Roquetas r426

ISSUE 426

Property management Sales & Rentals

see our main advert on back page

Tel: 663 426 921 info@enviapropertyservices.com www.enviapropertyservices.com

roquetas & almerimar

SolTimes CK ME UP’est. SINCE 2005 YOUR ESSENTIAL WEEKLY ‘PI

your free weekly newspaper

Bon Appetit page 28

www.soltimes.com

car boot sale

flea market

Open 10am - 3pm

Kitchen open: 12.30 - 3.00, 7.00 - 10.00.

Closed Thursdays Plaza Los Jazmines 10, 04740 Roquetas de Mar Opposite Playa Capricho in the car park

Information 660 32 12 30

Tel: 950 334 439 Email: lavita@roquetas-de-mar.es

TEL: 950 334 081

out of hours please call 950 334 544

In the Urb of Roquetas de Mar, just off Avda de Mediterraneo in the square near La Gamba Toscana & Theos

Almerimar PORT opposite Leo’s bar Every 2nd Sunday of the month

9 th MARCH

Enjoy Pierre’s French Cuisine

Sat: 10am - 2pm

Tel: 645 066 538

Calle Faro, Almerimar At the entrance to the port

rastro Arts and Antiques

Menu del dia 9.50€ served friday - wednesday

double knitting wool now in stock

Fridays Noon - 2pm & from 7pm

portobello

rack of Lamb available

Groceries & frozen foods including legs of New Zealand lamb, gammon joints, lambs liver.

Large Selection of Greeting Cards

For Fish’n’Chips with that good old fashioned taste!

Fun and power page 10

Arkrites British Food Store

Variety Bar

page 36

ALMERIMAR RASTRO

Mon - Fri: 10.30am - 5pm

5 -11 mar

A CARNIVAL CONVEYANCE OF DELIGHT page 5

JAKS

Wide Range of UK, Continental & Indian Foods & Spices selection of electrical Goods OPENING HOURS: Mon - fri 10am - 6pm sat & sun 10am - 7pm

Tel: 950 609 419

calle JABEQUE, 42, ALMERIMAR

2

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

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

News

British energy is cheaper than Spanish energy

A survey by energy think tank Vaasaett shows that by taking exchange rates out of the equation, Helsinki, at 11.43 is the cheapest of the 23 European cities surveyed for electricity prices.

Households in Berlin (28.49) - the most expensive - pay two-and-a-half times as much, largely due to taxes and subsidies designed to boost renewable energy production.

Even after the recent price rises, however, London

Office: 968 185 152

(17.75) remains one of the cheaper places to buy electricity, and below the European average of 20.34, while the figure quoted for Madrid is 24.34 But prices haven’t been going up everywhere electricity bills have fallen in nine cities in the past month, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, with the Hungarian government reducing prices by 11% and its Croatian counterpart cutting them by 6%.

Gas prices also vary a great deal. Working from an average of 7.91, households in Stockholm - the most expensive city - pay 15.29, three times more than those in the cheapest, Luxembourg City, at 5.23.

Stockholm is much more expensive than everywhere else simply because the gas market is so small - there are only 33,000 households buying gas in the whole of Sweden.

London (5.75) is the second cheapest city, where households pay well below the European average, despite recent price rises. In the past month, seven countries have seen gas price rises, while eight have seen prices fall.

Of course prices must be seen in the context of people’s ability to pay them, and fuel poverty is seen as a major concern within the UK, where 6.5% of the population say they cannot afford to keep their homes adequately warm, according to European Union figures.

But the situation for those living in Bulgaria is much worse, where almost half the population (47%) say they cannot afford to heat their homes properly. Many Lithuanians (34%), Cypriots (31%), Portuguese (27%) and Greeks (26%) in particular also struggle to keep their homes warm.

At the other end of the scale, less than 2% of Scandinavians cannot afford to keep warm at home.

The average across the EU is about 11%, and the average for Spain is just under 9%.

Farmers Fear The New Delhi Virus Has Spread To Melon Crop

The virus which caused severe problems for hundreds of farmers last autumn appears to have spread into other crops. Last year’s courgette crop was badly hit by the virus and many farmers lost up to 60% of their yield. The New Delhi virus is carried by white fly and looking for signs of infection is a labour intensive task. Each plant has to be inspected on a daily basis and then removed if signs of the virus are apparent. This seasons melon and water melon crop is most at risk.

Experts from plant and seed companies who are monitoring the situation in the regions greenhouses say that between 10% and 15% of the melon crop has so far been affected. This has not come as a complete surprise to growers, as they were warned the virus could cross over from the courgette and attack this spring’s harvest.

Juan Francisco, the growers associations representative said last week, “There was always going to be a chance the virus would contaminate the melon crop and our members were aware of that when they took the decision to plant at the beginning of the year.” Some growers have introduced a second skin to their greenhouses to try to beat the white fly, at a cost of around 2,000 euros per hectare. A full harvest of melons will produce 12,000 – 15,000 euros per hectare, so the investment in protection, although high, seems worthwhile.

One farmer said, “This year planting melons is a lottery, we carry out all the preventative measures but in the end, we have to wait and see.” At the moment, the worst affected area is to the west of Roquetas towards Vicar, where infected three week old plants are already being dug up and destroyed.

By Martin Shortland

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

3

News

Storms and floods unearth unexploded wartime bombs

Bomb disposal teams in the South West have dealt with double the number of unexploded ordnance than in the same period last year. This dramatic increase in the number of wartime bombs unearthed has been caused by the winter storms and flooding.

Since mid December, the Royal Navy’s Southern Dive Unit has recovered or disposed of 244 items of ordnance.

During the same period last year, they dealt with just 108 items.

Although almost 70 years after the end of WWII, unexploded shells, bombs and mines continue to be discovered on beaches and in harbours around Britain every year, and the Royal Navy’s Southern Dive Unit is tasked with making these devices safe.

Its area of responsibility stretches for some 2,250km (1,400 miles). It begins from the highwater mark in Hull and proceeds seaward to the territorial limit, and then runs clockwise around the British Isles - including the Isle of Wight, Channel Islands, and Isles of Scilly - to finish in Liverpool.

The members of the Southern Dive Unit are dubbed the ‘human mine hunters’, and are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

They train how to handle unexploded devices in an old torpedo test lake at their base on Horsea Island in Hampshire.

Wearing heavy diving rigs that create

Exhibiting 28 - 30 March 2014

Property fair in Utrecht

no bubbles, the divers are able to get alongside the ordnance.

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE PROPERTY SHOW IN BELGIUM, WE URGENTLY REQUIRE ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY FOR SALE IN ALL AREAS

As they approach a test device in the water, the diver uses a ‘go slow’ approach. This means he only fins once every 3m.

The team is trained to work in zero visibility, and can identify the type of ordnance and country of origin by measuring it with their hands and forearms.

The diver then wraps the projectile in plastic explosives - this is called a ‘counter mine’.

He retreats to a safe distance of at least 600m, depending on the size of the munition, and the bomb is detonated.

“The explosive is normally of very high quality,” said Chris O’Flaherty, the commanding officer of the Fleet Diving Squadron.

“The Germans were very good engineers. A number of them aren’t viable but an awful lot of them are, and we prove that regularly by the manner in which we dispose of them.

“The explosive deteriorates and the main charge is usually relatively stable. It’s the detonator that’s the dangerous part.”

SAVE TO THE MAx Insurance Specialist

• Home • Car • Life (funeral related)

A Cortijo in the Oria area

• • • • •

Country villa in the Albox area

• • • • •

2/3 bed, 1 bath Beautifully reformed Tranquil location Outbuildings 1.8 hectares of land

3 bed, 2 bath Lovely garden Private pool Secluded setting Close to amenities

APF499 - 140,000€

APF498 - 149,500€

For further information call Cathie or Antonio 950 43 16 24 or 658 811 628 or email us on info@almeriapropertyfinder.com www.almeriapropertyfinder.com

id’s v a D

COACHTRIPS S.L.

Visit us www.coachtripsonline.com Or call us direct on 966 785 910

granada*

• Commercial

3* City Centre Hotel B&B

• Communities • Travel

Only

• Golf

Phone me: 669 074 996 Find me: Tuesdays at Next Stop Almeria, Los Gallardos

Fridays at Forget Me Not, Las Buganvillas Mail me: maxine.morgan@exclusivos.libertyseguros.es

STEVE ENNIS 687 846 016 Advanced Building Services

Building & Property Maintenance Interiors & Exteriors Insurance Work Undertaken No Job Too Big No Job Too Small Building For Over 25 Years Client Testimonials Available Cuevas Del Almanzora

steveennis1@yahoo.co.uk

112€

3 days Mar 17-19th April 2nd-4th

cordoba city*

Includes excursion to Sevilla

3* Hotel City Centre B&B

Only

126€

3 Days March 12th - 14th * Coaches from Los Alcazares, Balsicas, Valle de Sol, Totana, Puerta Lumbreras, albox, Arboleas,

ADRIATIC & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE Sails from Valencia

All inclusive cruise, sailing from Valencia inc Port Taxes.

Visiting Rome, Naples, Sicily, Split, Venice, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Malta & Tunisia.

Cabins from 899€ inc. port taxes & insurance

15 days, 25th Oct - 8th Nov 2014

Coaches from Albox, La Alfoquia, Arboleas, Vera

4

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

Sunergy Almeria

News

Undersea World Of Posidonia Under Threat From Fishermen

Established 2002

Over 15 years installation experience

ort

For all solar and wind power products Independent systems, solar water pumps, pool filter pumps reduce electric bills, best Call Phil for quality equipment competitive prices

636 261 240

Email: info@sunergyalmeria.com www.sunergyalmeria.com

Local fishermen have come under scrutiny by the Guardia Civil in recent weeks, for allegedly fishing in protected waters. Certain areas of the Bay of Almeria, especially around Roquetas, have large ‘meadows’ of Neptune sea grass or posidonia, which grows close to the shoreline at depths of between 1 and 35 metres. Fishing close to the shore in areas where the grass grows is prohibited. The meadows between Roquetas and Aguadulce are some of the best conserved in the whole Mediterranean and for that reason have the title of National Monument.

The only real evidence of the grasses existence comes after a storm, when piles of dead leaves from the plant are washed up along the beach. The grass grows best in clean waters and its presence is a marker for lack of pollution; it only grows in the Mediterranean and is an important part of the ecosystem. The largest known meadow is to the south of Ibiza and it’s thought to be around 100,000 years old.

People may have noticed the presence of Guardia Civil and Fisheries Protection patrol vessels in the bay over the last few weeks; their job has been to warn off boats fishing in the protected waters as fishing nets can do irreparable damage to the tender plant. The Department of Environment was alerted to the possibility of illegal fishing some two weeks ago, but it’s not an easy law to implement. It would require round the clock patrols to keep every boat away from the area; an impractical and expensive task.

The fishermen are finding it increasingly difficult to catch fish, so are always looking for different fishing grounds.

Spokesman Fernando Orri said they have no option but to fish wherever the fish are and although they appreciate the importance of the protected sea grass meadows, as far as they are concerned, they are not doing any harm. Mr. Orri pointed out most small inshore boats use nets that are held in the water by floats which don’t drag the sea floor and don’t cause any damage to the sea grass.

Toledano Paco from the wildlife protection organisation Promar has been critical of the way the Department of Environment has managed the situation.

He maintains the regulations controlling the protection area are far too flexible and more should be done to, “ensure the safety of this very important ecological site.” He said the local council should be doing more to raise peoples’ awareness of the site, but accepted the fact it’s difficult to interest the public in something they can’t see.

The sea grass meadows have an important ecological value and hundreds of species of flora and fauna are dependent on them, as are many types of fish. It has also become an increasingly important place for divers to visit; so much so, the local tourist authority has appointed a specialist diving guide to help enthusiast make the most of their visit to this unique under sea meadow.

By Martin Shortland

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

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

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

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

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

Special Offer 3kw complete system with batteries.

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

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

All for just 4995€

WE SERVE

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

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

I Tourism Fair of Almanzora Valley organized by the Zurgena Town Council.

The Fair takes place at the old Railway station Renfe in La Alfoquia, Zurgena, on 15-16 of march 2014.

The objective is to allow all the area´s (Almanzora Valley) tourism related business to expose their product and services in order for all the citizens have knowledge of them, and therefore be able to use purchase them. Restaurants, hotels, rural lodging, handycrafts, travel agencies, vine yards, Serrano Ham, Honey producers etc etc….As well as local town councils to promote their tourism activities.

Although it is the Zurgena Town Council who is organizing the Fair, we invite all the other towns and companies to participate. Its time to work together for a common goal: promote our tourism offer and not see our neighbors as competition, but as strength we can all pull from.

Our area has got lot to offer. First we need to know ourselves what we have in order to appreciate and pass it on to

“English spoken”

everyone we know.

The slogan is “Zurgena, Your next station”. Zurgena has great location as we are the gate to the Almanzora Valley.

Saturday 15th of march: 9am -11am, workshops about tourism for professionals 12.00am: opening of the fair 12.00am – 20.00pm: open for public 12.00am – 14.00am , 15.00pm – 18.00pm : Activities and games for children, “Chiquilandia” Sunday 16th of March: 9am -11am, workshops about tourism for professionals 12.00am: opening of the fair 12.00am – 18.00pm: open for public 12.00am – 14.00am , 15.00pm – 18.00pm : Activities and games for children, “Chiquilandia” We have also organized guided tour in La Alfoquia and Zurgena historic town center. Timetables available at the Renfe area.

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....

•V ehicle 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% • Yearlytax 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

5

6

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

info@camconceptssl.com

Our Legal services include Conveyancing Purchase Or Sale Spanish Wills & Inheritance NIE’s & Residents Certificates offering a Forming Of Companies wide range Setting Up Business of legal Registering With Social services in English to Security Office the expat Car Registration & Importation community Translation Work since 1994

CAM. Concepts, S.L. C/. Montilla 1A, 04600 Huercal Overa (Almeria)

TEL/FAX: 950 471 357

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

What is the Cadastre?

Legal Matters

Help for Expats in Spain

(in Spanish: Catastro) The cadastre is a comprehensive register of all the properties description and boundaries.

A cadastre commonly includes details of the ownership, the tenure, the precise location, the dimensions (and area), the cultivations if rural, and the value of individual parcels of land.

The cadastral system is also used to value the properties and therefore to set the Council Tax (IBI) on each property.

Note that the cadastral records for many properties are out of date and inaccurate, and it is your duty, as property owner, to inform the Cadastre of those errors (size, boundaries, ownership, etc).

For example, after building a house, pool, garage, etc on a plot of land, you must inform the Cadastre, that on your land now there is a new construction and tell them the specifications of that building.

This is done by presenting a form to

the Cadastre (Form 902N), together with the deeds (if the construction has been duly declared at the Land Registry), an architect plan to scale of the location and size and a brief description of the building.

Once the construction is duly inscribed in the Cadastre, the job is finished, and you will start to receive the revised bills for the Council Tax. So, what are the main differences between Cadastre and Land Registry?

Whilst the Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad) and the Title deeds (escritura) confirms who owns the property, in which percentage, if is there limitations or charges (mortgage, public auctions, Tribunal disputes, etc), the Cadastre details will give you a better understanding of the boundaries (usually in a visual form) as well as the size and description of the property.

More info at http://www.catastro. meh.es/eng/usos_utilidades.asp

Information provided by:

For all your legal needs Tlf. 646 844 708 E: 4wayconnections@gmail.com www.4wayconnections.webs.com

swimming pools pool sureste sl made with “Gunite” FREE Dolphin & Seal Mosiac Design on base of pool. Ask for details.

Al & SIZES l s hapes

As I lay me down to sleep, I know there is no need to weep, Friends and family free from worry, No need to spend a heap of money, With a pre-paid plan that is free of VAT Plus Interest free instalments on top of that A wise man I most surely am, For putting my trust in Iberian. A practical way to help reduce the financial strain on loved ones. Prices are fixed from day one, so you know exactly how much you have to pay. The services outlined in the plan are guaranteed to be carried out in full. Acceptance to the Funeral Plan is guaranteed, whatever your age of health situation. Your family will receive personalized attention, compassionate guidance and complete support. All details handled with discretion and care. Fully transferable to the UK or any other EU Country.

Prices Start from €3390

Iberian Funeral Plans SL www.iberianfuneralplans.com Phone 952 595 691/952 490 690/951 203 994 e-mail: info@iberianfuneralplans.com Iberian Funeral Plans SL, Edifico Los Jardines, Bloque V, Local 1-B, San Luis de Sabinillas, Manilva, 29692 Reg/CIF no: 11138305/B93156107

eg.

8.500 €

8m.X 4m.

pool Repairs ~ Terraces ~ Pool Covers

968 461 404 - 630 810 299 poolsureste@gmail.com www.poolsureste.com

Oak Furniture For Your Home

T: 950 10 42 72 Find us at Los Carasoles, Zurgena (Almeria) On the Baza Road

ck Sto w e N In Now

Exceptionally Low Prices...

www.rusticoakfurnitureelpinar.com View all our items on our website...

...many unique pieces - once they’ve gone...they’ve gone!

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

News

Spanish naval vessel disrupts Royal Navy parachute training

Britain is to make a formal protest to Madrid over an “illegal incursion” by a Spanish naval vessel into Gibraltar’s territorial waters that forced British Naval chiefs to suspend a parachute training session off the Rock.

The Spanish naval boat approached the landing zone where personnel from the Royal Navy’s Submarine Parachute Assistance Group were carrying out practice jumps into the sea.

HMS Sabre, a Gibraltar Squadron patrol boat which was acting as the safety vessel during the exercise, was forced to break away to shadow the Spanish naval vessel until it left British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

Warnings were issued to the Spanish vessel, which is said to have used a fake name and call sign, but it only left after radioing back that it was in Spanish waters, according to a report in the Gibraltar Chronicle.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed that the “incursion” would be raised at a high level within the Spanish government by Simon Manly, the

British Ambassador to Madrid.

“There was an incursion into British waters near Gibraltar by the Spanish Navy on 18 February, during a Royal Navy exercise. The exercise went ahead irrespective of this incursion,” said an FCO spokesman in London.“We are raising this at a high level with the Spanish government and will be issuing a formal protest. Neither this incident nor other incursions change the fact of UK sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.”

The incident is the latest in the diplomatic spat over sovereignty of the Rock, and which escalated last summer when Spain objected to Gibraltar’s creation of an artificial reef in its waters.

Last year 446 illegal incursions into British waters were made by Spanish maritime forces, almost double that of the year before, and the summer of 2013 will be remembered for the stringent border checks and lengthy delays caused by Spanish authorities on those crossing to and from Spain.

Airport Service: Car ready to drive away upon arrival, no waiting in queues on arrival, all paperwork done beforehand!!

NO CREDIT CARD BLOCKING!!

No hidden extras, price includes damage waiver (excluding vans).

Fuel policy – cars full on collection, return full, pay only for what you use.

SAME 2013 RATES! – Spring rates from 13€ per day, Vans from 40€ per day.

Can’t find a flight from Almeria this winter? – Our friendly, helpful English speaking staff can arrange a fully legal transfer from either Alicante or Murcia. for the best quote ring our Mojacar office.

Prearranged collections/returns anywhere in the area available – small charge applies.

Long term always negotiable.

Always 10-15 ex rental cars for sale at Mojacar, all well serviced and reliable.

We are, and always have been a budget car rental company, established 6 years, year round low prices with a friendly service you can trust, from an established and reputable company.

STOP PRESS FOR AIRPORT CUSTOMERS WE WILL STILL BE OFFERING FULL TO FULL FUEL OPTION - PLEASE REQUEST ON BOOKING Book online at www.costacochesrentacar.biz

Booking details email us at costacoches@hotmail.com or call us on 950 459 208 / 950 069 272 to reserve your rental vehicle

THE ALMERIA AIRPORT SPECIALISTS

Open Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm

Owning a Holiday Home

Owning an overseas property, which is not in permanent use, can be a cause of concern to the owner regarding its upkeep and safety during those periods when they are not in occupation. To fully allay these concerns, owners need to use the services of a reliable, competent, and trustworthy company in whose hands they can confidently place their home.

