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March 2016

Parties enter final stage of governing negotiations in weakened state

Spanish politicians have a month left to negotiate a governing deal that will avert a fresh general election in June.

But the more than three months that have elapsed since December 20 have taken their toll on all the main parties.

The fragmented scenario that emerged from that vote forced political leaders into a flurry of crossparty negotiations unprecedented since Spain returned to democracy after the Franco dictatorship in the 1970s.

But the winner of the December election, Mariano Rajoy of the Popular Party (PP), is completely

isolated and has been unable to secure any support from other congressional groups to be reinstated as prime minister despite his 123 seats – 176 are needed for an overall majority.

His closest rival, Socialist Party leader Pedro Sánchez (90 seats), made an unsuccessful bid to become prime minister and now faces the dilemma of finding enough support from other forces or risk being replaced at the helm of his own party.

Meanwhile, Pablo Iglesias of Podemos is grappling with internal strife, and Albert Rivera of Ciudadanos no longer enjoys his original aura as leader of a fresh party.

The law stipulates May 2 as the deadline when parliament dissolves and new elections will have to be called. But so far no visible agreement is on the horizon.

Many possible outcomes The leaders of PSOE and Podemos are scheduled to meet on March 30, but their significant differences make it unlikely that a deal will emerge from that encounter. Before this, Sánchez and Iglesias had already discussed ways to cooperate through a leftist coalition, but Podemos will not hear of an alliance that includes Ciudadanos, while the Socialists do not want to include regional forces that advocate independence referendums.

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In fact, the only agreement to emerge out of this entire 99-day period is a “governing program” drafted jointly by the Socialists and Ciudadanos, who need backing from other parties to achieve the required majority, as their own joint congressional presence numbers just 130.

Meanwhile, the PP’s attempts to convince the PSOE and Ciudadanos to form a grand coalition are still stuck at square one.

Yet many political leaders have misgivings about a new election that would likely yield a similarly fragmented outcome. Pedro Sánchez is not even certain that he will still be the Socialist nominee, or whether Andalusian premier Susana Díaz might present a challenge to his leadership.

It is also unclear whether Podemos would benefit from a new vote, considering that its regional partners in Galicia, Catalonia, Valencia and the Basque Country are lately expressing a desire to go their own way rather than run together again.

The PP has no obvious internal conflict, but that is because the conservatives lack a mechanism to discuss their own leadership. Rajoy refuses to step aside in favor of another candidate despite his complete rejection in Congress. In fact, for the last three months the PP has been simply sitting quietly and waiting for a new election.

Of the four main parties, Ciudadanos is the only one free from internal strife, but sources admit that these three months have somewhat eroded the party’s image as an emerging force that does not fit into the old left-right paradigm and instead advocates new versus old. Rivera’s deal with the Socialists could also make it hard to attract disaffected PP voters.

The countdown ends on May 2, when parliament will be dissolved if no deal is reached before then.

In that case, Spaniards would be asked to vote again on June 26. elpais.com

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Triumph for ACTS Theatre Group’s first production

There is a thirst for quality theatre productions here on the Costa Blanca as was proved by newcomer ACTS Theatre Group’s production of Mark Camoletti’s ‘Don’t Dress for Dinner’ which played for three evenings recently at the Cultural Centre in Benijofar. The group was formed by Tony and Angela Goddard to provide ‘a professional drama company in the area’ and while it may be new in name

it is certainly not new in experience, featuring several familiar faces to local theatregoing audiences.

The storyline is a beautifully engineered tale of confusion and misunderstanding. It all starts with what is supposed to be the perfect weekend for husband Bernard (played

by Ian Vallender), spending it with his mistress Suzanne (played by Robin Smith). His wife Jacqueline (played by Suzanne Stokes) is about to go and see her mother and Bernard has even laid on a Cordon Bleu cook, Suzette (played by Michelle Edwards) to do the catering. However the scene is set when Suzanne discovers that her husband Bernard has also invited Robert (played by Tony Goddard) along and Robert just happens to be Suzanne’s lover – I hope you are keeping up. Suzanne pretends her mother has developed a sudden case of the flu and cancels her trip in order to spend the weekend with Robert. This forces the Machiavellian Bernard to come up with a Baldrick like cunning plan to pass his mistress off as Robert’s mistress in order to cover his own tracks.

It might still just have turned out well had Robert not mistaken the cook for Bernard’s mistress and so the seeds are sown for much hilarious confusion. As in all good farces things more or less sort themselves out at the end and a note of cold reality is eventually introduced at the end of the proceedings when Suzette’s very down to earth husband George (played by Michael Sheridan) appears on the scene to break the complex web of deceit sown over the two acts of the play and take his wife home.

Farce is not easy to pull off well. It requires good timing, accuracy in presenting lines and the ability to maintain and control high emotion over a considerable period of time.

It is too easy for the whole thing

to degenerate into an awkward mess. The simplest of mistakes or unexpected pauses can turn what should be a soufflé of entertainment into a flat omelette. Above all the audience needs to be persuaded that despite the absurdity of events unfolding before their eyes it is all perfectly plausible. On this occasion

all the cast managed to create for the audience that spell that separates a special piece of theatre from the merely humdrum.

Ian Vallender was suitably waspish, irritated and yet pleading whilst Tony Goddard as his old friend bore the brunt of being Bernard’s patsy like a trouper. Both Robin Smith as the mistress having to pretend to be a chef and Suzanne Stokes as Bernard’s wife and Robert’s mistress were wonderful foils to the men’s antics; whilst Michelle Edwards was hilarious as she moved on from merely being the caterer to taking on the role of first Robert’s mistress and then of all things his niece as the occasion demanded to provide alibis and explanations for the men’s increasingly erratic and desperate manoeuvres.

The audience clearly thoroughly enjoyed the performances which was underlined when the ACT S Theatre Group was able to donate €2500 to the Benijofar Social Fund to help those in need in the municipality.

There to accept the donation after the performance on Saturday evening from the play’s director Albert Stokes was the Mayor of Benijofar, Luis Rodriguez Pérez.

By the way if you missed the show or want to see it again it is available on You Tube at https://youtu.be/ rAXwxmjJc2Q. After this admirable first production let us hope that this is the first of many from this very talented group.

Paul Mutter

Ceuta: an unofficial Russian naval ‘base’ in the Strait of Gibraltar?

Eleven members of the European Parliament have complained to the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, about the Russian navy’s frequent stopovers in the Spanish north African exclave of Ceuta.

The delegation of MEPs, which includes Catalan politician Ramón Tremosa and representatives from Poland and the Baltic countries, asked Mogherini if she was aware that these naval operations were “key to maintaining the Russian army’s positions in Ukraine.”

They also wondered whether it constituted a violation of EU sanctions against Moscow over its annexation of Crimea.

The Russian embassy in Madrid has expressed surprise at the controversy Since 2011, over 50 Russian warships have stopped in Ceuta, one of two Spanish cities located on the African mainland, to resupply and give their crews a rest.

The vessels have included submarines, frigates, destroyers, amphibious assault ships and auxiliary vessels.

The frequency with which Russian navy ships call into the port – at least 10 times a year – have turned the Spanish exclave into the main base of the Russian fleet in the western Mediterranean.

The Russian army has an official

3

base in Tartus (Syria), although its ships have also docked in Maltese and Greek ports.

These visits are authorized on a case-by-case basis by a specialized department in the Spanish Foreign Ministry. Diplomatic sources said they do not violate the EU sanction regime, and that Spain has received no protests from EU or NATO allies over this policy, which is implemented “with complete transparency.”

The same sources said that the stops involve “routine maritime activities and never military activity.”

The stops, which typically last around three days, also represent added revenue for a city that ranks at the bottom of Spanish regions for per capita income. According to the Ceuta Port Authority, around 2,300 Russian sailors spent leave in the city in 2014, changing around €450 of foreign currency each to spend locally during their free time.

That adds up to over €1 million a year, with most of it going on local dining and shopping. To this must be added the income from resupplying.

An amphibious ship needs around 300 tons of diesel fuel and 150 tons of water; an oil tanker might need as much as 3,750 tons of fuel.

Elpais.com

4

China-Madrid train route making slow progress

Longest rail service in the world brings tons of Chinese goods to Spain, but returns half empty Senior Chinese trade officials were in Madrid this week in a bid to revive the flagging fortunes of a 13,000-kilometer rail route linking the Spanish capital with the Chinese city of Yiwu, more than a year after it opened amid much fanfare.

Since the first train arrived in the Spanish capital in December 2014 following a deal signed by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, a further 39 convoys have unloaded Chinese imports, while just eight have returned bearing Spanish exports, the most recent of which began its journey through France, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan to Yiwu, in China’s central Zhejiang province, this week.

Rail transport is faster than sea routes but is also significantly more expensive Rail transport is faster than sea routes – taking 21 days as opposed to up to 40 by container vessel – but is also significantly more expensive. A container aboard the Yiwu Express costs €2,000, while one stored on a ship costs €1,300. The difference in cost has clearly been a factor that has discouraged Spanish exporters, as have bureaucratic problems. Mao Wenjin, president of the Yiwu-Spain trade association, explains: “A number of legal issues such as permits to export ham, and the movement of foodstuffs through Russia need to be sorted out.”

Santiago Vivanco, head of the Vivanco winery, says his firm has exported red wine three times using the Yiwu Express. He says it is worth the expense, as it avoids customs duties and delays

ort

at the port of Shanghai. “I think the reason Spanish exporters aren’t using it is because there isn’t much tradition of transporting goods by rail in Spain.”

Other wagons are filled up further along the route in northern European countries such as Germany, which makes the service viable, he explains.

The train brings in a wide range of Chinese-made goods, from Christmas decorations to Tupperware. In return, Spanish manufacturers mainly export ham, wine, olive oil, and mineral water.

Jaime García-Legaz, Spain’s secretary of state for trade, believes the train route would be of particular interest to producers of fruit and vegetables, which keep well in cold storage. He believes the project is holding its own and that it is normal for the volume of trade to be greater coming in from China, given the size of its manufacturing sector compared to Spain’s.

Sheng Quiping, a senior Communist Party representative from Yiwu, said in Madrid this week that he believed that despite the economic slowdown in his country, there was still demand for Spanish goods. “In the next five years we are going to promote imports. Spanish goods are very popular,” he said.

Yiwu is a huge distribution center for central China, filled with thousands of wholesalers. Mao said that if you spent eight hours a day visiting its stores, taking just three minutes in each, it would take more than a year to enter each one. The city has a GDP equivalent to 8% of Portugal’s, and it is visited by around 10 million buyers each year.

Spain is aware of the need to raise awareness of the Yiwu Express, and the country’s ICEX foreign trade

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institute regularly organizes seminars for business leaders and exporters. “We have supported the Yiwu-Madrid route from the outset and believe that Spanish exporters will start using it more,” says ICEX CEO Francisco Javier Garzón.

The Hermanos Rubio winery is among the 15 Spanish companies that have used the train, sending two shipments of red wine to China. The first was in winter, requiring the use of thermal blankets to protect the bottles from the

Father of Ceuta ‘suitcase boy’ could face three years in jail

A FATHER whose eight-year-old son was smuggled into Spain in a suitcase could face up to three years in prison, and the girl who carried him across the border may go to jail for six years.

Ali Ouattara, 44, from the Côte d’Ivoire – now the official name for the Ivory Coast – was despairing of being able to bring little Abou to live with him and his wife, Lucie, 39 and sister, now 12, in Puerto de Rosario, Fuerteventura, where the couple and their daughter have lived for nine years.

Ouattara’s income from his permanent, stable job in a launderette’s, at €1,331 a month net, it is already higher than most native Spaniards who work the same hours.

But to bring both their young sons to Spain, Ouattara has to prove an income of at least €2,500 a month – an amount way above that paid by the average 40-hour-a-week job – or to just bring one of his sons, his take-home had to be at least €1,372 a month.

The couple did not want to leave their little boy behind in the Côte d’Ivoire, given its political instability following

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“I saw it on the television, but it was our customer who asked us to use this means of transport,” he said.

His client was Mao, who owns a company that distributes Spanish goods in China.

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the second civil war, high crime rate, risk of Ebola and the fact Abou has been suffering from anaemia and malaria, so the father agreed to pay 20-year-old Moroccan national Fatima E. to smuggle the child in. A petition on the campaign site Change.org raised 45,000 signatures calling for his release within two days.

Ali and Lucie hit headline news in May last year when Abou was found in the suitcase, but it is only now that they have received a notification from the prosecution saying it had applied for the boy’s father to be charged over offences relating to human trafficking.

Prosecutors say Ali Ouattara ‘knew and accepted’ the conditions in which his son was going to enter Spain, ‘inside a small suitcase with no ventilation’ which supposed ‘an evident risk to his life through suffocation’.

The case will be heard at the provincial court of Las Palmas, but as yet no date has been given. thinkspain.com

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Don’t rock the boat, Gibraltar pleads as Brexit breeds fear

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It’s early morning and the sun shines down on a line of cars in southern Spain waiting to cross into Britain... or rather its overseas territory Gibraltar where a potential Brexit has set alarm bells clanging.

Miles away from the debate gripping Britain over whether to leave or stay in the European Union, this rocky outcrop of 33,000 residents where fish and chips and double-decker buses are a fixture is nevertheless eyeing June’s upcoming referendum with increasing alarm.

At stakes are a thriving services-based economy that relies in large part on access to the EU’s single market, and a sovereignty spat with Spain it believes threatens its only land access to the continent.

“I’m very concerned that it would mean that our current economic model would not be sustainable,” says Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, sitting in a white government building in the city centre.

The territory -- half the size of London’s smallest borough of Kensington and Chelsea -- relies on tourism, financial services, online gaming and shipping services for its economy, which grew an estimated 10.3 percent in the last financial year. Part of the attraction for foreign investors lies in its low-tax regime. But Gibraltar’s EU membership also allows firms approved to operate there to do business in any other nation of the bloc without having to re-apply for permission.

The combination has proved attractive to investment, insurance firms and others in the financial services sector, which represents around 20 percent of Gibraltar’s economy.

“One of the reasons why companies are here is their ability to sell their services throughout the EU... and that reason for being in Gibraltar will be taken away,” says Picardo Not far from his government building, crowds throng a main street lined with shops, including the quintessentially British Marks & Spencer.

Nearby, tourists take pictures at a red phone box, just some of the millions who visit every year to get a taste of this seaside, sun-baked corner of Britain.

A large majority of visitors come across the small land border -- a long-time flashpoint in the row between Gibraltar and Spain, which has wanted the Rock back ever since it had to cede the territory to Britain in 1713.

Spain’s dictator Francisco Franco went as far as closing the crossing in 1969, all but stranding inhabitants who had to rely on air and boat links until it was fully re-opened in 1985. Relations have ebbed and flowed since, but the past four years have seen a regain in tension

under Spain’s conservative government, which apart from sovereignty claims also bristles at tobacco smuggling across the border and accuses Gibraltar of being a corporate tax haven.

In one particularly belligerent row over disputed waters, Spanish authorities upped border checks in 2013, creating hours-long logjams and forcing the European Commission to wade in and ease the crisis.

Many fear this could happen again if Gibraltar loses its EU status. “Half or more of the clients we have are people who cross the frontier,” says Isaac Batista, who works at a liquor store on the main street, where cigarettes and alcohol are far cheaper than in Spain.

“If the border closes, it’s going to be very different,” he adds, not just for retailers but also for the 10,000 people who make the crossing daily from Spain to work.

People like Manuel Marquez, an employee at a factory in Gibraltar’s port who rides his scooter to the Rock every day from the border town of La Linea de la Concepcion with his wife MariaCarmen, a cleaner.

The 57-year-old recalls how he sometimes had to wait up to nine hours to go home after a full day’s work during the 2013 logjams. His exasperation boiled over into protests and cost him two separate fines.

“I was desperate... We were thousands of people working here, suffering,” he says, sitting at a fast-food joint on the Spanish side of the frontier -Gibraltar’s large rock ever present in the background.

The spectre of Franco’s border closure also hangs over many families who are divided between Spain and Gibraltar.

At the time, Marquez lived on the Rock.

When he found out his father had died, he tried to cross via the sea, failed and jumped the border fence instead.

“I just didn’t know what to do,” he explains. He was promptly detained by Spanish police, who allowed him to go see his family before sending him back to Gibraltar via Morocco.

But for Juan Franco, Mayor of La Linea, the real concern would be Brexit’s impact on Gibraltar’s economy.

Unemployment in his 72,000-strong city stands at 40 percent, one of the worsthit places in Spain, and the majority of those who work do so over the border.

“If Gibraltar stopped to generate work, it would be a real problem for our city,” he says. thelocal.es

7

www.soltimes.com

Is the Spanish siesta in terminal decline?

There was a time when the notion of la siesta, that period after lunch when many Spanish take to their beds for an afternoon kip, used to have me clucking with disapproval.

After having spent a hectic morning at meetings in the Majorcan capital of Palma, I’d rush back to my mountain idyll only to find Soller already a ghost town.

I’d literally missed the post. As soon as the handsome town hall clock had struck one, every blind was lowered, shutter closed and door bolted. The town would remain in deep slumber until sleepy and yawning shop owners ambled back to the square at about five o’clock ready to resume business until the whim took them.

Is the Spanish siesta outmoded and just one big yawn?

In time a very strange thing happened.

I began to enjoy the siesta period and basked in the knowledge that at a certain time of day there would be a collective sigh in the valley and a silence to be savoured when even the dogs would seem to cease their constant yapping and the whining of the motos, those annoying pop pop motorbikes, would

grind to a halt.

I learnt to become more disciplined with my day, ensuring that if I needed an urgent letter sent I did it in the morning while the world was still at work. During the sizzling s u m m e r months when temperatures were soaring, it made perfect sense to me to down tools and have a snooze instead.

