Editor’s Slice Hello
With the election looming in the UK, the news has been relentless, what with debates and interviews and even Sky’s miming of the Ballot Ballad — which I must say I thoroughly enjoy every time it is on. I guess though that because the news coverage started way back in January (it really did!), I am starting to tire of the whole event. But as much as the to-ing and fro-ing of the party leaders is starting to drain, I will still be glued to the box on the night, eagerly awaiting the announcement of the next PM – and, I’m guessing, the new coalition. For a few election facts, turn to page 44. If you want to get away from the headlines, why not pop along to the Day of the Olive, intriguingly described in the article by Melissa Potter on page 4. There’s a great festival for all ages – especially for performing arts fan too – promoted on page 20. Fancy something less energetic but very worthy? Then join the campaign to help Spanish greyhounds (galgos) escape their awful fate at the end of each hunting season. You can read all about the wonderful American couple, Petra and Jack, who are asking for your help and awareness. It’s not a plea for donations — just Facebook support, so please read their article on page 40 for more details. Well this time next month, we should be well and truly into some warmer weather as the Romeria season is nearly upon us, the UK will have a new PM (one way or another!) and no doubt the football league will be heading towards a sad conclusion for many of us! However, on the brighter side — unless you are a Chelsea supporter — we will be bringing you an update on our new changes for the months ahead, so in the meantime, enjoy this issue.
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Mik
www.facebook.com/theandalucian The Andalucían X5092417D Calle Juanita Romero s/n, Campillos 29320, Malaga Contact us Telephone: +34 952 723075 Mobile: +34 627 683380 info@theandalucian.com www.theandalucian.com Owner: Claire Marriott Editor: Mike Marriott 2
Special thanks to our writers and contributors Alice Marriott Ella Durham Heather Jones John Sharrock Taylor... Melissa Potter Sarah Jackson Tricia Johnson
Deadline: 11th of each month We won’t be beaten on advertising prices
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spotlight
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Things to Do
Toasting the olive oil harvest with Orodeal The friendly town of Algarinejo sits halfway between Rute and Montefrio. It’s here that the locals are getting ready for a huge party to celebrate the end of their olive harvest. The festivities are being held on Sunday May 10 and you are all invited! This ‘Day of the Olive’ is set to be a wonderful way to rejoice the reaping of the fruit whose healthy oil is often compared to wine — different groves offering distinctive tastes to the assortment of various oil products made. This comparison to a fine wine is even more apt in Algarinejo. With its wonderful weather
and lush groves packed with diverse tree varieties, these Granada-based growers produce one of the most special coldpressed extra virgin oils in Andalucía. The name of their liquid gold… Orodeal. Starting at noon in the plaza, there will be free sampling of Orodeal, and what party would be complete without a bar! But before you start on your tapas and copas crawl, make sure you have a wander around and see the artisan market with the handmade jewellery stall, ceramic handcrafts and the photo exhibition by Pedro Hidalgo, who shares his take on the rural world of Algarinejo with us via the power of his lens. All manner of Spanish food will be showcased, including honey from Palancer, local cheese, sausage and jamón products — you can try them all. All the participating bars will be offering free tapas — all dishes will be made using the distinctive sunshine yellow-bottled Orodeal olive oil. Some of last year’s favourites included the pork confit with honey and a popular crunchy gazpacho croquette. Are you craving some of your favourite British foods? Then don’t miss a visit to the stall of The British Grocer (Loja based) Paul Moxom, who will be bringing a variety of goodies ranging from English cheeses, Branston pickle and Marmite to the baked British treats of pies, pasties and sausage rolls – even Somerset cider too.
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Things To Do This year, the party organisers are delighted to announce that the G.Par Refuge is attending the festivities. Not only will this hard-working Rute-based charity for stray and abandoned dogs be selling high quality nearly new goods, it is also hosting its ‘most beautiful dog’ photo competition.
There are four categories in which you can enter your photos: Most beautiful large dog (1) and bitch (2) Most beautiful small dog (3) and bitch (4) The competition is now open — so please email your doggy photo directly to g.par. refuge@gmail.com — remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder! The top 12 will be chosen to be exhibited on the day of the olive and, of course, there are prizes to be had for the winning pooch pics. Olive oil is a fantastic supplement for a canine diet, just as it is for our own. Did you know that just a tablespoon of olive oil once a week on your dog’s food can do much more
than just help give them a shinier coat? It can boost your pet’s immune system and assist with weight loss. The benefits of just adding such a small weekly dose are substantial for your dog’s health and well-being. The examination of this year’s crop is already in full swing and a serious tasting (cata) of different types of olive oil is taking place. Local radio is participating with this event to record people’s opinions and organisers are looking for 10 expat volunteers to get involved. If you are interested, please email ian.melissa@btinternet.com for more details.
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Things to Do
There will be so many more things to do and see at the party, including a poster exhibition by local schoolchildren, and lots of goodies to buy including fruit trees, flowering shrubs and potted plants plus, of course, Orodeal olive oil! So pop along and join in the celebration in Algarinejo this May. The fun continues into the evening — with even more delights. The very talented Irene Rueda and Pablo Fernandez will be performing in the Plaza at 7pm, bringing flamenco dance and music from Granada to Algarinejo for the very first time.
Why not stay and have dinner too? Three of the best restaurants will be offering special Day of the Olive menus or, of course, you may continue to tapa, tapa, tapa the night away! La Parada has reopened as a different type of bar, offering amazing croissants and handmade cakes, including birthday and celebration cakes made to order. Call Maria 646 98 04 34 for more details. Although you will only visit little ‘Bar Paquita’ in the village, don’t forget her beautiful mother — La Paquita in the hamlet of Palancar — which is great for a big party. The bar is family run and they are a very kind bunch — I can recommend the prawns. Don’t miss the opportunity to have churros and hot chocolate at Bar Casa Juan. For the Day of the Olive they have agreed to stay "churro cooking" until 2pm! You can even place an order and have them delivered to the square. Not only will May 10 be a fantastic day for all, but with the wonderful evening entertainment and eateries you can stay well into the night too! I hope to see you there.
