May ~ 2012
www.thecamposoldistrictjournal.com
Here comes Summer
See our advert on page35 see our advert on page 3
Staff Dear Readers, I hope you all had a fantastic Easter and are looking forward to the summer ahead. There are 2 definite signs that summer has started on Camposol. Firstly you have to queue for 15 minutes for a parking space outside Consum and second you notice a stark contrast between the new faces dressed in shorts and flip flops and the locals (myself included) still wrapped up in jeans and jumpers until we arrive in the 25 degree a day safety zone. Lets hope that the summer is a good one here on Camposol, we have lots to look forward to. The fiesta committee has once again been working tirelessly to put the event on this year. It is an event organized by the community for the community, so show your support in whatever way you can and let’s make this Fiesta the best one yet. I would like to give a massive thanks to all of you for the fantastic feedback that we are receiving about the magazine. We are constantly making improvements each month and the magazine would not be what it is without Rod Sawyer for his contribution to the news, and to Danny from Insignia Graphics for his design work. This month we are proud to include our new Home and Garden Section and also a Sport section. We hope you enjoy them. I would also like to give a big welcome to our new advertisers this month: Garry’s Fish and Chip Shop in the Port, Vista-Bar, AIP Security Cameras, Timor Electrical, Paramount Villa Rentals, Evergreen Gardening, Cut & Dried Hairdressing, and Fiona Green Translation. A big congratulations goes out to the Sam Storey Boxing Academy in Totana who are celebrating their 2nd Birthday this month. Sam is not only a Champion boxer, but also a fantastic trainer, fitness guru and all round good guy. Find out more about him in the Sports Section. Please remember that if you want to receive this magazine in your e-mail inbox each month then send a blank e-mail to cdjsubscription@hotmail.com. If you wish to contact me personally then please find my details in the column to the right. Thanks for reading, Robert Rutherford
Enjoy the Camposol District Journal like never before!
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
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CONTRIBUTORS Finbar 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
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2012
NEWS
Sector A Homeowners meeting
Sector A held its AGM on the 24th March at Marianos at 3PM finishing at 4.30PM. Some 75 plus attended what was a purposeful and well organised event. The meeting was chaired by Marcel Van Schalk, who managed the meeting in Spanish, English, Dutch and German. Linda Biggs was welcomed back to the top table and spoke several times, ending up sitting next to Marcel. Linda is one of the few people on Camposol with a grasp of the legal quagmire that is Camposol. Two members of the committee tendered their resignations, John Grant a member since last year and the long serving Beryl Holland. The key recommendation was that a new committee of homeowners be elected at a meeting to be held on Saturday 21st April. This would come into operation with the completion of A. The current committee operates under the auspices of the former entity constitution which would not be relevant to a new situation. The chair outlined the year, eventful in terms of the Town halls change of administration; the advent of the train and market surprised the committee and the latter part of the year saw road markings, garden works and street lights. The committee was apprised of the lack of Masa’s lack of funds, that the winding up of the entity was perhaps more complex than first thought, and that by the summer every house on Camposol should get their Habitacion Certificates. The committee went through its accounts, in brief, an income of 531 Euros, an expenditure of 523 Euros over the year, bank charges, purchases, eg paper. There are bank deposits of 9000 Euros on hand. The income is mostly key changes. NB this is just a synopsis, the committee published very full accounts. There were a number of questions! Dealing with processionary caterplias and the necessity to get the town hall involved, the waste of paint if there are to be new road surfaces, although these will be some time since it is hoped to do A and B together. There is a need for yellow lines on corners and ramps to prevent bad
parking; complaints registered about noise from bars, lorries parking on streets, point made that should be a 20K speed limit and signing! Also questions about the process of finishing Sector A. Lastly the question of the name for Sector A, proposed as los Palacios, had received some attention and investigation, and so far there appeared to be little opposition, but the committee did feel that it would take a lot of work to complete the consultation before it wound up.( to be replaced by the new committee) The meeting lasted an hour and half. The next meeting is scheduled for the 21st April and will be reported in June. This meeting will elect a new committee which will come into action with the takeover of Sector A along with a new and more appropriate constitution and by laws.
Paramount opens an office in one month to select staff.
Residents of the municipality will be given preference 23.03.12 Hundreds of people have visited the town hall in order to submit their resume for the Paramount Park with the intention applying for a job at the facility. Stakeholders have also used email. Premursa, the promoter, has moved its offices to the industrial park Las Salinas, to “channel all job applications from both individuals and companies interested in participating in the construction of the park.” The office opening is scheduled for late May, coinciding practically with the laying of the foundation stone of the project and the subsequent start of construction. The mayor said that the companies will display their neighbourhood credential and submit their resumes and will be given preference in future selections of staff to work at Paramount and its development. Then, the preference would be for the rest of the region and finally, Spain
Major local elections in Spain see no big winner
The elections for the Autonomous Communities of Andalusia and Asturias which were held in Spain Sunday 25th March have produced results which will QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL MOBILE HAIRDRESSER leave neither of the IN YOUR OWN HOME major parties satisfied. LADIES: Cut - 9 Euros, Cut & Dried - 13 Euros Although the ruling Perming - 21 Euros, Colouring - Full Head - 18 Euros Highlights/Lowlites (with cap) - 20 Euros Popular Party (PP) managed to win GENTS: Cut - 8 Euros, the election for the CHILDREN: Cut - 5 Euros Andalusia Parliament STRESS RELIEVER: Head Massage - 3 Euros, Deep Conditioning Head Massage - 5 Euros for the first time in 30 For an appointment, call Ann on 628 149 840
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years, the party led by Mariano Rajoy was unable to gain an absolute majority and the Socialist (PSOE) Party will be able to continue governing the region, all be it in a coalition with the leftist Izquierda Unida party. The result is a big disappointment for the PP, which was hoping to win an overall majority.. Meanwhile the results in Asturias are slightly more complicated due to the presence of the regional FORO party, led by former PP Minister Alvarez Cascos. Cascos had governed in the Principality, but his party lost one seat from the results they had obtained in the last Asturian elections, which were held just 10 months ago. The PSOE gained a seat, as did IU, but the two parties have not enough to form a government. Meanwhile the PP won 10 seats and will be able to form a coalition with FORO, if the two right-leaning groups are able to resolve disagreements between Cascos and members of his former party. This has echoes in Mazarron which were resolved when the new Party, many of them ex-PP went into coalition with PSOE. The elections can be seen as the first test of the public acceptance of the drastic austerity policies implemented by the reigning Popular Party since winning the General Election on November 20. A key factor in both elections was the low turnout with around a 10 percent drop in voter numbers in both regions in comparison to the last elections. Given that low turnouts traditionally benefit the right wing in Spain, this makes the PP’s failure to win an overall majority in Andalusia doubly disappointing for the party. There are several factors which this low turnout can be attributed to, without some commentators even blaming the change of hour in Spain on Saturday night, which means voters had an hour less to sleep. The fact that the General Election was held just four months ago also had an influence in keeping people away from the polls. But perhaps above all is the general dissatisfaction with the entire political class that currently exists within Spain. The results show that voters are unhappy with the program of austerity, cuts and labor reform being implemented by the PP government of Mariano Rajoy. They at the same time blame the PSOE for the crisis and have yet to see any signs of the party recovering under the guidance of party leader Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. The result of that dissatisfaction is that rather than voting for a party which does not appeal to them many voters simply chose to stay at home. Meanwhile the challenge IU faces is to get those who stayed at home to make the effort to go out and vote for them.
2012
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Over 760 flights cancelled because of the general strike
Airlines have cancelled over 760 flights at Spanish airports because of the general strike. Iberia cancelled 222 flights and its subsidiaries Air Nostrum and Iberia Express, 200 and 24 respectively. In addition, Ryanair cancelled 44 flights, Air Europe 30, Easyjet 28, 189 Vueling, Air Berlin 6 and Air France about 20. The agreement between the ministry and the unions required 1,131 of the usual 2,500 people working in air-traffic control towers and centres to work as normal.
The Saladillo Vista reopens as “The Vista Bar”
The Saladillo Vista is back in action as the Vista Bar. It opened on Thursday 22nd March for its quiz and was jam packed by 6.30PM. It’s the only early doors quiz and play your cards right on Camposol. It’s a fun quiz, with bottles of wine as prizes and a bag of sweets for the team “holding the rest up” As you would expect from Simon, a lot of music questions, some 40 from the seventies and eighties, with a range of topical questions around featured
2012
THREE PACK COTTON TEA TOWELS ONLY 6€
NEWS
early doors quiz on a Thursday. The new subjects! Since they do food at the same Vista Bar promises a range of good food at time, you don’t have to gobble something reasonable prices, entertainment, and a real down beforehand. The teams range from welcome to anyone who crosses the portal. 2 to 8! Great fun, a great evening, always some double dealing and accusations! Not one for the serious dedicated quizzer, but a really tough one never the less. The real opening, or pre opening, was on the Sunday. Terry sang his heart out Good Food,Good Drink,Good Friends,Good Fun from 9 PM and an array of plates loaded Welcome to the new bar on Sector A, Camposol with sandwiches, A friendly meeting place for the community salad leaves and and a destination for diners looking for tomatoes provided traditional good pub food a real welcome to a Our new menu will carry the usual pub classics, crowded bar. Always some wonderful additions and our very popular difficult to estimate breakfasts will continue, numbers, but every with even bigger and better value options seat was occupied and there were many Quality food at a fantastic price standing as well. Look out for our The bar is now FOOD AND DRINK LOYALTY CARDS officially open and plus will be running its HAPPY HOUR 5pm - 7pm daily own programme, Tel: 649 219 270 or 603 149 414 including its popular
Remember when you call an advertiser tell them you saw their advert here
page 5
NEWS
Major local elections in Spain see no big winner
The elections for the Autonomous Communities of Andalusia and Asturias which were held in Spain Sunday 25th March have produced results which will leave neither of the major parties satisfied. Although the ruling Popular Party (PP) managed to win the election for the Andalusia Parliament for the first time in 30 years, the party led by Mariano Rajoy was unable to gain an absolute majority and the Socialist (PSOE) Party will be able to continue governing the region, all be it in a coalition with the leftist Izquierda Unida party. The result is a big disappointment for the PP, which was hoping to win an overall majority.. Meanwhile the results in Asturias are slightly more complicated due to the presence of the regional FORO party, led by former PP Minister Alvarez Cascos. Cascos had governed in the Principality, but his party lost one seat from the results they had obtained in the last Asturian elections, which were held just 10 months ago. The PSOE gained a seat, as did IU, but
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the two parties have not enough to form a government. Meanwhile the PP won 10 seats and will be able to form a coalition with FORO, if the two right-leaning groups are able to resolve disagreements between Cascos and members of his former party. This has echoes in Mazarron which were resolved when the new Party, many of them ex-PP went into coalition with PSOE. The elections can be seen as the first test of the public acceptance of the drastic austerity policies implemented by the reigning Popular Party since winning the General Election on November 20. A key factor in both elections was the low turnout with around a 10 percent drop in voter numbers
www.thecamposoljournal.com
in both regions in comparison to the last elections. Given that low turnouts traditionally benefit the right wing in Spain, this makes the PP’s failure to win an overall majority in Andalusia doubly
2012
NEWS
disappointing for the party. There are several factors which this low turnout can be attributed to, without some commentators even blaming the change of hour in Spain on Saturday night, which means voters had an hour less to sleep. The fact that the General Election was held just four months ago also had an influence in keeping people away from the polls. But perhaps above all is the general dissatisfaction with the entire political class that currently exists within Spain. The results show that voters are unhappy with the program of austerity, cuts and labor reform being implemented by the PP government of Mariano Rajoy. They at the same time blame the PSOE for the crisis and have yet to see any signs of the party recovering under the guidance of party leader Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. The result of that dissatisfaction is that rather than voting for a party which does not appeal to them many voters simply chose to stay at home. Meanwhile the challenge IU faces is to get those who stayed at home to make the effort to go out and vote for them.
Alhama de Murcia The City closed 2011 with nearly one million surplus
The mayor insists that Canovas was able to pay payroll and debt providers without recourse to funds from the ICO The town has a million in its coffers after the close of 2011. The city coffers are in good health. According to the mayor of Finance, Angel Canovas, once they closed the year 2011 and thanks to the “effort to contain the departments in the past six months,” a positive outturn of 957,135 euros, in tune with the requirements set out in Local Financial Plan. This is on an expenditure of over 18 million. .Sports in The Praico Moreover, the government delegate in the region, Joaquín Bascuñana, with the mayor, Fernando Alfonso Ceron, yesterday inaugurated the new multipurpose building of sports The Praico. The facility, which has 1200 square meters on two floors, has been built through a grant from Plan E, whose contribution was € 600,000 and a local consistory investment through the City
Plan of 483,000 euros , of which 65,000 have been allocated to strengthening the foundation after appearing in the works some of the galleries of ancient ocher mines that existed in the area.