Price Brown Management and Rental Department, established Mojácar in 1987, can fulfil this need. With a wealth of experience and renown for steadfast service, your property could not be in better hands. We are a professional company with a hard working team dedicated in ensuring client satisfaction, and upholding a reputation built on honesty and integrity. Many new clients are placing their homes in our care.

Management Once you have instructed us to take care of your property your worries are over. A member of our team will carry out an inspection each week, and more frequently if we have suffered strong winds or heavy rainfall, checking for damage or leaks. They will inspect all the windows and doors and will rectify any malfunction in the water, electrical or gas services to prevent any serious damage – always keeping the owner advised.

Lettings We go that extra mile to ensure every property, for every owner and renter, is expertly and properly managed and maintained to the highest attainable standard. Our rental department has a wide selection of quality villas, duplexes, triplexes and apartments available for self catering holidays, whether short term or long term, on Mojácar Playa. The majority of our holiday rental properties have swimming pools, some private and others communal, and all of our properties are within walking distance of the beach.

Our multi-lingual Property Management and Lettings team ensures that all accommodation is kept in peak condition and is accurately described and portrayed on our rental website.

We are committed to providing a quality, reliable service to all of our clients, enabling them to enjoy a relaxed holiday in Mojácar.

Contact: Ana Spires Price Brown Management & Lettings Paseo del Mediterraneo 171 Mojácar 04638 Almeria Tlf: +34 950 478 915 rentals@pricebrown.com www.pricebrown.com

7

8

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

.1 o The N & installer

supplier in your area

t u rre

AWNINGS & Internal blinds DIRECT FROM MANUFACTURERS

Established 10 years with 100% customer satisfaction

Commercial & Domestic, Supplied & Fitted Many Colours & Styles Signwriting Service All Areas Covered Turn your outside area into a dry & wind free enclosure & enjoy the outside while still being inside

All work is fully insured & carried out by highly skilled tradesmen

our prices cannot be beaten

guaranteed!

P.O Box 133, Cortijo Cabrera, Turre Almeria, SPAIN

Tel: 627 907 207 / 634 319 882

Email: solshaders@live.co.uk Web: www.solshaders.com

The small town at Turre is a few kilometres inland from Mojacar Playa and nestled at the foot of the beautiful Sierra Cabrera mountain range.

The place is of Latin origin, the word ‘Turris’ meaning ‘tower’ is based on the watchtower that was built by the Moslims from Mojacar in the Nazaria period; this watchtower, was to protect the people from the continuous attacks by the Christians of Lorca Over the past years the towns population has grown rapidly and many expats have moved to this expanding town of many nationalities. With the main high street, many meandering side streets, town square, the Parish Church de la Purísima Concepción, constructed between 1861 and 1887 as well as other significant monuments, shops, bars and restaurants Turre has plenty to offer its residents and the many people who holiday in the area.

There are a number of fiestas that take place, one for your diary takes place from the 3-6th October St Francis of Assisi, Local games, live music, tasty tapas and plenty of dancing take place on this end of Summer fiesta.

Duringthesummermonths thetownhallorganisedtheTurretapastrailwhere over 20 bars and restaurants took part. Many local special tapas are abundant to taste including Gurullos (Fried bread with garlic, spicy sausage, bacon…).

Migas (Fired bread with garlic and spicy sausage) Snails and Wheat stew.

Festivals: Old Lady’s Day, 20 days before Holy Week; St Anthony of Padua, June; Festival of the Gypsies, 25th July; Summer festival, first week in August; St Francis of Assisi, 3-6th October; Inmaculada Concepción, 8th December

New office opening 7th March

Designer Quality Clothing at a fraction of the Price!!!!

Sizes 8-28 catered for!

No age or size an issue!

Open Mon-Fri 9.30-5.30 (no siesta) Sat 11-2.30

Open outside hours by appointment

Please call 677 542 931

WEEKLY DELIVERY OF NEW STOCK find us on

Donna’s boutique

To celebrate the opening of our new offices we would like to invite all clients past, present and future, business associates and the general public to join us for a glass of cava from 1pm onwards. Paella will be served on the terrace during the course of the afternoon.

Find us on the high street in Turre opposite the Chinese Bazar / Taj Restaurant.

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

DONNA’ BOUTIQUE – DESIGNER QUALITY CLOTHING AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE FOR ALL OCCASIONS. Sizes 8 -28 catered for! Firmly into its second year of trading, ‘Donna’s Boutique’ is a familiar sight in the heart of Turre. Owner Donna Booth has been delighting the ladies of all areas for 5 years now with a fabulous range of fashions to suit everyone. All shapes and sizes are catered for and age is certainly no barrier as Donna prides herself on selecting fashions that all women can wear.

Also available is a wide selection of shoes, bags, jewellery and accessories making ‘Donna’s Boutique’ a one-stop-shop for that special occasion or for everyday wear. With years of experience in the fashion industry and a real passion for the business, Donna offers a personal-styling service for anyone needing a helping-hand. With a huge following on her Facebook page, word of her extensive collection has spread and Donna can now offer Europewide delivery with shipments three-times per week.

Keen to keep her stock fresh, Donna has new items arriving every week and the latest fashions can be viewed on her Facebook page, so click onto Donnas Boutique and hit the ´LIKE´ button to be kept updated on what’s in, and what’s coming in. So whatever the occasion, drop into Donna’s Boutique for your best shopping experience!

Remember ALL SIZES AND AGES CATERED FOR. SOLSHADERS has been operating in the area for more than 10 years & is a fully legal Company.

Their fantastic range of Awnings (which can protect your terrace from the wind), Insect Screens and Internal Blinds are available in a variety of colours & styles with a sign writing service also available. Justin is committed to giving all his clients 100% satisfaction & offers a free on site quotation without no obligation & with his outstanding prices & excellent after sales service you are guaranteed a professional job from start to finish. Give Solshaders a ring on 627 907 207 or Email: solshaders@live.co.uk

Stoneys Sports Bar 2 NEW ALJaZEERa BOXES supporting BEIN Sports, Sky Sports & BT Sports channels

Never miss a Match!

Shown via satellite not streamed

SO nO bUFFERinG

All Six Nations games shown here Call 671 896 391

to see what other matches are on

FOOD SOLD aLL DaY

Reclining Conversation Set

Marbella Deluxe Corner Sofa & Coffee Table

2 x reclining armchairs, 2x footstalls and 1x side table. Ideal for the summer garden, patio or conservatory to lie back and enjoy an afteroon siesta!

The sofa is in five sections so you can arrange to fit the style and size of your area.

This Sofa is the perfect compliment for any patio, terrace or conservatory area and is of the highest quality.

799€

1399€

Casablanca 7 Piece Dining set

Each piece of rattan garden furniture in the range has been designed to achieve the best possible weaving results, aesthetics and ultimate comfort.

1599€

This 7 piece Patio Set

offers both style and practicality.

The comfortable chairs are designed to (Also available as a 5 piece dining set for 1099€) fit snugly under the table when not in use leaving you with optimum space on your patio.

Free Delivery

LAST FEW REMAINING AT BARGAIN PRICE OF 499€

9

3 Seater Leather Sofabed

Still some amazing offers available like this sofabed for

only 699€

All Rattan Furniture is UVA Protected

Monday - Friday 10am till 6pm Saturday 10am - 3pm Address: Crra Lorca - Baza Km 72.5 04800 Albox (Almeria) Tel 950 091 153

10

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

ALMERIMAR & surrounding area 2nd Sunday of the month “RastroMarket” in the car park opposite Leo’s --------------------------------------------------------

Every Thursday MacGowans open mic & jam --------------------------------------------------------

Advertisers publish your special events here. Charity/ community groups events also

nOTICE bOARD

published FREE of charge.

---------------------------------------------

almerimar local information

For all your local advertising needs call Mark on 693 774 932

What To See & Do

in Almerimar

“ALMERIMAR RASTRO On the second Sunday of each month in the car park in Almerimar Port opposite Leo’s bar there is an arts and antique market which is also a car boot sale.

The traders vary from those selling hand made jewellery, antiques and crafts to people wanting to get rid of their unwanted household items.

Come along this Sunday from 10 am and have a look at what is on offer”

keep up to date with what’s happening in Almerimar: www.facebook.com/ localinformation

Advertise your business on this page or send your events to: EDITOR@SOLTIMES.COM

and WE’LL PRINT THEM FREE OF CHARGE!

The Charity Shop Asociacion de Animales Reg No. 5272

Calle Galera No6, Almerimar (Behind Bar Ankara)

Please help me find my forever family!

Millie

“This is Millie, she is a female cross collie, with a rough coat and no tail. She is about 7 months old, weighs about 12 kilos and has been spayed.

If you would like to give Millie a home or you are interested in fostering, please contact us”

If you can help me PLEASE Contact the Charity shop on 950 497 193 Monday - Saturday 10am - 2pm Facebook: Asociacion de Animales de Berja E-mail asociaciondeanimales@hotmail.com Web: www.asociaciondeanimalesdeberja.com

DONATIONS VIA PAYPAL

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

El Ejido Rugby Club El Ejido Bowls Club Based in Almerimar, we are always looking

for new players and have training sessions starting at 21.30h every Tuesdays and Thursdays. Players of all abilities welcome.

The team is very sociable and after have players from beginner to experienced. We are currently in Andalucia Regional Division 2 and just about to start the second phase of the league. Home matches are usually at 12.30 on Sundays at the grass rugby pitch in Almerimar.

For more information call Jonathan on 695 635 078

Monday and Thursday 5pm to 7pm Ring Alison on 677 317 920 to book or for further information

Spicy Curry House MacGowan’s Indian Specialities Bar & Restaurant SATURDAY 15TH MARCH

Guinness, Murphy’s Cider, Heineken, Large Selection of Spirits

ST PADDY’S WEEKEND LIVE MUSIC SATURDAY NIGHT

TRADITIONAL BACON & CABBAGE SUNDAY LUNCH

Calle Varadero Almerimar 04711 (Almeria)

Tlf. 950 609 546

Chicken & Beef Curries Tapas served all day Chef from Punjab (India) working in Almerimar for over 10 years is now the new owner. everybody welcome Open every day: 12 noon - late

Calle Varadero, Almerimar.

Tel 950 033 244 Mob. 632 574 591

www.soltimes.com

mikes movies

It’s not often that a movie star has a word created to describe their career. But it’s happened to MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY .

In the not-toodistant past, he was dubbed “Matthew Mahogany” by a number of critics in response to his “relaxed” performances in a series of rom-coms (“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”, “Failure to Launch” and “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”), where his most notable achievement appeared to be the perfection of the “McConnaughey lean” - a feature on all the posters!

But following a recent run of terrific dramatic performances in KILLER JOE, THE PAPERBOY, MUD and MAGIC MIKE, someone came up with the word “McCONNAISSANCE”.

To emphasise this change in career trajectory, he has a scene-stealing cameo in “The Wolf of Wall Street” and at the time of writing is favourite to win the BEST ACTOR Oscar to go with his Golden Globe and Screen Actors’ Guild awards for his central performance in .... DALLAS BUYER’S CLUB (Cert 15, 117m) Set in the mid-eighties, when the world was becoming aware of the spread of AIDS - incorrectly dubbed “the gay plague” in the media. Against this background we’re introduced to Ron Woodroof, a Texan electrician, rodeo rider and all-round hustler. He’s everything you’d expect of a macho redneck - a hard-drinking, sexist, misogynistic homophobe.

When he suffers a sudden collapse, he’s shocked to be told by the doctor that he’s HIV positive and that his white cell count is so low that he has less than 30 days to live. His initial disbelief and denial lead him to start researching the disease and he decides that experimental drug AZT is his best hope of survival. Unfortunately, the only way of getting it legally is to be put on one of the trials run by the drugs companies and even then there’s no way of knowing if you’re getting the drug or just a placebo. Ron’s solution is to get hold of it illegally and it’s at this time that he comes into contact with “Rayon” - a male transvestite who’s also on the trial and is sharing his drugs with a boyfriend. When the illegal pipeline becomes blocked, Ron decides to try his luck south of the border and after a near-death incident meets a doctor there who opens his eyes to what the big drugs companies are actually up to with AZT. He also learns that there are other treatments that are more likely to keep him alive. The problem is that these aren’t licensed in the States and although the law allows him to bring medicines across the border for his own use, he can’t pass these onto others. So he sets up the “Buyers Club” where people pay for a monthly membership subscription and are “given” the drugs for nothing..

Pretty soon, not only is he getting better, he’s also getting rich. So the Federal Drug Administration, the IRS and various law enforcement agencies decide to stop him, one way or another.

The first thing to mention is the obvious.

In order to play Woodroof, McConnaughey lost over three and a half stone. This is a bit of a shock - he’s barely recognisable and at times looks skeletal - but after the opening scenes, you start to see the character rather than the actor. It’s a tremendous performance especially as Woodroof is for most of the movie, a deeply dislikeable man. But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there are worse people out there and most of them are working for the government in one form or another.

There are two other key performances.

Jennifer Garner is Eve. A composite of a number of health workers with whom Ron came into contact and as such she represents the ethical medical profession - that is the doctors on the frontline who found out with the passage of time that the major drugs companies had an agenda concerned with controlling the marketplace and making a profit rather than with patient survival. That she makes

this necessarily vague creation is a credit to her.

The other key character is “Rayon”.

The part may appear at first glance to be an often seen stereotype but it’s played with great skill by Jared Leto and the development of the friendship between Rayon and Woodroof comes over as touching and genuine. No surprise then that Leto has been picking up awards too.

Woodroof eventually took the government to court to try and win the right for terminally ill patients to make their own decisions about the drug regime they want to follow. He may not have been a good man in a traditional sense but he becomes more of a human being on the journey to his final destination. And the suggestion is there that he eventually finds some degree of redemption That you’re on his side at all by the end shows the effectiveness of McConaughey’s performance in what is an actors movie.

Not a “Best Film” winner for me, but well worth a viewing.

P.S. After my look at some of the faces you’ll have seen on Oscar night during the “In Memoriam” section, there have been a couple of late but notable additions.

SHIRLEY TEMPLE made her movie debut at the age of three and by the time she was seven she was the biggest boxoffice draw in the country - a position she held for four consecutive years between 1935 and 1938. After that, her popularity started to fade - in part because of her mother’s decision to turn down roles she felt were detrimental to her image - and although she continued to make movies into her teens, her career was effectively over before she was 20. Despite this she is listed at number 38 on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the Top 100 Greatest Movie Stars of all time. In later life she turned to politics, eventually becoming a The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She also served as Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia and continued to serve her country until 1992. She died of natural causes aged 85.

HAROLD RAMIS Not a name that everyone will recognise but if you enjoy movie comedies you’ll certainly have seen him. He started his career as joke editor for PLAYBOY magazine before moving to Chicago where he joined the Second City Improvisational Theatre Troupe and met up with John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray. The four of them later moved to New York where Harold helped write and performed in The National Lampoon Show. His intro to film was as scriptwriter on National Lampoon’s Animal House - one of four of his script credits that appear in The American Film Institute’s list of the 100 funniest movies of all time. The others were GHOSTBUSTERS, CADDYSHACK and the wonderful GROUNDHOG DAY. The last two were amongst his 14 directorial assignments and the last was the 2009 Jack Black comedy YEAR ONE. He also had 23 on-screen acting credits. He was 69 years old.

AND FINALLY.......

One other notable departure to acknowledge.

MARIA VON TRAPP, the last surviving member of the Trapp Family Singers died in London at the age of 99. The third child and second daughter of Captain George Von Trapp and his first wife Agathe, she was one of seven children who escaped from the Nazis with their father and their governess Maria who later became their step-mother. Their story became a Broadway musical in 1959 and in 1965 a multiple Oscar winning film. THE SOUND OF MUSIC is also one of the highest grossing movies of all time. Ironically, in order to avoid confusing the cinema audiences, Maria was re-named “Louisa” in the film

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

11

“BRITISH TV”

We can get the channels back!

BRITISH CHANNELS, OVER THE INTERNET

If you don´t have a landline we can offer you a service package to suit your needs please contact: Tel 950 334 614 inf@cms-propertys.com Avda. Playa Serena 200, Roquetas de Mar.

La Envia Golf & Country Club Careterra Alicun

(20 minutes from Roquetas de Mar)

Our Midweek Green Fee Special is back!

18 holes Green Fee (or Envia Spa for non golfers)

with 2 Beers / Wines + 2 Tapas

35€ per person Monday to Friday Teeing off between 10 am & 12 noon

For more info and to reserve call/email

950 55 96 46 / reservas@laenviagolf.com

12

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

Hair&Beauty

JAX

look good, feel good with our full range of treatments

march - april - may offers

facial 10€ with this ad file & polish 5€ Albox Rambla

El Cordobes

Toni’s Mirador Bar

Tlf.Tues 645 560 367 - Fri 10-3pm

Jenny from

After 3pm by appointment only Saturday AM by appointment only

JAX

centro óptico

Avda Pio XII, s/n 04800 - Tel: 950 121 991

Hard of Hearing?

Come and have a free test!!

A Months Supply of One-Day Lenses

€18.90

1 pair

€56

2 pairs:

€93

All accessories & various models available

Only

Graduated Lenses

Get Your Eyes Tested For 28€ Single Vision FREE! 96 € Varifocal

30% discount 30% discount off all for OAPs

Designer Sunglasses

His & Her’s Cut & Blow Dry Only 25 euros

t a e d r o o G G l e k e o F Lo

HEAD AND NECK PAIN Headaches are one of the most common reasons for people to seek medical attention. Headaches are more common in women than in men but prevalence tends to decrease with age.

Up to 1 adult in 20 has a headache every day or nearly every day. Most of the population studies and research have focused on MH: migraine headaches, 68% of males and 15-18% of females in a period of a year.

One in Four American households has a migraine sufferer, totalling and Approx. 29.5 million people. TTH: Tension type headaches are even more common: it affects two-thirds of males and over 80% of females in developed countries. Episodic TTH is the most common headache type reported in over 70% of some populations. (Chronic TTH is found in 1-3%). Chronic daily headache is perhaps the most disabling of the headache groups … those who suffer daily or nearly daily (15 days per month) report disabling complaints that interfere with daily activities.

Work capacity and social activity is reduced in 60% of TTH patients and in almost all MH patients.

Headaches are ranked at 19th highest disability chronically affecting daily life in all age groups and both sexes.

Financial impact of headaches on the sufferer and society is of considerable concern. The prevalence of MH is highest between 25 to 55 years, corresponding to an individual’s most productive years. In the United Kingdom, some

elax evive

open 9-3pm Mon-Fri

€39.95

Gift Vouchers Always Available Pop in or Phone for more details

ejuvenate retreat elax El Cucador

ALL OUR BEAUTY & MASSAGE THERAPISTS ARE FULLY UK TRAINED 1Hr Full Body Massage with Full Consultation 20€

Beauty Treatments

OFFERS

TUESDAYS 9AM - 3PM

ABIGAILE TEL: 632 779 082

Full Body Hot Stone Massage 29€ Luxury Facial 25€

cap highlights

incl.

Cut & Blowdry

25 million working days or school days are lost every year because of MH! Pharmaceutical Company’s make billions upon billions out of promoting drugs as pain relief for headaches when in so many cases we hold the gift in our own hands. The effects of the toxins we put in our bodies can do long term damage if abused on a regular basis. Drugs are a temporary measure for most headaches and mask the pain but do not get rid of the cause. Simple trigger point massage and

special offers

for february on all waxing - 20% off i.e. 1/2 leg 12€ - 20% = 9.60

open saturdays by appointment only Call for an appointment Calle Malaga - Albox (100m from Mercadona) 950 633 086 Monday - Friday 9.00am - 6pm i iF W FREE

Prices are subject to change without notification. Please confirm on booking. We reserve the right to withdraw offers at any time.

