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GOOGLE IS LAUNCHING ANDROID ONE IN SPAIN Android One is finally coming to Europe, 9to5Google reports. Spanish smartphone manufacturer BQ is launching the BQ Aquaris A4.5, which will be designed and marketed by Google but manufactured and sold by BQ in Portugal and Spain.

Android One is Google’s initiative to bring cheap, good quality smartphones to developing countries for about $100 each.

The company believes the next 5 billion smartphone users will come from countries outside the West, where consumers need inexpensive devices to get them online, not the high-end, highprice devices sold by Apple.

But the new European version of the handset will cost way more than $100. It will be priced at €169.90 (£123, $192) in Spain, and €10 more in Portugal. (Android One previously launched in Turkey.)

That’s about twice the price of the first African Android One handset launched by Hong Kong-based Infinix last month, and has very similar specs. Infinix’s Android One handset is available for N17,500 (€77, £55, $87) in Nigeria,

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Here are the specs for the BQ Aquaris A4.5: a 4.5-inch screen, 16GB of internal storage (a Micro SD card can support another 64GB), 2470mAh battery, 1GB of R AM, 8 megapixel rear camera Unlike other budget Android smartphones, Android One models get Android updates as soon as they are available, and manufacturers don’t put any extra software on top. Security is handled by Google too, meaning that users are not left exposed to bugs and flaws introduced by device manufacturers.

Google launched Android One in India last year, and has since made it available in 10 markets across Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Pakistan. uk.businessinsider.com/

Studio32 are well into rehearsals for their November pantomime Dick Whittington with leggy Susanne Sayers as Dick Whittington and the multi talented Verity Jo Spencer Hall, finalist in the pride of Spain competition as Alice Fitzwarren. Jenni HardyRooney is superbly cast as Dame Sara with the comedy actress Bev McEwan as Barrow Boy Billy.

The evergreen actress/singer Dianne Oliver plays the part of landlord Alderman Firzwarren who also sings the classic Master of the House from Les Miserables.

More comedy on show with Karen Love and Pam Sutton as Queen Rat and Spirit of London respectively,supported by Queen Rat•s henchmen Judith O•Neill as Nip and teenage find Jacob Baylis asTuck with the delightful young star Alice Joy Wakeford as Patches the cat plus the versatile t alent s of singer/ a c t o r

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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.

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

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

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

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.

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BOARDING BAN FOR DRUNKEN PASSENGERS ON THE CARDS

DRUNKEN tourists causing problems on the plane to S p a i n could soon become a thing of the past – British PM David Cameron h a s announced plans to deny boarding to passengers who are clearly heavily intoxicated.

Recent research by Jetcost.com showed that one in seven British travellers is already drunk by the time he or she gets on a plane to Spain. * It claimed a typical young adult going away for a summer break with friends gets to the airport just under four hours before the flight to maximise drinking time and ‘start their holiday as they mean to go on’.

Nearly one in 14 passengers said they had started consuming alcohol before boarding, and another one in 14 did so once on board.

Only a few said they did so to calm their nerves because they were afraid of flying.

Since the start of this year alone, 156 drink-related incidents on

airlines heading out of the UK for sunny destinations – among t h e m mainland Spain and the islands – have been recorded, the highest figure on record since the late 1990s.

One airline covering the GlasgowIbiza route has stopped selling alcohol on board because of the number of ‘problem passengers’, and incidences of planes having to make emergency landings in Spanish airports to remove intoxicated travellers have hit the headlines.

But David Cameron says his series of planned actions to combat rowdy behaviour on airlines includes limiting the number of alcoholic drinks served in flight.

He is even considering a ‘blacklist’ with names of those who cause alcohol-induced problems on aircraft, which would prevent offenders from flying with other carriers. thinkspain.com

3

4

September 2015

Greenpeace demonstrates over Cuenca province nuclear waste plant plans

ort GREENPEACE staged a protest in Madrid on Friday with cannisters set up in the central Puerta del Sol square imitating those containing radioactive waste.

This is the latest in a series of demonstrations by environmental groups and members of the public against central government plans to build a nuclear refuse storage warehouse in Villar de Cañas (Cuenca province).

Campaigners wanted to raise awareness of the dangers they say are involved in nuclear waste disposal plants, especially given that the toxic residue has to be transported by road, meaning if the vehicle is caught up in a crash, the outcome

could be catastrophic.

The province of Cuenca, in the large central region of Castilla-La Mancha and halfway between Madrid and Valencia, which is on the east coast, is very sparsely populated, but Greenpeace says in addition to the dangers the plant would create for those living within a very wide radius of it, similar perils would affect towns and villages radioactive waste transport lorries travelled through.

During their day-long protest in the Puerta del Sol, Greenpeace members carried banners which read, 'Danger: Nuclear route in 216 towns', and 'No to the nuclear cemetery'.

Spokeswoman Raquel Montón says: “Radioactive cannisters could be circulating through our roads and crossing over 200 towns and villages in Spain as we speak.

“This is a risk we don't need, and it's too expensive – it's not necessary for us to spend over €1 billion on a nuclear waste storage plant. It would only cost €20 million to construct a temporary one next to an existing nuclear power

station, so it's a waste to spend 50 times that much when there's no need.”

Sra Montón says in addition to safety and financial concerns, the plant would have a serious negative impact on the economy in the Villar de Cañas area.

Homes and land would plummet in value, and agricultural produce would be practically worthless.

Furthermore, it would cause unnecessary stress and worry for the population because of all these factors.

Concerning Spain's legal requirement to repatriate nuclear waste sent to France, thanks to a law change in response to a huge fire at the reactor in Vandellós (Tarragona province, Catalunya region) in 1989, the Greenpeace spokeswoman says she is 'sure we can renegotiate' with France 'in relation to nuclear waste stored in The Hague'.

Memory and motor skills ‘toy’ for the elderly designed in Valencia

Ibiza says 'no' to extra facilities for private jets

ATTEMPTS to extend the private jet 'park' at Ibiza airport have been met with staunch opposition from left-wing independent party Podemos. The island's faction of the relatively new political outfit, Podem Eivissa, says it is 'categorically against' airline governing body AENA's proposals, saying it sends out the wrong message to 'the vast majority' of tourists and the general public.

The airport has already expanded recently and currently has space for 25 private jets. Some 9,000 take-offs and landings by air-taxis and private jets took place last year, meaning demand for their facilities is 'already adequately covered with existing infrastructure', considers Podem Eivissa. “CO2 emissions of private jets into the atmosphere are enormous, contributing to speeding up global warming.

“Also, this responds to policies aimed at usurping public land, privatising it, and making it available for use for a wealthy and privileged minority.

“This is about hijacking common land like this to hand it over to multi-millionaires who use our island as a disposable consumer commodity – and, in fact, the land they want to use as a private jet park is very close to the Ses Salines protected nature reserve, our main green-belt site and a very valuable habitat, breeding ground and resting point for migratory birds,” Podem continues. read more at thinkspain. com

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A DESIGN studio in Valencia has invented a game to help elderly persons with severe memory and movement problems recover some of their faculties.

Known as a Diskover Memory, the ‘toy’ is made up of 33 moving, coloured discs of varying shapes and textures split into three towers of 11 parts each, together with extra pieces split into four categories – memory and attention, reasoning, motor skills, and creativity.

It is designed for stroke victims or elderly men and women with Alzheimer’s, dementia, serious arthritis, severe age-related memory,

focus and movement difficulties, and also people of any age with autism or serious mental impairments affecting memory and executive skills, or general movement and coordination.

According to the studio, Unamo, the gadget has been created with hospitals, specialist clinics and residential homes in mind in particular, but is also suitable for use at home, ideally under supervision.

Unamo stresses it is a complement, not a substitute for other types of therapy, but that this is the first time ever that a rehabilitation aid has combined several different disciplines, or faculties, rather than just specialising in one.

Creator Humberto WE BUY Navarro, an interior USED and product designer, SPAS the Diskover Memory started out life as a LONGEST ESTABLISHED SPA home decoration item DEALER IN THIS PART OF SPAIN which doubled up as a children’s toy.

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LANGUAGE EXCHANGE BETWEEN SPANIARDS AND FOREIGN RESIDENTS

Rojales Town Council is promoting again its language exchange programme among Spaniards who are learning a foreign language and foreign residents who are learning the Spanish language and culture.

Rojales Town Council started its language exchange programme by the end of 2012, a free activit y to promote i n t e g r a t i o n b e t w e e n foreigners and S p a n i a r d s , improving also the training of young people. In the beginning, around 300 people joined the programme, having currently more than 1,000 registered people, with a ver y positive result.

People interested can join it from now on by filling a form in the Municipal Centre of Ciudad Quesada or in Rojales Town Hall.

You can make your language exchange in Ciudad Quesada or in Rojales town,

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This programme aims also to promote and help integration between foreign residents and Spanish locals. A further step for the integration of foreign residents in the local societ y.

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September 2015

TV NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER 2015

September is here, the 9th month, 3/4 of the year gone!

Where does it go?!?! At least the sun should have turned down a notch or two and the huge influx of holiday visitors gone back to their main homes in Madrid and such places. They are the “lifeblood” of the coastal areas but as I often say about visitors to the house “nice to see them – nice to see them go !!!”

We have managed to keep most of the garden alive in the searing heat despite the wells on the land being dry and without too much strain on the mains water system! (and the water meter!). All the animals are fine including the pond fish even though the water seems thick with algae as it does every year with the “hot” water! A little cooling and it will soon clear again.

TV NEWS…As I have said in previous issues the signals from the satellite system for the mainstream channels are extremely weak this summer and having started from a low base many viewers have been without at least some channels. The HD versions are in general weaker and require more data than the SD versions so until the weather cools watch and record on the SD ones. We must remember that we are quite lucky to be this far south and still get some UK TV, you do not have to go very far west for no satellite signal at all ! The HD problems do seem to have affected SKY boxes more than others often “jamming” the box so that only a reboot will get it active again. If you have a SKY box that keeps doing this try keeping clear of the HD versions for a while and see if things improve.

We have been to many houses with no TV and found installations, not by us, where really inferior equipment has been used, maybe a good dish but with a “wrong” cheap LNB, inferior cheap cable or a really cheap Digibox…often getting the comment from the “dead” TV household that “my neighbour across the road has the same dish and TV – why am I not” - well the signals are so weak and unless you have all the “right” (often more expensive)

equipment all the way through the system you will have viewing problems. Most , but not all , of the 1.80/1.90 dishes installed around Murcia are of good quality and of the prime focus type but then to save 50€ the installer has used a cheap LNB intended for an offset dish. They could get away with that in the days of good signal but not today when such an installation will reduce signal by some 10% and hey ho no picture!

Equal stories for cheap cable and digiboxes.

We at Rainbow have always been one of the“more expensive” installers but we have ALWAYS used the best equipment that is available on the market and often finished with a less profit margin than the cheaper installers but with systems that work! Most of our clients will confirm this…we are not the only “good” installer around the region but I think our clients will confirm that our systems do work!

Successful UK TV in this part of Spain does require the “best” of everything to work well. It really is an area of life that you can not “skimp”. This philosophy even applies to internet TV – the real way forward in TV reception - but again it will require the best internet and server for good watchable TV. If you are interested in getting rid of that huge dish or you are having problems viewing ask us for more details.

Well that’s all the space used up for this month – article sponsored

by RAINBOW SATELLITES – the Murcia company for all your TV needs. Contact us for free friendly advise – an email is preferable – rainbowsats@gmail.com – but we will do our best to answer a phone call or respond as quickly as possible to a voicemail you leave – (0034) 686 358 475. Our website is www.rainbowsats.org – as some good basic information on TV viewing in Spain.

SPAIN’S MUCH-VAUNTED ECONOMIC RECOVERY MASKS LINGERING JOBS CRISIS

Millions of Spaniards are scraping by on benefits, family handouts or working cash-in-hand as they wait for the apparent economic rebound to create the hundreds of thousands of jobs the government is promising.

Experts say that these jobs are being created — but that the problem is many of them only last a few days.

Since leaving school, 22-year-old Mr Pichel from the northwestern Galicia region has racked up training certificates in finance and business, but has received no decent job offers in Spain.

"You can get a contract for three weeks or three months. You’re happy, but you quickly realise that there is no job security," he said.

Spain’s government is forecasting the economy will grow by 3.3% this year, one of the strongest rates in the eurozone.

Spain’s unemployment rate remains extremely high at more than 22%. One in every two eligible workers under the age of 25 is out of work.

"Every month in Spain 1.5-million contracts are signed. That’s 18-million a year. So what’s going on? These are contracts for just a day’s or a week’s work," said Manuel Lago, an economist in the major union CCOO. "Employment in Spain is very seasonal.

Jobs start getting created shortly before Easter and the unemployment rate goes down all summer" before

ticking back up in August. Anna Laborda of ESADE business school in Barcelona agrees that the jobs being created in Spain are "very unstable" ones.

Labour ministry figures show that one quarter of all contracts signed in the first half of this year were for a week’s work or less.

"If the unemployment rate has gone down, it is only because the number of people eligible to qualify as job seekers has decreased" due to emigration, said Ms Laborda.

Spain suffered two recessions after its housing bubble burst in 2008. It returned to growth in mid-2013.

Many of the millions of immigrants who were drawn to Spain during the prior boom years were driven away by the crisis. Young people with qualifications and languages have followed, since all Spain seems to offer is "seasonal or unsteady jobs", Ms Laborda added.

Despite his business diplomas, Mr Pichel had been scraping a living by refereeing football matches at weekends.

Then he landed a three-year contract at a bank near Dresden, including a fixed salary, housing and four paid return journeys to Spain a year. Two other Spaniards have since joined him at the bank.

"I pulled the long straw," he said. "It sounded too good to be true."

AFP(news@thelocal.es)

2 KILOS OF DRIED SEAHORSES FOUND HIDDEN

It is one of the more unusual sort of contraband discovered by customs officers at Malaga airport when they conducted a routine suitcase search.

Two kilos of dried seahorses were found hidden within luggage of traveller arriving from Colombia.

The Civil Guard said the seahorses had been discovered within plastic bags hidden inside the suitcase of a Chinese traveller arriving at Malaga Costa del Sol airport from Cali in Columbia.

The contraband was found in luggage at Malaga airport.

“They were discovered during a manual inspection of the

luggage belonging to a passenger arriving in Malaga from Cali via Amsterdam,” the Civil Guard said in a statement on Friday.

The passenger claimed that the seahorses were for “personal consumption” but is facing charges for “violating import / export laws on the transport of protected wildlife,” according to the statement.

Seahorses are a delicacy in China where they are sold on skewers at street food markets and are said to have an aphrodisiac effect. thelocal.com

www.soltimes.com

LET US LOOK AFTER YOUR HOME

9

EXPERT ADVICE: TIPS FOR MAINTAINING YOUR HOUSE

We don't think twice about having our cars regularly serviced. Why don't we do the same with our homes? After all, we spend enormous amounts of money on renovations. But more often than not, rather than maintaining the work, we wait until something is broken before getting it fixed. between the glass and the frame and make it fog.

EXTERIOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES TO BE AWARE OF? If you have wires going into the house, such as for cable or telephone, to keep them dry, it’s better for them to come up through a hole not down. (If you bring them down from above, make sure the wires have a little dip like a plumbing drain to keep water out.)

ANY TIPS FOR PROTECTING THE PERIMETER OF YOUR HOUSE? On the exterior of your house, keep everything six to eight inches away from the walls. A lot of people plant right up to the edge of the house, but you need to keep soil and flowers away to avoid rot. Instead, replace soil with gravel or a similar drainage solution.

HIDDEN MENACES WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF? Don’t water your house. It’s important to check the reach of your sprinklers and make sure that they are not spraying the house. Often sprinklers are on at night, so you might not realize that the house is being watered. You also want to avoid anything that can lead to standing water.

OTHER TIPS FOR EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE? To avoid vermin, look around the perimeter of your house and stuff any small space bigger than a dime with steel wool.

SAFETY MEASURES WE SHOULD BE ATTENDING TO? This is an obvious one: check smoke detectors.

They are there for a reason.

CHIMNEY SWEEPS? If you have a chimney and burn soft woods, this can create a lot of creosote that can build up over time and be a fire hazard. Get the chimney inspected. h t t p : / / w w w . remodelista.com/

WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY WHEN IT COMES TO HOME MAINTENANCE? Like just about everything, houses require tuneups. Too often people think of replacing instead of maintaining. But whether you live in a newly renovated place or otherwise, doing a thorough walk-through once in a while helps preserve your house and keeps it in working order.

WHERE DO WE START? Begin with the exterior paint job—look at it and make sure it is kept clean.

Gravity and water are the enemy, so if you see a crack or chip get it painted immediately.

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www.soltimes.com SCIENTIST REVEALS THE CHANCES OF YOU GETTING SICK FROM EATING FOOD DROPPED ON THE FLOOR Various research teams have studied the safety of the 'five-second rule' This included leaving food on different floors for different lengths of time A food scientist has explained what happens to food when it is dropped He then reveals how likely it is to become sick from eating dropped foods When you drop a piece of food on the floor, is it really safe to eat if you pick it up within five seconds?

