The Canary News, Views & Sunshine Spring Edition

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

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Spring in Gran Canaria is one of the most wonderful experiences, not only because it lasts for much of the year, but because we have a long tradition of carnival with some of the biggest and most glamourous party’s in the world. Springs essential feminine spirit is celebrated with the crowning of our Carnival Queen. This year it is the lovely Cindy Klein, Queen of Las Palmas Carnival 2014!

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Europe’s Largest Water Park given the go-ahead in Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria It was announced ths month that the German investor, and tourist attraction empresario, Wolfgang Kiessling is due to sign a deal in his long running negotiations with the family of the Count de la Vega Grande to complete the purchase of a plot of 200,000 square meters in the area known as El Veril in Playa del Inglés, on Gran Canaria’s southern Maspalomas Costa Canaria.

the proffered tourism investment and a requirement for some changes to planning law so as to allow the facility to go ahead while needing permissions to cross some municipal lands. This reportedly lead to the Illustrious City of San Bartolome de Tirajana and even the Cabildo de Gran Canaria having to become deeply involved with brokering the final deal. Ownership of the total parcel of land required was, it seems, shared between the It has long been rumored and conjectured that Kiessling has Cabildo’s Island Water Council and the del Castillo family. been planning a state-of-the-art water park to rival, or even better, his flagship attraction Siam Park on Tenerife, which, he With all of the wrangling over ownership and permissions now has said in the past was originally intended for this island. After completed, the way has been paved for what is billed to be several years of negotiations between the tourism promoter and Europe’s Largest Water Attraction Theme Park right in the middle the noble del Castillo family, who bear historical title to much of Gran Canaria’s very first and most visited tourism resort, of the lands in the south of Gran Canaria, the Kiessling family, between San Agustin and Playa del Ingles, on the Costa Canaria. who also own Tenerife’s popular exotic wildlife attraction Loro It is expected that work will begin within the next year with a Parque, looks set to finally announce an investment of more than completion date yet to be announced. The Kiessling family have 60 million euros into the heart of Gran Canaria’s tourist zone. taken an ever greater interest in Gran Canaria over recent years The various reported disagreements and obstacles between and last year also got the final green light for The Canary Islands Kiessling and a group of seven heirs to the Count de la Vega first major aquarium to be Grande have now been satisfactorily dealt with, resulting in the opened in 2015, named Poema sale of 200,000 square meters of land in El Veril bringing within del Mar and built right in the sight ultimate fruition to the negotiations. One of the primary heart of the Las Palmas port, disputes seems to have been around the overall sale price of near the Parque Santa Catalina. the land between Kiessling We’ll keep you abreast of and the Castillos along with further developments.

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The Kasbah shopping centre will be demolished and renewed

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place, while pickpockets have been known to operate among the booze halls serving cheap and severe alcohol in the central circular “pit” with escalators going down and only stairs going up, often trapping the too-quickly-drunk tourists and tour reps who have been known to frequent it.

The Canary Islands government wants to end what it calls the the “mundanity of the tourist area in​​the South”. And so have decided to strengthen their support and technical collaboration The Prime Minister of the Canary Islands, Paulino Rivero, visited with the City of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, in order to streamfive work sites currently nearing completion as part of Southern line all licenses for the Modernization Plan, already well under Modernization Plan last month. He was briefed on one particu- way throughout the streets of Playa del Inglés. lar project of major interest to people who live in and around “We want this to be done quickly,” said the president of the the heart of Playa del Inglés, the plan to demolish the Kasbah regional government, Paulino Rivero, after attending the signshopping centre, which has for a long time been thought by ing of an agreement with the public company Gesplan to promany to be “obsolete”. vide support and technical assistance to the municipality, in the The Kasbah was the very first commercial centre to be built on management and execution of urban renewal. the south of Gran Canaria in the late 60s, and possibly the first of its kind on the island. For decades it was the centre piece of Long overdue, and much welcomed, this move is set to be universally popular among residents and tourists alike as well as a fast growing tourism resort which 34 years ago also hosted all legitimate businesses in the area. Though there may well be the very first Maspalomas Carnival and parade. Well known protest from the more questionable operators. Last year´s fire night clubs like Pacha and China Whites dominate, with the at the adjacent Metro shopping centre is thought to have been underground shopping area itself very much seen as defunct.

The property is now set to modernise with the introduction of a one of the catalysts leading to renewed governmental interest in improving the area and some of its surrounding eyesores. brand new two-storey building.

In its heyday, with well known local nightclubs like Fantasy Island and Nikki Beach leading the night time offering for both tourists and residents alike, it was very much the place to go, however over recent years it has been looking tired with a rash of “looky-looky” men, ladies of dubious repute, seedy bars and less than trust worthy, grubby looking PRs dominating the

The modernisation is to follow in conjunction with the work almost completed on pedestrianising the walkways between the main commercial centres and nightspots in the popular tourist area.

Well done San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Don Marco Aurelio and Don Paulino Rivero! We salute you!

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be made on how to continue or amend treatments to produce positive affects for the individual.”

Psoriasis is not just a single complaint, but can emerge as a range of different symptoms. It is not just one thing; “it can be linked to cardiovascular complaints, hyper-tension, diabetes and other systemic diseases which can present as psoriatic arthritis, or other problems with the heart, the kidneys or the joints” and often the first people know of it is a rash or sensitive skin. It is linked to many other inflammatory conditions.

“Psoriasis has many faces, often by the time people come to see me they have been through several other specialists trying to track down the issue. The differential between various diagnoses can be broad as it can be confused with leukemia and other internal issues as well as seeming to be like chronic eczema, which can lead to anti fungals being prescribed when really the patient may require an anti inflammatory.”

It is therefore important to see a dermatologist early, as a broad range of issues can be picked up on and help doctors to quickly put the pieces together, as it is common for treatment to be simultaneously required for other internal conditions.