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Talking Point
Health & Beauty
Beautiful trends for spring It looks as though the winter and colder weather are truly behind us now, and spring is here to reward us for our perseverance. As we all know, ‘tis the season for starting afresh. As soon as the temperature starts creeping up again, the regeneration begins: our houses get a good clean, the woollies are packed away for another year and our fitness regimens start moving back outdoors (or just start in general!) However, these aren’t the only parts of your life that need an overhaul at this time of year – your beauty routine also needs freshening up. Here are three easy tweaks to help put the spring in your (beauty) step. 1. Get your flower on If Meryl Streep’s The Devil Wears Prada character could read what I’m about to say, she’d raise an eyebrow and say wryly, “Florals? For spring? Ground breaking.” Touché, Meryl. But it’s a truth universally acknowledged that spring is synonymous with flowers (and, unfortunately for many, hay fever!). So embrace it with a deliciously petally perfume that’ll make winter seem like a distant memory. Tip: If you’re a bit of a novice when it comes to perfume shopping, spring-friendly fragrances aren’t hard to find – they’re usually the ones with flower-influenced names. It’s rather considerate of them, really.
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2. Get oily In winter, slathering on heavy, luscious body butters is the ideal way to inject the moisture back into your skin – but as the days start getting sweatier, that’s the last thing you’ll feel like doing. However, during spring, the weather is still mild enough for you to get away with an intensive moisturising product – but it doesn’t have to be dense. The golden ticket? Body oil. It goes on light and, in many cases, dries almost immediately, leaving you feeling all dewy without that heavy sensation. Bonus – these oils usually smell really delightful. I love splashing mine on just before I hit the pillow and letting the magic happen while I’m asleep. If you don’t like the thought of marinating in oil overnight, put it on when you hop out of the shower – the steam and moisture in the air will help all the goodness sink right in. 3. Warm up your make-up Transitioning your makeup from winter to spring isn’t always easy. In the first few weeks out of winter, your skin is probably still a bit paler, duller or more ashen than usual, so summer’s vibrant colours won’t necessarily look quite right straight away. The trick here is to gradually warm up your make-up routine throughout spring. Lips – Winter suits deeper, more dramatic lips in plum, crimson and berry tones (or even darker ones if you have the right skin tone). But the end of the big chill doesn’t
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Health & Beauty
mean you have to do away with these rich shades – ease them into spring by adding a bit of lip gloss or balm to dilute the intensity. Otherwise, add some pink, cherry, coral and raspberry shades to your lipstick armoury – the pop of colour will brighten your complexion, especially if it’s got a bit of shine to it. If you’re hesitant about using lipstick, try a coloured lip balm instead – the colour is usually a bit more sheer. Skin – Spring days call for light, glowing foundations that can stand up under a bit of heat. BB and CC creams, mineral powers and tinted moisturisers will give your face a wash of colour without looking too heavy on your skin. And, of course, SPF is essential – but you knew that already!
maximise the eyebrows you’ve already got. You might be pleasantly surprised by how much a filled-in darker brow can change your face. Other trends for this spring in the beauty world… The Skin Flushed, dewy skin — the kind you leave a yoga session, not spin class, with — replaces blushed and bronzed. Try a spritz of rose mist for instant radiance before walking the runway. Continued on page 10
Cheeks – Blusher is practically spring in a container. Whether it’s in powder, cream, stick or tint form, a bright blusher will have your cheeks looking rosier than your neighbour’s flower garden. Keep it natural though – dewy is in this year.
Brows – Brows were big in 2014 – quite literally – and this year is not that much different. Thicker, fuller and bold brows with a slight arch are a must for 2015. So shop around for some powder, gel and/or wax to
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Health & Beauty The Lips Shades of red rule this year. The Eyes Bolder the better this spring; consider this season to think outside the box.
The New Kale ...is artichoke. Not only is the cleansing super food high in fibre and antioxidants, many swear by it as a hangover fix – good to know as the sangria starts flowing as the Romerias and Ferias start!
The Hairstyle Long, bohemian waves are the logical next step for the grown-out bobs we've all been wearing for the past year.
The Workout The hottest new fitness classes are all about burning fat by combining weight training with cardio.
The Hair Colour Spring's coolest colours are extreme neutrals: black and pearly-white blonde, as seen on the fashion runways.
The Accessory A piece of sleek gold-coloured hardware dresses up a ponytail and makes unstyled hair look intentional. Take inspiration from the decorative barrettes coming into the stores now.
The Nails Bare pinks are out; milky whites are in. A sheer cream manicure is cooler and less girly than pink.
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Things to Do
Short Story
Jimmy by Ella Durham Anna hurried into the room. She tried to close the door swiftly behind her but Philip was too quick. He squeezed through and slammed it shut. “What on earth made you say that, Anna?” he shouted, his face a mixture of fury and confusion. “I mean, to just blurt something like that out there in front of everyone; our family, our friends and ME! I had no idea… none at all. What are you playing at? How long have you been planning this? God, the humiliation!” He turned from her and swept his fingers through his hair. Anna stood shaking at the table. Tears filled her eyes. She struggled to hold them back. She knew it was wrong to do what she’d done but it was no good crying over spilled milk. Somehow, in the future, maybe Philip could find a way to forgive her for this but the whole sorry business had been playing on her mind for weeks. She’d decided that this was the only way to get it out in the open. She couldn’t live with this secret any longer. She was sorry of course, she had never meant to hurt her husband but these things often just happened and then you are powerless to prevent the fall-out. She turned to face him. Her heart lurched when she saw how shocked he looked. She took a step towards him but he moved away. “I’m sorry, Philip,” she whispered, “but I love Jimmy. I want Jimmy. It is as simple as that. I suppose I could have been more tactful about letting you know the truth but sometimes it’s best to just spit it out and deal with it. I didn’t set out to hurt you. I know this is a shock….”
