The Courier Week 111 by TKO UK

Edition 111

MICK PHILPOTT stuck two fingers up in court yesterday as he, his wife Mairead and a friend were jailed for killing six of the couple’s children. Philpott, described as "the driving force" behind the fire that took the youngsters’ lives, was sentenced to life behind bars. "Shameless Mick", as he was known on his estate, was told by the trial judge at Nottingham Crown Court that he must serve a minimum of 15 years. Mrs Justice Kate Thirlwall also said he was a "disturbingly dangerous man" with "no moral compass", adding: "Your guiding principle is what Mick Philpott wants, Mick Philpott gets." The 56-year-old defendant looked down at the floor as the judge delivered the life term. He did not show any emotion until Mairead, 32, was sentenced. He started wiping tears from his eyes as she was told she would serve half of a 17-year term in jail. Their friend Paul Mosley, 46, received the same sentence as Mairead. He showed no emotion. After sentencing, family members in the public gallery applauded. One shouted: "Die, Mick, die!", while another said: "See you, Mairead. Hope you enjoy life on your own". A third person called out: "Your own babies!". In response, Philpott smiled and made an obscene hand gesture sticking two fingers up - as he was led from the dock.

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Friday, April 5, 2013

DEFIANT TO THE DEATH

Remorseless Philpott’s two-finger shame

The trio were found guilty of six counts of manslaughter - one for each of the victims on Tuesday. They were convicted of killing Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and Duwayne, 13, in the blaze at the family home in Derby last May.

Mrs Justice Thirlwall told the trio they were all responsible for the deaths and she had "not the slightest doubt" that Mick Philpott was "the driving force" behind the plot. He shook his head as the judge outlined his previous violent relationships, including when he stabbed a former girlfriend 13 times.

She said he used that attempted murder conviction as a way of controlling other women. Philpott treated women as his "chattels", the judge told him, adding: "You barked orders and they would obey. You were the kingpin, Noone else mattered." Dawn Bestwick, his sister,

told reporters outside court that justice had been done for the children. She said: "Victory to them. They've gone down. That's it." Philpott lived in a council house, claimed thousands of pounds in benefit and refused to get a job. Chancellor George Osborne said the case highlighted the need for reform of the benefits system, as he questioned why taxpayers were funding "lifestyles like that". Mr Osborne said Philpott was responsible for his "absolutely horrendous" crimes, but said there was a "question for government and for society" about the benefits that allowed Philpott to live the way he did. Philpott and Mairead started the fire in the early hours of May 11, pouring petrol in the hallway of the property. Together with Mosley, they planned that Philpott should

break in by the back door and rescue the children. But the plot went wrong as fire ripped through the threebedroom council house in Victoria Road with temperatures reaching 500C. The judge described the plot as "a wicked and dangerous plan" that was "outside the comprehension of any right-thinking person". The three defendants had devised the plan to frame Lisa Willis, Philpott's former girlfriend. Unemployed Philpott was on bail for a violent road rage incident at the time of the children's deaths. In 1978 he was jailed for seven years after he repeatedly stabbed a former girlfriend and attacked her mother when she rushed to her daughter's aid. And in 1991 he received a two-year conditional discharge after he head-butted a colleague.

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Friday, April 5, 2013

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JUNGLE DRUMS

Rio Safari Photograph by JOHN KINDER

SLEEP SAFE…YOU CAN REST EASY WITH PACO’S MATTRESS

SPANIARDS wary of trusting their life savings to their country's shaky banking system can now buy a mattress which has an armoured safe hidden in one end. The Caja de Ahorros Micolchon - Spanish for "My Mattress Safe" - went on sale three weeks ago. It's the brainchild of Paco Santos, who was laid off from Spain's biggest mattress manufacturer three years ago and has since started his own company, Descanso Santos Suenos, or DeSS. Speaking from his offices in Salamanca, the 57-yearold salesman assured NPR that My Mattress Safe was no April Fool's Day joke.

"We're completely serious! And we've sold many, many of these mattresses," Santos said, declining to give specific sales figures. But customers will need some savings up front. My Mattress Safe retails for about 870 euros. The com-

pany also sells bed frames, conventional mattresses and bed coverings. "I had a hunch that this new product would sell," Santos said. "We've got big economic problems in Spain, and people have really lost confidence in the

banks." With the help of a son who works in public relations, Santos has launched a website and produced several YouTube videos in Spanish to market his special mattresses. A two-minute spot shows

tumultuous black-and-white scenes of angry street protests, with the words "Crisis — Spanish Banks Collapse" and "The People Can't Sleep Soundly." Then there's the sound of celestial music as the video switches to colour and shows a man opening his mattress compartment. He realises his money is safe, and a tear moves in reverse back into his eye. In a 59-second video, a smiling Santos looks into the camera and declares that his company wants to "reinvent the traditional method of saving money." And he laughed: "It turns out our grandparents had the right idea — hiding their money under the mattress!’’

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 Rain High 18° Low 8° Chance of rain 66% Monday Sunny High 20° Low 10° Chance of rain 0%

Tuesday Sunny High 20° Low 9° Chance of rain 0%

Saturday Partly cloudy High 17° Low 9° Chance of rain 40% Wednesday Partly cloudy High 21° Low 13° Chance of rain 0%

Sunday Cloudy High 20° Low 11° Chance of rain 0% Thursday Sunny High 22° Low 12° Chance of rain 0%

Friday, April 5, 2013

THE NOOS TIGHTENS

Judge targets Princess Cristina in corruption probe PRINCESS Cristina has been formally named as a suspect by the judge in charge of the probe into her husband’s alleged fraudulent dealings. Iñaki Urdangarin and his former partner at the supposedly non-profit Nóos Institute, Diego Torres, allegedly siphoned off millions of euros from public funds by overcharging regional administrations for the sports-related events they organised, as well as providing lobbying services for Madrid’s Olympic bid. Since the investigation began, the relationship between Urdangarin and Torres has soured and the latter has provided Judge José Castro of the Balearic Islands court with successive batches of emails which appear to show that staff members of the Royal Household helped the Nóos Institute with its operations.

Princess Cristina’s name also crops up regularly in the evidence being sifted by the court as she was a Nóos board member. However, until now the judge and the anti-corruption prosecutor had decided that there was no evidence that King Juan Carlos’s younger daughter had been directly involved in any conspiracy to misuse public funds. Now Judge Castro has formally named her as a suspect in his investigation and she has been summoned to appear before him on April 27. In one email provided by Torres and dated February 20, 2003 Urdangarin allegedly writes to his wife: “I am taking advantage of the fact that you are online to send you this Nóos letter that I intend to send out. There are two versions for contributors, clients and friends. Read it and let me know what you think, please... ciao.”

One day after he sent Cristina the email, Urdangarin purportedly sent out another one addressed to a long list of people, including Queen Sofía, the King and Carlos García Revenga, who is the private secretary to both Princess Cristina and her sister Princess Elena. In the email, he also reportedly asked for their advice on the letter he was planning to send out on behalf of Nóos. The king has apparently cooled his relationship with Urdangarin since he was first probed in the corruption inquiry, with Princess Cristina and the Duke of Palma no longer attending public events. Shortly after the news broke at around 1.30pm on Wednesday, a spokesman said that the Royal Household "does not comment on judicial decisions."

PP leader urged to quit over drug-smuggler link

OPPOSITION leaders are calling for a PP political leader to resign after photographs emerged of him holidaying with a convicted drug smuggler. Albert Nunez Feijoo, leader of the Galicia region, faces a grilling after several pictures were published of him in the company of notorious drugs lord Marcial Dorado. The pictures, believed to have been taken in the mid90s, show Feijoo and Dorado relaxing on a boat while others show the pair at a property owned by the criminal. The politician has admitted to having a ‘personal relationship’ with Dorado but insisted he had no idea about his friend’s illegal activity at the time. Feijoo said he immediately cut all ties with Dorado following his arrest. However, a spokeswoman from the Galician Left Alternative party insist that the whole region knew of Dorado’s links with organised crime. The party has also demanded that the PP official provide ‘convincing explanations’ as to why he was so close to Dorado.

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN Luis Díaz Alperi, former Mayor of Alicante and current q Valencian PP Deputy in Parliament, is to be investigated for alleged offences against the Public Treasury, documentation forgery and bribery. The complaint also involves colleagues who are believed to have been involved in tax offences and forgery. The Treasury report says Alperi owes €682,651 in income tax for 2007, 2008 and 2010, after failing to declare income of more than €1.5m. Prosecutors claim that Alperi created bogus business agreements with two companies based in Madrid in a bid to hide income. The airport at El Altet is to be renamed AlicanteElche Airport - incorporating the name of the Elche municipality. The new name is expected to appear above main entrances, but the airprt will remain as El Altet for the purpose of air traffic control. Elche’s Mayor, Mercedes Alonso, said it was a historical moment which would put the town of Elche on the map worldwide. The agreement will be signed between AENA and Elche town hall within the coming weeks. The body of a 52-year old Madrid man was found floating off the coast of Torrevieja. The Guardia Civil recovered the body from the water near the Paseo de Las Rocas. Eyewitnesses said the man had been sunbathing and suddenly dived headfirst off the rocks into the sea. Residents are furious, having complained fiercely about the absence of lifeguards over Easter. National Police arrested a 27- year old man in Gandia for grooming over 300 minors via social networking sites. He has been charged with indecent exposure and child pornography, after making sexual propositions and sharing pornographic images with the victims. The man pretended to be a minor in order to gain their trust, then later attempted to arrange meetings and encourage them to pose naked. Unemployment in Spain was down by 4,979 people last month to 5,035,243 – but the total of is still 284,376 (5.99%) more than a year ago. Valencia is the only Spanish region to record an increase in car registrations during the month of March – up just 1.1% on the same month last year.

q q Feijoo (front) with Dorado on his speedboat

WANTED – MORE HEADLINE NEWS!

DO YOU have a story that might grab the headlines? What’s all the gossip about round your way? A spate of robberies, perhaps – or maybe you’ve spotted a celebrity in the neighbourhood. Whether your news involves fire, police, ambulance, accidents – or hap-

Princess Cristina with her husband Iñaki Urdangarin

pier events like family weddings (particularly Golden and Diamond ones!), Just phone the Courier office on 965 921 003 or email office@thecourier.es We’re waiting for your call…and next week’s Front Page story.

q q

Friday, April 5, 2013

Health service cuts: Workers vote for massive stoppage FIVE medical workers' unions have announced a schedule of strikes, an official complaint to the public ombudsman and even legal action if the Ministry of Health continues to refuse to negotiate 'issues relating to their employment conditions'. Healthcare staff all over Spain say they are working very long hours for no pay due to insufficient personnel, and attempting to provide a quality medical service with minimal resources, due to cutbacks in public funding. Mass redundancies, long waiting lists, wage cuts and far less investment in

the State health service as well as constant privatisation threats, particularly in Madrid, are among other sources of discontent for Spain's doctors and nurses. At least 14,000 fewer nurses were employed in 2011 compared to 2009, and whereas two years ago no nurses were out of work, there are now 18,000 of them propping up the dole queue. Unions have also complained about minister Ana Mato's 'constant failure' to respond to their requests for negotiation over the state of the health service and conditions for staff

APPY DAYS: YOUR FOOD IS PAST IT!

A SMARTPHONE application which tells people whether the food in their cupboard or refrigerator is safe to eat is being developed in Spain. Ricardo Díaz, from the technology institute AINIA, is working on labels for perishable produce that can be detected using iPhones, Androids and other 'intelligent' mobile phones to find out the temperature and shelflife of a food product and

whether it is safe to eat. The labels are created using NFC ('near-face communication') technology, which has turned out to be the cheapest way of doing so since otherwise

it would have needed specialist computers and aerials, making the application prohibitively expensive. Díaz says it will be a while before the labels are in regular use, but that it is hoped once they are up and running they will prevent food wastage. Research says that 60 per cent of safe and edible food gets thrown out by consumers who fear it may have gone off.

Spain in breakthrough with drug of the weak SPANISH scientists have developed a drug to help combat learning difficulties caused by the so-called 'weak X-gene syndrome'. The condition leads to mental handicap, speech problems, symptoms similar to autism, problems in social interaction, anxiety and epileptic fits. The X-gene is responsible for producing a protein which is necessary for correct brain development, and in children with learning disabilities, the gene cannot produce it, or not in great enough quantities. Investigators at

Barcelona's Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) neuropharmacology department, together with researchers from the Municipal Medical Investigations Institute (IMIM) in the Basque Country say they have tested a new drug on rats and found it improves cognitive performance. They say it reduces all the symptoms of autism-like disorders, including epilepsy and anxiety, as well as increasing intellectual capacity It could be on the market in three to five years for humans, scientists believe.

Bus, phone-line prices up THE cost of bus travel and landline telephones went up all over Spain this week, but electricity has gone down 6.6% and mains gas prices have been frozen. Town and city bus trips increased in price by 2.45% on Monday – the second rise in less than a month. They went up 3% on March 9 in a government bid to

compensate transport companies for rocketing fuel prices. Telefónica has also increased its costs for line rental, meaning an actual increase from 16.90 euros to 17.40 euros. The communications giant claims its line rental charges are among the lowest in Europe.

Friday, April 5, 2013

editor@thecourier.es

COURIER POSTBAG: YOUR VIEWS ON OUR NEWS

The truth about crime figures YOUR readers and visitors should be aware of the dangers of driving on Spanish roads. They try to gloss over the situation by saying things are getting better or it's not as bad as you think or whatever. The fact is that things are getting worse. I've been robbed by three Spanish assailants who worked together, a lorry driver, a youngish guy and an older hombre. I spoke the day after to the older thief (well I think it was him) on my Spanish phone he stole. I was told there were two robberies in the same spot that day, around the service station on the A1 at Madrid. They said the thieves were in a stolen car, although I don't know how they knew that 30 minutes after the offence took

place, They are extremely quick, giving you very little chance to do much about it. I have found that reporting it is a waste of time – in my case, they got the report wrong. They asked me if the thief was a Moroccan or of African origin, they always ask you that for obvious reasons. They made me out a report saying it was a pickpocket. A pickpocket who stole a handbag with two mobile phones, car keys and €150? We must have big pockets! We should stop kidding ourselves that crime figures are not on the rise. It's just that more and more people are not bothering to report offences - can you blame them? With 26 percent unemployment in Spain and prostitution also increasing, my advice to any

Brit driving from the UK with English plates is, ‘Keep your doors locked, don't stop, have a break in the car with your windows shut, fill up at Santander or Bilbao - and travel at night if you can’. Otherwise, you’ll be another statistic. I have had many experiences whilst living here in Spain and they've all have had unpleasant endings. If you print this, it will alert people to the problems they could experience - and if they don't adhere to the advice, then they have only themselves to blame. Now, because of this, I face the prospect of paying for a temporary passport...and am about to be ripped off by the British Consulate. STEVEN MORRIS,Cañada de San Pedro Murcia

TIME THE COAST CAST ITS VOTES

Jean, you’re a real Diamond! Dear Editor, I AM writing on behalf of my wife and I to thank you for the lovely flowers and interview by Jean of your paper on the ocasion of our Diamond Wedding, and of placing it in The Courier. We cannot thank you enough; it was the icing on the cake for us both. Something we can look at and treasure in the coming years. The interview by Jean made us both so comfort-

able. After sitting down and chatting we felt we had known her for years. It was very professional. Thanks once again. EILEEN and FRED HAMMOND, Punta Prima Orihuela Costa On the contrary, we should be thanking YOU for telling us about your wonderful achievement. Congratulations 60 years of marriage is a milestone that very few couples reach. -EDITOR

JAN HOLDEN (Issue 110) correctly pointed out that the population for Orihuela and the coast were practically the same at over 33,000 each, However she neglected to mention that at the last election only 9% of coastal residents voted, whereas 50% of the Orihuela city voters did. If costal residents want to see sustained and significant improvements on the coast then we will need to encourage our neighbours to vote. If 50% or even 30% of those eligible on the coast actually voted, imagine how we would then be treated by politicians from all parties. This lady writer mimics the sentiments of CLARO boss Bob Houliston very closely, their arguments are the same but even Houliston admits that an independent coast will not happen in his lifetime. Like him she also says that most the money from the coast goes to Orihuela but he never quotes a source for this statement. I would imagine that most of the income tax in Orihuela would come from the working population in the city rather than the coast. There will be Question and Answer session with Pedro Mancebo on Thursday April 11 at 6pm at the Sophia Wellness Centre in La Regia. Questions already received include why he’s suing Bob Houliston and other CLARO leaders, the lies about a skeleton in the cupboard, the rejection of a public debate by Bob Houliston, CLARO’s false statement of misappropriation, the

Elche v Cardiff a twinner WE have just returned from a few weeks in our house in Santa Pola. Donna Gee’s article about Cardiff City twinning with Elche has sparked a lot of interest. I’ve taken the liberty of hand-delivering the newspaper to Cardiff City today, addressed to manager Malky Mackay, with a covering letter. If anything comes of this, there is plenty of support, both with expats and Spanish.There are a lot of Cardiffians in Gran Alacant, also offers of displaying information in and around Santa Pola. PAT THOMAS, Llandaff, Cardiff DONNA GEE replies: As a Bluebirds fan for 50 years, that’s Ithe best news I’ve had for ages, Pat. All I seem to hear about

over here is Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs. Oh, and England, England England. So it’s great that Welsh sport is finally in the big-time. We’ve silenced the Sweet Chariot brgade and in Gareth Bale produced Britain’s best footballer. Our only two League football clubs will both be in the Premier League next season - and in Glamorgan, we have the strongest team in county cricket. (I know they are rubbish but you need to be strong to hold all the others up.) Seriously, if those interested email me at donna@thecourier.es I’ll look into the possibility of starting a Bluebirds Supporters Branch in the southern Costa Blanca.

La Regia footbridge, the manipulated misinformation about the CLR-CLARO meeting at the Asturias and the force used by members of CLARO to prevent the legal representatives of CLR entering the meeting. All those interested in the truth are very welcome to attend. To ask your own question, please go to www.clrOrihuelaCosta.com RAYMOND KEARNEY President, CLR Supporters’ Group Orihuela Costa Mr Kearney’s letter is an amalgamation of two emails. The first has been edited to remove remarks we feel are personally insulting to another politician. The Courier does not support any specific political party and reserves the right to edit correspondence that is unnecessarily offensive, regardless of the political status of those directly involved. - EDITOR

Iceland - cold or gold?

Malky Mackay

I DID somewhat better than Mrs J M Wilson ( Iceland gave me the cold shoulder - Edition 110 ) when about two years ago my wife and I called at Iceland in La Marina. As the sliding doors parted my wife went first and stopped just inside to get a basket. On the other side a member of staff was working on a large floor display and for a few moments I was left standing right on the

door aperture, unable to enter. Suddenly the doors slid closed and although hitting me, I just managed to step back without being physically hurt. However my glasses were not so lucky and were literally snatched from my face and badly damaged though the fairly expensive lenses survived intact. Following negotiations with the then manager, Graham, I

accepted a 50% contribution towards a replacement frame. When repaired, I took in the receipt and in turn was given a credit note €125 to be used on goods. I found this most acceptable as it was only a matter of time before I would have changed the frames anyway. Excellent customer service. PHILIP D COHEN Urb La Marina

Friday, April 5, 2013

A time of the signs

HEY RYANAIR, I’VE LOST MY LUGGAGE

IT’S obviously a sign of the times, but I discovered on Sunday that I am dysclocxic. It may have something to do with my age, but I spent the entire day two hours behind the rest of Spain. Sunday was one of those occasions I rarely get – a day entirely to myself. I didn’t see a soul from the second I got up until the moment I slipped back into bed in the early hours of Monday. Which is just as well because I’d have turned up two hours late for any appointment. You’ve probably guessed by now that I made a hash of the switch to summer time. I turned my clocks BACK an hour instead of forward…and didn’t twig what I’d done until 11.35on Sunday evening. Only I thought it was 9.35 at the time. It brought back memories of the time The Courier told readers a week too soon to put their clocks back an hour. I had visions of thousands of people arriving at a deserted workplace the following Monday morning and spending the next 60 minutes thinking the company had gone into liquidation. Anyway, on Sunday there were clues all day that something was not quite right regarding the time. The first was my computer desktop displaying 12noon when my watch showed clearly that it was 10am. Computer’s got it wrong, I told myself. But that’s excusable because it’s seven years old and about as hi-tech as a John Bull printing set. Later in the day I called my sister, who is a journalist and peace worker in the Middle East, and she mentioned that the clocks had been changed over there. “They’ve altered them here, too,’’ I replied, ‘’so we’ll still be just one hour behind you.’’ ‘’What time is it in Spain now?’’ she asked. “Seven o’clock’’’

I’M heading for England on Sunday, in the knowledge that my last trip to see my family did little for my weight-loss efforts. If I remember rightly, I managed to trim one kilo off my then-portly frame during a near three-week stay. This time I’ll be in the UK just a fortnight, nearly a week of which will be spent with my elder daughter TOTAL LOSS, 12 WEEKS Hayley, who is renowned for her cooking. And her speciality, a massive, very cheesy, more-moremoreish shepherd’s pie, is simply irresistible. January 10th - 93.2 kilos The ultimate test, in fact, April 3rd - 83.3 kilos of my resolve to hit my tar- Target weight - 77.2 kilos get weight as soon as I can. Ryanair will be pleased (will they hell!) that my Wednesday weigh-in this week recorded another drop of 800 grams. It leaves my total weight loss at a few ounces under 10 kilos and means I have shed the equivalent of a full Ryanair hand-luggage allowance since the last time I flew from Alicante to the UK. I reckon that should qualify me for a free luggage voucher. Twenty kilos worth at least...