The Importance of Sunshine

Last month we lead with a story about Gran Canaria’s “Doctor Sunshine”, Néstor Santana, who is a dermatology consultant working with Hospital San Roque in Maspalomas.

He told us about a great new collaboration that has started between Hospital San Roque and the Norwegian Association for psoriatic patients who came here last year. “It is well known” says Doctor Santana “that the climate has a real effect on chronic cases of psoriasis. It is usually treated with topical creams and vitamin B derivatives. Some Norwegian specialists got in touch to see if there were ways that they could modify the medications they were using or try other treatments for some of their most chronic patients” And so a relationship was built whereby 50 or so patients could be sent to the south of Gran Canaria, where the sun shines almost every day, to try treatments involving what is known as Climate Therapy, an area in which Gran Canaria is well placed to be a world leader. Essentially it is the prescribing of controlled exposure to sunlight to allow the body to create extra Vitamin D and oils that can be beneficial to a sufferer, and that they perhaps are lacking when in colder, darker countries.

“Positive benefits can be seen in mild cases within just 1 to 2 weeks, whereas the more chronic patients have to wait a little longer. After the 14th week of trying a new regime or course of sun treatments mixed with creams, the outcomes start to make themselves visible and so decisions can then

Worldwide it is estimated that about 2% of the population suffers from some severe psoriatic condition or another throughout their lifetime, though percentages appear less in the tropics, often people in those areas are just not diagnosed because the condition is well under control.

The sun, you see, is not all bad. It is well known to be a highly effective “immune modulator” and so those who are regularly exposed to sunshine are less likely to be diagnosed.

So you see, Doctor Sunshine get’s his name because he spends a significant amount of time telling his patients to either avoid extended sunshine exposure, as is the case with skin cancers, or indeed to ensure they have regular moderate exposure to allow the skin to create the vitamins and oils it most needs to maintain good health.

To find out more, we recommend you book an introduction to Dr Nestor Santana at Hospital San Roque, Maspalomas, and find out about the broad range of conditions that he is able to diagnose, simply from a quick examination of your body’s largest, and one of its most important, organs. Love the skin your in, book a check up today.

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With another month of satisfactory PMI’s (purchasing managers indices) house building and commercial construction meant construction was the star turn recording its highest level since August 2007.

February started with news from across the water and I am delighted to say a crisis has been averted, US congress finally agree to raise the debt ceiling until March 2015 which means the US will not default on its debt. Raising the ceiling is the only way at present that the US government can pay its debts, this issue has been around for about 3 years and in the past had created a considerable amount of uncertainty in global markets however and without much fuss, on this occasion both parties managed to agree the way forward . I guess it’s something to do with the mid term elections later this year.

With Mr. Bernanke chairing his last meeting of The Federal Reserve a additional $10billion was cut from the QE programme in place, Ms Yellen has suggested things will remain steady as she is likely to follow the course already plotted, so you can also expect interest rates to remain low for some time The housing market continues to expand with prices increasing around .9% month on month fuelled by improving consumer confidence and with the economy being around 6.5% bigger than before the crisis began its no wonder the Americans are feeling quietly confident.

The UK continues its path to recovery as it registered its best result for sometime and grew by 1.9%, that solid growth was seen across most sectors however it is the services sector that takes the gold medal. Mr Carney has also suggested the economy will grow at around 3.4% in 2014 so confidence within the central bank remains high. Mortgage approvals also hit a high of 71600 in December that’s up about 29% on the year and contributes to some worries about the possible overheating of the housing market particularly as house prices rose around 6.9% last year .

The growing consumer confidence was seen in the growth of credit card borrowing and personal loans. At last it also appears that lending to SME’s increased during the last quarter and hopefully reflects improved lending conditions for 2014. Mr Carney also provided a further insight into his forward guidance and confirmed interest rates will not be “adjusted” solely by using unemployment as the factor. That is good news for The Bank of England as the unemployment rate continues to drop and is expected to record around 7% with the latest numbers.

Whilst the recovery is on line, Mr Carney wants to make sure that its not taken for granted and of course again the interest rate was held at its present low level.

The next big step in the recovery path will be linked to the budget due in March and what additional cuts will be required, although in fairness most tax increases have already been implemented.

Across the euro zone Mr Draghi continues to face a difficult task as falling inflation is still around. Prices across the zone continue to fall and stay well below the ECB’s target of 2%. Unemployment still remains a considerable issue as it stands around 12% however with interest rates at .25% its not easy to cut again. Going forward another big task for The ECB head is galvanising banks to focus on creating the banking union and creating the urgency for a common pot of money to be used for bailing out banks. Mr Draghi wants to see a 5 years plan and not as proposed take 10 years to sort.

The middle of February saw better news for the Eurozone with the last quarter of 2013 recording a .3% growth. Better than expected growth from Germany, France and the Netherlands was supported by growth in Austria, Belgium, Spain and Italy which all helped boost confidence.

Downsides still remain in Greece and Finland joins the “sick” list, however hope is that 2014 will see a continued IMPROVEMENT IN THE composite figure.

Since the turn of the year however a different threat has emerged to the global recovery and of course the eurozone, as the emerging markets are creating a threat as now they account for a higher slice of global output, so any impact becomes greater. We are not expecting to see a similar situation to the 1990’s however we all know what complacency can bring.

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UK run business “Secret Source” now using Canarian programming talent to build websites and apps for the UK market

Outsourcing programming is traditionally limited to China, India and South America. The Canary Island’s first outsourcing company hopes to change that.

Secret Source, based in Palet Expres the ‘Nave de Talentos’ in Salinetas, is a programming outsourcing company with a difference. It outsources Canarian talent.

Outsourcing has traditionally been the domain of companies in Asia and South America but Secret Source hopes to change that and convert the Canaries into a new world hub for programming outsourcing.

Secret Source has offices in Palet Express and in London and over the last 5 years have provided programming for companies such as Barclays, Levis and 7up in the UK. “In London we have Secret Source is owned by British entrepreneur Richard Clarke, our commercial centre and our digital strategy team and we run a 12 year veteran of Gran Canaria. It started in 2007 as Sinergia the programming side here in Gran Canaria.

