The Courier Week 107

Edition 107

www.thecourier.es

Friday, March 8, 2013

HORROR ON THE No.9 BUS

Christina, 16, stabbed to death on way to school HORRIFIED bus passengers looked on as a 16-year-old girl was stabbed to death on her way to school yesterday morning.

Christina Edkins was attacked as she headed towards Birmingham city centre on a crowded double-decker.

Her assailant struck as the No.9 First West Midlands bus pulled into a stop on

DONNA GEE REPORTS Hagley Road. A major police manhunt was launched and last night a 22-year-old black male was under arrest in connection with the fatal stabbing.

Christina was a pupil at Leasowes High School in Halesowen, where her shocked headteacher Neil Shaw said: "She was a

bright and popular student much loved by staff and students alike.

"We are deeply saddened to hear this tragic news and our thoughts and hearts go out to her family and everyone who knew her.

"The school is working closely with the police and a team of counsellors to provide support to our pupils and staff."

West Midlands Police said officers were unable to save the Christina, who died at the scene.

Police launched a huge manhunt for a young black male who was seen fleeing the scene of the stabbing. A man matching the

description was later detained near to a Morrisons supermarket.

Detective Superintendent Richard Baker from Force CID said: "This is a tragic case and the victim’s family are devastated.

"We are still anxious to hear from anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident to speak to us via the dedicated hotline 0800 096 0095.

"There will be a high police presence across the city this afternoon following this morning’s tragedy particularly on buses and in schools in the area to provide reassurance to local people."

THE DAY THE EARTH MOVED FOR NO-ONE TORREVIEJA experienced its first full-scale earthquake alert on Tuesday since the real thing happened back in 1829!

Thankfully, this was just a simulation and the earth did not move for anyone as a

By NICK IRELAND result of the quake. The drill started at 9.30am and ran for a full six hours.

Experts estimate that the most likely source for any plate movement will be off-

shore and so the epicentre was set for a point 5.5 km outside the port of Torrevieja and at a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale. In terms of reference, the May 2011

Continued on P2

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Are you a snapper? Do you have a great photo? Send it to design@thecourier.es and if we think it is good enough we will publish it as our Picture of the Week TELEPHONE

96 692 1003 679 096 309 965 99 66 66 E-MAIL office@thecourier.es WEB www.thecourier.es HEAD OFFICE Calle Luis Canovas Martinez 1. Urb Aguas Nuevas, Torrevieja 03183, ALICANTE PHONE: 96 692 1003 Email: office@thecourier.es OPENING HOURS Mon - Fri 1030 to 1730 CONSULTANT EDITOR Donna Gee ADVERTISING SALES 966 921 003 office@thecourier.es TELESALES 966 921 003 679 096 309 Sally Los Alcazares, San Javier 618 391 491 Myra Quesada, Rojales, Torrevieja, San Miguel Tel. 618 583 765 Jean La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig Tel. 618 898 034 Janine 616 332 178 Patrick International Rep 5 Languages Tel 685 901 265 Writers Donna Gee Sally Bengtsson Jeanette Erath Alex Trelinski Dave Silver Tony Mayes Heidi Wardman John McGregor

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Picture of the Week

JUNGLE DRUMS

The salt factory at Lo Pagan Photograph by JOE HINDSON from Pinar de Campoverde

THE DAY THE EARTH MOVED FOR NO-ONE From Page 1 earthquake in Lorca was measured at 4.4.

On the sound of a special signal, the emergency services sprang into action.

Headquarters was the CDT building, where everything was coordinated from the CECOPAL (Municipal Focal Point). Almost 1,000 people were Involved in the operation, which included 300 professional service personnel from different department and regions of Fire, Police, Guardia Civil, UME, Civil Protection, plus another 200 national and international volunteers, and representatives of such groups as community

administrators and taxi drivers.

One of the major collaborators for the simulation is Neighbourhood Watch in Spain -, who were not only involved in this plan of action but should an earthquake occur in the Torrevieja area, members are being trained to respond and follow a plan of action should the real thing ever happen! NHW members had assigned zones to check in case of an emergency. They would then text CECOPAL and if action was required, HQ sent out an engineer, architect, police, fire, ambulance or UME to assess the situation

The Plan Especial Frente a Riesgo Sísmico de la Comunitat (Earthquake Plan), was developed especially for Torrevieja and this marked the first time that

such a simulation had ever been held in the Valencian Community.

Because of fog and the later addition of rain, the three helicopters that would

have covered the area did not participate, due to the low cloud levels.

However, government minister Serafín Castellano did come to Torrevieja to watch the action for himself.

He was accompanied on tour around the city to the various activity and emergency areas by Torrevieja’s Mayor Eduardo Dolón, and Subdelegado del Gobierno, Alberto Martínez.

After a debrief involving members from all departments, Torrevieja will prepare special information packs with advice, tips, documents, videos and recommendations.

More pictures on-pages 26 and 27

Publication Published by Rainbow Media, S.L. Printed by Localprint S.L Depósito legal A - 132 - 2011 The Courier, its publishers, members of staff and its agents do not accept responsibility for 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 non-appearance 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.

Friday Sunny High 19° Low 12° Chance of rain 1% Monday Partly cloudy High 19° Low 10° Chance of rain 0%

Tuesday Rain High 17° Low 5° Chance of rain 75%

Saturday Sunny High 21° Low 10° Chance of rain 0% Wednesday Partly cloudy High 13° Low 3° Chance of rain 0%

Sunday Partly cloudy High 19° Low 10° Chance of rain 1% Thursday Sunny High 16° Lo 8° Chance of rain 0%

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Friday, March 8, 2013

LET MY PAD NEWS BE GOOD NEWS!

By DONNA GEE TINA RICHMOND found just how cruel life can be after flying into Alicante from Manchester on Tuesday.

The 48-year-old sister of El Raso restaurateur Steven Richmond was urged by doctors as Christie’s Hospital to take a holiday as she battles against incurable cancer.

But after wearily disembarking from Ryanair flight 9073, she realised that her £400 Apple Ipad 3 was missing – complete with irreplaceable photos taken in hospital and details of her future appointments.

Ryanair were unable to help when Steven called them from Bar Med on Wednesday… though they added cautiously that it could take up to three days for lost items to filter through the system.

Meanwhile, Tina is hoping the Ipad - which was not insured – will have been recovered by cabin crew or handed in by the

Tina Richmond: ‘I’m feeling very positive’

person who now has it. And if the power of positive thinking has anything to do with it, she’ll be reunited with the computer by the time you read this.

Tina’s health problems began

when she was rushed to hospital with septicaemia last June. An emergency operation revealed a perforated abscess in the Fallopian tubes and a nine-centimetre ovarian cyst was subse-

quently removed . A hysterectomy followed , along with three cycles of chemotherapy.

Now the cancer has returned and Tina is due back at Christies Hospital on March 20 for a CT scan, followed by four-and-ahalf months more chemo and a clinical trial lasting another seven months.

But there is no feeling sorry for herself – just smiles and a refusal to let her problems get her down.

“I’m feeling very positive,’’ she told The Courier. “The doctors have told me the cancer is incurable but that that the treatment I am having will prolong my life.

“There’s no point being miserable about it - or about my Ipad.

“Whatever happens, I am going to enjoy whatever time I have left. ‘’ If you can help to locate Tina’s Ipad, please call the Courier office on 966 921 003 or email office@thecourier.es

LIFE IN SPAIN Guardia Civil officers assigned to q the National Court travelled from Madrid to Alicante on Wednesday, with a warrant to search the property of Daniel Gil Mallebrera, former Investment Chief of the now defunct Caja de Ahorros del Mediterráneo (CAM) Savings Bank. The raid forms part of a wider investigation directed by Judge Javier Gómez Bermúdez concerning a complaint filed by the Fund for Orderly Bank Restructuring (FROB).

Gil, former General Director of CAM Roberto López and two businessmen from Benidorm are all implicated in the investigation, which seeks to determine whether the CAM directors used funds from the bank to invest for their own gain. Those implicated could face charges for misappropriation, money laundering, forgery or crimes against the Treasury.

q

HALF of the 7,000 temporary teachers currently working in schools across the Valencian Community are threatened with not only losing their jobs but also any opportunity to work in schools in the region in the future. As part of the Regional Government’s new education reforms, it proposes to eliminate part-time or temporary teaching staff, making vacancies available only to those who are university qualified in a specialist subject.

Unions have expressed their “extreme disgust” at the Government’s attitude, questioning why it seeks to make such drastic changes to a system which has worked well for years.

FIVE MILLION JOBLESS BUT…

Increase is slowing down, says employment chief IT’S official. For the first time in history, Spain has more than FIVE MILLION people registered as out of work.

According to figures released on Monday by the Labour Ministry, the increase in joblessness in February came in at 59,444 taking the overall figure to 5,040,222.

That represents 328,124 more people out of work in Spain today than one year ago.

Social Security registrations in February fell by 28,691, leaving the total number of workers signed up to the system at 16.1 million, the lowest level in the past decade.

However, the February rise in unemployment was the lowest for that month since 2008 when the current crisis had not fully

kicked in. Picking up on this, the secretary of state for employment, Engracia Hidalgo, said she was encouraged by the slowdown in the pace of the economy shedding jobs “within the current context of an economic recession.”

“At some point, firms cannot cut further,” said Guillaume Menuet, an economist at Citigroup in London. “Perhaps we are reaching the end of the largest increases we had in the past, but a turnaround in the jobless rate in 2013 is very unlikely."

Economic output shrank last year by 1.4 percent as Spain slipped into recession for the second time in four years. The government expects GDP to contract by only 0.5

percent, but the European Commission esti- lack of motivation to go out and look for mates a decline of 1.4 percent and a further work on the part of the unemployed rise in unemployment to close to 27 per- because they don’t see any improvement in cent. the situation.”

According to the Active Population Young people have again been hard hit, Survey (EPA), compiled by the National with the level of unemployment among the Statistics Institute, there are almost SIX under-25s increasing by 16,026.

MILLION people out of work in Spain, with the jobless rate at the end of last year rising to 26 percent.

The EPA figure is greater as many people do not register as being out of work, particularly if they aren’t eliDO YOU have a story that might grab the headlines? gible for any subsidies.

What’s all the gossip about round your way? A spate of Referring to the February robberies, perhaps – or maybe you’ve spotted a jobless claims, Citigroup celebrity in the neighbourhood. Whether your news strategist in Madrid, José involves fire, police, ambulance, accidents – or happier Luis Martínez, was quoted events like family weddings (particularly Gold and as saying: “Not only is it a Diamond ones!), Just phone the Courier office on 965 bad figure, it is also a sad 921 003 or email office@thecourier.es We’re waiting for your call…and next week’s Front Page story. figure because it reflects a

WANTED – MORE HEADLINE NEWS!

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Friday, March 8, 2013

Police drop charges against ‘drunk’ pilot

But Thomson insist: ’He’s suspended’ A Thomson Airways pilot has been suspended after he was arrested on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit just moments before boarding a holiday jet at Birmingham Airport.

The 51-year-old pilot was arrested by West Midlands Police inside the terminal as he prepared to fly hundreds of passengers to their sunshine destination..

The incident took place on Sunday February 10, although details have only just emerged.

The pilot was initially released on bail pending further inquiries but a police spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that he had been released without charge.

A Thomson Airways spokesman confirmed it had suspended one of its pilots, and will conduct an investigation, although the man will face no further police action.

According to ITV News, he said: "Thomson Airways is aware that allegations of an aviation offence brought against one of our pilots have been dropped.

"However, we are continuing to conduct an internal investigation into the situation, and the pilot in question has been suspended.

"We are not able to comment further until our investigations are complete."

BRITISH expats are being invited to a series of public meetings to inform them how to register correctly for state healthcare in Spain.

The events are part of a campaign launched by the UK Department of Health and the Valencia Health Authority to help British residents understand what their UKissued European Health Insurance Cards can, and cannot, be used for.

Martyn Standing of the Department of Health team in Alicante says: "These events are a must for anyone who wants to get the information on EHIC cards straight from the horse's mouth.

“We'll be telling people why and how they should register for healthcare whilst living in Spain, and explaining the correct use of UK-issued EHIC cards for British

visitors."

All are welcome to attend the meetings and there's no need to register beforehand.

There's also more information for residents of the Valencia region on a new website, www.healthcareinspain.eu Health officials are planning a series of meetings in the coming months, and have already held two events in Denia and Orihuela Costa. The EHIC campaign, funded by the European Union, is an innovative partnership between national British and regional Spanish government authorities.

Future public meetings on registering for healthcare include: March 13: Rojales - Centro Cultural Ciudad Quesada at 12noon.

March 21: Torrevieja - Centro Cultural Virgen del Carmen at 12noon.

LONDON 2012 is providing a huge economic, sporting and social legacy for Great Britain, Olympic legacy ambassador Lord Coe said in Madrid on Tuesday.

Addressing more than 200 guests at a breakfast event organised by Europa Press, the double Olympic 1500 metres champion said: "London 2012 was a once in a generation opportunity to showcase everything that makes Britain great in order to generate long-term economic benefits.

"The winning, planning, delivery and legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games called upon all the qualities that make the UK stand out in the global economy. Based on the expertise that they developed in London, British companies are now winning contracts to help other nations deliver their Olympic Games."

In Sochi, British firms have won contracts to provide project management of the Olympic Park, to design a flexible stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies, and to provide roofs for the bobsleigh and ice hockey venues. In addition, UK companies are supplying construction equipment and consultancy, auditing and legal services.

For the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, British companies have won contracts to consult on sports pitches, urban and transport planning, sustainability and security.

They are also supplying communications

equipment and stadium seats.

London 2012 has also created a sporting legacy including the upgrading of hundreds of local sports clubs, the recruitment of new sports coaches and leaders, and a boost for Britain as an international sporting host - the country will host some 70 world class sporting events over the next four years.

All eight of the Olympic Park venues are being converted to permanent sporting and community facilities.

Lord Coe added: "I am delighted that we also held the most accessible and inclusive Games ever, with disability access incorporated into the design and structure of buildings, open spaces and public transport. The London Paralympic Games changed attitudes to disabled people."

Lord Coe told guests of his relationship with Spain, “where I have many friends.’’

“In fact,’’ he pointed out, “the first I time took part in an international championship was in San Sebastian and my last competition in Europe was in Barcelona.”

After the Europa Press event, Lord Coe joined a round table with Spanish business leaders at the British Embassy organised by UK Trade & Investment.

Lord Coe also remains chairman of the London organising committee for the Olympic Games until the organisation is wound up this summer.

PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT!

ALL SYSTEMS COE!

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Friday, March 8, 2013

editor@thecourier.es

COURIER POSTBAG: YOUR VIEWS ON OUR NEWS

Let’s have a female Pope AT LAST some straight talking, telling people exactly how it is with most religions. I and my sister, who lives in Catral, were brought up in the Plymouth Brethren, another punitive, destructive cult.

Men made all the rules and men were the ones who always escaped punishment or judgement, whereas we girls were constantly being shunned amongst other, not very healthy chastisements.

Our childhood was full of fear and the effect on our adult lives devastating until we’d received therapy.

We could not trust anyone and every time I hear of priests, nuns, pastors or

Families of expelled Jews urged to return MORE than 500 years after Spain expelled its Jewish community, the government has called on their descendants to return.

The news follows a decision taken in November by Justice Minister Alberto RuizGallardon to provide a Spanish passport and citizenship to the descendants of Spain's original community of Sephardic Jews.

"In the long journey Spain has undertaken to rediscover a part of itself, few occasions are as moving as today," he explained, adding that all those who could prove their Spanish-Jewish origins were eligible for Spanish nationality.

Back in the 15th century, Spain had one of the largest Jewish communities in the world - some 300,000 before the infamous Inquisition.

The Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition established in 1478 was meant to maintain a rigid form of Catholic orthodoxy. The result was that in 1492 all Jews and Muslims were asked to either convert or leave the land.

Historians suggest this was done to increase political authority, weaken opposition and suppress conversions. It has also been speculated that this was a method to confiscate property - by condemning someone as a heretic the State took possession of all of his/her belongings.

Scared to death MY husband passed away in August 2009 – like your columist Dr Machi Mannu, he was also strapped to the bed in intensive care after an operation.

I can still see his face - he was so scared and didn’t want me to leave him.

The op was for a small tumour but it turned out to be bigger and much more serious, even though they said the scans showed nothing else.

He was very fit and healthy when he went in but died of septic shock one week later. At the time it was all so stressful; questions should have been asked but weren’t.

I do regret not taking it further and asking why they didn’t see several more large tumours on the scans that were done before the op.

JENNIFER COLES (via website)

vicars corrupting the young I seethe with anger. They abuse smaller, weaker persons just because they can. Hideous hypocrisy.

There has never been a time in history when the need for birth control and condoms has been so acute.

I say, appoint a woman Pope who is not going to pay only lip service to compassion and the needs and suffering of humanity but actively campaigns for simple solutions, like birth control and safe sex.

Popes set themselves above everyone but they are human - just like us.

RUTH G WEST (via website)

HOW I CASHED IN ON MY MIDDLE-AGE TREAD

THERE comes a time in life when you get to a certain age (middle age) that you need to start ticking items off your bucket list.

Kim Carey (right) hands over her sponsorship money

I have always wanted to take part in a marathon, but year after year somehow managed to avoid it.

Not this year. Having bragged to friends, family and clients, there was no getting out of it. I entered the Santa Pola half marathon – the question was, would I be able to do it?

The training and punishing of myself began.

In the beginning I was convinced I would not be able to go the distance, but I soon began to enjoy my daily exercise and even gave up smoking and drinking. (What, I hear you say!).

With this new lease of life, I thought why not put these efforts to a good cause. With help from The Courier, I was introduced to The Friends of The Children Of Elche, a voluntary group of individuals whose purpose is to raise funds for the Elche children's shelter.

Thank you to everybody who sponsored me, your generosity amounted to 903 euros. I had my doubts about finishing, but knowing I had support, helped me cross the finish line in 2hrs 45mins. (Not bad for a first attempt, I'm told!)

If felt good handing over the money, it was hard work running, but well worth it.

Now on to my next project, if anybody has any suggestions (clean), let me know.

Thanks again everybody KIM CAREY, Gran Alacant

EDITOR’S NOTE: Letters and emails will only be for considered publication if an address and contact number are provided (not for publication).

DUMPY OLD GRAN’S SPONSORED SLIM

A loss without gloss OK, I got it wrong. My weight loss suffers badly with Crohn’s Disease, is TOTAL LOSS, 8 WEEKS finally on the mend after major surgery while I was in England was not as impressive as I thought.

When I three weeks ago which involved removweighed in on my return to Spain on ing part of her inflamed intestine.

Wednesday, the scales at the Beauty There were complications which I and Wellness Salon in Pueblo Bravo won’t go into – and she still suffers clicked up a total loss of a few ounces spasms of pain.

OFFICIAL under seven kilos since I began my diet But she was discharged from Alder Start weight 93.2 kg Hey on January 10.

Children’s Hospital in Liverpool on Weight now 86.3 kg Sunday and will hopefully be able to It’s the first week I have had to report an INCREASE in weight, but when I headreturn to school shortly for the first time ed off to the UK on February 16, my main consideration since October. was that I should come back no heavier than when I left.

We are already past the £500 figure I set out to raise So I am delighted to announce that, after two weeks for CICRA – the Crohn’s In Children Research and five days with my family in England, I tipped the Association - when I began my Dumpy Old Gran scales on Wednesday one kilo (2.2lbs) lighter than at Sponsored Diet eight weeks ago. my previous official weigh-in three weeks earlier.

However, donations are still very welcome and can Meanwhile, my 13-year-old granddaughter Daisy, who be made at www.justgiving.com/donna-gee

6.9 kilos (1st 1lb)

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Friday, March 8, 2013

THE CONE RANGER AND TONTO I’ve just experienced one of the worst examples of an unnecessary traffic hold-up I can remember.

And as you might guess, those responsible are the faceless pillocks who clog up Britain’s motorways for no good reason.

You know, the guys who leave those signs saying ‘Sorry for Any Delay’ after you’ve spent four hours crawling three miles around the M25 - as you do every day.

Sorry?They couldn’t give a damn because they make sure they don’t use that route themselves.

Those of us who now live in Spain are all too conscious of the comparative freedom from chaos on European highways. But when you drive 30 miles on an expansive three-lane motorway under orders not to exceed 50mph, you naturally questhe busy M62 motorway in tion the logic behind it.

Particularly when the only West Yorkshire. I crawled indication of road works is along with thousands of mile after mile of traffic cones other motorists desperate to stretched between the inside drive at something more than snail’s pace – with no hint as lane and the hard shoulder.

Such is the current state of to WHY we could not drive at

the normal 70mph.

So why the snarl up? Well, it’s all part of the Highways Agency’s £150m plan to improve the M62 by making it what they call a "managed

motorway" between junctions 25 and 30. They’ve been at it for the last 18 months or so and assure the poor motorists who crawl along day after day that it is all for a very good reason.

“Managed motorways help relieve congestion by using technology to vary speed limits,’’ the Agency say on their website.

“They also allow the hard shoulder to be used as a running lane at peak times to create additional capacity.

They deliver these benefits at a significantly lower cost than conventional motorway widening and with less impact on the environment during construction.’’

The Highways Agency maintains that the affected

route is used by over 144,000 vehicles per day and suffers from heavy congestion and unpredictable journey times, especially during peak periods.

What the loony luminaries don’t tell is that the ‘brains’ behind these fancy ideas are aggravating rather than easing the gridlock on Britain’s overcrowded roads.

And as ever, they think they know better than Johnny Foreigner how best to keep traffic flowing smoothly.

Maybe someone can explain to me why 30 miles of the M62 (15 miles in each direction) has a ludicrous 50mph speed limit when there is no sign of any work being carried out…just mile

after mile of traffic cones between the inside lane and hard shoulder.

Thousands of drivers who treat the restricted area as normal three-lane motorway (which it is) will have been stung in the pocket for driving at a very safe 70mph. I just wish they could return the compliment by shoving a few thousand of those comic cones up Big Brother’s backside.

Or better still, why don’t ALL UK motorists rip up every fixed penalty ticket they receive…and wreck the entire traffic-fine system?

Personally, I’ll settle for the quiet life in Spain…and hope some brave motorist throttles West Yorkshire’s Cone Ranger and his Tonto pals.

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Friday, March 8, 2013

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WALK THIS WAY

I'M trying to stay fit these fowl. days but I'm finding the To me that jargon is on a effort . . . well, trying. par with rocket science but There's a park near to Mrs S usually knows what where I live and three times she's blathering on around the lake measures about. one mile. On most days I can be found running . . . well, jogging . . .well, walking briskly along the path, greeting people I know and dodging the ducks which for some reason loathe me -- and only me.

