway. I think that Wroxham should sell model railways; it would do well. Aside from the beautiful dolls houses that have been lovingly created there are collections of toys of yesteryear that we all remember from Sooty to the Smurfs, the Magic Roundabout to roller skates and Sindy. Wroxham Miniature World is a real delight for the child in us all.

It is always a joy to stumble upon a good local pub and we do this at The Bell Inn at Rickinghall, Botesdale.

This independently owned pub and hotel is set in a delightful village, which incidentally still has its own Post Office and newsagent. Increasing rarities in today’s Great Britain.

The Bell is also the place to earwig on local gossip.

One regular at the right hand corner of the bar seems to instantly know which customers are local and those who are not. I now know that the young woman with the older man, sitting at the table next to us, has been in a couple of times and that she is a hairdresser. The chap over the other side of the bar is a market trader and he has just taken delivery of some new garments that one of the other customers is showing interest in. In short this is a great pub; a good friendly pub where travellers feel welcome and comfortable. It definitely raises a smile.

Friendly landlord Danuel is also the chef and makes a delicious homemade parsnip soup. This is followed by well presented and equally scrumptious fish and chips and mine is accompanied by a pint of Adnams Ghost Ship, a tasty local ale. Caroline o p t s for a frittata, which she thoroughly enjoys.

On the way back, to break up the four hour journey to Hampshire we stop off at the National Trust’s Wimpole Estate. There we enjoy walking around historic Wimpole Hall, which dates back to 1640 and some of its 3,000 acres of land and gardens. At Home Farm Harriett and Heidi practise milking and sitting on a tractor as well as seeing the pigs, cows, lambs and Shire horses.

What more could you fit into a week?

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Talks & Workshops

COMMUNITY NEWS

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

Archaeological Museum

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

CHURCH OF ENGLAND COSTA CALIDA & ALMERIA Priest: Reverend Pauline Williams 950

956 166 / 687 250 860

pals events

14th/20th May Coach trip to PORTUGAL half board and visiting fabulous locations 510 Euros pp sharing double.

For information please call 626 460465 or visit www.pals.sm4.biz or see us at La Ratatouille on a wednesday from 1 till 3 or at The Trevi on a Saturday 11 till 1.30pm

fast events

welcome events

Wednesday April 22nd - Monthly dance with Shirelle and Paul Christie. €8.

Wednesday May 20th - Monthly dance with the popular Woody and The Peckers. €8.

Wednesday June 24th - Summer Ball at Le Cumbre Hotel, Puerto De Mazarron. Champagne reception, 6 course meal with all drinks, and dancing to Rob Sweeney. €27. Coach available at €5, and rooms at €50.

2015 Trips.

Due to an unexpected cancellation, there is one outside cabin available on our Mediterranean cruise, leaving on May 27th for 1 night in Valencia, then on to Barcelona for 12 nights aboard Royal Caribbean “Vision Of The Seas”, calling at Villefranche, Civitavecchia, Naples, Ravena, La Spezia, 2 days in Venice, and Kotor, Montenegro.

Our Cordoba trip is now fully booked, and also our Salamanca trip is fully booked.

Wednesday December 2nd - Shopping in Gibraltar, staying half-board at Hotel Mac Puerto, Benalmadena. 1 full day in Gibraltar with all the British shops, 1 day in Malaga, and Ricky Levazza’s Christmas Show. Book now as this is selling fast at just €175.

Christmas in Benidorm, leaving on December 23rd for 5 days 4 nights full board at Hotel Helios. €250 including gala Christmas Day lunch.

Valentines Weekend 2016. Following the success of this year’s trip, we’re going again to Hotel Mac Puerto, Benalmadena, for 3 nights half-board.

More details when available, but including 2 trips. €170.

For more information, call Rosemary on 620 105 179.

learn to paint

Saturday April 18th Spring Fayre at Marianos Every Mon, Fri - Using watercolour, pastels or Restaurant Camposol A acrylics these are small classes on Monday and Saturday May 9th Spring Dance at Marianos Friday afternoons at Playa Paraiso, La Manga. For Restaurant with Barrington Tickets 6 euros further information contact Bee Wednesday June 17th Coach Trip and tour of Tel: 968 564 416 or 670 353 738 the 43 Factory Cartegena 18 euros To reserve seats/tickets visit us at our bookstall the 2nd and last Friday of the month on Camposol B outside Euronics or telephone Jean 646 737 479 0r Brenda 680 174 499.