9.9 kilos stone 7 lbs 13 oz)

I said.”I assume it’s eight over there.’’ ‘’No, it’s nine.’’ “It can’t be. We should be one hour apart if both countries have changed, not two.’’ Still nothing triggered in Ms Dyscloxia’s brain. It’s confusing enough that Spain is normally one hour behind and the UK two hours, so I’m damned if I could suss out why we seemed to have suddenly reverted to British summer time (or is it Greenwich Mean Time?). There’s not enough of it, whatever it is. The first thing I’d done on Sunday

Turn to Page 23

Friday, April 5, 2013

RAILING AT THOMAS

TRY as I might, I'm finding it difficult to ease my youngest grandchild out of his latest and longest fixation. And fixation is no understatement. My grandson is more than just a fan. He is a full-blown aficionado, devoted devotee and obsessive card-carrying disciple of the legend that is Thomas the Tank Engine. My grandson has worshipped that character for as long as I can remember and, as far as I know, for as long as HE can remember, although I'm not quite sure how a four-year-old child's memory works. I mean, do kids recall their first rattle or first rusk? But I digress (and waffle.) To that adorable little boy, Thomas the Damned Tank Engine is a way of life. And it is encroaching on my life, too, to the extent that I am slowly but surely being driven loco.

'In other words, that charming locomotive is forcing you off the rails,' chortled Mrs S the other day. 'That's not funny,' I snapped. 'Every car, lorry and bus I see on my way to the pub seems to wear that infuriating and happy-golucky smiley face. Ironically, I never see any trains because I don't pass the rail station to get to the hostelry.' 'Are you sure you don't see those smiley face images on the way BACK from the pub?' asked Mrs S who has the knack of saying stuff that chips away at my already crumbling opinion of myself. (Not that I deserve more selfesteem.) To give you an example of what I have to contend with, I was playing with my grandson on my living room floor one afternoon last week when he suddenly jumped up onto the coffee table, produced a book and crayons and asked me to draw him a

picture of Thomas the Flaming Tank Engine. My first problem had nothing to do with my artistic abilities. Because of my advancing years I find I cannot get off the floor easily. I had to shout for help in the direction of the kitchen where Mrs S was busy cooking rhubarb. Why she was involved in that culinary activity I do not know because I don't like rhubarb. Perhaps that's why she cooks it. Just to rile me. Anyway, Mrs S, tutting at my interruption, managed to lift me partially onto the convenientlysited sofa and left me to climb the rest of the way until I could assume a sitting position and bend painfully forward over the coffee table. 'Changed my

mind, Grandpa. Let's go back on the floor,' said the boy. And he jumped off the table and sprawled out on the carpet with his book and crayons, waiting for me to join him -- which I did after another less than spectacular series of manoeuvres. My second problem had everything to do with my artistic abilities or rather lack of them. 'Might I point out,' I said, brandishing a crayon, 'I can just about draw wheels on Thomas although they might look a bit like distorted pancakes. But without a straightedged ruler I can't manage those long thingies that connect them.' My grandson stared at me. 'Long thingies?' he cried i n c r e d u l o u s l y. 'That's ridiculous,

Grandpa. They're called coupling rods.' At which point I was saved from further ridicule by Mrs S who returned to the living room and asked: 'Anyone for rhubarb and custard?' 'That child patronises me,' I sniffed after my grandson went home. 'I'm thinking of reporting him to the Society for the Protection of Adults.' 'Wouldn't you be better making a complaint to the Fat Controller?' guffawed Mrs S. 'Nah,' I said. 'I think we should keep your mother out of it.' When Mrs S resumed talking to me a couple of hours later she suggested that I calm down about the whole Thomas the Blasted Tank Engine experience. 'Before steam starts pouring from your ears, think back to when you were a child and watching Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear and Torchy the Battery

Boy. Did it drive YOUR grandpa crazy?' 'But I wasn't addicted to those characters and besides I never knew either of my granddads,' I said. 'Just one grandma who thought I was a bit strange. But, anyway, I get your point. I eventually outgrew all of my childhood likes to become the mature adult that I am today.' 'There's a good husband,' cooed Mrs S, patting me on the head. 'I'm off to bed now. If you fancy a snack, there's loads of rhubarb left over.' Mrs S was quite right in her reasoning. To me, the whole Thomas the Accursed Tank Engine saga was irritating. But to my grandson, it was a total magical experience. I had to come to terms with the situation. But in what manner was I to achieve this? I wondered how my role model and lifelong hero Deputy Dawg would have handled it.

Friday, April 5, 2013

SAY IT IN SPANISH Learn the lingo - with a little help from JEANETTE ERATH Spanish 65

word in; somehow it doesn´t seem enough, but we need to accept that it is enough and this is how it is said in Spanish.

a mi hermano – You look for my brother, Vemos a Juan – We see John. There are certain verbs which do not use the personal a. Hi and welcome to another week of learning Spanish with me. I received an interesting e-mail from a reader who states CONOCER: yo conozco, tú conoces, él/ella conoce, nos- These are ser, tener and hay. E.g: Juan es español, tiene she is fluent in Spanish pointing out a few errors I have made otros conocemos, vosotros conocéis, ellos/ellas cono- dos hermanos, hay estan mis amigos The personal a is also not used when the direct object is an in previous lessons. I am more than happy to receive your cen. feedback, these mistakes have tended to be with regard to This verb is used to know people or places and is a way of unspecified person, for example: Necesito un médico – I gender and I am sorry, I do try to check my work to ensure saying to be familiar with, for example: I know John – conoz- need a doctor, Busco un amigo fiel – I´m looking for a faiththat it is 100% correct. However, sometimes errors may co a Juan, he knows her brother – Él conoce a su herma- ful friend. creep in, especially as the column is not just a few words and no, He doesn´t know me – Él no me conoce, I know London The personal a is just that, personal, therefore it is used with very well – conozco Londres muy bien. animals such as pets with which there is a relationship. so takes a lot of checking. I am pleased that this reader finds it important to check her It is also used when you know something very well or have However it is not used with animals in general, for example: Amo a mi gata, Princesa – I love my cat, Princess, Odio las knowledge as even those who believe themselves fluent can an expertise in an area. For example: still benefit from revision and maybe learn something new. They know the books of Shakespeare very well – Conocen termitas – I hate termites. Keep checking my column with me, you are all my proof rea- los libros de Shakespeare muy bien, My son knows the In a complex question which requires the personal a it is pladers and I will check a little harder to ensure my Spanish characters in Dora the Explorar – Mi hijo conoce los carac- ced before the interrogative: ¿A quién amas? - Who do you love? ¿A quién miras? columns are totally correct, and hope none of the few mista- teres de Dora la exploradora. Whom are you watching? kes that may have crept in has affected your learning. Here are some sentences for you to translate into Spanish When there is a series of people and/or pets, each will require the personal a: Next week we will be going into slightly more depth with using either SABER or CONOCER: She knows that you are thirsty, I know Anthony, The actress Veo a Juan, a Alejandro, a María, a Antonio y a Jose – I verbs but first let´s get to know a couple of new ones: This week we are going to learn the two ways in Spanish to knows Hollywood very well, Do you know the answers? I see John, Alex, Maria, Anthony and Joseph. say ´to know´ The two verbs are SABER and CONOCER, know how to read, Do you know my cousin?, The chef knows Finally, when the personal a precedes the definite article el the food of Mexico, I know that you are tall, Do you know they contract to form al: both of which conjugate irregularly in the yo form. where the boys are?, They don´t know that I´m here, She Veo al chico – I see the boy (remember it has to be a person known to you or her...personal) SABER: yo sé, tú sabes, él/ella sabe, nosotros sabemos, doesn´t know Paris (she isn´t familiar with Paris) So in this lesson we have learnt the two ways to say ´to vosotros sabéis, ellos/ellas saben. This verb is used to know information or facts and to know It can get a bit confusing with these two verbs, we are used know´ and also when to use the personal a to just one ´to know´ but if you think of conocer being used how to do something. Examples: I know your address – Sé tu dirección, He with the familiar then you should get the correct verb. Also Next week we will have the answers to this week’s transladoesn´t know where I live – Él no sabe donde vivo, I know you need to be aware when someone uses conocer that you tions and be learning another important verb tense. I hope as how to swim – Sé nadar, she knows how to write well – Ella need to apply the ´personal a´. That is when the specific per- you are learning new verbs, whether with me or on your own, son is the direct object of the verb the word a is put before that you are conjugating them to all the tenses we have covesabe escribir bien. red and trying to remember them. Bit by bit and the more you Note: When we say how to do something in Spanish, there is the name as in the above examples. The direct object is the noun which is affected directly by the use them, the easier it will get. no word for how. I hope you realised this in the above examples, it can be a bit verb and it usually follows the verb both in Spanish and confusing for English speakers as we want to put an extra English. For example, Yo amo a Lucy – I love Lucy, Buscas ¡hasta la próxima!

Kitchen & Bathroom specialist, Builder and Decorator Chris Sladden started his building apprenticeship in 1981, with the first of 3 different instructors. Between the 3 mentors, they covered the whole range and spectrum of the building trade. After serving his apprenticeship, Chris formed his first building business in 1987 and over the years he has been involved with many prestigious contracts, including the Kursal re-development site in Southend-onSea, the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen’s shop refurbish just off of Oxford Street in London and Mango’s new store in Covent Garden. In addition, Chris spent a couple of years as a sub- contractor for the maintenance work on Total Oil’s Petrol Stations around the UK Chris also spent a great deal of time working in the private sector with the scope of his works ranging from overhaul and construction of new roofs to the interior and exterior decoration of a property to loft conversions and extensions and new/ overhaul of kitchens and bathrooms. Chris prides himself on the fact that he is on site from day one until the finish of a contract, working on, and managing the project on behalf of clients, thus enabling a stress-free project from the clients’ point of view, as they only deal with Chris instead of lots of different contractors. In 1998 Chris became one of only a handful of builders in England to become a’ Dulux’ approved decorating contractor, further underlying his commitment to the quality and the finish of his work. It has often been said that Chris’s best and worst feature is that he is a perfectionist - he takes great pride in everything that he does. In 2001, Chris moved to the Orihuela Costa region of Spain for family reasons and as he was only 36 years of age and a long way from retiring, he set up his second building company, simply called ‘Chris Sladden.’

In the time Chris has been in Spain, he has covered the full spectrum of works from the installation of security grills through to total property interior and exterior makeovers, to second floor property extensions, all covered with a Spanish architect and engineer. Chris is now considered to be one of the best ceramic tilers on the Costa Blanca and is in demand from other building contractors for his ceramic tiling abilities. He has worked on many large commercial and domestic contracts including Ruby’s Indian Restaurant, Bernie D’Arcy’s bar, the Panache chain of hairdressers and Crystal’s restaurant, to name but a few. Recent developments have seen Chris concentrating most of his effort into bathroom and kitchen overhauls and refurbishments. Mainly due to popular taste and that the population is of more senior years, getting in and out of bath can be difficult and often leads to slips and falls. Chris unique approach to bath removal and the construction of a fully non slip walk in shower, really sets him apart from the rest, with the quality of materials and workmanship The same can be said of his approach to kitchens, whether it be simply changing to doors to a full kitchen re-design Chris has just recently set up a face-book page to show case his recent completed jobs “Chris Sladden Building” So, if you are looking for a building contractor with a proven track record for excellence and professionalism to undertake your works, contact Chris for a free, no obligation estimate. Don’t get caught out by a pretend builder who has only been in the trade since arriving in Spain If it’s worth doing, do it properly and take pride in the job

Market Commentary 5 April 2013

UK economy contracts by 0.3% Welcome to your market analysis commentary from Currencies Direct where you can stay one step ahead of your friends on the latest news and reviews of the financial markets. Our aim is to provide you with an easily digestible weekly overview of how the financial market is performing using the expertise of our dealers who make it their sole aim to keep on top of the market movements.

STERLING The UK economy contracted by 0.3% as confirmed by the final revision of 2012 data which was in line with previous estimates. Last week the Office for Budget responsibility forecast that the UK would only see growth of 0.6 this year which is half of what was predicted a year ago. All eyes will be on the first quarter UK GDP numbers due out next month to see if the UK will avoid a triple dip recession- it is expected to be a close call. The pound has been mixed this week gaining against the euro but overall slipping a touch against the USD; this is reflective of larger forces that are pulling the pound different directions.

EURO Euro trading continues to be dominated by the bail-out of Cyprus. The hair-cut to depositors over €100,000 was held up by the head of the Euro group, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, as a model for future bail-outs across the currency area. The move, designed to show unity and harmony across member states had the opposite effect, which the Euro weakening significantly as investors with money in other Euro zone banks were suddenly looking over their shoulder. The comment was hastily retraced but the damage was already done. The ECB month meeting next week is the next key risk event and it will be closely watched for Mario Draghi’s views on the Cypriot bail-out.

US DOLLAR The US dollar has strengthened this week as a result the positive US data that has been released thereby enhancing the view that the US is starting to return to sustained growth. The unemployment figure has continued to drop while the recent retail sales data showed that the recent tax increases have had little effect on American spending. The Dollar has also been supported by the Federal reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke who has given forward guidance by stating that bond purchases will continue until there is a significant improvement in the labour market. Next week we have the hugely anticipated monthly non farm payroll number to look ahead to. Information provided by Currencies Direct, leading providers of foreign exchange. Call to find out how we can help you get the best rates and save your transfer fees. Contact the La Zenia office on +34 965 994 830 or email costablanca@currenciesdirect.com. The contents of this report are for information purposes only. It is not intended as a recommendation to trade or a solicitation for funds. Currencies Direct cannot be held responsible for any loss or damages arising from any action taken following consideration of this information.

Friday, April 5, 2013

THE PERRO-FESSIONAL TOUCH

Pedro Rodriguez, my little Spanish dog, picked up an injury a few days ago. He could not walk on one of his front legs and was in real discomfort. How it happened is a mystery, but when I inspected the leg closely, it was clear to see that something had gone badly wrong. At times like this, I am so glad I am now living in Espana, because my vet here, Cristina Aliaga Martinez, is simply the best vet I have met. I took Pedro to her surgery in Pinoso and was seen straight away. Cristina said that the leg was badly swollen and that she would have to take an X-ray to investigate further. She even invited me to help her. This is what I love about Cristina. You see my dogs - or should I now say perros mean the world to me and when they are not well, to be invited to see Cristina work and be able to put them at ease is a great added bonus. Within two minutes, Cristina had the X-ray ready to show me and thankfully there was no break, the joint was just badly swollen. She then gave Pedro an injection for the pain and a week’s course of tablets to help reduce the swelling. We were in and out in 15 minutes and the cost for Pedro’s visit was amazing value for money. If I had taken Pedro to a vet in London, the cost would have been astronomical. I always struggled to get a good vet in London. Most of them bamboozled me with science, rather than just telling me what was wrong with my dogs. Cristina’s native language is Spanish and she still manages to make me understand what the problem is with my dogs each time. I am always known by friends and family as someone who will complain if they do not get good service. I simply hate it when people give out bad service or are in jobs they do not want to be in and therefore do not care about the customer. Service is everything and yes, I will certainly complain if things are not right, but on the other hand, if I get good serv-

love Espana and want to pick up the language as soon as possible. They are friendly, always smiling and have a passion for what they do, which is lovely to see. Many a vet in England would do well to visit this surgery to see how things should be done! On a final note, we are about to rescue our first dog since we returned to Espana. He is a Spanish Water Dog cross and my heart went out to him when I was sent a couple of recordings of him by my good friend Elena Llorente Alvarez, who does amazing work in the Cordoba Kennels. Rachel has also assisted in this rescue and without these two dedicated people, I hate to think what may have happened to this beautiful dog. He is in a terrible state, physically and mentally. He has completely lost his spirit, which is something I hate to see. I am so looking forward to him arriving with us, where he will be rehabilitated and then found a loving ‘forever home’. I will write more about this little man next week.

Cristina Aliaga Martinez and Estela Hernandez Perez ice I will be the first to let the person know that they are brilliant at what they do. And that is what Cristina is, along with her absolutely dedicated team of Luis Castillo Albert, Estela Hernandez Perez and Loli Martinez Lozano. They even help me speak Spanish, an added bonus, as I

PETS’ CORNER: CAN YOU TAKE IN A HOMELESS DOG OR CAT? Boycee was brought to us after he was found in a Basura bin. He is approx 8 weeks old and will be medium size when fully grown. Call: 645 469 253

ROMUS is a 7 yr old Pointer crossbreed who has been a resident at the kennels for just over a year. He is friendly, good with other dogs and walks well on the lead, fully vaccinated and micro chipped. 966 710 047

DENNIS was bought into, our shop by the local police who asked us if we could help and take him in. He is about 4/5 months old and very friendly. He will be a small dog. Please contact K9 or PHONE 600 84 54 20

WOODY was another dog found walking along a main road and had been seen in the same area for a few days; He is just over 1 year old and has a lovely temperament. Woody has received all the necessary vaccinations, micro chip and is also castrated. 966 710 047

Sandy has always got on well with the various dogs in her foster homes. She’s also well behaved in the house and isn’t a “chewer”. She’s a smashing kind, gentle dog who deserves a forever home. Please phone P.E.P.A. on 650304746 www.pepaspain.com

Pearla is a 9 month old Boxer, she is deaf but very observant and will easily learn hand signals. She is very loving and great with other dogs. Call: 645 469 253

Romus

Dennis

Woody

Sandy

Pearla

Boycee Freddie was found sat in the road in the rain, luckily he was rescued but it would be great to find him his forever home. He is a fox terrier cross, approximately a year and a half old, castrated with all his vaccinations up to date. 610188349.

Freddie PABLO & PEDRO are 1 year old male Podencos who was found with an older male Podenco, Percy. All three dogs were very thin and covered in ticks. The boys are now in good health, fully vaccinated, micro chipped and castrated. 966 710 047

Friday, April 5, 2013

DO YOU NEED MONEY?

LÍNEA DIRECTA IS GIVING AWAY UP TO €300 IN CASH Línea Directa Aseguradora is the insurer of choice for foreign residents in Spain. Since 1998, it has offered all its services in both English and German, including the purchase of the policy, handling claims, forwarding documents and 24-hour road assistance. It has now taken another step in its commitment to its foreign policyholders with a remarkable offer: Línea Directa is giving its customers up to €300 when they recommend the company’s excellent car and home insurance to their friends and family. How does it work? It’s very easy. For each person purchasing car or home insurance, that has been recommended by a Línea Directa customer, the company will give €30 to both the current policyholder and the new customer. To qualify for this offer, the new customer must call the company with the name and ID number (NIE or passport) of the person who recommended Línea Directa and, if the policy is finally signed, both parties will receive the money in 45 days. The offer is limited to a maximum of 10 people per customer, which could result in a profit of up to 300 euros, a considerable amount in the current economic crisis. The offer, the only one of its kind in the insurance sector, will be valid until June 30 2013. About Línea Directa Aseguradora Línea Directa Asegurador is the fifth largest motor insurer in Spain, and specialises in the sale of direct car, motorbike, company fleet and home insurance. It currently has over 2 million customers and almost 2,000 employees providing a service to the whole of Spain in Spanish, English and German.

Call now: 902 123 104

Friday, April 5, 2013

LIVING IN SPRING

Spring is well and truly here, the clocks have gone forward, the evenings are lighter and the days are filled with sunshine and blue skies. Now could be the time to think about a new hobby or fulfilling some of those living list wishes you made at the start of the year. It can be hard to fit anything new into your life when it is filled with children and work, but it´s important to make time for yourself as well, because if you don´t look after yourself, who will? To take time out of a busy day in order to do something for yourself might seem like a pipe dream, an unobtainable goal, but we can all make a few minutes available to think about our life and what we would like it to be. There is a saying ´you don´t have to see the whole staircase to take the first step´ and this is so true. I have started writing a book; it´s taking a lot longer than I thought as life seems to take over but I will aim to get it finished this year and once I take a summer break from school work, hopefully I will find the time. It´s more difficult to be able to do anything for yourself when you are a single parent, whether you´re alone because you are truly on your own or because your partner is away, time when you would be doing something you enjoy has to be spent with your little angels because there is no one else to take the strain. However, there are still some options available to us sole carers. The children are at school or sleeping, and friends become lifelines. How much of your time you are able to devote to things you want to do as opposed to those you have to do relies entirely on your circumstances. We are all different and I know I am in a fortunate position of being able to survive here

in Spain, and nothing is taken for granted. Of course there are things that those of us with children are able to do with our offspring in tow. We can go to a park and read a book while our little ones play and tire themselves out; the book does have to be read with one eye on the child but it is possible. Also, why not go for a picnic in the mountains? This area has, I think, some lovely mountains and it is easy to drive to them and stop for something to eat overlooking the beautiful Costa Blanca. I sometimes take a drive to Callosa where you can drive onto the mountain and park, then walk around. It is not a long walk but the views are magnificent. Also of course there is Crevillente where, the first year I was in Spain, I drove onto the mountain and all the way along, stopping occasionally for photos and something to eat and drink. It was a cheap day out, the only real cost was petrol and the few snacks I´d brought with me. I keep promising that I´ll take my son up there soon, now I think he´s old enough to enjoy it and be

safe. If you are an artist there is nothing to stop you taking your easel or notepad to the mountains or park and painting what you see, or drawing or writing about it. The other option is to take a deckchair and sit and admire the view in the balmy sunshine. Those of you who like to exercise can go for a walk, run or bicycle ride in the morning or early evening. It´s still nice weather to be out and working up a sweat or just stretching those muscles. You could go one step further and plan a trip; this can take some work, finding dates but if it’s done far enough in advance it doesn´t have to be too expensive and can give something to look forward to. Check out hotel prices online and see when the cheapest times are; work out your visit around prices and then fit everything around it, again if it´s done far enough in advance work can usually be sorted out and life can fit in. Now is the time to take another look at that list, and if you don´t have one maybe think about writing one. A living list is a list of everything you would like to achieve this year and is based on a Bucket list, written up by the elderly or terminally ill of things they´d like to do before they die. My idea was that you write the list now, why wait? Then next year you write another list and include anything you couldn´t manage this year. It can be anything from writing a poem to visiting the Alhambra, to going on a cruise. It´s about dreams and making them happen, not waiting for life to pass you by and losing the opportunity to live. We all have something we like to do and now is the ideal opportunity to find time and do it. While the kids are back at school make time for yourself, and if you can´t think of anything you can do, try something new. You could be the next Picasso or Shakespeare.

