Week 152

Edition 152

www.thecourier.es

Friday, January 17, 2014

Our latest edition is always online at www.thecourier.es

ROAD OF DEATH Mum and daughter die on N332 black spot Get The Courier Newspaper whenever you want! Available on iPad, iPhone and any Android powered smartphone or tablet!

Just search for us in the App Store and Google Play!

By ALEX TRELINSKI An Orihuela Costa mother and daughter lost their lives in a horrific car crash on the N332 close to Torrevieja’s desalination plant on Wednesday.

The tragedy happened at 2.45pm, when their car collided with a school bus. The 40 year old mother was killed instant­ ly, whilst her 2 year old daughter suffered a severe head

injury. She was pulled out alive from the wreckage, but died an hour later at the nearby Torrevieja Hospital.

The drama unfolded on a notorious black­spot where the N332 is a single­lane carriageway, with the Riviera company school bus heading southbound to pick up students at Pilar de la Horadada, whilst the car was travelling on the other side towards Torrevieja. Authorities are trying to piece together what exactly happened but eye witnesses say that the car collided­head on with the bus, which is then said to have been launched into the air, landing on its side in a ditch.

The car itself was completely mangled as a result of the crash, whilst the 56 year old bus driver along with the one person that was with him, were treated at the scene for just minor injuries and shock. A Guardamar driver who was right behind the bus suffered a mild shoulder injury.

The N332 through Torrevieja has some 30 thousand vehi­ cles a day using it, and was closed for nearly 3 hours as emergency services attended the scene. Last month, Torrevieja’s Mayor Eduardo Dolon said that finances permit­ ting, work might start next year on upgrading the accident­ ridden stretch of the N332 into a dual­carriageway.

2

Friday, January 17, 2014

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

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

Affiliations

Picture of the Week

96 692 1003 679 096 309

Umbrellas at dawn. Photo by FRED BRUNSKILL

QUESTIONS OVER Algorfa murder riddle FRENCH ATTACK

The videoed assault by two private securi­ ty guards on a French couple who were shopping at the Carrefour store in Torrevieja is be raised in the Madrid Parliament. Jean Louis and Jenine Alice Naud have filed a complaint with the Guardia Civil after the guards pounced on them after they were leaving the shop on December 30th and subjected them to physical and verbal abuse in an incident that was filmed by their teenage son.

The left­wing IU MP, Ricardo Sixto (pic­ tured) has tabled questions to the govern­ ment on what they are going to do to stop a repeat of such an incident happening, espe­ cially as he claims to be a greater emphasis on more private security guards taking over what were regarded as police duties. “We want to hear the Government’s view of the way these security guards work and to stop these attacks happening again”. The French Embassy and Consulate in Madrid have already asked for an explanation of what

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 qual­ ity electronic data or inadequate instruc­ tions for text or other layout features.

Further no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by an error, inaccuracy or non­appearance of any advertisement, although all advertise­ ments produced are checked prior to insertion. We regret that we cannot accept responsibility for more than ONE incorrect insertion and that no re­publi­ cation will be granted in the case of typographical or minor changes which do not affect the value of the advertise­ ment. E&OE. NO PART OF THIS NEWSPAPER MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PUBLISHERS.

happened with the security firm involved car­ rying out an internal investigation.

Following last week’s front page story, The Habaneras Shopping Centre manager, Sofia Olivarria has asked us to point out that Carrefour and the units within it are a totally separate entity from the Habaneras Centre which employs the Securitas security com­ pany, whilst the Carrefour units use Casesa.

a bush by a snail­picker. His torso had been stuffed into a bag, with his hands and legs tied. He’d been a tenant in the British man’s Algorfa property, who told the court that he had just returned from the UK to get the victim to sign some rental papers, but claimed that the home was deserted and in a filthy state. The motive for the killing is not clear, but the defendant is planning an appeal, whilst the prosecution has called for a mini­ mum sentence of 15 years behind bars.

CHEERS TO SANGRIA NEW NOTE, SAME VALUE

Spanish and Portuguese sangria producers got a major boost this week with the news that only san­ gria made in those countries will be able to use the name sangria. New labelling rules from the European Parliament mean that producers of the non­Iberian version of the fruity

Publication

A 62 year old unnamed British man has been found guilty of murdering a 33 year old man and dumping his body in the Sierra Escalona area of Pilar de la Horadada back in May 2009. The Elche Provincial Court (pictured) jury reached its unanimous verdict that the victim had been stabbed to death, with his body being discovered in

wine drink will have to brand it as an “aromatised wine­based drink”.

Foreign producers will also have to clearly label where their blend of the drink is made, with the same tough rules applying to clarea, or sangria blanca, the white wine ver­ sion of the beverage.

A new­style 10­euro note will go into circulation on September 23rd following on from the recently­launched new­style five­euro bill.

There were some problems across Europe with some of the new notes not working in some ATM and vending machines, when they came

into circulation last May but there were relatively few problems in Spain. New for­ mat 20­euro and 50­euro notes will also be introduced in the future.

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

pier events like family weddings (particularly Golden and Diamond ones!), Just phone the Courier office on 966 921 003 or email office@thecourier.es We’re waiting for your call…and next week’s Front Page story.

Friday Partly sunny High 14 Low 9° Chance of rain 5% Monday Sunny High 16 Low 6° Chance of rain 0%

Tuesday Sunny High 16° Low 7° Chance of rain 0%

Saturday Showers High 15° Low 8° Chance of rain 80% Wednesday Sun and showers High 19° Low 9° Chance of rain 56%

Sunday Partly sunny High 14° Low 7° Chance of rain 2% Thursday Sunny High 18° Low 8° Chance of rain 0%

Friday, January 17, 2014

ROAD RAGE

3

La Zenia businesses “threatened” in road switch La Zenia’s traders have slammed proposed exit closures on the N332 which could lead to shops and bars closing down; and they’ve now got the backing of two key Orihuela councillors.

Plans were published last month proposing the shutting of two exits at the main La Zenia roundabout, with Paddy’s Point co­ owner, Hazel Connor telling The Courier that many businesses would suffer, including the Consum supermar­ ket. She said that many people were annoyed that the plans were published over the holiday period, leaving only until this Monday (January 20th) to make written objections and comments to the authorities in Alicante. Ms.Connor was one of over 50 business owners that went to a hastily arranged meeting at the Playa Flamenca Town Hall on Monday lunchtime, where they put over their views to Orihuela coastal councillor, Martina Scheurer and planning spokesman, Antonio Zapata. The two councillors said they would go to Alicante to make their feelings clear, saying that they shared the concerns of the local business community.

Alicante’s Ministerio de Fomento issued a proclamation in their Official Gazette on December 19th saying that they intended to close access from the roundabout to the Alhambra (pictured) and Maestro roads, with them becom­

ing one­way streets. Protestors claim this will be a blow to around 100 businesses based around there, and that road access will be difficult and long­winded with drivers having to go onto the Villamartin road before turning around to get onto the new one­way routes.

The authorities in Alicante say that urgent action was needed as there have been 44 accidents on crossings in the area in the last two years including a number of fatalities, though residents claim that figures from the Local Police and

the Guardia Civil just do not back up what the Highways department is saying over the number of incidents, since it’s taken in a far wider area than the proximity to the round­ about. There are other claims of a “hidden agenda” to divert all traffic to Zenia Boulevard. Hazel Connor said that the anger over the plans was increased still further due to the way they were announced. “Orihuela Council pinned the details on their Playa Flamenca Town Hall noticeboard on December 24th, when everybody was celebrating Christmas Eve,” she fumed. Opponents of the changes also say that many residents close to the roundabout have been away over the holiday period and will not have heard of the plans.

Monday’s meeting at Playa Flamenca Town Hall saw Martina Scheurer and Antonio Zapata pledge that they would go to Alicante to take up the concerns with the Ministerio de Fomento. Zapata said that there are safety issues that need to be addressed in the area but the pro­ posed plans were likely to make matters worse than better.

Hazel Connor told The Courier that it was clear that the councillors were completely supportive of the traders con­ cerns, and that many of her fellow objectors were sending their views via registered post to Alicante or even handing them over in person ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Spain continues to be a world leader in human organ donation and transplants, despite big cuts in health spending. Transplants, particularly lung replacements, went up nearly 20% in 2013, with a 10% rise in pancreatic transplants, according to the government health ministry.

A record total of 4,279 transplants were carried out in Spain in 2013, of which 2,552 were of kidneys, 1,093 of livers and 285 of lungs, it said.

"The Spanish transplant system, which has been the world leader for 22 years, has again demonstrated its vitality," said the head of the state National Transplant

Organization (ONT), Rafael Matesanz. The Madrid gov­ ernment slashed the health budget by 7 billion Euros a year in 2012 to strengthen public finances, causing wait­ ing lists for non­urgent surgery to lengthen. But the national transplant system has thrived over the years, with the number of donors increasing from 14 per million peo­ ple in 1989 to 35 per million in 2011. That puts Spain far ahead of other countries, with 26 donors per million peo­ ple in the United States, 25 in France and just under 15 in Germany, according to the transplant body's latest figures from 2011.

Brit and run Spain is transplant heaven

An 82 year old British man, was four times over the drink­ drive limit, is accused of killing a cyclist after colliding with him out­ side Los Alcazares last Monday evening. The drama happened when a Hyundai car hit the 54 year old North African cyclist, who was wearing a reflective jacket, with such force that witness­ es reported that he was thrown up several metres in the air, and was unable to be revived by paramedics. The collision at 7.30pm on the F30 Los Alcazares to Torre Pacheco road close to the industrial estate, saw the Brit fleeing the scene, though his registration details were noted by people in the area, which helped authorities to launch a dragnet to catch him. The accused man, with

the initials AEP, took flight and tried to hide his vehicle in the garage of his 2nd home in Cartagena, with his primary house listed as being in Pilar de la Horadada. The Guardia Civil arrested the octogenarian, who faced charges of reck­ less homicide and breaking road safety laws when he appeared in a Cartagena court on Wednesday. He was released on bail, with the judge taking away his driving licence, as well as forbidding him to leave the country, and ordering him to report on a regular basis to court.

BLUE ANGER

Residents and business own­ ers in Lo Pagan have united to oppose plans to introduce park­ ing metres on the beach as part of a blue zone for the summer.

There was anger about a lack of consultation by the San Pedro del Pinatar council, with the group deciding to lobby the council as well as organising a petition against the measures.

MYSTERY FINE

Spain’s airport operator AENA and 11 car hire companies have been hit with a 3 million Euro fine for what have been described as “anti­competitive” practices. Spain’s Competition Commission (CNMC) has handed out the penal­ ty, with AENA having to cough up a 900 thousand Euro sum, whilst the car companies led by Europcar, Hertz and Sixt have to pay the rest. The CNMC has not said what the com­ panies did wrong.

Tourist spend up Something nasty in

Tourists are spending more in the Costa Blanca for the first since the start of the recession, but figures are still well down on what they were back in 2009.

New figures show that the average holiday maker coming to Alicante Province would spend 852 Euros, compared to 1171 Euros in 2009. That 2009 figure in turn was a big 16% drop on the 2008 returns. The sta­ tistics show an increasing in spending power of 4% in 2013 compared to the previous year, with regional hotel bosses saying that the position of many of their members is still “unsustainable”.

The Valencian President, Alberto Fabra, has said that he is targeting 23 million visitors to the whole of the region this year, which is just over a rise of 2% on last year.

the garage

An Orihulea householder rang up the local police and told them that there was an unwanted object in her garage in the San Bartolomé area of the city: ­ namely an unexploded bomb dating from the Spanish Civil War. The woman told that the local police that her father found it over 30 years ago on a building site, and because he brought it home, she always thought that it was perfectly safe, until a neighbour suggested that it might be a good idea to call the police. The Guardia Civil’s bomb dispos­ al team was brought it in, and confirmed that the bomb was still active, and they took it away in a protective casing.

4

Friday, January 17, 2014

Jailed: notary Up up and away RAISED EYEBROWS murderers

9 Hell’s Angels members have received a total of 67 year behind bars for the murder of a 54 year old Torrevieja notary in 2009. The jail terms were bundled with other sentences for robbery and the illegal use of weapons. The leader of gang, who comes from Ibiza, was handed 26 years for firing the shot at the notary, as well as being involved in a gun attack two days earlier on a San Pedro del Pinatar bar owner in addition to robbing a house in Pedralba in Valencia Province.

Prison sentences for the remaining gang members ranged between 13 years to 6 months in jail.

Final figures show a big 8.8% rise in the number of people using Alicante­Elche airport last year. Over 9 and a half mil­ lion people used the El Altet facilities with 437 thousand trav­ elling to and from Britain. The biggest region though was Scandinavia, with 1.3 million passengers, as well just over 1 million domestic Spanish journeys. The figures are helping to pull back some of the lost traffic in recent years at El Altet but they still bucked the national trend, which saw a 7% fall in journeys using airports run by AENA, though international traffic was up by 2%. Meanwhile, Vueling is to launch a new summer service linking Alicante­Elche to Menorca. The route to Mahon will run twice weekly on Friday and Sunday from June 20th to September 14th.

Scam smashed PIVE BOOST

422 people have been arrested by the police after they were accused of being involved in a 2.6 million Euro fake job scam. The nationwide network sold fake work contracts, which let people apply for unemployment benefits, foreign resident permits, and, for inmates, open prison status, according to Spain’s Interior Ministry.

Police arrested suspects in some 30 towns and cities across Spain, including the Murcia region and Alicante province. The unnamed gang boss lived in Jerez de la Frontera and worked with accomplices within the social secu­ rity services. He created up to 10 fake companies run mostly by drug addicts with criminal records who were paid for their roles. People who bought the fake contracts were told to pay social security contributions to the gang leader, but that money never reached the government, the ministry said.

The cost of glasses and contact lenses in Spain is going up, on the orders of the European Union. The EU says that Spain needs to streamline its IVA rates, and since eyeware is now classified as healthcare, the full range of eye­related products has to go up in price. That means that IVA on glass­ es and contact lenses will rise from 10% to 21%.

Opticians are worried that this hike may lead to people who need glasses not wearing them in order to put food on the table and pay their rent or mortgage, potentially damaging their eyes permanently and even risking their lives and those of others if they drive with unsuitable or no eyewear. The rul­ ing also affects medical supplies such as bandages, X­ray equipment and hospital beds.

It has already affected veterinary medication and supplies in the past year, meaning healthcare for animals has gone up in price. Vets are also worried about the IVA rise in this respect, fearing it will make pet­owners less likely to have their animals treated when they are sick.

STUBBED OUT

A 'cash for scrap' plan aimed at boosting the Spanish motor industry is back for the fifth time with a government grant of 1.75 million Euros, meaning that car­owners will get a sizeable discount off the cost of a new vehicle if they trade in their old one for parts. The last four ‘Plan PIVE’s led to 365 thousand new cars being bought with part­exchange avail­ able on vehicles that were 7 years and older. The govern­ ment claims that PIVE has created over 10 thousand jobs in Electronic cigarettes are children's parks or any­ the motor industry with over 2 million new cars made in Spain one step closer to being where designed for chil­ being sold via dealerships in the first 10 months of 2013 ­ stubbed out in public dren to play, and on all more than in the whole of 2012, and a rise of 30 per cent a places as part of the gov­ public transport. She has year. It was the first year to show a rise in sales after succes­ ernment’s new Consumer given regional parliaments sion of falls from 2007.

Law changes, which like those in Murcia and should kick in next month. Valencia free rein to Health minister, Ana Mator, increase these restric­ says that smoking E­ciga­ tions, meaning E­ciga­ An Italian man who ran a rettes will be stopped rettes may even be prohib­ bogus company in San inside all public sector ited in bars and restau­ Miguel de Salinas that buildings, including rants in the same way as received over 120 thousand schools and health cen­ ordinary cigarettes have Euros of fruit that he didn’t tres, as well as in open­air been since January 2010 deliver, has been arrested along with 2 of his col­ leagues. The National Police believe that the overall fraud was worth over 300 thou­ Over 300 families living in the Mar Menor area could lose sand Euros, with a number of their homes according to the group, Platform for those suppliers also being swindled Affected by Mortgages (PAH). They claim that they are get­ into handing over vehicles ting up to 5 new cases coming to their weekly meetings in and machinery, which were Santiago de la Ribera. Pepe Espinar from PAH says that then sent to Italy to avoid those coming along are generally middle to high class fami­ being recovered.

E-ban confirmed

TUTTI FRUTTI

Two men who stole over a thousand packets of cigarettes from an Elche tobacconist were arrested by the National Police after a high speed chase in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The 29 and 31 year old Spaniards were caught after their car crashed into the central reservation of the road, as they were trying heading towards Crevillente on the N340 road.

RAJOY HAPPY

Eviction action

lies who have spent all their savings and have nothing left.

“We explain that they should feel no shame at having to come and ask for help, because on their own they won’t achieve much against the powerful banks”, added Espinar.

The Murcian coastline has been one of the areas most affect­ ed by the evictions generated by the financial crisis, but PAH has managed to help 30 families, organising smaller pay­ ments or getting banks to waive a debt. They also offer psy­ chological help in the form of workshops, and legal advice.

LIFE’S A GAS

Close to 200 homes and businesses in the Algorfa area can now switch to natural gas after a new 2 and a half kilo­ metre pipeline put in by the Cegas company, which was cel­ ebrated in an official opening ceremony. The 375 thousand Euro investment has seen the area linked up to the Orihuela­ Redovan­Torrevieja pipeline, which runs at 41 kilometres.

WWW.PRO-BUSINESS-SUPPORT.COM With regards to my adverts in The Courier.

From the Friday that our adverts appeared by the Wednesday of the following week we had rented out 4 of our properties to direct clients of The Courier.

So thank you for that.

Best Regards Keith Barry Director Professional Business Support. www.pro­business­support.com Tel. +34 966 923 963

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy met US President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday and said that Spain had received a "satisfactory" explanation of reports that American spies bugged European leaders' phones. Last year, leaked documents from the US National Security Agency revealed that Washington had targeted the commu­ nications of some of its closest allies in Europe.

Rajoy told reporters that the Spanish government and the United States had conducted "full consultations" on the issue and Washington's explanations were "satisfactory." "As long as there are no new developments, I have nothing to add to what I have said about this previously," Rajoy added.

Friday, January 17, 2014

SPAIN BLAMES MUM

The death of a 5­month­old American baby crushed in a baggage carousel at Alicante­ Elche airport was down to parental neglect and not the machine, according to the Spanish government.

Authorities have laid the blame for the horrific accident last September squarely at the feet of the person super­ vising her at the time. The mother had just arrived in Spain from London's Gatwick Airport and with her two chil­ dren and Canadian husband.

A statement, released after IU politician Ricardo Sixto asked what had been done to prevent similar tragedies in the future, claimed the inci­ dent was "totally random." It was "not attrib­ utable to the installation of the conveyor belt," the government added. Instead, it said the person accountable was "the person who was in charge of the child." The acci­ dent made worldwide headlines last year after the girl, identified as Vashtin Terry, was crushed to death in the carousel. Her moth­ er, 32­year­old accountant Nathania Terry,

could only watch in horror as her young daughter fell from her arms onto the belt for oversized luggage. Police believed the girl ended up trapped in an about 4­inch hole where two moving belts converged. She died from catastrophic head injuries. The government also rejected initial theories sug­ gesting that the belt could have been activat­ ed by a motion sensor.

WHAT A WASTE

Six homes on Tabarca Island are set to be demolished after planning officials started proceedings on Monday. The villas next to Birros creek were illegally built construct­ ed within a Tabarca protection area.

Orihuela Medieval market

The city of Orihuela and the surrounding area is known to have been inhabited as far back as the 3rd Century B.C: During the 17th to 15th century BC. The “El Argar” whose religious beliefs involved burying their deceased in family graves with­ in their own home, were the dominant cul­ ture. The arrival of the Romans in approx 1 A.D. gave the city the name of Auriola, lead­ ing to the modern name of Orihuela. Under the rule of the Nomadic, Germanic tribes known as the Visigoths Orihuela became the capitol city of what is now known as the “Vega Baja” (Meaning fertile lowlands).

When the Moors invaded in the 8th century, a Christian called Toedomro held the city in Christian hands for a full century. Partly through military skill, but also by means of the paying tributes (bribes) to the Moorish rulers. The Moors finally took control in the 9th Century and ruled until 1242 when Alfonso 10th (Also known as Alfonso the wise) retook the city for the Christians.

In 1488 the catholic Monarchs held a Parliament in the Iglesia de Santiago with the aim of raising funds for the final push on Granada. Which when taken in 1492 ended 800 years of Moorish rule. Later Orihuela was to be punished by the withdrawal of all privileges for backing the unsuccessful Charles 3rd in the later war which was known as the Spanish war of succession. A

massive earthquake in 1829 did nothing to restore the cities fortunes. But despite this the centuries old cathedral, and the Palace of Rubalcava survived along with the many old buildings which even today form the heart of this ancient city. With a population of about 50,000 people Orihuela nowadays is a thriving modern city. But once a year in early February, Orihuela city reverts to previous centuries. Stalls fill the streets selling prod­ ucts and artefacts reminiscent of earlier times. The stall holders wearing medieval style clothing transport us as far back as the 8th century. A gaggle of geese are led through the streets by their carer, who is also dressed in medieval costume. At the old city gate donkeys, sheep and goats happily munch on bales of hay. A camel struts haughtily along the narrow streets of the old town. Dancers in period costume, dance to the music of the type of instruments which were used to entertain the Royalty of both Moorish and Christian times. For this is the annual medieval market of the City of Orihuela which is held every year at the beginning of February.

David’s Coachtrips are providing an excur­ sion to this event on Saturday 1st February.

Why not have a low cost day out with a dif­ ference? It’s easy. Reserve your places online at www.coachtripsonline.com Or by calling direct on (0034) 966785910.

5

6

Friday, January 17, 2014

editor@thecourier.es COURIER POSTBAG: YOUR VIEWS ON OUR NEWS

Making music with the Mayor I am the Secretary of the La Marina and San Fulgencio Presidents Association.

Over the last few years we have also had a problem in La Marina, with the police, and bars being told to stop music etc. About this time last year, we had a meeting with our Mayor, Carlos Ramirez, and other coun­ cil representatives. Part of the meeting was taken up discussing the bars etc.

I suggested that maybe we could put together a by­law, issuing guidelines to enable bars to have music, but with limita­ tions. The Mayor was favourable for some­ thing to be done. We organised a petition and ended up with 1246 names, which the Mayor accepted.

Following other meetings, we eventually had a meeting with the Valencian Government delegate in Alicante, and we put our case forward. He agreed that we

could come to some compromise, and he was all for the fact that we were trying to integrate with the community.

Other meetings followed with the neigh­ bours who lived near to the bars, and a set of guidelines was put forward.