MARKET DAYS IN THE AREA

Monday - San Pedro del Pinatar Tuesday - Los Alcazares / Alhama de Murcia Wednesday - Santiago de la Ribeira / Fuente Alamo / Totana Thursday - San Javier / Camposol Sector A / Lorca Friday - Isla Plana (Summer only) Saturday - Mazarron Pueblo / Aguilas Sunday - Puerto de Mazarron / Mar Menor / Cabo de Palos

31

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

Ex-Servicemen’s Association Mazarrón District

(Founded 1 May 2006) EVENTS - 2015 Wednesday 15th April - Gula Gula - Puerto De Mazarron - Menu Del Noche.

Friday 8th May - The Clubhouse Camposol “C” - AGM and Lunch.

Wednesday 10th June - Costa Celebracion Rooms - Mazarron Town - Summer Dinner Dance and Grand Raffle with music by Martin Ross Membership and enquiries, Ian 629 818 611 or esamd_espana@yahoo.co.uk

Culture Vultures

I am hoping to be able to organise a coach to Swan Lake on Ice on April 22nd in Murcia at the Congress Hall.

There will be pick up points at Lidl in Puerto Mazarron, Camposol and the Alhama de Murcia Poligono. The coach will cost €14.

If you would like to join the coach please contact Annie on 968 599 031 or by e-mail, culturevultures. mazarron@gmail.com

LOS CANOVAS PLAYERS PRESENT – “HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER”

By popular demand, Los Canovas Players are pleased to announce another evening of six short comedy plays and sketches to be performed in the Salon Theatre at Los Canovas on Thursday April 16th, Friday 17th and Saturday 18th. As usual curtain up will be at 8pm each night. The plays deal with a shipwrecked mariner alone on a desert island (or is he?), an undertaker with a transport problem, a couple struggling to reach their destination despite – or because of – the use of their sat-nav, Snow White and Cinderella meeting for the first time in years, a dramatic meeting in a barn of sweet, innocent Patience Undercroft and her wicked admirer, and not forgetting another Nursery Crime, when Puss in Boots is handed a set of files belonging to the late Humpty Dumpty.

Tickets are on sale now and can be booked/reserved by contacting Roger by phone on 968 151149, mobile 602 643169 or e-mail at loscanovasplayers@gmail. com. We look forward to entertaining you.

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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snooker tables, table tennis tables, darts. Tel: 666 933 726 www.spainpool.com Stainless Steel inset sink 780 x 430 left hand drainer with Roco mixer tap.Good Condition.20€, 3 fold shower screen glass panels with gold coloured frame 20€, Camposol Area Tel: 676 028 725 Brother Punchcard knitting machine in good working order, lots of extras to numerous to list. Bargain 75€ Torrevieja Area: Tel: 634 332 040 White kitchen sink with taps in good condition 20€, 4 x way westron neweb LNB for sale. 10€, BaByliss Ceramic curling iron. Unused and still in box. 10€. Tel: 965 724 183/616 883 103 CLEAN DOUBLE BED MATTRESS with Cover, 40€, 2 No Single Clean Mattresses with cover 35€ each, Folding Single Bed with Mattress 35€, Mans Bicycle needs attention 35€, 1000’s of DVDS Tel: 693 474 863 (Quesada Area)

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electricians

Electrician available for all works Small or large.

Call Dave 693 251 562

davendonc@aol.com

Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan, 968 153 396

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

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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

Basil and his sister Bonny were rescued from the streets by a friend and brought to us, Basil is around 6 months old, good with other dogs and weighs just 5 kilos.

ELEGANT slim, sexy, naughty italian lady available home/house visits.

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Bonny is in desperate need of a new home, she is around 2 years old and was found in the campo with her puppies. Bonny is a big softie who loves to be around people and is good with other dogs.

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

SOLTIMES april 2015

animal corner

To advertise here call : 950 121 936 Vietnam Dog Lovers Become Vigilantes to Stop Pets From Being Eaten

QUANG TRI PROVINCE, Vietnam — It wasn't supposed to be a double homicide. A few snapped limbs? Fine. Something nasty enough to make those dog thieves sorry they'd ever come to this tiny village in central Vietnam.

But once cries of "Dog thieves! Come quick!" rang over the moonlit rice fields, the intruders were as good as dead.

A post-midnight ambush had caught two dog-stealing bandits. Villagers jolted awake inside their cement farmhouses. They raced down mud paths to the spot where a few of their strongest farm boys had laid out the thieves in a ditch.

Dog thieves are a hated scourge in Vietnam, appearing at odd hours to snatch up pet dogs and cram them into sacks.

The village, called Nhi Trung, had been robbed of more than 200 dogs in just one year, according to the village elders.

Families had wept over their pets' fate: sold to butchers for about $20 a head and roasted for diners many provinces away.