This urban myth claims that if food spends just a few seconds on the floor, dirt and germs won't have enough time to contaminate it.

Research has recently focused on how food and contact surfaces become contaminated, and now a food scientist has now revealed the truth about what happens when food is dropped.

The following is taken from a post by Professor Paul Dawson from Clemson University published on The Conversation.

While the ‘five-second rule’ might not seem like the most pressing issue for food scientists to get to the bottom of, it’s still worth investigating food myths like this one because they shape our beliefs about when food is safe to eat.

So is five seconds on the floor the critical threshold that separates an edible morsel from a case of food poisoning? It’s a bit a more complicated than that. It depends on just how much bacteria can make it from floor to food in a few seconds and just how dirty the floor is.

Wondering if food is still safe to eat after it’s been dropped on the floor, or anywhere else, is a pretty common experience, and it’s not a new one either.

A well-known, but inaccurate, story about Julia Child may have contributed to this food myth.

Some viewers of her cooking show, The French Chef, insist they saw Ms Child drop lamb - or a chicken or a turkey, depending on the version of the tale - on the floor and pick it up, with the advice that if they were alone in the kitchen, their guests would never know.

In fact it was a potato pancake, and it fell on the stovetop, not on the floor.

Ms Child put it back in the pan, saying: ‘But you can always pick it up and if you are alone in the kitchen, who is going to see?’ But the story persists.

It’s harder to pin down the origins of the oft-quoted five-second rule, but a 2003 study reported that 70 per cent of women and 56 per cent of men surveyed were familiar with the five-second rule and that women were more likely than men to eat food that had been dropped on the floor.

So what does science tell us about what a few moments on the floor means for the safety of your food?

The earliest research report on the five-second rule is attributed to Jillian Clarke, a high school student participating in a research apprenticeship at the University of Illinois. Clarke and her colleagues inoculated floor tiles with bacteria then placed food on the tiles for varying times. They reported bacteria were transferred from the tile to gummy bears and cookies within

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nd the five-secon i h e b h t d ru tru e le Th THE TRUTH BEHIND THE RULE

five seconds, but didn’t report the specific amount of bacteria that made it from the tile to the food.

In 2007, the lab at Clemson University published a study - the only peer-reviewed journal paper on this topic - in the Journal of Applied Microbiology.

Experts wanted to know if the length of time food is in contact with a contaminated surface affected the rate of transfer of bacteria to the food. To find out, the team inoculated squares of tile, carpet or wood with Salmonella. Five minutes after they placed either bologna or bread on the surface for five, 30 or 60 seconds, and then measured the amount of bacteria transferred to the food.

We repeated this after the bacteria had been on the surface for two, four, eight and 24 hours.

They found that the amount of bacteria transferred to either kind of food didn’t depend much on how long the food was in contact with the contaminated surface - whether for a few seconds or for a whole minute. The overall amount of bacteria on the surface mattered more, and this decreased over time after the initial inoculation.

This suggests that what’s at issue is less how long the food is on the floor and more how infested with bacteria that patch of floor happens to be. The team also found that the kind of surface made a difference as well.

Carpets, for instance, seem to be slightly better places to drop your food than wood or tile. When carpet was inoculated with Salmonella, less than 1 per cent of the bacteria were transferred.

But when the food was in contact with tile or wood, 48 per cent to 70 per cent of bacteria transferred.

Last year, a study from from Aston University in the UK used nearly identical parameters to our study and found similar results testing contact times of three and 30 seconds on similar surfaces.

They also reported that 87 per cent of people asked either would eat or have eaten food dropped on the floor.

From a food safety standpoint, if you have millions or more cells on a surface, 0.1 per cent is still enough to make you sick.

Also, certain types of bacteria are extremely virulent, and it takes only a small amount to make you sick. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

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In 2007, the lab at Clemson University published a study in the Journal of Applied Microbiology.

Experts wanted to know if the length of time food is in contact with a contaminated surface affected the rate of transfer of bacteria to the food.

To find out, the team inoculated squares of tile, carpet or wood with Salmonella.

Five minutes after they placed either bologna or bread on the surface for five, 30 or 60 seconds, and then measured the amount of bacteria transferred to the food.

They found that the amount of bacteria transferred to either kind of food didn't depend much on how long the food was in contact with the contaminated surface - whether for a few seconds or for a whole minute.

The overall amount of bacteria on the surface mattered more, and this decreased over time after the initial inoculation.

The team also found that the kind of surface made a difference as well.

Carpets, for instance, seem to be slightly better places to drop your food than wood or tile. When carpet was inoculated with Salmonella, less than 1 per cent of the bacteria were transferred.

But when the food was in contact with tile or wood, 48 per cent to 70 per cent of bacteria transferred

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GARDENER GROWS NOT ONE BUT TWO TOMATOES SHAPED JUST LIKE RUBBER DUCKS

Gardener George Wall, 80, finds two tomatoes shaped like rubber ducks Retired lorry driver found the deformed tomatoes growing in green house Pensioner says discovery has made him a bit of a celebrity on his street A gardener thought he was going quackers after spotting two tomatoes growing in his greenhouse - in the shape of rubber ducks.

George Wall, 80, picked the bizarrely-shaped fruit forming from a tomato plant in his back garden.

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The pensioner said the deformed tomatoes had made him something of a celebrity on his street in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

The retired lorry driver said he was amazed to find not only one, but two duck-shaped tomatoes staring back up at him.

The grandfather-of-four, who has been gardening for 30 years, said: ‘We were very surprised that they looked like ducks.

‘We’ve got about eight plants in the greenhouse and as my wife went down to pick them she saw the shape of them and left them to develop.

‘But they were beginning to grow too big and heavy for the plant so we picked them.

‘Mary had to keep them out of my reach while they were growing because fresh tomatoes off the plant are too tempting for me.

‘It is a complete freak of nature and I don’t think it will ever happen again. To get one is rare enough but to get two little ducks was incredible.’

Mrs Wall added: ‘I couldn’t get rid of them, they are just too cute.

‘I have kept them in the fridge and they are starting to go off, but there’s no way we’d use them.

‘When I first spotted them I said to my daughter I was growing a duck in the greenhouse and she didn’t believe me. ‘I went and brought them to her and she was amazed.

‘We’ve never grown anything like them before and doubt we will again.’

They are not the first people to find strange-shaped fruit and vegetables in their gardens.

In 2008, John Owen, of Brownhills, Staffordshire, found a red tomato growing in the shape of a duck - and added white stickers as eyes.

In the same year, Patricia Bragg from Essex found a mallard-shaped courgette - which bore an uncanny resemblance to Beatrix Potter character Jemima Puddleduck - nestling among leaves in her allotment. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

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Work is always more pleasant with flowers on your desk, but they don't need to be sitting in a vase to do the trick. Place a swath of bloomthemed wallpaper (use double-sided tape if the edges curl) on a desk, and then top it with a piece of customcut glass. Change the pattern as the mood strikes.

SUN-PRINT PILLOW On these silk pillows, the hazy images and washed azure color lend an antique feeling and visual and tactile softness to any setting.

Creations of Gardens and Re-style Garden Maintenance F L O R A L MURAL Bring the beautiful and elegant look of flowers into your spaces with these simple and stunning projects.

Whether it's a small accent or a dramatic scene, these floral decorating ideas will add to your room's budding style.

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display an enormous wall decal instead.

One of the best sources, muralsyourway.com, has a selection of ready-made murals and will also create a custom design based on an image you send. The decals, which have adhesive backings, typically arrive in two pieces; apply the top piece first, and then the bottom one, lining up the pattern. The decal can be easily removed and reused without losing its adhesiveness.

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September 2015

BRABEN’S BLOG...

Hello and welcome to CanDu Computer they come from Microsoft Bytes. In this weeks Conspiracy Corner, (Yep I did use the M word sorry I meant to say “Computer Corner” positively), and the results I would like to show you how computer manufactures invest stacks of money in are damning! This crapware (yep, it is a real perfecting your brand new shiny laptop, word), can slow the start-up of your laptop then bugger it up by making it slow! by 40%, slow the sleep mode by 25% and I do sound annoyed, don´t I? I hope to the resume mode by a staggering 51%. show what has provoked this response on your behalf, and how to correct it! Firstly, a Assuming a normal start time of 60 seconds laptop is a marvel of engineering. So much that means that it will take 24 seconds work goes into designing and manufacturing more to start, 15 seconds longer to go into all the individual pieces of hardware before sleep mode and over 30 seconds longer to combining them with software that’s taken resume from hibernate! By my maths (not decades to build. After going through all this work, laptop manufacturers are paid math!) that is 69 seconds of my life I won´t to make their laptops slower and more get back. frustrating to use.

Now for the magic of this article, how Why, in the name of Sam Hill (haven´t a to get this time back! You have 5 options clue who he is), would they want to do this? in which to rid yourself of these pesky It´s simple economics! Laptops are getting cheaper every day and although there are programs: 1. Pay Microsoft $99 to remove them many ways to get quality components at rock bottom prices, the difference between remotely. what it cost to build and the profit from its 2. Pay me 20€ to remove them while you sale is also getting very slim. How do they watch and wait (doesn´t take long). make up for the obvious shortfall in income?

3. Manually remove each unwanted So let´s ask a question.

Does the manufacturer of your laptop’s program individually. This is a slow process manufacturer really believe Norton antivirus in which I would use a freeware uninstaller is the best security solution, or that some program to completely remove the obscure casual game portal has the best games available for Windows? The short programs.

4. Use a batch uninstaller like “PC answer is NO! The truth is that they’re paid by software companies to pre-install Decrapifier” (No Political Correctness Here this stuff. Let me repeat the important bit Either) OR “THEY ARE PAID” and that is how the price 5. Reinstall Windows from scratch using of the laptop can remain so low and still be the restore image (provided that it doesn´t a worthwhile purchase.

This often-useless software slows a have the crapware as part of its install laptop down, making it take longer to boot, process), or reinstall it using a windows cd reducing available memory, and generally / dvd and find, download and install all the clutters up the computer. Toolbars may insert themselves into browsers and pop- drivers for your particular machine.

Just a thought. We geeks may know how up messages may urge the user (You) to upgrade to paid copies of trial software. to deal with bloatware, but the average Messages for trial antivirus programs can be computer buyer (You again) are getting particularly scary, warning users they may be at risk if they don’t open their wallets and stuck with a laptop made worse by its manufacturer. pay additional money.

Contact me for free advice concerning your How much does it slow down your computer? Luckily there is a benchmark (a computer, or to arrange an appointment, at pre-defined baseline (see previous article the address or phone number below. about baselines) based on completely For further information or advice on clean laptops) computing,contact Trevor on 689 892 745 or that we can use canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk to compare, and

A HISTORY OF MOORISH SPAIN (PART 3)

Born in Toledo in 788AD; Abd ar-Rahman II became Umayyad Emir of Cordoba on the death of his father Al Hakam I in 822AD. No stranger to controversy he’d been involved in the massacre of the ditch in 807AD. Nobles had been to Toledo supposedly to honour the then Emir. Instead as they arrived at the banquet they were all beheaded. Estimates vary from 500 to 7000 murdered souls.

Abd ar-Rahman II was considered a weak ruler; reputedly he was advised by Yahya a whirling dervish; Ziryab a musician, a woman called Tarub and Nasr a eunuch who was responsible for political decisions. During his reign there were many Christian rebellions. In the past Christians were given option of paying a special tax called Jizya, banishment, or if they preferred death and martyrdom by denouncing Islam in public.

Abd ar-Rahman II was responsible for the ‘Martyrs of Cordoba’ where 48 Christian believers were decapitated between 850-859AD for various crimes of blasphemy against Islam. A Hagiography is a biography that idealizes or idolizes the person especially a person who is a saint; Eulogius a Cordovan priest wrote the work Exhortation to martyrdom which encouraged many voluntary martyrdoms. By coincidence his name stems from the Greek word eulogia meaning good words.

To counter the voluntary martyrdoms Abd arRahman II convened a special council or synod between 850-852AD; a decree was issued supported

SHOPPING ADVICE

I’m not the best shopper in the world but on, a n o t h e r, r e c e n t reluctant shopping trip with Helen and Alice, I came across some amazing beauty treatments of which I had previously been unaware- and I was hooked!

Tea tree oil for example. I’d never heard of it but, shame on me, it’s been around since Captain Cook used it instead of tea in the late 18th Century.

Beauty products have I must admit passed me by.

I’ve never given creams, oils or lotions a thought, never mind any of the other stuff now available. By “other stuff”, I’m talking about a range of wonderfully unusual things that you can use-or assiduously avoid.

Smile lines for example. If you wake at night worrying about the impact that smiling may have on your face then you can pack up all your cares in your kit bag, because H.E.L.P is on the way.

A Japanese firm has produced a Smile Lines Face Belt which you can wear-not in public-to soothe away those pesky lines from too much smiling. Smile lines won’t be something supporters of Tranmere Rovers will be worrying about for the time being but, when they see the thing they will

no doubt prefer relegation, because the belt looks eerily like the mask clamped to Hannibal Lecter during his face chewing phase.

Not tempted? Well maybe this will encourage you to make a bee line for the beauty counter. If you’re tired of the scent of your usual perfume or cologne, you now have an alternative. Sushi Cologne will leave you smelling of sticky rice and seaweed, with hints of ginger and lemon.

If you ever wanted to be a magnet for a fishmonger or deep sea fisher, this could be your opportunity.

Alternatively, if you’re worried about your man’s lack of grooming, how about slipping a copy of “A Butler’s Guide to Gentleman’s Grooming” under his pillow.

The book, which sounds unputdownable, has endless essential information that the elegant gentleman will require, from instruction on how to trim nasal hair, to what to do with discarded toenail clippings. There’s a protocol for this? Dare I say, it’s a real snip for any stylish man!

I know it’s early, but surely these items, or the Instant Moustache Trimmer-which looks chillingly like something that could be another Hannibal Lecter accessorywould grace any Christmas stocking, whilst encouraging fascinating conversation over the turkey!

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

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

by Reccafred the Christian Bishop of Cordoba. He preached religious tolerance and sided with the Moslem authorities as he considered the martyrs religious fanatics.

He threw Eulogius into prison in 852AD but this whipped up religious militancy further. Eulogius was eventually executed in 859AD after being caught sheltering an apostate Moslem girl called Leocritia who’d converted to Christianity. She was executed on March 15th a few days after Eulogius finally followed his own teachings.

Alfonso II King of the Asturias constantly waged war against Abd ar-Rahman II. Over a hundred years previously around 720AD at the time of the original Moorish invasion the Moors had let surviving Christian nobles escape north to the Asturias. Now years later the Christians had started the reconquest.

King Alfonso II took Lisbon from the Moors in 798AD and up until he was stopped by Abd-ar–Rahman II in 825AD and Lisbon was retaken he had reclaimed swathes of Galicia, Leon and Castille. It’s said that King Alfonso II was the first Christian pilgrim to Santiago de Compestela after the body of Saint James was discovered there. King Alfonso II died in 842AD and has the following eulogy ‘after having held for 52 years chastely, soberly, immaculately, piously, and gloriously the government of the realm’.

Al-Andalus was assailed from all sides; in 844 a fleet of 52 ships filled with Al-Madjus or Norse Vikings anchored off the Lisbon coast. Landing they took

Cadiz from the Moors. Sailing up the Guadalquivir River they took Seville on October 1st. The Vikings sent an ambassador to Abd ar-Rahman II and proposed a peace treaty. As part of the deal; Moorish diplomat Yahya returned with the Norseman and came back unharmed some 20 months later to the Emir. A naval fleet and arsenal was constructed in Seville afterwards to repel any future invasion.

During his reign Cordoba prospered; numbering several hundred thousand inhabitants it was the largest city in the known world. Poetry and philosophy were encouraged; Abd-ar-Rahman II was responsible for many public building projects.

The streets were paved and lit at night, mosques, libraries and public baths were built and indoor plumbing was introduced. He owned a fabulous jewelled belt which later El Cid, then Queen Isabel owned; the latter selling it hundreds of years later to help pay for the Christian reconquest of Granada.

Abd ar-Rahman II died peacefully in 852AD and was succeeded by his son Muhammad I.

www.soltimes.com

15

16

September 2015 Cudillero, Asturias

• OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: The best kept travel secrets in Spain Spain has so much to see off the beaten track so why not take the road less travelled and discover a few hidden gems?

Spain can boast a great deal of Unesco World Heritage sites, and several of them have recently made it onto Lonely Planet’s top 500 things to see in the world. But why take the road everybody else is taking when Spain has so many unsung beauties to offer? You’ve already seen the Alhambra and the Sagrada Familia - now it’s time to take your sightseeing to the next level.

ALCÁZAR OF SEGOVIA Visiting this stunning alcazar is like the beginning of a Disney film. In fact, it was one of the inspirations for Cinderella’s castle. Its historical importance for the monarchs of Spain - particularly in the early reign of Isabel la Catolica - has ensured its constant preservation and renovation by kings and queens for centuries. Segovia is only a short train ride from Madrid and makes for a magical day-trip if you’re visiting the capital.

