The Courier week 40

Edition 40

www.thecourier.es

JUAN IN THE EYE!

Friday, November 25, 2011

STRIPPED DISC TOP local radio DJ Dennis Christian is counting the cost of his recent holiday cruise – after his bank account stripped of €3,800 by Spanish tax officials.

While he and his partner Greta were enjoying the delights of Madeira and the Atlantic, the Hacienda grabbed the money, claiming the chirpy TKO presenter underpaid when he bought his bungalow in Quesada five years ago. ‘‘I can’t believe they can do this sort of thing without any notification,’’ complained Dennis, totally knocked out by the clandestine way the money was syphoned off.

Brandishing a statement from his bank in Torrevieja out of pocket.’’

Dennis, who spent 17 showing the deadly debit, he explained: “When I went in to years entertaining in the check my account, to my hor- Costa del Sol before moving ror there was a embargo for to the Costa Blanca, added: the total of €3.801.03 taken “This is a bit of a warning to your readers about having out by the Hacienda. ‘‘It left me just a couple of funds in the bank. If that hundred euro to cover the money had not been in my account, they couldn’t have rest of my bills etc.

“The bank were unhelpful taken it.’’ in explaining who or what the Scouser Dennis, whose Hacienda was, so I went to talents also include stand-up see my accountant, who comedy and hypnosis, has informed me a few days later lived in Spain for more than that it all stemmed from when two decades and insists: I purchased my property. ‘’Things have just got worse “I paid around €140,000 over the years I will fight to cash but the Hacienda are get my money back but I am now saying I underpaid in not too hopeful. some way. Since then, house “I just want to forewarn prices have fallen dramatical- your readers of what might ly, leaving me well and truly happen to them.’’

DJ’s bank account ‘robbed’ of $3,800 - by the taxman

KING Juan Carlos was a bit of a sight on Tuesday after having an argument...with a door. And it’s not the first time the 73-year-old Spanish monarch has done it. See Page 3

Still smiling: Dennis Christian

IN YOUR COURIER TODAY...

AS EVER, your favourite newspaper is packed with news, views and fun.

And to give you extra food for thought, our new kitchen queen, Alfonsa Ramirez Carmona,

throws some more of her unique recipes into the pot. The 84-year-old from Elche never learnt to read or write – but wow, can she cook! Alfonsa is on Page 20. Also inside...

Page 4 - Tony Mayes Page 5 - Bev’s Boobs Page 7 - Donna Gee Page 10 - Dave Silver Page 15- Alex Trelinski Page 35 Treli on Telly Pages 46-48 Sport

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Clear off you two, no swimming lessons today TELEPHONE

96 692 1003 679 096 309 JUNGLE DRUMS E-MAIL office@thecourier.es WEB www.thecourier.es HEAD OFFICE Calle Luis Canovas Martinez 1. Urb Aguas Nuevas, Torrevieja 03183, ALICANTE PHONE: 96 692 1003 Email: office@thecourier.es OPENING HOURS Mon - Fri 1030 to 1730 EDITOR Donna Gee ADVERTISING SALES 96 621 1003 office@thecourier.es TELESALES 96 621 1003 616 332 178 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 Therese Guardamar, La Marina, Santa pola, Gran Alacant Tel 616 332 178 Writers Donna Gee Amanda Black Sally Bengtsson Rebecca Marks Alex Trelinski Dave Silver Harold Heys Steve Bott Tony Mayes Jake Monroe

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Picture of the week

96 692 1003

THE BEST OF ENEMIES!

PRIME Minister elect Mariano Rajoy held a two-hour meeting with Luis Rodríguez Zapatero on Wednesday evening to debate Spain’s economic situation and discuss the handing over of power.

Sources close to the meeting reported a good relationship between the two men - and total collaboration.

They discussed the crisis in the Eurozone and on the markets, and also the European Council meeting in Brussels on December 9, which Zapatero will attend as acting PM. The Zapatero-Rajoy get-together followed a meeting between the acting Minister for

Rajoy, Zapatero in collaboration pact

Friendly foes: Zapatero (left) and Rajoy

Publication Published by Rainbow Media, S.L. Printed by Localprint S.L Depósito legal A - 132 - 2011 The Courier, its publishers, members of staff and its agents do not accept responsibility for claims by advertisers nor can it be held responsible for any errors in advertisements which are reproduced from poor artwork, low quality electronic data or inadequate instructions for text or other layout features.

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

Presidency, Ramón Jáuregui, and the PP Spokesperson in parliament, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaria, who will coordinate the transition over

Monday Partly cloudy High Temperature: 19°C RealFeel: 18°C

the next few weeks.

The acting Government has promised to keep the PP informed of decisions taken in the next few weeks, and to find a con-

sensus on the Spanish position ahead of talks and international summits scheduled before Rajoy’s investiture as new Prime Minister.

Under established law, parliament can be constituted on December 13, and the investiture could take place on December 20 or 21, allowing the new Government to be fully in place before Christmas.

Meanwhile, in Madrid, PP regional president Esperanza Aguirre has sacked the local general secretary of the party, Francisco Granados, claiming a lack of confidence. He is to be replaced by regional government vice-president Ignacio González.

Four of those on the committee voted against the change, while Granados said he goes with his head held high.

JOSÉ María Aznar (above), Prime Minister of Spain immediately before Zapatero, was killed off in the English version of Wikipedia on Wednesday literally.

The error in his entry, which was later corrected, said Aznar died in a traffic accident this year while driving under the influence of alcohol.

The text read: ‘He died in 2011 due to a car crash.

Rumours said he was driving under the influence of wine’.

In 2007, Aznar was criticised as irresponsible by the chief of the DGT Traffic Authority after saying publicly that he did not like being told how much wine he could drink or how fast he could drive.

He said: ‘I don’t like it that they tell me that I can’t go at such a speed, or that I can’t eat as many hamburgers or I can’t drink wine. The glasses of wine I drink, let me drink them quietly. I don’t put anybody at risk’.

Today Mostly sunny High Temperature: 18°C RealFeel: 16°C

Saturday Mostly sunny High Temperature: 18°C RealFeel: 17°C

Sunday Drizzle High Temperature: 17°C RealFeel: 14°C

Tuesday Sunny High Temperature: 20°C RealFeel: 19°C

Wednesday Mostly cloudy High Temperature: 19°C RealFeel: 20°C

Thursday Sunny High Temperature: 18°C RealFeel: 17°C

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Friday, November 25, 2011

FLOOD AND THUNDER

Floating wheels: The weekend scene in San Pedro

Splashing out: Wet, wet, wet in Santa Pola’s Calle Elche

BY SALLY BENGTSSON LAST weekend’s torrential storms reaped havoc throughout the Costa Blanca - with San Javier and San Pedro among the worst affected.

With an astonishing 117 litres per square metre falling in just three hours, emer-

Life in Spain - for wetter or worse

gency workers in San Pedro received over 100 calls from neighbours trapped in their cars, or reporting flooded basements.

Local firemen were kept busy all afternoon, and assistance from local police was also required. After the rain eased,

many roads had to be closed and parents on their way to collect children from school had to find routes avoiding the flooded areas. Two cars were swept 100 metres down one road and had to be towed to drier ground.

All the roads which head down to the

EYE AND MIGHTY The King goes to war with a door - and loses KING Juan Carlos was sporting a right Royal shiner this week – after a swinging door hit him in the face.

The 73-year-old Spanish monarch got ‘Juan in the eye’ when an assistant came through from the other side as he was about to open a door in La Zarzuela palace.

At least, that’s the official version..

He was given medical assistance in the palace after suffering pain and inflammation and later appeared in public with a plaster on his nose.

Hours after the incident, the King wore sunglasses as he attended an award ceremony for the Foundation for the Defence of Nature.

This is not the first time that Juan Carlos has suffered an accident of this type in his residence. In 1981, he suffered injuries to his face, upper body and limbs when he ran into a glass door as he headed toward the swimming pool in La Zarzuela.

The impact smashed the glass, causing cuts all over his body and leading to his arm being in a sling for a month.

The king underwent surgery in September to repair an Achilles tendon.

After straining the same area a month later, he cancelled his appointments on medical advice.

Mar Menor turned into rivers of gushing water, and dry river beds served their purpose.

San Javier, apart from the downpour, had to put up with gusts of wind up to 85 kmph. Traffic also had to be stopped in El Mojon.

Down’s joke lands Carr in hot water

COMIC Jimmy Carr sparked fury with a sick joke about Down's Syndrome children.

According to The Sun, he mentioned the condition to set up a gag centred on buses run by the Variety Club charity.

He then asked a 1,000strong audience: "Why are they called Sunshine Variety coaches when all the kids on them look the f***ing same?"

One fan at the Parr Hall theatre in Warrington said: "There was some laughter but I think most people agreed that it was crass.

"We all know he can be controversial but this joke overstepped the mark."

Variety Club spokesman Malcolm Brenner said: "He is ridiculing children with Down's Syndrome — you can't get much lower than that."

Jimmy, 39, said: "It was the 238th gig of the tour and nobody has complained so far. I'm sorry to anyone who came and was offended."

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Sin in a bin: Danger comes in recycles...

I START this week's column with a warning, after my wife spotted some strange goings-on around recycling bins in Orihuela Costa.

First, she saw a woman tap on the bin for recycled paper and cardboard, and a man inside the bin lifted the lid and handed her a cardboard box which appeared quite heavy.

She put the contents on the back seat of her car and then went back to the recycle bin with the box and waited until the man had apparently filled it with more paperwork. Within a few moments, he was going through the box - and then they left.

Of course, it might have been completely innocent. Perhaps the couple had thrown something away by mistake and were trying to find it. But our guess is that he had been searching for any paperwork which disclosed personal details, bank accounts, etc.

The bins are near a commercial centre, which makes it even more serious as the paperwork could involve details of customers' transactions.

It shows how important it is to shred or thoroughly tear up any paperwork which has any kind of personal details. We all know how easy it is for a crook to steal another person's identity and strip another's bank account.  HIDDEN within last week's unemployment figures was one set of statistics which sums up the problem in Britain today.

It is the sad fact that while the number of British workers fell by 311,000 in the past year, the figure for foreign employees jumped by 181,000.

And an increasing number of employers are saying they would prefer to employ a foreign worker than a British one because they have a better work ethic and are prepared to work harder.

While British workers were mainly sent by benefit offices and had the attitude "won't work and don't want to work", their foreign counterparts really got stuck in.

And ironically they were able to command higher wages than Brits because they were prepared to put in overtime and work anti-social hours.

It's all come about because of the stupid benefit trap Britain has sleepwalked into. The welfare state was meant to be available to those who had worked and built up a "state nest egg' on which to draw in the event of hard times.

It was never intended to be a way of life and a meal ticket for countless thousands to live their lives on benefits.

The word has spread around the world that finding a job in the UK is easy because the average Brit is lazy and doesn't want to get his or her hands dirty. And as one employer put it, "they would rather be over-paid footballers than do an honest day's work."

It's going to be a hard task for any government weening into work two generations of people only too willing to sit on their bums and do nothing. The country's economic woes

life that a man and wife depend on each other more than ever before.

Losing a partner through death often results in the one left behind living an extremely lonely existence.

Why bring about that loneliness by a self-inflicted divorce? You would think that the 60+ age group had sufficient experience of life and its problems to overcome any difficulties.

It would be interesting to know whether more divorces among the over 60s are being instigated by women than men.

As for reduced divorce rates for younger generations, this might be because so many young couples now live together before taking the leap to marriage, or actually deciding not to marry at all.

And I wonder how many pensioners are boosting the figures because they’ve realised that divorcing can result in a larger State pension pot for both of them? In other words, a token divorce.

are undoubtedly going to hit the idle the hardest - and it can't come soon enough.

On the same tack I welcome the decision to make people on sickness benefit appear before a panel to see whether they are able to do some kind of work.

My only concern is where all these jobs are going to come from. It's all very well trying for force people off their backsides - provided there's a job to go to. So, I hope there's some joined-up thinking along the way.  ONE of the saddest news items I’ve read this last week was about the number of over 60s in the UK who were divorcing. Apparently this is the only age group where the number of divorces are actually rising - the other age groups are seeing reductions.

Apparently, the problem arises when men retire and are suddenly spending many more hours of the day in the home. They realise they have far less in common than they once had and the woman gets fed up with him around her feet all day, having few interests or hobbies to occupy the hours when he used to be working.

They spent their early married years in life's young dream, building up a home and then raising children - him at work most of the day and her either working, looking after the home or building up other interests.

It makes me laugh when a friend of mine reminds his wife after around 40 years of marriage that he has given her the best years of his life. And, of course, he has - in the traditional role of breadwinning for the family.

Divorcing at 60+ is so very sad because it is at a time of

Please be genital with me...

A MAN who turned up at hospital with a ring stuck on his penis had to be cut free by 10 firefighters, according to the Daily Mirror.

It took firefighters 20 minutes to remove the ring after staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, were unable to prise it from the man's genitals.

Two fire engines were dispatched to perform the delicate procedure, which took place in May. There were three incidents in one year in which firefighters were called to remove a ring stuck on a penis, it was revealed in London Fire Brigade statistics covering April 2010 to May 2011.

The disclosure is one of 417 incidents attended by London's firefighters over the last year involving people stuck in objects, machinery and furniture not including road traffic accidents.

The calamities included a man who became stuck in a child's toy car ; a youth wedged in an ironing board; a person with their fingers stuck in a DVD player; several children with toilet seats and potties stuck on their heads; and 36 people trapped in handcuffs.

The removal of rings from fingers accounted for 160 incidents, while 74 people had "other" objects removed.’’

 THE story which infuriated me most this past week concerned a killer motorist who showed total disregard for the law, yet escaped jail because he was too ill to be cared for properly behind bars.

This wretched man had 50 previous convictions, including one for killing a mother of two while he was speeding in a stolen car.