MELISSA

Friday’s 9.30am - 6pm

TEL: 626 144 680

A FULL TREATMENT LIST & PRICES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE Rretreat OR BY EMAILING: retreatcucador@gmail.com

We are a self-contained private suite of rooms on the right hand side of La Vida Bar, El Cucador, with its own entrance, plus disabled access and good parking

sandra

Waxing Gel Nails Facials

Monday to Friday 9am - 3pm

TEL: 661 858 949

ladies hair salon Call Teri to book an appointment from 9am

Wednesdays & Thursdays Fully Qualified Uk Trained

Call 619 467 295

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

13

Quality e-Cigarettes compression alone releases chemicals that mimic morphine a more powerful aid to pain relief.

Trigger points, or muscle knots, are a common cause of stubborn and strange aches and pains, and yet they are under-diagnosed, and can cause tension at these points resulting in Tension Headaches.

The Science Under the back of the skull must be the single most pleasing and popular target for massage in the human body. No other patch of muscle gets such rave reviews.

It has everything: deeply relaxing and satisfying sensations, and a dramatic therapeutic relevance to one of the most common of all human pains, the common tension headache. And no wonder: without these muscles, your head would fall off.

They feel just as important as they are because ……..

Along with lots of other neck muscles, the sub occipital group — usually just called “the sub occipitals” — work overtime to keep your head balanced on top of your spine. In particular, they initiate and control fine movements. This is no small task: if you’re a big person, your head may weigh as much as a 10-pin bowling ball, and it is resting on a foundation only about one third as wide. These muscles have to be workaholics.

Trigger points in the sub occipital muscle group are the most common cause of tension headaches.

Your head may weigh as much as a 10-pin bowling ball!

The sub occipitals are also partly “antagonized” (balanced) by the jaw muscles.

This is an odd arrangement. Generally speaking you’ve got one muscle or group of muscles that pulls one way, and

then muscles on the other side of the joint that pull the other way. But the jaw muscles do not affect the spinal joints, and cannot directly work against/with the sub occipitals to balance the head. Nevertheless, they do: muscle studies have shown that the jaw muscles behave much like they would in a more normal pushpull relationship with the sub occipitals. They function together and dysfunction together. Both of these muscle groups routinely harbour trigger points that cause headaches (among other things), and together they are the source of most tension headaches.

Muscle pain in these groups are also likely triggers for migraines and cluster headaches.

“If I could have only one group of muscles to get massaged regularly, this is the one I’d choose” says …..

Debbie James our Specialised Sports Massage Therapist can help so why don’t you give her a call on 687 619 239 or contact her on her by email debs@ debbie-james.com for a free consultation today.

Debbie James is also setting up a clinic in Mojacar from: “La Mirage” Peluqueria y Esteticas from 10am till late on Saturdays only Bookings are essential to save disappointment.

Fast to your door Kits ‘Classic’ 5€ .9 3 1 from All E-liquids In Stock

Revolutionary New Product Now In!

Refillable Automatic E-cigarette No Button To Press!!! No Hassle!!!

Refillable System Kits

from

15.85€

Black Pink Silver

We also specialise in wholesaling to shops Pay on-Line, One Page Checkout www.tgfsales.com • 659 679 990

Tel: 667 961 645

nr Los Arcos & K7 Estate Agents Mojacar Playa

ladies... a new style... a new look... a new you

fully qualified & fully legal trained by saks london

BEAUTY TREATMENTS NOW AVAILABLE

open mon - fri 9am - 5pm is calling all males too!

Osteopath

Naturopath Enrique Arias, N.D, D.O

Tel. 629 289 385

Fabulous clothing & accessories Tel: 677 542 931

for info and appointments

Health Care For Adults and Children

Web: www.donnasboutique.es Email: info@ donnasboutique.es

affordable treatments 1 hour massage from 25€

now in La Mirage mojacar saturdays from 8th march Monica Algañaraz Over 40 years experience in physiotherapy and osteopathic treatment. General postural assessment and holistic health checks available English spoken PLEASE CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT MONICA ALGANARAZ: 695 355 381 Email: monica@centrophysis.net www.centrophysis.net Wednesdays: Mojacar Playa Valle del Almanzora: Olula Del Rio

kim clark benefits consultancy Do you suffer from mobility problems, breathlessness/pain or falls/stumbles?

Do you need help washing / dressing or supervision?

You could be entitled to extra income by claiming UK sickness / disabililty benefits while living in Spain

For advice or to book a consultation call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 or visit www.ukbenefitsinspain.com

• Emergency Home Visits • English • Spanish • French • German • 20 Year’s Serving the community

UK Registered - Treating

Sciatica - Back Pain - Sports Injuries Digestive and Cardiovascular Disorders Headaches - Arthritis - Skin Conditions Centro Cueva Del Lobo Paseo Mediterraneo 10, Mojacar Beach Centro Medico Indalo C/ Manuel Azaña, Almeria

Electronic Cigarettes Starter Packs from €20 Delivered to your door Easy to order

www.costacigs.eu Tel: 962 839 156 or 635 706 359 Use Discount Code: GIVEME20 to get 20% off your first order

14

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

braben’s blog...

Hello and welcome to CanDu Computer Bytes. It isn’t uncommon for me to be sat in a darkened room staring at the screen like some hooded Occultist staring into his dark crystal mirror, both trying to discern the future from the faint glimmering reflections on front of us. Like all Magi, I am looking to the future for wealth beyond avarice.

To the digital world of BITCOINS. Ok! I will never be a novelist as creating provocative prose appears to be beyond my reach. I can, however, read and interpret the signs and portents of the digital future. Imagine a world where banks have no power! They can no longer control countries and economies with the wave of a chequebook.

Imagine a world where money is truly digital, no more muggings (you don’t carry cash), no more safes to crack, no paying “on the spot” fines :-) What are BITCOINS? These are an innovative and, currently, experimental form of digital currency. As a new user, you can get started with Bitcoin without understanding the technical details.

Once you have installed a Bitcoin wallet on your computer or mobile phone, it will generate your first Bitcoin address and you can create more whenever you need one. You can disclose your addresses to your friends so that they can pay you or vice versa. In fact, this is pretty similar to how email works, except that Bitcoin addresses should only be used once.

All books have to balance (unless you are in charge of the government and little things

like that don’t matter). Bitcoins use a system called “Block Chain”. The block chain is a shared public ledger on which the entire Bitcoin network relies. All confirmed transactions are included in the block chain. This way, Bitcoin wallets can calculate their spendable balance and new transactions can be verified to be spending bitcoins that are actually owned by the spender. The integrity and the chronological order of the block chain are enforced with cryptography. As we have already covered this subject we should move on.

A transaction is a transfer of value between Bitcoin wallets that gets included in the block chain. Bitcoin wallets keep a secret piece of data called a private key or seed, which is used to sign transactions, providing a mathematical proof that they have come from the owner of the wallet. The signature also prevents the transaction from being altered by anybody once it has been issued.

All transactions are broadcast between users and usually begin to be confirmed by the network in the following 10 minutes, through a process called mining.

On this note we will have to leave part 1 of digital commerce. Though it will be completed for you next week with a summary of how you can pay me for all this useful information ;-) So until next week have a great week, and remember that my clinic at Jack’s bar in Albox is closed for the next 2 weeks. Sorry for any inconvenience.

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

Then and now – The Crimea So 160 years later Crimea is back in the news; Russia under the pretext of an illegal coup in Ukraine that’s threatening the safety of Russian speaking peoples in Crimea sends 6000 soldiers to take over the Crimea. Russia also ‘leases’ a huge base from Ukraine at Sevastopol for its Black Sea Fleet which endangers matters further. Military planners have files on all scenarios so Russian success in invading the Crimea in just 3 days isn’t a coincidence. Never trust a politician is certainly apt here as long before Putin turned off the lights at Scochi, his planners and advisors would have been briefing him and working to his orders.

In the 1850s; the Crimea was the scene of a war that pitted Britain, France and the Ottoman Empire against Russia with over 300,000 casualties. The war put the names of Mary Nightingale and Seacole into our history books. Tennyson’s poem The Charge of the Light Brigade immortalised the loss of almost half the British 700 cavalrymen in the Crimea in 1854. The 93rd Highlanders are remembered for holding their ‘Thin Red Line’ against a massively larger Russian force at the battle of Balaclava.

Religion as ever was the excuse and catalyst for the 2.5 year war. Napoleon III of France believed Roman Catholic sites in the Holy Land (an area still under dispute as Israel/Palestine)

Bath Time!

I was lying in the bath last night thinking to myself, isn’t nature funny. Anyway, that’s another story but, as I was in there, I had an idea. I often get good ideas in the bath but that’s another story! I was thinking, isn’t it just as well we’re not all the same and all like the same things?

Food for example; imagine if we all loved steak, there’d be mayhem at the Mercadona everyday as everyone lay siege to the meat counter-a little like the rush for the exit at a Justin Beiber concert. But thankfully, we do all like different things.

I have to say though, some of the things that people do like are decidedly weird. For example, hidden away in a padded room somewhere there are still ageing remnants of the seventies wild child brigade who, even today, occasionally throw caution to the wind and play their Little Jimmy Osmond albums.

But I was talking about food. I have to admit, I’m firmly in the, I don’t like shellfish, camp. Lobster. I know it’s a delicacy and that so many people enjoy it, but what I can’t get round is eating something that you need an instruction manual and a small lump hammer for.

Then, if you get as far as finding your way in, what’s really off putting, well for me anyway, is that when you follow the instructions on how to dismember and then eat one, I was horrified to see them refer to the green stuff you may find inside. I may well be an unadventurous food wimp, and say what you will about McDonalds, you never have to dismember a chicken nugget, but I’m not too keen on letting something have free reign to my insides which contains squishy green stuff.

Mushy peas are one thing but a Lobster’s liver is quite another!

Of course, as I said, we’re all different; many people love seafood and especially Graham is married Sushi. The Japanese have brought the world to Helen and has a so much that is good and I am especially daughter, Alice. He partial to their home theatre systems, but lives part of the year as of yet I haven’t been persuaded by their near Albox, but works Sushi! in Qatar, teaching. If You’ll have to excuse me now because my you wish to contact bath water is getting cold and I still haven’t Graham regarding finished the re-enactment of the Battle of this article email: Jutland. I told you I had good ideas in the helenandg@yahoo. bath-but those periscopes can do you an co.uk injury!

Enjoy Stephens musings? Pop over to http://findmeahomeinspain.wordpress.com as the articles are posted on there too...and they’re a bit longer too! Findmeahome are always looking for quality homes for their sales and rental portfolios, please contact Stephen for a valuation: stephen@findmeahome.es Telephone: 636 266 641

should be under French and therefore Catholic control. Up until then they were administered by the Orthodox Church with its ties to the Ottoman and Russian Empires. In a case of gunboat diplomacy Napoleon bullied the Ottomans by sending his powerful warship called Charlemagne to the Black Sea. Realising this ship would easily pulverise both the Ottoman and Russian Navies the Sultan signed a new treaty and signed over control of the holy sites to France.

Tsar Nicholas I stationed forces along the Danube and tried to get the Ottomans to see his version of sense; sending firstly the foreign minister then a senior diplomat called Prince Menshikov. Unfortunately the latter was less than diplomatic by committing the heinous crime of wearing a suit instead of military dress when he met the Sultan. Compounding things further the Prince insulted the Ottomans for accepting the French treaty and demanded certain ministers resign.

Eerily reminiscent to today’s potential conflict, Russia sent 80,000 soldiers into Ottoman controlled Moldavia and Wallachia; under the pretext of protecting the Orthodox Christian population. The Ottomans declared war on Russia and tried to repel the invaders. Next Russia destroyed an Ottoman naval squadron and warned by the then Super Powers Britain

and France; to desist and leave the provinces it had invaded.

Russia refused giving the British and French the excuse to declare war on Russia.

Tsar Nicholas backed down withdrawing his forces but too late. The next few years of war may have been avoided but the allies’ demands for further concessions weren’t met. Back home the press were clamouring for a war to show the Russians what for. The Aberdeen Govt. had decided against continuing and lost a no confidence vote in Parliament and battle commenced.

This was the first war where the public read about what was happening relatively quickly, telegraph meant that reports could be sent to newspapers in hours rather than weeks. The emergence of Europe’s railways meant men and equipment didn’t have to rely on slow sea crossings. Partly over British concerns over casualties; the war ended in March 1856 with The Treaty of Paris. Russians retreated giving the Ottomans back their lands. British and French success in capturing the strategic Black Sea port of Sevastopol was reversed and handed back to the Russians as long as they did not create a naval force there – that worked well then!!!

SOLTIMES march 2014

www.soltimes.com

Monday m t 3pm

Viewing all Day Saturday, Sunday and Monday

p a 3 h t c a r a h c M r h a t M 7 1 h 17t BUY BUY AUCTION SUBASTA NOW at the PINK HOUSE Buy More For Less Get More For Your Money offering a huge selection of goods

Household Goods, Most With No Reserve On View Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday From 10-3pm Large Selection Of Beds, Bed Heads & Mattresses From 5€ Extensive Selection Of Sofas, Armchairs, Dining Tables & Chairs From 10€ Electrical Goods Including Fridges, Freezers, Washing Machines, Cookers, Bbqs, Heaters, Tvs, Videos, Coffe Machines, Printers, Typewriters & Computers Etc...

Large Collection Of Collectors Items From 60’s & 70’s Antique & Victorian Chairs Large Selection Of Carpets Now Accepting Goods For Our Forthcoming Auctions Take Advantage Of Our Offers Free Collection Throughout Spain Cash Pay Out Within 3 Days Lowest Commission Rate In Spain At 10% No Sale, No Commission You Name It, We Sell It Open 7 Days For Accepting Goods Free Catalogue For Sellers And Regular Buyers

book review

Murcia

E15/A7 Motorway A

x lbo

The € CAFe

Vera/Mojacar EXIT 543

La Concepcion

We are here

AT THE



Tel: 681 095 096 622 288 750

REST. Balabona & Petrol Station

Directions: we are only 5 mins from Arboleas, Zurgena, 10 mins from Albox, Huercal Overa and 20 mins from Mojacar & Vera. From A7 jct 543, direction to La Concepcion for 3.5km on the right.

buybuyauctionsubasta@gmail.com www.buybuyauctionsubasta.com

PINK HOUSE

DELICIOUS FISH & CHIPS FOR ONLY 3,75€ NoW BEING SERVED AT THE € CAFe In the Pink House On Mon-Wed-Sat. from 12-4pm

TOGETHER with:

Daily Baked Baguettes:

Veggi Curry & Rice 2€ Mixed Veg & Couscous 2€ House Specials Koshari 2€ Falafel 1.50€

Tuna Egg Mayo Cheese etc All at 1.50€

Our usual freshly prepared vegetarian meals:

filled with all your favourite fillings,

Home Baked Cakes - STILL at 1€

Flan, Carrot, Lemon Drizzle, Apple & Walnut, Cheesecake, Pear & Almond, Chocolate, Coffee, Hot & Cold Drinks for 1€ OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

15

16

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

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

DOES A NON-RESIDENT HEIR PAY INHERITANCE TAX IN SPAIN ON FUNDS LEFT TO HIM IN JERSEY? Question: My deceased father (a resident in Mojacar) made a will leaving his worldwide assets to me (I am resident in London). The estate consists of a house in Mojacar and a bank account in Jersey worth 210000 pounds sterling.

My Spanish solicitor is saying that I have to pay inheritance taxes on the account in Jersey because it was declared on my father´s 720 form (declaration of foreign assets) last year. I have read a book on the subject and my interpretation is that I should not pay inheritance tax in Spain on the funds in Jersey.

What paperwork needs to be presented to the bank in Jersey for them to release the funds to me?

The difference in inheritance tax between presenting the self-assessment forms in Spain including the funds in Jersey or not is over 59000 euro.

AnSWER: I can confirm that because you are nonresident you do not have to pay inheritance tax in Spain in relation to the funds in Jersey. It does not need to be included on the self-assessment forms in Spain. You would have to pay if you where resident in Spain. Non-Resident heirs only pay inheritance tax in Spain on assets situated in Spain and on life insurance payments made by foreign insurance companies that operate in Spain. (This will become clear

to your solicitor on reading article 7 of the Law 29/1987 of 18th of December in relation to Inheritance and Donation tax) .The declaration of the asset on the 720 declaration makes no difference to this.

B. Winding up the estate in Jersey is simple and straightforward. Your solicitor in Spain will need to gather some Spanish documents and choose a barrister to obtain probate at the “Jersey Royal Court”.

This sounds complicated, but it is not. The procedure is not very expensive and takes two to three weeks if the solicitor in Spain presents the correct paperwork. In Jersey all you will need to pay is a small stamp duty to the “Jersey Royal Court “ (0.5% for the first 100000 pounds sterling and 75 pounds for every additional 10000 pounds sterling) and a Jersey barrister’s fee, which varies from my experience between 1000 and 5000 pounds depending on how much work he needs to do.

Michael Davies.

Abogado.

Michael Davies is a Spanish Abogado and has been practicing law in Andalusia since 1993. He is member of the Law societies of Almería and Madrid.

For a short period of time leading up to 2007 he was also Honorary British Consul.

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.

MOJACAR PLAYA

RENTALS - SALES -MANAGEMENT - MAINTENANCE

We urgently need more properties for sale and rental for waiting clients Properties of the week

Ref: INT/JM Beautiful semi-detached 3 bedroom, 2 bath/shower room, com pool, a/c, private terraces

MOJACAR - NEW €189,950

Ref: ALB/MB - Beautiful 2 bed/2 bath apart. pool, parking, sea views large terrace, a/c, 400 m beach, exc rentals.

MOJACAR PLAYA - NEW €149,950

O

COMPLETE HOLIDAY HOLIDAY CARE CARE COMPLETE

MOJACAR - reduced €74,950

Tel: 607 705 085 or 687 938 466

Olive

Email: info@olivehouse-es.com

www.olivehouse-es.com

Monday - Friday 10am - 3.30pm

Sales office now open in Bedar

...it’s all in the detail

OLV786 Antas los raimundos

OLV821

This very quaint cortijo is set in lovely surroundings and has fabulous grounds of 4000m2. The property is immaculate and has been finished to a very high standard. There is also a very large storeroom of 30m2 that would be ideal as extra accomodation.

This very well maintained, four bed, detached villa boasts 3 spacious bedrooms in the main house and a further bedroom in the separate apartment. There is also the possibility of 2 further bedrooms in the main house. In addition there is a large, fenced plot, private pool and workshop.

120,000€

OLV814

Ref: GV/EB Perfectly located, furn, 1 bed 1st floor apart, a/c, pool, UKTV, parking, 50 metres from beach

Bedar, 04288 (next to Miramar Restaurant)

turre

247,000€

vera

OLV816

lubrin el marchal

Ref: LA/GK- Fantastic modern, 1st floor 3 bed, apart, 1 bath, pools, tennis court, elevator, parking

MOJACAR - reduced €119,950

Paseo del Mediterraneo 19, Mojacar Playa, Almeria (near the Hotel Best Indalo)

Tel: 950 478 612 / 610 808 631 

info@almeriaholidays.com

www.almeriaholidays.com

A rare opportunity to purchase a large and established detached property just minutes from major road links and 2 minutes from the historical town of Vera. The property boasts 3/4 bedrooms beautiful gardens and private pool.

440.000€

This fine looking 3 bedroom village property is situated in the pretty village of El Marchal between Bedar and Lubrin, although in need of renovation there has been a fantastic new roof with roof terrace, fitted recently.

58,000€

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

Est 25yrs

PRICE BROWN PARTNERSHIP

ESTATE AGENTS / INMOBILiARIA / MANTENIMIENTO - MOJACAR SALES, RENTALS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT VENTAS, ALQUILERES Y MANTENIMIENTO

95,000€ Mojácar Playa C641

250,000€ Mojácar Playa A1049

149,000€ Mojácar Playa A1058

Freehold commercial unit of 52m2 + terrace with outstanding sea views, & public parking, in a popular location next to the beach. Well fitted bar & full toilet facilities. Excellent opportunity. Good rental potential.