Camposol to Madrid and back, by bicycle. Sounds formidable but four intrepid souls are aiming to do that in aid of charity. Starting at the popular TJs bar in Camposol, Mazarron on the 22nd September and returning to the start on 30th September this brave team will be welcomed by a great party with a sausage and burger stall, music and a fabulous party afternoon. The riders have sponsor ship forms, as do TJs and PALS so support these fellows who are tackling this in one of the most humid and hot times of the year.
Fish & Chip shop in the Port
Linda’s Fish shop has re-opened under the expert attention of Grimsby born Garry. He has lived in Spain some ten years and has worked in restaurants on Camposol and at Las Palas, the Spanish bar. His last restaurant, near La Palas, La Manchica has already been reported on “I have worked in a number of restaurants, enjoyed them all, and learnt a lot in the Spanish bar at Las Palas, where the proprietors wife taught me a lot about Spanish food. But I came to Spain to work for myself, and wanted primarily to run a fish restaurant and takeaway” says Garry. His takeaway is in the Port, behind the Arbol supermarket on that funny duel carriageway, almost directly opposite the English supermarket and the vets. He has a few tables so you can buy and eat in or takeaway. We tried the food and can recommend the friendly service and the quality. His cod is delivered daily fresh, and tastes it. That and understanding the niceties of a gas range are key components in good traditional fish and chips. He does the normal range of fish, with all the traditional accompaniments, along with chicken, sausages, burgers and nuggets. He also does a small and a large chips and his large cod at 6 Euros was brilliant, very firm batter, but succulent, flaky fish. The chips were real Mcoy fish shop chips. You can phone an order in on 625 298 990. Rod Sawyer
REPORT OF INSPECTION TOUR OF SECTOR A AYUNTAMIENTO PARKS AND GARDENS DEPARTMENT AND LINDA BIGGS – 28 MARCH 2012 I was very pleased to have been given the opportunity to assist in the review of the current condition of the garden areas and the trees lining the roads on Sector A - even though it was at short notice. TREES LINING THE ROADS AND IN THE CENTRE OF AVENIDA SALADILLO It was noted and agreed that where dead trees remain or there are gaps, new trees will be planted in keeping with the original design i.e. if a Palm needs replacing it will be replaced with another Palm and the same applies to the Pines. It was noted and agreed that more trees are required on Calle Madrid as some
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Gary’s Fish & Chips
Gary’s Fish & Chips Takeaway (formally Linda’s) Opp. Vets and English supermarket in Port Behind Arbol supermarket Takeaway or eat in Open 12-3pm, 5-11.30pm, Tues, Wed, Fri 12-7pm Thurs & Saturday phone in your order!
625 298 990
residents have expressed a desire to have more screening from the Autovia. THE TWO PARKS It was agreed that the biggest problem with the two Parks was the condition of the pathways across them and the circle areas. Even though more sand has been put down, they are still not level and this loose sand washes into the roads in heavy rain. The solution is to remove the loose sand, repair the holes and troughs and then put down a special substance called Albero. This I am told would be wetted and compacted with a machine to form a more unmovable firm surface. Parque de Los Palacios will receive more trees these will be Jacarandas, “Pepper” Trees and Mulberries. The perimeter of Pines will be maintained as is the current design. All new trees planted will be irrigated and nurtured by the Parks Department. GARDEN AREA AT CALLE
ANDALUCIA It was acknowledged that this is a large area, too large to cultivate in its entirety. The area that has already been cleared with the digger will received trees, possibly all pines but a mixture if possible. The areas that have been left as “campo” will remain as such – I pointed out that if it is left as Campo it should be cleaned from time to time to deter vermin such as rats and snakes. With this is mind the Technicians propose to augment/widen the areas already cultivated by the neighbours so giving a corridor of security from pests – if funds allow they might put gravel down at some stage. I had also pointed out that as this land is sloping towards the road heavy rainfall could, and has in the past washed mud into the roads. The solution to prevent mud washing into the roads is the building of a barrier, (bank or wall) and/or water management troughs. The new trees would also help to retain the soil.
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2012
NEWS
PINES AND THE PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLARS The species of Pines on Camposol are, as we all know, indigenous to Spain and once established are self sufficient and do not need to be kept irrigated. There is another Pine which does not attract the processionaries, but it grows at half the pace and is a lot more expensive so not feasible. Adoption means that our Parks and Garden areas are part of Mazarron and therefore will be looked after by the Town Hall – this includes regular routines such as weed and pest control also any necessary pruning. As many of the Pines as possible will be regularly sprayed against the caterpillars.
14 MARCH 2012 MEETING LINDA BIGGS AND PACO GARCIA – DEPUTY MAYOR/COUNCILLOR FOR URBANISMO
The purpose of this meeting was to ascertain the current position regarding:Adoption of Sector A. The 28 houses deemed to be illegal on RE3 of Sector A
2012
Properties affected by the Rambla problem on Sector D (D23) Properties designated as Turisticos and the proposals to re-designate them as residential. Adoption of Sector A and the 28 illegal Houses RE3 The Council and Masa are still working together towards the imminent adoption of Sector A. In addition to the works stated in previous reports Masa will be repairing the wall dividing the lower and upper level of the Commercials where the Post Room is. Also reinforcing works are to be carried out to the void beneath the road on Santiago de Compostela at the Rambla opposite Calle Cuenca. With regard to the 28 illegal houses, the work to legalise these properties is just about completed. This means that the Plans can be amended accordingly to show the actual construction of Sector A and Certificates of Habitation issued to the owners of every property on Sector A following adoption. Therefore the Deeds to the hitherto illegal houses on RE3 will very shortly become available. Properties affected by the Rambla Problem and Properties designated as Turistico As mentioned above the Council and Masa are working in collaboration to solve the problems of Camposol. Mr. Garcia said that he understands and sympathizes with the people subjected to these problems, but it is impossible to solve 16 years of accumulated problems of the urbanisation in only 8 months. It is essential that the Council and Masa collaborate and in this way all the problems will be solved but it will take time. With regard to the Rambla, the Confederation of Hydrographics now has a new president and the proposed solution for the Rambla
– ie. Construction of a reservoir outside of Camposol to prevent the water reaching the urbanisation – has to be finally approved by the new President. This approval is expected very soon. Regarding the Turistico properties, as by law there has to be a percentage of this category of properties on the urbanisation, other building land not yet developed will need to be re-designated as Turisticos. Again this has to be done in collaboration with the Developers, Masa, and work on this is already underway. EVERYTHING HINGES ON THE ADOPTION OF SECTOR A As mentioned above following the amendment of the Plans, Certificates of Habitation will be issued to all property owners on Sector A following adoption, which as mentioned is imminent. It is also envisaged that around the same time, the Certificates of Habitation for the whole of Camposol will be issued as by that time the above solutions for D23 and D32 will be definite and the Plan Parcial, and Plan General amended as necessary. It is hoped that all this will have taken place by the second half of this year and Deeds made available.
The sale of property to foreigners has decreased by 15%
The president of the Association of Real Estate, Jose Hernandez, wants the Regional Administration to “sell the benefits” of Murcia Jose Hernandez has reported that foreigners purchasing homes in Murcia but many are unaware of the location, so he has demanded that the Regional Administration “sell the benefits” of the Community. Selling properties to foreigners has declined in the last year by 15.5 percent, unlike what happens in the whole of Spain, which has increased by 4.8 percent and in neighboring communities such as Alicante, where he has also risen. The nationalities with the highest weight in the buying and selling homes in the region are British, with a 23’44 per cent of the total, followed by the French, with a 8’20 per cent, the Germans, with a 7’73 percent, the Russians, with a 6’94 per cent, and the Belgians, with 4.44 percent. “The difficulty of selling houses to foreigners is the fact that the buyer does not know where Murcia is, but instead, they do know where Alicante is,” he reiterated Hernandez is hopeful that the implementation of Corvera airport will facilitate home sales abroad.
Remember when you call an advertiser tell them you saw their advert here
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ALLEY PALAIS BISTRO MENU Various homemade soups Chicken teriyaki Steaks Alley Palais speciality fried chicken
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Pasta: various sauces bolognese, carbonara, garlic or prawn Thai chicken & prawn stir fry Spare ribs with various sauces, Jamaican, hosin or cajun Fish: Swordfish, sizzling shrimps Desserts: all homemade by Antoine Saturday 26th May Caribbean night - fancy dress essential, bottle of Cava for best dressed (see bar for menu and reservations)
Telephone 968 978 869 NEWS
The X Factor cancelled
Ken Payne has unfortunately had to cancel the x factor as a Fiesta project. The competition would have provided local singing talent with the opportunity to showcase their talent and for the winners to appear at the fiesta. One of the organizers had to return to the UK and this created a real log jam in enrolments. As late as last week Ken was hoping that he could rescue the project “ I am so sorry and apologies to all those hopefuls who wanted to take part” he said.
FAST ATTEND 16 CALL OUTS THIS YEAR!
With the total to date now 96 residents of Camposol being helped in their hour of need from starting in June last year to the 7th March 2012. Interestingly the bulk of calls seem to be daytime calls in the past few months. However there is some concern that callers are all to often calling FAST before calling 112 for advice or because they do not want to unnecessarily call the emergency services. This can be a very high risk action as vital minutes can be lost in alerting the professionals. As many will already know, FAST (First Aid Support Team) Camposol, are there to give support until the emergency professional arrive
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and whilst we have the training to give support such as maintaining a good airway, CPR, and are Murcian approved to give oxygen, and use and AED / DESA (use a defibrillator) as well as to bandage, we are not professionals and are not permitted to give professional advice legally. The only advice we can give to anyone is “to seek professional medical attention”, although we will do our very best to support anyone requiring it completely free of charge, through using the above techniques. So PLEASE, in the event of a medical emergency..................... First call 112 and then call FAST 968 970 626 and we will come as quickly as we can 24/7 365 days per year. FAST are holding an Easter Fayre to assist with fund raising at Mariano´s Bar & Restaurant on Easter Saturday (Semana Santa) on the 7th April between 11am and 3pm entrance just 1€ Sector A Camposol with over 32 stalls, some similar to those at the Christmas Fayre with tombola and raffle stalls but with many new ones. There will be Lingerie, Perfumes, paintings, water filters, home made and professionally made cakes and pies, jewellery, bags, Indian spices and sauces, secondary glazing, new security camera systems that can bring video of your property right to your mobile phone or computer, plants for a brilliant summer garden and many more stalls to start up the summer!!
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Come and see us at Mariano´s on the 7th April and also learn how to do the simple most effective thing that helps someone who has become unconscious, providing a clear airway so that the tongue or other soft tissue does not block the airway, we will be giving a demonstration on this simple technique. Who knows, you may want to join FAST as we always need new keen people to join us and receive training to help others in an emergency. If you would like any more information on joining FAST and Making Camposol Safer For All, or seeing what you need to do to start the service up in your area or any questions about the service we provide, then just ring Kaz on 626 823 081 or Glen on 634 313 572 or email on fastcamposol@hotmail.com or see us on Facebook! FAST IS A REGISTERED CHARITY Number G30863658
Alicante Airport loses passengers
No it’s not their luggage which has disappeared, but the passengers themselves. 120,000 alone in January and February. This could easily add up to over a million for the year. Spanair has disappeared, Ryanair has withdrawn from the airport over disputes with the airport management and strikes in the main
2012
NEWS
Spanish airline, Iberia have also resulted in cancellations. The works councils, representing the unions are particularly concerned to resolve the problems with Ryanair. There must be uncertainty at the airport with the advent of Corvera. If this comes on line in the autumn, which looks likely, then this could bleed even more passengers from Alicante. Many from Mazarron use Alicante and the diminution in passengers will have meant people using easier access.
Fiona Green
At the age of 10 my family moved to a small village in Mallorca where I was educated in an English school run by Spanish monks! I moved to Tenerifé and after studying to become a medical/legal translator I registered as an Interpreter in 1985. I worked with the Emergencies Services for 18 years (Hospitals and Police) dealing with every imaginable medical problem, often at the scene of the injury/accident. In 2001 I moved to Murcia where I continue to translate. Medical and legal translation is not just about being able to speak some Spanish, it´s about understanding the medical/legal jargon and being able to translate it into normal “talk” An Interpreter can literally make the difference between life or death if something has been missed in translation, this is why I stay on my studied path and only deal with Medical/Legal issues. I have no hidden charges and tend to only do one hospital appointment in the morning and 29 years of medical and legal afternoon, giving each patient the time to fully translating in Spain, covering explain what the problems are and giving time Camposol, Mazarrón, after the appointment to discuss what has been Pto Mazarrón said by the doctor/specialist and to make on going appointments whilst you are there to say and all Hospitals in Murcia. yes or no to the dates given. Your health should never be rushed or juggled to suit someone else´s diary!
