The Courier Edition 318

THE WEATHER

Edition 318

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Friday 21st April 2017

BUILD IT OR ELSE!

lans for a waste disposal plant in the Guardamar area to cover several local municipalites could be scrapped by Guardamar council if a new road isn’t built for the garbage trucks to use.

It’s a further hurdle for the project to climb, with a local referendum also pending on the controversial matter.

The proposed plant site is off the La Berna road to Rojales, some three kilometres from the centre of Guardamar, with concerns expressed about a minimum number of 25 lorries that would use exisiting routes in the area.

Guardamar PSOE mayor, José Luis Sáez (pictured), has now insisted that a new

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road must be built that would connect the CV-91, which would by-pass urbanisations and the Santa Ana industrial estate. If that doesn’t happen, the mayor has said that his authority would not allow the plant to be built in the area, and has relayed that position to the Valencian government’s environment chief, Joan Piquer.

Opposition Partido Popular councillors in Guardamar led by ex-mayor Carmen Verdú, have opposed the siting of the plant saying that it would damage tourism and create all kinds of problems in the area. The PP have now launched a petition against the project, whilst their

See page 2 for the week´s forecast

BY ALEX TRELINSKI motion to reject it, was defeated by the other political parties on the council. All of the parties though did unify to agree to consult residents over the matter by kick-starting a process to hold a referendum.

Meanwhile concerns have been expressed recently by Partido Popular opposition councillors in Rojales over the effect the trucks will have on roads in their municipality if the proposed site becomes a reality.

A MASSIVE HIGH

wo British men have been arrested by the Guardia Civil in the Alicante area, after officers discovered a haul of synthetic drugs shipped in from Hong Kong that they described as being "80 times stronger than cannabis".

One of the Britons, aged 37, was detained trying to get

out of the country at AlicanteElche airport, whilst the other 36-year-old Brit arrested two days earlier, was the person that picked up the drug-laden packages for the gang that ordered the illegal material.

Authorities said that the strong drugs were being flown into the airport from a Hong Kong address and were concealed in bags labelled as coffee, and had been addressed to a bar in El Campello, which is popular with British customers.

The two British nationals, both El Campello residents, were subsequently arrested, and were remanded into custody on public health offences.

The Guardia Civil said that over 12 thousand grams

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BY ALEX TRELINSKI of the drug was seized in the operation which started in the middle of last month, and they believed that the market value of the banned substance would be around three and a half million euro.

The lumpy substance would first be dissolved in water, before being sprayed onto a cigarette or cigar to be smoked, and would have a "kick" up to 80 times stronger than cannabis.

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Friday 21st April 2017

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Two Dutch nationals have been arrested by the Guardia Civil for a running a scam where they offered non-existent mortgage loans to foreign property buyers across Alicante Province and the Mar Menor.

The two men, aged 32 and 38, lived in luxury villas in the Torrevieja and Guardamar areas, and are said to have committed at least a dozen acts of fraud, with at least 80 thousand euro being illegally obtained, with a San Javier judge investigated around 200 thousand euro lodged in bank accounts in Britain, America, and Holland.

Neither of the men had been officially registered as running a business in Spain, and both were denied bail by the judge.

The Guardia got involved when a Los Alcázares real estate agency reported that a number of their customers had been conned into buying the bogus one hundred percent mortgages which came with set-up costs, including up to five thousand euro for the use of a notary.

The purchasers found that they got absolutely nothing for their money, and would appear at the notary to sign papers, with the Dutch duo nowhere to be seen, and the notary telling them that nothing had been paid over.

The men struck at real estate agencies in Balsicas, Fuente Álamo and Los Belones in the Murcia region, as well as playing the same trick in agencies on the Orihuela Costa and in the Torrevieja area.

Guardia Civil and Torrevieja local police officers smashed into an apartment in the Acequión area of the city on Saturday after a man had barricaded himself in, and was threatening three women with a knife.

The incident was in a social-housing block on Plaza de las Islas Canarias by the Acequión health centre, with police getting the call about a man who was involved with a row with a neighbour, who then

was threatening to kill three women in his grandmother's flat.

Despite pleas from the Guardia and the police, the man would not open the door, and so a court order was obtained to enter the home, with the knife-wielder threatening to kill himself, before officers cuffed him.

It was revealed subsequently that he had an outstanding arrest warrant against him for violence against women.

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DEADLINES Advertising Monday 12:00 Editorial Tuesday 12:00 News Thursday 12:00

The Maritime Rescue service was called out to a record number of incidents off the coast of Alicante Province last year.

There were 309 emergency alerts last year, with a mixture of incidents involv-

ing recreational boats and merchant vessels, in addition to calls with surfers, swimmers, divers, and kayakers.

Not surprisingly, 60 percent of the incidents were during the summer season.

Air travel numbers are continuing to rise in Spain with the March national figures standing at just over 17 million passengers, an increase of four and a half percent on the same month last year.

907 thousand people used Alicante-Elche airport last month, a yearly rise of eight point four percent, whilst 53 thousand passen-

gers used San Javier, an increase of nearly four percent, helped by additional services using the facility in the Mar Menor area.

The figures are interesting for both airports as Easter fell in March last year, and the high season schedule therefore started earlier, indicating that this April's figures will show a massive annual rise.

Banco Sabadell is to close down its branch in Daya Nueva, meaning that there is no bank in the municipality, with the nearest one some five kilometres away in San Fulgencio.

Daya Nueva mayor María Teresa Martínez told the Informacion newspaper that Sabadell’s decision to pull out of the two-thousand population town was “shameful”, and “embarassing”. A residents petition is set to be organised, but the mayor said that Sabadell will not back down.

Teresa Martínez did add that she had been in contact with two other banks in the last week and that talks with other banks are also scheduled in bid to keep a bank branch in the town.

Sabadell’s move comes as part of a package to shut down 42 branches across Alicante Province in the next few weeks, with 150 being closed nationally. The bank says it is a reflection of more business being carried out via the internet or a mobile phone, with fewer customers resorting to visiting a branch.

THE WEATHER FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

Stop Press Thursday 18:00 Published by TKO Media & Entertainment S.L. Printed by Localprint S.L Depósito legal A - 188 - 2014 ISSN 2530-6146 The Courier (Torrevieja) The Courier, its publishers, members of staff and its agents do not accept responsibility for any readers letters or claims by advertisers nor can it be held responsible for any errors in advertisements which are reproduced from poor artwork, low quality electronic data or inadequate instructions for text or other layout features. Further no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by an error, inaccuracy or nonappearance of any advertisement, although all advertisements produced are checked prior to insertion. We regret that we cannot accept responsibility for more than ONE incorrect insertion and that no re-publication will be granted in the case of typographical or minor changes which do not affect the value of the advertisement. E&OE. NO PART OF THIS NEWSPAPER MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHERS.

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Going It Alone

Residents living in Guardamar’s Babylon beach area have decided to pay a total of 800 thousand euro to rebuild the walkway outside their homes that has been destroyed in recent storms during last December and January.

Each of the 108 families involved will pay between six and seven thousand euro each to carry out urgent repairs, with the structural integrity of many of the buildings threatened if another severe storm hit.

The decision was taken at a residents association meeting that took place on the beach itself at the weekend, with the money set to

be clawed back in grant claims from the national and Valencian governments, or even by resorting to legal action.

The group say that they are in effect enforcing a court ruling that forced the Alicante Provincial Coastal service to do the work earlier in the year, but which the residents claim is just dragging its feet and doing nothing.

Disabled access to the beach will be put in and the breakwater area will also be reinforced, though when the work will start is unclear, as the residents association will have to apply for the necessary permits.

Boxed Up

Four Spanish men, three of them from the same family, have been accused of being involved in one of the biggest thefts of plastic containers ever seen in Alicante Province, according to the Guardia Civil.

The gang would regular plunder a Benidorm supermarket, belonging to a wellknown chain, and steal the collapsible boxes, which were used to store fruit and vegetables.

Around two and a half

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thousand containers worth ten thousand euro were stolen in total, and a check by the Guardia on recycling centres around the region, led them to a plant in Cox which was buying the pilfered boxes.

The Guardia lay in wait as part of surveillance operation at Cox, and spotted a van, with the suspects in them, plus 200 containers.

Four men were subsequently arrested in the Alicante area at El Campello.

May Mayhem

Torrevieja's popular fourday Feria de Sevillanas, which was scheduled to start on Wednesday May 10th, has been postponed.

It's down to a delay in awarding a contract to a winning bidder to run the fair, with Torrevieja council having to admit that the traditional May event might have to be shunted to June.

Torrevieja's fiestas coun-

cillor Domingo Pérez says that the fair will definitely happen, but it will be delayed due to the winning tender for the 94 thousand euro contract not yet being selected. The announcement is despite posters promoting the major tourist event having already been published by the council, with Pérez insisting that everything had to be

done legally over the tender. The councillor said the event might still happen in May, but accepted that June is a distinct possibility. Pérez added that a number of companies were involved in the bids to run the event, but did not shine any light on why things have been delayed so seriously, leading to the fair having to be postponed.

New App

Pilar de la Horadada's tourist department has launched a new WhatsApp service for mobile phone users telling them in English, as well as in Spanish and German, about events going on in the municipality.

Pilar council says they are one of the few authorities in Alicante Province to use WhatsApp this way, and that a regular update will be sent out every Friday, with people able to register by dialling +34 675 545 781.

Painted Engines Monday Swarm

A long-running dispute between firefighters in Alicante Province and regional management has reached a new level with a number of vehicles found daubed in graffiti slagging off bosses.

The province has thirteen fire stations with union leaders saying that most of them had been hit in places Elche and Torrevieja with slogans calling for the resignation of

Alicante Provincial Council president César Sánchez and the Council’s Emergency services spokesman Jaime Lloret.

Firefighters say that a series of agreements have been breached between the union and management, and last autumn they staged overtime bans due to what they say a dangerous lack of manning across the province.

A swarm of bees got people running out of their seats outside a La Marina village bar on Monday lunchtime.

The swarm appeared close to premises on the main Avenida de la Alegría in the village at around noon, with customers fleeing as the swarm approached.

Emergency services were called, with a beekeeper

(picture from the Informacion newspaper) arriving at the scene to remove a honeycomb from a tree on the street. It’s the latest of a whole series of “bee” incidents hitting the southern Costa Blanca and Mar Menor in recent weeks due to the mild wet winter leading to an early blooking of flowers.

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Vandals Strike

Pilar de la Horadada's local police are investigating recent acts of vandalism on the Rio Seco walking trail, including warning signs being ripped down. The local council has warned that offenders could be fined up to 300 euro if they are caught by the police.

Costa Boost

Costa Blanca Easter hotel bookings were up by ten percent on last year’s period helped by good weather, and the holiday falling later in mid-April.

Valencian region tourist chief Francesc Colomer said that the area was in for a excellent year for tourism, and it would continue be one of the major destinations in Spain for both foreign and domestic holidaymakers.

Friday 21st April 2017

Fried Chicken

A lorry carrying live chickens caught fire on the A-70 motorway on Monday evening as it was passing by the Cox area on the northbound carriageway, with most of the animals being burnt alive.

Long queues of traffic built up at the end of the Easter

holiday weekend with diversionsto set up for a time via Albatera, with the northbound lanes being blocked off.

Orihuela firefighters were unable to save most of the birds, with investigations launched to find out what aused the fire.

Open Aquarium

Alicante City’s Plaza Nueva aquarium at last reopened this week after the facility was closed down in the summer of 2015, following the death of 130 fish due to a cooling engine fault.

Refurbishment plans tripled in cost, and after numerous delays, the facili-

ty was officially opened by Alicante mayor Gabriel Echávarri with six tanks having a total capacity of 75 thousand litres of water, containing a variety of Mediterranean sea life, including one dedicated to jellyfish.

50 different species are featured at the new-look aquarium.

Algorfa Fair

Fake Sales

Three street vendors selling fake goods were collared by Torrevieja’s local police last week, with over seventeen-hundred counterfeit items seized.

One of the hawkers was arrested under the Aliens Act.

San Pedro’s Pick Over fifteen-hundred San Pedro del Pinatar residents took part in a recent survey to see what they would like to see happen in a proposed plan to revamp the centre of the town. Two-thirds of those who voted, said that they wanted to see the Plazas de la Constitución and España linked up by a traffic-free area.

90 percent of those surveyed put over their views via the council website, with San Pedro mayor Visitación Martínez saying that appropriate security measures had been taken to make sure that the vote accurately reflected local opinion.

Beggar’s Belief

A 10-year-old boy who was forced to beg on the promenade of El Campello last week has been taken into care, as two Bulgarian nationals, including his father, were arrested by the Guardia Civil.

Officers suspected that a youngster was being used

to hawk for cash at the Alicante area resort, and when they approached him and an adult, they tried to flee.

They were quickly caught, and the man said he could not speak Spanish, and denied knowing the child, who said the

reverse to the Guardia agents.

The youngster said he was a friend of his father’s, and both were charged with exploiting a minor by forcing them into begging, whilst the boy was taken to be looked after in a facility in Alicante City.

Help’s Back

Algorfa will be hosting its second-ever April Fair on Friday April 28th and Saturday April 29th in the new location of La Ermita de Algorfa.

The official grand opening will be on the Friday

evening at 9.00 pm with music and dancing, with a full programme lined up for all day on Saturday, with more stall holders and entertainers involved compared to last year's debut event.

The Torrevieja office of HELP Vega Baja was officially reopened on Monday

by HELP President Michele Masson (pictured left), and Torrevieja’s International Residents councillor, Carmen Morate.

The premises on Calle Rambla de Juan Mateo were closed in December for renovation work, as well as the charity looking to restructure their operation there, in addition to maintaining their San Miguel

centre and a presence on the La Marina urbanisation.

It will be open on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 10.00 am and 1.30 pm, with their phone number being 966 723 733.

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Europe’s Longest

The oldest living European woman is Spanish, after the death last weekend of 117year-old Italian, Emma Morano. Ana Vela Rubio is aged 115 (pictured at

her last birthday), and was born in October 1901 in Puente Genil in Cordoba province.

Ana Vela is now the fourth-oldest living woman on the planet,

and she has one surviving daughter, also called Ana and aged 89, who lives nearby and visits her very regularly at the La Verneda nursing home in Barcelona

Rajoy Subpoenaed

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been ordered to testify in proceedings relating to corrupt practices by a number of companies, which are suspected of bribing leading officials of Rajoy's ruling Partido Popular in exchange for contracts as part of the socalled Gurtel scandal.

It is not yet clear on what date exactly Rajoy is to take the stand. The 62-year-old leader is not accused of any wrongdoing himself in the case, but his post as PP leader since 2004 could mean that he might hold valuable information.

The trial arose out of the

scandal centered on businessman Francisco Correa, who along with three others is suspected of fraud and the embezzlement of large sums of public funds between 1999 and 2005.

In total, 37 defendants face justice in the controversial case, in which it is alleged that Correa and his network would receive a commission of between two to three percent on the value of public tenders.

Correa is alleged to have shared those profits with the politicians that facilitated the awarding of those contracts.

The case forced Rajoy’s health minister Ana Mato to

resign in 2014. She stood accused of benefiting from illegally-obtained funds via her then-husband, the mayor of the city of Pozuelo de Alarcon. Former PP manager and treasurer Luis Barcenas is also implicated in the case.

Since Spain's transition to democracy following General Franco's dictatorship, only two former prime ministers have had to testify in court. Spain's prime minister during the transition to democracy, Adolfo Suarez, and ex-Socialist leader Felipe Gonzalez both testified as witnesses in separate trials in 1998.

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Holiday Crooks

A gang of East European thieves, who targeted elderly British tourists at their Mallorca hotels, has been broken up by the Guardia Civil.

Officers said that the trio marked out their targets after following them from the airport and stole belongings as they checked into their hotels or took the lift to their rooms after checking in.

The alleged ringleader was held along with two other unnamed suspects.

They face charges over 25 thefts in the resorts of Palmanova, Magaluf, Paguera and Santa Ponca.

The gang, which included Slovakians as well as Romanians, is believed to have operated in other areas including the Costa del Sol and the Canary Islands.

Deadly Inferno

Fire crews had to fight a 'Towering Inferno' in Malaga on Monday in which a 50year-old man died and 20 residents were left trapped on the roof.

The blaze broke out on at around 8.00 am in a block of flats, 15 storeys high, in the Garden City area of the Costa del Sol resort, with the source of the fire said to be a room situated on the eighth floor.

Fire-fighters said the flames spread very quickly and produced so much black smoke that residents climbed to the roof for fresh air and safety.

The mother of the man who died was rescued by firemen from the balcony using an external ladder, with neighbours saying that they tried desperately to break the front door open, but were unable to do so.

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Classical Night

The In Harmony Chamber Choir and the Mediterranean Symphony Orchestra will be linking up for a concert on Friday May 5th at La Zenia’s Centro Ecumenico Cristo Resucitado..

The choir and orchestral soloists will perform the John Rutter Requiem with a supporting programme of liturgical 'potboilers', such as the Cantique de Jean Racine; Jesu. Joy of Man's Desiring; Psalm 23 from

Plenty Of Support

TV's Vicar of Dibley; and many other favourites.

Tickets, priced at 12 euro each - with a large donation to church funds - are available from La Ponderosa Gift Shop on La Zenia island.

Just over a thousand euro has been raised at the latest fundraiser at Guardamar’s Restaurante El Alto La Dolores, with the proceeds

Items Wanted

Age Concern, Costa Blanca South, is always grateful for good quality donated items like clothing and small items of furniture that can be sold in their charity shops in Torrevieja (pictured) and Los Montesinos.

If you don’t want an item, then just recycle and bring any times directly to the shops, or to the Age Concern centre on Calle Paganini in La Siesta , Torrevieja. If you need any items to be collected, please

Spring Total

HELP Murcia Mar Menor raised 550 euro at its recent Spring Fair at the Oasis Boulevar, Los Alcazares.

Thanks to the efforts of the HELP volunteers there were a variety of stalls as well as ever popular Tombola!

The highlight of the day was the fashion show which was held outdoors in the sunshine and where some high quality ladies dresses, skirts, tops and trousers were sold at bargain prices.

At HELP's AGM, it was

decided that the Cruz Roja will be sole beneficiary from the charity’s funds this year, in recognition of all the hard work they put in helping the victims of the winter floods, Volunteers are more than welcome to join HELP to help the needy in the Mar Menor area, and more details are available from the office in Calle Penélope, Los Alcazares or the shop in the Oasis Centre, in addition to phoning 968 570 059.

going to Torrevieja Stroke Support. The money will be spent on physiotherapy equipment, including the wheelchair featured in the

photo, which shows Pat and Paul Owen from TSS receiving the cheque from organisers Joan Rampton and Marlene Brown.