He was before the court for his sixth dangerous driving offence and the judge told him he should have been jailed for 19 months. But the prison authorities had written to the judge to say he would not receive the round-the-clock care he needed.

The judge said the defendant had the worst driving record he had ever heard. His latest escapade involved driving at up to 50mph in a 30mph zone, travelling the wrong way on a dual carriageway and finally crashing in a bid to escape police because he was driving while disqualified and without insurance.

He was given a 12-month suspended sentence, placed under supervision of a probation officer and further disqualified from driving.

The judge also commented that the man was now almost a prisoner because of his physical and mental condition.

Crazy, or what? This man is a menace and if there was the slightest prospect of his somehow getting behind the wheel and perhaps killing again, he should be jailed, no matter how ill he was. Who has to be considered more - a man who has no regard for anyone else and quite capable of killing through his own selfishness and stupidity, or the rest of society who could be his next victim?

And the story which amused me the most? It involves Switzerland - which is getting tough against skiers and trekkers who have been enjoying their leisure activities in the nude. Can you imagine skiing in the altogether? The mere thought of it brought tears to my eyes!

THE sounds of big band filled La Rustika last Friday when the first in the season of Big Band Dance Nights came to Torrevieja.

It was a swinging start for the season as Gil Monk’s Swingtet-Plus Big Band got everyone dancing, with more than a little help from Mr Larry Wright’s vocals.

Even though it poured with rain outside, inside La Rustika everyone got into the mood.

The Big Band Dance

Swinging in the rain Nights will be held fairly regularly, and the next not-tobe-missed date is Wednesday December 21.

Tickets, at €7m, are available from La Rustika.

For more details call 965 703 685 or 622 760 340.

Raffles at these events raise money for HELP Vega Baja Organisation.

Friday, November 25, 2011

The honky-tonk woman they just could not silence I FINALLY sat behind the wheel of a car when I reached 40 and somehow passed my test first time.

However, I knew that my driving left a lot to be desired (my mum, children and husband Andres will all verify that fact) so I bought the oldest banger I could find.

We were living in England at the time and this F-reg Volvo 340 cost me 250 quid.

It was worth every penny but after a few months the indicator lever fell off! It wasn't a problem. Andres ‘repaired it!!

A couple of months later, the horn began to honk every time I turned corners. Not too big a honk but enough to put my children and mum off coming in the car with me. Apart from being frightened of my driving, the embarrassment finished them off.

I ignored its little voice and persevered with my erratic driving - until one fateful day. On the way to work I noticed that the honk was happening more often and by the time I arrived it was honking over every bump and around every bend, Now it wasn't quiet at all.

I really needed to go shopping after work and decided to risk the bizarre behaviour of my "bargain wheels".

So I set off to my local town centre,

some five miles away. As I drove the got worse and worse, and by the time I parked up it was honking more than a gaggle of geese!

I shopped, very worried about driving home. I was now beyond embarrassed.

Total dread set in. This wasn't going to end well. After filling the boot, I got in, held my breath and, with gritted teeth, turned on the ignition. Then all hell was let loose.

The horn honked constantly.

It wouldn't stop.

Straight away I switched off the engine, but still it carried on and on!

I sat there wondering what the hell was happening and what I could do to stop it, when, to my horror, a swirl of smoke appeared from the steering wheel.

I soon shifted! I shot out of the car and fumbled for my mobile and dialled 999.

The operator shouted to me: "I can't hear a word your saying, someone's sounding a car horn’’.

What a surprise! I had no idea! Finally she got the message and said that a fire engine was on it's way.

I stood on the kerb, jumping up and down watching my Babe filling with smoke, when I saw and heard the fire engine. By now half of the townwas craning its neck from buses, houses, and cars.

It was only about 200 yards away when I heard a loud bang and a huge amount of black smoke bellowed out of the wheel.

Then....it all STOPPED. By the time the eight firemen got off the engine and came to the car, it was just sat there (I’m sure that I noticed a smug grin on its face!) silent and even the bloody smoke had disappeared!

I cannot even begin to tell you how it felt to appear to be a hoax caller/ nutter/ time waster.

I swore to them that it had actually done everything that it had. They seemed to find the whole thing amusing and of course set about investigating what had happened.

When they opened the bonnet they gasped, "the indicator lead has been attached to the steering wheel connections and they've fused together.

Who on earth did this to you?" You already know the answer...

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Horsing around for a fab day out SERIOUS and fun riding combined to make Palm’s Equestrian Horse show a galloping success last week.

Horses and their riders came from all the local yards to compete in events ranging from sack races to dressage.

The day kicked off with the handy pony (obstacle course), attracting 27 entries. A bean bag race, sack race and musical mats followed, with competitors completing activities on and off their horse.

After all the horsing around came the more serious dressage event, which was won by Connor Cameron.

Jumping followed, with X-poles, for the children learning to jump, through to high fences for the more experienced riders.

The horse and hound event saw riders completing a course of jumps before dismounting and putting a dog through its paces over a second course of smaller jumps – all against the clock.

Palms Equestrian Centre in Catral offers riding for all levels, with group and private lessons for children from four years through to adults. More experienced riders can ride out on hacks. The yard also offers livery. For details call 636 311 751, visit www.palmsequestrian.co m, or find Palms Equestrian on Facebook.

Friday, November 25, 2011

FEARS GROW AS HEALTH DEBT UP

By SALLY BENGTSSON

PHARMACEUTICAL companies and medical suppliers are owed 10.56 billion euros by town halls throughout Spain.

Over the past five months alone, the amount public hospitals owe has risen by 10 per cent. The debt has now begun to threaten the survival of the health service.

Half the money owed is for medicines and the rest is for equipment from syringes to scanners.

Humberto Arnés, director general at Farmaindustria, says that it is the private companies that are sustaining Spain’s public health system and that this cannot continue.

“We cannot expect that they will keep supplying the regions indefinitely,” he said.

But if companies stop the supply, or are forced to stop due to bankruptcy, patients will be put at risk.

According to the Spanish Federation of Medical Technology Companies (Fenin), since 2007 the number of unpaid bills has soared by 270 per cent.

Farmaindustria hasn’t updated its breakdown of figures for Humberto Arnés, director general at Farmaindustria, who says private each region, but says that things are much the same as when companies cannot continue to sustain Spain’s public health system its last report was released at the end of June. Then, Madrid, Andalusia, Valencia and Castilla y León were the regions with the most medical debt. They were also the four regions that took the longest to pay their suppliers.

Of the four, Andalusia has the highest amount of unpaid bills, about 1.1 billion, followed

by Valencia with 886 million.

He was diagnosed with sclerosis and the money was Suppliers are kept waiting TWO men have been holding a hunger strike outside the an average of 431 days for doors of Congress to call attention to their separate to help him adapt his home to make it suitable for a payment - about eight times struggles with a bank that they say tricked them into los- wheelchair. When he applied for disability, he was told the insurance would pay the mortgage. But it didn’t and the legal limit. In Valencia, it ing their savings and a home.

When they started their strike, Francisco Cañas of Santander wants to repossess his home. can take 765 days.

And in Oyón, the mayor of the La Rioja town has A spokeswoman for the Jaén and José Luis Burgos of Catalonia pledged to keep also gone on a hunger strike. Rubén Garrido is protestValencian health department up their vigil until last Sunday’s elections.

The men are waging individual battles with Banco ing the provincial government’s decision not said: “We are working hard to Santander. to treat patients from the bordering Basque province pay off our debts.”

Cañas says that Santander made him lose 300,000 Álvara. euros that was awarded to his son, Juan Pedro, following a car accident that left him paraplegic.

He claims two men representing the bank came to his home and convinced him to put the money in a fund.

Cañas says that he told the representatives: “This is Juan Pedro’s money. We need it to care for him and so that he can survive when we are gone. We don’t want to take any risks.”

But after a few years, the money disappeared, and Santander has not responded to his questions As to his fight with Santander, Burgos explains that he took out a 300,000-euro loan to remodel his home.

Hunger strikers in protest over bank giant’s actions

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Why does the kit have to hit the fan?

I POPPED into a major sports shop in Torrevieja last week, hoping to buy a couple of football kits for my grandsons for Christmas.

They are both crazed Manchester United fans - and actually live in the city, believe it or not. But they also enjoy the trappings of success. That’s why they are just as happy to run around in Barcelona or Real Madrid kits.

Now I know that Spain are world champions, but I was reckoning on paying no more than €40 for a replica of the new jersey they wore against England recently.

Don’t you believe it! The CHEAPEST shirt on

display was €59.95…with the World Cup winners’ jersey marked up at a cool €72.95.

For some reason, the adult version of the same kit was €3 cheaper. Curious.

There’s no mystery, or course, as to why cash-strapped mums and dads are subjected to paying extortionist prices to keep their kids happy at Christmas. It’s the ridiculous wages paid to professional footballers…when pure logic tells us their income should be capped.

Top stars reportedly earn at least £100,000 A WEEK – a disgusting figure that 95% of us could not make in two or three years.

STENTS AND SENSIBILITY IN the six years since I bought my home in Spain, my spectacles have become a shade pinker.

I love the country, I love the people, I love the lifestyle - and of course I adore the weather. OK, I’m not so keen on the Gota Fria but that doesn’t stop me being an unashamed Spanofile.

Having said that, Spain is far from perfect. In fact, there are things I loathe about this country.

The lunatic drivers and useless administrators, shop assistants who chat on the phone when customers need service, electricity companies that have no qualms about leaving old ladies in the dark if a payment is delayed.

And of course, the mañana, mañana mentality in just about every aspect of life. I could go on and on.

When it comes to organisation and administration, Spain is a Third World entity. However much we expats rip into the old country (and there’s plenty to rip into), when it comes to recording information, British bureaucracy takes some beating.

The UK system has been tried and trusted over generations and one simple phone call is invariably all it takes to iron out the glitch.

In Spain, if you ring your electricity, gas and water suppliers with a query, they’ll either be unable to find you on the company database, have your name, address or phone number wrong (often all three) wrong - or say they will call you back. Which they won’t.

This is, of course, a totally subjective opinion, since our individual experiences differ. This applies to hospital stays, too.

The reaction of readers to last week’s article on my recent stay in Torrevieja Hospital (see Letters Page) suggests that most expats regard the Spanish health service as superior to the NHS. Yet the same article posted on one of my blog sites – and read more by people in Britain - prompted exactly the opposite response.

Which left me in a state of limbo over my own treatment because, whilst I adored the hospital itself, there were a couple of worrying elements of my six days in dock.

The ‘mañana mañana’ mentality of the nurses when I pressed the call button. On one occasion I waited ten

l

The Broadband and Telephone Company

966 784 532

If the players’ unions had any compassion, they’d force the likes of Iniesta, Rooney and Messi to fork out a measly £1,000 each weekend to repay the folk without whose hard-earned wages they’d be a lot poorer.

The only consolation for English folk is that their heroes made up at Wembley for the fact that Spain won the World Cup in South Africa last year.

Maybe manager Fabio Capello, whose English is far from perfect, got his instructions mixed up and told his players: ‘‘If you can’t join them, beat them.’’

Spain or the UK - which medical service is better?

The great debate Rochdale Infirmary

minutes for someone to come after telling them over the speaker that I needed assistance.

The near-sadistic behaviour of one impatient young male nurse when he couldn’t find a usable vein in either of my arms to insert a canula.

In contrast with my after-care at Rochdale, where I had two coronary stents inserted in 2009, no proper advice on what to do and not to do in the immediate future.

The male nurse with an attitude came to the ‘rescue’ after a canula worked its way out of the back of my right hand, causing blood to drip all over the floor.

He wasn’t happy from the start and things got worse when he couldn’t find a usable vein in either arm in which to insert a new probe. I closed my eyes and froze as he pummelled away at my skin, trying to tempt even a mini-vein out of hiding.

At one point, he thought he found one, only to lose it. ‘’Stop moving!’’ he yelled in frustration, even though I hadn’t budged a millimeter. Problem was that my veins had become so incensed at being treated like a pin cushion that they’d gone into hiding. And this hot-blooded horror was bent on needling them into surrender.

He eventually found a way into my right arm just above elbow level. It felt distinctly uncomfortable. I suspected something was not quite right but his mood alone sealed my lips.

Within a couple of hours, my right bicep was almost solid.

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The canula had to go – and this time an angel of a nurse descended and soothingly found an entry point in the back of my left hand.

She was typical of the nursing staff of both sexes…sweet and caring. But while it was an isolated incident, he of the black mood left a dark cloud over my overall experience.

My discharge from hospital was also rather strange. Unlike in Rochdale, where I had my first angioplasty, there was no advice not to drive for a few days, and no little card for my handbag, detailing my condition and medication in case of emergency. And no proper details on recuperation procedure.

I can only assume this was because I had been through the same stenting process before – and know the drill like the back of my hand - what’s left of it after Mr Nasty’s needle session.

Well, I do know what I SHOULD do.

Basically, it’s a case of eating the right food, getting some exercise and taking things easier. Unfortunately I suffer from an incurable infection called workaholism, which undoubtedly contributed to the events that put me in hospital.

I’m now under strict orders to ease back – with an unwinnable battle ahead if I don’t take my foot off the gas.

And it’s not the angina that I fear most.

It’s my colleagues at The Courier.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011

550 kilos of cocaine hidden in bananas

THE National Police have found more than 550 kilos of cocaine hidden in boxes of ‘top quality bananas’ which were being introduced into Spain via the port in Algeciras.

The drugs were hidden in the plastic linings inside the cardboard boxes containing the bananas, found in containers which had come from Ecuador.

The drug runners benefitted by the quicker customs procedures for fruit.

11 people have been arrested in Madrid, including the alleged head of

the gang. The police investigation started in the middle of last year as a group of Ecuadorian and Colombian men who were planning to send a large amount of cocaine from South America to Spain were uncovered.

The members of this gang had top security measures to avoid detection by the Police. Thanks to the methods discovered in that organisation, with the drug hidden in the plastic, it has been possible to make these latest arrests.

