The Canary News, Views & Sunshine Christmas 2013 by The Canary News, Views & Sunshine

December 2013

Zero-G Flight of The Canaries The Canary News can now confirm what seemed at first like a story straight out of science fiction. The face of tourism, as well as that of high-level technologies of global importance in Spain is about to change beyond anyone’s wildest imaginings.

they will rely on a worldwide network of internationally renowned partners and advisors, who all support S3 and trust their extraordinary vision. While Swiss Space Systems - S3 is a new company, they benefit from decades of research, design, testing and implementation with partners and advisors who will provide them with a know-how second-to-none and the best available technologies already developed and certified.

Swiss specialist aerospace company, S3, has officially inaugurated a daughter company, S3 Spain, and in the presence of the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism M. Jose Manuel Soria Lopez, along with representatives of the local and The new Spanish company, to be based in Gran Canaria, will play a key role in national authorities as well as international guests, are to present an audacious the engineering and development of sub-orbital flight systems, as well as in the plan to bring ‘low-cost’ commercial space flights to The Canary Islands by 2018 manufacturing of the upper‐stage payload delivery systems. The Canary Island S3’s objective is to develop, manufacture, certify and operate unmanned subregion will be the first European operations centre from which S3 will launch orbital “spaceplanes” for small satellite deployment. There are a range of satel- satellites starting in 2018. Before that however it is to become the very first lites and other payloads they will be able to launch, weighing up to 250 kg. European location from which S3 will operate Zero-G flights for tourists and for scientific research, as they move towards the development of low-cost delivery The start of the test flights is planned for 2017. In order to achieve this goal, systems to outer space.

T he C anary N ews . com El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria to provide supersonic intercontinental flights to paying customers. According to CEO Pascal Jaussi: “Far from wishing to launch into the space tourism market, we want rather to establish a new mode of air travel based on our satellite launch model, that will allow spaceports on different continents to be reached in an hour.” Swiss Space Systems (S3) is a company which plans to provide orbital launches The project includes several partners such as the European Space Agency, Dasof small satellites and manned sub-orbital spaceflights. The company is based sault Aviation and the Von Karman Institute. at Payerne in western Switzerland, where it plans to build a spaceport by 2015. Suborbital spaceplanes will be launched from an Airbus A300, giving the space- The choice of Gran Canaria as the first European centre of operations is a hugely important development for the islands, for Spain and for S3 along with craft more initial speed and altitude than if it were launched from the ground. its prestigious Spanish partners The spacecraft, in turn, will release a disposable third stage.

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Zero-G, GC Spaceplanes Oct-Nov 2013

“Spain represents a destination of choice for S3 to achieve its objectives, both in terms of engineering and operations” outlined Augusto Caramagno, the man who will head up the new high-tech Spanish enterprise “The main reasons [for the choice] lay in the maturity and track record of the Spanish aerospace sector, and the availability of airport infrastructure at various suitable locations for S3 operations”. The company aims to create 80 permanent jobs between now and S3 also hopes to develop a manned version of its suborbital spaceplane, in order 2017 to carry out the activities planned for S3‐Spain and its partners. The company aims to charge 10 million Swiss Francs (US$10.5 million) for each launch, using unmanned sub-orbital spaceplanes that could carry satellites weighing up to 250 kilos (550 pounds). The costs are reduced by the reusable nature of the spaceplane and other launch facilities and by a lower fuel-consumption than on conventional launch systems.

Gran Canaria will serve as European operations centre for S3 With its headquarters in Payerne (Switzerland), S3 will conduct the main Research & Development from it’s planned “Space Port” to be built in 2015. Manufacturing of the elements and subsystems of the SOAR (reusable spaceplane) and upper-stages will be carried out by partners abroad, in Spain among other countries. The assembly, integration and initial tests of the shuttle will be conducted in Payerne. The Canary Islands region represents a perfect location to have test facilities for subsystems, mock-‐up, engines and complete system flight tests by 2017. A Spaceport would be built for the integration of satellites with the SFS and the first commercial launches as early as in 2018. This infrastructure could also offer sub‐orbital manned flights in a later phase. Before these launches, Gran Canaria will also be a key area for S3, as it will be the first European location for Zero‐G flights to be operated for research and leisure purposes. S3’s decision for the Canary Islands was motivated by the high level of support received from the “Sociedad de Promoción de Gran Canaria (SPEGC)”.

N ews ,

& S unshine

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The Canary News can not accept any responsibility for claims made by advertisers, either in advertisements or advertorial, nor can it be held responsible for any inaccuracies, errors, or the nonappearance of advertisements or advertorial. This publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors as a result of poor quality artwork or logos supplied by advertisers and no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy or nonappearance of an advertisement or advertorial. Every effort will be made to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of articles and advertisements in this publication, however the publisher does not accept responsibility for claims or opinions in the same. Reproduction of any part of this newspaper is permitted under Creative Commons 3.0 rules of Attribution, unless otherwise stated. Edita: JDC Canarias SL, Imprime: Canarias7, C/Mimosas, s/n-Parcela 131-1ª Fase-Manzana V 35119 Pol. Ind. Arinaga, Villa de Agüimes, Gran Canaria, España. Deposito Legal GC-1291-2013

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Europe’s First 7 star hotel...Pop Stars in El Pajar & Arguineguín Football? What if we told you that the sleepy southern tourist resort town, and not-so-long-ago simple fishing village, of Arguineguín was now at the heart of an investment plan headed up by international stars from the worlds of football and entertainment? What if we were able to confirm that, now a land deal has been done, the project, expected to cost almost 1 billion euros, is entering its final and detailed planning stages, aiming to open the single most prestigious facility of its type in the world? You might say we were mad, doubt our sources and perhaps even ask us if we have actually been to the little Tuesday-market-town recently to see for ourselves. ”I´ll believe it when I see it” you might say… Well, an exclusive and unique new resort development on Gran Canaria is currently in the planning stages according to Norwegian newspaper Finansavisen. Dubbed ”Kokoon” the Norwegian investment group behind it are aiming for it to become Europe’s first seven-star luxury and wellness centre.

oasis for high-class clientele requiring recuperation within the confines of a highly secure facility. Fronted by musicians and footballers According to Finansavisen the concept founders have already put up a huge amount for the project, with an estimated 800 million euros being suggested as the potential overall price tag.

Pop legend Morten Harket Photo: Jarle Vines Creative Commons Attribution Sharealike 3.0

The project is fronted by singer Morten Harket, best known as the Ernst Pedersen, CEO of the investment singer for Norwegian supergroup group, has stated “Currently, we are in A-ha, whose 1984 hit “Take On me” rocketed them on to the international the development stage and working music scene, and is said to be the with investors to establish funding.” vice president, presumably providing Kokoon is a Performance & Health a fairly high level connection to the facility Centre of a different kind, an world of entertainment. Accompany-

ing him are two former Norwegian football players Raymond Kvisvik and Dagfinn Enerly, who have been respectively labelled football manager and mental specialist and they are joined by world renowned British footballing manager, Ron Atkinson, who is acting as a sports consultant to the project and giving it his fullest commitment and endorsement, saying in a recent interview discussing his involvement with Kokoon “on the football side over the years I have taken teams all over the world to various training camps but I believe the concept of “Kokoon” will be far in advance of anything I’ve ever experienced in Germany, Italy or Holland…“

Oct-Nov 2013

fitness facilities are being aimed at professional top level players.

Big Ron

The various five ‘zones’ will separate the facilities in to secure and manageable areas. The first is to be located directly on the sea front, where they plan to build a private beach lagoon So what’s it all about? and a conference venue, boasting Well though details are sketchy right probably the most magnificent views now it appears there are to be five out to sea and to sunsets over Mount zones, split in to two areas, one freely Teide, on neighbouring Tenerife, as can open to the public and “The other, and be found anywhere on Gran Canaria. by far the larger, will be a completely Zone two will include a private hospisecluded world that will meet the requirements of our top performers in tal, a world class top level sports club and various games areas. Zone three sports, business, entertainment and will consist of a luxury hotel, spa and other walks of life.” parking. In zone four tennis, athletics, It will include a six-star hotel, 80 luxury spa and a clubhouse.And therefore we villas, numerous restaurants and cafés, guess the luxury villas and restaurants a private hospital, casino, cinema, spa will more than likely occupy zone five. and with the involvement of Big Ron A 20,000 seater Music Stadium... and Kvisvik lined up to be “football Read More on Kokoon at TheCanaryNews.com... manager” we can conclude that the

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El Corte Inglés plans to build in Maspalomas El Corte Inglés is coming to the Maspalomas Faro 2 shopping centre. The Department store is planning 25,000 square metres for the project, expected to be presented around the end of this month, fourteen years since the group first voiced a desire to come to the South of Gran Canaria.

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We´re Honoured

that the companies have to file with the City’s construction and renovation projects planning department.