Registered Interpreter
Medical, Legal etc
Tel: 649 811 469 2012
Remember when you call an advertiser tell them you saw their advert here
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NEWS
Spain’s general strike shows first signs of rebellion against austerity Austerity measures look set to become far more dramatic on Friday 30th March, when prime minister Mariano Rajoy delivers one of harshest budgets ever seen in Europe A demonstrator wearing a Guy Fawkes mask feeds a fire during a protest in Barcelona. With near-empty railway stations, shut factories, mass marches and occasional
outbreaks of violence during a general strike on Thursday, Spanish people showed the first signs of rebellion against the reformist, austerity-preaching conservative government they voted in four months ago. Police and pickets clashed in a handful of places, but it was a largely peaceful general strike in a country whose sinking economy, with 23% unemployment, has become the focus of worry about the future of the whole eurozone area. Thousands of police officers remained on duty around the country on Thursday night as tens of thousands of flag-waving demonstrators flooded into city centres for protest marches against labour reform and austerity measures introduced by prime minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative People’s party [PP]. Demonstrators brought the centres of Madrid, Barcelona and other cities to a standstill as trade unions claimed the strike was more widely supported than previous nationwide stoppages in 2010 and 2002. Rajoy’s officials claimed, however, that the 2010 strike against a socialist government had received greater support. .The strike was most successful where Spain’s big two unions, the General Workers Union and the Workers Commissions,
are strongest – in large factories, the civil service and transport. Rajoy has pledged not to backtrack on reform that has made it easier for employers to sack workers. And the austerity measures which strikers also demonstrated against looked set to become far more dramatic The general strike came on Rajoy’s 100th day in power and at the end of a week that marks a watershed in political support for his party. At the weekend he had seen support slip away in Spain’s largest region, southern Andalucia, where the PP’s share of the vote fell in a regional election from 46% to 41%. The party also did badly in the northern region of Asturias, where it finished in third place in a Sunday vote. .The European Union has set Spain a target of cutting its deficit from 8.5% of GDP to 5.3% this year, a net cut of some €34bn (£28.3bn). As Spain falls back into a double-dip recession, however, economists say austerity measures will sharpen the fall. The government already predicts a 1.7% fall in GDP this year, with unemployment rising to 24%. Economists have put the total adjustment needed to meet this year’s target at between €52bn and €64bn – or well over €1,000 per person. The government has already covered €15bn of that with emergency measures announced in December. Government sources have agreed that Spain’s credibility with the markets is on the line if it failed to meet the target, though some economists consider this impossible. The incidence and follow-up day general strike in the city of Totana is 22% Source: City of Totana Councilman Human Resources, David Amoros, reported that the one day general strike by workers of the City of Totana was 22% of the workforce, and reported that all services have been provided in Consistory quite normally. Between 80,000 and 90,000 people in the General Strike of Murcia This is the data used by trade unions who were also asking the Government to change labour reform. Children with their families, students, retirees, members
of federations and union locals, and unemployed workers have all walked the Gran Vía de Murcia in a march that left the square Fuensanta minutes after 18, 30 hours.. In fact, the head of the march had arrived just after 19.30 hours to the square of the Red Cross, instead of reading the final manifesto, and still had not left the last demonstrators starting out. Whistles and horns were heard this afternoon in the center of Murcia and the speakers have chanted messages criticising the financial system, labour reform and public spending on consultants, among other slogans, which also saw dozens of banners and posters. A large banner with the “No to labor reform” opened this demonstration, headed by the secretaries general of UGT, Antonio Jimenez, and CCOO, Daniel Well, in the region of Murcia, who also opened at noon in Cartagena, a mobilization involving 10,000 to 15,000 demonstrators, according to the unions. Opposition Paerties including the IU and PSOE jopined all the demonstrations which were uniformly peaceful The regional head of UGT, Antonio Jimenez, has also called on the government to rescind its labour decree and draft a “reform of the labor reform” because the approved “subtraction generates fewer rights and inequality” among citizens. Despite the claims of the Unions, the general strioke did not pull allm workers out and for example only 20% of the regional admistration supported it, some 5000 out of the total 50,000. Teachers were better represented with nearly 20% supporting the strike. The monitoring of the general strike called by unions to the day today has had a low incidence in the Autonomous Community, as it has been followed by a 10.3 percent of regional public administration. Of the 54,503 employees of the Community, 5631 have supported the strike. Specifically, in the field of general administration and services, the strike was supported by 11.7 per cent of staff. Cartaganea saw a mass demonstrations at noon with much the same effect as Murcia.
Tel: 968 138 516
Mobile: 620 27 76 90 Fax: 968 59 29 08 Email: gestionesryl@movistar.es
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www.thecamposoljournal.com
2012
Age Concern News
Age Concern Costa Calida was set up last year as a proposed part of Age Concern Spain. But it was not until the AGM this year in early March, that Costa Calida became formally part of the federation. It is now a fully fledged member, running its own affairs under the guidance and by laws of the federation. This does enable the local organization to have considerable freedom to develop services within the overall framework. Organizationally the year has been of great significance for Age Concern. Its case work service is now a stand alone service operating within the framework of the federation and known as ACASA. As the president commented “the current world economic situation is having a dramatic effect on the work of ACASA and we are facing applications for assistance from British expatriates who are virtually destitute and facing the decision (in most cases reluctantly) to return to the UK” The increasing cost of living in Spain, the repossession of homes because of mortgage default, failing health, inability to speak and write Spanish, often coupled with the death of a partner are all background to return and requests for help to ACASA. It is also becoming clear that hitherto sympathetic UK based charities are finding it more difficult to help. The executive committee has asked the country manager to concentrate on fund raising for the rest of the year, in order to maintain services. Locally Age Concern reflects many of the above concerns. It has to be put in the overall context of the Spanish economy which if anything is worse affected than the UK’s.. Locally Age Concern’s volunteers work in a number of contexts with individuals and families. This is a time when the work of Agencies such as Age Concern become of vital importance to communities. Equally, Age Concern
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NEWS
has developed its social programme, running a monthly social and monthly Menu del Dia. It is totally dependent on the generosity of local people to raise the cash for its work, and its support to national organizations such as ACASA. May 2nd sees a talking shop free social, celebrating VE Day, at the Cultural Centre, Sector B Camposol 1.30PM until 3.30.PM Saturday May 12th has the Spring Fayre, at Lagarto Verde on the Via Axial in Puerto Mazarron, 11.30 while 3.30PM, with the new Harlequin Community choir at 1PM, singing their hearts out for you. Wednesday 30th May has the Menu Del; Dia at the Sensol Golf Hotel, with veg soup or pate, mains steak and ale pie, sausage & mash with onion gravy and a two bean ghoulash for vegetarians, home made desserts to follow. Johnny Sparropw provides the entertainment and the cost as always, 10 Euros. June 22nd has the second Grand Auction. You pay 10 Euros for 3 articles and keep the proceeds! Must be registered beforehand and brought on the day. Tickets can be obtained on Camposol from the office Monday and Wednesday mornings on C5 Calle Retama no.29 (968 970 687), outside the Salud bar Friday mornings. On a Thursday morning outside the Bar Peyma in Puerto Mazarron, all 11AM until 1PM NB the Summer Fayre, Sat 12 May at El Lagarto Verde Puerto Mazarron. Half way up Via Axial Interested stallholders phone 634 336 484.
Call us and enquire about our low cost effective advertising Contact Robbie on 968 103 008 / 664 287 099
“2 Pints of Lager and a 4 man tent…”
Last month, to no one’s surprise, saw the closure of the only Bar/Sport Shop on Camposol (and possibly the world). At the time of its opening the owner hailed himself as a pioneer of innovation, declaring himself as nothing short of genius. And who could have doubted him? Rumour has it that failing landlords up and down the Costas scrambled to follow suit and turn their function rooms into Sport shops, selling Roller Blades, Boxing gloves, and Camping equipment to anyone over the age of 65. There can be no doubt that the decision to open a sports shop inside a bar was one borne of desperation. Once upon a time the bar in question was one of the busiest on Camposol, but since its opening a few short years ago, the landlord managed to lose 3 different sets of tenants from the kitchen, (all of them having the same reason for leaving) and single handedly create, what many have called, a “Caustic and hostile” atmosphere. Customers voted with their feet and spent their money elsewhere. This anticipated closure is further proof that during the boom years anyone could open a bar and make money from the throng of thirsty holiday makers, but as the other bars and restaurants on Camposol have proven, a degree of business acumen is required to do well during a recession. It would seem that while others have got it, one in particular fell way short of the mark. Astonishingly, he is allegedly planning to repeat this catastrophic formula of a hybrid “Bar/Sport Shop” on another nearby urbanization. This comes as a welcome move by the people of Camposol as it means that they now have to travel further to not go into his bar in the first place. We wish him luck…
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NEWS
ADVERTORIAL AIP Security Cameras
AIP Security Cameras are specialists in real-time security systems using state of the art digital IP cameras. So what exactly does this mean? It means that you can connect to an IP Camera, which is basically a digital CCTV camera/webcam and view your home or business live, in real-time, from anywhere
in the world via the internet using a computer or a mobile phone. Ok, what else can they do? You can also login and remote control the camera to monitor or record direct to your
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computer’s hard drive simply by clicking a button on your computer. This could be a recording of a burglar attempting to breakin to your home or business premises or you may just want to keep an eye on what is going on at your business, how many customers are in your shop or bar, what your staff are up to, etc. You may just want to monitor your children or your pets. AIP Security Cameras can also do lots of other fancy things such as record on motion detection, send email and mobile phone alerts, switch on security lights, open and close electric gates, connect to an existing alarm system or smoke detector, etc, etc. You can even remote connect to your neighbours IP camera(s) and record what is happening at their property. This could be very useful for setting up (or enhancing) a neighbourhood watch scheme, whereby all your friends and neighbours simply log on to their own IP camera, click on split screen and monitor or record, on their own computer, what is happening at their neighbours property, in real-time, all at the click of a mouse. You can even receive email alerts with photographs of intruders climbing over your wall, or your neighbour’s wall, that are triggered by the IP cameras motion detector. AIP Security cameras supply and install both indoor and outdoor IP cameras that have Infra Red Night Vision which is useful if you do not have any security lights or street lighting. AIP Security Cameras are based on Urbanizacion Camposol, Mazarron, Murcia. All of their IP camera systems are very easy to operate and they do not charge monthly fees making them an affordable security option. They have indoor wireless IP cameras from only €200 and outdoor wireless IP cameras from only €310. All prices include standard installation, training, after sales support and 2 years warranty. For more information, please call Simon on 968 978 838 / 634 371 651 or visit their website: www. aipcameras.com.
www.thecamposoljournal.com
Country Kitchen Opens
Jim and Margaret up at Sensol Golf Club are now fully up and running with their Gourmet Country Kitchen. It is a delicatessen style shop. Open from Monday to Saturday, 8.30 until 4.30PM, there is a fantastic range of frozen fish and seafood, not to mention Jim’s beautiful steak pies, a must for any pie fan. They will also stock fresh baked bread. Jim has identified a gap in the market for quality, premuim products at a fair price and this is the market he will cater for. So next time that you fancy a coffee or some lunch with the some of the best views on Camposol, then pop downt o the golf club and dont foget to vist Jim and Margarets new shop while you are there.
FIESTAS CAMPOSOL CAR DRAW 2012
Its here again! The fiestas camposol car draw is once again well under way. For six out of seven days per week up until the fiesta you will be able to buy a ticket from one of the following venues Outside Consum on sector B Monday to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday Thursday market on sector A all subject to weather This will be the fifth time we have held this competition and it has always proved popular with the last two winners living on camposol. Once again Citroen has agreed to supply us with a new car at a competitive price and we hope to be able to sell at least enough tickets to cover the cost of the car. The draw will take place on the main stage of the fiesta at approx 9.45 pm on the Sunday night and some lucky person will then be the proud owner of a brand new car. Closer to the fiesta we will have the car available for you to admire , and buy another ticket on Saturday mornings on sector B commercial centre so come along and try it out for size- you never know. Proceeds from the car draw will usually be split between next years fiesta and certain local charities at the discretion of the committee.