Friday Thanks

call 966 786 887. All of the proceeds from the sold items will be used to continue the work of the charity, which is also grateful for a recent donation of 350 euro from the Las Salinas petanca league.

It may have been Good Friday last week, but that didn’t stop the Torreviejabased Crescendo Choir having their regular rehearsal at the El Paraiso restaurant in the city, along with a special presentation.

Choir president Mary Mitchell handed over a 100 euro cheque to choir member Jean McNary, who is also a member of the Torrevieja Hospital Fellowship who provide refreshments to the hospital’s outpatients who are there all day getting chemotherapy treatment. A number of choir members have been through the process themselves, so they were delighted to make the donation as a personal mark of appreciation.

Tom’s Farewell

Ten years of the Vivace Classical Choir were celebrated recently with two concerts at La Siesta church in Torrevieja, and the Casa de Cultura in San Miguel de Salinas. These were the final performances under the baton of retiring musical director Tom Pargeter and his wife (and choir administrator Katy), who were given a special presentation by the choir, along with a standing ovation from the audience after

the San Miguel concert.

Just over a thousand pounds was raised at the La Siesta concert (pictured) in aid of the Baby House charity in Mozambique, with plans now well in progress for Vivace to perform in the autumn under new management.

New singers are welcome and you can contact Elly van der Vecht for more details on 966 716 016 or send them an email to elcvdvecht@gmail.com

This evening (Friday April 21st), the choir will be performing at Benijofar church in a free concert starting at

7.00 pm, when there will be a bucket collection during the night in aid of church restoration.

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Massive Lunch

Brit Falls A 60-year-old British man suffered bruising, after he lost his footing when he was walking down some cliff steps going down to Cala Mosca on the Orihuela Costa.

The incident happened last week when the man slipped on the “ad-hoc” unofficial path, with passersby calling the emergency services after they spotted a man lying face down.

He was taken away on a special stretcher for treatment at Torrevieja Hospital.

The northern town of Avilés is a potential world record breaker by staging what they claim is the biggest-ever street dinner on Monday. A group of notaries acted as witnesses for the Guinness Book of Records, with 11,836 diners partaking of a meal at the food fair held at the Asturias Province town.

The record set by Avilés smashed the previous holder, Metepec in Mexico, which attracted just under nine and a half thousand diners, with last Monday’s lunch in Avilés lasting just 45 minutes.

Documentation will now be sent to the Guinness Book of Records in the hope of having the meal officially ratified as a world record.

Big Barbies

Network Busted The National Police say that 17 people have been arrested in Spain as part of an international operation against a major group that distributed child pornography via the online chat application WhatsApp. The police said the network operated some 100 chat groups with 135 identified users in 18 countries in Europe, Central and South America, with a further 22 arrests being made internationally. Locally one man

was arrested in Alicante Province, with the police saying that files retrieved

Bigastro council has recently opened a revamped recreational area at La Pedrera, which features contained abusive and bru- plenty of room for a hot tal treatment of young chil- picnic dinner thanks to some dren. barbecue units having been

installed.

Other improvements include better toilets and paths, in addition to a new CCTV monitoring system to deal with the spate of vandalism that his hit the

area in the past.

The barbecue units will be locked up, with anybody wanting to use them needing to go make a reservation in advance at Bigastro Town Hall.

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Pets

Friday 21st April 2017

Adoption Corner

GEORGE George is a beautiful 10-week-old pup, who is being fostered in a home with his siblings and other dogs and cats. George is a Boxer/GSD cross, and we believe he will grow to a big size. He will be ready to go to a home of his own in a few weeks time, but can be reserved now.

For more about George please call PEPA on 650 304 746 or email p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail.com

Keep The Chocs Away JAKE Jake is a lovely 18-month old dog who is full for energy and always happy when you take him for a walk with his friends. Jake came to the Los Infiernos shelter in San Javier as a small pup, and deserves a loving forever home. All adoptions from Los Infiernos are subject to dog checks. If you are interested to learn more, then check out the Los Infiernos Perrera Supporters Facebook page or send an e-mail to losinfiernosdogs@hotmail.com

LILY Lily is a medium-sized female dog who is aged around four years. She is quite a strong dog for her size, and so would need to be adopted by someone able to handle her on a lead when she was out walking. Lily is a very friendly girl and would make a great family dog. To arrange to meet her, please call APAH on either 630 422 563 or 616 210 850.

LUNA

Luna is a six-year-old girl that was rescued recently, and it is believed that she had been used for breeding for all of her life. She is now looking for a home of her own.

Luna is great with other dogs and has been living in a home, and is quite small weighing in at around five kilos.

For more about this lovely girl, please phone PEPA on 650 304 746 or email p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail.com

The recent Easter period may be a chocolate treat time for humans, but they can do some serious damage to dogs. New figures from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) reveal that two in three vets in the UK treated at least one case of chocolate poisoning last Easter.

BVA's voice of the veterinary profession survey, which polled over 1,600 UK vets, shows a marked increase in the number of vets seeing at least one dog with chocolate poisoning compared to the same period in 2015, with the highest number of incidences happening in the south of England.

Chocolate can be highly poisonous to pets as it contains theobromine, a naturally occurring chemical found in cocoa beans, which, while fine for humans, is harmful to dogs and other animals. In high enough doses, it can be toxic to all species, including humans!

Fortunately for us, chocolate contains a small enough quantity that humans can usually process it without a problem, however metabolism of theobromine from chocolate and cocoa is slow in the dog compared to their owners. The onset of clinical signs of chocolate toxicity is usually seen within 24 hours but more likely within four hours. Once seen the signs may persist for up to 72 hours.

British Veterinary Association president, Gudrun Ravetz, said: "The Easter period is great fun for the whole family, but unfortunately dogs like to join in too.

TIANA Tiana is a four-year- old Chihuahua, weighing at just over three kilos, and is chipped, vaccinated and sterilised. Tiana is a quiet little girl who loves to be around people and would ideally suit a retired couple. She is fine with other dogs, as long as they are not boisterous and would be best with dogs that are older and is good with cats. For more on Tiana, please call Pets in Spain on 645 469 253. www.petsinspain.com

"With their keen sense of smell, they will easily work out where chocolate is being stored – inside or outside – and make sure it is pet proof and out of reach of inquisitive noses to avoid an emergency trip to the vet.”

The effects of chocolate poisoning in dogs, which are most commonly affected amongst pets, usually include the first signs of excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea and restlessness.

These symptoms can then develop into hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rate, hyperthermia and rapid breathing. In severe cases, dogs can experience fits and heartubeat irregularities and some cases can result in coma or death.

Fatal doses of theobromine are between 90 – 250mg per kg of body weight. Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine with dark chocolate containing around six times the amount in milk chocolate and cocoa powder containing even more still. For a 10 kg dog such as a West Highland Terrier, potentially toxic levels can be reached by eating only 2.2oz (63grams) of unsweetened cooking chocolate, or 23.5 oz (670grams) of milk chocolate.

Chocolate poisoning is a very real threat to your dog.

To avoid this occurring, make sure chocolate is kept secure and out of reach of your dog. If you suspect your dog has eaten a significant amount of chocolate, don't delay, speak to your vet and get the dog seen.

TIMBA Timba had been running around the nearby countryside for a few days with her siblings, Trekker and Troika, and it’s not known whether they had escaped from somewhere or been dumped. They have been at the SAT kennels for a month and are enjoying having lots of cuddles. They are four- month old medium-sized crossbreeds, and if you are interested in Timba or her siblings please call 966 710 047 (leave a message) or email info@satanimalrescue.com

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Partner Killed A row between partners escalated into murder in the early hours of last Sunday morning after a 53year-old woman stabbed her partner to death at their Barcelona area home.

The victim, a woman aged 57, is said to have suffered regular violent incidences at her partner's hands, and when their neighbours heard of the killing, they said they had been half-expecting it.

They say the deceased was often seen with bruises and other outward physical signs of violence, and that the two women – who

had been living together for many years – frequently had blazing rows.

Police were called out at around 3.00 am to the apartment on the Passatge Sant Bernat (pictured) and the younger woman was arrested. The Spanish Observatory Against Homophobia said identical legal procedures and protections needed to be put in place for victims of same-gender relationship violence as those which have been designed to help women attacked or killed by their husbands or boyfriends.

Lack Of Restraint

A 69-year old Scottish pensioner, Robert Tait, was arrested by the Guardia Civil on Friday April 7th for trying to club his ex-wife to death at her house in Aguilas in the Murcia region. Details of the incident were only released some days later, with the man said to have had a restraining order previously granted against him.

He broke into his former partner’s home and started to beat her with a crowbar.

He was remanded into custody after appearing before a judge. The victim, also

British and also aged 69, was taken to hospital with multiple injuries, including skull and cheekbone fractures.

The injured woman was asleep and woke up to find an intruder armed with the crowbar standing over her bed. She told the Guardia that she was hit several times around the face and head with the weapon, before managing to get her attacker to stop his assault and talk with him in a bid to calm him down.

He allegedly kept her prisoner in her own home for

around two hours before leaving the property on the understanding she wouldn’t call the Guardia when he left. The Guardia said she rang for help the minute he was out of the door, and the suspect was arrested as he returned to the house after realising he had left behind the crowbar.

It is understood a restraining order previously in place against the suspect had expired, as Guardia officers found the man and woman covered in blood when they arrived at the property.

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Friday 21st April 2017

Cleaning and Refreshing Your Mattress Let’s talk about cleaning and refreshing your mattress today. If you haven’t cleaned your mattresses recently, now would be a great time.

We don’t have to go into all the details about the microscopic things that can live on your mattress and I don’t dwell on it too much, but every time I change the sheets on the beds I think about it and remember it’s probably time to vacuum them again.

Wash your bedding every week, in the hottest possible setting allowed. I also take off the bed skirt and throw it in the wash every couple months. And when was the last time you washed your pillows? You should wash your pillows at least once a year, twice would be better.

Most can be washed. Follow the manufacturer directions.

Mattress covers and pillow covers should be washed once a month. I take my bed covers to the laundry and use the big machines that can handle my king size bedding (usually twice a year).

Now let’s get to the mattress! Take the mattress off the bed to vacuum the top of the box springs, sides, bed rails and other parts that are hard to get to with the mattress on. I also wash the wall and baseboards behind the

bed and vacuum under the bed. If your mattress can be flipped, vacuum the side of the mattress that is going to be down and put mattress I use a sifter and sprinkle about 1 1/2 cups of baking soda on the top of the mattress. Then go do something else for an hour or start working on another mattress in the house. The baking soda helps draw any moisture out of the mattress, deodorizes it, and leaves it smelling fresh. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oils to the baking soda if you like.back in place. Some mattresses are not meant to be flipped so you can just skip that step.

After an hour or so use a vacuum attachment to vacuum up the baking soda and those yucky microscopic critters we were talking

about earlier. I use an upholstery attachment for the top and the crevice attachment for the seams and sides of the mattress.

I like to use a lavender spray on the mattress after cleaning it well. This one is from Bath and Body Works. I love the smell and it’s so relaxing. I love slipping into my bed after deep cleaning it.

How did I ever sleep well on a dusty bed? I also like to spray my pillow a couple times a week with the lavender spray. It’s so relaxing!

I spot clean the throw pillows on my bed when needed. I dust them a couple times a year by tossing a few of them in the dryer on a low setting for a few minutes. I also like to spray lavender on them from time to time.

When was the last time you cleaned your mattress?

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Friday 21st April 2017

Homes & Gardens

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Friday 21st April 2017

Sweet Prawns with Chorizo and Onions

Ingredients 6 tbsp Spanish olive oil 450g fresh prawns, head on and unpeeled 160g sliced chorizo 1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 small shallot, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 3 tbsp torn fresh coriander leaves 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves 1/2 teaspoon salt 8 whole boquerones (Spanish white anchovies), optional Method Heat a cast iron pan over a high flame or heat until slightly smoking. Add the olive oil and quickly add the prawns, chorizo, onion, shallot, garlic, coriander, parsley, salt, and boquerones, if using or desired.

Cook, stirring, until the prawns are cooked through, two to three minutes. Serve immediately.

Food & Drink

Food & Drink

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Crispy chicken salad with sugared pecans, pears and blue cheese For the salad 900g chicken tenders 1 1/2 tsps salt 1/4 tsp pepper 2 eggs, beaten 220g panko 6 tbsps vegetable oil 565g mixed baby greens 160g thinly sliced red onion 4 pears, peeled, thinly sliced 135g Danish blue cheese, crumbled Dressing, recipe follows Sugared pecans, recipe follows For the dressing 55g chopped pecans 80ml maple syrup 110ml apple cider vinegar 120g mayonnaise 30g brown sugar 3/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper 8 tbsps vegetable oil For the sugared pecans 100g granulated sugar 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1/4 tsp salt 110g pecans, lightly toasted Method 1) Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Place eggs in a

medium bowl. Place panko in another bowl. Dip chicken first in eggs, then in panko.

2) Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

When oil is hot, add chicken to pan and cook until browned on all sides, about 6 minutes in total. Remove chicken with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

3) In large bowl, toss greens, onion, pears and cheese.

Add just enough dressing to coat well. Arrange greens on six plates. Top with chicken tenders and sugared pecans. Drizzle with additional dressing and pass remainder.

4) For the dressing, add all

ingredients, except oil, to a blender container. Blend until well combined. With the motor running, slowly add oil and blend until creamy.

Transfer to a small bowl.

Cover and store in the refrigerator if making ahead of time.

5) For the sugared pecans, carefully melt sugar in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Stir in cayenne pepper, salt and pecans. Stir until nuts are well coated, then transfer to a plate lined with wax paper and coated with cooking spray. When cool, break into pieces. Store in an airtight container if making ahead of time.

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Friday 21st April 2017

Food & Drink

Roasted Auberigine with Sichuan-Style Pork

Ingredients

Method

6 medium Japanese aubergines (about 1 pound), tops trimmed, halved lengthwise 1/4 cup canola oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 pound ground pork 1 bunch spring onions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated 6 cloves garlic, minced One 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and finely grated 2 to 4 tablespoons chilli-garlic sauce or sambal oelek 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar Steamed white rice, warm, for serving

Preheat the oven to 220°C with a rack set on the middle shelf.

Use a sharp paring knife to lightly score the flesh of each aubergine 6 to 8 times. Place the on a baking sheet and toss with 2 tablespoons of the oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Place the aubergine, cut-side down, and bake until the aubergine starts to soften and the skin starts to brown, about 15 minutes. Use a large offset spatula to gently flip the aubergine over and bake until the flesh is completely softened and light golden brown, about 15 more minutes.

Meanwhile, make the pork: Heat the remaining oil

over medium-high heat in a large saute pan. Add the pork and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, breaking up the meat, until lightly browned and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the spring onion whites, garlic and ginger and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Stir in the chili-garlic sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, 1/2 cup water and half of the scallion greens. Simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

To serve, spoon the pork over the roasted aubergine and garnish with the remaining spring onion greens.

Serve with steamed rice.

Chocolate Mess Ingredients 1 box chocolate cake mix (recommended: Betty Crocker) For the cinnamon ganache 240ml double cream 140g dark chocolate, chopped 1 tsp ground cinnamon For the toffee, apples and brandy 270g brown sugar 240ml double cream 60ml brandy 2 apples, peeled, pitted and diced Ice cream, any flavor your desire Whipped cream, for topping Dark, milk and white chocolate chunks, for decorating Method 1) Prepare cake mix according to directions on box and bake in a 25-cm ring pan.

Allow to cool in pan.

2) Boil cream and remove from the heat. Place the chocolate pieces into a bowl and pour cream over the chocolate and mix until a smooth texture is obtained.

Add cinnamon and combine.

Keep warm.

3) For the toffee apples and brandy, melt sugar to a light brown caramel on high fire.

Slowly pour in the cream while stirring constantly.

When all caramel melted, remove pan from the heat and add the brandy and

apples. Lower the flame, cook for about 5 minutes and then allow time for it to cool down For assembly: 1) Place pan on a platter or remove cake from pan. Pour the ganache on top of cake until it is nearly covered.

2) Pour the toffee mixture on top the cake. Include 3 scoops of ice cream on the center of the cake. Put whipped cream around the cake. Decorate with dark, milk and white chocolate chunks. Serve with spatulas and let people eat straight from the pan to make them

fulfill all their childhood desires that were always forbidden!

Food & Drink

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Health

Friday 21st April 2017

Amsterdam's solution to the obesity crisis: no fruit juice and enough sleep The city of Amsterdam is leading the world in ending the obesity epidemic, thanks to a radical and wide-reaching programme which is getting results even among the poorest communities that are hardest to reach.

Better known for tulips and bicycles, Amsterdam has the highest rate of obesity in the Netherlands, with a fifth of its children overweight and at risk of future health problems.

The programme appears to be succeeding by hitting multiple targets at the same time – from promoting tap water to after-school activities to the city refusing sponsorship to events that take money from Coca Cola or McDonalds.

It is led by a dynamic deputy mayor with the unanimous backing of the city’s politicians. From 2012 to 2015, the number of overweight and obese children has dropped by 12%. Even more impressive, Amsterdam has done what nobody else has managed, because the biggest fall has been amongst the lowest socioeconomic groups.

It is in neighbourhoods like the Bijlmer in the south-east that the programme is changing lives. The Bijlmer is notorious, says Wilbert Sawat, coordinator and PE teacher at De Achtsprong primary school, and that’s why he wanted to work there. Other teachers do too, he says. “Here we can make a difference.”

The school is in the middle of a high-rise housing estate that was experimental in the 1960s, with raised roads so people would be free to walk and cycle on the ground level. But the cycle parks are empty. In 1975, when the Dutch colony of

Suriname in south America became independent, many migrated to Amsterdam and moved into the cheap flats.

Cycling was not part of their culture.

one fruit or vegetable for all children for three days a week. The fridge is filled with carrots and radishes, which the children are told they must at least try.

The school, which in 2007 was in the top three in Amsterdam for overweight children, is now one of 100 that are a key focus of the obesity programme.

Children are weighed and measured every year. Some parents objected but now it is normal, says Sawat. And so is tap water.

Young children are the focus of most obesity efforts because it is easier to prevent them putting on weight than try to sort it out afterwards. But Dana Bijvoet, a nurse and family adviser working out of a secondary school in the area, picks up with the adolescents. There are about 2,000 morbidly obese children in Amsterdam who are the initial focus.