We called meetings with the bars, and put forward the guidelines, such as, all enter­ tainment to cease at midnight, and noise to be kept at a reasonable level. To offset mali­ cious complaints, the police said that if a call came in, the caller would have to identi­ fy themselves, and say where the complaint was coming from. The police would then go to the property and ascertain if the com­ plaint was justified. This worked very well.

The summer passed by with no problems, and the bars made a living knowing there would be no hassle from the police. The neighbours were happy that the bars com­

plied with the guidelines. This all sounds great, but I have to say that we have a Mayor who will listen and is prepared to act.

After all, if the urbanisation is happy, the voters are happy.

The La Marina Presidents Association represents a great number of people on our Urb, and we know that if we have any prob­ lems, we can contact the Town Hall, who will always listen. We will continue to have regular meetings with the Town Hall, which will be beneficial to everyone.

I would suggest that the bar owners of El Raso form a Bar Owners Association, get registered, and arrange meetings with the powers that be. You will have more of a chance of being listened to, as a body of people, rather than individuals. Good luck.

TOM ROGERS, Secretary, La Marina Presidents Association

A DOG TALE THAT VERGES ON LIBEL

I AM appalled that Peter Singh’s article Why Spain, Oh Why? (Issue 151) went to press.

A logo showing ‘Stop killing dogs in Spain’ surrounded by an article not only naming an establishment but broadcasting the writer's opin­ ion to all your readership.

Sadly, the content is based on misunderstanding, misconception and incorrect in conclusion. Peter Singh’s information is misleading and parts border on libel. For example, "they have up to a maxi­ mum of 30 days to be claimed, oth­ erwise they are killed."

The fact is that dogs come into Cereco for many different reasons.

Each case is individual and many, many are rehomed or reunited with owners.

Cereco is an organisation func­ tioning in two locations, undertak­ ing different roles but owned and funded by one. The first location [warehouse] is to collect and con­ tain short term. Every dog on entry

DON’T FORGET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION Letters and emails will only be considered for publication on this page if an address and contact number are provided in case we need to call you.

has an owner by law and each dog has to go through a process. Many of the dogs seen by the writer would not be legally free for adop­ tion.

The second location is the "refu­ gio" or adoption centre for Cereco dogs and Cereco dogs only. The same dogs seen by the writer will be, when free and ready by law for adoption, in the Refugio.

Nowadays all adoptions take place in the Refugio run by a very caring, English­speaking, Spanish manager named Pau Fernandez.

This is the person who could have helped him adopt the dogs he wanted to choose. He was not turned away ­ he was redirected.

The problems experienced by the writer arose from the way he tried to adopt dogs; nothing more strange or confusing. The article misleads and gives no credit to the wonderful work going on there to foster as many adoptions as possi­ ble.

I would like to break down and contest the content of Peter Singh’s

Peter Singh: Under attack whole article but would need to write a book.

So let’s just take the first para­ graph, stating he visited Cereco. He visited one part of the organisation.

He refers to dogs found on the street. Dogs come in on referral from the police, council and after public complaint to protect the inter­ ests of the public. Dogs cannot just

be lifted!

He quotes contractual rates and makes sweeping statements about the fate of animals. Each ayun­ tamiento negotiates a contract and some of them include non euthana­ sia clauses..

He states that on arrival there, they have up to a maximum of 30 days to be claimed, otherwise they are, quote, “killed’’.

In my opinion this is a libellous and outrageous statement. The true facts are of a wonderful adop­ tion centre belonging to and a part of Cereco. Its non­euthanasia clauses, its dogs that are reclaimed or found by the microchip system, the fostering, the movement of dogs abroad since 2007 to help cut down the euthanasia.

Euthanasia is practised in this area. The vets out here would not appreciate you telling them they are killing dogs. This is offensive and misleading.

ANNETTE STONE, Founder member/ex­manager of Cereco adoption centre, now Refugio

THOUGHTLESS SINGH SPELLS DOOM FOR MORE DOGS THE damning article by Peter Singh in last week's Courier on his visit to Cereco appears to have been written with little thought and many incorrect statements.

Animal Aid have been working with Cereco for many years now helping to re­home Cereco dogs through the Adoption Centre, thereby saving two dogs’ lives.

One that is adopted makes a kennel space for another to be brought down from the Cereco containment centre in Crevillente, the subject of this article.

We have had many successful adoptions, and feel that this article will only hinder the hard work that has been done. It doesn't appear to be written by someone who wants to help the plight of the Spanish dogs that find themselves, through no fault of their own, in the 'pound'.

I hope Mr Singh will think long and hard about what he has written and if he truly wants to help, not only apol­ ogise, but do something constructive through the system that is in place.

LINDA LLOYD, President, Animal Association. Registered Charity Number: G54292271 THE way Peter Singh’s article is deliberately sensationalised makes out that Cereco would not let him walk in, pick out a pedigree dog for nothing, and then sell it on on the open market, even though it might have an owner that has lost it, not had a leishmania test, not be chipped, have no passport (which is the law in Spain), no injections, is not castrated/ spayed, nor wormed or Frontlined.

The rehoming centre does all this ­ all for €65. I bet Peter Singh’s 'chari­ ty' cannot better that.

My wife and I foster for Cereco (and other charities in the area) and our latest one (along with three oth­ ers) flew off to their new permanent homes in Finland last Tuesday.

For every dog rehomed from Cereco you save two (that one plus one from the pound).

All THAT Peter Singh's article has done is doomed more dogs.

TONY WILSON

q

Untold damage ahead for pound dogs I WAS saddened to read the article by Peter Singh in last week’s edition.

There are two sides to every story ­ and never believe what is written in the Press springs to mind. But people do and this will do untold damage for the dogs unlucky enough to find themselves in the Cereco pound.

I thought this man was supposed to be helping dogs. This article is certainly not one of a caring person wanting to help.

Before I wrote this I made some enquiries and found what he had written was not true.

I am sure there will be further action taken.

SUE MASKILL (Volunteer at Cereco since the opening of the adoption centre).

I WAS shocked and appalled at the arti­ cle regarding Cereco. I did not recog­ nise it as the organisation I had the pleasure of helping as a volunteer and more than happy with the adoption of a dear little dog that I still have six years later.

q

The ladies who ran the centre were friend­ ly, helpful and very obviously had a great love for the animals they cared for so much so that crochet blankets were provided to keep them warm. The kennels were spotless and nothing was too much trouble.

This gentleman has done a great disserv­ ice to Cereco and I found myself wondering what his motives are for writing such a damnable article. I remain a dog lover MICHA BRANSON, San Isidro.

7

Friday, January 17, 2014

MY stepmother blames me for the fact she is not com­ puter literate.

She says I never carried out my promise to give her my old laptop for her 80th birthday ­ condemning her to a miserable existence with only her washing and the odd passing train online.

In the six and a half years since I committed that heinous crime, she's repaid me with a vengeance, As the world Twitters, she just witters. And witters.

She also insists I’ve deprived her of watching the 21st century's answer to Morecambe and Wise.

“The ones with the funny names...Google and Skype’’.

The old dear always thought computers were purely a modern version of a typewriter. Then a mischievous pal of mine caused turmoil by telling her that 'Internet' is where footballers must despatch the ball to score a goal.

So much for the wisecracks. I actually have problems myself understanding the remarkable development of new technology over the past couple of decades.

I remember vividly being told of a mind­boggling invention with which people could record TV pro­ grammes and watch them later.

My TV memories go back to the piano­top antics of Muffin the Mule, who spent most of his life prancing about in black and white on my parents' 14­inch Sobell TV. There was even an alternative to BBC 1 – you could switch off and watch the little white dot fade away in the centre of the screen.

WATCH OUT, MUM! WASHING’S ONLINE That Sobell was an apology for a telly, yet it cost the equiva­ lent of £1,000 in an era when £20 a week put you in the top 10 per cent of wage earners.

How times change – not least in the field of education, where the near­ est thing to today's 'A*’ rank­ ing was the sim­ ple 'A' awarded to students achieving a mark of 80% or more.

The difference was that only the cleverest kids got more than one or two A's.

This was mainly because the old GCE exam was considerably more difficult than the GCSE, which replaced it following the levelling out of the English and Welsh system.

I've never understood the logic of the lefties who insist the old Grammar School system did not give underprivileged kids an equal chance. I see it the opposite way.

My secondary school class­ mates in South Wales came from all walks of life. The Hand of their

Fathers turned to everything from labouring to coal mining, business management, advanced medicine and law.

It made no difference if you were working class, middle class or the Princess of Wales. If you passed the 11­plus you were entitled to a

place in a grammar school with its formidable GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ level courses.

If you failed, it meant at least a year in a lesser school studying for the inferior CSE (Certificate of Secondary Education) – with the chance of promotion to the local grammar school if you did well.

My sister Lydia is probably clev­ erer than I am, yet had to plough the GCSE trail because she was, my Dad’s generation always insist­ ed, “a late developer’’.

From what I can gather, you need rich parents to get into into grammar school today, unless you can wangle yourself the educa­ tional equivalent of state benefit.

Don’t tell me that constitutes a more level playing field than the one we used to gallop across at breaktime for our clandestine ciggy in the toilet.

The only injustice was that sec­ ondary moderns were generally mixed while grammar schools were exclusively for one sex.

Help! Stepmum’s been line dancing in the garden ­ and fell off.

A FRIEND IN FEED IS NO FRIEND INDEED! MY 2014 diet is already heavy going ­ and I’m only two weeks in. Hardly anything lost in the last week...but it’s not my fault I’m only mar­ ginally slimmer. Honestly.

It’s those so­called friends who’ve been encouraging me to join them for meals at dis­ gustingly inviting restaurants ­ and flatly refus­ ing to take my emphatic ‘no’ for an answer.

Well, I’ve had enough of it so I have made an executive indecision (I’m a Libran). The idea is to Name and Shame ANY individual or group who lure me into an over­eating ses­ sion, or who encourage me to join them in fill­ ing my face with Chinese, Indian, Spanish,

French, English or virtually any other kind of culinary delight. The only group I don’t need protecting from are the burger­the­calories pot­bellied pigs ­ or fat Americans as they are sometimes called.

The 2014 diet started so well with my losing 2.5lbs during the first week. But this last seven days, two Chinese banquets plus a Sunday special at the Portico Mar have gut­ ted what was becoming a concerted attempt to hit my goal weight in record time.

Anyway, the Shame Game lurks in wait for those still intent on leading me astray in the world of fine dining. Their only escape will be

to have a large box of chocolates waiting for me at the table.

You're ten years old, have just moved to Spain with your family, and it's your first day at school. To help you pick up Spanish more rapidly, no English is to be spoken during school hours. Problem is, you know very few Spanish words...and asking to go to the loo is not among them. A dilemma in any language...

The daughter of a friend of mine faced that scenario not so long ago. The poor child just sat there, minding her pees and Q's, until her mother whisked her home in the car ...to every­ one’s relief.

q

8

Friday, January 17, 2014

Friday, January 17, 2014

9

10

Friday, January 17, 2014

CAUGHT IN A SHOWER

I WOKE up the other morning determined to leap out of bed and seize the day.

However, my grip on morning motivation appears to be not as strong as it used to be, so I simply yawned, rolled over and went back into snooze mode. Then I felt the ominous sound of Mrs S stirring into wakefulness. She turned to me and hissed urgently into my ear: 'Where is my boiled egg butty?'

Mrs S adores boiled egg butties for break­ fast and believes I am the United Kingdom's pre­eminent person at preparing them.

Okay, maybe I exaggerate but if there were ever to be a television show titled The Great British Egg Butty Bake­off, I would probably be placed second or third.

Anyway, after once again partak­ ing of her husband's signature dish, Mrs S licked her lips in grati­ tude at having such a superb specialist cook as her partner and she, too, pre­ pared to start the day.

But something was wrong. As she went to lift her breakfast tray and climb out of bed, Mrs S found that there was no breakfast tray to lift. Then the truth dawned.

Relishing the thought that her hus­ band had gone downstairs to make her breakfast, Mrs S had actually dropped back to sleep and merely dreamed that I had prepared ­­ and she

had eaten ­­ her morning vittles. That's antic­ ipation for you.

Mrs S looked at her bedside clock. It showed noon. 'What on earth are you FAFFING ABOUT AT downstairs?' she demanded of her absent partner. 'I submit­ ted my breakfast order THREE HOURS ago.' Under normal circumstances, I would yell back upstairs: 'Calm down, woman!

Stop shouting at me in capital letters!' Then she would retort: 'I'll STOP using capital let­ ters when you cut down on the exclamation

marks.' But on this occasion, there was nothing coming from downstairs ­­ no kitchen noises, no whingeing husband. So where the heck was I? Mrs S eventually discovered me in the shower. 'Why are you always to be found in the last place I look?' she cried. 'Because,' I explained, 'Once you've found me, there is no need to look any place else. It's not rock­ et science, you know.' 'But what are you doing in here?' she went on.

'Congratulations, dear,' I said. 'Your query has just leaped straight into the No.1 spot in the Stupid Questions Competition.

What do you think I'm doing in here? I've been taking a shower.'

Mrs S reached into the cubicle and touched my shoulder. 'In that case, why aren't you wet and why are you wearing your dressing gown, pyja­ mas and slippers?'

'You've rumbled me,' I shrugged. 'I'm actually playing hide and seek with the dog.'

'Dog? What dog? I haven't seen a dog in this house for several years.'

'That's because it's the dog's turn to hide. He's very good, isn't he?' And

then I ruined everything by producing a huge yawn.

Mrs S dragged me to the doctor's, plonked me on the chair and said: 'Tell me, doc, is it normal for a supposedly mature man to sleep for three hours while standing in a shower cubicle?' 'My goodness,' replied the doctor. 'That is quite rare. I'd better examine you, Mr Silver. Would you please remove your dressing gown, pyjamas and slippers.'

Ten minutes later, the GP delivered his verdict. 'I believe you are suffering from lethargy, sluggishness and inertia which isn't as serious as it sounds because all three conditions are pretty much the same. It's just that I like to offer my patients a choice of ill­ ness. Anyway, as for the cause of your stag­ nation, I have ruled out poor diet because I spotted crusty egg yolk stains on your pyja­ ma top. Maybe the cause of your malaise is boredom. Have you ever thought about get­ ting a dog? Pets tend to bring motivation into their owners' lives.'

'That's no good, doc,' I sighed as I slipped my slippers back on. 'Every dog I've ever owned has left home because they've found me boring. They tend to reject me from pup­ pyhood.'

'Then why not get a fully­grown rescue dog?' suggested the GP. 'Good idea, doc,' said Mrs S. 'And all the better if the pooch can be trained to make boiled egg butties. Then I could perhaps arrange a rehoming swap for my husband.'

Friday, January 17, 2014

11

12

Friday, January 17, 2014

PETER BITES BACK OVER CERECO

I wrote last week about an experience I had when I visit­ ed Cereco, the holding centre and NOT the adoption centre, run by Pau Fernandez, who does a remarkable job there.

The article caused some people to write in and disagree, so here is my explanation for the article and my response to the letters. As I have mentioned above, the article was not about the adoption centre, but about my experience of visit­ ing the holding centre, which is completely different. At no point in the article, did I complain about the terrific job that is done at the adoption centre by Pau, and anyone looking to rescue a dog, I would strongly urge them to visit her.

The point I was making in the whole article, was the fact that when I visited the holding centre, they said I could not rescue a dog from there. There are going to be dogs there, where no one has claimed them and if they are lucky they will get transferred to the adoption centre. The fact I was raising was “why” could I not save one of those dogs’ lives that did not have a chance to go to the adoption centre. Can people surely not see that that is a fair enough question?

I had a lady called Annette Stone call me, who used to manage the adoption centre. She disagreed with my article, which she has every right to do, but we spent three hours on the phone talking and at the end of the conversation we fin­ ished it in a pleasant and polite way. She mentioned to me that not all of the dogs that are taken to the holding centre at Cereco are euthanized. She said that every dog’s situation who end up there is different and some councils have a pol­ icy where no dogs can be euthanized.

I will now answer the letters that were sent to The Courier about my article:­.

Linda Lloyd wrote, “The article doesn’t appear to be written by someone who wants to help the plight of Spanish dogs”.

Anyone who reads my column on a regular basis will know

that all I am interested in is helping the plight of Spanish dogs and if people thought I was writing about the adoption centre, or feel the article reflects onto the adoption centre, I can only apologise.

There were other responses that I found a little disturbing.

I am still astounded at the shocking comments that Tony Wilson sent in. In his letter he is quoted as saying, “The way his article is deliberately sensationalised makes out that Cereco would not let him walk in ­ pick out a pedigree dog for nothing, and then sell it on, on the open market”. In response to this scandalous comment Tony, who I may add has never even met me, is that firstly I rescue dogs and rehabilitate them and then find them loving forever homes. When have I ever been known to go to a rescue centre and only want a pedigree dog to sell onto the open market? And you also say that I visited the holding centre and expected them to give me

dogs for nothing! If that is the case, what was the 500 euros for in my back pocket for? Tony also goes on to say all that the rehoming centre does for the dogs for a fee of 65 euros and that I cannot better that. Tony, this whole episode is not about anyone bettering anyone else. It is about us all trying to help as many dogs as possible. My charity will spend any amount of money it takes, thousands if needed, to get a dog healthy and right and all a future owner is asked to give us in return is a donation, which could be just 10 euros.

Others wrote in asking what my motives were for writing the article. My motive was plain and very, very simple. I was trying to instigate change, regarding the HOLDING CEN­ TRE, so that in future people could rescue a dog from there, as well as the adoption centre, because I know that not all the dogs from the holding centre will make it down to the adoption centre. Even everyone that complained knows that.

So on a final note, I apologise if people thought I was also referring to the adoption centre, because I certainly wasn’t.

Everyone has the right to disagree with me, but when it starts getting personal, then that is where it gets silly. What I find amazing though is that after all the work I have done in Spain for dogs; after writing over 105 articles for The Courier; after spending thousands of pounds on rescuing dogs; and after helping as many people as I possibly could who had prob­ lems with their dogs for free, I dare to write something that some people would disagree with, which ends up into a “free for all” all to accuse me of kinds of things. On the other hand, when I write something people really enjoy, all I get in return is silence!

PETS’ CORNER: CAN YOU TAKE IN A HOMELESS DOG OR CAT? At 12 years old, Roddy is an old boy, and it is tragic when an old dog is abandoned as he was. All we are looking for is a long­term foster home for Roddy, so that he can spend sometime in a home environment, instead of a kennel. He doesn't demand much and is very easy to look after. Please contact Yvonne on 630 422 563.

Roddy Zara is about one, she was found with another dog in the campo. Zara is not very big and is very sweet. She gets on with other dogs and is very eager to please.

She loves people and is very easy going, she has nowhere to stay and urgently needs a home.

To find out more about Zara, pleasecall on 650 304 746 or Email: p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmai l.com

Tessa is approx 6 months old and was rescued just before Christmas, she is a Chihuahua cross and won’t get much bigger. Tessa is good with other dogs and cats and will make a lovely lap dog. Call: 645 469 253. www.petsinspain.com

Tessa

Sylvester is a 10 week old Podenco that has been found in the campo along with his siblings, he is ado­ rable, very quick to learn and his foster carer says such a good boy, his mum is a small Podenco. For more info about Sylvester, please ring the PEPA helpline on 650 304 746 or Email: p.e.p.a.animalcharity@gmail .com

Sylvester

Diesel is a lovely black cat, and one of many black cats in the APAH Cattery. Sadly very few black cats are cho­ sen for adoption and given a chance at a loving home.

Can you give a lovely cat the chance of a happy home life? Please contact Yvonne on 630 422 563.

Diesel

Roger Is about 4 months old , Loves people and other dogs and is fine with cats. He is very affectionate and very eager to please. Roger is a terrier cross and will be a small to medium sized dog. Please call 600 84 54 20 for more info www.k9club.es

Roger

Nina was rescued 5 months ago, she is now 14 months old and still waiting for a home. Nina has been sterili­ sed, is good with other cats and very loving. Call: 645 469 253. www.petsins­ pain.com

Nina

13

Friday, January 17, 2014

More in store for 2014!

Not only are they celebrating the start of 2014, Sarah and Tony Turley are also cele­ brating their first anniversary as owners of The Ready Made Curtain & Bedding Store.

This friendly shop has seen huge changes in the last year, not only moving into the new shop premises at CC Los Dolses, Villamartin but also increasing and enhancing the whole home textile shopping experience to what it is now. This shop is like a tardis..... Boasting fantastic curtains, bedding, kitchen and bathroom textiles and so much more.

Successfully becoming recognised stockists of well­known quality British and Spanish brands has enhanced the textile ranges as well as being able to offer customers the best prices and most up to date ranges.

Sarah and Tony credit their success to their past business experience and loyal cus­ tomer base allowing them to use all feed­ back and ideas to improve the service they offer ... for this they are very grateful!

The Professional Sewing Service which is based in the shop not only carries out alter­

EARLY BIRD CALL ATTACKED

By Tony Mayes

ations to curtains, but also boasts a full cur­ tain and home textile making service, clothes alterations/repairs and curtain eye­ leting service. This is fully legal and all alter­ ations are carried out in the shop. For cus­ tomer’s convenience a home estimate and installation service is available and has been used in many commercial and domestic proj­ ects in the past 12 months.

Exciting new Spring/Summer 2014 curtain and bedding ranges will arrive in store soon, having just been released customers can look forward to fantastic fresh and vibrant colours as well as some more traditional styles. Bright eye­catching colours are still in trend with teal blue remaining popular with British designers. Whatever style you may favour there is something to satisfy all tastes.

The Ready Made Curtain & Bedding Store is located in CC Los Dolses, next to Cardmania. Their Big January Sale is on now so why not pay them a visit and grab a bargain!!!!

A Torrevieja man has slammed hospital authorities after getting an early morn­ ing call to pick up his wife from Torrevieja hospital. The phone rang at 5.30 am advising Johnny Alvaro that his wife was ready to go home, and Mr. Alvaro has now fired a salvo at the hos­ pital over their uncaring atti­ tude for discharging a patient at the most unrea­ sonable of hours.

Mr Alvaro, who lives in Altos de la Bahia, was suf­ fering from a bout of 'flu when his wife Nila was taken ill in church on January 5.

She thought she was suffer­ ing from a heart attack and members of the congrega­ tion phoned for an ambu­ lance and went with her to Torrevieja Hospital. Nila underwent numerous tests and it was diagnosed that she was suffering from palpi­ tations, but was admitted and given medication to bring her heart rhythm under control.

Johnny said: "I did not go to church that Sunday because I had the 'flu and was telephoned by the wife of the pastor what had hap­ pened to my wife. This is the fifth time it has happened,

three times in Spain and twice in London, and it has to be brought under control quickly because it could lead to a heart attack or stroke."