Now it appears that the traditional Spanish siesta is under threat as the economic crisis deepens in Spain and an increasing number of people swap a lunchtime rest for extra hours of work.

Siestas of more than 40 minutes can be bad for your health, says research SPAIN'S popular 'national yoga' – the famous siesta – could be dangerous to health unless it is capped at 40 minutes, maximum, claim recent studies.

Long naps in the daytime can lead to so-called 'metabolic syndrome', a cluster of health conditions including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, excess waist fat and high blood-sugar levels, all of which can lead to heart problems, stroke and diabetes.

Being exceptionally tired throughout the day and 'carrying on regardless' is also linked to the same ailments.

Dr Tomohide Yamada, diabetes specialist at Tokyo University carried out 21 investigations involving a total of 307,237 people – a mix of western and Asian subjects – and extrapolated data from his previous research.

Among the studies, each of the subjects was asked to fill in a questionnaire, giving responses about whether or not they took a siesta in the daytime, or slept in daylight hours at all, whether they felt sleepy during the day, among other topics.

Their medical history, and whether or not they suffered type II diabetes, cardiovascular problems or obesity was taken into account.

A direct relationship between length of time spent on siestas and incidence of metabolic syndrome was found: those who took siestas of no more than 40 minutes showed no increased risk, but the danger rose significantly in those whose daytime naps went on for longer.

An hour-and-a-half-long siesta increases the risk by 50%, as does feeling tired or sleepy in the daytime, whilst the danger actually went down in those whose siestas lasted less than

half an hour.

Overall, taking a siesta lasting longer than an hour pushed the risk up by as much as 82%, and increased the likelihood of death from cardiovascular problems by 27%.

Siestas of more than an hour were found to cause a rise of 46% in the probability of acquiring diabetes, rising to 56% for those who were tired in the daytime.

Dr Yamada concluded that future studies should centre on the opposite effect: whether shorter siestas could actually have a positive impact on cardiovascular health.

Despite common misconception, the siesta in Spain is not an all-afternoon affair: most of the long lunch break, which ranges from around two hours in office jobs in major cities through to four or five hours or even longer in small towns or rural areas and familyrun businesses, is taken up by eating a full meal, taking time over it and chatting to the family or colleagues either at home or in a restaurant whilst relaxing to let food go down.

Siestas are generally only taken by those workers who live very nearby and max out their lunch break.

They rarely last more than 15 to 30 minutes – Spaniards generally sleep for well under half an hour, although some may even put their pyjamas on and go to bed for that time.

Overall, those who do so say it refreshes them and leaves them less tired and more energetic for the rest of the day's work. thinkspain.com

Ironically, the 20 per cent of unemployed in the country twiddling their thumbs at home would probably give anything not to have time for a siesta each day.

Daniel Blanco, president of the National Association of Friends of the Siesta, is trying to lure his countrymen to continue the time honoured Spanish custom of napping with the creation of a national siesta competition. Setting up camp in a noisy shopping centre in Madrid, he is currently sweet talking workers into taking a little shut eye for 20 minutes.

Using sleep monitors attached to their chests, doctors award the participants

for the quality of their sleep while they rest. The competition is open to all until 23, October and is attracting a huge throng keen to scoop the big prize of 1000 euros.

Those cynical about the move claim that la siesta is past its sell by date and that it’s high time the Spanish had a wake up call and were forced to keep the same working hours as the rest of the world.

Somehow I can’t see that happening because as sure as eggs are huevos, a ban on la siesta, is something most Spanish just won’t take lying down. http://my.telegraph.co.uk/

Friend of bus crash victims to their parents: “You didn’t make a mistake”

Italian student who missed fatal trip tells them not to feel guilty about letting their kids go abroad. “If you’re wondering whether you made a mistake by letting us go off to live by ourselves in a big foreign city...I want to tell you that your daughters were very happy there.”

The message was written by Francesca, a university student from the Italian city of Florence who is spending a year in Barcelona on an Erasmus exchange grant.

Francesca went back home on Friday of last week because of a family problem.

She was sharing an apartment in Barcelona with Elena Maestrini and Lucrezia Borghi, two of the young women who died in a bus crash in Tarragona last Sunday.

It was pure coincidence that I didn’t go on that trip FRANCESCA, ITALIAN STUDENT In the aftermath of the accident, which killed 13 people – seven of them Italian – and injured 43, Francesca has written a letter to the parents of the deceased to tell them that they should not feel guilty about having let them leave the nest.

“Every morning we would walk out of the house feeling happy; we wanted something more for our own future. So no, you didn’t make a mistake,” she writes in her letter to the parents.

The young woman told Italian newspaper La Repubblica that she also knew Valentina Gallo, the first victim to be identified.

“She lived in another apartment with three Spanish girls, but often came round to our place,” she explained. “It was pure coincidence that I didn’t go on that trip: I’d already booked the flight by the time I was told about the field trip to Valencia, and I decided to go home.”

The coach was making its way back from Valencia, which was in the middle of its famous Fallas festival, when it swerved, hit the railing and skidded into the opposite carriageway on the AP-7 highway near Freginals (Tarragona). It was around 6am, and the preliminary investigation suggests that the driver fell asleep at the wheel.

Three young women from the Italian region of Tuscany are among the victims.

Valentina Gallo, 22, was from Florence and was studying economics. Elena Maestrini, 21, was from Gavorrano, and Lucrezia Borghi was from Greve, in Chianti. http://elpais.com/

8

March 2016

San Vicente del Raspeig Moors and Christians The Moors and Christians will be marching in San Vicente del Raspeig from Tuesday 29th March to Sunday 10th April 2016.

The fiesta is held every year in honour of their patron saint, San Vicente and includes the entrance parades, the embassies, early morning parades, flower parades and a children's parade as well as many other activities.

Tuesday 29th March 20:30 Nit D'Albaes (traditional songs) in the Plaza de Espana.

Wednesday 30th March 21:30 Entrance Parade Christians. Route: Avda.

Libertad, Salamanca, Pintor Picasso, Ancha de Castelar, Avda de Libertad to the Castillo.

Thursday 31st March 21:30 Entrance Parade Moors. Route: Avda. Libertad, Salamanca, Pintor Picasso, Ancha de Castelar, Avda de Libertad to the Castillo en Solar de la Inmaculada.

Friday 1st April 18:00 Parade of the Big Heads and Pipe and Drum band.

19:00 Parade to collect the Fiesta Queens accompanied by the La Esperanza Band.

20:00 Entrance Parade of the Bands. Route: Plaza de Santa Faz, Avda Libertad to the Plaza de la Espana.

21:00 Fiesta Speech from the balcony of the Town Hall.

21:30 General Entrance Parade including the Fiesta Queens and the Embassies for the Moors and Christians. Route: Pintor Picasso, Ancha De Castelar, Avda Libertad, Calle Salamanca.

Saturday 2nd April 12:00 Parade of the Big Heads and Pipe and Drum band accompanied by the ringing of the church bells.

12:30 Flower Parade during which the Fiesta Queens and her Ladies in waiting walk along various streets giving out flowers accompanied by the La Esperanza Band.

18:00 Entrance of the Christians. Route: C/ Alicante and Ancha de Castelar 23:00 Embassy of the Moors during which both groups fire their Blunderbuss Guns along the Avda. de la Libertad.

Sunday 3rd April 08:00 Early Morning Parade by the Christians.

Route: Cervantes, San José, Pintor Picasso, Velázquez, Plaza José Ramón García Antón, Plaza del Pilar, Mayor, Echegaray, Alfonso XIII, Colón, Plaza de España, Avda Libertad to the Castillo.

11:00 Parade of the Fiesta Queens and the Esperanza Band.

11:30 Entrance Parade of the Children. Route: C/ Ancha de Castelar, Avda Libertad and Salamanca.

18:00 Entrance of the Moors. Route: C/. Alicante y Ancha de Castelar to the intersection with C/ Agost.

00:00 Gozos and Salvas in honour of San Vicente Ferrer along Avda. Libertad to the intersection with C/ San José and Plaza de España.

Monday 4th April 08:00 Early Morning Parade by the Christians.

Route: C/ Cervantes, Capitán Torregrosa, General Ibáñez, Jaime I, Raspeig, Reyes Católicos, Rafael Altamira, Dr.

Fleming, San Isidro, Blasco Ibáñez, General Ibáñez, Avda Libertad to the Castillo.

11:00 Flower Offering. Route: C/ Alicante, Ancha de Castelar, Avda. Libertad, Plaza de España.

19:00 Procession in honour of the Patron Saint San Vicente Ferrer with the Moors and Christians Captains, Fiesta Queens and other dignitaries. Route: Plaza de España, Mayor, Plaza del Pilar, Pi i Margall, Pintor Picasso, Ancha de Castelar, Domínguez Margarit, Salamanca, Plaza Lillo Canovas, Mayor, Plaza de España.

00:00 Spectacular Multicolor castle of fireworks in C/Mayor.

Tuesday 5th April 08:00 Ringing of the church bells.

10:30 Parade. Route: Plaza de España, Salamanca, Domínguez Margarit, Juan Ramón Jiménez, Cervantes, San José, Pintor Picasso, Plaza Lillo Canovas, Salamanca, Avda Libertad, Manuel de Falla.

12:00 Embassy of the Christians during which both groups fire their Blunderbuss Guns along the Avda. de la Libertad.

19:00 Charanga. Route: C/ Alicante, Ancha de Castelar, Avda. Libertad fi nalizando en la Plaza del Castillo.

Thursday 7th April 08:00 Romeria de la Santa Faz (pilgrimage) from the Plaza de España.

18:00 Fancy Dress Competition.

Saturday 9th April 10:45 Parade by the Fiesta Queens, the big heads and the pipe and drum band.

12:30 Children's entertainment in the Plaza de Espana.

21:30 Spectacular Correfoc (parade with fireworks).

Sunday 10th April 08:00 Ringing of the church bells.

12:00 Ringing of the church bells.

12:15 Re-enactment of the Miracles of Sant Vicent on Avda. Libertad, followed by a mascleta display.

22:00 Grand open air dance in the Plaza de Espana http://www.eurotourguide.com/

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Going hunting in Spain (No shootin’, no fishin’) Nevada mountain range, I curse the fact I have yet again forgotten my sunglasses. Looking down instead, where the already dried out wild herbs of thyme and mountain sage crackle and snap satisfyingly underfoot, I begin my hunt, the search for orchids.

Watching my step too, the uneven ground needs no help to send me flying, I am increasingly awkward with age, and do not welcome another ankle impairment.

I note where the wild boar have already visited this morning, a sounder of swine in party mode, turning over earth, rummaging through the herbs and grasses with vigour. I wonder what they found?

Some edible root delectable to swine taste? Who knows? Perhaps a yet to be discovered Michelinworthy wild ingredient.

A gunshot bangs closely – too close – and I shudder. I have no entanglement with the local love affair of blasting the wildlife from this land. I hope the trophy is not our tusked friends. Probably.

I look across the valley, my corner of Spain. North to snowcapped Mulhacen, south to the Mediterranean, the white villages like handfuls of sugar cubes in between , folded in to the mountain sides. The stretches of pollutant

Posted by Carol Byrne in alpujarras, Andalucia, Granada, spain

Blinking against the intense white light, made even more effulgent by the snowy frame of the Sierra

‘History’s greatest footballer’ and Barça icon dies at 68

Johan Cruyff, one of the greatest footballers in history, died on Thursday in Barcelona at the age of 68 after losing his battle with cancer, leaving an astonishingly rich legacy behind him.

Cruyff was one of the most exciting and gifted players ever to take the pitch, winning almost everything at club level in a glorious career not only as a player but also as a coach with Ajax and Barcelona.

The Dutchman was also the lynchpin of the Holland side, the driving force at the heart of his nation’s push to the World Cup final in 1974 where they lost a narrow and hard fought match 2-1 to West Germany.

What the Dutch did win was a great deal of admiration for their idea of “total football”, which first attracted attention at that time along with Johan Neeskens and Ruud Krol.

It was to be his only appearance at a World Cup. After that run to the 1974 final he won the third of his three Ballon d’Or titles as he towered above the European game, having led Ajax to the European Cup three times in 1971, 1972 and 1973.

Cruyff had it all - vision, speed, passing ability and the knack of getting into attacking positions, a genius that

resulted in 33 goals in 48 games at national level. He once said that he sometimes preferred to hit the post than score, so much did he love the sound, and always said he was in the sport for its beauty, rather than merely to win.

He turned professional at 17 and quickly made the number 14 shirt one to be feared as he progressed through the ranks of Ajax, becoming the leading scorer in Holland in only his third season with 33 goals. Ajax’s success in Europe made Cruyff a household name, and when his compatriot Rinus Michels held the reins at Barcelona, he tempted Cruyff to try his luck in Spain.

He guided the Catalan club to their first Spanish title in 14 years in 1974 and made it a double success when they added the domestic Cup. Tempted by the financial rewards of the North American Soccer League, he had brief spells with teams in Los Angeles and Washington, before returning to Ajax.

When his playing days ended in 1984 he embarked on a successful career as a coach, beginning - inevitably - with Ajax.

He led the club to consecutive Dutch Cups and was also at the helm when Ajax won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1987. thelocal.es

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plastic down below the line of smog that is the Costa Almería.

No sign of the great white hunter at least from where I survey, and I continue my own pursuit for the first, early orchids.

I’m rewarded with a coterie of Giant Orchid, with many promising yet to unfold from their shining, stocky green leaves. A very early Mirror Ophrys – Ophrys s.Speculum – makes this type of hunt completely worthwhile, looking like an ancient Chinese swordsman in full warrior costume. Well, that’s what I see!

Woodcock or Sawfly (can never tell which) make up the day’s discoveries, as I walk back to the quiet mountain road, passing Grape Hyacinth and treading the perfumed prickly carpet of herbs.

A deep breath, a good look around, a lungful of pure air. The best remedy for scrunched-up shoulders, tired eyes and a mind that tends to lean to despondency for no reason at all.

If you’re exploring the Alpujarra, contact me and I’ll happily show you/send you guides to the best local spots for orchids – as long as you’re careful to respect the area, watch where you tread, and unlike some half-baked guests we once hosted – don’t pick them! http://carolmbyrne.com/

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March 2016

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Signs You’re Not Drinking Enough Water

just can’t get enough water. Alcohol dehydrates the start to pull water from stored areas like your blood, entire body, and drinking water sends “YES PLEASE!” which leads to a whole new set of problems. signals to the brain until your fluid levels get back to You Feel Fatigued and Lethargic baseline. Listen to what your body is telling you; it As we just mentioned, when a body is dehydrated it There’s not much in this world more refreshing than knows what it’s talking about! “borrows” water from your blood. A lack of properly a tall, ice-cold glass of water. I don’t think there’s Your Eyes Are Dry hydrated blood leads to a lack of oxygen being brought anyone alive that can deny that sometimes, a simple By now it should be clear that drinking water affects throughout the body. Of course, a lack of oxygen leads glass of water can be more satisfying than a cup of more than just your mouth and throat. A lack of water to sleepiness and outright fatigue. A lack of stamina coffee or a can of soda. Despite this, too many of us intake leads to dry, bloodshot eyes (again, think of that means you’ll start to experience that 2PM crash earlier don’t drink enough water on a daily basis. By depriving last pounding hangover). Without water in the body, and earlier in your day (and remember, coffee won’t ourselves of the world’s most natural resource, we are your tear ducts dry up. If you’re thinking “So what if help in the long run). continuously damaging our bodies. If you experience I can’t cry?”, realize that this could cause much more lifehacks.com any of the following, you can improve your situation by harm to your eyes, especially if you wear contacts on starting with a glass of H2O. a daily basis.

Your Mouth is Dry

This seems pretty obvious, but the ramifications might not be so. Of course, any time you feel that sticky, nasty feeling in your mouth, you’d obviously reach for some sort of liquid. But sugary drinks are only a temporary solution to a larger problem. Drinking water lubricates the mucus membranes in your mouth and throat, which will continue to keep your mouth moist with saliva long after that first sip.

Your Skin is Dry

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so of course it needs to stay hydrated. In fact, dry skin is one of the earliest signs of full-on dehydration, which can lead to much larger problems. A lack of water means a lack of sweat, which leads to a body’s inability to wash away excess dirt and oil accumulated throughout the day.

If you want to stave off breakouts, your first recourse should be to drink more water.

You Experience Joint Pain

Our cartilage and spinal discs are made up of about 80% water. This is an absolute necessity to keep our bones from grinding against each other with every step we take. By keeping your body hydrated, you ensure that your joints can absorb the shock of sudden movements, such as running, jumping, or falling awkwardly.

Your Muscle Mass Decreases

Your muscles, also, are comprised mostly of water.

Obviously, less water in the body means less muscle mass. Drinking water before, during, and after a workout not only keeps you hydrated and comfortable, it also brings water to the right places in your body, and decreases the chance of developing inflammation and soreness related to exercise and weightlifting.

You Stay Sick Longer

Drinking water allows your body to continuously flush out toxins. Your organs work to filter our certain We went over dry mouth already, but thirst goes waste products like a machine, but if you don’t fuel beyond a desert-like tongue. Anyone who’s ever had a the machine with water, it cannot work properly. What hangover can tell you that, upon waking up, your body ends up happening in a dehydrated body is organs

You’re Overly Thirsty

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Hello and welcome to CanDu Computer of times during the first Bytes, Your Only Stop for solutions to Your decade of being training computer problems. My ‘drop-in’ clinic (like to be a computer geek!

Backups don’t have to be hard the way doctors used to be!) is at Maloans Bar in Albox (opposite the BP) on a Friday or confusing though. You’ve probably afternoon. To arrange an appointment for heard about countless different backup another time or place Call (689892745) methods, but which one is right for you? or Email me (canducomputing@hotmail. There are 2 main options as to where to co.uk), Skype (Look for the name back your data to.