Although El Corte Inglés has for many years prioritised the setting up of an establishment in the tourist area of SBT, simply due to the huge influx of The establishment of the new facilforeigners visiting the area, the fact ity is planned to cover 25,000 square that the General Management Plan This month the El Corte Inglés group are expected to announce their design meters, and will involve an investment for the municipality was not updated of 40 million euros. Among the ideas since 1996 had remained as an obplans for a new department store to so far put forward by the architects stacle to the initiative, and so it was be opened right in the heart of Masdecided to make provision for this new palomas, at the Campo Internacional, is that the new establishment will be connected to the Faro 2 shopping department store to be developed which is expected to significantly reverse the fortunes of the long-desolate centre, which is also to be completely through the Modernization Plan while renovated. The challenge will be to securing a significant investment to Faro II shopping centre. The chain, help improve the commercial supply which in the year 2000 first announced ensure that both buildings, new and old, are integrated as a single shopwithin this municipality, which has their desire to set up in the south of been recognised to be lagging behind Gran Canaria, is reported to be nearing ping area so that tourists and other shoppers can easily move from one in terms of general infrastructure. finalisation of the building plan that building to the other. Both projects Simply put, what was once set up will be placed on a plot adjacent to the existing Faro 2 Commercial Centre, have already been included in the San solely for visiting foreign tourists has Bartolomé de Tirajana (SBT) Plan for not been able to sufficiently keep pace owned by the Lopesan group. Tourist Area Modernization, now well with the rapid urban growth in longFaro Dos Shopping Centre in the under way, so both Lopesan and El term residential development and middle of the Campo de Internacional, Corte Inglés are under significant pres- population. Maspalomas sure to meet set deadlines, as January The current economic stability and 4th will mark one year since this docuFaro Dos Shopping Centre in the ongoing growth in tourism occupation middle of the Campo de Internacional, ment entered into force, and therefore in the south... (TheCanaryNews.com) is reportedly the absolute deadline Maspalomas

We are humbled to have been honoured in this way by GLAY, one of the most important organisations on this island not just for annually coordinating PRIDE, the largest event of its kind in The Canary Islands, or their equality and community work but as a real working example of what can be achieved by the foreign resident community on Gran Canaria as a whole.

The strange creatures found inside, living in complete dark- Montaña Aslobas is ness, have never before been recorded in modern science. known by some hikers and locals as the A group of mountaineers and biologists, near the village “Mountain of The of La Aldea San Nicholas, within Gran Canaria’s Biosphere She-Wolf”, due to a Reserve, has discovered one of the oldest volcanic tubes in linguistic coincidence the world, formed 14 million years ago, in which two spein Spanish, though cies of hitherto unknown insects have proliferated. it is actually thought The findings, published on Thursday November 21st by the to have been origiCabildo of Gran Canaria, is a revelation in regard to the age nally named by the of the volcanic formations which it now seems are much pre-hispanic native older than the Llano Cave in Fuerteventura, which at a mil- residents of the lion years was attributed as being the oldest in Spain. island.

There are so many great foreign media outlets on the island and in the south, and they each fulfil a highly important niche role within the various communities, distributing information, giving insight and supporting local business, we are very proud to count ourselves among them and to be recognised in this way.

One of the oldest volcanic tubes in the world discovered on Gran Canaria

The ancient lava tube is located in Aslobas mountain – a basaltic near-perfect pyramid that rises nearly 1000m up between the ravines of Tasarte and Tasartico on the west coast of the island. The cave, just 47 meters long, was found to be inhabited by two hitherto unrecorded species of insects fully adapted to living almost without nutrients and in complete darkness.

Working with natives and foreigners alike through mutual cooperation and proper communication with local and regional government, they give a voice to businesses and individuals who have chosen this as their home and wish to contribute to the future success and quality of life for all who live and work here in The Canaries. Our future success resides simply in our ability to work together and GLAY as an association of merit, show that by working with a united front great things can be achieved.

Thank you everyone who voted for us, and in particular to the members of GLAY for this great award. A real honIn an environment our. Thank you, we will work harder with 94% relative humidity and at 24ºC, two new species to serve you and moving forward try of invertebrates, a small, completely blind, cockroach (Symploce sp.n) and a depigmented cochineal, were found to offer you ever more opportunity to have adapted to survive, without light, on just the sparse and an ever better News, Views & Sunshine. nutrients carried by water seepage within the cave. Edward Timon - Editor

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Operation Kilo Oct-Nov 2013

Asociación Vecinos Las Lomas de Arguineguín Operation Kilo in Action in Puerto Rico, gathering donated food for families most in need as Christmas approaches. Though their work continues throughout the year, on a weekly basis, this is one of the most important seasons. Well done everyone involved! Great Work! Give them a call or send them a message if you would like to help those who need it most this Christmas, of in deed for the new year why not commit to help more regularly?

675 831 822

Please contact us here: Facebook.com/ProyectoVecinalDeAlimentosDeMogan If you would like to help out, you can also write to us here on:

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The Canary Citizens advice bureau Those who use social networking site Facebook may have noticed in recent years how it has changed significantly the way that people communicate with each other. Not simply across long distances, but also on a very local level. Not only does it very clearly show up who the antisocial so-and-so’s in the community are, who just cannot help themselves but air their dirty laundry, display bigotry, be abusive or spread malicious gossip, but it also has the wonderful power to show us whose advice we might be able trust when it comes to working out life’s little issues, simply by being a record of how we publicly interact with those who request a little help from the people to whom they are connected. Facebook now plays a pivotal role, previously only provided through local newspapers, community groups and other forms of members club, where asking for a little local knowledge or someones personal experience of dealing with bureaucracies, regulations or our responsibilities under the law, and to your local town hall, were the only readily accesible way to ensure that we understood how the world worked around us. Not to mentioned the huge array of “buy and sell” FB pages providing a window to the vibrant and virulent second-hand market, replacing much of what the humble classified does for those who still prefer to advertise in the more static and traditional print media. Living in a foreign country brings with it a whole new set of issues when it comes to trying to ensure that you understand your rights and what is expected of you; not least of all cultural attitudes and the language barrier can feel somewhat insurmountable, no matter how many of those municipal classes you take or Language

Exchange Groups you attend to try and brush-up on your understanding, sometimes even the simplest of tasks can make you feel like you are from another planet. Add to that have-a-go-heros, often down the pub, who may have a rather militant approach to dealing with a host country’s authority figures or even a less than flattering view of the native resident population, whose guest, let’s face it, you really are; or even the halfbaked advice from those who “got away with it once” back in the mid 80s, choose to ignore the rules and bid you do the same; and the whole situation becomes a minefield that can lead not only to frustration and misunderstanding, but can even end in considerable and unnecessary expense. Well one group on Facebook, that has been growing in earnest since earlier this year is set to change all that for the better. It is modelled on that well known British institution, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, the free volunteer run service, that far pre-dates Google, where anyone who had a question about their life, or wanted to better understand the regulations in the town that they lived, was able to drop in on a Tuesday morning (or whenever it was open) for a cup of tea and a chat with a helper who would actively assist you to find the answers you needed or the people you needed to speak to, so as to clear up any muddle and set you on the right road. Myra Azzopardi Swainson, founder of the Costa Advice Bureau, is no stranger to communicating the nuances of living as a foreign resident in Spain, and can help you. Having travelled widely throughout her life and lived ‘abroad’ for many years she has had involvement in four Spanish municipal elections simply, she says, to represent the non-Spanish commu-

nity in her area. “I basically worked as a trouble shooter for the expats” she adds modestly. She was part of a group who originally put forward reasons for the need of an office for the expat community. Which led, two years later to the party she had campaigned with, setting up an office in Estepona, not far from Marbella and the infamous border crossing to the rock of Gibraltar, for just that purpose. She was also asked to stand in the 2011 elections as a Councillor. “I declined.” she says succinctly. In 2006 during a serious illness she set up Costa Advice Bureau. But she says that she found more than a third of her clients either could not afford even her most reasonable fees and simply needed just accurate advice and information. This prompted her to set up a Facebook group simply entitled “Citizens Advice Bureau Spain” around May of this year and she says she “really got busy” in late August. Now with more than 3,000 members and growing daily, Myra has set about documenting basic sets of instructions that have not only been of help to British expats, but in fact all kinds of foreign residents and indeed even native Spaniards have found the depth of understanding with which she and her team tackle each issue has led them too to benefit from the clear explanations of every citizens rights under both Spanish and European legislation which sometimes even the town hall officials and the police do not sufficiently understand. CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU CANARY ISLANDS aims to deal with some of the issues more specific to liv-

Oct-Nov 2013

ing here, while helping to group members by locality. Join them. Recently Myra posted “I absolutely love my part within the group... My mother always said that I was argumentative and rebellious. For a reason that must have been. “ “Besides giving accurate information, we amongst other feats, have managed to ascertain that a certain bureaucratic office took the time to listen to us about the correct interpretation of Spanish laws and rules. This gave many expat pensioners the right to renew their health cards which, until we intervened, was being denied to them.” Bravo! The aim of her group is to provide independent advice, information and support for all interested expatriates and Spaniards alike. Such a support group is imperative especially for the hundreds of thousands of non Spanish residents who often struggle to understand the existing and ever changing laws and rules. They are an apolitical group but intend to become a strong enough force to be able to lobby for the rights of citizens under the law. “We are aware that we also need a functional and serious consumer protection agency.” They provide a free service and are now setting up a non profit organisation. We have offered them our full support and hope to be able to bring you benefit from their amazing work in the future.