I don't know why it is but our feathered friends (?) chase after me, honking and quacking their animal animosity until I am no longer in view.

Mrs S says that she once read an article about people releasing something called pheromones, pleasurable chemical signals which attract the opposite sex.

But she reckons that in my case I'm venting invisible airborne substances which convey nothing to humans but act as a supreme turn-off to

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that the British climate doesn't always make it easy for dashing about outside.

So what I do when the weather is inclement is to take my exercise indoors.

I prop open the kitchen door and then quickmarch, with arms swinging, from the kitchen sink to the front door, pausing only to swivel on my heels and make the return trip.

I do this for 20 minutes and to anyone passing my house it must look like s o m e crazy person

is mowing the carpet. But I don't care. Let people think I'm nuts.

'You're crazy AND nuts,' reasoned my best friend Eric the dentist as we queued for the cinema the other evening.

'At least I'm making an effort to keep my ageing figure in trim,' I said. 'You stick to looking after my teeth and I'll take care of the rest of me.'

Eric shook his head. 'I wasn't referring to your exercise regime. That is indeed commendable. I meant that crackpot theory about ducks having it in for you.'

'Okay, Mr Clever Clogs,' I argued. 'You tell me what riles those birdies. All I know is that when they see me they get into such a flap.'

Eric the dentist sighed.

'Can you wonder when you stumble around that park lake, thrashing around in the long grass and panting heavily. The ducks must think you're some huge jungle predator out to get them.'

'Maybe it's the Tigger the Tiger tracksuit,' I mumbled. 'It was a gift from my grandkids so I have to wear it when I go on my jaunts. I suppose I could borrow Mrs S's hotpink jogging pants but then the ducks would think I was a feral flamingo.'

The cinema queue edged forward and I asked Eric what we were going to see.

'I belong to my local Alfred Hitchcock Appreciation Society and tonight there's a big-screen revival of The Birds.'

'That's all I flaming need!' I hissed and swanned off to the pub.

'You do realise that you're barmy?' commented Dave the barman as I plonked myself down on my customary bar stool. 'I'm referring of course to your weird way of keeping fit.'

I groaned. 'Look, I've already explained to Eric the dentist about my wearing that tiger outfit in the park.'

'I'm not talking about that,' Dave the barman said. 'I'm

talking about your jogging INSIDE the house when the weather's bad. I've never heard of anything so daft.

Why don't you just get yourself an exercise bike?'

'Now who's being daft?' I argued. 'How can you expect me to ride a bike from the kitchen sink to the front door and back again for 20 minutes without knocking over somebody? I have little grandchildren, you know, and that's no way to teach them road sense.'

Even Daft Barry guffawed at that one. 'But an exercise bike DOESN'T move,' he said. 'You just sit on it and pedal like the clappers.'

'You can all laugh!' I cried as they . . . er . . . all laughed.

'But just you wait. Come the next Greater Manchester Marathon, I'll show you a thing or two!'

'Like where you keep your tea and biscuits,' said Dave the barman. 'Because if it's raining outside, they'll be switching the race to your kitchen.'

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Friday, March 8, 2013

SAY IT IN SPANISH Learn the lingo - with a little help from JEANETTE ERATH longer happening.

To use the past perfect tense we use the same verb as last week – haber. But we conjugate it slightly differently. ¡Hola! Y bienvenido a otra semana aprendienFormation of PAST PERFECT do español conmigo. Espero que habéis pasado yo había nosotros habíamos una muy buena semana y habéis usado tu tú habías vosotros habíais español cuando habéis podido. él/ella había ellos/ellas habían OK, so maybe that´s not exactly how I would have said it, but as you can see the tense we learnt last week can be used Note that the first and third person singular forms are idento say anything in the past, and until we go through the other tical; this could get confusing until it is taken in context, and tenses this one can be used. In fact it can be used in Spanish of course you could always use yo, él, ella, usted when you more than in English; for example you would not say in are talking or writing.

English ‘‘we have gone to the shops yesterday’’ but you could As mentioned, the formation of the past perfect is the same say hemos ido a las tiendas ayer. as the present perfect apart from the change in haber.

Here are the answers from last week, I hope you managed Examples: to get them all right and have been using the present perfect Yo había preperado la cena – I had prepared the dinner, whenever you have wanted to say something about the past. habías estado aquí – you had been here, él había vivido I have opened the door – he abierto la puerta, I have seen the children – he visto los niños, I have done my homework - he hecho mis deberes, I have spoken with him – he hablado con él, I have made the bed – he hecho la cama, you have closed the window – has cerrado la ventana, I have written a letter to my daughter – he escrito una carta a mi hija, I have put it on the table – lo he puesto sobre la mesa, have you seen the car? - ¿has visto el coche? He has eaten everything – Él ha comido todo, we have seen the parade (desfile) – hemos visto el desfile This week we are going to continue with the same conjugation of the second verb; however, we are going to change the first conjugation. This tense we are going to learn is called the past perfect – that is, when we want to say something happened in the past. In English it is used when we say had because when we use had it means El habia vivido en Londres something happened a while ago and is no

LESSON 61

en Londres – he had lived in London.

The cut off point can of course be mentioned, for example: Él no había cerrado la puerta antes a salir – he hadn´t closed the door before he left, yo había comido antes de llamarte – I had eaten before calling you.

Whether the participle is regular or irregular to make it in the past participle tense requires the conjugation of haber in the imperfect (as above).

The past participles never change, therefore those participles that were irregular in the present perfect remain irregular in the past perfect (and in all compound tenses) Habíamos abierto todas las ventanas – we had opened all the windows.

I hope you take some time remembering both the forms we have learnt over the past two weeks, they are very important and extremely useful.

I will now give you some homework using the tense from last week and this week, keep on the ball so you are sure you are using the correct conjugations, and enjoy: Translate the following into Spanish: We had practised for four hours before the concert; he hadn´t received an invitation; she has opened the door; you have told a lie; he hadn´t washed his hair in three weeks; what had you done in order to help them? (to help them – para ayudarlos); where have you put the car? I had seen Batman before seeing (antes de ver) Lincoln; the books had fallen from the shelf; we had returned from the shop before 5 o´clock; I have heard the news on the radio; he hasn´t been with me; she hadn´t drunk the milk; I have worked all year.

Have a great week using the present and past perfect tenses whenever possible and good luck with the translations. Remember to check and double check you are using the correct tense. ¡Que tengas una buena semana!

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Friday, March 8, 2013

BILLY: A SPECIAL DOG BEHAVIOURIST MY job is to help people achieve calm and bal- go near any person or any other dog. I remember putting a lead on him and getting him to walk alongside me and ance for themselves and their dogs.

A real added bonus to this, is that once your dog is calm and balanced, that dog can then go on to help many other dogs who suffer from psychological problems.

One of my friends has a little dog called Tommy, who struggles sometimes to make sense of the world around him. He had a very bad start in life and was rescued and given the loving home he now has when he was around five months old. To help Tommy, I sometimes bring him into my home to spend time with my pack of six dogs.

My dogs are very friendly and are always interested in meeting other dogs, but as soon as Tommy arrives, they automatically sense that he does not want any attention, so they leave him alone to adjust in his own time.

The amazing thing is, though, that at around 30- minute intervals, one of my dogs will approach him, to try to get him to become part of the pack. They are constantly encouraging Tommy to snap out of his negativity. Dogs will know instinctively when or when not to help another dog and that is why I am extremely lucky to have such intelligent and dedicated assistants.

Billy, my male German Shepherd, came to the rescue of a male Podenco dog, while we were working in Spain. This Podenco was afraid of his own shadow. He did not want to

progress was being made but it was small progress.

I remember Billy looking at me walking this Podenco and his look was as if to say to me, “Let me give you a hand, Dad, I can help you with this one”. So I thought, “Why not, let’s give it a try”.

I attached Billy to the other dog and watched as he tried to take the Podenco for a walk!

At first the dog did not want to move and then all of a sudden, magic happened. Billy had given him the correct signals and in a matter of seconds this Podenco had made his first friend in life, as they both walked off happily into the afternoon sun.

For me it was emotional to see. Billy knew exactly what to do and when to do it. He is much better you see, at being a dog behaviourist than I am. He is in fact my teacher and I am simply a glorified messenger.

Any praise I ever receive should be directed at Billy and my other dogs, because they teach me each day all I know and all I talk about to each and every client.

Watching the Podenco take his first few steps with another dog and then to totally relax in such a short amount of time, proper walk.

My teacher, Billy, is lying down right next to me sleeping as was incredible. Everything about his body language and I write this. He is waiting for his next job, where he is called facial expressions told us that he was very much enjoying having an eight-stone German Shepherd take him for his first into action to help another insecure dog find the peace and balance they have always been looking for. As well as Billy, there are millions of other dogs out there, who instinctively know when and how to help another dog.

Lying next to you right now may be your best friend, who Dougie was found in a field is waiting to be given the chance to help another dog in Dolly is a very affectionate dog born in May 2012. She’s after being hit by car, back to need. All balanced dogs know how to do this. They just need full health now and has been to be given the chance to show that in actual fact, they are fully vaccinated, sterilized the real dog behaviourists and we are simply their students. castrated, chipped and vacand micro-chipped and cinations to date. He is weighs approx. 10 kgs. For around 8 months old, more information please telephone the P.E.P.A. helpli- medium size and loves everyone! Eleanor 610188349. ne on 650304746. www.pepaspain.com

YELP! PLEASE GIVE US A HOME Aurora is a two year old Spanish Water Dog Cross.

She has been brought up with children and she is good with other dogs. She is looking for a home where she can be part of the family. Ring 616655789 for more information.

PABLO is an 11 month old male Podenco who was found with his litter brother and an older male Podenco.

All three dogs were very thin and covered in ticks. Pablo and his brother Pedro are now in good health, fully vaccinated, micro chipped and castrated. 966 710 047

Aurora Teddy is a beautiful 1 year old Fox Terrier and was found wandering round a busy road. He is very affectionate and good with other dogs. Call: 645 469 253. www.petsinspain.com

Teddy Lui is 2 years old and is a Belgian Shepherd cross.

She is vaccinated, chipped and neutered. She is used to a home environment and would love for someone to play ball with. Call: 950 466 055. www.petsinspain.com

Pablo and Pedro

Dolly

Dougie

Friday, March 8, 2013

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LÍNEA DIRECTA REPORTS ON DRIVING IN WINTER

Línea Directa is one of the key players in the fight to reduce the number of accidents on our roads. For almost 20 years, it has promoted research into accident rates in order to encourage safe driving habits. Due to the risks involved with driving in winter months, it now offers advice on how to act in adverse weather conditions.

With respect to the car: 1.Check your car, especially the mechanical components. Pay attention to brakes, lights, windscreen wipers and brake fluid, antifreeze and oil levels.

2. Don’t forget to check the condition of your tyres including the spare wheel, checking pressure, tread and the grooves of each tyre, which must have a minimum depth of 1.6mm.

3. Always take a reflective jacket, two warning triangles and a torch with you. Also ensure that your mobile is charged in case you need to use it in an emergency.

With respect to driving: 1. If you often drive in snow, consider buying winter tyres. In any case, avoid any sudden movements and, as a general rule, do not overtake. Take special care with snow which has turned into ice and always drive at low speeds.

2. If it is foggy or raining, adapt your speed and distance from the vehicle ahead to the weather conditions. Do not brake suddenly to avoid skidding.

3. Aim the vehicle’s heating system at the windows to prevent them from fogging up as a result of humidity.

4. When overtaking, reaching crossroads, leaving tunnels and in open spaces, be careful with any sudden gusts of wind, which might lead to a loss of steering and the vehicle overturning.

Call now for more information on 902 123 104

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Friday, March 8, 2013

FIT FOR SUMMER

It would appear that this is the time to get fit! people eat crisps, but I hope you get what I´m trying to say.

Overweight people do have a body genetically different to Everywhere I look I hear tales of people trying to lose weight and tone up ready for summer thin people, that I do believe. However, you only have to look at famous people who were fat and have lost a lot of weight and I am no different.

I have recently embarked on a rigid fitness regime; it is a series of DVDs with a personal trainer giving instruction and encouragement as a group of fitness fanatics jump and squat and stretch to his every command. It is not for the faint-hearted nor for beginners, the workouts are designed for maximum effort and maximum results.

It is a cardio-based interval training workout and, as someone who has always taken her exercise seriously (I even trained as a personal trainer at one point), I believe intervals are the best way to lose fat and tone up. However, these exercises are intervals turned on their head.

Normally it involves a short burst of energy followed by a recovery period; however my new intervals last for around three minutes with a 30-second recovery, so as I mentioned they are not the norm.

I have just completed my first week and to be honest I have lost no weight and only a few centimetres from various parts. However, I am hoping that my fitness level has increased and with the next week the weight will start to go down and the muscles tone up. I will also start to watch what I eat a little more carefully as I have been a bit slack in the food department!

As I was exercising one day, I started to wonder why some people take their fitness seriously while others don´t seem to care what state their bodies are in. What is it that makes me work for an hour a day to improve my fitness and shape whilst someone else is apparently content to eat crisps and be overweight? I know it is a general statement to say all fat

to see that it is possible to fight the flab and be a healthy size.

Dawn French is a prime example. Although she has put some weight back on, she did lose a lot and still looks good, as long as she keeps it under control and doesn´t balloon again, because being overweight, as well as underweight, carries its own health risks.

I know large people who are very conscious of how they look, their hair always looks nice, they take their time with make-up and choose their clothes carefully, but I still can´t understand why they choose to be that size.

I´m not really talking about people who are a few kilos over their ideal weight, but people who are clinically obese.

I read that there is a town in the UK where one in three adults is officially obese, and overall in the UK 24% of men

Don’t let your weight get you down

and 26% of women are obese, and sadly the figures are not going down. So much so that in 2050 it is predicted that 60% of adults in the UK will be obese. Now if that´s not worrying I don´t know what is.

Obesity related problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes could be significantly reduced if the person lost weight, so it´s not just about looking good in a swimsuit but also a major health factor.

I am not talking as a person who has never struggled with weight. At one point I weighed around 15 stone and got to a stage where I couldn´t tie my shoelaces without effort. I just couldn´t bend down to reach them.

So I am well aware of how easy it is to get to that size, for me it was regular takeaways and four bars of chocolate a day, but I am also aware of how to lose it again. For me it was controlling what I ate and exercising.

My genetic make-up means I put weight on my bottom half; I have big hips and a large bottom, which if I decided to do nothing would expand without control. This is why I am putting myself through the apparent torture of hard, intensive workouts six days a week, and why I am hoping that I will live a long and healthy life, free from controlling medicines.

So, if you´re thinking about exercise I say go for it, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. And if you´re underweight, overweight or in the ideal range it is always a good idea to incorporate some form of keep-fit in your daily life.

Weight issues are a problem, but it´s never too late to stop them becoming a serious issue in your life. Take care, always seek medical advice before starting any exercise plan and if you start now you will be well on the way to a healthier future.

Don´t become another statistic.

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Friday, March 8, 2013

ISN’Tpolitics a wonderfully fickle business? For the last few months, the Lib Dem knives have been sharpened, ready for a big thrust into Nick Clegg’s torso, akin to a production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

But last week’s by-election result at Eastleigh has quickly altered the picture for the beleaguered deputy Prime Minister.

Despite the fuss over the ex-MP Chris Huhne and accusations of sexual misbehaviour over the Lib Dems’ former chief executive, Lord Rennard, Eastleigh stayed in Lib Dem hands.

H o w much of it had any significance on the national stage is open to question. All the reports suggested that

Lib-Dems DO have a Clegg to stand on! many people chose to vote on local issues and liked their local Lib Dem council, and so stayed loyal to the party.

It’s madness to make any sort of forecast based on a by-election, but for Clegg there’s a rational hope that in the south of England, many of his MPs may well be back in Westminster come 2015, which is why most of the knives have b e e n replaced in their sheaths.

I have to be honest and remind you that I nerv-

q

ously predicted a Tory gain in Eastleigh a fortnight ago, but the genie of the lamp, in the form of Nigel Farage’s UKIP, pushed them into a humiliating third place.

David Cameron said predictably that it was a protest vote, despite Farage being bullish about having made a big breakthrough. But the old Tory worry is back in that it only takes a handful of such UKIP protest votes in a number of key marginals in 2015 to scupper Cameron’s chances of a return to Downing Street.

There was nothing either for Labour to crow about, as they finished a bad fourth, and that’s plenty for Ed Miliband to ponder as he thinks about getting back those middle class voters who got Tony Blair into power in 1997.

The best comment on the whole Eastleigh business came from an experienced and sensible Tory backbencher, Bernard Jenkin. He said many Westminster politicians had lost touch with ordinary people, and how right he is.

In the recent Italian elections, voters flocked to support a protest party led by a comedian, and such is the disillusionment with all the UK parties that I wouldn’t rule out Farage becoming Court Jester with his UKIP friends producing some very strange results in the 2015 vote. Even though the British electoral system will make him unable to actually win a seat.

The British banks continue to be a law unto themselves. Despite being bailed out by the previous

q

government, big bonuses for individual bankers are still being handed out by stateowned enterprises like RBS. Even more importantly, they are playing little part in improving the UK economy, as new figures show the number of loans being given to individuals and new businesses is falling. That’s despite the new government “Funding for Lending” scheme launched last summer, and guess what? The main offenders are the state-owned enterprises of RBS and Lloyds. Three years into the current term of this coalition government, there comes a point when you have to stop blaming Labour for all the mess.

What have George Osborne and Vince Cable done to effectively get the banks to work for the British public,

who after all own two of them?

Spain hit a shameful record this week. We heard the news that unemployment levels had climbed above five million for the first time since the return of democracy in 1975, and with no immediate prospects of any improvement.

I'll bet you a cheap paella that very few of that five million will be political officials and their families and friends, who always know how to fall on their feet. The service sector has taken a real hit, but wasn't that predicted when those big IVA rises last year were imposed on Madrid by the EU mandarins, led by their puppetmaster, Angela Merkel?

I've got a feeling that we could be in for a long hot summer of discontent.

q

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Perk up your poultry PAN-FRIED CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM SAUCE Ingredients 2 tbsp sunflower oil 6 large, free-range chicken legs, halved at the joint so you have 6 thighs and 6 drumsticks 700ml/1¼ pts chicken stock (or water) 50g butter 1 onion, finely diced 400g mixed wild mushrooms 300ml/½ pt dry white wine 284ml pot double cream

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Fry the thighs for 8-10 mins, skin side only, until golden brown, then transfer to a casserole dish. Fry the drumsticks for about 5 mins each side and add them to the thighs.

2. Pour the stock over the chicken legs in the casserole.

There should be enough stock to just cover the chicken, if not add a little water. Bring stock to the boil and cover, leaving lid slightly ajar. Cook at just below simmering point for 30-35 mins until chicken is cooked.

3. While chicken is simmering, drain oil from the pan. Heat the butter in pan and add onion. Sweat onion for 5 mins until soft, but not coloured. Turn up the heat, add the mushrooms, then fry for 3 mins until they soften and start to smell wonderful. Pour over the white wine, raise the heat to maximum and boil rapidly for 6-8 mins until reduced by two-thirds. Turn off the heat and leave until chicken has cooked.

4. Once chicken legs are cooked, strain stock into pan with the onion, mushrooms and white wine, bring back to the boil and reduce again by two-thirds until it is thick and syrupy.

Pour in double cream, bring it to the boil, season if you want, then pour it over chicken. Heat chicken through in the sauce for 2-3 mins then turn off the heat and leave for a few mins before serving. This is such an aromatic and beautiful looking dish you should serve it straight from the casserole with the lid on.

CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP Ingredients

them. Season on all sides. Put half the goat's cheese on each piece of chicken and sprinkle with the thyme leaves.

Fold the chicken over to enclose the cheese, then wrap each one in two slices of the bacon.

2. Lightly oil a shallow gratin dish, then arrange overlapping rows of courgettes and tomatoes over the base. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme sprigs. Sit the chicken on top.

3. Bake for 40-45 mins until the bacon is crisp and golden and the courgettes are tender. Serve straight from the dish with new potatoes or good bread.

900ml chicken or vegetable stock 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, about 175g/6oz 1 tsp chopped fresh root ginger 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 50g rice or wheat noodles 2 tbsp sweetcorn, canned or frozen 2-3 mushrooms, thinly SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN sliced Ingredients 2 spring onions, sunflower or vegetable oil, for frying shredded 100ml soda water, chilled 2 tsp soy sauce, plus 140g self-raising flour extra for serving 25g cornflour mint or basil leaves and a little shredded chilli (optional), to 4 skinless, boneserve less chicken Method breasts, cut into 1.Pour the stock into a pan and add the chicken, ginger and chunks garlic. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, partly cover spring onions, and simmer for 20 mins, until the chicken is tender. Remove finely shredded, the chicken to a board and shred into bite-size pieces using to serve a couple of forks.

FOR THE 2. Return the chicken to the stock with the noodles, corn, SAUCE mushrooms, half the spring onions and the soy sauce. 1 red pepper, Simmer for 3-4 mins until the noodles are tender. Ladle into deseeded and two bowls and scatter over the remaining spring onions, chopped into herbs and chilli shreds if using. Serve with extra soy sauce chunks for sprinkling.

3 red chillies, 1 cut into chunks, 2 halved and deseeded 425g can pineapple chunks, drained and juice reserved GOATS CHEESE & THYME STUFFED 4 star anise 50g tamarind paste CHICKEN 100g caster sugar 100ml rice wine vinegar or Chinese vinegar Ingredients 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts Method 100g firm goat's cheese, such as Crottin de Chavignol 1. For the sauce, put the red pepper, chunks of chilli and 1 tsp fresh pineapple juice in a pan and bring to the boil. Cover and cook thyme leaves, for 10 mins, then purée in a food processor. Return to the plus 2-3 sprigs pan with the pineapple chunks, chilli halves, star anise, 4 rashers streaky bacon, thinly sliced 2 courgettes, thinly sliced 1-2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzling 250g vine tomatoes, thinly sliced

Method

1. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Split the chicken breasts almost in half from one long side and open them out like a book. Bat them out a little with a rolling pin to flatten

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Friday, March 8, 2013

tamarind, sugar and vinegar. Gently simmer for 20-30 mins until reduced and sticky. Keep warm, or reheat to serve.

2. Fill a large pan 1cm deep with oil and heat until shimmering. Whisk the soda water and 100ml cold water into the selfraising flour with a little salt. Tip the cornflour onto a plate, line a tray with kitchen paper and turn on the oven to low.

3. Stir the batter well. Dust the chicken with cornflour, then dip into the batter. One at a time, lower into the hot oil (about 5-6 every batch). Turn up the heat to keep the chicken frying, if needed, and cook for 5-6 mins, turning once. When cooked, drain on the tray, and keep warm in the oven.