Sex abuse karate teacher faces life

THE public prosecutor's office is seeking a prison sentence of 303 years for a karate school instructor who allegedly sexually abused his pupils.

Fernando Torres Baena, one of Spain's top karate champions, is accused of running a sect in which he initiated his pupils of different ages into sexual activity at his school in the Canary Islands. The prosecutor submitted 50 charges against him of corrupting minors, sexual abuse and illegal possession of firearms.

Torres Baena, who was arrested in March of last year, insists he is innocent of all charges and claims the case against him is a plot to destroy his business.

The prosecutor described Torres Baena as a "sexual predator," who had used a series of psychological ploys to submit his pupils to his will and sexually abuse them.

In what could turn out to be the biggest paedophile

case ever in Spain, the prosecutor is also seeking a jail term of 154 years for Torres' partner María José González, and 146 years for her fellow instructor at the school, Ivonne González, who may also have been one of the alleged victims of

Torres Baena when she was still an adolescent.

The state is asking for a prison sentence of 18 years for Juan Luis Benítez, who also works at the school.

The prosecutor claims all of the accused took part in a highly organised sect.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

BRINGING THE HOUSE DOWN ONE morning when I was a child a bombshell dropped onto our hall carpet.

It wasn't a real one, the bombshell I mean, because that wouldn't have fitted through the letter-box of our humble terraced house just a couple of miles up the road from Strangeways Prison.

Our bombshell was in the form of a letter from Manchester Corporation.

My father tore open the envelope. 'It looks official,' he said... and then turned a whiter shade of pale as he digested the contents.

'Oh my goodness!' Dad gulped. 'Our lives are to be changed irrevocably!'

My father wasn't known for uttering dramatic exclamations containing big words so I was intrigued.

I took the letter from his twitching fingers and the first words I caught were 'Compulsory Purchase Order.'

'What does that mean, Dad?' I asked. But he had already scarpered off to the pub.

Mother shrugged. 'I don't know about our lives being changed but a certain person's liver will be changed if he keeps finding refuge in The Duck and Feathers.'

Anyway, it turned out that our house was one of hundreds of dwellings in the district which had CPOs slapped on them in order for

the properties to be demolished -- all in the name of progress, of course.

True, we were all being rehoused - but in unfamiliar neighbourhoods far, far away.

The following months were a time of increasing stress as the countdown continued to our enforced move to a new home.

My family, not surprisingly, became even more dysfunctional than they had been hitherto.

The worst affected was our dog Rover.

Canines can sense when there's upheaval in the air and the poor pooch sank into a decline.

Rover went off his food, was loathe to go walkies and stopped barking at the

postman.

Dad was likewise in the doldrums. He, too, lost his appetite, didn't want to take the dog out and started barking at the postman.

To her everlasting credit, Mother was the strong one during that tense time. She took command of our household and allotted us tasks to occupy our hands and minds.

Dad was put in charge of packing the tea chests and I was responsible for slapping the assorted coloured labels onto the containers to indicate the rooms of our next abode in which the boxes were to be deposited by the removal firm.

Rover's task was to lick the labels.

Then moving day arrived.

We were off to a council maisonette in an equally none too salubrious suburb of Manchester.

I felt full of foreboding as the first removal man crossed our threshold. To me he was the priest arriving to escort James Cagney to the electric chair in Angels With Dirty Faces.

And then gangster movie became farce when the removal bloke ignored the packed tea chests and gingerly picked up a small potted plant from a window ledge.

'I'm not allowed to lift anythin' 'eavy 'cause I 'ave a suspected 'ernia,' he explained. And with those historic words the Silver family's exodus began.

One hour later, as the van

carrying us and our furniture bumped and lurched over the cobblestones, I turned for one last look at the childhood home I was leaving behind.

Much as I loved Rover, our distressed dog, I felt particularly unhappy that I was leaving behind another of mine and God's creatures, a scruffy cat called Tiddles.

True, the moggy had done a runner many years before but I still missed him. We'd been soulmates when we were growing up, me a little kid and he a large kitten.

The painful thought struck me that even if he decided to return to the bosom of his daft family Tiddles would never be able to find us because we were moving away.

Sensing my sadness, Mother placed a comforting arm around me. 'Don't go upsetting yourself, our David.' she consoled me.

'That ungrateful cat has probably kicked the bucket by now.'

We arrived at the newlydesignated Chez Silver and sat bemused among the tea chests for a while before Mother suggested we put the kettle on.

When we couldn't find the kettle, Mother suggested we just drop everything and get the bus into town for a quick snack and a trip to the pictures.

Rover granted us permission to go out with a dismissive shrug of the haunches and then sank into a deep sleep on top of his still rolled-up blanket.

We knew the mentallyexhausted mutt would be out for the count for at least 18 hours.

The Deansgate cinema was the first in Manchester to show movies in widescreen and with stereophonic sound and that's where the Silvers spent that evening watching King of the Khyber Rifles.

What a sensory experience, especially during one battle scene when the rifle shots seemed to ricochet off the picture house walls.

But at the height of the screen fight, Mother shouted 'Aaargh!', clutched her side and slumped sideways in her front stalls seat.

As we piled into the summonsed ambulance I wondered how to explain to the paramedics that Mother had accidentally been shot by Hollywood star Tyrone Power.

Fortunately, the hospital doctor's prognosis was that Mother had suffered nothing worse than a bout of indigestion from which she would soon recover.

Dad and I led my groggy mother out of the casualty department and into a taxi.

'Where to, guv?' asked the driver.

My startled father turned to his wife and son and gasped: 'Do either of you have a clue as to where we live?'

Friday, November 25, 2011

11

12

Friday, November 25, 2011

THE UK NEWS

THE SILENT KILLER

0

British winter took 27,500 lives last year

THE number of deaths linked to the cold weather were in excess of 27,500 last year, official figures just released reveal.

The number of winter deaths in some areas of the UK rose, with the North East seeing 300 more than last year.

Other areas - including Wales (2.7 per cent), London (1 per cent), Yorkshire and the Humber (0.9 per cent) and the East Midlands (0.8 per cent) - also saw an increase.

Despite there being a fall in the figures overall, Mark Todd, director of Energyhelpline.com said: "Any death from the cold is one death too many. But 25,700 excess deaths is the equivalent to the death toll of eight 9/11s."

“We receive dozens of heartbreaking calls every week, particularly from older people who are facing the daily dilemma of whether to heat or eat. Callers are

Daily Mail

Dog dragged to death at 70mph

A DRIVER has been arrested after a sick incident in which a dog was tied to a Porsche with a length of rope and dragged along for six miles.

The 33-year-old man from Worthing, West Sussex, handed himself in last night and has been held on suspicion of animal cruelty.

The beagle collie cross died of terrible injuries after being pulled at speeds of up to 70mph along the A27 close to Brighton. Its mangled body was eventually dumped in a lay-by and the brutal motorist drove off.

Officers found the battered corpse behind a Tesco store in Brighton late on Sunday night.

Detectives believe the vile episode was deliberate.

The alarm was raised at 10pm on Sunday night, when a bystander dialled 999 after seeing the black Porsche 911 Carrera towing the terrified beagle through a car park at Devil's Dyke beauty spot.

Half an hour later, police received another call to say the driver was heading along a nearby dual carriageway, with the dog, now clearly dead, still attached to the car. After discovering the beagle's abandoned body, officers took it to a local vet for examination and identification.

PC Scott Walters said: 'This is being treated as a deliberate act. 'The injuries this dog suffered were horrific.’’

Daily Express going to bed with hot water bottles and jumpers rather than keeping on the heating. Also many have said that they are planning to confine themselves to one room this winter as they can no longer afford to heat all of their homes.

“There is a silent crisis going on, particularly among older age groups. This is a crisis that few want to admit for reasons of pride.

“There has to be something seriously wrong with what is happening in Britain if the excess winter death rate is lower in colder countries such as in Scandinavia than it is here.

“There are nearly seven million people in this country living in fuel poverty and we predict that will rise to over eight million in the event of a harsh winter because of double digit fuel price rises.

Getting the hang of sex s left dangling A BRITISH woman wa stairwell of a the in n, naked, upside dow after she tumbled Tenerife hotel block, ing sex with her over a handrail while hav husband. only by her The 49-year-old, known l feet into era sev d initials AMAM, plunge urday.

Sat on rs hou ly ear the void in the ing into ash sm m She was only saved fro t ankle righ her r afte ow the marble floor bel s two bar as she became trapped between ted the emertac fell. Her husband con

Daily Mail

to endure a nergency services, and had d. ive arr y the ore vous wait bef arrived at the o wh n me fire d nne Stu rt two of the raicomplex had to force apa suffered a broken lings to free her. She hospital. to en ankle and was tak rassing turn, the bar em ond sec a But in ing her for tretak e anc sirens on the ambul had to be icle veh the and ed, atment fail . car escorted by a police

Babies die in E.coli outbreak HEALTH chiefs are investigating the deaths of two babies in an E.coli outbreak — one of them at a hospital maternity unit.

Tiny Hope Erin Evans lost her life just five days after being born "very premature" and contracting the infection at Swansea's Singleton Hospital.The second baby died 'in the community' outside the hospital, but officials believe the cases are linked. Three other people, one of them a new mother in the maternity unit, have also contracted the ESBL strain

The Sun of E.coli.

She has tested positive but not required treatment. Officials have not given the age of the other two casualties.

The mother of the second baby is suspected of contracting the infection at the hospital. All five cases have occured in the past month and doctors said they were "isolated" and the outbreak had been contained.

Slump in bookings leaves Thomas Cook on the brink Daily Mirror HOLIDAY giant Thomas Cook is fighting for survival after it was forced to go cap in hand to its banks.

Shares in the tour operator, which takes 22.5million Brits abroad every year, crashed 66 per cent as it revealed it needed more cash because of a dive in bookings.

Boss Sam Weihagen said trading had "deteriorated" even further as a catalogue of disasters hit the business.

French customers stopped booking trips to Tunisia following the revolution there earlier this year.

And Russian customers are avoiding Egypt — formerly one of the country's two biggest winter destinations.

Mr Weihagen added that the Eurozone crisis was clobbering bookings in Europe.

Meanwhile, the holiday product offered in the UK is simply "not good enough".

Mr Weihagen reminded customers that the firm is ATOL-protected, meaning they get their money back if the company collapses.

He insisted customers could still book with confidence.

Mr Weihagen was backed

by Bob Atkinson at Travel Supermarket.

He said: "From a consumer perspective they don't need to be overly concerned at this stage."

It is a stunning reversal in fortune for a business founded 170 years ago.

Friday, November 25, 2011

THE UK NEWS

13

FALL OF AN EMPIRE Family 13 behind bars as Liverpool drugs clan folds

Daily Mirror

Michael Waters Matthew Mayor

Gary Edwards

A FAMILY of notorious drug dealers who ran a 24-hour business flooding the streets of Liverpool with heroin and crack cocaine have been jailed.

Thirteen members of the Whitney clan and their associates were sentenced to a total of 82 years behind bars following a long-running undercover police operation.

They raked in profits, targeting the city’s desperate addicts in what Merseyside Police described as a “drugs cash-and-carry business”.The gang was kept under surveillance by detectives from the force’s Matrix gun and gang crime unit, who recorded hours of damning evidence.

On one occasion, a young mum in the family even stooped so low as to stash cocaine in her baby’s nappy bag to hide the drugs from cops.

A series of raids on a number of “safe houses” also discovered large quantities of heroin and Ecstasy-type tablets, an assault rifle with ammunition, body armour and a CS gas canister.

At a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge John Roberts jailed 13 defendants for a total of 82 years and three months.

Ringleader Paul Whitney, 32, of Fazakerley, was jailed for nine years and four months while dealer Matthew Mayor, from Haydock, received eight years and four months.

Heroin

Mary McCabe

Lisa Whitney

Carol Whitney

You oink!

As punishments go, this one’s pretty meaty…

The manager of Samoa’s rugby union team has been fined 100 female pigs for disgracing his village at the World Cup in New Zealand.

Tuala Vaea (pictured) was accused of going on booze binges and treating the contest as a “massive holiday”.

Elders fined him the sows after they ruled he shamed Leauva village, where he’s a chief.

It came after team captain Mahonri Schwalger squealed to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi about Vaea and other officials. The PM said he saw the behaviour first hand.

He added: “Some have a habit we call in Samoa faapio le kulilima (bending the elbow).”

It is thought Vaea handed over £530, the value of the sows, rather than the animals themselves.

Mayor, 37, went to extraordinary lengths to avoid arrest, even hurling 2kg of heroin out of his Mercedes car window while being chased by police.

Carol Whitney, from Walton, dubbed the “banker” of the drugs ring, was locked up for eight years while gang members Michael O’Toole and Leslie Whitney got eight years and seven-and-a-half years respectively.

Mary McCabe, also from Walton, was sentenced to eight years for her part in the conspiracy and for possessing a prohibited firearm.

During one raid, the 53-yearold took her grandchild from daughter Emma McKenzie while the pair hid cocaine in the tot’s changing bag.

Family member Lisa Whitney and Gary Edwards were each given four years while co-conspirator Michael Waters was sentenced to five years and four months.

Ringleader Paul Witney

14

Friday, November 25, 2011

Crafty moments ELECTRICITY PRICES on the cards SET TO RISE AGAIN Advertiser’s Announcement

CARDS and More has been serving the community in La Marina since 2003, and along with the sale of quality products, has become the reliable and trustworthy source of information and assistance in the area.

Specialising in quality cards for all occasions, helium balloons for a special celebration, new unblocked mobile phones, SIMs and top-ups, international call cards and a daily Royal Mail postal service, Cards and More really does offer a complete service.

Crafts and More is your friendly, local craft shop.

Situated in the Urbanisation of La Marina. We have a treasure trove of craft supplies in store and a directly below the shop is our comfortable craft studio.