FB .com/groups/CitizensAdviceBureauCanaryIslands

Find us in the centre pages maps Check just some of our Sample deals on pages 33 & 34 and get saving TOADY!

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The holiday season is here

In Gran Canaria this means an influx of tourists wanting to spend Christmas and New year in the sun. Having a fun stay with sunshine, going out for a nice dinner and such. For us who live here as expats it usually means receiving friends and family or just spending a few days enjoying the weather, instead of snow or rain and cold in our home countries. But, due to the current crisis a lot of people and families on this island will not enjoy this holiday season. Expats and locals have been hit hard by the crisis. People have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. Canarians and expats alike. If you can afford it then why not give something back to the people of this beautiful Island during this holiday season (and perhaps even beyond). Give something to the charities that have been supporting those in need. Every Euro helps, so if you can afford to, we urge you to spend 10€,20€,30€,100€ that could offer great relief for those organisations that are helping people who really need it. Not just through this holiday season, but also after that. Thank you Adrian Heeffer

We understand that designer cake maker’s Tartisima are helping to coordinate a collection for organisations like Caipsho, who provide basic necessities for low income and homeless individuals, along with community stalwart Kim Walters from Kim’s Bar in Playa del Inglés where you can get more information. You can find out more by contacting them directly through Facebook (FB .com/tartisima) or giving them a call on 682 52 91 80 or at Kim´s Bar in Playa del Inglés

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Oct-Nov 2013

The Invisible Guest Project

As Christmas approaches, taking us by surprise as it does every year, we become focused on material values, buying gifts for people we hardly know or like as well as for our loved ones, and stocking the fridge with enough seasonal food and drink to last until Easter. In other words, more than we need of everything.

and shampoo are always needed, cheap and cheerful being the preferred brand, or a gift of socks and underwear (large and XL). Caipsho is open every morning from early to 2pm.

The homeless centre in San Fernando (Caipsho), in the basement of the Catholic Church, need food for breakfast and lunches and extra clothing, blankets etc for those who are sleeping rough. Laundry powder, disposable razors and soap

I know a lot of us are struggling, but remember, every little helps for those who have nothing. Do you have room in your heart and your Christmas budget for an invisible guest?

Caritas at your local Catholic Church or your local neighbourhood food project will also be grateful for non-perishable food and clean and serviceable secBut what about all those people ond-hand clothing. Children’s shoes are particularly useful, who do not have much to celkids grow so quickly and shoes ebrate, or rather, not much to are expencelebrate sive. with? Please So instead spare a of worrying thought about what for the to buy for homeless, Can you spare an extra gift this Great-Aunt the unChristmas for an “invisible guest”? Matilda this employed, year, pick the single The Invisible Guest Project invites you to up a couparents livhelp a homeless or impoverished adult or child ple of the ing in povthis Christmas by providing a small gift. A jar everyday erty with of coffee, a pair of socks, a child's toy - for someone, somewhere this would be a things we nothing wonderful gift. take for extra to granted offer their So pop one extra thing into your shopping this when you children week, and drop your present here to help do your at Christmake someone’s Christmas next shop; mastime. EXTRASPECIAL a packet Could you of biscuits, spare a some little for coffee, some extra a pair of food items socks. For or a toy? someone, The Invisible Guest Project invites you to somewhere, this would be a sponsor a needy adult or child wonderful Christmas present. at Christmas. This could be in And be sure to include the kids the form of a food donation, a in this, let them compare their small gift package of basic toi- Christmas wish list with that of letries etc. or a gift for a child. Mr. Homeless.

- Hazel Holager

Volunteers Network Gran Canaria works in conjunction with existing charities and helporganisations, our main objective being to spread awareness, information and contacts. You can contact us on Community@TheCanaryNews.com for more information or find us on Facebook.

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Oct-Nov 2013

5 Men went to MO: Team GC Playa raise thousands for Movember

The manly men of Playa del Inglés funds through the month of Movemhave done it once again raising enough ber to not only call themselves Lords

Images above courtesy of Mario Freespirit Photography

All in all this year´s Movember.com fundraising , for the fight against prostate and testicular cancer raised well over 7300€ between the two teams that made up The Canary Network which was the No1 team network in Spain with participants from Kim´s Bar in Playa del Inglés and Tiffany´s bar in Puerto Rico. An astounding figure to come out of the awareness raising of just a couple of little venues and some DJs with good intentions. Gran Canaria has a lot to be proud of with both teams coming in the top 10 in all of Spain and we hope to see many more joining them next year to help change the face of Men´s Health.

of the MO in The Canary Islands but in their number the have the man crowned top MO grower in all

of Spain, one Mr Shuggie Goldie. He modestly claiming that the victory was that of the whole team Giles Gibson, Mark Gray, Dave Stuart & Colin O´Neill. Well done gentlemen.

Oct-Nov 2013

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El Peri贸dico Ingl茅s de Gran Canaria

Ever wondered where is a good place to eat in Gran Canaria? What the food tastes like at the local hot spots, ice cream bars, and beach front cafes? Here you will find honest and independent reviews of the various places to eat around the island.... by Clive Williams

Fork Rating:

WOW!

Will return & recommend

Could do better!

Never again!

Balcon Canario is a gem in the very old and tired looking crown that is the

Commercial Centre in Puerto Rico, and in my opinion as a long-time resident, it is one of the few reasons I would ever want to venture into this well-known resort. If you are searching for affordable, traditional Canarian cuisine, then this is the place to go. Tucked away on the ground floor, on the outer edge of the centre, you could easily miss them. They offer many different dishes, all of which are served fresh, and will ensure that you want to return.

I took friends here for lunch the other day, and was delighted with their pimentos de padron, a dish of fried green peppers with rock salt, which is one of my favourites. These were cooked perfectly, and are just one of the many tapas dishes to enjoy. My friend wanted lasagne which may not sound very traditional; however, the lasagne in this restaurant is incredible. Full of flavour, rich and as my guest stated the best he had ever tasted. The waiters are old-school, polite, helpful and are genuinely interested in what you want to order. I am always made to feel welcome, whenever I go here, regardless of the time of day. The only downside to visiting this restaurant for me is the location; parking is a nightmare in Puerto Rico regardless of when you visit. The view from the restaurant is also not pleasant, but if you concentrate on the food and the atmosphere, you will have a very enjoyable meal.

Food:

Service:

Atmosphere:

Price:

Other:

Nightmare to park, not a great view, but everything else makes up for these elements

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Oct-Nov 2013

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2014

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Full page ads for 350€ per edition The Canary News, Views & Sunshine has well over 200 established & targeted distribution points in supermarkets, bars, cafes, hotels and tourist information points up and down the island giving us the widest free distribution of any publication on Gran Canaria. With 75% of the distribution is focused on the south of the island we are read by more English speaking tourists and residents than any other publication here, reaching well over 20,000 readers every month from Puerto de Mogán to Puerto Rico, Arguineguín, Maspalomas, Playa del Inglés and all the way up to Las Palmas. More than 1/4 million impressions a year! If you want to reach English speakers, of every nationality, across Gran Canaria and through the internet in their thousands and tens of thousands, our unique publication, is the very best option and this is our very best ever New Year offer! Simply put: More copies, more readers, more opportunities and better business(Full Stop).

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Quite a Promising end to the year Hard to believe we are now in full swing for the Festive season and its been a merry 12 months for the pound against both the US Dollar and the Euro. In fact during this time we have seen the pound against the dollar vary by as much as 16 cents and against the Euro by around 10 cents as and I write the good old pound is still in favour. By the time you read this we will also know if The ECB decided to cut interest rates again however I do not expect we will have the same thoughts from The Bank of England. The ECB will none-the-less be happy to hear that inflation across the zone rose by .2% in November. Other encouraging news came with the latest manufacturing data which showed as a collective manufacturing output was at its highest for more than two years and hit a market indicator of 51.6, as with all data there are always two sides and whilst Italy did see an improvement both France and unfortunately here in Spain manufacturing shrank, worryingly for France as it was the 21st successive month and is on the verge of dipping back into recessionary waters. With unemployment still top of the list of priorities across the zone it was interesting to note that the unemployment rate did fall to 12.1% down fractionally from the previous month at 12.2%. Greece, Netherlands and Spain once again the problem areas and with youth unemployment a major issue. It rose to a staggering 24.4% across the zone for those 25 years of age and younger. Credit reference agencies were also hard at work across the zone and hit the Netherlands by stripping them of their prized triple-A rating so the Eurozone now only has three triple-A countries, those being Germany, Finland and Luxemburg. The last month in the UK saw a focus on the housing market as house prices rose at their fastest pace all year so with the worry that a new housing bubble could be created The Bank of England pulled the plug on The Funding for Lending scheme as net lending rose to £5.8 billion in the third quarter. Banks have now taken a total of around £23 billion however they have not been putting the money back into the market to help SME’s and this is a new focus now for The Bank of England. UK manufacturing saw its orders increase to a new high as latest data showed a headline number of 58.4 in November, a breakdown showed new orders jumping upwards and stood at a 20 year high so there is a strong hope that quarter 4 will also be a good one. It also seems that companies are creating around 5000 jobs per month albeit with inflation it appears British workers are around £5000 worse off than they were 5 years ago. I am sure this will be a focus for both parties in the UK during 2014. By now you will have also heard the Chancellors Autumn statement which has been boosted by the fact that the UK government did borrow £5billion less than previously thought and is around £6 billion lower than the same period last year although unusually the service sector did not perform at its best level, in fact showed the slowest growth since August. The Bank of England has also been questioned over its forward strategy linking interest rates to the number of unemployed and has stated that the 7% level is not the only indicator when reviewing rates. The USA followed the crowd with decent manufacturing data as it rose from around 54.8 in October to 57.3 in November and was better than expected. Additionally the US managed to reduce the number of people out of work and is expected to show further improvements in December so as we exit 2013 there are some very positive indicators that manufacturing across the globe will continue to improve. Rates during the period