"What I wasn't bargaining for was to be telephoned the next day, which was the Three Kings holiday, and to be told so early that she was being discharged and would I come and collect her. I don't drive, so all I could do was to wait until the first bus

at 7.30am to get to the hos­ pital. Why on earth they couldn't wait until a more sociable hour I don't know?

We took a taxi home and because it was a holiday the fare was sky high.”

“I think the hospital should think hard over their dis­ charge policy. They might need hospital beds because it's a busy place, but dis­ charging at 5.30am is ridicu­ lous," he added.

14

Friday, January 17, 2014

MUM’S THE WORD:SADLY

I always begin to think about families in the bit between Christmas and the New Year, which is traditionally a time when loved ones get together to share good moments and make lasting memories.

Many people have returned to live in the UK simply because they could not bear to be away from their relatives, whilst my thoughts turned to the only family member that I had with me, which was my son. My daughters were back in Britain, though of course the internet does help to bridge the miles! I have a sister with whom I rarely speak and two nieces and a nephew, who I never speak to, though I do feel close to my nieces, who were in the UK with my sister and brother in law enjoying a tra­ ditional Christmas.

The realisation of my broken family hit me quite hard over the recent festive period. I´m not sure why but I feel sorry, not for myself, after all I am in contact with those that I love, as well as having my boy by my side and my girls at the end of an internet connection; but no, I rather felt sorry for those family members with whom I have no contact. My mum does not even know my son exists as far as I´m aware, as we stopped talking before I came to Spain, and therefore my whole life here is a mystery to her I never gave up with my girls, since they are my life as much as my son is and it would tear me apart if I ever lost contact with one of them. In contrast, my own mother doesn´t seem to be interested in mending broken pasts and would much rather carry on with her selfish ways. I look at friends who complain about their families, but all of them have mothers (biological or not), who care very much for them and think the world of them and I think, how lucky they are. I am trying to be the best mum (and dad) to my boy, and as a parent I cannot imagine the thought process in abandoning a child. I understand in the case of adoption, that a mother might not be able to cope; that she may have issues or just do what she believes is right for the

child, but what about a mother who gives up on her child when that youngster is now grown up? It makes me wonder if I was ever wanted or if I wasn´t just some big mistake and was blamed for ending the relationship with my father?

Of course, none of that matters now. What is important is that I am the best mother I can be to my children, and it´s my own mother that I feel sorry for. Perhaps I shouldn´t waste my thoughts on someone who clearly doesn´t deserve it? But, then SHE is missing out. I wonder how anybody can cope with having a grandchild that you will never meet? I would like someone to tell me that her reaction is normal, and that it´s fine to not want to know your grandchildren. To have no interest in your own child is one thing but to turn your back on a baby that, after all is carrying your genes, that, to me is colder than cold. It´s not only heartless but uncaring.

I know her reply to this article would be that she is sure that I would just ignore her if she tried to make contact, and in the last letter I got from her, she said that her life had been difficult though the door is open for me to make the first move. Well, I´ve something to tell her and any other parents who don´t speak to

their children: ­ the move is yours to make, and this I know from my experiences with my daughters. My eldest never spoke to me for years, but I never gave up. I could have turned my back and said oh well, when she´s ready she´ll come crawling back to me but I didn´t. The move was always mine to make and I always made sure she was invited to come for visits. I always sent her birthday and Christmas cards, even when I received hate mail from her, (spurred on no doubt by her father) and I made sure she knew every minute I could, that she was loved by me and that I was here for her. Now we have a great relationship but I would have waited forever and never given up. So to see that first from my father who aban­ doned me and my sister, and later from my mother, how they just gave up, and then later to see it from my son´s father astounds me.

My family may not be ideal. We may all just be a bunch of selfish people but I know who is important in my life, and not all of them are joined to me by blood. The most important peo­ ple in your life are the ones who help without being asked and who never turn their back on you, no matter how much of a pain or a spoilt brat you´re being. They’re the ones who give you a verbal slap when you´re being annoying or selfish and a hug in your darkest moments. They are the ones I am proud to call family and no longer will I dwell on past failures, but look forward to a bright future and I hope all of you will do the same.

Let 2014 make you into the person you really are, not the per­ son your past has turned you into.

15

Friday, January 17, 2014

PLEASE SIR, CAN YOU QUIT?

Britain’s teaching unions, especially the left­leaning N.U.T. (appropriate ini­ tials!) have always gone bonkers at every govern­ ment over the last 50 years, and all they’ve done is produce hot air over every sensible plan that the current Education Secretary, Michael Gove has come up with.

But I can’t wait to see what they say about an idea from

his Labour oppo, Tristram Hunt, which is quite brilliant.

For decades, there have always been excellent teach­ ers and damn awful ones, who should never have been allowed inside a classroom, yet they carried on working.

Hunt has come up with the simple concept that teachers should be licensed to work in state schools, with that license being renewed every few years, in a similar way to

other professions. Ed Balls floated the idea 5 years ago when he was education boss, but ran away from it when his union mates start­ ed to squeal. Hunt, and his boss Ed Miliband are made of sterner stuff, and they have already incurred the wrath of the National Union of Teachers who say that the plan “denigrates teachers”. Sounds good to me!

These have not been good times for L o n d o n ’ s Metropolitan Police. One of their officers was found guilty of being a liar over

q

accusing the now­ex Tory Chief whip Andrew Mitchell of calling a Downing Street copper a “pleb”, and now we have the family and friends of Mark Duggan unhappy that they see the Met as “off the hook” over his shooting in August 2011, which sparked off the disgraceful summer riots. Credit to the family as well for telling any would be louts and yobs to keep their thoughts and actions to themselves after the recent inquest verdict. A jury decided that Duggan was lawfully killed when police shot him dead two and a half years ago, but let me throw a spanner in the works. The jury can only act on the facts that are present­ ed to them and I hope that everything was truthful and

comprehensive in this case.

But don’t you feel uneasy that “helpful” verdicts can be achieved if key pieces of evi­ dence are not “available”?

After all, who can forget the shambolic Hillsborough Tragedy inquest in 1991(which blamed the Liverpool fans), with coppers covering their own backsides for years? Determined fami­ lies kept the fight for justice going, getting a new inquest, an apology from the govern­ ment, and the uncovering of a complete tissue of police lies. I’m not necessarily say­ ing that’s the case in the Duggan affair, but there’s just something that doesn’t quite rest easy with me.

There’s nothing better than a good political sex scandal, and this time

q

it’s the French President, Francois Hollande, that has been caught with his culottes around his ankles, having an affair with actress Julie Gayet. His formal partner, Valerie Trieweiler lives with Hollande at the Elysee Palace, paid for by the public purse.

Normally such a revelation would be greeted with a few guffaws, but with Hollande having the lowest poll approvals of a President in over 50 years, and the econ­ omy in such a mess, there’s rightly little sympathy for a man who seems to have his priorities all wrong, whilst his citizens suffer. Hollande even makes his predeces­ sor, the idiotic Sarkozy seem quite good, and that’s saying something!

16

Tony

Friday, January 17, 2014

Mayes

HE ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT

VIVE LA DIFFERENCE!

LONDON is one of France's major cities ­ amazing but true. It has more French people living there than Nice or Bordeaux.

France has seen a major exodus over recent years, and many French people liv­ ing in London say there are there because it's far easier to do business than in Paris, and they are able to earn more money than they could in France, and most importantly, pay less in tax. They say that the French are suffering a general malaise and the country is far less positive than Britain, where the economy shows every sign of improvement. While Britain chose a Coalition government led by the Conservatives, France chose the socialist Hollande and the difference is clear to see.

It's a modern day tale of two cities. I won't state the obvious over the 2015 election!

Briefly on the subject of Hollande, it was interesting to see the reaction when a French magazine revealed an alleged affair with an actress, which had been rumoured for months. Apparently he was seen arriving on a motor bike at his mis­ tress's apartment with his head covered by a helmet.

His reaction was not to try to deny it but to threaten to sue the magazine for intru­ sion in private life. A sickening attitude ­ if people want a job in the public eye they must accept that their private life is also under the microscope. After all, how on

earth can anyone vote for a politician if they don't know everything about them, warts and all? Back to the French inva­ sion, clearly these upwardly mobile French are doing the British economy a power of good, no doubt helping the British recov­ ery. It emphasises the good side to immi­ gration, bringing in money, innovation and helps drive down unemployment, because one high spending immigrant can create a number of jobs. The bad side to immigra­ tion is the hoard of undesirables hiding themselves away in lorries. People with poor education and little prospect of get­ ting a job in the UK and if they do, they will deprive a badly educated Brit of job, which means yet another living on benefits. The big dilemma is how to encourage foreign­ ers to come over with something useful to contribute to the UK as opposed to those who have little or nothing, and end up being a drain on the welfare state, adding to the already overflowing ghettos of immi­ grants. It sickened me to read comments from Viviane Reding, vice­president of the European Commission, accusing David Cameron of fuelling fears of an immigra­ tion 'invasion'. She insisted Britons claim ‘much more’ in benefits than EU migrants and accused Cameron of using 'populist' rhetoric to peddle 'myths'. Taking part in an online web chat, Miss Reding said: "The free movement and supposed invasion by the people who want to take advantage of

the social security and health is an inven­ tion of politicians who like to have populist movements in order to win in elections."

Perhaps Miss Reding should take a visit to some of Britain's cities and see what unbridled immigration has done. Perhaps she would like to see that in her homeland of Luxembourg. It's a lovely country, and I would hate to see it spoilt like parts of Britain has been. Anyway, the more com­ ments like that from the likes of Miss Reding, the more UK voters are becoming polarised. More are realising that if they want to get out of Europe then they must vote UKIP. If they want to stay in, then vote Labour or Lib Dem and if they want to dither and pontificate, then vote Tory. The chances of Cameron being successful in getting any "meaningful" renegotiation of EU membership are akin to spitting in the wind. Because, frankly, the only thing that Britain wants out of Europe is business advantages, and certainly it does not want or need the social problems it has brought with the rest of Europe pulling in totally the opposite direction.

q

PC Keith Wallis is an absolute dis­ grace. This wretched man, not fit to be called a police officer, lied through his teeth in a bid to bring down cabinet minis­ ter Andrew Mitchell in the Plebgate affair.

Last week he pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office by falsely claiming to have witnessed a row between Mitchell and police in Downing Street. I, and I am sure the vast majority of people, hope the court sentences this disgrace to the police force to a long term of imprisonment. He has seriously damaged the public trust in the police force, as have others before them, notably police at the Hillsborough disaster.

It's probably too much to ask for every offi­ cer to be constantly beyond reproach, but if this disgrace was prepared to lie to dam­ age the career of a cabinet minister, how easy would it be for him to stitch up some innocent person in the street for a crime he didn't commit? A few weeks ago I asked who polices church ministers. Now I'm asking who properly polices the police?

And that question could easily be asked here in Spain and indeed, all over the world.

q

We've all heard of some of the health and safety issues but this one is amazing. The health and safety police have concluded that coloured bricks in a street in Grimsby are a health hazard. A larger than normal number of people have been falling in the street, and a theory is that the hypnotising patterns of the brick are to blame. One councillor, himself an epileptic, believes the colourful pattern could trigger epileptic fits for people with photosensitive epilepsy, and some people walking along the road have complained about getting migraines. And reports from carers of those with dementia also claim that many sufferers perceive the black blocks among other coloured bricks as holes, which they then try to avoid, risking injury in the process. Marathon runner Surinder Fowler said: 'I run up and down there every day, but the new black and white paths have made it really difficult and I've fallen over twice." The paving has been condemned by local residents as being an appalling waste of money. I won­ der why so called experts didn't advise on possible problems with these coloured patterned pavements, as we see patterned

tiles all over the place here in Spain. Are they a health and safety hazard?

Incidentally, we were walking along the seafront walk at Mil Palmeras last week where there are similar coloured brick tiles.

q

Still on the subject of health and safe­ ty, the Health and Safety Laboratory in Stockport has discovered that the more religious a person is, the less likely he or she is to suffer anxiety, depression or exhaustion. And religious people at work tend to he healthier and take fewer sick days. It seems that spirituality provides a "buffer against strains of modern life".

Interviews with employees found those who attend religious services feel more content within themselves and that they feel connected to a higher being. They found that as the pace of work and life accelerates, people long for meaning, and the younger generation in particular is looking for more than just a big pay cheque at the end of the month. Makes you think, doesn't it?

q

Last week I wrote about evolution and that 30 per cent of Americans reject it and believe the Bible's version of man's creation. It made me think how we are seeing evolution in action now. Just think ­ since WW2 the next generation is, on average 2 inches taller than their par­ ents, and teenagers today are again taller.

Millions are now around two dress sizes larger than their grandparents. The reason is there is a plentiful supply of food ­ more than people can possibly eat, in the West at least. It was the same with the dinosaurs. Thanks to global warming of that time, there was a plentiful supply of plant life which herbivores gorged them­ selves on, each generation getting larger.

And meat eaters found there was a plenti­ ful supply of food for them too and they grew larger. It makes you wonder what the human race will be like in a few hundred generations if things continue as now!

q

And finally, I couldn't resist sharing this gem with you all. A British Roman Catholic woman has tried ­ unsuccessfully ­ to sue her lawyer for professional negli­ gence. Why? Because she failed to tell her that getting a divorce would end her mar­ riage. Have you ever heard anything quite so absurd? She claimed the solicitor failed to take into account her faith and that she was a devout Catholic.

The judge threw out the case and she subsequently appealed, and that was dis­ missed too. We've all heard of litigation culture but this takes it to crazy heights.

On the subject of bizarre reasons for divorce drummed up by women, how about these? Just one week after getting married, a woman in Kuwait has filed for divorce after discovering her husband prefers to use bread, rather than a fork, to eat peas. Traumatised by the 'shocking sight', she said she could no longer live with him, owing to his lack of etiquette.

And how about this for a reason for divorce? A woman wanted one because her husband insisted on squeezing the toothpaste tube in the middle and not the end. 'We are always arguing... He is so obstinate,' she said.

Another woman divorced her husband on their wedding day because the bride­ groom had not made the costly arrange­ ments that she had asked for. Men, be very, very afraid!

Friday, January 17, 2014

17

18

Friday, January 17, 2014

SAY IT IN SPANISH Learn the lingo - with a little help from JEANETTE ERATH Spanish 105

está nublado – it is cloudy, está lloviendo – it is raining, está nevando – it is snowing, está lluvioso – it is rainy/wet, Hola! And welcome back to another week está húmedo – it´s humid, está seco – it´s dry.

Then of course we have to know how to say that we are learning Spanish with me. As I mentioned in pre­ vious weeks we are going to start this year with hot or cold, and in this case we never use the verb ´to be´ in some revision. It is important to use your Spanish when­ Spanish, we use the verb tener – to have. In the above ever you can and this way we remember what we have examples the verb hacer is already conjugated to hace but learnt, however I understand it can be difficult to incorporate with the verb tener used to state how we are then we have Spanish into your daily life and this is why we have revision lessons. It is in order to ensure that you are confident with the language and to ensure what you have learnt is still being retained.

This week we are going to go over how the Spanish use their verbs differently to the English language.

We have to remember that sometimes we can translate almost word for word but that sometimes the language change is completely different, knowing when this occurs can help us not only sound more Spanish but, more impor­ tantly, actually be understood!

So I´m starting this week with the weather. In English we use the verb ´to be´ to describe the weather: it is hot, it is windy, etc. but in Spanish they use the verb hacer for some idioms describing the weather and estar for others, we have to know which to use so the following expressions need to be remembered as using hacer, this can be done by knowing that hacer Hoy hace mucho frio is used with nouns, and estar with adjectives: Hace (mucho) frío – it is (very) cold; hace (mucho) calor to conjugate it to the person to whom it refers, firstly I will give – it is (very) hot; hace (mucho) sol – it is (very) sunny; hace you the expressions: Tener (mucha) hambre – to be (very) hungry; tener (mucho) viento – it is (very) windy; hace fresco – it is cool, hace (muy) buen tiempo – it is (very) nice out; hace (muy) (mucha) sed – to be (very) thirsty; tener (mucho) frío – to be (very) cold; tener (mucho) calor – to be (very) hot; tener mal tiempo – it is (very) bad out.

The following expressions are translated as in English with (mucho) miedo – to be (very) scared; tener (mucha) suerte – to be (very) lucky; tener (mucha) prisa – to be in a (big) the verb estar:

hurry, tener (mucho) sueño – to be (very) sleepy; tener razón – to be correct.

So once we remember that we are using tener and not estar with these expressions we have to remember how Tener conjugates, have a think for a minute and try to write down the conjugation of tener before you read on.

The conjugation of tener is as follows: tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen If we want to say ´I am cold´ we conjugate tener to the ´yo´form which is tengo and add the word for cold (frío) so it is tengo frío. To say ´you are lucky´ with the tú form is tienes suerte, and to say ´he is very thirsty´you would say él tiene mucha sed.

I hope you are confident now with these phrases, I am going to give you some transla­ tions to check your knowledge, please try and do them without referring to this article or any other reference, if you´re not confident to con­ tinue with the translations, re­read this article until you are.

Translate into Spanish: In January it is very cold, today it is raining, we are lucky to be here, she is in a hurry to go to school, it is too windy to go out, it is snowing in England, it is nice weather to go to the beach, I am very afraid of spiders, are you hungry? I´m not very sleepy at the moment.

Keep practising your Spanish and you will find yourself improving, the more you do the quicker you will notice the results.

If you are looking for private Spanish classes, I also run English as a foreign language classes and English for English reading and writing classes, please get in touch with me, I am based in Almoradí and I look forward to hearing from you. The phone number is: 625437217.

As ever have a great week and next week we will be doing a bit more revision.

Friday, January 17, 2014

19

20

Friday, January 17, 2014

BODY TYPES: THE ECTOMORPH, ENDOMORPH AND MESOMORPH The Ectomorph

The Mesomorph

While a lot of women envy the "tall and skinny" model physique, men who are ecto­ morphs may find it difficult to gain size and strength.

The ectomorph body type is one that is classified as being relatively thin. Other characteristics that define an ectomorph include a fragile shape, lean physique, small shouldered, flat chested and a delicate body.

An ectomorph generally struggles to gain muscle and no matter how much they eat, never seem to gain any weight, despite the possibility of having a high and unhealthy body fat percentage.

Ectomorphs have small and delicate bones and may have a slight muscle defini­ tion. A typical ectomorph is long and lean and is usually straight up and straight down, also known as a ruler shape. This body shape is attractive on a girl, however, ecto­ morphic men may seem fragile and struggle to gain size and strength.

Although they battle to gain muscle mass, hard work and strict eating regimes can help this body type gain muscle and tone.

Typical traits of an ectomorph: • Small and delicate bone structure • Small shoulders • Flat chested • Fast metabolism • Thin • "Hard gainer" • Difficulty gaining weight

A mesomorph has the ability to gain mus­ cle quickly and can lose fat weight when a healthy, low fat, high protein diet is followed.

The mesomorph body type is the one that can be envied by most. The reason for this is that mesomorphs have the ability to build masterpiece physiques. When optimally conditioned, mesomorphs gain lean muscle mass, quickly and don't lose it quickly.

However, they also have the tendency to gain fat and may sometimes have trouble losing the fat.

Athletes are generally mesomorphs and this could be due to their ability to build strong muscles and bones. Mesomorphs generally have good posture and a thick skin. The female mesomorphs have a typi­ cally hourglass shape, while male meso­ morphs generally have a rectangular shape.

Their bones are strong and thick, which help them to carry their large frame.

Although most mesomorphs can eat what­ ever they want and not gain fat, a good, clean diet, rich in protein, can help them to maintain their shape.

These types of body's are also ideal for bodybuilding as they possess both the strength and physical ability to gain muscle mass.

Typical traits of a mesomorph body type include: • Strong • Athletic • Rectangular body shape • Gains muscle easily • Gains fat more than ectomorphs • Hard body • Well defined

The Endomorph Do you gain weight just by looking at food? You could be an endomorph.

An endomorph is categorised by a body shape that is soft and round. Endomorphs usually have shorter limbs as well as small hands and feet. In general, the endomorph has larger upper arms and thighs in compar­ ison to the lower parts of their arms and legs.

It is believed that endomorphs have a higher number of fat cells and due to this, they could carry more fat than the average person. Their bones are large and thick and their waist circumference is generally rather

Win that battle of the bulge

Being overweight or obese is one of the major health hazards facing us today. It can make you far more likely to develop a range of health related prob­ lems.

Here at SlimFit, we have various ways of helping you to tackle you weight issues, we want to help you achieve your goals and maintain your new healthy lifestyle.

We can either use a tradi­ tional approach to weight loss and maintenance with a tailor­made Nutrition, Health and Lifestyle plan or we can guide you through the Cambridge 800 Weight Plan

programmes, with advice on preparation, stabilisation and maintenance.

Cambridge 800 products are nutritionally balanced and form the basis of the highly effective Cambridge Weight Plan programmes, aimed at both men and women.

Part of the attraction of Cambridge 800 is the range and flexibility of the pro­ grammes. It can be used as a total diet replacement or with conventional food for a more gradual weight loss and effective weight man­ agement. The higher Steps can also be used for weight

loss, as well as be used by people wishing to work their way up through stabilisation, gradually increasing their intake of conventional food.

You can rest in the knowl­ edge that we are extremely experienced, it´s not too late to join the many clients we have already helped. Our ex nurse, health visitor and senior lecturer also has a wealth of knowledge includ­ ing an advanced diploma in Diet and Nutrition so you can be assured that the pro­ fessional, friendly environ­ ment will immediately put you at ease.

SlimFit partners Lynda and Lauren won the presti­ gious “Cambridge 800 spon­ sors of the year 2013” in June last year and have gone from strength to strength...

Contact us today: on 965 191 514 / 722 219 450 or email info@slimfit­ europe.com

large.

Apart from the physical characteristics, endomorphs may also have a naturally low metabolic rate. While they do gain fat rather easily, endomorphs also have the capacity to build muscle with little effort.

In order to keep in shape and avoid gain­ ing weight, endomorphs need to be extremely strict with their diet and exercise regime. A healthy diet, comprising of low carbohydrate and low fat meals, together with regular exercise, at least five times a week can help endomorphs stay in shape.

THE POWER OF YOUR LIVER

DR MACHI MANNU’S ADVICE CLINIC Email your questions and comments to contact@medb.es

Your liver is certainly a vital organ in your body, so vital that it is said to have originated from an Anglo­ Saxon word that meant ´to live´. The liver has the task of filtering about 100 gal­ lons of blood every day and through this action, removes harmful toxins that enter the blood stream through the digestive sys­ tem. Without the liver we would suffocate in our own toxic waste in a matter of days. The liver is also responsible for producing over 13,000 vital chemicals including vitamins, enzymes, proteins, hor­ mones, and many other complex compounds. The liver also secretes bile – a greenish liquid that is essential for digesting fat.