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“A shock? I’ll say it’s a shock. After all we’ve been through, Anna, to get us to this point. We used to be able to talk, share anything. I had no clue that you were unhappy with anything we had. I thought I knew you but clearly I don’t. I never thought you would do this to me, not after having our baby. What is going to happen now? God, I’ll never be able to hold up my head around here again. God, Jimmy!” he wailed. Anna bit her lip. He was right. She’d not handled this very well at all, but it was a fact that she did love Jimmy. She couldn’t help herself and she knew now that would never change, not after these past few blissful weeks. But seeing Philip looking so crushed …. well, she was beginning to wonder if this secret had been worth it at all. She felt awful. She had to make amends. She stepped back to the table and looked down at their baby sleeping sweetly in his Moses basket. The lump in her throat swelled up. She had to swallow it and, yes, maybe her pride too. After all, she’d created this mess. She’d have to get them out of it. Anna sighed. “Look, Philip. I’ll go out there and tell everyone that it has all been a big stupid mistake, that I was only joking. I’ll ask their forgiveness. We can put it down to my hormones being all over the place since the baby was born. I’ll swear I didn’t mean to hurt you, keeping you in the dark like that. It’s all my fault and I’m sorry.” Continued on page 14
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Short Story “Hah! As if anyone would believe you,” he sneered. “You don’t joke about something like that. Not here, not now, not when everyone we know and love is gathered together.” He walked over and picked up the Moses basket. “Where are you going with him?” Anna felt a sudden panic. This was not how it was meant to be. But she’d laid bare her secret in full public view and she could see that Philip was in no mood now to let her explain. “I’m going out there to do what I have to do. I can’t let you do this to us, Anna. The repercussions could last a lifetime if I do. Allow me some self-respect, please.” He headed for the door. She ran to it and spread across it, blocking his exit. “No, don’t!” she cried, “I’ll go. I’ll explain; make them understand that I’m solely to
blame for all of this.” Philip stopped, the Moses basket balanced on his hip. They stared at each other in silence. The seconds passed. Then… “All right,” he said quietly, “but I’m walking right behind you. Remember that. One wrong word now and that’s it, Anna. I swear I won’t be held responsible for my actions if you do anything more to embarrass us here.” She nodded at the threat and moved aside. Together they left the tiny room with its bare furnishings. Anna took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. It was futile really. People would know she’d been crying. They had probably heard the row behind the door too. What a mess! And all because of her selfish love for Jimmy. Her parents looked anxious and sad. Philip’s family stood like stone statues. Only the priest at the back of the room looked kindly upon them in any way as they entered. “Ah, Mr and Mrs Riddle,” he said gently. “Come to the font and name your child. Are you now agreed on the name?” Anna nodded and smiled weakly while Philip held out the child. “Yes, Father,” she said quickly. “His name is David, not Jimmy as I told you earlier. I’m sorry. His name is David. I mean, it would have been silly to think we could call our son Jimmy Riddle!” If you have enjoyed Ella’s short story, why not read her latest novel, Ebony Blood? You can order either the e-book or paperback version though Ella’s website: www.elladurham.co.uk Get more info on Ella Durham at: www.facebook.com/elladurhamauthor @LornaElla www.elladurham.co.uk
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Tumobilhome Spain S.L. is an English-owned and run company and is now Spain’s largest dealer of pre-owned residential spec mobile homes as well as being manufacturers of new mobile homes. We buy, sell, transport and store residential specification mobile homes throughout Spain and Portugal. We have a main sales base in Madrid and we work all over the Iberian peninsula, the Balearics and the Canary Islands. We specialise in helping vendors who have been unable to sell due to difficult market conditions, and circumstances now dictate they must bring the sale of their unit to a successful conclusion. We offer free legal advice to inform vendors of their rights here in Spain with our own in-house lawyer. Clients who are having difficulties with site owners and unreasonable rental contracts can then make a more informed choice. Regrettably, some of the site owners we have dealt with in the past have taken advantage of the vendors’ inability to speak the language (we are Spanish
speakers) and a lack of understanding of the law. We are here to redress that balance and help. We can arrange all aspects of mobile home purchase and sales such as the removal, disconnection, plot preparation and/or clearance and furniture removal both locally and internationally. Many of our vendors sell their mobile home and move to the local village, paying the same or less in rent than their ground fees were. They then put the proceeds of the sale into the bank. We have a fully legal and insured team of contractors. When we buy a mobile home we pay for it before it is removed. We can pay in cash or by bank transfer to a bank account in Spain or overseas. We can negotiate on your behalf with the campsite if you are overseas or feel intimidated by the site owner. So, don’t just hand in the keys at reception and walk away – call us!
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Trade Talk
Selling your house in Spain privately - a gamble worth taking? We at the Andalucian have been investigating the “risk verses reward” to selling Spanish property privately and looking into how safe your bet is, depending on your method of advertising. We looked at newspaper advertising v global internet exposure and found the power of the internet – and the worldwide audience it attracts – difficult to beat. Newspapers tend to be very expensive to advertise in and they are thrown away quickly. Therefore the risk v reward here did not appear to pay off in most instances. Using a specialist property advertising agency to find a buyer via the internet did however appear to be a very successful method of selling. A relatively small up-front fee for extensive advertising on the internet, with no commission to pay when the house sells, seems to be the way forward.
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Creative Property Marketing is going from strength to strength with very promising results for its sellers. Its service is far more supportive and informative than traditional estate agencies in Spain, and its knowledge and professionalism are first class. The company is based North of Malaga city and is run by an English couple, David and Sarah Rick. They are getting excellent results for their private sellers and need more properties to satisfy their buyers. They are selling all kinds of properties at prices from €34,000 upwards – sometimes, into the millions. The risk v reward here is definitely a gamble worth taking for the private house seller. David and Sarah charge just €296.45 for 12 months’ advertising and nothing more when the house sells. They put together superb property details and advertise on 20 property sales websites around the globe.
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Trade Talk One couple have sold two of their village houses through Creative Property Marketing.
Our findings on the risk v reward to using Creative Property Marketing to sell your property privately is – go for it!
