February Magazine

J OURNAL

February ~ 2013

THE

Águilas - Lorca - Totana - Condado - Alhama - Camposol - Fuente Alamo - Pto de Mazarrón - Cartagena

Valentines day 14th February

See our advert on page 40 see our advert on page 3

“Property Sales and Rentals”

JOURNAL

THE Dear All,

Welcome to the February edition of “The Journal”. Its been quite a busy month here at Journal Towers!

We have been working hard to iron out some of the delivery problems we have been experiencing with our printer and are now confident that the magazine will be with you, as usual, on the first week of the month. Please don’t forget that you can always view the magazine from the 1st of the month on our website: www.thecamposoldistrictjournal@hotmail.com.

We have also had some reports of e-mails being sent by readers and advertisers but not being received by us here at the office. If you send us an e-mail and don’t get a response then please call the office on 968 103 008.

We would also like to welcome Rod Sawyer back to the team after his extended Christmas vacation. For those of you that don’t know, Rod spent a leisurely Christmas with his feet up, doing as little as possible! Of course we shouldn’t joke (but we will!).

Anyway he is fighting fit again and is out and about causing trouble as usual. Its good to have you back on board Rod, its wasn’t the same without you!

As we get older we need to take our health and general wellbeing more seriously. As time goes on this becomes increasingly important, especially when living in a foreign country where we may not speak the language. We are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to make the most of the Mediterranean lifestyle here, and this, along with gentle, daily exercise is the key to a long and healthy life. This month take a look at our Wellbeing section where you will find a variety of articles about staying healthy and fit.

Also this month we are introducing a section on Technology and Gadgets. We are featuring news and reviews of some of the latest developments in the world of computing and mobiles. In this new ever evolving age of the internet it pays to keep abreast of new advances in technology, and we hope you enjoy reading about them here!

Are you a writer, columnist, blogger, journalist, or someone with a hobby or interest that might be of interest to the wider community? If so and you would like to share what you have to say with others then send an e-mail to robbiedistrictjournal@ hotmail.com. Also don’t forget that you can receive the magazine via e-mail each month. Just send an e-mail to cdjsubscriptions@hotmail.com and we will add you to our mailing list.

Happy Reading, Robert Rutherford Note to all our advertisers: In order to be fair to all our advertisers and to ensure the smooth and timely running of the magazine we would like to inform you of the following: The cut-off date for any new adverts or changes to existing adverts for the following month’s magazine is the 13th of the previous month. Any changes or adverts received after this time may be too late to be accepted.

Payment for adverts can be made by: Bank Transfer, Cheque or Cash on Delivery.

If you are a Bar, Restaurant, Shop or any other type of business that would like to update our readers throughout the month on any special offers or events that you may have then please send us an e-mail with the details and we will update this on our Facebook page.

Staff GENERAL MANAGER Robert Rutherford robbiedistrictjournal@hotmail.com 664 287 099 NEWS Rod Sawyer rodsawyer41@hotmail.com 618 553 786 FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Gemma Barnes ART WORK Danny McCarthy Insignia Graphics 618 615 903

CONTACT DETAILS

www.thecamposoldistrictjournal.com

968 103 008

CONTRIBUTORS Dawn Llewellyn-Price John Brown Fiona Killick Cassandra Shirley Ann Fisher CORRESPONDENCE CAN BE LEFT IN Box 378 Best Wishes on Camposol or at the Business Centre Sector A

Enjoy the Camposol District Journal like never before!

“Follow us on facebook @ Camposol District Journal” Join our mailing list by e-mailing us @ cdjsubscription@hotmail.co.uk Visit our Website by Googling: The Camposol District Journal To advertise call Robbie on 664 287 099 page 2

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2013

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We speak:

Reply to John Macdonald I will agree to go back to the donkeys, if old Macdonald will agree to go back to his farm! I was merely pointing out what has been published by Brussels, if regions of existing members become independent, then they will have to apply for membership. Hence in Spain if Catalunya becomes independent of Spain, then that is what they will have to do. Amazing how factual information can become “political propaganda” when the facts do not suit the speaker or writer!

The same would apply to health care.

Of course there is an expectation that if an independent Scotland applied to the Union for membership, it would succeed, as it would with health care But this is not a done deal! Membership etc would have to be negotiated. Leaving ex pats in a difficult position however temporary, and it would be safe to argue that it would not be a five minute job. Would an independent Scotland want to join the Euro? How would it conduct foreign affairs and would it want armed forces?

All issues which would want discussion in the light of an application to join. This is a serious issue for Scottish, English and Welsh ex pats, not to mention Northern Ireland. (note East Germany simply joined West Germany in the Union!) and one not to be trivialized with accusations of racism.

Editors note: As I mentioned before, this topic is a real hot potato at the moment and one that has sparked interest all across Europe. This debate could go on and on, but frankly we don’t have the space each month!

In my humble opinion I think you two gentlemen should be adults about this and set up a Facebook page where you can debate and trade farmyard insults with each other!

Parador hotels Spanish Government owned Parador hotels have been in the news recently, with some minor strike action after the Ministry of Tourism announced plans to fire 640 workers and to close down the Parador in Puerto Lumbreras (Murcia) and six others: Albacete, Manzanares (Ciudad Real), Ayamonte (Huelva), Ferrol (La Coruña), Teruel y Verín (Orense).

Finally, the unions and Management

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have reached a compromise: just the Puerto Lumbreras hotel will be closed and 350 workers across the chain will be let go. Another 27 Parador hotels have been temporarily or partially closed for three or four months, plus thirteen hotel restaurants, and visitors should check their schedules this winter. The Government admitted last week that, if these measures aren’t successful, it may consider privatization of the entire Parador chain

News from Andalusia and Murcia Andalucía: A group of British pensioners have decided to take on the might of the Spanish State in the European Court of Human Rights Having exhausted all hope of a preventing the demolition of their home via the Spanish courts a retired British couple from Albox, Andalucía, are now taking their case directly to the European Court of Human Rights. This move is backed

by AUAN and SOHA, two organisations representing hundreds of home-owners in similar circumstances in Spain.

The case echoes that of Len and Helen Prior whose home in Vera, Andalucía, was demolished five years ago on the 9th of January 2008 as the result of a planning dispute between the local council and the regional government. In both cases the properties had full building licences.

“We feel there is no other option” said AUAN president, Maura Hillen. “In the case of Helen and Len Prior the Spanish Constitutional Court, the highest court in Spain, deliberated for two years over whether or not their property should be demolished by which time the house had already been flattened. And even if compensation is actually awarded by the Spanish courts, it can take up to fifteen years to receive any money. There must be no more demolitions without prior compensation’.

Philip Smalley, President of SOHA said, “While the problems that we face in the Axarquia are, in many ways, very different to those faced in Albox we all feel a shared wrong which must be righted. If only one of us can establish this fundamental right to live in peace in a home bought in good faith then surely this will help to shift the intransigence of the Spanish legal system and will be money well spent”.

The case will focus on Article 1 of

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Protocol Number 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights which guarantees the right to property. This is a fundamental right, which according to AUAN “holds little sway in the Spanish judicial system”.

“This is a David and Goliath struggle.

This couple were on the brink of giving up when members of AUAN and SOHA put their hands in their pockets to fund the submission of this case. We cannot afford to fund this case any further but we intend to try to raise enough funds to see it through. We believe that this is not just about one couple or one case. It is about the fundamental principle that a person who acted in good faith should not be deprived of their home without prior compensation as a result of the action or inaction of the Spanish state. We feel that if this couple wins, we all win”.

Murcia: One of the largest excesses of the property bubble was the planned Marina Cope to be built between Aguilas and Lorca. The project was the usual madness: six golf courses; 22,000 hotel beds; 9,000 residences and a gigantic sports marina.

The Vera/Cartagena toll-route, built at a ruinous cost of 732 million euros, was planned to serve this monster, rivaling in size the Junta de Andalucía’s absurd Llano Central in northern Almería which remains, unnervingly, on a back-burner somewhere in the parliament building in Seville.

The Constitutional Court in Madrid has now ordered the Murcian Government to cancel the plans for Marina Cope.

Happy New Year from everyone at PALS. Our Sponsored swim got the year off to flying start and some22 people actually got in the water and we estimated 400 spectrtators. The Bahia Hotel open their bar and facilities especially for PALS and the 112 and Red Cross were in attendance.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and supported and sponsored. The final figure generally takes about 2v months to come in and we will of course let everyone know as soon as we can. Decklid team have a pledged 885 Euros so we hare hoping for some 2000Euros plus this yesr.

As we mentioned last month all the monies raised by PALS this year will be dedicated to the CAFÉ account in order that the new ambulance may be ordered

2013

and in use as soon as possible, this does not mean that the money held in PALS accounts is not being used, we are in discussion with the Ayuntamiento in Mazarron and the 112 services and have asked them for a ‘wish list’ in terms iof life saving equipment. To date PALS have donated 177000 Euros of assistance and hope to get the current requirements soon.

WINTER SALE QUILT SETS FROM 5€ BEDSPREADS FROM 20€ THROWS FROM 5€ DUVETS FROM 15€ ELECTRIC BLANKETS FROM 22€

The trips to Benidorm on 18/21st March and Salmanca and Avila and Sergovia on 24th 27 th June are all fully booked but there are always some drop outs so let us know if you want to get on the cancellation list. The same applies to the Greek Islands and Turkey cruise in April May. Obviously we are going to the right places at the right prices!!!

We are planning further evnts and trips and hope to include a coach trip and full board in September or October to Cantabria. Its great up there, full information later. We are also investigating a short holiday in Sardinia, as everyone on our last cruise was so impressed with the people and the Island.

HANDTOWELS FROM 2.50€ BATH TOWELS FROM 5.00€ BATH SHEETS FROM 7.50€ BATHROBES FROM 12€ BATHMATS FROM 4€

We have a meeting at the Cultural Centre on the first Monday in each month at 11.15 and would love to see you and we also can be found with our tickets and events schedule at the Trevi on each Saturday morning from 11am till 1.30pm.

PILLOWCASE PAIRS FROM 4€ FITTED SHEETS FROM 7.50€ FLAT SHEETS FROM 10€ PILLOW PAIRS FROM 14€ MATTRESS PROTECTORS FROM 9.50€

65% of Italian olive oil is Spanish

VOILE PANELS FROM 5€ CURTAIN PAIRS FROM 20€ TIEBACKS FROM 2€ CUSHION COVERS FROM 2€ COMPLETE CUSHIONS FROM 5€

The Italian newspaper La Stampa reported Italy accounts for 65% of olive oil exports from Spain. Tanker lorries collect bulk olive oil from depots and cooperatives, then package the product, maybe even blend it with other oils, and then reexports it stamped “Produce of Italy”.

2013

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Age Concern in the New Year On 7th February an auction will be held at Marianos. The gavel will come down at 1PM, but you can see the goods on offer from 11AM to noon. This is a first of the year and it is planned that a further three will be held during the year. Anyone can sell up to three items , which must be registered before the sale and delivered to Marianos on the day. You can also register at the Cultural Centre on a Wednesday morning. The only charge is a 5 Euro administrative charge and you keep all the proceeds. So far the auctions have attracted a lot of buyers and sellers, with a wide range of merchandise. It is hoped that good quality items are attracted. It is up to you to put a reserve on any item.

Age Concern was again invited by Rosemary Beak, who runs Welcome, to attend their monthly meeting to receive a donation of €300. This we were delighted to do in order to be able to thank Rosemary and all of Welcome’s supporters who made this donation possible. So a big thank you to everyone who attends Welcome’s events, which helps to support us and other local charities.

We also need help in other ways. We have

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2 committee positions unfilled so maybe you have skills we could use or just sound

Handing over the cheque

judgement and common sense, if so contact us. We always need volunteers to help in all our areas of work which are as follows: We offer advice and information at the cultural centre on Camposol B 3 days a week but are hoping to expand this to other areas. This is interesting and requires research and other types of office work as well as dealing with people’s problems face to face.

Our welfare work is with our clients in the community and can be very rewarding it often needs only a couple of hours a week but makes a huge difference in people’s lives. We also hire out medical equipment which needs controlling and maintaining.

Fundraising is a necessary part of our work as we do not receive funding from anywhere else and therefore can only operate if we have the resources and

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volunteers. This can be tickets sales, helping set up functions or table tops, meet and greet and many other things that make the functions we hold each year a success.

Another part of our organisation is our social activities called “Talking Shop”.

These are usually held on 1st Wednesday of the month at the Cultural Centre Camposol B. This is a chance to come along for a cup of coffee, and a chat, with new friends, and beats sitting at home. If you cannot make your own way there give us a ring and we will try to transport you there and back. On the last Wednesday of the month we have our Menu Del Dias at local restaurants, always €10 with some form of entertainment so another opportunity to get out and enjoy good food and good company.

Many readers will by now be familiar with the story of Georgina and her husband, a couple in their eighties whose isolation resulted in burglary, the legal loss of their home, the husband in hospital with cancer, and Georgina repatriated to the UK.. Many of our local agencies helped as have many individuals. Sadly the need to raise money for a funeral is still there but progressing to a satisfying amount. The case underlines the need for personal planning, and the vulnerability we will all have as we age. It also

2013

underlines the need for agencies like age Concern. Individuals will fall through the cracks and will find themselves with needs which they cannot meet on their own The main plea Age Concern would make is don’t leave matters to the last minute, come an talk to us when you know you have a problem. Look after you own future Advice/information/tickets will be available at the Cultural Centre, Wednesday and Thursday AM, 10 while 1PM. On a Friday it will run from 12.30PM to 3.30PM.. Tickets will also be available Friday morning 10 while 1PM outside Salud on sector B Camposol will still be a ticket point, with a bric a brac sale on the last Friday of the month. For advice, information, and tickets in the port please ring 634336484. For Camposol ring 634 310215

News from Ex Servicemen’s Following various queries as to where the monies raised in Spain goes to for the Poppy Appeal, I have sought confirmation from the District Chairman of the R.B.L.

His response is below Ian C Wilson, President, Ex Servicemen’s Association of Mazarrón District (ESAMD).

Chris Wyatt. Chairman, The Royal British Legion in Spain, District North.

Dear Ian, ALL the monies raised in Spain are used here for our beneficiaries. At the end of each year, whatever surplus is left in our Welfare Fund, is returned to the UK as it earns much higher interest there. This is the same for ALL Overseas Branches around the world, however, that money is always available for us should we need it. Obviously, it would not make sense to keep building up a huge surplus here. For instance, last year we raised over €134,000.00 and to date have given out around €80,000.00 so when this year´s collection is added in, the surplus from last year is returned to the UK.

Sector A’s hole in the road Its not new news, but the hole in the road on a is still there, cordoned off. It was supposed to have been mended weeks ago, and now simply joins the rest of Camposol’s tired infra structure. The rest of the road by the dry river bed has cracks, and it must be assumed will mean

Although the majority of beneficiaries here are elderly, there have been a sprinkling of younger claimants.

Please thank your members for all their hard work and efforts in collecting for the Appeal this year. I will be announcing the Poppy total in January but it already looks like another record breaker.

Thank you

that parts of the road will slide into the rambla.

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Embargoes - Update

We have had enquiries from some members seeking clarification on who should register interest in the Embargo action as well as concerns regarding the Consent form.

The Embargo action is for ALL without escrituras, and includes: - those who unwittingly purchased a property that had an embargo prior to purchase - those who have been unable to obtain their escritura and find that their land/ property has an embargo The Consent form is necessary to comply with the Data Protection Act, without this we are unable to forward your details on that form to the solicitor. This puts you under no obligation to proceed and no fees are liable at this stage.

We are still awaiting the proposals from two lawyers and will update you again as soon as we have more information.

Thank you to those who have registered their interest and returned their Consent forms. Some of you have experienced problems in downloading the form from

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our website, if you need a copy of the form or have yet to register your interest in the Embargo action, please email info@cracamposol.com.

If you have neighbours or friends who may well be affected, please ask them to email info@cracamposol.com or call 634 364 739 for more information.

Message from Bob Owen: Meeting for those who purchased after the embargo had been put on the land We are talking about people who have been sold a property by sellers and agents which it can reasonably be assumed knew full well that there was an embargo on the land. If the agent then recommended use of its own conveyancing service instead of a solicitor, that in my opinion is a blatant attempt to cover up the facts to make a sale.

the owner as only last week a property exchanged hands on D23. Who would honestly sell a house knowing there was an embargo on the land. First of all the agent knows full well about the embargo’s so selling that property without informing the purchaser is in my opinion an act of fraud. Secondly the seller was party to the fraud, he offloaded his problem onto another innocent purchaser. Thirdly who was the solicitor. No one because the agent advised the purchaser to buy his “legal pack” If all those affected got together I am sure we could get some results. I am willing to hold a meeting of those affected in the New Year.

If you are interested and can attend the meeting, I can arrange it for Wednesday 16th January at 7pm in the Cultural Centre. Email me on chairmanbobowen@hotmail.co.uk

If everyone who was sold these Tel: 968 138 516 villas went back Mobile: 620 27 76 90 Fax: 968 59 29 08 and complained to Email: gestionesryl@movistar.es the selling agents, the minimum in my Camposol Insurances opinion they should C/Castellon de la Plana,229 do is refund to you Urb Camposol A the fee they received 30870 Mazarron (Murcia) from Masa/the Open Monday to Friday 10am till 1pm & 2pm till 5pm agent/the owner.