Repeat with the remaining chicken. Stack onto a plate with the warm sauce on the side, and scatter with shredded spring onions.

LEMON & OREGANO CHICKEN TRAYBAKE Ingredients 500g new potatoes, thinly sliced 2 tbsp olive oil 6-8 chicken thighs, skin on 8 shallots 100g bacon lardons 1 lemon, sliced into wedges 5 oregano sprigs 100ml white wine 200ml chicken stock

Method

1. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Tip the potatoes into a large shallow roasting tin, drizzle with 1 tbsp of the oil, season well and toss to coat. Roast for 20 mins until starting to crisp.

2. Season the chicken thighs and add to the roasting tin

along with the shallots, bacon lardons, lemon wedges and oregano. Drizzle with the remaining oil, then return to the oven for 20 mins. Pour over the wine and stock, and roast for a final 20 mins until the chicken is golden and cooked through.

CHICKEN PARMIGIANA Ingredients 2 large, skinless chicken breasts, halved through the middle 2 eggs, beaten 75g breadcrumbs 75g parmesan, grated 1 tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed ½ x 690ml jar passata 1 tsp caster sugar 1 tsp dried oregano ½ 125g ball light mozzarella, torn

Method

1. Place the chicken breasts between cling film sheets and bash out with a rolling pin until they are the thickness of a £1 coin. Dip in the egg, then breadcrumbs, mixed with half the Parmesan. Set aside on a plate in the fridge while you make the sauce.

2. Heat oil and cook garlic for 1 min, then tip in passata, sugar and oregano. Season and simmer for 5-10 mins.

3. Heat grill to High and cook the chicken for 5 mins each side, then remove. Pour the tomato sauce into a shallow ovenproof dish and top with the chicken. Scatter over the mozzarella and remaining Parmesan and grill for 3-4 mins until the cheese has melted and the sauce is bubbling. Serve with vegetables or salad and some pasta or potatoes, if you like.

BAKED COUNTRY CHICKEN Ingredients 1 tsp turmeric powder 2 tsp coriander seeds 2 tsp mustard seeds 1 tbsp ground cumin seeds 1 tsp ground fenugreek ½ tsp black peppercorns juice 2 lemons 5 garlic cloves, crushed 100g ginger, grated 250ml coconut milk 2 red chillies, deseeded and chopped 8 pieces of chicken, bone in and skin on, or 1 whole chicken jointed a few coriander sprigs

Method 1. Toast all of the spices in a dry pan, then grind to a powder using a pestle and mortar. Mix the lemon juice, garlic, ginger, coconut milk and chillies with a large pinch of salt and the other spices in a food processor to make a paste. Rub the marinade into the chicken and leave to marinate for at least 2 hrs or overnight, if possible, in the fridge.

2. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Place the chicken in a roasting tin and cook for 35 mins. Turn the grill to high, then grill it to crisp up the skin. Turn every few mins and cook for about 20 mins until charred. Scatter over coriander sprigs and serve with a simple salad of sliced red onion and green chilli.

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Friday, March 8, 2013

RICHARD CAVENDER

Bluemoon Solutions www.bluemoonsolutions.es

BlueMoon Solutions is the computer and IT services company on the Costa Blanca, they provide quality computer services at realistic prices and specialise in working with home users and small businesses.

Richard moved to Spain seven 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 (usually) 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: David wanted to know how to copy and paste ADVICE: Mary was having problems in Skype Dear Richard, I am wondering if you would from a website to his email be kind enough to help me with something

Hello Richard, I have just read the article in this week’s Courier paper, where Mike wanted to know how to send pictures with his windows live mail system as you can see I am not very good with computers. I am operating on Windows 7, Internet Explorer and using Hotmail. I wanted a part to be delivered to my friend in the UK (for him to bring it out with him). I saw the item I wanted on Amazon and described it to him; I was in the screen on another tab. I right clicked on it and pressed - copy, went back to the email and clicked paste.

Nothing happened obviously I was doing something wrong, but what? Thanks, David

Q

Hi David, although it’s pretty easy to copy and paste from the Internet to your computer, its pretty difficult to copy and paste from one place on the Internet to another and that’s what you are trying to do here.

In this instance because you are using Amazon (a website) and also Hotmail (essentially simply a website) then you are trying to copy from one website to another and that isn’t easily done; what you should do is copy from Amazon to your computer by right clicking the image and clicking “Save Image As”, you can then save the picture to your computer somewhere (desktop for example) and then you simply go into your Hotmail and attach the picture just as you would any other file from your computer.

Don’t forget that Microsoft will be phasing out Hotmail this year so it’s probably best if you get used to Outlook.Com where your email will live in the future.

Hope this helps.

A

ADVICE: William was having problems printing a .pdf manual that had really small text.

Q

which occurs repeatedly when I log into Skype. A message appears as follows:It is headed “Web Browser” and below reads …

“One or more ActiveX controls could not be displayed because either : Your current security settings prohibit running ActiveX controls on this page, or You have blocked a publisher of one of the controls.

As a result the page might not display correctly”.

The page appears to display correctly and this message may mean nothing. But if you have any information about it I should be interested to hear from you. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards - Mary

A

Hi Mary, I think that the reason you are receiving the message in Skype is because you either don’t have Adobe Flash player installed for your default browser, you can do this by going to http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions and selecting your operating system and version, downloading and installing it and then restarting Skype.

ADVICE: Brian was having problems getting the text size correct with Internet Explorer

Q A

Hi Rich, every time I go into a website on my new laptop the text appears really small, is there anything I can do about it, I’ve found and tried to change the text size function but that doesn’t seem to make any difference – any ideas? Brian Hi Brian, I think that you have found half the problem, Internet Explorer’s text size is determined by what is selected in the “View”, “Text Size” menu option, however it’s also determined by the “Zoom” function in the same menu item, have a look at that, it should be set to 100% for normal operation.

Don’t forget you can follow me on twitter @bluemoonspain Alternately why don’t you sign up for my newsletter. You can do this by going to:www.bluemoonsolutions.es and fill in the form that is on any page except the front page.

Q

Hi Richard, I recently downloaded a user manual for a Samsung GT- E2530 mobile phone, this comes on 2 sheets of A4, and of course is too small to read, when I increase the size and press print it still prints out as original very small.

If this is the case then you need try to enlarge the print, not the actual file as it is viewed on the screen (which is what I am assuming is going on here). To do this open up the file you are trying to print (the manual in this case) and then click File, Print and then have a play with the setting “custom scale”.

From here you will be able to easily double the size of the thing you are printing – of course depending on how the document is formatted you may have to print it a couple of times to get everything but with a bit of playing around you should be able to get it all printed out at a decent size.

Hope this helps.

A

office@bluemoonsolutions.es www.bluemoonsolutions.es Mobile: 655 044 970

Office: 902 906 200

Friday, March 8, 2013

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Friday, March 8, 2013

CONFIDENCE BOOSTING BEAUTY TREATMENT!!

By June Hutchinson. Semi-permanent makeup artist Imagine this! You are having a quiet day at home or lying in bed a little later than usual, what happens?

Someone knocks at the door! You are feeling a bit of a mess and you wish you had time to put a little makeup on before letting them in. You feel slightly embarrassed and the conversation doesn't flow as easily as usual. Why do we feel this way? It's happened to us all and it's because most of us feel more confident with a little make up on.

We wear make-up to correct or emphasise certain features .To feel better about ourselves.

So now imagine this! You wake up with beautifully shaped eyebrows; they make you look younger, fresher and more alive.

You look in the mirror and you notice that the colour of your eyes is more vibrant, now

you are pleased that you decided to have an eyeliner treatment at the same time as having those fabulous brows done with semi-permanent make up. You have saved yourself some valuable time too! No more trying to line your eyes with a wobbly hand or trying to manoeuvre round your spectacles whilst peering into that 7xmagnifying mirror!

Maybe next visit you will consider giving your lips the definition that time has taken away too with a subtle lip liner or add a bit more colour to your eyeliner with a vibrant blue or green, the possibilities are endless So go ahead and answer that door, go to the gym or the pool in the knowledge that you look great!

Make an appointment today at Medaesthetics 965 326 082

The Benefits of Raw Milk

What is raw milk and why is it healthier than pasteurized milk?

Raw milk is fresh milk straight from the cow or goat and used for drinking fresh or it is fermented into other products like yogurt, kefir, butter and cheeses.

Raw milk is delicious, healthy and easy to digest.

It is a complete food!

Here are some of the benefits of raw milk: • Man has been using raw and fermented milk for about 8-10,000 years.

Cultures like the Europeans, those from the Middle East, and from

Africa have long enjoyed milk and meat in their diets.

So it has a long and proven track history.

• It is the chief source of living enzymes and cultures. Enzymes are needed by the body to recover from

disease and for health maintenance.

• It has 20 amino acids necessary to health.

• It is loaded with fat-soluble nutrients, calcium and other minerals.

• It boosts the immune

system.

• Eliminates and destroys pathogens.

• It has natural fats the body knows how to assimilate.

• It's a rich source of vitamins A and D.

• If you are lactose intolerant, this should interest you: most people become lactose intolerant because pasteurization kills the living enzymes in the raw milk. So lactose intolerant could mean intolerant to pasteurized milk!

• In the past, children raised on raw milk had perfect teeth and no decay.

• In the early 1900's it was discovered that infants would develop scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) if they were changed from raw milk to pasteurized milk.

Pasteurization kills off significant amounts of vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, folic acid, B12 and almost all the enzymes.

Clearly, the benefits outweigh those of pasteurized

milk. Pasteurization kills off vitamins, enzymes and bacterial flora needed by the gut for digestion.

Homogenization changes the molecular structure of the fat globules by pressing them into very small particles. Your body can't absorb these particles because they can now go through the intestinal lining.

The best sources are from pasture raised cows and goats. It starts from the soil up: good pasture, clean water, sunlight and fresh air keep animals healthy and that transfers the health promoting enzymes through the milk to us. The best way to find it is to start with your health food store and natural health care providers.

ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS AND DIETARY SOURCES -1 Essential nutrients are nutrients required for the body to function normally, but cannot be produced in the body. Most scientists agree that there are about 45 essential nutrients, while others believe the number to be more. Either way, the body requires a huge number of nutrients from external sources especially when you consider that a deficiency of any one of these essential nutrients can lead to chronic disease. The essential nutrients include; 20 minerals, 14 vitamins, 2 fatty acids and 9 amino acids. These nutrients are variedly distributed in foods. Some nutrients such as riboflavin (Vitamin B12) is found in many foods, while others like manganese can only be found in a limited range of foods. A person’s

DR MACHI MANNU’S ADVICE CLINIC Email your questions and comments to machimannu@gmail.com

requirement for essential nutrients generally depends on their sex and age. There are key periods when the demand for nutrients increases such as in early infancy and adolescence, pregnancy, lactation as well as during chronic illness.

Furthermore, there are individual variations in essential nutrient requirements. For example migraine sufferers have been shown to have lower magnesium levels, and may require more than the rest of the population.

Since farm animals need the same minerals as we do, meat contains most of the minerals needed by the body, except for man-

ganese, chromium and iodine. The iron from meat is easier for the body to utilize than those from plants. Liver contains a lot of chromium, while sea foods contain iodine and manganese. The body needs iodine for the thyroid gland to produce hormones that regulate energy production by the body. Nuts are not only rich in minerals, but can be very good whole foods. Brazil nuts, pecans, macadamias and almonds are excellent sources of zinc, vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids. Dried fruits are concentrated food sources and so contain more minerals per weight than the fruit from the tree. The mineral

content of vegetables depends on the soil they were grown on, and the type of vegetable. Dark leafy greens such as spinach and broccoli contain healthful amounts of iron, folic acid vitamin A and even calcium.

Eating a wide variety of leafy vegetables will provide many essential minerals.

Mushrooms can provide up to 10 of the essential minerals. Zinc is required by the body for growth, vision, and wound healing and for maintaining a powerful immune system. It is known as a trace mineral, which means it is required by the body in tiny amounts. This is in contrast to bulk minerals such

as calcium and magnesium that are required in larger quantities. Vegetarians may be at risk of zinc deficiency because, although it is found in many plant sources, it is not utilized properly by the body as the zinc from animal sources. The best dietary sources are lean meat, eggs and whole grains. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is found in most plant and animal foods, but only in small quantities. It is

significantly lost when cereals and grains such as wheat and rice are polished.

It can also be destroyed by heat and alcohol. This makes Vitamin B1 deficiency a common problem. It is essential for the production of energy, and its deficiency affects the functioning of vital organs such as the brain, nerves and heart.

For A Bull Body Diagnostic Scan, Call 965071745

Friday, March 8, 2013

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Life’s a blur for my aging eyes Q

About six months ago, I started having all sorts of problems with my eyes. My vision was blurred and distorted, and I had problems recognising colours. I saw an eye specialist who told me I had dry macular degeneration, and that there was no treatment for it. I understand that some nutrients can help the condition and would appreciate your opinion. I am a 61 year old man, and I live in Spain.

A

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) as it is often referred to, is a painless, progressive disorder and one of the leading causes of severe vision loss in people over the age of 60. AMD occurs when the small central part of the retina known as the macula starts to break down, producing a widening circle of blindness.

The retina is the light-sensing tissue located at the back of the eye. AMD usually affects both eyes, and even though it can lead to severe vision disability, it almost never causes total blindness. The cause of AMD is unknown, however it has been linked to a number of health problems including; a family history, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, poor diet lacking in antioxidants, and exposure to sunlight.

There are two main types of age-related macular degeneration – Dry form and Wet form. The dry form occurs when yellow deposits called Drusen starts to accumulate

in the macula. A few deposits of drusen may not cause any problems, but as they grow in size and increase in number, they cause the dimming and distortion in vision that people find most noticeably while reading. The wet form of AMD occurs when there is an overgrowth of blood vessels surrounding the macula (central portion of the eye). These blood vessels leak blood and fluid into the retina, causing distortion of vision that makes straight lines look wavy. Eventually these abnormal blood vessels become scarred leading to a permanent loss of central vision. Most sufferers of macular degeneration have the dry form of the disease and will not lose central vision. However, the dry form of macular degeneration can lead to the wet form. Although only about 10% of people with macular degeneration develop the wet form, they make up the majority of those who experience serious vision loss from the disease.

The wet form of AMD can be treated with laser therapy to destroy the actively growing blood vessels or seal the leaking blood vessels. There is also a new technique known as photodynamic laser therapy, where a spe-

cial drug is injected into the body, followed by shinning laser light into the eye to destroy the abnormal blood vessels. For dry AMD, the mainstay of treatment is good dietary advice and intake of the right supplements.

The macula of the eye contains 2 protective yellow pigments (carotenoids) called lutein and zeaxanthin. These pigments are found in yellow-orange fruits and vegetables such as sweet corn and carrots, as well as in darkgreen leafy vegetables especially spinach.

People with macular degeneration have on average, 70% less lutein in their eyes than those with healthy vision and a poor diet is thought to cause the breakdown of this vital part of the retina. In a study of people with macular degeneration, it was found that supplementation with 10mg of lutein a day for one year, significantly improved vision, compared to the placebo group. Zinc plays a vital role in maintaining the retina, and supplementation with it has been shown to improve AMD. Sunlight triggers oxidative damage in the eyes, and this in turn causes macular degeneration. Anti-oxidants have been shown to protect the eyes from sunlight.

People with high blood levels of antioxidants such as Selenium, vitamins C and E have shown a 70% lower risk of developing AMD Why is everyone talking about antioxidants, and how can they be beneficial to health?

Q A

Antioxidants are nutrients that protect the body against the damaging effects of

free radicals. These free radicals are very reactive compounds that are continuously created in the body as a result of several processes such as; the body’s metabolic processes, muscle contraction, smoking cigarettes, excessive alcohol intake, exposure to pollutants, x-rays and sunlight. Free radicals contain extra energy, making them ‘eager’ to react with certain chemicals in the body, thereby interfering with the cells ability to function normally. Free radicals are now known to cause many chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, impaired immunity, premature ageing of the skin, and cancer.

Antioxidants combat free radicals in a number of ways: they may stop the free radical from forming in the first place, reduce the energy of the free radical, or prevent the formation of harmful chemicals. Our bodies produce several antioxidant enzymes that help neutralize the effects of many free radicals. However there are genetic variations, with some people having a stronger system than others. Furthermore the body’s antioxidant system can become overwhelmed by chronic disease. In addition to enzymes, many vitamins and minerals act as powerful antioxidants. These include; vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, vitamin B2, Co-enzyme Q10 and Cysteine.

Herbs with powerful anti-oxidant properties include bilberry, turmeric, grape seed or pine bark extracts, as well as ginkgo biloba.

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Friday, March 8, 2013

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Friday, March 8, 2013

MARVELLOUS election Result in Eastleigh. Only one disappointment UKIP didn't win.

Analysing the by-election result you would think the only two parties that matter are Lib Dems and UKIP, with Tories and Labour reduced to absolute irrelevance. Oh, wouldn't that be brilliant across the UK! A straight choice between loony Libs who love the EU and want to cozy up to Europe even more, love the Human Rights Act, think immigration's great and fight tooth and nail to keep the UK benefit culture.

The alternative, Nigel Farage’s UKIP, is the getout-of-Europe party, halt or greatly reduce immigration, sort out crazy benefits problem and stop criminals and terrorists using the Human Rights Act to stay in Britain.

Why is it that normally perfectly honest people turn into thieves when they go on holiday?

There's a growing problem caused by more and more people becoming dishonest.

The problem has become really bad in UK hotels, where guests don't seem happy unless they are taking mementoes of their stay.

Theft of shampoos, toiletries, coffee, tea and sugar are commonplace, but at one hotel an entire suit of armour went missing, and from another everything from the room, apart from the bed, was stripped out.

It's the same story at restaurants and cafes, where anything on the table is fair game - glasses, condiments, cutlery, you name it, people steal it.

It's a sad indictment of society, and some people

q

LET’S HAVE A BARRAGE OF FARAGE! might argue that it's such small beer it doesn't matter.

But when cafes, restaurants and hotels are operating on such small margins, the constant replacement of stolen items is the difference between making a minimal profit and running into loss.

At the very least businesses should raise their prices to cover the cost of thefts. People should think about that when they next slide something into their pocket.

Remember those classic gems from David Cameron, that immigration is good for Britain?

Who are you kidding, David? How do you square your remarks with the appalling crime record of the foreign nationals in Britain?

I would love to see the statistics of how much financial benefit immigrants are to Britain compared to the cost of the trouble they generate by being in the country.

And one of the worst worries is the dreadful crime

q

record of Romanians in the UK. Nearly 28,000 Romanian citizens have been held for serious offences in London over the past five years, including violence and sex crimes.

Just imagine how much worse it's going to be next year when Romanians and Bulgarians win the right to enter the UK unhindered, thanks to the wonderful European Union.

The problem is they would be eight times better off working in a minimum wage job in the UK, compared to staying at home.

Here's the Romanian crime wave in detail: 142 rapes, 10 murders, 666 sex crimes, 303 robberies, 1,370 burglaries, 2,902 acts of violence.

Thanks David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair for welcoming them in with open arms. You have really done a wonderful job in selling Britain down the river.

Of course Brits are not

perfect and commit crimes too - but immigration has greatly increased the criminal fraternity in the UK. However, there's one thing I will applaud Cameron for - a promise that foreigners will lose legal aid in court battles over benefits.

He says he's ordering an end to 'soft touch' Britain. If he really wants to do that, he would order that no foreigners receive benefits. That might dissuade some from coming and encourage some to depart.

The Catholic Church needs reforming, undergoing renewal and reform. So says the former leader of Roman Catholics in Britain, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.

I wholeheartedly agree. I should imagine the vast majority of non Catholics would too, and probably (and hopefully) the majority within the RC church too.

So, what needs to be done? Here's a start. End the dogma over contraception, agree that preventing

q

an unwanted pregancy is not a sin.

Allow priests to marry.

Accept that expecting priests to be "married to God" has contributed to sexual abuse down the generations, and apologise to all victims for the church's wrongdoings.

Stop scaring its flock with threats of excommunication if for example a parent refuses to bring up a child other than within the RC church.

(This is what my former wife faced when she married me, in a CofE church, and I had to order this threatening priest out of our home).

It really is time to end all the church dogma, much of which is aimed at frightening the flock, or trying to persude them to believe by awe.

What on earth gets into the heads of some people in public office?

Their crass stupidity never ceases to amaze me.

Latest is the mayor of

q

Oxford, who allegedly told a female member of an under-13s sports team, "It's sexy when you bend down like that."

Here's a man easily old enough to be her grandfather. The council's standards committee considered the complaint and concluded it was highly likely that the Lib-Dem mayor made the remark, although he strongly denies it.

Why is it that so many people in public office fail to engage their brains before speaking? If they are so crass, are they fit to pontificate on what electors should or shouldn't do?

And finally, I turn to a very serious problem facing us men. I've noticed a trend to put urinals in men's toilets higher and higher up the wall.

This shouldn't be a problem to me as I'm not the shortest fella in the pack, but last week I came upon a real problem.

Because the only way I could reach the urinal was to stand on tip-toe.

Well, I managed quite well, that is until the lights went out and I had to start waving my arm about to get the light sensor to operate.

Now, you try peeing while standing on tip-toe, in complete darkness, waving one arm in the air.

It's pretty near impossible, but I am practising hard. It was the most difficult pee in my life. Girls aren't you glad you don't face such problems?

Anyway, for goodness sake, let's get urinals in restaurants, etc. at a sensible height. Not everyone using them is a gymnast!

q

ZOOMANIA- GET EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR YOUR PET

Zoomania is an Aladdin’s Cave for animal lovers.

This friendly pet shop in San Javier has everything you could possibly want for your pet and more.

Miguel and Antonio have been successfully running Zoomania for the past seven years, and it has become a firm favourite for everyone who has a pet, of whichever shape, size or form. From a huge selection of food for dogs, cats, rodents, reptiles, birds and fish, to suit all dietary requirements, to shampoos and perfumes for pets. There is even a sauce to add to your dog´s biscuits to make them more appetising, and vitamin supplements.

If you want to get your pet a treat there is a big selection of edible ones, toys and even clothes.

There are beds and bedding materials, aquariums with beautiful accessories, pumps, water purifiers and a wide variety of fish to fill your fish tank or pond.

There are all sorts of dog leads, collars, harnesses, special training leads, seat belts for dogs, and special doggy car seats. If your dog has fleas you can get flea collars, drops and repellants here, as well as antimosquito sprays.