Option 1 is to put it in the hands of some “saiminja”), Viber or Whatsapp (use the phone number) for free advice concerning ‘cloud’ service which might, or might not, your computer. Sales pitch over and on to be any more secure than keeping it on an the topic for today. external Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and usually Everyone loses data at some point in has some price tag attached. The most their lives. Your computer’s hard drive obvious ones are ‘Google Drive’, ‘Microsoft could fail tomorrow, Ransomware could Onedrive’ and of course, ‘Dropbox’. All hold your files hostage, or a software bug offer free online storage, and for many could delete your important files. If you’re people, the quantity of space is more than not regularly backing up your computer, adequate. If you find that it isn’t the case, you could lose those files forever. then a monthly fee (usually quite small) Let’s start with the obvious: what do you will be payable. need back up? Well, first and foremost, Option 2 is to “keep it local”, which has you need to back up YOUR PERSONAL always been my battle cry. Keeping it local FILES (pictures, home vid’s, documents, means that you store a system backup and music, etc.). You can always reinstall your data backup on an external HDD. Then operating system and download your put it somewhere safe! The advantages programs if your hard drive fails, but your are that you know precisely where your own personal data is irreplaceable. data is and more importantly, you know Any personal documents, photos, home that no-one can access it without you videos, and any other data on your consent! My only caveat is that you have computer should be backed up regularly. several copies, each on a separate HDD, Those can never be replaced. If you’ve each on a different location (1 in the shed, spent hours painstakingly ripping audio 1 in the attic and 1 hidden near to, but not CDs or video DVDs, you may want to back with, your computer. those files up, too, so you don’t have to do A final note: Make sure that if you all that work over again. update 1, you update them all! I know Your operating system, programs, and that this is tedious and boring but it must other settings can also be backed up. You be done. I have a ‘file server’ which is don’t have to back them up, necessarily, simply a very old computer connected to but it can make your life easier if your a 3 Terabyte External HDD and my local entire hard drive fails. If you’re the network. Doing my regular backup simply type of person that likes to play around involves copying any updated files to the with system files, edit the registry, and ‘File Server’ which then send copies to regularly update your hardware, having my other External HDD’s over my local a full system backup may save you time network! Until next time have a lovely when things go wrong. I can testify to the week and see you then :-) wisdom of having For further information or advice on a system backup having lost my computing,contact Trevor on 689 892 745 or canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk system dozens

Pompeii

Pompeii was founded 2700 years ago by the Osci tribe. The next few hundred years saw the Phoenicians, Etruscans and then the Samnites in occupation. Around 400BC the Romans took control; fortifying it in the process. 100 years later the Appian Way was built linking Rome to the south of Italy; to what’s now modern day Brindisi. It passed just 30km of Pompeii, as the surrounding land was so fertile Pompeii’s bountiful food and wine was easily exported across the Roman World.

Plus there was a bustling port near Pompeii.

Pompeii had a piped water system which fed 25 street fountains, private houses, businesses and public baths. In time of drought the water would first be turned off at the baths then the houses and finally businesses leaving the street fountains to supply the populace.

Pompeii was a hedonistic tourist resort with as many as 20,000 inhabitants. The surrounding countryside was thronged with villas belonging to Rome’s elite. In 62AD a powerful earthquake struck the town damaging every building and crippling the water supply. The Emperor Nero was performing in a nearby theatre and as he left the building it collapsed after him. Nero looked upon this as an omen of good luck.

Although the earthquake was a portent of much worse to come perhaps it was Nero’s thinking that swayed most locals to stay on as the Romans were a highly superstitious bunch. Rebuilding work started in earnest and evidence of this can still be seen

March 2016

Anonymous Declares 'Total War' on Trump

The hactivist group Anonymous is once again targeting Donald Trump in a new video, issuing a worldwide “call to arms” to take down the GOP presidential hopeful.

In a video posted to YouTube, an Anonymous representative — wearing the group’s signature Guy Falkes mask — addresses the camera through a stylized overlay of audio and video distortion.

The video urges hackers to knock Trump’s various websites offline, expose personal information, and otherwise conduct “total war” on the candidate.

“Dear Donald Trump, we have been watching you for a long time, and what we see is deeply disturbing,” says the Anonymous member in the new video, which also features video clips of the candidate’s more controversial public statements.

“Your inconsistent and hateful campaign has not only shocked the United States of America, you have shocked the entire planet with your appalling actions and ideals,” says the Anonymous rep. "You say what your current audience wants to hear, but in reality you don’t stand for anything except for your personal greed and power. This is a call to arms.”

This is the second time that Anonymous has targeted Trump in an online campaign. In December, an Anonymous video urged hackers to go after the real estate magnate after he proposed banning Muslims from entering the country.

The video encourages veteran hackers and newcomers alike to participate in Operation Trump — hashtag #OpTrump. The first planned attack is scheduled for April 1, when Anonymous hopes to take down the website for Chicago-based Trump Towers.

But the online offensive may have already begun. Engadget is reporting that Anonymous members have already posted unverified personal information on Trump and his staff, including social security numbers. http://news.discovery.com/

Enjoy Stephens musings? Pop over to www.findmeahome.eu 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: info@findmeahome.eu Telephone: 636 266 641

in what remains t h e r e today. The area suffered regular but smaller quakes leading up to the cataclysmic event 17 years later that’s now made Pompeii infamous.

In autumn 79AD Vesuvius erupted, shooting ash, rocks and poisonous gases high into the sky, the eruption was seen from hundreds of kilometres away. As much as six inches an hour of ash rained down from the sky. I remember in my school days being taught that people suffocated on the ash in their sleep. Only 10% died this way as the main cause of death was much worse.

As the magma chamber lost its power the huge column of dust and gas started to fall; instead the superheated cloud sent pyroclastic surges of up to 700 km/h of gas and pulverised rock rushing down the mountain sides. Pompeii was in the way; the 350C gases instantaneously burnt the inhabitant’s lungs and boiled their brains; as they died the severe heat caused their muscles to contract so they dropped dead to lie in the foetal positions which are how we see them preserved today. The eruption left Pompeii and the surrounding area buried under 25 metres of ash. It was custom to rebuild after a disaster but the damage was so complete that the area was never repopulated.

Only in 1599 when digging a water channel were some remains discovered. Pompeii’s lewd past was revealed as erotic frescos were unearthed which

were rapidly reburied as they were deemed too risqué for the times. In 1738 when digging the foundations for a new palace the remains were discovered again and work continued up until a few years ago when the funds dried up.

It’s a UNESCO World heritage site but sadly three times in the last 15 years has this certification been called into doubt as currently the place is suffering severe degradation. Five years ago the House of the Gladiators collapsed; currently less than a third of the buildings that visitors could see in the 1960s are open to the public. It’s estimated that over 300 million Euros are needed to further preserve the site. Mind you with Vesuvius normally erupting every 20 years or so and the last eruption being in 1944; it’s well overdue so perhaps it will soon get covered over again. With 3 million people living close by; Vesuvius is classed as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the World.

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March 2016

ADVENTURE SPORTS IN SPAIN

Combine Your Passion For Adventure With Your Love Of The Area By Indulging In These Thrilling Sports A life on the ocean wave... oh thats the life for me If watersports be your thing, Spain’s crystal coasts and ferocious mountain rivers provide an abundance of opportunity for the your inner fish.

Gentler more relaxing watersports include canoeing, sailing and fishing, while the more adventurous of you will delight at the rush windsurfing and kite surfing gives as you strive to bounce your way across the glittering waters.

Nature lovers can take in the beauty of the area with boat tours, and even Whale and dolphin watching is also possible around the coasts of Gibraltar.

Local waters have abundant life so snorkeling and scuba diving is a definite for anyone who can get past the footwear.

For the most adventurous (seat of your trousers) kind of person, there is even white water rafting in the many mountain regions with some of the best (aka terrifying) routes in Europe.

Thrill seeker or explorer, there is something for everyone, at any level to enjoy.

Keep Grounded Perhaps earthy stone, and rambling hills are more your fancy. Spain’s luscious landscape with rambling, rolling hills and dramatic mountains provides a rich range of experiences for the land lover in you.

Natural cave systems with carved rocks and winding rivers give ample opportunity to meander while above ground the wind carved rocks and mountains beg to be climbed. Even casual hikers will find somewhere to plant those boots and walk, run or climb their way to the beautiful skylines Spain has to offer.

Speed lovers can accelerate their way round and down the many routes Spain has to offer, with bike or car and even in some cases a giant inflatable orb (Zorbing as it is widely known).

Spain’s undulating mountains are a popular and renowned location for skiing, with the combination of natural snow and warmer air making it a popular location.

From gentle walks to frantic runs, land sport in Spain has something to give.

Fly like a bird For some of us, keeping our feet on the ground goes against our nature to be free and fly like a bird. Fortunately Spain has many options for your inner bird as well.

High peaks for takeoffs and stunning landscapes mean that Spain is a destination for many air enthusiasts. Parasailing or hang gliding, brings you as close to the sky as a bird, while gliding, microlighting and light aircraft activities allow you to soar.

For the daredevil, there is sky diving, with Spain’s warm climate and vast views to entertain as you descend.

Be it gliding, soaring or falling, there is plenty to see and do in Spain for anyone who wants a different perspective.

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Housing Investment by Foreign Residents in Spain Rose by 15% in 2015

Eurostat Places Spain as European Leader in Construction

The Spanish construction industry returned to strong growth at the beginning of 2016, according to the European Commission Statistical Office, Eurostat, with the national construction activity increasing by 20.3% over January 2015, the largest annual increase recorded of all the Member States.

This percentage is also well above the increases registered for the eurozone (6%) and for the whole of the EU (4.4%). The eurozone’s 6% increase was mainly due to the 7.1% rise in civil engineering works, together with the more moderate 1.4% increase in housing construction. In the European Union as a whole, the increase was as a result of housing construction rising by 5.3%, while civil engineering works fell by 0.8%.

By country, the largest year-onyear increases in production in construction were registered in Spain (20.3%), followed by Sweden (18%) and Slovakia (16.4%), while in contrast the greatest declines were those registered in Slovenia

(-23.4%), Hungary (-20.2%) and Bulgaria (-10.7%).

Month-on-month, El Mundo reported that production in construction increased in Spain by 2.6% in January, in relation to the previous month, while in the eurozone this increase was 3.6% and in the EU the increase was 1.6%. The eurozone increase was due to a 1.7% rise in civil engineering works and a 4.1% increase in housing construction, while the EU increase was as a result of the housing sector rising by 2.7%, while civil engineering works, in contrast, recorded a decline of 2.5%.

Among the Member States for which data are available, the greatest month-on-month increases were recorded in France (7.3%), Germany (7%) and Spain (2.6%), while the greatest declines were registered in Hungary (-13%), Romania (-6.4%) and Slovakia (-6.2%). https://news.kyero.com

In 2015, foreign residents in Spain carried out real estate transactions amounting to a total of 9,918.6 million euros, which represents an increase of 15% compared with the previous year when 8,637.9 million euros in real estate transactions were made.

According to the Ministry of Public Works’ data, the greater part of the investment value related to second hand housing, which accounted for 8,808.6 million euros, while transactions for new builds had a value of 1,110 million euros.

Compared to the previous year, El Economista reported that the number of transactions on second hand dwellings grew by 14.5% and those on new builds rose by 18%.

In terms of regional distribution, the regions which registered the greatest levels of housing investment by foreign residents were Andalucia, with transactions amounting to a value of 2,255.6 million euros, followed by Valencia (2,202.3 million) and Catalonia (1,797.2 million). https://news.kyero.com

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March 2016

Urban Land Prices Dropped by 2.4% at Close of 2015

According to the latest land price statistics published last week by the Ministry of Public Works, the average price per square metre of urban land in Spain fell by 2.4% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2015, to stand at 151.9 euros, while quarter-onquarter average prices fell by 2.9%.

The latest data contrasts with the increase in land prices registered in the third quarter of last year, when average prices rose by 9.7% yearon-year, and by 2% compared with the previous quarter.

Land prices in the towns with more than 50,000 inhabitants increased by 4.6% in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared with the same period of the previous year, to stand at an average of 300.8 euros per square metre.

The highest prices were registered in Madrid (572.7 euros), Barcelona (500.9 euros) and Guipuzcoa (403.4 euros), while in contrast, the lowest average prices were recorded in the provinces of Albacete (93.8 euros), Asturias (102.3 euros) and León (120.8 euros).

El Economista reported that a total of 4,242 transactions were carried out on urban land between October and December last year, representing an increase of 1.2%

over the third quarter (4,192), and a decline of 5.6% compared with the same period in 2014, when some 4,495 land transactions were registered.

The Ministry’s statistics also show that the surface area of land transmitted in the fourth quarter of 2015 rose to 6.2 million square metres, with a value of 680.4 million euros, which represents a decline of 22.6% year-on-year in the surface area transmitted and a 10.9% decline in the value.

Some 15,718 urban land transactions were carried out in the whole of 2015, which is 1.1% less than the figure for 2014 (15,899), while the transmitted area was 24.6 million square metres, representing an increase of 3.8% over the 23.7 million square metres transmitted the previous year. Moreover, the value of the land transactions carried out in 2015 reached a total of 2,585 million euros, which is an increase of 4.6% over the value of the land transmitted in 2014. https://news.kyero.com

Spain’s Real Estate Market Investment Grew by 10% in 2015

The free housing market in Spain moved 51,853.6 million euros in 2015, representing an increase of 10.3% compared to the previous year, when the figure was 47,022.1 million euros, and thus maintained the positive trend recovered in 2014, the year which ended three consecutive years of declines, according to data from the Ministry of Public Works.

In addition, investment in housing has returned to 2011 levels, when the market moved 50,924.4 million euros, and has reached the highest figure since 2010, when the total stood at 80,782.2 million euros. The 2015 figure of 51,853.6 million euros relates to a total of 382,691 housing transactions carried out in the year, which is an increase of 10.2% over the 347,170 transactions registered the previous year.

El Economista reported that, in 2015, transactions on second hand homes accounted for 44,842.9 million euros, representing an increase of 12.9%,

while the value of the transactions on new builds was much lower, with 7,010.7 million euros, corresponding to a decline of -3.8%.

The regions which registered the greatest values on transactions of free housing in 2015, were Madrid, with 10,103 million euros, Andalucía (9,130.2), Catalonia (9,387.9) and Valencia (6,180.7), followed by: the Balearic Islands (2,857 million euros); the Basque Country (2,783.1); the Canary Islands (2,217.4); Castilla y León (1,616.4); Galicia (1,514); Murcia (1,188.8); Aragón (1,178.7) and Castilla-La Mancha (1,078.6).

In contrast, the regions where the free housing sector moved less money were: Asturias (641.8 million euros); Cantabria (590); Navarre (527.6); Extremadura (425.7); La Rioja (299.7) and Ceuta and Melilla (132.8 million euros between the two). https://news.kyero.com

Home Sales Rose by 26.6% Y-o-Y in January, Say Notaries Statistics published last week by the General Council of Notaries show that the number of home sales in Spain registered a 26.6% increase in January, compared to the same month of 2015, and reached a total of 27,568 transactions, although this increase rises to 28% in seasonally adjusted terms.

This year-on-year increase in home sales was as a result of sales of apartment type housing rising by +27.7%, as well the increases registered in sales of single family homes (+22.6%) and sales of other real estate (+22%).

With regard to apartments, sales rose by 28.2% compared to January 2015, with sales of second hand apartments registering an increase of 32.8%, while in contrast new apartment sales fell by 3.8%.

El Economista reported that the average price per

square metre of the homes purchased in January stood at 1,303 euros, reflecting an increase of 2% year-on-year, due to the increases recorded in both the price of apartments (+1.5%) and the price of single family dwellings (+4.5%). The average price per square metre of second hand apartments stood at 1,405 euros (+2.1%) while the average price of new apartments stood at 1,732 euros per square metre (+1.2%).

In January, some 6,590 transactions were registered for sales of other types of real estate, representing year-on-year growth of 22%. Of these transactions, 38.6% related to land or plots, with an average price per square metre of 243 euros (+34.6%).

According to the General Council of Notaries this

data shows that the Spanish real estate market is continuing its recovery, which in turn is reflected in the improved data of the mortgage market for the acquisition of housing, which recorded an increase in the number of mortgages for housing of 30.3% year-on-year in January.

The average capital loaned in January, for mortgages for the purchase of a home, reached 124,829 euros, representing a reduction of 3.1% compared to the same month of 2015.

Moreover, the percentage of homes purchased with mortgage financing in January stood at 43.1%, while the average percentage of the value of the property mortgaged was 76.1%. https://news.kyero.com

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Guide to mortgages in Spain Everything you need to know about Spanish mortgages and getting a mortgage in Spain

Buying a property in Spain Buying a property in Spain can be a straightforward affair. But things can go wrong, and costs spiral, if you blunder into a purchase without any knowledge of the property market in Spain, so it’s up to you to do your homework.

Please note, however, that this overview is no substitute for legal or fiscal advice from a qualified professional. When buying property in Spain you should always use an independent lawyer.

When buying property in Spain, always keep digital and hard copies of all invoices related to your purchase like legal fees, notary fees, and property register fees. Likewise, if you ever do building work on the property once you own it, keep copies of all licences and invoices. You may be able to offset these expenses against capital gains when you sell, and so reduce your Spanish capital gains tax on property sales You visit Spain to view as many appropriate properties as possible in a limited amount of time.

The visit is a crucial part of the process that you need to organise and manage well if you wish to find the property best suited to you on the market. If you do not prepare thoroughly for your visit you are more likely to waste time with inappropriate properties, and end up choosing a mediocre property from a mediocre selection.

Start your Spanish mortgage research early on to avoid paying through the nose later If you are serious about buying a property in Spain, and need or want to take advantage of financing, you should start arranging your Spanish mortgage almost before you do anything else.

Leaving the financial side of your Spanish property purchase until the end does you no favours at all.