Daily classes in card mak-

ing, jewellery making, parchment craft and scrapbooking are currently held here, with special full day workshops held approximately once a month.

We have a large range of paper craft supplies and a lovely array of beads and findings. We stock Sirdar yarn and patterns also have general art and haberdashery items.

Helen, the Manager and craft teacher, has been teaching crafts for seven years and, together with all members of staff, is always on hand to offer help and advice.

Perhaps you are thinking of making your own Christmas cards this year or you would like to start a new hobby to keep you occupied over the winter months.

Call in and see us Monday to Friday 10am-4pm or call 966790463 for more information.

POWER Tune Spain has made a timely arrival in Spain with their ENERGY AND MONEY SAVING device which saves up to 25% in your home or apartment, and savings of up to 48% in Bars, Restaurants, Offices, Hairdressers and Industrial units where ever electricity is used Power Tune will reduce your cost. That’s guaranteed.

Power Tune is a Global company that has been manufacturing and distributing this energy saving device for over 11 years and is tried and trusted proven technology worldwide such as USA, Asia and Europe including the UK, and is now finally available in Spain.

The energy saving device simply plugs into your wall socket closest to your trip switches and is most effective where electrical motors are used, i.e., fridges, freezers, washing machines and driers, hair dryers and beer taps etc..

HOW IT WORKS If your electricity supply is not stable and keeps tripping, the voltage flow rises and falls constantly and these electrical fluctuations cause inefficiency and wastage.

Electricity SPIKES created by electrical motors starting convert electrical energy into heat energy, which not only leaks electricity power from your electrical current but also

creates long term damage to electrical wiring and appliances.

Power Tune addresses these issues by monitoring incoming electrical power and adjusting the input to precisely meet the demands by storing the electrical SPIKES using the latest technology for 5 to 10 seconds and then slowly releases this energy which regulates the flow of electricity in a smoother way, hence removing the SPIKES and lowering your energy consumption and bills.

KEY FEATURES.

Fully Legal C E & RoHS Certification 12 months warranty.

Reduces average monthly household bills up to 25% and up to 48% in Bars and Industrial units Stabilises incoming voltage Plug in and start saving, no wiring required easy installation Built in powerful lightning surge protector Improves power factor and electrical efficiency

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

Power Tune Energy saving device is available from Power Tune Spain as sole Dealership for Spain.

Ask for a quick Free Meter Demonstration and watch the electricity reading drop when the Power Tune is applied.

Beware of any cheaper unsafe brands.

Start saving now and call for more information at no obligation on 625 457 555 Or email powertunespain@gmail.com or visit www.powertunespain.com for a 16 page Free brochure on the product with full information and a Free Energy Saving Guide with over 100 useful tips...

Can you afford not to have one of these?

Distributors needed in all areas.

15

Friday, November 25, 2011

A STASH OF RICHES IF SAIF OPENS UP

THE arrest of Colonel Gaddafi’s slippery son, Saif, will have spoiled last weekend for many past and present politicians around the world.

With trials likely in Libya, and possibly The Hague, the cocky ex-mouthpiece for his dad, who was always full of bluster rather than substance, may be given a platform to spill the beans over the regime’s past contacts.

For example, Saif - who may of course be completely deluded - has said that Tony Blair was a close family friend, along with Peter Mandelson, whilst a key Labour Party donor helped Saif to arrange a financial gift to his former London college of study.

And we’ve not even mentioned the scandal of Lockerbie, and what dirty deals were arranged between whom to get the bomber out of Scotland on “compassionate” grounds.

In this case, we should be grateful that an impromptu lynch-mob was not around on Saturday, as Saif (pictured left) may have some very interesting things to say in the coming months about the morality and honesty of our politicians.

That is assuming he’s not conveniently bumped off by person or persons unknown, who don’t come from the Middle East!

Staying in Libya, weren’t we given the reason for the sharp rise in oil prices back in February as the start of the NATO bombing campaign, and therefore genuine concerns over the supply of oil through the pipelines?

Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the conflict finish some time ago? If so, why are oil prices just a few cents a barrel

Me Tarzan, you pain! Lord Heseltine reckons the UK will eventually adopt the Euro

cheaper now, compared to ten months ago?

Meanwhile, the cartel of oil producing nations, OPEC, and the greedy oil companies continue to increase their profits whilst the world quivers in a recession.

None of them are accountable to anybody, but are they just so stupid that they don’t realise that by slashing prices and increasing production, they could help stimulate a world economic upturn which would be to everybody’s benefit, including lining their pockets still further?

No surprise, then, that Mariano Rajoy romped in to become the new Spanish PM after Sunday’s landslide for the PP. We’ll have to wait until January, though, for him to be sworn in, which is utterly crazy as Spain deals with the economic crisis with a power vacuum led by a demob happy Zapatero.

On a lighter note, the cigar-smoking Mr.Rajoy has championed himself as wanting a better deal for the beleaguered smoker, and has promised plans for segregated smoking

areas in larger bars.

All very nice, but I also wonder whether in these tough times, he’s also got an increased eye on extra tax revenue? After all, the government has lost millions of Euros from people giving up the dreaded weed when the smoking ban came into place at the start of the year.

At least Sunday’s vote brought us a variety of quirky tales, including a polling officer from Leon who had to be removed from his position because he was drunk, and the unemployed waiter from Madrid who was arrested for allegedly selling his vote for 100 Euros!

The bad weather meant turnout figures were down, which reminded me of a chat I had with a Labour Party official back in the mid-seventies.

They were trying to defend a safe seat in a Midlands by-election which they actually lost, and as the heavens opened on polling night he expressed his total exasperation that his voters were not coming out to the polling stations, because they preferred to stay in and keep dry, and to watch Columbo on TV! Shock moment of the week came on BBC TV on Sunday when Lord Michael Heseltine declared that the UK would eventually join the Euro.

I nearly spilt my coffee on a delicate part of my body when ‘Tarzan’ spurted out that prediction, and of course he didn’t or couldn’t give any timescale for this. But does he have a point? I wonder if there could be a Euro-Mark Two which takes in Northern European countries like France, Germany and the UK, whilst the Southern Europeans have some kind of secondary status?

All the British political parties would rubbish anything to do with the Euro (even the Liberal Democrats), but you just don’t know how disastrous the recession is going to get, and desperate situations lead to extreme measures.

In politics, you never, ever say never. Just a thought for you to ponder over until my column next week.

A treasure chest of variety and price WHY not take time off your busy day, pop into La Marina Furniture - and look around the treasure chest? You will be amazed at the quality, price and variety of stock within such an easily reached local high-street store in La Marina village.

When you first step into the shop you will be greeted by Allan, a larger -than-life member of the La Marina community, who will be happy to show you around, or just catch up on gossip. Or meet his daughter Leia, who works with her dad and speaks fluent Spanish.

Allan and his family moved to Spain 10 years ago when things were very Different.

He previously worked in sales in the UK for 21 years and decided that a good, friendly family service was

LA MARINA FURNITURE HAS IT ALL

needed within Spain.

La Marina Furniture has been in Allan’s hands for three years and he continues to give that friendly service.

He not only sells previously owned furniture, but also buys and part exchanges, so always ask! His motto is, ‘a

deal is always ready to be made’.

Allan also does house clearances and small removals. He prides himself on the fact that all stock is cleaned daily and when that's not good enough, it is professionally cleaned.

Allan also prides himself on keeping his prices low the lowest in the Costa Blanca - with local deliveries free. The store stocks a range of voiles and bed-

spreads so, all in all, your visit to La Marina Furniture should be a very pleasant experience.

For more details, call the store on 966 443 370 or Allan on 625 985 491

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Friday, November 25, 2011

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

BOB THE BEFUDDLED IS AWAY WITH THE BIRDS I HAVE followed the progress of our new local government with interest.

To say now that Bob Houliston is a waste of time after six months of being in charge of the Town Hall in Playa Flamenca could not be further from the truth.

This chap has proven to be the most inefficient Councillor we have ever heard of.

Is it his age - in total conflict with a modern and agile public administration?

Is it due to his nationality?

This could explain his absolute ignorance regarding the Spanish regulations and proceedings.

Or is it simply his lack of interest in us, the people of Orihuela Costa?

Why I do I ask these questions? Mainly because I and some of my business colleagues here in Villamartin Plaza are fed up with the "social club mentality" of CLARO’s chairman Bob Houliston.

My administrator went to the Town Hall last Thursday morning to report a 33-foot palm tree which was falling down in the Villamartin Plaza, putting peoples' lives and businesses at risk.

Bob Houliston’s response to the emergency was so useless and his attitude so unhelpful that one would ask what has he done in his life before he became a "Spanish political leader" and wonder why he is being paid €45,000 a year (on top of his UK pension, probably).

Bob Houliston (left) and Pedro Mancebo celebrate their election success earlier this year The reply he gave to the administrator for not arranging to cut down and remove the dangerous palm tree immediately was that birds were nesting in the tree.

I cannot believe that our councillor for the coast has so little cop-on.

He also said that even to authorise a crane to park outside the Plaza to remove the palm tree it was compulsory to sub-

BOB HOULISTON’S REPLY THE letter from your correspondent is so distorted and far from the truth that its political motivation must be immediately apparent.

The truth is that no councillor is above the law and no councillor can or should deviate from

established procedures which exist to protect the interests of all residents.

The tree in question was removed in accordance with procedures involving different municipal services and in particular the local police.

Ups and clowns of a tornado...

ONE thing leads to another....

I HAD my letter about the electricity "cut-off clowns" published in The Courier (Issue 38).

Above the article was a photo of the tornado in Guardamar, sent in by James Thomas.

I sent my article to my Spanish friend who lives by Guardamar port for him to practise his English. His response is as follows: Hey, this is such a coincidence! I'm going to tell you a true story: Last November 4, my wife was returning home in the afternoon when she spotted a clothes horse littered in the community grounds with clothes on it, by the fence next to the river (weird, she thought).

When she went up to the apartment and out to the balcony she realised that it was our clothes horse. To add up to her

surprise, all the clothes save one piece, were still attached to the horse and a pair of shoes that had been placed on top of it without any pegs securing them were found less than two metres away from it (after a sixfloor drop and quite a stroll away horizontally from our building).

All this came as a shock for us and we spent a week wondering what kind of act of God may have resulted in such a strange situation.

Now, you take the paper with your article about the cut-off clowns and look at the picture on top of it...that is the answer! I didn't realise until this morning when my wife brought up the incident again and I had the paper next to me.

BOB HARRISON El Raso.

Your correspondent should be more concerned about the successful removal of the tree than in totally exaggerated political point scoring.

BOB HOULISTON Councillor for the Coast

mit an application form three days beforehand to allow signs to be put up reserving space for the crane to park.

Surely our elected representative should have some common sense. I cannot believe that the members of CLARO could have him as their leader and present him to the public twice for election.

We need a new, fresh and young public administration, not a geriatric moron who is unable to make a simple decision about public safety.

A boy scout would do a better job.

All I can say is thank God that someone Spanish had the idea to contact the CLR leader Pedro Mancebo.

One telephone call and the tree was removed at 8am sharp the next morning, with no fuss.

This is the type of proactive response one should expect, and receive, from our local politicians.

This was an urgent but simple problem that needed an urgent and simple solution. All I can say is we are lucky that at least someone has the guts to take decisions and carry them out and work effectively for us the residents here in Orihuela Costa. Thank you, Mr. Mancebo.

If OAP Bob Houliston is the best that CLARO has to offer then they should abandon their political ambitions and focus their lacklustre efforts on becoming a full time pensioners’ social club.

A Businessman from Villamartin Plaza (name supplied)

Water warning was misleading

IN EDITION 38 of The Courier you published what I believe to be a misleading article under the headline, "Water warning".

The article concerns an insurance service provided by Seguragua, a sister company of Aguagest, which offers householders protection from costly bills resulting from burst pipes located underground within the boundaries of their property.

Since Aguagest only accepts responsibility from water supply problems outside of the property this is clearly a matter of concern since costly major excavation works could ensue, additionally, there is the cost of water lost in the process.

Your article states that private houses and apartments should have this covered in their buildings insurance; on investigating my own cover with a leading Spanish company I find this not to be the case; it also states that Aguagest knows nothing of the offer made by Seguagua, also not true.

The tone of the article infers that this is just another utilities' 'scam' and, as such, is likely to have caused concern to a large number of people.

My inquires confirm that Aguagest and Seguragua are members of the same group and are most certainly aware of this marketing arrangement. I suggest you revisit this matter and, if my assertions prove to be correct, issue a retraction.

KEN TURNER, Urb La Marina

l

We apologise if the report caused a misunderstanding and have contacted the Neighbourhood Watch, which issued the warning, for a comment. However, I would think your own comments would go a long way toward redressing any incorrect information.

-

17

Friday, November 25, 2011

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

Why all this expat negativity? l

DONNA GEE’s article about the ‘five-star treatment’ she received during her recent stay in Torrevieja Hospital sparked a torrent of comments both in The Courier and on her blog sites. The views on this page came from people in both countries...

IN the 21st century we should expect to receive a quality health service wherever we live.

I am no advocate for the NHS but expats seem to dwell on the negatives, not just of the health service but the UK as a whole.

England has a massive population, given its size, in comparison to Spain, so the demands placed on its NHS is huge.

But emergency care is treated with urgency, it’s the time spent in

hospital after surgery that’s the danger. MRSA, C.Difficile. are the greatest problem.

In Spain the hospitals on the coast, mostly built in the last 20 years or so, are modern by UK standards, and modern comfortable surroundings are proven to make you feel better and less stressed.

Private hospitals have this philosophy but the treatment is the same.

Donna, am I right in saying the “hotel services” in Spain leave it up

to your family to provide for you and did the food improve?

DEREK 55 (via eyeonspain.com) I am a HUGE fan of the Spanish National Health Service and (sadly) have had much use of it for the past 10 years. I have had universally excellent treatment and the service here is one of the main reasons I don't consider moving on.