“All children have to bring water or milk to school,” he said. “No juice. A lot of parents were really upset. We had really hard discussions with them.” The parents thought juice or even squash was healthier, assuming they contained fruit. The teachers told them about the sugar. “I told them we were doing them a favour. They could have water at school and then juice at home. Now it’s normal – not a problem.”

The ban on birthday feasts for the class also caused ructions. “It had become competition.

Somebody brought cupcakes, so another brought cupcakes and juice and then cupcakes and juice and a toy.” The school produced a folder of healthy treats, such as oranges or carrots decorated to look like faces.

“A few years ago we had a boy who kept going to the bathroom. We found he had Mars and Snickers in his pockets. He was a really fat boy and his parents had put him on a diet but they didn’t tell us,” said Sawat. Now the school is focused on healthy food and even the nearby McDonalds has agreed that a child without a parent can only buy an apple – no fries.

A European grant provides

She tells desperately sad stories. Romana, 14, had liver failure because of her weight and was suffering from depression and low self-esteem.

Bijvoet talks of dysfunctional families where parents think the child can manage without help, where there is no money and constant crisis.

“I want to know how they are in their lives – their psychological health and their selfesteem,” she said. She needs to help with the other problems, “to get a bit of space in their heads to deal with the obesity”.

Romana’s parents, from Suriname, are divorced and her father, who has custody, said the mother was possessed – he told Bijvoet of “a lot of black magic and voodoo”. He was a cab driver, rarely home but would not permit his daughter to go out alone. Asked what she wanted most, Romana said, “I want to fit into my jeans and feel better about myself,” said Bijvoet.

In the east part of the city, where car horns and music announce a Moroccan wedding in the street, a cooking class takes place for children and parents in a com-

munity centre. “Every week they come together to cook healthily – to change the traditional recipes,” says Amira El Ashkar, a volunteer whose family was from Egypt. Eight girls and a boy, some of whom are very overweight, are making what they call muffins, which look more like quiche but are made with just egg and oatmeal to bind courgettes, peppers and other vegetables.

El Ashkar has also introduced healthy versions of tagine and couscous dishes.

Families want to eat healthy food – they just did not know how, she says.

Eric van der Burg, the deputy mayor for healthcare and sport who launched the programme, was brought up for eight years in the Bijlmer and says he would rather

live in those neighbourhoods. “I don’t want to live in an area where everyone is wealthy and they all wear the same clothes and have the same dogs and hairdresser,” he said.

Van der Burg, however, is the nearest Amsterdam has to a rightwinger, belonging to the conservative-liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). The rest of the city’s politicians are to the left of him, so there are no accusations of nanny-statism, even though the programme is noticeably interventionist.

He has taken a tough line on advertising at sporting events. The city is the main sponsor of a European basketball championship in July. “We said to the organiser, you can’t have Monster [energy drink] or Burger

King as co-sponsor,” he said. The same no-compromise deal is being made with the European hockey and world ice-skating championships. They are talking to restaurants and sports facilities about selling healthier food and banning cola adverts inside stadiums the city owns.

Another important part of the programme is sleep. “It is very important to get enough sleep. Nobody knows that,” says van der Burg.

Programme manager Karen den Hertog says that if you don’t sleep, your hormones are messed up. “You will be extra hungry. It is your hormones talking to you,” she said. They work to organise discussions with parents on children’s sleep patterns through community leaders.

Health

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Why Stomach Acid is Essential for a Healthy Gut There's a good reason why human beings evolved with concentrated stomach acid. We would not survive for long without it. The acid in the stomach - hydrochloric acid is our first line defence against many harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses that threaten to invade the body through the stomach including E. coli, Staphylococcus and Candida. Even the freshest foods we eat contains many harmful bacteria.

Stomach acid also plays the crucial role of helping with food digestion. It initiates food digestion by activating many enzymes responsible for breaking down food into nutrients. For example, stomach acid converts the inactive proteindigesting enzyme trypsinogen into its active form trypsin. Low stomach acid causes incomplete digestion

of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Medications that reduce the concentration of stomach acids such as omeprazole and lansoprazole will eventually encourage the growth of harmful microbes and cause digestive problems such as bloatedness, indigestion, stomach cramps and pain.

Low levels of Stomach acid promote the growth of Helicobacter Pylori, the bacteria responsible for causing ulcers of the stomach and intestines as well as many forms of stomach cancer.

Low stomach acid also encourages the growth of other harmful bacteria that suppress the growth of beneficial probiotic bacteria which are essential for keeping the digestive system healthy.

Acid Reflux also called Heartburn is the commonest

reason people take acid-suppressing medications (antacids). The primary cause of acid reflux is a weakness of the valve that separates the oesophagus from the stomach and prevents the backflow of acid from the stomach. When the valve is dysfunctional, acid escapes from the stomach and burns the thinly lined oesophagus. Some of the factors that contribute to a weak valve include gut infections, poor diet and weight gain.

The backflow of acid from the stomach happens with either High or Low stomach acid. Studies show that many people taking acid suppressing medications for heartburn have low stomach acid levels. A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning and with every episode of acid reflux

is a remedy many people have found useful for treating acid reflux.

Gut infections are best treated with the natural antibiotic known as Colloidal

Silver. Unlike prescription antibiotics that mainly target bacteria, Colloidal Silver destroys bacteria, fungi, viruses and other parasites usually found in the gut.

For A Full Body Diagnostic Scan Call MedB Clinic – 965 071 745, 966 189 074

Could your tattoos put you at risk of heat stroke?

"Do you have a tattoo? You may be at-risk of heat stroke as inked skin produces significantly less sweat than normal," says recent reports.

A small US study, involving 10 men, found tattooed skin produced less sweat, which could lead to over-heating.

The drug pilocarpine was used to induce sweating on the participants' tattooed skin and then on non-inked skin on the opposite side of the body.

The researchers found less sweating in the tattooed

skin and the level of sodium was higher (sweat was more concentrated).

Sweat serves an important role as part of the body's "thermostat", by helping regulate the body's temperature, as it cools you off when it evaporates from your skin.

The authors suggest the possibility that high temperatures combined with a large proportion of tattooed skin would limit heat loss and so could increase risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

However, this has not been explored.

As a general health point – tattoos aside – if you notice someone has signs of heat exhaustion, such as tiredness, feeling faint, headache, feeling sick, or is very thirsty, you should get them to lie down in a cool place, remove unnecessary clothing, cool their skin and get them to drink fluids.

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Friday 21st April 2017

Mitic Bike, an epic ascent and a unique arrival

It was the early nineties when a group of enthusiasts from the Turyciclo MTB club began to organise a three-stage trek during the summer solstice. Over the years the trek has been improved, creating links with local town halls and regional governments in order to provide it with improved logistical services and increased security. In 2017, on the 25th anniversary of the trek, the time has come to open the Mitic Bike trail to clubs and individuals in order to allow them to enjoy this unique experience.

The event, which will be held on April 21, 22 and 23, starts at the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia and goes all the way to the Javalambre peak, in Teruel, at an altitude of 2020 metres above sea level, after which it sets course to return to the city of the Turia, Valencia. All in all, the race has a total length of 290 kilometres, with a cumulated 6,000 metres of incline. Mitic Bike is organised

by Geo-Planet, and it strives to become an MTB challenge for Spanish and international cyclists who see the Spanish Mediterranean as a suitable location to prepare themselves for cycling season owing to its climate and terrain.

The trail boasts all the necessary services, technical features and security measures to ensure that it is both an unforgettable experience and a challenge of epic proportions for cyclists. Moreover, the audience will also be able to enjoy the beauty of the mountain landscapes and the beaches that are crossed over the course of the trail.

Mitic Bike Valencia-Javalambe-Valencia will be held on April 21, 22 and 23, leaving from the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias

Travel

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Rio Seco Park and Nature Walk

By Julie Day Despite living on the Costa Blanca since 2004, it’s only recently that I discovered the delights of the Rio Seco nature walk. The walk comprises two separate trails of different lengths, and both have been graded as easy to carry out.

These signposted routes are both found within the Rio Seco Park – a 10,000 square metre area of woodland located inside the Pinar de Campoverde Urbanisation. If you drive through Pilar de la Horadada and make your way up to Campoverde, drive through the main high street and follow the windy road, you should reach a sign for the Rio Seco Natural Area. Turn left and follow the road to the bottom, which will lead to the park’s car parking area.

Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a map of the area, which depicts the two routes you can take, plus several information boards detailing all the flora and fauna you can expect to find while walking.

So, as its name suggests, you will actually be walking along the “dry” river bed of the Seco River. When I say “dry” that’s not strictly true at all times of the year, as I found out when I carried out the walk last autumn after some heavy rain (not the most well-thought-out plan).

If you’re the adventurous type that doesn’t mind getting wet and dirty, I would ‘recommend’ (don’t quote me, and I’m not an expert) doing the walk at any time of year. However, if hanging on to branches for dear life while slipping on wet mud so you don’t fall into the (shallow) water doesn’t appeal to you, then doing the walk in the dry season would be advisable.

The shorter of the two walks is the Pinar de Campoverde route, which is a circular trail mainly through shaded woodland along the bed of the river and approximately 3.5km long. It takes about 45 minutes to carry out, and the last part takes you up onto a road where cars drive by.

The second walk takes you all the way to Mil Palmeras beach and back. It is 10km long and can be completed in just over three hours and past the Mesón Rio Seco – a great place for a cool beer.

Despite the fact that much of the route is shaded, this area can get very hot, so do not attempt to do either walk without bringing plenty of water with you.

The terrain is predominantly sand along the river bed and some of the pathway, yet there is also a little effort required climbing up small rocky banks and steps. Proper walking shoes would be great, but they are not essential, as a good pair of trainers would suffice. This is the perfect walk for beginners who prefer a gentle trek and those that are not used to strenuous hill climbs with rocky ascents.

As for flora and fauna, the area is full of various species of trees and plants, ranging from the eucalyptus, olive, fig and pomegranate tree to a wide range of herbs including thyme, fennel, bay and rosemary. The most common, of course, are the many varieties of palms and reeds.

This woodland is also home to numerous species of birds, insects, mammals and reptiles, such as lizards, frogs, toads and several species of snake (ladder snake, horseshoe whip snake, European viper, Montpellier snake).

Animals of a fluffier kind here include squirrels, foxes, hares, rabbits, wildcats, badgers, voles and shrews, but you’ll be lucky to see any of them out in the bright sunshine with loads of people about.

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Friday 21st April, 2017 Events Calendar Until Thursday 23 April, 2017 Torrevieja Model boat exhibition, Park of Nations.

Until Thursday 27 April, 2017 Los Alcázares International sailing competition, Clase Laser 4.7, at the Centro de Tecnificación Deportiva.

Moors and Christians in Alcoi The Moors and Christians festivities in Alcoi, which are held in the honour of Saint George, have been declared International Tourist Asset.

Friday 21 to Monday 24 April, 2017 Alcoi Moors and Christians festivities.

In honour of Saint George (see right).

Friday 21 April, 2017 Rojales Concierto Fraskito “Tierra y Sangre”, at the Teatro Municipal Capitol.

Beniaján, Murcia Flamenca festival at La Madriguera, Camino de Puente Tocinos.

Totana Parachute and acrobatic display by the Spanish Air Force.

Saturday 22 April, 2017 Torrevieja Classical Concert by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Torrevieja, International Auditorium Torrevieja.

Alicante Classic car and collectors show, IFA Exhibition Centre.

Rojales Gala “Este Tuareg me Suena”, at the Teatro Municipal Capitol.

Sunday 23 April, 2017 St George´s Day Pilar de la Horadada Half marathon and Fun Run. Alicante Classic car and collectors show, IFA Exhibition Centre.

Rojales Guided walk around Rojales.

Monday 24 April, 2017 Torrevieja & Santa Pola Local fiesta.

Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 April, 2017 Almoradí 20th Second Hand Car Fair

The Moors and Christians festivities in Alcoi, which are held in honour of Saint George, were declared an International Tourist Asset in 1980, and this comes as no surprise. On the day of the Entrance, this town in Alicante returns to the Middle Ages, to the exoticism of the East, to the epic dimensions of a celebration that is unique in all of Spain. These festivities are held from April 21 to 24, so don't make any other plans for those dates!

These festivities commemorate the historical events that took place in 1276, specifically the uprisings by the Muslims who inhabited the area and who gave rise to the patronage of Saint George who, according to legend, appeared on horseback to save the city in a battle in which the Muslim warlord Al-Azraq was slain. In gratitude, the people swore it would build a temple in honour of Saint George and that it would celebrate it with festivities. And it kept its word.

The festivities are divided over three days. On the first day the various Entrances are carried out, in which the sumptuous, colourful attire, the music, the gaudy standards and the flips and pirouettes executed by the band leaders submerge the audience into a realm of fantasy. The second day, which is devoted to the patron Saint George, is a day of devotion, with a number of processions throughout the day in which a child, dressed as a Roman soldier, incarnates the figure of Sant Jordiet ("little Saint George"). This is a lyrical day, followed by the third day, the Alardo (mock fights), which sees the return of skirmishes, blunderbusses and muskets. And once the calm has settled in after the battle, Sant Jordiet appears from the battlements of the castle, closing the festivities until the following year.

Over the course of these days, Alcoi becomes a veritable explosion of colour and revelry, as the city is decked out with pennants bearing the cross of Saint George or the crescent moon. As the bugle calls, processions and Entrances give way to each other, the capture of the castle by the Moors and its reconquest by the Christians is represented. The roll of the drums, the blare of the trumpets, and the volleys of musketry during the battle, the smell of gunpowder and smoke. Epic. An episode of Game of Thrones in live action.

Jura de Bandera A little bit of an early warning for an event that military fans might want to add to their diary, Saturday, May 20, 2017, in Orihuela.

The Glorieta Gabriel Miró, which is one of the main open squares in the city, will play host to a special ceremony where Spanish nationals who have reached the age of 18 can pledge allegiance to the flag of Spain and express their commitment to the defence of the country.

In addition, the event will play host to a static display of military equipment throughout the day, before the solemn ceremony at 6pm, which will then be closed off by a concert from military bands.

The event has been organised by the town hall in conjunction with the the Comandante of the special operations group, D. Alfonso Blas, of the Mando de Operaciones Especiales (MOE).

Prior to the event, the special operations group will be visiting local schools to explain the benefits of a military career, and to take part in various activities, including sports events, and demonstrations.

By the way, a similar event will take place in Cartagena on the 2nd of June and in San Javier on the 1st of December.

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TRELI ON THE TELLY WITH ALEX TRELINSKI

Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall has said with total certainty that the series is never coming back, but I wouldn’t buy into that totally.

The third, and best season, finished on Monday with the reveal who was behind the rapes with the especially nasty and indifferent Leo Humphires behind it all, along with his “grooming” of Michael Lucas. There wasn’t a “Line of Duty-style” shocker in the finale, but a measured realisation of the truth, along with the Latimers realising they have to spend time apart, and an enjoyable final scene between our coppers, Hardy and Miller, leaving things with a bit of a smile. Five years down the line, it may be time for a return, which would roughly be when Chibnall probably hands over his duties of running Doctor Who, which has become his “baby” this year.

The final series under the guidance of Steven Moffat produced one of the most enjoyable episodes last Saturday (BBC 1) as we were introduced to the Doctor’s new companion, Bill, played by Pearl Mackie,

Farewell Broadchurch

and what a super introduction it was. She hit the ground running in one of the best new companion episodes ever, and that gives new boss Chris Chibnall a problem. There’s been no indication as to whether the character will stay when he takes over, with rumours of Chibnall wanting a clean-sweep.

Based on Saturday’s opener, it would be a big mistake as Mackie gives Peter Capaldi a run for his money in a great debut, with Moffat also producing a story with a good mix of drama and humour. That mix made the show a big hit when his predecessor as showrunner, Russell T. Davies, revived Doctor Who over a decade ago. That lack of comedy since then has been a big negative, and to have a fine comic actor like Peter Capaldi not playing enough to his strength over the last couple of years, has been a mistake. This was a perfect Who episode aimed at the whole family, and not just sci-fi nerds, and I hope Chibnall remembers that fact when he takes over, and

also makes the key pick of Capaldi’s successor.

You can’t really go wrong with Britain’s Got Talent and the same formula delivers time and time again for ITV, and I loved every moment of it’s return last weekend. We got the laughs like from the female impressionist; the tears from the Missing People Choir; and a superb 15-year-old singer who surely must be an early favourite to win. Much as I like David Walliams, I’m getting bored of all the “mincing around”, which is beginning to detract from the show and the acts. Just rein it in David, we know you are available!

If you’re getting bored of Benidorm, can I recommend a new four-parter on BBC Four called Bucket, with the wonderful Miriam Margolyes playing the 70-year old mum of Fran (played by show writer and creator), Frog Stone. It’s so funny, yet bittersweet and deserves to be seen by a wider audience, like the other BBC Four comedy gem, The Detectorists, which will be coming back for a third and final series.

I’m in a minority in thinking that ITV’s Nightly Show has not been a total disaster. The big plus point, as we have seen this week, is that in Dermot O’Leary (as a returning host, which says something), ITV have discovered the right person to hold such a show together and make it look easy. He’s

studied what the American hosts do, and has adapted it well, and ITV now have a decision to make. I’d bring Dermot back for an eight week New Year run (once he’s finished his X Factor duties), and also move the show to after the news, and give it some extra 10 minutes of runtime. Failing all

that, just Dermot his own weekly chatshow of his own.

Sky One’s fabulous Stan Lee’s Lucky Man drama did give us a “Line of Duty” moment last week, with two episodes remaining in season two. I’m saying nothing, but it better all be down to those magic bracelets to sort it all out!

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Friday As Lachlan continues to be distant, a worried Chrissie gives Leyla a cash incentive to include Lachlan in a business deal.

How will Lachlan react if the truth of his mother's meddling comes out?

Meanwhile, Rhona is emotional.

Elsewhere, Adam Victoria struggle.

SOAPS

Friday 21st April 2017

and

Monday It's the day of Pierce and Rhona's wedding, but as the ceremony commences, there are telltale signs that Pierce won't be able to go through with it. In the end, though, the couple tie the knot as planned.

Once the ceremony is over, the villagers celebrate in The Woolpack, while Pierce takes Rhona home and carries her over the threshold.

Sadly, the night takes a nasty turn behind closed doors as the newlyweds end up arguing. As tensions rise, Pierce pushes Rhona to the floor and subjects her to a violent attack.

Meanwhile, Zak is worried to see Lachlan and Belle spending more time together, fearing that Lachlan is out of control.

Belle clearly doesn't share his concerns as she continues to enjoy Lachlan's company.