3 November to 3 December High

Low

£ to $

1.643

1.586

£ to Euro

1.211

1.179

Euro to $

1.362

1.332

Additional message for contact ring 952 587 657 and Moneycorp wishes all readers A Merry Christmas and A Happy and Prosperous New Year If you want to find out more and make your money transfers go further please contact our preferred currency specialist Moneycorp on 952 587 657 and mention The Canary News, Views & Sunshine

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Gran Canaria

Island life teaches you many things. For instance you find out quickly who you can really depend on for good advice. Most toursits are left to trust their holiday reps, who themselves might only stay here for one season, but when it comes to getting real insights on where to go and what there is to see, or which are the best businesses in a town, or the happy little secrets that only the islanders know, you have to find a local who cares enough to recommend from experience the places that are really worth a visit. Make friends with a local today.

Going Local in Gran Canaria Journalist/writer and former deputy editor of the Official Chelsea Magazine, Matthew Hirtes, has covered the Canary Islands and beyond for the likes of The Independent and Spain-Holiday.com. After co-authoring JPM Guides “This Way Gran Canaria”, he penned “Going Local in Gran Canaria: How to Turn a Holiday Destination into a Home” as a retort to those who lazily consider the island as the preserve of the bucketand-spade brigade.

A unique guide, available on Amazon and in selected bookstores or directly from GranCanariaLocal.com

¿Qué Pasó? As you’ll discover, as you follow his and his co-writers´ adventures through Gran Canaria Local, the above question means What’s Up? Whether your stay on Gran Canaria be short- or long-term, Gran Canaria Local aims to make it enjoyable and to give you the type of insight you can only get from someone who knows the place well. They invite you to get in touch through the accompanying website GranCanariaLocal.com as they love to hear from visitors and readers what they think about the places they visit. “Yeah, we’re touchy-feely like that” says Matthew. You can buy the book itself online at Amazon or at the Cabildo bookshops and Tourist centres, Canary Books, and Idiomatika in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Or indeed if you´d like your very own signed copy, just give us a call on

TOWN AND COUNTRY GUIDE “How can you leave weather like this?” Friends disapprove of our plans for an English holiday. It was the first sunny day we’d had in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in a month. They weren’t joking. NORTH GRAN CANARIA There’s a definite north-south divide on the island. Grey, miserable days occur in the north where in the south they’re the exception that proves the southern results rule when it comes to weather. Perhaps this explains how the south cornered the tourism market. Initially, travellers flocked to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with Agatha Christie an early visitor. Capital-based photographer and journalist Alex Bramwell’s convinced the capital can reclaim tourists if it works on its brand image: “Las Palmas deserves to be known as the Habana of Europe and should be promoted as a city break destination in its own right.” Yet Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s but one of seven northern boroughs. There are the coastal municipalities aka the north coast of Arucas, Galdar and Santa María de Guía. These areas gear themselves more towards agriculture although they’re developing more than a passing interest in tourism. Arucas lies closest to the island’s first city. Prior to the 1980s the cash crop was the banana. However, plantations have tailed off since then due to a combination of factors which include increased labour costs and water shortage. The platano has survived in Gáldar however with 90% of bananas now grown in the region along with the municipality’s distinctive red onions. Meanwhile, Santa María de Guía relies heavily on horticulture. San Juan hosts the most lettuce crops in the area whilst Santa Cristina is rather more noted for its carrots and potatoes.

Further inland, you’ll find Firgas, Moya and Teror. The first two are staking a claim to the growing eco-tourist market with their surfeit of hiking and mountain-biking routes. Teror meanwhile remains the most important destination for religious visitors, a sort of Mecca 928 987 952 or write to GranCanariaLocal@TheCanarynews.com and Jerusalem rolled into one.

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El Peri贸dico Ingl茅s de Gran Canaria AB Card Subsidised with a 20% discount by the Gran Canaria Cabildo. Roundtrip Card Discount: Variable Applies to: Set routes and special Global Plus Discount events. Timetables: As established ID Card for the occasion or event. Wknd Beach Roundtrips south From LP & Telde Requirements:

Download Timetables For Any of These Bus Routes

AT THE GEXCO Cabildo Pass This pass entitles OFFICE (San Telmo you to travel on the GLOBAL section Bus Station) Fill in the of your choice for one calendar month with a discount of 30%, 40% application form and have your photo taken or 50% depending on how many on the spot. kilometres the journey is.

Gran Canaria Airport Buses

The local bus service in Gran Canaria, known local as the GuaGua, is quick and efficient, with accurate timetables on every bus stop along each of the many routes across the island. More information in several languages inc Englsih, German and Spanish can be found by checking their website on

www.GlobalSU.es

where there is a routefinder facility and from which you can download timetables for every route on the island. Global also offer various walking routes and free guides for day trips you can take using their buses to get you various picturesque places on the island. All-in-all an inexpensive and fun way to see Gran Canaria off-the-beaten-track and away from the more usual tourist excursions. If you have a smart phone you can use any of the QR codes on this page to find out more information:

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Puerto de Mogán

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

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The Business Guide

Gran Canaria Business Week

Many people in Northern Europe want to escape to the sun during the darker winter months. Hundreds of thousands of people come to Gran Canaria for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Jan 2nd-4th & 7th They stay for a week or two but 2014 must then head right back to work A Conference for Professionals after the holidays. The 1st week of every year. Gran Canaria Business Week aim to give people the opportunity to Dealing with key aspects of come to the sun and then to stay internet marketing, innovation for a little longer. They have set up in sales, digital lifestyle and a meaningful program of business lifestyle-business, networking, related events that together motivation, inspiration, books, become a meaningful, productive music and much, much more conference work week. including this year a unique look at how the discovery of oil in the The innovation behind GCBW waters around The Canary Islands is to try and make it possible could significantly impact the local for entrepreneurs, business professionals, experts and economy. students of every discipline to The second annual conference in travel with their family, and once Gran Canaria for English speaking the holiday celebrations are over, business people working in both to give their spouse or partner and local and international industries children an extended stay at one will be presented from Playa del of Gran Canaria´s extraordinary Inglés the fist week of January. world-class hotels, while taking in some business meetings and

www.sydeneiendom.com Phone: +34 928 185 340 Email: info@sydeneiendom.com

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personal development that will have real world benefits and a positive impact on how you do business. This first week of the year is ideal for this as most schools do not have a problem with children being away for few days in this week so long as they are back to school early the following week. The same is true of most employers. This the very first week of the year, and so extraordinarily “future-focused” allowing attendees to come to Gran Canaria for an awesome holiday and then to stay-on through the first week for pleasure AND for some serious business! GCBW´s goal is to make the unique and eclectic range of professional content of the conference so good that those who attend can and do consider it an actual work time (not just a holiday) and therefore be actively encouraged to stay on for the conference by their employers

T he C anary N ews . com 13.30 - 14.30 - Lunch, outside and inside. Lunch is not included.

as highly beneficial and focused working time. Business owners should even be able to deduct the cost as a business expense!

PROGRAM

TENTATIVE - Subject to changes Gran Canaria Business Week 2014 January 2nd-4th & 7th 2014 The Internet Focused Business Gathering for Free Thinking Businesspeople. Maspalomas: January 2nd - 4th 2014 Las Palmas: January 7th 2014 Food and drinks are not included.