If you are house training a puppy there are nappies for dogs and even special pants and towels for female dogs on heat. There is even a calming T-shirt for dogs, and bark control collars. If you want to go jogging why not try the hands free jogging lead, or the bicycle lead which allows you to cycle with your dog next to you. If your dog pulls why not try the Easy Walker, a special harness that doesn´t let your dog

pull on the lead. For smaller dogs there are halties. There are muzzles of different shapes and sizes, and elastic attachments to absorb the tug if your dog sees a cat when you´re walking him.

If you are travelling with your pet there are kennels and cages to suit all dogs and cats. And if you are worried about your pet settling in to a new location why not try Feliway, which you plug in to release calming hormones. Zoomania

offers a grooming service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, in which your dog will be bathed, clipped and have his or her nails cut. If your parrot needs its wings clipping Miguel is well known in the area for doing the best job in town.

The favourite animal at Zoomania is Guaca, the beautiful, multi-coloured parrot who is at the entrance to greet you. If you want to buy a bird there is a selection on canaries, parrots etc, as well as mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, chinchillas, lizards, turtles, tortoises, to name but a few of the pets available.

Miguel and Antonio are always willing to give you advice and recommendations, and if they don´t have what you are looking for they will be happy to order it.

The products they sell are good quality and great value. As they are animal lovers themselves they have lots of pets at home and know which products work.

You can join them on their Facebook page “Zoomania San Javier” in which you can see all their latest offers, such as 25% off doggy clothes until mid-March. For 15% off any purchase over 30 euros take this advertisement along with you to the shop. Opening times are Monday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm and from 4.30pm to 8.30pm.

The shop is situated just off the N332, near the new Mercadona square. It is just round the corner from the MABS charity shop, and is opposite the Mercadona car park. For further information ring: 968 193 621.

See our main ad on page 12

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Focus on

LA MARINA

Smart People Choose “Smart Properties” SMART PROPERTIES forms a team with experience in the world of real estate. Our team in addition to its friendliness, stands out not only by selling homes, but helping to solve any questions and requirements you may have during the acquisition of the property. Also we assist with mortgage advice, NIE numbers, help with arranging the transfer of monies from overseas, translations and free valuation service. We collaborate with our clients (buyers and sellers) throughout the whole process necessary for the sale or purchase of your home SMART PROPERTIES IS "YOUR PROPERTY FRIEND".

Cook in Style with the Kitchen Shop The Kitchen Shop in La Marina Urb is a family run business who supply quality fitted kitchens, wardrobes and bathrooms and have been established on the Costa Blanca since 2002. Choose from an extensive range of top quality doors in many colours and designs.

From modern to traditional, high gloss to dark oak there is something to suit everyone, including our range of stylish high quality German Kitchens.

If you would like to just modernise or brighten up the look of your kitchen, then why not consider replacement doors and worktops. Worktops come in a variety of colours and are available in Formica, Laminate, Granite or Silestone.

We offer DIY- supply only service with free local delivery.

Why not visit our showroom to see our selection of kitchen displays. We are open Monday - Saturday, please call or email for opening times.

Flying High with Falken Tours Falken Tours have been making holiday dreams a reality since 1997. With offices situated off La Zenia roundabout and near the Lidl Supermarket in La Marina, Falken Tours can whisk you away to a plethora of fabulous holiday destinations, situated in all four corners of the globe. Whether simply booking flights, printing boarding passes or searching for the family holiday of a lifetime, Falken Tours is your number one choice, offering a client-orientated, personalised service that you will never receive from an on-line booking. Business Owner, Olaf Falkinowski has a wealth of experience in the travel industry, and is an expert in pairing clients with the perfect holiday package. Falken Tours specialise in luxurious cruise packages, and are currently promoting their high-end world cruises, offering 98 or 120 days of superstar treatment. Meanwhile, those wishing to holiday on a budget can still enjoy the cruise line experience, by reserving a week-long Mediterranean tour at very competitive rates. For further information or to arrange an appointment please call 966 730 151 or 966 790 004. Alternatively log onto the website www.falkentours.co.uk.

Willem Cars for an unbeatable deal Willem Cars is a long-established second-hand car business with over 35 years experience of trading on the Costa Blanca.

The cost of second-hand vehicles here in Spain can seem a bit of a shock compared to prices in the UK. But cars hold their value better here and with the drier warmer climate suffer far fewer problems with corrosion.

However, you want to be certain you are getting a good deal and the staff at Willem Cars pride themselves on being straight with their customers.. They stock a good range of vehicles, too - RHD and LHD models, petrol, diesel, manual and automatic.

Willem Cars also offer part exchange trade-ins, can organise insurance - and even an NIE number if required.

You’ll find them in La Marina Village or call them on 965 419 508. Website is www.willemcars.com and email info@willemcars.com.

Protect Your Smile with Ruver Dental Clinic The Ruver Dental Clinic in La Marina Village was opened approximately one year ago by Spanish Orthodontist Dr Rufina Parres Garcia. The Dental Clinic has new modern facilities and specialise in children’s and teenagers dentistry, including fillings, providing braces, and carrying out X-rays when required. Staff in the clinic speak 5 different languages and provide a friendly relaxed atmosphere for anxious clients who may have some fears when attending a Dentist. The Clinic has a large international clientele who are extremely happy with the service they receive. Ruver Dental Clinic is very easy to find with easy off street parking available. The Clinic provides a 24 hour emergency service which is available during week-ends and Fiestas. Ruver Dental Clinic is open Monday to Friday from 09.30am to 8pm and the first Review Appointment is absolutely Free! For further information and advice Telephone 965 419 527.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Focus on

LA MARINA

Shiny Headlights Regain your Sparkle!!

The Headlamp Exchange has been in La Marina Village now for many years - in fact we are celebrating our ‘10 years in business’ this year!

As a motoring business we are happy to help you with your vehicles from re-registrations and all mechanical work, to LHD headlights and of course, our speciality - headlight cleaning.

Our office is very easy to find on the main street of the Village, next door to Montemar Hotel.

Shiny Lamps are now covering the Mar Menor and Pilar Areas in their mobile unit - please phone for details on 965419769 or 646730507."

Cards and More is smiles better CARDS and More is in its 10th year serving the community of La Marina, and has become an essential point of contact for many residents. A smiling face and polite helpful staff endeavour to deal with a multitude of issues, even those outside of its core products!

We specialise in mobile phones, mobile top-ups for all carriers and, as agents for HITS and Llamaya, registration for new sims. Also collection point for a Royal Mail postal delivery service to the UK and worldwide, a wide range of greetings cards, and now all your Xmas card needs. Cards and More has become the best of its kind in the area. The owners thank their loyal customers, and look forward to looking after you for the next 10 years!

Open 7 days. Mon - Fri: 09:30 to 18:00; Saturday: 09:30 to 14:00; Sunday: 09:30 to 13:30 Tel: 966790954

Enjoy Some TLC At ATM Wellness Centre!

ATM Wellness Centre in La Marina Village is well worth a visit. There are 8 toning tables that are designed to tone your muscles and enhance your flexibility without corporal effort and are especially beneficial for people with arthritis. Many other beauty treatments are available including Anti Cellulite Treatments (Body Wrapping, Sauna Belts, and Vacu Trimmer), Facial Skincare, Permanent Make-Up, Waxing, French Manicure, Acrylic and Gel Nails, Chiropody and relaxing Aromatherapy Massages including Syogra, which is a unique massage experience with warm stones of Jade aligned along the spinal column. On sale in the Centre is a large selection of Professional Cosmetics and Forever Living products. The ATM Wellness Centre is open Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm. If you feel like pampering yourself then pop along to the Centre and enjoy your preferred treatment in a therapeutic relaxing atmosphere.

Taking Better Care of Your Motor at La Marina Vehicle Services La Marina Vehicle Services caters for all of your motor repair and servicing needs, from diagnostics to accident damage repairs.

The service employs UK trained Mechanics, who share over 25 years of experience in the industry. It is the best place to go for affordable brakes, batteries and exhausts, also specializing in new and part worn tyres for cars and motorcycles. With over 2000 tyres in stock, clients may select from a budget buy to performance brand tyres, which are all fitted and rebalanced. Slow punctures can be fixed “while you wait”, or the team will collect a flat tyre from the client’s home, repairing and refitting it the same day! They also offer a vehicle recovery service and “find a part” supply service, providing high quality new and used parts for any vehicle.

For further information please telephone 966 198 212, 685 988 375 or 628 147 148, or pay them a visit at Calle Isla Ibiza No5, Nave 12, San Fulgencio.

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Friday, March 8,16, 2013 Friday, December 2011

PIROSKA’S A SPLASH HIT

Piroska, second from left, with her supporters

TORREVIEJA Swimming Club’s Piroska Rideg made a huge impact at the Infantil and older (14 years plus) Regional P50 competition hosted by the Palacio de Deportes Infanta Cristina sports centre.

More than 100 swimmers from ten regional clubs participated in a full day’s programme of events, for which they had to achieve qualifying times. In the morning session Piroska made a new PB and taking first position for her age in the 100m Butterfly (1:20:50).

Facing a difficult afternoon task with three events within an hour, she came second in the 100m Backstroke (1:20:63) and first in the 200m medley (2:53:45) followed quickly by the 100m Freestyle (1:15:10). Teammates supported Piroska (second from left in our picture) throughout the day and next week will see the club travel to La Nucia for another competition.

For more information regarding Torrevieja Swimming Club please contact Rosa on 665454126 or President Felipe on 609418776 or by e-mail on info@clubnataciontorrevieja.com

Hell Hath No Fury like a Stagestruck mystery!

Stagestruck! - who pioneered the concept of Murder Mystery in The Round here on the Costa Blanca in 2010 – are premiering their latest production, Hell Hath No Fury, at Casa Ventura in San Luis on March 14 and again at El Mirador in Eagle’s Nest on March 28.

Tickets, which include supper, can be obtained from the venues.

Stagestruck’s previous production, A Friend In Need, attracted full houses last month at Bocados in La Zenia, in conjunction with Little Pod, El Mirador in Eagle’s Nest and at The Club in Quesada, in association with Friends of Help.

These will be the last of their Murder Mysteries until summer the group is concentrating on its new musical extravaganza “Bullocks” which premieres in May at the Casa de Cultura in Benijofar. For details or tickets contact Stella on 966 786 154.

DAY THE EARTH DIDN’T MOVE Picture Special Story: Pages 1, 2

Congratulations from The Courier to Debbie and her team at Electrical Shop in Blue Lagoon on celebrating their third birthday. The Electrical Shop is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm . Call Debbie on 966 188 169 - she’ll be pleased to help you. Or visit their website www.theelectricalteam.eu

SALE TIME AT G&S PROP-IN CENTRE

THE Gilbert and Sullivan Society are holding a Grand Sale of Theatrical Effects on Sunday March 17 at Casa Ventura, San Luis, Torrevieja.

Doors open at 11.30am. Many items of scenery, stage props, period and character costumes are available and no reasonable offers will be refused.

The sale will be of special interest to Drama and Theatre Companies, Musical Groups, Fancy Dress Suppliers and individual party-goers.

For more detailed information, please phone Sue Woodward Prior on 966784108. All proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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DI-DE-DI! IT’S TIME TO VISIT CRAPLINS CRAPLIN’S Holiday Camp is now ready to welcome mature holiday makers on their latest Pensioner Specials.

The ageing Bluecoats and staff are eager to welcome the discerning holiday maker and promise that campers will enjoy a fun-filled programme specially designed for older people.

The year may still be 1959, but our staff have aged considerably.

However, maturity has not changed their basic characters.

Jeffrey is still being pursued by a desperate Gladys; Partridge has become more bad tempered and irritable with the passing years, Yvonne and Barry have become more bitter and cynical, especially with each other; Fred still stinks of horses.

Spike is still the eternal optimist whilst Ted has continued his scams; the female Bluecoats are still enthusiastic; whilst Peggy still dreams of becoming a Bluecoat before she receives her Old Age Pension.

The passing years have not necessarily brought them wisdom.

The Craplin Debonaires are still keen to entertain you with their colourful nightly cabaret shows in the fabulous Hawaiian Ballroom.

Campoverde Theatre Group have been very busy rehearsing for their latest show, Di de Di, which will be performed at the Casa de Cultura, San Miguel on Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March.

This musical has something for everybody, great music from the 1950’s, well known characters and story lines. Tickets are selling rapidly, but a few are still available from Bargain Books, San Miguel.

Or phone Colin on 966 774 127.

Book early to avoid disappointment.

More horse power for rescue team THE Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre Foundation can now offer customers a collection service for large items – thanks to the arrival of a new delivery van.

Each of the centre’s five charity shops on the Costa Blanca – at Guardamar, La Zenia, Montesinos, Las Siesta and Quesada - is packed to the

rafters with amazing treasures; you never know what you may find and every euro raised goes towards feeding and treating rescued equines.

Please telephone Vicky on 636062000 to arrange collections or house clearances.

For more information on locations of EHCRC shops, visit www.easyhorsecare.net

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Friday, March 8, 2013

UK HEADLINES

IT WAS A GOOD LIFE Family and friends gather to celebrate Richard Briers' life

Daily Mail HAD Tom Good been allowed to organise his own funeral, his remains would surely have been finely mulched and scattered on the soil of the Good Life's suburban garden.

The guests would have toasted his memory with a glass of home-made peapod burgundy, and Margot, perhaps, would have turned up in clothing more appropriate for Claridge's than the cabbage patch.

What a splendid final episode it would have made for a TV series that captivated most of the viewing nation, including the Queen, for three years during the 1970s - then went on to win millions more fans through

repeats around the world.

But the finale they gave Wednesday to actor Richard Briers recalled far more than his portrayal of Tom and the self-sufficient life in Surbiton that he and screen wife Barbara championed.

Instead, a congregation of family and friends joined a cast list from the last half century of film, theatre, TV and comedy to pay tribute to the real Richard Briers - father, grandfather, family clown to his young grandchildren, lover of Shakespeare, and a man with no pretence at celebrity.

Thus, the small church near his West London home became a reunion hall for

names and faces long familiar to British audiences, among them Felicity Kendal, who played Barbara, and Penelope Keith, who played Margot, now with a combined age approaching 140.

Actors including Bernard Cribbins, Peter Bowles, Frank Finlay, Prunella Scales and June Whitfield joined the congregation, as did his great friends Sir Kenneth Branagh and

Sheila Hancock.

Brian Murphy, the George in George and Mildred, brought applause with a reading of John Betjeman's Subaltern's Love Song; and Penelope Wilton, Briers' co-star from Ever Decreasing Circles, read from The Death of Sir Henry Irving.

More than 200 people attended the funeral, some who knew him more as a likeable local than as one of the country's best loved sit-com stars.

As they left the service, guests signed a memorial book to be presented to his family after a private crema-

Corrie Kev's torment

Tormented Michael Le Vell fears he will be axed from Corrie after 30 years – even if he is found not guilty of child sex offences.

The Street has been a huge part of his life for three decades – bringing him a steady income and making him a household name as garage boss Kevin Webster.

Now, as he sits out Coronation Street as he battles child sex allegations, Le Vell fears he will be left with nothing – even if he proves his innocence.

As he awaits his next court appearance later this month after being freed on bail at an earlier hearing, the stressed-out actor who shot to fame after joining the soap in 1983 poured out his heart to a friend.

And he admitted that he believes his time in Corrie may be up. The pal said: “He says he can’t imagine the executives welcoming him back with a big block-

buster storyline after weeks of lurid court details.

“He believes Kevin could very well be finished and will be quietly sidelined and then written out. He’s only really ever had this one job – and now he fears it could be his last. But, first things first, he’s determined to fight these charges all the way and prove his innocence.”

Le Vell was devastated when he was told his character was being written out of the long-running ITV show pending the outcome of his trial. The friend added: “Although he found that disappointing, he understands that ITV’s hands are tied in that respect.

"But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

Le Vell has also lost more than half a stone after living on beans on toast and takeaways. He has been drowning his

sorrows in his local pub, The Railway, in Hale, Greater Manchester, where pals have shielded him.

He has also given up going to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United until his trial is over in order not to draw attention to himself.

The Weatherfield star, real name Michael Turner, has also suspended his Facebook and Twitter accounts pending the outcome of a case, in which he strenuously denies 19 counts of sexual offences, including six of raping a child.

On Wednesday the pal revealed: “He’s been paralysed with fear since being charged. He thought he was over all this and now the nightmare has returned, twice as bad as before.

"He has a strong circle of close friends and family who didn’t doubt his inno-

tion.

Emma Thompson may have echoed Briers' view when she shared a joke with a message that read: 'I simply can't understand what all the fuss is about.'

Underneath she wrote: 'Get a bloody haircut Yours, God.' Branagh, who signed Briers to his Renaissance Theatre Company in 1987 and featured him in nine Shakespeare film productions, wrote: 'With love to a darling man. Thank you for being.'

Afterwards he said of the service: 'I think he would have thought it was wonderful.'

And the fictional Mr Good? At least he finally fulfilled his dream to escape the rat-race.

cence at the time the alleg a t i o n s were first levelled in 2011 – and they don’t doubt his innocence now he has been charged.

"But there is a worry that he is not looking after himself. He can’t help reading and re-reading every word that’s been written on the internet about the case. He has lost a lot of weight and is not eating properly.

"He says that he just wishes he could fast forward to his trial so he can show the nation he is innocent and get on with the rest of his life. But even that is uncertain because he is convinced his career as Kevin Webster is over – whether he is found guilty or not.”

Friday, March 8, 2013

UK HEADLINES

ROYAL BLUSH

Kate’s baby slip shows as bookies pay out on Royal couple having a daughter

The Sun

BOOKIES went into meltdown this week over Duchess Kate’s apparent baby slip-up.

Coral’s and William Hill stopped taking bets on the sex of the Royal child, Ladbrokes cut its odds while Paddy Power paid out thousands early to punters who had gone for a girl.

Kate told Diana Burton, 41, who gave her a teddy bear in Grimsby: “Thank you, I will take that for my d...” before stopping herself.

The exchange was overheard by Sandra Cook, 67, who was adamant Kate was about to spill the beans she is having a daughter.

The Duchess later denied she knew the sex of the child, but her moment of indiscretion brought joy to punters today who had bet on a future Queen.

A Paddy Power spokesman said: “Punters have always fancied a girl and that’s where the bulk of the money has gone.

“Anyone who bet that Kate is having a girl can collect their cash.”

Coral’s spokesman said: “We closed the book, as it was a rather strong hint!”

Ladbrokes slashed its odds from 4/5 to 1/2 on a baby girl, and making a boy the outside bet at 6/4.

William Hill has suspended its betting on the gender of the royal baby following a flood of bets from punters putting their

money on a girl.

Rupert Adams, a spokesman for company, said: "Although the story is by no means conclusive, our customers came piling in and we were forced to suspend the market 10pm on Tuesday evening."

Favoured names for the baby are Elizabeth, Diana and Victoria and the top choice for hair colour is brunette.

The Duchess, 31, is now just over five months pregnant, although in keeping with

royal tradition it has not been revealed what the exact due date of her baby is.

She is making several pubic appearances throughout her pregnancy and will also shortly be announcing three more charity patronages to go alongside the four she took on last January.

Husband William, 30, is currently concentrating on his flying career but the couple will carry out a joint visit to the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot next Sunday.

Holy cow! Batman’s a villain

BRADFORD Batman Stan Worby is a former villain who has been jailed FIVE times.

Stan, 39 — who handed a fugitive to police while dressed as the caped crusader — once got three years for burglary.

He also served time for stealing cars, driving while banned and driving without insurance.

Stan admitted last night: “I was quite a bad lad.

“I was on the wrong side of the law until I was 24. I just got in with the wrong crowd.

“I’m not proud but I served my time and it’s in the past now.”

The dad of five added: “When

I met my wife Mandy, I turned my life round and settled down. I didn’t want to go back

inside, I had too much out here to live for.”

Stan, of Wyke, made world

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news when he escorted wanted pal Daniel Frayne, 27, into a police station last Monday.

The takeaway driver — who had earlier dressed as Batman to watch Bradford City in the Capital One cup final — told cops: “I want a medal for this.”

Officers recognised him in his £24.99 Argos costume and giggled: “Stan, what are you doing?”

Frayne — step-cousin of magician Dynamo — was charged with handling stolen goods, fraud and breaching a court order.

Council tot left on bus A TOT placed in foster care by the council disgraced over the Baby P scandal was left on a BUS, it was revealed this week.

Passengers called the police after finding a carer abandoned the child — believed to be under two — in a buggy.

Shamed Haringey Council in North London have launched an inquiry.

The carer — paid £377 a week — was with the child on the bus last Friday afternoon, believed to be heading to hospital. But she got off the 491 on her own, leaving the tot on the single-decker in Enfield.

After passengers raised the alarm, the child was taken to hospital for checks before being handed back to Haringey.

A council spokesman said: “The child was found safe and well and we are undertaking a full investigation.

Steps were immediately taken to arrange a new fostering placement for the child.”

In 2007 Haringey was slammed over the death of 17-month-old Peter Connelly — Baby P — at the hands of his mum and her brutal boyfriend.

Director of child services Sharon Shoesmith was fired. There are now calls for fostering chief Wendy Tomlinson to resign.

TaxPayers’ Alliance boss Jonathan Isaby said: “Caring for a vulnerable child is a massive responsibility and social services must ensure that foster parents are up to this huge task.”

However, the council insisted Ms Tomlinson acted swiftly and denied allegations of a cover-up. The spokesman added: “It would be inappropriate to preempt the findings of the investigation.”

It said the carer — who later contacted emergency services — did not look after any other children for the council.

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Friday, March 8, 2013

SPANISH NEWS

‘GAY MARRIAGE COULD WIPE OUT MANKIND’ SPAIN´S interior minister put his foot in it again last week when he argued: "There are rational arguments to back the idea that gay marriages shouldn't have the same protection under the law as normal ones.

“For example, the survival of the species is not guaranteed."

Gay rights groups immediately called on Jorge Fernandez Diaz to resign as party members sought to distance themselves from his remarks.

Inaki Oyazabal, the Secretary of Justice, Rights and Freedoms for the ruling Popular Party, was not impressed by Diaz’s comments, made during a symposium on religion and state at the Spanish Embassy in Rome on Sunday.

"The unfortunate words of Fernandez Diaz on marriage between same-sex couples

Jorge Fernandez Diaz...calls for his resignation

are personal and in no way linked to the PP," tweeted Mr Oyazabal, who became the first openly gay PP parliamentarian when he came out last June.

In November, Spain's highest court upheld a law legalising same-sex marriage brought in by the socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in 2005. The Popular Party lost

Jorge Fernandez Diaztheir seven-year battle to overturn the law when the Constitutional Court rejected an appeal contending that marriage in the Spanish constitution meant only the union between a man and a woman.

More than 22,000 gay marriages have taken place since Spain became the world's third country to

COOKING UP A REAL JOB

"COME down to see us, all you hotel owners," yells Tante Blanco. "If you need cooks, it's an ideal moment to find people -- lots of us don't have jobs!"