Superb ground floor apartment of 99m2 on a beautiful front-line complex. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, storeroom & garaging. Impressive community gardens & pool. In walking distance of all amenities.

Beachside, furnished, ground floor apartment of 90m2 +

95,000€ Mojácar Playa A1066

125,000€ Mojácar Playa SDV653

295,000€ Mojácar Playa LV677

Charming apartment of 59 m2 + panoramic sea views near

Pretty end of terrace bungalow of 67m2 on 193m2 with roof

to the ‘fuente’ (natural springs) in the village. 2 bedrooms, 1

terrace. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Community garden.

bathroom & sun terrace. Furnished + A/C. Community pool.

Furnished. Short distance to shops, beach & restaurants.

125,000€ Mojácar Playa LV654

Quality furnished townhouse of 86m2 on 117m2 less than 400m from the beach. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, terraces, garden & off street parking. Furnished. Community gardens & pool on a secure complex.

149,950€ Cabrera DV1214

Very attractive detached villa of 75m2 on 130m2. with panoramic views. 2 bed, 2 bath. Small private garden + terraces. Superb community pool. Allocated parking. 20 minute drive to the sea.

235,000€ Mojácar Playa DV1060

Detached villa of 147m2 on 530m2 very close to the beach.

3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Part furnished. Superb sea views & planted gardens with lawned areas. In walking distance of all facilities.

159,000€ Cabrera DV1166

Immaculate detached villa of 84 m2 on 130 m2. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & terrace. Situated in a very pretty urbanisation with superb communal terraces & pool. Lovely views.

terrace of 15m2 on a sought after complex. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Off street parking, community pool & gardens.

Superb townhouse of 179m2, 83m2 of terraces + roof terrace & garage. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, A/C & FGCH. In walking distance of the Parque Comercial. Lovely community pool & gardens.

275,000€ Mojácar Playa DV1223

Charming detached bungalow of 130m2 on 507m2 in immaculate order. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, roof terrace.

Private garage, pool & garden. A/C & much more. In walking distance of the beach.

128,000€ Mojácar Playa A1106

3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, furnished ground floor golf apartment of 69m2 + terraces of 55m2, with superb sea views in walking distance of the beach. Undergorund parking. Community pool & gardens.

www.pricebrown.com Tel: +34 950 478 915 Fax: +34 950 478 963 sales@pricebrown.com rentals@pricebrown.com

Members of the National Association of Estate Agents Overseas

Monday - Friday 9.30am to 6pm

We are able to organise Energy Efficiency Certificates at very competitive prices. Contact us for more details All properties listed with Price Brown comply with the consumer protection act - decreto 218/2005 11 Octobre (Andalucia).

Members of the Agrupacion Tecnica Profesional

Prices are correct for 7 days from going to print for all properties on these pages

17

18

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

Spanish Estate Agent

sales rentals insurance avenida puente no.11, albox just before the old bridge on the right (car home) visit our website for an online insurance quote for sale Need a quick sale?

Investor cash available now

for 2, 3 or 4 bed villas under 100k

No legal fees No agents fees Paperwork issues considered

Albox: Stunning 3bed villa with seperate annex. Excellent location, immaculate inside & out. €124.995

Albanchez: Reformed 3bed country house, space for pool, idyllic location.

Only €54.995

sold

this week

Los Gallardos: Lovely 3 bed country house in peaceful setting1.200m2 with superb views. €105.000 offers invited

Tel: 950 431 855 / 634 345 257

Rental properties urgently required Tenants waiting No landlord fees for first month

Albox: Beautiful 1 or 2 bed house.

Immaculate throughout.

Electric and water included 300pcm

El Cucador: Immaculate fully furnished 3bed 2 bath villa with pool, walled and gated, landscaped gardens, shaded terrace. only 495pcm

Albox: 4 bed 2bath townhouse, communal pool, integral garage, furnished, 2min walk to schools, health centre and town centre. Only 375pcm

Albox: Large 3bed apartment in town centre. New building in prime location, immaculate condition, secure entry. Part furnished. Only 350pcm

www.spanishestateagent.com

APARTMENT WITH GARAGE NR PROMENADE

165,000€

Lovely Apartment set on an established and extremely well kept development within 150 meters to the promenade, the sea and amenities.

The apartment is comprised of living / dining room with sea views, kitchen, family bathroom, master bedroom with en suite bathroom and a double bedroom.

Additionally it has two sea facing terraces.

The property also benefits from a store room on the ground floor and an underground garage. The building where the property is located is a few years old and the property has never been let out. It is very secluded and has fine sea views. Access to the property is by way of lift or stairs.

Properties such as this are rare, and this close to the sea makes it even more uncommon

so those interested in purchasing something truly exceptional must view this property as soon as possible to avoid disappointments.

As one would expected the building has a communal swimming pool, gardens and so on.

For more information or to book a viewing appointment please visit our office or contact us via phone or e-mail. Ref: 1556

Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria

Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563

property group

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

19

Wanting to sell?

We are currently looking to expand our portfolio.

For more information please call us on, Spain 0034 699 271 709 or UK 0044 7919215925 email: shirleywithvidacabrera@hotmail.com

Property of the Week

* * * *

Sierra Cabrera 3 Bedrooms Part furnished Private pool

* Cortijo Grande * 2 Beds/2 Bath * Fully furnished * Fantastic views

* Puerto Lumbreras * Private pool * 2 roof terraces * Country property

* Cortijo Grande * 3 beds/2 baths * Private pool * Fantastic viewsl

* Fantastic views * Central heating * Large underbuild * Various terraces

SCL0123

95.000€

SCL00135

215.000€

SCL0147,

290.000€

SCL0049

270.000€

* Cortijo Grande * 3 bed/2 bath * on golf * Private pool

*Sierra Cabrera * 3 Bed/3 Bath * Seperate annex * Various terraces

* Mojacar * Detatched villa * Private pool * 2 additional cottages

SCL0134

160.000€

SCL0130

225.000€

SCL0154

499.950€

* Los Gallardos * 3 bed/2 bath +wc * Solarium * Communal Pool

* Sierra Cabrera * Luxury home * 3 bed/3 bath * Centrally located

* Sierra Cabrera * 3 beds/2 bath * Private pool * Various terraces

* Sierra Cabrera * 4 Beds/3 Baths * Private parking * Mtn & sea views

SCL0115

80.000€

sclthg from

180.000€

SCL0038

259.950€

SCL0000

499.950€

* Turre * 3 bed/1 bath/wc * Spacious & airy * Seperate kitchen

* Arboleas * 3 Bed/2 Bath * Private pool * Garage

* * * *

Sierra Cabrera 3 Bedrooms Private Pool Sun spa jacuzzi

* Sierra Cabrera * 4 Bed/4 Bath * 1600sqm plot * Infinity pool

SCL0140

90.000€

SCL0124

199.995€

SCL0097

275.000€

SCL0094

694.000€

www.sierracabreraliving.com email : shirleywithvidacabrera@hotmail.com

Tel : 950 091 830 / 699 271 709

20

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

Our Business is Growing Specialists in:

Landscaping - Irrigation - Garden Maintenance Lawn work - Tree Trimming

Call: 666 847 583 or 950 699 984 gardenworks.bates@gmail.com

Bugs

building maintenance

Get your property ready this Summer

•P roperty uk maintenance qualified over 25 years • tiling experience • Painting • Awnings All areas covered ~ speedy Response Call now for your no-obligation quote

Tel: 600 049 515 Get The Best For Less

Top Tips For Buying An Overs

Every year, thousands of overseas property buyers proceed with their purchases, oblivious to just how much impact the exchange rate is having on the cost of their dream home, according to a new report from currency and overseas property specialist, Smart Currency Exchange.

As exchange rates fluctuate on a minute by-minute basis, these can dramatically affect the price of the property. If exchange rates change during the purchase process, the price could change significantly, Est. 2004 even taking it beyond budget.

David Comber, a trader at Smart Currency Exchange, Complete Kitchens, Doors, New Worktops has seen this problem time and again, particularly with fluctuating sterling rates affecting property Looking Las Buganvillas purchases outside the UK. He shares his top five Garrucha Vera currency tips and ‘tricks of the trade’ for a smooth for overseas property purchase: a new Ho Understand the consequences of currency Ur mes b. fluctuations So & Be lan kitchen? a d yond For example, a couple set their heart on a €250,000 Mojácar el Ma r property in Spain. When they first looked at the Free Quotes property, the available exchange rate was £1/€1.1807.

If they were to buy it there and then, it would cost Tel: £211,738.

As often happens in the property market, unforeseen circumstances occurred, meaning that their plans were delayed. When they were next in a position to look at exchange rates, they were at £1/€1.1624.

This meant that the house had gone up in price to Options available to suit any budget £215,072. They decided We offer a design, manufacture to wait a while, in the & installation service with an hope that the rates might exceptional level of quality & move in their favour, but unfortunately they went service at a competitive price. We the other way, ending up are able to design, manufacture at £1/€1.1290.

Homes & Beyond

950 132 458

HARLEQUIN KITCHENS

Our bespoke kitchen cabinets are manufactured and pre-assembled in our workshop using 18mm colour matched board with a solid back panel.

As well as our huge range of kitchen door colours and styles we have a huge range of worktops, solid wooden block, granite and laminate available.

As with all our products, our kitchen units can be manufactured any size. All cabinets, as well as any storage options, are purpose made to your requirements.We have no set size doors, widths or heights.

& install a huge range of kitchen furniture to suit your needs, with over 700 door styles & colour combinations, we cater for every taste, traditional to modern.

We have something for everyone & remember, it’s manufactured to your requirements.

For peace of mind, use a tool called a forward contract to fix the property price Not many people know about forward contracts and how they can be used

to avoid losing money when purchasing overseas.

Forward contracts help remove the risk involved in buying abroad by helping to lock in exchange rates at the point that you commit to buying a property.

Through using this technique, when the time comes to transfer the final balance for the property purchase, the currency rate remains the same, regardless of how the markets are moving at the time.

Don’t wait to set up an account with a currency specialist – the sooner you act, the sooner you can get access to valuable market guidance and current exchange rates If you know that at some stage in the future you will have to transfer money abroad, and are considering using a currency specialist for the international transfers, it’s important to sign up for an account and get access to a trader’s guidance and the currently available rates as soon as possible. This helps with budgeting and allows the opportunity to use products such as a forward contract to set the price of the property.

Know your budget before you travel This might seem like common sense, but it’s easy to get carried away in viewing overseas property. By having a clear budget from the outset, overseas buyers can ensure they get the most from their viewing trips and don’t waste time looking at properties that will be out of their price range. It also helps when looking at the exchange rates and deciding when and how to purchase.

Make use of any added extras available, like pre-funding an account for the purchase Experience has taught us that both the speed and timing of the process is an important – and in some cases critical – factor in securing an overseas property for the right amount. This is where another very useful ‘trick of the trade’ comes in – the ability to prefund a client account. This goes a long way to eliminating further difficulties that can arise when you are in a different country, such as limitations on how much can be transferred each day, language barriers, dealing with automated switchboards, authority limits, time differences, and so on.

Source: smartcurrencyexchange.com

Mojacar Bedar Vera

Triton Pool cleaning prices from 60€ per month

Triton Property Services - Triton Security Services

please contact Trevor on

Pool Cleaning Landscaping Property Management Key Holding Property Maintenance Vacant Property Checks Gardening & Strimming Home SecurityImprovements Painting & Decorating Plus Home Care Services When you want something done, professionally, reliably and on time then you need people who pride themselves on providing the service you need with total trust and commitment.

Based in Albox, but will cover all areas

Call us on: 634 326 322 www.tritonspain.com

For a FREE home measure & quotation

619 584 405

& gardens

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

seas Property

A CHIMNEY OR FLUE NEEDS CLEANING ONCE A YEAR! WHY? • T O REDUCE THE RISK OF A CHIMNEY FIRE BY • •

REMOVING SOOT AND TAR TO REMOVE A BLOCKAGE SUCH AS A BIRD NEST! TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF YOUR APPLIANCE (ESPECIALLY WOODBURNERS)

FOR PEACE OF MIND BOOK YOUR SWEEP TODAY FOR A FRIENDLY, PROFESSIONAL, CLEAN, SERVICE CALL PAUL ON 617150300 OR 850993057

A C LEAN C HIMNEY IS A SA F E C HIMNEY !

B&B carpentry designs Kitchens • Wardrobes Made To Measure • Pergolas Windows & Doors • Fittings & General Maintenance call 646 101 712 bybdesigns@hotmail.com

Who has carpet in Spain?

We do...!

PR Building

Fitted or made to measure Rugs - we specialise Pre-made or otherwise

Services

All Aspects of building, construction & Carpentry

English Bed Linen Unusual Gifts, Pictures, Accessories and Greetings Cards

Landscaping, maintenance & Swimming Pools

All to enhance your home All at competitive prices

over 15yrs experience

P&R Direct

The highest standard of workmanship

Where knowledge and service meet quality and price

fully legal, professional & Reliable

References Available Call Richard on 608 673 681 or 662 422 170 find us on

New Season New Style Treat your home to a fresh new look

21

Calle Mojana 8, Parque El Real, Antas 04628 Opening hours: Mon 10am - 1:30pm Tues - Fri 10am - 4pm • Sat 10am - 2pm

Tel 665 258 680 pandrdirect@outlook.com

KOALA

SALE NOW ON

FU R N I T U R E

SOFAS - MATTRESSES - GARDEN FURNITURE RECLINERS SOFAS - LEATHER SOFAS - PACKAGES

If you haven’t been to Yorkshire Linen for a while, now is a great time to visit and see the new collections.

Choose from beautiful bedding and a huge range of curtains, cushions, voiles and accessories.

You’ll also find all your everyday essentials such as pillows, protectors, duvets, sheets and towels.

Closer than you think

the

yorkshire linen co.

home furnishing specialists

Monday to Friday 10.00 - 18.00, Saturday 10.00 - 14.00 Centro Comercial la Pirámide, Puerto de Mazarrón, Murcia

Call: 968 595 946 / 650 857 619 www.yorkshirelinen.com - ylcmazarron@hotmail.com Free parking above Mercadona, opposite Lidl

POl.ND.EL REAL C/VENTE VACIO E-14 04628 ANTAS - ALMERIA TEL: 950 392 307 MOVIL: 617 478 344

www.KOALAFURNITURE.ES monday to friday 10:00 to 19:00 saturday 10:00 - 14:00

22

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

Sundance Spas

Pool Maintenance S.L.

Open: Monday - Thursday 9am - 2.30pm & 4pm - 7pm, friday 9am - 2.30pm & 4pm - 6pm Closed Saturday & Sunday

now in our showroom

New range of economical Spas Renew - 3 seater 4.649,00 Euros

Bliss - 2 seater

Relax - 5 seater

3.750,00 Euros

4.995,00 Euros

showrooms Come along to our Genuine Sundance Spas Lots of Special Offers on Also Good Selection of Second Hand Spas

We Purchase Your Old Spa Cash Paid up to

50% off selected spas

Mojacar Showroom, Paseo de Mediterraneo, 165

Tel: 950 472 845

www.sundancespas.com • sundancespas@telefonica.net

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

23

Home Sweet Home property SERVICES

CALL 902 750 190

BUY SELL RENT MAINTAIN

EMAIL: SALES@SOLTIMES.COM

Sunny outlook for Spanish market in 2014 Early signs are pointing to a bumper 2014 for the Spanish market, where agents are reporting a busy start to the year and an increasing number of new developments coming to market.

Richard Way, Editor of The Overseas Guides Company said: “A joint report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) says Spain had transformed from ‘property pariah to star market’ by autumn of last year, with the revival expected to continue in much the same vein in 2014.

“Encouraging stats show that developers have the

TJ Carpentry & Construction Fully Qualified with over 25 years experience

TJOLIVER@HOTMAIL.CO.UK PIEDRA AMARILLA ALBOX, ALMERIA

619 584 405 635 979 829

confidence to build again – Alicante province, home to the Costa Blanca, finished 2013 with a total of 2,037 new houses being constructed, which is a 362 per cent increase compared to 2012 and back to precrisis levels.”

Mr Way concluded: “Meanwhile, the latest Overseas Guides Company Quarterly Index shows that interest in buying property in Spain increased by 37.8 per cent year-on-year in 2013.”

Source: www.smartcurrencyexchange.com David

665 517 643 Steve

610 905 173 valleyconstruction2008@gmail.com Fully Legal & Experienced Builders All Building Work Undertaken No Job Too Big or Small!!

Phone or email for a no obligation quote

Urgently wanted properties for sale in the Huercal-Overa, Zurgena, Taberno & San Juan de Los Terreros areas.

Call 0034 950 616 827 / 0034 678 002 006 155a Carretera Estacion, Huercal Overa.100m from LIDL

www.vosshomesspain.com

O Olive

Contact: 607 705 085 or 687 938 466 C/Llanos, Bedar (Next to the Miramar Restaurant) Open: Monday-Friday 10.00am-3.30pm

www.olivehouse-es.com lubrin

Rambla Aljibe

39,950€

A great end of terrace cottage set in a peaceful area with beautiful views, a 5 minute drive from the village of Rambla Aljibe. It has been reformed and is ready for finishing, new roof, doors/windows in place.

OLV754

24

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES OPEN FOR BUSINESS

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

swift transport

ANOTHER GREAT INSTALL BY: Wayne English

• Deliveries to / from UK • Monthly runs • Local deliveries also available

spain-uk-spain 07857 484886 Uk +34 618 511 234 Spain

full / part loads uk shopping

mobile:

699 909 737 office:

950 528 334 E-mail:

solosat@gmail.com

swift.transport@rocketmail.com Steven Smith - Arboleas Builder

Building Maintenance & Property Repair No job TOO Big nor TOO Small

Happy to provide a Quotation without Obligation Blockwork - Plastering - Damp Proof Concreting - Tiling - Roofing Painting - Cladding - Rejas...

Painting & Decorating Special Offer

mention code E2374 offer expires end April 2014

Please Call: 950 930 536 or 634 306 690 or email: ArboleasBuilder@gmail.com

No Job Too Small Free Quotations Tel: 633 507 165

POOL SHOP

Rain Diverters

FOR ALL TYPES OF SERVICE AND REPAIRS, ITV TESTING

Water Butts

Free Quotations john.colbert@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 662 597 596

FIND US In Longo’s Courtyard

Shop: 950 104 345 or Maintenance: 637 582 696

OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE FULLY QUALIFIED AND LEGAL DIESEL SPECIALIST

PAUL

NO JOB TOO SMALL

Tel: 617 150 300 or 850 993 057

trifenners@gmail.com

DAMP PROOF SOLUTIONS

Chris: 637 82 97 87 / 618 06 20 80

Are you fed up with peeling paint & render coming off your garden walls caused by rising damp?

The permanent solution to stop this is to have a Damp Course injected into your walls

Gas & Oil Fired Central Heating - Gas Appliances Plumbing - Servicing - Repairs - Installations

all work guaranteed

City & Guilds & ACS qualifications, CORGI registered with 10 years experience

FREE QUOTATIONS & ADVICE

British Plasterer • 8 years in Spain with

10% discount

on selected items

MOBILE MECHANIC ALL AREAS COVERED

Quality English Guttering

Bill’s Carpentry & Shop Fitting

Hanging Doors Flat Pack Furniture Fitting Kitchens - Tiling

PAUL

Full Guttering Service

25 years experience • Quality work guaranteed • References available

Tel: 634 327 201 / 661 129 028 Email: atpspain@gmail.com www.paulmorrison.es

5€ per meter John: 677 700 843

James & Son

Removals / Storage

UK, France & Spain personal shopping from the UK (Argos, Screwfix, Wickes etc)

Pet Transportation & Competitive Rates

950 529 731 / 627 968 434

HIRE A HUSBAND Professional, reliable, handy man available...

...for all the jobs he doesn’t get round to, including Van Removals, Painting Exterior/Interior, Small Plumbing Jobs, Persianas, Shelves, Garden Clearance, All Outside Work - Walls, Stone Cladding, Rendering etc... Property Maintenance Good hourly/daily rate - 7 yrs in the area.