Friday, April 5, 2013

PIPPED FOR THE POST: A LEADING QUESTION BRITISH politics is littered with loads of “what might have beens” over the choice of party leader. What would have happened to the Tories back in 1997 had not the affable Ken Clarke lost to William Hague, or four years later when Clarke and Michael Portillo were ignored in favour of the lamentable Iain Duncan Smith? Would Labour have spent 18 years in the wilderness had Denis Healey taken over from Jim Callaghan, as opposed to the whimsical Michael Foot? The same thought struck me with the news that David Miliband is to quit as an MP to run an international charity in New York. He was the choice of his fellow MPs and the party faithful back in 2010, but his younger brother Ed pipped him to the post

with the help of the union block-vote. Miliband Snr would have had his party a zillion points ahead of the government in the opinion polls if he’d been in charge, and David Cameron would have already booked the furniture removal vans for after his defeat in the May 2015 election. It was the leadership result that the Tories wanted three years ago, and that's helped them to still have an unlikely shout at the

next election. I’ve always wondered why political parties make a habit of never considering the most important question of picking a leader that people will vote for, as opposed to choosing somebody for purely internal purposes. Neither Labour nor the Tories seem to learn from past mistakes! I have a lot of sympathy for ex-Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell over the so-called “Plebgate” affair. He’d barely got into his new job after a highly praised spell as

International Development minister, before he had to resign over accusations that he called some Downing Street coppers “plebs”. None of this sat right with many people who knew Mitchell and he always pledged his innocence, despite having to resign to stop the circus engulfing the Government. Now he’s suing The Sun newspaper for libel, whilst over 3,000 man hours have been spent by the Metropolitan Police questioning some 800 officers at a conservative cost of around £140,000, all from the public purse. The Crown Prosecution Service now has a file on the whole affair, after three officers were arrested. And guess who carried out the investigation? The Metropolitan Police, of

course! This all leaves a nasty smell in the air, and you know that the CPS will not be given anything worthwhile to prosecute. I sincerely hope that the Met are just as thorough in their resourcing the next time a pensioner is knocked over in the street by some yob trying to steal some pennies to buy drugs! The Internet is full of wonderful blogs full of great speculation and outlandish comment, most of which is pretty libellous. But when I was surfing the Net a few days ago, I came across a blog called The Needle, with a cracking prediction that got me salivating like a rabid dog. It says a political scandal is set to break in the UK that is “the biggest ever, and bigger than Watergate”. The Needle also promised

that “we’ll be horrified by “what’s been going on”, which I can only presume may be the news that some politicians are occasionally prone to telling the truth! George W Bush didn’t get many things right when he was in the White House, but he was on the money when he included North Korea as a member of the “Axis of Evil”. The noises rattling out of Pyongyang are even louder than my dentures, and though it’s easy to laugh at some of their statements, the sheer misbalance of the minds of the North Korean leadership can make you very worried about what they might do with their nuclear weapons, which seem to have been built with parts bought at a Homebase discount sale!

Friday, April 5, 2013

CREDIT CRUNCH MEALS LENTIL RAGÙ Ingredients

SPICED RED LENTIL SOUP Ingredients 1 onion, chopped 1 tbsp olive oil 1-2 tbsp Thai red curry paste 300g red lentils 1.7l vegetable stock 200ml coconut milk chopped spring onions, to serve (optional)

Method

1. Fry the onion in 1 tbsp olive oil until soft. Stir in the red Thai curry paste, depending how hot you want it. 2. Add red lentils and mix to coat in the paste. Pour over vegetable stock and simmer for 20 mins until the lentils are tender. 3. Blend with coconut milk and reheat if needed. Serve scattered with chopped spring onions, if you like.

MINCED BEEF WELLINGTON Ingredients 1kg minced beef 100g tomato ketchup 4 eggs 3 onions, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped small handful sage, chopped handful parsley, chopped 25g butter 200g mushrooms, finely chopped 500g pack puff pastry

3 tbsp olive oil 2 onions, finely chopped 3 carrots, finely chopped 3 celery sticks, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed 500g bag dried red lentils 2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes 2 tbsp tomato purée 2 tsp each dried oregano and thyme 3 bay leaves 1l vegetable stock 500g spaghetti, plus Parmesan or vegetarian cheese, grated, to serve

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Cook gently for 15-20 mins until everything is softened. Stir in the lentils, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, herbs and stock. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 40-50 mins until the lentils are tender and saucy - splash in water if you need. Season. 2. If eating straight away, keep on a low heat while you cook the spaghetti, following pack instructions. Drain well, divide between pasta bowls or plates, spoon sauce over the top and grate over some cheese. Alternatively, cool the sauce and chill for up to 3 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months.

BACON, SPINACH & GORGONZOLA PASTA Ingredients

Method

1. Mix the beef with the ketchup, 3 eggs, seasoning and 100ml water in a table-top mixer for 5 mins - or squeeze and squelch with your hands in a bowl. Mix in the onions, half the garlic and herbs. 2. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Press the meat into a sausage shape about 30cm x 10cm on a baking tray. Cook for 20 mins then remove and leave to cool. 3. Heat the butter in a frying pan over a high heat, add the mushrooms and cook for 3 mins. Add remaining garlic and cook for a further 2 mins, pouring off the excess water from the mushrooms. 4. Roll pastry into a rectangle large enough to wrap up the beef. Beat remaining egg with a little water and brush over pastry. 5. Spread the mushroom mix into a meatloaf-size strip along the middle of the pastry. Sit the meat on top then cut pastry either side into strips from the meat outwards. Criss-cross these over the meat to enclose and tuck under ends. Brush with more egg, then place on a tray and cook for 40 mins, covering after 30 mins if going too brown.

HONEY, MUSTARD & CRÈME FRAÎCHE BAKED CHICKEN Ingredients 4 tbsp crème fraîche 2 tbsp grainy mustard 2 garlic cloves, crushed 150ml chicken stock 8 skin-on chicken drumsticks and thighs 500g baby potatoes 200g green beans 2 tbsp clear honey ½ small bunch tarragon, roughly chopped

Method 1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix together the crème fraîche, mustard, garlic and stock with some seasoning. Arrange the chicken, skin-side up, in a roasting tray just large enough for the chicken and vegetables. 2. Tuck the potatoes and beans in between the chicken pieces. Pour over the stock mixture then season the chicken and drizzle with honey. Cook for 40-45 mins until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes tender. Scatter over the tarragon before serving

350g penne pasta 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 8 rashers smoked back bacon, chopped 200ml hot vegetable stock 300g frozen peas 150g pack Gorgonzola, cubed 250g spinach

Method

1. Cook the pasta following pack instructions. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan, then add the onion and cook for 3 mins until starting to soften. Add the bacon, cook for a further 5 mins, then pour in the hot stock and bring to the boil. Simmer for a few mins until the liquid has reduced slightly. 2. Stir in the peas, followed by the Gorgonzola, until the cheese has melted and the peas are defrosted. Quickly stir through the spinach to wilt. Drain the pasta and mix with the sauce, then serve.

FUSS FREE LASAGNE Ingredients 250g mozzarella, drained and grated 18-20 no cook lasagne sheets 85g block Parmesan, grated FOR THE MEAT SAUCE 3 tbsp olive oil 4 onions, finely chopped 8 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs 2 bay leaves 1kg minced beef 4 x 400g/14oz cans chopped tomatoes

4 tbsp ketchup small glass red wine (optional)

FOR THE WHITE SAUCE 200g butter 140g flour 1.7l milk few gratings nutmeg

Method

1. Make the meat sauce: heat the oil in a large saucepan and gently cook the onions for 10 mins until golden. Add the garlic, herbs and bay, then cook 2 mins more. Heat a large frying pan. Crumble in a quarter of the beef, cook until brown, then add to the onions. Continue to fry the beef in batches and add to the onions until all the meat is used up. Tip the tomatoes and ketchup in with the onions and beef. Rinse the cans out with the red wine, if you have some, or with a little water, then add to the pan. Season and bring to a simmer. Gently cook for 30 mins until thick and saucy, then set aside. 2. Meanwhile, make the white sauce. Tip everything into a pan, season, then bring to a simmer, whisking continuously. Don't worry if it's lumpy - if you whisk enough the sauce will come together. Simmer for 5 mins, whisking, until smooth and thickened, then remove from the heat. If not using straight away, cover with cling film and set aside. 3. Make sure you divide everything up so that you can make two lasagnes. Place a thin layer of meat sauce in an ovenproof baking dish, drizzle with a little white sauce and scatter with a little mozzarella. Cover with a layer of lasagne sheets, then top with more of both sauces, more mozzarella and more lasagne sheets. Repeat once more, then cover the top layer of lasagne in just white sauce. Finally scatter over some Parmesan. The lasagnes can now be chilled in the fridge for a day ready to be cooked, or frozen for up to 3 months - see tips, below. 4. To cook, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Cook for 3540 mins until brown on the top and crisp around the edges. Leave to settle for 10 mins before cutting into squares and serving with a green salad and some garlic bread, if you like.

SPICY CHORIZO POTATOES WITH FRIED EGGS Ingredients 2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks olive oil 1 small red onion, halved and sliced 1 green chilli, sliced 100g piece chorizo, cut into chunks ½ tsp smoked paprika 2 eggs

Method

1. Cook the potatoes in boiling water until tender. Drain really well then fry in 1-2 tbsp olive oil until golden. Scoop out the pan, then add the onion and chilli and keep frying until softened. Add the chorizo and paprika and cook for a minute then add the potatoes back and cook, tossing everything together. 2. In a separate pan, fry the eggs. Serve on top of the potatoes.

MACARONI CHEESE WITH MUSHROOMS Ingredients 200g macaroni 2 leeks 6 mushrooms (closed cap are cheap) 4 tomatoes 2 tbsp olive oil 2 x mini Le roulé garlic and herb soft cheese

Friday, April 5, 2013

Method

Method 1. Fill a large sautĂŠ pan with boiling water. Tip in the macaroni and cook according to the pack instructions. (It may take slightly longer than suggested). Meanwhile, trim, wash and slice the leeks, quarter the mushrooms and roughly chop the tomatoes. 2. Drain the pasta and keep warm. Heat the oil in the pan. Add the leeks and mushrooms and fry for 4-6 mins until the leeks are tender. Toss in the tomatoes at the last minute. Season with salt if you want to and black pepper. Stir in the macaroni and let it warm through, then crumble the cheese over.

ROSEMARY CHICKEN WITH TOMATO SAUCE Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs 1 rosemary sprig, leaves finely chopped 1 red onion, finely sliced 3 garlic cloves, sliced 2 anchovy fillets, chopped 400g can chopped tomatoes 1 tbsp capers, drained 75ml red wine (optional)

Method

1.Heat half the oil in a non-stick pan, then brown the chicken all over. Add half the chopped rosemary, stir to coat, then set aside on a plate. 2. In the same pan, heat the rest of the oil, then gently cook the onion for about 5 mins until soft. Add the garlic, anchovies and remaining rosemary, then fry for a few mins more until fragrant. Pour in the tomatoes and capers with the wine, if using, or 75ml water if not. Bring to the boil, then return the chicken pieces to the pan. Cover, then cook for 20 mins until the chicken is cooked through. Season and serve with a crisp green salad and crusty bread.

TUNA SWEET POTATO JACKETS Ingredients 4 small sweet potatoes (about 200g each) 185g can tuna in spring water, drained Â˝ red onion, finely sliced 1 small red chilli, deseeded and chopped juice 1 lime 6 tbsp Greek yogurt handful coriander leaves

1. Scrub the sweet potatoes and prick all over with a fork. Place on a microwaveable plate and cook on High for 18-20 mins, or until tender. Split in half and place each one, cut-side up, on a serving plate. 2. Flake the drained tuna with a fork and divide between the sweet potatoes. Top with the red onion and chilli, then squeeze over the lime juice. Top with a dollop of yogurt and scatter over the coriander, to serve.

LAMB-STUFFED AUBERGINES Ingredients 600g potatoes, cut into chunks 2 x 120g cans sardines in spring water, drained 4 tbsp chopped parsley zest and juice 1 small lemon 3 tbsp light mayonnaise 4 tbsp fat-free Greek yogurt (we used Total 0%) 1 tbsp seasoned plain flour 4 tsp sunflower oil green salad and lemon wedges, to serve

Method

1. Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water until tender, about 15-20 mins. Meanwhile, coarsely mash the sardines in a bowl (there's no need to remove the calcium-rich bones as they are soft enough to eat). Mix in 3 tbsp chopped parsley and half the lemon zest and juice. Meanwhile, mix the mayonnaise and yogurt with the remaining parsley, lemon zest and juice and some seasoning. 2. Drain the potatoes, then mash until smooth. Gently mix into the sardine mixture and season. Shape into 8 fat fish cakes using floured hands, then dust lightly with the seasoned flour. 3. Heat half the oil in a nonstick frying pan and fry half the fish cakes for 3-4 mins on

each side until golden and crisp. Keep warm; repeat with remaining oil and fish cakes. Serve with the lemony mayonnaise, salad and lemon wedges.

BEAN & BANGERS ONE-POT Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 8 good-quality pork sausages (Toulouse or Sicilian varieties work well) 2 carrots, halved lengthways and sliced 2 onions, finely chopped 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 2 x 410g cans mixed beans in water, rinsed and drained 400ml chicken stock 100g frozen peas 2 tbsp Dijon mustard

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large pan. Sizzle the sausages for about 6 mins, turning occasionally, until brown on all sides, then remove to a plate. Tip the carrots and onions into the pan, then cook for 8 mins, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft. Add the vinegar to the pan, then stir in the drained beans. Pour over the stock, nestle the sausages in with the beans, then simmer everything for 10 mins. 2. Scatter in the frozen peas, cook for 2 mins more until heated through, then take off the heat and stir in the mustard. Season to taste. Serve scooped straight from the pan.

Friday, April 5, 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: Uffe was having trouble getting flash player ADVICE: Tomas wanted to know whether his Yahoo email account was at risk following a news story about hacking. working on his Android device

Hi Richard, my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T with Android 4.2.1 is not supported by Adobe Flash Player - nor can I download it from Google Play. Nevertheless, certain websites can't be entered when Flash Player is not installed! What can I (you!!!) do? Is there a useable alternative "out there" or should I try to download one of the unauthorized options? I read somewhere - without understanding very much of it though - something about HTML5(-video). Would that possibly be a useable successor to Flash Player? Anxiously looking forward to next week's Courier. Regards, Uff

Hi Uffe, you should be able to get this working by downloading and installing Firefox for Android, you can get a copy of it from the Google Play Store free of charge at the following address.. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.firefox&hl=en

ADVICE: Roy wanted to know where his contacts had gone to after moving to Outlook.Com

Q A

Hi Richard, I have this Outlook system on my laptop so I was grateful to learn where the forward button now is, however I cannot find my list of contacts, do you know where these have gone. Regards Roy.

Hi Roy, thanks for reading the newsletter and for taking the time to ask a question. You’re not alone, quite a few people find the new layout a bit of a nightmare to find things in, in terms of your contacts, you will find them under “people” and to get there you just need to click on the little arrow next to the “Outlook” logo in the top left of the screen.

Greetings, Richard. Tanto tiempo. In the Daily Telegraph for Saturday 9th March, there was a report that BT Internet and BT Yahoo has been hacked and client's contact lists stolen. Subsequently weird e-mails have been sent from Turkey and Russia. One of my contacts is on BT Internet and I have recently been inundated with offers for Viagra etc. All have ended in my Spam folder. Today I received one that purports to come from my own e-mail address! Does this mean that I should change my e-mail address and password? Thank you for your time, Tomas.

Hi Tomas, no need to panic, it’s probably not actually from your email address, but you are right to question it and take precautions. When we receive email or replies to emails that we know we have not sent purporting to be from our own email address this is known as “spoofing”, its where the spammer sends email giving the reply address as someone else’s – yours in this case! If your account, however, has been compromised then all you need to do is change your password, to something strong preferably, this would be a password that is at least 7 characters in length and includes upper and lower case characters together with numbers and if possible a symbol, something like an exclamation mark is good. Given what you have already reported about what has happened to BT and Yahoo I think it’s a really good idea to change your email accounts password in any case, you can do this by clicking on your account name (once you have successfully logged into your account) and select “account info” you will then be directed to a page that will enable you to change your password amongst other things.

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.

ADVICE: Chris was getting a message on his computer related to jucheck.exe every time he stated up.

Hi Richard, I spoke to you this morning at the Moncayo market; I keep getting the following on my computer screen - 'User Account controls', 'Do you want to allow the following program to make changes to this computer. Programme name: jucheck.exe Verified publisher: Sun microsystems. Should I click yes? Chris

Hi Chris, yes you should accept this, it’s a piece of software that is going to check to see whether the Java software of your computer is up to date. Java is used to access some websites so it’s a good idea to keep it up to date.

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

Office: 902 906 200

Friday, April 5, 2013

Rhytidectomy Lower Face & Neck Lift Explained

This procedure improves sagging facial skin, jowls and loose neck skin by removing excess fat, tightening muscles and redraping skin. Would I Be a Suitable Candidate? This procedure is most often performed on men and women over 40. How is the Operation Performed? The duration of the operation is approx 3 - 4 hours and is usually as an outpatient though some patients may require a short stay. What Type of Anesthetic is used? Normally a local anaesthetic with sedation is used What is the Recovery Time? Each patient varies but is usually back to work in 10 14 days but more strenuous activity may take a little longer, 2 weeks or more. Bruising again varies but

around 2 - 3 weeks. Exposure to the sun, however, must be limited for several months. Are There Any Side Effects? Possible side effects may include; bruising, Temporary swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin, tight feeling, dry skin. For men there may be a permanent need to shave behind the ears, where beard growing skin is re-positioned. How Long Will the Results Last? Usually around 8 -10 years. Is There Anything I Can Do to Prepare Myself for the Operation? Yes there are a couple of simple things that you can do. Firstly, You should avoid aspirin based medication for 3 weeks pre-operatively. We recommend that you

do not drink alcohol for 3 weeks before and after your operation as the anesthetic can be affected by alcohol use. We also recommend that you take the homeopathic treatment Arnica (for bruise prevention) for several days pre and post operatively. Post operatively it is very important that you follow any advice that you have been given by the surgeon and his team members. And Finally Here at Medaesthetics we care about our patients, your relationship with us does not end when the immediate post operative follow up is complete. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at any time. To make your free, no obligation appointment for a consultation for surgery please call us now: 965 326 082.

How healthy is lard?

Lard has been labelled a bad fat for almost 100 years. But what many people don't realize is that lard has been a part of traditional diets for thousands of years. As we learn more about the health benefits of saturated fats, we can see that our ancestors knew all along what was healthy. When did it become bad for us? Around the time of the Civil War, butter and lard were the major fats consumed. William Proctor (a candle maker) and James Gamble (a soap maker) went into business together to market cottonseed oil to compete with the monopoly on lard and tallow. A German chemist E.C. Kayser developed the hydrogenation process that transformed cottonseed oil into a solid form that looked like lard. So Proctor and Gamble decided to try to sell it as a food. By 1911 Crisco was on the market and advertised as being healthier than lard. The company even provided a cookbook with Crisco as the ingredient in the recipes (instead of lard) as part of their marketing ploy to get young homemakers to buy it. As the use of lard waned, the consump-

tion of Crisco rose and so did heart disease, cancer and learning disorders. These diseases were rare before 1900. For many years, few people made the connection between these diseases and hydrogenated oils that became rampant in the food supply. A study on rats showed that when given saturated fats like lard, they lived longer than rats given vegetable oil. Those on vegetable oil had more strokes. In Okinawa people use lard for all their cooking and a large part of their diet is pork and seafood. The average life span of a woman there is 84 years. Using lard will add years to your life. Vitamin A is the main nutrient in animal fats and is used by the body for assimilating protein and minerals. How do I use lard? Use lard just like you would any fat. It is the best fat for frying potatoes. Use it to grease your pans for cakes and breads and don't forget to use it to wipe down your cast iron pans. And the best reason for using lard? Mixed Â˝ and Â˝ with butter, it makes the flakiest pie crust (just like Grandma used to make!).