The first sold within three months and the second within 11 months. They own more properties in Spain and will soon be giving Creative Property Marketing the next house to sell.
You have everything to gain and little to lose.
They are saving thousands in estate agency fees and believe this method of selling is the obvious way to go.
Our advice would be, use Sarah and David’s knowledge and experience of selling properties internationally for the past 30 years. Listen to them; let them help you and they will find a buyer for your property. They know exactly how to describe a property, how to present it for sale on the internet, what the property market is doing currently, market values for your property and how best to photograph your home. They will help you every step of the way, give you a personal service and be there for you should you need their help at any time.
Another vendor explained that having listed his country property with Creative Property Marketing just seven weeks ago, already he has four viewings organised. He is thrilled and more hopeful of selling than ever before. Standard estate agency has produced nothing for him to date. He, too, owns another property in Spain and he will be giving Creative Property Marketing a further challenge – to sell his town house too! Creative Property Marketing has emails from thrilled sellers as proof of the company’s success and will even put potentially interested sellers in touch with those who have already sold, if this gives confidence.
Considering the average estate agency fee is more than €15,000 inc. IVA, spending €296.45 has to be a gamble worth taking.
With over 100 unique buyers contacting them every month via the internet, they need your property. You can find their advert on the back cover of this edition of the magazine…
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Just for Fun
Funny old thing... politics Politics: “Poli� a Latin word meaning "many" and "tics" meaning "bloodsucking creatures". Robin Williams We always want the best man to win an election. Unfortunately, he never runs. Will Rogers Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to find out if the polls were right? Robert Orben Apparently, a democracy is a place where numerous elections are held at great cost without issues and with interchangeable candidates. Gore Vidal
All politicians should have three hats - one to throw into the ring, one to talk through, and one to pull rabbits out of if elected. Carl Sandburg Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party. Unknown Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other. Oscar Ameringer Win or lose, we go shopping after the election. Imelda Marcos Elections are held to delude the populace into believing that they are participating in government. Gerald F. Lieberman Elections are won by men and women chiefly because most people vote against somebody rather than for somebody. Franklin P. Adams The magician and the politician have much in common: they both have to draw our attention away from what they are really doing. Ben Okri Our elections are free, it's in the results where eventually we pay. Bill Stern Political elections are a good deal like marriages, there's no accounting for anyone's taste. Unknown
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Things to Do
Little socks... big plans The Pequeños Calcetines (‘Small Socks’) Festival, the first of its kind, will be held in Malaga from May 4 to May 10. Aimed at children and families, it combines theatre, dance, circus and music. The objective is to transcend the boundaries of traditional theatre and encourage a new way of thinking about art in the community, designed to bring people together in a shared experience. More than 60 artistes and 20 theatre companies of international prestige – some from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Argentina – will meet around Malaga’s Echegaray and Cervantes theatres, as well as in the maritime commercial area of Muelle Uno. There will be workshops, meetings, street
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performances and shows. The ultimate goal is to reclaim art as a tool to build a better world. Each year, the Festival will devote its profits to social work. The organisation chosen for this first running is the Theodora Foundation and its 30 Doctores Sonrisa, who bring art and humour to hospitalised children, teenagers and their families in 20 different hospitals in Spain. Four shows in English will be performed by Forum, The Company.
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Things to Do ‘Witches and Cookies,’ recommended for children aged between six and nine, will take place on Monday, May 4 at 10am. Entrance fee: 6€
‘Sinbad’ (for children nine to 12) is on the same date, starting at 12 noon, and also the following day (Tuesday May 5th) at 10am. Entrance fee: 6€
One afternoon after school, Paul comes home to find that his parents are still at work and his grandmother has been put in charge of looking after him. What at first seems to be a boring afternoon changes when his grandmother decides to make cookies. While cooking, granny tells hundreds of stories – meaning Paul can learn and play at the same time.
Sinbad the Sailor is a brave guy whose tenacity allows him to get what he most craves: a better future for himself and his family. But Sinbad must learn to be gentle, kind and modest. The adventures of this amazing mariner introduce us to a world where reality and fiction mingle, and the narrative captivates us, just as it did with the great Sultan. To tell the story, the beautiful Scheherazade, the vizier’s daughter, makes use of all kinds of costumes and props, as well as songs that allow her to add a magic twist to the plot.
What Paul does not know is that his grandmother is actually a witch, and she uses her magic spells to cook all kinds of recipes that have extra special surprises. This is a fun way to introduce the little ones to the laborious world of pots and pans, and make them feel like grown-ups for the day.
Continued on page 22
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Things to Do ‘Vampires!’ (12 to 16 years) is also on Tuesday, May 5th starting at 12 noon. Entrance fee: 6€
‘Shakespeare and His Women’ (over 14 years) follows at 6pm (Tuesday, May 5th) Entrance fee: 12€
Thomas and Lucy are two high school students who have to prepare a project on the legendary book Dracula, by Bram Stoker. Thomas is an avid reader and this is one of his favourite books. Meanwhile, Lucy is not keen on reading and her biggest dream is to become a great actress. After a heated discussion, they decide that their work will be more original than the rest of their classmates; they decide to dramatise the text of Dracula from an adaptation that they themselves create. This includes characters from other horror stories. It is a wild and frantic story where audience participation will be ongoing throughout the performance.
The renowned writer William Shakespeare is to write a play where the king of England is glorified. Shakespeare is somewhat embarrassed by the commission, particularly as he is suffering from a creative crisis. Lucy, his young servant, encourages him to take a few days off to find his lost inspiration. What Shakespeare does not know is that Lucy sneaks into a small theatre at night to act out some of his most sublime female roles – something strictly forbidden by royal decree.
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For more information visit www. pequenoscalcetines.es or see the advert on page 43.
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Legal Advice
Property ownership and declaration of new work - obra nueva During the building boom in Spain, many properties were extended with new rooms, garages, patios and swimming pools built to increase the value and attractiveness of the property. In most cases the owners were advised to ask for and obtain a licence from the Town Hall and subsequently to make a declaration before a notary called a declaration of new work – Escritura de obra nueva. This was then registered at the land registry and an application made to change the map at the Catastro – rating authority.