The primary role of the liver

however, is as the chief detox organ of the body, in charge of removing deadly toxins – a necessary task, especially in the polluted world that we live in today.

Every day, through the foods we eat, fluids we drink and drugs we take, we expose our bodies to a mul­ titude of toxic chemicals.

The job of the liver is to break down these toxins into harmless substances that can be excreted from the body. This detoxification process is complex and requires many key nutrients which are sadly lacking in most diets. To compound the matter, more than ever before the environment has been severely contaminat­ ed with many toxic chemi­ cals – pesticides, herbi­ cides, solvents, and many

others, and these may over­ whelm the functioning of the liver. As a result, the excess toxins are stored in other tissues of the body espe­ cially tissues that contain a lot of fat such as the nerves and brain. The liver is incredibly resilient, and will continue to serve the body even when up to 70% of its mass is affected by dis­ ease. This benefit has a down side as it makes the diagnosis of liver diseases problematic. At MedB our diagnostic technology is capable of revealing the earliest changes with the liver, allowing you time to improve your health before it is too late.

FOR A FULL BODY DIAGNOSTIC SCAN CALL DR MACHI MANNU: 965071745

Friday, January 17, 2014

21

22

Friday, January 17, 2014

THE FLU JAB CONTROVERSY – AN ANGRY READERS COMMENT

Last weekend I received an email from the editor regarding an article I wrote titled ´Can You Trust the Flu Jab? ´. Since this email was sent to the editor and not directly to me, I can only presume that the writer intended that you read it, and so I have decided to publish it, less the name of the gentleman. Here is what he had to say: Dear Editor, On your 151 edition, Dr Machi Mannu is warning readers about the danger of flu vaccination. This a second article by Dr Machi, published in Courier lately. I, as a scientist­ biologist could not believe, that the Courier­a very popular newspaper, can published such article! Flu vaccine is accepted by the World Health Organization, and worldwide accepted vaccine by scientist! Also Spanish Government is spending lot of money every year, to buy flu vaccine. In one of your 2013 edi­ tion Mr Alex Trelinski published, (on a front page) article sup­ porting flu vaccine. Unfortunately, on same edition of Courier Dr Mach M. warned reader against flu vaccination. Kindly ask you, why your newspaper is accepting such a publication of Dr Machi M.? P.S.The copy of Dr Machi M. article was send to the Ministry of Health in Madrid This email didn´t go down well with me, especially as the writer claimed to be a scientist. To my mind his email is a sad reminder of how some scientists, especially those in the biological fields have come to believe in a science ruled by dogma and not fact. Science is not dogmatic. It craves evidence, it wants proof. It does not appeal to authority. The fact that the World Health Organization and the Spanish Government is behind something, does not automati­ cally make that thing right, especially when there is a conflict of interest. And as the gentleman rightfully pointed out ­ a lot of money is spent every year on flu vaccines. Vaccines are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, and these companies have continued

to commit heinous crimes against humanity. Why should anyone put their trust on companies that continue to be fined billions of dol­ lars every year for falsifying clinical studies, bribery, intimidation, corruption, selling tainted drugs and so much more? As for believ­ ing in a national government entrenched in corruption scandals that rival those seen in despotic third world regimes, please count me out. As a scientist, medical doctor, and researcher, I have spent many hours in search of any evidence supporting the flu vaccine, and the deeper I search; the more it becomes apparent that there is very little scientific data in support of the flu vaccine. The truth is that there was never any clinical study carried out to prove the ben­ efits of the flu vaccines or their possible risks. Furthermore, most flu vaccines contain a very concentrated mercury preservative called thimerosal. Mercury is recognised as one of the most toxic sub­ stances to the brain. According to Dr Hugh Fudenburg, one of the world’s leading immunologists, (He has published over 800 peer reviewed scientific papers) ­ As little as 1 microgram of mercury can be extremely toxic to the body. The flu vaccine contains an average of 25 micrograms of mercury. Dr Fudenburg´s research also showed that individuals that have had 5 consecutive flu shots between 1970 and 1980 (the years studied) were 10 times more likely to develop Alzheimer´s disease than those that had one, 2 or no shots at all. He says this is due to the presence of mercury and aluminium in flu vaccines. In support of his statement, research studies done at the University of Calgary, faculty of medicine has also shown that exposing the brain to mercury causes the same type of changes seen in Alzheimer´s disease. The brains of people suffering from Alzheimer´s disease are riddled with abnormal pro­ tein deposits called Amyloid plaques and Neurofibrillary Tangles – Plaques and Tangles for short. These plaques and tangles were observed in brain tissue exposed to a level of mercury well below those seen in people with mercury amalgam dental fillings. And

mercury is just one of many toxic compounds found in the flu or influenza vaccine. Many studies have failed to show any reduction in flu deaths since the 1980s when flu vaccines were introduced to the general population. Are there any studies in support of flu vac­ cination? Actually there are quite a few, but experts have pointed out that the interpretations of these studies are flawed. One of such studies reported that flu vaccines reduced the chances of contract­ ing flu by 50%. But on closer inspection, it becomes very clear that the figures have been manipulated. Here is how it was done. In that study, they had 2 groups of participants – let´s say 100 people in each group. On group was injected with the flu vaccine, and the other group was not. At the end of the season, it was discovered that out of the 100 people that received the flu vaccine, only 2 con­ tracted the flu. And from the other group of 100 that did not receive the flu jab, 3 people contracted the flu. Unbelievably, researchers are allowed to legally claim that flu vaccines offered a 50% protec­ tion, even though a difference was observed in just 1% of the stud­ ied population. You be the judge. According to a recent publication in The Lancet – a prestigious medical journal ­ ´´Recent excess mortality studies (on flu vaccines) were unable to confirm a decline in influenza related mortality (flu deaths) since 1980, even as vaccination coverage increased from 15% to 65%."

And on the contrary there is every reason to believe that flu vac­ cines can be extremely deadly to human health. For any govern­ ment to continue to promote an activity that is suspected to be a threat to life is criminal and those behind such policies should be brought to justice. I have written to the gentleman, reminding him that as scientists, we still rely on scientific studies to make a point, and for him to send me any properly done scientific report on the benefits of the flu vaccine.

FOR A FULL BODY DIAGNOSTIC SCAN CALL DR MACHI MANNU: 965071745

Friday, January 17, 2014

23

24

Friday, January 17, 2014

NEW YEAR - NEW YOU 10 Tips to Help You Achieve Your New Year's Health Goals

With the New Year comes the opportunity for a fresh start. For many people, this means leading a healthier lifestyle and losing weight. If this is your goal, follow these tips to stay on track.

1. Find Your Motivation What is motivating you to lose weight? Do you want to look better in your clothes, feel more energetic, or simply improve your health? Get clear about what you want, and then use that to inspire you throughout your journey.

2. Have a Plan If you were to go on a long road trip, you wouldn't just jump in the car and go. If you did, you'd arrive hungry, tired, and fatigued. That's the same way you'd feel if you jumped into a whole new lifestyle with no planning. Before January 1st arrives, outline the changes you want to implement and decide how you'll fit them into your sched­ ule. Keep in mind that it may be best to take steps rather than tackle everything at once.

3. Make Goals Goals help measure progress. If you don't know where you want to end up, you won't really know how to get there. When making your goals, you need to make SMART goals: • Specific • Measurable • Attainable • Realistic

• Timely For example, a SMART goal would be something like, "I will walk for 15 minutes 3 days for one week." Or, "I will prepare one new healthy recipe each week for the month of January."

4. Track What You Eat Looking closely at what you eat is often an eye­opening experience. Use a free online Calorie Counter and Fitness Log to keep track of everything you put into your body. You don't have to do it for the rest of your life, but it is a great habit to start. Tracking will help you tweak your diet so that you can still enjoy foods you love without sabotaging your weight loss or healthy eating efforts.

5. Use Reliable Resources It may be tempting to try a fad diet, but these are usually unrealistic, difficult to maintain, and sometimes even dan­ gerous. Instead, find a reliable source of information to help you understand nutrition. You can consult a regis­ tered dietician in your area. An RD is specially trained and can give you tips and tricks to help you achieve your spe­ cific goals.

6. Eat Breakfast Every Day Surely you've heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is! Eat a big healthy breakfast as early as possible. It will give you more energy, lead you to make healthier choices during the day, and keep you feeling full so you eat less later on.

Getting fit just got easier!

The “Fantastic” VIBRA GYMS vibrating pivitol plate training known as W.B.V. (Whole Body Vibration) is now available to you. Designed to be used by both men and women of all ages and fitness lev­ els, with little if any impact on joints, it actually helps reduce back and joint pain and is used worldwide for rehabilitation in clinics and health centres. This unique machine is the perfect solution for those who are fighting the flab or trying to improve their health and fitness levels but do not want to spend hours in a Gym 4 or 5 times a week. Designed to be used wearing your everyday clothes, it gives the equivalent of a 45min to 1 hour Gym workout in just 10­15minutes. This amazing exercise machines works from the body’s inner

core and by tilting you from side to side creates thou­ sands of muscle movements as the body tries to balance and stabilize itself, thus causing the burning of unwanted fat, helping your body’s balance and co­ordination, and improving overall fitness levels and weight loss regardless of your age. It also improves circula­ tion, reduces cellulite and varicose veins, helps increase bone density and tones muscles, thus improving your overall suppleness and flexibility. It also helps increase the body’s feel good factor and boost your energy levels.

It’s Simple, it’s Fast, it’s Quiet and its Fun! For more information visit our website www.flabeloss­ pain.com

7. Fill Up on Vegetables Vegetables are filled with nutrients, water, fibre, and very few calories. If you fill half of your plate with vegeta­ bles, you'll get fuller faster and cut down your calories without feeling deprived. Use herbs and spices to jazz up vegetables instead of using butter and/or salt to flavour them.

8. Exercise In order to burn calories at a faster rate and build a healthy body, you'll need to incorporate exercise into your life. Take it slow at first, and then increase your time and/or intensity once you feel comfortable. If you haven't exer­ cised in a while, talk to your doctor to make sure that you are healthy enough to begin an exercise plan.

9. Take It Slow A major mistake many people make when trying to tack­ le a health resolution is trying to do everything at once.

This is almost always a recipe for disaster. Spend a few weeks just trying to achieve 1­2 goals at a time. When you have established new good habits, put a couple more goals on your plate. Remember: You want to make perma­ nent changes, and these will take time to implement.

10. Be Prepared for Lapses A lapse is when you temporarily "fall off the wagon." This is a normal part of the process; no one is perfect. It is important for you to take a moment to recognize that you got side­tracked, but don't use it as an excuse to throw in the towel. Every day is a new chance to start over, so return to your healthy lifestyle immediately.

Friday, January 17, 2014

25

26

Friday, January 17, 2014

27

Friday, January 17, 2014

HEALTHY SWAPS! Easy vegetable substitutions, healthier grains and clever tricks can not only make your meal healthier - they can make it tastier too!

SWAP MASH POTATO FOR BUTTERNUT SQUASH MASH

SWAP RICE FOR QUINOA

Mashed potatoes are an absolute comfort food treat but the white starch in potatoes means they're not exactly diet friendly. The basic principle of the dish, mashing, can be applied to lots of other vegetables, and combina­ tions of vegetables, to give your dish the same type of side ­ just without the extra calories.

Most vegetables can be boiled then mashed down, try parsnips, carrot or swede ­ or a delicious combination of all 3.

Quinoa is a grain that has similar properties to rice so makes a good substitute for traditional rice­based recipes such as risotto. While not much lower on the carb scale than rice, it has many more other nutritional benefits. The gluten­free grain is rich in fibre, protein and vitamins. Use it as a side for curry, stroganoff or casserole or to bulk out a salad.

Add filling ingredients to a curry, such a lentils or sweet potato, so you don't need to serve it with a side at all.

Pearl barley is also a lighter rice alternative.

SWAP POTATO CHIPS FOR COURGETTE FRIES

SWAP ROAST POTATOES FOR ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES

Fish and chips, chicken and chips, burger and chips ­ so many things are just delicious with a side of freshly cooked chips. Again, our old friend white starch will make this side a diet enemy but you can fake it slightly.

Vegetable chips are getting popular with restaurants offering sweet potato fries or courgette fries instead of the potato version and you can easily make your own at home. Lightly coat the veg in a batter and bake (much healthier than frying), you'll be surprised how much you enjoy vegetable fries.

Sweet potato fries are lovely without batter so are a little healthier. Asparagus will also make lovely battered fries.

Root vegetables have the same filling consistency as potatoes but are richer in nutrients and count towards your five­a­day. You can opt for parsnips, carrots, swede, turnips, beetroot or a delicious combination of root veg.

Tray bake your root veg with lemon and garlic to give them extra flavour. You could even add in sweet pota­ toes for a more filling twist.

SWAP BAKED POTATO FOR BAKED SWEET POTATO While their carb count may be similar, the nutritional val­ ues of a sweet potato make it a far healthier choice for a side. Baking a sweet potato is actually quicker than a regular potato ­ they can be ready in minutes if you give them blast in the microwave!

Baked cauliflower may not look the same as a jacket potato but it will make a chunky side for your plate. As you're being so healthy, a little sprinkling of cheese could be allowed...

SWAP PASTA FOR SPINACH The problem with swapping pasta for another grain is the sauce. Pasta is one of the nation's favourite meals because the sauces can be so varied. If you swap pasta for couscous or quinoa, you may struggle pairing them with your favourite sauces. Iron­rich spinach may sound like an odd option but, when uncooked, it works well with so many different ingredients. Try substituting some of your pasta with spinach first, then increase the amount of greens.

Courgette ribbons can also replace your pasta, or a por­ tion of your pasta, to lighten your meal

SWAP CRISPS FOR VEGETABLE CRISPS

SWAP SPAGHETTI FOR CARROT RIBBONS A big bowl of spaghetti with sauce is an easy and deli­ cious option for dinner time. Not only is spaghetti hard to portion control, it's full of naughty white carbs too.

Thin strips or ribbons of carrots can replace part or all of the spaghetti in your usual dish and is a great accompa­ niment to your pasta sauces. Boil it in the same way as pasta until soft.

Courgette and peppers would work well in this way too ­ the three combined would get you well on your way to your 5­a­day.

SWAP BREAD FOR AUBERGINE SLICES Love a sandwich for lunch? This clever twist substitutes bread for thick slices of grilled aubergine. The meaty veg has a thick consistency which makes it a perfect bread alternative, simply layer your sandwich fillings between chunky slices. The only difference is that you may need a knife and fork to eat it! You could also use this tech­ nique for burgers and replace the bun with slices of veg.

You can slice the aubergine thinly lengthways instead and wrap it around your sandwich fillings for an easier­ to­eat option. The thick consistency of portobello mush­ Do you crave a packet of crisps with your lunch or as a rooms makes them a good alternative to bread and buns snack? Simply substituting what vegetable the crisps also. are made of can make a massive difference. You can buy vegetable crisps in the shops or you could try making them yourself (and bake them rather than deep­frying if you're watching your weight!)

Bags of popcorn are everywhere these days and will satisfy the crisp craving for less calories.

28

Friday, January 17, 2014

SPANISH NEWS

Flat pack marathon STICK OF DEATH The IKEA furniture outlet which is opening its first store in Valencia Province at Alfafar, has been swamped with 100 thou­ sand applications.

As reported a few weeks ago in The Courier, the flat­pack chain got 20 thousand inquiries within just 2 days which forced its internet server to crash. The com­ pany is offering 400 jobs and, so far, it has 250 appli­ cants per position.

Although the store does not open until the summer and will not need to fill all the vacancies from day one, it has started to make contact with applicants and arranging interviews, with the warning that it is going to be a lengthy process. Successful applicants will have to

A 78 year old man’s behind bars after allegedly coshing his 92 year old room­mate to death with his walk­ ing stick. The attack took place at an old people's home in Buenaventura in Toledo province.

Sources said there was no known history of bad blood between the two men, though one person suggested that the murder sus­ pect was suffering get through at least two interviews and a from Alzheimers and 'recruitment day' with real­life in­store sce­ had previously com­ narios to deal with. IKEA will be set for a sim­ plained his neighbour ilar repeat performance once it builds its talked too much. The planned store in Alicante City. presiding magistrate in the case has now asked for a report on the psychological state of the alleged murderer.

BURGOS BEDLAM

“Cry babies” fight back

Car park protests took a dramatic turn last weekend in the city of Burgos, which saw a third day of demonstrators venting their anger against their town hall's plans to reduce the number of lanes and parking spaces on one of its main streets. The usu­ ally tranquil city in northern Spain, turned into an open battleground last Friday when protesters began attacking police cars, burning rubbish containers and dismantling construction barricades. They were angry over their town hall’s decision to remodel a central four­lane street into a tree­lined boulevard with an underground car park.

Since the violent street demos began, 11 police officers have been injured and 40 people have been arrested.

"It'll look very nice but it won’t serve any purpose," 61­year­old Burgos resident Teodora Palacios told El País. "The mayor is

going to have to do something about all this because we're not moving."

Around 200 people gathered on Monday morning to prevent the 13 million Euro con­ struction plans in the city's Gamonal neigh­ bourhood from resuming. They are also demanding the release of the 40 people arrested, El País reported.

They claim that two months of peaceful protests fell on deaf ears as Burgos' Town Hall continued with its plans to reduce the amount of traffic and parking spaces avail­ able in one the city’s most populous neigh­ bourhoods.

Burgos mayor Javier Lacalle said the acts of violence were "the reaction of a very small radical group" and "did not represent neighbourhood residents in any way.

Neither they nor the rest of the city deserve this."

A traffic police sergeant has landed him­ self in hot water after calling his officers “tight­fisted cry­babies” for not fining enough motorists around the town of Alzira in Valencia Province. The police chief is said to have insulted 14 officers via the mobile mes­ saging service, WhatsApp, saying:­ “I am fed up with running a station full of tight­fisted cry­babies, liars and phoneys...I am fed up with freeloaders who do not even put in 20 per cent into their jobs.”

The officers reported the incident to the Guardia Civil union AUGC, the representa­ tive of which said it was 'not only a case of

lack of respect to subordinates', but also the sign of a 'much greater problem' – that of 'pressure on traffic police' to 'issue as many fines as possible'. According to the AUGC, the sergeant's message went on to say '35 traffic fines in a month' was 'pathetic'. Back in 2010, the Guardia Civil launched perform­ ance measurement systems which included a points scheme to evaluate how well offi­ cers were carrying out their jobs. This meant speeding fines would be worth four points, fines for drivers using their mobile phones at the wheel attracted three points, and a traffic incident that led to an arrest, five points.

29

Friday, January 17, 2014

SPANISH NEWS

CUT ABOVE THE REST CRISTINA’S EARLIER

QUIZ DATE

Spain wants better protection for one of its big exports: ­ Iberian Ham. The govern­ ment was simpler labels along with better controls on quality for one of the most sought after international hams, which is made from a pig of the purebred, black­hoofed indige­ nous 'iberico' race, which has been fattened on acorns as it wanders the meadows. Once slaughtered, cured, and expertly sliced into nearly transparent slices, it is at the apex of international cuisine.

"Jamon iberico is a star produce of Spanish gastronomy. It is the flagship," says Agriculture Minister, Miguel Arias Cañete.

But the rules were "enormously confused", leaving consumers in Spain and abroad puz­ zled about what they were buying, he said after a cabinet meeting approved his plans.

Under the new rules, labels must tell shop­ pers if the product came from a pig that was

100% iberico or of a lesser percentage, depending solely on verified breeding records.

The number of categories of jamon iberico was sliced from four to three: "bellota (acorn)" for a pig fattened on acorns in open fields; "cebo de campo" (field feed) for a pig fattened in open fields on natural grazing and fodder; and "cebo (feed)" for a pig raised in a feeding pen.

The best pigs are fed exclusively on acorns over the winter, a diet that gives the fat a unique, sweet flavour. Cured ham made from Iberian black pigs can cost over 100 Euros per kilo and as much as 4 thousand for a whole leg of ham that has been slowly cured for over seven years. Due to Spain's recession, farmers cut their herds of iberico race pigs from four million, three years ago to just two and a half million in 2013.

“Rude” place goes viral

A stolen Spanish road­sign has become a Facebook hit after it was used on a wedding photo as a joke. A group of friends who nicked the sign from the village of Villapene, or 'Penisville', then used it as a prop in a picture. They’ve since returned it, having apologised to disgruntled local residents.

The theft came to light after a group of young people in the Galicia region village tried to find out why road signs for their vil­ lage kept disappearing. That search took them to a Facebook profile showing a group of people huddled around a missing sign at

a wedding. The pic­ ture became popu­ lar on Facebook and other social media after the story of the theft was published in the local daily La Voz de Galicia.

The newly­weds in question have since apologized for their friends’ prank, with the groom explaining the photo was meant as a joke as he is originally from Villapene. "They meant to return it the day after the wedding but they either forgot or were just too lazy and so they never did," the groom said. "There was no real malice but I’m sorry to the people of Villapene for all the hassle."

mons so as not to draw out the process.

Judge Jose Castro on Majorca therefore moved forward the date of her question­ ing as a formal sus­ pect by a month to February 8th.

"We have decided to testify because the Infanta considered that she had to do so to clarify the situation," her lawyer Miquel Roca told reporters on King Juan Carlos's daughter Cristina will have an earlier court dates, as she appears a month earlier than planned as a fraud sus­ pect on February 8th after the princess abandoned plans to appeal the summons.

The king's youngest daughter, 48, will become the first of his direct relatives ever to appear in court accused of wrongdoing, in a scandal that has plunged the royals into cri­ sis. Lawyers defending the princess, known as the Infanta, insist she is innocent of the accusations of tax fraud and money­launder­ ing, but dropped moves to appeal the sum­

Monday.

"She is absolutely convinced of her inno­ cence and that once she has testified every­ thing will be decidedly clear."

The case is linked to the business affairs of Cristina's husband, former Olympic hand­ ball player Inaki Urdangarin, who is himself under investigation for alleged embezzle­ ment of public funds. The investigation could lead to formal charges being brought against Cristina, but neither she nor Urdangarin have so far been formally charged with any crime.

BIRD FLU OUTBREAK

A 76 year old man has died and 25 people are in inten­ sive care after an outbreak of bird flu in the region of Aragón. The victims are suffering from the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as avian influenza or bird flu, with a first group of 20 admitted to Hospital after Christmas, Bird flu is considerably more contagious and infectious than 'regular' influenza. All 26 patients had pre­existing medical conditions, some of which were serious, and which have led to the H1N1 virus symptoms being worse than they would in anoth­ er, otherwise healthy per­ son.

Regional health minister

Ricardo Oliván has called for calm and says the out­ break is 'not habitual' and unlikely to turn into an epi­ demic. He has called for everyone with health issues, aged 60 or over or who works in contact with the public – especially children, the sick or the elderly – to ensure they

are given an influenza vac­ cination as soon as possi­ ble. Previous reports, dur­ ing the first­known out­ break of avian influenza reported in 2006, claimed a routine 'flu jab did not protect against the virus, but it is still strongly rec­ ommended as a precau­ tion.