CARTAGENA Cartagena is home to one of the greatest defensive ports in the Western Mediterranean and its unique position has meant that the harbour has hosted and advanced every empire that has invaded Spain. Though it owes its name to the Carthaginians, the Roman amphitheatre and Byzantine wall all reveal a complex heritage that tourists can enjoy alongside the excellent fish restaurants by the beach.

CALLE DEL LAUREL If you’re going to Spain for the tapas, why restrict yourself to the well-trodden streets of Madrid’s La Latina or San Sebastián when you can go to Spain’s little known pintxos mecca Calle del Laurel? Locals in Logroño flock to this street day and night to meet friends and drink late into the night.

Logroño is the capital of La Rioja, one of Spain’s most prolific wine regions, so take advantage of the delicious tapas on offer by combining them with the local grape varieties.

LA GRACIOSA The volcanic island is 2km north of party capital Lanzarote so maybe if you’re out there for some Spanish hedonism, take a day off for a bit of peace and quiet and go to one of the few places in the world that still has no tarmac roads. There are a couple of apartments and villages to stay in, but La Graciosa

Las Medulas

is otherwise untouched by tourism and offers a quasi-Jurassic escape away from the partying in the Canary islands.

LAS MEDULAS This amaxing landscape on the border between Galicia and Castilla y Leon is really worth the effort. Once the Roman Empire’s most important gold mine, archeologists have since uncovered several Roman settlements nearby too. And if you look closely very closely, you may even see some ancient inscriptions.

BURGOS CATHEDRAL This formidable Gothic cathedral is one of Spain's least crowded UNESCO World Heritage sites. It’s awe-inspiring size, unique architecture and, above all, its claim to the final resting place of Spanish national hero El Cid, all make it an important site for any tourist wishing to know more about the history of Spain.

CUENCA Cuenca is famous for its casas colgadas, literally hanging houses, that look like they’re about to topple over the edge of a cliff - probably half-believable as they’re in Spain’s famously windy region of Castile-La Mancha. For those architecture boffins among you, Cuenca boasts Spain's oldest Gothic cathedral.

CAPE FINISTERRE Believed to be the end of the known world in the Roman times, this Galician rock-bound peninsula can certainly seem foreboding on one of the region’s many gloomy days. It’s a tradition for pilgrims on the Camino del Santiago de Compostela to burn their clothes or boots at the end of the journey at Cape Finisterre, somewhat adding to this far corner of the earth’s sometimes biblical temperament.

EL PARQUE NATURAL DEL CABO DE GATA, ALMERÍA Spain’s expansive geography means that visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a nature reserve or park. This reserve includes villages, beaches and vast green areas that have all been protected from urbanisation and gratuitous tourism. Set in sunny Almería, it definitely makes a change from the Mediterranean seaside resorts that do little to stimulate the imagination.

UBEDA AND BAEZA These two beautiful towns in the province of Jaen are wellestablished as Spain’s earliest examples of the Renaissance style, and palaces and churches have enshrined the towns’ position in the Unesco World Heritage site. The villages are surrounded by olive groves and the visit would be wasted if you don’t sample some of the luxury olive oil there.

PALMERAL OF ELCHE Date palms are of special significance in Spain as it is said one of the first Moorish kings brought them over to make him feel more at home in his exile - although date palms seem to have already been around since way back in the 5th century

B.C. under the care of Iberian tribes. This charming system of palm orchards in the city of Elche was, however, definitely planted by the Muslims when they conquered the Iberian Peninsula and the Palmeral is an example of the elaborate irrigation systems that the Arabs brought to Spain.

CUDILLERO, ASTURIAS This gorgeous fishing village is guaranteed to wow all your Instagram followers. A new marina provides a lovely opportunity to take seaside strolls and you might also catch sight of some pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. Asturias is famous for its cider, a cloudy beverage that must be poured from above your head so that the liquid can oxidise before it hits your glass. A messy but fun business - and you’ve got to drink it before it goes cloudy again, so get ready to down glasses of it like there’s no tomorrow. (The chances are there will be one and it will start with a hangover).

GUADIX You may have heard about the caves of Granada’s gypsy quarter, Sacromonte, but they are few and far between in comparison to Guadix which has the highest concentration of cave dwellings in Spain. Tourists can actually stay in some of these caves and grasp an idea of how the community there lives day to day, which is certainly an attractive idea in the searingly hot Andalusian summers as the caves stay naturally cool. So if you fancy living like a Flintstone, this is the place for you.

JUZCAR, AKA SMURF VILLAGE Painted blue for Hollywood film 'The Smurfs', this tiny little town in Málaga decided it quite liked its sky-coloured makeover and saw tourist numbers leap from a lowly 300 a year to a formidable 80,000. It makes a pleasant change from the other equally beautiful white-washed villages that pepper the Andalusian region and will give you plenty of entertaining photographs to show your friends back home. thelocal.com

Guadix

17

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SOLTIMES PROPERTY SUPPLEMENT

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HOUSING REGISTERS PRICE RISE OF 1.2% IN Q2

According to the latest statistics released by the Ministry of Public Works on housing values, the average price of housing in Spain rose by 1.2% in the second quarter of this year, compared to the same period of 2014, to stand at 1,476.8 euros per square metre.

This is the first year-on-year increase registered in housing prices since the third quarter of 2008, at the beginning of the crisis, and follows 26 consecutive quarters of declines, during which time prices have accumulated a reduction of 29.7%. In real terms, discounting inflation, house prices rose by 1.5%, their third consecutive quarterly increase.

In the second quarter, prices increased for both new and second hand homes (those over five years old). The value of new homes rose by 1% (to 1,732.9 euros/m2) while second hand housing prices increased by 1.3% (to 1,467.5 euros/m2).

According to the Ministry’s data, a

total of 11 regions recorded year-onyear increases in housing values, the greatest being those registered in the Canary Islands (+4.1%), followed

by Madrid and Aragón (both +3.5%), while the regions which registered the greatest declines in the second quarter were Asturias (-2.7%), Castilla-La Mancha (-1.5%), Murcia (-1.3%) and La Rioja (-1.3%).

El Mundo reported that San Sebastian remains the most expensive city for housing, with an average price per square metre of 3,059.1 euros, while the most economical of the towns with over 25,000 of a population is Elda in Alicante, where the average price per square metre stands at 540.5 euros.

The Ministry also highlighted that the price of social housing registered a slight year-on-year decrease in the second quarter, of 0.4%, and stood at 1,094.6 euros/m2. kyero.com

WWW.SOLTIMES.COM

BANKS RELIEVED AS SPANISH PROPERTY MARKET IMPROVES

The recovery in Spain’s property market is good news for the country’s banks as it will provide a boost for the economy as a whole, while helping reduce the “toxic” real estate assets on the lenders’ balance sheets, says Moody’s Investors Service.

The ratings agency highlighted the 4.2 percent rise in housing prices in Q2 2015, as reported by the National Statistics Institute.

The improvement in prices has also been accompanied by an increase in the number of mortgages granted and a rise in the amount of property transactions, Moody’s noted.

It said the uptick in the real estate sector will be particularly beneficial for the banks’ more problematical assets like residential mortgages, commercial properties and embargoed real estate assets “which in most cases are equivalent to over 10 percent of total lending.”

Despite the signs of a recovery, the agency warned that property prices will not continue to rise at such a high rate and will stabilise. While the favourable macroeconomic outlook and improving consumer confidence are fuelling property investment, “different factors are still weighing on the market.”

These include high unemployment and the decline in the younger bracket of the population, traditionally a source of first time buyers. The delay in Spain’s housing stock being absorbed is also dragging on the sector. Source by The Corner EU

18

September 2015

SPANIARDS ARE RETIRING LATER THAN GERMANS, FRENCH OR ITALIANS

As a result of changes introduced in Spain’s pension reforms, aimed at promoting longer working lives, and curbing early retirement, Spaniards are now retiring later than workers in the principal European economies.

The average effective pension age has actually increased since 2005 onwards and, according to the last available data from the OECD (relating to 2012), which compiles data from the 34 most developed countries of the world, Spanish men retire at an average age of 62.3 years and Spanish women at 63.2 years. These figures exceeded the average retirement ages in Germany (62.1 years for men and 61.6 for women), Italy (61.1 and 60.5 respectively) and France (59.7 and 60 years respectively), and even in rescued Greece workers retired much earlier than in Spain (61.9 years for men and 60.3 for women).

However, El Mundo reported that the average retirement age in Spain was still below those of the Netherlands, where the respective average retirement ages for men and women reached 62.3 and 63.6 years; the United Kingdom (63.7 and 63.2 years); and Sweden (66.1 and 64.2 years). Moreover in Portugal, where the European Commission has applied harsh measures to their pension system during the country’s rescue process, men are now retiring at an average age of 68.4 years and women at 66.4 years.

These data, included in the latest Focus on Spanish

Society report, edited by the Foundation of Savings Banks (Funcas), confirm that, contrary to what was expected by the crisis, early retirement in Spain has not increased.

In fact, the number of early retirees aged between 53 and 64 years remained relatively stable last year, and the percentage of early retirees in this age group has dropped from 14% in 2005 to 11% in 2014. The decline has been more notable among male workers. According to the statistics, ten years ago, 20% of male workers between the ages of 53 and 64 years retired early, while in 2014 this percentage has dropped to 15%. In contrast, the percentage of female early retirees in this age group has remained basically the same over those years, at around 6 to 7%.

kyero.com

SPAIN RANKS 27TH GLOBALLY FOR INNOVATION

The Spanish economy ranks in 27th place in the world in terms of innovation, according to the index published last week by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which evaluates the capacity of countries to promote development and economic growth.

Spain is ranked 18th in the European region and, since 2011, has risen five positions in the global ranking, which is headed for the fourth consecutive year by Switzerland, followed by the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United States and Finland.

The Global Innovation Index (GII), in which America’s Cornell University and the Insead school of business collaborate, points out that two of Spain’s greatest strengths in terms of innovation are its infrastructure, which occupies ninth position on the list, and the “sophistication of the market”, in tenth place. The Spanish infrastructures stand out for their ecological sustainability and for the development of information technologies and communications.

In terms of its human capital, El Economista reported that the WIPO study highlights the long academic life of students in Spain, which ranks in the tenth position

globally in this variable.

The weaknesses of the country highlighted by the study in terms of innovation relate to “business sophistication”, ranked in 47th position, and “absorption of knowledge”, ranked 79th.

SPANISH AIRPORTS REGISTERED RECORD MONTH FOR PASSENGER TRAFFIC IN AUGUST

In August this year, the Spanish airports in the Aena airports network recorded the best month in its history for passengers numbers, with a total of 24,001,019 travellers, which represents an increase of 4.7% over the same month of 2014, and consolidates the growth trend in passenger traffic observed over the past 22 months.

Of the total number of passengers, some 17,334,261 related to international flights, with an increase of 3.9% over August 2014, while the number of domestic passengers climbed by 7% compared with the same month of last year, to a total of 6,598,650.

The cumulative data for the first eight months of 2015 shows an increase of 5.2% in the number of passengers travelling through all the Aena airports, with more than 140.1 million, and some of the most significant increases being registered in the airports of La Palma (+13.5%), Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas (+12%), Seville (+10.1%) and Santiago (+9.2%).

The Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas airport ranks as Spain’s first airport facility and registered the most passenger traffic in the network in August, with 4,550,487 passengers, which is an increase of 14% over August last year, and the 19th consecutive month of increases, since February 2014.

This airport also beat the historic record for international passengers, with a total of 3,352,329, which is 16.3% more than in August of last year.

The airports of Barcelona-El Prat, Málaga-Costa del Sol, Santiago, Alicante-Elche and the three Balearic Islands airports also registered record results for passenger traffic in a month of August. Barcelona-El Prat recorded 4.3 million passengers (+3.7%); Málaga-Costa del Sol airport recorded 1,736,881 passengers (+3.3%); Santiago airport had 282,505 passengers (+19.5%); Palma de Mallorca airport registered 3,775,518 passengers (+0.9%); Ibiza

Spain also ranks lower than the average in terms of “agreements and strategic alliances” between companies, at number 50 on the list, as well as for the payment of licences and royalties, in 58th place.

The report highlights, however, that the Spanish economy is situated above countries such as China, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Italy.

Spain ranks 23rd globally for the quality of its innovation, a classification that takes into account University education and the internationalisation of local products.

Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Sweden top the list of European economies, while Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico had 1,300,505 (+2.3%); Menorca had 630,522 (+5.5%), are in the top three in Latin America and the Caribbean. and Alicante-Elche recorded 1,260,839 passengers (+4%).

The document stresses that innovation policies play a key Moreover, in August, significant percentage increases role in the emerging economies, in which the promotion of were recorded in the numbers of passengers travelling through the airports of León (+114.1%), Valencia (+12.2%) research is a central aspect for growth and for dealing with and Vigo (+10.2%). social problems such as pollution, public health, poverty According to El País, a total of 3,263,856 passengers and unemployment. were registered in the Canary Islands airports in August, It also points out those economies that have achieved representing an increase of 3% over the same month better results than countries with a similar level in terms of of last year. Gran Canaria recorded most passengers to the Islands during the month, with 862,932, followed by its gross domestic product (GDP). In this regard, the report Tenerife South with 761,430, Lanzarote with 619,387, and highlights the economies of sub-Saharan Africa such as Fuerteventura with 515,078. With under half a million Rwanda (94th place), Mozambique (95th) and Malawi passengers registered, were the airports of Tenerife North (98th) which, despite their low GDP, are located among the with 396,974, La Palma with 88,390, El Hierro with 15,515, and La Gomera with 4,150. average income countries in terms of innovation policies. kyero.com kyero.com

VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL

DETATCHED CORTIJO REDUCED

BARGAIN

€125,000

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

20 mins from Mojacar, 4 beds, 2 baths, Open plan living areas, kitchen & diningroom as well as a workshop, courtyard front & back & room for a pool. Mountain views.

649 186 107

or email thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

19

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SOL Y MAR STUNNING - URRACAL VILLA SOL307 - 299,999€

CONTACT US NOW ON

950 064 584 609 199 394

Office : Avenida 28 de Febrero, 44, Albox

Email: info@solymarspain.com

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

ALBOX - VILLA SM019 - 139,995€

SERON-DETACHED VILLA SOL516 - OFFERS OVER 170,000€ NEW LISTING

This amazing villa overlooks the village of Urracal.

Featuring 4 beds, master with ensuite & dressing room.

Spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

A stunning villa of very high standard.The villa has an immaculate garden with lovely pool area. Consisting of 3 bedrooms, 1 opening onto patio area. Call today to view!

ORIA- VILLA SOL190- 119,000€ NEW LISTING

VILLA IN CERRO GORDO SM016 - 159,950€

3 Bed 2 Bath detached with ensuite, swimming pool and 2500m2 of land. Only a few mins from Oria village.

Detached modern bungalow featuring 3 bedrooms, games room & 2 bathrooms, 1 en-suite. Also features central heating throughout and swimming pool.

Beautiful 4 bed 2 bath country villa finished to the highest standard with 2.5 Hectares of land, swimming pool & Jacuzzi.

NEAR ALBOX - VILLA SM021 - 169,000€

ARBOLEAS / ALMANZORA SM010 - 85,000€

ALMAZORA - VILLA SM020 - 200,000€

Detached 4 bed 2 bath country villa on 2400m2 of land , close to albox , appointed to a high standard

Two for one opportunity, unfinished houses ideal project in beautiful setting on 3000m2 of land with fantastic views.

Charming & quirky villa for sale in the heart of the village.

Features 2 seperate living quaters, 2 bedrooms in each & a pretty garden with pool.This is a must see property!

ORIA- TOWN HOUSE SOL167- OFFERS OVER 35,000€ NEW LISTING

ALMANZORA - CORTIJO SOL726 - 89,995€

ARBOLEAS - MILL HOUSE SM015 - 165,000€

Beautiful cortijo restored to a very high standard. It features 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms and 1000m2 of land.

Old millhouse tastefully renovated featuring two separate houses one 4 bed and one 2 bed Great views over rambla and surrounding countryside.

Partly reformed townhouse with 4 double bedroom.

Only 10mins from Oria village

WE URGENTLY REQUIRE PROPERTIES BETWEEN ALBOX & THE COAST FOR OUR GROWING SALES PORTFOLIO.

ALMOST ALL OUR RENTAL PROPERTIES ARE OCCUPIED AND WE HAVE MORE CLIENTES TO SATISFY! CALL US 950 064 584 ARBOLEAS RSM002 LA ALFOQUIA RENTAL ALMANZORA PARTOLOA-DETACHED ONLY 200€ PCM EX. MAR989 RENTAL RSM003 VILLA ONLY 450€ PCM BILLS ONLY 450€ PCM MAR801- 450PCM NEW LISTING

Traditional detached cortijo with own pool .Set in idyllic setting, secluded but close to amenities.

3000m2 land.

4 bedroom modern townhouse, close to all amenities, tastefully decorated throughout.

Seperate 1 bedroom fully self contained attic conversion in traditional cortijo.

Available from October. 3 bed 2 bath, fully fenced detached villa with swimming pool.