STEVE HALL

ONLY THE UK COULD HAVE SAVED MY LIFE

I HAVE spent time in Spain recently and think it’s unavoidable to make comparisons with the UK when living abroad, if for no other reason than to feel confident that the right decision was made in leaving the UK.

YOU’VE BEEN IN SPAIN TOO LONG, DONNA

The Royal Marsden: One of the world’s top 10 cancer hospitals

But I think I know which country I would rather be in if I have a life-threatening illness – and that is the UK. We have rundown Victorian hospital buildings, yes, but we do have the world’s experts here in the fields of cancer.

I received treatment at the Royal Marsden in Surrey for a very rare cancer and had I been in Spain or any other European country I would not have survived, simple as that.

The Marsden had only seen six previous cases, and they are listed in the top 10 cancer hospitals in the entire world.

We have some of the best doctors and scientists here in the UK. And if you need an MRI or investigative treatAS a Brit having spent ment often, you now attend the last 30 years workat a private hospital under ing in Luxembourg, the the NHS. answer is terribly simple.

Another point which is of Living in Spain has got to concern - does Spain have be better than living in any facilities for northern Europe.

Altzheimer’s/Parkinson’s/Mot The weather brings or Neurone and many other out the best in people; debilitating illnesses? Not SADS is not a trendy new necessarily live-in care, but malady; eating out for €30 respite care even? per couple is sooooooo I don't think we should be cool; being able to dive enamoured by glossy buildinto the pool, or sea, from ings; we need to look at the the first week in May is the survival rate of life threatenstuff of dreams, and all the tradesmen you need are ing illnesses. The proof is in Brits anyway. that pudding. If I moved to Here in Mojacar the Spain as a pensioner I would only time I get to remain on the system here in speak Spanish is when I the UK 100% and rent a call in the cat for his dinproperty in Spain. ner. To mimic the savvy I wouldn't consider severyounger generation, ‘’it's a ing my ties to the system no brainer". here, even with all its imperJOHN OUGHTON, fections.

Mojacar TRICIA, Surrey, England

I’M afraid that your comparison with the UK system shows that you may have been in Spain too long.

I can assure you that now in those eight hours you were with an array of characters, in the UK you would probably have had your stent inserted and be back on the ward safe in the knowledge that danger had passed.

New standards exist and although you had five-star surroundings - for someone that ill, who cares where you are as long as you have the most uptodate prompt treatment?

You would probably have been home within two days as well!

A DAVIES

THANK YOU SPAIN, I’M It’s simply a in the HERE TO STAY! One no brainer! eye for Brits l l

l

ALTHOUGH I am as guilty as all those who compare the UK with Spain, it is important to also compare the entire lifestyle of each country.

I am sure there are improved services in the UK health system but how nice to be accepted without prejudice, because you are an EEC member!

I am very proud and grateful, yes

grateful, that I am allowed to live in this beautiful country with its rugged grandeur!!

I emigrated here mainly for health reasons at first and have received constant superb medical care.

There will never be a time for me to be in Spain too long!

ANTONY ELLIOT

My hour of destiny I WAS taken to A and E at St.Juan Hospital, Alicante after complaining of pain in the heart region.

I was wheeled into a cubicle where a doctor 'checked me out' and a nurse attended me and accompanied me for Xrays.

I had an ECG, my blood

pressure checked and a blood sample analysed, was diagnosed with angina, given medication and released home. All within one hour!

Three days later I was checked again by a specialist, and now have a stent which seems to have cured my discomfort.

I appreciate that the UK might have improved, but still think I am lucky to have been checked out in Spain.

I also think their attitude toward elderly people is better (having experienced both UK .and now Spain). I am 72 years old.

RAY

UNFORTUNATELY the Spanish system did not work at all for me.

A retinal tear was not recognised as urgent - and two weeks later I had a detatched retina.

I had it diagnosed privately but it all took weeks to get an appointment at Almeria. On arrival they did my paperwork, then said they could not do the work until the following week.

I went private the same day in Alicante after a mad dash up the motorway. The whole process seemed to be another Brit getting a freebie.

My interpreter was amazed at the off-hand attitude of one doctor. It seems that ‘‘if it doesn’t hurt, it’s not an emergency’’ I am now partially blind in one eye!

PETER, Burjulu, Almeria

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Friday, November 25, 2011

ROCKY’S ARENA – THE KNOCKOUT VENUE With amazing views over the Mediterranean, Rocky’s Arena Bar Restaurant is in the perfect location - and is fast becoming a hit with locals and the many visitors to the area.

Under the new management of Craig and his fully experienced team, this successful Bar Restaurant is growing in popularity with the introduction of new menus, happy hour daily from 5 pm to 7pm and 10pm to 1am, live entertainment - plus the added benefit of a beautiful setting, large patio area at the entrance and rooftop Bar terrace which offer fresh air and great views. The spacious interior will

tempt you, too.

Situated on the N332 at Playa Flamenca, it’s close to all amenities and of course the fabulous beaches and Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menus feature a varied selection of dishes, and all at excellent value.

The Arena is ideal for parties and events, the buffet is highly recommended and the quality of food is superb.

Always the Rocky Buffet has a large selection to suit everyone and the presentation and service are an unexpected, but welcome, added bonus.

Rocky’s, the perfect hosts for any occasion.

Bookings are now being taken for Christmas, with Christmas Fayre being served from December 2 till December 23 - three courses €11.95 per person Christmas Day - four courses to include bottle of Cava, White, Rosada or Red Wine or Beer, €35 euros per person.

Head on down - it’s all happening at Rocky’s Arena, with the food, the views, the service and the friendly staff. That’s why it’s fast become a knockout venue.

Bookings now being taken or Christmas Parties throughout December Telephone 672 830 240

Friday, November 25, 2011

EL PASO

The Staff at El Paso welcome you to their newlyopened Mexican restaurant in La Marina, conveniently situated on Avenida Londres next to News 4 U newsagent and the chemist.

Open seven days a week from 10 until late, this versatile restaurant offers full English breakfasts in the mornings, home-made hot lunches including daily specials - and in the evenings turns into one of the best Mexican restaurant in the area.

Just a sneak preview of the menu will give you an idea of the selection - cheesy garlic bread , nachos, Aztec tomato soup, chicken wings. That’s just the starters!

Main dishes include fajitas, wraps, chilli con carne, enchiladas, Southern fried chicken, Texan chicken meat, chicken ‘n’ ribs, even the burger menu is full of options.

Try the Big Texan Cowboy Burger (beefburger, grilled chicken breast, bacon, melted cheese and smoky BBQ sauce) at only €8.99.

In El Paso, they take their steaks seriously. Matured over 21 days, their delicious steaks give you the chance to customise your meal with a Mexican twist. Choose from tantalising seasonings, garlic and herbs, smoky BBQ sauce, red-hot chilli sauce or opt for plain grilled, then finish off your dish with a choice of garnish. And it’s all included in the price, starting from €11.99 for an 8oz special trimmed sirloin.

Abi is passionate about her menu and since everything is cooked from fresh, you can have your meal as you like it - from plain to hot, hot, hot!.

Desserts are a must.

Homemade Baileys cheesecake, oozing with Baileys...scrummy! Or try chocolate smash sundae or churros dusted with cinnamon sugar served with chocolate sauce.

A full liqueur coffee menu is on offer, so you can sit back and take it easy after a fantastic meal.

The official opening night is Thursday December 1st, starting from 7pm and offering a free buffet of selected dishes available from the

THE TASTE OF MEXICO IN LA MARINA menu and featuring entertainment from the fabulous SHIRELLE .

Winter opening times for the Mexican Restaurant are Wednesday to Saturday evenings 6-10pm.

Booking is highly recommended.

Sunday lunch is served from 12-3pm, with a choice of one to three courses from just €5.50 including wine.

Choose from roast beef, roast pork, ½ roast chicken, four veg, Yorkshire pudding, mash and roast potatoes.

Booking essential due to demand ...or ..have a takeaway roast dinner only €4.95.

Pre Christmas lunches are

being offered on 25th Nov , 2nd, 9th and 16th of December for only €9.95 for three courses. Traditional Xmas fayre on Christmas Day from 2.30pm. BUCKS FIZZ on arrival, everything you can expect on this special day, even a gift. Bookings only, so make your reservation early to avoid disappointment. Phone 966 795 543 or 618 342 556 .

Sponsors of Name the Year on Dave Knight’s sundowners show on TKO GOLD 6-9pm Abi and John look forward to meeting all their new friends and wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Alfonsa’s Recipes

Alfonsa Ramirez Carmona, orphaned 76 years ago at the age of eight, and left to care for five younger siblings and an ailing grandmother, presents some more of her favourite economical Spanish dishes.

Alfonsa stayed in service until meeting

GUISADO Spanish style stew and dumplings

For the stew Approx 1kg. meaty ribs 1 red pepper, sliced or diced 3 medium tomatoes 1 whole garlic 6 potatoes olive oil 2 bay leaves salt to taste

Santos, her future husband. She would walk for three or four kilometres to secretly meet him, as her "SeĂąores" didn't care for her to leave them.

Dressed in her one best dress and only cardigan, she would trek over the hills, in the cold

tish olive oil. (don't overheat, it kills the goodness of the oil) Fry until golden and place on a plate for later.

Fry meat in oil with whole garlic, tomatoes, peppers and salt until almost completely cooked.

In a large pressure cooker or large stew pan, place the 2 bay leafs and water. Add meat, tomatoes and peppers.

Cut potatoes into bite size pieces and fry in oil and salt until golden.

Add potatoes to the pressure cooker or pan. Add dumplings and cook until meat is tender.

ESTOFADO Chicken and wine stew

For the dumplings 2 eggs approx 1 cup of breadcrumbs 1 soupspoon of chopped parsley First prepare dumplings by mixing ingredients into a spoonable consistency Spoon into a frying pan of hot-

La Mancha countryside.

She would often arrive at Santos' humble family home soaked to the skin and whilst the cardigan dried by the open fire she would gratefully receive a bowl of hot, winter Spanish food.

1 large onion 1 whole garlic 2 tomatoes 6 bay leaves 1 handful of pine kernals.

1 large glass of white wine 4or 5 medium diced potatoes 300grams sliced mushrooms Heat approx. 1cm. olive oil in frying pan.

Fry chicken with a little salt until cooked and crispy Transfer to pressure cooker or pan Fry onion tomatoes, mushrooms and garlic until almost cooked Add a little more oil, bay leaf and pine kernals to fried veg, mix and add to pressure cooker Add the wine and 1 large glass of water.

Cook in pressure cooker for approx. 15 mins. meanwhile cut potatoes into bite sizes and fry until golden.

Add cooked potatoes at the end and serve.

CALDO CON RELLENO chicken soup with meatballs always everyone's favourite 3 or 4 chicken backs and legs

1 chicken frame 1 piece of oxtail (rabo de buey)

1 serrano ham bone 1 piece of stewing beef 3 or 4 carrots 1 large potato 1 parsnip (chirivia) 1 turnio (nabo) 1 small onion Saffron or colorant 1 stock cube salt and pepper to taste

Make own meatballs or buy relleno (giant meatball) from good quality butchers and roll into small balls.

Boil chicken frame, meat and ham bone with all veg. except for potato for 40 minutes approx.

Remove carcass and onion Add potatoes and meatballs.

Cook for approx 20 minutes more until potatoes and meatballs are cooked

Dear Alfonsa I am still in the learning stage of Spanish. I would like to make SPANISH POTATO SALAD. To make things easier for the staff, and myself, in the supermarkets, could you please send to me the Spanish words for Mixed continental pickles [finely diced].

Many thanks for your delicious recipes.

Jo. Alfonsa replies: Dear Jo, The mixed pickles are better bought from the market (mercadillo). They are sold, like the olives, loose. You can see them on the stalls that sell all the olives, capers, pickled onions etcThe Spanish name for them is "variantes para ensaladilla". They can be bought in jars from the supermarkets. I have never bought them from anywhere but the traditional market stalls, so I don't know if they are as authentic. Don't be put of asking for them if you don't speak a lot of Spanish. Just write it down and give it to the person.

Thanks for writing and if you have any other doubts or comments please be in touch again.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

THE SPANISH PRESS

PP WIN - BUT STILL A FEW SURPRISES La Verdad Spain’s oldest voters cast their ballots

THE elections last Sunday resulted in few surprises, with the PP party winning comfortably as predicted. The PP gained 186 seats and the Socialists managed to hang on to 110.

Voting ran reasonably smoothly, but there were a few interesting moments on the day.

One couple who turned up to vote were in the news due to their combined age of 205. Antonia Patino, aged 103, and her husband Jose Pascua, aged 102, were the only voters in de Hinojosa de Duero, Salamanca, where they have lived since they were born in 1909. The first time they voted was for the second republic.

An unemployed waiter from Madrid hit the headlines after claiming to have sold his vote for 100 euros. He advertised the sale on posters in Madrid and Valencia.

In Valladolid a woman was prevented from voting by her baby. The newborn decided to come out while mum was on her way to the polling station at 8.55am. The new mum’s waters broke as she was waiting for the doors to open.

One polling station in Villaroya, La Rioja, closed just seven minutes after opening. The ten inhabitants of the village all

Spain’s energy gets boost from Operation Desert Warm El Pais

WITHIN three years Spain may be energised by renewable energy produced in Morocco.

The biggest renewable energy project of the modern age, Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII), is scheduled to get under way in the North African country next year and, if its deadlines are met, it will start supplying Spain with solar-powered electricity between 2015 and 2016.

The project, spearheaded by German companies E.ON, Siemens and Deutsche Bank with participation from the Spanish grid operator Red Eléctrica and Italian and French firms - will eventually consist of a sea of solar panels in the Sahara stretching from Morocco to Egypt.

Germany has set itself the goal of dispensing with nuclear energy by 2022 as a result of the Fukushima reactor disaster in Japan.