Blanco, a former Asturian miner, is one of the 9,000 people competing to take part in the Spanish version of cookery TV talent show MasterChef. State broadcaster TVE is bringing the series -- already a hit in 100 countries -- to Spain next month, hoping to emulate the success of cookery shows such as Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and its Spanish adaptation.

Judging by the number of people who auditioned in Bilbao, Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia and Madrid over the past month, everyone wants to be a chef and is willing to change his or her life to do so.

Housewives, doctors, lawyers, seniors,

OP No.12 FOR JUAN CARLOS KING Juan Carlos is back in the news again, this time due to needing spine surgery on a herniated disc, which looks set to put him out of action for up to six long months.

It is the fourth operation in 12 months for the 75-year-old monarch who has suffered several other health issues in the past two years. Doctors have said that the operation went well.

Juan Carlos underwent surgery at a Madrid hospital on Sunday, the royal palace said, adding, “The operation took about three hours and proved entirely satisfactory".

It was the 12th time he has under-

gone surgery during his lifetime.

Neurosurgeon Manuel de la Torre, who performed the operation, told reporters that it would take between two and six months for the king to recover.

The head of state is likely to remain in the hospital for around a week, he said, adding that two of the king's spinal segments had been involved.

On his arrival at La Merced clinic, the monarch lowered his passenger-side car window and said, "Here I am again," to journalists and TV cameras outside.

It has not been a good year for the king, who had largely been admired for his role in helping steer Spain to

democracy after a long period of military dictatorship under General Francisco Franco. The monarch's sonin-law, Inaki Urdangarin, who is married to the king's second daughter, Princess Cristina, is under investigation on suspicion of having used his position to embezzle several million dollars in public contracts assigned to a supposedly nonprofit foundation he set up.

And Juan Carlos was vilified last year after breaking his hip while on a luxurious African safari to hunt elephants at a time when ordinary Spaniards were being buffeted by an economy entering its second recession in three years.

Opportunity knocks as Spain starts search for MasterChef

engineers, students, designers, journalists, teachers, unemployed waiters and even a town mayor all showed up to test their luck.

"People from all social classes and of all ages -- the youngest 18 years old, the eldest 78 -- have come to us. And more men (60 percent) than women," says Shine Iberia, producer of the show.

In Madrid, 453 preselected candidates headed to the Plaza de Oriente, in front of the Royal Palace, to show off their prepared dishes.

They had 20 minutes to put together their plates, which were then examined by 30 professional tasters, who had to pick out 15 winners.

Blowtorches, silicone moulds, designer plates, edible paper, camping stoves, fridges and microwaves were all brought out as candidates tried to impress the day's judges, who will be replaced by Jordi Cruz, Pepe Rodríguez Rey and Samantha Vallejo-Nágera in the programme itself.

The host of the show will be former Miss Spain Eva González.

Friday, March 8, 2013

SPANISH NEWS

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SPANISH DESPERADOS BECOME SQUATTERS

‘At the age of 65, I have suddenly become an activist’ The economic crisis in Spain is changing everything. People who have earned an honest living all their lives are turning to desperate measures in order to survive.

The Corrala movement started in Sevilla and is spreading throughout Spain. With thousands of people left homeless through the crisis and thousands of houses lying empty, the solution seems obvious, but the government didn´t come up with it, it was the activists.

“Life changes when you lose everything," says Manoli Cortés. "There was a time when I was happy just to work and look after my home. Now, at the age of 65, I have suddenly become an activist."

She is sitting in a typical Spanish living room: immaculately clean, filled with family photographs and dark wood furniture.

Look a little closer, though, and a different story unfolds. The afternoon sun shines down on concrete walls adorned with spraypainted banners and stencilled slogans, the most revealing of which reads: "Ni gente sin casa, ni casas sin gente" (No people without houses, no houses without people).

This is Corrala Utopía, the first in a growing network of previously vacant properties in the Andalusian capital of Seville now occupied by victims of Spain's ongoing economic crisis.

Like much of the rest of the country, Andalusia experienced a building boom at the turn of the millennium. Locals took jobs as bricklayers, painters, carpenters, contract cleaners, and property values rose. But in 2008 the global financial crash brought this cycle to an abrupt end, leaving huge numbers unemployed and, after punishing cuts to social welfare, struggling to keep roofs over their heads.

In 2010, Spanish banks foreclosed on more than 100,000 households. Macarena, the district of Seville in which Corrala Utopía stands, now has the highest eviction-rate in the city. Yet in Seville's greater metropolitan area alone, an estimated 130,000 unsellable, unrentable homes are lying

empty.

Toñi Rodriguez, 44, left her home voluntarily last year. "I was unable to pay my rent and was being taken to court. I didn't want to build up any more debt. I was living on the street, sleeping in my car.

“Back then, the people from 15-M [the grassroots community activist group that rose to international prominence during the 2011 Indignados protests] were holding public assemblies in a square every day. A friend said that they might be able to help me," she explains.

Together they came up with a simple solution. "We began to talk about the possibility of taking over vacant buildings," she says.

"We spent four months planning before we did anything and I was very afraid of what might happen to us. I didn't know whether we would be allowed to stay or if we would be arrested."

Eventually, a block of flats owned by the troubled construction company Maexpa was selected. With a group of women in similar situations, Rodriguez entered the building on 14 May 2012. Now a total of 36 families have made it their home, among them 40 children and several elderly people. So far their future appears safe. Maexpa is now mired in bankruptcy proceedings. The current owner of the building, the Zaragozabased bank Ibercaja, has entered into a series of negotiations with the corrala's

inhabitants and local support is strong.

However, life there remains challenging.

Just two weeks after the community was established, its electricity was cut off and shortly after, despite an application for collective billing, its water supply disconnected.

Now residents have to use a public standpipe.

In recent weeks four more corralas have been established in smaller towns in Andalusia and another in the city of Málaga, where the unemployment statistics and the number of empty houses are even higher than in Seville. These come in addition to the five communities that now exist in the city, ranging in size from five to 18 families.

In late January Corrala Libertad, a community of seven apartments in the district of

Triana, was granted legal rights to operate as a housing cooperative.

For the occupants of Corrala Utopía, who received an award from the Asociación ProDerechos Humana De Andalucia (Human Rights Association of Andalucia) in December last year, these developments are encouraging.

Ana Lopez, 67, is one of the community's oldest members. She lives with her 71-yearold husband Pancho, a former flamenco dancer, who has in the last few years had three heart attacks, undergone a bypass operation and suffered complications related to asthma and diabetes. Despite his ill health, the couple were evicted from their home last year after falling into mortgage arrears.

Before moving into the corrala they spent several weeks sleeping in the lobby of their former building. "I have grandchildren," she says. "When I die I would like to be able to say to myself that they will have jobs, homes and a happy life. The corralas are important.

They set an example to people who are struggling.

“They show that we can help ourselves and each other. I don't know what the future will hold for any of us, but one way or another I believe that this will be a successful fight. I have to, otherwise I wouldn't be able to sleep at night."

THE Norwegian government has decided to expel three ETA members in the absence of progress in the peace process initiated by the Basque independence group’s abandoning of terrorism.

Josu Ternera and David Pla, members of ETA’s political leadership, and Iratxe Sorzábal, who headed the group’s military apparatus, had been in Norway for eight months. The trio are believed to have guaranteed a return to France, the

location of ETA’s logistics operations.

Officially, the Spanish Interior Ministry is not aware of the expulsions. However, police sources said the Norwegian government decision was backed by the Spanish administration.

During their eight months in Norway, Ternera, Pla and Sorzábal met on several occasions in with international verifiers of the cessation of armed activity by the terrorist group.

Norway boots out ETA trio

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Horrorscopes Aries March 21 - April 19 "Rankle" is a beautiful word, but may blow your world apart today. Nice and butch is how you like it, but you might want to play it down in certain circumstances.

Creeping around on your tip-toes is all very well and good, but driving like that is just going to give you sore feet. You deserve praise for your excellent work.

Taurus April 20 - May 20 I've written hundreds upon hundreds of horoscopes, but this one is the most special. Pah! Happiness? The Gods know not of this word and you will pay for your insubordination. Time is on your side, feel free to mix-it-up a little. Sing a song inside and to hell with the dark clouds that await you. Can you be held responsible for everything you *don't* do? Who knows.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 Speak slowly and you will be heard.

People will think you're being stupid, but people will definitely understand you. Your tendancies may land you in trouble today.

Love makes the world go round, and peaches make a very nice accompaniment to sweetcorn. People will today start to resent your annoying habit of repeating the last funny thing said and then laughing.

Cancer June 21 - July 22 If you don't care what the weatherman says when the weatherman says it's raining - that's great! Brown is your unlucky colour for today. Avoid it whereever possible. A hard life will get harder for you this week as you start drinking heavily. A lot of your work will be undone today as someone evil and vicious sets about making your life less nice.

By Pandora Leo July 23 - August 22 Find yourself someone to settle down with today. Don't be choosy - just pick at random. If random fails, go for whoever doesn't violently sick-up on your clothing.

Today will make it hard for you to make any sense of roofle wimblipickstone. Test yourself, know your limits! Minor changes to your driving style allows you to feel like you're a better driver.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 If you're missing an element to your life, why not choose tin? Don't trust anyone today. Stay inside until today is all over and done with. Don't trust this horoscope either. Just don't - okay? Every time you tap a key on your keyboard, you are secretly filling in a membership form to a random society.

Libra September 23 - October 22 There might not be a tomorrow, but all indications point to yes Friends have always tried to convince you of your madness, but never more so will that be true than this coming weekend. The most erotic thoughts are those brought on by bubbles in your spinal fluid. Damage caused by rage might cost you around â‚Ź250 this weekend. Avoid posh bars.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 Google is about to take over your life - play responsibly. Night terrors will plague you throughout this week and you may feel that people, both living and dead, are out to get you. You can't go wrong today - everything is set up for brilliance. Danger, excitement, thrills. Even spills. These are buzz words which may catch your attention this week, possibly in the form of a horoscope.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 Gambling with your possessions always seems like a good idea at the time.

However, you should be aware that much of your meddling will eventually lead to a loss of limbs for someone. Raisins are a lovely dried up fruit. However, the old man who runs the hairdressers down the road, is not.Hit it all you want, but the lift will take as long as it will take no matter how forcefully you press the button.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 Today may seem like an extraordinary opportunity to get even with the world, but the world may have different ideas. Placing your mouth around the exhaust of a car stuck in traffic is bound to cause more traffic problems. Please take into consideration the needs of others. I am always pretending to be a cat - make sure you have a special "getaway" persona that you can adopt.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 Every part of your body will cry out in pain today, although there is no explanation as to why this should be. Everything you have been taught will be forgotten in a crazy moment of rash behaviour. In a world full of people like yourself, who cares if you want to behave like an orangutan? Homeless people may wander up to you today and offer to buy the paper you're holding.

Pisces February 19 - March 20 Your bed is made, lie in it. Fall asleep for a while. Spoon the pillows. Yes, that's it.

Relax. Always think "Take the easy way out". You won't go wrong. And this was what was written in a sandwich in Mexico.

Strangeness, huh? Congratulations may be in order this week. Change, and your friends will stop liking you as much.

Friday, March 8, 2013

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Friday, March 8, 2013

1.2 petrol engine ‘like a diesel’

Thinking about buying an Audi A3 TDI diesel to save money on fuel and running costs? You may need to think again, because Audi has unveiled a new 1.2-litre TFSI petrol A3 variant.

The new 1.2-litre turbocharged A3 has a combined fuel economy of 57.6mpg and a CO2 output of 114g/km – that’s 13g/km less than the 1.2-litre unit offered in the old-shape Audi A3. It’s also 0.7 seconds quicker to 62mph at 10.3 seconds.

That’s half a second quicker than the equivalent 1.6 TDI, despite having the same power output of 105hp. Diesel fans will point

to the TDI’s combined fuel economy of 74.3mpg, but you need to take into account the relative purchase price of each model.

An entry level A3 1.2 TFSI SE will set you back £17,095. ( €19,794) with the 1.6 TDI costing £20,155. (€23,348) A potential saving of £3,000 (€3,476) at purchase, meaning that those who don’t rack up tens of thousands of miles in a year may be better off with the petrol unit.

Audi says the 2013 1.2 TFSI has benefitted from a series of improvements over the outgoing model. The piston rings and crank shaft bearings have been engineered for minimal friction,

the aluminium crankcase has its own coolant circuit and a regulated water pump ensures the water in its block is not circulated immediately after the engine is started – allowing the engine to warm up more quickly.

The increase of six miles per gallon over the previous 1.2-litre engine is possible regardless of whether you opt for the six-speed manual or the optional seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission.

The new A3 1.2 TFSI in three-door guise is available to order now, with five-door Sportback versions available to order from the summer. Deliveries of the threedoor will begin in May.

Friday, March 8, 2013

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Friday, March 8, 2013

CODE CRACKER 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, 22 represents B and 8 represents Z, when these letters have been entered throughout the puzzle, you should have enough information to start guessing words and discovering other letters.

QUICKIE

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

CRYTPIC CLUES Across 1 Written outline shows no care, is sloppy (8) 7 Wilt right away in a spin (5) 8 Available for selection as a matter of course (2,3,4) 9 Get the company duck to sound like a pigeon!

(3) 10 Prepare to leave the group (4) 11 Go on about cracked marble (6) 13 Straightens up when it turns and quits working (6) 14 Frenzied cheat, editor admits (6) 17 Odious to be artful about Gibson (6) 18 A Roman emperor, in a manner of speaking (4) 20 Narrowly defeat seed (3) 22 Dog entered in popular race is withdrawn (9) 23 Garment with a new bit in the middle? It’s rub-

bish! (5) 24 Convict builder or sniper (8) Down 1 Meddle with a bent spoon (5) 2 Lured by nice Ted, somehow (7) 3 A lair in an Arabian seaport (4) 4 The policeman is hiding a professional killer (6) 5 Shrink from victory over the church (5) 6 Love in everyone married is permissible (7) 7 Glass part of lock (7) 12 Siemens’ new arch rival (7) 13 Do trips change photography aids (7) 15 In that respect, neither were disrupted (7) 16 The Irish province is in the Consul’s territory (6) 17 Circles back in reel (5) 19 This aquatic creature can often be seen in Rotterdam (5) 21 Rips off old lags (4)

STANDARD CLUES

Down

FILL IT IN

Complete the crossword grid by using the given words:

3 letter words Ace Ado Ebb Eel Ewe For Ire Owl Rap Set Sit Spa 4 letter words Abet Alms Arco

Area Atop Bode Boil Dote Earn Ends Epic Isle Lace Leap Leer Mars Naif None Oats Peal Plus Poor

Rant Rips Roll Sage Seas Seep Slot Sofa Stow Team Teat Tome Tote Trip 5 letter words Above Alone Aware

Eager Gusto Idiom Least Mason Otter Panda Pasta Pesto Recap Refer Slice Smear Spits Stows Swear Toast Tonal Tress

6 letter words Cellar Enlist Enrapt Nereid Prunes Stares 7 letter words Maestro Overrun Tasting Titular 8 letter words Plaudits Receipts

SPANISH-ENGLISH CROSSWORD Improve your Spanish - clues in Spanish, answers in English or vice versa.

Across

Across Down 1 Gratis (4) 7 Produce (6) 2 Flair (6) 8 Came to an end (6) 3 Refined (7) 9 Yield (4) 4 Contempt (5) 10 Toll road (8) 5 Taster (6) 11 Collaborator (7) 6 Flaw (8) 13 Postpone (5) 15 Cautious (5) 12 Educational (8) 17 Revive (7) 14 Let go (7) 20 Reduce (8) 16 Make angry (6) 21 Concern (4) 18 Rumpus (6) 23 Mix (6) 19 Character part (5) 24 Drawing (6) 22 Risqué (4) Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Disclose, 7 Scare, 8 Pyromania, 9 Set, 10 Tier, 11 Cringe, 13 Catnap, 14 Behave, 17 Confer, 18 Fail, 20 Spa, 22 Suspicion, 23 Elect, 24 Careless.

Down: 1 Depot, 2 Serpent, 3 Lame, 4 Sentry, 5 Manse, 6 Gesture, 7 Saunter, 12 Earnest, 13 Chasten, 15 Avarice, 16 Persia, 17 Caper, 19 Links, 21 Aide.

Scribble Pad

1 Listen in on (5) 1 Plot outline (8) 2 Lured (7) 7 Spin around (5) 3 Port in Yemen (4) 8 Food available (2,3,4) 4 Professional killer (6) 9 Dove’s call (3) 5 Draw back in pain (5) 10 Deck of cards (4) 6 Permitted (7) 11 Roam (6) 7 Drinking glass (7) 13 Cleans up (6) 12 Arch-rival (7) 14 Inflamed (6) 13 Three-legged stands 17 Offensively malodor(7) ous (6) 15 At that place (7) 18 Roman emperor (4) 16 Heavy overcoat (6) 20 Small seed (3) 17 Bobbin (5) 22 Fold inwards (9) 19 Freshwater carnivo23 Impurity (5) rous mammal (5) 24 Captive (8) 21 Tricks (4) Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Solicit, 5 Tiber, 8 Adverse, 9 Panic, 10 Purse, 11 Dictate, 12 Hockey, 14 Loners, 17 Recited, 19 Doses, 22 Orion, 23 Alabama, 24 Rotor, 25 Deleted.

Down: 1 Stamp, 2 Lever, 3 Cortege, 4 Trendy, 5 Topic, 6 Bondage, 7 Rackets, 12 Harbour, 13 Cyclist, 15 Oddball, 16 Edward, 18 Tuner, 20 Slant, 21 Sward.

Across

Down

1 Navy (6) 4 Toads (5) 8 Wagon (horse-drawn) (5) 9 Aguacate (7) 10 Brooms (brushes) (7) 11 Zapato (4) 12 Un (3) 14 Campana (de iglesia, puerta) (4) 15 Tallo (de flor) (4) 18 Law (legislation (3) 21 Arroz (4) 23 Ejemplo (7) 25 Más temprano (7) 26 Cream (5) 27 Dulce (postre, galleta, vino) (5) 28 Cheap (goods, labour, shop) (6)

1 Arquero (6) 2 Milagro (7) 3 Timbre (8) 4 Nieve (4) 5 Melocotón (5) 6 Piedras (6) 7 False (untruthful) (statement, accusation) (5) 13 Frost (substance) (8) 16 Company (firm) (7) 17 Griegos (6) 19 Años (periodos de tiempo) (5) 20 Sin (religious) (6) 22 Meat (5) 24 Puño (4)

37

Friday, March 8, 2013 Across 1 What was the name of the ancient Athenian philosopher, the first of the great trio of ancient Greeks, along with Plato and Aristotle, who laid the philosophical foundations of Western culture? (8) 5 From the Latin for ‘ship’, what name is given to a ‘feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit’? (6) 9 What adjective is used to describe the former holder of an office, especially a university professor, who has retired but is allowed to retain their title as an honour? (8) 10 Which very light and porous volcanic rock is formed when a gas-rich froth of glassy lava solidifies rapidly? (6) 12 Which lung inflammation, the result of bacterial or viral infection, causes the air sacs fill with pus and become solid? (9) 13 Which dish, originally from Italy, consists of dough made from durum wheat and water, extruded or stamped into various shapes and typically cooked in boiling water? (5) 14 Which Greek hero of the Trojan war, the son of Telamon, king of Salamis, was described in the Iliad as ‘being of great stature and colossal frame, second only to Achilles in strength and bravery’? (4) 16 Which name for a large open area of grassland, especially in

North America, is derived from the Latin for ‘meadow’? (7) 19 What is the name of the part of the body of a vertebrate containing the digestive and reproductive organs that, in humans and other mammals, is contained between the diaphragm and the pelvis? (7) 21 What name is given to the hard white fat on the kidneys and loins of cattle, sheep, and other animals, which is used to make foods including puddings, pastry and mincemeat? (4) 24 In Britain, the method of selling goods on short-term credit or an instalment plan was known as the ‘[what] system’?

(5) 25 The name of which, chiefly nocturnal, predacious arthropod with a flattened body of 15 to 173 segments each with a pair of legs the foremost being modified into poison fangs, comes from the Latin for ‘hundred foot’? (9) 27 Which plaything consists of a long plank balanced in the middle on a fixed support, on each end of which children sit and swing up and down by pushing the ground alternately with their feet? (6) 28 What term is often used to describe a sentimental account (or drama) of personal distress, designed to arouse sympathy?

(3,5) 29 What was the surname of

SUDOKU

Quiz Word

the English novelist who is chiefly known for her detective fiction featuring the amateur detective Lord Peter Wimsey?

(6) 30 Which ‘little boy with magical

powers who never grew up’, was invented by J M Barrie?

(5,3)

Down 1 What name for a member of a Himalayan people living on

the borders of Nepal and Tibet, renowned for their skill in mountaineering, is derived from the Tibetan for ‘inhabitant of an Eastern country’? (6) 2 From the From the Old French for ‘curled’ or ‘frizzed’, what name is given to small, very thin pancakes? (6) 3 What name is given to a statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true?

(5) 4 Which name for either of two times of the year when the sun crosses the plane of the earth’s equator and day and night are of equal length, comes from the Latin for ‘equal night’? (7) 6 Which verb means ‘to rise up onto a thin film of water between the tyres (of a car) and road so that there is no more contact with the road’? (9) 7 Which cutting instrument consists of two blades laid one on top of the other and fastened in the middle so as to allow them to be opened and closed by a thumb and finger inserted through rings on the end of their handles? (8) 8 What was the surname of the statesman who was the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), from 1949 to 1963?

(8) 11 Which musical instrument,

roughly triangular in shape, consists of a frame supporting a graduated series of parallel strings, played by plucking with the fingers? (4) 15 Which comedian is the host of Channel 4’s comedy quiz show 8 Out Of 10 Cats? (5,4) 17 What name is given to members of a Protestant Christian denomination advocating baptism only of adult believers by total immersion? (8) 18 Historically, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I, was executed in 1536 for what ‘crime’? (8) 20 Which word can precede: bone, brace, cloth, lace, line and tie? (4) 21 Which city in western California, situated to the south of San Francisco Bay, shares its name with the capital and chief port of Costa Rica? (3,4) 22 Which verb means ‘to reimburse or compensate (someone), as for a loss’? (6) 23 What nationality are Emmanuel Mutai and Wilson Kipsang, the winners of the 2011 and 2012 Virgin London Marathon? (6) 26 Which word can mean ‘an important topic or problem for debate or discussion’ or ‘the action of supplying or distributing an item for use, sale, or official purposes’? (5)

SALLY’S SIMPLE SPANISH

EASTER-SEMANA SANTA Match these words with their Spanish translations then find them in the wordsearch.