Call Jim 677 557 190

References available & Pics of work completed

www.hireahusband.es

Monthly contracts, one-off pool clean, summer contracts, Procare holiday rentals, pools sand changes, minor pools repairs and much more For VERY competitive rates call

642 370 681 or email:

procarepropertyservice@gmail.com

elite plant hire construction & drainage

• general builders • jcb 3cx hire • patios • roofing

• walls • paving • extensions • cladding

Digger Hire available references available

call lee on 636 092 632 eliteplanthire@hotmail.co.uk

MOBILE VEHICLE VALETING PART & FULL VALETS - T CUTS & POLISHING - INTERIORS UPHOLSTERY CLEANING - SOFAS AND RUGS

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

book review

“We stood for a time, which was out of time, held as closely together as the hand of a father and his child.”

When you read Susan Hill you know exactly what you’re getting-a superb ghost story, atmospheric, full of terror and fear for the characters who are mysteriously involved in the occult. The truth unfolds slowly and the intrigue and suspense is expertly eked out before the final shocking revelations at the finale. The settings and actual places complement this remoteness and abandonment, a strong sense of isolation reminiscent of the great Hitchcock. And with Hill you can guarantee the expertise and fluidity of the style which makes for great reading. You just can’t go wrong, can you?

Adam Snow is an antiquarian bookseller with extremely rich clients in the UK wanting rare book collections such as first folios with contacts in the States and Europe so he is constantly travelling.

One time, as he is leaving a client and heading back to his home in London, he takes a few wrong turns and ends up at The White House and gardens.

In its heyday it had been regarded as a national treasure, visited by royalty and foreigners from far afield. Now it was abandoned and decaying.

image: www.shinehypnotherapy.co.uk

His curiosity got the better of him and he felt compelled to do some exploring although he perceived that he was an unwelcome intruder amidst a strange

The Small Hand by Susan Hill. quietness, an unearthly silence, an inexplicable eeriness and what he simply experiences here, a young child holding his hand, will terrorise him for the remainder of his days. This is the place that becomes an obsession and he is hypnotically drawn to the place to discover the secret of the small hand.

A stroke of luck enables him to purchase a First Folio of a works by Shakespeare for his wealthy client, Sir Edgar Merriman. Excitement all round. Discrete enquiries assure Adam that the edition is housed in a monastery in a remote area in France where the Resistance was active. A treacherous journey to Saint Matthieu des Etoiles, climbing high into mountainous regions with a storm raging, incessant rain, sulphurous looking skies and blue-white lightning. Some of the bends were coiled like snakes. Flashed indelibly on his mind was the image of a child dashing across the road during this storm. He braked hard thinking he had hit the child. When he got out of the car to see whether he had injured the child he found himself standing precariously on the edge of a precipice, almost losing his balance and falling to his death….

He suffers panic attacks and night horrors where he imagines himself being sucked lifeless under the water. When he is near water of any kind he feels a strong force, a tremendous terrifying strength which he finds irresistible.

“It was like a magnetic pull. It was there

Give up smoking for good in less than two hours on No Smoking Day

March 12 is No Smoking Day. So if you are still hooked, now is the time to give up for good.

Organised by the British Heart Foundation, No Smoking Day is the day that thousands vow to kick the habit, using any method they can – whether it is Nicotine patches, electronic cigarettes, willpower, chewing gum, inhalers or even prescription drugs.

But quitting is not easy and many smokers will have tried some or all of these methods and still be addicted.

Which is why Medcare GP practice in Benijofar is now offering the services of a hypnotherapist to help people stop smoking forever. And to mark No Smoking Day, the Medcare hypnotherapist, Angela Haram, is offering free consultations so you can find out if giving up with hypnotherapy is right for you.

Says Angela: “If you really want to quit then hypnotherapy will work. By the time most people leave my hypnotherapy sessions even the thought of a cigarette makes them feel sick.”

But the key is wanting to give up. “It won’t work if you are only doing it because you’ve been nagged into it by friends or family,” says Angela.

In case you are not sure you want to give up, here are a few facts that might help you decide.

Smoking is considered to be the biggest

25

cause of premature death in the UK and when you consider what is in your cigarettes that is hardly surprising.

With every drag you will inhale acetone, a solvent found in nail polish remover; arsenic, a deadly poison; benzene, a solvent found in fuel; cadmium, a poisonous metal used in batteries; cyanide, a deadly poison; tar, a mix of chemicals including formaldehyde, arsenic and cyanide, plus many more deadly chemicals.

And smoking can damage almost every part of your body, including lungs, brain, skin, bones and major organs.

You will be at greater risk of developing many cancers, stroke, heart attack and osteoporosis. Your skin will age prematurely and lack of oxygen will leave you looking grey and unhealthy.

But the good news is that as soon as you quit, the health benefits begin – no matter how long you have been smoking or how old you are.

After 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal. At eight hours nicotine and carbon monoxide start to leave your body and oxygen levels return to normal.

By 24 hours, your lungs start to clear. At 48 hours nicotine has been eliminated from your body.

As the weeks pass, your general fitness will improve and by three to nine months coughs and breathing problems clear as your lungs continue to heal. One year without smoking sees your risk of coronary heart disease drop to half that of a smoker.

Stop damaging your body now and call Medcare on 966 860 258 or email doctors@ medcarespain.com to book your free consultation with Angela to find out if hypnotherapy will work for you. If you choose to go ahead, Angela is offering her smoking cessation hypnotherapy sessions for just €95 instead of €145 for a limited time.

when I slept and when I woke, it was there at the back of my mind all day and it was there even within my dreams.”

The monastery visit represents Adam’s days of light before the darkness that plunges him into the depths of hell.

He feels safe in this place of sanctity, protected by the prayers of the monks but he has to return to the real world and confront his demons.

He contacts Hugo his brother when he returns to the UK and finds out about his brother’s panic attacks. Hugo suffered madness as a result of something disturbing in his youth and had two years of treatment before appearing to have been successfully cured. Adam is worried it is a genetic condition.

“There is sometimes the shadow of a shadow. My psyche was turned inside out and shaken.”

Adam’s discovery of a photograph with Hugo and a boy when they were children links them to The White House and its tragic history. What is this connection?

And what is the connection between the statue of a young boy playing with a dolphin and a golden ball with James Harrow? Who was James Harrow and more importantly, what happened to him?

It’s a long story but it will always haunt Adam: “My last carefree, guilt-free, blithe moment. Aren’t there always these moments just before the blow falls that

changes things forever?”

And it did change things for ever.

Tragically. The final confession wrecks Adam’s peace of mind for ever. The debt has finally been paid but Adam remains guardian of a grisly secret which he must take to his grave and never ever disclose to a living soul! Read it if you dare.

Publisher: Profile Books.

1846682407.

ISBN: 978-

REVIEW it by Carol Naylor. www. c a r o l n a y l o r. b l o g s p o t .c o m / w w w. carolesleynaylor.wordpress.com naylorcl@hotmail.es

Private Sale

houses and land can be separated with own escrituras or sold as one lot Two detached villa shells built up to and including roofs125m2 built on flat 3000m2 plot. Secluded position, unspoilt countryside views across orange and lemon groves front and rear.

Fully Legal & with Full Title Deeds

• E ach villa spec: 3 beds / 2 baths. Size 125m2 •S pace for pools (12mx6m) • E xceptional uninterrupted views of orange and lemon groves to front & rear •S ituated between Almanzora & Arboleas overlooking Almanzora valley • 1 0 minutes to nearest town with all amenities • I nland country setting, but only 30 minutes to coast • I deal for builder to complete internals

Priced to Sell Must be viewed to appreciate this golden opportunity

Tel: 609 199 394 647 379 878 950 064 801

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

STANDARD CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Wildcats left out in capital (7) 5 Journey to get crude oil in capital (7) 9 Syrian mother with a part in a play (9) 10 Birds in white trousers (5) 11 A large rodent, being bashful, rolled up (5) 12 Lined salt shaker made ready for use (9) 13 British poet associated with gravity is having a merry time (7) 15 Nits are possibly more unpleasant (7) 17 Graphically describe harbour light (7) 19 Distended, having bolted a stew (7) 21 Author of Breathe Out, Lay Out, Going Out? (4,5) 23 T his is always resplendent, adorning heads (5) 25 War or piecemeal missile (5) 26 State control for Romanians (3,6) 27 Revolutionary near the capital (7) 28 Hotel of more than average height in capital (7)

ACROSS 1 Glide over ice (5) 6 Type of ornamentation (5) 7 Table game (7) 9 Small snake (3) 11 Misery (3) 12 Mountain (3) 15 Highway (4) 17 Notion (4) 18 Boredom (5) 19 Assumed name (5) 20 Number (4) 22 Young woman (4) 23 Expert (3) 24 Drink slowly (3) 26 Golf accessory (3) 27 Substitute (7) 30 Stringed

31 Go in (5)

audible sound (5)

Down

13 Let for money (5)

instrument (5)

1 Transgression (3)

14 Out of date (5)

2 Be aware of a fact 16 Sceduled to (4) 3 Remote in manner arrive (3) (5)

17 Unwell (3)

4 Accept (4)

21 Aviator (5)

5 Optic (3)

24 Rotate (4)

7 Tool (7)

25 Wan (4)

8 Emit light (7) 9 Stadium (5)

28 The night before (3)

10 Relating to

29 Vehicle (3)

Down 1 Will addition show 100 + 0 + 500 + 99 + 49? (7) 2 Game for drunkard

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

26

(5) 3 Tom Cruise playing an outfitter (9) 4 Carol goes round Royal Botanic Gardens, taking an oblique course (7) 5 Turncoat’s first motive for disloyalty (7) 6 In Howard’s End - one has a passage here from Forster (5) 7 Believer in esoteric powers is joining quasi-religious group in October (9) 8 Tavern drink for the auditor, one with access to confidential information (7) 14 Metallic element forming excellent electrical connection (4,5) 16 Something lacking in brief season (9) 17 Field worker finding insect on vegetables (7) 18 Moscow politician revolting in style (7) 19 Bomb compartment - note damaged weapon (7) 20 Monster devouring head of old mounted soldier (7) 22 Where transport is provided by chopper (5) 24 Arranging bail, one makes plea (5)

SUDOKU PUZZLE s

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

squiggle SUDOKU

standard SUDOKU

easy SUDOKU

CRYPTIC crossword

CROSSWORD

squiggle

standard

SOLUTIONS

easy

SOLTIMES march 2014

www.soltimes.com

1. What is made using soda, lime and silica? ..................................................................................

2. H ow is the chaparral cock, a ground cuckoo native of Mexico, better known? ..................................................................................

3. W hat state does Sarah Palin represent as its governor? ..................................................................................

4. W hich category of sports men or women have been voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year the most times? Footballers, athletes or motor racing drivers? ..................................................................................

5. I n which year did Royal Mail introduce self adhesive stamps? 2001, 2003 or 2005? ..................................................................................

6. What is the speed limit on a German motorway? ..................................................................................

7. A fter which sporting hero was Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton named? .................................................................................

8. Which world famous musician was born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar in 1946? ...................................................................................

9. I nspector Morse actor John Thaw was married to which actress at the time of his death in 2001? ...................................................................................

10. I n the game Cluedo, which room can be accessed via the secret passageway from the Study? ...................................................................................

11. C ommon, Water and Pygmy are types of which British mammal? ...................................................................................

12. W hat was the title of Bob the Builder`s second UK number one hit single? ...................................................................................

13. W hat mineral has the highest number on the Mohs scale? ...................................................................................

14. W hat building is pictured on a bottle of HP sauce? ...................................................................................

15. H ow many successive pots must a snooker player make to score a 147 break? ...................................................................................

16. A country historically known as Abyssinia, what is the modern name for it? ...................................................................................

17. I n Germany it is called “blutwurst”; in France, “boudin noir”. What is it most commonly called in England? ...................................................................................

18. W hat is the name of the canoeist who famously faked his own death when he disappeared in 2002? ...................................................................................

19. W hich supermaket is mentioned in Chas and Dave`s song Rabbit? ...................................................................................

20. I n Peter Pan, what is the name of Captain Hook`s ship? ...................................................................................

SolPUZZLES

Logic Puzzle

At the end of the last volleyball season, the main results table had been destroyed. Luckily, a number of people could remember the following snippets: Arlington Wonderers finished above The Golf GTI and Derby Surefires. Eagle Cherrys finished above Arlington Wonderers, The Golf GTI and Derby Surefires. Happy Hours finished above Brookside Magic and Eagle Cherrys. Eagle Cherrys finished above Foxtrot Kilos and Chippy Flippers. The Golf GTI finished below Chippy Flippers and Eagle Cherrys. Foxtrot Kilos finished before Brookside Magic, Derby Surefires and The Golf GTI. Derby Surefires finished below Foxtrot Kilos, Chippy Flippers and Brookside Magic.

Arlington Wonderers finished below Chippy Flippers and Eagle Cherrys. Brookside Magic finished below Eagle Cherrys, Foxtrot Kilos and The Golf GTI. Derby Surefires finished below The Golf GTI and Eagle Cherrys. Foxtrot Kilos finished below Arlington Wonderers and Eagle Cherrys.

Can you restore the correct league positions?

Logic Puzzle SOLUTIon Happy Hours The Golf GTI Eagle Cherrys Brookside Magic Chippy Flippers Derby Surefires Arlington Foxtrot Kilos

Q&A

27

1.Glass 2. The Roadrunner 3. Alaska 4. Athletes 5. 2001 6. There is no limit 7. Carl Lewis 8. Freddie Mercury 9. Sheila Hancock 10. The kitchen 11. Shrew

Q&A ANWERS:

ANTS AUGUST BARBEQUE BASEBALL BEACH BEES BICYCLE BLUE SKY BOATING BREEZE CAMPING FISHING FLIES FLOWERS GARDENING GOLF GREEN GRASS HAT HIKING HOLIDAYS HOT ICE CREAM JULY JUNE MOSQUITOES NO SCHOOL PICNIC

~ quotes ~

Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it!…Sir Frederick Henry Royce of Rolls-Royce Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not…Ralph Waldo Emerson When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water…Ben Franklin Fools learn from experience. Wise men learn from the experience of others…Otto von Bismark An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind…Mohandas Gandhi Be not simply good; be good for something…Henry David Thoreau Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm…Winston Churchill Be careful reading health books. You may die of a misprint…Mark Twain You can’t make someone else’s choices.

You shouldn’t let someone else make yours…Colin Powell

summer

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

ROLLER BLADES SANDALS SKATEBOARD SOCCER SOLSTICE SPRINKLERS

SUNBURN SUNGLASSES SUNSCREEN SUNSHINE SUNTAN SWEAT

SWIMMING U V RAYS WASPS WATER FIGHTS WATERMELON

AN

12. Mambo No 5 13. Diamond 14. Houses of Parliament / Palace of Westminster 15. 36 16. Ethiopia 17. Black pudding 18. John Darwin 19. Sainsbury`s 20. The Jolly Roger

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

28 SOLTIMES march 2014

Tasty food for everyday, special occasions and for sharing with friends buy 1 meal, get 1 half price throughout January eat in only

Puff pastry party canapés Ingredients

Friday 7th March 9pm Start

Dee Sharp Duo

Restaurant

CHARITY DISCO NIGHT

Preparation method OX

ALB

Saturday 22nd Feb - 7:30pm ‘til Late Supporting our community Hosted by Mark Deacon

5€ includes a buffet

Friday & Saturday 6pm - 9pm

Menu del noche & a la Carte Menu available

For the chorizo sausage rolls, melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the onion and thyme and cook gently for five minutes, or until softened. Add the paprika and cook for a further minute. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.

Remove the skins from the chorizo and sausages and place in a mixing bowl, add the cooled onions and mix home-made Sunday lunches well until completely combined. Unroll served noon - 5pm Book our function room with private patio garden the pastry out on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle and then for your parties, weddings, birthdays etc. cut lengthways into two long strips.

Please call into Jacks or phone Divide the sausage mixture in half and to discuss your BUFFET OR MENU roll into two long sausages roughly the REQUIREMENTS, OR JUST A CHAT same length as the pastry.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU Brush the pastry with a little beaten 9AM-LATE MON-SAT 10-6 SUN SEE OUR egg, lay a sausage down one side of MAP ON a pastry strip, and roll up tightly. Seal PAGE 30 the edge. Repeat with the remaining pastry and filling, then transfer to a tray

Waiter service Booking Recommended

OPEN

For the chorizo sausage rolls 20g/¾oz unsalted butter 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only 1 tsp smoked paprika 3 cooking chorizo sausages 3 herby pork sausages 250g/9oz ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry plain flour, for dusting 2 free-range eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt sea salt flakes For the tapenade and parmesan palmiers 250g/9oz ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry 4 tbsp olive tapenade 1 free-range egg, beaten with a pinch of salt 50g/1¾oz parmesan cheese, finely grated For the cheese straws 250g/9oz ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry 100g/3½oz parmesan, finely grated ½ tsp cayenne pepper 1 free-range egg, beaten with a pinch of salt

950 120 718

jacksalbox@gmail.com

join-side down, brush all over with the beaten egg and refrigerate, covered, for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 (180C fan). Cut each roll into 14 equal sized slices and lay on baking trays.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until crisp and golden-brown. Serve warm.

For the tapenade and parmesan palmiers, lightly flour a clean work surface. Unroll the pastry out onto the floured surface into a large rectangle.

Spread the tapenade over the pastry in an even layer, spreading to the edges of the long end and about 2cm/¾in from the edges of the short end. Roll the two long sides up tightly to meet in the middle, turn over, cut into 1cm/½in wide palmiers, place cutside down on a baking tray and press lightly to flatten slightly. Brush all over (including the sides) with a little beaten egg and sprinkle over the parmesan.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Cook the palmiers at the same temperature as the sausage rolls.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until crisp and golden-brown. Serve warm. Any leftover tapenade can be used as a dip.

For the cheese straws, unroll the pastry onto a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle. Sprinkle half of the cheese and all of the cayenne pepper over one half of the pastry and then fold over to seal.

Using a rolling pin, roll the pastry into a large rectangle, no thicker than a pound coin. Brush with the beaten egg and then sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Cut in half lengthways and then cut each piece into 12 equal strips.

Twist each strip into a neat spiral and lay on a baking tray. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Line two baking trays with greaseproof paper. Remove the cling film from the cheese straws and lay them on the lined baking trays. Bake the cheese straws at the same oven temperature as before for 6-8 minutes, or until crisp and golden-brown. Serve warm.

SOLTIMES march 2014

www.soltimes.com

Send your recipes to editor@soltimes.com and we’ ll place them in Bon A ppetit

air-conditioned

La

29

VidaRestaurant&Venue

A night full of fun

el Cucador

come and join

DJ Jonny slade Saturday 8th March 8pm

and605’s0’s

70’s 8€ 80’s

hot or cold buffet option

traditional sunday lunch

Thai fish cakes with a honey and cucumber dip You can make your own red curry paste if you wish but you can get away with a good-quality bought one. The secret to forming the quite sloppy mixture is wet hands - honest it works. You can use halibut, sea bass, pollock or coley depending on your budget.

Delicious served with this salsalike sauce.

from

8.95€

Del

Preparation method For the fish cakes, place the fish, fish sauce, red curry paste, lime leaf, galangal, lemongrass, coriander root, egg, palm sugar, beans, and lime juice in a food processor and blend to a paste. Alternatively this can be done in a pestle and mortar – pound the ingredients to a jelly-like paste.

Remove and, with damp hands, take a piece about the size of a walnut. Roll it into a ball and then flatten it to a thin disc. Lay on a floured plate. Repeat until all the mixture has been used.

Refrigerate until ready to cook.