“We like the Arab Spring because it has brought about a lot of ideas and given rise to a lot of backing for the project,” Paul van Son, executive director of Desertec, told Reuters.

“I believe that big infrastructure projects can contribute to stability.”

The plants will consist of thousands of mirrors to direct the sun’s rays onto tubes filled with oil, which in turn will heat water.

The vapour will propel turbines to produce electricity 24 hours a day. It will be transported to Europe through high-tension cables.

In six hours, the Sahara receives as much solar energy as is consumed in a year by the entire planet.

By 2050, it is estimated DII could supply 15 percent of Enric Duran Giralt Europe’s energy needs.

‘Can’t pay won’t pay’ Enric on civil charge El Pais

A MAN who took on the biggest banks in the country has received support from many of Spain’s impoverished citizens.

Enric Duran Giralt took out bank loans, 38 between 2006 and 2008 to be precise, and then refused to pay them back.

Within two years Duran made off with close to half a million euros in loans and credit-card advances. He did it to protest against financial speculation, and used part of the money to decided to vote as soon as the doors had opened.

A 96-year-old man died minutes after voting in Madrid. He publish a magazine, Crisis, in which he detailed his scheme.

Last Friday Duran appeared in court in Catalonia to suffered a heart attack, and was pronounced dead while still answer civil charges that he owes BBVA close to 25,000 inside the polling station.

Eight people were arrested in Zaragoza for putting silicon euros. He is set to face further civil and criminal charges. around the doors of the polling stations, and in the locks before opening.

Other arrests were made when delegates arrived under decline. last now reporting a the influence of alcohol, when Addiction reported al burden nci out e fina e com to “Th g thin d s people painted slogans out- ONE goo ay that Spain ha ated with regular crisis is that, Tuesd of countries associ list side polling stations, and for of the financial the ed join y make it a rd affo , Italy cocaine use ma because people can’t the urging of voters to cast — including Denmark option in tive has rac ain att Sp s in les use it, cocaine United Kingdom, the terity is and aus blank votes or not to vote. ere r. wh yea ies fallen over the past n four of the countr bee had day,” ich the wh of d In Lorca voting was held in Lisbon-base h now the order The nations in the past wit five . e ort ntr rep Ce r the s marquees as schools were nito European Mo els of use — say Drug the highest lev destroyed in the earthquake. for Drugs and

e iv s n e p x e o to e s u g Dru

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Friday, November 25, 2011

23

Friday, November 25, 2011

RICHARD CAVENDER

Bluemoon Solutions www.bluemoonsolutions.es

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

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

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

Freddy was interested in finding out more about Apple ADVICE: Patrick wanted to know where the games were products as PC replacements. hiding in Windows 7

Hi, I am considering my next computer purchase and would appreciate your advice.

Discussing the options with friends and neighbours leaves me wondering if it is better to buy "Apple" as the general opinions seem to be that although far more expensive, the Apple technology is superior and simpler to use. In fact iPad has also been put forward as a serious option and I admit to have been very impressed by an I-phone that a friend demonstrated although I understand an iPad needs to be "mated" to a standard computer? You will have gathered that computer technology is not my forte and that I need a bit of friendly guidance if you don't mind.

Q A

Apple computers are great, I am a big fan, however you can’t get away from the fact that they are more expensive (like for like) and they will take some getting used to if you are already used to Microsoft Windows - I find it hard to justify the cost of an Apple laptop or “PC” over the non-Apple equivalent.

The iPad is also a fantastic product – I liked it so much I bought one! However again I would not recommend it as a laptop replacement, there are just some things that are done easier with a laptop rather than with an iPad. Although it’s not true that you have to “mate” it with a computer (Apple or PC), you can use the iPad on its own and synchronise your data with Apples “cloud”, it is however preferable to synchronise it with a computer as it does give you more flexibility and backup options.

I tend to use my iPad as an email/Internet browser and its first class at doing that, it turns on instantly, the battery lasts forever and the screen is perfect, I don’t tend to use it as a laptop replacement as the keyboard isn’t as good as a “normal” keyboard (although you can buy a Bluetooth external keyboard for it at extra cost) so typing long documents or emails is much easier with a computer, also because of the disagreement with Adobe and Apple, websites that have lots of “flash” content cannot be viewed currently on the iPad.

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

Q A

Hi Richard, I have bought a new computer and can’t seem to find any games on it anywhere, i can’t seem to find ie Solitaire, Mine Sweeper etc. Does Windows 7 not come with any games nowadays?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Click the Start button , click Control Panel Click Programs and then under Programs and Features Click “Turn Windows features on or off” Select the Games check box, and then click OK.

ADVICE: Jane wanted to know what would happen to her books if her Kindle was lost or stolen…

Q

Hi Richard, if I buy a Kindle and download loads of books, what happens if I drop and break the Kindle? Will I lose all the books i have bought?

Also, if it gets stolen, is there any way of retrieving the books or are they lost with the Kindle?

Hi Jane, all of your books are stored centrally in your Amazon account and then synchronised with your Kindle when it’s turned on. If you break, lose or are unfortunate enough to have your Kindle stolen, you can replace it and resynchronise your books to your new Kindle. If you Kindle is stolen, you can also remove it from your Amazon account so that the thief cannot use your credit card to purchase additional products.

A

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

Office: 902 906 200

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Friday, November 25, 2011

No Wishee Washee turnout for Aladdin stars EVEN torrential rain did not make the personal appearance of the main characters from the Aladdin pantomime at the Christmas Fun Day a Wishee Washee turnout.

More than 250 mums, dads and children turned up to the annual event, with TKO providing the music.

Santa dropped in and excited children lined up to visit his grotto, where they received a pre-Christmas present.

You can catch up with the panto characters again as Rojales Pantomime Group is staging the ever popular Aladdin at the Escuela de Musica in Los Montesinos on December 8, 9 and 10 at 7.30pm, with an additional matinee on the Saturday at 2.30pm.

Tickets are eight euros for adults and five for children, with proceeds going to ADISMON (Centro de Discapacitados de Los Montesinos), Banda Infantil and Caritas, all local charities.

Tickets are available from San Luis Christmas Shop, Cards ’n’ Things Quesada and the Card Place Benimar.

KOSTER BANKER!

LOCAL film company Transcendent Films has won an international competition to produce a short film about the meaning of Remembrance Day.

The film is to be the video for popular classical singer Katherine Jenkins’ new single A Flower Tells a Story.

Film maker Kris Koster peopled his film with a cast of Costa Blanca locals, including Eileen Hamilton, a well-known face on the amateur stage in the area.

The film promotes the message that the story of long lost heroes should be passed on to each new generation, and that they should never be allowed to be forgotten.

Film makers from around the world were invited to submit entries to the competition, and Katherine Jenkins judged the entries.

Transcendent Films’ submis-

Christmas Spirit about to run out THERE aren’t many tickets left for the Stagestruck! production of Christmas Spirit, so if you want to see this funny, moving and surprising musical comedy, book now.

There are a very small number of tickets left for December 1 and 2 at the School of Music and Culture in Los Montesinos.

A few more tickets are available for the performance on December 5 at Virgen Del Carmen, Torrevieja.

Tickets cost €5 and are available from the theatres, or phone Stella on 966 786 154 or Sally on 648 783 601.

Locals take world stage in Kris’s video to back Katherine Jenkins song

sion told a brilliantly moving and poignant story in the four minutes available and emerged the clear winner.

A clip of the film, in which Eileen Hamilton appeared, was screened on BBC2’s Something for the Weekend earlier this month alongside an interview with Katherine Jenkins.

All proceeds from the song and video will go to the Poppy Appeal and The Royal British Legion.

Other actors in Kris Koster’s film include sixth formers from the El Limonar International School, Villamartin, and 90-yearold Arnhem veteran Philip Timbrel.

Eileen Hamilton is currently involved in the final rehearsals

for Dramatic Licence’s latest Production – The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol.

This hilarious comedy, with a title almost as long as the script, will be performed at the Teatro Cardinal Belluga, San Fulgencio on December 1, 2 and 3.

According to Dramatic Licence, it is the perfect start to the Christmas season.

Tickets cost eight euros and can be booked on line at www.dramatic-licence.eu, or by telephoning 616 089 943.

With Dramatic Licence’s performances always popular, book early to avoid disappointment.

Eileen Hamilton with children Katie Stewart and Josh Fox, and (below), the official video cover

Meeting with a legend

Faith: Common bond with Molly

THE founders of Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, Sue and Rod Weeding, are flying to the US over Christmas to meet Molly, the three-legged horse that inspired their treatment of the centre’s own equine amputee, Faith.

They will visit Molly at her Louisiana home and will meet the man who makes both Molly and Faith’s prosthetic limbs, Dwayne Mara.

It was after reading about Molly’s story that Sue and Rod decided to go ahead with the amputation of injured horse Faith’s leg. Other treatments carried out by the centre in Rojales had failed and they were faced with the choice of either amputating the leg or putting the horse to sleep.

Molly's story became big news in America and internationally

and her fame led to the creation of the Molly Foundation. The Foundation uses Molly and her story in education and rehabilitation work, helping children who, like Molly, have a disability.

Sue and Rod are hoping to get their story told in the US media, and want to create a link between Faith and Molly. Sue says she sees Faith’s future going along similar lines to Molly’s and is keen to make more children aware of Faith’s story.

Sue is asking for children in Spain to make or write Christmas cards to send to Molly, which she will deliver.

The couple leave for America on December 17 and need the cards by December 15. Hand them in to the rescue centre or to either of Easy Horse Care’s shops in Quesada and La Siesta.

Molly: Her story was big news in America

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Indian Ocean raises more than a trifle l THE Indian Ocean restaurant in Doña Pepa continued its support for Paul Cunningham Nurses with another great charity event last Sunday.

More than 60 people flocked to the popular restaurant for the food and to support a good cause.

As well as tucking into a feast of Indian flavours, PCN supporters tested their knowledge with a quiz on all things Indian

and marvelled at the skills of table magician Graeme Mykal.

The event raised €250 for the charity, but the Indian Ocean is not stopping at that.

Their next event for PCN, Trifle and Tapas, is already planned for next Wednesday, with tapas for just €5 and traditional sherry trifle for €2.

Bookings are not essential but trifle and

tapas will be served only until they run out, so to make sure you get yours call 966 718 211 or email sueinthesun@hotmail.co.uk to make a booking.

The Indian Ocean is also a collection point for PCN’s mobile phone recycling scheme.

So, if you have an old phone tucked away in a drawer somewhere, take it down to the Indian Ocean.

TICKETS are still available for The Rascals’ charity spectacular Seasonal Showtime First performance is on Wednesday December 7 at the Virgen del Carmen in Torrevieja. During the interval, Papa Noel will give out gifts to the children of APANEE. Book online at www.servicam.com or call Sue on 966784874 or 693042771.

The show goes on again at the School of Music and Culture in Los Montesinos on Saturday December 17.

Both shows start at 7pm. Call Sue at the above number to reserve tickets.

A RIGHT OLD SONG AND DANCE!

LAST year’s Song & Dance Cabaret was such a successful fundraiser for MABS Murcia that it was back by popular demand last Friday evening.

More than 200 people packed the Serena Golf Hotel in Los Alcázares, ready to be entertained by Crazy Ladies tap dance troupe, Dial Entertainment and Viva Quartet.

The effervescent Crazy Ladies seemed to have endless energy, performing to music from shows and films. Their colourful finale was a sight to behold with a bevy of clowns, tight-rope walkers, performing dogs and plate spinners, dancing to Come Follow the Band from hit musical, Barnum.

Dianne and Alan from Dial Entertainment sang a range of songs in between the Crazy Ladies’ sets and Viva Quartet sang the classic Amapola especially for the Spanish members of the audience. They also had the audience in stitches with their comedy songs, ending their spot with I Wanna Come Back as a Man by special request. Jim Devlin of Rebound provided music to dance the rest of the night to.

Jack Anderson acted as MC for the evening and he and wife Georgie, who heads up Crazy Ladies, were responsible for organising the event.

“I lost a dear friend to cancer last year,” said Jack, “and I wanted to give something back to MABS for the help that they gave him and his wife. What started out as a one-off event proved so popular, that it looks like I will be organising it every year, which I am delighted to do.”

MABS Murcia Director, Lyn Baines, commented: “Jack and Georgie have done a brilliant job and have raised an incredible €1625, which we are extremely grateful for.

MABS HELPLINE 693 275 779, www.mabsmurcia.com

That’s entertainment: The MABS Murcia fundraiser in full swing

Rugby stalwart dies THE funeral took place this week of Los Montesinos resident John Pattinson, who died suddenly, aged 59, while on holiday in Australia. Recently retired John and his wife Fiona had a home in Los Montesinos.

Cumbrian born John tragically died in hospital after contacting a virus while in Australia during a visit to family in Sydney.

Friends in Spain have been stunned by John’s sudden death.

Cumbria Rugby League stalwart and Cumberland Amateur Rugby League secretary, John was also the vice chairman of governing body BARLA. John was awarded the prestigious BARLA Silver Boot in 2005 for his services to the sport.

A minute’s silence was held at Cumberland League games and Cumbria open age ARL County Championship winners dedicated their victory to John.

Pipe up for Peter PETER, a two-year-old Breton Spaniel is looking for a home.

He is chipped, castrated and his vaccinations are up to date.

Peter was brought into the clinic under-nourished and with a damaged hip. He is now fit and ready for a new family.

Peter is very affectionate and will make an adorable pet.

He is at Finca la Castellana Animal Welfare Centre, along with many other beautiful dogs.

If you can offer Peter, or any of the other dogs at the centre a home, call Eleanor on 677 381 111.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Tips To Treat And Prevent Migraines THERE is headache, and there is migraine. The word migraine is derived from the Greek hemicrania, which, loosely translated, means "half a head". It alludes to the fact that a migraine typically affects only one side of the face, usually around the eye.