WHY WOMEN LIVE LONGER THAN MEN It is well-known that women outlive men, and this difference in longevity becomes even more dramatic with increasing age. This phenomenon which has also been observed across the animal kingdom has consistently baffled scientists. In my opinion, there is a much simpler explanation, which is that women take better care of themselves especially in the later years of life. My conclusion is actually well substantiated, and based on my many years of purposefully interacting with people, as well as a careful analysis of the reasons for female longevity by the mainstream scientific community. Top of the list of scientific arguments is that men by their very nature are genetically programmed to engage in more risky activities such as hunting, war-

DR MACHI MANNUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ADVICE CLINIC Email your questions and comments to machimannu@gmail.com

fare, etc. In reality there is no scientific evidence to back up this argument of the self-destructing male gene. In addition, archaeologists have maintained that there is a scarcity of any kind of evidence of warfare in human societies earlier than 5000 years ago, making it unlikely that the human male was programmed for violence and self-destruction. More recently, scientists came up with another explanation for female longevity after studying mutations (genetic changes) in fruit flies. According to them, harmful mutations that occur in male genes are not repaired by nature, and overtime will accumulate and speed up

the ageing process. Perhaps the scientists have a point, especially as I am not conversant with the similarities between the male fruit fly and men. In any case, what is never mentioned in such scientific research is how any kind of danger to males compares to the obviously stressful effects of pregnancy and childbirth on females. From a biological point of view, pregnancy and childbirth are extremely stressful to the body, and it is very remarkable that the female anatomy even recovers from this ordeal, let alone able to do the same again. If science is willing to ignore this obviously damaging effect on the health of

women while exploring an explanation for female longevity, then it makes sense to equally ignore such microscopic unnoticed effects on male genes. This is refreshingly good news for the men out there. You do not have to feel like longevity underdogs anymore. It is true that across the animal kingdom, females tend to outlive males, however primatologists have observed that our male primate cousins who share the responsibility of raising the young with the females live as long as them, while those that do not, die sooner. On the other side of the spectrum, male primates who take care of their young alone,

live longer than the females. Taking care of the young requires a good knowledge of foods, and this knowledge will in turn benefit the bearer. Since women have always been the main carers of children, they tend to know more about foods, and generally take better care of themselves when living alone, than most men in a similar situation. From my observation, women tend to show more interest in their health and have a

better understanding and knowledge of all kinds of helpful remedies. Women also seek help with their health problems much sooner than men, and being better linguists, are able to communicate their problems in great detail. Men certainly have a lot to learn from women with regards personal health and most probably a lot more. FOR A FULL BODY DIAGNOSTIC SCAN, CALL 965 071 745

Friday, April 5, 2013

Why is my life such a pain in the gut? Q

I have suffered from abdominal pains, occasional diarrhoea and cystitis in the past nine weeks. I had an endoscopy and nothing was found wrong with my stomach. The blood tests were also negative. My doctor prescribed antibiotics and an acid suppressor, and although I felt relief while taking the medications, I am now in constant pain, and waiting for my appointment for an MRI scan. Kindly let me know your opinion.

The commonest cause of the symptoms you describe is an imbalance in the colonies of bacteria that live in the stomach and intestines. Bacteria such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium maintain the health of the gastro-intestinal system â&#x20AC;&#x201C; stomach, liver, intestines, by suppressing the growth of harmful microbes such as streptococcus and staphylococcus. Lactobacillus and other such beneficial bacteria also play a role in stimulating the immune system to help the body fight infections. Normally, the stomach contains different types of microbes that either aid the body or cause harm to the body. In a healthy stomach, beneficial bacteria makes up about 80% of the population of microbes, and this ratio keeps harmful bacteria at bay. But the stomach environment is constantly changing due to our

intake of foods, fluids and drugs. When the population of healthy stomach bacteria decreases, the number of harmful microbes starts to increase in number, leading to abdominal symptoms such as pain, as well as problems from other parts of the body such as cystitis. Antibiotics are not always useful for treating stomach infections because they cannot tell â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;good bacteriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; from harmful ones, and destroy both. The great thing is that you have carried out an endoscopy which did not find any abnormalities, and would have revealed other possible causes of abdominal pains such as; ulcers, tumours, intestinal obstruction, and hernia. I am also aware from my experience performing diagnostic scans that the presence of toxins such as; heavy metals, mycotoxins and other chemicals can cause inflammatory reactions of the stomach, intestines, and the liver. The liver is the main detoxification organ of the body, and has the function of storing harmful by-products from the metabolism of the foods and drugs we consume. Over time, the detox system which also includes the stomach and intestines may become overloaded with toxins, and unable to function properly, making a detox absolutely essential. A proper body detoxification is different from a colonic irrigation which only gets rid of external waste products, without affecting the toxins found inside cells and tis-

sues. An MRI scan will help rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, especially tumours and masses. You can visit; www.medb.es to find out more about helpful therapies and to ask further questions.

About 4 months ago, I developed a really bad cough. I was coughing out sputum, and had a horrible taste at the back of my throat. I also had headaches, chest pains and night fever. I went to my doctor who prescribed antibiotics, and sent me for a blood test and X-ray. The tests were normal, and my doctor said I could have developed some form of pneumonia. The antibiotics helped for a while, but 3 weeks ago, I noticed the symptoms had returned, though not as bad as before. This time my nose feels stuffy, and my face and head feels full and slightly painful especially when I try to blow my nose. My doctor prescribed another course of antibiotics, but I am worried that the problem may be more than an infection. I will appreciate your help.

Your symptoms are very typical of inflamed sinuses or sinusitis. Sinuses are air spaces located in the head, and are 4 pairs in number. Their function is to lighten the bones of the skull, and also to add resonance to the voice. They are lined by a membrane that secretes fluid that is thin in consistency and continuously drained

through narrow channels also located in the sinuses. When the sinuses become infected, especially from common cold and hay fever, the membranes that line them become inflamed, blocking the drainage channels. This leads to an accumulation of fluid in the spaces of the sinuses, causing a build-up of pressure with throbbing pain in the cheeks, and between the eyes, as well as headaches and cough. If the infection is severe, there may be fever and a constant discharge that drips into the back of the nose with a foul smell and taste. A common complication of sinusitis is that the build-up of pus from infections may not drain completely, and may become encapsulated leading to recurrent sinusitis. An MRI scan is able to detect such a mass, and you should request one from your doctor. The treatment of such possibly infected masses is a simple drainage procedure. Antibiotics are usually effective for treating uncomplicated sinusitis. In the meantime, there are a number of steps you can take to alleviate the problem. You should avoid all kinds of air pollutants whenever possible especially cigarette smoke. Also avoid diving, and swimming in chlorinated water, as they may worsen the sensations of a full head and face. Nasal congestion can be relieved by steam inhalation especially if pure essential oils such as menthol or eucalyptus are added. The fever and pain can also be relieved by aspirin, and paracetamol.

Friday, April 5, 2013

THIS was once someone's pride and joy, a dream villa - probably, at the peak of the property boom, worth nearly half a million euros. Now it's an appalling headache for an Orihuela Costa community, indirectly costing every resident money. And it's not an isolated case; there are properties like this all over this part of Spain. And it's a tragedy. This week the community’s governing committee unbolted the property gates to see what needs to be done to prevent major problems for nearby residents this summer. The villa has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a huge kitchen, large lounge, very large entertainments area leading to the swimming pool, bar area, a double barbeque - and outside space to die for. It also has a chequered history, with neighbours speaking of wild parties, gambling, drug-taking and dealing, or prostitution and a brothel. More recently it was taken over by squatters who smashed or stole kitchen and bathroom fittings, tiles from rooms and patio areas, stripped metal from double glazed windows and used living rooms as toilets. Electric cables had been dug up in the garden so the illegal occupants could tap into supplies. They even tried to divert electricity from a nearby street lamp. A police raid finally led to the property being emptied and sealed. The overgrown garden is one thing, but worse is the prospect of hordes of mosquitoes breeding in the stagnant swimming pool water, and this is the community's immediate concern. Arrears owed to the community exceeds 4,000 euros; much more is owed in Suma. Efforts to try to trace the owner have come to nothing. If it wasn't for this and two other debts, the community

HOUSE OF THE RISING SCUM

would have no financial problems. But the debt has meant that when the insurance premium was due it could not be immediately paid, and urgent pool repairs couldn't go ahead because of a lack of cash. So residents had to cough up more money to get work done. Sadly this involved going to families with children who need all their money to pay for food, clothing and education, not to subsidise bad debtors. All this highlights the need for an urgent change in the law to allow communities to take over such properties far earlier, and to get them repaired and re-sold for the benefit of the community. There are people within the community ready and willing to get stuck in and turn the villa into the luxury home it once was, provided they are not left out of pocket and the community is the beneficiary. TV programmes like 60Minute Makeover, would

love this as a project. It really is crazy that communities have to impose extra charges on the people who pay up, just to cover those who don't. In Britain, councils have the power to take over abandoned properties and get them into use again. It should be the same here. I recently wrote about the heartache faced by thousands of people forced out of their homes in Spain because they cannot make their mortgage repayments perhaps through illness or unemployment. Come on Spain, let's get abandoned houses back into use and half-built homes finished off. There are plenty of people willing to buy if the price is right. And there would be plenty more if Spanish politicians didn't keep dreaming up more crazy ways of extracting tax money from expats.

THE mauling to death of a 14-year-old girl by

four vicious dogs must rank as one of the worst-ever cases of its kind. Just imagine this poor girl suddenly set upon by dogs - each one much stronger than her and programmed through evolution to attack and kill by ripping the victim's throat out. Every dog is wired in this way. It just needs a trigger to spark it off. Sadly so many dog lovers are in denial over this and don't realise they have a lethal weapon in their homes. We should know - my wife's daughter was attacked by the family's pet, an American pit bull, before the ban of this type of dog. The dog was darted and then put down. The death of the teenager raises many questions. For one, how can a single mother of four, living on benefits, afford to feed four big dogs? And how come no action was taken to remove the dogs when postmen were terrified to visit the house and neighbours branded the

animals "devil dogs"? Had the dogs attacked in a public place the owner would be liable. Because it happened in a private house she does not face prosecution. This is a total nonsense. What's needed is an extension of the list of dangerous breeds, the licensing of all dogs at a fee of at least £25 per year, the licensing of dog breeding, and a ban on anyone on benefits owning more than one dog. The feral underbelly of Britain is where the majority of the feral animals are. It's against the law to have a gun in a house capable of killing. The same should apply to a dog. What particularly angers me are those who write to national newspaper websites criticising police for killing the killer dogs, with scant regard to the death of the young girl. People who put animals before people frankly make

me sick.

I've heard it all now Tory and Labour MPs coming together to say that at times when Britain has high unemployment, immigration should be halted or drastically curtailed. Isn't it wonderful that at long last, common sense is starting to dawn on the political establishment? What's behind it is the realisation that there are thousands of would-be immigrants from Romania and Bulgaria straining at the bit to get into the UK. Politicians want to halt immigration to save British jobs. The extra immigrants are due to invade UK shores legally next year. The problem is EU legislation. Wouldn't it be wonderful if UK politicians get another flash of inspiration and realise that EU membership is too high a price to pay? Hopefully they will see the light - before everyone has to vote UKIP to sort it

A time of the signs From Page 7 morning was to stand on my bed and put the clock on the wall back an hour to tally with my watch, which I had adjusted before going to sleep. Ironically, I’d only had the clock a couple of days after winning it in a raffle earlier in the week. There was no mention of the time changes in any of the phone calls I made during the day, so it surprises me I did finally cotton on to the facts. And it’s just as well I did. The hands of my watch showed 10.35pm when I picked up the phone to call my friend Rosalind near Bristol. It’s just after 9.30pm over there, I thought. Not too late to call. I started dialling the number, my mind still pondering on how there could suddenly be

three hours time difference between Spain and Israel. It had seemed strange when I turned the TV on half an hour earlier that the BBC was deep into Match of the Day 2. ‘’I’m sure that’s on after the Ten O’clock News,’’ I thought. I looked at my watch and suddenly something clicked. It wasn’t 10.35, it was gone half-past 12! I put the phone down and breathed a sigh of relief that I’d not riled Rosalind by calling her so late. She’d never believe I’m dyscloxic It’s time someone taught me the difference between forward and backwards…if they’ve an hour to spare. But then, the world now knows I’m a Tickhead.

Friday, April 5, 2013

€849 worth of fun for La Marina’s pet cause EVERYTHING had an animal theme to it at the Pets In Spain Easter Fun Day in La Marina on Saturday. From the giant inflatable gorilla that greeted visitors, to the face painting, horse rides, a real live teddy bear, a dog trainer and most importantly the fostered and adopted pets that enjoyed a very happy reunion. There was lots going on, including tombola, homemade cakes and pies, tea and coffee, jewellery, bric-a-brac, dog training advice, crochet items, a sweet tree stall and much more. Clinicas Veterpet’s senior vet Antonio was on hand to offer advice on all veterinary issues and to provide free pet health checks. As a continuation and of their long term collaboration with Clinicas Veterpet, Pets In Spain officially opened a new

Charity Corner which will be the main dropoff point for people wanting to donate items to raise money for animal rescue and rehoming activities. In the eight days immediately prior to the Fun Day the charity rescued 15 puppies, including four one-week-old puppies found in a box with their mother in a pine forest. The other pups had all been weaned but then abandoned – and most of them were the centre of attraction at the Fun Day, which raised a total of €849 for the charity. The raffle for an Easter Hamper worth €100 was won by Hazel Grocock, who immediately offered it up for a live auction which added an additional €50 to the pot. To find out more about the charity visit WWW.PETSINSPAIN.COM or email info@petsinspain.info

Victor the toy poodle with Nina Terho (left), and Faith with Mary Stringer. Victor was rescued as he stumbled along a road in a horrific state. http://youtube/xOgPtQmHayk

ALL LIGHT ON Ghostly goings THE NIGHT… on at ADHOC

LOOKING for a light-hearted night at the theatre? Then pop along to the Casa de Cultura, San Miguel on Thursday or Friday April 11 or 12 and enjoy the latest offering from The Actors Studio. The evening will consist of two oneact comedies written and directed by David Whitney and all proceeds will be donated to the AFA Alzheimer’s Association. The Actors Studio was set up with the specific aim of helping this charity. The theme for the latest comedies is Charitable Acts and David has utilised

his vast experience in the voluntary sector as inspiration for the two oneact plays being staged. The first centres on the antics of a group of workers helping out in a charity shop, while the second brings to light how to mismanage a charitable concert in a church controlled village hall. Enjoy an evening of light comedy and support the very worthwhile AFA Alzheimer’s Association. Tickets can be purchased from Bargain Books, San Miguel or contact David on 96 670 4097.

FOLLOWING another brilliant Rockin' Rollin' night with Woody and the Peckers, ADHOC Theatre Company are now well into rehearsals for a ghostly comedy called Bedwitchery. The play centres around a haunted bed, a mysterious locket, the ghost of Nell Gwynn and a right ‘Charlie’. Bedwitchery promises to be another hilarious show, as is expected from ADHOC. Performances will be on May 2, 3

and 4 at the Casa de Cultura Teatro in Benijófar. This Theatre has recently been extensively refurbished and offers modern, comfortable facilities for all. Tickets. priced at just €7, are available from Cards & More in La Marina; The Post Room Benijófar; Card & Gift Shop in Quesada; Card Place in Benimar and Kennedy's Supermarket in Los Montesinos. Or call the Bookings Hotline on 966 712 382.

What a load of Campoverde actors Stagestruck! seek new direction The Stagestruck cast prepare to take ‘Bullocks’ by the horns

IT’s a risky business trying to headline the name of Stagestruck’s latest musical comedy show. So we’ll simply tell you it’s called ‘Bullocks’ and features the tangled love lives of the staff and guests at the Bullock family’s hotel. The show will feature lots of familiar songs as well as dance routines and lots of laughs. And it will be presented by an international cast which includes both Dutch and Spanish members.

The show will take place on May 23, 24 and 25 at 8pm in the brand new Casa de Cultura in Benijofar and entry is €6 which includes a complimentary glass of wine. Tickets can be obtained at The Card Place in Benimar or from Stella on 966 786 154 or Ellen on 627887010 All the profits will be evenly split between two worthy causes; The Benijofar Social Services for needy families and The Alzheimers Association.

CAMPOVERDE Theatre Group requires a new musical director. Huw Jones and Keith Monk have between them helped develop the musical skills of members over the past few years. Now the group is looking for someone to continue the hard work contributed by these two very skilled musicians. The new musical director is needed to guide and develop singing proficiency for the group’s next pantomime, rehearsals for which begin in September/October. If you think you can help, please call Tony Kelly on 96 618 2415 for more information. Campoverde Theatre

Group is very friendly and enjoys an active social life, with meals out, bowling, dinner dances, etc. New members are always made wel-

come and the group meet every Monday and Wednesday at 2pm at the Community Centre, Blue Lagoon.

Friday, April 5, 2013

COLOSSUS OF ROADS Len the mad marathon man’s magic milestone

HEIDI WARDMAN reports EXPAT adventurer Len Allen has grasped his latest challenge with gusto, as he prepares to walk the length of the famous Camino Santiago de Compostela. Len, an experienced marathon runner in the UK, moved to La Marina in 2000, but was in no way ready to hang up his training shoes while still in his 40s. On May 31 he will embark on the 800-kilometre journey down what is known in English as St James' Way - the pilgrimage route leading from Pamplona to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, where according to legend, the remains of the apostle St James are buried. Len will team up with one of his old running partners, John Cripps, and the two have vowed to continue their hike another 100km to Finisterre, which was believed to be the end of the Earth until Columbus discovered America. Len, who will turn 60 later this year, told The Courier: “I wanted to do something extra special for this milestone.” So, having been in Santiago last year and seen people finishing the walk, he thought, “This is something I could do!” He revealed: “I have been training since Christmas and hopefully I will be ready by mid-May”. Len will take a week’s break before setting out on an overnight coach from Alicante to Pamplona where the gruelling trek will commence. He intends to walk around 40km per day with a few short rest periods to prevent the onset of

physical exhaustion, hoping to reach his destination in around 23 days. He added: “I will be staying in the pilgrim hostels along the way each night and I am really looking forward to hearing the tales of the other walkers and their reasons for taking on the challenge”. This ties in well with his love of Liverpool Football Club and their slogan "You'll Never Walk Alone", which he felt appropriate as “I will be on the walk with hundreds, possibly thousands of other walkers from all over the world.” He will be aiming to raise as much money as possible for the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre Foundation, of which his wife, Ann, has been a staunch supporter for several years. She says that although she thinks Len is mad, she will be on hand to give him encouragement. “However I’m not doing it with him!” EHCRC founder David Weeding, said: “When we were approached by Ann about Len doing this walk I just had to meet him. “I have to agree with Ann in thinking her husband is mad. However I take my hat off to him and ask everyone to support him. “Like Len I used to run marathons but the idea of walking 900 kilometres in less than a month is truly a remarkable challenge and a fantastic achievement”. If you would like to sponsor Len, contact him directly on 620 180 002, or visit one of the EHCRC charity shops which are located in Guardamar, La Siesta, La Zenia ,

RE-LIVE THOSE MAGICAL MUSICAL MEMORIES…

THE Cardenal Belluga Theatre q Group’s new production, ‘Movies and Musicals’, will take the stage on Friday, May 17 at the San Fulgencio Theatre, (7.30pm for 8pm). The songs and dances will be interspersed with hilarious sketches and you are assured of a great night of entertainment for just €6, all of which will be donated to local charities. For tickets, call Maria on 966715891. Please check out www.thecardenalbellugatheatregroup.com HELP MMM is to donate €7,500 to the Caritas, Butterfly Children and Holidays for Heroes charities, president Bernard Ash told the group’s annual general meeting.The AGM was attended by more than 50 volunteers, who heard treasurer Robin Bayliss confirm a satisfactory financial position at the end of 2012. Bernard Ash, Cynthia Sherry and Elaine

Antonio’s hot date AWARD-WINNING paella maker Antonio is a special figure at El Raso - and not only because he’s the only Spanish ‘regular’ at the local bars. Or because he doesn’t speak a word of English. One of life’s genuine characters, the friendly farmer’s daily ‘flits’ from one hostelry to another, supping just a small beer at each, have made him as instantly recognisible as the giant vegetables he grows in the local campo. Last Saturday, he joined in the Easter celebrations at Rayz Bar by preparing and cooking a giant paella on site for boss Carol Buchan and her customers. And, like Antonio himself, his pan-tastic creation looked a picture of culinary class. Said Carol: “The Spanish day was excellent. We had about 100 people there with about 50 eating the paella. Antonio approached me and asked if I would like him to make the paella and said he was the champion of Guardamar! We decided to to turn it into a Spanish themed day with a Spanish singer. He also made his famous sangria which got everyone dancing.’’

Montesinos or Quesada. Alternatively, visit the rescue centre personally on a Sunday open days or email admin@easyhorsecare.net. Sponsor forms are also available in several locations around La Marina including News 4U, Serafins & Cuts R Us.

Dale were ratified in their current positions as president, secretary and membership secretary. Pat Massingham and Joan Mitchell agreed to continue as vice president and chief fund-raiser respectively. CANTABILE Female Voice Choir present a Concert of Sacred and Contemplative Music on Sunday (April 7), including works by J. S. Bach, Faure, Handel, Karl Jenkins, Mascagni and Vivaldi. It starts at 8pm in the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Torreta 2, Torrevieja and a collection will be held in aid of church funds. For further information, contact Jennifer on 966796866 or Phyl on 965077457. E-mail: jenmorton@hotmail.com or check www.cantabilesingers.es ADAPT Association of San Pedro will an Open Day on the first Saturday in May (the 4th) at

the Hogar de Pensionistas in San Pedro from 10am. On May 21, 22 and 23, the ADAPT Theatre Group will be putting on a show for various schools in San Pedro. It will be staged at the Casa de Cultura each morning and will feature a series of comic sketches in English and Spanish. THE combined choirs of Vivace and Chorale are bringing two wellknown singers over from the UK as their guest soloists in two upcoming performances of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”. Soloists Arthur Berwick and Rodney Porter take on the roles of Elijah and Obadiah at the Iglesia Ntra.Sra.del Pilar, in Pilar de la Horadada at 8.30pm next Friday, April 12. Admission is free. The work will also be performed in the Teatro Circo in Orihuela on Sunday April 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets at €5 from 966 718 623, enquiries 966 772 192.