10:00 - 11:00 - “Site specific search engines” 12:00 - 13:00 - “Eight crucial insights for running a local business in Gran Canaria” - Edward Timon, Editor in Chief of English Language Newspaper, The Canary News, Views & Sunshine 14.00 - 15.00 - “Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies”

Costa Meloneras, Maspalomas 10.00-10.45 - Registration and coffee

SATURDAY January 4. 20114

10.45 - 11.00 - Welcome remarks Hans 10:00 - 16:00 - “The Google Jørgen Lysglimt Johansen Ecosystem” Presentation of photographers - Todd Michael Heater 11.00 - 12.30 - “Selling skills for perfectionists” - Peter Carruthers 12.30 - 13.30 - “Podcasting - all you need to get started and grow your audience” - Jonathan Baillie Strong

Workshops on: AdWords, Analytics, SEO, AdSense, YouTube, Sitespeed

Kissing in The Canaries Twitters from the Atlantic Thoughts & feelings about life in the Canary Islands

I am often asked why I love the Canary Islands, and Gran Canaria, in particular, so much and what prompted me to make this small Atlantic island our home. Well, I could move into lyrical mode about the wonderful climate, beautiful beaches, spectacular mountain scenery, the unhurried pace of life and the friendly unassuming nature of the locals... All this is true, but the main reason for moving here is none of these, although they are all part of the cocktail that led us to start our packing and head for the islands some years ago. For me, it was and still is, the ‘live and let live’ attitude of the locals, and most of the visitors to this island, that made this a special place, and worthy to call ‘home’. It has always been the case that most things are acceptable here, just as long as it doesn’t hurt or interfere with anyone else. I wonder just how many of our visitors attend the ‘Welcome Meetings’ that used to be the delight of many tour companies some years ago? A cheap glass of sangria was supposed to earn oodles of euros in commission for the tour reps, but sadly I never found their sales patter that convincing. I recall one tour representative begging us not to take the local bus to Puerto Mogan, because apparently the locals travel on the bus with baskets of live chickens on market days. A 20 euro coach excursion would apparently be much less pungent... All stuff and nonsense, of course, as we all know that the locals much prefer to travel with a goat. I contrast these islands’ attitudes to Austria, for instance, where the Viennese authorities have recently banned kissing on the train, alongside eating smelly food and talking too loudly. Well, I am not sure what the good people of Austria would think of travelling on a Canarian bus, but talking, and indeed kissing, quietly is certainly not on the agenda over here. I remain convinced that Spanish and Canarian children are born with a volume control that is permanently glued in the ‘Exceedingly Loud’ position. Most

Oct-Nov 2013

Hotel Cristina, Canteras Beach, Las 14.30 - 15.00 - “Selling with Facebook” Palmas - Hans Lysglimt Johansen “Selling in the tourism industry” Day One Networking and Intros event. - Peter Charruters FRIDAY January 3 “What will happen to Gran Canaria 10:00 - 10:45 - Registration and coffee when they find the oil?”

- Thomas Gramstad, president of EFN, the Norwegian branch of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Thursday January 2.

News, Views & Sunshine TUESDAY January 7

- Odd “Financial and industrial implications of the development of an oil industry”. - Thorstein L. Selvik, Finance Professor Producer: Hans Lysglimt Johansen

Gran Canaria Business Week www.gcbusinessweek.com In association with: The Canary News, Views & Sunshine

If you are serious about doing business from Gran Canaria, in a fast paced and ever changing global market, whether you want to attract tourists or residents, or to create a business that deals with a specific niche market, and you want to do it in English, then this conference is for you.

Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor. He enjoys life in the sun as a writer and author. If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander.com or read his latest book, ‘Escape to the Sun’ (ISBN: 9780957544444). Available as paperback, Kindle and iBooks. iPhone/iPad and Android Apps: ExpatInfo, CanaryIsle and CanaryGay now available. © Barrie Mahoney

find it impossible to speak quietly, and why should they? After all, they have many interesting things to say. In any case, the mobile phone networks are not too good over here, and so it is essential to shout loudly at all times when making a telephone call. If you should happen to venture to Austria for a holiday, do please be aware that you are now subject to an immediate fine of 50 euros should you happen to show your affection by kissing on the train. Husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, concubine or simply a ‘bit on the side’; it simply does not matter whether it is a quick peck on the cheek or a tongue job; you will still be relieved of a crisp 50 euro note by a very cross man in uniform. How about a nice bag of chips on the way home, a slice of pizza or, the Canarian’s favourite snack, a sticky donut? Sorry, but if in Austria it won’t just be an immediate slap on the wrists and a fine of 50 euros, but you will be thrown off the train by a specially appointed ‘jobsworth’, locally known as sheriffs, and they have a badge to prove it. Apparently, these draconian rules have been introduced as a result of complaints from the good citizens of Austria, as well from the results of a public survey. Mind you, they might have a point since a couple were recently discovered to be having sex on board a train; well, I guess it is more spacious than having sex in a Mini. In another highly disturbing case, one wealthy couple took their pet horse, Helga, on the train for a ride. I find this a very disturbing story, since it is common knowledge that most horses will only travel first class nowadays. Sadly, both cases were judged as being far too serious for the appointed ‘jobsworth’ to deal with, but became police matters and the culprits were thrown into prison. However, I am not too sure what happened to the horse, but maybe she is still partying in Vienna. Well, I know it takes all sorts to make a world, but I for one will be cancelling my holiday in Austria next year. Personally, I am really looking forward to my next journey on a Canarian bus.

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Number One Waterton Park, Bridgend, Wales CF31 3PH

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T he C anary N ews . com tors, which came to fruition over the last week, will remain open until the attraction in its own right during feast of the Three Kings from 9.00 to 22.00 every day in Las Palmas de Gran Christmas time in Las Palmas Canaria 1,500 square meters of space The Belen de Arena (Sand Bethlehem) utilising 2,000 tons of sculpted on Las Canteras beach, commissand, on the capital’s most sioned by the city of Las Palmas de famous beach will remain on Gran Canaria, opened to the public display and open to the public last Thursday, December 5, displayuntil January 6, 2014 with all ing artistic interpretations of Nativity donations to be given to the soup kitchens of Santo Domingo, scenes created by 6 international sand San Pedro, La Paz and El Carmen sculptors. The nativity display, now in its eighth year, uses donations from in the city of Las Palmas. The “Sand Bethlehem” on Las Canteras visitors to contribute to the four soup beach has become an iconic tourist The work of the 6 international sculp-

The Sand Bethlehem in Las Palmas until Januray 6

News, Views & Sunshine Oct-Nov 2013 kitchens in the capital of Gran Canaria. District Tourism Councillors along with the the Island Minister of Tourism for the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Melchor Camon and the managing director of Tourism organisation Promotor de Canarias, Maria Mendez, inaugurated the Belen (Bethlehem) accompanied by the artists who modelled it in just 7 days.

Councillor Barbero said that “beyond the artistic value of the sand sculptures, the Belen has become an annual reference and a focus of attention from the point of view of promoting tourism to the city that enjoys Christmas in the sun with an average temperature of 20 º C “. He emphasised that the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is actively touting visits between tour operators and travel agencies in the south of Gran Canaria and that they are distributing brochures in hotels on the island, during peak season. The traditional Bethlehem scenes of the Nativity, the Magi, and recreations of villages and traditional characters, are interspersed with glimpses of landscapes of Gran Canaria, such as Roque Nublo and the Caldera de Tejeda in addition to native plants of the islands. The central scene of the birth of Jesus, has been made by the Danish sculptor Peter Busch-Jensen, while the Russians Aleksei Dyakov, Vadim Fedotov Mikhail Gryadov have sculpted scenes of the Magi, the Annunciation and the water boy. Italian sculptor, Michela Ciappini, has modelled a fishing village and the Canarian sculptor Jonay Ruiz has created the town of Bethlehem and a star from the sand. Donations will be collected for The Bethlehem of Sand from the more than a hundred thousand visitors expected during its four week exhibition, open from 9:00 to 22.00 every day of the week. The donations will then be distributed to the four soup kitchens in the city helping to feed the homeless and individuals and families in severe financial crisis. Well worth a visit to Las Palmas for a little Christmas shopping.

Oct-Nov 2013

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El Peri贸dico Ingl茅s de Gran Canaria

The English Newspaper for Gran Canaria

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News, Views & Sunshine

Oct-Nov 2013

Welcome to our mad world! We’re farming by experiment and laughing along the way. Come for the eggs, stay for the life lessons! Who would have ever thought farming could be such hard work?!

The Unexpected Farmer

Egg Hoarding Egg hoarding I would love to say that I hoard eggs to spite all of the people that keep asking me for eggs, however, this is not the case. The chickens are there to provide me with eggs, and an income, but at the moment they are doing very little of either. People message me all the time asking for eggs, and I would love to take your money and provide you with eggs, however, if there are no eggs this simply isn’t going to happen. Eggs have become like gold dust and what little amounts they are laying I use within minutes, I even found myself loitering around the egg aisle in the supermarket the other day, trying to bring myself to buy...supermarket eggs! It felt shameful, like I was committing a crime. I stood and starred at the small, shrink wrapped packages, and simply could not bring myself to pick up a box.

being spiteful. The consider the fact that I have chickens to be the ticket to eggs, which in theory should be true, but alas, no eggs! I wish I was a better chicken farmer, and could have all the answers, maybe it is because it is cold, maybe it is because they hate me who knows, but either way they are not producing enough eggs!