30

Friday, January 17, 2014

LAUREN’S BIG TRIP

It was a December to remember for the local dancers of 'La Sal de Torrevieja' who flew off to Asia to represent Spain at Macau’s celebrations to mark the 14th anniversary of the territory being handed over to China by Portugal.

Amongst the 10 Spanish performers, was the lone British member, Lauren

Gibson, who told The Courier that it was a fantastic yet tiring experience, especially with all the travelling!

“It´s the first time we have been there and we travelled 7 hours on an overnight coach to Barcelona; flew 7 hours to Doha in Qatar; before an 8 hour flight to Hong Kong before an

hour long boat trip to Macao!!! Our trip was paid for by China and we stayed in an all­inclusive luxury hotel”, said Lauren (pictured: ­ photo courtesy of Massimo Cavazzoni).

“It took 2 hours to assemble each one of our costumes and they weigh around 25 kilos! Some 2 thousand people took

part and I’m glad that everybody got the chance to see our “El sol de Espana” costumes. Our next international trip is closer to home, as we visit Menton, just outside Monte Carlo for a carnival next month, and we are already working hard on the choreography and cos­ tumes”.

There’s no resting on their laurels for the Stagestruck team, as fresh from the success of their panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, they’re bringing back last year’s popular pro­ duction, Ancient Grease. It’s perfect fun for fans of the John Travolta/Olivia Newton John original film musical, and the Stagestruck

crew are on the lookout for new people to join them, with parts for all ages. Auditions are taking place next week at Casa Ventura, San Luis, Torrevieja on Tuesday January 21st at 11.00am and on Thursday January 23rd from 6.30pm. For more details, call Stella on 965 076 700

If you can hit some high or low notes, then the Cantabile Female Voice Choir would love to hear from you! They are getting ready for their spring concerts and they sing a wide variety of material from religious and classical, through to tradi­ tional, folk, and popular songs. Their musical director Jennifer Morton is an amiable perfectionist and even makes her own special training CD’s for the choir members to learn all their new songs!

The rehearsals take place every Friday afternoon at La Siesta Church in Torrevieja, with music for this spring lined up from a varied mixture that takes in Brahms, John Williams, Ronald Binge, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! Some of their December events included a carol concert at the Grand Designs House, Casa Pedrera, to raise

money for the Elche Children’s Home. If you are interested in joining the choir, please contact Jennifer on 966796866 or E­mail:­ jen­morton@hotmail.co.uk, or just come along to a rehearsal between 3pm and 5pm.

Their website is: ­ www.cantabilesingers.es

MABS BAR BOOST Grease is the word

The MABS Cancer Support group has plenty to shout about thanks to the support of tireless volunteers and the help of local bars. Two of the MABS team, Val and Malcolm Vickery run a bookstall at The Arches bar in Los Alcazares, which has raised an incredible 7068 Euros in 2013.

Wendy Grant, the MABS fundraising co­ordi­ nator presented Arches owner Ali with a cer­ tificate of appreciation for allowing the chari­ ty to run the store, with Val and Malcolm in attendance Elsewhere, San Javier’s Time Out Sports Bar in San Javier staged raffles and race afternoons over last year which raised just over a thousand Euros, whilst the Ladies Lunch club at Diamantes Restaurant at El Mojon raised the princely sum of 1382 Euros in 2013 through their regular raffles.

The MABS Cancer Support Group helps anyone affected by Cancer and can help with counselling, driving patients to hospital, translating, and caring. There is a 24 hour helpline available, with the number being 693 275 779.

CURRYING FAVOUR FOR ELCHE KIDS SING, LADIES SING

The Spice Hut Indian restau­ rant in Quesada is staging a fund­raising night for the Elche Children’s Home at the end of the month, with a special “East as Much as You Like” vegetari­ an buffet. Official charity fundraisers Annette and Dave English will be holding a special raffle and a variety of special spices will be on sale, with 10% of the proceeds going to the Home. The event, which just costs 7.90 Euros per head, starts at 1.00pm on Friday, January 31st, and you can book via E­mail: pus­ pakhimji@hotmail.com or by phoning 966 731 063.

Jill Griffiths and Julie Foster

Friday, January 17, 2014

UK HEADLINES

31

DECAPITATED SKULL MYSTERY SOLVED

Just over a quarter of a cen­ tury ago, 39 skulls and a sin­ gle leg bone were discovered at the London Wall, right in the heart of the City. With state­of­ the­art forensic techniques, the mystery of the heads may have been solved – and the blood­thirsty findings have thrilled archaeologists.

The skulls are believed to have been the victims of Roman soldiers’ practice of “headhunting” – removing the body from the head of ene­ mies as trophies – or even gladiatorial com­ bat, the first discovered in the capital.

“This discovery is hugely exciting,” said Rebecca Redfern, from the Centre for Human Bioarchaeology at the Museum of London. “These remains are completely dif­ ferent from everything else we’ve ever found in Roman London. The levels of violence and the types of violence are very different to what we’ve seen.”

When discovered, the archaeologists thought the skulls may have originated from human remains washed out of burial sites by the Walbrook, one of the area’s lost rivers.

Dr Redfern said: “Techniques have moved on in the past 30 years, so we often go back

to our collection to establish new informa­ tion.”

These techniques revealed the skulls had almost certainly all been victims of violence and some of the heads had clearly been decapitated. One in the group has even had part of its jawbone sliced off. “The level of violence here exceeds the level needed to kill someone,” Dr Redfern added.

The whereabouts of the rest of the bodies is unknown, and archaeologists said they will next attempt to track where the skulls came from.

The full findings will be published this week in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Dr Redfern said: “It’s utterly, utterly

One of Britain's most wanted tax fugitives has been arrested in Cyprus.

Michael Voudouri had pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow in relation to money laundering linked to VAT fraud but failed to appear for sentencing last March.

HM Revenue & Customs said he is esti­ mated to have cost taxpayers £10 million.

The Daily Record reported that he was arrested at his home in northern Cyprus after allegedly using a forged passport.

He appeared in court in Nicosia on the island yesterday but has yet to be formally charged with any offence, according to the paper.

Voudouri was on a list of most wanted tax fugitives published by the UK Government

last August.

An arrest warrant was issued after he failed to appear at the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing last year.

His associates Richard Housley and Caroline Laing were jailed for four years and two and a half years respectively.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "We are aware that Michael Voudouri has been arrested and is currently in custody in north­ ern Cyprus in connection with an alleged immigration offence.

"We await the outcome of those proceed­ ings with interest."

The Foreign Office said it was aware of the reports and ready to provide any assis­ tance.

He cost taxpayers £10m

amazing. We don’t have evidence for this type of thing in Roman London.”

The heads, which have been in stor­ age at the Museum of London, are dated to between 120 AD and 160AD. They are believed to have been thrown into an open pit, close to where work and com­ merce was going on in the city. There is even evidence that a dog gnawed one of the heads.

The Roman practice of headhunting was documented elsewhere around Britain, often in the north of England near the borders of Scotland. Roman soldiers’ tombstones were carved with images of legionaries holding up barbarian heads. Such images are also carved into Trajan’s Column.

Experts believe some of the heads were those of Scottish barbarians. Dr Redfern said: “They could have been brought to London, killed and had their heads put on display.”

Another theory to explain the levels of vio­ lence inflicted on the skulls was gladiatorial battles, Dr Redfern said, although she stressed that the findings were not definitive.

“It was predominantly cranial material of men from 26 to 35 years old and they had sustained massive amounts of trauma,” she said.

Some of the skulls had evidence of healed wounds, suggesting violence was a com­ mon feature of their lives. While it is likely that gladiators fought in London, no evi­ dence thus far been found.

Woman's High Court fight to 'harvest' seriously ill partner's sperm A woman has launched a legal battle for the right to use her seriously­ill fiancé’s sperm to have his children.

The man, identified as P, would have given his consent if he had known “he would be in his current state,” said his partner who is being called AB. P suffered his first cardiac arrest in early December and was taken into intensive care.

By Christmas Eve he had suffered four heart attacks and was put under a “do not resusci­ tate” (DNR) order that was lifted last week.

P remains in a grave condition and relies on machines to breathe and eat.

The High Court action that will be heard over two days in February is an important test case involving a man who could die at any moment.

Although the couple are unmarried, AB’s lawyers argue that she is P’s wife under com­ mon law as she accepted his marriage pro­ posal last year, after they had been together for several years.

They also had extensive discussions about raising a family, her lawyers said.

AB is challenging a decision by the Human Fertilisation and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) ­ the UK regu­

lator that monitors the use and storage of human eggs, sperm or embryos.

The result prevents AB from retrieving her partner’s sperm to store for future use, possi­ bly abroad.

The body cited the 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act that requires P's consent in its ruling.

It added that P’s hospital is not licensed to store gametes – the reproductive cells in sperm – and they should not be harvested if they cannot be legally stored.

However, AB’s lawyers have accused the HFEA of misapplying the law in its decision.

High Court Judge Mrs Justice Carr already discharged a court order obtained by AB in an emergency telephone application made to another judge on Christmas Eve. It would allow a hospital to carry out a harvesting operation pending the outcome of her judicial review application against the HFEA. AB’s lawyers say that the order was urgent­ ly needed because P was put under the DNR order and there is a risk he could die before the hearing.

However, Mrs Justice Carr said in early January that the order was legally flawed and should never have been made.

32

Friday, January 17, 2014

Horoscopes Aries March 21 ­ April 19 Aries, visitors in your home might include part­ ners in business activities, members of a group with which you're affiliated, or creative people with great ideas. Therefore, you're like­ ly to enjoy some intense discussions today and a lot of intriguing exchanges of informa­ tion. Love and romance should also go well, particularly since you're feeling so enthusiastic about life. Take the time to share your dreams with your guests. They might have some good ideas for making a dream a reality.

Taurus April 20 ­ May 20 Get­togethers in your neighborhood should prove enjoyable right now, Taurus.

Communication with others, particularly about possible new business interests, should bring a lot of positive information your way that you're apt to put to work for you. The level of respect that you get from those around you could be particularly gratifying. Your hard work has not only enriched your socioeconomic standing but your friendships as well. Enjoy your day.

Gemini May 21 ­ June 20 This is a good day for meditation or spiritual studies of some kind, Gemini. Your intuition should be operating at a very high level and thus it's going to be easier for you to tune in to the thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires of others, particularly the opposite sex. You might even experience psychic insights or visions that shed light on some questions you've been asking yourself for a while. Write down your thoughts. You'll want to remember them.

Cancer June 21 ­ July 22 Your relationships with just about everyone ­ friends, lovers, children, colleagues, and even strangers ­ should be smooth, warm, and supportive today, Cancer. Feelings are easily expressed, although more on a subtle than a verbal level. New business opportunities may open up through contact with new and inter­ esting people. Social events and group activ­ ities should therefore contribute more to your personal growth and emotional well­being than they usually do. Make the most of them!

By Pandora Leo July 23 ­ August 22 Reflections on your recent success and good fortune with regard to career mat­ ters are likely to have you feeling strong, optimistic, and enthusiastic for the future, Leo. Creative projects are going very well, as are relationships with the oppo­ site sex. This should be a very gratifying day for you, full of warm and loving con­ tact with those closest to you, and signs of continued progress. Enjoy your day, and treat yourself to an evening out.

Virgo August 23 ­ September 22 Good news from a distant state or foreign country could make your day, Virgo. You could well spend the rest of the day bask­ ing in the glow of what you've heard.

However, this isn't going to affect your relations with others or your work on whatever projects you're involved with right now. This is a good day to get out in the sunshine. Take a walk or drive in the country! Enjoy your day.

Libra September 23 ­ October 22 An increase in money could bring a lot of happiness and good feeling into your home.

You might be a bit concerned as to how to keep the energy going, but don't worry about it, Libra. All signs are that your suc­ cess and good fortune are going to be around for a while. You could, however, explore the idea of making a few cautious investments. This way you'll feel more financially secure than you have in the past.

Scorpio October 23 ­ November 21 The prospect of future business opportunities could have you spending a lot of time on the phone today in discussion with friends or acquaintances who might have information you need, Scorpio. Perhaps someone you know has been very successful at an activity he thinks might interest you. All should go very well, but you'll definitely want to be thoroughly informed. You're doing the right thing by secur­ ing the facts before plunging on ahead.

Sagittarius November 22 ­ December 21 A rosy glow over your recent career suc­ cesses could cause you to congratulate yourself over your growing bank account.

This trend should continue for a while, Sagittarius, if you keep on working as you have and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. Your relationships with others around you, particularly the opposite sex, should be especially warm and loving right now. This should prove to be a thoroughly gratifying day.

Capricorn December 22 ­ January 19 Recent successes in your career might inspire you to throw a celebration of some kind with a few close friends, Capricorn. You're feeling especially pos­ itive and particularly charming at this time, and your confidence is likely to contribute to a new sense of closeness to those around you. Love and romance should also go very well. You've worked hard and it's time to reward yourself.

Aquarius January 20 ­ February 18 Relations with those closest to you should be warm and rewarding, Aquarius.

Financial matters are going so well for you right now that you're apt to be feeling that everything will be perfect from here on out.

This optimism and enthusiasm, however, doesn't mean you're taking your good for­ tune for granted. Rather, it is likely to give you the impetus to continue as you have been, only with more serenity than before.

Pisces February 19 ­ March 20 You've been working very hard for a long time, Pisces, and now you might be think­ ing of ways to reward yourself. A trip that you might have dreamed of taking might suddenly seem to be more attainable.

Today you might decide to actually make the arrangements. You could well decide to stay for a long time, for there is much that you can learn through this trip.

33

Friday, January 17, 2014

RICHARD CAVENDER

Bluemoon Solutions www.bluemoonsolutions.es

BlueMoon Solutions is the computer and IT services com­ pany 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 hav­ ing 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: Derek was having problems removing the ADVICE: Dennis wanted to know whether there was any Searchamong.com browser hijacker way to control the amount of spam he was receiving.

Hi Richard I wonder if you can help me please I have got lumbered with the virus/malware SEARCHAMONG.COM and I just can’t get rid of it I have googled it and the answers given state to go in to control panel and uninstall from programs done and also remove from web browsers and reset defaults etc. all done.

Avast scan done also full scans of super antispyware and malware bytes all have found noth­ ing but it’s still there when I open up Google chrome to go on to the Internet. I am running win­ dows 7 and my wife is running XP with the same problem we believe it came in on a video link attachment sent on Hotmail.

I am sorry that I didn’t get a chance to speak to you after your presentation at the ARPO meet­ ing but I had to go as I had a plumber coming to see me. It was a very interesting talk. Derek

Q

Hi Derek, apologies for the delay in replying, it’s by far our busiest time at the moment!

Of course, due to their very nature to infect your computer and either attempt to cause chaos or steal valuable information viruses are indeed difficult to remove.

Your particular virus is a “browser hijacker” and certainly appears after installing some unknown video players so that fits with your description.

There are a number of websites that describe the process to follow to attempt to remove it from your system and I wouldn’t necessarily say that any one site is better than another, they all describe the processes that a professional would take to attempt to remove the virus. I suspect that your antivirus software is not picking it up because browser hijackers are not really regarded as viruses (the strict definition does get complicated so it’s not worth going into here).

What I can suggest is that you arrange to get your local computer professional to have a look at it or pop it along to our market shop on the Moncayo market any Saturday between 9 and 2 and I can take a look, you can find more details here… http://www.bluemoonsolutions.es/tech­shop

A

Hi my name is Dennis and I have a problem with spam mail I get e­mails from peo­ ple selling drugs, handbags, watches etc. and I would like them to stop but they don’t have an unsubscribe link ­ have you any ideas that I might use to stop them from coming to me. Thank you, Dennis

Q A

Hi Dennis, it’s part of modern life I’m afraid, we all get spam, even though it’s against the law to send unsolicited email without an unsubscribe link, it still happens. You can mark the email as spam in your email client and that will result in that email address being automat­ ically marked as spam and it will also send a com­ plaint back to the sender of the spam email (i.e.

Movistar for example, if it was sent from one of their accounts) and eventually that address will be blocked if enough people mark it as spam.

If you download your email to an email client (Outlook Express, Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird etc.) rather than checking your email online then there are some additional tools that are available with this type of email receipt to help with controlling spam, like MailWasher for example.

ADVICE: Chris was having problems with her screen rotating!

Q A

Hi Richard, one little problem, I was using my lap top and I have hit a key by mistake that has turned my screen sideways, would you be able to tell me how to correct it.

Hi Chris, try holding down the CTRL and the ALT keys at the same time and then press the arrow keys on the keyboard, you will notice that your display should change with each press of the arrow key.

Update: Thanks for the information, it worked, you’re a star

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: Alan was having problems with junk email in Hotmail.

Q A

Hi, my problem is junk emails I am getting an average of 25 per day. They all go into junk folder which I then use sweep on Hotmail to block further mail from these people but following day they all come back but with different sender address. Help please.

Hi Alan, spam is something that we all have to deal with, usually on a daily basis and although you seem to be receiving more than some there is nothing practical that you can do about it other than changing the settings available in the "preventing junk mail" section in your set up.

In order to access these settings, log onto your account at www.outlook.com (best to use this now as you will be forced to move over to it soon enough along with all the other Hotmail users. Once logged on you should click the "cog" icon in the top right hand portion of the screen and then select an option under the junk mail section.

Of course you always have the extreme option of changing your email account, however over time you will tend to receive more and more junk email so this is not really a long term solu­ tion.

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

Office: 902 906 200

34

Friday, January 17, 2014

Online driving licence to reduce insurance costs First the tax disc, now your driving licence, as government plans to put driving records online are set to make the paper counterpart licence obsolete – reducing your car insurance premium in the process.

By creating an online record that insurance companies can easily check, ministers and the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) expect insurance costs to fall, as insurers will be able to exactly analyse risk rather than hedging their bets.

At present it’s tediously time con­ suming for car insurance compa­ nies to check motorists’ driving records with the DVLA, which means most take people at their word about the number of penalty points they have.

Unfortunately, even if drivers set out to be honest, there’s still a chance they may misremember the points on their licence or forget they’ve got them alto­ gether. As a result insurance companies add an additional cost to all premiums in order to cover the forgetful as well as the wilfully negligent.

Moving driving records online will allow insurers to quickly check how many points a driver has as a matter of course, removing the need to ‘price in’ this risk factor. Which should mean that ‘honest’ motorists see a reduction in their annual premium of around £15.

The same process will also reduce DVLA and government costs by removing the need to send out and organise the cur­

rent counterpart licence – the traditional paper element that we all have alongside our newer plastic photocards.

The new digital system would retain the photocard, but place all other records online, accessed via a .gov.uk website. Those without access to the internet will instead be directed to a special telephone assistance line.

The plan sees driving records become one of 25 public services that are due to go digital by the end of 2015; the other major change for motorists being the death of the tax disc, which we reported on at the end of last year.

The Association of British Insurers and the DVLA both indicate that car insurance premiums for almost all of the UK’s 40 million drivers should be reduced as a result.

But what do you think – will you miss the old paper driving licence or will you happily see it disappear in return for fairer car insurance pricing?

Secret agents are to be given the right to speed when behind the wheel, under changes of the law expected to be announced Monday.

Currently, MI5 and MI6 officers have to stick to the rules of the road, even when national security is under threat.

However, new plans to be announced by transport minister Robert Goodwill will give spies the same exemptions as emergency services.

The law will also exempt bomb disposal

units, mountain rescue teams and vehicles carrying organs for transplant from sticking to speed limits.

What’s more, they will have the same legal rights as the police to pass through red lights, drive over zebra crossings and ignore road markings – but only once they’ve passed a course in high­speed driving, The changes come after a Department for Transport consultation paper found that 93% of respondents agreed with the propos­ als.

Nearly half of male drivers admit to hav­ ing fallen asleep at the wheel, a survey has found.

Road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line found that 31% of all drivers admit to ‘head­nodding’ at the wheel – meaning they’ve fallen asleep while driving a car for between two and 30 seconds.

45% of male drivers admit to head­nod­ ding, compared to 22% of female drivers.

With more than 300 people dying each year as a result of tired drivers, Brake is calling for action from the government. The charity wants to see campaigns on the dan­ gers of driving when tired, and a review of safe stopping places on motorways.

Deputy chief executive at Brake, Julie

Townsend: “The fact that so many drivers – espe­ cially men – have head­nodded at the wheel is horrifying, even more so that many don’t recognise this means they have fallen asleep briefly.”

Almost half (49%) of all respondents admit to driving after less than five hours’ sleep – again more common among men (55%) than women (45%).

Townsend concluded: “This survey suggests this is down to many people failing to ensure they always get sufficient sleep before embarking on journeys. We need all drivers to wake up to the fact that ‘head nodding’ is falling asleep, and can easily lead to catastrophe, but it can, of course be prevented.”

Spies given licence to speed

HEAD-NODDING

Friday, January 17, 2014

35

36

Friday, January 17, 2014

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

QUICKIE

Across

25 Sediment (5)

1 Clever (5) 4 Allegory (5) 8 Foodstuffs (9) 9 Everything (3) 10 High point (4) 11 Nought (7) 12 Head gesture (3) 13 Thought (4) 15 Level (4) 16 Failure (3) 18 Farm vehicle (7) 19 Naked (4) 22 Owed (3) 23 Comrade (9) 24 Bulbous spring­flowering plant (5)

Down 1 Indication (6) 2 Love (5) 3 Journey (4) 4 Acquaintance (6) 5 Infatuated (8) 6 Prevaricating (7) 7 Beat (4) 12 Maritime (8) 14 Language variant (7) 16 Rally support (4,2) 17 Racket sport (6) 18 Clean up (4) 20 Similar (5) 21 Hairless (4)

Last weeks Solution

Across: 1 Cast, 3 Opposite, 9 Examine, 10 Oasis, 11 Poems, 12 Target, 14 Stress, 16 Pardon, 19 Humble, 21 Total, 24 Trial, 25 Insults, 26 Pleasure, 27 Used.

Down: 1 Cheapest, 2 Scare, 4 Pretty, 5 Odour, 6 Instead, 7 Ease, 8 Kisses, 13 Enclosed, 15 Routine, 17 Artist, 18 Senior, 20 Bills, 22 Tales, 23 Stop.