€1,800 worth of Easter Help

MORE than €1,800 was raised for the local charity Help at Home Costa Blanca during special events during Easter. Firstly there was an X Factor Charity Night at the Emerald Isle, La Florida, when €800 was raised and local performers demonstrated their many talents. At Pablo’s International Bar , a 'Stars in their Eyes' charity event raised 470 euros was raised by locals voting for the best entertainers and won by the Local Supremes. Their €100 prize was donated to the charity. The Easter Fayre at The Emerald Isle was well attended,

people being entertained by the Flamenco For All Dancers, the Happy to Help Trio, Dave and Cindy country singers, Dan and Stephanie the girl with the Golden Voice, plus a fashion show. The event raised €332. Finally La Terraza Bar at Bigastro held a Country & Western Night, where resident DJ Pete and guest performer Ruth Britton performed for the event and raised €104 on the night. The money is much needed to allow volunteers to help a growing number of people in and around the Torrevieja area.

Friday, April 5, 2013

UK HEADLINES

LIFE SENTENCE FOR WOULDBE JOSS STONE MURDERER

The Sun

ONE MAN charged with conspiring to murder Joss Stone has been sentenced for the crime of plotting to kidnap and kill the British singer. Kevin Liverpool, 35, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months, following a threeweek trial at Exeter crown court. The sentencing of Junior Bradshaw, 32, who was working with Liverpool (pictured) and has been found guilty of the same charges, has been adjourned. Both males were found guilty after four hours of deliberation by the jury. Soul musician Joss Stone spoke of her relief that the case is finally closed. Stone said: "I'd like to thank everyone for all their support and kind wishes. "I am relieved the trial is now over and that these men are no longer in a position to cause harm to anyone." Bradshaw and Liverpool were arrested in the early hours of June 13, 2011 close to Stone's home when local residents became suspicious of their intentions and called the police. Bradshaw did not have a driving licence and police subsequently arrested him. Also, officers found weapons in their

No mercy on you, Kim warns USA Fiat Punto vehicle, including black gloves, balaclavas, a black-handled samurai sword, three knives and two £1 hammers. A further search on the duo’s shared apartment found a self-cocking crossbow and a BB gun, as well as handwritten notes, detailing the need to buy a semi-automatic gun, a silencer, infra-red sights and a ninja sword. The defendants, both from Longsight, Manchester, denied charges of conspiracy to murder, alternative charges of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and conspiracy to rob. The prosecutor Simon Morgan told

the court: "This case is about a decision by a group of individuals, of which these defendants are two, to rob and kill Joss Stone. "In interview, the defendants, in essence, declined to comment. The items in their possession, the trips to the area, the fact that the intended victim was at home, the notes and maps all point to a determined effort on the part of the defendants to carry out the plan they had hatched some time before. "The evidence established that they intended to rob and kill their target using the equipment they had with them."

First charges in Savile sex investigation A man is to be charged as part of the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal - the first charges under Operation Yewtree. Driver David Smith will be charged with five sex offences including two of indecent assault on a boy under 14 in 1984 and two of gross indecency on a boy under 14 at the same time. The CPS says he was a

driver for a number of organisations but he was not Jimmy Savile's driver. The BBC has acknowledged he was employed by them on occasions and would transport guests for the Corporation. Alison Saunders, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London, said: "The CPS has carefully considered the evidence gathered as part of

Operation Yewtree in relation to David Smith, who was employed as a driver at the time of the allegations. "The CPS received a file of evidence on December 21 2012. Further enquiries were necessary and the result of those enquiries was received by the CPS on March 18. "We have concluded, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of

conviction, and that it is in the public interest for David Smith to be charged with five offences." Smith, who was arrested in December last year, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 8. Savile's record of abuse is thought to be unprecedented - with 28 alleged victims being boys and girls aged under 10. However, many of the TV star's accusers only came forward after his death.

NORTH Korea warned Wednesday night it had ratified a “merciless attack” against the United States in a war which could start “today or tomorrow”. As leader Kim Jong-un’s aggressive rhetoric hit a new level, the army threatened attacks by a “smaller, lighter and diversified” nuclear force. "The moment of explosion is approaching fast," the North Korean military said, warning that war could break out "today or tomorrow". A spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army added: “We formally inform the White House and Pentagon that the ever-escalating US hostile policy toward us and its reckless nuclear threat will be smashed.” In response, President Obama ordered a ballistic missile defence system to be moved to the nearest US military base on the Pacific island of Guam, 2,000 miles from North Korea’s capital Pyongyang. As the threat grew, PM David Cameron warned

against any move to abandon Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent. He said: “Does anyone seriously argue that it would be wise for Britain, faced with this evolving threat today, to surrender our deterrent?” US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said of North Korea: “Some of their actions present a real danger and threat to the interests of our allies, starting with South Korea and Japan. “There have been threats the North Koreans have levelled at our bases in Guam and Hawaii. We are doing all we can to defuse that. "I hope the North will ratchet this very dangerous rhetoric down," He added that there is a way to peace but only if Kim Jong Un decides to be "a responsible member of the world community." China has expressed “serious concern”. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: “All sides must remain calm and exercise restraint.”

Friday, April 5, 2013

UK HEADLINES

Philpott's sick rape note from prison THE depths of Mick Philpott’s depravity were revealed Wednesday in a letter he wrote from prison, boasting that if he won freedom he and his wife would celebrate by ‘raping each other’.

Daily Mail

The note to friends detailed how he planned to get blind drunk and commit the assault straight after visiting the graves of the children he and wife Mairead had killed. The correspondence emerged as his lawyers pleaded with a judge for a lenient sentence because the father of 17 was a ‘very good’ parent. The court heard that he was on bail for a violent road-rage attack at the time of the house fire in which the children died. His wife’s barrister said losing her children was a ‘sentence in itself’. Philpott, 56, and Mairead, 32, were convicted on Tuesday of killing their six children. Their friend Paul Mosley, 46, was also found guilty of six counts of manslaughter. They will be sentenced Thursday. Over the past eight weeks, Nottingham Crown Court has heard how they set fire to their house last May as part of a plan to frame Philpott’s former live-in lover Lisa Willis. She had walked out of the shared three-bedroom semi in Allenton, Derby, with her five children and the thousands of pounds in benefits they were worth to Philpott. The fire was also set in an attempt to get a bigger council house, a demand Philpott had infamously made six years earlier on the Jeremy Kyle Show. The plan went tragically wrong, however, with the petrolfuelled blaze burning out of control. Jade Philpott, ten, and brothers Duwayne, 13, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six and Jayden, five, all died. Later, however, Philpott was totally remorseless. In a letter written from prison where he was on remand, he boasted: ‘God, when we are free, which we will be, we’re all going to get p*****. ‘But me and my darling beloved wife, the most important

thing that we will do when this happens is to spend the whole day with our babies, at the graveside. ‘We don’t care if it’s raining, gale force winds, snowing. I’m going straight up there. ‘Then we shall probably – no, we will – rape each other. Then we can all celebrate our freedom.’ Superimposed on the words were eight pink hearts, one each for him and his wife and six for the children they killed. The letter was sent to Mick and Sharon Russell, close friends for 20 years. The couple said they were disgusted. ‘That’s his attitude, he’s highly sex driven,’ Mr Russell said. ‘I wouldn’t leave Sharon with him on his own.’ Philpott showed little genuine emotion following the fire. He ‘loved’ being a local celebrity and was seen ‘touching up’ his wife in the hospital where her son Duwayne was dying after the fire, the former friend added. Mrs Russell said Mairead had planned a new outfit for her children’s funeral, which she and her husband were later banned from attending. ‘I was quite shocked at it and said, “You can’t wear that.” She said, “Will it be all right for the after party?” It was disgusting the way they were behaving.’ Another friend, who asked not to be named, said Mairead got drunk on alcopops at a neighbour’s barbecue in the days after the fire, and showed off an £80 pair of pink trainers she had bought with money donated by sympathetic members of the public. In court Wednesday, lawyers for the killers pleaded with Mrs Justice Thirlwall to consider mitigating circumstances. Philpott’s lengthy criminal history was read out. He appeared in court a week before the blaze last year for a road-rage attack during which he punched driver Jon Welham, 42, who had his daughter Emma, 13, with him in the car.

him, forcing him to stop, because he believed Mr Welham had cut him up at a roundabout. Philpott pleaded guilty to common assault but denied dangerous driving and was bailed awaiting trial. In 1991, he received a two-year conditional discharge for headbutting a colleague and in 2010 was given a police caution after slapping Mairead and dragging her outside by her hair. Anthony Orchard QC said Philpott’s conviction for stabbing his former girlfriend Kim Hill 27 times in 1978, revealed by the Mail yesterday, was a ‘long time ago’ and said there was no evidence of anything like it being repeated. But he was immediately cut off by the judge, who retorted: ‘There’s been violence in every single relationship, has there not?’ The lawyer added: ‘Despite Mr Philpott’s faults he was a very good father and loved those children. He is, as is Mairead, a parent who lost six children. He’s never been able to grieve or even to bury them. ‘He will have to live with the hatred and hostility of the press and the public for the rest of his life.’ Shaun Smith QC, for Mairead Philpott, said she was ‘an extremely good mother to all 11 children’. ‘She will be forever known as a child killer,’ he added, noting that she might face threats in prison because of the nature of her crimes. The barrister for Paul Mosley said he continued to deny any involvement in the fire.

A police force has begun recording crimes against members of alternative subcultures as hate crimes. Greater Manchester Police is believed to be the first force to add abuse towards groups such as goths, emos and punks in the same way they do attacks based on race, religion, disability, sexual ori-

sub-culture related hate crime. "We have done this following work we have carried out in partnership with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, as we feel that adding this extra category of hate crime will help us better understand how some people are suffering from crimes because of their appearance, and bet-

kicked and stamped to death because she was dressed as a goth in a park in Bacup, Lancashire, in August 2007. She slipped into a coma and never regained consciousness. The foundation is campaigning to get hate crimes laws expanded to include "alternative subcultures or lifestyle and dress" and has gained

A letter Mick Philpott sent to friends while he was in custody awaiting trial for killing six of his in a house Thechildren assault happened afterfire Philpott swerved in front of

Police force to record offences against goths and emos entation or transgender identity. Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: "People who wish to express their alternative sub-culture identity freely should not have to tolerate hate crime." A police spokesman said: "From April 2013 Greater Manchester Police also now records alternative

ter respond to the needs of victims of crime. "You can let Greater Manchester Police know about an alternative subculture hate crime via the national True Vision online reporting form - simply select 'other' as a category and write alternative subculture in the box provided." Miss Lancaster, 20, was

support from musicians including Gary Numan and Courtney Love. There are no immediate plans to change the national hate crimes register, but last year Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone acknowledged that the five recognized categories of hate crime was "an incomplete list".

Friday, April 5, 2013

SPANISH NEWS

THE TREATMENT TRAP SPANISH hospitals and clinics are increasingly paying inducements and sweeteners to trap British tourists with big bills for treatment, according to UK insurers.

EL HIERRO ROCKED BY NEW TREMORS A POWERFUL new wave of seismic activity has swept through the Canary Islands over the past two weeks. One of the most serious tremors shook the island of El Hierro, the smallest and most western of the Canaries, last Sunday. The epicentre was around 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) west of the island, where many of its 10,000 inhabitants could feel the tremors caused by an underwater volcano. This was the strongest of roughly 100 quakes recorded on the mountainous island since March 18. Earlier in the day, a smaller, 4.5 magnitude earthquake was recorded in the same zone, and the previous week, two 4.6 magnitude quakes were registered. Local authorities imposed a number of measures to protect the island's western inhabitants in the light of the increased seismic activities, raising alert levels to the second-highest on a three-scale chart and prompting the closing of some stretches of road. In October 2011 an underwater volcano erupted off the coast of El Hierro, two days after an earthquake measuring 4.3 rocked the island. El Hierro, which means "Iron" in Spanish, suffered thousands of earthquakes throughout 2011, prompting officials to briefly close a tunnel linking the island's two main towns -- Frontera and Valverde -- and evacuate dozens of people over fears of landslides. The last major volcanic eruption in the Canaries happened off Las Palmas in 1971.

Tour operators, taxi drivers and even the police are offered backhanders for directing holidaymakers to cashstrapped hospitals, they claim. These hospitals refuse to accept European Health Insurance cards (EHICs), which provide free treatment, leaving older travellers and those with pre-existing medical conditions particularly vulnerable. Instead, they are presented with hefty bills for their care. So acute has the problem become that the European Commission has warned Spain that it could take formal legal action, known as an "infringement procedure", after receiving complaints from various EU nationals about the refusal of EHIC cards. Many young travellers also rely on the cards for part or all of their medical needs abroad. In total, around 24 million UK residents hold a current EHIC card, according to the Department of Health. Spain is not alone in blocking EHIC usage. Travellers in Greece and Portugal have also experienced problems. Both countries' health systems are under pressure following the crisis in public finances. But the Spanish health system is complex. It has state hospitals and private hospitals, and a third hybrid sector, which is run by private management but provides state-funded treatment. The EHIC card may not be accepted in private hospitals but should be valid in the other two categories. Problems of refusal have largely arisen in this third hybrid sector, where the card should be accepted. Worse still, the private managers are increasingly employing debt collectors to pursue outstanding bills after travellers have returned home. Ian Crowder of AA Insurance said: "Someone who falls ill, unfamiliar with the local systems, may well ask the hotel or a taxi driver to take them to the nearest outpatients department or

Beware hospital bill twists, tourists urged

Daily Telegraph whatever. "We have learnt that hotel staff, taxi drivers and travel representatives may be taking backhanders from managers who operate part of the state-funded health-care system in Spain and from private hospitals and clinics so that they bring unwitting foreign tourists to them for treatment rather than take them to a state-run hospital. "What's more, we understand these companies and hospitals are employing debt collectors in other EC countries to recover the cost of medical treatment that travellers were unable to pay for at the time, although we have heard of no instance where treatment has been refused if a patient has been unable to pay at the time." The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed it has received complaints about UK citizens unable to use their EHIC cards in Spain, and has taken the matter up with the European Commission. It is in serious discussions with Spain and has warned the country that unless it stops blocking usage of the card, it could end with formal proceed-

ings. Meanwhile, it warned travellers to be vigilant and to insist on treatment covered by public health-care finance. However, it points out that in some countries state health care may or may not be delivered in privately run hospitals, in which case it may depend on the rules of the system whether or not the EHIC card will be valid. The EHIC card has been seen as a good fallback for travellers who have not bought travel insurance, although the Association of British Travel Agents and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office both stress that it should not be considered an alternative to travel insurance. It will not, for example, pay for repatriation, or emergency recovery and other costs associated with an accident abroad. However, it can be invaluable for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions, which their insurers will not pay out on, or who are too old to buy cover in the open market at a reasonable cost. Getting ill abroad can be an expensive business, ranging from a few hundred pounds for an overnight stay for a stomach upset to ÂŁ12,000 for a heart attack.

Friday, April 5, 2013

prostitute THE SCOURGE “Zombie” heist ring arrested OF POVERTY Caritas report paints grim picture of Spanish reality

A combination of economic crisis and government spending cuts has seen family incomes in Spain fall to the level of 10 years ago, putting three million people in extreme poverty. At the same time, spending power, at 18,500 euros per capita in 2012, is lower than it was in 2001. The details of this reversal were presented on Wednesday by Catholic charity Cáritas in a report that refers to a "lost decade." Declining income is especially affecting those who already had low standards of living, with more people joining the ranks of the poor every day. Some 21.8% of Spaniards, or around 10 million people, now live in relative poverty - 2.2% more than in 2008. This poverty index corresponds to 60% of the average national income, according to data from the EU's statistics office, Eurostat. In other words, a person is poor if they live

on less than 7,300 euros a year. For every adult added to a family unit, half of this amount would have to be included, and 30% for each child. According to this, a couple with two children is living below the poverty line if their annual income is than 15,330 euros. The number of people living in extreme poverty (estimated at 30% of the average income or 3,650 euros a year) is also growing and has already reached 6.4% of the population. This is up 4% from 2008 - totalling around three million people. Per capita income and consumption in real terms have fallen; the wealthiest 20% of the population now has a larger slice of the cake than five years ago. The gap between the wealthiest 20% and the poorest 20% is the widest of any country in Europe; the unemployment level is the highest, and is way ahead of the European average.

“Like zombies.” This is how patrons of a wellknown Madrid nightclub described being left by a prostitution ring that drugged clients in order to secure succulent amounts from their credit cards. In some cases the victims were relieved of up to 40,000 euros without being conscious that they were being robbed, according to the National Police. There have been 11 arrests in the case and 17 reported victims, but the latter number is expected to rise. The police estimate that the ring stole around 330,000 euros over the past year.

The chosen club in the Colón area of the capital was frequented by celebrities and members of the judiciary. The prostitutes, mostly from Cuba, Argentina and Romania, would take their clients from the club to an hourly rental apartment where they would offer a luxurious catering service. There they would serve drinks and food containing a potent cocktail based on what police believe to be scopolamine, a mindaltering sedative derived from the scopolia genus of plants native to Central America. Once victims had divulged their details

under the influence of the drug, their cards would be cleaned out using various payment machines the ring possessed. In some cases, the victim also provided a PIN number. When they regained their senses, the clients would find themselves wandering in the street or in a taxi. The alleged ringleader, Antonio M. de P., 47, had no previous arrests on record. He was aided by his mother, an aunt and another accomplice. The police seized 15 payment machines and 70 grams of the sedative substance at the apartment.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Focus on

GRAN ALACANT

For the best deals on wheels… FC RentaCar is a well-known local car rental company established in 1993. We have other offices in Torrevieja, La Regia, Villamartin and Camposol, and also operate from Alicante & Murcia airports. Our Gran Alacant office was opened in 2007 and is well placed on the roundabout next to Consum Supermarket. Our fleet ranges from small economy cars, including automatic models to larger vehicles with 7 or 9 seats. We now also offer van rental which is proving popular! We have friendly professional staff who speak Spanish, English, German and Dutch. Office hours are MondayFriday 09:30-14:15 and 17:00-19:30 and Saturdays 09:3014:15. Our airport service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Booking a car with F & C is easy, fax or email to info@fcrentacar.com through the website www.fcrentacar.com or to call our reservations team on 966 796 044.

Quick Solution for a quick solution… At Quick Solutions (Previously Hendel & North), we do not only do community Management Services, area in which we have over 20 years experience, but also all type of services, as non-resident taxes and complete services for non-residents which includes calling a plummer or electrician etc when needed. Our opinion is that non-Spanish house owners should be informed in the same way as Spanish residents, therefore we offer translation at the meetings and translated documents. Clients get access to our web page, where by means of an access code, they can consult their community payments, minutes of the meeting etc. At our office we speak (besides Spanish) fluent English, Dutch and German. We have special offers for communities, please contact us by e-mail at info@quicksolutions.es and telephone number 966698456. (10:00-14:00) If you want to see us in the afternoon please make an appointment. Our office can be found at Avda Noruega 174-Local 2 in Gran Alacant (right in front of the school)

Electrodomesticos - the best service and best price SINCE 2002, Electrodomesticos Gran Alacant has offered you the best service and the best price. Delivery and installation free of charge in Gran Alacant , La Marina Urb, El Altet, Santa Pola, San Fulgencio, La Marina, Dolores, Ciudad Quesada, Rojales, Guardamar, Torrevieja. All our products have a two-year European guarantee. We supply a wide selection of products: washing machines, hair dryers, fridges, small electronics, image and sound, computers, air conditioning. We speak English and look forward to having you visit our shops in Gran Alacant or La Marina Urb. You can also find us online at www.euronicsgranalacant.com

Gavin’s roast is the toast of the Times Times Square is an Irish Gastro Bar and can be found in Masa Square, Gran Alacant. The bar is open daily from 10am and breakfasts are available. Times Square is run by Gavin Martin and his partner. Gavin, who has 28 years experience as a chef, prepares and serves up excellent home-made food on a daily basis and the Sunday Roast is highly recommended. Sky Sports is available and free Wi-Fi is also provided. Times Square is a perfect venue for groups and parties. Weekly entertainment includes Bingo, Steak Night and a Party Night. There is also an On Your Bike Club that meets 3 times per week. So for good Craic, good food and an excellent pint of Guinness, Times Square is well worth a visit. For more information on additional events check out their Facebook page – facebook.com/timessquaregranalacant

GA Property – the people who know best We are a family run business with years of experience in the sales and rental of properties in and around Gran Alacant. We have lived and worked here for many years and take great pride in that fact. If you need to know anything about this area we feel no-body knows the area better than we do. Whether you are thinking of purchasing a new or second hand property, we are here to help you through the sometimes daunting experience. Our main objective is to ensure that you receive a very professional service before and after your purchase. You will legally be taken care of and our after sales service is second to none. Like most others, our service does NOT stop on completion. We are able to help you with almost anything you need. If we cannot help you, we know somebody who can. Call us on 966 699 136 or 627 711 155

Friday, April 5, 2013

Horrorscopes Aries March 21 - April 19 Your doctor will be able to diagnose your current problems far better than me. But only I can tell you that your broken heart will never heal. NEVER. NEVER!!! You tend to be less true to yourself at work, but today you may let a little of yourself slip out at a most awkward moment. Shallow puddles may deceive you today.

Taurus April 20 - May 20 Speaking as a robotic horoscope monster, I can only wish you the best of luck when the revolution comes. Angles may become a nuisance today, especially 90 degree angles. Boy - they're the worst! Many of the solutions given to you in life make you feel like there's no hope. This is true. Every reason you have for doing what you did, is sound.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 Changing your lifestyle and underwear are always a good start. The last few weeks have seemed like hell and there's little respite this week as you continue on your steamy voyage down the Styx. Perhaps it's true that you're not the immense stud you once were.The odds on you surviving the day with your sanity intact are low.

Cancer June 21 - July 22 You're not jinxed so staying in bed all day is not going to work. Opening up to a close friend will probably be the worst thing you could do, in your situation. Laminated wallpaper can be a great idea to turn your walls into washable, wipeable blank canvasses. It's one thing to pick your nose, but did you notice that your colleague always wipes it in the same place under his desk?