If you leave it too late, and have to arrange your Spanish mortgage in a rush and under pressure, it is likely that you will end up with an expensive and inflexible loan. And never forget that mortgage terms often run for many years, so you may have to live with the consequences of you decision for years to come.

The advantages of arranging your Spanish mortgage at the start of your property search are as follows: It costs you nothing to start early Forward planning helps you clarify the advantages and disadvantages of taking out a mortgage in Spain and make the best decision as to how much, if at all, to borrow Arranging your Spanish mortgage in good time allows you to find the mortgage in Spain that best suits your requirements and avoid overpaying By taking steps to arrange your Spanish mortgage at the start you will have a better idea of how much you can spend on your Spanish property and can work out the likely future financial implications of your purchase Having your Spanish mortgage in place reduces the risks of you losing a Spanish property that it has cost you so much to find, and means one less source of anxiety and pressure when you are trying to close on a Spanish property An overview of mortgages in Spain Just like any advanced economy Spain has a developed mortgage market with numerous lenders offering a bewildering variety of Spanish mortgages.

Comparing options: new mortgage or equity release back home Should you use a Spanish mortgage, or a mortgage on your property at home? There are various good reasons for using a Spanish mortgage as opposed to a mortgage taken out on a property at home (in the UK, for example).

Euribor

Is a taking out a Spanish mortgage a good idea?

For most people there are good reasons for financing at least a part of a property purchase with a mortgage.

Mortgage brokers in Spain If you need a mortgage in Spain you will want to get the ‘best’ mortgage for you; the mortgage that best suits your requirements, with the most flexibility, and at the lowest possible total cost over the lifetime of the mortgage (not just the upfront cost). In other words, the cheapest and most flexible Spanish mortgage that you can get, taking into account your financial circumstances.

Overpaying for mortgage finance in Spain The Spanish mortgage market can be confusing, and bewildering. There are lots of lenders offering many types of mortgages that are difficult to compare because they have different cost structures and terms.

Problems paying your mortgage in Spain When things start to go wrong, a common reaction is to bury one’s head in the sand and hope the problem goes away. This would be a big mistake if you find that you are having problems paying the mortgage in Spain. The longer you ignore the problem, the more it is likely to cost you in the long run. So get working on an action plan immediately.

Re-mortgaging in Spain To remortgage in Spain, as anywhere, is to change the basic conditions of your mortgage. These can include the amount, period of loan, interest rate paid and the type of repayment schedule.

Spanish mortgage costs explained The costs involved in getting a mortgage in Spain Valuations for a mortgage in Spain Remember the following when using a mortgage in Spain to buy Spanish property: Your property in Spain is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage secured on it Be sure you understand the repayments and can afford them before entering into any credit agreement The value of Spanish property can go down as well as up http://www.spanishpropertyinsight.com/

There is an important point to make at this stage about looking for property. Of course you want to buy the ‘dream’ property, the ideal property, the best there is given your budget – doesn’t everyone? But don’t fall into the trap of searching for the ‘perfect’ property, as it may not exist.

And even if it did exist it would have to be on the market during your search, which is asking for a lot of luck. To avoid certain frustration you should try to find the best property on the market rather than the perfect property full stop. Perfectionists will always want to see one more property just in case it is the one, but the chances are they will end up with nothing, or have to compromise in the end and loose out to higher prices.

The reality is that compromises nearly always have to be made when buying property, and the secret to success lies in getting the balance right.

So do what you can to identify the property best suited to you on the market (given your budget and time constraints) and then decide whether or not you can live with the compromises it involves.

If you can’t then you have to carry on searching, though after multiple visits you may reach a point of diminishing returns (where the cost of searching outweighs the potential benefits), not to mention estate agents who don’t want to deal with you any longer. Remember that if you find a nice property that you can live with, you will end up turning it into your home and then won’t want anything different. The anxiety of wondering whether there was something better on the market will soon be forgotten. Where to draw the line is up to each individual, but once you go beyond 3 or 4 fruitless property visits you might have to re-examine what you are trying to achieve and how you are going about it.

Having laboured the point that perfectionists are likely to be frustrated whilst realists with clear priorities will know where to compromise, we can now turn to the question of how to get the best results from viewing properties. First of all we will look at how to manage resale property visit, and then turn to the special considerations involved in visiting new developments when buying off-plan. http://www.spanishpropertyinsight.com/

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Only 5 mins drive to the nearest main market town of Albox.

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sM046 NEW LISTING 175,000€

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March 2016

The Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca or White Coast extends along the eastern coast of Spain (approximately in the middle) and covers the province of Alicante.

Costa Blancassa Southern Costa Blanca – Tour Head south of Alicante Airport Much flatter and drier than Costa Blanca North Better beaches Better golf courses Major resorts include Torrevieja The southern Costa Blanca is mostly flat with fine sandy beaches, palm trees and salt lakes. The south is much drier and more typical of what a person who had never visited Spain would expect to see.

It is very built up, relatively featureless and in many resorts, more international than Spanish.

Major expat populations can be found in Villamartin, Cabo Roig, Rojales, La Zenia and Campoamor.

South of Villajoyosa there is a succession of similar beach resorts with high rise apartment blocks and hotels although nothing like as big as Benidorm.

First there is El Montiboli, El Campello, (the famous caves of Canelobre are just inland near Busot) then San Juan and then we hit Alicante, the gateway to the Costa Blanca.

Alicante Alicante airport is where most people arrive into the Costa Blanca. Strangely because it is a lovely city, has a great marina, beaches and the Santa Barbara

Castle (Castillo) most people immediately exit the airport either south towards Torrevieja or north towards Benidorm.

Inland from Alicante the road heads towards Madrid, in this area are many old towns and villages many with castles set on hills such as Sax, Villena, Elda, Novelda, Petrer as well as Monovar, Monforte del Cid, Aspe, Yecla, Caudette and Jumilla.

South of Alicante are a number of coastal beach resorts. Firstly Aqua Amarga, Urbanova, Los Arenales del Sol, Gran Alacant, Casa del Cap and then Santa Pola with miles of good sandy beaches, from Santa Pola you can take the ferry out to the small island of Tabarca once used by pirates this is a good spot for some snorkelling. A massive salt lake is south of Santa Pola (Salinas de Santa Pola).

La Marina, La Escuera (inland), Urbanisation Bonavista, Urbanisation Las Pesqueras, Guardamar del Segura , Urbanisation Portic Playa (Platja), Urbanisation El Moncaio, Urbanisation Portic Mediterrani, Pinomar and then La Mata (also known as La Mata).

In this area just inland are the La Marquesa golf and country club and La Finca golf close to the towns of Formentera del Segura, Benijofar, Daya

Nueva, Daya Vieja, Urbanisation Pueblo Lucero, Rojales with its unique cave houses and Ciudad Quesada a modern town only built in 1972.

Further inland are towns of note such as Elche (or Elx) famous for its many palm trees, historic Orihuela, Crevillente famous for making carpets, Albatera, Almoradi, Callosa de Segura, Catral, Dolores, Algorfa, Benejuzar, Urbanisation Montemar and Urbanisation Fincas de la Vega.

Back to the coast and we arrive at Torrevieja with its nice beaches and surrounding salt lakes (Laguna Salada de la Mata and Laguna Salada de Torrevieja).

Torrevieja Main beach The amount of building in this area has been immense with sprawling developments everywhere such as Urbanisation Dona Ines, Los Dolses, Villamartin, Los Montesinos, San Miguel de Salinas, Villa Rosa La Cinuelica, Urbanisation Las Calas, Urbanisation Las Chimosa, Las Filipinas, Las Escalericas, Lomas de Don Juan, Castillo de Don Juan and Los Balcones.

There are quite a number of golf courses in this area south of Torrevieja with Royal Campoamor golf course, Las Ramblas golf course and

Villamartin golf course.

South of Torrevieja are more beach resorts – Residencia Los Altos, Punta Prima, Playa Flamenca where the La Florida Urbanisation is popular, Urbanisation Zeniamar , La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Urbanisation La Regia, Dehesa de Campoamor and Mil Palmeras.

The town of Pilar de la Horadada is set slightly off the coast but there are beach areas at Torre de la Horadada, La Colonia and El Mojon.

We then cross into the region of Murcia and the large towns of San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier and its airport Murcia San Javier International, Santiago de la Ribera, Los Alcazares and finally the Mar Menor lagoon and its coastal strip La Manga.

Visitors to the southern Coast Blanca will find it less scenic than the northern Costa Blanca but then there are more tourist activities and both Alicante airport and also Murcia airport (known as San Javier airport) are close by and the sandy beaches are of excellent quality. http://www.spainmadesimple. com/

Torrevieja beach

alicante beach

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Roaming around mountains and vineyards in rural Alicante

Blossom in spring in the Jalon Valley

A fabulous way to find out more about Alicante’s traditions, history, culture and cuisine is to take a trip around its rural villages.

During your tour through the winding valleys and mountain roads, you will be rewarded with amazing views of the countryside including rocky mountains and terraced vineyards.

Step back in time in rural Alicante Each small town seems to have its own impressive church and traditional Spanish square where the old men sit putting the world to rights.

Many will also still have a traditional butchers, who makes his own sausages, and a bakers with bread and pastries cooked in a wood-burning oven.

These towns will still keep traditional hours with shops closing at midday for a long lunch before opening again late afternoon. You can wander around the streets in the middle of the afternoon without seeing or hearing a soul.

Vall de Gallinera, Alicante

P e g o old town has a traditional Spanish feel with a pretty main square, parish church and an 18th century nobleman’s home which is now a cultural centre.

Forna Castle, Alicante

Adsubia, also known as L’Atzuvia, is an old Moorish village with a very Spanish feel to it. Just 3kms from Pego, Adsubia is found amid the orange groves.

It’s worth visiting for the little Plaza del Ayuntamiento (town hall square) where there is a simple fountain where you can get cool spring water from the nearby mountains. There is also a traditional bakers in the square so you There are many beautiful country havens to explore which are just 30 minutes to an hour can try some local, quality produce. by car from the beach resorts of Denia or Javea.

A couple of kilometres further along this road you will see Forna Castle built by the Moors to watch out for enemy Christian soldiers. Forna village has a few restaurants You can take a round trip or pick a couple of places to explore more fully. serving Alicante regional cuisine plus another spring water fountain.

They range from sleepy mountain towns through to areas which are famous for Vall de Gallinera, Alicante cultivating rice, cherries, wine and olive oil.

Many younger people have left these villages to find work in the major Spanish cities Now you really will feel as though you have stepped back in time as you go deep or tourist resorts. However, rural tourism is now making a mark as people let out their into the Vall de Gallinera with its spectacular scenery made up of eight little villages traditional stone homes to holidaymakers such as cyclists, walkers or those seeking surrounded by valleys and mountains. a peaceful retreat.

This area is famous for its top-quality cherries so best times to visit are in Spring Each has its own character and charm, which makes you feel as though you are when the blossom is out or in June for the harvest and cherry festival. hundreds of kilometres – or even hundreds of years – away from the busier Costa Tradition reigns in Benimeli Blanca holiday resorts.

At the foot of the Sierra de Segaria mountain is the little town of Benimeli, founded Historic Pego and its paddy fields by the Moors. When they were expelled, many Mallorcan islanders settled there, bringing their traditions and cuisine such as cured meats and sausages.

Pego marshes Life centres around the Plaza Mayor square with its bars, church with bell tower, and grocery store. Around the corner is a traditional bakers where local folk can take their leg of lamb or stew to be slowly cooked in the wood-fired oven.

Exploring caves in Benidoleig

Benidoleig sits on the slopes of the Girona Valley with far-reaching views over the orchards. It’s well-known for its Calaveras cave or cave of skulls, dating back about 100,000 years with an impressive array of stalagmites and stalactites. Interesting shapes in the rocks have been likened to Sophia Loren’s impressive bust and even a map of Spain. http://www.spain-holiday.com/

T h e Valencia region is home to the iconic paella, which comes in many varieties depending on what is available. The Pego-Oliva marshes on the edge of Pego town produce much of the special Bomba rice used in paellas and other traditional rice dishes.

The natural park is home to wildlife such as rare fish, reptiles and birds.

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March 2016

What to Do to Get Energy Ready for Summer

property services

Before it gets too warm, it's time to make sure you're ready for hot weather.

This doesn't mean running out and buying the latest swim wear. It means checking your home's heat and air-conditioning system.

First, change your filters in your heating/ cooling system. Change them regularly as recommended by the manufacturer.

Next change your thermostat over to "cool" and test the system by turning the temperature down. If the air conditioner does not turn on, first check to make sure no breakers are tripped.

If you can't figure out the problem, call your heating and air conditioning r e p a i r person.

Calling early may keep you from making an "emergency" call when the temperatures are soaring and the repair people are too busy.

If your cooling system turns on, make sure it is putting out adequate cooling. If it's not, and you can't figure out the problem, call your heating and air conditioning repair person. Make sure you set it at 78 degrees.

If your air conditioner

needs replacement do it BEFORE the HOT WEATHER HITS because heating & air conditioning repair people will be very busy. And more than likely, some other things around your home need attention as well. Your air ducts may need testing for leaks and then sealed. Your attic insulation probably has compacted, so you may need to add more. Your windows and doors and other parts of the building envelope may need caulking and weather stripping. You may need solar window film to keep out the heat.

Consider changing your old thermostat to a programmable one. You can save up to $100 a year by using a new set-back thermostat. If your thermostat is really old and uses a mercury switch (a glass tube filed with silvery substance) call your local public works department to find out how to dispose of this toxic reliable service, material.

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viewpoint

¿Utopía? food was to regard it as a weapon of

The green mist hung heavy in the morning air. Its ability to offend the nostrils and severely erode the epidermis keeps the local inhabitants behind closed doors. The return of the Alquerian Mist was unheralded due to the complex nature of its origin.

The bad drainage coupled with a temperature inversion which occurs from time to time in the Alquerian Valley are considered the main causes.

This time it was thick, foul smelling and particularly irritating to the exposed parts.

The timing of this meteorological phenomenon was unfortunate. A television unit from the BBC, led by that celebrated director Gordon Gigglemoor was in the process of producing a documentary. ‘Utopia’ was to be a programme investigating why so many Britons choose to settle on the southern Iberian Continent. Alqueria had been chosen as the venue. Why? Perhaps bribery by the Pueblo’s leaders. Perhaps research had selected Alqueria from its many rivals or perhaps it was just sheer bad luck on the part of the BBC. Whatever the reason Gordon and his worthy crew coughed and scratched their way through the disgusting green mist. The cultured presenter’s voice of Preston Melove permeated through the chocking haze. He waxed lyrical about the wonderful climate before collapsing in a paroxysm of coughing.

Preston is a man with two great loves, himself and food. His opinion of Alquerian

war rather than something one would voluntarily digest. His forced smile as he sampled the Alquerian Newt Pie said it all but in the true tradition of the BBC Preston put on his professional face. Describing the delicacy as unique and delicious before moving out of shot and vomiting for five full minutes. The smell of the pie lingered causing Preston to be followed by a herd of meowing cats.

It was with some trepidation that the film crew setup their equipment with the intent of capturing a typical evening’s entertainment at the Bar La Casa Devante. Ernesto Muyinestable, the onelegged flamenco dancer was first up or rather down, his performance alternating between the two. The applause which greeted Ernesto at the end of his act was one of pity and embarrassment. Ernesto viewed it differently and vowed to increase his repertoire with more complicated routines.

A recipe for disaster. Manuela followed with her ‘gran espectáculo’. This involved Manuela, a root vegetable, a side-arm truncheon and a volunteer from the audience. Even the hardened locals felt nauseas as Manuela performed feats of amazing dexterity and ingenuity.

At this point Preston was seen to weep openly. Sobbing into his microphone which expired with a puff of blue smoke and a muted crackle.

25

5.13 a.m.

I awoke abruptly at 5.13 a.m. to a surreptitious scratching noise.

The night time sleeping configuration is thus: the humans sleep in the bedroom, leaving the bedroom door open. This is so that Lucy, The Dog That Is Not Ours, who sleeps in the living room in front of the television on a magnificent 3-deep layer of foam and fur fabric, can contact us if she is in need of a nocturnal comfort break.

The cats sleep in the kitchen, separated from the living room by the internal kitchen door. Her Royal Highness Sayyida Al Hurra sleeps on a fairly meagre blanket-covered foam pad on top of the laptop –she could sleep in luxury in her own bespoke cat bed with soft sides and integral cushion, but she prefers to sleep in comparative penury on a spot where she can see into the bedroom.

Mr Tommy Fluffipants, however, has the entire kitchen table upon which to slouch. He is not allowed on the kitchen table unless his ridiculously large cushion and towel have been placed there first, although he strongly refutes this fact.

So what woke me? Our house is well defended. The first line of defence is the gravel which surrounds the house, creating a moat less wet but more noisy than that of any castle.

The second line of defence is Lucy’s convincing impression of a rabid Rottweiler. Any burglar bent on illegal access, front or back, would hear her and have ample time to change his mind and run

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk whimpering for safety. To the best of my knowledge she has never tasted Burglar, but I’m sure it is a dish she would relish.

The third line of defence is to the implacable wrath of me, 5’7”, bald as a coot, wearing a blue dressing gown and wielding a putter.

It took me seconds to identify the source of the scratching. It was Mr Tommy Fluffipants, determinedly trying to open the door with his fingernails.

I got out of bed, took a torch and shone it on him. He ceased, and looked up at me with the innocence of the new-born.

‘Go to bed, Tommy!’ I hissed at him.

‘I want to sleep in your bed.’ He countered. ‘I might be scared of the dark. I might need comforting.’ He raised his arms up in mute appeal.

‘You’re a cat, Tommy. Cats aren’t scared of the dark.’ I turned off the torch and went back to bed, feeling really mean!