But at last, they stood over their tormentors, and they were aching for revenge. Nearly 80 people, from gray-whiskered Viet Cong vets to young moms, joined in on the thrashing.

No one wanted to miss out on a cathartic kick to the skull.

Before long, the thieves were motionless and blood puddled beneath their heads.

Vietnam is known as a harsh place for canines. Many Vietnamese, especially among the older generation, have an appetite for dog. They see the animals as food, not friends — a delicacy to wash down with a bottle of rice wine.

But a growing phenomenon — vigilante attacks against dog thieves — is chipping away at that stereotype. It turns out Vietnamese can be just as hostile to anyone who dares to harm the family dog.

"You may say we're cruel to kill people over our dogs," says 63-year-old Nguyen Dang Huan, a raven-haired and rawboned Nhi Trung rice farmer. He and his son are among 10 men convicted of the murders.

"But the time for patience," he says, "was over."

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Not all Vietnamese embrace canine cuisine. This practice is concentrated in the north. Those living elsewhere are more likely to see dogs as a hybrid between pets and livestock.

A growing middle class, seduced by Western culture, is pushing society to see pups as full-on family members.

All dog owners, urban and rural alike, are targeted by dogsnatching gangs. These thieves are hired by quasi-legal dog butchers to supply meat on the cheap. They're increasingly brazen and armed with machetes and tasers. And they confront pet lovers with a horrible choice: back down or fight back.

Police have done little to stop these thieves. Authoritarian Vietnam, which executes dodgy bankers and drug traffickers, administers some laws with an iron fist. Pet theft isn't one of them. Police treat dog thieves like shoplifters, allowing them to pay a fine (or bribe) and carry on.

But an ongoing rash of dog thief vigilantism suggests the law is out of sync with the public's rage.

The Nhi Trung killings in the summer of 2012 were among the first in a nationwide wave of vigilante beatings. Since then, more than 25 mob attacks on dog thieves have killed at least 20 and caused an untold number of severe injuries.

These tales of vengeance have become a fixture in Vietnam’s state-run press. As one headline screams: “Lynch mobs portend anarchy.” Given that the authoritarian communist government controls the media, and is loathe to encourage unrest, the number of attacks is likely underreported.

Thanks to villagers with camera phones, many beatings are well documented on YouTube. Some mobs tied up thieves and draped them with signs reading “I’m a dog thief! Please punch me.”

Read more on: http://www.nbcnews.com/

Stories That Prove Dog Is Man's Best Friend

Dog Stays by His Master'sGraveFor6Years

Dog Mourns at Casket of Navy SEAL This photo yanked at the heart-strings of millions of Americans in August 2011, as images of a grieving labrador retriever graced the pages of newspapers across the country. At the funeral of Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, attendees could see his faithful companion Hawkeye lying by the casket. In front of 1,500 mourners at the beginning of the service, Hawkeye ambled up to the front of the room and laid down next to his master — showing his loyalty until the end.

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The remarkable part about this story is that Miguel died in a hospital, and his body was taken to a funeral home far away from where he lived. Capitán had never been to the cemetery before.

The first time the funeral director saw Capitán, he arrived at the cemetery alone. The dog did a few laps through the tombstones before finding his master’s grave — all on his own. Capitán continues to visit his old master every single day, at 6:00 p.m., like clockwork.

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SOLTIMES april 2015

www.soltimes.com

Book Review

35

Street Cat Bob by James Bowen

“I was a recovering drug addict and failed musician living a hand-to mouth life in sheltered housing. Taking care of myself was enough.”

Bowen had a restless, unhappy and disturbed childhood travelling between the UK and Australia after his parents divorced. This unfortunately had an adverse effect. No friends. Bullying. He reflects on a particular sad incident whilst at Quinns Rock in Western Australia involving being stoned by the bullies which resulted in concussion. His step-father, Nick the Prick, disliked James so all in all, it is not surprising that an unhappy James soon became addicted to drugs and alcohol.

“I became a tear-away, a wild kid who was always late, always defying my mother and generally thumbing my nose at authority, no matter what form it took.”

His destructive cycle of behaviour probably began with glue sniffing and smoking dope. This fog of drugs involved drink and petty crime, developing feelings of hopelessness culminating in even more of a serious addiction, heroin. Living on the streets of London “strips away your dignity, your identity-your everything. It also strips away people’s opinions of you.” By 1998, James had become totally dependent on heroin claiming he “probably came close to death a few times.” Fortunately, a homeless charity picked him up and he was put on the vulnerable housing list so that he was entitled to priority sheltered housing.