(Answers below)

buscar

encontrar

el chocolate

esconder

el conejo

la primavera

el desfile

las flores

el domingo

la sorpresa

el nido

los dulces

el pollito

los huevos

el tesoro

los tulipanes

geography QUIZ

ANSWERS: 1. Hyde Park 2. Moscow 3. Denmark 4. The USA 5.

Greenland 6. Swedish 7. Luxair 8. Lake Victoria 9.

Argentina 10. Norway 11. Portugal 12. Iraq 13. The Lanlois Bridge In Arles 14. Russia

Last Week’s Solutions Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Word Solution Across: 8 Canine, 9 Owl, 10 Rook, 11 Referendum, 12 Sumo, 13 Jet set, 16 Baseball, 17 Bengals, 18 Granite, 22 Terrapin, 25 Ursine, 26 Lira, 27 Serpentine, 30 Nike, 31 Ice, 32 Tureen.

Down: 1 Nape, 2 Pike, 3 Pedestal, 4 Cordoba, 5 Flumps, 6 Crossbones, 7 Pommel, 14 Eye, 15 Sugarbabes, 19 Roulette, 20 Tin, 21 Snorkel, 23 Elixir, 24 Pistil, 28 Turf, 29 Noel.

Empareja estas palabras - Match the Spanish and English words You will find the answers at the bottom of the quiz.

1.buscar, 2.el chocolate,

13.la sorpresa, 14.los dulces,

i.the chick, j.to look for,

3.el conejo, 4.el desfile,

15.los huevos, 16.los tulipanes

k.the chocolate, l.the treasure,

5.el domingo, 6.el nido,

a.the surprise, b.the eggs,

m.to find, n.Spring, o.to hide,

7.el pollito, 8.el tesoro,

c.Sunday, d.the parade,

p.the flowers.

9.encontrar, 10.esconder,

e.the rabbit, f.the nest,

11.la primavera, 12.las flores,

g.the tulips, h.the sweets,

Soduko

Span - Eng

Quizword

Answers: 1j, 2k, 3e, 4d, 5c, 6f, 7i, 8l, 9m, 10o, 11n, 12p, 13a, 14h, 15b, 16g.

1. What is London's largest park?

2. In which city is Red Square?

3. In what country is the Jutland Peninsula?

4. What Is The 3rd Most Populous Country On Earth?

5. Name the largest island in the world.?

6. What Nationality Was The Chemist Alfred Nobel?

7. What Is The Airline Of Luxembourg?

8. What lake is the source of the White Nile?

9. Aconcagua Is The Highest Mountain In South America In Which Country does It Stand?

10. Which Country Is The World's Leading Exporter Of Salmon?

11. What European country did Romans call Lusitania?

12. What countries national anthem is Land of Two Rivers?

13. Which Bridge Had Van Gogh Just Finished Painting Before He Cut Of His Ear? 14. "At over 3 million square kilometers, Sakha is the largest federal subject of which country? "?

Fill It In

38

Friday, March 8, 2013

TRELI ON THE TELLY

with ALEX TRELINSKI IT would be close to impossible for me to say who my favourite Who was over the last 50 years or so.

I’m talking about the timetravelling Doctor, of course, but I’d certainly have David Tennant on my top-three list.

He’s one of the few men to play the Time Lord who hasn’t been pigeon-holed for all time with the character and who would happily play him again, like in this autumn’s 50th anniversary special.

The amiable Scotsman has done some critically acclaimed stuff on stage and screen over the last four years, and he’s back in a new premium drama for ITV, called Broadchurch.

Tennant has picked well, re-uniting with the former Doctor Who writer, Chris Chibnall, for a well-paced

A FLAIR COP FOR THE TIME LORD

story set in a seaside town where a young boy is found dead at the bottom of a cliff.

The mood and characterisations are well captured, and Tennant delivers yet again as the copper leading the investigation into the tragedy.

Good production values; a good script; and a cast brimming with familiar TV faces add up to make this another

quality drama hit for ITV, hot on the heels of Mr.Selfridge.

By sheer coincidence, BBC1 has also been running a new drama involving a child who has disappeared, and it’s made by the same team behind Broadchurch.

Mayday, despite a good cast, was nowhere near the high quality of Broadchurch, and I suspect the BBC decided to

play it out on successive nights to get rid of it as soon as possible.

It all appeared to be a cheap version of the cult classic, Twin Peaks, but without the class and intrigue of that great American show.

Jonathan Ross is certainly struggling to get A-list guests for his ITV chat show. His rival, Graham Norton, is giving him a bit of breather until next month when he returns with a new series, and that might help Jonathan with a clear run for a few weeks.

Watching the recent Oscars, I was convinced that barring Jack Nicholson, everybody else on stage had appeared on Graham’s show over the last year, whilst all that Jonathan could manage from the big names recently was Jamie Foxx. That’s not good enough for a Saturday night primetime show, and I

q

suspect that the rumours of ITV pulling the programme may not be too far off the mark, though it got a healthy audience last week.

You can also smell the stench of desperation with the nauseating Keith Lemon being drafted in as a guest tomorrow night.

Dancing on Ice has been suffering with low viewing figures, and ITV can’t blame Call the Midwife this time, as they made sure that the two shows didn’t clash. I’ve actually enjoyed the series, but the reason for people giving it a miss (until the final this Sunday night) is simply the fact that, barring a nasty fall, it has been obvious early on that Matt Lapinskas is going to win. As for Call the Midwife on BBC1, I can’t believe that we have the final episode of the latest series this Sunday. And was-

q

n’t it great to have Miranda Hart’s character of Chummy back last weekend? She always brings us some much need smiles to balance the realistic but at times heartbreaking scenes.

Simon Cowell’s golden touch is continuing to desert him. After the failure of Red or Black, he’s concocted another flop in the form of Food Glorious Food.

ITV have put this on slap bang in the middle of their Wednesday night schedule, straight after Corrie - and it’s bombed quicker than my Baked Alaska! Everything is completely wrong about this show, which tries to copy the Antiques Roadshow in the search for Britain’s most popular dish. You can just hear the guffaws of laughter coming from the Masterchef and Great British Bake Off teams at the Beeb!

q

Friday TV

March 8

00:35 This Week 01:20 Skiing Weatherview 01:25 BBC News 01:30 HARDtalk 02:00 Newsday 02:30 ABC World News with Diane Sawyer 03:00 BBC News 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:30 HARDtalk 05:50 BBC News 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain's Empty Homes Revisited 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:00 Beat the Pack 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Rip Off Britain 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 The Vicar of Dibley 22:00 New Tricks 23:00 BBC News 23:25 National Lottery Update 23:35 Comic Relief's Big Chat with Graham Norton

00:20 Married in Britain 01:20 The Culture Show 01:50 Out of Jail and on the Streets 02:50 This Is BBC Two 05:00 Spark 06:00 Schools - True Stories 07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 08:00 Saints and Scroungers 08:45 Britain's Empty Homes Revisited 09:15 Show Me the Monet 10:00 The Great Comic Relief Bake Off 11:00 Question Time 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 The One Show 14:30 Weakest Link 15:15 Coast 15:25 Mastermind 15:55 Britain's Heritage Heroes 16:25 Great British Food Revival 17:25 The Trials of Life 18:15 Antiques Roadshow 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 The Great British Winter 20:30 Great British Menu 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 Gardeners' World 22:00 Wild Arabia 23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight

00:50 Grimefighters 01:15 Jackpot247 04:00 River Monsters 04:50 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV News Meridian 15:00 Dinner Date 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Wild Britain with Ray Mears 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Piers Morgan's Life Stories 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV News Meridian 23:35 Hard Target

COMIC RELIEFS BIG CHAT WITH GRAHAM NORTON Highlights of the recent marathon chat show, which saw camp comic Graham Norton trying to set a Guinness World Record by asking the most number of questions on a TV talk show - as a result of which, he took over BBC Three for the entire evening. Guests and co-hosts include Terry Wogan, Frank Skinner, Ronnie Corbett, Sarah Millican, Jimmy Carr, Keith Lemon, etc.

00:50 Random Acts 00:55 My Tattoo Addiction 01:50 Walking Wounded: Return to the Frontline 02:50 Dispatches 03:20 Time Team 04:15 Come Dine with Me 05:10 Deal or No Deal 06:05 Countdown 06:50 Kirstie's Handmade Treasures 07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 08:05 According to Jim 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 11:00 The Secret Millionaire 12:00 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:05 Come Dine with Me 13:35 What's Cooking?

14:45 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 15:45 Countdown 16:30 The Common Denominator 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Come Dine with Me 22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats 22:30 The Last Leg 23:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man

00:50 Inside Hollywood 01:00 SuperCasino 05:00 Divine Designs 05:25 Great Artists 05:50 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Wildlife SOS 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:05 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:30 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Trisha 13:00 Looney Tunes 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Danger: Diggers at Work 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Person of Interest 16:15 Web of Desire 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Manchester United: Munich Air Crash 21:00 Ice Road Truckers 22:00 The Mentalist 23:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:55 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

39

Saturday TV March 9

00:35 Russell Brand's Give It Up Gig for Comic Relief 02:05 Weatherview 02:10 BBC News 02:30 Click 03:00 BBC News 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Click 04:45 Newswatch 05:00 BBC News 05:30 Five Minutes With 06:00 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Nigel Slater's Simple Cooking 13:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 13:15 Football Focus 14:00 Bargain Hunt 15:00 Live Six Nations Rugby Union 17:25 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 17:35 Live Six Nations Rugby Union 20:00 Let's Dance for Comic Relief 21:25 The National Lottery: In It to Win It 22:15 Casualty 23:05 BBC News; Weather 23:25 National Lottery Update

00:00 The Review Show 00:45 Weather

00:50 I've Loved You So Long 02:40 Question Time 03:40 This Is BBC Two 07:00 This Is BBC Two 08:30 Great British Menu 09:00 Great British Menu 09:30 Great British Menu 10:00 Great British Menu 10:30 Great British Menu 11:00 A History of Britain by Simon Schama 12:00 Meet the Ancestors 12:30 The Sky at Night 12:50 Coast 13:00 Indian Food Made Easy 13:30 Mastermind 14:00 University Challenge 14:30 Talking Pictures 15:20 The Man from Laramie 17:00 Coast 17:30 Final Score 18:30 Flog It! 19:30 The Culture Show 20:30 Top Gear 21:30 Dad's Army 22:00 Made in Dagenham 23:50 Ford's Dagenham Dream

01:20 Jackpot247 04:00 Columbo: Dead Weight 05:20 ITV Nightscreen 07:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 07:25 The Hive 07:45 Dino Dan 08:10 Canimals 08:25 Bookaboo 08:40 Matt Hatter Chronicles 09:05 Ultimate Spider-Man 09:30 Victorious 10:00 Jessie 10:25 ITV News 10:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 11:25 My Tasty Travels with Lynda Bellingham 12:25 All Star Family Fortunes 13:10 ITV News and Weather 13:14 ITV Meridian Weather 13:15 Live FA Cup Football 16:00 The Chase 17:00 Midsomer Murders 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:15 ITV News and Weather 19:30 You've Been Framed!

20:00 Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway 21:20 The Cube 22:20 The Jonathan Ross Show 23:20 ITV News and Weather 23:34 ITV Meridian Weather 23:35 FA Cup Football Highlights

00:05 Paddy's TV Guide 00:55 Random Acts 01:00 Cruel Intentions 02:45 2 Broke Girls 03:10 Don't Trust the B**** in Apartment 23 03:35 Happy Endings 04:00 Southland 04:40 Come Dine with Me 05:35 Deal or No Deal 06:30 Countdown 07:15 Sali Mali 07:20 The Treacle People 07:35 The Grid 08:00 Jump Boys: Channel 4 Racing 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:55 Frasier 11:50 The Big Bang Theory 12:20 The Big Bang Theory 12:45 The Simpsons 13:20 The Simpsons 13:45 Undercover Boss USA 14:45 Channel 4 Racing 17:10 Come Dine with Me 19:45 Channel 4 News 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 The Queen's Hidden Cousins 21:00 Kevin McCloud's Man Made Home 22:00 Skyline

00:50 True Crimes: The First 72 Hours 01:15 SuperCasino 04:55 Motorsport Mundial 05:20 Great Artists 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 HouseBusters 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Peppa Pig 07:05 Roary the Racing Car 07:15 Fifi and the Flowertots 07:25 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 07:30 The Mr Men Show 07:45 Olive the Ostrich 07:50 Abby's Flying Fairy School 08:00 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:05 Bananas in Pyjamas 08:20 Animal Antics 08:25 Make Way for Noddy 08:40 City of Friends 08:55 Little Princess 09:10 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Angelina Ballerina 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 Toby's Travelling Circus 10:25 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Jelly Jamm 11:00 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 11:10 Power Rangers Samurai 11:45 Batman: The Brave and the Bold 12:05 Inside Hollywood 12:10 Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge 13:10 Police Interceptors 14:15 Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence 16:05 Columbo: A Trace of Murder 17:55 Yanks 20:15 5 News Weekend 20:20 CSI: NY 21:10 NCIS 22:10 NCIS 23:05 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

01:50 Ricky Gervais: Science 02:45 Hollyoaks 04:50 What's Fufu?

04:55 Deal or No Deal 05:50 Countdown 06:35 Kirstie's Vintage Gems 06:45 Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard 07:15 The Hoobs 07:40 The Hoobs 08:05 Freesports on 4 08:35 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Sunday Brunch 13:00 The Big Bang Theory 13:30 The Big Bang Theory 13:55 The Simpsons 14:25 The Simpsons 14:55 Undercover Boss USA 15:55 Deal or No Deal 16:55 Time Team 17:55 Channel 4 News 18:25 4thought.tv 18:30 Crufts 21:00 Secrets of the Stonehenge Skeletons 22:00 Limitless

00:00 Law & Order: Criminal Intent 00:55 Inside Hollywood 01:05 SuperCasino 05:00 HouseBusters 05:25 Divine Designs 05:50 County Secrets 06:05 Hana's Helpline 06:15 The Milkshake! Show 06:40 Thomas & Friends 06:50 Roary the Racing Car 07:00 Peppa Pig 07:05 Roary the Racing Car 07:15 Fifi and the Flowertots 07:25 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 07:30 The Mr Men Show 07:45 Olive the Ostrich 07:50 Abby's Flying Fairy School 08:00 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:10 Bananas in Pyjamas 08:20 Animal Antics 08:25 Make Way for Noddy 08:40 Milkshake! Monkey 08:45 City of Friends 08:55 Little Princess 09:10 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:20 Mio Mao 09:25 Angelina Ballerina 09:40 Castle Farm 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 Toby's Travelling Circus 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Jelly Jamm 11:00 Power Rangers Samurai 11:35 Batman: The Brave and the Bold 12:00 Inside Hollywood 12:05 Once Upon a Time 13:00 Mum of the Year Awards 2013 14:35 Are We Done Yet? 16:20 Space Jam 18:00 Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed 19:40 5 News Weekend 19:45 Rocky II 22:00 Person of Interest 23:00 Drive Angry

SKYLINE Sci-fi thriller starring Eric Balfour, Scottie Thompson and Brittany Daniel. Jarrod and his girlfriend Elaine travel to Los Angeles to meet up with an old friend, Terry, and celebrate his birthday with a big party at his penthouse flat. But during the night, flashing lights appear in the sky and it quickly becomes apparent that an alien invasion is taking place and their lives are in peril.

Sunday TV

March 10

00:25 The Football League Show 01:35 Color of Night 03:30 Weatherview 03:35 Dateline London 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Our World 05:00 BBC News 05:30 Click 06:00 BBC News 06:30 The Bottom Line 07:00 Breakfast 08:55 Match of the Day 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 The Big Questions 12:00 Sunday Politics 13:25 Countryfile 14:20 Call the Midwife 15:20 Live Six Nations Rugby Union 18:00 Escape to the Country 18:30 Songs of Praise 19:05 Deadly 60 on a Mission 19:35 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Call the Midwife 22:00 Shetland 23:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 23:25 Match of the Day 2

00:50 BAT-21 02:30 This Is BBC Two 07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:50 The Las Vegas Story 09:15 Life in a Cottage Garden with Carol Klein 09:45 Gardeners' World 10:15 The A to Z of TV Gardening 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:30 The Little Paris Kitchen: Cooking with Rachel Khoo 13:00 EastEnders 15:15 Coast 16:00 Sea City 16:30 Sea City 17:00 Sea City 17:30 Restoration Home 18:30 Flog It! 19:30 Food & Drink 20:00 Dragons' Den 21:00 Top Gear 22:00 Toughest Place to Be 23:00 Mock the Week 23:30 Dancing on the Edge

00:35 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

01:40 Jackpot247 04:00 In Plain Sight 04:45 ITV Nightscreen 07:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 07:25 The Hive 07:45 Dino Dan 08:10 Canimals 08:25 Bookaboo 08:40 Matt Hatter Chronicles 09:05 Rated A for Awesome 09:30 Almost Naked Animals 10:00 The Aquabats Super Show 10:25 ITV News 10:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 11:20 Murder, She Wrote 12:20 Dickinson's Real Deal 13:25 ITV News and Weather 13:29 ITV Meridian Weather 13:30 Carry On Girls 15:10 Doc Martin 16:15 All Star Family Fortunes 17:00 Live FA Cup Football 19:45 ITV News Meridian 19:45 ITV Meridian Weather 19:50 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Dancing on Ice 22:00 Mr Selfridge 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:14 ITV Meridian Weather 23:15 FA Cup Football Highlights

TOUGHEST PLACE TO BE Three more Britons perform their regular jobs in challenging locations, with London cabbie Mason McQueen heading to India to test his skills on the busy and chaotic streets of Mumbai. His host is Pradeep Sharma, who lives with his extended family in a two-bedroom house, earning less than ÂŁ10 a day for his long and stressful shift. As Mason gets to grips with the role, he also learns about the plight of millions of migrant workers who flood into India looking for jobs.

40

Monday TV

March 11

00:25 00:55 01:40 02:25 02:30 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:30 06:00 06:30 06:45 07:00 10:15 11:00 11:58 12:00 12:30 13:13 13:15 14:00 14:30 14:40 15:10 16:00 16:45 17:30 18:15 19:00 19:30 19:55 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:25 23:35

Late Kick Off The Apprentice USA The Apprentice USA Weatherview The Bottom Line BBC News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC News HARDtalk BBC News World Business Report BBC News Breakfast Heir Hunters Homes Under the Hammer BBC News; Weather Caught Red Handed Real Rescues BBC News; Weather Bargain Hunt BBC News; Weather Regional News and Weather Doctors Only Fools and Horses Beat the Pack Escape to the Country Flog It! Pointless BBC News BBC London News Party Political Broadcast The One Show Bang Goes the Theory EastEnders Panorama Shetland BBC News Regional News and Weather Being Eileen

00:35 Six Nations Rugby Union 01:20 Catch a Fire

02:55 Holby City 03:55 Being Eileen 04:25 This Is BBC Two 07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:10 Homes Under the Hammer 08:10 Saints and Scroungers 08:55 Britain's Empty Homes Revisited 09:25 The A to Z of TV Gardening 10:10 Great British Menu 10:40 Countryfile 11:35 Click 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 The One Show 14:30 Six Nations Rugby Union 15:15 Coast 15:20 Mastermind 15:50 Britain's Heritage Heroes 16:20 Great British Food Revival 17:20 The Trials of Life 18:10 Antiques Roadshow 18:55 Party Political Broadcast 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Country Show Cook Off 20:00 Great Continental Railway Journeys 20:30 Great British Menu 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 Food & Drink 22:00 This World 23:00 Never Mind the Buzzcocks 23:30 Newsnight

00:15 Anglo-Welsh Cup Rugby Union 01:10 The Store 03:15 Monk 04:00 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV News Meridian 15:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:25 Party Political Broadcast 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Cornwall with Caroline Quentin 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Broadchurch 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV Meridian Weather 23:35 The Agenda

00:05 Splice 01:55 Gogglebox 02:40 The Pawnbroker 04:40 Southland 05:20 Deal or No Deal 06:15 Kirstie's Handmade Treasures 06:25 Countdown 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 According to Jim 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 11:00 Grand Designs Australia 12:00 Come Dine with Me 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday 13:05 Jamie's 15 Minute Meals 13:35 What's Cooking?

14:45 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 15:45 Countdown 16:30 The Common Denominator 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Dispatches 21:30 SuperScrimpers 22:00 Embarrassing Bodies 23:00 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA

SUPER SCRIMPERS An Essex man who spent more than £90,000 on nights out over a five-year period is challenged to cut the cost of his socialising to just £50 a week.

Harry Wallop discovers which Easter egg is the best value and Mrs Moneypenny's touring cash clinic reaches Norwich, where she gives the locals advice on pensions.

01:05 CCTV Cities 02:05 SuperCasino 05:00 HouseBusters 05:25 Divine Designs 05:50 County Secrets 06:00 Hana's Helpline 06:15 The Milkshake! Show 06:35 Thomas & Friends 06:50 Roary the Racing Car 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:05 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 08:55 Mio Mao 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Trisha 13:00 Looney Tunes 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Danger: Diggers at Work 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Mystery Woman: In the Shadows 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Pirates of the Caribbean: The True Story 21:00 Police Interceptors 22:00 Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge 23:00 Bomb Patrol

Tuesday TV

March 12

00:05 Have I Got Old News for You 00:35 Live at the Apollo 01:20 The Apprentice USA 02:05 Weatherview 02:10 Newsday 02:30 ABC World News with Diane Sawyer 03:00 BBC News 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 BBC News 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Caught Red Handed 12:30 Real Rescues 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:00 Beat the Pack 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 MasterChef 23:00 BBC News 23:25 National Lottery Update 23:35 The Matt Lucas Awards

00:20 Toughest Place to Be

01:20 Meet the Izzards 02:20 This Is BBC Two 04:55 Schools 06:10 What Makes Me, Me 06:30 Schools 07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:05 Homes Under the Hammer 08:05 Real Rescues 08:50 Caught Red Handed 09:20 The A to Z of TV Gardening 10:05 Great British Menu 10:35 DIY SOS: The Big Build 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 The One Show 14:30 The Super League Show 15:15 Coast 15:25 Mastermind 15:55 Britain's Heritage Heroes 16:25 Great British Food Revival 17:25 The Trials of Life 18:15 Antiques Roadshow 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Country Show Cook Off 20:00 Great Continental Railway Journeys 20:30 Great British Menu 21:00 Alex Polizzi: The Fixer 22:00 The Railway: Keeping Britain on Track 23:00 Heading Out 23:30 Newsnight

00:05 Monk 01:00 Jackpot247 04:00 Champions League Weekly 04:25 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV News Meridian 15:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Live UEFA Champions League 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV News Meridian 23:35 UEFA Champions League: Extra Time

MASTER CHEF New series. John Torode and Gregg Wallace return to put more keen cooks to the test. The first five undergo the Invention Test, where they are given one hour to create a dish to impress the judges, followed by the extremely tricky Palate Test, a new challenge in which they re-create a dish made by John - without a recipe or seeing how he made it.