Lets hope the dry spell does not last and that they begin to lay soon, so I can walk down the street without the fraggles muttering “ there she is the secret egg hoarder” I promise you guys when I have eggs, you will have eggs, it is as simple as that, and until then you will have to go and be shameful I do ponder about the people on this island sometimes, as when I tell them I have no eggs they think I am mad, lying or and buy supermarket eggs! If you enjoyed reading this, you will find The Unexpected Farmer on our website or by going to:

UnexpectedFarmerGC.blogspot.com.es

Oct-Nov 2013 Sept-Oct 2013

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Language - Spanish Lesson 82

Short and sweet

Theresa Coe

Not just me, but the topic of this month´s lesson. How do we translate our abbreviations, shorthand and punctuation marks to Spanish?

some reason channel six is called la sexta (the sixth). Illnesses often have a different letter order, so AIDS is el SIDA and HIV is VIH.

Here are a few of the common ones. For other translations, or to hear words pronounced, go to

As sizes are often represented by the international (English) letters, they are simply pronounced the Spanish way and all are female as they refer to LA talla (the size). ¿Qué talla llevas? What size do you wear? La ‘s’ (eh-seh), la ‘m’ (eh-meh), la ‘l’ (eh-leh) or la ‘xl’ (eh-kiss eh-leh)?

www.spanishdict.com FYI (para tu información)

Like the title of this section, many abbreviations we use don´t exist in Spanish and must be spelt out. So, FAO is para la atención de; while P&P translates as gastos de envio. PTO would simply be sigue (carry on) and DIY is bricolaje. Remember, a GP here is your médico de cabecera and an MD of a company is un director for a man, or directora if it´s a woman. Finally, their equivalent of the DSS is (el departamento de) la Seguridad Social.

PS (pd…)

Other abbreviations are just as short. So instead of ps at the end of your note, it´s pd, while an MOT is an ITV (pronounced eeteh-oohbeh). Dr is written the same although a woman is: Dra and Señor/Senora are shortened to Sr/Sra. VIP is also the same but pronounced vip or vips in plural. If you need the job centre, ask for INEM (‘ee-nem’: Instituto Nacional de Empleo) who are responsible for the dole (el paro) here, and if you´re off sick you say: estoy de baja. Channel 1 or 2 is la una or la dos etc. (etc is the same in Spanish) though for

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

¿Qué talla llevas?

¿Cuál es tu email?

Spelling your email can be a pain. The @ sign is called arroba, and some addresses contain guión (dash) or guión bajo (low dash) while a website might have una barra (forward slash). You might also want to say if it´s a capital letter: mayúscula, or lower case: minúscula. Other punctuation marks include: el punto (dot/ full stop), la coma, las comillas (speech marks), los puntos de interrogación y de exclamación (question mark and exclamation mark). A colon is dos puntos while semi colon is punto y coma.

Por teléfono

You might hear ‘si quiere ser atentido en inglés, pulse amohadilla’ (almo-deeya) - if you want to be assisted in English, press the hash key. Similarly, pulse asterisco means press the asterisk button. A kiss in a text is represented by the Word beso, often shortened to bs (NOT ‘x’ which is shorthand for ‘por’

meaning for or by). LOL (laugh out loud) would be jaja (haha) or jeje (heehee) while the letter k is used as shorthand for que (that) or ¿qué? (what?)

Free language exchange: Meet the locals!

Playa del Inglés: Sundays 6pm at Amigos Coffee, Av de Italia 15 www.amigoscoffee.com

Arguineguin: Thursdays, 7pm in Bar Forum, Av de Lajilla, 13. Facebook search: ‘language exchange Arguineguin’ Las Palmas: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays 11.30am in bar ‘100 Montaditos’, Centro Comercial El Muelle cerveceria100montaditos.com Tuesdays 6pm in Bar El Gallinero, C/Fernando Guanarteme 130, Thursdays 6pm in bar Canarios Expresso, Leon y Castillo 253 Arucas: Tuesdays 7.30pm at bar El Parque (behind the church in San Juan square) Telde: Thursdays 7.30pm at Oasis Chillout bar: www.oasischillout.com Spanish conversation club with Cynthia Blickstein Griner every second Saturday San Fernando 6pm. For details:

cynthiagriner@yahoo.es For information on learning Spanish or to receive back copies of these lessons or updates, email theresacoe@gmail.com or see:

facebook.com/LEGintercambio

Expoboda 2013

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Why Pay Full Price?

Expo Boda is the ideal inspiration for brides and grooms looking for local, artisan businesses who know that it’s the teeny, tiny details that make wedding days so special! Numerous catwalk shows took place throughout the day featuring luxury, designer wedding dresses, pop-up beauty parlors, boutique bakers, elegant event styling, decadent décor hire, beautiful blooms, LIVE entertainment acts, and not forgetting representation from well known wedding venues across the island. Every year we’re seeing new and innovative products and services come onto the market. Our prospective bride and grooms have an array of possibilities for their wedding ceremonies and celebrations on our beautiful island. Coupled with the all year round sunny climate, Gran Canaria is also fast becoming a leader in destination weddings. For more information on any wedding product or service in Gran Canaria please contact me on info@perfectweddingcompany.com or call me on (0034) 653 642 208. Bernadette Garside Founder of The Perfect Wedding Company Gran Canaria’s Wedding Specialist

www.perfectweddingcompany.com

Infecar was host to over 30 independent bridal suppliers across the island, which specializes in providing services and products to the ever increasing wedding industry in Gran Canaria.

Perfect for Christmas

Get More For Less

Gran Canaria came alive again with wedding fever at Expoboda 2013 November Wedding Fayre in Las Palmas.

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Oct-Nov 2013

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CALL

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

+34 928 987 952

TheCanaryNews.com/Saver

Those who know, pay less. All year round. Everywhere.

Are you a Canary Saver?

With more than €3,000 worth of exclusive savings, to be used at your leisure, why not?

Lolita returns home Installation work has begun to improve the Santa Catalina Park in Las Palmas. nly

t irec Valid for d

o gs kin o bo

A sculpture of a much loved local hero was accidentally knocked over in August by a public service vehicle, in the City of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the bronze sculpture of Lolita Pluma, has now been repaired and placed on a much more visable plinth enhancing its aesthetic appearance, which has undergone a complete renovation after the accident on 30 August. Two workmen, with the use of a crane refitted the sculpture in the Parque Santa Catalina, in a different location from where it originally stood on the ground. Lolita Pluma is now located in the central garden area, which provides a better view of the work (F. Avila, 1998), which has been fully restored after it was struck by an emergency vehicle, causing a clean break at the base of the statue. It is hoped that the moving of Lolita will enhance the new look of the Parque Santa Catalina, the scene of many of the city´s most prestigeous events such as the Carnavale main stage, and which is immersed at the moment in a project of improvement consisting of the reorganization and improvement to lighting, paving, terraces, landscaping and street furniture in the city centre space behind the Museo Elder and near the main port. The enhancements to this area, a natural connection between the Cruise Terminal and Playa de Las Canteras, is part of an overall redevelopment plan for the area, not far from where the new aquarium is to be built also. Restoration work to the statue of Lolita Pluma, one of Las Palmas´ most colourful characters who was known throughout the city for her outlandish makeup, wild ways and her love of feeding the city´s street cat population from donations she gathered by selling matches in the park has been waiting for some months to be repaired since it was necessary to locate a qualified welder who could work with bronze. Welcome home Lolita!

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TARA Animal Respect Association: Rescuing, Reuniting, Rehabilitating, and Rehoming Pets in Gran Canaria

Facebook.com/TARAGranCanaria or TARA@TheCanaryNews.com

Oct-Nov 2013

TARA Animal Charity Shops, Flea Markets & Events, Pet Foster Homes & Adoptions .

(+34) 928 062 891 or 634 345 812

Together We Can Make Gran Ca naria A Paradise For Animals Too!

WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN! Most of our regular readers know about the two TARA Animal Respect Second-Hand Shops in Arguineguín. The concept mirrors the hugely popular thrift shops in the United Kingdom and other countries throughout Europe. 1. Generous folks donate their second-hand goods to TARA. 2. TARA receives donations for these same goods. 3. These donations are used to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome homeless pets (and promote neutering of dogs and cats). Simple. But there is something new and exciting going on at the TARA Shops. The 180 square meter showrooms are undergoing a spectacular transformation.