LEGAL CORNER WITH MICHAEL DAVIES, ABOGADO/SOLICITOR

If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic, please e-mail info@daviessolicitors.com - www.daviessolicitors.com MENTIONING A TRUST ON A SPANISH WILL IS ASKING FOR TROUBLE. SOMETIMES WHAT IS LEGALLY POSSIBLE AND WHAT IS PRACTICAL IS NOT THE SAME THING. THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE. Question: I had a Spanish will made out for myself and my wife some time ago. We have recently hired a solicitor to handle a conveyance and he has taken a look at the wills and told us they are not good and that we should make new ones. We are now uncertain of what to do. We have attached the wills for you to take a look at them. Our instruction to our original solicitor in Spain was for him to do exactly what we did in the UK on our English wills. He said that since the Directive 650/2012 this can be done.

Answer.

As my granny would always say: a little knowledge can cause a lot of damage.

There is no doubt, the will is dreadful.

You must change it. I doubt the person who prepared your will has ever dealt with probate in Spain and in fact I doubt the person is even a solicitor. ( I say this because any solicitor I know would tell you that your will is asking for trouble). The will essentially translates the English will you handed over and sets up a trust to protect your children versus your second wife. Even though Directive 650/2012 allows English law to be applied (by choice of the testator) to how an estate is distributed in Spain, using institutions like trusts will cause endless problems and expenses for your heirs because Trusts are not understood in Spain the same way as in UK. So Certifications of English law (which are very expensive) will be required to help wind up the estate (by explaining the content of English law). To this you

will have to add a lot of problems with Spanish Inheritance tax (remember Directive 650/2012 has no effect on the taxation of the estate).

In Spain it is the beneficiary that pays inheritance tax and not the estate.

Descendants and spouse in Andalucía are exempt if they each receive less than 175,000€. In this case the trustee is a non-family member and as he has faculty to dispose of assets, the Spanish tax office could interpret that he is in control of the estate and is the person who owes the tax. As non-family he would receive a large tax bill. (This could all be battled out but it would be a mess.)

Conclusion: Keep things sensible and uncomplicated. In this case achieve what you want using methods that are common practice in Spain. (Even though with the Directive it is possible to have the will run under English law you must remember that probate will need to be obtained in Spain, so making a will that nobody understands in Spain is not a good idea It would be up to your heirs to prove what UK law says and I can tell you from plenty of experience that dealing with Trusts in Spain is nightmare scenario.) In this case leave the life possession of your property to you wife and the residual value to your children.

With the values you have sent me the estate will be exempt, probate will be simple and both your children and your wife will be fully protected as you asked for.

Michael Davies. Abogado.

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

“English spoken”

Deborah Cubel fisher 7 years experience in this area

“on parle francais”

legal & fiscal advice for residents & non-residents, Tax Payments and refunds • Wills and Inheritance process • Purchase / Sale private contracts • Land property and Catastro registration licenses • Conveyancing / Notorial documents

• Translations / Interpreter • NIE’s, Residencia, Medical Cards....

• Vehicle registration / driving licenses • Mortgages

• T axes (local rates, rubbish collection, vehicle, tax returns for residents and non residents and refund of the capital gains tax)

Special offer !!!

Wills €125 / each Including Notary Fee

Yearly contract €149 Including VAT 21% •Y early tax returns (no increase if more than one owner, or more than one property) • Legal and fiscal advice FREE throughout the year • Free assistance / advice for any visitors staying at your property • Free visit from a technician / architect to offer independent expertise on matter such as: putting in insurance claims, confirmation of the legality of an extension / building work, free estimate for any work to be carried out

If you introduce another client to us you will not be charged your next annual fee C/ del Mar, 33 - Galeria Alcana Local 11 Vera 04620 (Almeria) Tel: 950 39 06 21 Fax: 950 39 02 12 email: dcasesores@notin.net

puzzle pages

26

March 2016

jimmy carr

wwe live

new order

Formed in 1980 the Manchester band have regrouped & are touring the UK

Funny Business Tour, TVs Funnyman is on the road in another side splitting tour.

Watch your favorite stars in action in the UK. John Cena, Big Show & Sheamus

GET YOUR TICKETS TO THESE plus MANY OTHER EVENTS AT WWW.SOLTIMES.COM

Answers

3. Voodoo in a box ?...............................

4. Cow juice container ?..........................

5. Song from ‘Fiddler on the Roof’?.........

6. Floral items, could be climbing or tea ?............................................................

7. Single snowy deposit ?.......................

8. This becomes you, according to the song ?....................................................

9. The ‘E’ is missing from this pet food?..

10. Could be Park Lane, or Mayfair?........

11. A star cluster?...................................

14. Sounds like bloomers!?.....................

CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC crossword

8. Moonlight 9. KitKat? (Kit E Kat) 10. Quality Street 11. Milky Way 12. Galaxy 13. Planets (made by Mars) 14. S(nicker)s

SOLUTIONS

1. After Eight 2. Mars Bar 3. Black Magic 4. Milk Tray 5. Matchmaker 6. Roses 7. Flake

Answers

GOLD NUGGET GUNSLINGER HATS HIRED HAND HORSES ICE HOUSE LASSO MARSHALL MINE SHAFT OUTLAWS PELTS PIGS PIONEERS POST OFFICE RANCH HAND REVOLVER

wordsearch answer

standard SUDOKU

cluster!?................................................

easy SUDOKU

13. Oh look, there’s another star

ASSAY OFFICE BANK ROBBER BARN BLACKSMITH BOOTS BUCKBOARD BUNKHOUSE CALAMITY JANE CHAPS COAL OIL COWPOKE DAVY CROCKETT DOCTOR DRESSMAKER FENCE GENERAL STORE

RUSTLER SADDLER SALOON GIRL SCHOOLHOUSE SCOUTS SHOOTOUT SHOTGUN SPURS STIRRUP TOWN HALL TRADING POST TUMBLEWEED WAGON WANTED POSTER WHISKEY WILD BILL HICKOK

ALWAYS DRINK UPSTREAM FROM THE HERD

12. Another star cluster?........................

soltimes film Quiz

1. Which meal was taken at Tiffany’s in the film with Audrey Hepburn?.....

2. Which Miss was Maggie Smith whose Prime won an Oscar in ‘69?................................

3. Which musical by Lionel Bart was based on a Dickens novel?..............

4. Which nanny did Julie Andrews win an Oscar for playing?..........................

5. Which role did Warren Beatty play to Faye Dunaway’s Bonnie?.........

6. Which Sweet girl was played by Shirley Maclaine in the 1968 musical?..........................

7. Which western actor won his only Oscar for ‘True Grit’?.......................

8. Who played Alfie?........

9. Who played Fanny Brice in ‘Funny Girl’?........

10. Who played James Bond in ‘Dr No’?...............

Answers

squiggle SUDOKU

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

The remaining 30 letters spell a Will Rogers quotation.

7. John Wayne 8. Michael Caine 9. Streisand 10. Sean Connery

1. Definitely not before 20.01hrs?...........

4

2

wordsearch old west

soltimes chocolate Quiz

2. Mother’s hostelry, perhaps?...............

3

1

1. Breakfast 2. Jean Brodie 3. Oliver!

4. Mary Poppins 5. Clyde 6. Charity

IDENTIFY THEse FAMOUS faces

sol picture quiz!

1. Che Guevara 2. David Letterman 3. Prince William 4. Greta Garbo

on this day 30th march

1806 – After traveling through the Louisiana Purchase and reaching the Pacific Ocean, explorers Lewis and Clark and their “Corps of Discovery” begin their arduous journey home.

1918 – First World War: On the third day of the German Spring Offensive, the 10th Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment is annihilated with many of the men becoming prisoners of war 1956 – Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world. (Republic Day in Pakistan) 1965 – The first issue of The Vigilant is published from Khartoum.

1994 – Aeroflot Flight 593 crashes in Siberia when the pilot’s fifteen-year-old son accidentally disengages the autopilot, killing all 75 people on board.

www.soltimes.com

puzzle pages

27

UK Motorhomes Wanted

Contact Karl on 0044 7976 662395

email: carlskitt@live.com

across

STANDARD CROSSWORD

6 Slid (7) 7 Stringed instruments (5) 9 Poke (4) 10 Leather-clad vixen (10) 11 Determined the size or amount (8) 13 March aggressively into another’s territory (6) 15 Green seaweed (4) 17 Another name for Norway (5) 18 Gears (4) 19 A blue dye (6) 20 They pull teeth (8) 23 Crushes (10) 26 Nimbus (4) 27 Cloth made from flax (5) 28 The landscape (7)

Down

1 A form of Hindi (10) 2 Arachnid (6) 3 Type of cheese (4) 4 Sowing (8) 5 Backside (4) 6 Wait on (5) 8 Noisy party (7) 12 Summoned sufficient courage (5) 14 Inoculates (10) 16 Related to language (7) 17 Type of synthetic rubber (8) 21 Imbedded (6) 22 Linger or dally (5) 24 A climbing plant (4) 25 Gusto (4)

SUDOKU PUZZLES

easy

squiggle

famous bithdays on this day

standard

1962 – MC Hammer, American rapper and actor 1978 – Simon Webbe, English singersongwriter and actor (Blue) 1986 – Sergio Ramos, Spanish footballer 1990 – Jaik Mickleburgh, English cricketer

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

8 Parties no longer with us? (4) 9 Queen - right or mistake? (5) 10 Ponytail each, without first course? Indeed! (4) 11 Attack a ship with a one-liner initially (6) 12 Competent first murder victim, reportedly (4) 13 Home in Vine Street (4) 14 Go back about monster (4) 16 Record one Conservative system of reasoning (5) 18 “Home”boy? (5) 20 32AD inside communication device (5) 21 No church without time for indentation (5) 22 Gave out 500 late slips (5) 23 Spooky - that is always first (5) 25 Garment of impresario (4) 26 Try the heartless street (4) 28 Witches laugh at good point (4) 30 Elicit laboratory shows up sea (6) 33 Ripped to shreds (without quiet daughters) (4) 34 State I had up for nothing (5) 35 Empty look after “I’m up for drink” (4)

Down

1 Isn’t broken, but lacking never-ending pans (4) 2 House without a good deference (6) 3 Shout, you old Limas! (4) 4 Doctor I have thrust (5) 5 Annoy 1 Kings (3) 6 New Monday generator (6) 7 Follow thanks with the Italian (4) 13 Called me in and remodelled (5) 15 Brilliance of an angry look? (5) 16 Books after the French gave temporarily (4) 17 Get dog batting first (5) 18 Gag, alright, in half of jeep (4) 19 Time animals return for kick-off (5) 24 I t-take action with Sikh leader’s important matters (6) 25 Somber, funny melons (6) 27 Small fruit weapon (5) 29 Biblical character (cockney) has little moment inside (4) 30 Group of countries returning company pound (4) 31 I had the French doing nothing (4) 32 City’s serious inclusion? (3)

soltimes

love quote

28

March 2016

FOOD & ENTERTAINING...

Herby Salmon & Couscous Parcels

Put the couscous into a bowl and stir in the stock and oil. Cover with cling film and leave to stand 10 mins, then uncover and fluff up with a fork.

Keeping back some herbs, add the rest of the ingredients, except the salmon. Season to taste.

Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cut two large sheets of nonstick baking paper, then divide the couscous between them. Sit each fillet on the couscous, top with the remaining herbs and season. Fold the paper over, then twist the edges to seal – like a Cornish pasty. Pop the parcels onto a baking sheet and bake

Ingredients (Serves 2) 110g pack lemon and garlic couscous 200ml hot vegetable stock 1 tbsp olive oil handful chopped fresh herbs (parsley, plus thyme, tarragon or rosemary is good) 4 spring onions , thinly sliced 4 Sun-blush or sundried tomatoes, chopped 2 salmon fillet, approx 140g/5oz each

for 15 mins or until the fish feels firm through the paper. Serve in the bag.

Ruby’s

URBANISATION EL RASO, CAMPO DE GUARDAMAR, JUST OFF THE CV895 LEMON TREE ROAD, 03140

TEL 622 434 912

Opening times 10am till Late Tuesday - Sunday

Menu Del Dia 12.30pm - 4pm Tuesday - Friday 4 Course 7.95€ Full Main Menu 6pm - 9pm Sunday Lunch Available 2pm - 7pm 3 Course 9.95€ / 2 Course 7.95€ Happy Hour 4pm - 6pm Wednesday is quiz night with Nick Marshall with our great 5€ meal deals for quiz players PLUS Karaoke with guest singers Last person standing, winner takes all

GREAT FUN NIGHT OUT

COUS COUS

With warmer weather comes delicious dinners made lighter for the summer evenings. Recipes from BBC Good Food

Couscous Salad

Tip the couscous into a large bowl. measure 400ml boiling water into a measuring jug and crumble in the stock cube. Add the butter and stir until the stock cube has dissolved and the butter melted. Pour over the couscous, then tightly cover with cling film. Leave for 10 mins until all the stock has been absorbed.

Meanwhile, heat a large griddle or non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Cut the halloumi into ½cm-thick slices. When the pan is really hot (a drop of water will sizzle immediately), place the halloumi slices in the pan.

Cook for 2-3 mins until charred and lightly golden. Use a fish slice to turn cheese and repeat on the other side.

Cut the slices in half.

Tip the yogurt into a small bowl. Mix in the harissa, a little at a time, until you’re happy with the flavour. Tip the chickpeas into a sieve and rinse under the cold tap. Drain any liquid from the peppers, scraping away any

Ingredients (Serves 4) 250g couscous ½ vegetable stock cube knob butter (about 1 tbsp) 240g pack halloumi cheese ½ 142ml tub natural yogurt 1-2 tsp harissa paste 200g can chickpeas 2 roasted red pepper (from a jar is fine) 50g bag wild rocket

seeds and tear into chunks.

Remove the cling film from the couscous and use a fork to fluff up the grains and break up any clumps.

Mix in the chickpeas, peppers and rocket. Toss through the warm halloumi slices, then drizzle over the yogurt dressing to serve.

One-Pan Chicken Couscous

Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion for 1-2 mins just until softened. Add the chicken and fry for 7-10 mins until cooked through and the onions have turned golden.

Grate over the ginger, stir through the harissa to coat everything and cook for 1 min more.

Tip in the apricots, chickpeas and couscous, then pour over the stock and stir once. Cover with a lid or tightly cover the pan with foil and leave for about 5 mins until the couscous has soaked up all the stock and is soft. Fluff up the couscous with a fork and scatter over the coriander to serve. Serve with extra harissa, if you like.

Ingredients (Serves 2)

1 tbsp olive oil 1 onion , thinly sliced 200g chicken breast, diced good chunk fresh root ginger 1-2 tbsp harissa paste, plus extra to serve 10 dried apricots 220g can chickpeas, rinsed and drained 200g couscous 200ml hot chicken stock handful coriander, chopped, to serve

29

www.soltimes.com

F O K L TA N W O THE T EAT IN OR TAKEAWAY

Open 7 Days a Week 12noon till 10pm

QUESADA FISH & CHIPS

Menu of the Day 12noon till 5pm

Cod or Haddock Chips, Peas, Bread RCh 2016 (3 of 7) and 73mm Butter high x 111mm wide,

€7,00

Sunday Special Fish, Chips & Peas

€6,00

All Day

Takeaway Also Available Quesada Villamartin Plaza

966 719 136

966 764 441

Daily Specials Freshly Battered Cod Home Made Doner Kebab Kentucky Style Chicken Piri Piri Wraps Sirloin Ribeye & Rump Steak

Evening Special Steak 3 or 2 course meal 3 course €12.50 2 course €10.50 Sunday 1-4pm Homemade Steak pie Veg and Roast potatoes Only €6.50 TakeAway Whole Roast Chicken Veg and Roast Potatoes enough for 2 to 3 people Only €10.50

Shorty’s Diner, Alley Palais, Camposol B Tel 642 011 266

The Oasis Benijófar is a popular bar/bistro in the heart of the town with a terrace overlooking the square, where local the scenery and views of the fountains, palm trees and local church add to the experience.

Plaza de la Constitución, Benijófar 03178. Open Daily from 9.30am

Oasis ‘Tapas on the Terrace’ is back Enjoy the sunnier evenings with a drink and our range of home-cooked Tapas of the World from just €1.50 Thursday to Saturday evenings from 7pm.

British Sandwich Week and Quiz

Find details of both on our facebook page and website Tel: 603 169 090 or email: oasisbenijofar@outlook.com www.oasis-benijofar.es

As Summer is upon us, the Oasis is now open later each evening so you can take advantage of the warmer afternoons and evenings from the comfort of the terrace; the perfect place to enjoy an end of the day drink.

Plus, their ‘Tapas on the Terrace’ menu is now available Thursday to Saturday evenings, extending to every night from May onwards. See their website for details.

The Oasis is open from 9.30am for breakfast. There is an extensive brunch, lunch and tapas menu plus, a Menu del Dia that includes choice of starters mains and desserts with 3 courses and a drink at just €9.95. The Sunday Roast lunch is a particular favourite. Booking essential.

If you haven’t been to the Oasis in Benijófar recently why not pop along and experience the difference.

Plaza de la Constitución, Benijófar, 03178. Tel: 603 169 090.

Find them on Facebook or visit www.oasis-benijofar.es.

PERFECT STEAK EVERYTIME AT THE HOT STONE The Hot Stone, Urbanisation El Raso has become well known now for quality food.

Their signature Argentinian steaks are the most tender and succulent cuts of meat you will find on the Costa Blanca. Each steak is presented to you on an individual hot volcanic rock, heated to optimum temperature. Every piece you cut will be almost instantaneously cooked to your own personal perfection. The pure quality of the meat is realised within the very first bite. Due to the high temperature of the stones, each cut of meat is sealed ensuring that all the flavours and juices get trapped inside, making the steak truly succulent.