Scribble Pad

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

CRYTPIC CLUES Across 7 Risk in tidying up the gar­ den (6) 8 Coating with female and males names (6) 9 They make a hit with golfers (4) 10 In a tizzy? Call Eric, in a pen pushing capacity (8) 11 Dresser for a group of ministers (7) 13 Commence beguine without university egghead (5) 15 Brashest without the wind instrument (5) 17 He'd easy become a bumpkin (7) 20 Parched detour I'd changed (5,3) 21 Undone same line of stitching (4) 23 Everybody in the German city linked to Kennedy (6) 24 Unwilling to produce a piece of rhyme (6)

Down 1 Repaired leak with a veg­ etable (4) 2 Is saga about a tennis star? (6) 3 Followed journalist after the pamphlet (7) 4 A new enemy for an Arab nation (5) 5 Unfortunately remain a fighting man (6) 6 It's a ‘no­no’ in the photo­ graphic business (8)

FILL IT IN

Complete the crossword grid by using the given words:

3 letter words Ale Apt Arm Boa Dye Era Fir Has Let Men One Pep Set Sin Sly Spa

4 letter words Abed Afar Ages Akin Alar Alas Alga Area Cafe Cape Carp Chit Dele Dope Dose Ease Elan

Euro Hasp Lens Life Lone Myth Pane Peel Pent Play Pray Rang Safe Sard Seas Sect Sent Sled Tire

Toll Tong 5 letter words Ahead Alarm Alone Aorta Caddy Cedar Coach Colds Erica Fleas Morel Panty Poker Preen Range

Rouge Sedge Shady Slang Stale Stash Veldt 6 letter words Emerge Hooded Siesta Splint 8 letter words Derelict Plethora Standing Validate

12 Cultivated Indian city gets rainstorm (8) 14 Same hat, different part of London (4,3)

SPANISH-ENGLISH CROSSWORD

Improve your Spanish ­ clues in Spanish, answers in English or vice versa.

16 Bouts of curses (6) 18 She's after a South African's girdles (6) 19 I be so out of sorts in Idaho (5) 22 Organised Laos too (4)

Down STANDARD CLUES 1 Variety of cabbage (4) Across 2 Famous US tennis player 7 Peril (6) (6) 8 Tooth coating (6) 3 Followed (7) 9 Golf ball pegs (4) 4 Arab nation (5) 10 Office job category (8) 5 Of or relating to the sea 11 Cupboard (7) (6) 13 Start (5) 6 Lacking a positive quality 15 Alloy of copper and zinc (8) 12 Pertaining to farmland (5) (8) 17 Country bumpkin (7) 14 Area of London (4,3) 20 Free from moisture (5,3) 16 Bouts (6) 21 Cloth join (4) 18 Waistbands (6) 23 City in Texas (6) 19 Capital of Idaho (5) 24 Disinclined (6) 22 As well (4) Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Lass, 4 Slate, 9 Imitate, 10 Arena, 11 Guest, 12 Elevate, 13 Rasher, 15 Critic, 19 Agitate, 21 Cases, 23 Emits, 24 Airfare, 25 Scene, 26 Sees.

Down: 2 Abide, 3 Startle, 4 See red, 5 Abate, 6 Elegant, 7 Linger, 8 Fade, 14 Spirits, 16 Records, 17 Cashew, 18 Beware, 19 Abel, 20 Aisle, 22 Shake.

Across 1 White (6) 4 Lights (5) 8 Suizo (5) 9 Emanar (7) 10 Aeropuerto (7) 11 Dinner (supper) (4) 12 Mar (3) 14 Chiste (4) 15 Silk (4) 18 King (3) 21 Tall (4) 23 Enemy (7) 25 Razones (7) 26 Cobertizos (para ani­ males, herramientas) (5) 27 Floor (of room) (5) 28 Strawberries (6)

Down 1 To be enough (6) 2 Open (7) 3 Cliente (de tienda, bar, restaurante, banco) (8) 4 Plomo (metal) (4) 5 Code (cipher) (5) 6 Balancín (en parque infantil) (6) 7 Nidos (5) 13 Lift (elevator) (8) 16 Conductores (de coches, camiones, auto­ buses) (7) 17 Fathers (6) 19 Levadura (5) 20 Caballos (animales) (6) 22 Suit (for man) (5) 24 Wolf (4)

37

Friday, January 17, 2014 Across 1 What name is often applied to a newspaper having pages half the size of those of the average broadsheet, typi­ cally popular in style and dom­ inated by sensational stories?

(7) 5 Derived from the Hebrew for ‘gathering’, what name is given to the parliament of modern Israel? (7) 9 Which adjective means ‘of or relating to or resembling an axis of rotation’? (5) 10 What name did James Hilton give to his ‘mystical, harmonious valley, gently guided from a lamasery, enclosed in the western end of the Kunlun Mountains’ in his 1933 novel Lost Horizon? (7­ 2) 11 Operating from the Elizabethan era until the early 19th century, what name was given to a thief, typically on horseback, who held up trav­ ellers at gunpoint in order to rob them? (10) 12 What name is usually given to a male deer, especial­ ly an adult male red deer? (4) 13 What collective name is given to the chemically inert elements helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon?

(5,5) 16 Which bugle call for lights to be put out in army

quarters, was so named because the signal was origi­ nally sounded on a drum? (4) 18 In rugby union, what name is given to a loose scrum formed around a player with the ball off the ground?

(4) 19 Thought to be a refer­ ence to New York, which fic­ tional city is the home of Superman? (10) 21 Which verb means ‘catch sight of’ or ‘to perceive with the eyes’? (4) 22 Which adjective means ‘stupefied or excited by a chemical substance, especial­ ly alcohol’? (10) 26 Which is the capital and largest city of Nepal? (9) 27 The solid part of the Earth’s surface is often referred to as (what) firma? (5) 28 Which word completes the title of the American medieval fantasy television series based on author George R R Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series of nov­ els: Game of (What)? (7) 29 Kuching is the capital of which state of Malaysia, com­ prising the north­western part of Borneo? (7) Down 1 Formed in Enschede in 1969, which Dutch band is best known for winning the

SUDOKU (Very easy)

Quiz Word

Eurovision Song Contest in 1975 with the song Ding­A­ Dong? (5­2) 2 What name is often applied to expensive, ostenta­ tious clothing and jewellery?

(5) 3 Which two words com­ plete the title of the ITV sitcom set in an NHS ward that starred James Bolam, Peter Bowles, Christopher Strauli as

patients and Richard Wilson as their consultant surgeon: (What) (What) I Laugh? (4,4) 4 By what first name was the singer Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien better known? Her early hits include: I Only Want to Be with You and I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself? (5) 5 Which sluggish, tailless Australian arboreal marsupial with grey furry ears and coat, feeds on eucalyptus leaves and bark? (5,4) 6 The U2 guitarist David Howell Evans is more widely known by which stage name?

(4) 7 Located on the Mississippi river, adjacent to Minneapolis, what s the capi­ tal of the state of Minnesota?

(5,4) 8 Chiefly used in riot con­ trol to force crowds to dis­ perse, what general name is given to the volatile substance that causes severe irritation to the eyes? (4,3) 14 Which popular children’s television programme shares its name with a flag that indi­ cates that a vessel is ready to set sail? (4,5) 15 Which 880 mile (1,400 km) mountain range extends the length of the Italian penin­ sula? (9) 17 Bill Elliott and Bobby

Purvis were the members of which vocal duo who were the first act to sign for George Harrison’s Dark Horse Records label? Their only UK Top 20 hit single, released in 1974, was entitled Costafine Town? (8) 18 Also known as the suri­ cate, which small mammal belonging to the mongoose family, lives in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa?

(7) 20 What was the name of the fictional comic strip and comic book character created

by Sgt George Baker during World War II? He was a lowly private experiencing some of the absurdities and humilia­ tions of US military life? (3,4) 23 With what type of music would you principally associ­ ate the singer/songwriters Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon, Earl Hooker, Slim Harpo and Koko Taylor? (5) 24 Which verb can mean both ‘to cast, hurl, fling through the air’ and ‘to cause one’s voice to appear to come from elsewhere? (5) 25 Muscat is the capital of which country at the eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula? (4)

SALLY’S SIMPLE SPANISH

BU E N A S C A R AC T E R I S T I C A S G O O D Q UA L I T I E S Match these words with their Spanish translations then find them in the wordsearch.

(Answers below)

movies / tv QUIZ

ANSEWRS: 1. Cagney and Lacey 2. Tara 3. Sean Connery 4. Marlene Dietrich 5. Stuffing birds 6. Woody Allen 7. Wyatt Earp 8.

An Actress 9. Bulova Watches 10. Green 11. Hot Rod 12.

Tarzan 13. Stewart Granger

Last Week’s Solutions Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Word Solution Across: 1 Ascot, 4 Home Guard, 9 Doc, 10 Ant, 11 Heathen, 12 Shoe, 13 North Korea, 15 Ibsen, 16 Spare tyre, 17 Badminton, 21 Ellis, 23 Obstetrics, 24 Knot, 27 Leonine, 28 Ewe, 29 Asp, 30 Omelettes, 31 Oldie.

Down: 1 Andes, 2 Cyclops, 3 Thaw, 4 Hot Rods, 5 Mahatma, 6 Goalkeeper, 7 Ashtray, 8 Dungarees, 14 Anti­ Semite, 15 Imbroglio, 18 Dispose, 19 Torment, 20 Nucleus, 22 Lanyard, 25 Tepee, 26 Lego.

la modestia

la amabilidad

la paciencia

la ambición

la puntualidad

la comprensión

la sabiduría

la discreción

la sensatez

la generosidad

la sinceridad

la honestidad

la tolerancia

la humildad

la valentía

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

1.la alegría, 2.la amabilidad,

13.la sabiduría, 14.la sensatez,

i.common sense, j.patience,

3.la ambición, 4.la comprensión,

15.la sinceridad,

k.modesty, l.punctuality,

5.la discreción,

16.la tolerancia, 17.la valentía.

m.ambition, n.tolerance, o.generosity, p.wisdom,

6.la generosidad, 7.la honestidad, 8.la humildad,

a.courage, b.discretion,

9.la inteligencia, 10.la modestia,

c.friendliness, d.intelligence,

11.la paciencia,

e.understanding, f.joy,

12.la puntualidad,

g.sincerity, h.humility,

Soduko

Span ­ Eng

q.honesty.

Quizword

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

1. In which cop show did Petrie and Isbecki appear?

2. What was the name of the plantation in movie 'Gone with the Wind'?

3. What actor once had a job as a coffin polisher?

4. What actress said "I acted vulgar, Madonna is vul­ gar"?

5. What was Norman Bate's hobby in the movie 'Psycho'?

6. Alan Stuart Konigsberg is better known as who?

7. Hugh O'Brian played the lead in which old western series?

8. Dorethy Parker said "Scratch an actor and you will find" what?

9. What product did the first commercial in the USA advertise?

10. What colour is Spock's blood?

11. What was Fonzie's favourite magazine?

12. James H. Pierce was the last silent film actor to play which role?

13. James Leblanche Stewart became famous under what name?

la alegría

Fill It In

38

Friday, January 17, 2014

TRELI ON THE TELLY With Rolf Harris having other matters on his mind, Kylie Minogue has now assumed the mantle of the most popular adopted Aussie living in the UK, and she’s been brought in to charm things up on the new series of The Voice.

And she’s certainly doing it for me, being much more “customer friendly”, than Jessie J. I like Ricky Wilson of the Kaiser Chiefs as well, and I think on first viewing, the makeover has worked, along with Emma Willis and Marvin Humes (ex­JLS) doing the hosting duties. The blind audition rounds have

with ALEX TRELINSKI always been wonderful TV, but what can the show do about the later stages which have suffered from a lack of buzz about them? BBC 1 have made changes and we’ll see what happens, but it’s interesting that here in

KYLIE COULD BE SO LUCKY

Spain and in the USA, The Voice is the number 1 singing show, whilst The X Factor takes it in the UK. Perhaps with it being such a one­ woman race for Sam during the autumn, The Voice

(which I really like) might grab more of the viewers imagination, and there’s no clash to worry about with Britain’s Got Talent. The makeover certainly brought more fun, and had the bonus of destroying the inept Splash in the ratings.

q

It’s been very remiss of me not to have men­ tioned Sherlock, which fin­ ished its latest run on BBC1 on Sunday. I have nothing but praise for the wonderful writing mixing in laughs with drama and emotion, and the cast led by the equally splen­ did Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. It hon­ estly doesn’t get much better than this for UK drama and even in mid­January, I cannot see any British production trumping it this year for sheer all­round entertainment. It also helps that you get a trio

of 90­minute tales and that’s it. The good news is that the next two series are already being planned, and that we won’t have a two year wait for the next stories, like we had this time round. The fact as well that it is high quality over quantity means that the stars of the show are keen to keep it going for many years to come.

loyalty rather than a sense of imagination in the writing.

Yes, I’ll continue to watch, especially for the adventures of the Garvey clan, and those swingers, Donald and Jacqueline, but don’t you get the feeling that Benidorm lost it’s mojo when Geoffrey Hutchings, who played Mel, passed away over 3 years ago?

q

q

I love Benidorm, and especially the colourful collection of characters, and that’s what is keeping the ITV show afloat, because the storylines cer­ tainly are not. The pro­ gramme is meant to make you laugh, but the scripts have run out of steam, which I feared when watching the previous series. There’s the odd titter here and there, but there’s a sense that the pro­ ducers are relying on viewer

Nominations are out for the National Television Awards, and not surprisingly the names of Julie Hesmonhaigh and David Neilson (Hayley and Roy from Corrie) are in the frame for winning the best soap performance. It’s a viewer vote, but with this week’s episodes in mind, as well as those emotional ones in recent months, wouldn’t it be nice if the result mysteriously ended up as a tie?

The Courier Friday TV 00:35 01:20 01:25 07:00 10:15 11:00 12:00 12:45 13:15 14:00 14:30 14:45 15:15 16:00 16:45 17:30 18:15 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:25 23:35

This Week Skiing Weatherview BBC News Breakfast Wanted Down Under Homes Under the Hammer The Sheriffs Are Coming Real Lives Reunited Bargain Hunt BBC News; Weather Regional News and Weather Doctors Father Brown Perfection Escape to the Country Antiques Road Trip Pointless BBC News Weather The One Show Celebrity Mastermind EastEnders Miranda Silent Witness BBC News National Lottery Update The Graham Norton Show

00:20 Snooker: The Masters 01:10 Snooker Extra 03:10 Iceland Foods: Life in the Freezer Cabinet 04:10 This Is BBC Two 05:00 Schools ­ Made of Money

05:30 Schools: Music, Mud and Making Money 06:00 Schools ­ Counting with 00:35 The Last Word 01:05 Jackpot247 Rodd 2 06:55 Schools ­ Wonders of Nature: 04:00 Tonight 04:25 ITV Nightscreen Flamingo ­ Courtship Spectacle 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 07:00 Daybreak 08:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 08:45 Real Lives Reunited 09:15 Paul Hollywood's Pies & Puds 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 10:00 The Sacred Wonders of 14:30 ITV News and Weather Britain 14:55 ITV Meridian Weather 11:00 Question Time 15:00 All Star Mr & Mrs 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 12:00 BBC News 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 12:30 BBC World News 17:00 Britain's Best Bakery 13:00 Daily Politics 18:00 The Chase 14:00 Live Snooker: The Masters 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 19:30 Great British Railway 20:30 Coronation Street Journeys 21:00 The Martin Lewis Money 20:00 Live Snooker: The Masters Show 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 Coronation Street 21:30 An Island Parish 22:00 Piers Morgan's Life Stories 23:00 ITV News at Ten and 22:00 Italy Unpacked Weather 23:00 QI 23:30 ITV News Meridian 23:30 Newsnight 23:35 The Americans

PIERS MORGAN’S LIFE STORIES The actor most associated with his comic role as the happy­go­lucky joker Tony in Men Behaving Badly talks openly for the first time about his infa­ mous affair with Amanda Holden, and how he felt when he was branded a `love rat'. He reflects on being taken into care when he was just 10 years old and reveals how Mel Gibson was happy for him to pretend to be his brother when they became drinking pals.

00:05 24 Hours in A&E 01:10 One Born Every Minute 02:05 Random Acts 02:10 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 03:00 The Fat Fighters 03:55 Secret Eaters 04:50 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 05:45 Deal or No Deal 06:40 Kirstie's Vintage Gems 07:00 Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard 07:25 Countdown 08:05 Will & Grace 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:55 Frasier 11:00 The Secret Millionaire Australia 12:00 Building the Dream 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast 22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 23:00 Sarah Millican: Chatterbox Live

January 17

00:00 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 SuperCasino 04:05 True CSI 04:55 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Bananas in Pyjamas 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 The WotWots 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Milkshake! Bop Box 07:55 Milkshake! Monkey 08:00 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Milkshake! Show Songs 08:50 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Toby's Travelling Circus 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Big Body Squad 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Mentalist 16:15 Jane Doe: Til Death Do Us Part 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Police Interceptors 21:00 Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:30 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side

39

The Courier Saturday TV

January 18

00:05 Snooker: The Masters 00:55 Snooker Extra

00:25 EastEnders

00:35 Benidorm 01:25 Jackpot247 04:00 The Pledge 03:55 PQ17: An Arctic Convoy 06:05 ITV Nightscreen 07:00 Pat & Stan Disaster 07:25 Dino Dan 04:55 This Is BBC Two 07:50 Canimals 08:10 Om Nom Stories 07:00 This Is BBC Two 08:15 Sooty 07:45 Sodom and Gomorrah 08:25 Om Nom Stories 08:30 Scrambled!

10:10 Life on Earth 10:25 ITV News 10:30 Dinner Date 11:05 Life on Earth 11:30 Murder, She Wrote 12:00 Fred Dibnah's Made in Britain 12:30 ITV News and Weather 12:30 Great British Railway Journeys 12:44 ITV Meridian Weather 12:45 Show Me the Telly 13:00 The Great Sport Relief Bake Off 13:45 Columbo and the Murder of a Rock Star 14:00 The Great Sport Relief Bake Off 15:45 Midsomer Murders 17:45 ITV Meridian Weather 15:00 The A to Z of TV Cooking 17:45 ITV News Meridian 15:45 Ensign Pulver 17:55 ITV News and Weather 18:10 Despicable Me 17:30 Live Snooker: The Masters 20:00 Splash!

19:00 Flog It! 21:30 Take Me Out 22:45 The Jonathan Ross Show 20:00 Live Snooker: The Masters 23:45 ITV News and Weather 23:30 QI XL 23:59 ITV Meridian Weather 02:55 Question Time

02:50 Weatherview 02:55 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 The Good Cook 13:00 Football Focus 13:45 Sportsday 14:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 14:15 Live Snooker: The Masters 17:30 Final Score 18:15 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 18:35 Dynamo: Magician Impossible 19:15 Reflex 20:00 The Voice UK 21:20 The National Lottery: Who

00:05 00:35 02:10 02:15 04:25 05:20 07:15 08:05 09:00 10:00 10:30 11:30 12:25 12:55 13:25 14:30 17:00 17:25 18:00 18:35 19:05 19:30 20:30 22:00 23:00

Brooklyn Nine­Nine Saw II Random Acts Chinatown The Big C August Rush The American Football Show Trans World Sport The Morning Line Everybody Loves Raymond How I Met Your Mother The Big Bang Theory The Simpsons The Simpsons The Taste Channel 4 Racing Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Channel 4 News Speed with Guy Martin Britain's Killer Storms Hostages Knowing

SPLASH!

Dares Wins 22:10 Casualty 23:00 BBC News; Weather 23:20 National Lottery Update 23:20 Match of the Day

00:00 Weather

Musician Paul Young, TOWIE star Dan Osborne, comedian Patrick Monahan, model Danielle Lloyd and Tory MP Penny Mordaunt vie for two semi­final spots under the tutelage of Tom Daley. The scores are awarded by judges Andy Banks, Jo Brand and Leon Taylor, as well as the public, and with the highest­ranking diver progressing automatically, two of them have to battle it out in the all­important Splash Off.

00:30 Celebrity Big Brother 01:00 SuperCasino 04:05 True CSI 04:55 Highland Emergency 05:20 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Peppa Pig 07:05 Roary the Racing Car 07:15 Fifi and the Flowertots 07:25 Bubble Guppies 07:40 The Mr Men Show 07:50 Chloe's Closet 08:05 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:10 Bananas in Pyjamas 08:25 Make Way for Noddy 08:35 Mio Mao 08:40 City of Friends 08:55 Little Princess 09:10 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:25 Angelina Ballerina 09:40 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 Jelly Jamm 10:30 LazyTown 11:00 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 11:10 Power Rangers: Megaforce 11:45 Slugterra 12:10 Access 12:20 Celebrity Big Brother 13:40 World's Worst Holiday Horrors 14:45 Police Interceptors 15:45 Columbo: Murder under Glass 17:10 Diagnosis Murder 19:10 Mr & Mrs Murder 20:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 20:45 NCIS 22:35 5 News Weekend 22:45 Celebrity Big Brother 23:45 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Psych

The Courier Sunday TV

January 19

00:45 The Football League Show 02:05 Weatherview 02:10 BBC News

00:15 Howl 01:35 Snooker Extra 03:35 This Is BBC Two

07:00 Breakfast 07:00 This Is BBC Two 08:35 Match of the Day 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 The Big Questions 12:00 Sunday Politics 13:15 MOTD2 Extra 14:00 BBC News

07:45 Blessed 09:05 Monty Don's French Gardens 10:05 Countryfile 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:30 The Great Sport Relief Bake

14:10 Weather for the Week Ahead Off 14:15 Moving On

13:30 The Great Sport Relief Bake

15:00 Bargain Hunt

Off

16:00 Escape to the Country

14:30 Live Snooker: The Masters

16:45 Lifeline

18:15 Ski Sunday

16:55 Songs of Praise

19:00 Flog It!

17:30 Hidden Kingdoms

20:00 Live Snooker: The Masters

18:30 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 19:00 Fake or Fortune?

20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Call the Midwife 22:00 The Musketeers 23:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 23:25 Match of the Day 2

00:00 01:45 04:00 04:45 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:10 08:15 08:25 08:30 10:25 11:20 12:20 12:29 12:30 13:25 14:25 15:10 16:40 18:50 18:50 19:00 19:15 20:45 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:14 23:15 23:45

Burn after Reading Jackpot247 Ladette to Lady: Australia ITV Nightscreen Pat & Stan Dino Dan Canimals Om Nom Stories Sooty Om Nom Stories Scrambled!

Dickinson's Real Deal Murder, She Wrote ITV News and Weather ITV Meridian Weather Inside the National Trust The Crocodile Hunter Diaries Catchphrase Splash!

Dr No ITV Meridian Weather ITV News Meridian ITV News and Weather Dancing on Ice All Star Family Fortunes Dancing on Ice: The Skate Off Mr Selfridge ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV Meridian Weather Birds of a Feather Piers Morgan's Life Stories

CALL THE MIDWIFE! New series. The nuns and midwives move into their new premises following the explosion that wrecked the old Nonnatus House, and are joined by fresh arrival Sister Winifred ­ a kindly­but­naive young woman. Jenny becomes concerned about new mother Merle's mental state and the welfare of her baby, who isn't feeding properly. Dr Turner believes it could be something more serious.