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What do you do if your property was extended or you have a pool or garage that has not been added to the deeds? To commence the procedure you will need to review any documents obtained by your architect, builder or your own plans if it was a self-build. If the property was extended or built more than six years ago, you can normally appoint an arquitecto tecnico (surveyor) to come to the property and draw up a plan or confirm that the construction has been there for more than six years. Lawyers can
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Legal Advice recommend professionals who can assist. If the construction was not in accordance with local or regional rules, you will need specialist advice. Unfortunately in some cases, the situation cannot be remedied – so take advice before commencing the procedure. Once you have the plan your lawyer will need to know about the monies provided for the new work. A value has to be given to the work and a tax of 1.5% paid once the deed is signed. The lawyer will provide the notary with all the documents and you will sign the deed or grant a power of attorney to the lawyer to sign on your behalf. This deed is then presented to the land registry. This is particularly important if you want to sell the property. If it has not been
done a retention will generally be made on the sale price and this money only released when the procedure is complete. The Catastro will also need to be changed and Town Halls are now updating all their records to ensure this is done. However please bear in mind this can take a very long time, but if you have proof of the application being made the sale would normally proceed. You will also need the Energy Efficiency Certificate – CEE before sale. Consult experts in property law in Spain on info@decottalaw.net or call either 952 527014 or 951 315 161. See advert on page 20 for more details.
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Just for Fun
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Short Story
Health & Beauty
Top tips for raising self-esteem by Sarah Jackson
Last month we looked at what the term self esteem actually means and some of the behaviours and emotions that can accompany low self esteem. Suffering from low self esteem can be crippling, but living – or spending a lot of time – with someone with low self esteem can be extremely exhausting. It is wise to remember that while you may want to do all you can to help, you cannot take responsibility for the way the other person feels. Often how people deal with the things that are happening to them has
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a much greater effect upon their emotional well-being than the things that actually happened. It is not possible to help anyone who is not ready or able to be helped. Change takes time; helping someone overcome emotional challenges takes time and effort, and if you exhaust yourself you will not be resourced enough to look after yourself – let alone be there for your loved one.
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Continued on page 30
Spotlight
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Health & Beauty In their book ‘A Helping Hand – How to Build Self Esteem in Others’ therapists Mark Tyrrell and Roger Elliot offer a great deal of practical advice. What follows are a few of their ideas – the complete book can be found on their website http://www.uncommonknowledge.co.uk/. Take what you can from this article, but if you feel out of your depth or need some support, please feel free to contact me on sarah@imesonjackson.com.
sense of humour? Are they kind, caring, compassionate and considerate to others? Do they have an area in which they excel – perhaps cooking, DIY skills, gardening? Do they have interesting or desirable physical qualities or prowess? Do they have an eye for detail, a great memory, amazing staying power, great tidying skills?
Tyrrell and Rogers suggest that when you setting out to help someone with low self esteem you start by noticing the areas in which the person does shine. It is likely that they have been through some tough times, so how have they managed to overcome their difficulties?
When scouting for talents, bear in mind that the person may excel in areas that you do not find interesting, so keep an open mind and keep looking – there will be something there to appreciate. I find endless things in my son and daughter to appreciate – one of them being the ability to memorise the lyrics for hundreds of popular songs and sing them faultlessly years later!
What staying power do they have which has enabled them to survive so much? What are their talents? Do they have a good
People who have low self esteem will be quick to tell you all about their negative qualities, often turning a positive into a
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Health & Beauty negative. Don’t let this fool you; someone very dear to me who creates amazing works of art from driftwood dismisses his work as too much time spent wasting time at the beach! Keep listening and be prepared to look at things differently. Once you have begun to identify the qualities of the person you want to help, it is not necessary to bombard them with them. Keep them logged in your memory; this will enhance the empathy and respect you feel for the person, ultimately lifting them without them knowing why. When a genuine opportunity arises for you to point out or compliment the person on a quality, your memory will prompt you to do so. People love to feel recognised for their unique talents – whatever their mood – even if they don’t express this appreciation at the time.
Often, people with low self esteem find it difficult to accept compliments. This can be combated by giving what Tyrrell and Rogers call ‘unbeatable compliments’. This begins with finding something to admire about the person. Take this quality and feed it back to the person, using the following structure. • Start with an ‘I’ statement: if you start with ‘you’ it can be received as being threatening and immediately puts the person on the defensive. If you start with ‘I always find that’ or ‘In my experience’ you are putting across a personal opinion and you are much more likely to be listened to. • Begin by talking in general terms: by speaking generally, and not directly about the person in question, there is less opportunity for them to argue with you about the validity of the ‘unarguable truism’. Continued on page 32
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Health & Beauty • Deliver the compliment unexpectedly: by the time you get to the compliment part of the statement, the person is already listening to you talk in ‘I feel’ terms, and they are unlikely to argue with you about the way you perceive things.
Mary is a remarkable lady; instantly likeable, helpful, determined, considerate and always ready to please. She was obviously used to being very down on herself, so I found a way of phrasing a compliment so she could not help but accept it.
This process is easier to understand with an example. Recently I was working with a lady (let’s call her Mary) who has an acquired brain injury that has resulted in her being confined to a wheelchair. I have been working on helping Mary to raise her self esteem in general. On this occasion, she was berating herself about her inability to walk, calling herself stupid and generally feeling depressed about the slow progress she is making in regaining control of her legs.
I used the subject of Mary’s instant likeability as the focus of my ‘unbeatable compliment’. I began in general terms saying ‘I find, you know, that there are people you just can’t help liking straightaway, without even knowing them….. other people you just can’t take to.’ Then, speaking directly to Mary’s support worker, I said ‘The minute I saw Mary I just felt there was a real warmth to her – a really likeable quality, don’t you think?’ Mary’s support worker reinforced my opinion with a glowing series of compliments about Mary’s likeable qualities. With this, Mary appeared to grow several inches taller in her chair and responded with a slight smile. Take a moment now to think of an event from the recent past when you would have liked to say something to the ‘someone’ that you want to help, to help them feel better. Put together an example of an unexpected, general, ‘I’ statement that is ‘unbeatable’. This is an incredibly useful and effective tool to develop. Practice until this technique becomes second nature and you will be amazed at the results it has on those around you. For more information and contact details see Sarah’s advert on page 4.