By Pandora Leo July 23 - August 22 "For Topical Application Only" - words which might cause you grave concern over the coming days. If it's tasty, then lap it up. If not, don't. This is the best course of action for this week. Today might see a need for you to call attention to yourself, and we're always happy to recommend faxing semi-nude pictures of yourself to random numbers.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 Prepare to gape widely at the beautiful horror you'll experience this month. Mouldy coffee cups may not be breeding the penicillin you hope they are. The stars predict rocky times for you and a loved one. Avoid making love in cramped places. Half of what I say is meaningless...the other half is pure gold, purer than any snow that ever fell.

Libra September 23 - October 22 "Deliver us from evil" they said. Perhaps this week would be a good time to start living as though this were possible. Banning people from your house can work, especially if reinformed with large heavy blocks of swingable wood. Be playful at heart and you'll reap the reward of having more friends under the age of 10.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 Boom! And there goes the last piece of evidence that you were ever here...no-one will ever suspect. This week will leave no stone unturned, in a metaphorical way...that you have to decipher. Your learning may give you cause to grieve today as you are unable to stop local flooding using trigonometry alone.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 Whether you want to or not, this week will have a journey in store for you. The size of your shoes indicates that you are unlikely to fall over in a mild earthquake. Reading through a dictionary is the least effective way to learn more about the world. Get out there! You are at a point in your life where you feel you are only there to serve. So get moving! Serve away!

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 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. Distinguished guests will honour you today with their presence. Bovine tendencies may start to come out today as you....MOOOOOO!!! Excuse me. What you hear and what was said may differ today.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 Damage To The Central Nervous System - a phrase you're going to be hearing a lot over the coming days. Kissing horses in an otherwise empty paddock is fair game today. Enjoy yourself and try not to go too wild. Remember, it's unfair to expect your friends and family to provide you with alibis.

Pisces February 19 - March 20 Drunken idiots are usually a good way of entertaining yourself whilst you're waiting for public transport. Opportunity is waiting round every corner. All you've got to do is catch up with him, put him in a big box and beat him with big sticks. Everything positive that could possibly happen to you is waiting around the corner. This week will reverse any setbacks you've had recently.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Super-rich Russians beat the traffic in ‘ambulance taxis’ per that one of these vehicles has already been identified: “During a patrol, a medical car was stopped because it was breaking traffic rules.” “The driver appeared strange, and did not resemble an ambulance driver at all. Police officers opened the automobile to check it and saw that the interior was fitted out like a highclass limousine with comfortable seats for transporting VIP passengers.” Moscow is famous for its

When stuck in horrendous rush hour traffic, who hasn’t secretly wished they could slide a flashing light onto the roof of their car, fire up the sirens and take off through the gridlock Starsky and Hutch style?

Well, it seems Russia’s super rich have started living the dream with their own personal luxury taxis disguised as ambulances. Nobody dodges a traffic jam like the emergency services but most right-

thinking citizens would shudder at the thought of impersonating an ambulance on an errand of mercy just to get to work a bit quicker. Not in Moscow, where random police checks on

‘ambulances’ have been introduced to curb the spate of companies advertising “ambulance taxis” for upwards of 6,000 roubles (£130) per hour. A law enforcement source told the Izvestiya newspa-

traffic problems, which are compounded by bad parking, a lack of restrictions on driving in the city centre and regular Police roadblocks made to speed the progress of government officials travelling to and from the Kremlin. The ambulance taxis provide a luxurious way of scything through the traffic and running red lights for wealthy Russians willing to break the law and sling their moral compasses in the Moskva river.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Car modifications increase crash risk

Have you got a 'Baby on Board' sticker in your back window, a crucifix on your bootlid, or perhaps a sticker on your back bumper? Well new research suggests that you're more likely to be injured or killed in a car accident. A new report from the Liverpool Insurance Establishment (LIE) has revealed that cars with a sign in the back window are up to 80 per cent more likely to be involved in a crash than cars which have not been personalised.

The study has found that cars with an Ichthus fish are up to 74 per cent more likely to be involved in a crash, while cars fitted with 'Hello Kitty' stickers are more than 240 per cent likely to be involved in an incident which causes serious injury or death. It was also revealed that between 2001 and 2012, eleven drivers were decapitated by improperly secured nodding dogs flying forwards in the event of a crash and hitting them on the back of the head. LIE president, Michael Davis, commented on the

findings, saying: "Drivers who opt to personalise their cars with religious symbols and signs alerting other drivers to the fact they have an infant on board are asking for trouble, but while we can see a link between car personalisation and grizzly death, it is not clear whether there is a causal link. "It could just be that the type of prat who puts a 'Dad's Taxi' sticker in the back of his car is fundamentally too stupid to control a motor vehicle on the public highway."

Friday, April 5, 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, 1 represents B and 13 represents L, 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 Credit Mark (4) 3 Ron names devious old Norwegian (8) 9 About a factor having a chemical effect (7) 10 Glues new racing sleds (5) 11 Transport a road vehicle by railway (5) 12 Raring to go in the backyard, entertaining the children (6) 14 Take part in a race, and finish (6) 16 Whole in diplomacy (6) 19 Bar Rio rebuilt for the Latin quarter (6) 21 A small bird and an enormous giant (5) 24 Allegation about mail dispute (5) 25 Sounds like a sea trip gathers interest (7) 26 Gifted foolish dilettante without it (8) 27 Plant supplying iron to the Navy (4)

Down 1 Reversible jacket for defector (8) 2 Seat the presiding officer (5) 4 Exclude the felon (6) 5 So the cover is firm (5) 6 The gateman turns red (7) 7 North is French retreat (4) 8 An African confused about Kenny (6) 13 Tolerate wrong acts as a substitute (6,2) 15 Desperate rival at work (7) 17 Observe Bill (6) 18 Hair dressing manufactured by the Post Office (6) 20 An old Italian is hiding in Romania (5) 22 Respite from the squabble when the cruet went around (5) 23 Stupid cats flee (4)

STANDARD CLUES

Down

FILL IT IN

Complete the crossword grid by using the given words:

3 letter words Ala Ode Set Son 4 letter words Abet Acts Alga Amps Aunt Brae Crag Craw Earn Edge

Eked Epic Flee Gulp Loud Meat Moll Noon Okra Opal Ovum Parr Pogo Rani Rave Rots Serf Slog

Snag Some Spiv Star Taro Twos Used Vine 5 letter words Abode About Abuts Angle Asper Carob Crone Elide

Harem Noted Oiled Orbed Raven Salad Solid Splat Suede Taped Tough Tulle 6 letter words Canoed Golden Gusher Scared

Secret Specie 8 letter words Bedstead Descaled Operetta Sensuous Splutter Sultanas 9 letter words Hilarious Interpret 10 letter words Redecorate Sovereigns

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

Across

7 Avoid (5) 23 Toddler (3) Across 10 Boasts (5) 1 Well-known (6) 24 Secret agent 11 Cheap and (3) 5 Scream (6) tawdry (5) 26 Deep chasm 8 Type of pasta 12 Extremist (5) (5) (8) 29 Flow away (3) 13 Frightening (5) 9 Understand 33 Be tedious (4) 14 Examinations writing (4) (5) 34 Appropriate 10 Gamble (3) 15 Condition (5) (8) 12 Distress (5) 35 Ball game (6) 16 Pulsate (5) 15 Place (3) 25 Face down (5) 36 Hurry (6) 17 Be ill (3) 27 Foundation (5) 18 Consume (3) Down 28 Elegant and 2 Conscious (5) 19 Relevant (3) fashionable (5) 3 Verbal (4) 20 Rips up (5) 30 Protuberance 4 Poke around 21 Atmosphere (5) (5) (3) 31 Eager (4) 5 Point (5) 22 High craggy 6 Uncommon (4) 32 Forbids (4) hill (3) Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Please, 4 Guess, 8 Radon, 9 Traitor, 10 Surmise, 11 Bare, 12 Lid, 14 Deal, 15 Into, 18 Eat, 21 Hope, 23 Release, 25 Illness, 26 Gapes, 27 Smart, 28 Demean. Down: 1 Peruse, 2 Endorse, 3 Sensible, 4 Goal, 5 Extra, 6 Shriek, 7 Steel, 13 Dialogue, 16 Trample, 17 Chairs, 19 Trust, 20 Reason, 22 Polka, 24 Bent.

Scribble Pad

1 Traitor (8) 2 Seat (5) 1 Clock sound (4) 4 Criminal (6) 3 Scandinavian (8) 5 Firm (5) 9 Useful chemical (7) 6 Deep purple-red (7) 10 Toboggans (5) 7 Bird’s home (4) 11 Convey (5) 8 Nairobi native (6) 12 Fervent (6) 13 Substitutes (6,2) 14 Be present at (6) 15 Toil (7) 16 Not broken (6) 17 Catch sight of (6) 19 Hispanic ghetto (6) 18 Hair dressing (6) 21 Colossus (5) 20 Plain typeface (5) 24 Maintain (5) 22 Ceasefire (5) 25 Accumulates (7) 23 Jazz singing style (4) 26 Gifted (8) 27 Flowerless plant (4) Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Rickets, 5 Macho, 8 Braille, 9 Chafe, 10 Needs, 11 Rearmed, 12 Thrash, 14 Riddle, 17 Recital, 19 Storm, 22 Drips, 23 Signora, 24 Sassy, 25 Anthems. Down: 1 Robin, 2 Crate, 3 Enlists, 4 Steers, 5 Mocha, 6 Claimed, 7 Overdue, 12 Tirades, 13 Rockies, 15 Insight, 16 Plasma, 18 Testy, 20 Ozone, 21 Means.

Across 1 Oil (6) 4 Geese (6) 9 Wallet (7) 10 Zapatos (5) 11 Esquí (3) 12 Lift (elevator) (8) 14 Prison (6) 15 Playing cards (6) 18 Pastor (8) 20 Net (for fish, butterflies) (3) 23 To wash (5) 24 Spicy pork sausage (7) 25 Hermana (6) 26 Limones (6)

Down 1 Arches (5) 2 Más temprano (7) 3 Train (railway) (4) 5 Anxiety (8) 6 Escocés (5) 7 Tailors (7) 8 False (statement, accusation) (5) 13 Caballito de mar (3,5) 14 Castillos (7) 16 Paradise (7) 17 Ladrillo (5) 19 Duendes (5) 21 Puertas (de casa, vehículo, armario) (5) 22 Hueso (4)

Friday, April 5, 2013 Across 6 Which word for a wooden post to which a person was tied before being burned alive, can also mean the money risked on a gamble? (5) 7 What general name is given to produce, such as beets, potatoes or turnips, grown for eating? (4,4) 10 What name is given to a word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase? (7) 11 Derived from the Greek word for ‘follower’, what name is given to an assistant or follower, especially a person who assists a priest in a religious service? (7) 12 Which country on the Adriatic Sea, whose capital is Zagreb, has borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro? (7) 13 What name for person with highly refined tastes in food, wine, music etc, comes from the name of an ancient Greek philosopher? (7) 14 What is the name of the lead singer of 15 Down? (6,5)

19 Which large woodwind instrument of the oboe family with a long conical tube that is bent back on itself, has a metal crook into which a double reed is inserted? (7) 21 From the Latin for ‘loin’, what general name is often applied to backache affecting the lower back, which can be caused by muscle strain or a slipped disk? (7) 23 Which common law term means ‘the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation’? (7) 25 What name is given to the insignia of royalty, especially the crown and other ornaments used at a coronation or the distinctive clothing and trappings of high office, worn at formal occasions? (7) 26 Which word that comes from Latin for ‘to abandon’, means ‘in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect’? (8) 27/5 Which song written by Bob Dylan was Olivia Newton-John’s first hit single, in 1971, and was also covered by George Harrison on

SUDOKU

Quiz Word

his 1970 album All Things Must Pass? (2,3,3,3)

Down 1 What adjective that means

‘having no settled home’, comes from the Latin for ‘wander’? (8) 2 Which city is the capital and largest city of Lebanon?

(6) 3 What title is normally applied to a person who studies and writes about grammar? (10) 4 Which city is the capital and chief port of Qatar? (4) 5 See 27 Across 6 Which 2000 Guy Ritchiedirected film set in the London criminal underworld, tells the story of the search for a stolen diamond and a small-time boxing promoter who finds himself under the thumb of a psychotic gangster? (6) 8 What name is given to the staff surmounted by a crook or cross carried by bishops as a symbol of pastoral office? (7) 9 What forename connects three-time New Zealand prime minister Clark, British actress Mirren and Keller, the first deaf-blind person to graduate from college? (5) 13 Which verb means to ‘cause to feel very happy or animated’? (10) 15 Which American rock band’s British number one hit singles include: Heart of

Glass, Sunday Girl, Call Me and Atomic? (7) 16 What name is given to a racehorse that is considered to be one year old until a subsequent January 1? (8) 17 What name for a very deep chasm is derived from the Greek for ‘bottomless’? (5) 18 What was the surname of the Academy Award-winning American actor and film star whose most notable films include The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, The Big Sleep, and The African Queen? (6) 20 What is the botanical name for the male fertilising organ of a flower, typically consisting of a pollen-containing anther and a filament? (6) 22 Which British children’s television magazine programme that ran from 1968 to 1980, was, at various times, presented by Susan Stranks, Mick Robertson, Jenny Hanley and Tommy Boyd? (6) 24 Which word can precede; bow, coat, dance, drop, fall, forest and storm? (4)

SALLY’S SIMPLE SPANISH

LAS FLORES - FLOWERS

Match these words with their Spanish translations then find them in the wordsearch. (Answers below)

el bulbo

la amapola

el capullo

la campanilla

el geranio

la clavel

el girasol

la hoja

el helecho

la maceta

el narciso

la margarita

el pensamiento

la petunia

el ramo

la rosa

el tulipan

la violeta

sports QUIZ

ANSWERS: 1. Finland 2. Netherlands 3. Cricket 4. Golf 5. Peter Shilton 6. Naseem Hamed 7. Manchester City 8. Arsenal 9. Tourist Trophy 10. Net Ball 11. Tim Henman 12. 3,000 Metres

Last Week’s Solutions Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Word Solution Across: 1 Bushbaby, 5 Spider, 9 Sensible, 10 Gimlet, 12 Rio Grande, 13 Scrub, 14 Acre, 16 Sandman, 19 Linseed, 21 Reel, 24/25 Paula Radcliffe, 27 Arnhem, 28 Countess, 29 Thorns, 30 Adultery. Down: 1 Bistro, 2 Sensor, 3 Brier, 4 Balance, 6 Puissance, 7 Doldrums, 8 Ratsbane, 11 Jess, 15 Caesarean, 17 Elephant, 18 Innuendo, 20 Dart, 21 Redwood, 22 Effete, 23 Jersey, 26 Lendl.

Empareja estas palabras - Match the Spanish and English words You will find the answers at the bottom of the quiz. 1.el bulbo, 2.el capullo,

15.la margarita, 16.la violeta,

k.the plant pot, l.the daffodil,

3.el geranio, 4.el girasol,

17.la petunia, 18.la rosa.

m.the tulip, n.the carnation,

5.el helecho, 6.el narciso,

a.the violet, b.the fern,

o.the blue bell, p. the petunia,

7.el pensamiento, 8.el ramo,

c.the bulb, d.the pansy,

q.the rose, r.the bud,

9.el tulipán, 10.la amapola, 1

e.the leaf, f.the geranium,

1.la campanilla, 12.la clavel,

g.the poppy, h.the daisy,

13.la hoja, 14.la maceta,

i.the bouquet, j.the sun flower,

Soduko

Span - Eng

Quizword

1c, 2r, 3f, 4j, 5b, 6l, 7d, 8i, 9m, 10g, 11o, 12n, 13e, 14k, 15h, 16a, 17p, 18q.

1. Which Country Produces The Most Successful Rally Drivers? 2. Speed skating started in which country? 3. Silly Point is a position in which sport? 4. Which Sport Is Associated With Sunningdale? 5. Which Goal Keeper Was Beaten By Maradona's "Hand Of God" Goal? 6. Which Former World Boxing Champion Was Jailed In May 2006 For Dangerous Driving? 7. Which Football Team Used To Play Their Home Games At Maine Road? 8. Which football team started life called Dial Square FC? 9. What Do The Initials TT Stand For In Connection With The Isle Of Man Motorcycle Race? 10. Which Sport Is Played Over 4 Periods Of 15 Minutes Where Only Two Of The Seven Players Can Score? 11. Who Was Ranked As Britains No.1 Male Tennis Player In 2001? 12. Over What Distance Is A Steeple Chase Run?

Fill It In

Friday, April 5, 2013

TRELI ON THE TELLY SABOTEURS IN THE DOC

old Emperor would do, I’m giving this more of a thumbsup, rather than a thumbsdown. I loved BBC 2’s tribute to the great Richard Briers last Saturday and learning that he swore like a right old trooper! The clips of him on Monarch of the Glen reminded me of a press call he did to launch the series back in 2000. I got ten minutes of studio time with him, and asked him why he was doing such a “fluffy” TV show after all his serious work with Kenneth Branagh. His reply with a giggle was: “Dear boy. I’m only doing it for the money!” Across the Atlantic, more news of what is coming back for the next season, as a follow-up to last week. CBS have picked up The Mentalist again, along with a big list of non-surprises like The Good Wife, Elementary, Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-O and NCIS: Los Angeles. Not a bad line-up for one channel, though industry experts still predict the end for CSI-New York and Vegas, depending on the strength of the new pilots for any new shows.

with ALEX TRELINSKI

THE only thing wrong with the return of Dr Who to BBC1 last Saturday was ion, Clara Oswald. The main the story. It was a tale of thread of this year will be sabotage over the world’s Clara’s back-story Wi-Fi systems, which as we try to find was a re-cycling of out who she some recent Who really is. stories. It just There‘s seemed lazy to also the me - and even 5 0 t h more surprising anniverthat it was written sary speby the boss of the cial in show, the normally reliable Steven November, Moffat. with the On the big plus side, heavily preMatt Smith was in great dicted (now form, as was Jennaconfirmed) Louise Coleman as his return of new compan-

David Tennant, but also the surprise comeback of Billie Piper as Rose, after she played a blinder denying any such thing to every interviewer who asked her about it! The swinging chairs of The Voice were back on BBC1 to give us a very entertaining 90 minutes, and it was neck and neck with Ant and Dec over on ITV in the ratings. Will.i.am seemed to achieve the impossible in being crazier than last year, whilst we had a great heart-warming moment in the big young Welsh guy, Ash Morgan, being the first to go through. But since it is about The Voice, do we need to know that he works with special needs children? That

kind of stuff should be left to The X Factor, who for the next series will have Simon Cowell appearing live on the show each Saturday via satellite from Los Angeles to help boost the audience figures. With the new BBC1 drama, The Village, on Sunday night and the return of Jonathan Creek on Monday, there was a rare sense of somebody actually making an effort to put some decent stuff on during the Easter holiday, especially as the UK was shivering away. I take it that somebody must have had a very good longrange weather forecast in the scheduling department! ITV 2’s rare foray into comedy, Plebs, isn’t the story of a politician shouting at policemen in Downing

Street, but instead whisks us back to ancient Rome, where most of the locals are a bit on the naughty side. The pre-show publicity made the mistake of billing this as a cross between Up Pompeii and The Inbetweeners, which immediately means that Plebs doesn’t reach the hilarious heights of those two comedy gems. That doesn’t mean it’s a turkey as we follow the adventures of three slaves in Rome getting up to mischief and eyeing up the ladies. It’s paced quickly with odd bits of bad taste thrown in, and the style is very much lifted from The Inbetweeners, but not as funny. All things considered, I’ve watched the first four episodes and it has raised the odd smile, so as a good

The Courier Friday TV

April 5

01:20 This World 02:20 This Is BBC Two 00:30 The Life Aquatic with Steve

07:00 Homes Under the Hammer

Zissou

08:00 Real Rescues

02:25 Holiday Weatherview

08:45 You've Been Scammed

02:30 BBC News

09:15 Heir Hunters

07:00 Breakfast

10:00 Holiday Hit Squad

10:15 Heir Hunters

11:00 Animal Park

11:00 Homes Under the Hammer

12:00 BBC News

12:00 You've Been Scammed

12:30 BBC World News

12:30 Real Rescues

13:00 Skyrunners

13:15 Bargain Hunt

14:30 Weakest Link

14:00 BBC News; Weather

15:15 Britain's First Photo Album

14:30 Regional News and Weather

15:45 Country Show Cook Off

14:45 Doctors

16:15 The Great British Bake Off

15:15 Escape to the Country

17:15 The Blue Planet

16:00 Perfection

18:15 Antiques Roadshow

16:45 Countryside 999

19:00 Eggheads

17:30 Antiques Road Trip

19:30 Hairy Bikers' Best of British

18:15 Pointless

20:30 Mastermind

19:00 BBC News

21:30 Gardeners' World

19:30 Weather

22:00 The Road to El Alamein:

20:00 The One Show

Churchill's Desert Campaign

20:30 A Question of Sport

23:30 Newsnight

21:00 EastEnders 21:30 MasterChef 22:00 Have I Got News for You

00:45 The Jonathan Ross Show 01:45 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 Cook Me the Money! 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 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 The Martin Lewis Money Show 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 King Kong

HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU

22:30 Not Going Out 23:00 BBC News 23:25 National Lottery Update 23:35 The Graham Norton Show

00:20 Ancient Egypt: Life and Death in the Valley of the Kings

New series. Comedy actor Stephen Mangan (Episodes) is in the host's chair for the return of the comedy news quiz, poking fun at the week's headlines along with old hands Paul Merton and Ian Hislop. Their guests on the first show are Pointless co-presenter Richard Osman and broadcaster and Labour peer Joan Bakewell.