Mazarron Office Tel: 968 59 28 28 I say the agent /

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2013

The Welcome Group The Welcome Group from Camposol went to Benidorm this year for Christmas.

This is the first time that the group has been away for the Christmas period and proved very popular as two coaches were fully booked.

The group stayed at the Helios Hotel for the 4 nights on full board including the Gala Christmas Lunch.

By the feedback the group has received everybody enjoyed themselves and many have already put their name down for Christmas 2013.

They then brought in the New Year with a full room at Marianos Restaurant. The Entertainers gave them a full evening of entertainment and an excellant buffet provided by Gill and Chris´s Pantry.

Welcome now look forward to 2013 with a tribute night with Buddy Holly, The Everlys, Roy Orbison, Barry Manilow etc on January 23rd just 8€ and then a romantic Valentines night on February 14th bringing back The Jazz Singer, Gene Pitney and the big man with the big voice Matt Christian. 10€.

All these events are held at Marianos restaurant,Camposol.

At their December meeting they were pleased to present Mabs and FAST with a cheque and at the January meeting Age

2013

Concern The trips for 2013 are Benalmadena for the horse races at Mijas in February, Norwegian Cruise in May, Seville in September, Benidorm in October and Christmas For more details contact Rosemary 620105179

Judges protest against police torture 200 judges from across Spain have signed a petition denouncing the double pardons granted by the government to 4 Catalan police officers who were sentenced for torturing a Romanian citizen, who was arrested ‘in error.’ Last February the Government reduced the sentence to two years and permitted the condemned officers to re-enter the service. The officers were supposed to go to prison on 10th December, but in a new decision, the Government replaced the prison term with a fine.

with the already very bad November last year. This is the lowest number of registrations since 1993.

Disabled demonstrate Several thousand disabled people, from 60 organisations across Spain, demonstrated in the centre of Madrid against ‘the situation of absolute emergency’ in which they have been placed due to cuts in social assistance provided by the government.

Car registrations down 12.6% In spite of a government plan to assist purchasers of new cars, registration have fallen 12.6% so far this year. In November, sales fell 20.3%, compared

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Office 968 152 191 Mobile 618 615 903 An artists journey Abingdon, his eleventh painting is one of the finest Thameside towns and also one of the oldest, having been a prosperous market town for at least 900 years. Until 1974 it was the county town of Berkshire and the County Hall, built by Christopher Kempster, one of Wren’s masons on St. Paul’s Cathedral, still dominates the market-place. The painting of the river frontage depends on reflections for its effect. In completely still water a mirror image would be reflected but, of course, this very rarely happens as the water is continually stirred by the wind. Clear water, like a mirror, cannot receive a

Sutton Courtenay church

shadow because the light is reflected off it but, as this picture shows, river water is seldom clear and therefore shadows fall freely across the surface.

Churches frequently appear in this collection of paintings and the Sutton Courtenay Church has been included as a close up study. He states, that if he had to choose between saving a painting or a beautiful building, he would choose the building. Of all the arts, architecture

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must be the most accomplished. How rare really fine architecture is and how lovely it becomes when adorned by the hand of nature: lichen on stone, rust on iron, weathering on brickwork. Many of England’s parish churches are perfect examples of this and, like the fourteenthcentury church of All Saints that he paints here, they are often magnificent works of art in their own right. Herbert Asquith, the first Earl of Oxford, and Eric Blair, better known to the world as George Orwell, lie buried in the churchyard here.

The Sunset at Appleford is the subject of his thirteenth painting. Painted just after the sun had disappeared below the horizon and the skyline stood out against the dying light like a black paper cut-out.

Notice the red sky was not reflected in the water but there was a stiffish breeze blowing and this may have ruffled the water so that it only reflected the light directly above it.

Moonrise, Long Wittenham. Van Gogh went painting by moonlight with candles stuck in his hat, a fact which Doyle dismissed as a fairy tale, but after he had painted quite a few moonlight pictures he discovered that this must have been quite true as the only way to paint at night is to tie a lamp to your hat - no other method works. If you put a lamp on a pole your vision is immediately imprisoned in a cone of light and you have to turn it out to see, then on again to draw, very disturbing and impractical. With a lamp on your hat it becomes as easy as painting by day for when one raises one’s head, the light is dissipated into the night and when one

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lowers it, the light shines clearly on the paper. This arouses quite a bit of curiosity if there happen to be people about!

Studies of bridges, as a matter of course, also frequent his painting and the Bridge at Clifton Hampden is another fine example of the Thames bridges. Built

by Sir George Gilbert Scott, grandfather of the architect who designed Battersea power station. He also restored the church of St Michael and All Angels – alas, according to Doyle, nearly to extinction ; and the manor house behind the trees in the background. The Barley Mow Inn on the extreme right of the picture is where Jerome K. Jerome is supposed to have written part of Three men in a Boat.

Day’s Lock the sixteenth study is situated at the end of the village of Little Wittenham which nestles under Castle Hill. The hill is topped with an iron-age fort and the famous group of trees known as Wittenham Clumps. Another sunset painted with a ‘one mad dash’ approach

Dorchester Abbey

as Doyle states the change is so quick that one has only seconds in which to capture the fleeting effect, salvaging it with pastels in the studio.

2013

Dorchester Abbey. The Roman town of Durocina built here in a bend of the Thames through the little town on a tributary called the Thame. St Birinus was sent from Rome to continue the conversion of the Saxons started by St Augustine some thirty-five years before.

As he journeyed up the Thames, the inhabitants came to hear him preach, and because they gathered on both banks, churches were built opposite each other as at Windsor and Eton, Hurley and Medmenham, Pangbourne and Whitchurch. He founded the Abbey in 634; the subject of Doyle’s seventeenth painting. Most of the Abbey was destroyed at the dissolution in 1536, but the Abbey Church survived and is one of the best in England with a particularly beautiful fourteenth-century choir. There are many treasures here including a superb Jesse window and one of the finest Norman lead fonts in England.

The Thames near Pangbourne is the world of Mole and Ratty and Mr Toad. Kenneth Grahame lived in Pangbourne and this stretch of the river became the setting for The Wind in the Willows. Sunset near Pangbourne with the sun going down over the wild woods and reflecting off the water – one of the most difficult natural effects to paint successfully but executed so well by this exquisite painter.

The Mill, Mapledurham is mentioned

Oxford from Godstow

in the Doomsday Book: ‘William de Warrene holds Mapledurham of the King ….. there is a mill worth 20 shillings and 10 acres of meadow’. The present mill looks much the same as it would have done in the late eighteenth century although you can still trace the medieval mill through its timbers, walls and roof trusses which form the centre of the building. Many of the old mills on the Thames have disappeared and are only remembered by the weirs and locks that the mediaeval millers built to power their wheels. This mill has been restored and is the only working mill left on the Thames.

He painted this from his dinghy in the fading afternoon light of late September a none too easy feat.

Mapledurham. Although there has been a manor here since the Norman Conquest, the present Elizabethan house was built

2013

by Sir Michael Blout in 1588 and it has belonged to his ancestors ever since. The eighteenth-century poet Alexander Pope used to visit to court Teresa and Martha.

The Thames runs right beside the house in the middle distance of Doyles painting of this fine landscape. One of the gables facing the Thames is covered with oyster shells. This was a sign to Catholics fleeing down the Thames from persecution during the Reformation that here they would find help.

And so to Henley, he is now approaching the better known reaches of this long and stunning river. It was in Henley that he bought the Angela Jane to explore all those places that other boats couldn’t reach, and on the first day that he tied up

Eton College from Masters’ Boathouse (evening)

on the bank to look at Temple Island a man in the next boat gave him champagne in a tea cup. How English!! Henley from Temple Island, painted sitting on a stool on the roots of a chestnut tree covered in birds’ droppings – mainly coots’ with the odd goose’s and crested diver’s thrown in for good measure. On the second day standing on the wrong end of the dinghy he used to reach the island he was suitable baptised in the river. Henley is the capital of the tourist Thames and the fine bridge to the left in his painting carries two carved heads on the keystone of its central arch; Mother Isis, serene, calm and beautiful, looks back to the source while on the eastern side, Father Thames, to whom she gives eternal birth, benign and godlike, gazes forever to the sea.

Regatta Reach, Henley. Doyle confessed to never really liking the colour green until he had made this journey but had he not painted trees in

full

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Eton College from Romney’s lock

paint. Velázquez said that one should look for the greys in a colour and for colours in grey – this principle certainly applies to green. No other colour seems to have more tints or hues.

Temple Island, Henley. This charming little temple was designed by Thomas Wyatt as a folly for the owners of nearby Fawley Court. It has fine frescoes inside and is the starting point for races up the river to Henley.

Many fine houses have been built along this river and Culham Court is a fine example of a Georgian House which Doyle passed on his way up the Thames from Marlow to Henley on a late July evening. The sun was making the red bricks glow and it looked the epitome of an English country house. The owner very kindly allowed him to sit on his terrace and paint. The figure on the front of the house is a fine piece of sculpture

by Elizabeth Frink known as The Striding Madonna. There is another in Salisbury Cathedral Close.

When you call an advertiser please mention you saw their advert here

page 11

A hopefully useful recap!

The most important point to remember is that the Town Hall has turned its face against any demolition, that Camposol does have a long list of problems, with a deficient and unfinished infrastructure.

BUT and it is a big but, this is an affliction not a terminal condition.

Camposol can be fixed, many areas and urbanizations cannot. 1000 Euros a villa would raise nearly 5 million. There are few urbanizations with that potential. That is not to say that is the road the village is going down. It has no facility to raise the cash itself, and the town hall can only levy IBI and car tax! Given the brassic nature of every town hall, not just our own, then investment from that quarter is unlikely in the short and medium term.

Where does that leave us?

Turistico Some years ago, 2007 to be precise, we tripped over the Turistico rule. Many years old the law meant that every urbanization had to set aside some 10% of its stock for turistico purposes. This meant the houses could be used for short term let’s to holiday makers. A regional

page 12

law in 2005, to be implemented in 2007, laid down a number of conditions that turistico properties had to meet e.g. disabled access. In fact the rumours that went around were unbelievable, if believed by some! “You can only live in the property 11 months of the year…” In the end of course there is little impact, except perhaps on villa prices. The issue remains unresolved, with those wishing to obtain residential status still waiting!

The Council told the CRA that any future development would be designated turistico, which would enable change to existing properties. Given that there are still areas on A for example where there are a few villas, or the areas are designated for development, then it is difficult to know why the council cannot proceed now. Incidently the figure is 10% of the properties, how exact does that have to be? The Garrigues Report did say that this issue could be resolved by the Council.

Escritura There are a variety of issues here. Number one is that it can take years to transfer an escritura lodged in the land registry. This is the responsibility not of Mazarron but of Murcia and there are always delays.

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The good news is that they can only back claim 4 years, so any time over that is a bonus. In one case on A, it took 6 years to transfer, which meant the householder gained two years and the council lost 2years IBI.. Whole polygonos are also in the same position for other reasons, lack of planning permissions, the rambla on D, being the two most obvious. The problem the council has is getting the cooperation of MASA over planning issues.. This has also left them open to an embargo in the courts. The key issue here is planning, some polygonos just do not have planning permission. The fault lies back in history, an incompetent developer who at best skated over thin ice all the time, and a compliant town hall, with few staff and no inclination to check on MASA\s work.

Add the fact that many of us, including the writer of this piece, did not consult trained lawyers, but we cut corners and consulted what are effectively translators, many of whom did excellent work on the paperwork they had, but again did not access key information. This is where the CRA will in the long run be the only vehicle we have to defend us, but it was us who wouldn’t even give the CRA 10 Euros a year to function. Hence they have to rely on their own resources and really are unable to commission the kind of legal

2013

resources that would get us somewhere!

Fin de Obra Put simply this is the piece of paper that says that work has been completed on your villa. Many of us have them and many have bought and sold villas without the paper. One problem here is that in this day and age of “buyers rule OK?” lawyers use the absence as yet another weapon in the price war. Anna Obtained many fin de obra from MASA. This was more accident than design. One visit to MASA revealed their existence, and the MASA architect just gave them to her. She has been issuing them, which involves registration at the land registry and a 50Euro fee. She charges 100 Euros for processing. You can also get a copy from the architects department at Mazarron.

Again the responsibility is MASA’s. We have already paid once for this piece of paper, but if you want or need it, swallow hard!

IBI This is not to be confused with UK Council tax, but it is easy to see why it is. It’s because it’s the land tax which you pay for your villa and the land it stands on. This goes to the local council and is used by it to finance its work The Town Council collects it along with car tax and they keep the proceeds. You can only pay once your villa is duly registered and the paperwork has gone through Murcia and been passed onto the town hall. There are literally thousands of homes all over Mazarron who are not paying IBI at this point in time. The Council itself has admitted it could be a third of all properties. They can only claw back 4 years, so if you have never paid IBI on your original MASA home or resale do not worry too much. Look forward to paying roughly 250 euros a year, which would mean 1000 in a claw back. However any time over four years and you gain! The difference between this and Council Tax is that Council tax is set against a budget, is state regulated, is agreed on an annual basis. IBI is agreed on an annual basis but is simply revenue to the Council, alongside all its other sources. Two years ago the Council complained to Madrid that they were in debt and needed help. Madrid pointed out that many had not revalued properties for as much as ten years. It was more than that in Mazarron’s case and the former mayor Blaya did instigate a revaluation.

The uproar which ensued resulted in the amounts being reduced.

2013

Solicitors, translation/ interpreting Services In Spain there is a tradition of businesses dedicated to doing bureaucratic works for you. In the UK we use solicitors but have no equivalent to the assessorial, we take our cars for their MOT etc. In Spain where everything is more complicated and more time consuming then there is this tradition. Hence many Brits thought nothing of using such services when buying houses. According to Bob Owen the CRA is approached by more folk in trouble because they have used these sort of services than those provided by avocados, lawyers who do the work of solicitors and lawyers in the UK. Would you buy a house in the UK other than through a solicitor? Would you use Jo Bloggs down the road because he spoke better English than you? Recently the story of Georgina and her husband hit the community. A couple who retired here, and felt well able to cope with everything.

They ended up even losing their house!

In fact, Brits need to be more aware than the Spanish. Even everyday life has it pitfalls. Get it translated! Before you sign not after.

Embargos Have recently put the fear of God into many. The latest advice from the CRA is to check on your villa at the land registry if you do not hold then escritura. The land and buildings must be registered to someone. If this is not you, then it will be MASA. This leaves your property prey to the courts! Paul who owns a villa on A has had one hanging over his head for years and is perhaps the longest running saga. The courts will not listen to him or MASA! This is because although MASA recognize that he has paid his contractual dues, he cannot prove it because he has lost a receipt. The bank cannot help because it is too long ago. It is easy to say that he brought it on himself but this is a trifle unfair. Nobody had heard of embargoes a few years ago, just as for years no one knew what a turistico was.

WE now know that having the escritura is pretty important. However providing you can prove you have paid MASA you should be all right. Should be because there has not been a court case where the property has been sold. This has happened in a case further north where the owners who had inherited the property found it sold from over their heads. If you do hold the escritura check. It is not a difficult process but given its importance

perhaps wise to go through a proper agency i.e. solicitors! An embargo is a court issued decision which commandeers the land and building from MASA because of a court registered debt. The court can then order its sale to pay the debt. It is of course no consequence to MASA that they do not own the property.

Just how many houses on Camposol come into this category is unknown, but it could be dozens. There problem is the paperwork. Do you have all your contracts and receipts?

Last year I did an analysis of the election results. This indicated the following All the existing parties did badly. The former independent party disappeared without trace! It was a real disaster for the PP. They lost four seats and Mazarron was the only bit of Murcia where they made no gains! Nationally they did well.

PSOE managed to hold its own, which was good since nationally they lost many seats. PAREMA lost votes but not seats.

The previous election it had almost twice the votes! The big winners were the new mayor’s party who appeared for the first time. Also UI with David doubled their vote and got a councilor. They had been in the previous but one council so they won back the votes they lost.

Be careful how you read the results There does not seem much evidence of expat votes going to UIDM. There does seem evidence of a lack of expat voting. (This may well be due to under registration and voting in Mazarron, NB a voting station on Camposol very important) However unloved Blaya, still a lot of expat votes for him (are expats “naturally” conservative?). What does the loss of votes for PaReMa indicate?

Nationally there are 8000 independent parties. Spain has this tradition very simply because intervals cannot stand as independents. This means the invention of parties. Many do not last. Back in 1997 a new independent party swept the board.

Within 10 years disappeared!

Should the CRA join in with another party? Both the PP and PSOE have had Brit candidates, but not in electable positions. A key point to remember is that Jackie Galvez was no 12! So very marginal! Yet she appeared to be a key player and cohort! UIDM, the mayors party might be a possibility, but it is still the new boy!