00:05 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 01:05 Random Acts 01:10 Shameless 02:05 The Shooting Gallery 02:50 Southland 03:30 Get Your House in Order 04:25 The Renovation Game 05:20 A Place in the Sun 06:15 Deal or No Deal 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 According to Jim 08:25 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 Frasier 10:25 Frasier 11:00 Grand Designs Australia 12:00 Come Dine with Me 12:30 What's Cooking?

13:30 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:35 Cheltenham Festival 17:20 Deal or No Deal 18:10 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Supersize vs Superskinny 22:00 16 Kids and Counting 23:00 Shameless

00:00 Passenger 57 01:40 True Crimes: The First 72 Hours 02:10 SuperCasino 05:00 Divine Designs 05:25 Great Artists 05:50 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 HouseBusters 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:05 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 08:55 Mio Mao 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Trisha 13:00 Looney Tunes 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 London: The Inside Story 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:10 Looney Tunes 16:20 McBride: Requiem 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Cowboy Builders 21:00 Whale Adventure with Nigel Marven 22:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:00 CSI: NY 23:55 Dallas

41

Wednesday TV March 13

00:05 Cuckoo 00:35 Who Do You Think You Are? US 01:20 Racing for Time 02:45 Weatherview 02:50 ABC World News with Diane Sawyer 03:00 BBC News 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 BBC News 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Caught Red Handed 12:30 Real Rescues 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:00 Beat the Pack 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 BBC London News 19:55 Party Political Broadcast 20:00 The One Show 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 MasterChef 23:00 BBC News 23:25 National Lottery Update 23:35 A Question of Sport

00:20 This World

01:20 Brain Doctors 02:20 This Is BBC Two 05:00 Wonders of Life 05:40 Wonders of Life 06:15 Schools - Vikings 07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 08:00 Real Rescues 08:45 Caught Red Handed 09:15 The A to Z of TV Gardening 10:00 Great British Menu 10:30 Food & Drink 11:00 Robbed, Raided, Reunited 11:30 See Hear 12:00 BBC News 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 The One Show 14:30 Weakest Link 15:15 Coast 15:20 Mastermind 15:50 Britain's Heritage Heroes 16:20 Great British Food Revival 17:20 The Trials of Life 18:10 Antiques Roadshow 18:55 Party Political Broadcast 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Country Show Cook Off 20:00 Great Continental Railway Journeys 20:30 Great British Menu 21:00 Great British Menu 21:30 A Very British Wedding 22:30 QI 23:00 The Culture Show 23:30 Weather

00:35 01:35 04:00 04:45 06:05 07:00 09:30 10:25 11:30 13:30 14:30 14:55 15:00 16:00 16:59 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:25 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30 23:35

Piers Morgan's Life Stories Jackpot247 Loose Women ITV Nightscreen The Jeremy Kyle Show Daybreak Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV News and Weather ITV Meridian Weather Dickinson's Real Deal The Alan Titchmarsh Show ITV Meridian Weather Ade in Britain The Chase ITV News Meridian Party Political Broadcast ITV News and Weather Emmerdale Coronation Street Food Glorious Food Lightfields ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV Meridian Weather Sports Life Stories

A VERY BRITISH WEDDING

00:05 Random Acts 00:10 Derek 00:45 Jump Boys: Channel 4 Racing 01:45 Cheltenham Festival Highlights 02:30 European Poker Tour 03:30 KOTV Boxing Weekly 03:55 Sailing 04:20 The Grid 04:50 Freesports on 4 05:20 A Place in the Sun 06:15 Kirstie's Vintage Gems 06:25 Deal or No Deal 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 According to Jim 08:25 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 Grand Designs Australia 12:00 Come Dine with Me 12:30 What's Cooking?

13:30 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:35 Cheltenham Festival 17:20 Deal or No Deal 18:10 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners 22:00 One Born Every Minute 23:00 The Mimic 23:35 Anna & Katy

New series. An insight into the new wave of British nuptials, following couples from different cultures on the journey to their wedding days.

The documentary explores the observance of centuries-old traditions, family dynamics and how religion continues to be at the heart of many communities. In the first episode, Sikh couple Kami and Dav tread the same steps their ancestors did in the Punjab region hundreds of years ago, while Sasha and Vlod look to adhere to the oldest of traditions from Eastern Europe.

00:55 CSI: Miami 01:50 True Crimes: The First 72 Hours 02:15 SuperCasino 04:55 Divine Designs 05:20 Great Artists 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 HouseBusters 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:05 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 08:55 Mio Mao 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Trisha 13:00 Looney Tunes 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 London: The Inside Story 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Disney Shorts: Donald's Tire Trouble 16:20 The Front 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge 21:00 Born to Kill 22:00 NCIS 23:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 23:55 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Thursday TV March 14

00:10 The Matt Lucas Awards 00:40 Ruthless People 02:10 Weatherview 02:15 Newsday 02:30 ABC World News with Diane Sawyer 03:00 BBC News 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 BBC News 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Caught Red Handed 12:30 Real Rescues 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:00 Beat the Pack 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:15 Comic Relief Does Glee Club 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Comic Relief 2013 22:00 Prisoners' Wives 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Question Time

00:20 The Railway: Keeping Britain on Track

01:20 See Hear 01:50 This Is BBC Two 05:00 Schools - The Strange Case of the Law 06:00 Schools - Cracking the Code 07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:05 Homes Under the Hammer 08:05 Real Rescues 08:50 Caught Red Handed 09:20 The A to Z of TV Gardening 10:05 Great British Menu 10:35 Great British Menu 11:05 Great British Railway Journeys 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 The One Show 15:00 Coast 15:25 Mastermind 15:55 Britain's Heritage Heroes 16:25 Great British Food Revival 17:25 The Trials of Life 18:15 Antiques Roadshow 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Country Show Cook Off 20:00 Great Continental Railway Journeys 20:30 Great British Menu 21:00 The Planners 22:00 Horizon 23:00 How TV Ruined Your Life 23:30 Weather

00:35 Safari Vet School 01:00 Jackpot247 04:00 Columbo: Lovely but Lethal 05:15 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV News Meridian 15:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:15 ITV News and Weather 19:45 Emmerdale 20:45 Live UEFA Europa League Football 23:10 ITV News and Weather 23:40 ITV Meridian Weather 23:45 The Jonathan Ross Show

PRISONERS’ WIVES New series. The return of the drama about women struggling to cope while the men in their lives are on the inside. Career criminal's wife Francesca finds herself at the heart of an escalating gangland war, while Harriet is delighted that son Gavin appears to have forged a friendship with a group of Muslims. But it seems they are not all they appear to be.

00:05 8 Out of 10 Cats Uncut 00:50 Random Acts 00:55 The Last Leg 01:30 Cheltenham Festival Highlights 02:20 The New Normal 02:40 Revenge 03:30 In Good Company 05:15 A Place in the Sun 06:10 Countdown 06:55 Kirstie's Vintage Gems 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 According to Jim 08:25 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 Frasier 10:25 Frasier 11:00 Grand Designs Australia 12:00 Come Dine with Me 12:30 What's Cooking?

13:30 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:35 Cheltenham Festival 17:20 Deal or No Deal 18:10 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Britain's Secret Shoppers 22:00 Born to Be Different 23:00 Gogglebox 23:45 Embarrassing Bodies

00:50 True Crimes: The First 72 Hours 01:15 Poker 02:15 SuperCasino 04:55 Divine Designs 05:20 Great Artists 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 HouseBusters 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:05 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 08:55 Mio Mao 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Trisha 13:00 Looney Tunes 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 London: The Inside Story 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Mentalist 16:15 Prayers for Bobby 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Whale Adventure with Nigel Marven 21:00 Cowboy Builders 22:00 Killers Behind Bars: The Untold Story 23:00 Born to Kill

42

Friday, March 8, 2013

ACCOUNTANTS

for first consultation free of charge.

Pro Business Support – for all your accountancy needs in English; bookkeeping, taxes, wage slips and more.

We cater for companies and self-employed people; we can deal with everything for you. Call us on 966 923 963

ALARMS

AUCTIONS

All types of alarms fitted, including CCTV. Give us a call on 966 923 963, and we will send a technician to give you a personalised quote.

Call now on 966 923 963.

BABY EQUPMENT HIRE TIPTOP BABY HOLIDAY CARE, travel cots, highchairs, car and booster seats. Buggies. Beach Towels. Free local delivery. www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk.

E-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.co.uk Telephone 968566011 Mobile 667848582

AUTO ELECTRICIAN

CHURCH SERVICES

Thursdays 11am. Craft club, Tuesdays, 2pm.

Pastor, Rafael Restrepo. All nationalities welcome. Call 966 799 273 or 660 127 276.

Pilar Christian Community Church Calle Canalejas 3.

Pilar de la Horadada.

Sunday Service at 11am, and Thursday at 5pm for Bible study and Prayer.

Home groups meet during the week. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information c o n t a c t PilarChristian.CommunityC hurch@gmail.com or contact Reverend Eddie on 966769300 or 650509606.

Reg No:2009-SG/A Good Friday Service at 11 am. at the Church Easter Sunday 11 am. will include a Drama message, please join us The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) meet at 10.00 each Sunday at their Torrevieja meetinghouse in the Torreaguas building on the corner of Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 104, close to the windmill in Torrevieja, 667 533 597.

CARS FOR SALE

Car insurance quotes – new extra discount on fully comprehensive policies at the price of third party!

Excellent prices for expats, all policies and call centre staff in English. We will call you back with a quote. 966 923 963

INSURANCE CASER SEGUROS - for all your insurance needs, home, car, health, funeral.

Policies available in English and German.

Call Professional Business Support on 966 923 963 for a quick quote from our friendly staff.

ITEMS FOR SALE YAMAHA ELECTONE HOME ORGAN HC4W, 2x44 key manuals / 13 pedal board. Superb voicing and rhythm. 175 euros. CASIO KEYBOARD WK1300 73 keys, full spec inc. stand and travel bag. 150 euros.

MODEL RAILWAY LGB “G gage”. Starter set, boxed, passenger, 2 coaches.

Indoor / Outdoor. Track powered. 200 euros, extra track

CARPENTER

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

Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday services 11am.

Children's church 11am. House groups in Torrevieja, Los Balcones, San Javier. Ladies meeting

etc available. Gran Alacant 966 699 038.

MEDICAL Private Medical Healthcare – call us for your personalised quote, and get covered today, using the best private hospitals in the area.

Call us now on 966 923 963, and we will call you back with your quote.

PROPERTY FOR RENT Viva Villa and Vacation Services, For Short or Long Term Rentals visit: www.villaandvacation.com or Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Brand new 2 bed, unfurnished / furnished apartment. Algorfa town centre, swimming pool, rent €250 +150€ bills per month or yearly advanced €2700 plus bills. 0044-7949-589-539 londonangels@hotmail.com (111) 2 or 3 bed / 2 bath apartments in San Miguel. Lift, communal rooftop pool & solarium, video entry system. Available for short or long term rent from 350 pcm. Tel 966723437 or 636615716. (110) Ref: 61, A lovely two bedroomed ground floor apartment, located in the centre of the small Spanish town of Los Montesinos, With a

pleasant communal swimming pool adjacent & all amenities in walking distance. Long and short term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. KBJ3 – Luxury duplex penthouse apartment located near the marina in Guardamar. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, amazing panoramic views, inc.parking and storage. 500 € pcm.

966 923 963 Ref. CBR21 – A rare chance to rent a frontline beach apartment in Torrevieja!

Ground floor with large terrace, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, direct and full-on sea views. 500 € pcm. 966 923 963 Ref. CBR20 – Spanish style 4th floor apartment right on the beach! 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, lovely balcony to soak up the amazing sea views. 500 € pcm. 966 923 963 Ref. CBR19 – 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment in sought after area beachside Punta Prima, with communal pool and fully furnished, only 400 € pcm. 966 923 963 CBR25 – Torrevieja town centre, 3 bed 2 bath apartment, bright and modern decor, only 10m from Playa Acequion, inc. Garage parking, unfurnished, long term rental only, 500 € pcm. 966 923 963

BATHROOMS / SHOWERS

BARBER

AIR CONDITIONING

CAR BREAKERS

ALARMS

AIRPORT COLLECTION

CAR HIRE

CLEANERS

43

Friday, March 8, 2013 Ref. CBR3 – 2 bedroom 2 bathroom townhouse located in Algorfa, communal pool, fully furnished, 300 € pcm. 966 923 963 Ref. RS20 – 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment within private enclosed residential in San Luis, large terrace, 300 € pcm. 966 923 963 Ref: 49, 2nd floor one bedroom apartment situated conveniently located in the town centre of Torrevieja, with a small sun balcony overlooking the lovely communal pool. Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref 33, Ground floor spacious 2 bedroom apartment, located in Torre la Mata.

Close to all amenities and beach.

3 month rental €300pcm Call: 965 707 188 CBR18 – Detached Spanish villa, beachside Punta Prima, 4 bedrooms, garage, 1200 m2 plot, own pool, 900 € pcm. 966 923 963 Ref: 104, 2 Bedroom apartment in Torrevieja, (near gypsy lane), small balcony, near all amenities and Friday market. €350pcm Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 112, Spacious 3 bedroom detached villa with its private pool is located on the El Raso urbanisation near Guardamar. Convenient for all amenities, shops, supermarket, restaurants and bars. Short term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref 702: Beautiful 2 bedroom apartment, located

near los Locos beach, beautifully furnished. Short term rentals from 175€ per week.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 El Chaparel/La Siesta Two bedroom apartment in a quiet gated urbanisation for rent €350 per month plus bills. Reference No 17 Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 709, A lovely 1 bedroom apartment in Aguas Nuevas, within a 5 minute walk of the beach. There is a terrace outside with views to the sea. Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 63, Two bedroom 1st floor apartment situated in Monino Blanco. The property overlooks a superb communal pool area, in within walking distance of bars, restaurants and shops.

Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 CBR23 : Stylish new house in Los Montesinos, 3 bed 2 bath with large 65m2 garage, front and back terraces. 500 € pcm. 966 923 963

LONG TERM RENTALS LOS ALCAZARES Beach House. 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms. Separate kitchen.

Large Underbuild, possible GYM, or 4th bedroom. REF LR1600 www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk. e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.co.uk Telephone 968566011 Mobile 667848582 (109)

EL ALGAR detached VILLA. 2 bedrooms. 2 bathrooms.

Communal Pool. Near Schools. Nearby Apartment also available. REF LR1223 www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk. e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.co.uk Telephone 968566011 Mobile 667848582 (109) EL CARMOLI 3 Bedroom 2 bathroom Villa available.

Stunning Views. Minutes to beach.

REF LR1335 www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk. e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.co.uk Telephone 968566011 Mobile 667848582 (109) SANTIAGO DE LA RIBERA 3 Bedrooms, 2 Living rooms, 2 bathrooms, LARGE Corner plot. Others available with Communal pool.REF 1459 www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk. e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.co.uk Telephone 968566011 Mobile 667848582 (109) LA APARCEIDA DETACHED VILLA. 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms overlooking countryside.

Communal Pool. www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk.

REF LR1235 e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.co.uk Telephone 968566011 Mobile 667848582 (109) SAN CAYETANO Apartment. 2 bedrooms, Large South facing Terraces.

REF KC44 www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk. e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.co.uk Telephone 968566011 Mobile 667848582 (109)

VALLE DEL SOL APARTMENT Large private terrace.

Use of Owners pool.

REFLR1628 www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk. e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.co.uk Telephone 968566011 Mobile 667848582 (109)

HOUSE FOR SALE

PROPERTY FOR SALE Home and Contents cover Comprehensive policies for house and contents with CASER Seguros - excellent prices for expats; policies available in. Call 966 923 963 for a quote.

Ref. BRJ1 – 1 bedroom top floor renovated apartment in San Luis. Great sea and lake views. 55.000 €. Tel. 966 923 963 Ref: 510, €70,000.

Bungalow located in San Luis. It is close to the supermarkets, bars and restaurants and is on the local bus route. An Opel Corsa car is included in this sale. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. RS63 – 2 bedroom 2 bathroom townhouse in Torrevieja, with communal pool and lots of extras.

95.000 €. Tl. 966 923 963 Ref. RS59 – Detached 3 bedroom 2 bathroom villa in San Luis, plot of 350m2, private pool, and additional “granny annex”. 169.000 €.

Tel. 966 923 963 Ref. RS1 – Detached 3 bedroom 2 bathroom villa with 900m2 plot located in Toretta Florida. Has private pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and much more! 320.000 € .Tel. 966 923 963

Ref. RS67 – 2 bedroom apartment with lovely sun terrace located in Playa Flamenca urb with communal pool. All amenities nearby. 59.995 €. Tel. 966 923 963 Ref. RS98 - Spacious 2 bed, ground floor apartment 250m from La Mata beach, inc private parking and storeroom. 115.000€ Tel. 966 923 963 Ref. RS58 – 2 bedroom 1 bathroom second floor apartment located in La Mata, communal pool, fully furnished, 79.000 €. Tel. 966 923 963 Ref. RS84 – Large 3 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment of 100m2 situated in Los Montesinos.

Communal solarium upstairs with pool.

79.900 €. Tel. 966 923 963 Ref. RS20 – 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment within private enclosed residential in San Luis, large terrace, 90.000 €. Tel. 966 923 963 Ref. RS65 – 2 bedroom 1 bathroom penthouse apartment, communal pool and parking area, located near the beach in Guardamar.

79.950 €. Tel. 966 923 963

Ref. RS90 – 2 bedroom detached villa all on one level, fully furnished, as new! Located in El Raso (Guardamar) 145.000 €. Tel. 966 923 963 Ref. KEIGUA – Luxury duplex atico apartment in Guardamar. 3 bedroom 2 bathroom, 118 m2, private parking, storage room, communal pool, magnificent views of forest, beach and sea. 169.000 € Tel. 966 923 963 Lovely Corner property in Novamar V, Gran Alacant. 2 bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms Being sold fully furnished including appliances, Has secure underground parking and faces large oasis communal pool. Walking distance to beach. 139.000 Euros, Call 627 711 155 and quote Ref No. K10 Ground floor duplex, with splendid views. Quiet location in Gran Alacant.

Immaculate condition. Price has just been reduced to 105.000 and includes everything. For viewing call 627 711 155 Ref. No K27

44

Friday, March 8, 2013

Rare opportunity to purchase on Mediterrania III, Gran Alacant. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Private Parking, F/Furnished, Large communal pools & Tennis courts S/W facing, Dramatically reduced for quick sale to 126.000 euros.

Ref No. K58 Call 627 711 155 for immediate viewing Ref: 521, €105,000. This comfortable bungalow is located in San Luis with a new roof and solarium tiles.

It is close to supermarkets, bars, restaurants and is on the local bus route. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Don Pueblo, Gran Alacant. 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Large Kitchen with Galleria, Secure underground parking, Gas Central Heating, Glazed in Porch, Solarium with stunning views.

Viewings absolutely essential. Very large property at reduced price of 190.000 euros. Ref No. K38 Call 627 711 155 Opportunity to purchase at the off plan price of 195.000 euros. Large 4 Bed, 3 Bath Brand new property. Secure underground parking for 2 cars and communal pool.

Situated opposite Gran Alacant and over looks projected golf course. Ref No. K52. 627 711 155 Viva Villa and Vacation Services are pleased to offer property sales for the Torrevieja and Oriheula areas of the Costa Blanca, Spain. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 or Visit : www.villaandvacation.com 2 Bed, 1 Bath Ground floor duplex. Central heating, Grills, Fully furnished, Glazed in Galleria, 2 communal pools, private parking

and walking distance to the Gran Alacant commercial centre. Situated in the popular urbanisation of Puerto Marino. Now only 96,500 euros for quick sale Ref No. K46. 627 711 155 Immaculate ground floor Duplex, 2 beds, 2 bath, Private Parking, Situated in Novamar, Gran Alacant.

Price includes very tasteful furniture and white goods.

Walking distance to all local amenities and beach. Now only 129,750 euros. Ref No K24. 627 711 155 Gran Alacant Detached villa, located in a very sought after location.Situated on a 560m2 S/W facing plot and constructed in 2005.

Comprising of 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 full baths), Lounge-Diner, fully equipped Kitchen, Porch and Solarium with Alicante & Sea Views. ref.L81. €258,000 neg.

Tel. 680333242 Ref 533: Lovely 2 bedroom Townhouse located in the popular area of Punta Prima, the property has a large lounge and fully equipped kitchen, 2 double bedrooms, one with balcony, bathroom with double shower. €126,000 Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

KITCHENS

Gran Alacant Town House with a difference.

2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Glazed in Porch, Quiet Location, Extra storage areas, and South Facing Private Pool as well as 2 communal pools. Fully Furnished, All mod cons.

Greenland Views and all local amenities close by.

Ref. No L79. 179.000 euros 680 333 242 Top floor Duplex. Very good price of 108.000 euros for a quick sale. Furnished to a very high standard, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Lounge Diner, Glazed in Porch, Large Roof Top Solarium.

Choice of Communal Pools, Private Parking. Walking distance to all amenities and on the First urbanisation as you enter Gran Alacant.

Viewing essential. Ref No. K44. Tel. 627 711 155 Gran Alacant immaculate villa, 3 bedroomed, 3 bathroomed property maintained to a very high standard inside and out and the interior furnishings are top quality, offering a feeling of luxury and good taste. The plot size is 400m2 and has been beautifully tiles, and graveled and has established palms and plants. Oil fired central heating throughout, log effect fire place, ceiling fans in all rooms, towel heater rails, glazed in show-

er units, instant hot water, water purifier, free English TV, phone & internet lines, fitted double hanging wardrobes, safe, glazed in front porch, vanity units and much more. The pool is an 8 X 4 m2 salt water pool, meaning maintenance is much easier plus outside toilet and shower. Sea views to front with Greenland views to the rear. ref K51. €245,000 Tel 680333242 Ref: 520, €85,000. Two bedroom apartment in Dream Hills, with a fully equipped kitchen, large lounge, glazed-in terrace and a large solarium. This property comes with a large communal swimming pool. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 78, €120,000. Three bedroom Quad in Jardin Del Mar VII. There is off-road parking and small storage shed in the enclosed garden area, communal pool nearby. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Balsares is opposite Gran Alacant where the proposed golf course is now being started so this property will virtually be on the golf course, it is an investment not to be missed. The property is on a small gated urbanisation of 18 houses with private underground parking for 2 cars and direct access to the house, communal pool and

LOCKSMITH

POOL TABLES

toilets/changing rooms etc.