This sounded like a lucky break for Bowen but sadly, the hostels and B & Bs were vile and he was in close contact with heroin and crack addicts. As his drug dependency worsened, in his late 20s, he ended up in rehab before being put on a drug rehabilitation programme. Heroin had been his friend when he

He felt blessed for once that his life had become enriched and people treated him differently. “It humanised me. In some ways it There was light at the end of the tunnel. His lucky was giving me back my identity. break, his second chance happened in 2007: “We I had been a non-person. I was are all given second chances every day of our lives. becoming a person again.”

They are there for the taking. It’s just that we don’t Within the year and many usually take them.” Bowen was living in a new flat treats later some kind soul knitted him a scarf in Tottenham. He had been busking around Covent Garden and was returning home with Belle, his ex. and Belle bought him two small animal t-shirts with It did help that Bowen, like me had a weakness for Santa Paws. Toys for Christmas and Bob behaved cats and so the sight of a ginger cat staring at him like a excitable child watched by a proud parent. in a “steady, curious intelligent” way and rubbing A tight bond developed and Bowen’s furry friend against him as if he needed TLC, near his room was stuck to him like a limpet. His love for Bob gave him the incentive to come off methadone and come perhaps too much of a coincidence.

“The rejects of the city, like flotsam and jetsam clean and the busking changed to selling The Big on the beach. Maybe he’d spotted a kindred spirit Issue with our furry friend who became known as Bob The Big Issue cat. He was on You Tube and in me.”

It became clear that the ginger cat was homeless featured in a local newspaper. A celebrity. At this and some mashed up biscuits with tuna and milk point in time Bowen was then approached by an of course, followed by a number of visits to the American agent and encouraged to write a book vets and antibiotics and Bowen was able to nurse with author Garry Jenkins. Since its publication the the cat back to health. Once he had adopted him book has sold more than 1 million copies and has he chose the name Bob from “Twin Peaks,” none been translated into 30 languages. And there are other than Killer Bob! After a couple of weeks of TLC more Bob books to enjoy. This one’s a Quick Read, Bob improved. He was “a young male with way too for everyone to enjoy. many hormones flying around his body” so that he “Everybody needs a break. Everybody deserves “carried on acting like a whirling dervish.” As Bowen that second chance. Bob and I have taken ours.” was leaving home Bob followed him.

Publisher: Hodder. ISBN: 978-1-473-60647-0 He became so persistent that Bowen ended up was pure and simply lonely. On the other hand, busking gave him the opportunity to sort himself out but it was Bob that gave him the incentive to come clean. It saved him. In fact, it transformed his life.

by lifting Bob onto his shoulder and carrying him like Long John Silver. People stared and Bob drew in the punters to Bowen’s surprise and delight. Bob became his extra special cat, his secret weapon who seemed to have an unusual way with people.

REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

www.carolnaylor.blogspot.com www.carolesleynaylor.wordpress.com naylorcl@hotmail.es

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

SOLTIMES april 2015

Home & Garden

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Although Citrus is a subtropical genus, northern gardeners can grow lemons, oranges, and other citrus trees in containers to enjoy fresh fruit. Standard-size orange and grapefruit trees can grow 18 to 22 feet tall, whereas dwarf varieties only grow 8 to 12 feet tall.

Most citrus varieties are self-fertile, so only one tree is necessary. On average, fruit bearing begins when the trees are between 3 and 6 years old; however, exact timing will depend on the type of citrus (lemons, oranges, grapefruit, etc.), the cultivar, your climate, the health of the plant and its care, and other factors. Flowering is not seasonal, but occurs during warm weather and regular rainfall. Flowers and fruits may coincide.

Planting Citrus trees should be planted in a sunny and windprotected area. In the citrus belt, trees can be planted at any time, however, spring is the best time for container grown plants.

or wrap and let it sit in a warm and sunny spot for a Standard-size trees should be spaced 12 to 25 feet few weeks until the seeds start to grow. Then, remove apart and dwarf trees should be set 6 to 10 feet apart. the plastic but keep the pot near a warm and sunny The exact distance depends on the variety. The bigger window. the fruit, the farther the distance.

Care If the soil is not well-drained, plant the trees on a A few weeks after planting, and for the first few years slight mound to prevent waterlogging. (before bearing age), feed the tree a balanced (such To plant citrus trees inside from seeds, remove the as 6-6-6) fertilizer. For newly bearing trees, provide seeds from the desired nutrients to continue branch and leaf growth but also Soft Furnishings & Re-Upholstery fruit. Soak the seeds over- to replace nutrients lost by fruit forming. A citrus blend night in water and plant is ideal. them 1/2 inch deep in moist potting soil. Cover Check manufacturer’s directions, or ask a garden the pot with a plastic bag nursery, as to how often and how much to apply dur• 39 years experience in soft furnishings & re-upholstery ing each year of a tree’s growth.