Could the CRA Go it alone? Perhaps the CRA should talk to some of the other residents associations who have done this!!!!!

Rod Sawyer

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page 13

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Arts & Cultural Association of Murcia ~ ACAM The Arts & Cultural Association of Murcia became a registered charity in April 2011. Serving the needs of a community with no children’s activities it has gone from strength to strength. With fiscal legal status by March 2012 ACAM projects have predominately served Camposol whilst integrating a wider audience from as far away as the UK. ACAM’s second AGM will take place on Friday 15th February and tie in with a Family Valentines Dinner and Dance.

Anyone can become a member of ACAM and attend the event. All you need to do to register is contact one of its’ officers giving your address and NIE or passport number. ACAM projects serve the community of Murcia and its’ visitors so you can live anywhere to become a member.

In addition to this there are many other membership levels. There is participatory

membership where you can access the activities of Project Members who deliver the aims and objectives of ACAM’s constitution.

Memberships are also open to organisations and individuals who want to support the development of ACAM whilst delivering its’ aims.

There are many incentives to becoming a Project Member of ACAM. Organisations and individuals will be set up within a legal framework which offers advice on delivering quality Arts & Leisure activities for a community. You will have a fiscal number, virtual office address, office space for meetings, public liability insurance, and, new for 2013 an accountant. There are terms and conditions in applying for ACAM Project Membership but if you’re qualified, positive, enthusiastic and pro active

in enriching your community, within the realms of the resources available, wherever it maybe in Murcia, ACAM would be very interested in hearing from you.

Two ACAM projects, Murcia Dance and Mazarron Festival de Baile had a fantastic

2012.

Murcia Dance, a community dance project based on Camposol delivers street and theatre dance, ballet, ZUMBA and ZUMBATOMIC to children, young people and adults. A program of dance with enthusiastic members, families and friends whom have all made a huge impact on developing a community for families through the art form of dance.

They perform regularly within Mazarron Town and village fiestas and enter competitions throughout the summer months. Murcia Dance has supportive links with the local council and is strengthened further by an active Parents Association.

Mazarron Festival de Baile 2012 saw 450 new visitors to the area. A three day dance festival with aims of celebrating the art form of dance was strengthened by 25 volunteers, 150 dancers from 7 different dance schools and 300 spectators. For 2013 the event for under 21’s will take place at the Playa Grande Hotel Puerto de Mazarron between 29th June ~ 1st July. The adult and semi professional categories of the festival will take place during the Autumn 2013.

For more information on the Arts & Cultural Association of Murcia please visit http://www.facebook.com/acam.murcia http://acammurcia.tumblr.com/ http://www.facebook.com/murcia.dance www.mfdb.net www.murciadance.com or telephone ACAM President Louise Bremner ~ 655 421 120

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page 15

POLIGONO SURVEILLANCE

Improved villa inspection to check that your house is in good order for your peace of mind At least one, or more, inspections of your villa every night Key hold & custody of your villa when you are away for a period of time

Emergency response service included If you feel threatened or intimidated when in your villa, call our special emergency number for assistance. We will initiate the necessary measures and actions in co-operation with the Police/Guardia Civil. (Available during our normal surveillance periods) Discounted cost for specialist support if police station visit needed (Available for reporting break-in or theft from your villa) Three month / Six month / Annual contracts available

10€ per month Published and printed by Luis Canovas & Global de Servicios, Seguridad, Guarda Rural y Control, S.L. Camposol Business Center Tel: 968 103 008 Please Note: This special offer is available to ALL Poligonos on Camposol Its availability is subject to a large majority of the villas on the Poligono signing up for the service Further reduction in the monthly fee possible, depending on the size and take-up of the Poligono It is intended that this service will be available from 1st January 2012 Further details available from Luis Cánovas or Conchi at theCamposol Business Centre or email Telephone:

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info@camposolbusiness.com

“Aladdin’s cave” in Isla Plana Brico Pepelino is considered by many to be the most extensive hardware store in the area.

It is part of the Spanish chain, Cadena 88 and is based on the high street of the picturesque village of Isla Plana (C / Mayor, 58-60), 5 minutes from Puerto de Mazarrón.

Cadena 88 has more than 1,000 stores in Spain and was the first consumer hardware chain in the country. Brico Pepelino Cadena 88 is not only a store, but also a professional advisor when it comes to any area of DIY: electrical goods, general hardware, drills, alarms, machinery, pool chemicals, indoor & outdoor lighting, adhesives, gifts,

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bathroom & cleaning products, protective covers, household utensils, cables, paint, construction, fencing, cutting tools,signage, heaters, camping stoves & utensils, measuring tools, gardening, carpentry tools, batteries, humidifiers, fly/mosquito screens, guttering, washers, non-slip/wooden/ceramic floor coverings, fishing and boating equipment……………………

We could go on and on……why not come along and see for yourselves!!! There is always an english speaking member of

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staff who will be more than willing to help you if you cannot see what you need on display. And if it’s something that we don’t have in stock, we will always try and order it in for you.

Winter opening hours: Monday - Saturday 8.30am -2pm & 4.30pm-8.30pm Sunday 8.30am-2pm Tel: 968 152 080 bricopepelino@hotmail.com www.cadena88.com

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Out & About over Christmas

With Rod Sawyer

Well some of will know that the above was a complete misnomer! In fact for me, Christmas did not exist! It’s a salutary lesson. In the run up to Christmas I began to feel very unwell, I was out of breath, swollen legs, poor sleep, and tired all the time. I visited the Medical Centre twice, two days running, worried by the symptoms. The third day, we called an ambulance in the morning. They said, well no emergency but get down to the Medical Centre. I did this and had the same treatment as the previous two days, an injection and oxygen, neither of which had any effect. Doctor said, take yourself off to emergency in Cartagena, the new hospital.

Within a couple of minutes of arrival I was in triage. This is a trained nurse who sorts out those potentially dangerously ill from those who are not an emergency.

It is a good system, except it can lead you to spending several hours waiting for attention. I was immediately put into reception, and within ten minutes, I was in emergency treatment in intensive care!It appeared that I had heart failure. The difference between this and an attack? An attack is an attack is acute, failure takes place over time. I was there hours whilst various tests were done and medication administered. Then up to a ward where I spent Christmas, in fact two and a half

page 18

weeks. My body was drained of over 5 kilos of fluid! In fact so far have lost 16 kilos of weight. The last test was a heart exploration which I had the day before release. Nothing to be frightened of! The camera goes in through a vein in your wrist, and the procedure takes about half an hour. Some slight discomfort. At the end of which the surgeon said, you need a stent to unblock an artery. Do you want it now? Well you envisage surgery, but the stent goes up the vein and is in place in ten minutes. I was discharged the following day!

Comments on the care? The medical side is miraculous! The facilities, two bedded rooms, which I shared with a Spanish guy initially whose wife spent every night and most of the day there, then shared with a Frenchman on holiday. I found the food pretty lousy and repetitive. BUT I am diabetic, so I was on no salt and no sugar. The nursing care in terms of monitoring is good, but is very reliant on family participation which means that the fine line between help with the patient, and nursing can easily be crossed and was with my wife/ There are increasing numbers of patients who do not have a family member with them for the night.

A salutary lesson! But how many of us do take health monitoring seriously?

On my first Sunday at home, on the way back from Church a beautiful husky type dog was spotted on the lam down by the river course. The car was stopped and a door opened and to my surprise the dog

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immediately jumped in. She, and she was a she, had no collar and had obviously been out for some time. A ravenous young lady was brought home and fed, and bathed. We did try all the animal charities but the only one which offered help was Andrea who advised putting her on the internet. This we duly did. A number of folk admitted to spotting her over the previous week. Then this lovely Belgian couple came on and offered to take her.

We had put this picture on. She is really physically a beauty, with a wonderful friendly and intelligent temperament to go with it. She spent the night placidly in our kennel, and the following morning was collected by the Belgian couple who live on Camposol D. Meanwhile the owners of the new pet shop, to be next to the Bank Caixa on B, had also offered to take her.

Andrea took the couple to her vets on A and sorted out injections and more or as importantly, chipping. She had not been chipped. They have instantly fallen for her and she is just what they wanted. Andrea is also happy. This is the second stray we have picked up and finally seen re-homed, the first being a lady spaniel who now resides on Camposol with another lovely lady. Please if you do see a stray at least report it. These days many go down the road to the dog pound and are destroyed, dogs whose only sin is their owners have got fed up with them and turfed them out. Andrea, who runs a donkey charity, but homes over 20 dogs, was great and so helpful. But I am so gald I live on Camposol where there are so many really

2013

Our famous Sunday roast available 4 courses at 15 euros or 2 courses at 10.50 euros, all home cooked with vegetable buffet, Wine with your meal, as always booking is essential and places are limited

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double en-suite room, special Valentines night 4 course evening meal with Cava, Mountain bike days with virtually no pedalling!!! entertainment with the We take you to the top of the Espuna in a mini bus Quad biking......

(1550Mtres) and guide you down through incredible BEAGLES, Quad biking trips from the forest tracks and trails, all done very gently which is breakfast the following 35 euros a superb way to see the Espuna´s, we supply the bikes, morning all for the guide, safety equipment, support vehicle and lunch. inclusive of a 99 per couple.

All day event for only 35â‚Ź per person. see 4 course lunch!

Free minibus available for a see website for details. www.espuna-adventure.com/cycling-mountain-biking/ small group (6 to 8) @ 20 for further details.

RS per person for the 4GD AD DK CH@ HM February SOLD OUT contact us for future dates S NE @ LDMT C entertainment and the BNTQRD KX S HM EQNM R 4 course Valentines meal. GD @QD@ RSHKK NM M NM 3@STQC@X S

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great folk!

Sunday Services are as follows.

I spent Christmas in hospital, but talking around, Christmas seems to have been a muted affair. The bars and restaurants appear to have done good business, but many stayed at home and a lot went back to the UK. Sign of the times? We did go to carols 60th birthday at the Vista one Friday. This was splendid, great company, many from St Nicholas Church, great food from Vicky, a wide selection of really tasty bites! And Simon providing the right music and some karaoke. A lovely evening and congratulations to Carol and the Vista! Glad to be back in business.

Rod sawyer

1st Sunday Songs of Praise 10.30am 2nd Sunday Holy Communion 10.30am 3rd Sunday Morning Prayer 10.30am

St Nicholas Ecumenical Church Calle Sobrija 2248, D20 Urb. Camposol Tel. 968 13 89 52 Welcomes all denominations.

We are a registered charity.

No.Q3000277H

4th Sunday Holy Communion 10.30am 5th Sunday Service by Church Members 10.30am Anyone wishing the assistance of the Church in any way, please call, Rev Len Eaton Tel. 968138952 Rev Deacon Maureen Kent Tel: 636 099 679

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2013

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page 19

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The problem with old age is?

Renny Mullen.

Where do you start? The physical deterioration, and onset of new conditions to be endured, the latter appearing anew what seems almost daily! Camposol rattles with all the artificial knees, hips and pacemakers enabling the continued daily battles with relatives over whether we should be here or not; the grappling with new technology constantly changing in an effort to make us out to be imbeciles seems to be surpassed only, by the confounded bureaucracy here which befuddles one and all.

When the first inhabitants landed, there was a real sense of community, and people looked out for their neighbours as there weren´t so many. The relatively good health of most being taken for granted, and only really acknowledged as a potential problem when services were required by professionals, over and above a good neighbour policy. I´m not going to discuss all the helping organisations, because this article is specifically to try to address the problems of ageing.

I must admit, I´m not writing this with a body of research to back me up, but we can all see with our own eyes what is happening. Most people are still willing to help out a neighbour in need, and that is to their credit. Now we have Age Concern, specifically to support individuals and families who find themselves overwhelmed by their own and/or others needs. There are probably a few people who simply require a friendly face once or twice a week, perhaps it helps them to feel less lonely.

However, given the number of over 65s living here, there is a huge discrepancy between those numbers and the numbers seeking assistance. Many volunteers have given up the ghost because there simply aren´t enough clients to go round.

Why? As I said above, there aren´t many people who wouldn´t take the time to check on/ do little tasks for their elderly neighbours, and if there was a pattern of people being found dead having had no visitors for months, it might be one explanation for the poor take up of available help.

It seems that people either don´t know what´s out there, or, and this is fairly typical in the U.K. as well, any intervention can be seen as interfering,

page 20

risking a loss of independence; in addition, the idea of “charity” to some, usually elderly people is a cause for shame. As for the church being active in this area, there is sometimes a misconception regarding the motives behind offers of help. This is not the case.

There is one area which is of great concern, and needs some serious attention from ALL the agencies which deal with elderly and sick people, and that is the noticeable increase in Camposolers who are suffering from some kind of dementia, and are in need of professional intervention. Sadly, talking to many people who know someone or care for someone with this problem unanimously struggle with how to cope, and get the services they need, even if the affected person is refusing help.

It´s quite right that we should respect the wishes of the sick and elderly, but where do you draw the line? Too many wives/husbands are stuck in a horrendous battle not just with their spouse/mother/ father/neighbour etc, but with their own guilt. Dementia , is a spectacularly cruel condition, and the person is often not competent to judge what is best for them.

For those of you who like me, have always believed in empowering people, making life changing decisions for another person is a most difficult concept to grasp. BUT the reality is that many of us will have to do just that at some point.

The more people who understand when it happens, the better. These people need not just the old “chat and a cuppa”, but access to ALL available services for them as well as the patient.

My husband has recently been in hospital, but he knew what was the matter, and what he needed to do in order to be helped. I dread to think how I would´ve coped had this been a problem with dementia. Lack of co-operation, incontinence, aggression. These are just three of the horrible consequences that such families are dealing with. On top of that, there is no structured and widely available respite for the carers, nowhere to get advice, and no structured support groups.

They end up supporting each other which is no respite at

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all. Some would like to go out while the person is being cared for by someone else; some want their relative to be taken out of the home for respite, just to have some normality for a while. They just end up in one person´s house and dealing with several other needy people as well as their own.

Almost everyone I have spoken to in the last year or so, who are caring for someone know nothing of U.K. benefits to which they may be entitled. Many are now receiving Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance. Do you think you, or someone you know may be entitled? Age Concern have been dealing with the applications. It could make a difference if care and support need to be paid for.

As I have alluded to above, the church of St Nicholas, which has been established on Camposol for many years, now has a pastoral group, and are trying to make their presence felt. We have had two open coffee mornings since we formed, but we intend to widen our involvement in the community.

We want to see a dedicated social worker with whom we can liaise, chiefly with the support of Age Concern who already have this facility. This means that we could offer a link to professional carers. It is out there, but very complicated to get access to without a contact. Also, we want to try, again with Age Concern if possible, to set up a support group for dementia sufferers and their carers, including access to residential respite etc, which should be easily accessible as long as the facilities are there.

YOU CAN HELP. Please tell people you know about us. Unless we are asked for assistance, we have no mandate to intervene, BUT THEY WON´T IN THE FIRST INSTANCE UNLESS THEY KNOW WE ARE HERE! Please tell us what you think/need. We are here to help if we can. You can contact us via: Rosemary Scott. Tel:619575463.

2013

EA RE SF TU FEA URES F ATURE FEATU ES E R S T F E A U E R S F E U AT EAT RES S FE TUR FEA URES F ATURE FEATU ES E S T RE SF TUR FEA my heart’.FEATUREES FEATUURES FEA EAT TUR FEA URES F T EA history in Medieval times ValentinesFday

saw the youth of the time wearing names drawn from a hat on their sleeves. Hence the modern expression ‘to wear your heart on your sleeve’ . This means that other people can easily see what you are feeling.

If a young lady sees a sparrow on February 14th flying overhead it means that she will marry a poor man and be extremely happy. If she saw a robin she would marry a mariner. A goldfinch seen by a woman meant that she would marry into riches.

The Legend of St Valentine St Valentine’s day history goes back to Roman times. The emperor Claudius II was a student of human nature and way back in AD 287 he calculated that single men made braver soldiers than married men. Therefore, as Claudius had absolute power, he dictated than no soldier should marry. A Roman called Valentinus thought that this was rough justice and secretly married soldiers who had a sweetheart.

When Claudius discovered that Valentinus had defied his decree he threw Valentinus into jail. Whilst incarcerated, Valentinus fell in love with the gaoler’s daughter and sent her the first ever card - from your sweet Valentine.

St Valentine Much later, in AD 496 Pope Gelasius, chose 14 February as the day to honour and remember Saint Valentine.

Unfortunately, tantalisingly little is known about these early origins of St Valentine.

In the history of St Valentine’s day, it is the 17th century which was the most important and truly romantic era. The 14th of February became important as a day to exchange love notes by sending poems and gifts. Sometimes dances and small festivals were held.

In modern times, 1416, Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent one of the earliest Valentines, from his imprisonment in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt. He sent several Valentine poems to his wife in France.

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Valentine Shock St Valentine ‘Not the saint of love’ Britain’s Roman Catholic Church is advising lovelorn singles to direct their 14 February requests for love to St Raphael, rather than St Valentine. Over the years St Valentine has come incorrectly to be associated with finding love, the Church says. He is the patron saint for those who have already found their soul mate.