2012
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 (includes IVA) 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:
968 103 008
info@camposolbusiness.com
NEWS
Dogs and the Law
hunting land? He was on a pathway. Was it because the dogs were Galgos and he Some time ago one dog owner was fined needed a hunting licence? He doesn’t 300 Euros whilst walking his dog on hunt! It is still unclear but Andy Hurrell the campo. Was it for being on private has paid up, reckoning that it would cost more to fight the fine than to pay it. FOR SALE!!! ONLY 96,000€ 2 Bed Duplex in Ciudad Quesada What about potentially dangerous dogs? The law looks very explicit; there is a comprehensive list of breeds which are covered, supported by an addendum which covers crossbreeds etc; dogs which are heavily built, with large This is an fantastic opportunity to purchase a fully heads and weighing furnished 2 bed Duplex in Ciudad Quesada. more than 20 Kilos. Set in a quiet location with spectacular views over the golf course, the property boasts a spacious This could cover lounge/Diner, separate kitchen and bathroom and a large number of shower room. Owners have full access to the large dogs, many breeds communal pool and BBQ area. The property is are between 20 and within easy walking distance to all amenities including Bars and Restaurants, Supermarkets and 24 kilos; pointers and Commercial Centres. Breton spaniels for For more information on this fantastic offer example. please call Graham on 634325792 These dogs can only be walked on their or 0044 7904333654
own, must at all times be on a leash and muzzled. Andy Hurrell is convinced that there is an exemption for hunting dogs, Galgos and pointers will not be covered. But many dogs will be covered and their owners should be aware that these dogs need registration at the Town Hall, and the payment of a licence fee. It is also the case that their owners also need to hold a licence, which involves a psychological aptitude test! Are you a fit person to have such a dog? You also will need a significant amount of third party insurance cover. If you are in any doubt about wether any of the above applies to you and your dog, we recommend that you talk to your vet for further information.
www.thecamposoljournal.com
2012
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TOTANA SHOP CELEBRATES TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY
MABS Cancer Support Group in Mazarrón celebrated the second anniversary of the opening of their shop in Totana last weekend at the Trevi Bar in Camposol. The bar was filled with wellwishers and supporters who enjoyed a fun
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evening. MABS Mazarrón Coordinator, Zue Burgess, presented MABS Shop Manager, Ann Vinall, and her shop volunteers with a special cake to mark the occasion and everyone celebrated with a glass of Cava. Ann thanked the
2012
MABS shop volunteers for all their hard work and dedication, which has made the MABS shop the success it is today. MABS supporter, Catherine Black, won the free day on a yacht for 4 people and kindly donated it back to MABS, so that they could auction it off to raise more funds. Bidding was fierce, starting at 100€, with the winning bid coming in from Virginia Benjafield and Ann Vinall at 200 €, raising a final raffle total of 707.50€. Total amount raised for MABS Mazarrón on the night was 1258.50€. MABS Mazarrón is a registered charity (No. 7261) offering help and support to local people of all nationalities who have been diagnosed with or are being treated for cancer. If you or someone you know would like
968 595 945
C.C. Upper Local 2, Avda. Doctor Meca S/N, 30860 Puerto de Mazarron, Murcia.
mazarron@ibexinsure.com
www.ibexinsure.com
some confidential help or support call our HELPLINE 620 422 410 or visit their website: www.mabsmurcia.com
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NEWS
Its been a fun weekend over the years and would be a dreadful shame if it folded, so please remember that it is your fiesta and it relies on your for its success. Rod Sawyer
Only a month to the Fiesta.
Last year it was touch and go about
Leishmania. A warning…
its several years of existence now; it lasts the weekend, with Saturday as the
survival, and then Dickie took up the mantle and with his team has successfully sustained the Fiesta Camposol. Its not
changed much in terms of format over
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main day for its fayre, music events on its main stage, a giant paella, without which no fiesta would be worthy of the name. tug of war, a fun run, well over 20 stalls from commercial interests to charities, and a dog show. All have featured. It’s a brilliant mixture of British garden party or country show and Spanish fiesta; very appropriate, although some say too Spanish, and some not enough! It has been a hot celebration of summer which has always well and truly arrived by the third week in June. Its been much enjoyed, with everyone wondering whether the queue for paella will wind round Camposol, will one of the dogs disgrace its owner?
www.thecamposoljournal.com
This disease is deadly for dogs and sadly many owners are have never even heard of it! FOLLOWING THE terrible incidents a few weeks ago with the dangerous dog food, it has come to the Journals attention that an even more potentially fatal disease is currently worrying local vets. Leishmania, known as the Silent Disease, affects all dogs and is a silent but deadly disease; not visibly evident until the disease has established a stranglehold within the dog. Leishmania in dogs is the equivalent to cancerous tumours in people; in many cases, by the time the symptoms are obvious, it is just too late. As with cancer, saving the life of the dog is in the balance once the disease has taken hold. If it’s gone too far, there is nothing that can be done. Outward signs include: swollen lymphnodes, alopecia and dermatitis, especially around the eye sockets and across the muzzle, and unnaturally long claws. Inward problems include: deterioration of the condition of the dog’s eyes, progressive loss of weight with decreased appetite, nose bleeds and increased urination and excess drinking. VACCINATION Canine Leishmania is a disease transmitted directly from a sandfly to a dog and sandflies are most active at dusk and dawn, so keeping your dog indoors at these times reduces the risk of infection. Currently, no cure exists for canine Leishmaniasis, but courses of specific treatments can control the spread of the disease. Treatment for life can be distressing for a dog and expensive for its owner, so as with most things, prevention is better than cure. Prevention usually takes the form of collars or regular vaccinations, but very recently a new vaccine has been developed which is promising great results in the long-term protection for dogs against this disease. The vaccine can only be administered to dogs that have tested negative for Leishmania, so the first step in the process is to get your dog tested. Following a negative result, the vaccine can be administered, protecting the dog from the disease. PROTECT YOU AND YOUR DOG Local vets have stressed the importance to
2012
seek veterinary advice with regards to this disease and if at all possible get your dog vaccinated with the new vaccine to ensure that your dog is protected against this silent and vicious disease. But it is not just dogs that are being stuck down with Leishmania. This week it was announced that the Ministry of Health in Madrid is investigating an outbreak of Leishmania in humans. The illness can be transmitted to humans but is usually quite rare. The number of cases in the Fuenlabrada area of the city has reached more than 200 since February and in humans, the disease causes skin ulcers but in more serious cases it can cause liver and spleen damage. The Madrid Vets College says that nearly 10% of the dogs in the city are infected with the disease, which makes this new vaccination even more important
Nationwide demonstrations over animal mistreatment ANIMAL-LOVERS in 31 towns and cities all across the country took to the streets today to protest over ill-treatment and neglect of animals, calling for such actions to be made a criminal offence in Spain punishable by prison. Demonstrations took place in every one of the country’s autonomous communities except for Andalucía in the south and Asturias in the far north, where it would
2012
NEWS
have been prohibited due to the regional elections. The nationwide movement was organised via social networks and included members of at least seven animal protection societies. Although the Spanish Criminal Code does provide for custodial sentencing of those found to have mistreated animals, the demonstrators want to see tougher measures put in place. Most claimed Spain was behind the rest of Europe in terms of animal protection and want to see the government sign the European treaty on domestic pets, which includes much more severe punishments for those who neglect or abuse animals. They also say the Criminal Code should not discriminate according to species of animals, since at present bulls are largely exempt from protection rules where their ill-treatment is par for the course during ‘entertainment’ such as bull-fights. A petition containing 400,000 signatures will be handed over to the Parliamentary Congress. Most of the protests took the form of an open-air festival and many demonstrators brought their pets – in the main, dogs – with them. One 10-year-old girl who came with her dog said she had managed to get 140 pupils at her school to sign a petition so that those who mistreated animals would be punished at law. Representatives of the animal support
groups slammed the fact that hunting hounds – such as Podencos and Galgos – tend to be killed by being hung by their back legs from a tree once they have outlived their usefulness and that their owners, if caught, face little more than a 300-euro fine. They also lamented the fact that in Spain, a person is more likely to be punished for having their dog off the lead in a prohibited place than for ‘throwing one down a well’ – referring to a recent court verdict where a judge ruled that the accused, who had dumped a dog down a 30-metre well whilst it was alive – had not committed a crime, a verdict that has sparked widespread anger among animallovers throughout Spain.
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What’s going on... Weekly Events Sunday Lunches & Sundays Elliots in Bolnuevo . Sensol Golf club, 12 Euros! Canadas Social Centre 6E booking advised, the Trevi. And night time! Bernie Mac from 7PM Mondays. Trevi’s music quiz & menu del dia, 7.95E, Alley Palais Bowling League. Sensol Golf Club Fun Quiz, Tel’s entertainment quiz at 9PM. Mondays and all week! Elliots Menu Del Dia 8.50 menu del noche 14.95E, great tapas at Trevi & 3 euro breakfast. Saladillo vista has a 3.50 breakfast & great snack menu! Tuesdays At the Trevi Sue’s fitness class 10AM. Mens fitness at 11.30AM. Karaoke with Byron Canadas Social Centre 9pm. food always available. Wednesdays The Treviquiz.9pm,Tel’s Bingo at 1.30PM, DJ on the decks at Alley Palais fr. 9PM Thursdays Camposol Golf Club Camposol-live music with wine at €6 & beer 2pints for 3euros! 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!
Fridays Alley Palais, karaoke from 9pm til late 2nd and last Friday of the month indoor market at Alley Palais At the Trevi, bridge daytime starting at 9.45am Saturdays Golf club, live entertainment, Trevi karaoke Bernie Mac, Bingo - Tel’s Sunday 7.30PM & Wednesday 1.30PM, Quiz - Trevi Monday night music quiz with John, Trevi-Wednesday quiz, 8.30PM Sensol Golf, fun quiz on Monday night; Tel’s Monday 9PM entertainment & Thursday fun 9PM, the Vista Bar early doors at 6.30pm, followed by play your cards right Open Mike Nights Thursdays as usual at the Sensol golf club Camposol 2 pints 3 Euros and wine 6 Euros a bottle also Jimmy’s BBQ 12 Euros! Backwater & CAS Band alternate weeks!!!
Karaoke Alley Palais at 9pm Friday, Saturday’s and Sundays, Trevi Bernie Mac Sunday’s, The Restaurant & Bar Trevi Bernie Mac at 7PM, Friday Bolnuevo’s Steakhouse evening Tels. Everything Freshly Cooked Tuesdays Canadas Full English breakfast 4.00 from 10am from 9pm Value main meals available 12 till 3.30pm 4.95 Menu del dia 8.50 for 3 courses + coffee Menu del noche 3 courses 14.95
Local Markets! Alley Palais 2nd and last Friday
of the month! Canadas Sunday mornings, Mazarron Saturday morning. Camposol Thursday morning on Sector A Tuesday 1st May PALS BBQ on the beach at Bolnuevo Wednesday 2nd May Age Concern free talking shop social, Cultural centre camposolB, at 1.30PM Friday 4th May Trevi Bar Camposol, Cabaret Supper with Woody, 7.95 Euros Friday 11th May Outdoor and indoor market at Alley Palais Sensol Golf Club Camposol, The Liverpool Band, Beetles tribute Supported by Backwater 11 Euros, kitchen open Saturday 12th May Age Concern at Lagarto Verde in the port on the Via Axial, summer fair all day from 11AM until 3AM. Harlequin Choir! Stall holders phone 634 336 484 Sensol Golf Club Camposol, Kyle James Friday 18th May Calida Country Club, 8 pm at La Molata Canadas de Alhama Country music with Phil Brady, E3 single, couple E5. Saturday 19th May Sensol golf club Camposol, live music, guest appearance! Friday 25th May Spring Ball Fiesta committee, 22 Euros, free bus from Camposol, buffet, Cas band, at the yacht club new marina the port Alley Palais market all day 25th, 26th & 27 May At The Salon Theatre, Los Canovas, April in Paris, 8PM start,
Fish & chips from 5.00 Special offer 2 large fish chips & peas with a bottle of wine only 18 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!