Elsewhere, Jai looks for Nell.

Tuesday Rhona is in a state of shock after Pierce's appalling behaviour, but everyone else is oblivious and the wedding party remains in full swing Friday Adam is arrested at The Woolpack. for the attempted murder As the reality of Pierce's of Ken. Peter, Daniel and brutal attack and rape Tracy are all equally sinks in, what will Rhona shocked. Later, the police do next? Will she get away interview Adam, revealing from her new husband and they've found his fingerwill she decide to report prints on the kitchen worktops, which were only fitted him? on the night of Ken's Meanwhile, Jai remains assault. Adam is floored. determined to track down Nell and goes to find her at Meanwhile, as a scantilyBethany makes the NA meeting. When he clad hears that things aren't Nathan's breakfast, he going well for her, Jai takes a photo and sends it decides to help by inviting to his mate Neil, who texts Nell into his home and back making his intentions offering her a job, despite clear. reservations from Priya.

Later, Sarah rails at David Elsewhere, upset that for allowing Bethany to Adam seems to have given stay at Nathan's. When up on their relationship so she then finds out that easily, Victoria takes con- Bethany is bunking off trol and returns his belong- again, Sarah storms into the tanning salon and ings to him. drags an embarrassed Wednesday Adam Bethany home. remains unhappy over the troubled state of his mar- When Amy reveals to riage, but there's a distrac- Tracy how she reported tion when he spends time Adam to the police and that's why he's been with Vanessa. arrested, Tracy starts to As the pair drink together secretly worry that Amy and play video games, the might be covering her own inevitable happens when tracks. Later, Peter breaks Adam leans in for a kiss. the news to Ken that Adam How far will things go has been arrested. between them?

Monday Amy confides in Elsewhere, Priya contin- Tracy that she hates Ken ues to have reservations as he refused to lend her the money to buy the about Jai and Nell. florists. Tracy is further Thursday Megan makes a troubled that Amy could mistake regarding her have attacked Ken. daughter Eliza, which causes her to go missing. Later, Adam tells the police he was in Number 1 briefly Meanwhile, Adam is on the night of Ken's regretful over what hap- assault, as he called to colpened between him and lect some money Amy had Vanessa, but will he be left for him. The police folable to keep it a secret low this up with Amy, but she denies all knowledge. from Victoria?

Sure she's lying, Tracy Elsewhere, Lachlan tries to searches Amy's bedroom, make amends. but what will she find?

Megan fears the worst as Eliza's whereabouts remain a mystery. Will Frank be able to help?

Meanwhile, sick with worry, Sarah and Gary resolve to have it out with Nathan. As Nathan's mates gather in

his flat for a party, Neil watches Bethany admiringly. Sarah and Gary call downstairs at the tanning salon and order Bethany to come home, but will she comply?

selves first.

Friday The Carters receive another piece of bad news when they reach their overdraft limit, leaving them unable to order more stock for the Queen Vic.

Convinced that Adam was his assailant, Ken builds bridges with the rest of the Barlows.

Later, the police interview Adam again, telling him that Amy denied all knowledge of the money. Adam is fuming and points the finger at Tracy, but Tracy suspects that Amy tried to kill Ken. Meanwhile, Nathan insists that Bethany should stay away from Gary, claiming that he's clearly a dangerous man. Bethany hangs on his every word. At the same time, Sarah is at her wits' end and resolves to try and make Bethany see what a creep Nathan is.

But when Nathan confides in Mel that it's time to take the next step with Bethany, is Sarah too late?

Wednesday With Bethany in earshot, Nathan fakes a call to his bank and feigns financial problems. Mel lies to Bethany, telling her that the bank is threatening to close down the salon.

Alone in the flat, Bethany is startled when a guy calls to collect Nathan's camera equipment. When Nathan returns to find the equipment gone, he tears into Bethany. As Bethany sobs, Nathan apologises for his rant and explains that the equipment belongs to Neil.

Nathan says that Neil has a soft spot for Bethany, so maybe if she meets him for a drink, it will go some way to making amends.

Desperate for Nathan's approval, will Bethany agree?

Later on, Johnny reveals that he's used his student loan to pay off their overdraft.

Meanwhile, Michelle and Sharon try to play peacemaker between Bex and Louise. Will Bex accept Louise's latest apology?

Monday Shirley finds herself in an impossible situation and she has a huge decision to make.

Thursday Fi Browning arrives on Albert Square, but she gets on the wrong side of one family straight away. Why has she really turned up in Walford?

Meanwhile, Woody becomes concerned for Tina when she snaps at him, so he offers her a shoulder to cry on. As they have a heart-to-heart over their respective losses, Tina offers Woody some advice on how he can settle in at The Vic.

After speaking to Woody about the options she faces, Shirley finally realises what she has to do.

Tuesday The Carters are shocked by Shirley's proposal of how they can solve their money problems.

As not everyone agrees with the idea, will Shirley really go through with it?

Meanwhile, Ladies' Night goes ahead as planned and Woody surprises everyone by booking strippers. Is it Johnny's lucky night when he catches the eye of one of the strippers?

Elsewhere, Carmel is forced to drink her way through the awkwardness as she joins Kim, Denise and Kush for quiz night at The Albert.

Also today, Honey isn't happy when Derek proves to be a slow learner at the Minute Mart, while Max has some advice for Lauren and Abi when they bicker at the pub – telling them to start putting them-

Jac and Matteo's relationship is still fraught following Jac's shocking discovery.

When Jac and Matteo bump heads over a pioneering procedure, it becomes clear that they need to stop the personal encroaching on the professional – but has the rot already set in? Meanwhile, following on from Sacha's recent health scare, it becomes clear to Essie that he's at a low ebb. But when Sacha puts himself in a difficult situation, Essie is the only one he can turn to. Can he muster up enough bravery to ask for the help he needs?

Friday TV 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Fake Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Claimed and Shamed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Code 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Money for Nothing 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 A Question of Sport Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell are joined by James Anderson, Kelly Sotherton, Beth Tweddle and Matthew Upson.

21:00 EastEnders The Carters’ problems grow even more.

21:30 MasterChef Jay Rayner sets the brief for the fourth quarter-final, challenging the contenders to cook a savoury dish that showcases aubergine or a dessert with honey as the star.

22:00 Have I Got News for You Paul Merton and Ian Hislop are joined by host Patrick Stewart.

22:30 Hospital People Comedy following the lives of Brimlington hospital’s inept DJ Ivan Brackenbury, manager Susan Mitchell, porter and spirit medium Ian D Montfort and chaplain Fr Kenny Mercer.

23:00 News 23:35 The Graham Norton Show 00:25 Witless 00:50 Film Dinner for Schmucks (14) 02:40 Weather for the Week Ahead 02:45 News

07:00 Countryside 999 07:45 Flog It!: Trade Secrets 08:15 Bargain Hunt 09:00 DIY SOS: The Big Build 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 11:00 Live: World Championship Snooker 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live: World Championship Snooker 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Debatable

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 Culinary Genius 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News

20:00 Great American Railroad Journeys Michael stops at rural Mattoon, where he gets a taste of the tough early life, which shaped president Abraham Lincoln. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Michael struggles to split one rail compared with Lincoln’s estimated 700-aday.

20:30 Coronation Street Sarah lays down the law to Bethany.

21:00 Gardeners’ World Monty continues work in his courtyard when he gives advice on plants which thrive on shady walls.

21:30 Springwatch Chris, Michaela, and Jame join the lively cherry blossom celebrations taking place across Japan.

20:00 Emmerdale Rhona is emotional.

21:00 Judge Rinder’s Crime Stories In 2013, while making a cash delivery in north Surrey, security guard James Smith was confronted by a masked man armed with a gun.

The ex-serviceman put up a fight, but was beaten to the ground, while his attacker made off with £45,000.

As Rinder reveals, when the police successfully caught up with the gunman, they made a shocking discovery.

21:30 Coronation Street Nathan twists Sarah’s words to ensnare Bethany.

22:30 Versailles Though his palace continues to expand and receive admiration from around the world, Louis is still plagued by nightmares.

22:00 Lethal Weapon When a casino heist takes a deadly turn, Riggs befriends the only credible witness, an eight-year-old boy.

23:25 Inside Versailles 23:30 Newsnight 00:05 Later ... with Jools Holland 01:05 World Championship Snooker 03:55 Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby 04:55 Doctor Who 05:45 This Is BBC Two

23:00 The Nightly Show 23:30 News 00:15 Billy Connolly & Me: A Celebration 01:15 The Nightly Show 01:40 Jackpot247 04:00 Storage Hoarders 04:50 ITV Nightscreen

Flatpack: The World's Biggest Furniture Store BBC Two has commissioned a three-part documentary series from Raw about the world’s largest and best-known furniture retailer, Ikea.

With a global turnover of £31 billion and plans to rapidly expand its 393 stores in 48 countries, Ikea is one of the most financially successful retailers in the world. Yet the business still remains privately owned and continues to follow core principles established by its charismatic founder Ingvar Kamprad, more than half a century ago.

Commissioned by Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two and Jamie Balment, Commissioning Editor, BBC Documentaries, Flatpack: The World’s Biggest Furniture Store (3x60) will examine Ikea’s distinctive work-culture and philosophy, filming inside stores, factories and design studios around the globe.

The series will explore the distinctly Swedish philosophy behind the company’s extraordinary cultural influence and commercial success.

Patrick Holland, Controller, BBC Two, says: “I am delighted that Raw chose to bring this project to BBC Two. This promises to be very special access, opening the doors of a fascinating global retail brand for BBC Two viewers to explore.”

Clare Sillery, Head of Commissioning, BBC Documentaries, says: “Ikea has a distinctive business model and has stuck to its original set of values despite its incredible global success.

With extensive behind-the-scenes access, this series will offer viewers a unique insight into a seemingly inimitable company.”

Tom Barry, Executive Producer at Raw, says: “We’re excited to be filming inside one of the most successful, enigmatic and influential companies in the world.”

Flatpack: The World’s Biggest Furniture Store is made by Raw. The Executive Producers are Tom Barry and Tim Wardle and the Commissioning Editor is Jamie Balment. The Series Director is Rob Farquhar, and the Series Producer is Tom Swingler.

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07:00 Countdown 07:45 Will & Grace 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 Undercover Boss USA 12:00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 13:00 News 13:05 The Question Jury 14:05 Posh Pawnbrokers 15:10 Countdown 16:00 Fifteen to One 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News 20:30 Unreported World Seyi Rhodes reports from the set of the hit South Korean TV show that’s made defectors from North Korea into TV stars, revealing what life’s like under Kim Jong-un.

21:00 Posh Pawn An aspiring fitness guru takes James on a ride around London in an eye-catching supercar. Plus, a helmet that belonged to land speed record breaker Donald Campbell, and more.

22:00 Gogglebox The armchair critics share their opinions on what they have been watching during the week. The programme captures their instant reactions and lively discussions from the comfort of their own homes.

23:00 The Last Leg 00:05 First Dates 01:05 Film The Ladykillers (14) 03:05 The Ballroom Boys 04:00 National Treasure 04:55 Shipping Wars UK 05:20 Building the Dream

Midsomer Murders celebrates 20th Anniversary

Filming began this month on the 20th anniversary series of the UK’s longest running contemporary detective drama, ITV’s Midsomer Murders.

Neil Dudgeon returns to play DCI John Barnaby for his seventh year in the role and Nick Hendrix is back as DS Jamie Winter. Midsomer Murders is made by Bentley Productions, and is the UK’s top-rated drama export.

Joining the team this series will be redoubtable new pathologist, Dr Fleur Perkins, played by Annette Badland who will assist Barnaby and Winter in their pursuit of justice in the picturesque but deadly countryside of Midsomer.

On joining the popular drama, Annette says "I have always enjoyed living dan-

gerously so arriving at Midsomer is thrilling! In truth I'm delighted to be involved in the twentieth series of Midsomer Murders and to work alongside and be part of this creative team. I hope Fleur can assist Barnaby in maintaining his high success rate of crime detection. She is very good at her job."

Also returning this series is Fiona Dolman as Sarah Barnaby followed closely by Paddy the dog as the Barnabys’ faithful canine companion.

Executive producer, Jonathan Fisher shares his excitement over working on the anniversary series of Midsomer Murders. "It is a real privilege to be leading this iconic British detective series into its landmark twentieth year.”

07:00 Mikshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 News 13:15 Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Film - Deadly Revenge 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News 20:00 The Gadget Show Georgie attempts to get in the record books with a marathon VR session, John and Ortis pit two updated cameras against each other, and Ortis helps two paramedics to maximise their breaks.

21:00 Tony Robinson: Coast To Coast En route to Robin Hood’s Bay, Tony visits a steam railway, RAF Fylingdales, a family-run bakery and the area’s last shipyard in Whitby and spends a day whalewatching.

22:00 Spectacular Spain with Alex Polizzi Alex meets the man who has played host to A-list jetsetters for decades and has many interesting tales to tell. Moving on to the wild frontier terrain of Western Andalucia, an area often overlooked by tourists, Alex arrives in the quintessentially Spanish town of Jerez, the home of sherry, and learns how this rich drink is produced .

23:00 Building the World’s Most Luxurious Ship 00:05 Cruising With Jane McDonald 01:00 SuperCasino 04:10 Film Half Past Dead (12)

07:00 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 07:20 You’ve Been Framed!

08:15 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Emmerdale 10:00 You’ve Been Framed!

10:30 Britain’s Got Talent 11:30 Film - See Spot Run (PG) 13:25 Emmerdale 14:30 You’ve Been Framed!

15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 15:50 Jeremy Kyle 18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Film - Run, Fatboy, Run (14) ITV 3 07:00 In Loving Memory 07:25 Heartbeat 08:25 Where the Heart Is 09:30 The Royal 10:30 Judge Judy 11:55 Road to Avonlea 12:55 The Darling Buds of May 14:05 Heartbeat 15:05 The Royal 16:15 Where the Heart Is 17:15 Barging Round Britain With John Sergeant 17:50 Love Your Garden 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Doc Martin 22:00 Agatha Christie’s Marple ITV 4 07:00 The Sweeney 07:50 Hogan’s Heroes 08:50 The Professionals 09:55 Ironside 11:00 The Sweeney 12:00 The Chase 13:00 Cash Cowboys 14:00 Pawn Stars 14:55 Minder 16:00 Ironside 17:05 The Professionals 18:10 The Sweeney 19:10 Cash Cowboys 20:05 Pawn Stars 21:05 Counting Cars 22:00 Film - The Dirty Dozen (15)

Britain's Village of the Year

Actress Penelope Keith has visited scores of rural communities in her Hidden Villages series for Channel 4. Now she is taking on her biggest challenge yet – to scour the length and breadth of Britain to crown one village Village of the Year 2017.

From stunning coastal fishing villages to hillside farming communities and from outlandish artist colonies to the most traditional chocolate box villages, Village of the Year 2017 with Penelope Keith will celebrate all that is great about our rural communities.

The 24 x 60 series, produced

by Reef Television will air across both daytime and peak.

Penelope will preside over heats, semi-finals and final, with a panel of expert judges deciding which villages will progress through the rounds

before revealing their winner, based on the following criteria: Appearance; History & Heritage; Village Events; Activities; and Visitor Experience.

They will award their chosen village with the accolade of Village of the Year and £10,000 to be used for a worthwhile community project.

For more information and to find out how to take part visit www.channel4.com/takepart Richard Farmbrough, CEO of Reef Television said: “Once more Reef is delighted to be working with Penelope Keith on this new series for Channel 4.

Penelope is the perfect host to help us celebrate all that is best about British villages and this series will shine a spotlight on not just the places, but also the people that make up Britain’s best villages.”

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Friday 21st April 2017

The Durrells

Sunday - ITV Keeley Hawes reprises her role as Louisa Durrell as she and the rest of the cast of the The Durrells return for series two of the popular ITV series.

In the new series Larry (Josh O’Connor) continues to pursue his passion for writing despite a new romance getting in the way; Leslie (Callum Woodhouse) decides to explore his entre-

preneurial spirit; Margo (Daisy Waterstone) remains boy crazy and makes a play for someone thoroughly unsuitable; and Gerry (Milo Parker), who prefers animals to people, is delighted when he discovers an otter is living close to home.

Daniel Lapaine joins the cast as Hugh Jarvis - an English gentleman who sets his sight on Louisa. But after her failed attempt at marrying Sven, will Louisa be ready for a new man in her life?

The London Marathon Sunday - BBC One Gabby Logan presents live coverage of the 37th annual London Marathon, as world-class runners and thousands of fun runners and fundraisers come together to compete in one of the world’s most famous and colourful races.

Almost 40,000 will line up for one of the most inspirational human races on the planet – and each and every one of those who do will have their own special reason to run. The majority will be aiming just to get round, some will also have personal best times to aim for, but the one sight everyone will want to see will be the finish in the Mall.

Grantchester

Grantchester - ITV It’s 1955 in Grantchester, local vicar Sidney Chambers [James Norton] meets with the new archdeacon, Gabriel Atubo.

Acknowledging that Gabriel’s predecessor was dispatched under some controversy and embarrassment, Gabriel questions whether he can rely on Sidney to rebuild trust in the church and lead by example. Sidney reassures him he can be counted on.

Before the night is out, Sidney is on the dance floor with his old flame Amanda Hopkins [Morven Christie. Whilst they close in for a kiss, Sidney’s best friend DI Geordie Keating [Robson Green] sits nearby with wife Cathy [Kacey Ainsworth], the spark a little dimmer in their own relationship.

The next day Sidney accompanies Geordie to The Round Church in Cambridge, where an elderly man, Dr Terrence Atwell, lies dead. Whilst being pestered by church caretaker Mr Harland, Geordie tells Sidney about the victim; Dr Atwell ran a soup kitchen for the homeless. On closer inspection of the body, it appears Dr Atwell died by drowning. But how does a man drown in the middle of a church and is this connected to a series of murders targeting respected figures in the community?

Amanda gets a letter from estranged husband Guy [Tom Austen] saying he wants to see his daughter. Sidney can’t contain his frustration; Guy didn’t care when Grace was born. He’s clearly trying to control Amanda. But Amanda reassures him that she won’t let Guy take Grace away.