St Raphael is the patron saint for happy encounters and it is to him those fearing the Valentine’s post should properly direct their prayers.

Valentine Angels’ Folklore Angels have a rich theology and mythology. Angels invariably have wings and a halo. They are angels of mercy, and in the case of Cupid, the Valentine angel, has his bow ready to fire an arrow into the heart of your beloved.

Other angels carry religious messages, most notably the Archangel Gabriel who foretells of Mary’s conception and the birth of Jesus. There is a common belief that angels are the souls of dead babies.

Valentine Day Crafts and Customs In Guy’s home country of Wales wooden love spoons are made and given as presents on 14 February. Hearts, keys and keyholes feature as decorations on these carved spoons as and invitation to ‘unlock

St Valentine’s commercialisation probably began with the making and selling of cards in the 18th century. Women in the 18th century would write men’s names on paper, roll them in clay and place them in a bowl of water. The first paper to rise to the surface would contain the name of a woman’s true love.

Chinese St Valentine’s Day History and Customs Legend has it that the seventh daughter of the Emperor of Heaven, a weaving maid, fell in love and married a cowherd.

They were overindulgent in their love and neglected their farming and weaving duties, which angered the Jade Emperor.

As punishment, he exiled them to opposite banks of the Silver River [Milky Way], and only allowed them to meet each other once a year on the night of the seventh day of the seventh month.

This legend has been handed down for nearly two millennia. The Chinese people believe that the star, Vega, east of the Milky Way, is Zhi Nu, and that Altair, on the western side of the Milky Way, is Niu Lang waiting for his wife.

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the only Chinese festival devoted to love in the lunar calendar. Chinese Valentine’s Day traditions abound and this special day is celebrated differently depending on the Chinese province.

As a result the Chinese Valentine’s Day is always on the Seventh Day of the Seventh Month on the Chinese calendar, and not on February 14th! Thus the Chinese Valentine’s Day 2010 is on August 16th.

When you call an advertiser please mention you saw their advert here

page 21

As we enter the New Year, our work is not easing up, every week from our Town Hall Offices we see a cue of applicants of varying nationalities patiently waiting.

Everyone has a heart wrenching story!

We are working on new projects & trust by the next edition that we can share these with you - maybe they would wet your appetite to Partner with us.

We are pleased to announce, that our Mazarron Shop is now open on Fridays 10 – 2.

Shop, Mazarron 634 321 161 Outreach/Enquiries 634 357 137 Email: madmazarron@live.com Face Book: mad mazarron

for Help, there is nowhere for them to go. Even Spanish families are unable to help those nearest & dearest, the ongoing unemployment is hitting all ages & positions within our Multi National Community!

STORIES – EXTRAS….

One family of 7 adults & 6th month baby, live in a home without water & electricity. They are also months behind on their mortgage payments & await court hearings & eviction – can we find them work they ask !!.

A further family of 5 adults & 1 toddler, due to no work for months, have a court eviction day of 16th January – they asked “can GOmaD house them” ??

A serious of Young Mothers have been abandoned by their partners, with no Government help, they feel helpless & they are!.

A young couple had their baby taken into care, this is not due to their inadequacy to parenthood but they are unable to offer their child a home due to the lack of work, & therefore finances. The only way they can be re-united is to be financially secure. To see the desperation in their faces & for us to hear this story brought tears to the eyes.

Another family shared how they took out a mortgage based at 300.00 a month by time it completed it increased to 600.00, & this was not due to inflation!

This did not help as WE ARE A MOBILE COMPANY, WE Unemployment then COME TO YOU hit them & years later Special offer due to no Mortgage repayments, they are 10% off in waiting to know their February fate.

Still, she kept showing up, trying to keep her frustration under control. If she quit, she reasoned, she might never get her money. And besides, where was she going to find another job? Last month, she was down to about $130 in her bank account with a mortgage payment due.

GOmaD would like to Publicly thank all those who supported us last year, in many different ways; All our Volunteers, Drivers & Translators, without whom we could not manage to operate all the areas of GOmaD!.

The numerous Doners of everyday items, & Kind Givers of monetary donations; from various Bowls Clubs, Golf Societies, other Associations plus YOU the general public.

The weekly Donations of Food & Toiletries from ´The Fat Club´, Camposol A - who have just donated 10pairs of Children´s shoes. One of the Fat Club Ladies, by accident or was it?, stumbled upon a Mazarron Aid Day, when she was so touched by a child with poor footwear, that she wanted to Make her own Difference. The story was shared with the Group & a decision to purchase shoes was made.

The rental/management agents who kindly collate all the left- over Food, Toiletries & Babies Nappies from renters & kindly pass onto us.

‘Dog Bowl’, Fuente Alamo who donate unsold Bread, which is kindly collected & dropped off to our Shop by our ‘Community Star’, Colin Thackwell.

The Business’s who partner with us in Holding Food Collection bins & to those not mentioned but you know who YOU ARE.

Murcia

per car From 60€ cycle From 40€ per motor

page 22

Alan Hogg T: 968 979 260 M: 634 355 709

e: puncturesafemurcia@runbox.com www.puncturesafemurcia.com

With all these stories & more GOmaD realizes the urgent Need for a Shelter/ Hostal. Without families to call upon

www.thecamposoljournal.com

Life in Spain Over the past two years, Ana María Molina Cuevas, 36, has worked five shifts a week in a ceramics factory on the outskirts of this city, hand-rolling paint onto tiles. But at the end of the month, she often went unpaid.

“On the days you get paid,” she said at home with her disabled husband and young daughter, “it is like the sun has risen three times. It is a day of joy.”

Mrs. Molina, who is owed about $13,000 by the factory, is hardly alone. Being paid for the work you do is no longer something that can be counted on in Spain, as this country struggles through its fourth year of an economic crisis.

With the regional and municipal governments deeply in debt, even workers like bus drivers and health care attendants, dependent on government financing for their salaries, are not always paid.

But few workers in this situation believe they have any choice but to stick it out, and none wanted to name their employers, to protect both the companies and their jobs. They try to manage their lives with occasional checks and partial payments on random dates — never sure whether they will get what they are owed in the end. Spain’s unemployment rate is the highest in the euro zone at more than 25 percent, and despite the government’s labor reforms, the rate has continued to rise month after month.

“Before the crisis, a worker might let one month go by, and then move on to another job,” said José Francisco Perez, a lawyer who represents unpaid workers in the Valencia area. “Now that just isn’t an option. People now have nowhere to

2013

go, and they are scared. They are afraid even to complain.”

No one is keeping track of workers like Mrs. Molina. But one indication of their number can be seen in the courts, which have become jammed with people trying to get back pay from a government insurance fund, aimed at giving workers something when a company does not pay them.

In Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, the unemployment rate is 28.1 percent and the courts are so overwhelmed that processing claims, which used to take three to six months, now takes three to four years.

Since the start of the crisis in 2008, the insurance fund has paid nearly a million workers nationally back pay or severance. In 2007, it paid 70,000 workers. It is on track to pay more than 250,000 this year, and experts say the figures would be much higher if not for the logjam in the courts.

Often the unpaid workers, like Mrs. Molina, whose company is now in bankruptcy proceedings, hope their labor will keep a struggling operation afloat over the long run. Unemployment benefits last only two years, they point out, and they wonder what they would do after that. But in the meantime, they cannot even claim unemployment benefits. And no amount of budgeting

can cover no payment at all.

Beatriz Morales García, 31, said she could not remember the last time she went shopping for herself. A few years ago, she and her husband, Daniel Chiva, 34, thought that they had settled into a comfortable life, he as a bus driver and she as a therapist in a rehabilitation center for people with mental disabilities. His job is financed by the City of Valencia, and hers by the regional government of Valencia.

They never expected any big money.

But it seemed reasonable to expect a reliable salary, to take on a mortgage and think about children. In the past year, however, both of them have had trouble being paid. She is owed 6,000 euros, nearly $8,000. They have cut back on everything they can think of. They have given up their landline and their Internet connection. They no long park their car in a garage or pay for extra health insurance coverage.

Mr. Chiva even forgoes the coffee he used to drink in a cafe before his night shifts. Still, the anxiety is constant.

talk out loud to yourself in the street. It has been terrible, terrible.”

Mrs. Morales said it was particularly hard to watch other mothers in the park with their children while she must leave her own toddler to go to work, unsure she will ever get paid.

“We are working eight hours, and we’re suffering more than people who are not working,” she said.

The couple’s pay has been so irregular that they are having a hard time even keeping track of how much they are owed, because small payments show up sporadically in their account.

The above is what makes Making A Difference such an important charity.

Most ex pats are retired on pensions, cushioned in a way which the Spanish are not. Please support Amandas efforts, the shop in Mazarrron and their events.

“There are nights when we cannot sleep,” he said.

“Moments when you ay os nd ch ur Su Lun 50 e 6. om fr

Restaurant & Bar Bolnuevo’s Steakhouse Everything Freshly Cooked

Full English breakfast 4.00 from 10am Value main meals available 12 till 3.30pm 4.95 Menu del dia 9.50 for 3 courses + coffee Menu del noche 3 courses 16.50 Fish & chips from 5.00 Special offer 2 large fish chips & peas with a bottle of wine only 19 Evening Menu, Sirloin, Ribeye, Fillet & Argentinian rump Leg of lamb steak, gammon steak, poached fillet of salmon Medallions of pork tenderloin, pan fried chicken fillet.

Evening Meals start from 6.30pm Private Parties & Buffets Catered for.

Two minutes from the beach, a real restaurant!

please book on 968 158 499/634 337 925

elliotsrestaurant@btinternet.com

2013

When you call an advertiser please mention you saw their advert here

page 23

What’s going on...

Sunday Lunches & Sundays

Elliots in Bolnuevo from 6.50€ .

Canadas del Romero Social Centre 6E booking advised, the Trevi. And night time! Bernie Mac from 7PM, Bar Vista 1,2 or 3 courses from 6.50, La Vida (Formerly Scotties)booking advised. Cats Bar 12noon till 3pm from 5.50€ booking advisable..Sunday night Fun quiz at Cats Bar, from 9pm.

Mondays

Trevi’s menu del dia, 7.95E,Tel’s entertainment quiz at 9PM. Slimming Club at Cats Bar 11am. Bar Vista .

New Music Quiz from 8.30pm with a prize for name that tune!

Mondays and all week!

Elliots Menu Del Dia 9.50 menu del noche 16.50€, great tapas at Trevi & 3 euro breakfast. Bar Vista has a 3.50 breakfast & Evening Menu served 5 till 9pm.

Tuesdays

At the Trevi Sue’s fitness class 10AM. Mens fitness at 11.30AM. Karaoke with Byron Canadas Social Centre 9pm. food always available.

Lunchtime Special at Restaurant Amapola in Bolnuevo. Cats BarKnitting club every fortnight at 11am and Friends and Buddies group weekly at 8pm.

Wednesdays

The Trevi Darts from 8.30pm,Tel’s Bingo at 1.30PM, Cats Bar Fish and Chip night, 6 till 9pm followed by fun quiz. Cats Bar- “The New Wednesday Club”-fish and chip night 6-9pm

Cats Bar Happy Hour 4-6pm. Cats Bar- Disco on the Terrace with Byron from 8.30pm till late.

followed by fun quiz with Eddie B. Bar Vista- Pool League. La Vida Bistro and Bar in Pareton Steak night 25€ per couple including half a bottle of wine or Cava call 625 917 425 to reserve.

Thursdays

Tel’s quiz & football card at 9PM. At the Trevi Sues fitness class 10AM.. Free line dancing at Canadas, 7.30pm followed by actual dancing, evening menu. Early doors quiz at the Vista on A 6.30 start followed by play your cards right! Bernie Mac at Cats Bar 9pm till late! Bar Vista- Early Bird Quiz from 6.30pm followed by play your cards right. Pie night at La Vida in Pareton with a choice of homemade pies served with chips or mash.

Fridays

Golf club, live entertainment, Trevi karaoke Bernie Mac, Steak night at La Vida from 6pm- Booking Essential, 3 courses including an 8oz Rump and your choice of wines or Cava only 25€ per couple.

www.catsbar.es Sara & Sean welcome you Happy hour 5 until 7, Friday & Saturday homemade Sunday lunch, from 5.50 (Booking advised) Special Fish & Chips, Wednesday Night

Tel’s Sunday 7.30PM & Wednesday 1.30PM, Cats Bar Friday night Bingo from 9pm

Quiz -

Tel’s Monday 9PM entertainment & Thursday fun 9PM, the Vista Bar early doors at 6.30pm, followed by play your cards right. Scotties Friday night quiz and meat raffle. Cats bar fish and chip night and quiz every Wednesday.

Karaoke Alley Palais at 9pm Friday, Saturday’s and Sundays, Trevi Bernie Mac Sunday’s, Tuesdays Canadas Social Centre from 9pm, Saturdays Byron at Cats Bar 8.30pm till late.

Local Markets!

At the Trevi, bridge daytime starting at 9.45am. Fish and Chip might with free quiz and meat raffle at La Vida Bistro and Bar. Happy Hour 5-7pm and Bingo night from 9pm at Cats Bar.

Saturdays

Bingo -

Canadas Del Romero: Sunday mornings Mazarron Town Saturday morning.

Puerto de Mazarron Sunday Camposol Thursday morning on Sector A

Nigel Burchill

singing in the style of Elvis Presley Available for any occasion To book please call:

602 439 313

e-mail: nigensal@yahoo.co.uk Add me as a friend on

La V da Bistro & Bar “Formerly known as Scotties” Wednesday and Saturday Steak deal (2 persons, 3 courses, including wine or Cava and coffee) 25€ per couple

Thursday night is Pie Night 6€ Come and try our delicious home-made pies and hancut chips or creamy mash and peas and gravy.

All sports covered, especially football

Friday night is Fish and Chip night: Enjoy our Beer Battered Cod and Homemade chips 7.50€ and later join us for our famous Fun Quiz with prizes!

Snacks, breakfasts, meals!

Evening Menu available Tuesday to Saturday 6 till 9pm

Sunday Night, fun quiz & play your cards right Thursday night, karaoke with Berni Mac Friday Night is bingo night.

Our new menu has arrived, come and try our breakfast special 2 of everything only 3.50 euros All time pub favourites only 5 euros

Phone 666 188 353

Our Meat raffle is drawn every Friday night! Be sure to drop in during the week to buy your ticket!

Sunday Lunch available from 12 till 3pm.

One Beer, Glass of Wine or Soft Drink with every advance booking!

All Major Sporting Events Shown!

“Gourmet Cuisine in a candlelit ambiance”

For reservations and more info call us on our new number: 625 917 425

YOUR Camposol Fiesta! The Fun Has Started…..

The Camposol Fiesta 2013 is now confirmed as Friday and Saturday 14th & 15th June. Although the finer details are still to be worked out, it is proposed to start the event at 7.30pm on Friday evening with a Music Extravaganza by local acts followed by a fun packed Saturday with events for all the family.

We will be holding a Camposol’s Got Talent Competition on the day which will be open to all with a cash prize for the lucky winner.

There will be the usual Paella and Fireworks and a programme of British and Spanish events to entertain young and old.

However, the fun of the Fiesta is not limited to the weekend itself and we have already held events to engage the community and raise funds. We held a Three Kings Children’s’ Party which was held in Oscar’s Bar and Trevi Restaurant supported the Fiesta with a Race Night.

It costs around 10,500 Euro to stage the Fiesta and we have to fund this from the Fiesta Funds. Over the next few months we have various entertainment events planned and a number of raffles. All you have to do is purchase tickets….enjoy the events and help us raise funds at the same time! Simples!

Here are some of the events we have planned: Wednesday 6 February, The Steakout Camposol B, – It’s Buzzare TV Game Show, an interactive and visual quiz

for all the family. Tickets 10 € per team (maximum 4) or 3€ per person – Available now!!

Saturday 9 February, Alley Palais, Camposol B, Dave Rawson Comedy Hypnotist Show. Dave is a fantastic hypnotist from Ibiza who recently hit the headlines after hypnotising Rylan Clark from the X Factor! Tickets 10€ per person. Available now!

March 2013, Race Night in conjunction with Mazarron Lions Club – Details to be confirmed

tickets and very soon the tickets for the Grand Car Draw. If you can spare just a couple of hours a week please contact us.

Week commencing 25th March – Chocolate Factory coach trip – Details to be confirmed Saturday 16th March, Rock’n’Roll/ American Diner Theme Night at Oscar’s Camposol B – Details to be confirmed Saturday 24th May – Spring Ball at The Club House – (Sensol Golf) – Details to be confirmed Tickets for all the above events are available from the venue, Paramount Villa Rentals/Sales, Camposol Sector C; by telephoning the Fiestafone: 642795193 or email info@camposolfiesta.com. You can also message our Camposol Fiesta Facebook page.

We will also be present wherever possible at the Thursday & Friday Camposol Markets.

Ring 634 336 484

La V da

On this point I would like to make a plea for help!!

We are desperate for volunteers to help us sell tickets.

Whether this be raffle tickets, event

Bistro & Bar Valentines Night

3 courses with a glass of cava, including coffee, Only16.95 per couple.