Ingredients

For the fish cakes 500g/1lb 2oz skinned and pin-boned halibut fillet, chopped 1 tbsp Thai fish sauce 1 dessertspoon Thai red curry paste For the dip, beat together the vinegar, 1 kaffir lime leaf, finely sliced honey, two tablespoons of water, the 1 thumb-sized piece galangal, chopped lime juice and fish sauce. Taste and finely 1 stick lemongrass (the soft bit only), adjust the honey and lime juice to get it sweeter or sourer, however you want it. finely sliced 1 coriander root and leaves, chopped Add the cucumber, carrot, shallot and 1 free-range egg chilli. Leave for 30 minutes to an hour 1 tsp grated palm sugar for the flavours to develop.

50g/1¾oz snake beans, sliced thinly Heat the groundnut oil in a frying pan (alternatively use French beans) and cook the fish cakes until golden½ lime, juice only brown all over – this should take a plain flour, for dusting 3 tbsp groundnut oil, for shallow couple of minutes on either side. frying Serve on a banana leaf with the sauce For the dip in a dish to one side. Garnish with the 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar lamb’s lettuce.

2 tbsp clear honey ½ lime, juice only 1 tbsp Thai fish sauce 100g/3½oz cucumber, skinned, cored and diced 50g/1¾oz carrot, finely diced 1 shallot, finely diced 2 birds’-eye chillies, Free Bottle of wine seeds removed (if liked), sliced thinly per couple to take away

Mesón de

To serve banana leaves lamb’s lettuce

after having our night menus Valid only with this voucher dinner 19.00-22.00 until 31ST MARCH

#

#

Irene

winter crazy offer

menu e h c o N

Spring into our restaurant with our new

Home cooked with all the trimmings served 12.30pm-5pm includes a complimentary coffee & chocolate

oonnly ly

10.95€ pp pp

booking recommended

A choice of

evening bar

5 Starters

specials served 6-9pm

Mon : Chill & Rice 5€ Tues: Cod n Chips 5€ Wed: Chicken & Chips or Gammon Ham & Chips 5.50€ Thurs: Pie Night 5.50€

sky sports

LIVE - shown in the bar

5 Main Dishes 5 Desserts All home-made.

Includes Glass of Wine or Tubo

thursday - saturday 6pm - 9pm (starting 13th march) bookings now being taken

fish n chips Beer battered Cod home-made chips & peas

from om fr

5.95€

FRIDAYS 12.30pm - 9pm

lite bite snacks Specials, Burgers, Wraps

open for lunch 12pm - 4PM

menu del dia 2 COURSE LUNCH 12:30 - 3:30pm

6€

Tel: 950 634 562 lavidacucador@gmail.com

o pen e v

ery d 12pm - l ay ate We are here

Albox Arboleas 1km

Zurgena La Alfoquia

Mojacar

E15

La Vida

Cucador Junc 547

Huercal Overa

30

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

The Meek Mr Osborne And Your Estate

By Chris McCann, Partner, Blevins Franks

The meek shall inherit the earth, according to the Bible. In the case of the UK tax authority, the meek Chancellor levies 40% inheritance tax on estates.

The situation is getting worse, with Mr Osborne’s measures expected to drag tens of thousands more British families into the inheritance tax net over the next five years.

Inheritance tax is charged at 40%, over a tax free allowance – the “threshold” or “nil rate band” - of £325,000. The threshold has been frozen since 2009, and is scheduled to remain unchanged until April 2018. Around 176,000 estates are expected to be affected.

If the threshold had risen with inflation each year, it would be £372,000 today. The result is that families are paying an extra £18,800 in tax.

The threshold would rise to £415,000 by 2018 if

inflation linked. With it being frozen, estates caught in the tax net will pay an extra £36,000 in tax in 2018.

The Treasury is expected to earn around £3.3 billion this tax year from inheritance tax - 14% more than last year, and the third annual increase in a row.

With the threshold failing to keep pace with rising house prices, the Treasury is getting an extra windfall.

Accountancy firm Grant Thornton calculated that 42,000 estates will pay tax in 2016/17, compared to 21,000 in 2012/13.

In October 2007, when Mr Osborne was still the shadow chancellor, he said a Conservative Government would increase the threshold to £1 million to “take the family home out of inheritance tax”. However, for many people, the family home still falls into the inheritance net, including overseas

properties.

There are various ways to mitigate inheritance tax for your family and heirs, and save them the headache of having to sort it out. You also need to take Spanish succession tax into account, and understand how the two taxes interact. This is a complex area and can be a legislative minefield. Specialist, detailed advice is essential.

Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should seek personalised advice.

To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com

Burty’s BAR Playa Serena, roquetas de mar

Thursday 20th March

authentic curry night 9.95€ for 2 courses - Sharing Platter to include Bhajis, samosas, Bombay potato, poppadams & dips Beef Madras Or Chicken Korma Or Green Thai Fish curry Perfumed Basmati Rice and Naan Bread

sunday roast

served from 12noon – 5pm every week

1 course 7.95€, 2 courses 9.95€

booking advisable

anglican church service 3rd thursday of the month 11.30am next service 20th march

Fabulous Friday

Fish & Chips, ½ Roast Chicken & Chips €7.95 or Entrecote Steak €9.95

next table top sale 23rd march call to book a table

Opposite Playa Luna Hotel between Oasis & Mar y Sol. Tel: 679 156 715

 be a

Monday - Saturday : 10am - 4pm and 7pm - close.

Sunday : 12noon - 5pm (Carvery) Thursdays : closed

art p A La Carte Menu  of it Main Meals 6.95€ from



tapas served Lunch & Evening







Every Friday fish chips & peas €3.95 Large Cod, Chips & Peas €5.50





every thur Wednesday Tapas served quiz 2.15pm bingo 3pm from 12noon – 4pm prompt Brand New Menu Del Dia 2 courses 15.95€

relocated to new premises



e huge sunny terrac with winter sun!

free



Sun – Wed 11am – 6pm, Thur – Sat from 11am

Sunday Carvery €6.95 Served 12 noon til 5pm

mini roast €1.50 Wednesday wobbler 3 course menu 6.95€ served 12 noon - 3pm and 7pm - 9pm

Tel: 659 683 447

www.newyorknewyork.es

OPPOSITE THE Protur hotel, next to y da wakes

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

31

ROQUETAS DE MAR A Tapas Gathering in Roquetas De Mar

nOTICE bOARD Saturday 23rd March table top sale at burty’s bar

Roquetas Bridge Club meets on Monday’s at 3pm.

Wish your Friends & Loved Ones a Happy birthday, anniversary or just send them a special message.

Send details to production@soltimes.com or call Mark on 693 774 932

For more info please contact Alison Ferguson 950349749 or Sue Barlow 950 333 344 Friday 28th February saw a small gathering of the FTG Tapas Group at La Bodeguina in Calle Sierra Nevada, which was also Andalucía Day! Unfortunately, quite a few of the regulars were missing due to ill health and sickness. This week, the group were joined by Sarah, who was new to the group, but engaged in conversation with the ladies and had a good time.

Many thanks to Kyle, Alan and the chef for some fine cuisine and excellent service. Alan can be seen waving through the window, perhaps? Many thanks to all and, see you next Friday at White Chairs.

happy birthday mum have a great holiday love u loads Soph, Paul Jake, Milli, Ab, Jody, Lou, Isla & Sofia xxx

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION NOTICE FORTHCOMING SOCIAL EVENTS IN 2014 ROQUETAS DE MAR BRANCH 3569

Tuesday 1st April - 3.00pm - Social meeting.

Tuesday 6th May - 3.00pm - Social meeting.

Tuesday 3rd June - 3.00pm - Social meeting.

Tuesday 1st July - 3.00pm - Social meeting.

All monies raised at these afternoons will go to the 2014 Poppy Appeal.

New members are most welcome to join the branch, so please come along to any the social meetings or contact Mike on 950328469 for further details. Meetings are held at ‘The Lodge’ on Calle Americo Vespucio, Roquetas De Mar, on the first Tuesday of each month, at 3.00pm.

FTG Notice

The ‘Friday Tapas Group’ meet up at 1.00pm each week (Friday) and the venues over the next few weeks are as follows: 7th March - Bar Cuellar, (White Chairs).

14th March - Mar y Sol, near Hotel Playa Luna.

21st March - Bar Tango, near Hotel Sabinal.

28th March - to be confirmed.

4th April - Burty’s Bar, near Hotel Playa Luna Anyone is welcome to join the happy bunch and have a laugh, exchange views and ideas. The more, the merrier and the bar owners enjoy it too!

estampa Tapas Bar nny outdoor u s s u io c a p S ating 24 terrace se TV SKY

Tapas/Snacks English Breakfast Fish & Chips Coffees & Cakes Cocktails/Sangria

sky sports shown here

FREE WI-FI Open 9.30am - late (Closed Tuesday) Next door to Zurimar 678 202 160

32

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

SOLTIMES

SOL CLASSIFIEDS Air-con

www.soltimes.com

MD Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration S.L.

see us online

everyday FOR SALE

advertise all your unwanted items for sale in this section any single item up to 300€ free of charge

email: sales@soltimes.com k n i cartridges refills or buy a at compatable prices. great we love to save money. you ics shop inside liberty seguros insurance, calle malaga (next to puppy rescue) or call 609 199 394 Britax Freeway car seat 9kg to 18kg (9months to 4years) used twice, complete with user guide and junior car seat ( 4-6 years) only 25€ Tel: 634 356 465 or 600 826 995 Oria Garden furniture set, green plastic, table and 4 chairs matching with seat covers and parasol, excellent 45€ condition Tel: 950 459 523 or 672 112 933 Childs basketball net, Toys R Us, age 2+, 15€ Tel: 950 459 523 or 672 112 933 slide, Childs plastic, Feber, age 3+, good 40€ condition Tel: 950 459 523 or 672 112 933 3 seater brown settee 60€ and 2 matching brown seater settee 50€ both good condition Tel: 950 459 523 or 672 112 933 MIELE tall freezer - needs new motor, otherwise in ex. Con. Also electronic control

unit for Miele tall fridge. Still in box (ordered wrong Cost part). over €100. No reasonable offer refused. Tel: 650 442 462

MD S.L

City & Guilds Fully Qualified F-Gas Certified

25 years sole experience in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

not a jack of all trades

For all your installation or service MD Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration S.L offers our latest including requirements info@md-aircon.com telephone 950 432 110 / 607 364 917

607 364 917 or 950 432 110 email: info@md-aircon.com

md_aircon@mobileemail.vodafone.es

Airport services

2 recipe books. www.AAparking.es Tel: 639 081 067 30€ Tel: 689 581 Cheap 752 (Cantoria)

Airport Parking

Need

Transport??

Tel: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ext 332 sales@soltimes.com

baby equipment hire

drainage

BABY HIRE

Drainage

Everything for the visiting baby Car seats, high chairs, stair gates, cots etc 950 436 581 or 666 375 688 expectingababy.2006@gmail.com

ballroom dancing

Solutions

• Emergency Drain Cleaning • High Pressure Water Jetting • CCTV Surveys • Drainage Repairs • Location of Cesspits • Qualified Engineer • Expert Reports

Tea room ballroom dancing Established 9 years in spain

sequence with jean & derek at

La

el Cucador

VidaRestaurant&Venue

Tel: 616 531 283 or 670 088 966

mondays 3-5pm

all levels welcome LICENSED POZO/septic tank emptying single or couples • Installation of new septic enjoyable afternoon to meet tanks with certificates new friends for more info call • Repairs to existing pozos 950 449 617 • CCTV Camera Inspection blinds & screens

Airport services shopping Servicing / Repairs trips hospital A i r p o r t t r a n s f e r s appointments Call Andy on 950 091 109 or 648 768 587 etc bugsreplacement windows & pick up all areas, blockeddrainsrus@albox-online.net Email: c o m p e t i t i v e 663 429 521 doors Aluminuim & UPVC fitted & made to measure tel: 600 049 rates. For a professional 515 quote please visit J A M O N E R A , www. spanish reliable horizontal style, e s t a t e a g e n t . carpentry ▪ Emptying of septic Tanks service 10€ Tel: 689 581 com or call 661 your all for 752 (Cantoria) 143 871 & Cesspits, with high carpentry needs B O S C H 712 101 646 on designs B B& Call alternative energy pressure cleaning CERAMIC HOB Model No PKF Solar Wind Power Solutions.

▪ Small unblockages of R14,four Over 651 15 years installation pipes & drainage ring,touchcontrol/ experience. established 12 t i m e r , c o l o u r years in Spain.

Call Phil Pool Cleaning & Water Tanks black. for competitive prices 636 261 240 6 email:info@sunergyalmeria.com con.

Ex months old, new www.sunergy almeria.com price 280€,now electrician available venues 180€ ono Tel: chimney sweep 475901 950 / 678 567814 The Chimney sweep, for a (Mojacar) friendly professional service Call Rewires & Upgrades - Fault Finding - Boletins Paul on : 617 150 300 or 850 993 BMX Trial Bike 057.

VGC. 40€, Sports

SW GARDEN CHAIR, ING to converts lounger, 3 seater. used Rarely outside. A high chair, quality 150€ Tel: 689 581 752 (Cantoria)

Duvet.

Single Natural feather/ down filling. Still in packet, with new duvet covers/ pillowcases.

Cost over £70, accept €25. Tel: 650 442 462 EXPRESSO C O FF E E M A K E R Orbegozo Roma, Makes two cups, hardly used 35€.

Tel: 950 479 464 Turre R O U T E R Nupower 1020W Complete with 2 collets 6.35mm, 8mm, 5 pc router bit set 4 6 8 10 & 12 mm. New boxed 85€. Tel: 9504 794 64 World Bike Good Con. 50€, Pine Turre Interior Door inc: B E N C H E hinges, Handle GRINDER 150W and Architraves 6” Coarse and 50€. Tel : 647 921 wheels, Fine 286. Almerimar eye shield , anti wheel L a d i e s spark, guards, tool rest. S p e c i a l i z e d 45€. Tel: 950 479 H a r d r o c k Bike mountain 464 Turre 608 Tel: 100€ OVEN GAS 499 621 with 5 gas hobs. standing, Stijl Re107 power Free with integral gas washer for sale. bottle. Very good 100€ Tel: 608 condition. 100€, 621 499 priced to sell. GOLF CLUB Tel: 689 581 752 Taylor Made (Cantoria) RBZ Stage 2 Hardly M O U L I N E X Driver maker, used. 125€ o.n.o. bread as new. c/w Tel: 950 019 846 / instructions and 0794 928007

Alicante Almeria Murcia New

Cleaning of Septic Tanks

WILDWOOD Bespoke Joinery For all your carpentry requirements

Fast, efficient, competitive service.

Tel: 634 328 574 james@wildwood.es

Contact: 675 838 808

CD electrical SERVICES

Venue @ La Vida El Cucador

Emergency Call Outs in Albox for all your electrical needs!!!

Private parties Private parties computers air conditioning & ALARMS Birthday etc, Birthday etc, Steve Hayes Informatica 617 410 534or 662 414 043 Call: all events Pc’s, Laptops, Printers etc. Sales & Repairs info@cdelectricalservices.com all events on-site callout / tuition. Consumables www.cdelectricalservices.com catered for catered for Check out our genuine reviews on Albox, Almeria www.viva-almeria.com call for more call Bar for more Tel: 950 120 900 information: information

950 634 562 950 120 718 wanted

construction

gardening

construction

potty finca services professional tree felling & pruning,

lady wants to buy large terracotta garden pots, call 647 379 878, can collect wanted king size bed must be in excellent condition, can collect 647 379 878 wicker conservatory settee/chairs wanted must be comfy, can collect call: 647 379 878

including all types of palm trees

strimming of overgrown

Mat Murray 647 841 750 matmurrayes@gmail.com established in spain for 14 years

fully legal

gardens & hedge cutting spanish registered. ring john on 616 855 294 or 950 163 930

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

www.soltimes.com

Tel: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 ext 332 PROPERTY section

health & beauty

logs

plumbing

avon cosmetics Tel Claire 691 987 454 avonfromclaire @yahoo.es pamper yourself at R Retreat El Cucador, beauty treatments, hair salon, holistic massage, waxing, pedicure etc. Therapists all established & UK qualified.

Email retreatcucador.gmail.com or call 647 379 878 for a full listing of treatments or look at our main advert on the ladies page inside & call the therapists direct

load of small or big Olive logs, no roots €160 load of mixed Olive some roots €140 load of eucalyptus, no roots €160 all loads 2 tonnes Arboleas & surrounding areas Call Lee on 636 092 632, eliteplanthire@hotmail.co.uk

For all your plumbing needs Fully Qualified heating engineer

Optica Albox All your optical needs, eye tests, hearing tests, contact lenses Tel: 950 121 991

hobby/craft

PAINTER / DECORATOR

ELAINE’S WOOLS

Quality UK Wool & Accessories.

Come & view my DISPLAY. Also Available at CAT Services & Total Entertainment

Call 667 273 889 elaineswools@gmail.com

HOME HELP/CARER

OPTICIANS

painter & decorator

friendly - professional -reliable neat & tidy - experienced no job too small

ring for a free quote

Tel: 649 186 107 or

Mature Irish Lady Home Help/ Cleaning In Mojacar & Surrounding Areas. Experienced & Can Supply References. Reasonable Rates. Call Yvonne 634369053

email thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

house maintenance

woodhouse boarding kennels & cattery - arboleas

General house & garden maintenance, No job to small tel: 600 049 515

insurance

albox

iron/ metal works

pets section

Honest & Reliable person with references, available for House / Pet sitting. Lived locally for 10 years. Tel: 950 163 489.

legal

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

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

No need for kennels or cattery If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic in our regular space on pg 16, please email info@daviessolicitors.com

contact barry 667 853 062 or graham 620 112 193

KNOWLES plumbing

Pet sitting in your own home, Arboleas & local area.

Call Vanessa 637 061 482 Pilates

pilates

with Sharon 4wayconnections O’Lanlon every Legal and Translation Wednesday Services. Tel 646 844 708 11am - 12 all www.4wayconnections.com welcome all levels at La Vida, locksmith El Cucdor Phil the Pick Locksmith 24 Call for more details hours. Locked Out? Locks fitted/ 638 487 314 upgraded house safes. Arboleas fully UK reg: & surrounding area. Special 25 years weekend rates. Tel: 697 243 181 experience

Tel Paul 634 327 201

Whether you are buying or selling we will be delighted to hear from you

Call Stephen 636 266 641 email info@findmeahome.es Find us online at www.findmeahome.es facebook.com/findmeahome SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL

No 1 for Plumbing

All types of Plumbing

Central Heating Gas/Oil - Solar Hot Water Boiler Servicing, Repairs & Replacements Water Leaks - Sewage Blockages Water Deposit Tanks 500-8000l Pool Pumps - Septic Tanks Osmosis Systems

BARGAIN For sale.

One bedroom apartment in La Envia Golf.

Fully furnished.

Ready for rental. Superb investment opportunity.

Offers based on 35,000€.

No timewasters please.

Call 663 426 921

soltimes classified

TELEPHONE: 950137197 / 606807797

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

advertise your property

detatched cortijo reduced

€135,000 ono 649 186 107 or email

thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

From just 10€ per week!

call paulette on 950 121 936 20mins from mojacar, 4 beds, 2 baths, Open plan living areas, kitchen & diningroom as well as a workshop, courtyard front & back & room for a pool. Mountain views.

Your property will appear as shown above and be seen by almost 55,000 Sol Times readers!

Tel: Paulette on 950 121 936

recruitment

PRODUCTION jump into March with

ASSISTANT REQUIRED

A great opportunity for the right person. Working in PLASTERER our busy, friendly Zurgena British offices with hours to suit.

Must be able to use plasterer Indesign and Photoshop & All work work with networks

guaranteed

Specialising in rural property with character

VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT advertise in the

Small friendly kennels, 24hr vets service, pet transporting arranged, welcome to view ministry approved Tracy Mobile 650 211 952

The Metal works Grills, railings, gates of all types, security/sliding/ roller, rejas, Please contact concertina doors etc. Tel: Keith Glenn & jayne 950 121 943 Wood on 638 infoalbox.libertyseguros@gmail.com 900 949 T & T Metals For all quality metal works, including gates, railings, rejas, staircases, gazebos & chainlink fencing Tel: 950 431 738

insurance est 7 years Award winning agent For all your Insurance Needs

33

Send your CV to rob@soltimes.com

SOLTIMES

newspaper group are looking for Bright, enthusiastic sales people

have a sales psition for Albox & surrounding areas to work from our local office in Zugena.