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Spotlight
What a difference an ‘A’ makes DOUGH... the stuff that buys me beer. RAY... the guy that sells me beer. ME... the guy who drinks the beer. FAR... a long way to go for a beer. SO... I think I'll have a beer. LA... La, la, la, la, la, la, a beer! TEA... no thanks, I'm drinking beer. That will bring us back to...(Looks into his empty glass) DOH! Like all of us, Homer (Simpson, that is, not the Greek chap who wrote the Iliad) grew up with the original hit from The Sound of Music. He's not the only one. Not long ago Rein asked if I would audition her for a place in our choir. 'Audition?' I queried. 'I don't usually do that. If you can sing in tune, you're in.' 'But can I sing in tune? That's the question.' 'Well, come over here to the piano and we'll find out. 'What songs do you know?' 'None, really. Apart from 'Doh, a Deer'.' 'Fine. Sing that. What note do you want to start on?' 'I haven't a clue.' 'No problem. Just begin and I'll catch up.'
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Well, to cut a long story short, Rein sang 'Doh, a Deer' perfectly in tune and joined the choir. I gave her a computer programme which helped her to learn the alto parts and a month later she sang, with complete accuracy, a challenging programme of music in our Festival of Carols. In all my years of training choirs, I have never known a beginner make such rapid progress. Doh, Re Mi – or the diatonic scale to give it its posh name – is so well known that it is tempting to think we are born with it programmed into our brains. As a matter of fact we aren't, but we are surrounded by it from our earliest months of existence. Much to my wife's consternation, our son Will leapt like an Olympic hurdler in response to a dramatic moment in Bernstein's Chichester Psalms when he was still in the womb and she swears that our unborn Richard did a somersault during a particularly rousing hymn one Sunday morning. For me, music is the surest touch of genius in creation and it can be an ice-breaker in the most unexpected circumstances. One chilly morning I walked the dogs by the longer of our two favourite routes: north up our steep-sided valley (in Lancashire we'd call it a clough), past the finca of Jose el Vecino, then westwards down the rough track to the bridge in the Dreadful Hollow. Once across the arroyo, we turn south and head down the stony pendientes of the olive groves to the Algaidas road, then left and left again up the camino and back to Cortijo del Rector.
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Spotlight The dogs, as always, like to potter, but we do not linger in the Dreadful Hollow, which is a place of sinister beauty and tragic memory. Here the birches and poplars crowd over the deep black cleft of the arroyo, hiding the sky. In late spring the dark branches are hung with pale-gleaming necklaces of dog-roses but on this morning, only an unexpected clump of early crocuses glittered gold in the rank grass by the bridge.
With a few honourable exceptions I have found the clergy to be rather disappointing human beings, and during donkeys' years of singing in church and cathedral choirs I became more-or-less pontification-proof. But one particular sermon sticks in my memory. It was preached at St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, by the Canon Precentor, the Reverend Peter Strange. It began something like this:
Most people who think they know me – and that would include almost all of the thousands of pupils I taught in 38 years at the chalk-face – would tell you that I'm an extrovert, but it isn't true. A teacher doesn't actually need to be outgoing, though most of us make a fairly convincing job of pretending. Neither am I naturally cheerful – though again, a lot of the children I taught seemed to think so, largely because I often told jokes (very old and very bad ones, according to my sons). And I'm not particularly gregarious, though I'm probably more so than some folk such as my wife, who claims to be sociable but would always prefer to stay at home with the telly or a good book. Finally, I'm not really a narcissist because, believe me or not, all this self-revelation is both quite unaccustomed and fully relevant to my story.
'I wish I were one of those fortunate folk for whom the glass is always half full. I wish I could bounce out of bed every morning exclaiming 'Hello Sun! Hello World! Here I am!' But I can't. I'm a tetchy sort of chap, so I have to try harder.' I saw on the internet news a couple of months ago that Peter has just retired after 30-something years of faithful service to his cathedral and his city, but I have no doubt he's still tetchy and still trying hard. I heard that sermon almost a quarter of a century ago but I've remembered it ever since, because it could have been describing me. There was a time when I would have opted for a slow stroll over 50 feet of red hot coke rather than walk alone into a roomful of strange faces. Continued on page 36
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Spotlight Granted, over the years one gets better at these things, but the underlying anxieties are still there. You probably won't believe me when I tell you that for me, even saying 'Good morning' to a stranger falls into the 'try harder' category. But Juan-Antonio is no stranger. He lives 300 steeply-sloping metres below Cortijo del Rector and I see him almost every morning. Even so, I hardly know him at all, because he's that rarity of rarities, a shy Spaniard. Alhough I invariably greet him, he just as invariably mutters a terse 'Buenos dias' and hurries by, face averted. Until this morning, that is. The dogs and I had reached the bottom of the long, steep slope above the Algaidas road. At the lower end of the huerta there is a four metre almost sheer drop to the road and one has to descend via a sort of rough cleft – part pathway, part erosion runoff – which is half-choked with loose stones and vegetation. Boris, a long-legged galgomastin cross, with paws the size of saucers, has no problem negotiating the descent, but Biggles, who is approximately a Jack Russell, absolutely refuses to walk down it because with all the tall grasses, he cannot see where he is going. So I tuck his sturdy ten kilos under my right arm until we are safely at road level. The dogs have their preferred places for comfort stops. Biggles is a natural conservative but on today's route, Boris has already performed from his favourite vantage point, a spot on the highest part of the sheer cliff overhanging the arroyo. With his careful positioning, the effect is rather like aerial bombardment and I'm irresistibly reminded of a village I visited on a school trip aeons ago. It was perched vertiginously on the very edge of the Rhine Gorge and it was called Langscheidt. As I've already admitted, I like daft jokes, so this morning I find myself composing a silly song.