Call to make a reservation on 625 917 425

Bar Open 7 Day A Week (Restuarant Closed Monday Evenings)

3 course Menu Del Noche for 9.95 with a choice of 10 till 4 7 Days week Starters, Mains andaDesserts All day Breakfast from only 3euros WEDNESDAY NIGHT DARTS AND DOMINOS FROM 8PM.

Sunday Karaoke 8.30pm

For information and reservations please call

Tel 660 026 544

Technology sponsored by Unbelievable Mobile Phone deal at Best Wishes!

The Phone House, based at Best Wishes on Camposol and next to Mercadona in Puerto de Mazarron are proud to bring you and unbeatable mobile phone deal!

They are currently offering a Pay As You Go handset, complete with Camera, MP3 player and 5€ of calling credit for the unbelievable price of 19€. Yes you read that right, 19€. As if the deal was not already good enough this phone works on the orange network and allows you to make calls to UK landlines for just 1 cent a minute! There are so many reasons to buy one of these phones! If you are on here on holiday, then you may not want to carry around your expensive smartphone by the pool, or incur expensive roaming charges. Also you will want to stay in touch with family and friends in the UK without it costing a fortune! If you live here in Spain, then you may just want a good quality phone that allows you to make calls to the UK for less than your home land-line! To buy your handset or for more information Drop into Best

Wishes on Camposol Sector B or by Mercadona in the Port.

Sony unveils bathfriendly Xperia Z smartphone Sony has announced a new smartphone that can be used in the shower or bath without the risk of damage.

This water-resistant feature is relatively common in Japan, but has not been included in many top-end smartphones released elsewhere.

The Xperia Z can also record HDR (high dynamic range) video, a facility borrowed from its camera division.

One analyst said it was evidence of Sony Mobile making progress but added “it still had a mountain to climb”.

The Japanese company announced it was taking control of the smartphone unit which had previously been a joint venture with Ericsson - in October 2011.

Sony posted a full-year loss of 56.7bn yen ($5.7bn; £3.5bn) in May and has continued to lose money over subsequent quarters.

Water-resistant movies The Android-powered device was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Sony says the handset, which has a 5in (12.7cm) screen, is capable of being submerged in water of up to one metre (3.3 ft) in depth for 30 minutes.

“If you want to want to sit in the bath and watch an HD movie this is the device for you,” Sony Mobile executive Steve Walker told the BBC. “You can take it in the shower if you want, or more usefully if you get it dirty you can wash it under the tap.”

He added that about one in 10 people had dropped their phone down a toilet at some point, something this would protect against.

The trade-off is that handset’s various ports, including the one for its headphones, all feature protective plastic covers that must be unclipped before they can be accessed.

HDR video The Xperia Z features a 13 megapixel

The Phone House Contract Phones and Pay As You Go

Now at Best Wishes Camposol Buisness Solutions Enquire In-Store

Samsung Galaxy S3 In stock and unlocked only 499€ Available on Contract from 0€

DIGI MOBILE Calls and Texts to the UK only 12c +Plus 500mb of Internet for only 5€ per month.

Dongles also available! 35€ for dongle then only 10€ per month for 1GB!

Iphone 5 now in stock!

Only 799€ Sim Free Available on ipad 3 for only 499,00€ and the contract from Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 for 350.00€.

199€

Dont forget Valentines day 14th February!

Come to Best Wishes for a fantastic selection of cards and gifts!

Puerto de Mazarrón store 968 199 295 Camposol 968 199 295 www.bestwishesgroup.co.uk

camera and 4G LTE data connectivity Other features on the 7.9mm-thick (0.3in) device include 4G LTE connectivity, a Micro SD slot, a 13 megapixel camera and a 1080p x 1920p high-definition screen that borrows technology from the firm’s Bravia TV division to enhance video playback.

In addition a NFC (near field communication) chip is used to start streaming content to Sony’s latest televisions by tapping the handset against their remote controls.

The firm also boasts that the device includes its proprietary Exmor RS image sensor technology, allowing it to record HDR video.

This allows it to combine exposure readings to tackle problematic situations such when a person is standing against a bright background; Sony says that without HDR either the person’s face looks too dark or the background too light.

Nvidia’s latest Tegra chip can also do this but has not been built into a handset yet.

Recovery boost?

Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight, noted that Sony’s mobile unit is enjoying a recovery, and recently passed HTC to

2013

become the third best-selling smartphone brand in the UK. He added that efforts to share designs and technologies across the firm’s different divisions would likely be the key to its revival. However, he added that it was too soon to say whether the new handset would be a winner.

“In isolation this looks like a very strong product and it’s the most attractive Xperia phone that I have seen for a very long time,” he said.

“But we don’t know what this device is going to be competing with this year.”

“Until we see the next Samsung flagship device and other top-end phones at Mobile World Congress in February it’s hard to know how it will do.”

Navigation Backup to aid ships in Dover Straits:

Ships traversing the busy Dover Strait now have more help to work out where they are and avoid other vessels.

A technology called eLoran has been turned on to help navigation if Sat-nav based systems (aka GPS) fail or are jammed.

The General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) has turned on a radio station which broadcasts finetuned eLoran signals.

Ships fitted with eLoran receivers will now be able to use the backup radio signal to reach port.

Longwave alternative The eLoran

technology is based around longwave radio signals that are broadcast from nine separate stations in Northwest England, France, Germany, and the Faroe Islands.

Now added to this is a GLA station in Dover that broadcasts corrections to eLoran that makes signals so precise ships can enter harbours using them in the event of GPS failure.

In a statement shipping minister Stephen Hammond said the technology should improve navigational safety in “the busiest shipping channel in the world”.

Maritime navigational instruments tend to rely on GPS positioning which employs timing signals broadcast by a constellation of satellites. However, GPS signals can fail or be fooled by a conflicting radio signal, said Professor David Last, an advisor to the to General Lighthouse Authority.

“The problem is, many vessels are wholly dependent on GPS, “ Prof Last told the BBC. “GPS can and does go wrong.”

GPS signals are weak, and so can be disrupted by solar storms, or by a stronger signal broadcast in the vicinity by a GPS jammer. Compact GPS jammers that run from a car are available to buy, although use is prohibited.

GPS is used to determine a ship’s position and direction, and for communications.

All ship’s instrumentation is integrated, so if anything goes wrong, the systems can completely fail.

GPS can be disrupted by a weak signal broadcast on the same frequency, said Prof Last. The weak signal can cause a ship’s instruments to gradually drift out of true, without setting off any alarms, leaving the ship in a different position to where it “thinks” it is.

“The ship will drift away from its true position, and slowly start to turn,” said Prof Last. “It’s insidious.” eLoran is not widely used on commercial shipping, although an eLoran receiver has been installed on a new P&O Ferries ship, called the “Spirit of Britain”.

When you call an advertiser please mention you saw their advert here

page 27

EA RE SF TU FEA URES F ATURE FEATU ES E R S T F E A U FE ES UR AT EAT RES S FE TUR FEA URES F ATURE FEATU ES E R S T FEA URES F ATURE FEATU E S T F E A E R F ES U EAT TUR FEA URES F T FEA

Dawn Llewellyn-Price

February; the month of lovers, Saint Valentine, roses, cards…and get rich quick florists. We’ve all been there, most of us still go there, even if only a hastily scribbled last minute purchase from the ‘what’s left’ section purged by the more young at heart still bearing a glint in their eyes.

But, supposedly it’s the month where it’s time to share the love, and it needn’t be in a chocolate box or underwear, or jewellery.

Why not share it outside the species? Now I’m not suggesting a bit of ‘Bestiality’s best, boys’ (infamous sporting song) more ‘isn’t it time we took in a little waif or stray’ and let’s face it there are gazillions of homeless creatures in need of a loving place to rest their helpless heads.

I know many Brits have overdone it on the rehoming front, with handfuls of doggies struggling for alpha male position when it’s ‘walkies’ time. But there are probably more who could manage one hapless creature in their lives. Take me for example; happily trekking back and forth to Spain, boot full of clothing, favourite foods, and all sorts of paraphernalia. This went on for years, like a lengthy ping pong match. Fill the car, empty the car, fill the car, empty the car. (Usually with wine and Cava on the return journey.)

Then came the arrival of a tiny, scruffy, bedraggled, compacted creature with bright blue eyes, hardly big enough to fit in a hand, under the leaves in the garden.

Aaaargh! Yet another homeless creature needing succour. The feline kind.

Open that tin of tuna hiding at the back of the cupboard.

Despite posters and requests it was soon apparent that little kitty would not find a home, so with a huge wail of tears, ‘Messi’ and all his troubles suddenly became ours.

Oh it wasn’t easy. We wouldn’t have even considered it if it wasn’t for our recently departed friend Joyce and her husband Clive, who had done this same route for years, with moggy ‘Purdey’ in tow. It was

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them who convinced us it was workable, and the process of obtaining a pet’s passport began.

The appearance of these two completes the cast of 5 characters in the Greek legend of

The rules were due to change that following January, which unfortunately meant ‘Messi’, had to stay in the country until the first, but we’d booked the ferry home for November. Then the expensive process of changing the booking to January, putting our footballing friend in a cattery for a whole month, and leaving the car in Spain so he could return with us. Flights were booked for Christmas, all excess expense for a fluffy, - so fluffy the vets think he’s a Norwegian Forrest or a Maine Coon, -kitten.

‘Messi’ (no way was I was standing on my terrace shouting ‘Torres!’) has pingponged back and forth twice. It’s amazing what a pet-friendly cabin, a ‘Feliway’ plug-in, and an enormous covered, flipdoor cat toilet can do for a smooth journey.

So go on, share the love, you know you want to.

Happy Valentine’s Day xxxxx

Stars over Camposol with Keith Jackson Last month we saw the return of Pegasus - the Flying Horse as it reappeared over the eastern horizon. By now it is much higher in the sky and the Great Square should be quite easy to spot. Apart from being a useful signpost when looking for other constellations it is also a great indicator of how dark your sky is, and thus, how good the “seeing” is in your area. “Seeing” being a measure of how steady the Earth’s atmosphere is and the level of light pollution generated by street lamps etc spilling upward into the night sky. For example, a lot of turbulence in the atmosphere makes it difficult for astronomers to use high magnification telescopes effectively and the level of light pollution determines the number of stars that can be seen by naked eye astronomers and star gazers.

The number of stars you can see inside the Great Square of Pegasus is an indication of how dark your sky is. If you can’t see any stars within the square then your “seeing” would be classed as poor, 1 to 3 stars reasonable and anywhere between four and 13 stars is good. If you can see more than 13 this indicates excellent skies.

Also in September we see the return of Perseus (The Hero) and the large but faint constellation of Cetus (The Sea Monster or Whale)

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Cassiopeia and Andromeda.

Andromeda was born of Cetus and Cassiopeia the King and Queen of Aethiopia. It is said that as Queen Cassiopeia walked along the shores of the sea with her daughter Andromeda, she saw, below the water, the beautiful sea nymphs who were the handmaidens of Poseidon the God of the Sea. When Cassiopeia saw the Nynphs she boasted that she was more beautiful than they. The sea nymphs became upset and cried to the sea god Poseidon who declared he would punish Cassiopeia by flooding and ravaging Aethiopia with storms unless she sacrificed her daughter to Cetus, the sea monster.

To save their country, Cepheus and Cassiopeia chained Andromeda to a rock by the sea in sacrifice to Cetus. However, Perseus (The Hero) riding Pegasus, his winged horse, just happened to be on his way home from slaying Medusa when he came across Andromeda about to be taken by the monster. Perseus used the head of Medusa to turn Cetus to stone and thus rescued Andromeda. It is said that the two were married and became the ancestors of Hercules and their descendants started the Persian race.

Agol (meaning “head of the demon) is the second brightest star in Perseus and represents the eye of Medusa. You may also see Agol wink, caused a dimmer star in its binary system passing in front of it.

Spooky!

Just below Andromeda is the small constellation call Triangulum. Triangulum was known to the ancient star-gazers and was originally called Deltoton, in reference to the shape of the Greek letter Delta.

Egyptian astronomers also thought of these stars as a delta, but in the sense of the delta of the river Nile; and so to them it was named Nili Domus, home of the Nile.

You will be able to see and track these constellations as they move across the sky well into the New Year.

2013

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Bowls in Spain I retired from the Scottish prison service and moved to Camposol in October 2005, I enjoyed playing golf then decided to go back to playing bowls again after being successful in Scotland winning everything at club level. I have been a member of the Spanish national bowls squad for two years now playing my bowls at San Miguel BC having previously played at my local club Mazarron BC Next year will be a big year for me I

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championships on the Costa Blanca in October 2013.

have been selected for a four nations tournament in Cyprus against the host nation Holland and Jersey also there are trips to Portugal and the USA later in the year hopefully playing in one of those, Spain is also hosting the European

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www.ibexinsure.com Adelaide in November last year the Spanish players had to pay out of their own pocket 75% of the total cost of competing the federation paying the other 25% while teams like Australia and New Zealand were on big money for every game they won plus pocket money from their own federations so every penny in sponsorship is gladly welcome.

For more information on some of the great events Sarah and Sean are organising to help me raise sponsorship money, please call into the bar or call: 666 188 353

So I cannot really say enough about the sponsorship I am receiving from Sean and Sara who own Cats bar on sector A, a example of this is during the world championships in

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2013

Roast cod with paella & saffron olive oil

Recipes

knob of unsalted butter 6 x 175g/6oz cod fillets, skin on squeeze lemon juice

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. To make the paella, put the olive oil, chorizo, shallots and garlic in a large pan and fry for 7-8 mins until the chorizo releases its oil and the shallots have softened. Add the paprika and cook, stirring, for 5 mins, then add the rice, mix well and cook for a few mins more.

Ingredients For the paella 1 tbsp olive oil 200g raw chorizo , diced 3 large shallots , thinly sliced 3 garlic cloves , crushed 2 tsp smoked sweet paprika (pimenton) 300g paella rice 1l fish stock knob of unsalted butter 300g prawns , chopped into bite-sized pieces handful cooked, shelled mussels , plus 18 in their shells juice ½ lemon (optional) small bunch parsley , chopped For the Saffron rice 75ml extra-virgin olive oil juice ½ lemon pinch saffron threads For the Cod 1 tbsp olive oil

Pour in 600ml of the stock, season and mix well to combine. Cover and put in the oven for 15 mins. Uncover, give everything a good stir, then return to the oven for 10 mins. When almost cooked, remove from the oven and spread onto a tray to cool. Chill and reserve for later.

You can make this a day ahead.

To make the saffron oil, whisk the olive oil and lemon juice together in a small saucepan. Add the saffron and heat gently for 5 mins, then remove from the heat and leave to infuse and cool. You can make this a day ahead.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. For the cod, put the olive oil and butter in an ovenproof frying pan over a high heat, but don’t let it burn. Season the cod with sea salt and black pepper, then cook, skin-side down, in the hot pan, for 4 mins, then carefully turn the fish over and put the pan in the oven for a further 3 mins, finishing with a little more sea salt and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Meanwhile, put the paella back in the pan, stir in the remaining fish stock and cook for 2 mins until completely heated through. Stir through a knob of butter,the prawns and shelled mussels.

Taste, season with lemon juice, salt and

pepper if necessary, and finish with the chopped parsley. Serve with the roast cod, mussels in their shells and steamed purple broccoli or a green vegetable, if you like. Finally, drizzle everything with the saffron dressing.

Classic green salad

In Spain, a green salad is almost always on the table at mealtime. When dining out at a restaurant or perhaps preparing a special meal at home, an “ensalada mixta” or a colorful, mixed green salad is served on a large platter in the center of the table. This salad usually includes a mix of ingredients that Americans may find surprising, such as olives, tuna and white asparagus, as well as tomatoes and onions. Easy to prepare, it is as tasty as it is attractive. Try it at your next dinner gathering!

Ingredients: 1 head Iceburg or Romaine lettuce 2 tomatoes, cut into 8 pieces 1 cucumbers, peeled and sliced 1/2 cup green olives, stuffed with anchovies 1 can (approximately 15 oz) white asparagus 1 red or yellow pepper, sliced in long thin strips 1/4-1/2 yellow or red onion, sliced thin 1 carrot, grated 1 6 oz can tuna, drained 2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and cut into quarters red wine or sherry vinegar extra virgin Spanish olive oil salt to taste Optional: 1 15 oz can baby corn, drained 1 15 oz can artichoke hearts, drained

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to taste our famous cakes and pastries “your meeting place in the port” See our main advert on the back page

&Gardens

Homes

Camposol ‘C’ Green Fingers Gardening and Social Group

Our volunteers returned to work in January after their Christmas break, enjoying the free and well deserved bacon butties as usual on their regular Wednesday mornings! We are always looking for new blood to help out – there are both light and heavier duties so please come and join us at 9am by the Sensol Villa office (old Masa house) and make a difference to our community, even if you can only offer holiday cover. Making new friends is always nice and the huge transformation our club has made to ‘C’ over the past year is incredible! We thank everyone who has joined the scheme and paid a little each month to cover costs; each payment of only 5 Euros has meant the ‘pavements’ around our sector have been gravelled and planted, and the block paving maintained and weeded regularly.