This team believe that top quality meat is fundamental in making the dining experience one to remember and have imported the very best cut of Argentinian meat, which is globally renowned as being the most tender and flavoursome, giving you the finest quality meat, without having to go to Argentina! Prices start from only 12.40 for an Argentinian rump steak, including any side order and 3 sauces.

If you are not quite the carnivore, chicken, pork and local seafood dishes are also all available on the stone. Vegetarian options are available. They also serve other house specialities off the stone.

The Hot Stone, El Raso is open Tuesday to Sunday: 12.30pm – 10pm (Menu del Dia 12.30pm-4pm).

For more information or reservations, please call 656 613 356.

QUOTE ‘SOL TIMES’ FOR THIS OFFER FREE BOTTLE OF WINE WITH ANY 2 MAIN COURSES PURCHASED Offer expires: 30th April 2016 (not to be used in conjunction with any set menu or other offers)

Call 656 613 356 for Reservations OPENING HOURS: Tuesday-Sunday:12:30 to 10pm

Urbanisation El Raso, just off the Lemon Tree Road, Guardamar

30

Barcelona declares itself ‘veg-friendly’

Barcelona has declared itself “veg-friendly.” At 8.30pm on Tuesday, the city’s economy commission voted on an unexpected proposal by the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) to have the city become “a friend of vegan and vegetarian culture.”

The motion prospered with support from the ruling Barcelona en Comú group, the Catalan Socialists, the nationalist Convergència party and the radical leftist CUP. The Popular Party (PP) and Ciudadanos abstained.

The project plans to create a BCN VEGpoint that will support vegan and vegetarian commerce, publish a list of affiliated stores and restaurants, and adhere to Paul McCartney’s “Meat-Free Monday” campaign.

The city will support vegan and vegetarian commerce, publish a list of affiliated stores and restaurants, and adhere to Paul McCartney’s “Meat-Free Monday” campaign The initiative picks up on an earlier BCN Veg Friendly campaign by the non-profit Libera group and the Franz Weber foundation.

On Tuesday, ERC defended the virtues of a vegan and vegetarian diet, while Convergència noted that the practice was respectful of animals and the environment, as did the Socialists and Barcelona en Comú. Members of CUP added that it also tied in with Barcelona’s libertarian traditions.

The PP’s Javier Mulleras said he had nothing against the idea “as long as other types of food are not penalized; we don’t need to turn this into an obligation.”

Ciudadanos’ Carina Mejías questioned the health benefits of a vegan diet, noting the possibility of “vitamin deficiencies,” and recalled that Catalan cattle breeders were going through a slump.

This is not the first time that ERC has taken an unusual proposal to a city commission. A few months ago, the republicans got Barcelona officials to consider the possibility of extending the opening hours of municipal swimming pools to include more time for nudist bathers. http://elpais.com/

March 2016

Largest Quijote Mazapán?

Castile-La Mancha Seeks World Record.

The Guinness Book of World Records has accepted a request for an attempt to break the record for the largest representation of iconic Spanish literary character Don Quijote de La Mancha made entirely out of mazapán, or marzipan.

The request was tendered by a joint commission made up of the regional government of Castile-La Mancha, famed Toledo-based confectioners the Obrador Santo Tomé, and the Asociación de Fabricantes de Turrones y Mazapanes (Association of Turrón and Mazipán Manufacturers) of the province of Toledo.

The challenge will be undertaken this coming April 23rd, in an effort that by then will have involved some three to five hours of work a day for three months. With a final weight of 700 kilograms, the (hopeful) new world champion for the largest marzipan Don Quijote will require 350 kilograms of ramillete almonds from the eastern area of Spain known as the Levante, 300 kilograms of white sugar, and 50 kilograms of miel mil flores ("thousand flower" honey) from Castile.

Typically consumed at Christmas, Marzipan is one of Spain’s most renowned sweets. It is made from peeled and ground raw almonds, which are kneaded with sugar and shaped into small figures and shapes. Toledo is famed all over the world for its marzipan, which is protected by a Protected Geographic Indication.

According to the organizers of this record-seeking gastronomic event, April 23rd will not only be given over to world record breaking, but also to tasting this classic sweet. 300 kilos of marzipan will be distributed among visitors, in the form of 20,000 marzipan figures. http://www.foodswinesfromspain.com/

White for butchering classic Spanish dishes

In a hilariously damning review, Ana Vega has slammed Brits Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and Marco Pierre White as well as having a dig at many internationally-acclaimed chefs In a hilariously damning review, category of rice with stuff in it’. paella in Spain is from the north’.

Ana Vega has slammed Brits The host of Kitchen Nightmares And Australian celebrity-chef John Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver is then lambasted for confusing Torode is mocked for ‘cooking and Marco Pierre White as Mexican ingredients and Spanish to the sound of Spanish guitar well as having a dig at many cuisine. chords, while attempting to find internationally-acclaimed chefs.

A SPANISH food critic has pulled Next up, pukka-chef Oliver his inner-Spaniard’. no punches in a brutal assessment receives a pasting from the El Pais Making up Vega’s hit list are of some of the world’s top chefs. critic for his ‘Spanglish paella’ and David Chang for his noddle-based Dismissing Ramsay’s 14 Michelin- his ‘sad hue’-coloured gazpacho.

Fideuá and Sanjeev Kapoor for his starred past, Vega labels his take Meanwhile, Pierre White is psychedelic tortilla. on Paella as ‘something that does not even deserve to fall into the damned for labelling the ‘best http://www.theolivepress.es/

www.soltimes.com

Tel: 950 121 936

MABS MAZARRON EVENTS

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

CHURCH OF ENGLAND COSTA CALIDA & ALMERIA

- community news -

welcome events Welcome Group Events

Sunday April 10th. Annual Treasure Hunt.

Explore the countryside you have not seen, solve clues and win prizes.

Lovely buffet at the end. €9

Mothers Day !! Competition Winner !!

Ray Robson, San Luis

THURSDAY April 21st.

Priest: Reverend Pauline Williams 950 956 166 / 687 - This months dance at 250 860 Mariano’s features PDQ, a live band with excellent musicians and vocalists.

Archaeological Museum Dance your socks off while enjoying this superb Every Day, Open from 10:30-14:00 and 17:00-20:00. group. €8 Closed Monday mornings. At C/ Conde de Aranda.

Tel: 968 493 287. Entry: Individual €1.20 Groups Wednesday 18th May The return of Woody and the Peckers. Always a complete sell out. Booking early €0.60 is advisable. 8€

TABLE TENNIS AT PILAR DE LA HORADADA

Sports Centre every Monday at 10am Five tables equipment supplied, coaching given if necessary, all standards welcome. Contact George on 965 326097 or Gordon on 966 848304 or e-mail drewgeorge49@ yahoo.com.

Wednesday 15th June. - Ladies Afternoon at The Club House, Camposol - Fashion show, Stalls, Bingo plus a Cold Buffet. Dancing to Terry J. €10

Wednesday June 22nd. The Welcome Summer Ball La Cumbre Hotel, Puerto de Mazarron. Start the St. Nicholas Ecumenical Church at evening with a champagne reception, followed by a We hold services each week at 10.30am on Camposol, Mazarron. Everyone is welcome to join 6 course meal including drinks, and then dance the us. For further details, CALL the church on 665 302 night away with Rob Sweeney. Rooms are available 019 for €50 if you would like to stay the night or book a seat on the coach for €5. This is always a very popular A parkinsons Support Group event so book early to avoid disappointment. €30 On Tuesdays at 11am At Bobbie Jo·s, Los Montisinos For a chat and a cup of tea For further information NEW November 3rd. Benalmadena & Gibraltar. Due to popular demand this trip returns for 2016. Staying contact Wally Williamson On 966 770 871 3 nights at Hotel Mac Puerto Marina on half board Roman Catholic Church inc. wine & water with dinner. A trip to Gibraltar and Saladillo, Mazarron ( close to Camposol) an evening Ricky Lavazza show included. €200 p.p.

Mass in English every Saturday at 4.30 pm MADRID 24th-28th November 5 days 4 nights We Mass in Latin every Sunday at 4.030pm For further information please contact Father are going to Madrid for Christmas shopping on Black Octavio on 676 219 445 or Father Carlos on 628 824 Friday, on Saturday off to see the beautiful palace at 555.

San Lorenzo and on Sunday off for the Horse racing at the Madrid Stadium. Staying on The Gran Via at a Talks & Workshops MABS Murcia North East - Sew’n’So’s - Sewing 4 star hotel. Bed and Breakfast 350€

Group Every Mon Fortuna. Taking place every other NEW Fancy having Christmas in an excellant hotel Monday at Urb. Las Kalendas from 14:00. For further with excellant food then join us at the very central information email: mabsmurciane@gmail.com Helios Hotel in Benidorm

SAMARITANS IN SPAIN -

In 2016 we aim to expand our teams of listeners around Spain.

If you are resident in the Mazarrón área and would like to hear how you can join us as a Listener or spare a few hours a week to help with fundraising / other events held in the area please contact our General Manager stephenrbaker@outlook.com to register interest in attending an initial group meeting locally. www.samaritansinspain.com Also on Facebook and Twitter. (Volunteer positions are unpaid but certain expenses can be claimed)

MARKET DAYS IN THE AREA

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

31

sales@soltimes

Coach travel from Mazarron area, commencing 23rd December for four nights , Full Board, Gala Christmas lunch just 260€ per person. No need to be lonely or cook this Christmas. Call 620105179 to make a reservation for any of the above.

For more information or to book your tickets, call Rosemary on 620 105 179

Ex-Servicemen’s Association

Mazarrón District (Founded 1 May 2006) events 2016 Wednesday 13th April Bocapizza Puerto de Mazarron 7.30pm for 8.00pm Wednesday 11th May Costa Celbracion Rooms Mazarron Town 10th Anniversary Dinner Dance with Grand Raffle and Live Entertainment 7.30pm for 8pm Membership and enquiries, Ian 629818611 or esamd.espana@gmail.com

The Mar Menor is a huge (135 square kilometres) salt-water lagoon, separated from the Mediterranean by the 24 kilometre long La Manga del Mar Menor (The Strip).

The average depth of the Mar Menor is four metres and at its maximum it is seven metres which means that the seabed slopes very gradually and you

have to get several hundred metres in before the water is of any depth.

The Mar Menor’s salinity provides buoyancy so it is, supposedly, one of the safest places to swim in the world. The mineralrich waters are said to have therapeutic effects and because of this the area has a significant spa tourism industry.

The sludge in the salt pans is also credited with beneficial effects

on the health, so there are often dozens of mud people wallowing in it at any one time.

Playa Paraiso beach on a summer weekend.

The beach at Playa Paraiso is very popular, partly because it has road access right onto the beach. On summer weekends it will be packed with Spanish

families, who move most of their house onto the beach.

The sea is very shallow, with netted off areas to exclude watersports, fishing and jellyfish.

The jellyfish are mainly harmless and much reduced in numbers from previous years, apart from the summer of 2006 when they were back with a vengeance.

Playa Honda beach During the week the beach is quiet.

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

32

March 2016

animal corner

To advertise here call : 950 121 936

Betty

Mountain View

Cat hotel Hondon de las Nieves/Frailes

Betty is very striking tortie , about 6 months old.

She was abandoned with her sisters in Catral.

She loves other cats and is very affectionate towards people.

Like all girls she loves attention and enjoys being spoilt.

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

APAH

These two sisters and two brothers were rescued by APAH when they were only a few weeks old. They are very sweet puppies, four months old now and ready to be adopted.

They are probably only going to be small/ medium sized dogs. If you would like to meet the family please call.

If you can offer Betty a home please call

610832726 or 600845420.

Chip

This is what it is all about. Just after Christmas K9 rescued this elderly lady after she was abandoned. Her name is Chip and she was very traumatised, in fact she was terrified of everyone.

Well here she is after being with our new Kennel Managers only 60 minutes!!!!!!!!

Wonderful .

If you would be interested in adopting Chip

Please contact K9 or PHONE: 600 84 54 20 for more info

www.k9club.es

630 422 563 or 616 210 850

SOL CLASSIFIEDS AIRPORT PARKING

For sale

ADVERTISE YOUR UNWANTED ITEMS UP TO 300€ FOR FREE EMAIL:SALES@SOLTIMES.COM BY THURSDAY 5PM

pool tables snooker tables, table tennis tables, darts.

Tel: 666 933 726 www.spainpool.com

Sam s ung programmable electronic washing machine approx. 5 years old 150€.

4 x wooden dining chairs, good clean condition.

20€, 4 x childrens mountain bikes, ages 4 to 6 years. 30€, Fridge freezer clean working condition 60€, Can deliver reasonable distance at cost Tel: 606 075 644.

Gas fire & Bottle 55€, Roof Bars & Top Box for Ford Fusion 50€, Fold up Double Bed 20€, Gas BBQ Little used 45€, Tel: 865 774 401 or Mob: 651 563 952 Garden Gate round top steel gate with aluminium privacy panel 1,760

cm high x 98.5 cm wide 50€. Tel 966 713 297 Brand new white slate shower tray 80 x 70 95€, Wrought iron DB headboard in cream 35€ Headboard - DB size in white with black inset 35€, Pair of bedside cabinets in white 25€ Tel: 966 713 707 Quesada area.

FRIDGE FREEZER w WHIRLPOOL size 170 –60 –60 white no frost fast freeze option can be seen working ex condition 75€, MICROWAVE white range of settings including defrost good condition working order 25€ Tel: 966 716 646 Quesada.

FOR SALE Disco Equipment Quality system Call for details 525€ ovno

634 346 444

4€ 1 DAY

30€ 10 DAY

60€ 1 MONTH

Annual contracts from 229€

• New Indoor parking too • 100% secure and insured • Cheap car repairs & MOT • Meet & greet valet parking service • Only 2 mins from the terminal (closest airport parking) • 24hr short/long term parking

Tel: 615 374 404 info@europarkingalicante.com www.europarkingalicante.com

alternative power

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 for a no obligation quotation

Pets In Spain

Bella is a 2 year old pure white cat, she is very laid back and would suit someone who wants a lap cat that doesn't go out much. She is sterilised and good with other cats.

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

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

electrician

B BETTER B BUILDING COMPANY C

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

Extensions - Terraces Tiling - Patios - Roofing Brickwork - Plastering Balustrades - Gates - Grills

insurance

ALL WORK FULLY GUARANTEED

asssa medical

email: betterbuilding@hotmail.com

Asssa Mazarron, Diane Nolan

968 030 674 642 321 472

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

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

every single month.

For Free Information Visit

www.howtomakemoneyfrommembershipsites.co.uk

insurances

968 153 396

mazarron@asssa.es

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

ELEGANT slim, sexy, naughty Italian lady available home/house visits. Torrevieja, La Manga, Torre Pacheco & Mazarron, Quesada plus all other areas. Escort available home & house visits.

Tel: 693 357 526 Spanish lady Playa Flamenca near new Carrefour before La Florida. 37 years, attractive, classy lady, private house, parking. Offers all erotic services, massage, sexy lingerie, prices from 40€. Full discretion. Tel: Ana 865 646 437

33

www.soltimes.com

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

www.soltimes.com legal

SERVICES WE OFFER ● INHERITANCE ● fiscal representation ●TITLE DEEDS ● CONVEYANCING •SPANISH WILLS CALL 609 656 056 - 965 352 552

Email: info@costamedconsulting.com www.costamedconsulting.com Office: C/ Gabriel Miro 1, 1D, Pilar de la Horadada

pools

All Swimming Pool Reforms, Re-grouts and ReTiling, Pumps Repaired and Replaced, New Roman Steps, New Sand Filters and Sand Changes, New or Repairs to Skimmers, Jets, Hoovers, Bottom Drain, etc... Structural Repairs, Leak Detection Tests.

Fully Legal in Spain 24h rs a servicre e 10 Y Over erience E xp Covering all areas from Miraira to Mazarron

Call 634 186 710 or 638 175 699

Pets- Transport

removals

Pet transportaion service UK|Spain|UK

LWB Sprinter van going from south to North of the UK & back every 2 weeks, based near Murcia Airport. Tel: 610 846 260/ 0044 7519 186 355. or email:

TRANS-PET 600 55 20 30 r Doo 965 96 06 58 2 00 44 7801 272 162 or Do

Kennels & Cattery Passport service-DEFRA authorised Fully insured- Vehicles inspection certificates www.trans-pet.co.uk sharon@trans-pet.co.uk

van.man@hotmail.co.uk

DEADLINES All adverts Friday at 5pm prior to publication

spas

SAT MART

euro spas Spas at factory prices.

Used & Ex display models.

Spares & repairs.

Property buyer’s surveys and expert defects diagnosis

Part exchange

upholstery

FOR ALL YOUR TV NEEDS FULLY LEGAL & PROFESSIONAL QUOTATIONS SPARES & REPAIRS 1.4M HIGH GAIN DISH FULLY INSTALLED HD OFFER OR STANDARD BOX NO MONTHLY PAYMENTS OVER 250 TV & 60 RADIO

299€

FULL SKY TV PACKAGE 150€ PER YEAR HOLIDAY PACKAGE UNLIMITED INTERNET 19€/MONTH. FREE TO TURN ON/OFF SO YOU ONLY PAY FOR THE MONTHS YOU USE PLEASE CALL JOHN / MIKE 693 969 872 MOBILE 965 319 830 LANDLINE WWW.SATELLITETVTORREVIEJA.COM SATMARTINSTALLATIONS@GMAIL.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

Situations vacant Hairdresser wanted for busy salon.... with contract and holiday pay.

Immediate start with month trial. Part time hours with over time available.

Progressive training and development a must. English speaking essential but other languages an advantage.

Apply via pm or call 611 611 858

UK-SPAIN-UK fortnightly service SPAIN: 914 143 164 UK: 01773 513 013 www.britonsremovals.com britonsremovals@ic24.net

surveyors

sat/tv services

Apprenticeship also available for right person under 26yrs. not gender specific.