Saturday TV 07:25 Film - Tom Thumb - That’s Film 08:55 Entertainment! 11:00 Live: Championship World Snooker 13:00 Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well 13:30 The Best Dishes Ever 14:00 Gardeners’ Live: 14:30 World European Championship Artistic Gymnastics 17:30 Final Score 18:15 Flog It! 20:20 Doctor Who The 19:00 Amazing Hotels: Life Doctor and Bill find them- Beyond the Lobby selves in a gleaming, perWorld Live: fect city in the far future, at 20:00 the edge of the galaxy. This Championship Snooker new settlement is said to Hazel Irvine introduces hold the secret of human coverage of the final seshappiness, but when the sion on day eight at the in Theatre pair try to make contact with Crucible the locals, all they find are Sheffield, where one secpiles of grinning skulls. As ond-round match is due to the Time Lord and his new finish and another set to travelling pal seek to solve begin. Mark Selby won the the terrifying mystery, a sin- title for the second time in ister force stirs within the his career here last year, walls. but the Jester from Leicester received an 21:10 Casualty Sam goes almighty scare in round two back to the floor and makes against Sam Baird, before an error, while Iain’s disap- edging through 13-11. pointment in his sister leads 21:00 BBC Young Dancer to tragic consequences.

2017 Five outstanding 22:00 News young performers compete for the title of BBC Young 22:20 All Round to Mrs Dancer 2017. To reach the Brown’s Agnes and the final all of them have family are joined by Gareth already won through three Malone and Peter Andre. selection rounds in either Contemporary, Nick Knowles teams up with Ballet, Dermot and Buster for their South Asian or Street Celebrity Boat Tour adven- Dance. ture and Steps perform.

23:45 XL QI 23:00 23:20 Match of the Day Versailles 00:40 Inside 00:20 Murder in Versailles 00:45 World Snooker Successville 00:50 Film - Championship Reign of Fire (PG) 02:25 03:35 Blackthorn (15) Weather 02:30 News 05:10 This Is BBC Two

07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Mary Berry’s Absolute Favourites 13:00 Football Focus 14:00 News 14:15 London Marathon 14:45 Live: World Championship Snooker 17:30 News 17:50 Live: Match of the Day - Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur

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07:00 CITV 09:25 News 09:30 Weekend 10:25 Film - Free Willy 3: The Rescue 12:10 James Martin’s French Adventure 13:10 News 13:25 Tipping Point 14:30 Live: ITV Racing Live - Ayr 17:30 Britain’s Got More Talent 18:30 Catchphrase 19:15 News 19:45 Take Me Out A bachelor has to impress a panel of thirty women through a series of videos about him, followed by the contestant demonstrating a skill. If the ladies like what they see, they keep a light on. If all lights go off, the bachelor goes home alone.

21:00 Britain’s Got Talent Another selection of wouldbe entertainers hope to exhilarate and amuse in equal measure, as they take to the stage to demonstrate their individual talents to judges Simon , Amanda , David and Alesha in the second round of the audition stage.

07:15 Mobil 1 The Grid 07:45 British GT Championship Motor Racing 08:10 The King of Queens 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 10:25 The Big Bang Theory 11:55 The Simpsons 13:25 Extreme Food 13:55 Come Dine with Me 16:30 A Place in the Sun: Summer Sun 17:35 Location, Location, Location 18:35 Grand Designs 19:30 News 19:55 Making Western Flag 20:00 Escape to the Chateau After successfully hosting a three-day wedding at their French chateau, Dick and Angel are now keen to expand their business ideas. Could the two-acre moat provide a lucrative fishing spot?

21:00 Man Made Planet: Earth from Space Astronauts reveal how humanity is transforming the world - for better and worse - using images of Earth taken from space 22:20 Through the across the last 45 years Keyhole Let loose around and stunning time-lapse three mystery celebrities’ sequences. houses, Keith unearths clues to the identities of the 22:00 Film - Dracula famous owners. Using their Untold Prince Vlad Tepes powers of observation and trades his humanity for the the assistance of the studio power to defend his people audience, can the all-star from the Ottoman panel guess whose home it onslaught. (14) is?

23:45 Film - The Eagle 23:25 News 23:40 Film - (PG) 01:55 Ramsay’s Bend It Like Beckham (PG) Kitchen Nightmares USA 01:45 Jackpot247 04:00 02:45 Hollyoaks Omnibus Who’s Doing the Dishes? 04:50 Location, Location, 04:50 ITV Nightscreen Location

07:00 Milkshake 11:20 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:55 Access 12:00 Criminals: Caught on Camera 12:20 Police Interceptors 13:20 Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 14:15 Benefits 15:15 The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 17:15 Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords 18:10 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

20:10 NCIS: Los Angeles The team investigate a shooting outside of the Vietnamese consulate just prior to an international conference at the venue that the Secretary of the Navy is scheduled to attend.

21:00 NCIS The NCIS agents’ personal plans are interrupted when each of them catches errors in a seemingly cut-and-dried closed case. Also, McGee and Delilah argue over the importance of not discussing work during dinner.

21:55 News 22:00 Football Highlights from the weekend’s games including Burton Albion v Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday v Derby County and Wo l v e r h a m p t o n Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers .

23:30 The Funny Thing About... 00:30 Comedy Bigmouths 01:00 SuperCasino 04:10 Creep (18)

07:00 Emmerdale Omnibus 09:25 Coronation Street Omnibus 11:55 Britain’s Got More Talent 12:55 Take Me Out 14:00 You’ve Been Framed!

14:35 Film - See Spot Run (PG) 16:30 Film - Hotel Transylvania (PG) 18:15 Film - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (12) 21:25 Scorpion 22:20 Britain’s Got More Talent 23:25 Celebrity Juice ITV 3 07:00 Murder, She Wrote 08:45 Film - Are You Being Served? (PG) 10:45 Film That Riviera Touch (PG) 12:45 Agatha Christie’s Marple 14:45 An Audience with Victoria Wood 15:55 Housewife 49 17:55 Film The Queen (PG) 20:00 Midsomer Murders 22:00 Foyle’s War ITV 4 07:00 Football Rivalries 07:10 Motorsport UK 08:05 Bundesliga Football Highlights 08:55 Fishing Impossible 09:55 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Motor Racing 11:00 ITV Racing 12:00 Counting Cars 12:55 Pawn Stars 15:10 British Touring Car Championship 16:45 Film - Shalako (PG) 19:00 It’s Not Rocket Science 20:00 Fierce 21:00 The Chase: Celebrity Special 22:05 Film - Patriot Games (15)

Sunday TV 07:00 Breakfast 08:25 Match of the Day 09:30 Live: London Marathon 16:00 News 16:15 Sunday Politics 17:30 Points of View 17:45 Escape to the Country 18:15 Songs of Praise 18:50 Pointless Celebrities 19:35 News

07:00 Around the World in 80 Gardens 08:00 Gardeners’ World 08:30 The Beechgrove Garden 09:00 Countryfile 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 Live: World Championship Snooker 13:15 MOTD2 Extra 14:00 Live: World Championship 20:00 Countryfile Matt’s Snooker 19:00 London on his old home turf in Marathon County Durham, showing how to make panackelty: a 20:00 Live: World traditional north eastern Championship Snooker dish. Ellie is in the heart of Live second-round action Weardale, meeting a continues at the Crucible. designer whose passion for Matches are the best of 25 rescuing sheep has spun frames and are played over out into a side-line making three sessions. felt goods.

21:00 Top Gear Matt 21:00 Antiques LeBlanc drives an eightRoadshow Fiona Bruce wheeled rescue vehicle and the experts head to from Russia, Rory Reid Britain’s first sky scraper, turns the world’s ugliest car the art deco Senate House into a luxury yacht, and in the heart of Bloomsbury. Chris Harris reviews the Objects brought in include new Porsche Cayman. stained glass panels found in a skip, the hoof of Lord 22:00 The Crucible: 40 Cardigan’s charger, plus a Golden Snooker Years Steve Davis goes back to French bracelet. the Crucible Theatre in 22:00 Line of Duty DCI Sheffield to celebrate 40 Roz Huntley struggles to years of the Snooker World allay her husband’s suspi- Championships. If the walls cions. AC12 find a new of this famous regional theangle to pursue their case atre could talk they would tell tales of tears, triumphs, against her. laughter and top-class 23:00 News 23:30 Match of sport. the Day 2 00:20 Match of the Day 00:50 The 23:00 The Rack Pack Women’s Football Show 00:30 World Championship 01:35 I’m Different: Let Me Snooker 03:20 Countryfile Drive 02:05 Weather 02:10 04:15 Holby City 05:15 This Is BBC Two News

07:00 CITV 09:25 News 09:30 Weekend 10:25 Countrywise 11:00 Peston on Sunday 12:00 Film Carry on Again, Doctor (PG) 13:45 News 13:55 Who’s Doing the Dishes?

14:55 Britain’s Got Talent 16:15 Film - You Only Live Twice (PG) 18:30 News 19:00 The Chase: Celebrity Special 20:00 Bigheads Jason Manford hosts the comedy game show in which members of the public compete in a series of bizarre physical challenges while wearing giant model heads of celebrities.

21:00 The Durrells Louisa tries to raise some money by selling homemade food, which attracts the attention of another Englishman.

However, a former lover threatens the family’s idyllic existence. Gerry comes up with a plan to breed otters and Leslie accidentally shoots Roger.

07:20 The King of Queens 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:30 Sunday Brunch 13:30 The Simpsons 14:30 Film - Robots 16:20 Film Mission: Impossible (PG) 18:25 George Clarke’s Old House, New Home 19:30 News 19:50 Film - Thor The Norse god of thunder is banished from his own world when his arrogance puts the kingdom on the brink of war. He is sent to present-day Earth, where he is forced to live among humans without his supernatural powers, but must regain his abilities to defend his new home against his evil brother.

(PG) 22:00 The Island with Bear Grylls Old and young go head to head for the fourth series of Bear Grylls’ epic survival show. With just the clothes on their backs and a handful of basic tools, which generation has what it takes to survive when pushed to the limits of human endurance?

22:00 Grantchester When Sidney begins receiving sinister anonymous phone calls, he realises he is connected to a series of murders targeting respected 23:00 Gogglebox 00:00 figures in the community.

Man Made Planet: Earth from Space 01:00 Film 23:00 News 23:20 Lethal The Sessions (18) 02:45 Weapon 00:20 The Nightly The Last Leg 03:40 Show Best Bits 00:50 Location, Location, Peston on Sunday 01:40 04:35 Gillette Jackpot247 04:00 Location World Sport Motorsport UK

07:00 Milkshake 10:45 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:20 Access 11:25 Football 12:55 The Gadget Show 13:55 Film The Deep End of the 16:00 (12) Ocean Yorkshire: A Year In The Wild 19:50 News 19:55 Film - U-571 American forces board a stricken Nazi submarine at the height of the Second World War in the hope of seizing an Enigma coding machine, but German reinforcements arrive, forcing them to flee in the unfamiliar craft. Action adventure, Matthew starring Harvey McConaughey, Keitel, Bill Paxton and Jon Bon Jovi. Edited for language. (PG) 22:00 Film - 3 Days to Kill A CIA agent learns he is dying, and decides to quit the agency so he can spend his last few months trying to rebuild his relationship with his estranged daughter. He is tempted to go back on his word when an old colleague offers him an experimental drug that could save his life - if he agrees to carry out one last mission. (12) 00:05 Film - Chaos (15) 02:05 SuperCasino 04:10 Body of Proof 05:00 Criminals: Caught on Camera 05:50 House Doctor

07:35 Emmerdale Omnibus 10:20 Coronation Street Omnibus 12:50 Take Me Out 14:00 2Awesome 14:05 Guidance 15:05 LA Story 15:20 Side Effects 15:55 You’ve Been Framed!

16:55 Britain’s Got Talent 18:15 Britain’s Got More Talent 19:15 Film - The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (PG) 22:00 Take Me Out: The Gossip 23:00 Family Guy ITV 3 07:25 Film - Rising Damp (PG) 09:20 Heartbeat 11:20 Murder, She Wrote 12:20 Columbo 13:55 Foyle’s War 16:00 Our Queen at 90 18:00 When Phillip Met Prince Philip: 60 Years of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award 19:00 Midsomer Murders 21:00 Morecambe and Wise Forever 23:00 Ruth Rendell’s Thirteen Steps Down ITV 4 08:15 British Superbikes Motorcycle Racing14 09:10 Cycling 10:15 Rugby 10:55 Pawn Stars 13:45 Film - Shalako (PG) 16:00 Film - The Man From the Alamo 17:40 Film - The Hanging Tree (PG) 19:55 Fishing Impossible 22:00 Benidorm 23:05 Film - The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (PG)

32 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Health: Truth or Scare 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Claimed and Shamed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Boss 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Garden Rescue 17:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 MasterChef After four weeks of competition, only the 14 best cooks remain, and the battle is on as they come together for the first time and cook off against each other across two shows.

21:00 EastEnders Shirley is faced with the unthinkable.

21:30 MasterChef Judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace consider the merits of all 14 contestants before choosing which 12 have what it takes to continue in the competition and which two will leave.

22:00 Panorama Trump’s First 100 Days Jeremy Paxman examines the first 100 days of president Trump.

23:00 News 23:45 All Round to Mrs Brown’s 00:45 Have I Got a Bit More News for You 01:30 The Graham Norton Show 02:15 Weather for the Week Ahead 02:20 News

Friday 21st April 2017

07:00 Countryside 999 07:45 Flog It!: Trade Secrets 08:15 Bargain Hunt 09:00 Antiques Roadshow 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 11:30 European Championship Artistic Gymnastics 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live: World Championship Snooker 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Debatable 20:00 Live: World Championship Snooker By the end of today, the quarter-final line-up will be complete. Live coverage features the opening frames from the concluding sessions of the secondround matches.

21:00 Nature’s Weirdest Events Chris Packham uncovers the mysterious sudden death of hundreds of reindeer in Norway, discovers a mythical boiling river in Peru and finds out why blood red rain appeared in Spain.

22:00 Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby Giles and Monica experience the warm embrace of Fogo Island Inn, in Newfoundland.

White, angular and perched atop zig-zagged stilts like the local fishermen’s houses, it pays homage to the settlers that arrived from Ireland and Devon to fish cod.

23:00 Mock the Week 23:30 Newsnight 00:15 Snooker 01:05 The Women’s Football Show 01:50 Snooker

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 Culinary Genius 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Rhona and Pierce’s big day arrives.

20:30 Coronation Street Tracy feels the strain.

21:00 Devon and Cornwall Cops Officers are on the tail of a suspected drug dealer.

21:30 Coronation Street Tracy begins to fear the worst about Amy. 22:00 Little Boy Blue Fact-based crime drama about the fatal shooting of 11-year-old Rhys Jones as he walked home from football practice in Croxteth, Liverpool, caught in the crossfire of a feud between rival gangs.

Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly is charged with bringing his teenage killer to justice, but thought the assailant’s identity is well known, finding the evidence to charge him proves to be a far more difficult challenge.

23:00 News 23:45 Don’t Ask Me Ask Britain 00:45 Postcards 01:10 Jackpot247 04:00 Jeremy Kyle 04:55 ITV Nightscreen

07:00 Countdown 07:45 Will & Grace 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 Car S.O.SL 12:00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 13:00 News 13:05 The Question Jury 14:05 Posh Pawnbrokers 15:10 Countdown 16:00 Fifteen to One 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News 21:00 Warship HMS Ocean is buzzed by more than a dozen Iranian gunboats on her way to take over control of the US task force.

As Christmas approaches, Prime Minister Theresa May visits HMS Ocean to address the ship’s crew.

22:00 The Island with Bear Grylls The old and young generations have been marooned on nearby islands in the Pacific Ocean, but which age group has what it takes to survive? The younger ones realise they've chosen the wrong campsite when rain turns it into a swamp and they decide to throw in their lot with the older members, who aren't entirely pleased by their arrivals.

23:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 00:05 The Knowledge 01:10 Fixers 02:05 Tattoo Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners 03:00 Location, Location, Location

Monday TV 07:00 Milkshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 News 13:15 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:20 NCIS 16:15 Film - Profile for Murder (12) 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News 20:00 MotoGP Championship Series Action from the third round of the 2017 MotoGP season.

21:00 Police Interceptors Jim heads up a raid for a suspected drug dealer, Dan and Gordy respond to reports of an alleyway attack, and Jon goes on the hunt for a serial drug driver. Elsewhere, the interceptors combine forces when they fear that a gun-toting brawler may be on the loose.

22:00 Inside the Tube: Going Underground ob Bell discovers how the Piccadilly Line played an important part in saving the Tube from bankruptcy, as well as changing the face of public transport and he visits an abandoned station beneath Piccadilly Circus.

23:00 Traffic Cops 00:00 Film - Welcome to the Jungle (14) 02:05 SuperCasino 04:10 Body of Proof 05:00 Criminals: Caught on Camera

08:20 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Emmerdale 09:30 Coronation Street 10:35 Psych 11:25 Below Deck 12:20 Who’s Doing the Dishes? 13:25 Emmerdale 13:55 Coronation Street 15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 15:50 Jeremy Kyle 18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Family Guy 22:30 The Great Indoors 23:00 American Dad! ITV 3 08:25 Where the Heart Is 09:25 The Royal 10:30 Judge Judy 11:55 Road to Avonlea 12:55 The Darling Buds of May 14:05 Heartbeat 15:10 The Royal 16:15 Where the Heart Is 17:15 Barging Round Britain With John Sergeant 17:50 Love Your Garden 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Rosemary and Thyme 23:00 Law & Order: UK ITV 4 08:45 Ironside 09:50 The Sweeney 10:50 Minder 11:50 The Chase 12:50 Cash Cowboys 13:50 Pawn Stars 14:50 The Saint 15:50 Ironside 16:55 Minder 17:55 The Sweeney 19:00 Cash Cowboys 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 The Chase: Celebrity Special 22:00 Film - Patriot Games (15)

Tuesday TV 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Health: Truth or Scare 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Claimed and Shamed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Boss 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Garden Rescue 17:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show

07:00 Flog It!: Trade Secrets 07:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 08:15 The Super League Show 09:00 Great American Railroad Journeys 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 11:00 Live: World Championship Snooker 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live: World Championship Snooker 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Debatable

20:30 EastEnders The Carters are shocked by Shirley’s solution to their money problems.

20:00 Live: World Championship Snooker Jason Mohammad presents live coverage from Tuesday’s quarter-finals, where the difference between winning and losing is £37,500.

21:00 Holby City After uncovering a revelation from Matteo’s past, Jac and Matteo clash over a patient.

22:00 Peter Kay’s Car Share Kayleigh has had enough of work and fancies a day off but John isn’t having any of it. Or is he?

22:30 Our Friend Victoria A look at Victoria’s refreshingly candid views on sex and relationships and her unique ability to say what we were all thinking when it came to romance, dating, getting it or not getting it.

Michael Ball presents a selection of classic clips.