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Mulches are not recommended for citrus trees, but if trees are located in a cultivated plant bed where mulch is used, keep at least 12 inches of bare ground between the tree trunk and the mulch. Preemergent herbicides may be used to prevent weed seeds from germinating.

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SOLTIMES april 2015

www.soltimes.com

sterling going nowhere!

Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling will not be leaving the club in the summer despite a breakdown in talks over a new deal, says manager Brendan Rodgers.

The 20-year-old told BBC Sport he is motivated by trophies not money after rejecting a £100,000-a-week contract.

“Liverpool are one of the superpowers of football and if the owners don’t want to sell, they don’t have to,” said Rodgers.

Sterling has two years left on a contract worth £35,000 a week.

Rodgers added: “Concentration should be on his football. If his ambition is to win trophies that’s aligned with what we do here.”

Rodgers added that the club had not given Sterling permission to speak to BBC Sport and that he thought it was a “mistake” to carry out the interview.

“There was no permission from us,” he said. “He will learn. We all make mistakes in life, especially when we are young.

“I think the kid has tried to put off all talk about contract and money. For now hopefully the focus will be on football.”

Sterling, who joined the Reds from QPR in 2010, says he will not discuss a new

contract with the Reds until the summer.

“I just want to take the time to think about what I’ve achieved in my career so far, where I need to go and what I need to do to get better as a player,” he said.

Newspaper reports have linked him with moves to Manchester City, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

But Rodgers said he and Sterling were “relaxed about the situation”.

“This is one of the great clubs of the footballing world and, for Raheem, to be playing here it’s an honour,” added Rodgers. “He understands that, he sees that.”

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson, who won five league titles and a European Cup with the club, said Sterling is not yet good enough for the top clubs in Europe.

“He’s 20 and not going to Real Madrid or Barcelona or Paris St-Germain,” Lawrenson told BBC Sport. “He’s not at that level and he has a lot of work to do.” bbc.com

Imanyo Golf Captains Cup 31st March at Alenda

Sponsored by Daya Frutas and Mick “The Grip” Reeves

Summer has arrived and what a fantastic day for our second major cup competition in 2015. The day started with a full English breakfast in Imanyo’s and it was decided the format would be singles full handicap stableford, we incorporated pairs in a blind draw.

On arriving at the course we received a friendly greeting from the staff at Alenda and the course was in its usual great condition.

Winner of the Captains cup was Alan Ralph with 34 points, runner up was Mick “The Grip” Reeves with 32 points. Winners of the blind drawn pairs were Peter Nicholas and Mick “The Grip” Reeves with 62 points, runners up, after a 3 way count back, were Brian Court and Andy Ramage with 47 points. Nearest the pins, sponsored by Mick “The Grip” Reeves, were Andy Speck, holes 5 and 9, Alan Rodger hole 7, Donald Main hole 10, Andy Ramage hole 15 and Peter Nicholas hole 16.

The presentation was held at Imanyo’s where hot food and a few tipples were waiting.

Thank you to Mick “The Grip” Reeves for providing and presenting the prizes

for nearest the pins and thank you to Daya Frutas for the cup and prize for the winner, an amazing fruit and veg basket.

Ted Adams won the football card which sponsors our charity, Parkinson’s. Photo shows Steve Day presenting the cup to winner Alan Ralph.

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

SOL TIMES

COSTA BLANCA

KATE- : 902 750 190 (EXT: 330) email: blancasales@soltimes.com

COSTA CALIDA/MAR MENOR PAULETTE : 902 750 190 (EXT: 332) email: calidasales@soltimes.com

Sol Times Calida and Sol Times Blanca are independent of political parties, private investment and government. Our policy is to provide readers with a news and information service that is fair, accurate and balanced. Sol Times Calida and Sol Times Blanca are independent publications. Published weekly and produced exclusively in Murcia & Blanca. Sol Times News Group cannot be held responsible for claims made by advertisers, nor can it be held responsible for errors in advertisements caused by poor quality text, photographs or layout instructions. Furthermore, no responsibility can be accepted for any loss or damage resulting caused by any error, inaccuracy or non-appearance of an advertisement.

Deposito Legal Sol Times Calida AL 851-2010. Sol Times Blanca AL 852-2010

37

EUROGOLF SOCIETY THURSDAY 2 APRIL

The format for this week’s competition was a team game of `yellow peril` played on our home course La Marquesa.