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Boris poo'd in a major mood But Biggles pee'd in minor key. And this takes us right back to Doh, Re, Mi. As you probably know, musical scales can also be denoted by the letters A,B,C,D,E,F,G. In the English syste, the first note – or tonic – of any scale is always known as Doh. The basic chord of each key consists of the first, third and fifth notes of the scale: Doh, Mi, Soh. To convert from major to minor you simply lower the middle note by a semitone. And vice-versa. Boris's opening line in our morning song was in F major, so the basic chord was F (Doh) A (Mi) and C (Soh). For Biggles's line it became F, A flat, C. That flattened note makes a tremendous difference. Major keys usually sound happy and minor keys frequently sound sad. The dogs – especially Biggles – were in no hurry to tackle the cleft down to the road, so we stood at the top of the drop while we practised their new song. We started with Boris pooing happily from a great height in F Major, then switched to Biggles peeing sadly in F minor, then back again to Boris's F Major rhapsody for the finale. We were just in the process of acknowledging the plaudits of a bejewelled and entirely imaginary audience at the Teatro Cervantes, when a voice spoke up cheerfully from the roadway below: 'Buenos dias!' It was JuanAntonio and he was grinning from ear to ear. He doesn't understand English, so he hadn't picked up on the lyrics. He was simply responding to the joyful noise of Boris's F Major triumph and, of course, the spectacle of a mad guiri singing an operatic trio with two dogs. What a difference an 'A' makes. John Sharrock-Taylor
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Charity News
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Alice’s Wonderland
She’s just seventeen! Hi it’s Alice again, College has been getting harder and harder. We only have two months left and most days are booked with exams, so you can imagine the stress. And I’m not even in the second year! Luckily, we’ve had Semana Santa off and just like half term, I was hardly at home. I’ve also turned 17 not so long back. It’s hard to believe that this time next year I’ll be an adult and getting my driving licence. This year I asked for money for clothes so I was quite happy going shopping with Chris and
got a big surprise with him taking me out for dinner. He also took me to the cinema. We went to go and watch Focus. It’s this really good film with Will Smith (Chris’ favourite actor) and Margot Robbie in it. It’s about her getting involved in a robbery, but the question is can she trust him? Speaking of films, there are many good ones coming out at the moment. There’s Fast and Furious 7, which is supposed to be really good – not my cup of tea, though – plus there’s the second part of the Divergent series, Insurgent, which has just premiered. That one I do recommend. The Avengers is due soon so I’ll be dragging Chris to the cinema to watch that and the new Johnny Depp film Mortdecai – well, you have to, don’t you!
My friend Nadia is in her last year of secondary school and went to Portugal for her end-of-year trip. She’s told me all about
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Alice’s Wonderland
it and absolutely loved it. It’s a shame that her school didn’t get the cruise as my school has for the past two years, but I’m glad that she enjoyed herself so much and was back in time for Romeria. I have also been very busy towards the end of April with Chris’ grandfather ending up in hospital for a week and that same weekend, the family had a communion to celebrate!
He’s doing a physiotherapy treatment with children using horses and a government body have even gone to see it; they are very impressed with his advancements in the area. It’s so nice to see those children getting better; it’s a lot of hard work on a horse, but it’s worth it! They are fantastic creatures.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make the communion as we had an auction during the day but I went for the lunch and dinner. It was good, plus I got to see my old boss and he wants me to work with him in the summer helping with the riding school again.
Well, as always, I’m off to cram some lastminute study in for my next week of exam onslaught. Wish me luck — I feel I might need it! Love Alice x
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Charity News
Put four paws in front of the other The Million Paw March for Justice calls on everyone who values the companionship of their four legged pet friends to join this online virtual march on Facebook to gain justice and protection for the Galgo Espanol, (Spanish Greyhound), Podenco and other hunting breeds. For centuries the Galgo has been used in many regions of Spain to hunt the hare – officially from October through January. It has been tradition that the Galgo is disposed of after its short hunting career is done, usually at age three to four years. The Galgo has never been considered as a pet by the hunters. Thousands upon thousands are killed annually by their owners, abandoned to the streets, dropped off at a killing pound and sadly many are brutally murdered. One brutal method that is still practised today in the 21st century is hanging. The march calls on the authorities in Spain to identify, prosecute and punish those responsible for this brutal act of abuse and
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for the national and local governments in Spain to pass and enforce tough laws that will specifically protect the Galgo, Podenco and the other hunting breeds before, during and after their hunting careers are over. Furthermore they call upon the world body UNESCO to refuse to consider the proposed petition by those who use the Galgo, asking for protection designation as a world cultural heritage perpetuating the traditions and methods used which result in the abuse and annual destruction of tens of thousands of Galgos per year. The initiator of this Facebook march, Jack Leonard and his wife, Petra Postma, live in the USA and have been active in rescuing sighthounds from Spain for many years. They are working together with several renowned organisations in Spain.
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It started as an idea and as a Facebook event with the intention of raising awareness about the plight of the Galgo Espanol, the Podenco and other hunting breeds in Spain. Expectations were that they would attract a few hundred sighthound owners and continue to motivate those activists already working for change with these dogs. What they were not expecting is how their story resonated with pet lovers all over the globe and the powerful movement that the march has become. With 65 nations represented and 41,000 marchers and growing, the march has introduced this story of great need to tens of thousands of new people who were not familiar with these breeds and their plight. Many people who already had adopted a Galgo or a Podenco through an organisation in their own country were unaware of the dogs' background and the circumstances of their lives before they were rescued. As with any movement seeking change, awareness is the first and most important step. In this the march can be seen as an overwhelming success. Please visit the FB page, read their story and join the movement.