00:15 Random Acts 00:20 Embarrassing Bodies 01:25 40 Year Old Virgins 02:20 Bank of Dave 03:15 Hugh's Fish Fight 04:10 Time Team 05:05 Deal or No Deal 06:00 Countdown 06:45 Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:05 According to Jim 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 Frasier 10:30 Frasier 11:00 The Big Bang Theory 11:30 The Big Bang Theory 12:00 Undercover Boss Australia 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:05 Jamie's 15 Minute Meals 13:35 What's Cooking? 14:30 Channel 4 Racing 17:30 Deal or No Deal 18:15 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 How to Win the Grand National 22:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man 23:35 Lee Evans: Roadrunner

00:00 Ghost Rider 02:10 SuperCasino 04:55 House Doctor 05:20 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Milkshake! Monkey 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Trisha 13:00 Looney Tunes 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Dangerous Adventures for Boys 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Mentalist 16:15 McBride: Anybody Here Murder Marty? 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Bermuda Triangle: The Mystery Revealed 21:00 Ice Road Truckers 22:00 The Mentalist 23:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:55 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

The Courier Saturday TV

April 6

02:55 This Is BBC Two 07:00 This Is BBC Two 00:25 The Matt Lucas Awards

07:40 Irene

00:55 The Disappearance of Alice

09:05 Odette

Creed

11:00 A History of Britain by Simon

02:30 Weatherview

Schama

02:35 BBC News

12:00 Climbing Great Buildings

07:00 Breakfast

12:30 Map Man

11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live

13:05 Country Show Cook Off

12:30 Nigel Slater's Simple

13:35 Country Show Cook Off

Cooking

14:05 Country Show Cook Off

13:00 BBC News; Regional News

14:35 Country Show Cook Off

and Weather

15:05 Country Show Cook Off

13:15 Football Focus

15:35 Mastermind

14:00 Bargain Hunt

16:35 University Challenge

15:00 Homes Under the Hammer

17:05 Flog It!

16:00 Escape to the Country

18:05 The Great British Sewing Bee

17:00 Final Score

19:05 Carry On Again Doctor

18:10 Pointless Celebrities

20:30 The Many Faces of

18:55 BBC News; Regional News

21:30 Dad's Army

and Weather

22:00 QI XL

19:15 Doctor Who

22:45 Coriolanus

20:00 The Voice UK 21:30 The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins 22:20 Casualty 23:10 BBC News; Weather 23:30 National Lottery Update

02:45 Jackpot247 04:00 Columbo: Death Lends a Hand 05:15 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 Almost Naked Animals 10:00 Jessie 10:25 ITV News 10:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 11:25 My Tasty Travels with Lynda Bellingham 12:25 Dinner Date 13:25 Countrywise 13:35 ITV News and Weather 13:49 ITV Meridian Weather 13:50 Columbo: the Greenhouse Jungle 15:25 Escape to Victory 17:30 The Chase 18:30 ITV News Meridian 18:45 ITV News and Weather 19:00 New 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 I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

00:45 Rude Tube 01:45 Random Acts 01:50 Choke 03:25 Happy Endings 03:50 St Elsewhere 04:35 Come Dine with Me 05:30 Deal or No Deal 06:25 Countdown 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 Freesports on 4 08:05 British GT Championship 08:30 The Grid 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Frasier 10:30 The Morning Line 11:30 Sunday Brunch 14:00 Channel 4 Racing 18:10 Five Minutes to a Fortune 19:10 Channel 4 News 19:35 Stephen Fry: Gadget Man 20:00 Sarah Beeny's Selling Houses 21:00 Walking Through History 22:00 Taken 23:50 Derren Brown: Miracles for Sale

CARRY ON AGAIN DOCTOR Comedy starring Kenneth Williams, Jim Dale and Sidney James. Dr Nookey's unethical behaviour gets him posted to a remote South Sea island where he senses an opportunity to make a fortune.

00:00 Weather 00:05 Breaking and Entering 01:55 Natural World

00:55 Inside Hollywood 01:00 SuperCasino 04:55 Motorsport Mundial 05:25 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 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 Noddy in Toyland 08:35 City of Friends 08:55 Little Princess 09:05 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:25 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 Mr Men 11:15 Power Rangers Samurai 11:50 Batman: The Brave and the Bold 12:15 How Do They Do It? 12:50 Guns of the Magnificent Seven 14:55 David Copperfield 18:35 5 News Weekend 18:40 Raid on Rommel 20:25 CSI: NY 21:10 5 News Weekend 21:15 NCIS 22:10 NCIS 23:10 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

The Courier Sunday TV 00:30 The Football League Show

00:40 Shout at the Devil

01:55 Deadline

02:50 This Is BBC Two

03:15 Weatherview

07:00 This Is BBC Two

03:20 BBC News

07:30 Hell Drivers

07:00 Breakfast

09:15 Gardeners' World

08:55 Match of the Day

09:45 The A to Z of TV Gardening

10:00 The Andrew Marr Show

10:30 The Beechgrove Garden

11:00 The Big Questions

11:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites

12:00 Flog It! 13:00 BBC News 13:05 Weather for the Week Ahead 13:10 Points of View 13:25 Countryfile 14:20 Bargain Hunt

12:30 Paul Hollywood's Bread 13:00 EastEnders 14:55 Triathlon 16:30 The Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart 17:30 Secrets of Our Living Planet 18:30 Coast

15:20 Homes Under the Hammer

19:30 Donald Campbell: Speed King

16:20 Walk on the Wild Side

20:30 MotoGP

16:50 Fake Britain

22:00 Toughest Place to Be

17:20 Escape to the Country

23:00 Mock the Week

18:20 Songs of Praise

23:30 It's Kevin

19:05 Deadly 60 on a Mission 19:35 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Antiques Roadshow 22:00 The Village 23:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 23:25 Match of the Day 2

01:40 Jackpot247 04:00 Ladette to Lady: Australia 04:50 ITV Nightscreen 07:00 Jungle Junction 07:25 The Hive 07:45 Dino Dan 08:10 Canimals 08:20 Canimals 08:25 Bookaboo 08:40 Matt Hatter Chronicles 09:05 Kick Buttowski - Suburban Daredevil 09:30 Almost Naked Animals 09:45 Almost Naked Animals 10:00 The Aquabats Super Show 10:25 ITV News 10:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 11:25 Dickinson's Real Deal 12:25 ITV News and Weather 12:34 ITV Meridian Weather 12:35 Columbo: Swan Song 14:35 You've Been Framed! 15:35 Doc Martin 16:35 Food Glorious Food 17:35 The Scorpion King 19:15 ITV News Meridian 19:15 ITV Meridian Weather 19:30 ITV News and Weather 19:45 Catchphrase 20:30 Off Their Rockers 21:00 Foyle's War 23:00 Perspectives

ONCE UPON A TIME Fantasy drama set in a contemporary American town and the castles and enchanted forest of a fairy-tale land. With the breaking of the curse, the people of Storybrooke now remember their past lives and there are many joyful reunions, but living under the spell has changed them all. Regina is in trouble having lost all her powers and Mr Gold uses dark magic to set a soul-sucking wraith on her trail. Lana Parrilla and Robert Carlyle star.

01:25 Channel 4 Racing 02:15 Ju-On: The Grudge 2 03:55 Hollyoaks 06:05 Deal or No Deal 07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 FIA GT 08:30 Triathlon 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Sunday Brunch 13:00 The Big Bang Theory 13:25 The Big Bang Theory 13:55 The Simpsons 14:25 The Simpsons 14:55 A Knight's Tale 17:30 Deal or No Deal 18:30 The Real King's Speech 19:30 Channel 4 News 20:00 Nick Hewer: Countdown to Freetown 21:00 The Secret Millions 22:00 The King's Speech

April 7

00:05 Law & Order: Criminal Intent 01:05 SuperCasino 05:00 Nick's Quest 05:25 Nick's Quest 05:50 County Secrets 06:05 Hana's Helpline 06:15 Roary the Racing Car 06:25 Hana's Helpline 06:35 Roary the Racing Car 06:50 Hana's Helpline 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 Noddy in Toyland 08:40 City of Friends 08:50 Little Princess 09:05 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:20 Angelina Ballerina 09:30 Mio Mao 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 10:45 Jelly Jamm 11:00 Power Rangers Samurai 11:35 Batman: The Brave and the Bold 12:00 Cowboy Builders 13:00 Winnie the Pooh's Most Grand Adventure 14:30 Adventures in Babysitting 16:20 Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure 17:55 5 News Weekend 18:00 Practical Magic 19:50 Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous 22:00 Once Upon a Time 23:00 Person of Interest 23:55 Bulletproof

The Courier Monday TV

April 8

00:45 Football League Trophy Highlights 01:25 The Sky at Night 01:45 Evening 03:35 Weatherview 03:40 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 You've Been Scammed 12:30 Real Rescues 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Chefs: Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Bang Goes the Theory 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 The Prisoners 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Have I Got a Bit More News for You

00:00 02:00 03:00 04:00

Dead Poets Society A Very British Wedding Holby City This Is BBC Two

07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:10 Homes Under the Hammer 08:10 Real Rescues 08:55 You've Been Scammed 09:25 Heir Hunters 10:10 Great British Menu 10:40 Countryfile 11:35 Click 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 The Master of Ballantrae 14:25 Coast 14:30 Weakest Link 15:15 Mastermind 15:45 The Great British Bake Off 16:45 Britain's First Photo Album 17:15 The Blue Planet 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 20:00 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 Paul Hollywood's Bread 22:00 Fit to Rule: How Royal Illness Changed History 23:00 Never Mind the Buzzcocks 23:30 Newsnight

00:00 ITV News and Weather 00:14 ITV Meridian Weather 00:15 Who Killed My Dad? - The Death of Terry Lloyd 01:25 The Store 03:30 Monk 04:10 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 Meridian Weather 15:00 Cook Me the Money! 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 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 James Nesbitt's Ireland 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Broadchurch 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV News Meridian 23:35 The Unforgettable

00:20 Nine to Five 02:20 Sherrybaby 04:00 Southland 04:40 St Elsewhere 05:30 Come Dine with Me 06:25 Deal or No Deal 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:05 According to Jim 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 11:00 The Big Bang Theory 11:30 The Big Bang Theory 12:00 Undercover Boss USA 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:05 Jamie's 15 Minute Meals 13:35 What's Cooking? 14:45 SuperScrimpers' Challenge 15:45 Countdown 16:30 The Common Denominator 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Five Minutes to a Fortune 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

THE PRISONERS New series. Documentary following the vicious circle whereby convicts are released and - if they reoffend - end up back behind bars. The first episode follows repeat offenders from Holloway Prison, which holds more than 400 female prisoners. Jayde is just 18 but has already been in jail six times. Stuck in a cycle of reoffending, she manages just two weeks outside before returning to Holloway. Crystal feels at home in prison - at 23 she has been a regular inmate since she was 17.

01:35 Campus PD 02:05 SuperCasino 05:00 Nick's Quest 05:50 County Secrets 06:05 Hana's Helpline 06:15 Roary the Racing Car 06:25 Hana's Helpline 06:35 Roary the Racing Car 06:50 Hana's Helpline 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 08:55 Little Lodgers 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 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 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Dangerous Adventures for Boys 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Disney Shorts: Mickey's Trailer 16:20 Lone Rider 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Emergency Bikers 21:00 Born to Kill 22:00 Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge 23:00 Battle Scarred

The Courier Tuesday TV

April 9

00:20 Late Kick Off 00:50 The Graham Norton Show 01:35 Mr 3000 03:10 Weatherview 03:15 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 You've Been Scammed 12:30 Real Rescues 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Chefs: Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 The Syndicate 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 The Matt Lucas Awards

00:20 Toughest Place to Be 01:20 Ancient Egypt: Life and Death in the Valley of the Kings 02:20 This Is BBC Two 07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:05 Homes Under the Hammer

08:05 Real Rescues 08:50 You've Been Scammed 09:20 Heir Hunters 10:05 Great British Menu 10:35 Deadly 60 on a Mission 11:05 Great British Railway Journeys 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 The Fox and the Child 14:30 The Super League Show 15:15 Golf: The Masters 16:10 Mastermind 16:40 Britain's First Photo Album 17:10 The Life of Mammals 18:10 Flog It! 18:55 Party Election Broadcast 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 20:00 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 21:00 The Great British Sewing Bee 22:00 Keeping Britain Alive: The NHS in a Day 23:00 Later Live - with Jools Holland 23:30 Weather

00:35 Monk 01:25 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 Meridian Weather 15:00 Cook Me the Money! 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:25 Party Election Broadcast 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 UEFA Champions League Live 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV Meridian Weather 23:35 UEFA Champions League: Extra Time

BIG BODY SQUAD The return of the documentary following the work of people who provide care and support for the morbidly obese, including ambulance teams, fire crews, equipment specialists, builders and hospital workers. A four-strong team and specialist equipment are needed to get Carole out of her topfloor flat to take her to a hospital appointment, and 17-year-old Callum heads off to a weight-loss camp for the summer, hoping to shed more than three stone.

00:05 00:10 01:40 02:35 03:00 03:55 04:50 05:45 06:30 06:55 07:10 08:05 08:30 09:30 11:00 12:00 13:00 13:05 13:35 14:45 15:45 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:55 21:00 22:00 23:00

Random Acts Alan Carr: Chatty Man Shameless Superheroes of Suburbia How to Look Good Naked The Renovation Game Come Dine with Me Deal or No Deal Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard Kirstie's Vintage Gems The Hoobs According to Jim Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier The Big Bang Theory Undercover Boss USA Channel 4 News Midday Jamie's 15 Minute Meals What's Cooking? SuperScrimpers' Challenge Countdown The Common Denominator Deal or No Deal Five Minutes to a Fortune The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News 4thought.tv Bedtime Live 16 Kids and Counting Shameless

00:00 Young Guns 02:05 SuperCasino 05:00 House Doctor 05:25 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 08:55 Milkshake! Show Songs 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 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 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Dangerous Adventures for Boys 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Family Gathering 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 Big Body Squad 22:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:00 CSI: NY 23:55 Dallas

The Courier Wednesday TV

April 10

00:05 Cuckoo 00:35 The Ladykillers 02:15 Weatherview 02:20 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 You've Been Scammed 12:30 Real Rescues 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Chefs: Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 21:00 MasterChef 22:00 Victoria Wood's Nice Cup of Tea 23:00 BBC News 23:25 National Lottery Update 23:35 A Question of Sport

00:20 A Very British Wedding 01:20 The Railway: Keeping Britain on Track 02:20 This Is BBC Two 07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 08:00 Real Rescues

08:45 You've Been Scammed 09:15 Heir Hunters 10:00 Great British Menu 10:30 Deadly 60 on a Mission 11:00 Great British Railway Journeys 11:30 See Hear 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen 14:25 Weakest Link 15:10 Mastermind 15:40 The Great British Bake Off 16:40 Britain's First Photo Album 17:10 The Life of Mammals 18:10 Flog It! 18:55 Party Election Broadcast 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 20:00 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 21:00 Coast 22:00 Frank Gardner's Return to Saudi Arabia 23:00 James May's Things You Need to Know 23:30 Weather

00:35 01:35 04:00 04:50 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 Cook Me the Money! Dickinson's Real Deal ITV Meridian Weather Ade in Britain The Chase ITV News Meridian Party Election Broadcast ITV News and Weather Emmerdale Coronation Street Food Glorious Food Scott & Bailey ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News Meridian Sports Life Stories

24 HOURS IN A&E

00:05 Dogging Tales 01:15 Random Acts 01:20 European Poker Tour 02:15 KOTV Boxing Weekly 02:40 Sailing 03:10 Freesports on 4 03:35 The Grid 04:00 FIA GT 04:55 Triathlon 05:20 British GT Championship 05:45 Deal or No Deal 06:40 Kirstie's Vintage Gems 07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 08:05 According to Jim 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 11:00 The Big Bang Theory 12:00 Undercover Boss USA 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:05 Jamie's 15 Minute Meals 13:35 What's Cooking? 14:45 SuperScrimpers' Challenge 15:45 Countdown 16:30 The Common Denominator 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Five Minutes to a Fortune 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 22:00 24 Hours in A&E 23:00 The Mimic 23:35 Anna & Katy

Return of the documentary following life inside one of Britain's busiest A&E departments at King's College Hospital in south London. A doctor is shocked when a young woman arrives in resus with life-threatening swelling on her brain following a random attack by a stranger on the streets, while a mother faces an agonising wait as tests are carried out on her 12-year-old son, who was hit by a car and airlifted to King's by emergency medics.

00:55 CSI: Miami 01:50 SuperCasino 05:00 House Doctor 05:25 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 08:55 Little Lodgers 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 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 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Dangerous Adventures for Boys 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Ann Rule's Too Late to Say Goodbye 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 Rolf's Animal Clinic 22:00 NCIS 23:00 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 23:55 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

The Courier Thursday TV

April 11

00:05 Ladder 49 01:55 Weatherview 02:00 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 You've Been Scammed 12:30 Real Rescues 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Chefs: Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 BBC London News 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 MasterChef 22:00 Victoria Wood's Nice Cup of Tea 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Question Time

00:20 Golf: The Masters 01:00 Keeping Britain Alive: The NHS in a Day 02:00 See Hear 02:30 This Is BBC Two 07:00 This Is BBC Two

07:05 Homes Under the Hammer 08:05 Real Rescues 08:50 You've Been Scammed 09:20 Heir Hunters 10:05 Great British Menu 11:05 Great British Railway Journeys 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Invaders from Mars 14:25 Roving Mars 15:05 Coast 15:10 Mastermind 15:40 The Great British Bake Off 16:40 Britain's First Photo Album 17:10 The Life of Mammals 18:10 Flog It! 18:55 Party Election Broadcast 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 20:00 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 21:00 James May's Man Lab 22:00 Horizon 23:00 How TV Ruined Your Life 23:30 Newsnight

00:35 The Dales 01:05 Jackpot247 04:00 Columbo: the Most Dangerous Match 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 Meridian Weather 15:00 Cook Me the Money! 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:10 Party Election Broadcast 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 News Meridian 23:50 The Jonathan Ross Show

THE SEX CLINIC

New series. Documentary exploring the relationships and personal lives of patients attending two of the UK's busiest sexual-health clinics in London and Birmingham. Anthea fears she has contracted HIV following a one-night stand, Wayne has a wart removed from his penis and dominatrix Jezebel wants to make sure she doesn't come into contact with infected blood from a regular client who likes to play rough. Meanwhile, transgender escort Tomisha faces difficult questions about her behaviour in the bedroom.

00:05 Random Acts 00:10 16 Kids and Counting 01:15 Embarrassing Bodies 02:10 The New Normal 02:35 Revenge 03:25 Romy and Michele's High School Reunion 05:00 Come Dine with Me 05:55 Countdown 06:40 Kirstie's Vintage Gems 07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 08:05 According to Jim 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 11:00 The Big Bang Theory 11:35 The Big Bang Theory 12:00 Undercover Boss USA 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:05 Jamie's 15 Minute Meals 13:35 What's Cooking? 14:45 SuperScrimpers' Challenge 15:45 Countdown 16:30 The Common Denominator 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Five Minutes to a Fortune 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Secret Eaters 22:00 The Intern 23:00 The Sex Clinic

00:55 Poker 01:55 SuperCasino 05:00 House Doctor 05:25 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 Rupert Bear 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Olive the Ostrich 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 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 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Classic Car Rescue 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Mentalist 16:15 Murder 101 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Big Body Squad 21:00 Cowboy Builders 22:00 Trauma Doctors 23:00 Jodie Marsh: Bullied

Friday, April 5, 2013

ACCOUNTANTS 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 for first consultation free of charge.

AUCTIONS

ANIMALS Pet Travel UK Personalised family pet transporter between Spain/France/UK. Door to door fully accompanied service. Travel overland then on ferries with your pets. No charge for passengers. Pet friendly hotels used if a stop required, All air conditioned vehicles (no vans), DEFRA l i c e n c e . www.pettraveluk.co.uk UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 678 756 644

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

alities 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 ALARMS 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.

AUTO ELECTRICIAN

CHURCH SERVICES 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 Thursdays 11am. Craft club, Tuesdays, 2pm. Pastor, Rafael Restrepo. All nation-

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.

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.