20

September 2015

COMPLETE HOLIDAY HOLIDAY CARE CARE COMPLETE MOJACAR PLAYA

RENTALS - SALES -MANAGEMENT - MAINTENANCE

WE URGENTLY NEED MORE PROPERTIES FOR SALE & RENTAL FOR WAITING CLIENTS

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

NR SORBAS - NEW- €340,000

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

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

MOJACAR – REDUCED - €249,950

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

MOJÁCAR REDUCED- €249,950 MOJACAR PLAYA - €149,950 Paseo del Mediterraneo 19, Mojacar Playa, Almeria (near the Hotel Best Indalo) Tel: 950 478 612 / 610 808 631 

info@almeriaholidays.com

www.almeriaholidays.com

IRELANDS SHARP HOUSE PRICE INCREASE House prices across the world continue to surge, with the property boom now present in Europe, North America, and some parts of Asia, says a new study.

Property prices rose in 28 countries in the second quarter of this year, declining in just 11, according to research firm Global Property Guide.

Of the five countries that recorded the strongest house price growth, three were in Europe and the remaining two were in Asia, the research suggested.

Hong Kong was the top performer in the global house price survey.

Hong Kong’s residential property prices surged 16.4pc in the year to the end of June, a sharp turnaround from a drop of 0.66pc in 2014.

The 10 markets showing strongest house price growth Hong Kong, up 16.43pc, Ireland, 10.81pc, Estonia, 8.99pc, Philippines, 6.61pc, Iceland, 6.19pc, Japan, 6.13pc, US, 5.39pc, Israel, 5.22pc, New Zealand, 5.19pc, Romania, 4.83pc.

Overall, 13 of the 20 European housing markets for which figures are available saw house prices rise in the past year.

Ireland, which took second place overall for house price growth, has seen residential property prices boom at a blistering pace after bottoming out in 2013.

Prices rose 10.8pc in the year to

the end of June, prompting the OECD to warn that rapidly rising house prices could pose one of the biggest risks to the country’s financial stability.

The think tank noted that an uncontrolled property boom would “increase vulnerabilities, especially if it were associated with further indebtedness”.

Estonia was the second-best performer in Europe, and the thirdfastest rising housing market in the survey. This was despite prices levelling compared to last year. In the capital Tallinn, the average price of dwellings rose by 9pc during the year to June, considerably less than the increase of 16.1pc during the same period last year.

Other strong European housing markets included Romania, where house prices rose 4.8pc during the year. Norway, the UK and Germany recorded growth of around 4pc. telegraph.co.uk

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

Properties Urgently needed in Arboleas/Albox area for our next exhibition in Belgium

115.000€

159,000€

Cerro Gordo, Nice villa with 3 bed, 2 bath and a jacuzzi.

Arboleas, beautiful villa with 3 bed, 2 bath & a private pool!!

136,000€

175,000€

Oria, Beautiful villa with 2 bed, 2 bath, pool & a great garden!!

Arboleas, Stunning villa with 3 bed, 2 bath, garage, pool & a big plot.

149,950€

180,000€

Zurgena, Fantastic villa with 3 bed, 2 bath & pool. Ideal holiday home.

Limaria, nearly new villa with 3 bed, 2 bath & guest house.

Office: 950 102 191 • Carlos: 648 505 938 • Gavin: 671 293 942

21

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BARCELONA TOP DESTINATION FOR EUROPEANS according to El Economista, the study revealed that travellers from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands still searched online for their own country first.

Secondly, the French searched for Morocco, while the British, Italians

We urgently require Rental Properties for waiting clients Casa El Cid

Cobdar

Casa Graciela

Rambla de Oria

and Dutch preferred Spain and the Germans chose Turkey, and in third Barcelona was the favourite Spanish destination for Europeans in August, while Madrid was the top choice for Spanish travellers, according to an analysis of user search data from the online travel website, JetCost.

Specifically, the city of Barcelona was the number one choice for French, Italian and Dutch travellers, while German travellers put it in second place and the British, in third place.

Other

favourite

destinations

for

European tourists were Málaga and the Balearic Islands as well as Spanish coastal towns such as Alicante.

Spain

ranks

in

the

top

place, the French and Germans opted for Spain, the British chose the United States, the Italians searched for the United Kingdom and the Dutch, Tunisia.

Madrid was the top choice for Spaniards for their August holidays

countries of choice for Europeans but,

52,000€

Villa Cerricos

Chirivel

97,000€

Casa Madroño

Albox

and Barcelona was in second place, while other favourite destinations for Spanish travellers were London (ranked third), Paris (fifth), Rome

Barcelona Top Destination for

(eighth) and Havana (tenth).

However, the analysis showed that among the top ten cities searched for by Spanish users, six of them are Spanish destinations, with Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Málaga and Sevilla

three

Bargain two bedroom property in the popular area of Rambla de Oria.

Quality one bedroom town house in the village of Cobdar.

in fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth positions, respectively.-kyero.com

Two bedroom villa with stunning Europeans views complete with swimming pool near to Chirivel.

A stunning cortijo in the hills above Albox Complete with 8x4m swimming pool.

120,000€

Plaza Nueva, 9 Albox (Almería)

262,500€

Tel: 950 120 406

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

TOWNHOUSE WITH GARAGE ON SMALL COMMUNITY IN MOJACAR

200.000€

A very light-filled and spacious townhouse with garage and sea views within minutes walk to beach, garden center, restaurants and amenities.

The property is south facing and is set in a sought after, very residential area, o­ n the grounds of a small gated private community with a private road which can be accessed via two different streets. It also has a lovely communal garden, a bbq and large swimming pool.

On the ground floor the property has a porch, a large entrance hall, a fully fitted kitchen with golf and sea views, a cloakroom with shower, a large dining and living room with fire place, and a private terrace leading to the gardens and swimming pool. Upstairs there are the master bedroom with its own terrace overlooking the gardens, swimming pool and with nice sea views, a large family bathroom and two further bedrooms both of which have great coastal views. The basement or garage can be accessed via the kitchen or the underground road that

runs through the community. It has natural light and is currently being used as an office and storage area.

The house is very airy and bright. It is fully air conditioned and has marble floors. All in all a very nice house throughout which can be used as a permanent home or holiday / investment property For more information or to book a viewing appointment please visit our office or contact us via phone or e-mail. Ref: 1511

Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria

Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563

PROPERTY GROUP

www.veritashomes.co.uk info@veritashomes.co.uk

22

September 2015

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

OLV447

ANTAS

This immaculate 3 bed townhouse is minutes from Antas town, walking distance from restaurants, boasting a large private pool and great views.

139,950 EUROS

LUBRIN

OLV1018

This well located 3 bedroom apartment is situated in the popular market town of Lubrin, overlooking the pretty town plaza and walking distance to all amenities.

55,000 EUROS

...it’s all in the detail

OLV999

BEDAR

This unique 5 bedroom property has been designed with an eye to detail throughout. There are spacious rooms with high ceilings, terraces, sea views, private pool and separate guest annex.

359,950 EUROS

OLV1019

SPANIARDS’ SUMMER HOLIDAY SPENDING RISES Data from the latest survey from the Cetelem Observatory on comparisons (2014-2015) between declarations of intent and the actual expenditure in relation to summer holidays, reveals that Spaniards spent more this year on their holidays than in 2014.

Specifically, 23.4% of those surveyed declared having spent more during this summer holiday period, compared to the 19.8% who stated they had done so in 2014.

In contrast, El Economista reported that the number of Spanish citizens who declared having spent less in this holiday period dropped from 47.8% in 2014 to 34.2% in 2015, while the number who spent the same as last year stood at 42.4%.

The survey highlighted that when Spanish citizens were questioned in

May on the approximate amount they planned to spend on their summer holidays this year, the amount was around 977 euros, while in late August when questioned again on what their actual spending amounted to, the data reveals that the average expenditure was around 1,128 euros.

The Observatory considers that, in general, all summer activities have increased with respect to 2014, with the most popular activities this year being: eating out at restaurants (57.8%); shopping (51.4%), and travelling within Spain and staying in an apartment (40.8%), followed by going to the movies (40.8%) and cultural visits (29.4%). Caravanning and camping (both inside and outside of Spain), were the least practiced activities, according to those surveyed.

MOJACAR

This wonderful and rare building plot of just under 2000m2 is situated in an elevated position on the Macenas golf resort boasting stunning sea views and a buildability scope of nearly 600m2.

185,000 EUROS

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

Voss Homes would like to thank our property owners and buyers for their loyalty and support.

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK - €99,950

VH256 - VILLA ANTONIO is a spacious 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom fully furnished villa with room for extension for another bathroom or bedroom if required on a large 600m2 walled & gated plot in enviable, non-estate location walking distance to a shop, 2 restaurants and a bar, doctors, pharmacy and a school.

For more information and to arrange a viewing contact us asap.

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

www.vosshomesspain.com

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

23

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COSTA BLANCA TOP CHOICE FOR BRITONS BUYING PROPERTY IN SPAIN As British property investors resume their love affair with Spain, it’s the Costa Blanca which is proving to be top choice, accounting for 27 per cent of Spanish mortgage enquiries received at Conti over the last three years. And Spain continues to be top of the list for British buyers in general, accounting for just under half (45 per cent) of enquiries received by the company in the second quarter of 2015.

The Costa Blanca is one of Europe’s most heavily visited areas, extending 200 kilometres along the Mediterranean coast with a resort to suit every taste. And it’s Alicante which has attracted the most attention from clients financing their purchases through Conti, with more than two thirds (69 per cent) of Costa Blanca buyers choosing this location.

Hot on its heels, however, is the Costa del Sol with a 23 per cent share of purchases, thanks to miles of magnificent beaches, championship golf courses and fantastic amenities which attract sun worshippers and sports enthusiasts to its leisurely lifestyle. The sun-drenched town of Marbella is the first choice destination.

The Balearic Islands are next on the list, accounting for 18 per cent of property purchases, with Ibiza standing out as the firm favourite. Traditionally known for its lively nightlife scene, it’s also home to quiet villages and peaceful sandy beaches. And the Canary Islands, with a 15 per cent share, are also increasing in popularity, particularly Lanzarote which lies on the same line of latitude as parts of Florida and Mexico, making it an ideal all-year-round destination.

Clare Nessling, director at Conti, says: “Following a very tough few

years, the Spanish property market is on the up again at last and British investors are rediscovering their love for this beautiful country. Although prices have generally still to come back up to their pre-2008 levels, recent reports suggest that the property market is experiencing a widespread recovery and this is leading to increased confidence among investors.

same currency, thus avoiding exchange rate issues.

Do your own due diligence If you’re buying a new-build property, check the developer’s track record. Obtain references from previous buyers and check comparable properties in the area.

Factor in additional costs “Combine this with the growing strength of the pound against the euro, which recently hit a seven Bear in mind that bills don’t end at the asking price. and a half year high, and you can see why buyers Lawyer’s fees, local and national taxes, insurance, are returning in their droves.” and so on, can often add at least a further 10 per According to Spain’s National Statistics Institute cent to the cost of your acquisition.

(INE), Spanish house prices jumped by 4.2 per cent Seek professional advice in the second quarter of this year compared with the previous three month period, strengthening the Take independent advice from an English-speaking lawyer who is not connected to your seller, estate foundations of the country’s economic recovery. agent or property developer.

Year-on-year, the figures represent a four per cent increase in property prices, which is the biggest Source from The Economic Voice – blog on line rise since 2007, just before the start of the economic downturn and the subsequent property crash.

Caveat Emptor As always, Conti says that it’s vitally important for buyers to seek the right advice.

Bitter experience has taught many overseas property buyers that scrimping on independent legal advice can effectively cost them their holiday home. Buyers should always go through the same process that they would follow if they were buying a property in the UK. There’s nothing to be gained, and everything to lose by cutting corners and failing to carry out due diligence.

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24

September 2015

Spanish main parties hold lead ahead of Podemos: Pol

FOR BUSINESS Spain’s mainstream left and right political parties held a narrow lead over anti-austerity party Podemos, according to a poll published in El Pais on Monday, just three months before a general election expected in December.

The Socialists (PSOE) topped the Metroscopia poll, with 24.6 percent of respondents saying they would vote for the party if the elections were held tomorrow, closely followed by the ruling People’s Party (PP), with 23.4 percent of the vote.

Podemos, lead by political scientist Pablo Iglesias, has surged in opinion polls since its creation last year as voters seek an alternative to traditional parties after an economic crisis left one in four workers out of job.

Iglesias’ party would win 18.6 percent of the vote, up from 18.1 percent a month earlier, while business-friendly upstart

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Ciudadanos, which started a national campaign only in January, would take 16.1 percent, the poll showed.

Metroscopia surveyed 1,800 people between 7 and 11 of September for the poll.

The PP took a battering in regional and local elections in May as voters turned to coalitions formed by the newcomers.

While Podemos led voting intentions for much of the start of the year, the Greek crisis, in which fellow anti-austerity party, Syriza, was forced to accept unpopular measures to put its economy back on track, has dented its support base.

A growing Spanish economy and signs of job creation after around eight years of rising unemployment have also helped boost the traditional parties standing in the polls. http://www.reuters.com/

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THE PROPHESY

Some three hundred years ago a wise and learned man resided in Alqueria. That is to say he was wise and learned compared to the norm in the village. He mastered joined-up writing and could walk and talk at the same time. El Creído was his name and this relatively erudite individual was universally disliked. The simple folk of the Pueblo didn’t understand him and therefore feared him. He was hounded out of his home and his town. As he left a comet was seen bright in the night sky. El Creído prophesied that when the comet returned to Alqueria a catastrophe of biblical proportions would engulf the village.

The comet is now known as the Grungbucket Comet. Named after Sidney Grungbucket of Penge. He catalogued the comet when it was first seen over southern Britain twenty or so years ago.

According to his calculations the periodic body is due over southern Spain within the week.

Word spread quickly through the village.

The population attempted to abandon their homes and cross the border into Spain. The Spanish authorities, being alive to the situation closed all crossing points. Unable to leave they settled for partying. Partying as if the end was nigh.

Manuela was in her element and moved from one shindig to another. If anyone says they remember the parties of that night then it’s a certain bet they weren’t there. For months the village priest struggled to convert the drunkenness and copulation of the ‘night of the comet’

VIEWPOINT

into the m o r e sedately forms of heavy drinking and mild f o r e play.

The Grungbucket Comet duly appeared bright and big in the northern sky. Clouds gathered and gave vent to a storm of Wagnerian proportions. Rain, lightning, and thunder shook the windows and rattled the walls of Alquerian homes.

The comet shone brightly through the black cloud as if mocking the Alquerian people below. The village trembled as the tempest raged. It lasted until the first spears of the morning sun found their way through the valleys of the high sierra.

The population tentatively examined their village, their homes and themselves.

All was well apart from everything being extremely wet. If there isn’t such a thing as a collective consciousness then the reality became obvious to all simultaneously.

The horrible truth is that no catastrophe of whatever proportions could do any damage to Alqueria. The village with its perma-fog, perma-pong and evil smelling Río Verde is such a disagreeable place that any modification no matter how caused would probably be an improvement.

A BAD NIGHT

To avoid the sounds of nocturnal feline fisticuffs our cats are shut in at night.

There is a pre-bed routine which is known by all members of the family – I make the cat’s supper while they ambush each other by rushing in and out of the kitchen door, but as soon as their individual dishes are put down they both tuck in, giving me a chance to shut the door and barricade the cat flap.

While this is going on Lucy, The Dog That Is Now Ours, jumps up and down like a canine Masai Warrior in the living room, anticipating her doggie treat – if the cats are being fed she has to have something, otherwise it’s Not Fair, she says.

The other day Tommy was missing from his bedtime frolics.

I rattled his bowl – no Tommy! I searched the house room by room – no Tommy! I ventured out into the darkness and searched the garden urgently calling his name – no Tommy!

Eventually we left the cat flap open and went to bed, comforting ourselves by repeating firmly ‘He’s not brave enough to stray and get lost. He’s too quick for a dog to get him. He’s just being a teenager he’s probably got himself locked in Andy’s shed.’ We put the idea of swift silent foxes out of our minds.

We did not have a peaceful night.

Two grown people too worried about a missing cat to sleep! How ridiculous!

Next day Tommy was not back, nor had he been in overnight – his

25

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk supper was untouched, and that is not normal for the furry gannet that is Tommy.

I came back from my dawn Tommy-seeking patrol in the garden and went into the bedroom to dress before issuing a neighbourhood APB for him. In the course of dressing I dropped my nightie on the floor. I bent to pick it up, and as I straightened up there was Mr Tommy Fluffipants, standing on the bed, as large as life and twice as fluffy! In the no longer than a second that I had had my face averted he had materialised from – I’ve no idea where!

In the same way as a twenty stone Rugby player will always be ‘My Baby’ to his mother, so Tommy will always be a My Kitten to me.

I scooped him up for a cuddle.

‘Oh little Tommy, we’ve been so worried about you! Where’ve you been?’

‘Where’s my breakfast?’ He replied.

have to wait and see?