Outsourcing with a team of 20 programmers in Asia offering services to companies throughout Europe. However in the Since changing their programming team Secret Source has seen last year since moving offices to Palet Expres Secret Source a dramatic increase in demand for their company. “Once we has almost entirely replaced its Asian team with Canarian started sharing our new plans with our customers we started programmers and things haven’t looked better. to receive more projects than we could imagine” Richard told us. “I think it is because we now sell ourselves as a European “When I first arrived at Palet Expres I saw an enthusiasm and Outsourcing company rather than an Asian one. I think this has dedication to work that I hadn’t seen here before and it made made a big difference to how companies perceive us. Now they us start to rethink our company strategy,” Richard told us. “At see us a local company rather than one 1000s of miles away.” first we tried small projects with 1 or 2 programmers and now Translated from article originally published in lacajabierta.org almost all our new work uses Canarian talent.”

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THE BEST THERE IS Oct-Nov 2013

Our services:

CS Computer Services based in the Ancora centre in

Arguineguin was established in 2004 by husband and wife team Kent and Line. They have been on this paradise island for some 13 years, like so many of us they came to Gran Canaria on a vacation from their native Norway and have not looked back since.

Computer Services is exactly what it says on the box, providing a whole host of support and repairs for hardware as well as software. Kent spent many years working for a national telecoms company looking after the many facets of systems within a communication group. This gave him a huge skill set that allowed the foundation of CS Computers. Initially concentrating on PC’s and software repairs this friendly and helpful couple began to expand the range of CS computers, supplying spare parts, cables, memory, routers and so much more. Like so many good and professional businesses they wanted to do more and broaden their services still further.

So in about 2005 they started their next project of supplying internet to the masses via WiFi, this gave rise to CS Online. After installing the initial transmitter towers they are able to supply a Broadband connection as a wireless hotspot for casual use, or a permanent connection for as long as you need with coverage from El Pajar to Playa del Cura and still expanding.

More recently the demands of expatriate communities from many nations for national and international Television has been another project, they have successfully supplied more than 90 Scandinavian channels via broadband for some time, but now have their latest offering aimed at the British community. The system currently supplies 65 channels including all BBC, ITV, CH4 & CH5 plus Irish stations via Broadband connection.

If you are curious about this system just give them a call or visit them at the Ancora Centre. Whether you phone or visit the shop personally, Line will be happy to help you and show you the quality of the system and always answering your questions honestly and cheerfully in excellent English, Norwegian, or Spanish.

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Top wedding planner, Bernie Garside, talks about some of the challenges of building a successful small business on Gran Canaria.

“In my business,” says the the firendly, long-time Gran Canaria resident and weddings entrepreneur, Bernadette Garside “I am a part of someone’s really important day, and that is truly fulfilling.”

Bernadette Garside is a vibrant and erudite businesswoman, who started her Perfect Wedding Company in 2012, and it has quickly grown into one of the highest quality companies in the canary islands, planning beautiful and exotic marriages from her base on the sub-tropical island of Gran Canaria.

“My business plan is constantly being updated, it is never finished” she says.

“I have recently been looking at the Norwegian side of the market here on the island. I work with a great Norwegian photographer called Mette Brandt, we work really well together and she recommends clients for me, and I give her “You are becoming part of work back and so it is this collaboration their memories, they are that we have going together that has led letting you in to such a special Bilingual in Spanish and me to start working on how to expand my moment in their lives, it is English, she understands Norwegian client base. For that I think it is nothing less than an honour. that simple advertising is not really good to have Norwegian advocates In fact more often than not, enough to grow a business of your business, because it all works I end up becoming friends here, but that success comes hand in hand. In fact most of my clients with my clients, and not just from honest communication come from either recommendations or the lucky couple, but even and building a brand in the people who tell me “I was thinking of if just for one short week, minds of as many people as you and I asked somebody and they said you have become integral possible, through letting potential ‘yes, go for it’” So that’s what’s happening to their memories, and all customers know who you are, and quite a lot now.” their friends and family where you can be found.

Though prospective clients may not ask come up and thank you and Even marketing to people who “Do you know someone who is good remember. I can’t describe might simply recommend your at weddings?” They may say “we were how special that is.” service to others is important, thinking of using this girl...” And then “I’m very lucky” she says “very through consistent local newspaper with positive feedback the decision that few people get so up close and adverts, leaflets, chatting to people, has already been made is validated and personal with their clients” and competitions and as in Bernadette’s becomes near enough a done deal before let’s face it many super markets case, writing relevant articles about anyone even speaks to you. and other types of business would her industry that can be used as a love to know their clients as well reference point for anyone looking to “So I want to do more on the Norwegian side and on the Scandinavian side, and as she knows hers. marry in a top sunshine destination like the island she has made her home Mette helps me with that, she plans to “My job is to work with lots of even write something on my blog, so I’ve on for the last 21 years. different businesses, and to considered opening a blog in Norwegian, work well with lots of different “A business needs to grow organically, simply explaining that I’m an English businesses. It is important to me, if people need to be realistic about wedding planner so that they recognise I am not working well with a business, what they can do and the skills they from the start that I speak English, as do to find out how I can, because they all present” Having worked in commercial many themselves, and might then think have a place in my portfolio if they are relationships and marketing for some ‘I don’t mind working with this girl’. It is into weddings and they provide a quality of the largest and most successful important to start by not deceiving them service, it doesn’t matter how much they organisations on the island, including and letting them know what they are charge, from the smallest salon to the holiday operator Airtours and top getting, right from the beginning” biggest professional make-up artist, every native medical provider, Cliníca Roca, It was Mette who suggested Bernadette one of them has a place in my business and later Hospiten; when it comes to join her to attend Gran Canaria Business and it is important to me to work well communication, she really knows what Week at the beginning of this year. with them” she is talking about.