Some good scores today, however, the unequivocal winning team of Franz Berndt, Debbie Weedon, Eamonn Devine and David Valentine came in with an impressive score of 153 points. In second place the team of Bob Buckeridge, Gordon Bourne, Franco Gentili and Bev Fairhurst with 148 points.

Third, the team of Robin Richards, Tony Stanley, Ian Stewart and Claire DayeGretton with 145 points.

Nearest the pins were 5th Chris Stanley, 11th Gordon Bourne, 15th Robin Richards, 17th Harry Armstrong.

Football drawer winners: Brian Green, Bob Shorley, David Valentine, Stan Low. The results of the TOFFS weekly Stableford competition played on Tuesday were as follows: Overall Winner: Sue Gillett 36 points.

Gold Division: 1st Sue Gillett 36 pts, 2nd Keith Wright 35 pts, 3rd Stan Low 32 pts, 4th Bill Martin 32pts.

Silver Division: 1st Morag Turner 35 pts, 2nd Tom Corbett 35 pts, 3rd Ian Stewart 34 pts, 4th Bob Shorley 33 pts.

Bronze Division: 1st Eamonn Devine 34 pts, 2nd Sue Pegg 34 pts, 3rd Angelika Berndt 34 pts, 4th Sandy Holland 34 pts.

N.T.P’s 5th Harry

Armstrong 11th Keith Wright 15th Debbie Weedon 17th David Gregson.

Best front nine Mike Gillett 18 pts and best back nine Jan Shorley 19 pts.

More information about our friendly society can be found on our webpage www.eurogolf-quesada.co.uk

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38

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

SOLTIMES april 2015

LO CRISPIN GOLF SOCIETY AT BONALBA GOLF

35 Members and Guests took the long trip to Bonalba golf on Wednesday to play in a singles stableford competition.

T.M.G.S. at La Serena

As forecast the weather was just a tad 2nd Brian Smith 27pts, 3rd Bob Berry cooler for our visit to the now, very popular 25pts, 4th Eddy Scott 24pts C/B. La Serena golf course (the one with water Silver Category - 1st Gail Coultate 24pts on 16 holes). It doesn’t seem so long ago C/B, 2nd Chris Nield 24pts C/B, 3rd Bill that the future of this course was doomed, poor condition, no one playing there etc.

Croft 23pts, 4th Margaret Obrien 20pts. etc.

Nearest the Pins - Hole 4 Padraig I am pleased to say that the course was Obrien, Hole 8 Frank Cusack, Hole 11 Mike in great condition with the greens fooling Johnson, Hole 14 Dave Norton. many players; they looked slow but by 2’s’ Brian Smith recorded a 2 on the 11th heck they were not! Our format for this venue is usually a team event (it takes the hole to receive a share of the 2’s’ pot. The pressure of the individual card!) So for this free game draw was won by Dave Pitt. visit we were competing in a 2 ball better The prizes where presented in the Lo ball Stableford format.

It might be expected that the winning Crispin Tavern after the game and thanks go to David and his staff for the after game score for this format would be around the 45 points mark, actually until the last of our buffet. fourteen pairs came in, the best score was 37 points, so everyone in the clubhouse must have been thinking that they stood a chance of a prize, well their dreams were shattered when 3 of the last 4 pairs came in with a 38 and two 41’s.

The 38 points was recorded by Vernon Brown playing by himself due to his partner being the only “no show” of the day. A ghost card was drawn from the pack, and low and behold it just happened to be Nick Spicer’s, who had complained about having a very bad day! Well he did manage to add one point to Vernon’s score, which earned him and Vernon 3rd place.

The battle for 1st and 2nd places was between 2 of our Scandinavian pairings the winners being decided on lower handicap, Roger Nilsen and Tove Roed lost out to Gunnel Thunstrom and Ove Cederberg, both teams coming home with 41 points.

The N.T.P.’s this week were for all players

With the course in good condition and the weather warm and sunny the day was set for a good round of golf, however the scores indicated that the course was not as easy as first thought with most players finding the greens very unpredictable.

One of the members found the green on the 8th and was within 4 feet from the pin and putting for a 2 and a share of the 2’s’ pot, however he eventually went down for 4.

The results for the day were as follows, Gold Category - 1st Padraig Obrien 28pts,

25’95 €

and all were taken, Hole3: Ove Cederberg, Hole 9: Sue Owens, Hole 15: Vernon Brown, Hole 17: Hermes Woerdemann, the lucky winners all took home a very nice bottle of spirits, kindly donated by Vernon Brown.