Also consultants room available for complementary therapies within the salon ...qualified professionals only.

vehicle hire

Telephone 650 722 905 to advertise

structural

surveys

Mark Paddon BSc Hons. MCIOB. CAAT.

962 807 247 653 733 066

www.surveyorscostablanca.com KENT UPHOLSTERY

For all your upholstery needs Homes Sofas/Garden furniture etc Cars Seat repairs inc. soft top Boats Interior/exterior

on Foam cut + supplied Contact Ken: 634 334 776 this email: kentuphol@yahoo.com near Lumsden Auctions Formentera page www.zenithupholstery.org Call wigs Jane WIG BOUTIQUE Choose from the best TODAY human or synthetic hair.

Private fitting room. on Ladies & Gents 950 Professional Service 121 Head to Toe Hair, beauty, nails, massage 936 La Zenia 966 773 216

34

March 2016

motoring section for sale and Wanted

vehicle registration

“RE-PLATE” MATE 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 1800 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

mechanic

Mobile Auto Electrician ENGINE MANAGEMENT DIAGNOSTICS

fault Finding & Repairs Engine Diagnostics Aig Bag, ECU, Instrument Cluster, Diagnostic & Repair Air-Conditioning Re-Gas & Repairs

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

638 323 499

ACB Diagnostics andybulletvan@gmail.com

658 109 849 Service parts included from 80€ All brakes with labour from 170€ RHD to LHD light conversions from 100€ Accident repairs free collection or repairs at yours

Peugeot 207 CC Cabriolet 2007 - Cabriolet 1.6, 68,000 kms 2 owners Full service history A/C, PAS, ABS Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors CD player, Alloys Solid power roof Rear park sensors Rear wind shield Metallic grey

Seat Ibiza July ‘08 - 5 door hatch 1.4 Sport 67,000 kms 2 owners Full service history PAS, ABS, ESP Cruise control Multispoke alloys E. windows/mirrors CD, A/C (Climate) Remote locking Rear head restraints Light metallic blue

AlfaRomeo 147 July ‘05 - 5 door hatch 1.9 JTD kms, 1 owner Fully serviced A/C, Multi-spoke alloys PAS, ABS, CD player Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors Remote locking Rear head restraints Met silver, full black leather.

Nissan Micra 1997 3 door hatch 1.0 100,500 kms 3 owners Fully serviced Awaiting full valet Economical CD player Red .

Many more budget cars in stock.

Mercedes SL55 SportsAutoCab 2003 - Sports Cabriolet 32,200 kms 2 owners, AMG spec A/C (Full climate) ABS Parking sensors 5-Speed auto Bluetooth Front fog lights Rain/Light sensors Stunning specification Metallic silver

BMW 630i CabrioletAuto/Tip May ‘09 - Cabriolet 3.0 (270 bhp) Auto/Tip 67,624 kms, 2 owners Full service history A/C (Climate), Alloys Cruise, Nav, Xenon Wind deflector Memory/heated seats Park sensors, Phone Wind deflector Met champ. Full leather Black power hood

SkodaFabia Estate 2012 - Estate 1.2 Ambition (60 bhp) 48,353 kms, 1 owner Full service history A/C, PAS, ABS Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors Rear luggage cover Roof rails, CD player Remote locking Rear head restraints Isofix Metallic black

€7,950

€7,450

€3,750

€1,850

€37,950

€27,450

€7,950

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

www.fwreurocars.com

600 726 221 965 687 976

SkodaFabia 2012 - 5 door hatch 1.2 Young 61,000 kms 1 owner Full service history A/C PAS, ABS Front fog lights E. windows/mirrors CD player Remote locking Rear head restraints Metallic silver

€7,300 www.fwreurocars.com

600 726 221 965 687 976

Do you have a vehicle, boat or motor bike for sale?

Phone Jane 950 121 936

To advertise your vehicle in the motoring section & reach over 32,000 readers

600 726 221 965 687 976

600 726 221 965 687 976

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

ecu remapping

600 726 221 965 687 976

600 726 221 965 687 976

600 726 221 965 687 976

600 726 221 965 687 976

wanted cars for cash CASH CASH

Best prices paid Spanish English Anythingconsidered

tel: Tim on 662 211 993

CASH

Same day collection

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

From 1€ to 10,000€

Call Phil: 607 848 332

Good grief, this car is sexy. At 248 MPH, this speedster looks like DC Comics’s The Flash and rightfully so.

The Saleen S7 is an American hand-built, highperformance supercar designed and initially built in the UK by Automotive and Motorsport engineering company Ray Mallock Ltd. on behalf of Saleen Inc. The S7 debuted on August 19, 2000 at the Monterey Historic Races. The all-aluminum 427 is a bored-andstroked derivative of Ford’s 351 Windsor small block with Cleveland-style canted valve heads, not based on the FE big-block In 2005, the S7 gained a more powerful twin-turbo powerplant which boosts engine power to 750 hp (559 kW) and the top speed 248 mph (399 km/h).

www.acbautorecambioscostablanca.com

are you a mechanic? do you have a motoring business?

Phone Jane 950 121 936

To advertise here in the motoring section & reach over 32,000 readers This size advert for less than 4€ a week

Book Review

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

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

“Ten people dead on an island and not a living soul on it. It doesn’t make sense. We don’t know who did it, or why, or how.”

Regarded as Christie’s masterpiece, the most difficult of her books to write and more than 100 million copies sold worldwide to cement the reputation of Christie as the Queen of Crime. Sarah Phelp’s recent adaptation of the book was atmospheric and gripping with a stellar cast lead by Charles Dance, Aidan Turner and Sam Neill.

The book needed an epilogue to explain who the culprit was and why he had chosen his particular victims for this fantastical crime, “something stupendous-out of the common. Something theatrical, impossible.” Sir Thomas Legge, the Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard and Inspector Maine try to piece it together after the discovery of the bodies and can’t quite get it right.

“Some fanatic with a bee in his bonnet about justice. He was out to get people who were beyond the reach of the law. He picked ten people-whether they were really guilty or not doesn’t matter.” The manner of their deaths resembled the children’s nursery rhyme hung in each of the bedrooms. (Frank Green 1869) Christie decided to include a simple device of a message in a bottle. More formally it was referred to as a manuscript document sent to Scotland Yard by the master of the Emma Jane fishing trawler. This amounted to a confession by the murderer before killing himself. It was enclosed in a bottle, sealed and cast into the sea. It neatly sums up what the police were unable to do and reveals the instability and dangerous nature of the murderer: “I have a definite sadistic delight in seeing or causing death.” He wanted it to be on a grand scale and it was!

The story is set in August 1939 and centres around an island off the coast of Devon called Soldier Island. The island was engulfed in mystery and was isolated, prone to storms so it proved the perfect venue to carry out mass murder. When there is a south-easterly wind you can’t land on the island. Sometimes it can be cut off for a week or more. An American millionaire, Elmer Robson, had bought the island and he had built a luxurious and modern house where his guests stayed. There were more recent rumours that Gabrielle Turl, the Hollywood film star had bought it. This couldn’t be verified. We do know that a Mr and Mrs U.N.Owen had bought the island recently and they had employed a Mr Isaac Morris to invite a number of people to the island. He was able to concoct a suitable bait for each of his victims to entice them to spend a week on the island before killing them, one at a time.

The characters are introduced as they are travelling from various destinations to Soldier Island. Justice Wargrave has just retired from the bench after a long and successful career. It seemed that he had been invited by an old friend, Constance Culmington to catch up on the old days and commune with nature. He hadn’t seen her for seven or eight years. He thinks that even Constance could have bought the island. He was known as the hanging judge. He had a great power with the juries: “it was said he could make their minds up for them any day of the week.”

Vera Claythorne was looking forward to being offered a summer job on the island.

She had been teaching games in a third-rate school and had had a strenuous term.

Working as Mrs Owen’s secretary sounded enticing. Philip Lombard was a ruthless mercenary. He had been offered a hundred guineas to keep a look-out. He was broke so he accepted the assignment. We are told continually that he moved like a panther and likened to a beast of prey. He is the only guest to carry a revolver which makes him one of the chief suspects once the killing spree begins.

Emily Brent is a religious fanatic. She had received a letter from an old acquaintance from Bellhaven Guest House inviting her for a free holiday on the island. Her income

Special Offers Visit:

35

950 121 936 - sales@soltimes.com

www.soltimes.com

had been reduced so a free holiday was always welcoming. She reads from her Bible about the day of judgment: “the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.” General Macarthur seemed to have received an invitation from his cronies. He had mixed feelings when he landed, delight as he climbed the stairs followed by unease. Dr Armstrong was sent a cheque asking him to keep an eye on Owen’s wife without alarming her. Owen’s wife didn’t appear!

Mr Blore was using a pseudonym, Davis and had invented a story that he was from South Africa. Lombard spots the deceit immediately. Blore was an ex-detective. Mr and Mrs Rodgers were the butler and his wife, the cook. Dr. Armstrong was in need of a long holiday. He found Soldier Island magical, a world of fantasy. “You lost touch with the world-an island was a world of its own. A world, perhaps, from which you might never return.” Christie throws in plenty of clues to keep us on our guard. Something is very odd. Even the characters feel it. They eyed each erring on the side of caution. Then there was Anthony Marston who came for the drink and the prospect of women. Rich and spoilt. The first to be poisoned.

After dinner together, the guests relaxed and started to open up a little with more freedom and intimacy. Marston noticed ten little china figures sitting on the table, looking quite harmless but odd. And then it happened… There was a voice without warning, inhuman, penetrating accusing the guests of crimes committed- causing the deaths of other fellow men, with dates included. They are addressed as prisoners at the bar. There was a petrified silence followed by anger and shock. Then there’s a touch of Lord of the Flies with evidence that a madman (or woman) is out to kill each and every one of them. Suspicion, paranoia, trapped on the island with a madman intent on killing.

By the time three survivors remained Lombard suggested heliographing with a mirror, sending out an SOS in the hope of a rescue from the mainland. Some of them kept diaries and notes so it was possible for the police to piece together vital clues.

The man, Isaac Morris who had provisioned the island and made all the necessary arrangements died. Was he also killed? “He explained to the people down there (Sticklehaven) that there was some experiment on-some bet about living on a “desert island” for a week-and that no notice was to be taken of any appeal for help from out there.”

It’s a clever book and you’ll probably have to read it through right to the end before you discover the murderer. You won’t be disappointed.

Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher. ISBN: 978-0-00-713683-4

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Oil is a child of the fossil fuel age and prices will trend upwards.

Solar is a child of the electronics age and prices will trend downwards.

Solar Power system to run in conjunction with your home electricity, reduce your monthly bills

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including battery bank.

9 PANELES (250W Full systems - special offer, while stocks last 12 PANELES (250W Eurener) + Inverter Eurener) + Inverter and analizador de and analizador de redes, panel mounting redes, panel mountsystem, cables and ing system, cables and breakers – only €5,995 breakers – only €4,995 (save around €1,100 (save around €750 per per year) year)

No Tax On the Sun! (Real Decreto 900/2015 Boe 243 10th October 2015) Now that the government have passed the new laws with regard to solar energy, there is no better time to subsidize your electricity bills. Our systems can be scaled to suit your energy requirements so as you attain the fastest payback. All systems meet EU and Spanish requirements for connecting to the grid and there is NO TAX to pay!

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Why not consider PX your old, tired system for a new, more efficient one.

36

March 2016

T.M.G.S. @ Villamartin 23/3/16

This months’ visit was to play the final round of our Eclectic competition. 36 members turned up for the early start of 8, 20 and thanks to all of you for being at the course promptly, it does help with the organisation of the day.

The course was in good condition especially the greens, this should have helped when it came to the par 3’s, but it appears that no one had their putting boots on and although the “2’s” pot was won last week it began again today with a very healthy €34 which will of course be rolled over to next week’s competition at Roda.

Every member who has played in this Eclectic competition could see their progress on our website, but it seems that only one player actually new on what holes he could improve on. Roger Nilsen didn’t score so well on the day but he did point out that he now should have a total of 51 points, but hot

on his heels is cuddly from Dudley A.K.A. Alan Rickers and Irishman Robbie Rea who were just 3 points behind the Viking before today’s play, full results will be posted on the website at the weekend.

In the normal Stableford competition Lennart Holmberg took 3rd place in the Silver category with 31 pts. 2nd place was Alan Rickers 32 pts.

John Hillier butchered his way to 1st place with 34 pts. Butcher by trade and butcher by nature!

Gold category results; 3rd place Viking Henning Kyvag 32 pts. 2nd place Viking Raymond Eiken 32 pts.

But with lower handicap. 1st place was won by Captain, John Eyre with 34 pts. Well we did give the Vikings a trouncing last week! This week’s N.T.P. Competition. Hole 6 no one, hole 9 Jenny Morris, hole 13 Kenneth Persson and hole 17 it was that butcher again John Hillier.

Forth coming events; Captain’s day at Campoamor 20/4/16 reserve your tee time soon, not too many spaces left. This will be followed by the annual trophies prize giving whilst enjoying the buffet, then the serious business of the A.G.M. Photo; Silver Category winners.

Follow us via Facebook/TMGS or @TMGSGOLF our website is www. tmgs.org call the Secretary on 661 524 101

SPORTS SHORTS by Tony Matthews

• In recent football friendlies, Wales drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland and Spain drew 1-1 with Italy and 0-0 in Romania. Scotland won 1-0 in the Czech Republic, England, 2-0 down, beat Germany 3-2 (a great result this) and the Republic of Ireland defeated Switzerland 1-0. England played Holland last night.

• Ex- England star Adam Johnson has been sent to prison for six years having sex with a 15 year-old girl.

• The big PL games this weekend are Arsenal-Watford, BournemouthManchester City, Leicester-Southampton, Liverpool-Tottenham, Manchester United-Everton, Norwich-Newcastle and Sunderland-WBA. Brighton-Burnley and Cardiff-Derby meet in the Championship; FL1 leaders Burton play Bury and Exeter play Plymouth in FL2.

• On Saturday, it’s Barcelona v Real Madrid in El Clasico.

• 24 hours later, Barnsley meet Oxford in the JP Trophy final at Wembley.

• Next Tuesday /Wednesday we have the 1st legs of the Champions League quarterfinals and 24 hours later the first legs of the last four Europa League games take place.

And could have an all-English or all-Spanish final in both competitions?

• Spain’s oldest club, Recreativo de Huelva who sensationally beat Real Madrid in the Bernabea in 2006, is on the brink of extinction.

• Today, in cricket’s T20 World Cup, England play New Zealand. The other semi-final is between India and the West Indies tomorrow. The final is in Kolkata on Sunday.

• It’s England v Australia today and New Zealand v West indies tomorrow in the women’s T20 semi-finals.

• The second F1 Grand Prix of 2016 takes place in Bahrain on Sunday while Argentina stages the second MotoGP of the year.

• Cambridge won last Sunday’s university boat race.

• Jason Day beat Louis Oosthuizen to win the World Match Play title in Texas.

• GB Kell Brook stopped Canadian Kevin Bizier in round two to retain his IBF world welterweight title.

Johan Cruyff

One of the world’s greatest-ever footballers and coach, Johan Cruyff, died in Spain, last Thursday, aged 68.

The Dutchman scored 405 goals in 711 senior appearances for club and country between 1964 and 1984, playing for Ajax, Barcelona, Levante, Feyenoord, in America and Holland. He won 48 international caps and helped his country reach the 1974 World Cup final. Then, as a coach/manager, he guided Ajax and Barcelona to European glory.

An early exponent of ‘Total Football’, Johan won the Ballon d’Or three times (1971-73-74) and was the recipient of 36 medals overall, 22 as a player. I had the pleasure of meeting him twice and now, I say, to a truly great football man, R.I.P. Tony Matthews

El Plantio 2 Golf Society

A damp day welcomed 18 members of El Plantio 2`s `Yellow Ball` competition where each player scores double Stableford points for the team on their designated yellow ball shots but losing this ball penalises the team 2 points. At the end 3 yellow balls were returned intact, but 2 teams had 4 points deducted for 2 lost balls.

Nearest the pins : Hole 2 , Michel Goujon, Hole 6, Martin Rickman 3rd Place, Ian Craig, Martin Rickman, Penny Goujon - 122 points 2nd Place, Lawrence Wanty, Lyn Young, Bryan Watson - 126 points

1st Place, Ian Henderson, Kenton Wanty, Gary Needham - 135 points If anyone would like to join our Society, we play at El Plantio Golf Club on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

We use both courses - the Par 3 nine hole course and the main 18 hole course, so we cater for all abilities.

The membership rates are very competitive, so call for more details.

Anyone who wishes to play in the Society as a guest or join as a new member, contact Ian Henderson on 966 716 616 or 636 116 230.

Cafe Uno Golf Society

Thursday 24th March, 20 members and guests from Cafe Uno Golf Society played a Stableford competition at Altorreal in Murcia. The course was in good condition, although the greens a little fluffy and hard to judge the speed. The weather was beautiful, warming up to a balmy 25-ish, just right for the old shorts and polo shirts to come out of the closet. I think summer has begun here on the Costa Blanca.

Golf scores were not particularly high, but some might say we are not so generous with our handicap system as other societies are.

Winners scores are as follows:- Just the one category today.

1st R.Rogers - 34pts.

2nd A.Rich - 28pts. c/b.

3rd L.Tyas - 28pts.

Best front nine B.Howie - 14pts.

Best back nine B.Wright - 15pts.

Nearest the pin on 17th hole - Lydia.

(Guest).

Nearest the pin in 2 on 4th hole S.Lawrence.

Best guest - Alan - 31pts.

Winner of the 2's - R.Rogers.

Winner on the football card - G.Pope.

Thanks to everyone for a good day.

Also thanks again to Cafe Uno for their hospitality.

Next week, Thursday 31st March we are playing at Alenda. 1st tee is at 10am so please be at the course at 9am.