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For further details see our back cover advert
refreshments,comedy 5 Euros Saturday 26th May Sensol golf club, Camposol, New to Camposol, Robbie James Also Mabs Spring Fair at 1PM Alley Palais Camposol, Caribbean Night, fancy dress essential, bottle cava for best dressed, reservations at the bar 968 978 869 Wednesday 30th May Age Concern Menu Del Dia at the Sensol Golf Hotel, with veg soup or pate, mains steak and ale pie, sausage & mash with onion gravy and a two bean ghoulash for vegetarians, home made desserts to follow. Johnny Sparrow provides the entertainment and the cost as always, 10 Euros. Friday June 22nd has the second Age Concern Grand Auction. You pay 10 Euros for 3 articles and keep the proceeds! Must be registered beforehand and brought on the day
Look who’s grown up Happy birthday to Molly & Grace
on their 11th birthday 20th May
all our love Mum and Dad
Fiesta Plans At last the fiesta is taking shape and much of the basic work is now complete. We have a full and entertaining programme with something we hope for everybody. We have some new sponsors in the form of IBEX insurance and DECKLID AUTO SERVICES . We would like to thank them both for their generosity and support for the fiesta which is invaluable. Also I must mention TREVI bar who have been
so supportive all year and will of course “PARIS” FOR ONLY 5€ once again feature on the main fiesta site. Come and join “Bet” and “Al” in Paris for Although the format will be familiar to only 5€ in “teatro canovero” (formally “Los many of you the content has some very Canovas Players”) next production at the new and interesting features. So as not to end of May. spill the beans too early you will have to The play, “April In Paris”, is a comedy and wait until June for the publication of the is written by playwright John Godber and full programme. I can reveal that our main portrays Bet and Al’s antics from winning act on Sunday night will be a band called a magazine competition for a weekend CHESS. If you like Queen you will love chess and they along with our spectacular fireworks display will bring the fiesta to a rousing finale. Saturday night will also not disappoint with a new band called EXEDOS the clue is in the name.(answers on a postcard to) The craft market stalls are nearly all sold out and Susie is doing a great job in providing a super mix of craft and commercial stalls along with the usual in Paris, their journey across the North charity and games pitches. We have two Sea and how they cope with the language and food in Paris to their return to their catering pitches offering fresh sausages Yorkshire home. The performances will be and burgers and a pig roast, these along on Friday 25th May, Saturday 26th May and with the bars should manage to satisfy the Sunday 27th May, curtain up at 8pm each healthiest of appetites and thirsts. Please night at The Salon Theatre in Los Canovas, remember that the bars and catering only 10 minutes from Camposol. As usual pitches on the fiesta site are the only such refreshments will be available in the outlets that have supported your fiesta auditorium before and after the performance over the weekend and fully deserve your as well as during the interval. patronage. Tickets are only 5€ each and are available There is a suggestion that this year for now from various outlets throughout the first time the fiesta will be live on the the Mazarron and Fuente Alamo area. Alternatively advance bookings can be world wide web via a live web cam, fame made by contacting Roger on tel. 968 at last for all you camposolers and all 15 11 49, mobile 660 85 10 64 or email the world will see just what a great place loscanovasplayers@gmail.com. For further camposol is to live in. information contact Roger on any of the This year as always there will be the aforementioned. traditional giant paella on the Saturday We look forward to seeing you and hope you afternoon along with Spanish troubadors and the bars and catering pitches will be open from midday on both days of the fiesta. The committee has worked really hard this year to ensure that we have produced a weekend for you all to enjoy, Restaurant open 7 nights a week It’s a family event so 7pm-10.30pm please come in the spirit of fiesta and have a great time , 10 till 4 7 Days a week fancy dress is not essential but hey it is fiesta and we WEDNESDAY NIGHT DARTS AND DOMINOS FROM 8PM. just cant stop some people anyway Best Regards Dickie Davies
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FEATURES
Stars over Camposol
with Keith Jackson
Welcome to the first in a series of star hopping journeys through the constellations that can be seen over Camposol. (Actually, anywhere in central and southern Europe) Hi, my name is Keith Jackson and I have lived on Camposol for eight years. I am a retired singer and musician and a keen naked eye astronomer. Contemplating the stars on their celestial travels can be very relaxing and becomes so much more interesting when you know which one is which and a little bit about the mythology associated with the constellations. So, find the darkest spot you can (a solarium provides an excellent observation point) and allow your eyes 15 to 20 minutes to get accustomed to the dark and we’ll embark on our first journey. Looking north and almost directly overhead you will find the Plough. Probably the best known asterism in the northern hemisphere, the Plough is part of the third largest of the 88 constellations Ursa Major (the great bear). Ursa Major is one of the oldest known constellations and the Plough has been known by many
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names. In old England it was known as King Arthur’s Chariot and as King David’s Chariot in Ireland. In North America it is known as the Big Dipper as the seven main stars seem to form the rough outline of a large ladle or dipper. In Greek mythology (to cut a long story very short) Zeus turned the beautiful nymph Callisto into a great brown bear (Ursa Major). He then turned her son Arcas into a small bear (Ursa Minor) and placed them both in the sky. Ursa Minor is curved towards Ursa Major so that Arcas can watch over his mother for all eternity.
(the “Pointers”) you reach Polaris the North Pole star. Not as bright as you may think, Polaris is the main star in the faint constellation of Ursa Minor and also
The Plough is also significant in that it can be used to find the North Pole star Polaris. Looking a bit like a saucepan you should have no trouble spotting the Plough. Now, if you extend a line between the last two stars of the bowl from Merak to Dubhe
marks the position of the celestial North Pole, the point which all the constellations appear to revolve around. Next, if you follow round the curve from Megrez to Alkaid to the east beyond the handle of the Plough you come to a bright golden orange star which is very hard to miss. This is the red giant Arcturus (the guardian of the bear) the leading star in the constellation Boötes the Herdsman. Boötes flies through the sky in late spring and early summer. Extending from Arcturus are the other five stars which form an easily recognizable kite shape. Traditionally, Boötes is accompanied by two hunting dogs, Cor Caroli and Chara which form the constellation Canes Vanatici. In one story Boötes is said to be driving his oxen, represented by the seven stars of the plough, which are tethered to the pole thus keeping the skies in constant motion. In another myth Boötes was credited for inventing the wagon and the plough which prompted the goddess Ceres to place him
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2012
FEATURES
in the heavens and his wagon became the Wain (Ursa Major). Adjacent to Boötes is a little semicirclet of stars which is the constellation Corona
Borealis or the Northern Crown. Of the seven stars that make up this constellation there is the only one bright star known in Arabic as Alphekka (bright star of the broken ring) or in Latin as Gemma (the jewel). So, a dark clear night and well adjusted eyes are required. Once again, to cut a long story very short, according to Cretan legend Bacchus, the god of wine and parties, had fallen in love with the beautiful Ariadne. He had a crown made for her with seven of the most beautiful jewels. When Ariadne died, Zeus placed her crown in the sky and changed the jewels to seven stars, which can still be seen today as the constellation Corona Borealis, Ariadne’s Crown. Finally, the very bright object you’ve seen just after sunset last month is Venus which will not be visible again for a while as it will be in transit between the Earth and the Sun from June 6th. That’s all for now, don’t forget to look up - there’s lots to see.
Out & About
Rod Sawyer
We spent a very traditional Mothers Day weekend, notwithstanding the fact that it was also St Patrick’s Day on Saturday. It meant lunch out twice, once at our favourite on the Paseo, La Farola, that large restaurant on the corner by the underground car park aka Brits Corner. Food there is always delightfully fresh. We shared a mixed salad with bread, very fresh, and then embarked on two portions of steamed mussels. These were huge, very filling and definitely an obvious favourite with many customers. We drank some wine and then had a coffee and watched the world go by, a must on the
2012
Paseo. What I admire most about La Farola is what they manage to produce from what must be one of the smallest kitchens on the Paseo, probably the port! Mothering Sunday after a walk along the paseo we decided to stop at 7th Heaven where we had coffee and cake. 7th Heaven has without a doubt the best homemade cakes in the area! The owner also informed us that he is currently working on an addition to his successful BBQ restaurant which was the talk of the Port last year! Watch this space for more details. For lunch we headed up to eat at Elliot’s in Bolnuevo. We were outside, which was very pleasant in the shade on what was a very sunny day. As one has come to expect at Elliots the food and service were impeccable. There was even a little present for the ladies -a small bottle of bubbly and a pack of chocolates, very thoughtful. We had the full three courses, tackling a traditional prawn cocktail and a dish of mussels in a creamy sauce. The main were sirloin beef and lamb steaks. These came with potatoes, with the vegetables and gravy separate. I much prefer it this way rather than try to deal with a heaped and brimming plate full! Full marks for service, at 2PM it was heaving, but service was neither slow nor complacent. Dessert? A baileys cheesecake and a lemon meringue pie, both beautifully presented and very tasty and rounding off a great meal. Carol and her team fully deserve the great reputation that they have. The Golf Club has had a new lease of life under Jim and Margaret. We had a great Saturday night out there for the cost of the meal; about 18 Euros each along with the drinks for the evening and we didn’t stint ourselves. I had prawn torpedoes as a starter, very large breadcrumbed whole sea food. Very tasty with the coating very crisp and firm flesh underneath. For a main I chose the venison steak with chips; medium rare and washed down a treat with the house red. My partner in crime went for more traditional fare, pate, pronounced excellent followed by chicken chasseur. We shared a lemon cheesecake, tangy, creamy, splodges of cream and ice cream, what more could a diabetic want to feel very naughty? It was now 9 o’clock and we decided to stay on and hear the singer. One song in and we ordered coffee and brandy. Was a brilliant gig with one of the best voices I have heard? Name? Maria O’Hara! She did the aria from Puccini the one Pavarotti made his own. Coincidently one of the contestants on The Voice did the aria as well, Maria knocked spots off her. She did a whole range of sixties to nineties songs, many of them our favourites. It was a splendid evening and I am looking forward to the 6th when
Barrington is making a rare appearance on Camposol. We have taken to lunches out. A chicken curry at Bali Hi, along with rice or nan is 5 Euros. We ate downstairs, service was swift and the curry excellent. I had a Madras, which was just the right heat and full of flavor and Rathnait a Bhuna. The rice and nan were excllent as well. To be recommended if you want more than a snack lunch, but tasty and good value. Age Concern are doing some fine lunches out. Always a standard 10 Euros, alternating one Wednesday the port, the next Mazarron or Camposol and always on the last Wednesday of the month. They have done eight so far with an average attendance of 50 satisfied customers. They are now booked right up until August when the charity will holiday. It’s a very simple idea, a 1.30PM start with a Menu del Dia followed by entertainment. The last one at the Country club had some 50 at it, all very happy with the food, especially the lamb, and the entertainment? Bingo and Play your cards right with a finish about 5PM. Usually the entertainment is a singer but not necessarily, a worth while social with food! Viggos on the Paseo in the port was April’s choice, with salad, a vegetable paella, liver and bacon, hake, or chicken, dessert and a glass of wine. The first Wednesday in the month sees a monthly free social at the Cultural Centre on Camposol. They last two hours and the last one had the new Harlequin community choir on one of its first outings doing Oliver! You do need tickets for the Menu del Dia, but can just turn up to the talking shop social, where you will get a welcome.
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LEGAL FEATURES ISSUES
Terra Natura Murcia celebrates the birth of a first ring-tailed lemur in its facilities
Breeding at birth weighed about 150 grams The nature park Terra Natura Murcia have announced the birth of a baby ringtailed lemur at their facilities. Lemurs are endemic to the island of Madagascar. They are named after the lemures (ghosts or spirits) of Roman mythology due to the ghostly vocalizations, reflective eyes,
and the nocturnal habits of some species. This is the first birth of this species occurring within the Murcia complex. The little baby, who weighed just 150 grams
at birth, does not separate for a single moment from her mother and was given the name of Mazoala by care givers. Until they are a few weeks old it is impossible to identify the sex of the newborn animal. At present, it shares a room with the other members of their
The ring-tailed lemurs are a species in grave danger of extinction. Hence, captive breeding of this species assumes an important step in their conservation. Currently, there are over 100 different species of lemurs that reside in Madagascar. One of its main features is the sitting position that its members adopt open facing the sun to warm up in the morning.
HOUSE CLEARANCE species. The group of this species consists of a total of three males, one ring-tailed female, and four black female lemur. Since its birth it has been perfectly integrated into the group and the three males collaborate in the task of grooming the calf, licking and repeatedly cleaning the body of the small specimen. The mother, Masoala, who arrived at the park last year, had to complete a gestation of about four and a half months to finally have her baby. In every birth, females of this species usually have one to three offspring, although this time only one was born.