01:20 Panic Room 03:15 Southland 04:00 Hollyoaks 06:05 Deal or No Deal 07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 08:05 Snowdon Race 09:00 Will & Grace 09:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 10:30 Sunday Brunch 13:30 How I Met Your Mother 14:25 The Big Bang Theory 15:55 The Simpsons 16:25 The Simpsons 16:55 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids 18:45 Deal or No Deal 19:40 Channel 4 News 20:00 Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast 21:00 Speed with Guy Martin 22:00 Don't Look Down 23:00 Haywire

01:00 SuperCasino 04:05 Baby Face Brides 05:00 Wildlife SOS 05:25 Make It Big 05:50 Roary the Racing Car 06:00 Angels of Jarm 06:10 Hana's Helpline 06:20 Angels of Jarm 06:25 The Funky Valley Show 06:40 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 Bubble Guppies 07:40 The Mr Men Show 07:50 Chloe's Closet 08:05 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:10 Bananas in Pyjamas 08:25 Make Way for Noddy 08:35 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:40 City of Friends 08:55 Little Princess 09:05 Olly the Little White Van 09:10 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:25 Angelina Ballerina 09:40 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 Jelly Jamm 10:30 LazyTown 11:00 Power Rangers: Super Samurai 11:35 Slugterra 12:00 Highland Emergency 12:30 Celebrity Big Brother 13:30 The In­Laws 15:25 Something's Gotta Give 17:55 Sweet Home Alabama 20:00 Legally Blonde 21:55 5 News Weekend 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 The Lake House

40

The Courier Monday TV

January 21

00:25 The Revolution Will Be Televised 00:55 Shifty 02:20 Weatherview 02:25 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 12:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 12:45 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Father Brown 16:00 Perfection 16:45 Escape to the Country 17:30 Antiques Road Trip 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Inside Out 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 New Tricks 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Have I Got Old News for You

00:00 A Serious Man 01:40 Countryfile

02:35 Holby City 03:35 This Is BBC Two 07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:05 Homes Under the Hammer 08:05 The Sheriffs Are Coming 08:50 Real Lives Reunited 09:20 Paul Hollywood's Pies & Puds 10:05 Britain and the Sea 11:05 Britain's Empty Homes 11:35 Click 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live International Bowls 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 Winterwatch 22:30 Russia on Four Wheels 23:30 Newsnight 23:30 Weather

00:45 River Monsters 01:10 The Store 03:15 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 04:40 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV News Meridian 15:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Britain's Best Bakery 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 The Bletchley Circle 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV Meridian Weather 23:35 Accepted

00:45 Domino 02:55 Southland 03:40 Internal Affairs 05:30 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 06:25 Kirstie's Vintage Gems 06:30 Deal or No Deal 07:25 Countdown 08:10 Will & Grace 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 11:00 The Secret Millionaire Australia 12:00 Sarah Beeny's Selling Houses 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday 13:05 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Dispatches 21:30 Food Unwrapped 22:00 Benefits Street 23:00 My Baggy Body

WINTERWATCH New series. Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes­Games present from their new base at Mar Lodge Estate in the Cairngorms National Park, where they'll be following the fortunes of gold­ en eagles, red squirrels, otters and red deer as they cope with this most challenging season. There is also a report on Brighton's urban foxes and an investigation into the ingenious ways British wildlife overcomes the hardships of winter.

00:55 Autopsy: The Last Hours Of 01:55 SuperCasino 04:05 My Secret Past 05:00 Wildlife SOS 05:20 Make It Big 05:50 Roary the Racing Car 06:00 Angels of Jarm 06:05 Hana's Helpline 06:20 Angels of Jarm 06:25 The Funky Valley Show 06:40 Roary the Racing Car 06:50 Hana's Helpline 07:00 Bananas in Pyjamas 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 The WotWots 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Milkshake! Bop Box 07:55 Milkshake! Monkey 08:00 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:50 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:35 Toby's Travelling Circus 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 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 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge 21:00 Go Hard or Go Home 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Helix

The Courier Tuesday TV

January 21

00:20 USA 01:05 01:50 01:55 07:00 10:15 11:00 12:00 12:45 Under 13:15 14:00 14:30 14:40 15:10 16:00 16:45 17:30 18:15 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:25 23:35

Who Do You Think You Are? The Graham Norton Show Weatherview BBC News Breakfast Wanted Down Under Homes Under the Hammer The Sheriffs Are Coming Helicopter Heroes Down Bargain Hunt BBC News; Weather Regional News and Weather Doctors Father Brown Perfection Escape to the Country Antiques Road Trip Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Holby City Death in Paradise BBC News Regional News and Weather The Naked Rambler

00:20 Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow 01:20 International Bowls 02:20 Trust Me I'm a Doctor 03:20 This Is BBC Two

05:00 Strictly Soulmates 05:30 Divine Women 06:00 True Stories 07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:05 Homes Under the Hammer 08:05 The Sheriffs Are Coming 08:50 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 09:20 Paul Hollywood's Pies & Puds 10:05 Antiques Roadshow 11:05 Britain's Empty Homes 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live International Bowls 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 Winterwatch 22:00 The Search for Alfred the Great 23:00 House of Fools 23:30 Weather

01:20 Jackpot247 04:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 04:45 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV News Meridian 15:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Britain's Best Bakery 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 River Monsters 21:00 Weight Loss Ward 22:00 Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV News Meridian 23:35 Sports Life Stories

WEIGHT LOSS WARD At Sunderland Royal Hospital's obesity unit, 31st Doreen Thomas spends her first night away from home in 37 years and the 56­year­old makes a sur­ prising decision, determined to do things her own way. The team also meets Jeff Allan, 66, who has undergone emergency surgery to remove his gas­ tric balloon after losing weight too quickly, and 29­ year­old Natalie Middleton, whose gastric band slipped, seeing her weight reduce to eight stone and endangering her life.

00:00 The American Football Show 01:00 Random Acts 01:05 Speed with Guy Martin 02:00 Hostages 02:55 World Without End 03:50 Coming Up 04:20 Dave: Loan Ranger 05:15 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 06:10 Kirstie's Handmade Treasures 06:30 Deal or No Deal 07:25 Countdown 08:10 Will & Grace 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 11:00 The Secret Millionaire Australia 12:00 Sarah Beeny's Selling Houses 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Location, Location, Location 22:00 The Taste 23:00 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA

00:50 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:50 Campus PD 02:10 SuperCasino 04:05 Autopsy: The Last Hours Of 04:55 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Bananas in Pyjamas 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 The WotWots 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Milkshake! Bop Box 07:55 Milkshake! Monkey 08:00 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:50 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:35 Toby's Travelling Circus 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 World's Worst Holiday Horrors 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 At Risk 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Highland Emergency 20:30 5 News Update 20:30 Highland Emergency 21:00 Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Autopsy: The Last Hours Of

41

The Courier Wednesday TV

January 22

00:25 00:55 02:40 02:45 07:00 10:15 11:00 12:00 12:45 Under 13:15 14:00 14:30 14:45 15:15 16:00 16:45 17:30 18:15 19:00 19:30 19:30 19:55 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:25 23:25 23:35 23:45

Film 2014 White Mischief Weatherview BBC News Breakfast Wanted Down Under Homes Under the Hammer The Sheriffs Are Coming Helicopter Heroes Down Bargain Hunt BBC News; Weather Regional News and Weather Doctors Father Brown Perfection Escape to the Country Antiques Road Trip Pointless BBC News Weather BBC London News Party Political Broadcast The One Show Waterloo Road Crimewatch BBC News Regional News and Weather National Lottery Update Crimewatch Update A Question of Sport

00:20 Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow 01:20 International Bowls 02:20 The Midwives 03:20 This Is BBC Two

04:55 Schools: I Never Said Yes 05:45 Schools: Lizard Girl 06:00 What Makes Me, Me 06:30 Schools ­ William Whiskerson: Island, Farm, City 07:00 Homes Under the Hammer 08:00 The Sheriffs Are Coming 08:45 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 09:15 Paul Hollywood's Pies & Puds 10:00 Great Continental Railway Journeys 11:00 Kangaroo Dundee 11:30 See Hear 12:00 BBC News 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 Lifeline 14:10 Live International Bowls 18:10 Flog It! 18:55 Party Political Broadcast 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 Winterwatch 22:00 Winterwatch Unsprung 22:30 Russia on Four Wheels 23:30 Newsnight

00:35 The Crocodile Hunter Diaries 01:05 Jackpot247 04:00 Loose Women 04:45 ITV Nightscreen 06:05 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 ITV News Meridian 15:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Britain's Best Bakery 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:25 Party Political Broadcast 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Coronation Street 20:30 The National Television Awards 2014 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV News Meridian 23:40 The Jonathan Ross Show

00:00 The Undateables 01:00 Random Acts 01:05 Poker 02:00 KOTV Boxing Weekly 02:30 Trans World Sport 03:25 Beach Volleyball 04:20 Snowdon Race 05:20 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 06:15 Hugh's 3 Good Things: Best Bites 07:25 Countdown 08:10 Will & Grace 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 11:00 The Secret Millionaire Australia 12:00 Sarah Beeny's Selling Houses 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:05 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 The Restoration Man 22:00 24 Hours in A&E 23:00 Children on the Frontline

THE NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS 2014 The biggest names on the small screen gather at the O2 in London for the annual ceremony cele­ brating the best of British TV over the past 12 months, as voted for by viewers.

00:00 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 My Secret Past 02:00 SuperCasino 04:05 Hens Behaving Badly 04:55 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Bananas in Pyjamas 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 The WotWots 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Milkshake! Bop Box 07:55 Milkshake! Monkey 08:00 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:50 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:30 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:35 Toby's Travelling Circus 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:05 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Robson's Extreme Fishing Challenge 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Shadow on the Mesa 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 The Town the Travellers Took Over 21:00 World's 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:30 Hens Behaving Badly

The Courier Thursday TV

January 23

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

The League Cup Show Color of Night Weatherview BBC News Breakfast Wanted Down Under Homes Under the Hammer The Sheriffs Are Coming Helicopter Heroes Down

00:20 Great 01:20 02:20 02:50 05:00 Stage

The Search for Alfred the

Bargain Hunt BBC News; Weather Regional News and Weather Doctors Father Brown Perfection Escape to the Country Antiques Road Trip Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Hidden Kingdoms Silent Witness BBC News Regional News and Weather Question Time

International Bowls See Hear This Is BBC Two Schools: 3, 2, 1 Go! ­ Key 3

06:00 Schools: 3, 2, 1 Go! ­ Key Stage 1 07:00 This Is BBC Two 07:05 Homes Under the Hammer 08:05 The Sheriffs Are Coming 08:50 Helicopter Heroes Down Under 09:20 Paul Hollywood's Pies & Puds 10:05 Tudor Monastery Farm 11:05 Kangaroo Dundee 11:35 HARDtalk 12:00 BBC News 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live International Bowls 18:15 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 The Great Interior Design Challenge 21:00 Restoration Home One Year On 22:00 Winterwatch 23:00 Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe 23:30 Newsnight

00:40 Corfu: A Tale of Two Islands 01:05 Jackpot247 04:00 Columbo: Grand Deceptions 05:35 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 14:55 ITV News Meridian 15:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 ITV Meridian Weather 17:00 Britain's Best Bakery 18:00 The Chase 19:00 ITV News Meridian 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Birds of a Feather 22:00 Benidorm 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 ITV Meridian Weather 23:35 Weight Loss Ward

RESTORATION HOME: ONE YEAR ON New series. Kieran Long returns to more projects previously featured on the programme for an update on their progress. He begins at Ralph and Evelyn's arts and crafts home near Dundee, where he witnesses the meticulous work that Liz Rowley and her fellow conservators have carried out on the bay window.

00:00 Benefits Street 01:00 Random Acts 01:05 Launched at Red Bull Studios 01:35 What Happens in Sunny Beach 02:30 Topaz 04:55 Amelia and Michael 05:05 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 06:00 Deal or No Deal 06:55 Baking Mad with Eric Lanlard 07:20 Hugh's 3 Good Things: Best Bites 07:25 Countdown 08:10 Will & Grace 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00 Frasier 11:00 The Secret Millionaire Australia 12:00 Sarah Beeny's Selling Houses 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:05 Come Dine with Me 15:10 A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 21:00 Supersize vs Superskinny 22:00 The Undateables 23:00 What Happens in Sunny Beach

00:30 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:20 Poker 02:15 SuperCasino 04:05 Botched Up Bodies 04:55 House Doctor 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 Wildlife SOS 07:00 Bananas in Pyjamas 07:10 Igam Ogam 07:20 Fireman Sam 07:35 The WotWots 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Milkshake! Bop Box 07:55 Milkshake! Monkey 08:00 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:50 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Toby's Travelling Circus 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Tickety Toc 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Police Interceptors 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Nora Roberts' Carnal Innocence 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 NewsTalk Live 20:00 Winter Road Rescue 21:00 World's Worst Holiday Horrors 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Botched Up Bodies

42

Friday, January 17, 2014

AUCTIONS

PAINTING CLASSES International painting class­ es in Almoradi wednesdays 11 to 13.

Contact: ankigov@gmail.com, 635107245

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

We cater for companies and self­employed people; we can deal with everything for you. Call us on 966 923 963 for first consultation free of charge.

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

Evangelical non­denomina­ tional church. Sunday serv­ ices 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 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 Prayer and Praise and Worship Home groups meet during the week. All wel­ come from any church back­ ground or none. For further information contact PilarChristian.CommunityC hurch@gmail.com 968575417 or 966848806.

Reg No:2009­SG/A

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) meet at 10.00 each Sunday at their Torrevieja meetinghouse in the Torreaguas building on the corner of Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 104, close to the windmill in Torrevieja, 667 533 597.

CARS FOR SALE Car insurance quotes – new extra discount on fully com­ prehensive 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.

CATERING

Viva Villa and Vacation Services, For Short or Long Term Rentals visit: www.vil­ laandvacation.com or Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 2 or 3 bed / 2 bath apart­ ments in San Miguel. Lift, communal rooftop pool & solarium, video entry sys­ tem. Available for short or long term rent from 350 pcm. Tel 966723437 or 616 493 487. (148) Santiago De La Ribera 2 bedroom modern town house with communal pool close to shops and beach.

375 euros plus water and electric bills. +34 968 335 605. +34 644 126 700.(153) Ref: 61, A lovely two bed­ roomed ground floor apart­ ment, located in the centre of the small Spanish town of Los Montesinos, With a pleasant communal swim­ ming pool adjacent & all amenities in walking dis­ tance. Long and short term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 104, 2 Bedroom apart­ ment in Torrevieja, (near gypsy lane), small balcony,

BARBER

near all amenities and Friday market. €350pcm Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 112, Spacious 3 bed­ room detached villa with its private pool is located on the El Raso urbanisation near Guardamar. Convenient for all amenities, shops, super­ market, restaurants and bars. Short term rental avail­ able. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref 702: Beautiful 2 bed­ room apartment, located near los Locos beach, beau­ tifully 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 proper­ ty overlooks a superb com­ munal 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 Ref 114 This upstairs apart­ ment is situated just out of the town centre on a lovely urbanisation with a good communal pool. It has two

bedrooms with an open plan kitchen, diner and lounge and kitchen. €350 per month plus bills. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

CARPENTER

CAR HIRE

ALARMS

LONG TERM RENTALS WANTED! Properties, all types, in the Torrevieja area wanted for long term rentals.

Call us on 96 692 3963

PROPERTY FOR SALE Ground Floor Duplex, on the Monte y Mar estate of Gran Alacant. 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Fully furnished, Private Parking, Communal pool Ref. GA0094 NOw only 83.000e Tel. 680333242 Rare opportunity to pur­ chase 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: 510, €70,000.

Bungalow located in San Luis. It is close to the super­ markets, bars and restau­

rants and is on the local bus route. An Opel Corsa car is included in this sale. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 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 com­ munal pool. Walking dis­ tance to beach. 139.000 Euros, Call 627 711 155 and quote Ref No. K10 Don Pueblo, Gran Alacant. 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Large Kitchen with Galleria, Secure underground park­ ing, Gas Central Heating, Glazed in Porch, Solarium with stunning views.

Viewings absolutely essen­ tial. Very large property at reduced price of 190.000 euros. Ref No. K38 Call 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 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 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 pro­ jected golf course. Ref No. K52. 627 711 155 Ref: 78, €120,000. Three bedroom Quad in Jardin Del Mar VII. There is off­road parking and small storage shed in the enclosed garden area, communal pool near­ by. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 2 Bed, 1 Bath Ground floor duplex. Central heating, Grills, Fully furnished, Glazed in Galleria, 2 com­ munal pools, private parking and walking distance to the Gran Alacant commercial

CLEANERS

43

Friday, January 17, 2014 centre. Situated in the popu­ lar urbanisation of Puerto Marino. Now only 96,500 euros for quick sale Ref No. K46. 627 711 155 Recently reduced 4 Bed, 3 Bath Villa, in Gran Alacant.

Quiet Location, Exceptional Views. Converted Under build, 2 Lounges, 2 Kitchens, Private Garage and being sold Fully Furnished, now only 239.950 Ref: L81 Tel. 680333242 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), Lounge­Diner, fully equipped Kitchen, Porch and Solarium with Alicante & Sea Views. ref.L81. €258,000 neg.

Tel. 680333242 Ref: KP3100, €183,000.

Three bedroom, two bath­

room 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 Corner Plot Property in the lower end of Gran Alacant. 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Under build, Roof top Solarium Being sold Fully Furnished including White goods. Walking distance to all local amenities. 139.950e Ref. GA0087 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 Gran Alacant immaculate

CAR BREAKERS

villa, 3 bedroomed, 3 bath­ roomed property maintained to a very high standard inside and out and the interi­ or furnishings are top quali­ ty, offering a feeling of luxury and good taste. The plot size is 400m2 and has been beautifully tiles, and grav­ eled and has established palms and plants. Oil fired central heating throughout, log effect fire place, ceiling fans in all rooms, towel heater rails, glazed in show­ er units, instant hot water, water purifier, free English TV, phone & internet lines, fitted double hanging wardrobes, safe, glazed in front porch, vanity units and much more. The pool is an 8 X 4 m2 salt water pool, meaning maintenance is much easier plus outside toilet and shower. Sea views to front with Greenland views to the rear. ref K51. €245,000 Tel 680333242 Ref: 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: 520, €85,000. Two bed­ room apartment in Dream Hills, with a fully equipped kitchen, large lounge, glazed­in terrace and a large solarium. This property comes with a large commu­ nal swimming pool. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Lovely clean detached Villa just as you enter Gran Alacant. Very central loca­ tion, 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Glazed in Porch, Garden Shed, Private Parking, Attractive Gardens, Private pool Ref: K59 240.000e Tel. 627711155 Ref: 104 Lovely 2 Bedroom Apartment, close to Shops, walking distance to Friday

DRAINAGE

Market and Town Centre and the beach. The property is close to the Habaneres Shopping Centre and Aquapark. Recently refur­ bished apartment in a good central location.

Conveniently situated for all the facilities of this modern vibrant town, and only a few blocks away from Torreviejas excellent sea front with its abundant cafes, restaurants and shops. Price €43950 Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Gran Alacant, Situated in the "Alto" part of Gran Alacant, this 3 bedroomed, 4th floor apartment, offers luxury accommodation, with absolutely stunning sea views, as well as views of Alicante bay and the famous Santa Barbara Castle.The apartment is 89 square meters with open plan kitchen / living room and includes all electrical appli­ ances & furniture also there is a utility room, open ter­

race, and private parking.

The urbanisation also offers many communal pools, ten­ nis 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 cul­de­sac means there is no through traffic.3 bed, 3 bath, 330m2 plot, established large gar­ dens, working fireplace, solar panel for hot water,pri­ vate parking, south facing great views, fully furnished, fantastic opportunity. ref.

L85. €215,000 Tel 680333242 Beach front Line property, over looks Carabassi Beach, Gran Alacant. 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Secure Underground Parking, Fully furnished, Roof Top Solarium. 3 Large Communal Pools, Fantastic communal Gardens, Tennis Courts and much more.

125.000 Euros Ref No. K23.

Tel. 627 711 155

PETS

44

Friday, January 17, 2014

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 Large 4 Bedroom, 4 Bathroom, 2 Kitchens, 2 Lounges, 600m2+ plot Large Retractable Glazed in Pool for all year swimming, Private Parking for 4 cars, Very low­maintenance, Fully Furnished. 330.000e but Negotiable. Very different to the other properties in Gran Alacant and is disabled friendly Ref: L80 Tel. 680333242 Limited Edition Fortaleze in Gran Alacant Exceptionally Large Plot. 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Large Private Pool with Decorative Garden, Private Parking, Electric Gates, Glazed in Porch, Solarium, Under build. Quiet sought after area. Very tastefully fur­ nished and all included

370.000e Ref. K52 Tel. 627711155 Gran Alacant, Situated front line to the famous blue flag beaches of Carabassi, the real beauty of this property is its proximity to the beach, but also on offer is a fantas­ tic communal pool situated in beautifully kept gardens with little Spanish walk ways.Comprising of 2 bed­ rooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge diner, American style kitchen including all appliances, roof top solarium with stunning views, front porch area with front garden and a secure underground garage. fully furnished Ref. K23 €125,000 rare opportunity Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant limited edition villa, not very often available on the market. Only a few of this type were ever con­ structed­ Very large 5 bed­ rooms, 4 bathroom(2 en­ suit) property, situated on a large corner plot with a 10 x 5 private pool and private parking. Lounge­diner with working fireplace, fully

RAG AND BONE

equipped kitchen with utility room. Large landing area, leading onto solarium, with extra storage external room.

Front porch area leading into large well established gardens with irrigation sys­ tem and fruit trees. Being sold fully furnished. Within walking distance to Gran Alacant commercial centre and 5 minute drive to Carabassi beaches. ref.

K11. €270,000 Tel 680333242 Mid Terraced Townhouse on Avda Polognia, Gran Alacant Furnished to a very high standard and includes White Goods. 3 Bed, 2 Bath, Lounge Diner, Fully convert­ ed Under build offering a second lounge and large storage area. Roof top Solarium, Glazed in galleria with extended worktops.

Front Garden with BBQ, Communal Pool with Gardens. 132.000e Ref. K16 Tel. 627711155 Semi­Detached Villa with Open Greenland Views to the Rear and Alicante Views to the Front, means this property in Gran Alacant would appeal to anybody looking for a quiet location.

Comprising of 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Lounge diner, with working Fire place, Porch, Solarium, Established Gardens and Private Pool, Private Parking on a large plot.

265.000e Ref. L95 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 gar­ dens 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 Gran Alacant large detached villa with 3 double bed­ rooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge­diner, fully equipped kitchen, large porch, roof top solarium, 400 m2 Plot, with established low mainte­ nance very private gardens with irrigation system, elec­ tronic 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 dis­ tance to Gran Alacant com­ mercial centre and close to local bus and tram route.