The pain is often described as throbbing or pulsating and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

Sometimes a migraine is preceded by an aura, visual distortions such as blurred vision and zigzagging lights. It foretells incapacitating pain that can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.

Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to manage your migraine effectively and to minimize pain.

Try Biofeedback Biofeedback is a form of conditioning in which you learn how to automatically warm your hands and relax the muscles around your neck and head. This helps to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.

Biofeedback machines, which monitor various vital signs, are available for home use. However, it is recommended to consult a professional for training in the proper use of these devices.

Stick To A Schedule Get up at the same time every day of the week, including Saturdays and

over. When migraines strike, most people want to crawl into a dark corner and be left alone. The truth is that this may not be a bad idea.

Mind Your Magnesium Level

Sundays. When you sleep in, you are messing with your body's internal clock. Your body revs up certain metabolic processes later than it should, and that can set the stage for a migraine, just in time to ruin your weekend.

Touch Your Temples If you have throbbing pain in your temples, applying pressure can help relieve it. It is recommended to either wrap a bandanna around your head and tying it tight or massaging the area with your fingertips. Just be extremely careful. Your temples are probably very tender.

Lie Low Migraine pain is very easily aggravated by physical activity, even something as mild as walking or bending

People are more prone to migraine attacks when they are marginally deficient in magnesium. It is recommended taking 200 milligrams of the mineral every day for two months to see if it has any impact on the number of migraines you experience.

Bear in mind that people who have heart or kidney problems should not take supplemental magnesium.

Prepare For Travel A migraine is sometimes associated with a change in altitude. Therefore, if you are planning to fly somewhere or do anything at high elevations, such as skiing, it is recommended taking Diamox a couple of days beforehand. It will reduce the severity of a headache.

Diamox is a little different chemically from other diuretics.

how many of these fun fashion facts you know.  Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was said to use kohl to widen her eyes. Egyptian women are also said to have

ITCHY scalp is a common disease particulary among adults. It is the result of a decline in the scalp’s natural defence system. The severity, frequency and duration of an itchy scalp depend on the underlying cause.

Some causes of an itchy scalp, such as dandruff, can be relatively minor. However, an itchy scalp can also be due to more serious conditions, such as infection, inflammation, parasite infestation, autoimmune disorders, and allergies. In some cases, an itchy scalp can begin suddenly and disappear quickly by itself or with minimal treatment, such as a mild allergic reaction or sensitivity to a new hair product. It can also occur over a relatively long period of time, such as when it is due to scalp psoriasis.

COMMON CAUSES DANDRUFF is caused by an excessive shedding of dead skins of our scalp. Normally some dead cells are regularly shed off from our scalp as a natural process.

However, in the sensitised persons, the rate of shedding is overstated. Exposures to extremes of temperatures, excessive oil production by the cells of the scalp, and some naturally occurring fungi are the triggering factors for dandruff. Dandruff can easily be treated by specialised medicated shampoo and by keeping the scalp dry. Treatment of dandruff depends on the cause. Mild dandruff can be controlled by regular hair washing with gentle shampoos to avoid greasiness. Hot water should be avoided and hair rinsed well after washing to prevent scalp irritation.

Alcohol based hair styling products should be avoided, since they dry up the scalp. Nutrients to consider include carrots, cabbage, and omega 3 and 6 unsaturated fatty acid.

Stay Calm Uncontrolled stress and anxiety can also invite a migraine attack. Make sure that you allow some time every day to do whatever relaxes you, even if it is only for ½ hour in the evening. Do not just go to work and go to bed.

SOME FUN FASHION FACTS

Thousands of years before there were mini-skirts or Doc Martens, there was fashion.

Women have always looked for ways to beautify themselves. See

WHAT CAUSES AN ITCHY SCALP?

used henna to lighten their hair.  Perfume is an over €10 million euro industry. It's been used as far back as the Ancient Egyptians, who

used it in religious rituals.  The modern era of perfume began in 1921 with Coco Chanel's launch of Chanel No. 5, an exotic floral blend, created by Ernest Beaux.  Prior to 1850, 70 percent of the clothes worn were hand-stitched by the people who wore them.

Clothes were a commodity, not fashion.  Fashion designers of the 1500s showed their designs by crafting doll clothes versions of their fashions and taking them to shows.  It's only quite recently, about 200 years, that children have had clothes distinct from those of adults.

Earlier, they just wore smaller sizes.  The Phoenicians of 2300 B.C. favoured a simple garment made from a triangular piece of cotton, for both sexes. It draped across one shoulder.

CONTACT DERMATITIS is a common cause of scalp rash and itchiness, and can be an allergic or irritant condition. The cause may be a new shampoo, soap, hair dye, or hair product - particularly if it contains alcohol. If caused by a product most people can tolerate, it is likely you have the allergic type of dermatitis.

Regardless, the mainstay of treatment is to determine the cause and remove it. In severe cases your doctor may prescribe steroid medications. Occasionally, antibiotics are required if the irritated scalp becomes infected.

HEAD LOUSE is a very common cause of itchy scalps in children as it spreads with close contact. Usually the resulting itch is behind the ears and at the back of the head where lice prefer to live. Symptoms include an itchy scalp, visible white coloured lice, and possibly red bite marks. Your pharmacist may recommend one or two applications of a permethrin based hair wash. It is also important to wash bedsheets and clothes as the lice can survive a few days without human contact.

SCALP SUNBURN is caused by the UV rays present in the spectrum of sunlight. Affected skin is red, tender and usually starts to shed after a few days. To ease burning and itching, first get out of the sun, and wear a light protective hat when you can not avoid the sun.

Apple cider vinegar, or after sun lotions applied on the scalp may ease burning. Cool shower may provide temporary relief. Painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen help ease the pain. In strong sunburn, oral corticosteroids may be needed to reduce swelling.

Dr. Machi Mannu is a neuro repatterning Specialist.

Email contact@mindspa.es for any question.

Friday, November 25, 2011

27

Amish group nicked over haircut attacks US authorities have raided the compound of a breakaway Amish religious group and arrested seven men on federal hate crime charges in haircutting attacks against Amish men and women.

Cutting the hair is a highly offensive act to the traditional Amish, who believe the Bible instructs women to let their hair grow long and men to grow beards and stop shaving once they marry. Several members of the

breakaway group forcefully cut the beards and hair of Amish men and women in September and October, authorities said.

Among those arrested Wednesday were the group's leader, Sam Mullet, and three of his sons, said Mike Tobin, a spokesman for the US attorney's office in Cleveland. He said authorities were planning to hold a news conference on Wednesday afternoon to explain why they charged the men with

WELLY CHRISTMAS!

The rain couldn't dampen Santa's arrival at the Christmas Shop, San Luis to meet all the children who had donned wellies to come and see Father Christmas. Andy James and Dennis Christian helped him into his grotto, as they have done for many years, and gave

presents to more than 100 children. As Andy said: “Christmas always starts on the day we get to do this at The Christmas Shop�

Thank you and Merry Christmas from The Christmas Shop and TKO FM's Andy James and Dennis Christian.

hate crimes.

The attacks struck at the core of the Amish identity and tested their principles.

The Amish strongly believe that they must be forgiving in order for God to forgive them, which often means handing out their own punishment and not reporting crimes to law enforcement.

The Amish have a modest lifestyle and are deeply religious. Their traditions of travelling by horse and buggy and foregoing most modern conveniences distance themselves from the outside world. Ohio has an estimated Amish population of just under 61,000, second only to Pennsylvania in the US. Mullet told the Associated Press in October that he did not order the haircutting, but didn't stop his sons and others from carrying it out. He said the goal was to send a message to local Amish that they should be ashamed of themselves for the way they were treating Mullet and his community.

"They changed the rulings of our church here, and they're trying to force their way down our throat, make us do like they want us to do, and we're not going to do that," Mullet said.

The seven men were sleeping when the FBI and local police showed up at their homes before dawn Wednesday, Jefferson County sheriff Fred Abdalla said. All were arrested without incident, he said.

The attacks came amid long-simmering

tension between Mullet's group, which he established in 1995, and Amish bishops.

Arlene Miller, the wife of one victim, said several bishops had condemned Mullet's decision to excommunicate several members who previously left his community, saying there was no spiritual justification for his action.

Five men were charged in state court last month in Holmes County, the heart of Ohio's Amish country, in an attack on an Amish bishop and his son. They allegedly were held down while men used scissors and a clipper to cut their beards. Similar alleged attacks were under investigation in Amish communities in eastern and northeastern Ohio.

Two of the men arrested Wednesday, Mullet's sons Johnny and Lester, were among the five charged last month. The charges are pending.

Authorities have said some Amish refused to press charges, following their practice of avoiding involvement in the courts.

One couple refused to press charges even after acknowledging that their two sons and another man came into their house, held them down, and cut the father's beard and the mother's hair. But others have said they decided to press charges to prevent anyone else from getting hurt.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

The least tasteful car paint schemes Life is too short for boring colours. Silver, dark blue and black - all just far too predictable. But you can take things too far in the 'interesting' direction, as this rogue's gallery of tasteless paint schemes proves. What are the worst colours ever? Here's our favourite selection of puke-inducing pink, yucky yellow, bilious brown and other taste-free colour schemes. Now, where's that dark grey metallic option tick box?

Bugatti Veyron bespoke Allowing people with more money than taste to choose their own colour schemes is a very bad idea. Check out what we were allowed to concoct on Bugatti's bespoke colour configurator. See what we mean?

BMW M1 Art Car

Blue circa 1998. It looked awful in dull light and was totally impossible to touch up if damaged. And it cost ÂŁ1,200.

Whatever you think of Andy Warhol's pop art works, his daubing of this BMW M1 was certainly controversial. He spent all of 23 minutes creating this bizarre paint scheme on a car that subsequently raced at Le Mans. It was all a blur - the paint, that is, not the car's speed.

Audi R8 chrome

Alfa Romeo Nuvola Blue To be honest, this comment applies to any so-called 'flip paint' - a finish that looks one colour in one light and 'flips' to another colour as the light changes. Both Nissan and TVR did a particularly nauseating purplegreen flip paint, but Alfa Romeo was also guilty of a light blue/gold flip called Nuvola

Aston Martin Alchemist Gold Does gold leaf belong on cars? Londonbased customiser Alchemist thought so. It claimed it was merely continuing a tradition started by Tutankhamun's decoration of a chariot in gold leaf 3,000 years ago. This shimmeringly tasteless Aston Martin DB7 was seen in 2008.

Chrome-effect paint is just plain wrong. So Elton John - not noted as a bastion of restrained taste - is the ideal person to be associated with this Audi R8 Spyder. Audi donated it as a charity auction lot at Elton's White Tie & Tiara Ball. Theo Paphitis of Dragons' Den also had his Maybach finished in chrome paint, and perhaps that says it all.

Chevrolet Spark Woody Wagon Woodies were an American phenomenon that was questionable even in the 1950s. In 2010, the woody effect looked utterly absurd on the Chevrolet Spark, which Chevy's UK arm created 'to celebrate the brand's American heritage and connection to youth culture'. Ugh. At least Chevrolet had the good sense to keep it as a one-off.

British Leyland Russet Brown The butt of so many jokes in the 1970s, British Leyland created a colour so lavatorial it wasn't even funny. BL insisted on painting almost every model it made in Russet Brown, from Minis to Triumph TR7s, but it was mediocrities like the Austin Allegro and Morris Marina which suited this rancid brown best.

Kia Sorento Violet Pink If you're going to buy a pink car, make it a 1959 Cadillac, not a Kia Sorento. Dr Elizabeth Hodds of Rugby (pictured) inexplicably asked for her Kia to be painted violet pink in 2008. Pink was voted the least desirable colour for a car in a UK poll in 2009.

Continued od p29

DOH!

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Friday, November 25, 2011

SECRET AMAZING CARS COMING SOON

These are the secret new cars that will be on sale soon. Based on what the carmakers are planning, we can bring you pictures of the exciting new motors that you won't have seen before. With a little detective work, lateral thinking and the aid of some slick-looking artists' impressions we can let you in on the fantastic new cars heading our way in the next few years.

Jaguar SUV

frame construction as its predecessor, the new model adds on carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer panels. This follows the latest trend with cars such as the BMW i3. Also in fashion is the electric powertrain. 'Fuelled' by a Li-ion battery, this will make it on the production car, which will be made available in two years' time. Unavailable on the production car will be the dynamic lighting stripes featured on the concept's exterior and interior.

BMW i1

Jaguar has been waiting a long time to join the SUV crowd. However, it may have been worth the wait. The SUV is set to be launched in 2015 and will be lightweight and agile. Featuring an all-aluminium body, the Jag will be one of the lightest crossovers on the market. The power plants will be both petrol and diesel, some shared with the Evoque and some from 'in house', with power ranging between 190 and 300 bhp. An R version has not been discussed yet, but if there are enough requests for it, we'll see one for sure.

BMW took a very bold step with the introduction of the i models. This revolutionary vision - which involves the combining of an electric powertrain with a light, but tough carbonfibre body - represents the future of the automobile, for

Hyundai ix45 Recent Hyundai models look absolutely stunning, especially if compared to their predecessors. In much need of an update, though, is the Santa Fe. The new model is due in 2012 and will be called ix45 (in the European market). Spy photographs indicate that the car will have a fluid, sculptured design with a prominent grille. The cabin is expected to feature higher-quality materials and an advanced infotainment system.

Audi A2 Audi presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September a revival of the A2. Featuring the same aluminium space-

sure. Proof of this can be found in the fact that other manufacturers are considering this technology as well. Audi has announced an updated A2 and Mercedes-Benz is planning on a carbon fibre E-Class. In order to stay ahead, BMW will diversify the i line up with the introduction of the i1. Expected in 2015, this will be the smallest member of the family, less than three metres long and with only two seats.

Ford Capri Every petrolhead knows the Ford Capri as the European Mustang, a cheap but very exciting little sports car, suitable for the narrow European streets. For decades it didn't have painted in Ultimate Yellow with black stripes.