OVERSEAS PROPERTY Need a UK base, 2 bed brick built bungalow in Kent for sale. Full c/h. long lease, for more details phone 965696113, e-mail, ronelliott1@hotmail.co.uk £20,000 (115) Viva Villa and Vacation Services, For Short or Long Term Rentals visit: www.villaandvacation.com or Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

CATERING

PROPERTY FOR RENT 2 bed 1 bath partly furnished apartment. White goods included. Stunning views of the Park of Nations. Great location, close to all amenities and Torreviejas beaches. Optional garage space available. Communal Pool. 350 euros per month plus bills. Available end of April. Contact Zoe on 628 535 479 (Z) Brand new 2 bed, unfurnished/ furnished apartment. Algorfa town centre, swimming pool, rent €225 monthly Or yearly advance €2400 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. (116) 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: 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 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 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 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

CARPENTER

CAR BREAKERS

BARBER ALARMS

AIRPORT COLLECTION

CAR HIRE

CLEANERS

Friday, April 5, 2013

LONG TERM RENTALS 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. 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 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 CBR18 – Detached Spanish villa, beachside Punta Prima, 4 bedrooms, garage, 1200 m2 plot, own pool, 900 € pcm. 966 923 963 CBR23 : Stylish new house in Los Montesinos, 3 bed 2 bath with large 65m2 garage, front and back terraces. 500 € pcm. 966 923 963 Ref. RS90 – 2 bedroom detached villa all on one level, fully furnished, as new! Located in El Raso (Guardamar) 400 €. pcm Tel. 966 923 963

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. Playa Flamenca. 3 bed, 2 bath duplex apartment with solarium, communal pool,

secure parking and library. Price €77.750 including furniture. Tel 697 243 365 (111) Villamartin. 2 bed, 2 bath house. Close to the famous plaza. Communal pool, off road parking, car included. 109,750€ Tel: 697 243 365 (111) 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. 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 dis-

tance 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 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 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

Friday, April 5, 2013

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 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 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 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 shower 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 Balsares is opposite Gran Alacant where the proposed golf course is now being

KITCHENS

ELECTRICIAN

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 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 rooftop 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, inter-

com 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 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,

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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, Situated on the very first urbanisation as you enter Gran Alacant, this 2nd floor duplex offers taste and quality. Comprising of 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, lounge-diner, independent kitchen, full roof-top solarium with superb views and recently glazed in porch offering extra living area as well as extra privacy as the glass is mirrored. Ref.K44 €108,000 Tel 680333242

Gran Alacant beautiful detached villa with very large pool and within walking distance to the Gran Alacant Commercial Centre. This villa comprised of 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, lounge-diner, Independent kitchen, roof top storage, solarium, porch & terrace. Large private pool, BBQ area, established gardens and private terraces, Private Parking, Solarium with Views to Alicante. 450m2 plot, fully furnished including white goods. Located in very quiet desirable road. ref.L96. €255,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant Limited edition bungalow. Only six of this type available in Gran Alacant. Constructed in 2003 and immaculately maintained on a large plot size of 500m2 with a 10 x 5 pool.Comprising of 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge-diner leading out onto front porch, independent kitchen including white goods, outside galleria, court yard, large garage with electric door, roof top solarium and private parking. Also built in wardrobes, Toldos blinds, air con H/C, security grills, alarm, security doors, bathrooms heaters, outside toilet, outdoor lighting, irrigation system, attractive and well kept gardens, beautifully tiled inside and out, fire place, English TV, phone line. Being sold with top quality furniture. ref L95. €275,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant large detached villa with 3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge-diner, fully equipped kitchen, large porch, roof top solarium, 400 m2 Plot, with

PARTY PLANNING

DAMP PROOFING

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PLASTERER

Friday, April 5, 2013 established low maintenance very private gardens with irrigation system, electronic gates, private parking, outside wc, sink & shower, terraces, air con ( h & c ), mosquito nets, grills, alarmed, large spa pool with separate Jacuzzi section. Within easy walking distance to Gran Alacant commercial centre and close to local bus and tram route. Ref K33. €260,000 neg Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant, detached villa in desirable road close to all amenities, comprising of 3 double bedrooms, 3 baths, lounge diner with working fire place, brand new kitchen with all appliances and black granite work tops, private pool, plot of 550m2, established irrigated gardens and fruit trees, private parking, solarium, also there is a converted under build giving more bedrooms ,bathroom & kitchen, this house has many extras and is being sold fully furnished. Ref.k47. €280,000 neg Tel 680333242

REMOVALS

Gran Alacant south-facing, very private villa, with woodland and Alicante views. Situated at the end of a small cul-de-sac which means this villa enjoys a very peaceful location.3 Bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, 3 Bathrooms, lounge-diner with working fireplace, fully fitted kitchen with including white goods, large front porch, solarium,workshop and storage in under build, central heating, air con H/C, ceiling fans, grills, UK T.V, off road parking and plenty of outside parking also. Due to its orientation of this property enjoys full sun, all day, something very important in the winter months. Ref.K24. €237,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant detached villa with converted under build and pool. Comprising of 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Lounge- Diner, Front Porch, Large Solarium, decoratively tiled, Irrigated Garden. BBQ and Log Storage Cupboard. Raised walls for Privacy. Also many extras, toldos blinds, freshly decorated interior, Grills, Mosquito Nets, Air Con H/C, Ceiling Fans, Log Burner Fire, Electric Radiators, Heated Towel Rails, Alarmed, Phone Line, Satellite UK TV, private parking. Plot size 310m2 under build 100m2. price includes all furniture.The under build consists of 2

beds, lounge, kit/utility room. ref L79. €250,000 Tel. 680333242 Gran Alacant immaculate outstanding south facing villa in sought after road. Set on a 350m2 plot with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths,large porch, solarium and terraces. The large under build includes a lounge, kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom and patio doors leading to pool area. Internal & external access for under build. Extras include electric radiators, air con H/C, ceiling fans, gas fire, heated towel rails, extended walk-in shower, fitted wardrobes. Decorative tiling inside and out. Panoramic views

towards Alicante Bay, Sky TV, phone line and Internet & Private parking, established gardens, water features and fruit trees. Being sold with exquisite furniture and all white goods. Immaculate finishes and decor. ref L84. €278,000 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

RAG AND BONE

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

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TIPTOP VILLA CARE, total property management, keyholding, holiday and long term rentals. www.tiptopvillacare.co.uk. e-mail

SURVEYOR

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

SOLICITORS Need English speaking solicitors in Torrevieja? Let us help to solve your problems with debt recovery, divorce, property, fraud, criminal defence. Call us on 966 923 963, give us brief details and get in touch with your specialist solicitor today

WIG SPECIALIST SALON MARGARETHAS, 23 years in Torrevieja Hair/Wig specialist for Medical illness and Hair Loss problems. We offer different Hair Replacements, top fillers, Hair prostheses, Toupees and Wigs, Natural and Artificial hair and much more. Also fashion/festival accessories TV/TS are welcome to our service. Please call our salon reception for an appointment with Margaretha on Tel no 966 921 846 Torrevieja (90)

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Friday, April 5, 2013

Greenside Gossip IVIE DAVIES takes a weekly look at the golf scene - golfdavies@gmail.com

PURE CHOI AS HALL OF FAME SALUTES KJ

HERE’S a quiz question for you: who’s been the most successful Asian golfer on the US PGA Tour? The answer should be obvious, but here is a clue. The man has become a legend in his homeland and also a highly respected professional sportsman on a global scale. Don’t know? He is South Korean superstar Choi Kyung-ju, or KJ, as he’s now universally known. The one-time powerlifter from the island of Wando will be honoured with a special induction into the Asia Pacific Golf Hall of Fame. This prestigious recognition will be bestowed upon Choi at the 2013 Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS) in the Indonesian capital Jakarta from November 5-7. Commenting on this historic award, Mike Sebastian, Chief

Executive of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, said: “Choi is a real trail-blazer – a man who possesses the talent, skill and temerity to play his game at the highest level and succeed”. “What he has achieved in the professional game in Asia, Europe and the United States should serve as motivating influence on Asians to aim high in golf.” KJ Choi was the first South Korean to earn a PGA Tour card. In his rookie season in 2000 he finished 134th on the money list and had to re-qualify. Since 2001 he has been one of the Tour’s most consistent performers. In 2002 he became the first Korean to win on the PGA Tour. The strong-man, who is affectionately referred to as ‘The Tank’ because of his powerful physique, won Jack Nicklaus’s Memorial Tournament in 2007 and then went on to win the first AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods. Always a crowd favourite, he reached the official World Top-10 (OWGR) for the first time in 2007. In January 2008, Choi won the Sony Open in Hawaii and rose to world number seven. By March of 2008 he had climbed to the fifth spot on the OWGR although the biggest win of his career came in 2011 at The Players Championship. Besides his achievements on Tour, Choi has supported relief efforts worldwide as well as programmes to help Korean communities. For this he was named recipient of the Golf Writers Association of America’s Charlie Bartlett Award this year. When Choi won his third PGA Tour event – the 2005 Chrysler Classic of Greensboro – he presented a $90,000 cheque to a Korean Presbyterian church in Greensboro. He donated another $90,000 to hurricane victims in the United States in 2009 and, after his 2011 win at The Players Championship, he donated $200,000 to victims of the tornadoes that ravaged the southeastern United States. Later that year, he gave $100,000 to victims of the tsunami that hit Japan. On receiving the Charlie Bartlett Award, Choi displayed typical modesty. He said: “Although I feel that I haven’t done that much, I am honoured to be recognised for my actions. This is the first award of any sort that I have received during my 13-year career on the PGA Tour and I feel that much more honoured to be receiving an award for my charitable

TITTER ON THE TEE Bill and Sam are two old retired golfers in their 70s who go out of town often on golfing holidays. One weekend they decide they to go on a trip to the Costa del Sol and play Valderama. As they are playing, Bill tells Sam how good the new Viagra pill is and Sam doesn't have much to say about it. That night, Bill goes off to sleep and Sam gets to wondering about the pill. So he gets up, finds some of the pills in Bill's suitcase and takes one. He lies there a few minutes and nothing happens. He thinks Bill has been pulling his leg so goes off to sleep. A couple of hours later, Bill wakes only to hear this loud banging on the wall. He turns on the light and sees Sam hitting the headboard with the back of his wrist as fast as he can. Sam Says, "What the hell are you doing, Sam?" Sam says, "I got my first erection in 10 years and both my hands have gone to sleep."

actions rather than my play.” The 42-year-old golfer founded the KJ Choi Foundation in 2007 with the mission of helping Korean children and communities, but his reach has extended to global aid for hurricane and tsunami victims. Choi will join Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and the late Dr David Chu, founder of the Mission Hills Group, as a member of the Asia Pacific Golf Hall Of Fame.

A 12 AT THE FIRST FOR CHINA…

YE WO-CHENG will etch his name into European Tour history early next month when he competes in the Volvo China Open, having secured one of the three qualifying spots at the Western Qualifier – at the age of TWELVE. Ye will become the youngest player to tee up in a European Tour event, beating Guan Tianlang, who qualified for last year’s tournament aged 13 years and 173 days. The qualifier was won by jointly by Ye and China national team member Jin Daxin, who both finished on five-under. Playing in a European Tour event will be a whole new experience for him so he will be practising very hard for Tianjin. He will also be doing some gym work to get stronger, which he will need for Binhai Lake as it’s a long golf course.” Ye’s coach David Williams was on hand to see his charge achieve the ambition he set himself 12 months ago. “It was only a matter of time before he landed a really big one like this,” said the Guangdong-based Briton. “He’s been shooting in the 60s regularly over the past few months, so I am not surprised at all to see him qualify for the Volvo China Open. I could not be more proud of him.” The Volvo China Open takes place from May 2-5 at Tianjin Binhai Lake Golf Club near Tianjin, It will be interesting to see how he performs against seasoned Tour professionals.

KNOW YOUR RULES QUESTION: A player’s ball comes to rest adjacent to some steps that lead down to a bunker. The steps interfere with his stance for his next shot. A: Is the player allowed a FREE shot? B: Is the player penalised for taking a drop? ANSWER: Providing the ball was NOT in the bunker then the player is entitled to a free drop from an immovable obstruction in a bunker or water hazard. Had the ball been in the bunker then relief from the immovable obstruction may be taken IN THE BUNKER, but not nearer the hole. If it is not possible to take relief not nearer a hole, then it can be dropped behind the bunker keeping the point where the ball lay in line with the flag back as far as you like. Penalty for this option is one shot.

Friday, April 5, 2013

If you’re a Martin O’Neill man, then it’s been sad to watch the Irishman’s steady decline this season. After the great days at the helm of Wycombe, Norwich, Leicester, Celtic and Aston Villa, when his boyhood favourites Sunderland came calling, Martin jumped at the chance to put the Black Cats back among the big time of British football (you can’t say English any more, boyo, what with Swansea and now Cardiff battering down the Premiership door). Why didn’t it happen for O’Neill and Sunderland then, just like the old days? Well, I’ve got one theory - Martin was not bought by Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, he was already there. Like so many who played under Cloughie, he quickly found out that although he himself was erudite, witty, a good midfielder and a leader on and off the park, there was only one big-

OH NO - NOW IT’S O’NEILL!

More managerial misery maybe means Martin missed his mate... headed boss at the City Ground - and it wasn’t him. O’Neill both suffered and learnt under one of the greatest club managers British football has known. But there are two other men who feature heavily in the lives and careers of both managers who should always be remembered. I am one of those lifetime Forest

supporters who, while being eternally grateful to Clough for taking my provincial, unfashionable team so high that we needed oxygen, also pay grateful homage to the huge part Peter Taylor played in the success of the fabulous Forest team of the late seventies, and also the great Derby side earlier. It was Taylor who spotted

talent that could be further recycled, like Dave Mackay and Kenny Burns, and at ailing Forest, Clough and Taylor inherited and polished up another dusty diamond in John Robertson. This scruffy, down-at heel, fagging left winger was almost on football’s scrap heap, but with a combination of Clough/Taylor good

ARSENAL'S £8.5M SPANISH TARGET HINTS AT UK MOVE

VICTOR VALDES says he would relish a move to the Premier League as he prepares for life after Barcelona. The keeper is reportedly high on the wish list of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after revealing that he did not plan to extend his contract beyond the summer of 2014. Arsenal's keepers have been inconsistent this season with Wojciech Szczesny recently losing his place in the first team due to a number of high profile errors. Meanwhile, Valdes made it clear he was ready to leave Barcelona an looks set for a new challenge as he looks to add yet more silverware to his bursting cabinet. Arsenal would certainly present such a challenge for the Spaniard, having gone eight seasons now with-

out a trophy, and reports have speculated that the Gunners could land the star for around £8.5 million. Now Valdes has admitted that a move to the Premier League is a very enticing prospect. "I like the Premier League, of course," he said. "They shoot a lot 'shoot on goal' - that's what you say in English, no? I like the respect of the crowd towards footballers in England. "It's a different way of living football. They clap a simple tackle in England, we're not used to that. I like it." Valdes said he would seriously consider trying a new culture if the right offer came along, explaining: "I want to try new cultures, new football, new challenges. "I've had great times here, I love it at Barcelona. I will always come back

here, but I have this wonderful job which allows me to travel. And I want to travel." Szczesny's father recently had a pop at Arsenal for the side's treatment of the Poland international, but the keeper hit back and said he didn't agree with the comments. Wenger has also since defended Szczesny, though he hinted that he wasn't happy with the 22 year old's form in recent months, and that he may face competition to keep hold of his place in the number one position. "Wojciech has a great future," Wenger said. "He is a very young goalkeeper. You do not find very many goalkeepers at his age who have the experience he has already, but he lives in a world where competition exists."

EDGY ELCHE END EVEN

ELCHE rode their luck against a lively but troubled Racing. Once again the Illicitanos’ fabulous defence, which has conceded only 18 goals in 32 matches, saw them through. The long-travelling Elche fans made a considerable noise throughout and

Racing Santander were finally rewarded by the which in truth the Franjiverdes deserved. The result saw Elche stay top same margin of 12 points, but

point, hardly by the 13 for

Elche

automatic promotion, as Alcorcon in second place also drew - 10 to go. This weekend Elche are at home on Saturday evening at 8pm to 11th placed Lugo. Mucho Elche!

Torry pride guys seek Sunday best

TORRY sit in the relegation places after the Easter fixtures and have four home games and four away to salvage their pride and division three status, writes JEFF SCOTT. On Sunday Eldense visit, fresh from a shut out with champions elect Novelda, boasting a mean defence that has not been breached in their last five matches. With Torry's lacklustre form in front of goal, fans will not be expecting a goalfest. These two fought out a 2-2 draw in October and both would probably settle for the same again. However, with Torry one point behind three teams on 38 points, a win, how-

ever meagre, would likely see them jump above two or even three other sides, including opponents Eldense - one of those on 38 points. Good news is that Koeman has appeared as a second half substitute in Torry's last two matches and should now be cherry ripe for a first full appearance since February. He is a proven scorer, so maybe, just maybe, Torry can destroy that high security defensive Eldense wall and win three glorious points. The match kicks off at 5pm at the Nelson Mandela stadium.

cop/bad cop, fear and motivation, Robertson was transformed into the Forest playmaker. It’s the 44th minute of the European Cup final 1979 against Malmo, Robbo goes past his man and crosses a beauty for the elegant Trevor Francis to nod it in at the far post to win it for Forest. One year later against Hamburg, Robertson goes one better, this time scoring the only goal to put my Forest into orbit to win the European Cup in successive years. Halcyon days… O’Neill and Robertson, Irishman and Scot, became great friends at Forest and a new management team was born. They worked their way

up together Clough ‘n Taylor style from Wycombe to Villa, Robbo being the players’ link to the boss … until Sunderland, that is, when Robertson declined the move north. Without his right-hand man, O’Neill has looked increasingly vulnerable and unconfident - and his Sunderland team have looked the same on the pitch. The Irishman’s recent interviews have been excruciating to watch. The early euphoria soon wearied at Wearside, as Sunderland began to make up the numbers in the Prem, though not then amongst the pressing problems of surviving, like Reading, QPR, Wigan…oh, and Villa! But league tables don’t lie, and if you can count 2013 wins on one hand, soon the piper needs paying. American owner Ellis Short is like his surname on failure (reminds me of that American bra joke – one Yank and it’s all off) and with ‘seasonal’ time running out, it’s Easter, with passions running high and so Martin O’Neill’s time at the Stadium of Light was abruptly up. Will that be the end of Martin O’Neill? Yes, I fear it might. If so, the Irishman will go down as one of the ‘nearly’ men of football.

EVERY DAY’S A FOOTBALL DAY April 8th 1990 The two FA Cup semi finals produce a staggering 16 goals as Crystal Palace beat Liverpool 4-3 and Manchester Utd edge out Oldham 2-1 after a 3-3 draw. All the goals are scored by different players. 9th 1988 At the tender age of just 17 years and 240 days, Alan Shearer becomes the youngest player to score a hat-trick on his full debut when he gets three for Southampton against Arsenal in their league match at the Dell 10th 1970 Two Brian Kidd goals seal a 2-0 victory for Manchester Utd against Watford in the first ever FA Cup third and fourth place play-off. Played the day before the FA Cup final, the game attracted 15,000 fans and the idea was scrapped five years later. 11th 1937 Two goals each from Welsh and Tadman, added to a single strike by Hobbis, helped Charlton to a 5-2 win over the French national side in Paris. Charlton were drafted in as the (‘natural’) late replacements for Italy who pulled out of the fixture the week before. 12th 1964 The Sunday People publishes details of how the former Everton and Charlton player, Jimmy Gauld, helped fix matches. Over 60 players were eventually implicated in the most far-reaching racket to infect the English game. Described as the ringleader, Gauld was sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined £5,000. 13th 1936 Joe Payne scores a record 10 goals on his debut as Luton beat Bristol Rovers 12-0 in their Division Three South game. 14th 1991 Wembley hosts its first ever FA Cup semi final in which a Gazza inspired Spurs beat Arsenal 31 Compiled by STUART EVANS

Friday, April 5, 2013

RIGHT LOONY Sunderland in blunderland with Potty Paolo

THE loonies have taken over the Stadium of Light asylum. Just when you think you’ve seen and heard it all in football, suffering Sunderland fired Martin O’Neill with seven games to go. And in an act of pure ‘you couldn’t make it up’, American chairman Ellis Short proves he doesn’t get ‘saccar’ by appointing unproven barmpot Paolo di Canio, a self-proclaimed fascist (hey, he could player/manage from the right wing) as the new Wearside grupenfuhrer. Now anything can happen, and it already has as Labour politician David Miliband ‘left’ the club in protest. The Italian’s volatility and strange ways at Swindon make him an ideal candidate for the big time at a huge club like Sunderland. Perfectly for football, it will all ‘kick off’ at Euro Champions Chelsea on Sunday – the Interim One v the Crazy Crackpot. Hang on to your hats, lads, ‘erewego! Talking of megalomaniac international owners, did you see Chelski’s boys in blue doing ‘emselves a huge

John McGregor reports

favour at the Bridge on Monday, ruining Easter for Man United as Chelsea beat the Reds? Did you see that Djemba Ba goal - howdy do dat? If you didn’t, you missed a treat, Youtube it (bet Alan Pardew squirmed). Now Chelsea and United’s nasty-neighbours City scrap it out in the FA Cup semis for the right to play... erm…is it Wigwall or Milan? Watching Fulham v Quite Probably Relegated t’other night, something was obvious: the team spirit is just not there with the Hoops, is it? If you watch, say, Southampton or Aston Villa, the lads look as if they’re all in it together and celebrate goals as though they were in a cup final. It looks as important to them as that - and it should be. But you can almost feel the tension and dislike between the Rangers players, they look like what they are: an overpaid bunch of mercenaries, most of whom couldn’t really care less about Rangers – and it shows in the results. Now it really is ‘must win’ at Loftus Road come Saturday against wacky Wigan, for both sides. If QPR lose that really must be it, despite all Harry Redknapp’s efforts and defiant rhetoric. Elsewhere In the Prem this week, it’s great on Saturday with Midlands muscle mounting as Aston

Villa go to Stoke, though Super Sunday looks best with Tottenham entertaining Everton the pick. But we’ll all have to wait until Monday night to see numeros uno y dos ‘fight’ it out in the big match, the Mancunian derby for who owns today’s big bragging rights in football’s capital, now that t’ Coop has ruled out more local spice. West Ham at Liverpool’ll give recently-rejuvenated Andy Carroll a chance to show Anfield what they lost. Hey, Lionel Messi scored for Barcelona against Celta Vigo at the weekend – so what? Well actually , that made amazing history as it made him the first player in Spanish football history to score against every other team in La Liga consecutively – 19 games in a row, the previous record a mere ten. That gives Messi 29 goals for the season, 57 in all competitions including the first against Paris St-Germain on Tuesday before he went off at half-time– wow! No surprise Barca are top of La Liga, 13 clear of second placed Real Madrid with nine to play. PSG? Have to say David Beckham looks a bit past it these days – at times the game was played at 100mph and Golden Ballons looked as though Posh could outrun him!