400 meter runner Iwan Thomas MBE at 41 will dance with Ola Jordan. He has won many medals but suffered from several injuries which eventually ruled him out of his career. His success will I think depend upon his level of fitness as this competition is extremely demanding on the body as the weeks pass.

MALE CELEBRITIES FOR STRICTLY 2015 We have already taken a look at the female celebrities so now we can showcase this years male celebrities and any of them who have an advantage or who will possible do well for this year.

58 year old celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott is our first celebrity male and could be an underdog as his father was a pianist. Ainsley has also dabbled with comedy and singing so should have good rhythm.

He will partner Natalie Lowe.

Professional Boxer 26 year old Anthony Ogogo who won a bronze medal in the middleweight division at the 2012 Olympics, will dance with new professional Ote Mabusi (South African Latin Champion).

There is no record of any dance training although as a boxer he will probably be light on his feet so could pick up the steps fairly rapidly.

Could he be a contender?

53 Year old Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell will partner Kristina Rihanoff. Again Daniel has no dance experience but because of his singing he will have rhythm. How this transfers to his feet we will

25 year old singer with the band Wanted Jay McGuiness will partner Aliona Vilani. Jay has had training with the Charlotte Hamilton School of Dance in Hamilton and also with Midlands Academy of Dance and Drama in Nottingham so should be familiar if not with the Ballroom and Latin disciplines, then certainly aware of posture and core which is invaluable in the early training for the professionals. He will be one to watch.

50 year old broadcaster and journalist Jeremy Vine will dance with Karen Clifton. Again there is no listed dance training and dancing with Karen I wouldn’t expect him to progress very far in the competition unless he is hiding something we are unaware of?

42 year old Australian pop singer Peter Andre is our final male celebrity for this year and will be partnered by Janette Manrara.

Peter has had extensive experience in the pop world with videos etc and I would think could be one of the stronger male contestants for this year.

Well there are only a few days left before this years competition starts and I can’t wait to see who will rise to the top of this years celebrities. Could there be any surprises in store? Let’s wait and see. In the meantime you can come and join us at one of our dance classes, learn alongside the celebrities and keep up with the ‘Strictly’ gossip as and when it happens.

In the meantime Keep Dancing!

By Lyn Aspden of ‘Strictly Dance’ Class Info 635 584 431

PUZZLE PAGES

26

September 2015

UK Motorhomes Wanted

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email: carlskitt@live.com

ANSWERS

1. From which country does the bread

FIND AND CIRCLE ALL OF THE WORDS THAT ARE HIDDEN IN THE GRID. THE REMAINING LETTERS SPELL A SECRET MESSAGE.

3. Who wrote the BBC TV series Bread?... brown bread?.........................................

4. In what year did Scotland first win at Parc des Princes?..............................

5. Who played Mr pastry in the children TV series of the same name?..................

5. In which country do Randwick play?....................

6. The Master of Rolls sits as the head of which judicial body?..............................

6. To whom is the Lance B. Todd Memorial Trophy awarded?............................

7. What kind of pastry is used to make Baclava?................................................

7. What is New Zealand’s inter-provincial championship called?..........

monologue A Cream Cracker Under the

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

6. Court of Appeal 7. Filo 8. Thora Hird 9. Pumpernickel 10. David Gates CROSSWORD

1. Italy 2. Lieutenant Pigeon 3. Carla Lane 4. Dead 5. Richard Hearne

SOLUTIONS

WORDSEARCH ANSWER

MILK MOUSSE PUDDING SEMISWEET SUGAR SWISS SYRUP TREAT TRUFFLES UNSWEETENED WHITE

STANDARD SUDOKU

ANSWERS

EASY SUDOKU

10. Who was the lead singer with bread?

CUPCAKE DARK DECADENT DELICIOUS DESSERT DRINKS FILLING FONDUE FOOD FUDGE ICE CREAM ICING INGREDIENT

CHOCOLATE ORIGINATES FROM THE SEEDS OF THE THEOBROAMA CACAO TREE

Westphalia?...........................................

ADDICTIVE BAKING BARS BITTERSWEET BROWNIES CAKES CANDY CHIPS CHOCOLATIERS COCOA CONFECTIONERY COOKIES CREAM PIE

8. What is South Africa’s inter-provincial tournament called?................................

9. What nationality is Murray Kidd?.......................

10. What was the Regal Trophy previously called?....

ANSWERS

SQUIGGLE SUDOKU

8. Who starred in the Alan Bennett

Heavy black bread originating in

SOLTIMES RUGBY QUIZ

3. In Union, which international team name was first used in 1924?........

4. In rhyming slang what is meant by

9. What is the name of the coarse.

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2. In League, what is awarded for the BBC TV try of the season?.....................

Mouldy Old Dough?................................

Settee?..................................................

4

Cup Final Man of the Match 7. Ranfurly Shield 8. Currie Cup 9. New Zealander 10. John Player Trophy

2. Who had a Number 1 in 1972 with

2

WORDSEARCH CHOCOLATE

SOLTIMES FOOD & DRINK QUIZ

called Ciabatta originate?.......................

3

1

1. Cardiff 2. Eddie Waring Memorial Trophy 3. The British Lions 4. 1995 5. Australia 6. Rugby League

IDENTIFY THESE FAMOUS GOLFERS

SOL PICTURE QUIZ!

1. Ben Hogan 2. Lee Travino 3. Seve Ballesteros 4. Lee Westwood

ON THIS DAY 25TH SEPTEMBER

1066 – The Battle of Stamford Bridge marks the end of the Viking invasions of England.

1846 – U.S. forces led by Zachary Taylor capture the Mexican city of Monterrey.

1983 – Maze Prison escape: Thirty-eight republican prisoners, armed with six handguns, hijack a prison meals lorry and smash their way out of the Maze prison. It is the largest prison escape since WWII and in British history.

2009 – U.S. President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in a joint TV appearance for a G-20 summit, accuse Iran of building a secret nuclear enrichment facility.

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TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SPACE

Contact our sales advisors on 950 121 936 or Email: sales@soltimes.com ACROSS

STANDARD CROSSWORD

1 A forceful consequence (6) 4 The rank of a male hereditary ruler (8) 10 Morasses (9) 11 Mistake (5) 12 Model of excellence (5) 13 Depicts in words (9) 14 Act like another (7) 16 Grain storage building (4) 19 Decreases (4) 21 A soft light woolen fabric (7) 24 Pauses (9) 25 Provoke or roar (5) 26 Do without (5) 27 Ready for use (9) 28 Vendors (8) 29 Loves intensely (6)

DOWN

1 Asks (8) 2 Quiet (8) 3 Desert animal (5) 5 Asserts (7) 6 Insurgent (9) 7 By means of this (6) 8 Examine (6) 9 Refrigerator (6) 15 Millstone (figurative) (9) 17 Restrain (8) 18 Praises dishonestly (8) 20 Place or locate (7) 21 Involving financial matters (6) 22 Vertical passageways (6) 23 Stellar (6) 25 Governed (5)

SUDOKU PUZZLES

EASY

SQUIGGLE

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 9 Stupid (not at first) madness offence (7) 10 Memory of past, or a genealogy (7) 11 More obscene guys rant over sacking, so election’s rolling heads! (7) 12 Clumsy bird losing head at battle on first day (7) 13 Withheld happiness from daughter - strangely blueness comes first (9) 15 A mid-Devon man of birds (5) 16 Brought church into defeat without a movement (7) 19 Eric - headless king, yet surprisingly unstable (7) 20 Bye - final extra - due with first innings collapse (5) 21 Creating brown Ikea plant (4-5) 25 A little hue outside is regular (7) 26 Fashionable team initially resenting one within organisation (7) 28 Expose a French fielder? (7) 29 Vegetation at this place surrounds pouch (7) DOWN

1 Gun goes off in mid-wicket’s first fight - turn to unarmed combat (4,2) 2 Take in sailor’s gold key (6) 3 Girl, as in Elsa’s heart (4) 4 Sat with her torn suit (6) 5 Is queen without country? A Briton, perhaps (8) 6 People and funny church initially rile one carrying out traditional moves? (4-6) 7 A vile tax could be loosening the bowels! (8) 8 Catch up with refuse without Conservative leader’s inclination (8) 14 Engine part that is, without 5, complete (10) 16 Flung out remains inside light provider (8) 17 Time to afflict second queue (8) 18 Large number returning, we reportedly put in the ground a bramble (8) 22 Chessman Kasparov at first takes dark (6) 23 Some animal debauchery coming back to chaos! (6) 24 Cared for run-up before first serve - was winning, but not initially (6) 27 Painful part of eyes or ears? (4)

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY

STANDARD

Fletcher Christian, English sailor (17641793) Ronnie Barker, English actor and screenwriter (19202005) Michael Douglas, American actor and producer (1944) Heather Locklear, American actress and producer (1961)

SOLTIMES MINION MOMENTS

28

September 2015

FOOD & ENTERTAINING...

HALOGEN HOT TIES Halogen Hints Defrosting: Many people seem to want recommended timings for defrosting but it really depends on what you are defrosting and how big it is. I would advise setting the defrost button to 5 or 10 minute intervals and testing as you go. When cooking frozen ready meals, the thing to remember is that the nearer the food is to the element, the browner it will get – and the higher the temperature, the quicker it could burn!

Foil and coverings: Some people like to use foil when cooking. This can be a good idea as it prevents food from browning too quickly or can be used to parcel foods, but make sure the foil is secure. The fan is very strong and if the foil is not secure it could float around the oven and might damage the element.

Another option for preventing burning is obviously to turn the temperature down or place the food further away from the element (use the low rack or add an extension ring).

Cleaning your oven: The halogen is promoted as being self-cleaning. This basically means that you fill it with a little water, a squirt of washing-up liquid and turn on to the wash setting. The combination of the fan and the heat allows the water to swish around the bowl giving it a quick clean. This normally takes about 10 minutes. The lid is a little more difficult to clean and I would refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines as each product can be a little different.

Do not get the element or electrical parts wet!

High and low racks: There are two standard racks which come with every halogen oven – a high and a low rack. The high rack is placed nearer the element so use this if you want to brown something. The low rack is used more for longer cooking times. You can also cook directly on the bottom of the bowl. I do this quite often, particularly if I am being lazy and just want to chuck in some oven chips. It does cook well but takes a little longer as compared to using the racks, as air is not able to circulate all around the food.

Baking: Some people worry about using the halogen to bake cakes but I think this is because they are setting the oven temperature too high, resulting in a crusty brown cake top with a soggy middle.

Setting the oven to a lower temperature can solve this problem. Muffins and cupcakes take between 12 and 18 minutes. You only really encounter problems with cakes if you are cooking for too long at too high a temperature. Try some of my cake recipes and you will see how simple it can be.

Preheat or not to preheat: Most recipes I have found on forums don’t mention preheating the oven. This is probably due to the speed the oven takes to reach its temperature setting. However, I think it is worth turning the oven on 5 minutes before use just to bring it up to the right temperature. I found this to be the case when attempting to cook soft-boiled eggs. According to the Flavorwave recipe book, I should be able to cook a soft egg in 6 minutes just by placing it on the high rack. It didn’t work, but when I tried again in a heated oven it was much more successful.

Some machines (such as the Flavorwave) have a preheat button which preheats at 260ºC for 6 minutes, but others, such as the JML, require you to set to the required temperature and turn on.

Roa s Hor t Beef ser a dd w i t h ish S er ves 4 –6

Ingredients: Beef joint 2 tbsp golden syrup 2 tbsp dark brown sugar 4 tbsp horseradish Black pepper 300ml red wine

Ingredients: 1 whole chicken 1 red onion 1 lemon 30g butter

Recipies from everydayhalogen.com

1. Preheat your halogen oven using the preheat setting or set the temperature to 210ºC. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, golden syrup and horseradish. Season well with black pepper.

3. Place the beef joint on a roasting tin and place on the low rack. Cook for 20 minutes before turning the temperature down to 180ºC. 4. Coat well with the sticky horseradish sauce and cook for a further 20 minutes for every 450g. If it starts to darken too much whilst cooking, you can cover securely with tin foil.

5. Halfway through cooking add the red wine – this will mix with the beef juices and can be used for your beef gravy stock.

6. Once your beef is cooked, wrap in tin foil and leave to rest for at least 20 minutes.

Use this time to make your gravy using the natural juices in the roasting pan. Mix 1 tsp cornflour with a little stock and add it to the roasting pan. Heat gently and stir well as it thickens, to avoid any lumps.

Roa st C hic ken SER V ES 4 –6

1–2 teaspoons tarragon • Preheat the halogen oven using the preheat setting or turn the temperature to 240ºC. •Wash and prepare the chicken according to your own preference. I place a whole red onion and a lemon, both cut in half, in the cavity of the bird to enhance its flavour. I then rub the skin with butter and sprinkle with herbs, or you can place herb butter under the skin.

• Place the chicken, breast side down, on the lower rack for 25 minutes.

• Turn the chicken back over so the breast side is up, reduce the temperature to 210ºC and cook for another 40 minutes until cooked – the cooking time obviously depends on the size of the bird. As with all meats, make sure the meat is thoroughly cooked before eating.

• The fat will have drained to the base of the halogen oven – you can use some of this juice to make your gravy.

Preheat the halogen oven using the preheat

setting or turn the temperature to 240ºC. • Wash and prepare the chicken according to your own preference. I place a whole red onion and a lemon, both cut in half, in the cavity of the bird to enhance its flavour. I then rub the skin with butter and sprinkle with herbs, or you can place herb butter under the skin.

• Place the chicken, breast side down, on the lower rack for 25 minutes.

• Turn the chicken back over so the breast side is up, reduce the temperature to 210ºC and cook for another 40 minutes until cooked – the cooking time obviously depends on the size of the bird. As with all meats, make sure the meat is thoroughly cooked before eating.

• The fat will have drained to the base of the halogen oven – you can use some of this juice to make your gravy.

TOP TIP: To make very crispy, tasty roast potatoes, the key is to use very hot oil – goose-fat is one of the best fats to use. I cut my potatoes at angles – one large potato can normally cut into three roast potatoes. Don’t cut them too small as you want crispy potatoes with a nice fluffy middle. Try to make sure the potatoes are all roughly the same size so they cook evenly. Place the fat in the oven so it starts to get hot. Parboil your potatoes for approximately 10 minutes. The outer edge of the potato should start to soften. Drain and place the potatoes back into the empty saucepan. Add a generous sprinkle of paprika and semolina. Pop on the saucepan lid, holding it down firmly, shake the saucepan to bash the potatoes. Remove the roasting tin from the oven and carefully, using tongs, add the potatoes to the hot fat. It will spit and bubble so be careful not to splash. once the potatoes are in the fat, you can turn them gently as this ensures the fat is adhered to all sides of the potato before cooking. sprinkle with a little more paprika and semolina if needed. Place back in the oven and cook at 200c until they are golden.

Halfway through cooking I turn them and drain off any excess oil.

29

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FOOD & ENTERTAINING...

Toa d in the Hol ( Se r ve e s 4)

Ingredients: 100g plain flour 300ml milk 1 egg 1 onion, chopped 8 lean sausages Olive oil Handful of fresh herbs (e.g. thyme, oregano, rosemary) or 2 teaspoons dried herbs Seasoning to taste • Preheat your halogen oven using the preheat setting or turn on to 200ºC. • Using a blender with a balloon whisk, blend the flour, milk and egg together to form a batter. Mix thoroughly and leave to settle.

• Meanwhile, place the onion, sausages and a drizzle of olive oil in a deep ovenproof dish that fits well inside your halogen oven. Place it on the high rack and cook for 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally.

• Just before the 10 minutes is up, give the

batter mix a quick whizz with your balloon whisk, adding the herbs and seasoning before a final whizz.

• Remove the sausages from the oven and immediately pour over the batter, ensuring that all the sausages are covered.

• Return to the oven and cook on the low rack for 30–35 minutes until golden.

• Serve with onion gravy and steamed vegetables.

Bak But ed Ga ter rlic P ( Se r v e r aw s 4) ns Prep time: 5-10 minutes, Cooking Time: 12 minutes •Place the butter and olive oil in an oven proof dish and add the garlic.

•Place in the halogen on the low rack and set the temperature to 250c. Once the butter starts to melt remove immediately -do not walk away as this only takes a minute.

•Stir in the lemon zest, juice and parsley.

Ingredients: 200g butter 1 tbsp olive oil 3-4 cloves garlic, crushed zest and juice of one lemon small handful of flat leaf parsley, freshly chopped Black pepper 750g prawns Extra flat leaf parsley to garnish •Season to taste with black pepper.

•Place the prawns in a dish with the butter. Toss gently to ensure they are all coated.

•Cover with a lid or double layer of tinfoil. Place back in the halogen and cook at 190c for 10 minutes or until the prawns are cooked to your taste (cooking time depends on size and type of prawns used) •Serve with a garnish of parsley

Spi nac Feta h and ( Se Pi r ve s 4) e

Ingredients: 40g butter 6 sheets filo pastry 400g baby leaf spinach, roughly torn 250g feta cheese, crumbled 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg seasoning sesame seeds SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS Preheat the halogen oven using the preheat setting or set the temperature to 200c.