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Camposol ‘C’ Green Fingers Gardening and Social Group
As I write, we are looking forward to our AGM on 19th April, where Chairman, Bernard, will be retiring but hopefully continuing as Treasurer: We’d like to offer him our heartfelt thanks for beginning and maintaining such a wonderful project and hope the new Chair carries forward that momentum with the same vigour. Green Fingers has become a group of likeminded friends, not just gardeners (and labourers!): we receive so many positive comments and supportive messages making all the hard work worthwhile. A new committee will also have been voted in but even if you missed the AGM we always welcome new committee members, and indeed new volunteers: We offer free breakfast to our Wednesday team to sweeten their hard labour, so come along and make new friends: even if you’re only here on your hols, you’ll be beautifying and benefitting your whole community! The ‘Bienvenidos a C’ feature now has it’s new bench, already christened by tired shoppers! The final flower planter, which was stolen, will soon be replaced to complete this pretty garden and a similar feature is being created opposite Sensol estate agents, with a picket fence surrounding another seat half way up the hill, just in case the first is occupied! This bench has been kindly donated by someone who cannot volunteer because of medical reasons yet wanted to show his appreciation for Green Fingers hard work! If you would like to donate any plants, pots etc. we would be most grateful, thank you. Yet more gravel has been laid to landscape and plant new kerbside areas which would appreciate a good watering during their early days, thanks to all who can spare a minute to take care of them, and who have offered our working parties refreshments! Every Euro of each member’s monthly payment is precious
to us and used to enhance the whole area of ‘C’, though the general programme of maintenance, weeding and spraying may only reach your road every few weeks. If you are not a member and you see our teams out and about please contribute a little – ‘Every little helps’, as they say! Don’t forget our Diamond Jubilee street party on 4th June, with Lenny Mitchell, disco, barbeque and complimentary glass of cava! Everyone is welcome so please check chalkboards, Facebook and website for any information and contact numbers. Also, we are pleased to announce, because of our official fiscal registration and CIF, the opening of two free interest bearing bank accounts for the group and are currently sourcing insurance cover for our volunteers. Details of this and more news can be found at http://www. greenfingersgardenandsocialgroup.com/
Camposol A clean up and gardening volunteer group
THE SHOW MUST GO ON ! One of the items for discussion at this month’s meeting was the possibility of winding up our little group. Some of the volunteers have already left in expectation of the council taking over to continue the good work. Our thanks once again to Beryl Holland from the Sector A committee for attending our meeting and keeping us informed of the current status. As previously reported in this column, work is being done by the council, although it is still uncertain how this work will be paid for. Some streets have been cleaned, some have not. As yet we are not able to obtain a schedule for this work. On the day of our meeting it was noted that much more work was needed, especially in the high use areas around the commercials and the health centre. As always, our volunteers were there to maintain standards. It was also made clear that the council have no intention of maintaining the garden areas that our group have worked so hard to create, let alone continuing the
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projects not yet completed, so there is still much work to be done. It was accepted that the group should be proud of what had been achieved so far, and were prepared to continue to work to protect what had been done, and to complete all of the planned improvements. All team leaders agreed to start work again in full this month, and to try and persuade as many people as possible to join in. Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee was also discussed. It was agreed to commemorate this event by buying 60 Queen Elizabeth rose trees which would be planted in new garden features to be created in prominent areas on Camposol A. Volunteers are requested to help in planting, providing irrigation, and placing yet more gravel, which will inevitably be required to display this new project. Work should start soon in the hope of being completed by June. Weed clearing continues. Signs have been bought and will soon be in place, requesting dog owners to assist us in keeping our streets and public areas clear of mess, plus some to encourage the general public to be more thoughtful in discarding litter, and we are still fighting the problem of the last (we hope) processionary caterpillars. The show goes on, yet this could still be the last report from the Sector A gardening group. It looks almost certain that Sector A will be renamed Los Palacios. Postal addresses will remain the same - my post box will still be A512. Anyone interested in helping, please leave a note and someone will be in touch. Dave Senior Peake
‘B Clean’ Gardening Group. Working together to make Camposol look great! Oh! How we need some rain! Well; not us of course – we are all here for the sunshine But the hundreds of Oleanders planted along the roadsides are in desperate need of water and for some it may be too late. The only way we can hope to rescue them
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is to carry water in containers filled from the tap. So; if you like the idea of seeing Camposol in bloom next year, perhaps we could all do a bit by remembering to carry a couple of bottles in the boot of the car on our way to the shops, and adopting the habit of stopping to give the plants a drink as we pass. The weeds don’t to need any water and even seem to defy the sprayers! But the task continues. Our thanks go to Andy Brown for the 70 plants that he has donated, and also to the gentleman on B8 for providing the Yucca plants that we will be planting out this week. Future Projects. The ‘Welcome To Camposol’ sign that we mentioned in last month’s newsletter has been discussed further and we are hoping to be able to have it erected before the Fiesta in June, subject to the necessary licence being granted. The sign, measuring approximately 2.5m x 1.5m high, will be built from decorative block with tiled sign work. It will be positioned on the corner of the road leading to the Commercial Centre (opposite the track to the Garden Centre) and in a manner that will not obstruct the vision of approaching vehicles. Help!! Yet again we have to appeal for more volunteers. Unfortunately our numbers have depleted over the past year, so please – if you are able to help us in our efforts in any way, we would love to hear from you. B Sector is the one part of the urbanisation which is used by just about everyone on Camposol and we do welcome the help that we receive from other groups. Legal Registration. We are continuing our efforts towards becoming a Legally Registered Group, as other sector groups have already done. Reps are still needed for B20 and B22. Please Book your places for our Springtime Disco Party – Friday 25th May 7.30pm and enjoy a meal of Bangers and Mash or a Beef burger at the Golf Club. Posters are now being displayed and tickets are on sale for 10€. We always
have a great time and all proceeds go to community garden needs. Prizes:- Should anyone like to donate a prize for the Quiz or Raffle, please let us know. They will be gratefully received. Monthly Meetings. Please join us at our meetings which are held on the last Tuesday of each month 16.00 to 17.00. in Trevi’s Function Room. Please show up and give your support. Join in and discuss how we can continue to improve our sector. We need your suggestions. Weekly Working Party. Come and Join Us! Meet each Tuesday – 9 a.m. till 10/11 ish. Usually in front of the Commercial Centre unless otherwise arranged. Please just turn up. For Information: Please contact: Sandy: 968986030 Helen/Glyn: 968199506 Roger: 968199502 Rose: 968974953
Spain Rescues Ancient Olive Trees
They have seen generations pass, the world change, and survived droughts and cold spells for a thousand years. Yet, just as they did in the Middle Ages, Spain’s millennium-old olive trees continue giving humans their green gold – a highly prized olive oil variety, which is now becoming popular as far away as Asia and the Americas. Spain is now rediscovering its ancient olive trees, which have been endangered by the advance of urbanizations and a search for more productive olive tree varieties. The country’s largest concentration of the ancient trees can be found in the northeastern community of Taula del Senia – a grouping of 27 municipalities – where they number more than 4,600 in an area of 1,100 square kilometers.“It is almost certainly the biggest concentration of millennium-old olive trees in the world,’’ said Taula del Senia community manager Jaume Antich .Trees of a similar age exist in Greece and Italy, but not in comparable numbers, he said. Taula del Senia is also the only part of Spain where the trees continue to produce oil. For an olive tree to qualify as being a millennium old, it needs to have a perimeter of at least 3.5 meters at a height of 1.3 meters from the ground. Some of the trees have a perimeter of more than 10 meters. Some are believed to be
more than two millennia old.For about a century, the number of ancient trees had been dwindling as farmers replaced them with more productive varieties. Millennium-old trees were also sold to private gardens as decorative elements – an uprooting which kills the vast majority of them within 15 years. In 2009, Taula del Senia introduced a project aimed at reviving oil production from the “monumental trees,’’ for which the Environment Ministry contributed about 1.2 million euros (1.6 million dollars). The olives are harvested by hand in the last week of October or the first week of November. The producers hedge their bets on quality rather than quantity. The millennium-old trees give an exclusive oil belonging to a variety known as farga, which has a mild and fruity flavour and fetches the hefty price of 30 euros per liter on the market. A bottle of ordinary, cheap olive oil can be bought for about three euros. A bottle of olive oil from millennium-old trees is now becoming a fashionable present in the same way as a bottle of fine wine, he said. The oil has also begun to be exported to countries such as France, Italy, China, Japan, the United States, and to Latin America. “These trees have resisted everything,’’ Antich said. “They may live for another 500 or 1,000 years.’’
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Are electric car owners feeling smug?
As talks aimed at averting a strike by fuel tanker drivers resume this week, electric car owners talk about whether the grass really is greener on their side. While long queues at petrol stations around the country followed the government’s advice to take “sensible precautions” in case of a strike by fuel tanker drivers, one group that was able to look on without concern was electric car owners. “The best thing about owning an electric car is never having to visit a petrol station,” said 50-year-old Nissan Leaf owner Mark Goodier. Mr Goodier, a Smooth Radio DJ based in London, owns one of only 1,279 electric vehicles registered in England and was the first person in the country to buy the Leaf when it became available in March 2011. Watching the images of motorists queuing up to fill their tanks was a mixed experience for him. “It just reminded you how much the oil companies have got us hooked on their drug and how thin the veneer of civilisation can be. It was very sad to see. “I try not to feel smug but I felt glad that we had made a sensible decision,” the former BBC Radio 1 DJ said. ‘Big downside’ The long-term financial and environmental benefits convinced him he should ditch petrol and he is “thrilled” with his purchase. Fuel drivers are threatening to strike over safety and working conditions However, Mr Goodier conceded that an electric car was not for everyone yet, citing that the cost was still prohibitive - the Nissan Leaf currently sells for £25,990, once the government’s Plug-In grant of £5,000 is deducted. According to him, the biggest challenge though is “the 100 miles maximum range - that’s a big
page 28
downside”. Toby Aldrich, from Farnham, Surrey, is the owner of the first commercially sold Mitsubishi i-MiEV in the country and feels the limited range is a minor concern He said: “It’s not that big a deal. How often does one go more than 80 miles in a weekend?” It’s a great benefit to be able to charge the car at work and far better than waiting in a queue for petrol” Terry Skee The advertising agency owner, 51, believes “passionately in exploring alternative sources of energy” and was not sympathetic about the plight of his petrol car-owning peers. “I was laughing. I was praying for a tankers’ strike. It was impossible not to feel smug. “I had people calling me up asking ‘Can I get a lift off you?’. It brought home how dependent we are on oil.” Although he admitted electric cars are “tremendously expensive to buy”, Mr Aldrich feels that “if you can afford it, you should buy one”. Renewable energy company Cleaner Air Solutions Ltd was also of the same opinion and Terry Skee, the company’s commercial director, was one of those behind the decision to buy a fleet of five Nissan Leaf company cars. Terry Skee’s company owns a fleet of five Nissan Leaf cars “We make significant savings on fuel, it gives us flexibility as we can charge them on site and they’re fun and funky to drive,” said the 53-year-old from County Durham. One of the issues often raised with owning an electric car is the difficulty in recharging them but with about 2,500 recharging points across the UK, according to the Department for Transport, this is becoming less of a deterrent. “It’s a great benefit to be able to charge the car at work and far better than waiting in a queue for petrol,” said Mr Skee. “If the strike goes ahead, I would offer my friends a lift. I wasn’t going to sit and pour more fuel on the fire the way the government did.” Despite his stance, Mr Skee does offer
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a note of caution about electric cars. “Resale value is an issue at the moment. They’re an expensive acquisition so we’ll have to wait and see what happens,” he said.
Land Rover Defender
The all-new Land Rover Defender family, due in 2015, could become the marque’s biggest-selling model, according to brand boss John Edwards. The firm is targeting the success of the Toyota Hilux, which sold 549,000 units worldwide in 2011. Today’s Defender sold just under 20,000 units. Edwards says Land Rover is being “encouraged to look at it as a 20-year plan
with global potential”. The new Defender will be developed into a line-up with “wide appeal and a low cost base”, and Edwards’ ambition is “to become a global maker, not a UK maker selling globally”. The clear signal that the new model needs both a low cost base and a global manufacturing footprint suggests that the majority of new Defenders will be built outside the UK. The company also seems serious about making the new model genuinely in the mould of the original. “We’re talking to sub-Saharan Africa buyers about cost of ownership and ease of maintenance,” Edwards added. “That it’s functional, durable and affordable are central to our thoughts. The engineers and designers are really getting engaged.”
2012
Female drivers in the north pay 4.7% more for car insurance
CONFUSED picture of the cost of car insurance has emerged with women in Merseyside, Yorkshire and Manchester paying up to 4.7% more – with worse to come. Car insurance prices for women have fallen 3% year-on-year as the latest Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index shows, however in some UK regions women are experiencing hikes as high as 9.7%. For men, the price of comprehensive car insurance has dropped by 1.8% year on year bringing an average policy to £869 at the end of March 2012. This compares with women who were paying £751 in the same period. Overall the average cost of a comprehensive policy is £816 in Q1 2012. In the Manchester and Merseyside, women aged 21-25 faced increases of 4.7% as the price of a comprehensive policy rose to £1,820. Men saw a 3.6% rise. Overall, however, women are still paying less than men becaues of a lower
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risk factor. The may face further bad news later this year when European gender legislation takes hold. Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: “The European Union gender equality law bans the use of gender as a factor in calculating the cost of an insurance policy and comes into effect on 21 December 2012. “As a result, we expect women everywhere to see hikes to their car insurance costs.”
Spain’s electric car sales off target
Spain’s plans to have 2,000 electric cars on the road by the end of 2010 have been dealt a blow as figures showed just 16 have been sold.