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She has been working with Gran Canaria’s leading online-strategy guru, Todd Michael Heater, who was also one of the key speakers at this year’s conference.

“Consequently Mette keeps talking about the importance of links between websites, and so we are now linking to each other. Intuitively I am cautious about service providers linking from my site, because then people can more easily find my suppliers, and so some might think why do they need me.”

Of course this is a bit of a grey area for any service provider. Just having a suppliers list does not in any way replace Bernadette’s contacts, working relationships, years of experience, language skills or the quality of her knowledge in delivering a polished service.

“Mette and I have a good working relationship, and I recognise that the value of a Norwegian-language website linking people to me, means that I am much more likely to get business, and I in turn can send her business on the basis of my recommendation.”

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booked some part of the wedding, like the venue, and its not that they haven’t gone with me because they can’t afford my services, but get in touch saying that they need a photographer or they need some flowers and that can be really good business.”

“Customer profiling becomes very important to avoid under-delivering to those who might turn around after some weeks of consultation saying that they only want one small part of the service offered with a view to doing the rest themselves. For the sake of ensuring quality it becomes a game of saying ‘Sorry, it is these services as a package or nothing’ to avoid disappointment on the day and avoid an unhappy client. “

“Customer profiling becomes very important”

The view Bernadette takes is “If I can’t serve their needs, then I’d rather not do it because they will not be happy in the end. If I provide a service that doesn’t suit their needs, they will not be satisfied, “I am a firm believer that there are and that is no good for my image.” And people who will hire a wedding planner of course, image is all important in any and there are people who will go and do business, but especially when you are it on their own, regardless, and it doesn’t being asked to plan out people’s dreams, matter if I quote them 50€, 500€ or something for which Bernadette shows 5000€ they just do not plan on going with sincere and deep reverence. you. They just plan on getting all your information, and when that happens I just One thing that our Ms Garside is adamant say ‘be my guest, there it is.’ There are about is the need to be realistic about people who, once you have quoted, will what your business is and what it can do. say they have decided to do it themselves and I respect that, and just think ‘well they’re just not clients for me’ and I give them the file. I trust that if they are going to go with me, then they will, and if not then I simply say ‘here is some information for free, good luck, and have a great wedding.’” A very healthy outlook for any business person to hold.

“There have certainly been people who have said they can’t afford me, and then in the end have turned round and said ‘Look this girl’s been brilliant’ and decided that they can’t afford not to have me. Weddings, in particular, is a business that people are really willing to pay for what they want, if they feel that there is a value in it” “Then there are people who are sent to me from hotels, that may have already

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“There is no point making up numbers or pretending that you are much bigger than you are, when the fact is you can benefit greatly from simply concentrating on offering a great service with the resources you actually have.”

“There is a lot to be said for smaller businesses,” she says with a knowledgeable twinkle “and there are those who can do unbelievably well just by keeping an eye on their numbers and only taking on staff when that is a realistic option. Small business owners can find themselves actually doing better than much larger organisations, just by keeping it real, working within their means and sticking to budgets, not going over the top with big fancy offices, but growing their business organically” Just because you open your doors, it does not mean that suddenly you will have customers, they come over time, or as another GC Business Week speaker, entrepreneurship mentor Peter Carruthers, puts it “Businesses are built one relationship at a time” There are few who would doubt that Bernadette Garside’s success, perhaps more than most businesses, is all about her distinct emphasis on the importance of relationships.

For advice about the most perfect weddings, or perhaps even business, on Gran Canaria contact Bernadette through her website PerfectWeddingCompany.com or call her on (00 34) 653 642 208

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Oct-Nov 2013

The Kingdom of Fairytales Come all ye Fairies, Nymphs, Magical Princesses and Unicorns; Knights in Shining Armour, Wise old Kings, Heroes and Goblins and imps and devlis.

Mogan and Arguineguin become a realm of the imagination this Carnival Season

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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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Tony Jewell

came to Gran Canaria in 2006 and opened a Real Estate Franchise called “Bars in Spain”.

He now has his own company, Canary Property Xpress. After working here for so long, he says, he speaks reasonable Spanish and is familiar with Spanish bureaucracy, both of which make him extremely useful as this year’s Elected Secretary of the GLAY committee.

In the UK he trained as an Engineer, giving him the necessary grounding to be able to think logically and solve problems, and you can appreciate in a voluntary organisation like GLAY, running a major music event like PRIDE, there are always plenty of potential solutions to be found. He worked in the Broadcast TV industry both as an engineer and later as a video editor, before going freelance; so also knows quite a bit about putting a show together.

“The job of secretary,” says Tony, “requires 2 main qualities – accuracy and efficiency, both of which I have. I also came to this with some very clear ideas of what needs to be done this year to enable us to move forward and create an evermore stable platform for the future.“ They say “If you want a job doing, give it to a busy man” and few could claim to be busier or indeed more committed than Tony Jewell and the management team he is part of.

Tony provides the administrative backbone of the organisation, ensuring accurate record keeping, minutes of meetings, contract provisions and the long and varied list of duties, undertaken by the volnteers of GLAY Maspalomas, are carried out properly, signed, sealed and delivered in such a manner that will allow future committees to really grow the organisation and its flagship event. PRIDE.

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Tues. 20th: 10:00 – 12:00

Sponsor PRIDE 928 987 952 This year the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) of San Bartolome de Tirajana, who administrate the Maspalomas area under the direction of Mayor Marco Aurelio Perez, have worked more closely than ever to capitalse on the wonderful opportunity that Maspalomas PRIDE represents in May to educate the youth of the county about issues of sexuality and orientation as well as demonstrate the broad cultural diversity here when people stand proudly together to show that equality and opportunity should never be limited, or people discriminated against, simply for who they love and how they choose to express it.

Here is a brief outline of just some of the Cultural events that the town hall have suggested to coincide with this year’s PRIDE:

Friday 16th: 19:00 Exhibition

Tony had an early career in the broadcast industry...