Melt the butter in a saucepan or place it in a bowl in your hal;ogen oven to melt, though make sure it does not burn.

Layer 3 sheets of pastry in the base of a pie dish (make sure the dish fits comfortably within your halogen). Brush butter between the sheets and allow them to hang over the edge to give you enough to form the sides of the pie.

Place a thin layer of spinach leaves, then a layer

of crumbled feta and a little nutmeg and season with black pepper. Repeat this, finishing with the feta layer.

Cover with more filo sheets, again brushing with butter. Bring the edges together to form a crust and remove any excess pastry.

Brush with butter and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Place on a low rack and bake for 30-40 minutes, until golden.

Quesadillas (Serves 1-2)

Ingredients: 2 tortillas 1 onion, sliced 1-2 tomatoes sliced Chilli, finely sliced (dependant on your taste) 30g mature cheddar, grated Seasoning to taste Place one floured tortilla on your

greased baking tray.

Sprinkle with your chosen fillings.

Season to taste.

Place the remaining tortilla on the top and press down firmly.

Place on the high rack. Set the temperature to 210C and cook for 5-8 minutes until the tortilla is golden and the filling starts to melt.

Cut into wedges and serve with salsa and guacamole dips.

Bakewell Tart (Serves 6-8)

Ingredients: 1 x 20-22cm pastry case, pre-baked Raspberry jam 55g butter 55g sugar 1 egg, beaten 30g self raising flour 50g ground almonds Almond essence 100g icing sugar 15-20ml cold water 25g melted chocolate (optional) Place a layer of raspberry jam in your pastry case. Leave to one side.

In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

Beat in the egg, followed by the flour, ground almonds and almond essence.

Spoon this mixture over the jam and spread until even.

Set the halogen to 180c. Place on a high rack and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the sponge is golden and cooked thoroughly.

Remove from the oven and cool.

Mix up the icing sugar, adding a few drops of water at a time until you have a perfect consistency.

Melt the chocolate (if using) in the microwave or a bowl over a saucepan of hot water.

When the tart is cool, spread with a layer of icing.

Using a piping bag with a thin nozzle, pipe lines of chocolate, approximately 2cm apart horizontally across the top of the tart. Using a sharp knife, pull down vertically across the piped chocolate in a straight line -this will pull the chocolate down to create a lovely crisscross pattern, Repeat, approximately 2cm apart, across the cake.

Serve with a lovely cup of tea!

Upside down Strawberry Cake (Serves 4-6)

Ingredients: 3⁄4–1 cup strawberries, quartered or thickly sliced 8 oz cream cheese 5–6 oz Greek yogurt 2–3 tablespoons crème fraîche or sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla paste Juice and zest of 1–2 lemons 6–8 graham crackers or digestive biscuits 2–3 tablespoons brown sugar Put the strawberries in the bottom of an ovenproof serving dish that’s big enough for 4–6 servings.

• Combine the cream cheese, yogurt, and crèmefraîche. Add the vanilla paste and stir well.

• Roughly peel the lemon with a vegetable peeler to remove the rind. Chop this finely before adding to the cream cheese mixture.

Also add the juice of the lemon. Taste and add another lemon if you prefer a more zesty flavor.

When you’re happy with the mix, carefully spoon it over the strawberries.

• Put the graham crackers in a bowl and use the end of a wooden rolling pin to crush them gently into crumbs.

• Sprinkle the crumbs over the cream cheese mixture and follow with a sprinkling of brown sugar.

• Put in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

• Set the halogen oven to 475ºF. Put the cheesecake on the high rack for 3 minutes, then serve.

Note: You can use frozen or fresh raspberries for the cheesecake. You could also try blueberries.

If using frozen fruit, use the halogen’s defrost setting and place the fruit in the ovenproof serving dish on the low rack for 10 minutes before adding the cream cheese mixture.

SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS

30

GIBRALTAR ROCK TO BECOME WINE STORAGE FACILITY IN £6 MILLION TRANSFORMATION

THE inside of the Rock of Gibraltar is set to be transformed into an innovative cellar for over £60 million worth of wine.

The state-of-the-art storage facility will make use of the natural limestone to create a perfect environment for investment grade wine.

Gibraltar Wine Vaults will be located in the miles of tunnels created by Royal Engineers before the Second World War, and will be protected by the highest level of security.

The £6 million conversion of an old WT Station, opposite Beach View Terraces, will be carried out in phases.

The station’s use during the war was primarily to facilitate crucial wireless connections both internally with other signal stations in Gibraltar and also externally with Allied ships in the Straits and Navy installations in the UK. The project is being carried out with the help of the Heritage Trust and local historians, and will feature an interpretation centre.

It is hoped the facility will attract interest from

September 2015

the wine tourism industry and boost Gibraltar’s economy.

Tracy Lee, CEO and founder of Gibraltar Wine Vaults said: “These are exciting times in the global wine storage sector with Gibraltar destined to be the hub of Western wine.

“Ideally positioned at the gateway of both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, Gibraltar Wine Vaults is also able to offer competitive pricing, no Capital Gains Tax, no Inheritance Tax or VAT liability as well as superlative wine storage facilities.”

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia, who has led the detailed negotiations with the investors in his capacity as Minister for Lands, said: “It is well known that there is an extensive network of tunnels and vaults inside Gibraltar. These were dedicated almost entirely for military use and were owned by the Ministry of Defence.

“A large part of that tunnel network has been handed over by the MOD to the Government of Gibraltar over the years and this has led to different uses for different parts of the complex. Some vaults, for example, have been developed and used for storage and others have been used for car parking.

“The Government welcomes the project to convert part of that network into a facility for wine storage as this represents a new area of economic activity for Gibraltar. It is entirely a private sector commercial project.

“This is a great example of our commitment to the preservation, promotion and sustainable management of Gibraltar’s heritage, working in tandem with local entrepreneurialism to promote a sound business operating on a global stage,” he added. -theolivepress.com

6 WAYS TO CUT YOUR FOOD WASTE

Start saving the planet by paying attention to what you don’t eat.

Food waste accounts for about 18 percent of municipal solid waste sent to landfills.

Whether it’s talking about how many gallons of water it takes to produce a hamburger – 660, according to National Geographic – or what the carbon footprint is for lamb – which has the greatest impact on the environment of common protein foods and vegetables, per the Environmental Working Group, generating 39.3 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents for every one kilogram consumed – it seems like everyone’s interested in greening their plates.

How you eat can make a huge impact on the earth, and it may even be the most direct way that you, as an individual, can make a difference. And one of the best strategies for cutting your environmental footprint is to stop wasting food.

Sadly, along with every pound of food tossed out comes wasted resources, as well as increased burdens on the planet. Wasted food squanders 300 million barrels of oil per year – 4 percent of the total used – along with water, soil and pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer to grow the food. Food waste also fills up landfills, accounting for about 18 percent of municipal solid waste, and it produces methane as it decomposes. Even worse, we waste so much food in the face of so much hunger. The annual food waste – just at the retail and consumer level – in high-income countries nearly equals the entire annual food production in sub-Saharan Africa.

Food waste occurs on every level of the food chain – at the farm and in manufacturing, supermarkets, restaurants and home kitchens. But you can do your best to start a zero food waste policy in your own home, with these six tips: 1. Value your food. Why has food waste skyrocketed? Because food is so cheap; it accounts for 10 percent of our total household expenditures, which is very low compared to many countries.

Because it’s cheap, we don’t think twice about throwing it out. So, change your dynamic and honor where your food comes from, realizing that someone worked hard to get that food to your plate. This is especially true for animal food, as an

animal’s life was forfeited for your plate. Don’t let it go to waste.

2. Cut your portion size. One of the main reasons we waste food is because our portion sizes have grown to the point that we can’t – and shouldn’t – eat the whole thing. This happens at restaurants, cafeterias, schools and hospitals. Try to order small plates, a cup of soup rather than a bowl, or split something with your dining partner. At the very least, pack a doggy bag to take home.

3. Lose the perfection principle. We have now grown accustomed to foods that are so pristinely perfect that if it has the tiniest imperfection we won’t purchase them. Do we really think that every apple grows from the tree without a blemish, or that every tomato comes from the vine without a scar? If you try growing your own food, you’ll see just how hard this is to do, and why so much food is wasted before it even reaches the supermarket or restaurant. Interestingly, research shows that imperfect produce, with scabs or scars on the surface, may have even higher antioxidant levels because the plant had to mount a defense. Don’t stop there; remember to use the whole plant – root, stem, leaf and flower – as much as possible.

4. Plan your meals. Creating a weekly menu and shopping list and cooking just enough food that can be consumed without going bad can really help cut down food waste. When you get home from the supermarket, inventory your refrigerator. Plan to use the ingredients that expire more quickly, such as lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, berries and dairy products, before turning to those that have a longer expiration date, such as carrots, potatoes and celery. Freeze items, such as meats, poultry and fish, if you won’t be using them before they expire.

5. Pack those leftovers. There’s no need to toss out perfectly good food. Just pack it up for lunch the next day. As a general rule of thumb, leftovers should be safe for about three days if refrigerated properly. Refreeze items, such as beans, stew and casserole into small containers for an easy meal later on. Or start a “buffet night" – one night a week to clean out the fridge, reheat leftovers and use up items, such as cottage cheese, yogurt, sandwich

fillings and lettuce that are about to expire.

6. As a last resort, compost. If food has absolutely no possibility for consumption, then at the very least compost it. By composting food, you save it from the landfill, and put those nutrients to good use. Decomposing food makes a wonderfully rich, natural method of nourishing your soil. Composting can be as simple as collecting refuse in a black trash bag, or you can purchase a compost bin to keep things neater. health.u.comsnews

www.soltimes.com

TEL: 950 121 936

WELCOME EVENTS

Welcome Group Events THURSDAY October 1st. - Unfortunately Andy McBride has to have an operation and so is unavailable for tonight, we have secured another top group the fabulous Fakers Quo, a Status Quo tribute act as well as Eric Clapton, Thin Lizzy among others, will still be a great night. €10 WEDNESDAY October 21st. - Dance this evening at Mariano’s and enjoy two top acts, the duo Diverse and the lovely Lucinda, a good night for all. €8 For more information or to book your tickets, call Rosemary on 620 105 179

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

SOLTIMES

Have A Drop Off Point Here For Payments Private Or Trade Advertisers, Birthdays Or Other Announcements

- COMMUNITY NEWS -

MABS MAZARRON EVENTS

SALES@SOLTIMES

SEPTEMBER Friday - 25TH CANCER COFFEE MORNING – MABS Information Centre, Avda de los Covachos, Camposol B. 11.00am – delicious home-made cakes and savouries. A chance to meet the MABS Team and what they do.

Saturday - 26TH SEPTEMBER SORT OUT – La Pasteleria, Centro Commercial, Puerto de Mazarron.

9.00 till 15.00 Collecting all your unwanted items of clothing and bric-a-brac to be sold in our Charity Shop on Totana.

Tuesday - 29th SEPTEMBER – Volunteers Meeting – TREVIS Bar, Camposol 11.30 all welcome OCTOBER Friday – 9th OCTOBER – Charity Quiz Night – The Clubhouse hosted by Camposol Golf Association.

Sunday - 25TH OCTOBER – MABS RACE for LIFE – walk, run or skip around the 4km of 8km course.

Entry 10€ for Adults 5€ for Children under 12years includes T-shirts and medals for FINISHERS. Trophies for winners. ****New this year – MABS Race for Life Sheild awarded to winning Team******* Forms available from – MABS Charity Shop; MABS Information Centre, TREVI, ALI PALLAIS, EURONICS,COSTA CAFÉ, BEST WISHES, TEL´s Bar, CAT´s Bar, TROPICANA´s, VISTA Bar, Tuesday - 27th OCTOBER – Volunteers Meeting – TREVIS Bar, Camposol 11.30 all welcome **DON´T FORGET TO VISIT OUR CHARITY SHOP IN TOTANA LOADS OF BARGAINS!!!! ** Donations always needed and welcome REGULAR EVENTS CRAFT GROUP - every other Wednesday from 1.30 at the MABS Information Centre – restarts 9th September after the summer break BOOK SALES – every 3rd Friday at Commercial Sector B Event tickets on sale at the book stall between 10.00am and 1pm or from the MABS Information Centre on Sector B Camposol or by Calling 620 582 418

EX-SERVICEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Mazarrón District (Founded 1 May 2006) EVENTS - 2015 Wednesday 14th October - 1.30pm for 2pm, Viggos Puerto de Mazarron, Lunchtime Meal Sunday 8th November - 1.30pm for 2pm, Restaurant Trevi, Camposol “B” Remembrance Sunday Lunch following the Service at St Nicholas Church Saturday 12th December - 7.30pm for 8pm Restaurant Bar Med, Puerto De Mazarron Membership and enquiries, Ian 629 818 611 or esamd.espana@gmail.com

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

ARE YOU APPLYING FOR RESIDENCIA IN SPAIN?

TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING ALL THE LEGALITIES AND REQUIREMENTS? ASSSA HAVE THE SOLUTION FOR YOU! Did you know that you need proof that you are covered for healthcare in Spain when applying for the residence certificate?

In 2012 the Spanish Goverment changed the legislation regarding the healthcare system and you will find the requirements when applying to be very detailed and rigorous.

ASSSA now issue health insurance policies specifically designed for residencia purposes.

We supply all the policy documents and certificates necessary to meet the health cover required for residencia in Spain. So whatever your problem, if ASSSA can help –we will!

ASSSA – Experience, Expertise & Customer Service Our personal service is unique. Our friendly, multilingual employees are happy to inform you about our policies without any obligation to purchase. Our philosophy is to answer all clients’ queries fully and with complete honesty. Many of our clients join us on recommendation from existing ones, which is a clear indication of our unique service. At ASSSA you will be allocated a personal advisor who speaks your language and assists with any questions you may have.

This high level of service is provided in all of our customer service offices along the coast.

Doctors and Hospitals Our policies offer

31 an extensive medical directory of private clinics, GP´s and Specialists working in some of the best private hospitals in Spain. We have many English speaking medical professionals under contract with ASSSA in order to provide an even higher level of service to our clients.

Quality Insurance We provide flexible levels of HEALTH INSURANCE – which meets the needs and requirements of all clients. There are flexible plans which range from top-up insurance (starting at 47€ per month) to comprehensive cover (starting from 88€ per month). During the current economic crisis we are offering lifetime discounts up to 30% for adults and 50% for accompanying children up to 16 years. We also have an amazing 25% lifetime discount on our FUNERAL INSURANCE premiums – and we are also offering discounts on our popular DENTAL INSURANCE. Insure your health!

ASSSA offers a variety of unique, written and contractual guarantees: Premiums do not increase as you age, in addition ASSSA provides protection against policy cancellation from the first day of insurance.

Contracts with ASSSA are of course in your own language as transparency is very important to us.

Visit us for an informal chat and see how we can help you! Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9:30 -13:30.

Later appointments and home visits by arrangement.

We look forward to your visit.

Customer Service Office: MAZARRON: Mrs. Diane Nolan Tel: 968 153 396 mazarron@asssa.es www.asssa.es

32

SOL CLASSIFIEDS

SOLTIMES 950 121 936 WWW.SOLTIMES.COM SEE US ONLINE EVERYDAY Advertise all your unwanted items for sale Any single item up to 300€ is

FREE OF CHARGE Deadline thursday 5pm

Monday to Friday Between 10am & 5pm

or EMAIL US Send your advert or lineage to

sales@soltimes.com

DEADLINES All adverts Friday at 5pm prior to publication

ALTERNATIVE POWER

Contact

MATHEWS MEDIA S.L

snooker tables, table tennis tables, darts. www.spainpool.com

www.free-sol.com

www.ecocorpshop.com Are you getting frustrated at ever increasing electricity bills Do you want a clean, reliable energy alternative If so call Ecocorp on 671 716 597 or 950 930 187

5 TOBY JUGS 45€. Pinoso. Tel: SMARTPHONE, DUAL SIM, unlocked, as new,Alcatel 4033D, 45€ Tel: 690 772 178 (San Fulgencio)

“BUGSFREEZONE”

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY “Internet Millionaire Reveals Secrets Of Making £1,000 A Week & More Without Any Previous Experience” If you would like to start earning extra money now! Then the internet is definitely the place to do this. You can earn money whilst relaxing by the pool or even earn whilst you’re sleeping. This is the reality for people that are making money online.

Read why you should be cashing in on today’s booming economy and discover for yourself how you can turn your passion into a large monthly wage,

LEASE FOR SALE Bar in Puerto Mazarron Large Terrace Area Fully Equipped Kitchen Store Room Was €34,000 Reduced to €29,995 For more information Tel: 634 027 986

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

Insect Free dining outdoors. 90€

services, massage, sexy lingerie,

Internet Retail price £130 Tel: 865

prices from 40€. Full discretion. Tel:

775 881 San Miguel de Salinas

Ana 865 646 437

SET OF PROMISSON GOLF

ELEGANT slim, sexy, naughty italian

CLUBS includes 2 Big Bertha

SUNLIFE SOLAR SOLUTIONS

Tel: 965 271717

call Neil on 693 496 510 mands24@googlemail.com www.artificialgrass.pro

Portable Lightweight Picnic Shelter.