23:00 News 23:45 Anthony Joshua: The Road to Klitschko 00:45 Reported Missing 01:45 Weather for the Week Ahead 01:50 News

21:00 Bake Off Crème de la Crème Once again, Cherish Finden and Benoit Blin set a pair of tricky challenges, the first of which requires the teams to finely craft two batches of perfectly uniform miniatures, thirty-six Fraisiers and thirty-six Verrines, in just 2and-a-half hours.

22:00 Horizon Rory Bremner is on a personal mission to uncover the science of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a condition which he has suspected he has.

23:00 Later Live... with Jools 23:30 Newsnight 00:15 Snooker 03:05 MasterChef 04:05 The Great Pottery Throw Down

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 Culinary Genius 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Rhona is in shock.

20:30 Save Money: Good Food Susanna Reid conducts a super-cheap taste test and reveals the truth behind the sneaky supermarket trick of ‘shrinkflation’.

21:00 Don’t Ask Me Ask Britain Live interactive comedy gameshow hosted by Alexander Armstrong, which sees two celebrity teams go head-to-head to try and second guess the views of the nation.

22:00 Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Animals India Paul experiences the sights and sounds of city life in northern India as he makes his way to an elephant sanctuary south of Delhi, where he meets overweight elephant Lakshmi.

23:00 News 23:40 Little Boy Blue 00:40 The Detectives: Inside the Major Crimes Team 01:35 Jackpot247 04:00 Loose 04:50 ITV Women Nightscreen

07:00 Countdown 07:45 Will & Grace 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 Car S.O.SL 12:00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 13:00 News 13:05 The Question Jury 14:05 Posh Pawnbrokers 15:10 Countdown 16:00 Fifteen to One 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News 21:00 Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners Hayley and Kris visit a retired academic, Professor Widdecombe in Vermont, USA, who hasn’t properly cleaned his ninebedroom historic property for a decade. The home is covered in cobwebs and cat hair, and each room is over-stuffed with possessions.

22:00 One Born Every Minute Cameras follow Louise, a 45-year-old mother-to-be and her estranged partner Dan, who helps her through labour. Meanwhile, Jess, 16, has always wanted a sibling, and gets more than she bargained for when her mum Elaine goes into labour at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

23:00 First Dates 00:05 Single Mum’s Club 01:10 The Island with Bear Grylls 02:55 The Supervet 03:50 Unreported World 04:15 Four in a Bed

07:00 Milkshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 News 13:15 Benefits 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS: Los Angeles 16:15 Film - Kidnapping Lizzie: Nightmare Visions 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News 20:00 Police Interceptors Jim heads up a raid for a suspected drug dealer, Dan and Gordy respond to reports of an alleyway attack, and Jon goes on the hunt for a serial drug driver.

21:00 The Yorkshire Vet Julian is called out to a desperately ill calf and Peter treats an elderly cat with severe constipation.

22:00 Soham Revisted: 15 Years On A re-examination of the events that took place in the small town in the Cambridgeshire countryside which horrified the country. In December 2003, Iain Huntley, a caretaker at Soham Village College, was convicted of two murders and jailed for life.

23:30 Britain’s Worst Crimes 00:30 Shannon Matthews: The Mother’s Story 01:30 Police Interceptors: Unleashed 01:55 SuperCasino 04:10 Body of Proof

07:10 You’ve Been Framed! 07:35 Below Deck 08:20 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Emmerdale 09:30 Coronation Street 10:35 Psych 11:25 Below Deck 12:20 Who’s Doing the Dishes? 13:25 Emmerdale 13:55 Coronation Street 15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 15:50 Jeremy Kyle18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA 23:00 Family Guy ITV 3 08:25 Where the Heart Is 09:25 The Royal 10:30 Judge Judy 11:55 Road to Avonlea 12:55 The Darling Buds of May 14:05 Heartbeat 15:05 The Royal 16:15 Where the Heart Is 17:15 Barging Round Britain With John Sergeant 17:50 Love Your Garden 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Midsomer Murders 23:00 Law & Order: UK ITV 4 08:45 Ironside 09:50 The Sweeney 10:55 Minder 11:55 The Chase 12:55 Cash Cowboys 13:50 Pawn Stars 14:50 The Saint 15:55 Ironside 16:55 Minder 18:00 The Sweeney 19:00 Cash Cowboys 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 River Monsters 22:00 Benidorm 23:00 Lethal Weapon

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How Can The Award Winning Courier Help YOUR Business Grow?

Friday 21st April 2017

This week, The Courier added another trophy to our cabinet, having been voted one of the top English language news sources in Spain, sharing the stage with the likes of El País, Efe, and The Local, in an independent report by website monitor, Feedspot.

The report states that from thousands of top Spanish News Websites, they have indexed the sites using search and social metrics with data that is refreshed once a week.

The ranking is based on Google reputation and Google search ranking, influence and popularity on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, quality and consistency of posts and then the manual intervention of Feedspot’s editorial team and expert reviews.

This is great news for us, and confirms what we are trying to achieve, but it is also good news for our advertisers. What this means for you and your business is that you can be assured of the quality of the content of The Courier and our commitment to ensure that your advert reaches the intended audience through our contextual approach, ensuring that your potential clients get to actually see and read your advert, without being swamped.

We have some great deals on offer now, taking you right through the summer, so you can set your marketing strategy out now, with confidence and a fixed budget, reaching potential clients through the award winning Courier newspaper, TKO Radio and our on-line portals, to ensure maximum exposure.

Don´t delay, call us today and see how we can help boost your business in the same way we boost our own. Just ring 966 921 003 and leave the rest to us.

Wednesday TV 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Health: Truth or Scare 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Claimed and Shamed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Boss 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Garden Rescue 17:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show 21:00 MasterChef Knockout Week continues as the remaining 12 contestants are split into two groups and get their first taste of professional cooking when they run an entire lunch time service on their own. The first group head to Ormer Mayfair, a London restaurant.

22:00 Reported Missing Suffering from advancing dementia and heartbroken over the recent death of his wife, 82-year-old Archie has vanished, leaving no sign of his whereabouts.

PC Geoff Moore and the team have to get as much information as possible from his son Peter, who went to visit his father at home one morning to find his house empty. The police launch a full-scale land and air search in the hunt to find Archie, but when a neighbour comes forward with CCTV, the police begin to suspect foul play.

07:00 Flog It!: Trade Secrets 07:30 Garden Rescue 08:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 09:00 Mary Berry Everyday 09:30 Grand Tours of the Scottish Islands 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 11:00 Live: World Championship Snooker 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 Live: World Championship Snooker 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Debatable 20:00 Live: World Championship Snooker Jason Mohammad introduces live coverage from the concluding sessions of 2017’s quarter-finals.

21:00 Me and My Dog: The Ultimate Contest It’s the final stage of the contest and the Reds have one last challenge to determine which pairs go through to the final .

22:00 Second Chance Summer: Tuscany It’s the start of Autumn in Tuscany and time for the the olive harvest at La Banditaccia.

After the success of the previous grape harvest, two members of the group make it a personal mission to ensure that owner Maurizio’s precious olives are picked, pressed and turned into extra virgin olive oil before they reach their peak.

23:00 Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience 23:30 23:00 News 23:45 Peter Newsnight 00:15 World Kay’s Car Share 00:15 A Championship Snooker Question of Sport 00:45 03:05 MasterChef 04:05 Being Black, Going Crazy? The Best of British 01:20 Mind Over Marathon Takeaways 05:05 I’m 02:20 Weather 02:25 News Different: Let Me Drive

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www.thecourier.es

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 Culinary Genius 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Marlon senses something is wrong.

20:30 Coronation Street Nathan exploits Bethany’s guilt.

21:00 Tonight at the London Palladium The variety show from the West End theatre returns, featuring some of the UK’s best-loved comedians and entertainers, including music from James Blunt, Louisa Johnson, and Grammy and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, comedy from Adam Hess, the hair-raising sword skills of Samurai Hayashi, plus British street dance champions, Notorious.

22:00 Benidorm Concerns for Liam’s wellbeing leads to confusion when it is feared he has joined a self-help group, and terrible exam results leave Rob questioning his future. Suspicion surrounds Malcolm’s identity and Kenneth is intent on an expose.

23:00 News 23:40 PARAGON 00:40 British Touring Car Championship 02:00 Jackpot247 04:00 1000 Heartbeats 04:50 ITV Nightscreen

07:00 Countdown 07:45 Will & Grace 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 Car S.O.S 12:00 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 13:00 News 13:05 The Question Jury 14:05 Posh Pawnbrokers 15:10 Countdown 16:00 Fifteen to One 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Summer Sun 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News 21:00 How to Live Mortgage Free with Sarah Beeny Sarah meets the creator of an affordable three-bed prefab, visits a £25k home on the back of an agricultural trailer, and three garages made into a home for £12k.

22:00 Confessions of a Junior Doctor This episode follows junior doctors working at Northampton General A&E, as unprecedented numbers of patients put the doctors under increasing amounts of pressure.

Having only been out of medical school for a year, Morgan is overwhelmed with nerves for her first stint in the A&E department, while junior doctor Dan has a different concern, and worries about dealing with grieving relatives in difficult situations.

23:00 My Online Nightmare 00:05 Gogglebox 01:10 Music on 4 02:05 Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 02:55 Film - The Rum Diary (14) 04:55 For the Love of Cars

07:00 Milkshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 News 13:15 The Gadget Show 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Film - Running for Her Life 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News 20:00 Lost City of the Pharaohs Documentary which follows scientists and archaeologists who believe they have uncovered evidence that could lead them to the remains of one of the most magnificent cities ever created in the ancient world, PiRamesses, built by the most powerful Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, Ramses the Great.

21:00 GPs: Behind Closed Doors A woman suffering from severe depression visits the surgery, and doctors fear she has relapsed into selfharming. Elsewhere, a routine dressing change on an elderly patient reveals a huge scab across his head, which the doctors suspect may be skin cancer, and a baby is treated for gastroenteritis.

22:00 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away! A debtor in London ties his car to a tree to stop agents taking it in payment, a church ministry owes rent and a barber owes a business consultancy.

23:00 One Night With My Ex 00:05 My Violent Child 01:05 Benefits 02:00 SuperCasino

07:00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 07:10 You’ve Been Framed! 07:35 Below Deck 08:20 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Emmerdale 09:30 The Cube 10:35 Psych 11:25 Below Deck 12:20 Who’s Doing the Dishes?

13:25 Emmerdale 13:55 You’ve Been Framed!

15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 15:50 Jeremy Kyle 18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Film - Run, Fatboy, Run (14) ITV 3 07:00 In Loving Memory 07:25 Heartbeat 08:25 Where the Heart Is 09:30 The Royal 10:30 Judge Judy 11:55 Road to Avonlea 12:55 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 14:05 Heartbeat 15:10 The Royal 16:15 Where the Heart Is 17:15 Barging Round Britain With John Sergeant 17:50 Love Your Garden 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Lewis 23:00 Law & Order: UK ITV 4 07:00 Minder 07:50 The Saint 08:50 Ironside 09:50 The Sweeney 10:55 Minder 11:55 The Chase 12:55 Cash Cowboys 13:55 Pawn Stars 14:50 The Saint 15:55 Ironside 17:00 Minder 18:00 The Sweeney 19:00 Cash Cowboys 20:00 Pawn Stars 20:30 Live: FA Youth Cup Football - Chelsea v Manchester City 23:00 Film - The Bank Job (14)

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36 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Health: Truth or Scare 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Claimed and Shamed 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 News 14:45 Doctors 15:15 The Boss 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Garden Rescue 17:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:15 Pointless 19:00 News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders A new arrival immediately gets on the wrong side of one family.

21:00 MasterChef The second group of contestants get their first taste of professional cooking. They head to Roux at Parliament Square, and are responsible for serving up every dish on the menu for a busy lunch service.

Later, one chef will be going home.

22:00 Mind Over Marathon Nick Knowles presents the conclusion of the two-part documentary following a group of runners with mental health issues as they train for the London Marathon. The remaining runners attempt longer and longer distances and even travel to Wales for a mountain run.

They are taking part in the marathon with Heads Together, a campaign led by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

23:00 News 23:45 Question Time 00:45 This Week 01:30 Weather 01:35 News

Friday 21st April 2017

07:00 Flog It!: Trade Secrets 07:30 Garden Rescue 08:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 09:00 Gardeners’ World 10:00 Victoria Derbyshire 12:00 News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live: World Championship Snooker 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Debatable 20:00 Live: World Championship Snooker The second semi-final gets underway on Thursday evening. Live coverage of the first eight frames is introduced by Hazel Irvine from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

21:00 The World According to Kids Children from a boxing club in London, a pony club in Berkshire and a choir in Liverpool explore how they see right from wrong.

22:00 The Last Kingdom Aethelflaed goes missing, and her newlywed husband Aethelred returns to Winchester to deliver the news to Alfred. With the realm in chaos, Odda finds himself questioning whether the will of his king and the good of the kingdom might now be at odds.

Having dispatched his own son for failing to remain loyal to the crown in the past, will Odda now follow his lead and turn against Alfred?

23:00 Live at the Apollo 23:30 Newsnight 00:15 World Championship Snooker 01:05 Top Gear 02:30 MasterChef 03:00 American Justice 04:00 Turkey with Simon Reeve

07:00 Good Morning Britain 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 Jeremy Kyle 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 News 15:00 Judge Rinder 16:00 Culinary Genius 17:00 Tipping Point 18:00 The Chase 19:00 News 20:00 Emmerdale Megan’s day takes a bad turn.

20:30 Tonight A look at the consequences Brexit may have for expat Brits, including the potential impact it will have on pensions paid in sterling and the affordability of healthcare.

21:00 Emmerdale Megan fears the worst.

21:30 Joanna Lumley’s Postcards Joanna relives her journey through mainland Greece, including meeting world famous singer Nana Mouskouri and taking in the ancient fortune telling fumes in Delphi.

22:00 The Detectives: Inside the Major Crimes Team An investigation into the fatal stabbing of businesswoman Sadie Hartley at her home in January 2016, from the first call and the piecing together of evidence by lead detective Paul Withers and his team, through to the convictions of the killers.

23:00 News 23:40 Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 00:40 Tipping Point 01:30 Jackpot247 04:00 Tonight 04:30 ITV Nightscreen

07:00 Countdown 07:45 Will & Grace 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05 Frasier 11:05 Car S.O.S 12:05 Ramsay’s Hotel Hell 13:00 News 13:05 The Question Jury 14:05 Posh Pawnbrokers 15:10 Countdown 16:00 Fifteen to One 17:00 A Place in the Sun: Summer Sun 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 News

Thursday TV 07:00 Milkshake 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:15 GPs: Behind Closed Doors 13:10 News 13:15 Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Film - Deadly Departure 18:00 News 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 News

20:00 Secrets of Great British Castles Edinburgh’s handsome hill21:00 The Supervet A top bastion is Scotland’s champion running dog is most popular paid tourist admitted to see if Noel and attraction. With a slew of the team can fix its abnor- sieges to its name, it is no mal elbow joint, and a cou- surprise that the site ple have a nerve-racking wait while their Rhodesian boasts some formidable ridgeback undergoes a defences, and Dan puts high-risk operation to one heavy duty cannon relieve the pressure on the through its paces. nerves in its spine. Noel also treats an injured dog 21:00 Benefits 27-stone belonging to a friend from Sarah dreams of solving her family’s financial probthe gym. lems by making it as a plus 22:00 Born to Kill The size model. For 31-stone death at the hospital is James, a fear of public causing suspicion, mean- spaces could be holding ing troubled teenager Sam him back. Meanwhile in must tread carefully and Brighton, housebound MShold his psychopathic sufferer Bryan has taken desires in check. up indoor archery.

Meanwhile, as a threat from the past resurfaces, 22:00 Nightmare Tenants, his mum Jenny summons Slum Landlords Watford the courage to face her builder David Simpson has fears. Four-part psycholog- a fight on his hands when ical thriller, starring Romola his long-term tenant moves Garai, Daniel Mays, her boyfriend in and sudRichard Coyle, Jack denly decides to stop payRowan and Lara Peake. ing - and when he tries to evict her, she makes 23:00 Locked Up 00:05 incredibly life difficult.

One Born Every Minute 01:05 My Online 23:00 Murder on the Nightmare 02:05 The Internet 00:05 Me . . . and Secret Life of the Zoo My 01:00 SuperCasino 03:00 How to Live 04:10 Body of Proof 05:00 Mortgage Free with Sarah Criminals: Caught on Beeny Camera

07:10 You’ve Been Framed! 07:35 Below Deck 08:20 Ellen DeGeneres 09:00 Emmerdale 09:30 Coronation Street 10:00 Totally Bonkers Guinness World Records 10:10 Psych 11:05 Below Deck 12:20 Who’s Doing the Dishes? 13:25 Emmerdale 13:55 Coronation Street 14:30 You’ve Been Framed!

15:00 Ellen DeGeneres 15:50 Jeremy Kyle 18:00 Judge Rinder 19:00 You’ve Been Framed! 21:00 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Mom 23:00 Celebrity Juice ITV 3 08:25 Where the Heart Is 09:30 The Royal 10:30 Judge Judy 11:55 Road to Avonlea 12:55 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 14:05 Heartbeat 15:10 The Royal 16:15 Where the Heart Is 17:20 Barging Round Britain With John Sergeant 17:50 Love Your Garden 18:55 Heartbeat 20:00 Murder, She Wrote 21:00 Wycliffe 22:00 The Bletchley Circle 23:00 Law & Order: UK ITV 4 08:45 Ironside 09:50 The Sweeney 10:50 Minder 11:50 The Chase 12:55 Cash Cowboys 13:50 Pawn Stars 14:20 Storage Wars Texas 14:50 The Saint 15:55 Ironside 16:55 Minder 18:00 The Sweeney 19:00 Cash Cowboys 20:00 Pawn Stars 21:00 The Chase: Celebrity Special 22:05 Film - Double Impact (18)

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38

Friday 21st April 2017 Some months have 30 days, some months have 31 days; how many have 28?

Answer at the bottom of the next page.

FILL IT IN

CODE CRACKER

Fit the words into the boxes.

Code Cracker is a crossword puzzle with no clues; instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle. All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number. In this week's puzzle, 9 represents X and 18 represents M, when these letters have been entered throughout the puzzle, you should have enough information to start guessing words and discovering other letters.

DOUBLE CROSS-WORD Solve the Double Cross-Word puzzle using either the standard or cryptic clues, the answers are exactly the same.