News, Views & Sunshine

Story writing competition for school children. This is part of an exercise to increase awareness of LGBT issues in schools and although there are varying opinions about the timing of this event, it is definitely in line with GLAYs core objectives and is something that they are keen to pursue and encourage throughout the year. This initial initiative is to introduce the subject and explain the significance of Maspalomas Pride and encourage children to express their thoughts about it.

Tues. 20th: 10:00 – 18:00.

Campaign to encourage people to keep the Dunes clean. Everyone going to the dunes will be given a bag with condoms, lube, safe sex information, an ashtray, T-shirt, possibly other items and a rubbish bag which they will be encouraged to fill and bring back with them at the end of the day. In the evening there will be large bins for rubbish that people bring back and there will be music playing, which culminates with the song “A quién le importa” (by Alaska) at which point balloons (or chinese lanterns) will be released.

Wed. 21st: Before the main

show there will be a short opening ceremony ending with a parade of flags / costumes of many different nationalities and brief welcome in each language. Then a Welcome speech by someone famous (to be decided) and the Mayor or other dignitary.

of work by local artists in Hotel Thurs. 22nd: 16:00 – 20:00 Neptuno Street theatre / street perSat. 17th. 21:00 Film “Harvey formance artistes around the Milk” to be shown in Parque Yumbo.

Sur. Sunday 25th: Before the Finale Sun. 18th Film Forum in Tour- show, there will be farewell ist Information Centre. Possibly speeches from the Mayor et al to include showing “Broke Back and announcement of the winMountain” ner of the writing competition.

WHERE’S BRUNO?

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Oct-Nov 2013

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

5000€ REWARD FOR LOST CAT! LOST FELINE! - HELP! - SOS!

Two very concerned lovers of their cat have asked for the specialist help of one of our partner charities TARA Animal Respect Association after having lost their precious cat several hundred meters from the Hotel Tirajana near the village of San Bartolome. Bruno is 14 months old, slim, grey (Russian blue), short haired, no collar, microchipped in Finland 985170002527123, neutered, speaks only Finnish but responds to the name Bruno in English.

Bruno was lost on Saturday, 18 January 2014, 1400 hours. The owners have been here on an extended holiday but must leave by the end of the month. Having just arrived on 12 January, Bruno was still a bit frightened. Perhaps inadvisedly, he was taken on a tour by car with his humans and when they opened the car door, near the San Bartolome Hotel, out he dashed.

His humans waited all afternoon into the night and returned for two days searching and posting LOST flyers around the local hotels and restaurants.

They initially offered a whopping €1000 reward for Bruno’s return. Which, out of desperation they have now increased to an eye popping 5000€ to anyone who can return Bruno to them safely!

If you think you might know where Bruno is you can call TARA directly on 928 062 891 or Brian at 634 328 201.

If you find Bruno, but cannot retrieve him, please call TARA or Brian and they can assist in his rescue.

Thank you for taking the time to reach out and reunite Bruno and his human family.

The English Newspaper for Gran Canaria

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TARA Animal Respect Association:

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Rescuing, Reuniting, Rehabilitating, and Rehoming Pets and Strays in Gran Canaria , Facebook.com/TARAGranCanaria or Brian@TARA-Animales.org .

TARA Animal Charity Shops, Events, Pet Foster Homes & Adoptions . (+34) 928 062 891 or 634 345 812 .

Together We Can Make Gran Canaria A Paradise For Animals Too!

FUNDRAISER MARCH 29 The first fundraiser of the year in aid of TARA will be held on Saturday 29th March from 2pm.

Come and join us throughout the day, and party on into the evening ...

We’ll have live entertainers for your pleasure once again!

The BBQ will run all afternoon (burger, hotdog and chicken wings, plus canarian potatoes, salad and pasta for just 8euro, with ALL profits going to the fundraiser).

Throughout the day you can buy goodies from the stalls set up inside

the bar area, there’ll be fun and prize games for all and there’s face painting for the kids. Later on there will be a prize quiz - so choose your team wisely!- , and a big prize raffle, as well as a fully stocked bar all day of course!

We’d love to hear from anyone with prizes to offer (whether it’s a physical prize to give to someone, or a pledge of your services eg 4 hours of handyman work), and of course the multitude of entertainers out there you’re all most welcome to be a part of this special day – please get in touch!

TH

We will keep this page updated as much as possible as things get planned, so please join and invite your friends - the more people that know about this the more we can raise for this wonderful cause!

For the facebook page visit:

FB.com/taragrancanaria

For the web page:

Tara-Animales.org

For the pool bar:

FB.com/ElCardonalPoolBar

TARA TO SET UP DEDICATED KENNEL

TARA would like to announce that we will be opening a dedicated kennel for supporters and volunteers to visit and help in our work. Although our primary objective is to always place animals searching for homes into a foster environment, this is not always possible.

After many years of searching we now think we have found a kennel that is suitable for our needs and meets our requirements. Dogs and cats will be housed in the purpose built kennels and cattery, enabling potential adoptors to visit and spend time with the animals.

This is exciting news for everyone at TARA, and we hope that the new kennels will bring many exciting opportunities for us and the animals we try to help. Our main goal is to find homes for animals but we will be able to use the kennels to assess, and promote the dogs, hopefully getting them in to new homes quickly.

Kennel life is hard for dogs, and regardless of how good the kennel is, it is still not a home. Our kennel will provide everything the dogs need, but ultimately they need their forever home. We will announce more news as it happens.

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Oct-Nov 2013

News, Views & Sunshine

Since opening their innovative restaurant overlooking the Porto Novo marina, with views of the finest Gran Canaria sunsets on offer, from their vantage point atop Puerto Calma, in Agua de la Perra, Puerto Rico, restaurateurs Jock and Paul have been getting rave reviews from tourists and residents alike.