Gallaway steel head clubs includes

SL registered company 100% legal installations We will beat any like for like genuine written quotation

installed by qualified professionals

New

drivers (3&5) 65€ o.n.o Plus 1 set of

The finest solar installations on the Costa Blanca

TOP QUALITY ARTIFICIAL GRASS

679 274 771 buyer to collect.

for a no obligation quotation

For Free Information Visit

made payable to

POOL TABLES

659 232 507 martin.freeman@free-sol.com

GRASS

FOR SALE

Tel: 666 933 726

www.howtomakemoneyfrommembershipsites.co.uk

TRANSFER & CHEQUES

Call Paulette on: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ext 330

Martin

every single month.

PAYMENT VISA ,PAYPAL, BANK

September 2015

1 Big Bertha driver also 65€ o.n.o.

Quesada area telephone 966713111

ELECTRICIANS

lady available home/house visits.

Torrevieja, La Manga, Torre Pacheco & Mazarron, Quesada plus all other areas.

Escort available home &

house visits. Tel: 693 357 526

PETS

ELECTRICIAN AVAILABLE for all works Small or large. Call Dave 693 251 562 davendonc@aol.com

INSURANCE

ASSSA MEDICAL

INSURANCES Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan, 968 153 396

mazarron@asssa.es

Phoebe, Piper and Prue are the Charmed ones, they were rescued from the streets in Valencia and brought to us last week. They are approx 6 months old and are Yorkie cross. They are all great with other dogs, cats and children and very loving.

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

Business Opportunity

IPTV Spain UK TV Leading the way in UKTV Our systems are the best in the current market DISTRIBUTORS WANTED Due to the expansion in your area We are looking for Distributors / Self Motivated people to work for a fast moving company For more Information Tel: 619 893 214

33

www.soltimes.com

Call Paulette on: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ext 330 or email: sales@soltimes.com

www.soltimes.com

MOTORING SECTION

SAT/TV SERVICES

AA FREE ENGLISH TV

Everything you need we have it

No dish required but a good stable 3mb internet

Ring Pete 606 297 825 www.aafreeenglishtv.com

RAINBOW SATELLITES for all your TV needs with clients all over the Murcia Region. Contact Matt or Alan on 686 358 475 or rainbowsats@ gmail.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE / RENT

SPAS

VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT

EURO SPAS Spas at factory prices.

Used & Ex display models.

Spares & repairs.

SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL

2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM, PENTHOUSE APARTMENT IN VERA PLAYA ALL MOD CONS, BALCONY & ROOF TERRACE OFFERING FANTASTIC VIEWS CALL 663 977 230 EMAIL: gedfab@yahoo.com Vera Playa Apartment

DETATCHED CORTIJO REDUCED

BARGAIN

FOR SALE

LOOKING FOR A CAR

We have a good selection of LHD & RHD vehicles for sale or exchange QUALITY CARS PURCHASED ALL PAPERWORK LEGALLY UNDERTAKEN Telephone 600 726 221 or 965 687 976

www.fwreurocars.com

DO YOU HAVE VEHICLE, BOAT OR MOTOR BIKE FOR SALE TEL: 950 121 936

Part exchange Telephone 650 722 905

Removals Local, National & international REMOVALS & STORAGE Quality Second hand furniture showroom

20mins from Mojacar, 4 beds, 2 baths, Open plan living areas, kitchen & diningroom as well as a workshop, courtyard front & back & room for a pool. Mountain views. €125,000 649 186 107 oremail thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

263 Paseo del Mediterraneo Mojacar Playa, Next to Sal Marina Hotel Mon-Fri: 10am-3pm Sat 10am-2pm Tel: 950 615 364 Call Marc on 647 006 183 or Brian on 674 280 268 or e-mail enquiries@delimas.biz

www.delimas.biz

FORTNIGHTLY SERVICE TO & FROM UK FULL OR PART LOADS

FORD FIESTA 1.25 Trend, June ‘12, 5 door hatch, , 43,000 kms, 1 owner, Full service history A/C, PAS, ABS, E. windows/mirrors, CD player, remote locking, rear head restraints, Metallic blue, Just serviced!

Four new tyres!

€8,450

€8,450

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

FORD FIESTA

SUZUKI G. VITARA 7-SEAT HAND CONTROLS Nov ‘04 - AUTOMATIC 2.7 V6 Twin-Cam 4x4 89,000 kms, 3 owners Fully serviced A/C, Cruise, Roof rails PAS, ABS, Alloys Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors CD, Heated seats Remote locking Rear head restraints Metallic silver

600 726 221 965 687 976

1.25 Trend, June ‘12 5 door hatch, 46,000 kms, 1 owner, Full service history, A/C, PAS, ABS E. windows/mirrors, CD player, Remote locking, Rear head restraints, Awaiting full

REMOVALS

De Lima’s

RENAULT GRAN MODUS 2010 - 5 door hatch 1.5 DCi Dynamique 87,500 kms, 2 owners Full service history A/C, Alloys, PAS, ABS Cruise, Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors High spec model CD player, Isofix Rear park sensors Parrot bluetooth Light metallic blue Chrome mirrors

valet, Metallic silver

600 726 221 965 687 976

SELLING YOUR CAR?

Top prices paid for nice cars. all paperwork professionally undertaken.

Telephone 600 726 221 or 965 687 976

www.fwreurocars.com

AUDI TT TURBO 2002 - Coupe 1.5 5v Turbo (180bhp) 135,000 kms 3 owners Fully serviced New camblet & tyres A/C, Alloys, PAS, ABS E. windows/mirrors CD player Remote locking Rear head restraints Met silver, black leather

HYUNDAIATOS RHD SPANISH REG 2000 - 5 door hatch Amica 122,000 kms, 2 owners Full service history A/C, Alloys PAS, ABS, CD player Remote locking Rear head restraints Awaiting full valet White

LWB SPRINTER van going from South to North

€8,350

€7,250

of the UK & back

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

every 2 weeks, based near Murcia Airport. Tel: 610 846 260/ 0044 7519 186 355. or email: van.man@ hotmail.co.uk

SITUATIONS VACANT

SOLTIMES NEWSPAPER GROUP

Require a Sales Manager for the Quesada area.

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

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

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

600 726 221 965 687 976

600 726 221 965 687 976

€6,750

€2,250

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

600 726 221 965 687 976

600 726 221 965 687 976

VEHICLES REGISTRATION

WANTED

“RE-PLATE” MATE

CASH CASH CASH

GB

E

Don’t take a chance!

Don’t break the Law! Let us take the hassle away from you and re-register your vehicle on to Spanish plates 490€ plus Road Tax plus CO2 Emission if applicable WE PROMISE TO BEAT ANY GENUINE QUOTATION For a full service contact:

Alan 662 249 159

www.replatematecostablanca.com

Email:info@replatematecostablanca.com

For re-registration of cars, motorbikes and motor homes contact Graham Shelton Who after re-registering over 1000 vehicles will put you on the right side of the road.

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

Same day collection

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

From 1€ to 10,000€

Call Phil: 607 848 332

WANTED CARS FOR CASH

BEST PRICES PAID SPANISH ENGLISH ANYTHINGCONSIDERED

TEL: TIM ON 662 211 993

34

September 2015

ANIMAL CORNER

To advertise here call : 950 121 936 DOG STANDS GUARD FOR WEEK UNTIL TRAPPED FRIEND FOUND

Thanks to a loyal setter and a group of volunteers, two dogs were found safe after a week lost in the woods in Washington state.

Tillie, the setter, stayed with her doggie friend Phoebe for a week. She left each day to go find help.

Phoebe a basset hound, was trapped in a concrete cistern in a ravine where Tillie stood guard.

The nonprofit animal rescue organization Vashon Island Pet Protectors had posted photos of the dogs on their Facebook page, hoping someone would spot them. On Sept. 14, they received a call saying that while they were out on their property, a "reddish" dog had come up to them a few times, before promptly heading back into a ravine.

Based on the tip, volunteers made their way into the ravine, said Amy Carey with VIPP. After a bit

4 MASTIN CROSS BITCHES

2 FEMALE POTBELLIED PIGS

APAH

PETS IN SPAIN

approx 7 months old, fully vaccinated.

Currently being fostered but looking for forever homes.

Mazarron area tel: 634 325 840

SPACE FOR A LITTLE ONE? Born in February 2012, brothers Billy and Bobby were rescued

by APAH as tiny puppies, but have never been offered a loving home. Their only crime is to have grown up ‘big’, as no-one wants to give a large dog a loving home. They are gentle, friendly dogs who would be wonderful additions to a loving family. To arrange to meet them, please call Corry is a beautiful, fluffy dark 630 422 563 or 616 grey tabby male with stunning white eyeliners, who was rescued 210 850. with the rest of his brothers and sisters when his feral mum gave birth close to a large supermarket, where the staff looked after her. The kittens are now in the care of APAH, and ready to go to loving homes. To meet the family please call 630 422 563 or 616 210 850

WWW.APAHRESCUE.ORG

looking for new home, quiet and easy to look after.

Mazarron area tel: 634 325 840

SIMBA

Simba is now 5 weeks old and was rescued with his siblings from a rubbish bin they were just a few days old. They are now on solids and ready for new homes.

We think they are Labrador cross and will be medium to large when fully grown.

Call: 645 469 253 info@petsinspain.info www.petsinspain.com

MOUNTAIN VIEW

CAT HOTEL Hondon de las Nieves/Frailes

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

Pick up & delivery service offered for coastal areas

Telephone: 966 195 816

Answerphone - we will call back: Mobile 654 155 473

www.mountainviewcathotel.webs.com

of searching, the volunteers heard a small one-woof response when they called out to Tillie.

A few minutes later they found her lying beside the old cistern with her head resting on the concrete wall.

“They knew that meant Phoebe was inside the cistern. Every breath was held and every doggie prayer offered that the peek over the rim would somehow find her safe,” Carey said.

Both dogs were cold and hungry but are doing well.

Carey reminds people who lose their dogs to keep looking.

“Hope is an awfully hard thing to keep open and alive in the face of heartbreak, but it so important for happy endings for missing pets - or even for unhappy endings with closure,” she said.-USA Today

POPPET Poppet is a gentle and loving Pointer who craves human company.

Because she had a bad start in life, she bonds very strongly with her carer and will want to be with you at all times. She loves to go out in the car, enjoys walking and gets on very well with other dogs. Poppet makes an ideal companion who will return the love given to her, 10 times over.

For more information contact 600 845 420 / 865 776 348 or visit our website, www.k9club.es

Full Circle Removals Spain - UK Full or Part Loads Pet Transport Tel: 965 071 956 / 659 420 862 UK Mobile: 0044 750 337 1438 www.fullcircleremovals.com email: fullcircle.removals@hotmail.co.uk

www.soltimes.com

Book Review

THE EX-WIVES

35

BY DEBORAH MOGGACH

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

“He was an outcast, shivering in the cold whilst all over Britain loving families sat beside the fire opening presents and playfully trouncing each other at board games.”

It’s the 1990s and you will be plunged imminently into the painful and complicated woes of an ageing actor known affectionately as Buffy. Russell Buffery. Apart from the occasion when he wallows in self-pity, he is amiable but absolutely hopeless.

He is 61 years of age, a has-been who views himself as a “discontinued model consigned to the scrapheap.” If you are feeling uncomfortable with that what about this one: like “an old pit pony put out to grass?” Penny informs us that he has a “bottomless capacity for self-deception” believing everything he wants to believe. “They have to tell lies and believe them.”

Things seem to be looking up for Buffy when he meets Celeste, a 23 year old innocent, the same age as Buffy’s step-daughter India. Her father had died when she was six and now her mother has also died. Wanda, one of the neighbours suggested that Celeste move to London. Her mother left her a letter and a small goldfish. “The key to it all had been taken away from her. One letter, in a biscuit tin, had done it.” The contents of the letter are crucial to our understanding of Celeste’s mission; Moggach manages to successfully sustain interest in the plot, finally revealing its contents towards the end. A fitting denouement, very cleverly weaved into the story.

On the surface it seems as if Moggach is reinventing a romantic saga between a young girl and an ageing actor old enough to be her father. He comes with a lot of baggage: three failed marriages, a brood of offspring and stepchildren and of course, a number of illicit affairs. Reminds me of Jack Nicholson. We are told an amusing anecdote that Buffy’s ideal life would have been living in a brothel like Toulouse Lautrec! Celeste, on the other hand, is a Melton Mowbray girl, very different to his other lovers, naïve and vulnerable.

At the beginning of the saga Buffy is still married to Penny Warren, his third wife, a successful journalist with 20 years of experience behind her. At her best, Buffy found her invigorating, amusing and entertaining, although she could be bossy, displaying brisk testiness in the way she treated Buffy as if he was George, Buffy’s faithful dog, the only dependable one in this tale. Penny is meant to be working on a travel article based around Positano leaving Buffy home alone, hating the loneliness. He was easily bored and needed constant company to thrive. They had been married for 8 years.

Penny thought she had married a father figure. Let’s just say that’s what she hoped for. And what did she get? To her disappointment Buffy proved to be a child-like figure and full of ailments: suffering piles, corns, an enlarged prostrate and back problems.

Hypochondria and drinking excessively.

Six trips away from home turned out to be secret rendezvous with photographer Colin in his Soho flat three miles down the road. This affair had been going on for months. What made him incensed was the knowledge that Penny had been “shagging herself senseless, drugged with sex.” When Buffy realises the deception and betrayal Penny storms off and they soon divorce. This is when Buffy hits rock bottom and a chance

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encounter with the lovely young Celeste: “like a sapling, a silver birch” and our romantic, loveable rogue becomes smitten with Cupid’s arrow. Celeste is the antithesis to Penny and makes Buffy feel incredibly young (although in reality he also feels incredibly old ). It certainly gives him a new lease of life.

Celeste planned a furtive mission, engineering meetings with all the ex-wives and her first port of call was in Soho, trying to locate Penny Warren which proved as difficult as looking for a needle in a haystack. She aborted her first attempt but she did eventually meet up with her on the pretence of wanting to become a journalist too. Penny’s ego is flattered by Celeste’s inquisitiveness, particularly over memories of her ex.

“He moved in a different world to me, that was part of the attraction. He had a past.” In time, as we know, it wore thin and Penny wanted something more. A recycling project allows Celeste to keep in contact with Penny. Having satisfied her curiosity, Celeste tracks down wife number 2 a ghastly, neurotic woman, Jacquetta who had an affair with her shrink whilst married to Buffy. She was moody, fiery and difficult. She needed constant reassurances from the men in her life to counteract her insecurities. She divorced him and married Leon Buckman, a well-known psychiatrist who freely advocated condoms and recommended plenty of sex and illicit affairs.

Whilst married to Buffy they had two sons, Tobias and Bruno described

by Penny as being delinquents, lazy slobs of adolescent. Celeste discovers how much insane and irrational jealousy existed between the ex-wives.

She is keen to paint Celeste-as a child waiting to be born in the ribcage of her mother. Popsi Concorde was the stage name of wife number 1, otherwise known as Eileen Fisher. Her motto was “live life to the full.” She was The Good Time Girl. She had been young when she had met Buffy and realised it was danger ahead and the relationship would hit “spontaneous combustion.” It did of course, sooner rather than later shortly after their son, Quentin was born. There was also Anabel (from Rye), Phoebe, Lorna and Carmella who produced a daughter for Buffy called Nyange.

Life for Lorna had been one of “Botched relationships and missed opportunities.” She had been wild and wayward and ambitious. Work came first and she chose an acting career over her relationship with Buffy at a time when he was “sort of married to Popsi” he was “vaguely with Lorna.”

It’s not surprising that Celeste keeps Buffy at arm’s length when she discovers his history.

He is prepared to have a celibate relationship rather like Dante and Beatrice with unfulfilled yearnings- a nice mug of Horlicks, a kiss and a cuddle and no hanky panky or how’s your father! So, is there a happy-ever-after for Buffy and Celeste or will she fall victim to the ex-wives’ club and join the jealous ranks of Buffy’s had-beens? It’s all yours for the taking.

Enchanting from start to finish.

“You’ve not been a failure. You’ve just had more of a past to be a failure in.”

Publisher; Mandarin Paperbacks and Heinemann Ltd. ISBN: 0-7493-1931-3

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MOTORING

September 2015

MAZDA 2 1.5 SPORT BLACK (2015) REVIEW

Well, the Mazda 2 Sport Black certainly looks the part. A limited edition based on the SE-L Nav spec we tested earlier in the year, Mazda has thrown the accessories catalogue at it, and enough bits stuck to give it the appearance of quite the junior nutcase. The graphics packs might be a bit Fast and Furious, but we can’t think of any supermini-sized hot hatch that betters it for visual presence.

But therein lies the rub. With the same 89bhp 1.5-litre engine as the standard car, the Mazda 2 Sport Black looks like it’s writing cheques its performance can’t cash…

So the Mazda 2 Sport Black isn’t a hot hatch?