Do you enjoy a fast paced working enviroment?

If you have an outgoing personality with bags of enthusiasum & enjoy the pressure of weekly deadlines then we would love to hear from you.

Experience is not essential as full trainning will be given

Send your CV to cmm@soltimes.com or call Paulette on 950 121 936

34

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

are you a trade Business? advertise in the classified section & reach over 30,000 potential customers

Classified box from 9€. lineage only 45 cents per word Deadline 5pm Friday Contact Paulette on 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 ext 332 removals

SPAIN UK SPAIN Removals Friendly Reliable Service Fully Legal Special deals from UK - Spain

Office: 968 564 298 Mobile: 696 621 884 marmenorremovals@ hotmail.com UK - SPAIN - UK

From a parcel to a small house move Professional,Friendly & Caring Fully insured, scheduled monthly door to door service

uk@fmtransport.co.uk www.fmtransport.co.uk

+44 (0) 1582 499 836 +44 (0) 7977 754 389

De Lima’s

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

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

www.delimas.biz

fortnightly SERVICE TO & FROM UK FULL OR PART LOADS

Marketing Assistants required

safe & secure transport to & from uk

due to company expansion.

thermal lined & controlled ventilation ideal for pets

200€ dog 100€ cats & birds heavy loads welcome

4700kg with speed limiter fixed price quotes fully legal operation shop & offices to visit px goods to offset costs

call: 634 368 430

“BRITISH TV” We can get the channels back! please contact:

Tel 950 334 614

inf@cms-propertys.com Avda. Playa Serena 200, Roquetas de Mar.

M&D removals transport between spain - uk friendly, reliable

Large Van Removals / Deliveries Spain - UK Full or Half Loads Collections e.g from IKEA Tel Mick: 950 122 447 Mob: 620 475 218

all jobs considered all areas covered

0044 161 317 6212 UK 0034 634 368 071 SPAIN chalmersj8@hotmail.co.uk rachaelchalmers83@yahoo.co.uk

motoring section car & van hire

Van hire

Mobile motor

ONE WAY

mechanic



Costa Blanca North & Murcia Regions Full Time position available for promotional work.

Basic salary plus excellent bonus package .

Please email your CV to marketing@avalonsl.es or call

Rebecca 966 799 070

yoga

tuition

Yoga with Liz Hill every Wednesday 2pm - 4pm at La Vida El Cucador over 20 years experiences UK trained All levels welcome call Liz for more info on 667 979 445

LEARN SPANISH… …in a fun and enjoyable class with Paco

at Camping Los Gallardos, MiraFlores Restaurant.

New, beginners class starts 14th march 2014 16.30pm

Private lessons and different levels also available.

CALL PACO 661 142 606

car/bike for sale

wanted wanted uk cars & vans

covering all

UK to Spain or Spain to UK

*LOCAL *NATIONAL *EUROPEAN

mobile mechanics

situations vacant

tv services

areas, fully

* COLLECTION & DELIVERY *STORAGE

TEL: 667 235 205

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

number plates

qualified & legal, over

bought for cash

30 years experience,

Telephone

Call Paul on 617 150 300

667 235 205

“RE-PLATE” cars 4 cash MATE vehicles bought 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 WE PROMISE TO BEAT ANY GENUINE QUOTATION For a full service contact:

Alan 662 249 159

www.replatematecostablanca.com

& sold prompt decisions made

654 598 455 or 693 702 629

Pontiac Grand AM

3.1v6, 1997, 10,005 miles, 2 owners, full year ITV

2000€ ono

Tel: 950 439 136

Audi A1 1.6. Spanish G Plated LHD 3 years old.

Fully Serviced, Excellent Condition

9500€ ono

Please ring Patricia on

608 621 499

€5.200

SEAT IBIZA 1.9 Tdi SPORTS 2008, 103.000KM, NEW TIMING BELT IMMACULATE CONDITION NEW TYRES,

CALL PAUL 671 843 155

Smart Car, 2001, Silver & Black

99,000 Km, Automatic/manual ITV to Nov 2014, Recent engine overhaul Offers 2,500€ Tel. 950 069 610 Mob. 634 881 689

Fiat Panda 1250cc Dynamique 2005 Taxed April 2014, ITV (MOT) Feb 2016. 115,000 kilometres (77,000 miles). Recent new cambelt, battery & water pump. A/C Superb economical runabout. Returning to Uk. 2,950€ including all legal fees.

Phone 634395167.

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

Call paulette on 950 121 936

car/bike for sale

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

The Invasion of the Little People The scene of conflict was our back terrace, on which stands a bucket of clean water, destined to go on the pot plants.

sides and slither in.

I emptied the bucket, the Little Person’s equivalent of emptying the Hoover Dam. With their water Beyond the terrace are 2 source removed, they fair sized Mimosas, both sought alternatives. In their in copious bloom. It was hundreds they investigated from this fecundity that every inch of the back the Little People emerged terrace, even entering the in their hundreds, maybe kitchen each time the door even thousands, and was opened. However, headed for the bucket of although they could find the kitchen door on the water. way in, finding the same Unfortunately they were door for the way out was not aware that they cannot beyond them; they would swim, or at least not until hammer their little heads they had tried it and failed, senseless against the by which time was usually windows instead. too late. I mounted a futile I moved from Bucket rescue mission, gently scooping the dead and Rescue to Window Rescue, dying from their watery but as each Little Person incarceration, but as fast was carefully captured in as I scooped, more frantic a teatowel and ejected little bodies would lose through the door, two their grip on the bucket more would enter.

By sheer press of numbers the Little People had established dominance over the rear of our house, and although they were peacefully intentioned it was only a matter of time before tempers became frayed, and someone got hurt. josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk Something had to be

By Jos Biggs

done. I filled the saucer with water, put a kitchen cloth in it to act as a life raft, and put it outside where the bucket had been. They were delighted, and flocked to the saucer in their hundreds.

But I still had to negotiate my way through hundreds of Little People every time I wanted to go out of my back door, so I initiated a Little Person’s Training Programme. Each morning, before they were awake I moved their saucer a little further away from the house.

It was at this point that I discovered the limitations of the Little People’s navigational skills –Move the saucer more than 18 inches and they can’t find it, thus progress away from our back door and to a place of mutual safety was, literally, inch by inch!

But now, after fortnight of training, all except a few have learned – their saucer is round the back, underneath the TV dish, out of harm’s way!

How they ever find their way back to the hive is beyond me!

alqueria The HOWLING John MacDonald (El Sordo) - www.caratacus.eu

José Cabrasilbido listened intently to Manuela’s story. The girl was out of breath. She had run all the way from the banks of the Río Verde. It was two in the morning.

The policeman was in no mood for sectarian tricks but Manuela was not prone to hysterics and she was certainly shaken. She was interrupted during some nocturnal activity of which she was vague but it appeared to involve two local lads and a tub of Remitroot degreasing gel.

An unearthly howling ‘aymelaysheengang’ had echoed through the village. Manuela’s two companions had taken to their heels. They were last seen passing through Mojácar white faced, sweating and trouser-less.

Now José, Alqueria’s local policeman is not the wisest of men. He had mastered joined-up writing but was still baffled by his car’s gear-lever. The Mayor had confiscated the bullets from his ‘glock’ after he accidentally shot the Inspector Jefe in the foot. At least it is assumed it was an accident.

José was however tenacious and set about dragging the river. He feared the howling was the last desperate gasps of a drowning man or woman.

The dragging turned up a stone plinth inscribed ‘Atlantis’, an earthenware amphorae containing the fleece of a winged ram, gold in colour and a suitcase with ‘Property of Lord Lucan’ etched across the handle. “Nothing of interest here” he muttered as he threw the items back. Finding no tangible cause he began looking for a more unworldly solution. The gallant policeman set about an all night vigil.

A lonely watch over the village and its people.

Settling himself in Manuela’s much used clearing, he waited and listened.

Darkness fell and the bars emptied.

Giggling couples and arguing youths made their way home. A fragile tranquillity fell upon Alqueria as it

prepared for slumber.

Hours passed.

José could feel those troublesome neck hairs start to rise.

‘Aymelaysheengang’ pierced the still night. The terrible wailing continued ‘weeepastfooorkupradstannning’. José plucked up whatever courage he could muster and headed in the direction of the lament. ‘It is human’ he thought ‘but either in great pain or greatly demented’.

‘Horweslotsoadsanassesallwlingaces’ it continued. Along the Calle Horne José walked. Not looking back, nor right, nor left but grimly straight on. The light from an open window attracted the policeman. He wondered what sights would greet him. What carnage must await discovery.

Blythe Gruntmore the village’s resident Englishman, stood knee deep in empty Newcastle Brown Ale bottles, afloat on a sea of nostalgia. He pined for the Tyne and its fog shrouded banks. He raised his head and burst into song.

“Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin’, We pass’d the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin’; Thor wes lots o’ lads an’ lasses there, all wi’ smiling faces, Gawn alang the Scotswood Road, to see the Blaydon Races.”

José, not wanting the night to be a complete waste decided to pay Manuela a visit, he was sure he could find a suitable pretext.

35

viewpoint

A Crease in Time Saves Nine For anyone who has experienced tendonitis, they will know just how painful and frustrating it can be. Painful because it just is - and frustrating, because of the often very long healing time to get back to normal.

I have suffered twice with tendonitis in the elbow commonly referred to as tennis elbow, or in my case, pints-of-Greene-KingIPA elbow - but that was a long time ago with thankfully no recurrence.

So having suffered excruciating pain in her shoulder for a week or two, my gorgeous wife has just had the results of X-rays which reveal a case of this troublesome condition.

Not life threatening, but with the shoulder being a far more complex joint than the elbow, it has become obvious how much distress this is causing when at intervals throughout the night, every little movement causes agonising pain and she emits a loud shriek.

Our neighbours have started to give me knowing looks when I see them in the garden.

So it’s a long healing process with strict orders from the doctor to rest the shoulder by keeping the arm in a sling for most of the day, making it extremely upsetting for her.

Upsetting for me too, because to add to my regular duties in the kitchen and fifty percent shares in the housework department; I am now lumbered with the ironing, the other half of the dusting and mopping, all of the

By Colin Bird :

badbirdnow@gmail.com

driving – thus giving my liver time off for good behaviour when attending lunches out with friends - and other sundry chores.

My paternal grandfather was a tailor and there was obviously something in the genes because my Dad would always press my trousers when I was a boy and make a fine job of it. I suspect however that this was only partially due to his inherited skill and largely as a result of my Mum’s disastrous attempt to press my very first pair of long school pants.

It’s a painful memory for me because what happened was that instead of ironing my trousers giving a sharp crease front and back; what she actually did was apply the creases along the inside and outside seams. Thus I had to appear in school that day looking like a cardboard cut-out, much to my embarrassment and the obvious amusement of fellow pupils and teachers alike. Just what a lasting impression this made, was brought home to me in recent times when I re-connected with a school chum through the wonders of the internet and his first words emailed to me were: “Haha, yes I remember you - it’s the ginger bread man!”

As for my new role as chief ironer, just like my Dad, I shall continue to press my chinos, jeans and slacks to within an inch of their lives as I always have done . . . it’s all the other stuff that is proving to be irksome.

I thought I had made a pretty good job of my shirts this week and was quite hurt when my wife inspected them with a barely audible tut tutting noise. “What’s wrong?” I queried, ‘I’ve ironed all the creases out haven’t I?” “Yes”, she said, “but you’ve transfered them to other places.”

“It’s my new rumpled look.” I told her sulkily,

then grudgingly started to re-iron the whole lot again.

So there we are, I am for the foreseeable future destined to wear the apron and Marigolds in my new role as house husband, but there is one job that I loathe, not because it’s difficult or time consuming, but because according to my wife I never do properly.

Hanging washing.

out

the

Yes, yes I know, it sounds like a piece of cake, but however I arrange it all, or whatever way up I suspend the shirts, sheets or socks and in what order; my wife tells me it is wrong. If she is out while I undertake this task, I will take odds of five hundred to one, that no matter what, she will return home only to rearrange the whole damn lot. If I hang my grape smugglers by the legs, it looks silly she tells me, but then on another occasion if I hang them by the elasticated waistband, then that’s wrong too because the elastic takes longer to dry she maintains.

I have exhausted every combination possible for every conceivable article of clothing and household linen over the years, but it’s never to her satisfaction.

Whatever I am told on a Monday has by Friday become outdated although the light of my life will maintain vehemently that she never told me to do it Monday’s way in the first place.

There is only one thing for it.

I have this very bad pain in my shoulder.

36

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

animal corner

Best Tips to Stop Dog Barking Remember, barking is natural!

It’s an important means of communication for dogs. But sometimes problems can develop.

As the pack leader, it’s your job to step in and control excessive barking.

woodhouse boarding kennels & cattery arboleas

Small friendly kennels 24hr vets service pet transporting arranged welcome to view ministry approved

Tracy 650 211 952

Ken & Jackie

1. Correct dog problem behavior and follow through.

Tell your dog to stop barking using a look, a sound, or a physical correction. But don’t stop there. Your dog may pause and then go right back to what he was doing.

His body relaxed, but his brain was still on alert. Be patient. Wait until your dog completely submits before you go back to what you were doing.

2. Stay calm when trying to stop dog barking.

Constant barking can be irritating, but you won’t be able to correct the dog behavior problem if you are frustrated. Animals don’t follow unbalanced leaders. In fact, your dog will mirror your energy. If you’re frustrated, he will be, too! And barking is a great release for that

frustrated energy. Take a moment to curb your own internal barking first.

3. Stake your claim to stop the barking.

Is your dog barking over and over again at the same object, person, situation, or place? Then you need to step up and claim that stimulus as your own. Use your body, your mind, and your calmassertive energy to create an invisible wall that your dog is not allowed to cross.

Do it with 100% dedication and focus, and the results may surprise you.

4. Stop the barking by challenging your dog mentally and physically.

Excessive barking is often the result of pent-up energy.

If this is the case, the solution is simple: release that energy in more productive ways. Does your dog receive

a daily walk? Can you make the walk more challenging with a bicycle, a backpack, or by walking on an incline?

Can you provide more mental challenges, such as herding, agility training, or simple obedience games?

There are many, many ways to increase the challenges in your dog’s life. Find one that you enjoy that your dog can

participate in safely.

5. Get professional help to stop dog barking.

When you brought this dog into your life, you made a commitment to provide the care he needs. Prevent dog barking, and other dog behavior problems by calling in a canine professional to help him cope with a behavior issue.

Dog & Cat Sitter service

• Your home or ours • Honest & trust worthy • 5 years experience of all types of animals • References available on request

676 389 592

Get On Your Bike

And Join The Critical Mass

require special permission or reason: ‘We do not block traffic, we are traffic,’ is one of their slogans. However, they have their critics.

Bike riders are often criticised for their lack of road sense, especially in towns and cities, and are also blamed for causing accidents amongst other road users. The main complaints being their utter disregard for traffic lights, pedestrian crossings and one way streets, to name a few. A road safety Cyclists across the municipality were invited to join in a mass mobilisation spokesman recently condemned the ‘cavalier attitude’ most cyclists apply last week to raise awareness of bike riders, not only locally but around the when using the road. He said, “Bicycle riders have for world. The so called ‘Critical Mass’ movement has been in too long considered themselves outside the laws existence for some years and was created to promote the of the road. This is not the case as they are using benefits of recreational cycling. the public highways and therefore must adhere to Similar events have been taking place around the the laws of the highway.” world for many years, always on the last Thursday In the past ten years, the city council of Roquetas of every month. This was the first time such a ride has provided a good structure of cycle paths and has happened in Roquetas, but the organisers have continues to expand the network where possible. A been involved in related events in Almeria. The spokesman from the council said they would support movement was established on the idea that bicycles future Critical Mass events and will continue their ongoing are entitled to circulate as a vehicle and should not plans to make life easier for cyclists on the roads of the municipality.

get

IN THE YELLOW CONTAINER

Only plastic containers, cans, and cartons Your Town

Clean as a..

Remember all plastic containers, cans, and cartons we use can be recycled when deposited in the yellow container. If mixed with other wastes we spoil everyone’s efforts.

Let’s separate well Recycle

better

37

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com part 2

Fun and power Two words that, for me, best describe the Honda CR-V. Fun because this all wheel drive vehicle can tackle most terrains while the 150bhp 2.2 litre diesel unit has enough oomph to travel from 0 to 60mph in a little over 10 seconds. I’m testing the top-ofthe-range £33,000 plus 2.2-litre four wheel drive version. As I look down the side panels I’m instantly struck by how this fourth generation model reminds me of the BMW X5. It looks grander, more striking and capable than its predecessors. I like the polished metal finish. Eldest daughter

Harriett likes the way water jets clean the headlights at the push of a button.

In fact this sports utility vehicle (SUV) is fitted with a number of luxury features including the power tailgate that makes light work of closing the boot, extremely easy to fold rear seats and a panoramic glass roof, all of which you can see in the video at testdrives.biz.

The black leather interior is comfortable and the power front seats are easy to operate, although the driver’s seat does seem to remember a different position on locking the vehicle. This is no doubt down to me not setting my desired position on the memory function. Similarly my wife and I find the radio frustrating because it refuses to play our favourite station, bypassing it at every request.

My test takes in Dorset, Hampshire and Oxford. A selection of artists have opened their studios and so it is an ideal opportunity to go and visit them.

The automatic gearbox is smooth.

The centre armrests front and back together with the blacked out rear windows add to the hint of luxury.

Vauxhall Adam S This is the new Vauxhall Adam S, or at least, a ‘c l o s e -t o -p r o du c t i o n’ version of it. So, add a tax disc and some mints in the glovebox and it’s good to go.

Parkers, the car experts, say: “The British-built Honda CR-V is now in its fourth generation. The five-seat SUV has been in production since 1995 and has proven incredibly popular for the Japanese manufacturer. Indeed, five million CR-Vs have gone to happy homes around the world. Its blend of practicality, reliability and efficiency has stood it in good stead, but competition from the likes of Mazda’s CX-5, Nissan’s X-Trail and even BMW’s X3 means Honda really has to be on its toes to retain its share of the market.”

Facts at a glance:

Honda CR-V 2.2 iDTEV EX 4WD Auto 2012 onwards Facts at a glance New price range: £21,735 £35,465 0-60mph: 10.6secs Top speed: 118mph Economy: 39mpg Power: 150bhp Accessories for the CR-V including roof boxes and roof racks are available from: www. roofcarriers.co.uk Watch the video at: www. testdrives.biz

Calle Mallorca, San Javier Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511 www.specialistvehicles.com

At last, Vauxhall has injected some power into the Adam mix, and faster than any other equipped it with higher- Adam you can buy. performance brakes and Acceleration times chassis settings to match. haven’t been revealed, Is the Vauxhall but with a slug more Adam S a true hot power and the fitment of hatch? a six-speed manual ‘box It’s a warm Adam rather in place of a standard than a blisteringly hot Adam’s notchy fiveone: power comes from speeder, we’re expecting a turbocharged 1.4-litre a decent improvement four-cylinder engine, over the Adam’s current developing 148bhp and 0-62mph best of 11.5sec.

162lb ft. That’s a useful The Adam’s always been 49bhp more than the a fashionista first, funster next-most pokey Adam second: can the chassis (a wheezy, naturally keep up? aspirated version of the Vauxhall says yes. The same 1.4).

Adam S has a bespoke With 50% more horsepower and a whopping 70% jump in torque, the Adam S makes mincemeat of the regular, underpowered Adam crop. Its top speed is 137mph – a full 22mph

Interestingly the route is pretty much a straight run from Oxford down to Dorset and we are able to take in an average of three studios a day, racking up just over 500 miles and returning at best 39.7mpg at a constant 56mph.