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

Their offering over the Christmas holidays met with great success. One longstanding resident of the area, food and drink connoisseur Alex Savill, gave them the highest praise for the quality of their Christmas day 5 course feast, to which he and his wife treated several friends, calling it “A most excellent, traditional English Christmas dinner.”

“It was delicious, and hot, and every course arrived together; something that is not easy to do when you have just two serving staff and every table full, but Lemon Tree pulled it off to perfection.”

One Finnish family, the Nevalainens, along with their VIP celebrity host, star TARA volunteer Austin, said it was “a wonderful introduction to British cuisine” having previously thought it was all “battered fish and pickled cucumbers, smothered in ketchup” they said they were “thrilled to find out the extraordinary quality of British cooking” and especially raved about the puddings.

Of course the month or two after Christmas can be tricky for any business, so when asked how they were doing Paul says “We have now added a bar on the premises, to compliment the restaurant. We’ve diversified, giving the place a more homely feel, showing all the favourite British soaps & live sports too, including premier league football, rugby and even the winter olympics. We show all GAA events too now.”

WITH A VIEW TO FINE DINNING

sides of the market, providing fine dinning for special occasions as well as a more informal lounge feel for those simply looking for a little light entertainment and a warm welcome.

“We’ve got a snack menu availSo Paul and Jock have been able at the bar and also offer a slowly building a reputation for 2 course menu for only €9.95 being able to cater to various between 5pm & 7pm, with

fresh homemade produce including chunky chips, breaded hake & a range of gourmet pies like steak & vegetable or the very popular baked ham & leek” Of course their unique gourmet menu is always available in the restaurant from 5pm, though it is often best to ring ahead, even when they are

busy they’ll provide plenty of entertainment should you need to wait, and fit you in for some of the best grub available on the south of Gran Canaria.

The views alone are to die for, and you’ll not taste food this good at any all inclusive buffet, why you’d be hard pressed to beat this level of quality if you made it yourself! .:.

EXPATS IN SPACE The English Newspaper for Gran Canaria

Twitters from the Atlantic Well, its that time of the year again, and after all the goodwill has evaporated, the tinsel packed away for another year, the new diet started and you have considered suicide after receiving your credit card statement, you may be planning a holiday to get over it all. How about a holiday in the sun? I can recommend an ideal place, and that is the island of Gran Canaria.

No, just for once, I am not talking about a leisurely sunshine break on one of our wonderful beaches, enjoying incredible nightlife and mountain scenery that is little short of spectacular. Instead, how about being shot up one hundred kilometres into space for a rather lovely view of the Earth, or the blue planet as the travel brochures will soon be calling it?

As surprising as it might be, Gran Canaria, has been selected as the place to shoot three satellites into space over the next few years, together with an orbiting spaceship for passengers, and offering supersonic commercial flights between continents that will reach five times the speed of sound. The new Spaceport is to be built at the existing and newly refurbished airport in Gran Canaria, which folk often forget is the third largest in Spain.

The small spaceship, known as SOAR, will indeed be cosy, offering accommodation for six passengers and two pilots, but I was sad to see that there will be no air flight attendants on board. How I will

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© Barrie Mahoney

News, Views & Sunshine

Oct-Nov 2013

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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’

miss those safety (ISBN: 9780957544444). Available as paperback, Kindle and iBooks. iPhone/iPad and Android Apps: ExpatInfo, CanaryIsle and CanaryGay now available. demonstrations, in flight meals and Africa and Europe, as well as providing sales of duty free, but I guess they will discover another way to get passengers to easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. Well, part with more cash. How about optional I cannot argue with the logic of that one, high quality oxygen for sale? After recent but the statement goes on to say that it is ideal for the launch of satellites, because experiences with my fridge, cooker and there are no major centres of population dishwasher, of which country and make below. Hmm, well, as myself and many will remain anonymous, I was delighted other expats happen to live quite close to to discover that it is the Swiss who will be designing and building the spacecraft. the airport, I am not quite so sure that they After all, even after a few hundred years, have selected the right location. they still make such reliable watches, and I am sure that their time keeping and reli- Of course, Richard Branson has already taken the first leap into space tourism. Not ability will be impeccable. being content with offering banking and mobile phone services, he has created VirThis major new project will provide a gin Galactic, which is due to launch from tremendous boost to the economy of New Mexico in the US next year. There the island, with 60 million euros being is already a waiting list of 500 people invested in the project, together with the creation of new highly skilled jobs. How- willing to pay around 150,000 euros for ever, given the island’s desperate attempts a flight, but Gran Canaria is just so much more convenient for us Europeans. to block the major oil-drilling project off the eastern Canary Islands, which is supposed to create all manner of environmental disasters, and its preferences for ‘green’ energy and environmentally friendly policies, I fail to see how this is compatible with a major carbon producing activity such as launching spacecraft. No doubt the politicians will have an answer for me shortly.

There we have it, Gran Canaria is clearly the only place to travel to for a vacation, whether it be on the beach or in space. All in all, I am rather excited about the whole idea and will be busily trying to find the odd 3000 euros, which will be the price of a ticket, tucked in the back of the sofa. It sounds like a great idea for a future holiday, but just as long as there are no tour reps on board trying to flog overpriced I was also initially pleased and later dismayed to learn that the island has been excursions, or time-share touts trying to selected because of its closeness to West sell me a holiday home on the Moon, even with imported white sand, I will be happy.

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Oct-Nov 2013 Sept-Oct 2013

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

language exchange: Language - Spanish Lesson 84 Free Meet the locals!