3 letter words Abe Age Ago Elf Era Gel Ice Ire Nun Oaf Rid Tea Ten Vet Vim

4 letter words Abet Acne Aloe Area Aura Avow Beds Bide Cast Dine Duct Each Else Evil

Foil Glee Glen Hart Keep Ogee Race Rail Rare Reek Ribs Rode Rule Sled Slit Sobs

Tale This

5 letter words Crane Fault 10 letter words Sleek Sleep Resolvable Trace Unattached 6 letter words Braces Browse 8 letter words Aardvark

Cryptic Clues Across 1 This type of nectar creates a hypnotic state (6) 4 Groans about these instruments (6) 9 An American soldier and New Zealand native can be into a Japanese art (7) 10 By the sound of it, remained very serious (5) 11 Deer with one tongue (5) 12 Interlink nine wet components (7) 13 To be at the forefront I get dung etc, perhaps (7,4) 18 Opposes wrong siblings (7) 20 Convulse when she swallows a little potassium (5) 22 Beheaded a buccaneer because he was angry (5) 23 Mix gelatine, remove the iodine and the result is exquisite (7) 24 Incident begins with Santa Claus eating nine eclairs (5) 25 Heads of television and radio in sort of news broadcast (6)

Alienate Ancestor Mandarin Seaborne Tentacle

Down 1 Prize taken from astrophysicist (6) 2 A falsehood not initiated by a stranger (5) 3 An uproar after half a dance by an old Roman racer (7) 5 Tries to change an exam again (5) 6 Magazine adaptation loses the point, it’s awful (7) 7 Bring down some Mossad denunciations (6) 8 He’s keen I add variety to children’s game (4-3-4) 14 Take the limelight from the back of the theatre (7) 15 Most simple to find in exotic asset, that is (7) 16 Paths of planets or particles (6) 17 Funny man Paul becomes a mentor (6) 19 Sounds like soft leather is influenced (5) 21 Not sleeping at a vigil (5)

Standard Across 1 Stupor (6) 4 Keyboard instruments (6) 9 Japanese art of paper folding (7) 10 Sedate (5) 11 Indian language (5) 12 Interlace (7) 13 Forefront (7,4) 18 Opposes (7) 20 Tremble (5) 22 Annoyed (5) 23 Stylish (7) 24 Places (6) 25 Scattered (6) Down 1 Prize (6) 2 Foreign (5) 3 Roman vehicle (7) 5 Take an exam again (5) 6 Awe-inspiring (7) 7 Make unhappy (6) 8 Children’s game (4-3-4) 14 Outshine (7) 15 Most simple (7) 16 Circuits (6) 17 London borough (6) 19 Leather with a napped surface (5) 21 Aroused (5)

Quiz Word

Across 1 What is the old name for a female aviator? (8) 7 What is the name given to the domeshaped Eskimo house, typically built from blocks of solid snow? (5) 8/22 “I shall hear in heaven” were the last words of which composer, who died in 1827? (6,3,9) 9/17D Which famous Australian bushranger was hanged in Melbourne in 1880? (3,5) 10 Which stony waste matter is separated from metals during the smelting or refining of ore? (4) 11 Which word means to formally accuse or charge (someone) with a serious crime? (6) 13 What name was formerly given to a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance? (6) 14 What name is often applied to a person who is excessively concerned with minor details and rules or with displaying academic learning? (6) 17 Which water spirit of Scottish folklore, typically taking the form of a horse, is reputed to delight in the drowning of travellers? (6) 18 What name is given to a pre-

arranged contest with deadly weapons between two people in order to settle a point of honour? (4) 20 Which strong emotion is a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance? (3) 22 See 8 23 What name is applied to a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements, especially to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion? (5) 24 Which highly heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, is used in brake linings and other fire-resistant and insulating materials?

(8) Down 1 According to Greek mythology, which of one of the Titans was punished for his part in their revolt against Zeus by being made to support the heavens? (5) 2 What is the name of Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team? (7) 3 What name is given to one of two children or animals born at the same birth?

(4) 4 Washington who is best known his short stories Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow? (6)

QUICKIE Across 1 Competition (4) 3 Small container (7) 9 Tropical birds (7) 10 Calm (5) 11 Between (5) 12 Outlive (7) 13 Shriek (6) 15 Torn (6) 18 For the reason (7) 19 Monarchs (5) 21 Additional (5) 22 Nought (7) 23 Before now (7) 24 Bunks (4)

SPANISH-ENGLISH CROSSWORD

Soduko

Span - Eng

SUDOKU

Down 1 Says again (7) 2 Freight (5) 4 Help (6) 5 Large retail stores (12) 6 Principal (7) 7 Wish well (12) 8 Pure and simple (4) 14 Narration (7) 16 Draws (7) 17 Composed (6) 18 Meat (4) 20 Sound (5)

Improve your Spanish - Clues in Spanish, answer in English or vice versa.

Across Down 1 Weight (heaviness) (4) 1 Oraciones (religioso) (7) 3 Lawn (terreno plantado) 2 Deporte (5) 3 Letters (mail) (6) (6) 4 Picadura (de abeja, avis8 Otro (en singular) (7) 9 Unhurt (sin lesiones) (5) pa) (5) 10 Between (5) 5 Tarde (últimas horas) (7) 11 Más enojado (7) 6 Queso (alimento) (6) 12 Hermana (6) 7 Hora (periodo de tiempo) (4) 14 Tongue (anatómico) (6) 18 Champú (7) 13 Alga (7) 20 Tío (5) 15 Team (sports) (6) 16 Happiness (felicidad) 22 Daughter-in-law (5) 23 Emperador (7) (7) 17 Votantes (6) 24 In addition (6) 25 Island (geological) (4) 18 Arena (4) 19 Salmo (5) 21 Faces (parts of body) (5)

Fill It In

5 What was the surname of the former surveyor of the King’s (later the Queen’s) pictures, who, late in his life, was revealed to have been a Soviet spy? (5) 6 Which thick paste made of sugar and water and often flavoured or coloured, is used in the making of sweets and the icing and decoration of cakes? (7) 7 What name is applied to a person who does not believe in religion or who adheres to a religion other than one’s own? (7) 12 Which Australasian marsupial is similar to, but smaller than, a kangaroo? (7) 13 What is the administrative centre of the Roman Catholic Church? (7) 15 Which Scandinavian alcoholic spirit is made from potatoes or other starchy plants? (7) 16 What name is applied to any skeletal muscle having two origins, but especially the muscle that flexes the forearm? (6) 17 See 9 Across 19 By what name is a golf course, especially one on grass-covered sandy ground near the sea, usually known? (5) 21 What name is normally given to the case from which playing cards are dealt one at a time? (4)

Riddle Above They all do.

Code Cracker

Last Week’s Solutions Quiz Word Across: 1 Pasadena, 8 Glenn Frey, 9 Boa, 10 Nape, 11 Rodney, 13 Warhol, 14 Dallas, 17 Silver, 20 Nap, 22 Sophocles, 23 Earth, 24 Platinum.

Down: 1 Pagan, 2 Sleeper, 3 Dank, 4 Narrow, 5/7A Bobby Moore, 6 Belarus, 7 Myanmar, 12 Goulash, 13/18 Wounded Knee, 15 Lanolin, 16 Pen pal, 17 Spark, 19 Epsom, 21 Gout.

Double Crossword Across: 1 Roast, 4 Robins, 9 Brigade, 10 Imago, 11/13/18 Free for all, 12 Edifice, 14 Emir, 16 Abel, 20 Pincers, 21 Dope, 24 Drama, 25 Elation, 26 Spends, 27 Tense.

Down: 1 Rebuff, 2 Abide, 3 Teak, 5 Original, 6 Imagine, 7 Scores, 8 Defer, 13 Freehand, 15 Mandate, 17 Spades, 18 Asset, 19 Seance, 22 Onion, 23 Want.

Quickie Across: 1 Fees, 4 Pivot, 9 Caper, 10 Surmise, 11 Example, 12 Nudge, 13 Banish, 15 Causal, 18 Raise, 20 Abolish, 23 Evening, 24 Solar, 25 Thyme, 26 Side.

Down: 2 Explain, 3 Strip, 4 Pester, 5 Veranda, 6 Tried, 7 Ache, 8 Repeal, 13 Barber, 14 Specify, 16 Skilled, 17 Mangle, 19 Inept, 21 Oasis, 22 Hard.

Business Board

Advertise your business here - Call 966 921 003

DS

CLASSIFIE SITUATIONS VACANT Solar Power - Sunlife Solar Solutions have vacancies for both a Solar Installation Engineer and a Solar Thermal Engineer (or plumber with pool heating experience). Call 965 271 717 or send your CV to info@sunlifesolarsolutions.c om Can you sell radio advertising? Join the team at TKO Media. Send CV to admin@tko.media.

Insurance Sales - The EasyCover Group have a full time vacancy available in their Torrevieja / La Zenia offices. You must have previous sales experience and have lived locally for at least 5 years. A full time contract is offered to the right candidate. Send your CV and enquiries by email to martin@easyoption.com Field and telesales reps wanted, full training given, experience desired, call The Courier 966 921 003.

Radio Sales - RADIO COSTA MEDIA needs selfemployed salesperson for Torrevieja & surrounding areas. Call 685 901 265 or please email info@radiocosta.eu Realtor vacancy - Proven track record, experience, local knowledge all essential.

Car essential, multi-lingual desired. Send CV to: office@easybuyproperties.com CHURCH SERVICES Torrevieja Christian Fellowship at Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas 68, Torrevieja 03183, all welcome to their friendly and

lively 10.30 am. Service each Sunday morning.

Tele: 966700391 or visit our website on www.tcfspain.org.

International Christian Assembly, Calle Pilar de Horadada 5, Torrevieja.

Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday services 11am.

Children's church 11am.. For more information lease Telephone today: 966 799 273 or 660 127 276.

PETS PET TRAVEL UK Family pet transporters Spain/UK. Travel with your pets for free. All air conditioned vehicles (no vans) www.pettraveluk.co.uk. Removals also arranged in other vehicles.

Tel UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960130537 QUIZ MASTER Experienced quiz-master /question setter with personality. If you would like a quiz master that is entertaining, and is available to host quiz nights in local bars. Tel: 664 838 581.

REMOVALS SPANISH MOVES Small removals and deliveries.

Spain/UK Budget prices.

Last minute jobs undertaken. www.spanishmoves.net.

Pet transport also arranged in our air conditioned pet/people carriers.

Telephone UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960130537

42

Friday 21st April 2017

Technology

RICHARD CAVENDER

BlueMoon Solutions www.bluemoonsolutions.es

BlueMoon Solutions is the computer and IT services company on the Costa Blanca.

BlueMoon Solutions comes to you at home or at work. Their personal service covers from Alicante to Pilar de la Horadada.

Richard moved to Spain ten years ago having left his management background behind in the UK and decided to use his IT skills to help home users and small businesses with their PC problems. Now a relaxed 'computer man' he is out and about in the Spanish sun every day, making house and shop calls and using his vast experience and qualifications to sort out the problem there and then.

Computers are his hobby as well as his work so don’t be surprised to get an answer to your email in the early hours!

ADVICE: Sally was having problems with the free word Office package - OpenOffice

Q

Hi Richard, every time I switch on my computer I get this message: Either another instance of OpenOffice.org is accessing your personal settings or your personal settings are locked. Simultaneous access can lead to inconsistencies in your personal settings. Before continuing you should make sure user closes OpenOffice.org in host.

Do you wish to continue? Yes or no?

I usually click yes. Any ideas?

A

A. Hi Sally, it sounds like your user profile for OpenOffice has become corrupt. A corruption of your profile can sometimes occur if your operating system crashes when you were using OpenOffice for example. If you notice some strange behaviour of OpenOffice or if it just crashes or doesn't start, the first thing to try is to reset the user profile.

First close OpenOffice, including the Quickstarter Icon (OpenOffice icon in system tray at the bottom right of the screen) if activated.

Open your Windows Explorer and make sure that it shows the hidden files and folders, to do this in Windows follow the instructions below...

1. Open Windows Explorer 2. Click Organize>Folder and Search Options or Tools>Folder Options (depending on Windows version).

3. Click the View Tab and check the radio button Show hidden files, folders and drive 4. Click OK. 4. Now you can rename your profile, its location will depend on your version of windows...

A) Windows XP C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\OpenOffice.org\3\user\ B) Windows Vista, Windows 7, 8, 10 C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\OpenOffice.org\3\user 5. Navigate to your profile location and change the "\user" folder to "\user.old" for example. This way, you still keep a backup of your configuration.

6. Restart OpenOffice, it will create a new profile. You should go through the welcome process again (if not, you may have not reset the profile properly).

Website:www.bluemoonsolutions.es Email: office@bluemoonsolutions.es Mobile: 655 044 970 NEW: Tel: 965 987 032 Don’t forget, you can follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/bluemoonsolutionsspain/ Alternatively, why don’t you sign up for my newsletter. You can do this by going to:www.bluemoonsolutions.es/newsletter .

Motoring

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44

Sport

Friday 21st April 2017

Tiger’s First Shots Tiger Woods still has no set date for his return to competitive golf and says he continues to have "good days and bad days" with his back.

Woods, who has not played since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic on February 3rd with ongoing back spasms, hit a couple of shots in public this week for the first time in months at the unveiling of his new design for a course in Missouri.

"The back is progressing. I have good days and bad days," the 14-time major champion said. "I've had three back operations and that's just kind of the nature of the business, unfortunately. That's all I can say."

"The second shot I stiffed it."

The 41-year old was cheered on as he hit just wedge shots into a stunning par three laid out in front of a steep cliff face and waterfall and one of the com. But Woods missed the green with his opening wedge shot falling short into water.

“The first shot was crap, U hit it in the water,” said Woods.

But his second try drew applause with Woods hitting the ball to within tap-in distance.

Woods missed all of the 2015-16 season after undergoing back surgery and at his first PGA Tour event after a 17month absence, at Torrey Pines in January, he missed the cut before withdrawing in Dubai after a first-round 77.

The project announced on Tuesday in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri will include the first public access golf courses designed by Woods' company TGR Design.

The course is slated to open in 2019 and will be named Payne's Valley in honour of the late golfer Payne Stewart, who was born in Springfield, Missouri. Stewart won two US Opens and a PGA Championship before his death in a 1999 plane crash, and Woods met with Payne’s widow Tracey at the unveiling of Payne’s Valley.

Sam’s The Lion’s King Wales back row Sam Warburton will captain the British and Irish Lions on their tour of New Zealand this summer, but England skipper Dylan Hartley has not been selected in the 41-man squad which was announced on Wednesday.

Coach Warren Gatland has chosen 16 England players, 12 from Wales, 11 from Ireland and two from Scotland.

The tour, which runs from 3 June to 8 July, features three Tests against the All Blacks, who are world champions.

"There were some pretty lively debates finalising the squad," said Gatland.

The New Zealander, who also took charge of the Lions in Australia in 2013, added: "We are very happy with the quality of squad we have."

Warburton, 28, led the Lions to victory four years ago.

The former Wales skipper is only the second player, after England's Martin Johnson, to captain the Lions in two tours.

He stepped down as Wales captain before the 2017 Six Nations and was replaced by lock Alun Wyn Jones, who also took over when Warburton was injured for the third Lions Test in 2013.

"It is going to be the toughest thing I've done but it is definitely the biggest honour I have had," Warburton said.

"I am really looking forward to captaining the Lions for the second time and, with it being in New Zealand, it definitely ranks as the pinnacle of my career so far."

Hartley, 31, misses out despite leading England to a second straight Six Nations title, with compatriot Jamie George, Ireland's Rory Best and Wales' Ken Owens the three hookers selected.

The Northampton Saints player is the third England captain in succession to miss out on Lions selection, after Steve Borthwick in 2009 and Chris Robshaw in 2013.

England centre Jonathan Joseph is included, but there is no place for fellow Six Nations winners Joe Launchbury, George Ford, James Haskell and Robshaw.

Wales number eight Ross Moriarty is a surprise inclusion whilst New Zealand-born Ireland centre Jared Payne is also selected.

Sport

45

www.thecourier.es

Back In Trouble

A Fiery Finish

ONTINYENT CF 2 CD ALMORADI 1

CD TORREVIEJA 0 CD ALMAZORA 2 CD Torrevieja were never going to be out of the relegation dogfight until realistically the end of the season, but two straight defeats have put them back into the mire, as their fate is now out of their hands. Rivals Bunol did not conveniently oblige with a defeat, and so they have gone three points above Torrevieja, who now occupy the final relegation spot.

This contest at home to Almazora was one most fans expected Torry to win, even with the loss of Vicente Boix and captain Javi Meca. Instead they witnessed an abysmal Torry performance, inept in every department, passing, ball control, tackling and creation of chances. It was a wonder spectators did not call it a day at half time! At that stage the score remained nil-nil with few opportunities for either side.

Almazora had spurned a few chances, illustrating why, until recently, they had been one of the worst performing sides in the group in 2017. For their part, Torry were floundering to do anything right.

Those Torry dismissals against Elche Ilicitano in

their away defeat proved crucial, with the side lacking the leadership and organisation of Javi Meca. His cool head and authoritative play were clearly missing. The robust tackling and surging forays down the wing from Vicente were equally obvious by their absence. Lewis Allen worked his socks off but was grafting in midfield, when the world and their dog know he loves playing as the out-and- out striker.

Torry played better in the second period, especially with the introduction of Damian and Luis Carlos, with fans wondering why they were not in the starting line-up. But ironically, it was only two minutes after Damian came on that the visitors took the lead. Fandos seemed to have time on his hands in the Torry penalty area and despatched the ball into the net to silence the bumper Easter crowd and put Torry under enormous pressure. There was a positive response with much more invention, especially from Damian, Luis Carlos and Lewis. After two months out, Beltran was reintro-

duced and he too brought another dimension to Torry's attacks.

However, Almazora are big and strong and has built their survival on sound defensive principles. They kept Torry at bay and reduced them to half chances and speculative efforts. No amount of trickery and guile from Damian could unlock their defence and Torry struggled to find that equalising goal. Instead it was Nico who netted his tenth of the season to double his team's advantage and guarantee the capture of all three points, hitting that key target of 40 points and likely safety into the bargain.

CD Torrevieja now travel to Recambios Colon this Saturday for a 6.00 pm kick-off, with the hosts having recorded just four home wins all season.

Victory for Torry would place them two points behind Recambios and possibly ahead of Bunol, who have an intriguing battle in Borriol. At this stage, the side desperately need a win, but will be boosted by the return of Vicente Boix and Javi Meca.

Almoradi’s Easter match at Ontinyent ended in extraordinary circumstances with an added time home goal winner being waved offside by a linesman, only for the referee to overturn his colleague’s decision.