Photo: the winning pair, Ove Cederberg and Gunnel Thunstrom The “2’s” pot is growing nicely; it now stands at €57 after a 2nd week of no one making a 2 on the par 3’s. Surly it will be taken at next week’s venue where we visit La Finca for our club Championship which of course will be MEDAL play, this competition is being sponsored by the club Professional of Campoamor, Joe Dean If you fancy a game next Wednesday at La Finca, just call the Match Secretary on 661524101 or visit our website and reserve your place online www.tmgs.org Our associated Club de golf El Paraiso are playing at El Plantio on the 19th April, for more information visit www.clubdegolfelparaiso.com

PLAN 1-2-3

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bmw m1

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BMW M5 touring

• ferrari f430, challenge car, 4.3l, v8, 2008, 7,000kms.......................................................................€89,950 • bmw 530d, touring, auto, 2009, 69,000kms.......€21,950 • citroen c4 picasso, 2.0 HDI, auto, 2011........... €13,950 • mercedes vito 111cdi, 2008, diesel, 9 seater,

BMW X1 Auto

2.0s, diesel 27,000 kms,

€21,950

audi a3

• renault megane 1.6 auto, 2008, 66,000kms......€7,950 • fiat panda 1.2 2008 45,000kms.................................€5,950

...........................................................................................€3,950 • fiat palio estate 1.9 diesel 2002 103,000kms....€3,450 • citroen picasso, 2.0hdi, 2000, diesel, 160,000kms..... ...........................................................................................€3,450 • opel corsa 1.2, auto, 2001, 91,000kms...............€3,450 • HYUNDAI GETZ, 1.1 PETROL, 195,000KM 2004........€2,950 • ford ka 1.3, 2002, 69,000kms...................................€2,950 • Mitsubishi Carisma 2000, a/c, 143,000kms.........€2,950 • kia sportage, 2.0l petrol, 2000, 4x4 144,000kms......

auto, 1.6, tdi, ...........................................................................................€2,950 2012 • nissan cargo 2.3, d, 1997, 160,000kms................€2,450 32,000 kms,

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• Jaguar S-type 3.0L V6, 1999, 241,000kms.............€2,450

motorcycles

• kawasaki eliminator 125cc, 2007, 1,400kms..€1,850

Right hand drive vehicles

€14,950

• rolls royce silver spirit, rhd, 51,000 miles....€13,950

Renault Fluence

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Right hand drive - spanish reg

• ford ka, 2004, 63,000 miles....................................€1,950 • nissan primera 1998 2L petrol auto.............€1,950 • Ford focus estate 1.6, 143,000 miles.............€1,450 • peugeot 405, 1.9 diesel, 1996, estate..................€950

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renault clio

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Mercedes CLK55 AMG 2001 83,000kms

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2007, Diesel, 171,000kms

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Alfa Romeo 156 SW 2005, 1.9 JTD 84,000kms

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Opel Corsa 2005 1.3 CDTi 114,000km

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Cristianos five-goal haul

Los blancos beat Granada 9-1 with the Portuguese star netting five goals to bring his tally for the season to 36 and become the Liga BBVA’s top marksman.

Real Madrid picked up a win and administered a thrashing to Granada CF on matchday 29 of the Liga BBVA. The fixture was characterised by the dominance of the los blancos performance, with Cristiano Ronaldo at the heart of things as he managing to score five goals, three coming in the first half and two after the half time break. Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, with a brace, and Diego Mainz, who scored an own goal, rounded off the Real Madrid mauling.

The home team’s first chance fell to Karim Benzema. The Frenchman was able to strike the ball first time but was denied by a great save from Oier Olazábal. Granada also created a few threats of their own and, in the 14th minute, a long-range effort by Robert Ibáñez grazed the bottom of the post. Álvaro Arbeloa had a clear opportunity to open the scoring in the 22nd minute but Real Madrid would have to wait a further four minutes to make it 1-0.

Toni Kroos split the Granada defence open with a pass which found Gareth Bale alone with just the keeper to beat and, after darting past him, the Welshman was able to knock the ball into an open net in the 26’.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the star of the show from the half-hour mark onwards. The Portuguese man scored

a hat-trick in the space of just eight minutes.

His first goal came in the 30th minute, with James Rodríguez, who was making his return from injury, providing the assist. He got his second by latching onto a poor punch from Oier in the 36’ and completed his first half hat-trick in the 38’ with a right-footed strike.

The closest the Andalusians came to scoring in the first half was just before the break when Youseff El Arabi hit the bar.