TARA Store One is now exclusively for women’s and children’s fashion and treasures. Dresses, pants, blouses, shorts, sweaters, coats, shoes, lingerie, swim suits and jewelry, sunglasses, beauty items, elegant home decorations and knick-knacks plus everything for infants and children of all ages are on display. Really ladies, this is a very special place for the feminine spirit in Paradise. TARA Store Two is amazing! All of your reading, viewing, and listening pleasure can be satisfied in one-stop, dramatically inexpensive, quality shopping. There are more than 5000 paperbacks, hardbacks, and magazines in English, German, Scandinavian, and Spanish organized by language and displayed by category and alphabetically by author. It must be the biggest display of its kind in Paradise. Plus there are over 2000 DVDs, CDs, and

The huge majority of the items in the shops start at only €1. It’s even better than that! With the TARA coupon This super saver store is also for your in this newspaper, you will receive electronic needs: Televisions, sound €20 free to spend in TARA after your systems, computer paraphernalia , refirst €20 purchase. For example: Buy ception devices, handys and landline 20 items for a EURO each, and get phones abound. another 20 EUROS to spend. You are Then there is the furniture departa winner! ment, quality indoor and outdoor Win by donating your used goods to pieces ready for the comfort of your TARA. You will feel great. home. Lamps, lights, mirrors, frames, Win by buying used goods at TARA. art objects - just the right things for You will save a bunch. the right places in your place. computer games, all originals, no copies.

And it is here we cater to the male of our species: Stuff for cars, boats, sports, gardens, do-it-yourselfers – rough, tough goods for guys. That includes men’s and boy’s clothes from track suits to fancy dress, trainers to work shoes, jeans to swim suits, most everything a fella needs to wear for life in Paradise.

LEX

This little dog was found in Arinaga and had no chip or collar. He is 5KG and approx 12 months old. he is in good health, and friendly. Do you want to meet him? can you offer him a forever home?

this incredibly human friendly podenca was found wandering through the wilderness near Cercado de Espino. He is good in the car, walks on the lead, and loves playing ball. Lex is approx 2 years old, is chipped, castrated, vaccinated and searching for his new home, can you help?

LEVI

GOLDIE

He is a special young boy with beautiful colouring. He is less than 2 years old and is castrated and vaccinated and about 20 kg. He is playful with all animals and is keen to someone to train him. He needs a confident home to fulfil his needs. He is just a heavy little boy.

is a little sweetie who has been through a tough time in her short life. She was found wandering through Arguineguin several months ago, with obvious signs that she had been hit by a car. Goldie was incredibly nervous, but slowly she begun to trust and even like humans again.

is a approx 3 years old, 20KG, mix breed dog, who is full of life and will need an active home. He is not good with other dogs or cats, but this is something that can be helped with training.

Win for the homeless animals! The animals certainly do. Come on in! Browse, enjoy, indulge while helping yourself, your families, your friends, helpless animals, the environment - and feel great doing it!

Win! Win! Win! Win!

BOBO

CHESTER

Win by participating in the process of recycling! It makes good Eco sense.

BILLY & BOB these adorable kittens are desperate for a home, they are approx 8 weeks old, extremely human friendly and love cuddles and affection. Can you find a place in your heart and home?

Oct-Nov 2013

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After a quick trip to fill the fridge and the cupboards from MERCADONA in the La Minilla Commercial Centre, chosen because parking is so very convenient, and there is a handy coffee bar right outside the shop, a more leisurely return via Mesa y López , stopping off at Natural Optics in Nestor de la Torre, where you can always be sure of a thorough eyetest, before heading back to Holy Trinity church to pick up some prizes from the raffle at last Saturday’s Christmas Bazaar and take them to await collection by the fortunate winners at the British Club, collecting a copy of the Club’s December programme on the way. It sounds complicated, but it wasn´t really. Street parking is such a problem in the town that the best way to do several things in different areas in one morning is to have a co-driver who goes round the block several times while you go popping in and out of the premises on your list. Once you get to the British Club it is easy. With your membership card in the car window you can park very comfortably in its grounds.

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

poem they have written. What talent lies dormant! These cultural Wednesdays include a table quiz each month, more or less difficult according to who is setting it, though this month it will be replaced by a talk, illustrated with music, to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi. Melvyn Elphee, a recent winter resident , has been instrumental in promoting such events in the Club and in circulating news about what is on in the theatre and the rest of the cultural scene in the city of Las Palmas for people who are interested but not quite so “in the know”.

THE BRITISH CLUB’S CHRISTMAS DINNER MENU Saturday 21st of December at 21:00 hours APPETIZERS Pâté on Toast, Cheese and Onion Confit Canapés, Spanish Omelette, Chef’s Croquets and Black Pudding Balls with Sesame ***************** Cream of Pumpkin Soup ***************** Stuffed Turkey with Roast Potatoes, Boiled Vegetables, Gravy and Cranberry Sauce ****************** Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce Or Apple, Dates and Raisins Strüdel ****************** Coffee or Tea and Christmas Sweets including Mince Pies

******************* The majority of the members are RED WINE: BERONIA CRIANZA (1 bottle per 4 people) now Spanish, but we aim to keep Or WHITE WINE: TRASCAMPANA (1 bottle per 4 people) theBritish flag flying, too, by these Quite a lot has been going on recently in the Club, apart from the usual good PRICE PER PERSON: 25,00.€ (I.G.I.C. INCLUDED) Wednesday events, to which nonfood and drink: on alternate Wednesdays a season of Classic British Films in TIP NOT INCLUDED English, with Spanish sub-titles hosted by the Canary Film Academy with a brief members are welcome for a small fee of €3. On other days, the Club is the best place on the island for Bridge, with introduction and short discussion afterwards, has attracted a good number of as many as 40 or 50 players participating, and regular tournaments. both Spanish and English-speakers. The last of the present series was The Lavender Hill Mob, which was, in fact, the first comedy, coming after such quality Three couples demonstrating tangos provided the background to November’s films as The Thirty-nine Steps, Third Man and Odd Man Out. special Argentinian dinner. For December we have the traditional Christmas dinner on 21st December for members and their guests and plenty of private A monthly Poetry Evening has proved unexpectedly popular and, predictably, parties have booked in during the run up to Christmas. the programme for December is of Christmas or festive poems, songs or short readings. We just choose a poem or two that we like and tell author and drama If you would like further information about the club email adjudicator Jeannie van Rompaey, the organiser, our choice in order to avoid BritishClubLasPalmas@gmail.com or phone 928245451. Betty Burgess any duplication. It is all very light-hearted and people occasionally bring along a Christmas Eve: 22.30 at Holy Trinity Christmas service times

Carol Service 22nd December 11 am at Holy Trinity (Las Palmas)

Christmas Day: 11am at Holy Trinity

Christmas Eve: 12 noon at the Templo Ecumenico, Playa del Inglés

More information will be available on the website http://www.gccoe.org.uk

Views from the churchyard - Hope for fear A bold statement, you could be thinking I am a little unwise, or round the twist, perhaps. Do you know what else makes us go mad? Fear. We can fear the most harmless things if they come unexpectedly but fail to care about the familiar, but very real dangers. Your daily ride to work is, without doubt, much more dangerous than getting on a plane. However, if you are not used to planes, any odd little sound will make you feel uneasy. We fear the unexpected... the unknown. We love everything resting on its proper place. I certainly do. It makes my life predictable, giving a feel of order among the chaos of…

I have been told that God is good. But even so, we feel uneasy of letting anybody, no matter how good, Oftentimes, people also try to put God meddle with our own soul. We might into a box. They say God is this, or God be unhappy with who we are, but is that, and yet God is more than this even so, we want to do our own thing or that. The Bible does not even try to ourselves. Resigning from that requires offer a definition of what God is. The a kind of courage that is called faith, People, are just like that. They do not Bible’s business is what God does. And a faith that can only be found in what always do what you expect of them. God does the unexpected. God, the God did and what God is doing in the I would find nice if every chap I meet creator of Heaven and Earth, loves to most unexpected ways. would stay in the neat mental boxes hide in the little things, loves to focus Does that look hard? Well, it is. It is like in the little people, yet His actions I build for them. It is a bit egotistic, though it can have the best of intenchange the world starting at your own having faith in your children, in your friends or even in yourself. In the end, tions. For example, It would be handy heart. it all goes down to a choice: to dive if I could always understand why my Christianity revolves around the idea into hope, accepting fear. You cannot nephews are sad, angry, or fearful, so I of letting go of our own plans and have one without the other. could do something about it, but more letting God change us. That means to often that I would like, I can misinterThe Holy Trinity Church, Las Palmas hope for the unexpected, quite literpret feelings. Learning to listen is a skill Miguel de Luis www.gccoe.org.uk ally to hope for fear. Because you and Do you know what? My neighbour chose the instant I was writing these lines to do some home improvement: interruption, noise… why can’t I have a little peace when I need it? Yes, the chaos of life is right here, hitting me in the face. I think you can relate.

that I have to learn again and again with every person I meet.