Membership is really making a difference so please get in touch if you would like to join.

Spring is well and truly on the way now, with lovely sunny days and cold nights; the perfect weather for all those pesky weeds to grow even more vigorously and yet also the perfect weather for planting… and transplanting! Thanks to anyone who takes the time to maintain and water the

plants and verges near their homes and if any of you have a shrub or plant which has outgrown its space or is surplus to requirements, our team will happily come and remove it to a place where it can grow on for all to enjoy.

The maintenance team have been duly continuing the programme of weeding, brushing and spraying all the streets of ‘C’ in turn. Potholes have also been repaired on the temporary Rambla crossing but this looks as if it will be a long term task as so much traffic uses it! Hopefully the bridge will soon be completed and until then, please think of Green Fingers when you cross any newly filled potholes, both down in the Rambla and on the tarmac roads on ‘C’ which have needed repair over the Winter season? A small donation in our bucket would be very welcome, thanks. We are looking for someone to stand in occasionally on our Monday maintenance team, sometimes at short notice to cover member’s sickness and holiday periods; just contact us if you would like to help.

Our Chairman, John can be contacted on 634 325 427 or check the chalkboards, Facebook and website for any more news http://www. greenfingersgardenandsocialgroup.com/

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Citrus fruits from Spain How citrus fruits came to the Mediterranean is not very clear, although most of the experts agree they originally came from the East. The lemon, a native of Persia, was perhaps brought to Spain by the Romans, according to Pliny the Elder, a Roman writer born in 23 AD. But it was the Arabs who developed citrus cultivation in al-Andalus, from where it was later taken to parts of the Spanish east coast. Citrus fruits were much favored by the Arabs, who used them to prepare sauces; also syrup from candied citron, a lemon-like citrus fruit. And citrus trees were much loved as ornamental plants in the cool gardens that were characteristic of Arab towns.

One of the first historical references to the abundance of citrus species in the area of Valencia is to be found in the travel writings of the German doctor and geographer Hyeronimus Münzer (14371508), dating from the late 15th century.

Also, chronicler and historian Gaspar Juan Escolano (1560 - 1619) reported

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that in the early 17th century, Valencian oranges were selling well as fine produce on the markets of Madrid, the capital.

salads and are widely used in desserts mousse, sorbet, ice cream, for marmalade, in patisserie and to flavor drinks.

Spain, a Citrus Power

The majority of Spanish lemons are grown in Murcia and some parts of Alicante and Andalusia, with over 60% being exported. Grapefruits are also grown in Murcia as well as along the tropical coast of Granada, mainly in Málaga (Andalusia).

By the mid-19th century, citrus fruits had become a driving force for the Valencian and Spanish economy. This historical period has been studied and the results are on display at the Museo de la Naranja in Burriana in Castellón (Valencian Community). Today, Spain is the world’s sixth largest producer of oranges and one of the world’s main exporters of citrus fruits - oranges, lemons, mandarins and grapefruits.

The tradition and quality of citrus fruits from the region of Valencia have been recognized and protected by the PGI Cítricos Valencianos. This is also the case for the famous Clementinas de las Tierras del Ebro in the province of Tarragona (Catalonia).

Apart from consumption as fruit and in juices, citrus fruits can be used to make sauces for meat and fish, as with duck or sole à l’orange. Lemon is a very common condiment for fish and shellfish and is often used in marinades. Oranges are frequent ingredients in fresh summer

Planting lemon trees Ideally the holes should be dug one month before planting the trees, and left exposed to the open air. This will provide good ventilation. If there were other plants that died there previously, it would be necessary to leave the holes uncovered for 8 or 10 months to ensure any possible root parasites are killed.

holes, be sure there aren’t any electrical, gas or water pipes nearby.

Lemon trees generally grow to about 6m (20ft), but can reach 10m (33ft). The branches are thorny and the leaves are shiny green, while the flowers are white on the outside with a violet streaked interior. The flowers have a strong fragrance. As the flower petals fall away, a small green nub is left behind, which matures in the fruit. The lemon fruit when ripe are bright yellow, oval shaped with a pointed tip. There is a layer of pith under the skin and a paler yellow segmented interior. The fruits also contain seeds.

Lemon trees can be propagated by means of grafting. Lemon trees thrive in warm or semi-arid climates.

Evergreen

If the holes are flooded by the rain, it means that the drainage isn’t good enough and should be improved.

When making the

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Wellbeing

Local Yoga teacher Lisa has a studio in Isla Plana and has classes for all abilities.

De Stressing I talked last month about how often we thought about or paid attention to our breathing.

every tragedy in every country. This news we take to heart and it is tough on our emotional selves.

We all react differently to emotional stresses depending on our personality types and cultural backgrounds. Emotional factors play a role in developing psychosomatic disorders. If we are feeling angry, resentful, afraid or sad these emotions may cause stress related symptoms. People who are easily irritated are more likely to develop cardiovascular, digestive and respiratory ailments.

When we are angry or stressed we may restrict the flow of blood to the heart muscles which can cause angina pectoris.

Similarly, if we suffer from tension in the abdomen, the blood supply to the stomach is restricted and can lead to excess gastric acid and peptic ulcers.

Very often the onset of such chronic stress is so subtle that with time, you adapt to the changing state of the body and mind, unaware of the increasing burden of physical and mental tension.

So what can we do? How can we overcome stress?

Another issue I want to raise which seems to be going un-noticed with many is the level of tension or stress we hold in the body. Stress affects our whole being, yet we cannot live without it – it is part of being human. But the art is keeping stress manageable and positive. As soon as it becomes out of control – because it is persistent or extreme – we start to feel its negative effects.

When was the last time you complained you felt stressed? For most people that would be just hours, days or weeks ago . In our daily lives it seems we are faced with a cascade of potential stress yet some people do not notice even the early stress signals such as nervousness, irritability, neck pain, shoulder and lower back pain, and disrupted sleep. Without paying attention to these early signs our stress levels increase, our pulse rate and blood pressure go up. We may suffer loss of appetite or grow unnaturally hungry, sweat or feel cold. We may also experience an increase in stomach acidity, problems with digestion, difficult bowel movements and sleeplessness. Allowing our stress to accumulate can cause outbursts of anger or violent behaviour. If we allow the stress to persist we experience corrosive frustration and gnawing anxiety, lack of will, indecisiveness and depression.

Even just watching the latest tragedy on the news sends our adrenal glands into overdrive.Years ago news came by mouth from the neighbouring village a child had been born, a friend had passed away, someone was going to marry or the local farmer had a bumper crop and needed all hands available. Our news is now global.

Radio, television and the internet tells of

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We can go to the doctors complaining of stress-related symptoms such as headaches and insomnia, he or she will probably treat the symptoms on the surface, rather than look at the deep rooted psychological causes. He or she may take into account environmental factors.

We can gain much relief from stress by unburdening our problems to a close friend or relative but to be in control of our stress we have to understand our basic human nature and be able to adjust and control our stress levels ourselves.

limbs will eventually ease but be patient if at first your muscles ache. Keep in mind how many years it has taken for the tension to accumulate, and allow time for them to loosen gradually.

However the hardest part of managing your stress is learning a new psychological approach to your life.

Take time to consider your thoughts.

Overcome negative thinking. When you find yourself thinking about someone negatively, try to bring to mind something positive about them.

Be more conscious of your behaviour.

If you are lying, try to correct yourself.

Personal integrity is more important than gaining a dubious advantage over someone.

When you feel angry, try to be patient, and not loose your temper.

Expect more from yourselves than others.

Think about the good qualities of someone you love, not on your terms but on theirs; then try to help them.

Learn to be adaptable, to adjust to different situations and accommodate others, without loosing your bearings.

Learn from your experience.

When making choices, take long-term consequences into consideration, not short-term results.

Avoid secrecy as this can lead to deception.

Avoid impulsive behaviour.You won’t make misjudgments and mistakes.

We can practice yoga which can help us control our stress and keep it at a manageable and useful level.

It provides a trustworthy platform for relieving our minds and bodies from the adverse effects of stress.

The practice of yoga has the unique ability of preventing psychological stress from building up; it can also help restore equilibrium to the physiological systems that stress upsets.

We can use simple stretches and postures, breathing exercises and calming meditations which can be done by anyone, of any age, in gradual stages.

Stiffness in joints and

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2013

Keep healthy through exercise, which will improve your breathing, and therefore help you to think more clearly and creatively.

Learning to cope with the psychological causes of stress is not easy. It is not always possible to control your circumstances or to manage others feelings towards yourself. However you can try to behave reasonably and not overreact.

The key success is to keep an open mind, make changes with commitment and learn from life´s experiences.

Lisa lisa@yogawithlisa.es (0034) 626 960 354 www.yogawithlisa.es

Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean Diet is a mix of food ingredients that, if consumed over a number of years, has been shown to significantly reduce the risks of developing heart disease, cancer and chronic conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Adoption of the diet

has also been linked with a reduced risk of early death and has proved a successful strategy for healthy weight reduction.You don’t need any particular culinary skills to produce inexpensive, yet delicious, meals fitting the Mediterranean Diet pattern.

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

The Mediterranean Diet is high in vegetables, fruit, legumes and grains, but also contains moderate amounts of white meat and fish.

It is sparse in red meat, with most fat being unsaturated and coming from olive oil and nuts. The addition of small-tomoderate amounts of (red) wine has been shown to enhance the healthy mix.

In combination with moderate exercise and not smoking, the Mediterranean Diet offers a scientifically researched, affordable, balanced, and health-promoting lifestyle choice.

Lifestyle and risk The modern Western diet, increasing urbanisation, office working, daily stress and reliance on the car all appear to have contributed to a recipe for unhealthy living, as highlighted in the Government’s Change4Life campaign.

The decades following World War II saw a rapid rise in the UK (and Western) death rate from coronary heart disease (CHD) that peaked in the 1970s. Since then, the UK coronary death rate has been falling due to improvements in treatment, such as clot-busting drugs, heart bypass and angioplasty, as well as public health measures addressing smoking, high blood pressure and raised cholesterol.

However, CHD is still the most common cause of death (and premature death) in the UK, accounting for 101,000 deaths each year with 1 in 5 men and 1 in 6 women dying from the condition. Among the more developed countries in Europe, only Ireland and Finland have higher rates of CHD than the UK. Unhealthy lifestyle, diet and obesity have been linked to other medical scourges of modern society, such as type 2 diabetes, raised cholesterol and high blood pressure, which can interact to make medical risks and problems more severe. Diet, lifestyle factors and obesity are also associated with an increased risk of certain cancers. And being substantially overweight can bring on or worsen osteoarthritis,

2013

sleep apnoea, high blood pressure and gallbladder disease.

Why was the Mediterranean Diet investigated?

In 1980, Professor Ancel Keys published the results of his investigation into cardiovascular death rates in different countries. He found death rates were low in Greece (particularly Crete), southern Italy (also Japan) and relatively high in the USA and Finland.

This prompted investigations into the lifestyles of the long-lived Mediterranean peoples to see if lessons could be learnt and applied to the higher-risk populations.

After such factors as smoking, exercise, education and stress had been taken into account, it was found that diet had played an essential part in keeping these communities healthy. The dietary pattern was not new. In fact, it was a traditional mix of fresh seasonal and easily stored produce, that probably dated back to the early civilizations - although, its precise composition had evolved over the years to incorporate new foodstuffs, such as tomatoes, peppers and potatoes.

Efforts were made to establish which dietary components offered particular health benefits, spawning all the research into ‘superfoods’. Perhaps surprisingly, it was found that both individual food components such as vegetables, fruits, mono-unsaturated fats and their combination into a long-term dietary pattern were important for health. This led to the identification and description of an ‘ideal’ Mediterranean diet which could be tested on Western populations and, if successful, made available for all.

Numerous long-term population studies, involving many hundreds of thousands of people, have since been carried out to quantify the likely health benefits of switching to a Mediterranean diet.

The ‘ideal’ Mediterranean Diet The ‘ideal’ (in terms of health-giving effects) Mediterranean Diet has, in relation to a typical Western diet: High quantities of: a variety of vegetables, a variety of fruit, legumes (eg beans), cereals and cereal products.

Moderate quantities of: fish, white meats, nuts, low-fat dairy produce, wine (men: 1-3 units per day, women: 1-2 units per day) with meals.

Low quantities of: red meat, eggs, sweets and sweet desserts.

A high mono-unsaturated fat (eg olive oil) to saturated animal fat (eg fatty red meat) ratio - at least 2:1.

Low amounts of added salt - in many cases, herbs can be used for flavouring in place of excess salt.

Importantly, the Mediterranean Diet is a pattern of food proportions, rather than a set list of particular products, ‘superfoods’ or recipes. As such, there is infinite scope for variation and invention using locally sourced and affordable produce, according to individual taste.You don’t need to master Spanish, Greek or Italian cookery unless you want to. Just use the ingredient mix in any way you wish.

When you call an advertiser please mention you saw their advert here

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Adverse Winter Golf

By John Brown In the UK the weather is turning cold.

Three weeks of snow and frost are about to descend again. It will be late March or early April before the woolly hats and hand-warmers can be put away. And don’t talk about mud and puddles!

Spare a thought then for the professionals recently who played at the PGA Tour’s season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, forcing play to be abandoned for a third consecutive day due to strong gusting winds, hailstorms and lightning strikes. A little more than an hour of the already long-delayed first round was possible before officials halted the action and scrapping the scores “We tried,” Slugger White, the PGA Tour’s vice president of rules and competition, told reporters. “We were on the edge when we started out at 11:10 and we were probably okay for about 30-45 minutes.

“And then the bottom fell out. We were having gusts out there of about 48 miles per hour. Balls were blowing off the green and we couldn’t even get a ball to come to rest on the 12th green when we stopped.”

“It started off bad and got worse.” Matt Kuchar, who hit the first shot on the 10th hole, had a lengthy conversation with rules officials after his ball was twice blown off his tee before he eventually set off. Scott Stallings was not quick enough to mark a one-foot putt at the 12th before his ball was blown seven feet away. His cap followed suit soon after. Fellow American Ben Curtis reached the green in regulation at the 11th but watched in shock as his ball, after settling, was blown off the back of the green. “You just can’t play in this,” said White. “You can hardly walk in it, much less play golf.”

page 36

My first snow experience was in weather like the UK is having now. It was a cold bitter day and we didn’t really expect the course to be open, but it was. The greens were all open and off we set - all of us in woolly hats and rain suits. I hit my first shot - an 8-iron - to three feet and I holed the putt.

“Easy game!” I thought.

By the time we reached the third hole, the snow had started. This wasn’t Bing Crosby and White Christmas snow. This was more a Captain Oates and “I might be gone for some time” blizzard. The snow and sleet was coming across us horizontally in a bitter wind, and we had our umbrellas up and held horizontally to protect us from the sideways blizzard.

As we reached the third green Jim had lost his ball. He dropped another ball and put his umbrella down to take the shot. Now the first rule of windy wet golf is to lower your umbrella before you put it down. Jim put his fully-raised umbrella down behind him and took aim. The brolly took off like a kite in a gale. It flew up in the air, dropped, somersaulted, flew up again, and kept rolling. Jim was oblivious, and in the wind he couldn’t hear us shouting and pointing. It eventually hit the

We had to stop and let the two lads behind through. We were standing under a tree, freezing, hands in pockets, and shivering.

“Great day for golf boys!” They shouted cheerfully. Jim recovered his umbrella and we played on.

Now in his declining years Jim’s cheeks were rosy with lots of blue veins showing through. By the time we reached the 7th hole his rosy cheeks were turning blue. I hit a blizzard-assisted drive and a well judged 9-iron to six feet and I was feeling pleased. “Two fine shots under the circumstances,” I thought. On the way to the green I was getting more aware of Jim. He was shivering a lot, his face was a funny blue colour, and he was grinning far too widely.

When we got within speaking range, I said, “Shall we pick up and walk in?”

“Good idea,” said Jim gratefully.

I looked briefly at my six-foot birdie putt, and it took only a millisecond to decide what to do. I swiftly picked it up and we began to walk in. On the way back, we passed the two lads we had let through.

Their woolly-hatted heads were bowed against the wind, they had their hands stuffed in their pockets, and they were snowy-white all the way down their fronts. They glanced up at us walking in and grinned. “Softies!” they yelled at us in the wind.

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The rules of golf state that you must play the ball from where it ends up, no matter that you hit a great shot close to the pin the watch in horror as a 50 mph gale blows your ball off the green. It was blowing balls away on the fairway too!

You have to put yourself in the shoes of

In Spain the worst weather we have is a heavy rain that is almost unimaginable in the UK. It is usually warm rain and it can dry up quite quickly, unless it is a Gota Fria. The damage done to the bunkers over at Condado during the last Gota Fria was something to behold. Basically the sand was washed away out of the bunkers and deposited all over the fairways.

trees on the far side of the 5th fairway and stopped.

M

Sports

the organisers. They have 150 of the best golfers in the world turning up, sponsors ready to advertise how great they are, and television crews all set up and in position to cover the drama. It takes a lot of courage to say to all of them, ‘sorry guys, we aren’t going to play today, the weather is too bad.’