The house is brand new and consists of 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, lounge with working fire place, large kitchen 12 m2, large galleria/ utility room, bedroom balcony and front tiled terrace. This property also has a converted under build for an extra lounge or bedroom. ref K52 €198,000 Tel 680333242 Ref: 516, €39,999. Studio apartment in San Luis, close to amenities. Open plan fully equipped kitchen. Good sized lounge, bedroom and out onto balcony which has been glazed to create another room. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 709, €60,000 A lovely 1 bedroom apartment in Aguas Nuevas, within a 5 minute walk of the beach.

There is a terrace outside with views to the sea. Short or long term rental available.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Gran Alacant Opportunity to purchase a beautiful 3 bedroomed, 3 bathroomed,large kitchen, detached property

with roof- top solarium. Well established gardens and drive way for 2 cars, whilst also overlooking the projected 18 hole golf course.

Comprising of fitted wardrobes, utility room, air con H/C, alarm system, electric wall heaters, intercom system, fireplace, ceilings fans, 8x7 gazebo, use of 2 large communal pools, immaculate condition with many extras. ref K12. €180,000 Tel 680333242 Ref: KP3100, €183,000.

Three bedroom, two bathroom detached villa, located in San Luis, on a 450sqm plot, with communal pool.

Garage to side of house.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

PERSONAL

PARTY PLANNING

ELECTRICIAN PETS

PLUMBERS

DAMP PROOFING

DRAINAGE

PLASTERER

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Friday, March 8, 2013

Gran Alacant bargain, detached villa with pool on 400m2 plot. Briefly comprising of 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Lounge Diner, independent kitchen, solarium with views, well maintained gardens. Quiet location yet within walking distance of all amenities. Top quality furniture and appliances included in the price. Extras include, mosquito nets, grills, toldos blinds, built in wardrobes, gas fire, electric heating, ceiling fans, English & Spanish TV, tastefully tiled & graveled garden with irrigation system. ref K43. €229,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant South facing attractive corner house Situated in the sought after urbanization of Monte Faro, this secure gated urbanization offers a stunning oasis

pool, with mountain views, tennis courts and football courts. Consisting of 3 double beds with balconies, 2 bathrooms, kitchen leading onto court yard which can easily be converted into an extra room, lounge diner with working fireplace, front garden with private parking for 2 cars. Being sold fully furnishes with white goods, built in 2006 so immaculate condition hardly lived in. Ref K48 €168,000 priced for quick sale Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, Large detached villa with beautiful gardens set on 550m2 plot, built in BBQ area and large 10x6 pool.Comprising of 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Lounge Diner with fire place, Independent Kitchen, air con H/C, Solarium, front porch, converted under build with 3

extra rooms, private covered parking, irrigated gardens, close distance to beach and amenities.

Ref. K18 €250,000 Tel 680333242 Ref: 513, €115,000. Two bedroom ground floor apartment, in Aguas Nuevas, close to all amenities including the beach. It has a good size lounge, kitchen and has off road parking facilities.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Gran Alacant, Ground floor south west facing apartment in Puerto Marino close to G.A commercial centre, comprising of 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Lounge-Diner, Independent Kitchen with Galleria, Porch area and large tiled front garden, The property is being sold fully

furnished and includes all kitchen appliances, H & C Air con is fitted as well as sky TV. The apartment enjoys the use of 2 large communal pools and has private parking in an enclosed electronically gated car park.

Competitively priced for a quick sale. Ref. K40 €91,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, this mid terraced Puerto marino townhouse has been priced low purely for a quick sale.

Briefly comprising of: 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Lounge-Diner, Independent Kitchen with Galleria, Porch area, Front tiled garden, Private gated Parking & the use of 2 large communal pools Ref. K22 €123,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, Rare investment!! corner south facing opportunity on Novamar urbanisation.This immaculate ground floor duplex has been kept and maintained to a very high standard inside and out the position is fantastic, enjoys views over the lovely oasis communal pool, surrounded by lawned gardens. Comprising of plot size 100m2 Build Size 90m2, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, Anti-Glare Windows, Security Door, Security Grills, Built-in Wardrobes, Extra Storage, Galleria, Electric Panel Heaters, Heated Towel Rails, Air Con (h&c), Ceiling.

Fans. Thermo Shower,

RAG AND BONE

REMOVALS

VAN HIRE

WARDROBES

Vanity Units and decoratively tiled throughout, exquisite garden, Underground private parking.

Ref.K10 €139,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, corner property in Don Pueblo with no expense spared, comprising of 3 double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, 2 decoratively tiled bathrooms, very large independent kitchen with galleria. Included in the price are all kitchen appliances such as large fridge freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave to name just a few. There is a huge lounge complete with chimney, plus large fully transformed under build,and small workshop. Front and rear private garden area, secure underground garage, tennis courts, football pitch and communal pools. Ref. K14 €209,00 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, Situated in the "Alto" part of Gran Alacant, this 3 bedroomed, 4th floor apartment, offers luxury accommodation, with absolutely stunning sea views, as well as views of Alicante bay and the famous Santa Barbara Castle.The apartment is 89 square meters with open plan kitchen / living room and includes all electrical appliances & furniture also there is a utility room, open terrace, and private parking.

The urbanisation also offers many communal pools, tennis courts, restaurants and bars. Ref. K20 €109,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant villa located in a very quiet area , situated at the end of a cul-de-sac means there is no through traffic.3 bed, 3 bath, 330m2 plot, established large gardens, working fireplace, solar panel for hot water,private parking, south facing great views, fully furnished, fantastic opportunity. ref.

L85. €215,000 Tel 680333242 Ref: 520, €85,000. Two bedroom apartment in Dream Hills, with a fully equipped kitchen, large lounge, glazed-in terrace and a large solarium. This property comes with a large communal swimming pool. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

STORAGE

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TIPTOP VILLA CARE, total property management, keyholding, holiday and long term rentals. www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk. e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.co.uk Telephone 968566011 Mobile 667848582

QUIZZES Experienced quizmaster/question setter with personality available to host quiz nights in local bars. Tel:664 838 581

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46

Friday, March 8, 2013

Greenside Gossip IVIE DAVIES takes a weekly look at the golf scene - golfdavies@gmail.com

ANCHORS AWAY

LATE last year, the United States Golf Association and Royal & Ancient proposed a change to the Rules of Golf that would essentially outlaw anchored putting strokes.

As part of the process for implementing this rather substantial rules change, the USGA and R&A gave golf’s governing bodies 90 days to review the proposed changes and provide formal feedback.

The PGA of America immediately came out against a ban - and on February 24, the PGA Tour officially announced that it too opposes such a change, which is set to take effect in 2016.

But this does not mean the USGA and R&A will change their stance and do away with the proposed ban. For more than 100 years now, the two organisations have considered themselves to be the guardians of the game of golf. So if they feel strongly that anchored putting strokes are taking the game in a direction different to how it was meant to be played, some backlash from the PGA Tour or PGA of America will not stop them from moving forward with a rules change that they feel is in the best interest of the game.

This is not the first time that golf’s governing bodies or key stakeholders have been adamantly against proposed rules changes brought forward by the USGA and R&A, and it certainly won’t be the last.

So let’s assume that the USGA and R&A go ahead with their 2016 ban. The key question then becomes: how will the PGA Tour and PGA of America then decide to pro-

Putting law change could leave the game all at sea

ceed? Both governing bodies have historically adhered to the Rules of Golf put forward by the USGA, although they are not required to do so.

So, if the PGA of America and PGA Tour are adamantly against the 2016 anchored putting stroke ban, they do have the option to continue holding their events under a set of rules different to those put forth the USGA and R&A. In this instance we could very well see a scenario where players are allowed to use belly putters and anchored putting strokes in all PGA Tour events and the PGA Championship, but cannot use anchored putting strokes in the U.S. Open (run by the USGA), the British Open (run by the R&A) and possibly the Masters (which has also historically followed the Rules of Golf put forth by the USGA).

In addition, it’s also quite possible that the European Tour will adhere to the Rules of Golf put forth by the R&A and implement the anchored putting ban in 2016.

This would mean that players who have been using anchored putting strokes for their entire professional careers could only use this method of putting during standard PGA Tour events and the PGA Championship.

They would be forced to either skip or alter their putting strokes for the other three majors and most international events.

We have seen time and

time again, large bureaucratic organisations typically don’t like to be told what to do by other large bureaucratic organisations. So it is quite possible that the USGA and R&A could really butt heads with the PGA Tour and PGA of America on this matter to the point where neither side is willing to back down.

This has opened up a whole new can of worms, Colin Montgomerie, Europe's former Ryder Cup captain, said. "It's a very dangerous situation we are getting ourselves into and I do hope they can sort this out very, very quickly."

The sport's ruling bodies face one of their most difficult decisions ever in the coming weeks.

The Royal and Ancient Club and United States Golf Association announced their intentions in November after

three of the last five major championships were won by Ernie Els, Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley using long putters.

But their final decision on whether to impose the ban from 2016 was delayed, probably until next month, to allow for all interested parties to let their feelings be known.

Now they know, with Tour commissioner Tim Finchem revealing that 13 of the 15 members of his Player Advisory Council were not in favour of the ban.

The PGA of America has also stated objections, believing such a move is not in the best interests of the game.

I thought, as we all did, that the rules of golf were set by the R&A and the USGA. Tim Finchem has obviously thought otherwise. Whether the European Tour thinks that

KNOW YOUR RULES After playing a shot you find your ball has come to rest in an area where the ground staff has cut out turf and dug a hole. However, there are no GUR stakes or lines to mark the area.

Do you…

A: Play the ball as it lies?

B: Consider it marked with stakes or lines?

C: Play your ball as it lies along with another ball as if it had been marked GUR and ask the committee on completion?

ANSWER B: Consider it marked with stakes or lines. Any work carried out by ground staff, even if not marked, is always GUR.

Meetings between the players and Tour officials have made clear the resentment to the rule-makers over this issue. They will fight the ban.

Their threat will go unsaid for the time being, but the message will be stark: if the or not has to be debated too. rule change is enforced, the "We should abide by that. PGA Tour will move to ignore To now go against that and it and allow its members to say 'my players aren't going continue using the belly putto go by that' then what hap- ters and broom-handle putpens when you come to ters.

USGA events or the British Golf would essentially Open? have a split between the "The R&A and USGA have amateur and professional served the game of golf for a games. long, long time and long may Golf would then have the that continue." farcical situation of young What the PGA Tour has not athletes employing what are done yet, however, is say seen as game-improvers, what it will do if the ban is while hackers, not to mention approved. veterans who use the impleThis is a very subjective ments because of back probarea. Everybody has an lems, would be barred from opinion about it and we cer- doing so by the rule book. tainly respect everybody's Would the R&A and USGA opinion. dare to allow such a sceOne thing we know for nario, and furthermore would sure on the professional they ban the putters from the side, is the professional majors they control – the game globally is stronger Open and US Open? The than it's ever been today and answers to these questions that on the heels of having will almost certainly be “no”. anchoring as part of it for the They would be acutely aware last 30 or 40 years. of how quickly their authority It certainly hasn't been a could be eroded. negative. You can't point to So they would have to lose one negative impact of face and backtrack. They anchoring. would not have envisioned How the USGA and R&A the strength of opposition react will be intriguing, if only when they announced the to discover who holds the 90-day “comment period” real power in the game. back in December.

TITTER ON THE TEE A couple played a round of golf and went into the clubhouse and the steward said: “I hope you don’t mind mentioning it, but, you’ve got a seven iron round your neck. What happened?”

The husband said: “I hit my second shot onto the green, my wife hit hers with a 7 iron and she hooked it into a field. We were looking for the ball and I saw these cows and lifted one of the tails and saw a ball sitting in its rear.

“I said to the wife, ‘This looks like yours’ and that’s how I got this seven iron wrapped around my neck.’’

47

Friday, March 8, 2013

INTERIM, INTERIM – THEY ARE ALL INTER ‘IM

APOLOGIES to Kenneth Williams and Caesar, but I used to really like Rafael Benitez.

When I first came to Spain 15 years ago, La Liga was, as today, a two-horse race. But just like the great Alex Ferguson did 30 years ago in Scotland when his Aberdeen broke the Rangers/Celtic stranglehold north of the border, Madrileno ‘Rafa’ did the same with Valencia, taking the La Liga trophy in both 2002 and 2004, his terrific team of non-galac- Roberto Mancini) although Liverpool did manage third in the league and won the FA Cup the following year. ticos doing the double in winning the UEFA After beating Chelsea (again) in the Champions League Cup in 2004. No-one else has done that semi-final, Liverpool this time lost to the same AC Milan since en Espana. as Rafa’s decline in winning cups began and his popuAmbition and the chance to manage larity began to wane. In 2010 with the across European borders meant that new American owners’ hirewhen the great Liverpool came calling, fire policy entering, Rafa Rafa dropped the sunnier Costa Blanca left Liverpool with a climes for the cooler shores of the reported £6million Mersey. He soon became enorpay-off – mously popular at Anfield, pernice! suading club captain and Immediately folReds icon Steven Gerrard lowing his deparnot to join Chelsea (!), and ture, Rafa arrived at bringing in fellow-Spaniard Inter Milan for a short iron man Xabi Alonso, to but unhappy spell, following appreciative murmurs on Mourinho’s successful period the Kop. there; he only lasted from May to Benitez then ensured December before getting the sack, then taking he’d never have to buy a sensible two-year break from football. another bevvy in a In a surprise move last November – Liverpool pub as in his first although no-one really should be surprised, season he steered the knowing their owner - Chelsea appointed Merseysiders to an unbeBenitez ‘interim’ manager until the end of this lievable Champions League season, following the crass dismissal of poor win against AC Milan, in the Roberto Di Matteo by megalomaniac process beating a reviving Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

Chelsea under rival Jose If there was one manager guaranteed to Mourinho in the semi-final – raise the Blues faithful supporters’ hackles, and from then becoming it was Benitez, harking back to those days something of a thorn in the when Chelsea, used to success under Londoners’ side.

Mourinho et al, often couldn’t get past But in England, with the Liverpool, with Benitez angering them likes of Manchester United with his comments. and the London mafia In football such deep wounds are not about, such achievements easily forgotten and Rafa has continued to and subsequent demands be greeted at the Bridge with a storm of protests, are hard to live up to (ask

Bridge carry-on means Ra-fails time is nearly up

Torry out to be kings of Castellon

Torry travel to Castellon this evening (Friday) for a 9pm kick off hoping to get some more points on the board ahead of the rest of the pack, writes JEFF SCOTT. They extended their unbeaten run to four with a dynamic display against one of the better footballing sides in the group, sixth-placed Villarreal C. Once more without the injured Koeman, Abel and Juanfran, Luis Carlos was added to the injury list, allowing the emerging youth players to show their worth.

All took their chances eagerly with Manu Amores terrorising the visitors with his electric pace and excellent close control. Sergio battled like a seasoned veteran, swathed in perspiration long before the half-time whistle, but ready to die for the cause.

Patri entered the fray in the second period and was another thorn in the Villarreal flesh. Matias came on late and gave fans a glimpse of his talent with an exquisite lob over his tight marker, swivelled and powered forward to regain the ball and set up a goal opportunity.

Villarreal played their part with slick passing and enterprising play, thundering an unstoppable shot against the crossbar in the first period. Torry made quick raids down both flanks and went close on several ocassions, but Zagala kept them out resolutely.

Tur, in the Torry goal, was equally determined to keep a clean sheet, making a couple of blocks that were vital.

If Torry can win or draw at fourth-placed Castellon it will prove conclusively that they are well and truly back on track.

10-man Saints let it slip Orihuela CF 2 Sporting de San Fulgencio 1

Jose Bonmati's second half sending off proved the turning point as two late goals all but ended San Ful’s promotion charge, writes JORDAN LUCAS. The Saints had the better of the opening 20 minutes, and Victor Garcia fired them ahead with a beautifully placed shot into the bottom corner after Marco Aurelio's free-kick was deflected into his path.

A stunning move involving Marco,

Braulio and Bonmati then ended with the latter hitting the inside of the post from edge of the six-yard box.

That would be Bonmati's last contribution to the game. As tempers began to fray, the tall midfielder was sent off for kicking out at an opponent.

The game turned in the form side's favour and they grabbed an equaliser from a poor corner that evaded everyone and ended up in the back of

the net, much to the dismay of assistant manager Claudio Fabian Arturi.

Five minutes later, the Saints’ despair was compounded after a swift counter attack concluded with an easy finish for Orihuela's number 15.

Victor had the last chance of the game, but his acrobatic effort was well off target.

San Fulgencio face Benferri C.F at home on Sunday at 12 noon.

which he now suddenly seems ill-equipped to deal with. I always quite liked Rafa’s easy-going manner, seeming to cope well with the taunts of the competitive Alex Ferguson, and his calm ability to manage a difficult, demanding club like Liverpool.

But these days Rafa’s changed. He irritates me. When his team scores he doesn’t show emotion like, say, Andre VillasBoas, sitting and almost appearing to disregard the goal as trivial and expected, preferring to make some stupid note, or direct one of his players to a different position.

Last week’s unexpected outburst against supporters, management and the club has virtually secured ruffled Rafa’s death warrant at Chelsea. Interim, permanent or whatever– it’s only a matter of time. Hey, I wonder if the Pope’s vacancy is interim?

ELCHE MARCH ON Recreativo Huelva 1 Elche 2

ELCHE finally broke their poor record of no wins in eight at Huelva, with Angel rightly starting replacing Aaron.

Huelva had their moments but just before half-time super Suarez hit a screaming half-volley to put Elche ahead, only for the home side to equalise three minutes into the second half.

On the hour cool Coro won the match with his tenth of the season, executing an exquisite chip over the goalkeeper. So Elche march on proudly at the top toward La Liga, 14 games to go until June. This Saturday it’s home to Mirandes at 6pm.

See you there? Mucho Elche!

Every Day’s a Football Day March

11th 1961 Prior to their FA Cup semi final with Spurs, Burnley field 10 reserves for their league match versus Chelsea. Although they secure a 4-4 draw, it does not stop the FA fining them £1,000 for fielding a weakened team.

12th 1982 Ian Botham makes his full debut for Scunthorpe versus Wigan. Scunthorpe return the less than impressive figures of 2-7 in the game.

13th 1880 Segar Bastard wins his only cap for England when he plays in the 5-2 loss to Scotland.

Ironically, he later goes on to become a referee, taking charge of England’s two internationals with Wales. All together, now... 'the referee’s a....!

14th 1995 John Fashanu, Hans Segars and Bruce Grobbelaar, together with Malaysian businessman Heng Suan Lim, are arrested on charges of match fixing.

15th 1890 For the first time in history, England played two internationals in one day, sending one side to Ireland, where they won 1-0 and another to Wrexham where they beat Wales 3-1. The side that played against Wales was actually the full Corinthian Casuals team.

16th 1872 The first ever FA Cup final is played at Kennington Oval where a crowd of 2,000 watch Wanderers beat Royal Engineers 1-0 thanks to a Matthew Betts goal. The cup was not presented to the team after the match, but at a reception five weeks later.

17th 1991 Diego Maradona tests positive for a performance enhancing drug (cocaine) following a Serie A game for Napoli. He was banned for five months.

Compiled by STUART EVANS

48

Friday, March 8, 2013

TURK IT AS RED

Ref’s dodgy decision is a Real sickener for Nani and United WELL, you saw it, didn’t you? Man U v Real Madrid, Nani controversially sent off for foot up, Dangerous play, said the Turkish ref - the dangerously-named Cuneyt Cakir. Hmm… From winning 1 – 0 and controlling the game, Manchester United were left to play the last 30 minutes with 10 men, too difficult against a resurgent Real.

ITV pundit Roy Keane stroppily said Nani should have been sent off – takes one to know one. Hey, is red-card Roy ‘sporting’ a rug these days? I know just about every other American politician has got one, but surely not Spikey Roy, with the sides 50 shades of grey but the top jet black?

Real have wrested the national Spanish bragging rights from Barcelona, beating ’em twice recently, although the Liga title is Barca’s by kilometres.

Jose Mourinho said the best team lost - that wouldn’t be cos he wants to be manager one day, would it?

When they finally nail the lid down on incandescent Alex?

Cristiano Ronaldo showed a mature, respectful attitude by not really celebrating when he hit the winner,

John McGregor reports

his eighth in eight, but did you sense Spurs supporters squirming as Luka Modric hammered in the equaliser?

For United, Nemanja Vidic looks back to his imperious best, and little Rafael gets better every game.

Amazingly, a fit Wayne Rooney didn’t even start. Any England football manager would surely write his name first on any national team sheet, but with forwards like Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck, Shinji Kawaga, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Javier Hernandez and more, it just shows the depth of talent at Old Trafford these days.

The Red Devils’ 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League shows just how far they are ahead of everyone else, not just in points but in depth, class and first-class administration. Oh, and with arguably the greatest manager of all time (when he’s regained the power of speech after Tuesday).

All the moneybagged clubs with unlined pockets funded by billionaire barmpots (you know who you are) cannot top United’s towering superiority. But even that can’t stop rabid referees ruining great games like Tuesday night.

Now, stop Arsene about! But will they at the Emirates? The also-ran London bar is so high now that lofty, leggy loser Wenger can’t straddle it. Sure, at the Bridge riled Rafa’s having trouble too, but unexpectedly ‘after-Arry’ Andre Villas-Boas is leading the capital

chase.

Admittedly he’s got Golden Gareth banging ‘em in, but you’ve got to give AVB marks for bouncing back from his own Chelski choker currently rattling Rafa. In nobbling nasty-neighbours Arsenal last Sunday, Spurs secured Norf London’s bragging rights for now, and put the Wenger-wasters to work.

Talking of Harry Redknapp, yes, Quite Possibly Rallying supporters were jubilant as the Hoops caused concern at St Mary’s, signalling Southampton sweats as the Saints survey the final fixtures: QPR home to Sunderland Saturday.

Reading’re receding ruefully, home to Villa in a real six-pointer Saturday. ‘Wacked’ Wigan, woefully wasted 4 - 0 by lively Liverpool, now have the blue half of Merseyside in t’ coop Saturday lunchtime. Eh youse, that Coutinho kid looked cool, Liverpool-linking with Luis Suarez; the Reds have a big league test entertaining Spurs Super Sunday.

Poor old fighting-a-losing-battle Villa got odd-goalTevezed by Man City Monday as the Blues battle on in second with only the FA Cup ahead. But Saturday should see ’em through against Barnsley.

Little ’un cuptie Super Sunday Millwall v Blackburn, big ’un Man Utd v Chelsea. Both sides have had a big Euro week!