As temperatures drop to minus figures in the winter months it is reassuring to be driving a vehicle that is fitted with permanent four wheel drive, especially when visiting the remote parts of the country that our trip takes us to. In fact on a number of occasions we find ourselves parking in farmers’ fields to visit the studios and the CR-V makes extremely light work of such requests.

Hill descent is a useful feature too enhancing its capabilities when tackling such scenarios.

chassis set-up – though Vauxhall hasn’t said just how much lower and stiffer the car is. The standard car’s squidgy brakes wouldn’t do for the Adam S: here you get bigger discs front and

rear.

The ‘VXR’ braking system is picked out with red brake calipers, slotted behind 18in alloys wearing low-profile tyres. The car also has recalibrated electric power steering.

What about the looks?

It’s a subtle bodykit for the Adam S, rather than a gaudy VXR suit. A roof spoiler, Side skirts and lower front bumper and larger tailpipe add some aggression to the Adam’s cute proportions.

Inside there’s been an outbreak of redness (consult your doctor, Adam): the Recaro front seats, steering wheel, gearlever and door panels are all splashed with racey red highlights. Prices and an on-sale date will be revealed later in 2014

Mercedes C220 2.2CDI elegance 2009 80,000kms...................€16,950 opel Zafira 1.7cdti Diesel 7 seater 2011 95,000kms............€13,950 2006 audi a3 2ltr tfsi quattro 93,000kms................................€9,950 Mini Cooper 1.6 Petrol AUTO 2005 75,000kms...........................€8,950 vw passat 1.9 diesel auto 2004 102,000kms..............................€6,950 Seat ibiza 2007 1.9 tdi diesel 107,000 kms................................€6,950 opel tigra 1.3cdti 70,000kms 2006...............................................€6,950 smart forfour 1.5 diesel 71,000kms 2006.................................€5,950 Ford fiesta st 2.0 petrol 86,000kms 2005 ................................€5,950

over 40 cars in group stock

www.specialistvehicles.com Tel: 968 146 158 / 618 628 511

TYRE KING The Best Deal for Miles

car - motorcycle - van - 4x4 Motorhome quad - trailer - wheelbarrow

●A ll New Tyres Supplied Have Manufacturers Warranty ●C omputerised Tracking Including 4x4s ● While You Wait Service

● Large Stock Available ● Motorbike Tyre Specialists ● Headlamp Polishing

Poligono El Real, Calle El Garcel F19, Antas, Almeria 04628

Open: Mon - Fri: 9.30 - 17.30

Tel: 950 459 253 e: tyreking@ymail.com

Vera 

tyre king

petrol station E15/A7 MOTORWAY Exit 534

Antas

38

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

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

sport

Badgers Texas Scramble at Macenas

Badgers Golf Society visited Macenas Golf for their weekly competition.

A Texas scramble was the competition for the day with drawn four balls.

Winning team on 51.25 after handicap allocations were deducted was Richard Jones, Ian Bethel, Dave Wright and Jan Page, 2nd place team with 52.25 was Brian Watts, Andy Mucha, Colin Commander and Dave Loader.

Saturday’s

stableford

competition at Macenas was won by Brian Watts with 37pts from Alan Thomas in second place with 32pts and 3rd place going to Dave Crothers with 30pts.

Members are reminded that the yearly membership is now due.

Badgers Golf Society also plays every Saturday at Macenas for their weekly roll-up. Please book in at Badgers. Forth coming

cortijo grande

Wednesday 26th Feb 014 and twodivisions as we get more players wishing to enjoy Cortijo Grande golf course. Our first div winner with a good score of 38 points Frank Button second with 35 Mike Picken and third with 34 Frank McGovern. Second div winner with 32 Pat Hill and second with 31 Frans Dierden and third with 30 Carol Hardy. Ball sweep winners Alan Woodward

and Pat Hill.

Sunday and our Asprodalba golf day. A good days golf and we managed to raise plenty of money for this good cause.

The winner of the trophy and the first div with 37 points our captain David Hardy a good way to celebrate your first big competition as captain.

Second with 34 John Geaves and third with another 34 Juan Pedro Fernanbez.

fixtures are :-) Thurs 6th March Aguillon, Wed 12th March Macenas, Thursday 20th March Away day trip to Lorca.

Guests are welcome to join the society on both Wed and Sat comps and can book in either at Badgers Restaurant on Mojacar Playa or by phone on 950478525 / 6860388259.

Fixtures can be found on www. badgersmojacar.com

Second div winner with 36 Mary Higgins second with 33 Janet Kay and third with 31 Patricia Holt. No Ball sweep winners so more in the pot for next week.

I would like to thank all our members who gave us their support for this very good charity which does so much good work for this part of Spain, Enjoy your golf with Cortijo Grande visitors and guests welcome. MP

2014 Inaugural Cup Open Mixed Pairs Report Almeria Bowling Club The Open Mixed Pairs Inaugural Cup was played on the weekend of March 1st and 2nd and started with threatening weather on Saturday but turned out well with a sunny but very windy day on Sunday, making bowling difficult. The entries were very good with a total of twenty-eight pairs from Indalo, Cabrera and our own Bowling Club.

The competition schedule was planned for two groups playing three games each to be completed each day over a timed period, hoping to play eight ends within that time in each game. Points were awarded for wins, draw and ends won.

One can never really predict the eventual winners. This proved to be the case with the final games of the competition giving mixed feelings of pleasure and disappointment.

The winners were Ruth

Compton & Steve Grattage from Indalo with 45 points, second were Viv & Ken Sykes, 43 points from Almeria and third with 42 points were Barry Jones & Ann Reynolds from Indalo.

The forth place having 42 points but higher shot difference were Dave Jenkins from Cabrera and Doreen Hall from Indalo.

Yours truly expressed how well the competition had gone and thanked everyone for taking part and the bar and catering staff for keeping us watered and fed. I also thanked the assistance of Stan Brisco in umpiring and timing of the games.

Colin Wright who worked tirelessly throughout with the administration of transcribing score cards onto results sheets, who without, we couldn’t operate the competition successfully.

Captain of Almeria, Colin Wright, then presented cash prizes of 80 euro 1st, 50 euro 2nd and 30 euro

sport SHORTS

• Tonight England play Denmark in a friendly international at Wembley, live on ITV. • Six Nations Rugby continues this weekend with Ireland-Italy and Scotland-France on Saturday and England-Wales on Sunday.

• Also on Saturday, it’s ArsenalEverton in the 6th round of the FA Cup, followed by Hull-Sunderland, Manchester City-Wigan and Sheffield United-Charlton on Sunday.

• In the PL over the weekend, there’s the London derby between ChelseaSpurs and WBA-Manchester United.

• Manchester City won their first trophy of the season by beating Sunderland 3-1 in the League Cup final.

• A week ago, in the last 16 of the CL, Fernando Torres netted a vital away goal for Chelsea in a 1-1 draw against Galatasaray; Manchester United were poor, very poor, in losing to Olympiakos in Greece; Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice as Real Madrid blitzed FC Schalke 6-1 in Germany.

• In the Europa League, Tottenham trailed 2-0 on aggregate before scoring three goals in 13 minutes to beat Dnipro 3-2. Swansea went out to Napoli.

• In recent PL action...Liverpool won 3-0 at Southampton; Chelsea beat Fulham at the ‘Cottage’ with Andrea Schurrle’s 16-minute hat-trick; Arsenal lost 1-0 at Stoke; Everton pipped West Ham 1-0, Newcastle won 4-1 at Hull, Aston Villa beat Norwich, also 4-1, Spurs pipped Cardiff 1-0 and Swansea and Crystal Palace drew 1-1.

• Leicester, Championship leaders by eight points, beat Charlton 3-0; second-placed Burnley defeated Derby 2-0.

• Wolves, 3-0 victors over Portsmouth, are top of FL1; Celtic, who belted Inverness CT 5-0, need two points to clinch their League title while SL1

for 3rd and finally 20 euro for forth place.

This report and photographs will be found on our website www. bowlingalmeria.com / www.bowlinginspain.com and Sol Times if space is available.

Vic Parsons ABC Press Officer & Vice Chairman

by Tony Matthews

leaders Rangers won 1-0 at East Fife.

• Three teams are chasing La Liga title after the Madrid derby between Atletico (3rd) and Real (top) ended 2-2 and Barcelona (second) beat Almeria 4-1.

• Birmingham City owner Carson Yueng has been found guilty of five counts of money laundering. He’ll be sentenced on Friday and could face 14 years in gaol.

• Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was fined £100,000 by his club for head-butting Hull’s David Meyler in last week’s PL game. He now awaits the FA’s decision!

• 4,000 fans (3,000 of them girls) saw One Direction star Louis Tomlinson make his football debut for between Doncaster reserves against Rotherham.

• WBA’s Nicolas Anelka has been banned for five matches and fined £80,000 for his ‘quenelle’ gesture at West Ham last December. The striker has also been ordered to attend a compulsory education course.

• Roger Federer and Venus Williams won the men’s and women’s singles finals of the Dubai Championship.

• England level 1-1 with the West Indies after two of three One Day Cricket Internationals in Antigua, play the deciding game in Antigua today.

• In the World Track Cycling championships, Brits Joanna Rowsell (2 gold), Laura Trott (silver), Becky James (bronze) and Jess Varnish (bronze) all won medals • Rory McIlroy lost to Russ Henley in a play-off in the PGA Florida Honda Classic.

• Ronnie O’Sullivan scored a world record 12th maximum 147 break in the final frame to beat Ding Junhui in the Welsh Open snooker final.

SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

www.soltimes.com

sport

almeria bowling club

Car wash by hand Cleaning of interior & seats Motor cleaning Collection & e Waxing delivery servic

Have a car like new from 18€

FEDERACION ANDALUCA DE BOLOS

cespa

vera



Metalube /Navigation aids Accessories / Seat covers

In Est. El Real, Antas Tel: 603 398 706 going to the Indalo team 21-18, the other semifinal was contested by two Indalo teams and another close match with the team of Colin Thomas/ Fred Hudson/Ray Haynes/ Ferah Mehmet winning 1513 over Lois Swaine/Ken

Ferry/Barry Jones/Richard Swaine.

to take the F.A.B. Rinks Title for 2014.

The final took place Sunday afternoon and saw the Indalo team of Colin Thomas / Fred Hudson / Ray Haynes / Ferah Mehmet winning by 22-9

Our thanks to Ruth Compton / Stan Brisco / Colin Wright the Umpires for this competition.

heels to the rest of the competitors 1st Norman Whibley 40pts

Mon, Wed and Friday

2nd Sandra Siggers 35pts 3rd Colm O´Keeffe 33pts on a card play off

AGUILON GOLF For the past 4/5 months a Group of Swedish golfers have been wintering in Aguilas and using Aguilon golf as their base and so the Aguilon v Sweden challenge cup

Repairs to lights Xenon & LED lights / Wheel trims

integral auto

Almeria bowling club was the venue for this years F.A.B. Rinks competition which took place on the 22nd / 23rd February.

The semi-finals on Sunday morning had the team of Vic Parsons / Christina Fitzgerald / Jim Pike / John Fitzgerald (Almeria) against Bill Seymour/Paul Milsom / Alan Reynolds / John Colquhoun (Indalo) This was a very close match with the result

39

Twos: one lucky winner Sandra Hooker 4th

was inaugreated, the 1st match was played on Wednesday 19th when 16 players from each side took on each other in pairs betterball match play,a great day was had by all and some great golf played so it was fitting that the match finished as a draw 8pts to each team Friday February 21 – Individual Stableford A runaway winner with (Stormin Norman) showing a clean pair if

Wednesday February 26 – Individual Stableford On a fine sunny day it is a mystery as to why the scoring was not as good as expected with only the winner having a decent score 1st Mick Siggers 36pts 2nd Norman Whibley 33pts 3rd Colin Hodge 31pts Twos: Les Raufer 4th, Brian Everitt 8th, Ian Jenner 10th and David Street 17th Guests and visitors are welcome to join us on a

The final game of February was played on Friday 28th and again 24 members took part. The course was extremely busy with visitors staying at the hotel, however play moved quite smoothly.

The winner of this week’s individual stapleford competition was no stranger to coming first after winning last week as well, Richard Hull scored 37 points dropping his handicap from 13 to 11 in a matter of two weeks. The handicap secretary expects him to be down to single figures in the next few week, all this from someone who was considering taking up darts as his golf hit the doldrums a few months ago. A lesson to all golfers keep going and your game will

come back again.

Well done to John Clements with a second place on 35 points and recovering well from his knee operation, Ian Jones also a great score on 33 points also recovering well from illness. Just goes to show that golfers never give up.

Nearest the pins on the 5th Patrick Vickery, 12th Tish Bigelow Two’s were John Clements on the 6th and Tish Bigelow and Ian Cooper on the 12th Next Friday is our monthly medal 9.45 tee time off hole 10.

Last Wednesday 36 members and guests got together for lunch at El Gmomo Vera and we had an excellent meal and were spoiled by the staff.

The members of the society wish our current captain, Bill Churchill, an ongoing speedy recovery.

(F.A.B.

For information contact 634 641 199

- Supply and fit of all types of grips - Excellent selection of good quality balls - Extensive Range of gloves - Servicing, repairs and free battery testing for all makes of electric golf trolleys - Extensive stock of pre-used Irons, Drivers, Hybrids & Putters both Ladies and Gents - We can also sell your clubs for you. Why not come and see us for a chat or call 610340653

SOL TIMES COSTA ALMERIA SALES HQ: 902 750 190/950 121 936 OPEN: Mon-Thurs 10am-5pm Fri 10am-4pm

ALBOX, ARBOLEAS, ALFOQUIA ROQUETAS, ALMERIMAR coastal & mojacar areaS EDITOR: editor@soltimes.com

sales@soltimes.com

Sol Times Almeria is 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 Almeria is an independent publication. Published weekly and produced exclusively in Almeria. 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.

EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER: Views & opinion in editorial copy are not necessarily those of the publisher. the publisher accepts no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.

Almeria Edition AL-344-2005/Roquetas Edition AL 956-2010

POSTAL ADDRESS: MATTHEWS MEDIA S.L. APDO. 242, 04800, ALBOX, ALMERIA

Auto Shine Body Repairs

approved SAVE UP TO 28 CENTS repairers PER LITRE ON DIESEL ○Panel Beating ○Paint Spraying ○Bumper Repair ○Windscreens ○Plastic & Fibreglass Repairs

CARS - VANSCARS - MOTORHOMES & TRUCKS ~ MOTORBIKES ~ MOTORHOMES

Mark on: 607 324 623 or 607 324 624 Save fuel Call with an Autotune ReMap timber

old

CASA

AA Auctions CONCHILLA With a one yard off investment in your vehicle, WE ARE HERE an ECU remap will save you fuel or►your back ► money ►

►►

Despite the windy conditions 24 members of the Vale Del Este society took part in a team game. The winners of a 3 out of 4 competition with an impressive 105 points were Patrick Vickery, Keith Mason and Ian and Jean Cooper.

Ebdon

are offering a wide range of golfing services including;

►

VALLE DEL ESTE SOCIETY GOLF REPORT

David comps.)

R.&S.Golf at Los Llanos Market

GUARANTEED ALBOX BAZA ROAD

With improved drivability and power That’s 20% or more saving on your vehicle fuel costs forever

Q: What is it?

ECU remapping is a recalibration of your vehicles “Engine Control Unit” to provide better fuel economy and performance in one.

From just 199€ can save you 1000’s € on fuel costs Call Paul at Autotune on:

www.veloc-ecu-remapping-spain.com 600827517 or 950104488

pau l@au totun e.es

CARS - VANS - MOTORHOMES & TRUCKS s www.autotune.e

Save fuel with a Veloc tuning ReMap

SPAIN’s PREMIER ReMAPPING BRAND... we also do DPF removal

Call Paul at Veloc Tuning on: 600 827 517 or 950 104 488 Email: paul@veloc-ecu-remapping-spain.com

News

Property management Sales & Rentals

One Dead, Seven In Hospital After Drinking Poisoned Whisky

Roquetas de Mar, Aguadulce Almerimar, Vicar, La Envia Golf

For all your property needs Services include Key Holding, Maintenance, Furniture Packs, Cleaning & Laundry, Weekly Apartment & Post-box Checks Energy Efficiency Certificates Golf Discounts and Golf Packages Available

Rental Properties required for long or short lets in Roquetas de Mar Call or e-mail us for further information.

Mobile: (0034) 663 426 921

info@enviapropertyservices.com www.enviapropertyservices.com

Y DA WAKES Pool Table (Thursday Night is Pool night)

Bingo

Monday 8.30pm

full sports coverage Roquetas De Mar Urbanisation opposite Protur Hotel, next to Suzi’s

Tel: 634 322 644

opening hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat 11am - late, Sun 12noon - 7pm, Wed closed

La bodeguina open from 11am Thursday to Tuesday

free

Tel 902 750 190

www.soltimes.com

40 SOLTIMES MARCH 2014

(closed Wednesday)

Breakfast

served 11am - 2pm €3.95

10 different tapas available every day served from 12noon to 6pm Calle Sierra Nevada, Roquetas De Mar Tel: 633 376 541

One man has died and seven others are in Intensive Care after drinking from a bottle of whisky they found in the street. The bottle of Scotch is believed to have contained poison.

The men, all from El Ejido, were on a night out in Almeria and it’s thought they picked up the bottle earlier that day. They were discovered in the early hours of Friday morning in a distressed state in the old quarter of the city and the Emergency Services were called.

A thirty two year old man was pronounced dead shortly after being admitted to the Torrecardenos Hospital in the city. Of the seven in the Intensive Care Unit – all aged between 20 and 30 - four are still in a critical condition.

The exact movements of the men are being investigated by police and a spokesman said on Saturday that they

were trying to put together a picture of where they were on the night the tragedy happened.

One of the men has given police a statement saying they found the unopened bottle in supermarket bag on the street in El Ejido. They thought someone had lost it and decided to take it with them on their night out in Almeria. After visiting several bars, they opened the bottle and started drinking from it. Almost immediately, they started to feel ill and it was a passer-by who eventually called the police. A post-mortem will be carried out on the dead man to try to discover the nature of the poison involved.

Police are asking for help from the public in their inquiry.

By Martin Shortland

Extra Money Granted For Beach Cleaning Service

The Roquetas City Hall has announced an increase in funding for beach cleaning this year. A further 55,000 euros will be available for new machinery and extra manpower in readiness for the summer season.

The council is rightly proud of the cleanliness of its beaches and provides a year round service to guarantee they meet the high standards set by the European Union. Roquetas is one of only three towns in Andalucia to hold the coveted Blue Flag; the top award and sign of excellence for the cleanliness of its water, beaches and

surrounding areas.

During the summer months especially, it’s essential the beaches are kept as clean as possible. The extra machinery and manpower will ensure the thousands of tourists who holiday in the town every year, will be spending their time relaxing on some of the cleanest sand in the region. A council spokesman said the council will continue to ensure all of the facilities available to residents and tourists are the best in the region.

By Martin Shortland

Unemployment sport Figures Rise Rugby Union Slightly Unemployment in Roquetas increased slightly last year. The latest figures show just over 10,000 people were out of work, that’s a small rise on the previous year’s total, with women struggling more than men to find employment.

Roquetas is second in the province to Almeria in the list of unemployment figures, with El Ejido in third place. Across the whole province, the year on year figure dropped by just over 2,000 to a little over 79,000.

Despite those encouraging numbers, Almeria province still has the highest number of unemployed throughout Andalucia, with an increase of 9% on the previous year.

By Martin Shortland

Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll says that he would welcome a deal that would bring fly-half Jonny Sexton back to Ireland before the end of his contract with French side Racing Metro.

Sexton, 28, signed a two-year contract with the Paris club at the start of this season, but there has been speculation that the Irish Rugby Union would try and buy him the remaining year with concern that over his availability to the national side and over-playing.

“I think everyone is in agreement that we didn’t want to see him go, and if a situation arose where he did come back, and some agreement was made, I don’t see that possibly being a negative,” said O’Driscoll.

“I know that he’d be welcomed back into the fold from a provincial point of view.”

Read more on BBC.com