2013

We got in, got warmed up and we went home. Later that night over a few beers we were telling everyone how great it was. “You weren’t out in that snow?” they all said. “Oh yes we were – it was great!” we lied.

So when you are out in the warm, blue, winter skies of Camposol, spare a thought for the poor people back in the UK where adverse ‘winter golf’ means something very different indeed.

LOS AMIGOS DE MAZARRON FC LATEST NEWS Mazarron’s performances continued to improve into the New Year. Having drawn away to unbeaten league leaders Yeclano Deportivo and hammered CD Cieza 6-0 at home in the last game before the Christmas and New Year break, Mazarron travelled to CAP Ciudad de Murcia for the first game of 2013 and came away with a hard fought 2-1 victory.

Only league leaders Yeclano and second placed Jumilla had a better record over the last eight games as Mazarron moved from the foot of the table into a respectable ninth position, just 7 points away from an automatic promotion spot. Having gained only two points from the first six games of the season, the turnaround has been quite remarkable.

Consum supermarket. The coach fare is just €7.

Full details of all games, both home and away, are announced on the Tuesday before the weekend on which the game is to be played and advertised in the local media, on our website www. losamigosdemazarron.es and on posters at various points throughout Camposol and Mazarron.

Forthcoming fixtures are:Sunday 3rd February CORVERA CF (HOME) Sunday 10th February Atletico Pulpileno (Away) Sunday 17th February NUESTRO ABARAN CF (HOME) Sunday 24th February ALQUERIAS FC (HOME) Sunday 3rd March C D Algar (Away) The 4th Annual Gala Evening and Dinner organised by Los Amigos de Mazarron FC is once again almost a sell-out. A handful of tickets remain on sale at €40 which includes a five course meal with coffee and local beer, house wine and soft drinks included during the serving of dinner. This fabulous event, again sponsored by New Images and Ibex Insurance will be held on Tuesday 12th

Striker Jose Ruben has led the way with 7 goals from 12 starts and only three players have scored more goals in the Primera The hotel La Cumbre

March at the Hotel la Cumbre, Puerto de Mazarron with former Manchester City and Wolves midfielder Steve Daley as the guest speaker.

The team

Autonomica. He has been ably assisted by Cecilio who joined the Club after the start of the season and has weighed in with five goals.

Mazarron’s home games are normally played on Sundays with varying kick off times. Admission is just €4 with juveniles free. Los Amigos de Mazarron FC organise a supporters coach to most away games leaving from the car park opposite

2013

Comedian Pat Martin and the musical sounds of the Beagles complete the entertainment line-up for the evening and there will be the usual auction of sporting memorabilia which has proved so popular in the past. Former Sheffield United, Leeds United and England international Tony Currie, who is the Los Amigos de Mazarron FC UK ambassador, will be attending the Dinner for the third year in succession along with his wife Elizabeth.

To book your tickets, please ring Andy on 634040990, Dave on 626465847, send an email to losamigosdemazarronfc@

hotmail.co.uk or call at the Trevi Bar, Commercial Centro B, Camposol any Thursday between 3 pm and 4 pm prior to the Los Amigos de Mazarron FC weekly meetings.

On Monday 11th March 2013, the day before the dinner, there is a Celebrity Golf Day at the Sensol Golf Club with a tournament in which both Steve Daley and Tony Currie will play.

There are two packages available for golfers who wish to take part:6 places are available to play alongside either Steve Daley or Tony Currie, 3 will play in Steve’s foursome and three with Tony. Photographs will be taken with both celebrities. After the golf, lunch is included in the Golf Club bar with Steve and Tony. The cost to play 18 holes with either Steve or Tony including lunch is 50€. Buggies are available at an additional discounted cost of 10€ pp.

The remainder of the golfers will play in the same competition and the cost for the 18 holes will be 32.50€ (normal price is 40€). Again, buggies are available (pre-booking essential) if required at an additional cost of 10€ pp and lunch is available at normal golf club prices.

If you would like to join us for this celebrity golf day please ring Andy on 634040990 or send an email to losamigosdemazarronfc@hotmail.co.uk.

Various sponsorship opportunties at Mazarron Football Club are now available to local businesses and individuals at very affordable prices which range from just €30 for a match ball sponsorship to €100 for a ground advertising board which includes artwork and installation.

For full details or to receive a sposnorship leaflet, which is avaialble in both English and Spanish, please contact Martin Vale on 634 342 294 or email losamigosdemazarronfc@hotmail.co.uk Don’t forget that, if you are interested in football or just wish to enjoy an active social life please join us at the weekly Los Amigos de Mazarron FC meetings which are held each Thursday at 4 pm in the Trevi Bar, Commercial Centre B, Camposol where an excellent range of Mazarron FC merchandise is always available. Membership of Los Amigos de Mazarron FC costs just €10 per year and coaches are organised to away games as well as the various social events and other activities taking place throughout the year.

When you call an advertiser please mention you saw their advert here

page 37

Car sales PARIS (Reuters) - Car sales in France, Spain and Italy in 2012 fell to the lowest levels in years, with December registration data underscoring the challenges facing the broader European economy.

Automakers are facing a sustained slump in the European car market as the euro zone debt crisis and government austerity measures sap consumer demand.

“The new car market continues to decline - a trait which we anticipate will continue through the course of 2013,” Credit Suisse analyst David Arnold said on Wednesday, adding European auto sales were unlikely to see growth in 2013.

Europe’s stagnating auto market will have knock-on effects for other economic players including steel producers, Nomura analyst Matthew Kates said in a note, citing forecasts by consulting firm AutoAnalysis.

Italy’s car sales, down 22.5 percent in December, slumped 19.9 percent for the full year to 1.4 million units, their lowest levels since 1979.

“The car market is suffering from an overdose of taxes aimed at hitting, if not criminalizing, the acquisition, ownership and use of autos,” said Filippo Pavan Bernacchi, the president of Italy’s car dealers’ trade group Federauto.

He said he expected Italian car sales in 2013 to be close to 1.33 million units.

French car registrations fell 15 percent in December, leaving the full year down 14 percent to 1.90 million vehicles - the lowest since 1997, French industry group CCFA said.

page 38

Spain’s monthly sales shrank 23 percent, after a 20 percent fall in November. Its full-year total of 699,589 cars, down 13 percent, was the lowest since industry association Anfac began keeping records in 1989.

Germany will report December data on Thursday.

Ford led December’s declines among mass-market brands with sales down 40 percent in France, 31 percent in Spain and 33 percent in Italy. Opel - the European unit of General Motors - posted declines of 16 percent, 17 percent and 47 percent, respectively.

Volkswagen , Europe’s biggest automaker, saw sales at its core brand slump 25 percent in France, 15 percent in Spain and 36 percent in Italy.

PSA Peugeot Citroen fell broadly in line with both markets, while Fiat brand sales dropped 11 percent in France, 28 percent in Spain and 20.5 percent in Italy.

Renault-brand registrations dropped 20 percent in Spain and 32 percent in France. Its home market is likely to shrink 2-5 percent this year, Renault France marketing director Nicolas Monnot said.

“This is completely coherent with the various macroeconomic forecasts available.”

In a note on Italian data, auto think-tank Promotor said Italy’s full-year fall in car sales was particularly worrying at a time when the global auto market was growing.

“The auto crisis does in fact involve only the euro area and is a direct consequence of the depressive effect of austerity policies on the real economy,” it said.

The chance of a recovery in the euro zone economy has faded further into 2013 after the recession deepened in the final months of last year, a Reuters poll found last month.

KNOCK-ON EFFECTS Falling business investment and persistently weak consumer sentiment are challenging French President Francois Hollande’s efforts to stem rising unemployment and keep government spending within its 2013 deficit target.

Spain’s year-old recession was expected to continue well into 2013, weighed down by battered economic sentiment and 25 percent unemployment, a record high.

Manufacturing activity shrank for a 20th straight month in December.

Italy was seen recording a 0.2 percent

www.thecamposoljournal.com

economic contraction this year, according to government figures. The International Monetary Fund predicted a 0.7 percent decline.

With fast-growing markets such as China and Russia increasingly meeting their own demand for steel, European producers are more than ever at the mercy of domestic industry.

“It is difficult to get bullish on the outlook for European auto demand in the near term, with obvious implications for European steel demand,” Kates at Nomura said.

German auto demand, which had long resisted the slump spreading north, turned negative in the second half to post a 1.7 percent drop for January through November.

In another sign of contagion, French delivery van sales contracted sharply in December, plunging 22 percent for their biggest monthly decline since the crisis of 2008, CCFA spokesman Francois Roudier said.

“We have already been seeing individual consumers holding back (on car purchases), particularly in the mass market,” Roudier said. “Now company fleet sales are slowing down as well.”

Comedy car park

Heard the one about the funny car park?

Well, drivers in Leeds certainly have.

In an effort to make their multi-storey more welcoming, bosses have decorated its stairwells with jokes.

The car park also runs competitions for free parking and the cheerful ticket man, when he’s not dressing as Santa at Christmas, hands out lollipops to customers.

Toby Morton, director of YorParks, which manages the Westgate car park, said: ‘Car parks are something in life that usually wind people up, and commuters are usually so glum, especially on a Monday morning. So this was something I hoped would brighten up their days.

‘About three years ago I decided to pin some quotes on the wall. We got a really good response, so when I ran out of quotes I moved on to brainteasers, and then to jokes.

‘They have to be short and snappy, because people don’t have all day to read them.

‘One of the most popular things we’ve

2013

done is offer two months’ free parking for people who solve the brainteasers.

‘I also make sure that everyone who works at the car park is friendly and helpful.

‘So many car parks these days are automated, you never see anyone. I want our car park to be different.’

The policy certainly seems to have paid off. Commuter Sam Clark, 48, of Leeds, said: ‘I wouldn’t use any other car park in the city, this has to be the most cheerful in Britain.

It makes my day to read the jokes pinned up on the wall. They change them regularly. There’s a really good customer service, you can get a good banter with the ticket man you pay as you leave, he even gives out sweets.’

Richard Laycock, 50, of Bradford, added: ‘I often find myself arriving at work and telling the jokes I’ve read at the car park.’

Here is a selection of the jokes at Westgate car park: ‘I went to a karaoke bar last night that didn’t play any Seventies music. At first I

er wn f of r o

o u ads l l l a a P ci o n ake

e ng r Sp f itti l ied B ee p Fr sup

was afraid. Oh, I was petrified.’

‘I went to a restaurant that serves breakfast at any time. So I ordered French toast during the Renaissance.

I needed a password eight characters long, so I picked Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’

‘Police arrested two kids yesterday. One was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one and let the other one off.’

‘I went to the doctor and he said “You’ve got hypochondria”. I said “Not that as well”.

I’ve just read a book about Stockholm syndrome. It started off badly, but by the end I really liked it.’

‘The worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades.

Here’s a picture of me with REM. That’s me in the corner.’

Militant feminists, I take my hat off to them. They don’t like that.’

‘I went to the zoo the other day, there was only one dog in it, it was a shitzu.

See our main advert on page 12

Property, Financial and Legal “HAVE YOU DONE THE DEED” Have you got an Escritura? It’s a lengthy document and in fact Escrituras are prepared for lots of reasons not just for buying/selling a property ie in an inheritance for example. Don’t legal documents have such funny names!

Names for other Spanish legal documents are : Poder a la Pleitos – Power to act in Court proceedings Poder Generale – Power to do anything and everything Poder Especiale de Representacion – Power of Representacion for a Specific Purpose In the UK, a document transferring ownership of property is nowadays called a Transfer Deed – it used to be called a Conveyance – a very elaborate document written in quill pen with wax seals where the parties signed. Sometimes clients would have one framed for the wall because they were so interesting to look at.

In Spain, (as well as in the UK) its not just having the document itself which is important, its what happened to the document afterwards?? It has to be registered at the appropriate Land

Registry (Registro), thus ensuring that your details of ownership are recorded in that official register – once that process has been completed the Registro will issue a “nota simple” being a copy of the Register showing the details of the new owners as well as describing the property itself, thus an independent record of ownership which is available for inspection by other authorities and also “Joe Public”. Without that process being completed, the only evidence of ownership is that Escritura in your hand – if it were lost or destroyed, it would be necessary to go back to the Notary to obtain a notarised copy.

Suppose the Escritura has been signed, but it has not been possible to complete the registration process at the Registro ?

– the parties need to be aware of that, and the consequences if they want to sell the property for instance.

In the UK, despite the Land Registration Act 1975, there is still “unregistered land” which has not come onto the Register ie because ownership of the property has remained unchanged for a long time.

Again, this is a situation which can happen in Spain -It maybe that the person who has owned that property in Spain for a long time has since had the title registered at the Registro – alternatively, it may well be that the only evidence of ownership will be

that old Escritura !! If that document has been lost, then a hunt could be on to trace the Notary before whom it was signed to obtain a notarised copy, along with any other legal documents which refer to the property in any way.

If you find yourself in a spin about any legal documents for your property, whether you want to sell or buy, or any other paperwork regarding your life in Spain, then please do contact me for assistance.

Shirley Ann Fisher – UK Lawyer & Commissioner of Oaths, Camposol Business Centre, Calle Madrid, Sector A, Camposol, Murcia 30875.

Tel. 968 103 008 Mobile 634 053 976 Email shirleyfisherlegalservices@gmail.com

Millionaire A woman proudly told her friend, “I’m responsible for making my husband a millionaire.”

“Well what was he before he married you?” the friend asked.

“A billionaire.” Replied the wife

Shirley Fisher

Legal & Financial Services

The ONLY qualified and experienced UK Lawyer in this area providing a comprehensive range of services covering English and Spanish matters including QROPS Pension transfers to unlock your UK private pension For an initial discussion please telephone 634 053 976 or email:shirleyfisherlegalservices@gmail.com Camposol Business Centre Calle Madrid 19, Sector A Camposol, Mazarron MURCIA 30875 FOR AN APPOINTMENT Tel: 968 103 008 FAX: 968 199 664

page 40

www.thecamposoljournal.com

2013

Boom Time Rentals Whilst times maybe be tough if you are trying to sell or short term rent out a villa there is one boom area and that is the Long Term rental market.

Even with bargains galore to be had throughout Spain there is still that ongoing instability in the housing market which is still failing to convince purchasers that the bottom of the price graph has yet to be reached.

Many of those wanting to move to Spain currently prefer the flexibility in renting long term rather than risk their life time savings in a property that still could be depreciating and they may have difficulty selling on in the future.

There are also benefits to be had for

owners of villas who would like to sell but find it either impossible to sell or are unwilling to lose out on their investment.

Of course the market will bottom out and eventually strike an upward curve but the question is when and how quickly.

In the meantime rather than leave the property empty and insecure it has to be preferential to have tenants in the property providing security and a monthly income until that time does come when the market has recovered enough to be able to sell at a reasonable return.

Of course some will be turned off by the horror stories of owners who have let their property to the “family from hell�.

Yes this has happened but generally this is where the owners have let directly to the tenant and left them to it without having in place a legal contract and in many cases without even taking a bond.

This is where a good agent comes in to play. One who vets their clients, always has the correct legal lease agreement signed with the tenant and wouldn´t think of handing over the keys without firstly taking a bond. In

addition to this an agent who inspects the property on a regular basis, collects and banks monthly rent, deals directly with the tenant in collecting all utility bills and ensures that the property is maintained at all times.

In the Mazarron/Camposol area there are many potential tenants looking for long term rental properties. Of course there are those that are looking for bargain deals at low monthly rates but there are also those willing to pay a premium rate for that little bit extra.

If you are one of those owners who has a 2/3/4 bedroom villa/finca with or without a pool and needs assurance on the issues surrounding the letting of your property then call Liz on one of the numbers below or email her for more details.

Mobile: (0034) 608 631 700 Office Spain: (0034) 968 970 614 Office UK: (0044) 1733 592002 Email: Info@SensolGolfVillaRentals.com

FOREIGN TOURISM Saving Spain Tourism in Spain, measured in the number of clients using hotels, rental apartments or other form of lodgings, fell substantially during 2012 to the point where many hotels have closed their doors this winter or are considering doing so. At the same time, however, income from foreign tourism is increasing compared to last year, and thus saving the Spain’s foreign trade balance.

SOLICITORS RECHTSANWÄLTE ABOGADOS

global & local

The explanation of this paradox lies in two facts: Due to the disastrous economic situation of most Spanish families, Spanish internal tourism has all but disappeared. Preliminary estimates point to a total fall of 1.5% in tourist sector income. However, foreign tourism to Spain is booming, reaching 55 million visits in the first 11 months of 2012, or 2.9% more than last year, and the foreigners are also spending more, amounting to total foreign aid to the Spanish economy of 50,000 million euros over the first ten months.

Spanish tourist authorities are expecting a final figure of 58 million foreign tourists for 2012, close to the absolute record. Even though one must take into consideration that world tourism is expanding fast, and that China has become world leader in tourist visits and income, important for Spain is that income from foreign tourism is compensating completely for the huge deficit in the trade balance.