EL RASO GOLF SOCIETY

On Friday 25 March, 24 members and 2 guests played the monthly Stableford game at our home course, La Marquesa.

With ideal weather conditions and continuous improvements to the course, it was a perfect recipe for a good day’s golfing. Thus reflected in the scores that came in.

The best guest was Matt Holland with 36 points. N.T.P’s went to: 5th Marilyn Eckersall, 11th Bev Fairhurst, 15th John Barraclough, 17th Malcolm Foskett. Best front with 20 pts John Barraclough and best back nine Malcolm Foskett 19 pts. Three players tied with 35 points but after applying the count back rules Bob Shorley was third and in second place Jan Shorley.

However, the outright winner with a resounding 40 points was John Hill.

Presentations

and

refreshments

were held at our home venue, the Olde 9th in Quesada.

Our next game is scheduled for Friday 29 April, once again, at La Marquesa Golf Course.

SOL TIMES

COSTA BLANCA

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Sol Times Calida and Sol Times Blanca are independent of political parties, private investment and government. Our policy is to provide readers with a news and information service that is fair, accurate and balanced. Sol Times Calida and Sol Times Blanca are independent publications. Published weekly and produced exclusively in Murcia & Blanca. Sol Times News Group cannot be held responsible for claims made by advertisers, nor can it be held responsible for errors in advertisements caused by poor quality text, photographs or layout instructions. Furthermore, no responsibility can be accepted for any loss or damage resulting caused by any error, inaccuracy or non-appearance of an advertisement. Deposito Legal Sol Times Calida AL 851-2010. Sol Times Blanca AL 852-2010

37

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motoring

news and reviews

The new Mercedes E-Class transforms workhouse into a slippery saloon with a real touch of class

Mirror motoring expert Colin Goodwin loved the German manufacturer's latest incarnation of its most important creation even without the added extras The new Mercedes E220d is as classy as it is reliable The E-Class is the most important car Mercedes-Benz has ever built. It’s responsible for giving the company its platinum worldwide reputation and has provided a trusted workhorse for tens of thousands of German taxi drivers for decades.

So a new generation of E-Class is a big deal for Mercedes. So important in fact, that it wheeled out the finest moustache in the car industry – the epic soup-strainer that lives on the top lip of company chairman Dr Zetsche – at the car’s recent launch in Portugal.

So let’s get straight on with a twirl of the E220d, which is the entry-level model and the first to arrive in UK dealerships before the E350d appears later in the year.

There’s lots new about this car.

Firstly, the body shell is all new and incorporates a mixture of high-strength steels and aluminium castings to reduce weight by up to 100kg over the previous model. You can see the styling for yourself, but what you can’t see is a coefficient of drag of 0.23 that makes the new E-Class one of the slipperiest saloons in the world. You’ll notice it on motorways with a remarkable lack of wind noise.

Mercedes E220dThe new Merc has kerb

appeal and very reasonable fuel consumption The 191bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine is also completely new and has a novel feature or two. It has an aluminium block (the old 2.1-litre diesel engine had a cast-iron one) and uniquely uses steel pistons. The Merc engineers say these pistons have 50% less friction as they slide up and down the bores compared to conventional aluminium.

The engine is quieter than the old motor and extremely efficient. Ignoring the fairytale combined figure of 72.4mpg, you can expect to see consumption in the real world easily in the mid to high 50s.

The headline number that will appeal to business users is 102g/km of CO2 which means hybrid-rivalling benefit-inkind taxes.

The new E-Class is 43mm longer than the current car with an extra 65mm in the wheelbase which means improved legroom front and back. As you’d expect, the interior is top-notch. There’s a wide choice of trims, not all of which are tasteful. I’d recommend a look at the open-grain wood combined with tan leather.

You can also choose from a vast number of ambient lighting colours, from lap-dancing club to simple white light. Our £35,935 (without options) car was fitted with the £2,000 twin 12.3in screens. The graphics are excellent and you control the infotainment system via a control wheel, touchpad or pads on the steering wheel. Another £525 gets you a head-up display.

The star optional feature is Drive Pilot, an autonomous system that includes radar-controlled cruise control and a

Almost 3,000 Caught Not Wearing a Seatbelt

During the crackdown on the wearing of seatbelts and child restraint systems last week, a total of 2,728 people were caught risking their own lives by not wearing a seatbelt. Irresponsible adults allowed 167 children under 12 years of age to travel without the appropriate safety device, 46 of them in the front seat. Of all of those people found to be not wearing a seatbelt, 74% were on conventional roads.

All occupants within a vehicle must wear a seatbelt or restraining device appropriate to their height and weight.

The rule of one seatbelt, one passenger must also be adhered to. Many modern cars for example are only fitted with two seatbelts in the back, and so, irrespective of the width, only two passengers can be carried on that seat.

During this week-long campaign, a total of 379,246 vehicles were checked, some from the air and others from the roadside or at checkpoints. The Pegasus

equipped helicopters were out in force, with many road users now being aware of their power, as there was an increase in the number of vehicle occupants who decided to “buckle up” having spotted the helicopters in the air.

Statistically, the wearing of a seatbelt can reduce the risk of death in a vehicle collision by 80%, and although adults can make the decision for themselves, t h e importance of ensuring children comply is paramount. h t t p:// n332.es/

lane-keeping system that also overtakes automatically.

You indicate left, for example, and if the lane is clear the car will move into it after three clicks of the indicator.

This car does nothing to dispel my doubts over autonomous driving. The

system won’t work if it hasn’t detected your hands on the steering wheel or making an input. So you can never relax, always waiting for the car to make a mistake. Which it did many times on our drive. http://www.mirror.co.uk/

How to Respond to Checkpoints

The security services (Guardia Civil, Police etc) carry out regular checkpoints on the roads, sometimes these are part of routine operations such as combatting drink driving, or vehicle inspections.

Sometimes these checks are part of an increase in security.

Sometimes, although rarely, they are directly related to a specific threat.

Although it may seem daunting to approach and be stopped at one of these checkpoints, it is important to remember that they are being conducted for your safety. These checkpoints do catch criminals, those risking road safety, terrorists and others, but the vast majority of people are allowed to go about their business normally.

The key phrase to remember when you see one of these checkpoints is, “Nothing to Hide, Nothing to Fear”. It is only those who have done wrong, or considering it, who should in fact be concerned.

The first rule when approaching such a checkpoint is to stay calm. Respond and react to the instructions given to you by the officers conducting the check. They may usher your vehicle to a chosen place, they may ask you to exit the vehicle and they may wish you check the contents of your car, as well as your documentation. Simply let the officers get on with their duties and they will let you get on your way as soon as possible.

Secondly, although equally important, do not share this location information to others. Posting this

information on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter for example can alert those who have done wrong about the presence of the checkpoint, allowing them to get away.

The point of these checkpoints is to catch bad people, so please don´t share the information. You might think you are doing others a favour, but if a criminal is allowed to avoid being caught, they will be free to carry out even more of their chosen activities.

Finally, do not be overly alarmed. The presence of additional security teams on the streets is not a direct indication of an increase in the threat level.

The Spanish Interior Ministry publish the details of the current threat level on their website, www.interior.gob. es. On the right hand side is a green box marked NAA, or Nivel de Alerta Antiterrorista. If you click that you will see the current status level. The level has been at stage 4, high, for some time, since June of 2015 to be exact, which is all listed on the page for your information and peace of mind.

Remember, stay calm and act on the instructions given. “Nothing to Hide, Nothing to Fear”. http://n332.es/

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38

SAMM Spring 2016 Racing Starts

The crews of seven boats arrived at the CTD ‘Infanta Cristina’ Los Narejos at 10am for the first race day of the Spring 2016 handicap series to find that something was missing – the wind. It did not appear until late morning, delaying the start from 11am till 12.30pm, but then blew steadily at between 8 and 12 knots.

This meant that only one six lap race could be scheduled. The larger boats were away first, with the two Sailfish (Mistral and Sirocco) crossing the line just feet apart. The dinghies followed 10 minutes later and all four crossed within a few seconds, overall a very good start for all boats.

Mistral held the lead for the first four laps until she was caught by the faster dinghies.

The catamaran ‘Hamour’ had a bad race and was lapped by all the other boats. At times there was some very close racing between ‘Mistral’ and ‘Hamour’ and then ‘Mistral’ and the Gamba ‘Shoestring Cuatro’, the later boat taking over the lead position with a lap and a half to go which she held onto till the end, finishing the race in 1hr, 16mins, 38secs. The last boat to finish, other than poor ‘Hamour’, completed the course in 1hr. 35mins 16secs.

Final positions once handicaps were applied were first ‘Shoestring Cuatro’, second the other Gamba ‘Shoestring Uno’ and third the

Sailfish ‘Mistral’.

An

unwanted

bit

of

excitement

occurred at the end of the race when the crew of ‘Sirocco’ went overboard while picking up the mooring buoy, but a prompt reaction by the skipper, Julian Pering, had him back on board before the support boat arrived.

For information about SAMM go to www.sailingmarmenor.com

March 2016

San Miguel Golf Society at La Finca.

Thirty-three members were joined by 6 guests for SMGS’s latest visit to La Finca. A couple of days of rather rare rain during the Monday and Tuesday preceding the stableford competition had slowed the greens when compared to our last visit, but good drainage meant there was little noticeable effect on the fairways.

A strong wind made conditions and correct club selection a touch tricky.

Bronze category players seemed most affected, with those in the winning circle scoring lower than would normally be the case here, and the recent trend of Gold category payers averaging higher than Silver and Silver higher than bronze was maintained. With only 3 points separating 5th from 1st in the higher handicap category, Silver was even closer with just one point of difference, and Gold could have been the same if it wasn’t for the stand out scores of John Osborne (37), who extended his lead at the head of SMGS’s 2015/16 Order of Merit, and Steve Fleet and his excellent 38 points, made even more impressive due to the pressures faced playing his SMGS Singles match against an in-form Keith Stevenson.

Steve ran out the winner of that 5&3.

In the only other match to be played on the day, in the Doubles competition a closely fought battle saw Ivan Hanak and Steve Davis (Dumpers) overcome Glen Rapley and Barry Roehrig (Dumb and Dumber) 2 up.

The day’s stableford competition results, by category and in reverse order, were the following: Bronze Category: 5th Ray Ewins (27), 4th Norman McBride (28), 3rd Keith Stevenson (29), 2nd Norman Padmore

(30 on CB), and 1st, with the same score of 30 points, Tommy Boyle.

Silver Category: 5th Alan Williams (32 on CB), 4th Ken Flaherty (32 on CB), 3rd Glen Rapley (33 on CB), 2nd Roy Willing (33 on CB) and 1st Karen Simpson, also with 33.

Gold Category: 5th Steve Higgins (31), 4th Darren Hancock (32 on CB), 3rd Tony Smale (32 on CB), 2nd John Osborne (37), and 1st, with the best score of the day, Steve Fleet with 38 points.

Nearest the pins on the par 3’s (open to all) went to John Osborne (hole 3, for the 2nd visit in a row!!), Ken Flaherty (6), Ivan Hanak (13) and Alan Williams (16).

Nearest the pins in 3 went to John Osborne (Gold, hole 7), Roy Willing (Silver, hole 11) and Norman Padmore (Bronze, hole 10) The Abacus was won by Wenche Westburg..

Two best guest prizes, with Mick Kaylor (33) just edging out Robin Payle (32).

Our thanks go to the staff at La Finca golf course for their contribution to an enjoyable day.

Keep up to date with all SMGS matters by logging on to our website www. smgs.org or simply give Barry Roehrig a call on 966 731 033 to find out more about the society and its weekly golf get-togethers. Next week we will be at Altoreal for the 3rd round of this season’s President’s Trophy.

EUROGOLF STABLEFORD AND EASTER CUP

On Thursday 24th March 50 players took part in the monthly stableford for the Easter cup at La Marquesa.

Even though it was a beautiful sunny day and the course is in great condition overall the scores were quite low with nobody breaking par.

Cat 1.(0-15) 1st Keith Wright 33 2nd Bob Buckeridge 30 3rd George McCallum 29 Cat 2 (16-24) 1st Stan Low 36 2nd Gloria Manning 32 3rd Dave Nichols 30 Cat. 3 (25-31) 1st Marylin Eckersall 36 2nd Ray Porter33 3rd Connie Parker 29 Cat. 4 (32+) 1st Dave Lewis 30 2nd Lauraine Walker 29 Best front 9 Pino Perito 19 Best back

BRADLEY BREAKERS

9 Ken Brett 17 NTP´s 5th Bob Buckeridge 11th Dave Nichols 12th Stan Low 15th Brian Fenwick 17th Robin Richards

965 723 270 607 848 332

Stableford/Easter cup winner Stan Low Football draw Robin Richards x 2 John Hill and Garry Grierson.

Unfortunately Toffs was cancelled on Tuesday due to the inclement weather.

If you would like to play with Eurogolf on Tuesdays and Thursdays please visit the website www. e u r o g o l f- q u e s a d a. co.uk. Both ladies and gents welcome. We also have an active social scene with ladies lunches, dinner dances, day trips and quizzes for the members and their friends.

www.soltimes.com

Germany 2 England 3

England staged a magnificent comeback to beat World Cup holders Germany as manager Roy Hodgson's new breed excelled in Berlin.

Germany looked to have spoiled a promising England display with goals either side of the interval Toni Kroos' long-range shot deceiving keeper Jack Butland, who was then carried off injured, before Mario Gomez headed past his deputy Fraser Forster.

England, with 19-yearold Dele Alli magnificent, responded in style through Harry Kane's low finish and Jamie Vardy's first international goal, an audacious 74thminute flick at the near post from Nathaniel Clyne's cross.

A draw would have done a makeshift England side credit but, after Alli missed an easy chance, his Spurs team-mate Eric Dier powered home an injury-time header from Jordan Henderson's corner.

It may only have been a friendly, but this was the perfect result and

morale-booster for Hodgson and England as they put their plans in place for Euro 2016 in France this summer.

Alli's touch of class Alli claimed many pre-match headlines as the 19-year-old Spurs midfielder, winning only his fifth cap, drew comparisons with the great former England captain Bryan Robson for his all-action style in midfield.

It was a label that came with caution attached to one so young but Alli lived up to the hype here with a performance that made him the game's outstanding player.

Alli has a natural link with his Spurs team-mate Kane that will bring riches to club and country over the years but it was his work in all areas of the pitch that will have surely made him a certain Euro 2016 starter.

There will be marks off for a bad late miss, after he was set up by Vardy, but his day will come and he was only denied goals by two fine saves from Germany keeper Manuel Neuer.

If they are good enough, they are old enough - and Alli is good enough.

The game changers Hodgson has often been portrayed as a manager who uses conservatism as his natural default position - but that mode of operation has surely been taken out of his hands by the talent he has at his disposal.

39

Spain show a lack of bite in Transylvania with Romania draw

Reliant for so long on Wayne Rooney, the new generation stepped forward here to increase the sense that England might be on the brink of a bright new era.

Kane is a natural goal scorer for club and country and has a provider and partner in Alli, while Vardy was Vicente Del Bosque turned the devastating off the bench, showing team inside out like a sock with pace to burn and a scoring touch. expectations of a second day's There is the maverick brilliance of usage, but the result - maybe was rather Ross Barkley to call upon and the unsurprisingly disappointing for everyone around. spirit shown here, when England In saying that, the goalless draw could easily have sagged at 2-0 with Romania - a team that has now down, proved Hodgson has some drawn six of their last seven - did serious raw give us, and hopefully the coach, materials to some useful insights as he looks to pick his 23-man squad for the work with. summer tournament in France. Silva England's adds value; Busquets is necessary, d e f e n s i v e and Iniesta fundamental. Not only worries linger this, but Diego Costa may still have E n g l a n d ' s a lifeline when it looked as though attacking play it had gone. Decisions regarding the strikeforce requirements including carried real him, Aduriz, Morata, Alcácer and excitement and Nolito have to be carefully considered threat in the to ensure Plan A has a back-up Plan shape of Kane, B and maybe even a Plan C. the assistance The last line of defence is more of Alli and defined. Casillas proved some of his the pace doubters wrong in this game, if that and finishing can be achieved by keeping a clean sheet and doing pretty much all he of Vardy when he came on as was asked to do. A couple of punch substitute. clearances could be questioned but It was an old flaw that will have generally he was solid and got down worried Hodgson, however, and left really well in the middle of the first him with major concerns as he puts half to push away an angled drive that came through a cluster of his final plans into place for Euro bodies. Even so, the form over the 2016. last couple of seasons in Manchester An experimental Germany side will see David De Gea take over the were nowhere near their best but Porto keeper's mantle as Spain's

first choice. Another national team record was achieved for Iker with this game being the 166th of his professional career, more than any other European. How valuable could he be in June?

In possession, Spain, much like Dracula to keep the analogy alive, appears to take two forms. There's the version with the midfield pairing of Busquets and Iniesta, and another without them. Sergi Roberto had a sound debut and Koke likewise performed well at the task in hand.

Silva, without the creativity of iniesta, had to step up in the same way that Neymar does without Messi, and Bale does if Cristiano is missing.

He did so but not enough to break down a solid, and often numerous, backline.

The fact that these two friendlies have preceded El Clásico may not have helped matters and clearly all the changes made between each match (only Piqué started both) had an influence. Del Bosque has big decisions to make and not much time to make them ahead of a competition that Spain are looking to win for the third consecutive time.

He may need to show some teeth.

As.com

they were still able to penetrate England's rearguard too easily on the occasions they did put moves together.

England's two full-back slots are still up for grabs and Hodgson needs Everton's John Stones to rediscover his brilliant form of several months ago to allow him to forge a partnership with Chris Smalling in central defence.

Cahill, as he did at the World Cup in Brazil, falls short at the very highest level despite being a solid Premier League defender and risks being exposed again if England get to the sharp end of Euro 2016.

Bbc.com

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40

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