The government-backed REVE electric car and wind power project said 15 cars had been sold so far this year, in addition to one last year. In April, the government said it would invest 590m euros ($775m; £490m) in the production of electric cars.
It aims to have 250,000 electric and hybrid vehicles in circulation by 2014. REVE played down the poor sales. “The figures are similar to what happened in the beginning with personal computers or mobile phones,” it said. “The first models are expensive and with few options and initial sales were low.” The 16 models sold in Spain were made by Norwegian car maker Think.
See our main advert on page 24
Sports The Sam Storey Boxing Academy in Totana is proud to Celebrate its 2nd Birthday! Over the last 2 years Sam has been helping people of all ages and abilities achieve their personal fitness and weight loss goals. The motto of the gym is: Learn to box, without the fight! The Sam Storey Boxing Academy offers, high-energy, fun and stress busting boxing fitness classes that are suitable for men and women, of any age and of any fitness level.
Classes typically last 50 minutes and during each training session, you’ll burn calories, increase stamina, tone and develop your muscles, and have a great time getting into the best shape of your life. A typical training session will involve pad and bag work, skipping, core strength exercises and much more, blended to provide the perfect combination of cardiovascular and muscular workout. Sam’s boxing fitness classes are run in small groups (maximum 8 in a class) to give you the personal attention you deserve to help you reach your goals. Change your life today by calling 618 182 918 for more details on how you can get fit, and stay fit- forever!
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Alley Palais Snooker Club
Our first tournament was held recently and with cash prizes for the winner and runner up it was well received and the event provided the participants with the opportunity to meet new potential opponents. We attracted a small audience for the final and Alley Palais laid on a buffet after the match. Our next tournament is planned for May so if you can hold a cue, please come down and register for the event, its only € 5 to enter and you dont have to be a Camposol resident. The standard is typical local club so if you can hit a ball you are in with a chance, you are not going to meet any Judd Trumps. The facilities at Alley Palais are way above the average club that I was used to in the UK. The tables are cleaned and brushed daily and recovered every 6 months or so. Our objective as members is to make it more of a social group, encouraging people to play with different partners instead of always playing with your best mate. I have even seen a couple of ladies playing recently, not that I am suggesting we would get to play with them. Many people want to play snooker but don’t have friends who play, if this is the case come along to Alley Palais and we will soon pair you up with some willing participants. Hopefully if the tournaments take off we could have enough interested members to arrange visits to other clubs for friendly matches. If you like a game of snooker then pop in to Alley Palais for details, we will all look forward to meeting you.
Are you a partisan golf fan?
By John Brown Are you a partisan golf fan, or even a fickle partisan golf fan? When Newcastle United get stuffed by Fulham (losing 4 – 2 when they were 2 – 0 up at half time and cruising) I tell myself ‘this is why I don’t but a season ticket!’ I say this with considerable reliance on my excellent 20 – 20 hindsight vision! Like me, are you also a closet partisan European? When there is much debate about the Greek bailout fund and whether Portugal or Spain will follow suit, I
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don’t generally feel very European. I am not even sure whether I am a closet Scottish Nationalist? If Scotland gains independence, will Scotland be able to join the Euro? Do I care? I can’t vote anyway, so I think this may be another case for my incredible 20 – 20 hindsight vision. On the other hand, when it looked like Rory McIlroy or Lee Westwood was going to run away with the Masters Golf in 2012, then I became a partisan Brit. Paul Lawrie also looked like he would also join them at the top of the leader board, but I couldn’t get too excited about that (how many Scots Major winners do we need!) So, when Rory and Lee fell away after Round 3, I noticed that I had become a fickle partisan European fan. Peter Hanson from Sweden, was now ‘one of us.’ The Americans (Phil Mickelson, Jason Duffer, Blubbering Watson and Hunter Mayhem) on the other hand, were all ‘some of them.’ The crowd at Augusta was definitely partisan. They wanted ‘one of theirs’ to win – in particular Phil Mickelson or Bubba Watson. Those two players define the American psyche – wild, swashbuckling risk takers. Golfers descended from their Wild Western ancestors. They swing hard and don’t give a damn about water hazards and bunkers. At the end of Round 3 we had two Europeans near the top – Peter Hanson and Henrik Stenson from Sweden – two of ‘our boys.’ When I read novels by Stieg Larsson, Liza Marklund and Jo Nesbo, I don’t think they are writing for me? But if you put a golf club rather than a pen in their hands then they become ‘one of ours.’ When the tall, blue-eyed, fair-haired Swedes were being interviewed after the round speaking in perfect English – they were definitely ‘our boys.’ They will be Ryder Cup candidates for goodness sake, so they must be ‘our boys!’ I even think Louis Oosthuizen should be ‘one of us.’ He’s South African, so that’s sort of Dutch / British isn’t it? I was rooting for Loius. (Does anyone know the derivation of ‘rooting?’) I’ve also noticed that I’ve become a closet partisan for the BBC over SKY TV when it comes to golf coverage (let’s forget about the BBC football coverage). Both Sky and the BBC have HD coverage of the Masters this year. BBC2 HD is visually as good as Sky Sports HD. The commentators (Wayne Grady, Ken Brown, Andrew Cottar, and even old Peter Allis), have all been there and done
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it. On Sky TV, however, we had a row of armchair Muppets filling in the dead time – Butch Harmon, Colin [permanent grimace] Montgomerie, and Peter [I wish I was somewhere else] Oosterhuis – all contrived to kill off the excitement as they endlessly debated why Tiger Woods wasn’t up there with Big Phil. On the BBC, there were no adverts, and no nauseous American commentators crying ‘Great Shat,’ or ‘he has this for a doublealbatross!’ ‘If he wins this, he’ll be 5 and 8 for close-downs on play-offs!’ On the final round, there were only two of ‘them’ in the running. Phil Mickelson and Blubbering Watson. You may remember Blubbering Watson in tears after losing his match and storming off after the Ryder Cup? The Americans love Blubba. He hits the ball hard with an unorthodox swing. He’s from the same mould as JB Holmes, John Daly, and Phil Mickelson – all defying the notion that golf is skilful and needs patient practice for years on end to become a master. Blubba hasn’t even had a golf lesson in his life! He’s the Happy Gilmore of the US PGA golf circuit. ‘Just whack it’ would be his motto. Louis Oosthuizen on the other hand, is balanced, precise and rhythmical – the complete antithesis to Blubba. So, they both end up in a play-off. On the 2nd extra hole, Blubba carved his ball into deep forest. Then he hooked a short iron through the avenue of trees, made it turn immediately to the right in mid-air, landed it on the rock hard green and made it come to a dead-stop! It was the sort of shot Louis would only have nightmares about. Louis couldn’t get down in 2 from the edge of the green and Blubba had two putts for the Green Jacket. Later, during interviews, he put down his success to ‘crying lessons.’ He said that he used to be all pumped up and was ready to erupt in tears at the least bit of stress. Now he doesn’t break down in tears until after he has won! Lee Westwood was actually the best golfer tee-to-green during the Masters. He averaged 32 putts per round – which is almost an amateur’s level of putts. My first prediction after the Masters is that Lee will go away and hire a putting expert to help him out, and that he will return in a few weeks with a new putter and a new method that will take him to World Number 1. My second prediction after the Masters is that Blubba Watson will struggle at the US Open in San Francisco in June, and that he will have a nightmare in the high winds of the Open at Lytham in July.
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Lee Westwood, on the other hand will come through this year. He must, he’s ‘one of ours’ isn’t he?
It has been an extremely disappointing season to say the least. Mazarron are at the very bottom of the Preferente Autonomica with relegation now a certainty. The poor performances led to many of the senior players leaving the Club at various stages of the season. The greatest loss has been former captain Juan Andres who had been a pillar of strength in the centre of defence for a number of seasons. In addition, last year’s top goalscorer Ruben was never replaced and the leading scorer this season is the juvenile, Diego, with only six goals, and he too has now sadly departed for pastures new. A change in the management structure has brought in Dutch coach, Jelco Oosterhof, and although performances have improved considerably, results have not. With only six senior players to choose from, Jelco has had to call upon the services of many of the successful juvenile squad but the youngsters have often had to play two games in two days, and this obviously has an effect on performances. With a very promising youth set up at both Juvenile and Cadete level, it is hoped that the future will be much brighter as long as the majority of these youngsters can be retained. One important issue which has to be mentioned is the disgraceful state of the playing surface at the Estadio Municipal. It is an embarrassment not only to the Football Club but also to the town of Mazarron and it is hoped that serious efforts will be made to bring this up to an acceptable standard for next season. Despite all this, the support of Los Amigos de Mazarron FC for the local football club has never wavered and, as well as giving much needed vocal support, Los Amigos has donated considerable monies to the Football Club to help it through this difficult period. In addition, it recently staged a successful Awareness Week to promote interest in both its own activities and in Mazarron FC. As a result of this, a considerable number of new supporters
attended the home game against UCAM Guadalupe on 29th April. The UK Ambassador for Los Amigos de Mazarron, ex Sheffield United , Leeds and England International Tony Currie, has sent a message to everyone here thanking them for the hospitality showed to him and his wife Elizabeth during the six days they spent in Mazarron when they attended the 3rd Gala Evening and Dinner at the Hotel la Cumbre. Tony recently had a Suite named after him at Bramall Lane where he still works as Sheffield United’s Club Ambassador. Mazarron games are normally played on Sundays with varying kick off times. Home games are played at the Estadio Municipal, Avenida de Juan Carlos 1 in Mazarron. There is ample street parking and there is also a parking area opposite the main entrance to the stadium. Admission is just €5 and free for juveniles. 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 announced via the local media, our website www. losamigosdemazarron.es and on posters at various points throughout Camposol and Mazarron. Provisional fixtures for the remainder of this season are:Sunday 6th May FC Puente Tocinos (AWAY) Sunday 13th May UD Los Garres (HOME) Sunday 20th May Thader Murcia CF (HOME) Sunday 27th May Ceuti Atletico (AWAY) Los Amigos de Mazarron FC organise a supporters’ coach to all away games and the cost of a coach ticket is €7. Coach tickets can be purchased at our weekly meetings which are held at the Trevi Bar, Camposol every Thursday at 4 pm. If you are interested in football and would like to take part in Los Amigos de Mazarron FC activities, please join us for our weekly meetings, every Thursday at the Trevi Bar, Sector B Camposol at 4 pm. Membership of Los Amigos is just €10 and all funds raised are in support of Mazarron Football Club.
Remember when you call an advertiser tell them you saw their advert here
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Property, Financial and Legal Spain cuts budget by 27 billion euros
THE Spanish government has announced cuts totaling 27 billion euros in what is one of Europe’s fiercest ever budgets.
A pay freeze for civil servants and departmental budget cuts of 17 per cent are among a raft of measures announced by budget minister Cristobal Montoro on Friday. Spaniards will experience a seven per cent rise in electricity bills from April 1, and while VAT will not be raised, big business will be hit with increased corporation taxes. Many of the measures announced are aimed at closing loopholes exploited by corporate business, meaning many pay tax of just 8.5 per cent. They also include a 10 per cent ‘noquestions-asked’ tax on money that emerges from the black economy, which the government hopes will save six billion euros a year. There are no income tax rises because these were announced in December, accounting for another six billion euros of the savings. Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria acknowledged that the nation was in an ‘extreme situation’. “Our top priority is to clean up public accounts,” she said.
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The budget was approved at a cabinet meeting on Friday and is aimed at helping Spain meet a deficit target of 5.3 per cent this year.
DO YOU HAVE AN ENTITLEMENT TO A UK PERSONAL PENSION PLAN?