Criminal Defense

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Civil Litigation

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Insolvency Proceedings

Commercial Litigation

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Labour Proceedings

Conveyancing

Planning & Zoning

Divorce Proceedings

Corporate Law

Building & Licenses

Fiscal Proceedings

Company Foundation

Tax & Fiscal Advice

Execution Proceedings

www.mmb.es

Income from foreign tourism has become a permanent financial rescue for Spain, and in a form that gives the spenders, mostly tax payers from northern Europe, something in return for their money: sunshine and a good climate!

PUERTO DE MAZARRON MMB-ABOGADOS Avd. Tierno Galván, 30 2D, Edificio Brisamar 30860 Puerto de Mazarrón

E info@mmb.es T 968 33 20 68 F 968 33 20 69 W www.mmb.es

Spanish flashmobs It is hardly a common sight to see smiles on the faces of the jobless crowding Spain’s unemployment offices. But a flashmob of musicians brought rare cheer to a waiting room in Madrid when they launched into a rendition of the Beatles’ favourite Here Comes the Sun last week.

The stunt, organised by Carne Cruda 2.0, a programme on the national Cadena SER network, used a small orchestra of young musicians who one by one stood up among those waiting and joined in the song.

Workers at the office, and those unemployed waiting to be seen, at first appeared stunned by the performance but

by the end of the popular tune many were singing along.

Filmed and then broadcast on YouTube the five-minute clip shows the office erupting in applause at the end of the unexpected distraction.

Flashmobs have become increasingly popular means of highlighting the economic woes of a nation suffering deeply unpopular austerity measures.

A flashmob of flamenco dancers performing within a branch of Bankia, the stricken lender that was part-nationalised last summer, attracted 200,000 views within a week of being uploaded last May. The Here Comes the Sun version has been viewed by more than 900,000 people

since being uploaded on Jan 8.

Spain’s soaring unemployment rate reached 25 per cent by the end of 2012 and is expected to grow further during the following year. Spain lost around 800,000 jobs last year and more than half of workers under 25 are unemployed.

Useful Numbers Bar, restaurants & cafes Amapola 660 32 80 92- 968 15 65 03 Bar Trevi 669 026 544 Cat’s Bar 666 188 353 Elliots 968 158 499 Mariposa 968 631 008 Scotties 625 917 425 Seventh Heaven 968 332 088 Tel’s Bar 634 143 088 Vista Bar 648 731 309 Bathrooms Beautiful Bathrooms 968 974 038/663617 563 Beauty Care & Health Heather mobile 636 657 481 Freedom Mobility 968 153 620 Builders CM Constructions 659 159 948 Car Hire & SERVICES F&C Rental 968 199 156 Puncturesafe 968 979 260/634 355 709 Car mechanics & car sales Ken Sherwood mechanics 679 646 859 Carpentry Dave Davidson 634 330 706 Camposol Business Centre District Journal, Security, Dentist, Chiropodists, Another World Properties 968 103 008 Central Heathing & Plumbing Calida Gas & Oil 659 761 771 Charities PALS 968 422 228 / 626460 465 Andreas animal rescue 690 906 565 JJPuppies 618 934 921 Making a Difference 634 357 137 Mabs 639 665 370 Lions 682 104 635 Chimney Sweep Tony 646 438 694 Chiropodists Nathalia 968 103 008 Computer design services Daniel White www.danielwhitedesign.com Dentists Camposol Business Centre 968 103 008 Ear Candling Heather mobile 636 657 481 Electricians Andy 617 644 339 Funerals and funeral plans Tony Smith, Funeral director 650 631 719 Fish & Chips Elliots Bolnuevo 968 158 499 Gardening Evergreen 679 582 410 Hairdressers Carols 968 974 989 Cut & Dried 628 149 840 Home Furnishings & furniture @HOME 868 088 118 Furniture Plus 968 153 907/678 083 491 Yorkshire Linen 968 595 946/650 857 619 Insurance & Asesoria Nash Warren, Bolnuevo 968 156 583 R&L Seguros 968 138 516 / 620 277 690 ASSA 968 453 386 El Pilar 968 425 210 Ibex Insurance 968 595 945

Law services MMB 968 332 068 Shirley Ann Fisher 968 103 008 Metalwork Eriks 636 050 008 Mobility, aids & equipment Freedom & mobility 968 153 620 Properrty services Camposol Properties 968 592 679 Kevins Fly Screens 650 662 579/616 984 652 Pool cleaning, maintenance & repair Tony, the pool diver 646 438 694 Kohn pool Services 968 138 638/626 684 979 Printing & Design Insignia Graphics, 618 615 903 Mister print 638 893 357 SALES AND RENTAL AGENTS Mercers 968 199 188 UK 08450 177 805 2let2buy2sell 968 979 876 UK 00 44 1223 968 199 Sensol Golf Villa Rentals 968 970 614/608 631 700 Costa Calida Property Services 968 199 251 Villa Quest 968 974 918 Spanish Resort Rentals, 0034 669 19 01 13 Spanish interpreters and courses Debbies translations & interpreting, 677 353 136 Pilar Garcia 630 21 99 82 Totana English Academy 968 422 013/620 230 775 Television Services Rainbow, 686 358 475 Window cleaning services AYS 619 877 303 Water, purification services The H20zone 619877303

Getting in touch with the committees and organisations

CRA Camposol Residents Association.

Main base is the wooden hut on the car park on Sector B Commercial Centre. It is open Mon, Wed & Fri mornings.email them on info@cracamposol.com.

Chairman is Bob Owen available on Tel :(0034) 634 364 738 Secretary is Sandy Allison Their web site which is interactive and very informative is www.cracamposol.com Sector A committee. Have their own web site at www.a-camposol.com They can be emailed at info@a-camposol.com. They publish minutes and notes in the window of the office at far end of shops bottom Sector A Commercial centre, behind the post boxes.

The telephone contact number for the committee is 603109974 This number is manned every morning Monday thru Friday 10am / 12noon Sector A gardening group is run by David Senior Peake who can be contacted by email dseniorpeake@hotmail.co.uk. They also run a bookstall Friday morning outside the post room on A. The team leaders meet monthly in Tels first Monday in moth 11AM visitors welcome.

Sector B & B-clean (their gardening group) NB B sector community group is newly formed.

Helen White 968 199 506 is the pro tem organisor.

Sector C Greenfingers gardening group, Chairman, John Osborne- Tel 634 325 427 email: johnos1943@gmail.com.

Camposol Community Group D Sector The group meets monthly on the first Tuesday at 4PM in the Trevi Chairman Mick Drummond 968131971or 660038015 Secretary Les Crook 968979831or 606874193 Ents and Tickets Linda Crook 968979831or 606874193 Trailer Bookings John Hannah 634341427 Compost Site Supervisor 651119145 Camposol Fiesta: Michelle Moston michelle.moston@gmail.com Age Concern Meets every Wednesday morning in the Cultural Centre everyone welcome Their chair is Anne Lambert 968 970 687

TANIA’S CLEANING

All types of cleaning, domestic and commercial. Fantastic rates, call for a quote Call 659 478 470

Jacuzzis & hot tubs bought , sold and repaired 650 722 905 www.eurospas1.com

In the event of a medical emergency call 112 and then phone F.A.S.T on 968 970 626 (Camposol Only)

Camposolers The registered group site for residents of Camposol, the proprietor is Reg Rogers who can be contacted by e-mailing reg rogers@hotmail.com. Apply to Reg for membership. NB there is an underline dash between reg and rogers!!!!!!

Town Hall can now be contacted through an office in the Cultural Centre Sector B, by the roundabout down from the roundabout by the filling station. Tatiana Andres is there to help you every weekday morning. Phone 968 131 717, email oficinacamposol@mazarron.es MABS now have an office in the old MASA office on the main dual carriage way on Sector C LIONS, Secretary Lion Mike Coombs 968 429 129 Membership Lion Mervyn Booth 968 163 082 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome book club every second and fourth Tuesday in the underbuild at the former medical centre on Sector B.

If your committee would like your details here then please contact Rod Sawyer at rodsawyer41@hotmail.com

PALS EVENTS 2013 On the Monday 17 December last year, and as promised we took two of our girls to meet their supporters at Camposol. However we nearly didn´t make it as Lola, our more placid girl decided that she was not going into the box. We pulled, we pushed, we bribed, for about three quarters of an hour, then Manuka, who was such a darling walked straight in and I think that seeing this Lola repented just a little and we managed to get her on board.

We arrived at the car park just 15 minutes late and we were met by some very nice friendly folk. We were there until 2pm. Friends new and old (not in age I may add) came along and gave the donkeys carrots and apples, and there must have been hundreds of photographs taken of the girls. A couple came from the local choir and we had a bit of a sing along, “littler Donkey” of course was the tune of the day::We had some cash donation as well as the usual items of clothing and bric-abrac and electrical goods. Thanks to all that donated not just on that day but throughout the years.

Nine days into the New Year we received our first call for a rescue, in a field near to Fuente, there was a dead dog and huddled up to her was her baby. We went and managed to get the pup; she was very frightened and bit Kevin as we took her away from her mum. She was hungry, dehydrated and full of fleas, luckily no tics, I hate tics.....She was flea sprayed and within a day she was in the house!. Her mother’s body was taken to the vets for cremation; she had an injury from her lower jaw all down her neck and chest. Don’t know how long she had been there but it was not new. Maya the pup is doing fine still a little weary but getting lots of food, water and most of all love. She is going to be a cracking girl.

We still have dogs looking for new homes, you can see them on our Facebook site, have you joined our group yet? Why not, its free and you can follow what we are doing on a daily basis.

Till next time, Take care, Andrea

page 45

2013

18th March/ 21st March Hotel Helios 4 days, return coach and full board, single room supplement 40 Euros 125/165 29th April/ 6th May cruise, Greek Islands SOLD OUT! Waiting list! and Turkey, all inclusive price pp cat K 745 see Athens, Santorini, Marmaris, Istanbul etc cat G 835 Autumna coach trip to Cantabria planned, watch this space

To remind you we are at SaraLaras on a Wednesday afternoon 1 till 3 or Saturday morning at the Trevi from 11 till 1.30 or call me on 626 460 465.

MABS EVENTS IN MAZARRÓN February 2013 Tuesday 5th February - MABS COFFEE MORNING.MABS CENTRE 396 Avda de los Covachos Camposol Sector B4 - 11.am to 1.00pm Cake stalls, books - come along and meet some of our volunteers - have a chat, a cup of coffee or a snack. For further information please ring 689 052 123. *** STOP PRESS *** FUTURE 2013 EVENTS *** Tuesday 23rd April – ST GEORGE’S DAY – La Vida Bar, El Pareton Further details to be announced at a later date – reserve the date in your diary!

Saturday 25th May –SPRING FAIR 396 Avda de los Covachos Camposol Sector B4 – 12.00 am to 3.00pm Our regular Spring Fair is in the planning stage, but please add it to your diary.

Every 2nd & 3rd Friday – BOOK SALE – Camposol Sector B Commercial Centre – 9.30 am – 1.00 pm Event tickets on sale at the book stall Between 9.30am and 1.00pm or from the MABS Information Centre on Sector B4 Camposol or by Calling 620 582 418 Keep watching the press or visit our website www.mabsmurcia.com for more events For further details, please call 620 582 418 www.mabsmucia.com Every 2nd and 4th Friday book stall Camposol B 11.AM to 1PM, tickets to events as well or from Mabs Information Centre, Avenido de los Covachos Camposol sector B.

FUTURE EVENTS The next auction 7th February in Marianos.

If you have any items to sell or any you wish to donate to Age Concern to sell now’s the time to sort them out.

The postponed rock n roll night at Marianos 19th April The next menu del dia Wednesday 27th February at Vigos in the port Tickets and information/ advice now available from The Cultural Centre, Wednesday and Thursday 10AM/1PM Fridays 12.30/3.30PM. Tickets Friday AM, 10/1PM Outside Salud Bar. Advice/info line, 634 310216: events, port 634310215 Mazarron & Camposol, 634310215

thelastlaugh20@gmail.com If you have a favourite joke that is suitable for a family magazine and not too long why not send it to

thelastlaugh20@gmail.com

We will publish it and give you a credit

Q: What do squirrels give for Valentine’s Day? A: Forget-me-nuts.

Q: What did the valentine card say to the stamp?

A: Stick with me and we’ll go places!

Q: What did the stamp say to the envelope?

A: I’m stuck on you.

Q: Who sends a thousand valentines cards signed’, guess who’ ?

A: A divorce lawyer.

Q: What did the light bulb say to the switch?

A: You turn me on.

Q: Did Adam and Eve ever have a date?

A: No, but they had an apple.

Q: What did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus?

A: Can I hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand? Valentine Joke Q: What did one snake say to the other snake?

A: Give me a little hug and a hiss, honey.

Q: Why did the banana go out with the prune?

A: Because it couldn’t get a date.

Q: What is a ram’s favorite song on February 14th?

A: I only have eyes for ewe, dear Q: What travels around the world but stays in one corner?

A: A stamp.

Q: What happens when you fall in love with a French chef?

A: You get buttered up.

Q: What is a vampire’s sweetheart called?

A: His ghoul-friend.

Q: If your aunt ran off to get married, what would you call her?

A: Antelope.

Q: What do farmers give their wives on

Valentine’s Day? A: Hogs and Kisses!

Q: What did Frankenstein say to his girlfriend?

A: “Be my valenstein!”

Q: Do skunks celebrate Valentine’s Day? A: Sure, they’re very scent-imental!

Q: What does a man who loves his car do on February 14?

A: He gives it a Valenshine!

Girl: “I can’t be your valentine for medical reasons.”

Boy: “Really?”

Girl: “Yeah, you make me sick!”

Q: What did the boy owl say to the girl owl on Valentine’s Day? A: Owl be yours!

Q: What kind of flowers do you never give on Valentine’s Day? A: Cauliflowers!

Q: What did the boy squirrel say to the girl squirrel on Valentine’s Day? A: I’m nuts about you!

Q; What did the girl squirrel say to the boy squirrel on Valentine’s Day? A: You’re nuts so bad yourself!

Q: What did the paper clip say to the magnet?

A: I find you very attractive.

Q: Why is Valentine’s Day the best day for a celebration?

A: Because you can really party hearty!

Q: What did the bat say to his girlfriend?

A: You’re fun to hang around with.

Q: What did the cholcolate syrup say to the ice cream?

A: “I’m sweet on you!”

Q: What did one light bulb say to the other?

A: I love you a whole watt!

Q: Why did the pig give his girlfriend a box of candy?

A: It was Valenswine’s Day!

Q: What did the elephant say to his girlfriend?

A: I love you a ton!

Q: What do you call a very small valentine?

A: A valentiny!

Q: What did the chocolate syrup say to the ice cream?

A: I’m sweet on you!

Q: Why did the stupid boy put clothes on the valentines he was sending?

A: Because they needed to be addressed!

Q: Did you hear about the nearsighted porcupine?

A: He fell in love with a pin cushion!

Q: What did the painter say to her boyfriend?

A; “I love you with all my art!”

Q: What did the French chef give his wife for Valentine’s Day? A: A hug and a quiche!

Q: Why should you send your sweetie a valentine?

A: Because you always heart the one you love!

Q: What is a ram’s favorite song?

A:I only have eyes for ewe, Dear Q: What did the caveman give his wife on Valentine’s Day? A: Ughs and kisses!

Q: What did the boy sheep say to the girl sheep on Valentine’s Day? A: I Love Ewe!

Q: What did the pencil say to the paper?

A: I dot my i’s on you!

Q: What did one pickle say to the other?

A: You mean a great dill to me.

“Your meeting place in the Port”

estaurant -

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Bar

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Restaurante Region de Murcia www.murciaturistica.es

The staff and management would like to welcome you to 7th Heaven! If you haven’t been before then come to see what you have been missing! We promise that after tasting our home made cakes and food you will truly be in “7th Heaven”. Not only do we serve a wide range of Beers, Wines and Spirits, but out famous patisserie is the best in the land offering freshly baked English and Continental gourmet cakes and pastries!

For those who fancy a bit more something more to eat then then check out our extensive food menu where you will find something to satisfy every appetite! Choose from vast range of mouthwatering Steaks, Fresh Fish, authentic homemade Pizzas, Pastas, Burgers, Chicken, freshly baked baguettes with assorted fillings and our famous pancakes and gallets and a whole lot more.

We serve food ALL DAY so come and join us for a truly unforgettable experience.

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!!

CAMPOSOL

NEW TO CAMPOSOL DENTAL CLINIC! Revolutionary 3 Phase Dental Cleaning!

Using new technology we can offer you a complete 3 phase clean in just one session!

Phase 1: Plaque removal Phase 2: Complete dental surface polish Phase 3: Removal of stains caused by Tobacco, Coffee, Red Wine, etc.

Only 30 euros!!!

DENTAL CLINIC We also specialise in all aspects ` of dental care including Orthdontics Implants Oral surgery The best quality for the best price Ask for a quotation without commitment We care for the health of your mouth Payment by instalments possible

Find us at the

CAMPOSOL BUSINESS CENTER

URB. CAMPOSOL-SECTOR A 968

103 008