Nope. Instead, the Sport Black is more of a trier more a doer. The naturally aspirated engine sounds sweet enough, and with just 1050kg (we’ll come back to this) to haul around it gives its best quite keenly, helped by the neat and tidy action of the five-speed manual gearbox.

But it’s never going to get the blood racing to the extent suggested by that exterior.

So although 0-62mph in 9.4sec isn’t exactly glacial, you can’t help wishing someone had ‘accidentally’ diverted the Mazda MX-5’s 129bhp version of the 1.5 onto the Mazda 2 production line. At least then the Sport Black could have given the Suzuki Swift Sport a run for its money – the 134bhp Swift being the only non-turbo warm hatch you can currently buy.

It does look good though, doesn’t it?

To these eyes, definitely. Mazda’s taken the modern but soft-edged shape of its supermini baby and sharpened the extremities with a Brilliant Black front splitter, sideskirts and roof spoiler. Together with the new 16-inch alloys –

an inch bigger than the SE-L Nav’s standard – and the ‘Race’ graphic pack above the sills the conspire to make the Mazda 2 look hunkered down and lower.

The Race graphics are one of two optional sticker sets, the other being the ‘Kodo’ decals that trail back from the headlights like eyeliner in a hurricane. You can have both – as per the test car – either, or neither, depending on your preference.

There’s also a choice of two premium colours included as part of the price – Snowflake White pearlescent, as pictured, or Soul Red metallic. You can also choose to have the mirrors in red on the white car, or black on the red car. Chrome tailpipe garish – sorry, garnish – comes included.

How does it handle?

There are no chassis mods beyond the increase in wheel diameter – but that’s hardly a deal breaker. While the Mazda 2 is less frenetic than a Fiesta, and consequently less pointy in the turns, it is marvellously poised without recourse to an utterly punishing ride. It’s firm, sure – especially with these bigger wheels – but not uncomfortable, and you can spirit it along with all the willing that modest engine can muster.

The positive outcome of keeping the ordinary engine is the impressive economy – on paper this car emits just 105g/km and returns a claimed 62.8mpg. Out in the real world you won’t match this, but you can expect to get closer than the Ecoboost Fiesta does to its figures, especially when you’re pedalling hard. It’s one of the advantages of Mazda’s defiantly anti-turbo stance.

Anything else that makes the Mazda 2 Sport Black special?

The Mazda 2 SE-L Nav is already stacked with an unusual amount of

standard kit – including Mazda’s iDrive-alike MZD Connect infotainment system, which far surpasses anything else available in this segment for slick ease of use, sat-nav included. There’s also DAB radio, lane departure warning and autonomous city braking. The interior feels special, too, with an interesting, intricate design that shows clear family ties to the MX-5 and nice – albeit occasionally reflective – surfaces.

The Sport Black takes this base and piles on the extras.

In addition to all the external pampering – which includes up to £650’s worth of paint as standard – you get auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors and privacy glass. The only amusing thing about all this is that Mazda quotes the same 1050kg weight for both models.

Verdict At £15,395, the Mazda 2 Sport Black isn’t exactly cheap, but given the included extras, at £1000 more than the equivalent SE-L Nav you certainly get value for your money. Since the Mazda 2 is also one of our favourite superminis – good to drive, well packaged and seemingly well engineered – the Sport Black should be quite the tempter. Hell, we even think Mazda’s done a decent job of the graphics. Pretty please can we have one with a more powerful engine? carmagazine.co.uk

LUXURY GERMAN CAR MAKER RETURNS AFTER 54 YEARS

For the first time since 1961, Borgward is about to start making cars again.

And it’s going to kick off by selliang a petrolengined SUV in China.

You’re most likely to have heard of Borgward if you like your cars classic. But the Frankfurt show sees the return of the German marque after 54 years in the wilderness, as it launches the BX7.

This is an SUV in the Audi Q5 mould, and it will be introduced to Europe some time after going on initial sale in China in the first quarter of 2016.

It’s understood that most vehicles will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine developing 221bhp. This will be available with a dual-clutch auto option, and four-wheel drive will also be on the palette.

With no word of a diesel at this stage, markets with a thirst for lowcarbon SUVs will cast their eyes on the 296bhp hybrid which Borgward is said to be developing. This is understood

to have an all-electric range of up to 34 miles.

Borgward is yet to let the world see what the BX7 will look like inside, but it promises to ‘change the way you think about the car’ with the telematic systems it will feature.

Going forward, a second vehicle will be unveiled next spring as part of a product roll-out designed to built momentum towards an annual sales target of 1.6 million cars a year by 2025. The company has spoken of its plans to become a major force in the industry by offering cars which it says will be ’luxurious, inventive and bold’. birminghammail.co.uk

37

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MAZARRON FC 1 OLIMPICO DE TOTANA 3

Three goals in the first eighteen minutes were enough to secure the points for a Totana side which went to the top of the league with this victory.

Although Mazarron fought back well in the second half and pulled a goal back through Jose, Totana were stronger and more composed on the ball for most of the game.

Mazarron’s defence was at sixes and sevens in the early stages and by the time they had pulled themselves together with the help of a couple of positional changes they were three goals down. Totana took the lead after just 4 minutes when a fierce shot was deflected onto the post by Antonio but a visiting forward was on hand to hit home the rebound.

It was 2-0 after nine minutes when a right wing cross was headed past Antonio and the game was virtually out of Mazarron’s reach nine minutes later when

Antonio again made a good block only for the rebound to be fired home.

Mazarron’s first effort came after 39 minutes when Rollon’s shot was saved by the Totana keeper after excellent interplay between him and Santi. Then Mounir found Cristian whose long range effort was easily saved.

Mazarron brought on Silverio and Champi at the start of the second half and came more into the game with some penetrating attacks down the right wing. After 49 minutes a Champi free kick was headed just wide

by Jose but 4 minutes later the same combination saw Jose rise to head the ball home to reduce the arrears.

Mazarron reverted to a back three formation and Totana were now reduced to sporadic breakaways but always looked dangerous and Juan Andreo had to clear off the line when Antonio was drawn out of his goal. Juanito made an excellent run down the left for Mazarron but his cross was cleared and despite more Mazarron pressure in the closing stages they were

CIUDAD DE MURCIA 0 HUERCAL-OVERA CF 1

Los Huercalenses kept up a 100% record last Sunday with a very tricky fixture away in Murcia taking on newly promoted CAP Ciudad de Murcia.

With the home fans in fine voice the game got underway with Ciudad looking comfortable on the ball moving forward, but sadly for the locals, not getting the ball flowing quickly enough and in turn not able to break down the visitors defensive line.

The first half was pensive as both sides took the approach of not conceding with Huercal playing on the counter & Ciudad having the majority of the ball. The best chance for the visitors came when Selu playing on the right side of the attack turned his man and chipped a tidy ball into the box that was just centimeters from the head of Alex, half time 0-0.

Ciudad made a change at half time bringing on left sided playmaker Nacho, he made a great impact going forward with good vision, quick feet and a fantastic range of passing.

But it was the visitors who took the lead after 63 minutes, Alex, winning a header from a long pass, found Tabala on the edge of the box with it all to do.

A swift turn and a jink found the Alicante born striker with only the keeper to beat & with a solid strike the ball hit the back of

the net. 0-1 Huercal-Overa.

The pressure then started to build from the home side who were desperate for an equalizer, with Nacho at the heart of everything for the Cityboys.

In the 77th minute Oscar picked up his 2nd yellow card for Huercal and was sent for an early bath but this didn’t make the game any easier for the Ciudad as the game ended 0-1. A good test for both sides, Ciudad will win more than they will lose this term and Huercal-Overa showing their strength going away from home, playing badly and winning.

Huercal-Overa now have 2 home games on the bounce: tonight (Wed 23rd Sept 20:45) against Marvimundo Plus Ultra after the game was suspended earlier this month and then Sunday 27th Vs Churra (probable 18:00 kick off TBC but please check www.ffrm.es to confirm.

Lee Rickard Graham sportcentralspain@gmail.com

LOCAL FOOTBALL RESULTS SEGUNDA B G4: Real Murcia 2 - 0 Melilla, La Hoya Lorca C.F. 1 – 1 San Roque de Lepe, Villanovense 1 – 0 Linares Deportivo, Marbella F.C. 1 – 1 Cádiz C.F., Algeciras C.F. 1 – 0 R.B. Linense, Granada C.F. B 2 0 Sevilla Atlético, F.C. Cartagena 2 - 0 Almería B, R.C. Recreativo 0 – 0 Mérida A.D., Real Jaén C.F. 3 – 0 F.C. Jumilla, Real Betis B 0 – 1 UCAM Murcia C.F. TERCERA GROUP 13: Nueva Vanguardia 7 – 0 Plus Ultra, Churra 3 – 1 F.C. Pinatar, Minera 4 – 2 La Unión C.F., El Palmar C.F. 1 – 3 R. Murcia Imperial, Lorca Deportiva 1 - 0 Águilas F.C., Mar Menor C.F. 2 – 5 Muleño C.F., Yeclano Deportivo 5 - 1 Alhama, Atlético Pulpileño 3 – 2 A.D. Caravaca.

unable to carve out any clear cut chances.

Although it is still very early in the season the warning signs are there for Mazarron’s new look team.

Team: Antonio; Juanma; Mounir (Juanillo); Juan Andreo (Antonio); Juan Fran; Juanlu; Rollon (Champi); Cristian (Silverio); Juanito; Santi (Enrique); Jose . Man of the Match; Mounir

COSTA COBRAS RFC

Costa Cobras RFC will be continuing to train on the beach regardless of the weather until the town hall has finished resurfacing the pitch at Daya Vieja or we find a permanent ground, whichever comes first.

We will be continuing to train on Guardamar beach in the meantime until everything has been sorted out with the training pitch. New training gear that has been donated to the club by Ian Roberts of the club will be there to help with it.

With a few more players joining the club we can start looking for friendlies to play to give the majority of them some game experience ready for next years tournaments and touring teams.

I have also been presented with a signed 2015 Baa Baas v England shirt as a thank you from them for all of the work and respect shown to them after a mix up with the original name of the club, before it was changed to Costa Cobras RFC. This was done to shown respect to the club and myself.

We have now formed a new, experienced committee, with many years experience in the game with the same goals of bringing back the traditional ethics of the sport. So if this is what you are after come along and join us.

The club is continuing to look for a more permanent base to train, hold matches and tournaments as well as having touring teams over, so if anybody knows of any town halls in the area of Guardamar to Cuidad Quesada or surrounding area, that would like to have a rugby club based there, please contact us on 692 767 242.

Also remember the rugby World Cup starts this Friday 18 September, so come and get a taste of what all of the excitement is all about. I will be in the Bridge Bar, one of many that will be showing the opening game, England v Fiji at 21.00.

We are looking to be able to put a team in at all levels in the league this time next year so

come along and join the newest rugby team on the Costa Blanca and join the rugby revolution.

All ages, gender and nationalities are welcome, from beginners to experienced players, the more the merrier, as we are based on the true traditional ethics of the sport.

So come along and join the newest rugby club on the Costa Blanca. Also team bonding after training in the nearest bar for a drink and chat, just how rugby should be. Training still takes place on Monday and Wednesday from 18.00-19.30 for the juniors and 20.00-21.30 for the seniors at Guardamar beach in front of the restaurants.

For more information about the club contact myself, Dutch, on 692 767 242. Also I am back down at Zoco market on Sunday again from 09.00-13.30, so come on down and find more out about the club and rugby in the area. Also for all of your rugby branded clothing and gear including Canterbury casuals and Cotton Traders shirts.

BRADLEY BREAKERS

965 723 270 607 848 332

38

LOS AMIGOS GOLF SOCIETY (LAGS): SEPTEMBER COMPETITION

The originally planned September Competition had to be cancelled due to inclement weather (too hot and sunny!!).

However a ‘virtual’ presentation evening still went ahead following serious deliberations by the LAGS ‘pools panel’.

Thankfully the ‘real’ Lorca competition was hastily re arranged and finally went ahead on Thursday 10th September.

The course and specifically the greens were in immaculate condition and the playing format of a Pinehurst competition meant a brilliant golf day ensued. Huge thanks must go to all the staff at Lorca Gold Resort for hastily rearranging the competition and presenting the course in such immaculate condition.

Now, many people (specifically

golfers) would have us believe that golf is a difficult game. A few incidents during the day seriously challenge this assertion! After only playing the game for 4 weeks, Joe Malone managed to birdie the par 3, 10th hole. This alone will be enough to keep Joe interested for months to come. Also, on the extremely difficult 17th hole and faced with an enormous second shot over a ravine (an abyss some would say!), Les Dryden was having problems even picturing his second shot. “It’s easy” one of his ever helpful playing partners proclaimed “just hit it across the bridge!!!”. Les took a long swing, picked his head up and pulled the ball left. It hit the handrail of the bridge and then, in a manner akin to a pin ball machine, ricocheted between the handrails either side of the bridge, finally coming to rest in the middle of the fairway on the far side of the ‘Grand Canyon’. Easy Game! Mind you it might not have been so easy for Les. Only 2 holes previously Les went to fetch a putter from his bag on the buggy only to find...no bag.

“Which one of yooos ‘as ‘ad mi clubs” enquired Les? They were eventually located lying, like a dead body, hundreds of yards back up the fairway.

Goodness knows what speed Les’s buggy was travelling at for him not to have heard the crunch as they hit the fairway but the committee are looking into the matter!

The day was won by Bob Rowe, Mick Madgwick, Dave Gautier and Arthur Anthoney with a brilliant 179 points 21 points ahead of second place!!!

EL PLANTIO 2 GOLF SOCIETY

With temperatures slowly returning to an acceptable level making the golf far more comfortable and enjoyable, the Society met for its usual Tuesday Competition, this week we had a Yellow ball comp, everything started out well with the preselection of 5 four ball teams as we had 20 players.

However as we called out the teams just before going out one member said that he hadn’t heard his name called, we quickly found out why, he had forgotten to put his name on the sheet, so we had a frantic 10 minutes reorganizing the teams into 7 teams of 3.

The course is looking quite good at the moment, with the greens having been hollow-tinted a few weeks ago and the recent rain contributing to make the course very enjoyable.

Two visitors joined us today, Phil Ball & Peter Bowdery, the latter who was over for a visit from Canada, and given the results I think it is safe to say they thoroughly enjoyed themselves, well played lads.

The results this week:

Nearest the pin, hole 1 Ben Gadd, hole 6 John O’Brien 3rd place: Ray Housley, Mel Hope & Mike Davies with 127 pts 2nd place: Martin Rickman, Phil Ball & Peter Bowdrey with 130 pts 1st place: John O’Brien, Lyn Young & Graham Blakeway with 135 pts The next competition is on Tuesday 22nd September at El Plantio.

Put your name on the list in the club-house by Sunday, if you would like to play. Please be there by 8:30 as we tee off at 9:00am.

New members and visitors are always welcome to join the Society, a special membership price is available for this joining the Society and you can choose to join the par 3 course only or both courses as the Society plays on both.

Contact Ian Henderson, Tel: 966 716 616 or Mob: 636 116 230

25’95 €

September 2015

Nearest the pin winners were Ray Reynolds (4), David Davidson (6), John Dawson (8) Fred Harvey (10) and Gareth Buckland (12). A great day all round!

Don’t forget the next competition is our charity day; The LAGS ‘Open’ to be on Monday 5th October at Hacienda Del Alamo Golf Club. The event format is a Texas Scramble for teams of 4 players and there are chances to win BIG prizes. On one of the par 3’s and thanks to the generosity of one of our key sponsors Kia, there is a chance to win a Kia car for a hole in one!!!! Additionally there are team prizes for the first 3 teams and nearest the pin prizes on all of the par 3’s.

If you want to enter a team or if you would like to become one of our fantastic sponsors please get in touch through our website below, you will all be most welcome.

For further information about the society, it’s fundraising, 2015 Open (Charity Day) and future events please go to www.losamigosgolfsociety.es.

TORREVIEJA SWIMMING CLUB

This weekend saw the first competitions of the new swimming season. Six members of Club Natacion Torrevieja participated in these first races with a very positive set of results to start the season. Masters swimmer Rafael Bordes Alonso won medals in each of his four events in the Panteresports 2015 competition held in Barcelona. Rafael won a gold, silver and two bronze medals in his 50m breastroke, 50m and 100m backstroke and the 400m freestyle events.

Meanwhile 5 of the clubs other swimmers travelled to the Port of Cartagena for the “XXIV Trofeo Carthagineses y Romanos”.

Swimmers Piroska Rideg, Zoe Connolly, Yuriy Lymar, Paul Matthews and Vicki Connolly swam against 200 other swimmers across a distance of 1600m around the Port of Catagena.

Zoe came in first for the Torrevieja team being placed 11th in her age category (13 –14yrs) followed, 3 and a half minutes later, by mum Vicki.

In the Masters II category (42-52 yrs) Vicki took first place with a time 25mins 26 secs. Both Piroska (1516yrs), Yuriy 19 – 24yrs) and Paul (Masters III – 54yrs and above) all finished the competition placed 6th in their respective age categories.

The team hope to participate in the next 2.5km sea swim on 3rd October in the Mar Menor.

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

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