DID YOU EVER “CONTRACT OUT” OF THE UK STATE EARNINGS RELATED PENSION SCHEME?? Maybe you remember me talking about the proposed changes in legislation affecting QROPS transfers? The consultation period expired at the end of January and the new rules were expected well before now. In fact, they have only just been released, and these are the bones of them: Once you have completed the 5 year “out of the UK” requirement, and you are 55 or over, you can receive up to 30% as a lump sum from your pension fund along with more generous income than would otherwise be the case, if the pension had been converted into an annuity in the UK. QROPS transfers are reportable to HMRC for 10 years following the date of transfer – however, this doesn’t mean that once you have been out of the UK for 5 full tax years that you cannot enjoy the greater benefits of a QROPS. The effect of the right of HMRC of reporting is to prevent total encashment of the fund. So whether you have an existing pension entitlement, not already converted to an annuity, or whether you just contracted out of SERPS, it is well worth you looking into your options under a QROPS transfer. There are further advantages – because funds from a QROPS work well with the Spanish tax system – so you wont be getting it in the neck over here either! Many people don’t remember doing very much to contract out from SERPS – well you didn’t have to do very much! Just sign
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a form to say that you wanted to contract out and that was it. Then everything carried on as normal – the same deductions were taken from your wages – and because you had contracted out, that portion for the State Earnings Related Pension was invested in another location ie an insurance company, to wait until your eventual retirement date. Maybe you remember receiving a statement from the company concerned telling you how much was held in your fund? As I am the appointed Introducer of Expat Pensions in this area, all you need to do to make an initial enquiry, which is free of charge, is to come and see me with your paperwork and we can get the ball rolling. Contact me on my mobile 634 053 976 or send me an email to shirleyfisherlegalservices@gmail.com or leave a message for me at the Business Centre if Im not around - Tel. 968 103 008. I look forward to helping you enjoy your retirement! Shirley Ann Fisher UK Lawyer & Commissioner of Oaths Camposol Business Centre, Calle Madrid 19, Sector A (next to Mariano’s Restaurant
CLASS ACTION AGAINST MASA------PLUS VALIA TAX I have met today 29th March, with Dennis Beuthner of MMB Solicitors. We currently have 45 members who have registered an interest in a class action against Masa for the avoidance of paying the plus valia fee. All 45 will not all fall into the same category. One group will consist of residents whose escritura is available and they have not completed the transaction due to being unable to afford the plus valia. The second group will consist of those whose escritura should be available but it has been delayed by Masa´s inaction. The third group will consist of those whose escritura is not available due to problems with the plan parcial/rambla problem. Our first task is to contact those members to obtain that information although
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the third group are known to us by their poligono number and associated problems. Jackie Drewe will be contacting them in the near future. Initially all the solicitor needs is the name, sector, poligono, plot number and house type together with the category each member falls in. Group one he hopes could be settled by Masa out of court. He says they are unlikely to want to spend legal fees amounting to 30.000€ to settle a handful of claims possibly costing less. The other groups he will attempt to get Masa to settle but if they fail to agree court action will then be necessary. Interestingly, the law on being able to pass on plus valia charges to the buyer by a company or developer is now illegal although it wasn’t in the past. It is still legal to pass on plus valia charges in a private house sale. Once Dennis has all the information he will then be able to quote charges for each group. Until then no costs are incurred by our members. Early days yet but a positive step forward for those members concerned. If anyone else wants to register an interest please email info@cracamposol.com or pop into the cabin opposite B sector commercial centre on Mon/Wed/Fri between 11am and 1pm.
HOUSE FOR SALE Detached Villa with 4 beds and 3 baths on 2 s.c levels on Camposol A Sector
Accom. 1st Floor: Terrace with Conservatory, Lounge/Dining with Archway to Kitchen.
URGENT NOTICE REGARDING “FIN DE OBRA” REGISTRATIONS FOR CAMPOSOL. As many of you may know, we are currently holding documentation from Masa which enables us to complete the registration of the “Fin de Obra” (Final Building Certificate) at the Land registry.
2 Double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, Master Bathroom. Lower Floor: Open Plan Lounge/Dining/Kitchen
1v.large bedroom with dressing area leading to ensuite bathroom and further bedroom. Beautiful gardens with terrace, Jacuzzi and roof top solarium. Fantastic long and short term rental potential Walking distance to all amenities.
PRICE: €220,000 VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT: 968 986 414/ 646 963 921 or for more info e-mail l.cwhitfield@gmail.com
We have been informed that due to a change in the law, we will not be able to complete anymore of these registrations after the end of June 2012. We would recommend that anyone on Sectors B, C & D that have not already done this process, contact us to see if this registration can be completed. We have lists in our office of the documents that we hold so can give you an answer straight away. We are located on Sector A commercial centre on the ground floor, our opening hours are 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday or you can call us on 968 199 251, or email on costacalidaps@telefonica.net.
Property, Financial and Legal CAMPOSOL RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION NOTICE TO ALL RESIDENTS Citizen’s participation meeting. The next meeting will take place at the Cultural Centre, Camposol on 23rd May 2012 at 5pm.
phone on 968 131 717 by email to oficinacamposol@mazarron.es or you can call in to see her during office hours, 08.30 to 14.30. Please note that these meetings are for all residents and organised by the Town Hall for your benefit.
In attendance will be Councillor David Fernandez and Councillor Pepe Gomez. This is your opportunity to question the councillors on any subject you wish providing it is Camposol related. Please notify Tatiana at the council office in the Cultural Centre of your question in advance so the Councillors can prepare their answers for you. Tatiana can be contacted by
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www.thecamposoljournal.com
2012
KENNEDYFINANCIAL SERVICES
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A law soon to be passed in New Zealand could mean the end of the 100% tax free QROPS transfer. If you have been considering a pension transfer, now is the time to act.
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Remember when you call an advertiser tell them you saw their advert here
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Useful Numbers Bar, restaurants & cafes Alley Palais 968 97 88 69 Bar Trevi 669026544 Elliots 968 158 499 Sensol Golf Restaurante 603 135 387 Seventh Heaven 968 332 088 Bathrooms Beautiful Bathrooms 968 974 038 / 663 617 563 Beauty Care & Health Heather mobile 636 657 481 Freedom Mobility 968 153 620 Bowling Alley Alley Palais 968 978 869 Builders CM Constructions 659 159 948 Car Hire F&C Rental 968 199 156 Car mechanics & car sales Ken Sherwood mechanics 679 646 859 Camposol Business Centre Mediterrania, District Journal, Security, Dentist, Chiropodists, Another World Properties 968 103 008 Central Heathing & Plumbing The Boilerman 630 365 569 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 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 Tilmar Electrics 634 377 352 Funerals and funeral plans Tony Smith, the funeral director 650 631 719 Iberian Funeral Plans S.L, Phone 965 993 498 / 698 217 927 Fish & Chips Elliots Bolnuevo 968 158 499 Gary’s 625 298 990 Gardening Evergreen 679 582 410 Hairdressers Carols 968 974 989 Cut & Dried628 149 840 Home Furnishings Yorkshire Linen 968 595 946 or 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
Kennedy Financial Services, 951 219 576 - 678 935 992
Internet Cafes Alley Palais 968 97 88 69 Law services Shirley Ann Fisher 968 103 008 Metalwork Eriks 636 050 008 Mobility, aids & equipment Freedom & mobility 968 153 620 Painting & decorating Trevor Smith 968 163 298 Pool cleaning, maintenance & repair Tony, the pool diver, complete services 646 438 694 Kohn pool Services 968 138 638 Or 626 684 979 Printing & Design Insignia Graphics, 618 615 903 Mister print 638 893 357 SALES AND RENTAL AGENTS Mercers 968 199 188 from UK 08450 177 805 2let2buy2sell 968 979 876 from UK 00 44 1223 968 199 Sensol Golf Villa Rentals 968 970 614 or 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 Fiona Green 649 811 469 Pilar Garcia 630 21 99 82 Television Services Rainbow, 686 358 475 Window cleaning services AYS 619 877 303 Water, purification services The H20zone 619877303
In the event of a medical emergency call 112 and then phone F.A.S.T on 968 970 626 (Camposol Only)
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, Bernard Holland, our chairman - Tel 626 513 842, email spainvilarosa@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 www.fiestascamposol.es Dicky Davies 968 199 967 Age Concern Meets every Wednesday morning in the Cultural Centre everyone welcome Their chair is Anne Lambert 628 153 329 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 The Fiesta committee has announced that the fiesta will be held on the 16th & 17th June in 2012. If your committee would like your details here then please contact Rod Sawyer at rodsawyer41@hotmail.com
MABS EVENTS IN MAZARRÓN May 2012 Friday 25th May – JIGSAW BEREAVEMENT GROUP - Cats Bar Camposol Sector A – 2.00 pm The MABS Mazarron bereavement group meets on the last Friday of the month at Cats Bar, Camposol Sector A, Mazarron. Call 620 582 418 for further details. Saturday 26th May - MABS SPRING FAIR - Sensol Golf Club Camposol – 1.00 pm The MABS Spring fair with a variety of stalls including Cakes, Tombola, Ladies’ Fashions, Shoes, Bags, Jewellery, and many more. Call 620 582 418 for further details. Tuesday 29th May - VOLUNTEERS MEETING - Trevi Bar, Camposol Sector B 11.30 am If you would like to find out more about how you can help MABS come along to our meeting. For further information please ring Bev on 693 362 823 Every 2nd and 3rd Friday – BOOK SALE – Camposol Sector B Commercial Centre Event tickets are on sale outside Alley Palais every Friday Between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm Keep watching the press or visit our website www.mabsmurcia.com for more events For further details, please call 620 582 418
0!,3 %6%.43 1st May, 29th June, & 12th October, BBQ’s on the beach at Bolnuevo, 13 Euros! October 20th for a 7 night/8 day fully inclusive cruise to Malta, Sicily, Maples, Sardinia and Palma from 600 Euros per person including transport Tickets for all of these at The Trevi on a Saturday between 11 and 1.30 or in the Port at Saralaras on a Wednesday from 1 .30 till 3 or call 626 460465
Have a great time with PALS who DO IT 4 U,
May 2nd sees a talking shop free social, celebrating VE Day, at the Cultural Centre, Sector B Camposol 1.30PM until 3.30.PM
Saturday May 12th has the Spring Fayre, at Lagarto Verde on the Via Axial in Puerto Mazarron, 11.30 while 3.30PM, with the new Harlequin Community choir at 1PM, singing their hearts out for you.
This month just photos of doggies, each one a heart breaking story, could you help with just one of them? They will repay you with absolute love and trust. Dogs love to be loved and trusted! Thanks
Andrea.
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Wednesday 30th May has the Menu Del; Dia at the Sensol Golf Hotel, with veg soup or pate, mains steak and ale pie, sausage & mash with onion gravy and a two bean ghoulash for vegetarians, home made desserts to follow. Johnny Sparropw provides the entertainment and the cost as always, 10 Euros. June 22nd has the second Grand Auction. You pay 10 Euros for 3 articles and keep the proceeds! Must be registered beforehand and brought on the day. NB the Summer Fayre, Sat 12 May at El Lagarto Verde Interested stallholders phone 634 336 484.
Tickets can be obtained on Camposol from the office Monday and Wednesday mornings on C5 Calle Retama no.29 (968 970 687), outside the Salud bar Friday mornings. On a Thursday morning outside the Bar Peyma in Puerto Mazarron, all 11AM until 1PM
*The difference between in-laws and outlaws? Outlaws are wanted.* *Alcohol is a perfect solvent: It dissolves marriages, families and careers.* *A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.* *Archaeologist: someone whose career lies in ruins.* *A Historian is the best husband any woman can have: The older she gets, the more interested he is in her.* *There are two kinds of people who don’t say much: those who are quiet and those who talk a lot.* *They say that alcohol kills slowly. So what? Who’s in a hurry?* *My girlfriend asked me, “Do You believe in love at first sight”? I said, “At the first sight of what”?* *Alcohol and calculus don’t mix. Never drink and derive...* *One nice thing about egotists: They don’t talk about other people.* *There was a man who said, “I never knew what happiness was until I got married... and then it was too late* *Before marriage, a man yearns for the woman he loves. After marriage, the ‘Y’ becomes silent.*
Dressing For Both Homes Calpe Style What passes for style on the Costas Would not be right in the U.K. For in Spain the criterion’s comfort, Not keeping the weather at bay. In Blighty you carry a raincoat That’s wind proof and mud proof as well, Even on days when its sunny, For in Blighty, you never can tell. If you don’t like the weather in Blighty, Just wait fifteen minutes, they say, But, on the Costas in Summer, There’s bright sunshine day after day. So what passes for style on The Costas Is loose fitting, breezy and light, Which, if worn in the U.K in summer, Would get wet and just wouldn’t look right. So if you have a place on The Costas And a home in the U.K. you might Consider that two sets of clothing Will make sure you always look right. © Lynne Joyce 09.06.2011
Some very politically incorrect jokes
What should you give a woman who has everything? A man to show her how to work it. What is the difference between a battery and a woman? A battery has a positive side. Why do women have smaller feet than men? It’s one of those ‘evolutionary things’ that allows them to stand closer to the kitchen sink. How do you know when a woman is about to say something smart? When she starts a sentence with ‘A man once told me...’ Why do men die before their wives? They want to. Women will never be equal to men... until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut,and still think they are sexy. I married a Miss Right. I just didn’t know her first name was Always. I was reading in the paper today about this dwarf that got pick pocketed. How could anyone stoop so low? I had a mate who was suicidal. He was really depressed, so I pushed him in front of a steam train. He was chuffed to bits.
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689 589 356 968 659 046
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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. FIND US AT THE NEW MARINA AT THE PORT!!
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 20 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
Offer valid until the 31st October
Find us at the
CAMPOSOL BUSINESS CENTER
URB. CAMPOSOL-SECTOR A 968
103 008