Carlo Ancelotti’s players did not drop their tempo after the restart and added three to their tally in the space of just six minutes, two coming from Benzema in the 52nd and 56th minutes, and another from Cristiano, who sealed his quartet of goals in what was a memorable afternoon for Real Madrid. Robert managed to get a consolation goal for the Granada but the visitors’ pain was compounded in the dying minutes through a Diego Mainz own goal and a fifth for Cristiano Ronaldo. lfp.es

A Good Day’s Racing

Sunday march 29th, the second of the SAMM Spring Series race days, saw 8 boats come to the start line for both races on a lovely sunny and warm day.

For the first race the wind was 7kts with stronger gusts and quite marked shifts which made the conditions challenging, especially for the dinghies. Final results on corrected time saw a clean sweep of the top 3 places by the two Sailfish 18’s and the Balaton of the Balaton Group, with the Catamaran 4th.

By the second race the wind had increased to 10kts but again with marked shifts and gusts of up to about 18kts. These were perfect conditions for the big Catamaran and unsurprisingly she finished in the top spot.

Second was the Sailfish 18 ‘Sirocco’ and third, a great p e r formanc e in the trying conditions, the Laser 2000 ‘Shoestring Dos’.

A close look at the results tables will reveal some very close finish times between boats, the smallest gaps being 5, 22 and 36 seconds.

This seems to indicate that, in the main, the club handicaps being used are reasonably accurate.

A most memorable day, especially for Ingo Wilson and Heinz Lenhard sailing the Laser 2000 ‘Shoestring Tres’ who spent as much time in the water as on it, by capsizing three times during the day.

Barcelona remain the Liga BBVA leaders

A training ground goal by the defender earned all three points for the azulgrana against Celta de Vigo in Balaídos.

A solitary Jérémy Mathieu header was enough to decide the outcome of the meeting between RC Celta and FC Barcelona on matchday 29 of the Liga BBVA. The 0-1 result, which keeps the Catalans top of the table, was a bitter blow to the Galicians, who are eleventh.

The first half was characterised by home team’s eagerness to go in front.

Eduardo Berizzo’s men managed to peg back Barcelona through various Nolito and Joaquín Larrivey efforts on goal. The first chance was saved by Claudio Bravo, while the second saw the Argentine forward hit his shot wide right in front of goal. Los azulgranas, who were happy to go into the half time break unscathed in order to change things up, came closet to scoring

through Leo Messi, however, he too was unable to break the deadlock.

The second half bore no resemblance to the first. Celta looked heavy legged and it was Luis Enrique’s charges who threatened most in attack.

Nonetheless, Barca lacked shooting accuracy and a bit of good fortune.

Neither of Messi or Neymar Junior’s goalscoring opportunities amounted to anything, but that situation soon changed with a training ground move from a direct free kick which ended with Jérémy Mathieu heading the ball into the back of the net to put the Catalans at ease. Celta had one more chance on goal before the final whistle was blown. The game finished with Barcelona picking up three valuable points that keep them top of the pile for another week. lfp.es

Mercedes must work ‘in all conditions’ Mercedes must produce a car which performs “at all circuits and in all conditions”, the team’s technical director Paddy Lowe says.

Sebastian Vettel’s surprise win for Ferrari last time out in Malaysia ended a sequence of eight victories for Mercedes dating back to last season.

Key to Ferrari’s first win since May 2013 was the car’s treatment of its tyres in the intense Malaysia heat.

And Lowe concedes Mercedes have “work to be done on that front”.

“It is now clearer than ever that there is serious competition for this world championship, so we will continue to work flat out for performance gains,” added Lowe ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

“We have a range of new aerodynamic developments for Shanghai and are targeting an improved performance from Malaysia.”

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff described Ferrari’s Sepang win as a “wake-up call”, even though the gap to Vettel was a modest one.

Lewis Hamilton finished second for Mercedes, just eight seconds back, with his team-mate Nico Rosberg a further four seconds behind as he

completed the podium.

“This is something you cannot afford to happen often and, although we had two cars on the podium, we have been looking very carefully at every area where we could have performed better,” said Wolff.

“Our opposition has raised its game and we must now raise ours even further. We have the weapons at our disposal - and we need to make the most of them this weekend.”

Mercedes’s decisions to make an early stop under a safety car and to race mainly on the harder Pirelli tyre were highlighted as contributing factors to Ferrari’s win, and Hamilton said the race - and the weekend - had been “particularly challenging”.

“I think ultimately we made the best choices we could - but there is always room for improvement,” the two-time world champion added.

Team-mate Rosberg said: “We’ve definitely learned some lessons and it’s time to take that to the track in China.

“It’s not been a perfect start to my sixth year with the team and I’m determined to turn that around.” bbc.co.uk