HEAT IT UP! - EN LA COCINA

Theresa Coe

Los ingredientes

Ever had trouble deciphering the instructions on packaged foods? See if any of the following translations are helpful if you want to cook - cocinar (coh-see-NAR) Un producto casero is a homemade prod- when in la cocina – the kitchen. uct, while if you have dietary restrictions, you might want productos sin gluten, lactosa, trigo o harina (without gluten, lactose, wheat or flour), or sin azúcar Meaning instructions (literally: method of (without sugar). Huevos (WEH-boss) ie use), look for the words modo de empleo eggs, can be from battery hens or freeon the packaging. range: look for the word ‘jaula’ meaning cage, or de corral on the box. Grasa is Abrir el envase – open the packet/ fat (the noun, not adjective) so bajo en container (though you might see ‘abra’ in grasas means low in fat. Milk (la leche) command form too: open!). However, can be entera (full-flat, lit: ‘entire’), or instructions are often given using the full desnatada (skimmed – lit: decreamed, as infinitive verb when in written form. nata is cream). Alternatives include leche de soja (LEH-cheh deh SO-ha: soya milk).

Calentar en el microondas durante dos minutos – heat in microwave for two Remember to check la fecha de caduciminutes. dad (date of expiry), also expressed as: mejor antes de… (best before).

Precalentar el horno – pre-heat the oven.

Modo de empleo

Utensilios - utensils

Freir en aceite abundante – fry in abundant (lots of) oil.

Caliente a fuego lento – heat on a low heat – lit: ‘a slow fire’ (command or imperative verb form) Verter/vierta el contenido en una sartén – pour the contents into a frying pan Remover/remueva constantemente – stir constantly (note that ‘remover’ does NOT mean remove – which would be translated as quitar, or sacar).

Batir los huevos – beat the eggs Añadir sal y pimienta para sazonar a gusto – add salt and pepper to season to your taste Hervir/hierva el arroz – boil the rice Tapar/cubrir la cacerola - cover the saucepan Mantener refrigerado/congelado – keep refrigerated/frozen Una vez abierto, utilice/consuma dentro de dos días - once open, use/consume within two days

Words are often made bigger by adding ‘ón’ and smaller with ‘ito’, so while una taza is a cup, una tacita is a little cup, and un tazón is a bowl (a big cup!) – similarly una cuchara is a spoon, una cucharita is a little spoon (we´d say teaspoon) and un cucharón is a ladle/soup spoon. You may also need a knife, fork and plate: un cuchillo, un tenedor y un plato, while una ración means one portion/serving.

Finally, a recipe is una receta, not to be confused with the Canarian word for receipt – un tiquet or una receta médica (a prescription, literally, a medical recipe).

Need to look up words or phrases? I use www.spanishdict.com which also allows you to listen to the pronounciation.

For info about Spanish classes, the free language exchange or to request previous lessons from this paper, email

theresacoe@gmail.com

Playa del Inglés: Sundays 6pm at Amigos Coffee, Av de Italia 15 - www.amigoscoffee.com San Fernando: Tuesdays 7.30pm, Il Piccolo Diavolo, C/Plácido Domingo, 12 facebook.com/ilpiccolodiavolograncanaria Arguineguin: Thursdays, 7pm in Bar Forum, Av de Lajilla, 13. Facebook search: ‘language exchange Arguineguin’ Las Palmas: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 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 English club Fridays 4-6pm Amigos Coffee, Av de Italia 15, Playa del Ingles.

For more info or updates, email

theresacoe@gmail.com or see: facebook.com/LEGintercambio

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Oct-Nov 2013

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Betrayed

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Oct-Nov 2013

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

- Part Two

I peep through the blinds of my ninth by Jeannie van Rompaey floor flat. Barbara has gone down in the lift and is just coming out of the communal door to the street. She stops in her tracks, turns, looks up and waves. I wave back. A little ritual we’ve adopted. I manage some sort of smile.

Cars, buses and taxis jockey for position at the traffic lights. Spanish versions of Lowry’s matchstick men and women rush about as if there were no tomorrow. When I first came to the island, a young woman of twenty-two, I’d thought that, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Las Palmas, I’d never be lonely. How wrong I was. Quite recently I read an article that said city dwellers are some of the loneliest people in the world. I can well believe it.

Seeing other people going about their lives, always in a hurry, always with a sense of purpose, only serves to remind me that I’m alone. Not that I’m the sort of person to dwell on such things.

Standing on tiptoe, I reach up and try to free the twisted strings of the blind to let in more daylight. The working of this particular blind has been faulty for some time.

Not able to adjust it myself, I ought to find someone to fix it for me, but this is only one of a myriad of little jobs waiting to be done. The blocked pipe under the shower means that I have to be careful not to flood the bathroom. The answer, which I’ve discovered by trial and error, is to not turn the shower on fully, but to let the water trickle out little by little. Far from minding this, I tell myself I prefer it, just as I prefer a drizzle of rain to a downpour. There are also two cupboard doors that refuse to shut, window-frames that let in water, a kitchen tap that drips and several faulty sockets. None of these defects causes me any real problem. In the case of the sockets, I know which ones work and which do not, which ones to use and which to let alone.

One of the drawbacks of living alone is that every time something goes wrong you have the bother of calling someone in to help you. And bother it is. Nothing but bother. Firstly, there is the struggle to make yourself understood in a foreign language. Secondly, the repairs involved are so small that it really isn’t worth a man’s time and effort to turn out for the pittance he would earn.

I live with the breakdown of the facilities in my flat the same way that I live with the gradual deterioration of my body: the slight deafness, failing eyesight, recurring pains in shoulder, back and knee. All these minor ailments are little more than inconveniences only to be expected at my age. I can’t be doing with doctors. I’m all right as I am.

Having more or less succeeded in unravelling the strings of the blind, I hold them tightly together and give a sharp tug. Snap! One of the strings comes off in my hand.

Damn! Now the blind will have to stay down all the time.

Damn, damn and double damn! That bloody blind is the last bloody straw.

I double over, collapse on my chair and begin to sob. On and on I go, tears rolling down my cheeks, and all because of a bloody blind.

Gavin gone, passed away gently in his sleep, no time to say goodbye.