Ref K33. €260,000 neg Tel 680333242 Offers Invited on a mid Terraced Town house in Gran Alacant. Comprising of 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, Lounge Diner, Galleria, Solarium, Under build.

Communal Pool and

REMOVALS

Gardens, and with Exceptional Views of Alicante. Being Sold Fully Furnished including White Goods. Ref. K42 Tel. 627711155 (reasonable offers only) 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Unfurnished Mid Terraced Townhouse in GA. Recently decorated throughout means this property is a very clean black canvass.

Has Air­Con & Security Grills and the use of a Communal Pool. Price recently reduced to 110.000e Ref.K12 Tel. 627711155 Reduced for a quick sale to 95.000 e 2 Bedroom, 1 bath­ room, Top Floor Duplex in Gran Alacant. Very Modern Property with Many extras.

Glazed in Porch, Roof Top Solarium, Wooden Flooring.

Immaculate condition and ready to move in. Ref. K15 Tel. 627711155.

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, lounge­diner, independent kitchen, full roof­top solari­ um 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 south­facing, very private villa, with wood­ land and Alicante views.

Situated at the end of a small cul­de­sac which means this villa enjoys a very peaceful location.3 Bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, 3 Bathrooms, lounge­diner with working fireplace, fully fitted kitchen with including white goods,

WANTED POOLS

SURVEYOR

PLUMBERS

POOL TABLES

large front porch, solarium,workshop and stor­ age in under build, central heating, air con H/C, ceiling fans, grills, UK T.V, off road parking and plenty of out­ side 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

QUIZZES Experienced quiz­ master/question setter with personality available to host quiz nights in local bars.

Tel:­ 664 838 581

SITUATIONS VACANT RADIO COSTA INTERNA­ TIONAL needs motivated sellers. Spanish, English and German language is a bonus but not essential.

Training and good earnings guaranteed. For more info call 644 126 600 or email info@radicocostainterna­ tional.com Medaesthetics require a Beautician. Must have NVQ Level 3 and working self employed email cv to sabinebrooks@hotmail.com

SOLICITORS Need English speaking solicitors in Torrevieja? Let us help to solve your prob­ lems 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 dif­ ferent Hair Replacements, top fillers, Hair prostheses, Toupees and Wigs, Natural and Artificial hair and much more. Also fashion/festival accessories TV/TS are wel­ come to our service. Please call our salon reception for an appointment with Margaretha on Tel no 966 921 846 Torrevieja (90)

VAN HIRE

Friday, January 17, 2014

Greenside Gossip

45

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

EUROPE’S MOST FRUSTRATED Can Luke and Lee break their major duck?

With a single US Masters win, Adam Scott switched from underachiever to Aussie national hero last April, and then Britain’s Justin Rose went from bust to break­ out with his U.S. Open triumph.

And we musn’t forget that at the PGA Championship, Jason Dufner transformed from Twitter sensation to established golf champion almost overnight. Such is the power of win­ ning a first major, regardless of the stature and status of the golfer that achieves it. Like a holy grail of sorts, claiming one of golf’s signature events can wash away years of frustration and failure, even validating careers that seemed far from great just a few hours before! Just as Scott, Rose and Dufner have been elevated by their major accomplishments, there's a host of talented, motivated and even desperate golfers hoping to walk in their footsteps in 2014. Veterans like Lee Westwood and Luke Donald are running out of time, whilst underachievers such as Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter are searching for redemption. There are also golfers like Henrik Stenson who is entering his prime and eager to legit­

imise his rise. Whatever the motivation, here are 5 European golfers( two this week and three next), that are in most need to make a career breakthrough in 2014 along with what I think it will take for them to realise their “major” ambitions.

LUKE DONALD Luke hasn't just failed to win a major in his solid career; he’s absolutely struggled in many of them over the past several years. With a wealth of talent that had him ranked No. 1 in the world less than two years ago, he has been among the most disappointing and confounding golfers in recent years as his great potential continues to go unrealised. After play­ ing well enough to post a top 10 finish in last year’s U.S. Open, Donald struggled in the second half of the season and missed the cut at both the Open and PGA Championship, and his tie for 25th at the US Masters didn't inspire a world of confidence earlier in the season as well.

Once one of the most promising golfers in the game, Donald is now 35, and he hasn't won on the PGA Tour in nearly 2 years and continues to let opportunities pass by without put­ ting his best foot forward. If that continues for the next cou­ ple years, the pressure to win a major may well fade into an acceptance that it’s just not to be. In 2013, he was 157th in driving distance on tour, averaging just 278 yards per launch. There’s no denying that lack of power puts signifi­ cant pressure on the other parts of his game and provides little room for error on the difficult courses that host major championships.

Over the past couple of years, stress has shown in his iron play and short game on the difficult courses that host majors. And as his scores have gone up, Donald’s confi­ dence has waned to the point that he has missed the cut four times in his past 12 majors dating back to 2011. While that same span of tournaments includes several top­10 fin­ ishes, Donald hasn't managed to remain in serious con­ tention late into Sunday to give himself a real chance to get that career­altering victory.

OUTLOOK: The sight of Donald blowing up at both the Open and PGA Championship last summer just doesn't inspire great belief that a major breakthrough is coming this year. Confidence is crucial to winning one of golf’s most prized tournaments, and he has to string together some solid performances to gain this back before actually winning a first major title. Winning a major is simply too much to ask of him considering recent results.

LEE WESTWOOD Like Luke Donald, Westwood has experienced the pride of rising to No. 1 in the world rankings. Yet just like his fellow countryman, he’s never tasted the sweet thrill of victory in a major despite more than enough talent to do so. He has cer­ tainly had his opportunities, including a final­round lead at

KNOW YOUR RULES QUESTION A player’s ball lies near a cactus, and to play the ball, the player would have to stand with his legs touching the cactus.

To protect himself from the cactus needles, the player wraps a towel around his legs before taking his stance. He then plays the ball. What is the ruling?

ANSWER Provided the player does not breach Rule 13­2 (i.e. he takes his stance fairly), there is no breach of the Rules.

However, if the player were to place the towel on the cactus, the player would be in breach of Rule 1­2 for altering physical conditions with the intent of affecting the playing of the hole; as a result, he would lose the hole in match play or incur a penalty of two strokes in stroke play.

the Open last July, but simply hasn't executed the crucial shots down the stretch to escape the very top of this some­ what dubious list. By far one of the best chances of his career to win a major, his Open hopes were dashed by a final­round 75 as he watched Mickelson blow past him on Muirfield’s back nine. It was certainly a bitter setback for Westwood, who then struggled at the PGA Championship just a month later en route to a tie for 33rd. That said, there’s still plenty of reason to believe he can ultimately break through. In his past eight major starts, he’s finished in the top 10 four times, proving he still has plenty of game to chal­ lenge for that title. At the age of 40, however, the window to get it done is growing smaller, and the two­time PGA Tour winner must capitalize on an opportunity like he had at Muirfield the next time one presents itself.

Too many times in his impressive career, Westwood has been undone by an unsteady short game and inconsistent putter. Take this past season for example. In overall putting, he ranked 166th on tour, and in the vital strokes gained­ putting category, he was an equally pedestrian 168th.

Likewise, the world’s 23rd­ranked golfer was only 162nd in greens in regulation from 75 to 100 yards out. Those stats bear out Westwood’s inability to capitalize on enough scor­ ing opportunities or to save crucial strokes when needed down the stretch of a big tournament. Couple those short­ game issues with the mounting pressure of Old Father Time, and you can understand why Westwood has struggled so mightily to turn contention into victory.

OUTLOOK: While it’s fair to suggest time is running thin on Westwood, it’s also evident by his play at Muirfield last July and at the US Masters over the past two years, that he still has the game to win one of golf’s biggest prizes. He is wor­ thy of his top spot on this list, but by extension, he’s also among the most capable of playing his way off of it this year.

I am not calling a victory, but I expect Westwood to give him­ self a real chance in at least a couple of majors in 2014.

Part two of this clubhouse discussion will be next week.

What do you think?

TITTER ON THE TEE This young golf Pro got married and they went on hon­ eymoon.

When they got into the room he said “Put those Nike trousers on” When she’d got them on, he said “Now that’s the first and last time you will wear the trousers in our house” So she threw her knickers at him and said”Put them on”, with The Pro saying “I can’t get into those!”

To which his new wife replied “and until you change your attitude you won’t”

46

Friday, January 17, 2014

LAST GASP AGONY Emotional Ronaldo wins ELCHE 1 SEVILLA 1

Elche were denied a first Primera Division win since November as Daniel Carrico's 89th­minute header rescued a 1­1 draw for Sevilla last Saturday night.

Cristian Herrera's 82nd­minute effort had looked set to earn Elche a crucial three points, but their hopes of moving four points clear of the bottom three were dashed. Instead they gained a two­point cushion over the drop zone, the draw was no more than they deserved from a match in which they frustrat­ ed European hopefuls Sevilla for long periods.

Neither side offered much in a turgid first half short on chances, but both teams livened up after the break, with Elche giving as good as they got. The home side went in front in the 82nd minute when Herrera headed Fidel's left­wing cross into

the bottom corner. Elche could not hold out, though, as Carrico snatched a point for Sevilla by heading home a Jose Reyes cor­ ner. Elche entertain struggling Rayo Vallecano in a big six­pointer tomorrow (Saturday) evening.

All square at the top

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo beat Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich to win the 2013 Fifa Ballon d'Or on Monday. The Portugal captain, 28, was named world player of the year for the first time since 2008 by national coach­ es, captains and journalists. Ronaldo claimed the award with a total of 1,365 points, ahead of Messi (1,205) and Ribery (1,127), with the votes cast by 184 coaches, 184 national captains and 173 members of the global media.

"First of all, I have to say a great thanks to all of my team­mates with the club and the national team," Ronaldo said as he cried during his acceptance speech.

"Without all of their efforts, this would not have been possible. I am very happy; it is very difficult to win this award.”

It’s points that count ESPANYOL 0 REAL MADRID 1

ATLETICO MADRID 0 BARCELONA 0

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona remained level on points at the top of La Liga after a tense goalless draw at the Vicente Calderon stadium last Saturday. Diego Costa (pic­ tured on the left battling with Jordi Alba) prodded inches wide for the hosts before the break and Victor Valdes saved Arda Turan's

volley. Barcelona substitute Lionel Messi headed wide in the second half before hav­ ing an angled shot saved. The Catalan side top the table on goal difference, but Real Madrid’s Sunday win puts them just three points behind in third. Barcelona are away to Levante this Sunday evening.

HOT SHOT VAZ

CD MONTESINOS 4 RACING SAN MIGUEL 2 A cracking derby saw Monte take the local bragging rights, with over 340 spectators enjoy­ ing the thrills and spills of an entertaining encounter, which saw Montesinos get their first home win over the visitors in 17 years . It also should have seen another 5 goal haul for Monte’s Brazilian striker, Vaz, who bagged 5 against Formentera only last month.

Vaz drew early blood for the home side, only for San Miguel to level up from the penalty spot on the quarter hour. Vaz then scored twice despite a lot of pressure from the visitors, to get his hat­trick but he then missed from the penal­ ty spot before half­time.

San Miguel dominated the 2nd half, with Monte’s keeper Roberto keeping his side’s advantage, though the visitors took it down to 3­2 just 10 minutes into the 2nd period of play.

They were also boosted by Monte then being taken down to 10 men for the last 20 minutes, as Fernando was sent­off for a second yellow card after a pointless challenge. Monte soaked up the pressure, and a Vaz lob with 9 minutes remaining sealed his side’s victory. Montesinos are back at home this Sunday, as they play Benijofar, with a 4.00pm kick­off.

Real Madrid closed to within three points of the La Liga leaders with a 1­0 victory over Espanyol at Estadi Cornella­ El Prat last Sunday. Centre­back Pepe (pictured celebrating with Marcelo) head­ ed home the match winner from Luka Modric's 55th­minute free­kick as Madrid took full advantage of the goalless draw between joint pacesetters Barcelona and

Atletico Madrid the previous night. The victory was Madrid's eighth in nine games since their last league loss, which was the 2­1 defeat at Barca in October, but it was closer than they would have liked after they failed to make the most of a host of chances to finish the game off. Madrid are away to Real Betis tomorrow afternoon (Saturday).

TORRY JOEL-TED LA NUCIA 2 FC TORREVIEJA 1

Two goals in the last ten minutes from Joel Montiel, saw Torrevieja come away from Sunday’s match with nothing to show for their efforts. The visitors were happy to be defensive in the first half, with Carrasco up front for the odd break away.

Torry took the lead in the 39th minute when a shot on the edge of the penalty area from Dani Lucas hit the post with Alberto knocking in the rebound. La Nucia went up a gear in the 2nd half, though Torry still carved up a couple of chances, including a near miss from Obele. But Joel struck twice late on to leave Torrevieja licking their wounds. They take on Llosa this Sunday at the Vicente Garcia stadium with a 5.00pm kick­off.

47

Friday, January 17, 2014

KEANE V VIEIRA V FERGUSON

ITV has been banging on recently during their live matches about how great their programme ‘Keane v Vieira’ was, not to be missed, etc, yawn.

I hadn’t seen it, so through the miracle of “Catch Up”, I thought I’d give it a whirl. It’s an update of when Premiership heavyweight contenders Man United and Arsenal used to regularly slug it out over the late nineties and early noughties for the Champions position in the prestigious Premier League. Those were the days when Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger actively appeared to verbally detest each other publicly, and their teams duly responded on the field, headed by their fiery captains, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.

The show is reasonably watchable if you’re into foot­ ball, with Keane and Vieira sitting opposite each other at a table, trading passionate points of view in a now­ civilised ‘that was then and this is now’ fashion ­ although the ‘set’ looked suspiciously like a disused TV warehouse, where no expense has been incurred.

However, the overriding memory and lasting effect of the programme leaves one little to remember about Frenchman Vieira unless you’re a Gooner. No, what is much more likely to remain in the mind is the current depth of Roy Keane’s disgust and loathing for Alex

Ferguson today ­ no doubt honed by his ex­manag­ er’s recent autobiography. I haven’t read the com­ plete edition yet, but it appears from serialisations published in British newspapers that, like a long line of other well­known and very successful ex­ Manchester United footballers from the 26 year Fergie period, Keano does not come out of the book well.

Other similar famous fates have already been well­aired, but mention is acidly made by Keane of the allegation that David Beckham’s marriage to posh Spice was heavily disapproved of by his Scottish boss, and soon England’s iconic captain had to go: the moral being that no­one – no­one is bigger than the club, although Keane gives the firm impression that Ferguson thinks he is. This brings back a repetition of the type of savage character assassination by Fergie on the subject of his once right­hand man and captain Gordon Strachan who played so successfully in their wonderful ‘Old Firm’ bashings by Aberdeen, and then later at United. Strachan is now doing well as the cur­ rent Scotland manager, but Ferguson was to quote: ‘I made up my mind never to turn my back on that man’.

Ironically, Keane seems to have suffered the same fate as Strachan, but 25 years later. It seems the manager/captain relationship has soured much more with Keano and Alex, with the Irishman appearing to even take great exception to very laudable comments on some of his greater triumphs by Ferguson, puzzlingly dismissing them as insults, i.e. he was only doing what he was expected to do. It’s a well­known fact that Roy Keane does have a very dark side, and one of Ferguson’s descriptions of him is that despite the hugely physical side to the Irishman’s play on the field, the hardest part of his body is his tongue.

In one telling piece of the programme, Keane was asked who was the

best manager he had ever played for. He batted it straight back to the interviewer, clear­eyed by respond­ ing firmly: ‘Without a shadow of doubt – Brian Clough’, ‘Not Sir Alex?’ posed the interviewer.

‘You asked me the question. I answered you’, was the terse reply.

Having read his 2002 autobiography ‘Keane’, as a Forest supporter I’m not really surprised at that com­ ment, approvingly watching as the Irishman progressed meteorically in the football world from a nobody in Cork via Nottingham to super stardom in Manchester. Keane admits he learnt a lot from Cloughie in his three years at the City Ground under the great, but then­ailing manag­ er. Perhaps the best bit of the programme is when Keane is asked to describe Fergie in one word. He thinks long and hard before pronouncing: ‘Ruthless’ ‘And what is Ferguson’s biggest strength?

‘He’s ruthless’. Here it comes: ‘His biggest weakness?’ Keane has another long think: ‘Loyalty’ ­and so here we clearly have it. The ITV show starkly reveals that today Roy Keane feels com­ pletely betrayed by Sir Alex Ferguson, leaving the undoubtedly clear opinion that the Great Scot did not get to the top – and stay there – by letting anyone get in his way – including Roy Keane.

ADAM’S BACK TIGERS TAMED TORREVIEJA TIGERS 14 ITV ORIHUELA 31

Club Natacion Torrevieja’s swimmers had a perfect New Year’s boost with the return of Adam Stewart to their Masters ranks, after he spent the last few months back in Britain.

The team have started their build up for next month’s Spanish Winter National Championships in Majorca at the end of next month, with each team member swimming twice against 17 other regional clubs.

Adam Stewart kicked off the action with the 400 m freestyle where he got a good time, backed up by a similar performance in

the 100m butterfly. Paul Matthews the other male swimmer in the team had an excellent swim in both his events the 200 m Individual Medley (65+ yrs) and the 100 m Freestyle event. The ladies of the team followed with both Beth Altabas and Gillian Mc Niece swimming in the same events, the 200 m Freestyle and the 200 m Backstroke races.

Vicki Connolly took part in the over­45’s cat­ egory in the 50 m Breaststroke and 800 m Freestyle events, coming close to her per­ sonal best in the breaststroke swim.

A full strength Orihuela side were no match for the struggling Tigers in their Murcian Regional first division clash last Saturday. Orihuela were on the score sheet within seconds, courtesy of a Tirso try, but the home side bravely fought back to make

it 17­14 to Orihuela at half­time. The visitors pulled away in the 2nd period to record a deserved victory, and play again at the lead­ ers Albacete on Saturday January 25th. In the 2nd division, table­topping San Javier Squalos (Sharks) won 54­12 at Yecla.

Friday, January 17, 2014

48

ROMAN’S ROUBLES KEEP ON FLOWING

CHELSEA FLASH THE CASH A LA ARSENAL

Last week Chelski announced a loss of £49.4m for the year ended 30 June 2013. Apparently they’re still paying Roberto di Matteo ­ and probably Ray Wilkins too, though he’s ill­advising Rene at Fulham right now. Hmm, have you noticed neither nark about their rough ride from Roman, presum­ ably ready with the Roubles? Silly question: why has Jose just sold Kevin de Bruyne who he bought last year, and apeing Arsenal bought yet another midfielder, Nemanja Matic (brother named Pneu, perhaps?). On the field, Hull health­Hazard again showed his score­ starved strikers how­to­do­it with his eleventh of the season, the Belgian midfielder is the Bridge’s leading scorer ­ twice that of Torres, who did actually manage the second, t’others nowhere. Petr Cech’s pushing proudly to outstretch that great Chelsea keeper Peter Bonetti’s records, remember him? Hey, dijuno there’s actually four Brazilians currently playing for Chelsea – no, Rioally!

Big Sam chewed the Cudiff against all the odds in Swales, helping West Ham to vindicate the Davids’ faith in him. Ultimately it was a Noble effort with 10 Hammers (again!) against Bellamy­boosted Cardiff, but this week at Upton Park, the unpredictable Magpies fly in from the North­East. Hope they leave that head­banger Yanga­Mbiwa back in Newcastle; he should have had a straight red, not a yellow yellow for

John McGregor reports

an X­rated tackle. Why don’t refs stand up and be counted? Poor Sami Nasri’ll be out for eight weeks as a result. By a curious quirk of the fixture fairy on Saturday at the City Coliseum come sheep­to­be shorn Cardiff, the same confused Ole­organised Red/Bluebirds Gunnared down by the Hammers ­ who ironically swapped places withum in the DDD as a result. Beware, boyos.

Would you Adam ‘n Eve it, down ‘dere dwellers Sunderland put four past floundering Fulham: that riverside Cottage is leaking loads this watery winter, 46 now conceded (mathematicians note ­, that’s over 2 per game) ­ and could Berbatov go in the transfer win­ dow as twittered somewhere? Why aye man, yon lamp’s glowing a bit brighter at The Stadium of Light.

Question: should Roy Hodgson look at Hat­Tricky­ Hero Adam Johnson?

Pulitzer prize? More like the pratt’s prize for the Prem’s most pathetically­priceless penalty miss. The corner flag jobbie goes to Jason Puncheon of Punchless, now­rock­bottom­again Palace, who in their Pulis plight need­that­not. Only 13 scored so far, as the Eagles lost 2 – 0 to Spurs. Great Dane Erikson’s fourth goal was good, although Defoe is defecting dejectedly to Canada, he rarely starts for Tim’s tip­top Tottenham.

The prize for the most money­saving goal celebrations goes to Adam Lallana, seen on TV using his vest as a birthday card, his mum being the lucky recipient as her little lad scored the welcome winner against West Brom. Congrats Mum, but chairman Nicola Cortese has resigned – strange, because at the Hawthorns

they’re copying Saints’ modus operandi, where new­ at­last jefe Pepe Mel was a La Liga boss not doing well (Mauricio Pochettino was at Espanyol), so the Baggies have made PM I/C. The Spaniard’s CV says he was sacked from bottom club Real Betis aqui en Espana, y tambien before that against our Elche’s Saturday opponents Rayo Vallecano. West Brom will wait ‘til Monday to entertain effervescent Everton, fresh from Cap’n Baines signing on for the good ship Goodison again ­ no Trafford temptations for this Toffee.

Wow! Did you catch the Stoke­ Liverpool game on Sunday? What a cracker, finished 5 – 3 to Liverpool, but it had everything, including the now­normal Super­Suarez brace. It’s Liverpool­ Villa Saturday, as Stoke seek six­pointer success at Pulis Palace.

Chelsea going well in second, but guess who’s Bridging it Sunday tea­time? Only old oppressive opponents Man United, Moyeseying over their win over Swansea ­ who take on Tottenham Super Sunday.

(Psst…was it significant that Fergie was missing on Saturday at Old Trafford – and the Reds actually won?)

See­that­belter­of­Barry’s putting Everton one up against Norwich? NB: ­ Canaries have only tweeted 17 goals all season ­ Suarez has scored 22 on his own, and’ll be trying for more against Aston Villa Saturday.

At last big Christian Benteke scored for the Villains at home to table –toppers Arsenal on Monday evening, but the Gunners are still firing on all four with early hits from Olivier Giroud, closely followed by Jumpin’ Jack Wilshere to keep Arsenal top. Yes, it’s dangerous and foolhardy to predict Arsene’s Red and white Army should beat Fulham’s Frail Flounderers ­ but I will.