They are not out to shock newcomers. They are concerned with – and focused on – the general attitude which regards these noble and gentle animals as disposable tools, discarded without a thought once the season is over and the next generation is already waiting in the wings to be "trained". And they refuse to accept that the silent and efficiently handled mass murder is labelled a "tradition". There are no donations required or signing of a petition asked for– just your participation. They need 250,000 four legged pets to reach 1 million paws. Let’s far exceed it and send the message that the world is aware and will not stand idly by. For those of you who are interested in the Galgo in the photo featured (below left) with this article… when Jack’s wife Petra was in Spain last February they spent one day trying to capture this frightened abandoned girl with no luck. During Petra’s most recent trip last October, there were reports that she had recently been spotted but on the loose. She was given the name INDIA and she has been on her own for at least a year now. They hope that destiny will look favourably on her and she may be rescued before the march is done.
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Just for Fun
Twenty teasers 1. Roger Bannister famously became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes in 1954 – but in which British city did he achieve this feat? 2. Which US actor was actually born Eric Marlon Bishop in 1967 in Texas? 3. Which two coloured stripes can be found on the Nigerian flag?
9. In the nursery rhyme ‘Polly Put the Kettle On’, who took the pot off again? 10. What is the name of Michael Hutchence’s only child?
4. How many rooms are there in a game of Cluedo where the murder can take place?
11. What was the name of the spacecraft in which Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space?
5. In which 2006 film did Julie Walters play Evie, an eccentric retired actress?
12. What is the Spanish word for the colour yellow?
6. What was the name of the captain of the Titanic?
13. What is the national animal of the U.S.A? 14. ‘My Family and Other Animals’ is the 1956 autobiographical tale of whose childhood? 15. ‘Fire and Water’ is a 1970 album by which English rock band? 16. ‘Hansen’s disease’ is another term for which illness? 17. How many vertices does a cube have? 18. Which Italian writer created Pinocchio?
7. Which Shakespeare play includes the characters of Desdemona, Iago, Michael Cassio and Brabantio? 8. Which British king married Eleanor of Aquitaine?
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19. Which British folk band had a 1979 hit with Day Trip to Bangor (Didn’t We Have a Lovely Time)? 20. What is the meaning of the word ‘ziganka’? Answers can be found on page 47.
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Alice’s Wonderland
Just for Fun
10 useless facts about... the election 1 The UK has had 13 Prime Ministers who took office without winning a general election Out of 22 Prime Ministers in the past 115 years, a remarkable 13 have occupied No10 without us directly choosing to put them there. The lucky 13 include Gordon Brown in 2007, John Major in 1990 and - most surprisingly Winston Churchill in 1940. Churchill did not get a popular mandate until the 1951 general election – 11 years after he started living in Downing Street. 2 Voters think David Cameron most closely resembles a snake A different poll asked people what animal Ed Miliband looks like. One focus group replied: “One of those animals that, when you go to the zoo, you’re not bothered whether you see it or not.” They apparently see Nigel Farage as a ‘peacock or a weasel’. 3 Today only 148 of 650 MPs are women In this one parliament, there are more male MPs than there have been female MPs in the history of UK parliaments. A woman has never been Secretary of Defence or Chancellor of the Exchequer. If Ed Miliband wins, his will be the first ever 50:50 male/female cabinet.
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4 The youngest candidate at the 2015 election is 18 - six years younger than the UK’s most youthful PM Labour has chosen an 18-year-old candidate – a politics student at Sussex University – to contest a Tory safe seat. William Pitt the Younger became the country’s youngest prime minister when he was elected at 24 in the late 18th century. The youngest current MP is 30-year-old Pamela Nash, Labour member for Airdrie and Shotts - but the average age of this parliament is 50. 5 Most of us could just stay at home on election day Our system for electing MPs, ‘First Past the Post’, means a huge number of people will vote for candidates whose parties have no chance of forming a government. In fact at the 2010 election, the Electoral Reform Society calculated that more than half of those of us who trudged to polling stations needn’t have bothered, as 53 per cent of votes were for losing candidates, and counted nothing towards the overall result. 6 £31.1m last time was nothing guys In the 2010 election campaign the Conservatives spent £16.6million, Labour spent £8million and the Liberal Democrats
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Just for Fun
£4.8million. The Tories have raised £78million over the past four years, so they will spend even more than the others this time around. There are limits on spending in the official campaign period though, to make things a bit fairer. The maximum amount of money that can be spent by a parliamentary candidate during the long campaign is £30,700. Each candidate can spend up to £8,700 during the 25 day ‘short campaign’. 7 We are in a true multi-party age It is predicted more than 25 per cent of voters will vote for somebody other than the Conservatives, Labour or the Liberal Democrats. That’s up 13 per cent on 2010, and back in 1951 a whopping 97.5 per cent of votes were for either the Tories or Labour – all of which points to another coalition government being formed after May 7.
The Tories actually have the most – with 11 per cent. 10 2015 will be the ninth general election that David Dimbleby helped the BBC broadcast David Dimbleby’s first election night in front of the camera was in 1964. He has helped the BBC broadcast every election in the intervening 51 years, anchoring his first in 1974. The 2015 election will be his last as general election anchor for the BBC. He is sharing the role with Huw Edwards on May 7 in preparation for his exit.
8 Ed Miliband would be the UK’s first atheist prime minister Every prime minister so far has been white and identified as Christian. Tony Blair was the most religiously diverse after converting to Catholicism in 2007. 9 The Green Party has the least diverse candidates UKIP might be the anti-immigration party but it does not have the lowest percentage of black and ethnic minority (BME) candidates. That dubious honour goes to the Green Party of all people, with just four per cent.
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Spotlight
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Twenty teaser answers from page 42 1. Oxford 2. Jamie Foxx 3. Green and white 4. 9 5. Driving Lessons 6. Edward Smith 7. Othello 8. Henry II 9. Sukey 10. Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily (Known as Tiger) 11. Vostok 12. Amarillo 13. Bald eagle 14. Gerald Durrell
Deposito Legal MA-1110-2004
Just for Fun
15. Free 16. Leprosy 17. 8 (corners) 18. Carlo Collodi 19. Fiddler’s Dram 20. It is a type of Russian country dance
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