I must pull myself together. I’ve never been the type to make a fuss. I blow my nose, take a deep breath, grip the arms of the chair and push myself up. Feeling a bit wobAs for the neighbours, I wouldn’t dream of asking them bly, I make my way to the bedroom, steadying myself for help. I’m a very private person. Keep myself to myself. against walls and furniture as I go. I open the top drawer A nod or a quiet Buenos Dias is my only contact with the of the dressing table and take out a box. Celebrate his life other residents in the block. It is enough.

I tell myself, not dwell on his death.

Continued next edition. Find more from the author on JeannieVanRompaey.co.uk The First Chapter of Betrayed can be found on our website: TheCanaryNews.com/Writing

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News, Views & Sunshine

AUTHOR: JEANNIE VAN ROMPAEY

Oct-Nov 2013

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We are constantly seeking writers and contributors. At the start of 2014 we decided to place our emphasis on new writing and creative fiction, especially writing that deals with subjects connected to Gran Canaria, or the lives of our readers who are both native Canarians and foreign expats resident here on the island as well as the tens of thousands of English speaking tourists who pick up our publication every month

As Jeannie Russell, she is a senior member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators and adjudicates at drama festivals in Britain and Europe.

The first new writer to join us for 2014 has lived on Gran Canaria for some considerable time, she not only writes and publishes her fiction in the form of novels and short stories, but is also very involved in the creative writing community both where she lives in Maspalomas, on the south of the island, and also in the northern capital Las Palmas where she hosts a monthly evening of spoken word and poetry at The British Club. It is with great pleasure that we introduce Jeannie Van Rompaey whose story Betrayed we are serialising.

If you would like to know more about contributing some writing or perfecting your skills as a writer, we encourage to contact us here by email to Writing@TheCanaryNews.com

Award-winning writer, Jeannie van Rompaey has an MA in Modern Literature from the University of Leicester and a Certificate in Speech and Drama from The Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, Kent. She is a trained teacher and has had a varied career as lecturer, theatre-director, actress and performance poet.

Originally from England, she now lives in Gran Canaria with historian husband, Tony, and spends her time writing novels, short stories, plays and poems. Both Jeannie and Tony paint and have had several art exhibitions on the island. For examples of their paintings please see the art gallery on her website JeannieVanRomapaey.co.uk. Jeannie has one daughter, Anieka Russell, who is currently based in London.

Her writing and painting are about subjects she feels passionately about - the power of creativity, the complexity of relationships and the possibility of the supernatural.

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Oct-Nov 2013

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Centro Veterinario Mogán Total Veterinarian Services C/ las Casillas 2 – 35140, Mogán Tel: 928 569 344 / 639 526 811

Quinny's Quiz

Martin and Kate (Tiffs) are our winners from last edition and win Wine and a meal for two at The Lemon Tree in Puerto Rico

Send your answers to Quiz@TheCanaryNews.com Text 626 641 537 or give them to Quinny himself if you spot him round Puerto Rico for a chance to win a prize!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Our lucky winner will be the first selected at random with all the questions correct, and gets a choice of either 100€ worth of advertising or a A Meal for 2 including a

bottle of wine at

Los Danieles,

Puerto Rico Want to Sponsor a Prize? Let us Know. Quinny thanks you. Wy Aye Like!

Last Edition´s Answers:

1. Name the race horse who,s name is a bad crime spelled backwards 2. What drink has the nickname the water of life 3. From the clues ID premiership team, not old, fortress, together 4. Which month has the least days 5. In which pub game could you be knocking 6. The monkees Davey Jones was in which british TV soap 7. Which European city did rock group queen sing about 8. Who delivers letters to Greendale 9. Who,s TV catchphrase was shut that door 10. What is the Spanish word for beach

1.What do scots call new year Ans Hogmanay 2.id prem footy club posh glass house fit for a queen Ans Crystal Palace 3.Which cartoon did Penelope Pitstop and Mutley appear Ans Whackey Races 4.Brandon Flowers is lead singer with which band Ans The Killers 5. Spanish word for goodbye Ans Adios

Ans Brown (old kent road and whitechapel) 9.What type of dog was Lassie Ans Collie 10. Which sport do the players hit a puck Ans Ice Hockey what colour

6.Ian Rankins Rebus books are set in which city Ans Edinburgh 7.What is the maximum 3 dart score Ans 180 8. The 2 cheapest properties on standard monopoly are

Kay´s Corner

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News, Views & Sunshine

Oct-Nov 2013

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MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

were my age?´ ‘We didn’t have fast food when I was growing up,’ I informed him. ‘All the food was slow and we ate it in a place called home.’

‘My Mother cooked every day and we all sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn’t like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did!

By now the boy was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn’t tell him the part about how I had to have permission to get down from the table. Here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I’d thought his system could handle it : Some families never owned their own house or wore Levi’s, had never played golf, been abroad nor owned credit cards. I rode an old bike to school, with no gears and two speeds - dead slow and stop!

I was 15 before we got TV. The black and white picture was always fuzzy, and it had a wire coat hanger protruding from its posterior - a make shift aerial.

My daughter has requested an old fashioned - but “highly back in fashion Mum” gramophone for her birthday this year. She is a singer songwriter and has produced her most recent album on good old fashioned vinyl. Apparently the age of records has returned. Literally then, what goes around comes around...as in “back on the turntable.”

I am crying as I type when I think of all my old Elvis, Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald etc rpm 78´s* and 45´s I binned with the advent of the CD .

My neighbour´s 10 year old son asked me the other day, ‘What was your favourite fast food restaurant when you

Before you could dial out on our shared phone line you had to make sure people you didn’t know weren’t listening in. All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers. Film stars kissed with their mouths shut... at least on screen! There were no ratings because all films were responsibly produced, showing no profanity or violence, so that families could enjoy viewing together.

Sound like a tale of woe? Well if you grew up before the advent of fast food, you may like to raise a laugh with our now generation and share the above, adding more of your own favourites along the way.

Kay Owen

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El Periódico Inglés de Gran Canaria

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UK Run

UK Based

Number One Waterton Park, Bridgend, Wales CF31 3PH