THE SEASON IS UPON US

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As was getting my very own nice warm glow When our twins were 4 years old they decided, from the previwith a little group of like minded ‘cherubs’ from ously consumed school to rehearse for the annual Christmas Conbrandy I let cert. Dear little angels, not even in disguise; how them carry on. sweet. After all Christmas is a time for children The next stop –isn’t it? was my bedMuddy boots off , ten tiny feet tramped up the room, where I stairs - they had decided to act out the nativity saw that I now scene in our bedroom- it being the most stableowned 10 tea like they could find due I suspect to the riotous towels instead confusion of Christmas trappings and ‘swaddling’ of my usual 5. clothes ( aka laundry awaiting washing) therein. My frown was With the lingering aroma of my Yankee Candle in met with “Sorry their little nostrils and authenticity uppermost in Mummy but we their little minds, this bedroom mayhem was easily needed to cut transposed to the ‘ no room at the inn’ of the Beth- them in half to make them fit the heads of Joseph lehem story. (Had I known I would have fixed it for and the shepherds. at least one cow, one lamb and little donkey to be The Virgin Mary, aka Jennifer Jones from next door, brought in from next door’s farm ) is sitting looking only mildly holy in the middle of Carol s on my CD player, baking pies and ‘feeding’ my bed. I soon I realise there is something missing. the Christmas cake with brandy -with the occasion- “Where is baby Jesus?” I ask. Throwing back the al obligatory slurp for the cook- kept me well in the duvet she reveals a scruffy old box in which rests Christmas spirit in the kitchen while the rehearsal my best satin pillowcase and a bundle of (used?) was in progress upstairs. hay. Mary gently extricates the baby and rocks to and fro. Spontaneously my eyes fill with tears as I Soon I was called up for the performance. Led by listen to the sweetest rendition of ‘Away in a MANa couple of shepherds, into the bathroom (scene one) I behold our neighbour’s son standing in the GER’ I ever heard. bath. There are no tidings of great joy as I see my Then right on cue come the three kings. Oh joy! I expensive sheepskin rug hanging dripping wet over was really needing at least one wise man to show his shivering little body. Keeping my cool I just raise up by this time. They bow before the manger and a quizzical eyebrow. By way of explanation they trot out an approximation of their lines. break into song: ‘While SHEPHERDS WASHED their First King . “I bring you gold.”Second King . “I bring flocks by night....”Ahhh! you myrrh.” Third King. “ Umm, errr... Frank sent All my bath towels lay soaking in a puddle on the this”! floor – obviously ‘take five’ for this particular scene. Clapping and laughing I led the unlikely nativity My daughter was standing nearby, my feather players down stairs. We gathered around the fire boa contorted into a straggly pair of angel wings roasting chestnuts singing Carols and drying out and pinned to her vest . She waved her Daddy’s the towels and the soggy sheep as we discuss what (now defunct) big torch in the air and, halo intact, they think is the real meaning of the Christmas warbled out , “The angel of the Lord came down story. and glory shone around”. Becky apologised that Know what I find so special about kids? They keep the glory did not light up anymore since she had things so gloriously uncomplicated. They bubble dropped it in the bath!

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Oct-Nov 2013

And the kids have Christmas all sewn up. At least that’s how it was in our house- once upon a time.

over with expectant joy. They burst with anticipation. They accept the miracle. And best of all –with simple child like faith they tell it like it is. And it was all alright on the night of course. I am dumbfounded by the ability of little ones to perform so well with few inhibitions and not a shred of self doubt they had perfected the performance. As the curtain came down, we happily joined hands and sang some communal carols as we exchanged the season’s greetings. On the way home, tired but still with the adrenalin rush lingering we rocked and clapped as we joined with Dad’s deep baritone in a fitting end to the night. “Hark the herald angels sing glory to the new born King Peace on earth and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled. Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies. With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark the herald angels sing glory to the new born king.” Here’s wishing you joy ,peace and a Happy Christmas. Kay .

DECEMBER 2013

Joy to the world 38

Oct-Nov 2013

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International Evangelical English Church

El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

Playa del Inglés & Puerto Rico

An friends, independent non-denominational Christian church. All services are conducted in English but Dear This Christmas we will be going again out into the community to share the My goodness how timehas flies!a Where the year gone? Yet here we are again congregation veryhasinternational flavour and all are welcome. Christmas cheer and to sing a few carols together and I hope help us all rememonly a few days away from Christmas. On behalf of everybody in the Evangelical ber what it is we truly celebrate at this time of year. I extend an invitation Playa del Inglés Puerto Rico to English Church I extend to you the warmest season’s greetings. you to come and join with us, everybody is most welcome. Our Christmas proSunday @Canaria 10:00am Sunday @ 12:30pm I first heard this little poem being read on my first visit to Gran 7 years gramme for this year is as follows; ago, I have no idea who wrote it, I believe it may have been from a Christmas PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME card but it sums up so well all I am trying to say.

Meeting

the

Centro

Community Carol Singing

If you look for Mewith at Christmas, Ecuménico is located to Youthe won't needofa special star---Templo Date side the large

The entrance I'mEcuménico. no longer just in Bethlehem,

Meeting in the premises of the Scandinavian Tourist Church which is situated at the back of the Puerto Rico Place centre. Bar Diamonds at the Yumboshopping Centre in Playa del Inglés

Time

Mon 9th 7:30pm

I'm right there where you are.

Mon 16th 7:30pm

centre. The Pub (Kim & Steve’s) in the Puerto Rico Shopping Centre

You may not be aware of Me

Wed 18th 9:00pm

Templo Ecuménico (Front Steps) in Playa del Inglés

opposite the Kasbah Centre.

Bar Buenavista Café in San Agustin CC (opposite the Don Gregory) Tel: 928 062 915 Mobile: 603 455 258 Email: englishchurchgc.gmail.com Web: www.englishchurchgc.o Amid the celebrations Fri

You'll have to look beyond the stores And all the decorations.

20th 7:30pm

Christmas Day Celebrations

But, if you take a moment

Wed 25th 10:00am

Centro Ecuménico in Playa del Inglés

From your list of things to do

Wed 25th 12:00noon Scandinavian Tourist Church in Puerto Rico

And listen to your heart, you'll find I'm waiting there for you. You're the one I want to be with. You're the reason that I came And you'll find Me in the stillness,

We continue to meet regularly every Sunday all year around in Playa del Inglés at 10:00am and in Puerto Rico at 12:30pm. In Playa del Ingles we meet in the Centro Ecuménico, the entrance is to the right-hand side of the main Temple and opposite the Kasbah centre. In Puerto Rico we meet in the Scandinavian Tourist Church whis is at the back of the shopping centre. You are welcome to come and join with us on any Sunday.

As I'm whispering your name. Love Jesus I have promised the editor that I will endeavour to do my best and contribute a few lines for publication on a more regular basis so with that in mind until All too often we can get caught up in all the activities that surround this time of year and get so stressed out that we can miss the joy that Christmas is really next time I wish you all a very happy Christmas time and may your blessings be many. And don’t forget the joy! about. It is great putting up all the decorations and wrapping gifts. It is wonderful catching up with old friends and family and sharing good times eating and drinking and it’s wonderful both giving and receiving presents. Sometimes With love and blessing in Him. however all the activity wears us out and we can become guilty of becoming the person who says “I’ll be glad when it’s all over!” Enjoy your Christmas by all means but don’t miss the joy! What is the joy? The joy is the miracle of birth or rather a birth. It is the coming into this world of God the Son, Jesus. It tells us in the gospel of John that In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…….The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Pastor - Evangelical English Church. That is the joy of Christmas.

Gavin

International Evangelical English Church

Playa del Inglés & Puerto Rico

An independent non-denominational Christian church. All services are conducted in English but the congregation has a very international flavour and all are welcome. Playa del Inglés Puerto Rico Sunday @ 10:00am Sunday @ 12:30pm PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME

Meeting in the Centro Ecuménico with is located to the side of the large Templo Ecuménico. The entrance is opposite the Kasbah Centre.

Meeting in the premises of the Scandinavian Tourist Church which is situated at the back of the Puerto Rico shopping centre.

centre.

Tel: 928 062 915 Mobile: 603 455 258 Email: englishchurchgc.gmail.com Web: www.englishchurchgc.org

The English Newspaper for Gran Canaria

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Oct-Nov 2013 Sept-Oct 2013

PROPERTIES FOR Rent SAN FERNANDO Single and double room to rent, quiet central zone, wifi, modern kitchen/bathroom, parking. 200-250e including bills. tel. Daniel: 639 941 547; bernmack@hotmail.com

Oct-Nov 2013

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

Quinny's Quiz Page 1. Which country annually donates trafalger squares xmas tree? Sweden, Norway or Denmark 2. How many reindeer pull santas sleigh? 7,8 or 9 3. By Xmas eve how many advent calender windows are open 4. Coca cola changed santas clothes to red what colour was it originally? Blue, Yellow or Green 5. Which is the most bought and played xmas song to date? 6. What colour are the berries on a mistletoe plant? 7. What are the 2 most popular items used at the top of a xmas tree? 8. What is father christmas called in Spain? 9. What was used for frosty the snowman’s nose? 10. In the song 12 days of xmas what was given on day 4?

The first correctly filled puzzle pulled out of the hat this month wins A Meal for 2 including a bottle of wine at THE LEMON TREE, Puerto Rico Just fill in the solution and then either send us a photograph from your phone with your name, email and daytime contact number to 626641537, or cut out the completed grid below, and pop it in an envelope addressed to Sudoku Competion, The Canary News, TARA, 63-67 Tanausú, Arguineguín, LP 35120 Sudoku Puzzle - Easy

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