Three Almoradi players were sent off for complaining, with police officers taking to the field to calm things down for some ten minutes, with Almoradi coach Joserra and one of his staff also being red-carded into the bargain.

It was an incredible finish to the match, with Almoradi having thought they had bagged a hard-fought point at one of the Valencian third division’s promotion hopefuls.

The harsh reality is that the trap door is almost shut on them, as they are eight points adrift of safety in the shape of Bunol, and with the fixture list running out, with another tough task as they

entertain another top-four candidate in the shape of Castellon this Sunday lunchtime.

As for the Ontinyent match, the home side started strong, and were in front through Juanan who was unmarked for an eighth minute, as everything pretty much went to the form book. Sergio was kept busy in the Almoradi goal, but at the other end, and against the run of play they managed to level things up, backed by the referee Francisco Miras López. The match official, who was warming up for his grand finale much later, saw a Hamal shot hit the crossbar and bounce down (in a Geoff Hurst style 1966 World Cup final moment) to just go over the line from the referee’s point of view, but totally against the view of Ontinyent players and supporters.

Ontinyent dominated pro-

ceedings in the second half creating a string of chances, whilst Obele had the best of the opportunities, such as they were, for Almoradi.

Nevertheless the visitors thought they had weathered the storm, before Ontinyent’s fateful winner in added time through Francesc that just about summed up Almoradi’s season.

Elsewhere in the third division, Elche Ilicitano’s recent excellent form saw them win three-nil at Silla, to take them into seventh in the table, and now just five points off fourth-placed Novelda. They entertain Torre Levante this weekend, who are just three points behind them.

Sandwiched between them in the table are Orihuela, who after a blank Easter holiday weekend, return to action against Novelda, whilst Crevillente entertain third-placed Alzira.

Lunchtime Date

After last weekend’s Easter break, Valencian Segunda Regional Group 16 leaders CD Montesinos travel on Sunday (with a 12.15 pm kick-off) to play Deportivo Orihuela C.F. "A" at the Campo La Palmeral, in Granja de Rocamora, which is not Deportivo Orihuela’s regular home venue.

Montesinos lead second-placed Benijofar,

with a match in hand, as Benijofar go to Grupo Caliche.

Third-placed Callosa Deporivo entertain Redovan in a local clash, with Callosa five points behind Monte, with a game in hand.

If Monte manage to win their last two games, then they are guaranteed the title and promotion.

46

Friday 21st April 2017

The Real Deal

Barca Muzzled

Turgid Ilicitanos

BARCELONA 0 JUVENTUS 0 AGG (0-3)

ELCHE 1 NUMANCIA 3

REAL MADRID 4 BAYERN MUNICH 2(AET) AGG(6-3) Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick on Tuesday night to take his Champions League tally to 100 goals as holders Real controversially overcame Bayern in extra time to reach the semifinals.

Bayern Munich midfielder Arturo Vidal's harsh 84th-minute dismissal was the first pivotal moment of a thrilling game, and Ronaldo was clearly standing in an offside position to score Madrid's second in extra time.

Needing at least two goals to progress, Bayern had led when Robert Lewandowski confidently drilled in a penalty. Madrid struggled to find rhythm at a nervy Bernabeu before Ronaldo headed in Casemiro's precise cross.

Bayern responded just 36 seconds later as Sergio Ramos' own goal forced extra time, but then crumbled after Ronaldo fired in Madrid's second.

The Portugal captain tapped in the third - his 100th Champions League goal - after Marcelo's marauding run, with Marco Asensio sealing victory by shooting into the bottom corner.

Madrid will discover their semi-final opponents when the draw is made today (Friday).

Sport

Juventus reached the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday after stopping Barcelona from scoring at the Nou Camp.

Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, Barca peppered the Italian goal but failed to repeat their last-16 heroics when they overturned a first leg 4-0 deficit to eliminate Paris St-Germain.

Lionel Messi, who had earlier been denied by Gianluigi Buffon, fired wastefully over the bar while Luis Suarez and Neymar also spurned chances on a night Barca were restricted to one shot on target.

Messi Double Isco Rescue

The Ilicitanos turned on a Saturday afternoon stinker for their fans, as they looked way below par and a different outfit who in their previous game, also at home, defeated Sevilla Atletico. It was a wretched performance with an especially poor first half against a Numancia side that didn’t have a number of key absentees due to injury. The result also continued this season’s elephant in the room for Elche in being unable to record two straight league victories The visitors had so much more clarity and purpose in the first half, with Juan Carlos earning his money in the Elche goal, not for the first time this season, with a string of saves to keep Numancia frustrated as the gripped the first half like a neck in a vice.

There was very little at the other end with Nino being given little support and he came the closest with a chance that keeper Aitor dealt with comfortably. It looked like Elche might make it to the interval with a clean sheet, but a poor clearance from Juan Carlos let Ruiz de Galarreta in to deservedly open Numancia’s account, as the Ilicitanos supporters vented their fury about the quality of their side’s play.

The unhappy locals had plenty more to jeer at, as shortly into the second half, Nacho made it two-nil in the 49th minute, with Elche coach Toril then making a double substitution with Caballero and Malonga coming on five minutes later to replace Armando and José Ángel.

Elche then discovered what the other half of the field, and especially what the Numancia penalty area looked like, with a Borja Valle (pictured below) header putting the Ilicitanos back into the contest with 18 minutes remaining.

Though Elche were getting more of the ball, scoring opportunities were at a premium, and it all ended in tears in added time when Edu Albacar was sent-off in added time for a second yellow card, after fouling Ruiz de Galarreta in the penalty area. Medina converted the spot-kick to cap a miserable afternoon for an Elche side devoid of imagination and initiative.

Fortunately other results went in favour of the Ilicitanos over the Segunda division weekend, and so they remain six points above the relegation area, with a Saturday afternoon trip to midtable Valladolid tomorrow.

BARCELONA 3 REAL SOCIEDAD 2

SPORTING GIJON 2 REAL MADRID 3 Isco scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner for a muchchanged Real Madrid to send keep them three points clear at the top of Liga after fielding almost a second XI at relegationthreatened Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

The midfielder - who struck a superb equaliser earlier in the game - picked the ball up on the edge of the box and fired low into the corner.

It looked like being a draw for the second week in a row for Real after Sporting twice went ahead, but the win closed criticism that coach Zinedine Zidane had rested too many top players like Ronaldo and Benzema for the match.

Next up is the small matter of El Clasico, when Barcelona go to the Bernabeu this Sunday evening, with Real knowing that victory will realistically clinch the title, with a game in hand as well.

Lionel Messi scored twice to help a tired Barcelona see off Real Sociedad last weekend to keep the gap behind leaders Real Madrid to three points, with El Clasico to come at Madrid this Sunday night.

Messi fired into the bottom corner from long range and his second came when Luis Suarez had his effort saved and it bounced into Messi’s path for a tap-in.

Barca’s Marc Andre ter Stegen flapped at a cross and punched it straight to the feet of Inigo Martinez and he fired through the legs of the keeper - deflecting in off Samuel Umtiti for an own-goal.

Messi turned provider, playing in Paco Alcacer, who momentarily restored the two-goal cushion, but then just before the break, Xabi Prieto coolly side-footed in a second for the visitors, but that was the last goal of the match.

Draw Time

Old Champions League final rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will be hoping to be kept apart in today’s last-four draw.

Beside’s Barcelona’s conquerors Juventus, the other team making up the quartet will be Monaco, who disposed of Borrusia Dortmund on Wednesday.

The draw will be made at noon, and an hour later, the Europa League semi-final draw will also be made at UEFA headquarters in Myon, Switzerland.

Last Chance Saloon

It’s the big one this weekend in an almost-win El Clasico for Barcelona as they go to Real Madrid this Sunday evening (kickoff 8.45 pm). A draw will suit Real fine, as they would remain three points clear of Barca, with a game in hand. A Real victory would realistically mean curtains on the Barca bid to retain their title.

It is in effect a last chance for Barcelona, and with this being Luis Enrique’s last ever Clasico, his team will be highly motivated to get one over Madrid to reignite their title chase.

Barcelona’s Gerard Pique said his side will need to bounce back after Juventus knocked them out of the Champions League (see opposite page).

"We are going to the Bernabeu to compete and to try and win, we have been good there in recent years and whilst we aren't at our best, we can win," he told BeIN Sports.

Real Madrid defender Marcelo insists his side are well prepared for the clash against Barca but thinks the race for the title will go down to the wire, whatever the result on Sunday.

"We are in good shape, but are aware that there are still many games left," the Brazilian said. "All matches are important, but in this one, it's a clash with a direct rival.”

"We are coming into it well. We have a lot of enthusiasm to give joy to the fans," he added. "We are in a good moment.”

One big name will be missing from the Barcelona line-up, and that’s Neymar. He sarcastically applauded the fourth official after being shown a red card in Barca’s league defeat at Malaga, and he’ll be watching El Clasico from the stands. With Neymar out, Barca may go with Paco Alcacer in attack with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi.

The huge doubt for Real Madrid is Gareth Bale, who has missed the last couple of matches with a calf injury. The Wales forward was sidelined for three months due to ankle tendon surgery this season and was also laid low by calf issues in the last campaign.

"Gareth has worked very hard to get back with the team after being out three months injured," coach Zinedine Zidane said.

"When he returned he was very excited and happy. He has some issues which stop him being able to play. We hope it is nothing serious, and he is back with us shortly."

Meanwhile ex-Barcelona star, Xavi, has unsurprisingly picked his former side to win at the Bernabeu to set up an exciting finale to the La Liga title chase.

“As a Barca fan, I've got to back them to win it,” he told the La Liga website.

“As for the scoreline, let's say 2-1. Having said that, although I'm hoping and pulling for Barcelona to come out on top, I think it's very tightly poised.”

And Xavi thinks it could be a spectacular match.

“This Clasico is going to be absolutely pivotal in the title race,” he added.

“It's a six-pointer. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona's chances of being crowned champions hinge on the outcome, and a Madrid v Barca encounter in which the title is on the line promises to be a spectacular, highly charged game.”

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www.thecourier.es

Arantxa’s Picks

FIXTURES Friday 21st April 2017 SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 20:45 Norwich City v Brighton & Hove Albion Saturday 22nd April 2017

Nine-time winner Rafael Nadal remains among the favourites for next month’s French Open -- but Roger Federer is stronger than ever at 35, according to Spanish great Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

Sanchez-Vicario said Nadal's fitness would be the key at the season's second Grand Slam, starting next month, after he missed last year's French Open during an injury-hit 2016.

However, the 30-year-old Spaniard recovered to stun many observers by reaching January's Australian Open final against Federer, where he lost in five sets to his long-time rival.

"Well, definitely. I think that he is one of the favourites to win again at Roland Garros," SanchezVicario, a four-time Grand Slam-winner, said at this week's Rendezvous Roland Garros event in New Delhi.

"I Hope he is not injured. So that's the most important (thing) for him in order to compete well again," added the 45-year-old.

Nadal, currently ranked seventh, has lost three times to Federer this year after this month's Miami Open final and their clash in the last 16 at Indian Wells.

Sanchez-Vicario was full of praise for the evergreen Swiss, who won a record-extending 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

"He has become stronger. His backhand is powerful and he is winning many points there. And he has that mentality in the game, he is a champion," she said of Federer.

"It's great for sports, and for tennis, to see him doing so well again and winning Grand Slams at that age. He is a legend and a champion."

Sanchez-Vicario, who was just 17 when she beat German great Steffi Graf to win the 1989 French Open, added that she was open to the idea of joining the likes of Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker and Amelie Mauresmo as one of tennis's celebrity coaches.

"For me, you know, it (coaching) didn't happen because I have two kids, I am being a mom... and I am very happy doing that," said Sanchez-Vicario, who retired in 2002.

Bull’s Barca Bid

PREMIER LEAGUE 16:00 Bournemouth v Middlesbrough 16:00 Hull City v Watford 16:00 Swansea City v Stoke City 16:00 West Ham United v Everton THE EMIRATES FA CUP - SEMI-FINAL 18:15 Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 16:00 Brentford v Queens Park Rangers 16:00 Bristol City v Barnsley 16:00 Burton Albion v Leeds United 16:00 Huddersfield Town v Fulham 16:00 Nottingham Forest v Reading 16:00 Rotherham United v Ipswich Town 16:00 Sheffield Wednesday v Derby County 16:00 Wigan Athletic v Cardiff City 16:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers THE WILLIAM HILL SCOTTISH CUP - SEMI-FINAL 13:15 Hibernian v Aberdeen SKY BET LEAGUE ONE 16:00 Bradford City v AFC Wimbledon 16:00 Bury v Northampton Town 16:00 Chesterfield v Charlton Athletic 16:00 Coventry City v Walsall 16:00 Gillingham v Fleetwood Town 16:00 Millwall v Oxford United 16:00 Milton Keynes Dons v Sheffield United 16:00 Oldham Athletic v Rochdale 16:00 Peterborough United v Bristol Rovers 16:00 Port Vale v Bolton Wanderers 16:00 Shrewsbury Town v Southend United 16:00 Swindon Town v Scunthorpe United SKY BET LEAGUE TWO 16:00 Blackpool v Cheltenham Town 16:00 Colchester United v Plymouth Argyle 16:00 Crawley Town v Carlisle United 16:00 Crewe Alexandra v Leyton Orient 16:00 Exeter City v Morecambe 16:00 Grimsby Town v Yeovil Town 16:00 Hartlepool United v Barnet 16:00 Luton Town v Notts County 16:00 Newport County v Accrington Stanley 16:00 Portsmouth v Cambridge United 16:00 Stevenage v Mansfield Town 16:00 Wycombe Wanderers v Doncaster Rovers LADBROKES SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP 16:00 Dundee United v St Mirren 16:00 Dunfermline Athletic v Falkirk 16:00 Greenock Morton v Ayr United 16:00 Queen of the South v Dumbarton LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE ONE 16:00 Airdrieonians v Alloa Athletic 16:00 Albion Rovers v East Fife 16:00 Brechin City v Stranraer 16:00 Livingston v Queen's Park 16:00 Peterhead v Stenhousemuir LADBROKES SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO 16:00 Berwick Rangers v Montrose 16:00 Cowdenbeath v Arbroath 16:00 Edinburgh City v Annan Athletic 16:00 Elgin City v Stirling Albion 16:00 Forfar Athletic v Clyde Sunday 23rd April 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE 15:15 Burnley v Manchester United 17:30 Liverpool v Crystal Palace THE EMIRATES FA CUP - SEMI-FINAL 16:00 Arsenal v Manchester City SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 13:00 Aston Villa v Birmingham City Monday 24th April 2017

The Red Bull Formula 1 team is planning a massive chassis update for next month’s Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona, in a bid to get on terms with Ferrari and Mercedes.

Despite predictions that the greater focus on aerodynamics under the 2017 rules would give Red Bull a chance to return to its championship-winning form of 2010-14, the team has begun the season a clear thirdbest.

Max Verstappen's third place in China is its only podium placing from the opening three races, and it is already 55 points adrift of constructors' championship leader Ferrari.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 20:45 Newcastle United v Preston North End Tuesday 25th April 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE 20:45 Chelsea v Southampton SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP 20:45 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town SKY BET LEAGUE ONE 20:45 Walsall v Port Vale Wednesday 26th April 2017 PREMIER LEAGUE 20:45 Arsenal v Leicester City 20:45 Middlesbrough v Sunderland 21:00 Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur

Information correct at time of publication but subject to change at short notice.

Sport

MUMMY SERENA

Serena Williams, the most successful female player of the Open era, is pregnant just 12 weeks after winning a record 23rd Grand Slam singles title in Australia, whilst she was some two months into her pregnancy.

The American, 35, is due to give birth in the autumn, says her representative.

Williams will miss the rest of the season, having not played since the Australian Open, citing a knee injury.

Williams, who will return to world number one next week, would be eligible to retain her ranking under the WTA special ranking rule if she is ready to play her first tournament within 12 months of giving birth.

TITLE TILT

Super-middleweight George Groves will take on Fedor Chudinov for the WBA world title at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, on May 27th.

Groves, 29, has lost in contesting world honours three times, twice to Carl Froch and most recently to Badou Jack, for the WBC title he has since vacated.

Chudinov, also 29, held the WBA title until defeat by Felix Sturm in February of last year, who then lost the title in October after testing positive for steroids.

SEMI PSYCH UP It’s a big enough occasion on its own this Saturday, as Tottenham take on Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals tomorrow afternoon (Wembley:-kick-off 6.15 pm, live on BBC 1) but a Spurs win could lead to a big twist in the Premier League title race, writes ALEX TRELINSKI. Just imagine the psychological blow that could be inflicted on Chelsea if they lose to their rivals for Premier League glory, as Tottenham refuse to throw in the towel.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino loves playing the old mind games routine as well, stating that his club are “building in a natural way”, as opposed to spending “money, money, money”. Surely he doesn’t mean Roman at the Bridge?

On the field, Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois is still the main doubt after missing the Old Trafford league defeat, after damaging his ankle whilst playing basketball in a promotional NBA video, which he was forced to do on club orders… .seriously! The Spurs camp has a clean bill of health, with Harry Kane bouncing around like a spring lamb looking very goal hungry.

The second semi is on Sunday (Wembley: - kick off 4.00 pm, live on BT Sports) as Arsenal try to guarantee an allLondon final, with Manchester City standing in their way. Both teams are desperate for silverware after what has to be viewed as a disappointing season for them, with under-pressure Arsene Wenger having a full squad to pick from, whilst Gabriel Jesus may figure for City, having been out since being injured against Bournemouth in February, with the general view that the season was over for the 20-year-old Brazilian.

EDDIE’S NEW BLOOD England head coach Eddie Jones has named 15 uncapped players in his 31-man squad to tour Argentina in June.

Dylan Hartley will be captain after being left out of the Lions squad (see page 44).

Flanker Sam Underhill, New Zealand-born cross-code convert Denny Solomona, and fly-half Piers Francis - who will join Northampton from Auckland Blues in the summer - are included.

After missing out on Lions selection, the likes of Joe Launchbury, James Haskell, Chris Robshaw, George Ford and Mike Brown are all included.

Harlequins Jack Clifford and Sam Jones of Wasps are unavailable through injury.

"We are looking forward to going to Argentina and winning 2-0," said head coach Jones.

"There are a few new faces so every training session and team meeting will count."

Australian Glen Ella, who coached England on tour last summer, will again join Jones' backroom team.

On the tour, England will face their hosts in San Juan on Saturday 10 June and against in Santa Fe a week later.