Nissan declared that only 'a limited number of Yellows' would be available. As limited as its appeal...

Volkswagen Polo Harlequin

Nissan 370Z Yellow Most people think Nissan's 370Z is handsome-looking sports car. But Nissan just got it all wrong with this '370Z Yellow' edition

VW's bizarre four-tone Harlequin edition offered on the Golf and Polo - looked like a car thrown together out of panels from a scrapyard. For the record, the four colours used by VW were: Chagall Blue, Pistachio Green, Tornado Red and Ginster Yellow (yes, seriously).

DOH!

a decent successor, but things seem to have changed, as the EVOS Concept is in fact previewing the future Ford Capri. Production of this new coupĂŠ is expected to start in 2013, and it will be one of the first to feature Ford's new design language, Kinetic 2.0.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

Last week we looked at party outfits for the kids, this week we are focusing on some fabulous party looks for women aged 20 to 60.

THE LATEST FASHION HEADLINES

asos.com 58.70€

Blanco 25.99€

Zara 29.95€

Blanco 19.99€

Bershka 25.99€

20 - 30 years old

Carolina Herrera’s CHNY boutiques will soon be selling gowns in the same design worn by Bella Swan in “Breaking Dawn - Part 1”.

Herrera said she was “flattered” when asked to create the gown for the film and felt slight pressure to deliver something that would please “Twilight” fans.

Mango 39.95€

Bershka 15.99€

Zara 59.95€

Bershka 17.99€

30 - 40 years old

It has been reported that fights broke out during the launch of Versace for H&M in China on Thursday, November 17.

The hotly anticipated collaboration finally hit stores in Europe and Asia Thursday, and some shoppers on Shanghai’s Huai Hai Lu shopping street ended up in a scuffle.

Some men were allegedly there as professional queuers, waiting on behalf of consumers who didn’t want to face the crowds.

Zara 19.95€

Mango 49.95€

Zara 35.95€

Mango 35.95€

40 + years old

Question

Answer

Hi Freya I have been invited to a Christmas party with a twist this year!

The theme is 1920’s but I’m stuck for something to wear that won’t cost too much money. Also as I am a 51 year old granny I don’t want to look like mutton dressed as lamb!

Hope you can help, Maragret, La Marina

Hi Maragret, What a great idea for a themed party!

To save on money you can experiment with customising your clothes. Buy a simple plain dress, which needs to be between mid calf and just below the knee. You can customise the dress by adding fringe detail at the bottom and some small black beads. Have a look on the internet for some dresses and you can copy the style! To really glam up your look you should buy a faux fur jacket which you can find in most stores at the moment.

Hope you have a great night and have fun making your dress!

Freya

The Vatican on Wednesday protested to Italian clothing firm Benetton over its use of an image of Pope Benedict kissing an imam on the mouth in its latest shock advertising campaign.

Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi called the unauthorized and "manipulative" use of the pope's picture in the photo montage "totally unacceptable" and suggested it might take legal action against the company.

A large banner with the image of the pope and the imam was hung from a bridge near the Vatican on Wednesday morning before it was removed..

A virtual Valentino museum will launch December 5, providing an insight into the world of the Italian fashion house. Created by Valentino Garavani and business partner Giancarlo Giammetti, the online museum will focus on 50 years of the fashion house.

GOT A FASHION PROBLEM YOU CAN’T FIX? Maybe you have got a big event coming up and don’t know what to wear. Or you have recently lost a lot of weight and are not sure what clothes you can now wear Email all your problems to Freya at office@thecourier.es

If you’ve got a problem, Freya can fix it!

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Friday, November 25, 2011

MONDAY TO FRIDAY PROGRAMMING ON TKO FM 0800 - 1100 MORNINGS ARE FUN with ANDY JAMES

1400 - 1700 DAVY JONES’ AFTERNOON LOCK-IN

The perfect way to get you through your busy morning, whether you are at work or play. A fantastic selection of sounds that will be guaranteed to get you singing out loud!

Mornings just wouldn't be the same without Andy starting your day!

Lock yourself into the sounds of Davy Jones as he cruises through every weekday afternoon. Constant Total Knockout Hits and you can chat live with the chatterbox in the TKO Chat room or on Facebook.

1100 - 1400 AM to PM with DENNIS CHRISTIAN Turn on the AC and relax while DC entertains you with his wit and chill's you out with classic and new tracks. DC brings you music tracks and quizzes that will over heat the brain so turn up the aircon, relax and enjoy!

1700 – 2000 THE ULTIMATE DRIVE TIME SHOW with RACHEL ANGUS Join the bubbly and vibrant Rachel Angus as she gets you home with The Ultimate Drive time show. Bringing you old classics and new choons. She´s guaranteed to cheer you up every weekday evening!

MONDAY TO FRIDAY PROGRAMMING ON TKO GOLD 0800 - 1100 THE BREAKFAST SHOW with CHRIS ASHLEY Our Ex BBC & Talkradio presenter Mr Ashley will be waking you up with top tunes that will jog your memory, along with a daft joke or two & of course you can join in the fun...text, phone, or email Chris.

1100 - 1400 THE GOLDEN LUNCH with ALEX TRELINSKI Alex continues those feel good tunes and musical memories as well as inviting his friends from around the world to give you the inside track on all the latest news.

On Monday's, Paul Smith from "Soaplife" magazine gives you all the latest soap gossip, Tuesday's coming live and direct from Los Angeles, top showbiz reporter Linda Harris has all the Hollywood gossip and Friday's sees Paul Darby "The Feng Shui Doctor", the UK's leading Feng Shui expert giving you tips on how this ancient system of aesthetics can change your life

1400 - 1800 AFTERNOON TEA with DARREN JAMES Darren invites you to join him for a civilised and sophisticated 4 hours every weekday afternoon. Playing you some of the widest variety of both established and contemporary Easy Listening / Middle-Of-The Road music from Frank Sinatra to Will Young, Barbra Streisand to Katie Melua, ABBA to Take That, along with his notorious competitions, Spanish Lottery Results (and how to play them) The History of UK No1's, Tomorrow's News Today and much more, coupled with an innuendo or two slipped in for good measure!

Get out the Duraglit and polish up that Tea Service

1800 - 2100 SUNDOWNERS with DAVE KNIGHTS Join Dave as he takes you through 3 hours of music guaranteed to help you recover from the stresses and strains of another hectic Costa Blanca day! With competitions, great feel-good music and a little of something to help you relax. Sundowners is the perfect cocktail every single day.

2000 - 2300 Mondays only THE LOVE ZONE with LEE FOX Three hours of classic and modern-day love songs.

The perfect Monday night in.

2000 - 2300 Tuesdays only OLD SCHOOL DISCO with ANDY JAMES Let Andy take you back to those old school classics from the 70s and 80’s.

PLEASE NOTE

TKO FM

BACK ON 91.9

TKO GOLD

BACK ON 87.5 Let’s see if you can win youself a meal for two and a bottle of wine at Quesada Fish & Chips

POP QUIZ November 25 Welcome to the famous TKO Gold pop quiz! We sure did have some fun with last week’s questions.

All you have to do is take the first letter from each answer to find the name of a band or artist. Once you have found the key word, listen in to Chris Ashley´s show on TKO Gold, Saturday mornings 9am – 12pm 1. First name of the singer nicknamed "The Old Groaner" 2. Mockingbird was a hit in 1969 for Mr & Mrs Foxx...he is Charlie but what is her first name.

3 A simple song called 1-2-3 for this 60s popster.

4. He had the original hit with "It•s Only Love" covered by Madness.

5. What was the colour of the river Christie sang about.

6. The Crocker plays this song by Brooks & Dunn over & over & over again.

7. Kathy Kirby & The Shadows had a hit with the same tune.

8. Who spellt out D.I.S.C.O. in 1980.

9. Tunde Baiyewu is the lead singer with which group.

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Friday, November 25, 2011

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 S and 9 represents D, when these letters have been entered throughout the puzzle, you should have enough information to start guessing words and discovering other letters.

QUICKIE

Across 1 Corridor (7) 5 Relish (5) 8 Consult (5) 9 Inquisitive (7) 10 Organise (7) 11 Sufficient (5) 12 Expel (6) 14 Kind (6) 17 Cut (5) 19 Boring (7) 22 Inactive (7) 23 Animal disease (5) 24 Simmers (5) 25 Admit (7)

Down 1 Heavy jacket (5) 2 Food colouring (7) 3 Pinafore (5) 4 Surpass (6) 5 Waste (7) 6 Spy (5) 7 Indecent (7) 12 In addition (7) 13 Beat (7) 15 Defeat (7) 16 Stationary (6) 18 Border (5) 20 Devil (5) 21 Casts off (5)

Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Emit, 4 Dames, 9 Earring, 10 Shape, 11 Speak, 12 Servile, 13 Themed, 15 Asleep, 19 Deposit, 21 Resin, 23 Torso, 24 Imagine, 25 Steps, 26 Tier.

Down: 2 Marge, 3 Trickle, 4 Digest, 5 Miser, 6 Seaside, 7 Bedsit, 8 Mete, 14 Empires, 16 Servant, 17 Ponder, 18 Ethics, 19 Dote, 20 Slope, 22 Smile.

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

CRYTPIC CLUES Across 1 Recasts confused thespian (7) 5 Laid out, exhausted (5) 8 Refunds are best when resolved (7) 9 Sailor to employ battery (5) 10 Note: dead, but cheer up! (5) 11 The gate Len made is very posh (7) 12 Preserved whilst under the influence (6) 14 Claim everything, for example, to the East (6) 17 The result of a Serbia landing field (3,4) 19 Ed and Pat have become so skilled (5) 22 Small company has mass disorder (5) 23 Name one hybrid woodland plant (7) 24 A loyal subject of Belgium (5) 25 Is attentive to some of the novelist ensemble (7)

Down 1 Have the same opinion as eager drunk (5) 2 I bit a broken bone (5) 3 Former team leader’s about me limit (7) 4 She’s as strange as parts of a window (6) 5 Climb up a series of notes (5) 6 Imitate bird, running behind (7) 7 The stage discovered at in there (7) 12 Risk 50 in part of the church (7) 13 Tell the story about near rat (7) 15 Layabouts’ footwear (7) 16 Remember to ‘phone again (6) 18 By the sound of it, I’ll row (5) 20 Call up the first girl outside, all right! (5) 21 Set up and about elders, for example (5)

STANDARD CLUES

Down 1 Concur (5) 2 Shin bone (5) 3 Farthest (7) 4 Waistbands (6) 5 Extent (5) 6 Match (7) 7 Auditorium (7) 12 Church area (7) 13 Tell (7) 15 Idlers (7) 16 Remember (6) 18 Gangway (5) 20 Summon up (5) 21 Woody plants (5)

Across 1 Female performer (7) 5 Tired out (5) 8 Refunds (7) 9 Mistreatment (5) 10 Uplift (5) 11 Stylish (7) 12 Tinned (6) 14 Declare (6) 17 Military establishment (3,4) 19 Skilled (5) 22 Pandemonium (5) 23 Woodland plant (7) 24 Feudal lord (5) 25 Pays attention (7)

Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Suspect, 5 Carve, 8 Orifice, 9 Aired, 10 Elect, 11 Engrave, 12 Sniper, 14 Crisis, 17 Ice caps, 19 Grasp, 22 Intro, 23 Evening, 24 Shame, 25 Tassels.

Down: 1 Scope, 2 Smile, 3 Epistle, 4 Teeter, 5 Clang, 6 Rereads, 7 Endless, 12 Spirits, 13 Inertia, 15 Regress, 16 Assent, 18 Abode, 20 Agile, 21 Pages.

FILL IT IN

Complete the crossword grid by using the given words:

Pods Sot 3 letter words Rant Sty Any Rasp Sup Apt Sans Ton Ave Sent Use Boa This 4 letter words Den Toes Ales Fry Trot Anon Get Type Anti Let 6 Ugly Apse Men 5 letter words Area Oak Ashen Away Ode Bolts Errs Opt Breve Mash Ore 9 Elver Nays Pro Eyrie Okra Rot Ocean Onus Sag Opera Pass Sat

Prone Reave Rodeo Spent Stall Those Treat Troop Woman letter words Apiece Banana Enrage Fillet letter words Attention Salerooms

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

Across 1 Duck (bird) (4) 3 Puddle (6) 8 Ruibarbo (7) 9 Machos (biología) (5) 10 Aprender (5) 11 Respuestas (contestaciones) (7) 12 Liso (terreno, superficie) (6) 14 Navy (ships) (6) 18 Statue (7) 20 Heather (botánico) (5) 22 Weak (person, limb, constitution) (5) 23 With you (7) 24 Ball (tennis, cricket, golf etc) (6) 25 Muy (mucho) (4)

Down 1 Pear trees (7) 2 Truffle (5) 3 Goats (6) 4 Weapons (5) 5 Beehive (7) 6 Imán (6) 7 Áspides (4) 13 October (7) 15 Radish (6) 16 Disculpa (perdón) (7) 17 Christmas time (6) 18 Fines (finales) (4) 19 Stem (of a plant) (5) 21 Exilio (5)

33

Friday, November 25, 2011 Across 1 According to the Old Testament, which ancient city near the Dead Sea was destroyed (along with Sodom) by God for the vice and depravity of its inhabitants? (8) 7 Which light narrow boat with both ends sharp is usually propelled by paddling? (5) 8 What name is given to a subdivision of a written composition that consists of one or more sentences that deals with one point and begins on a new, usually indented, line?

(9) 9 Measuring 9,529,063 square kilometres (3,679,192 square miles), which is the fourth largest country in the world in area? (3) 10 What first name was shared by the French fashion designer Saint Laurent and the French stage and film actor and popular cabaret singer Montand? (4) 11 What type of tented variety show usually includes feats of physical skill and performances by clowns? (6) 13/7D Ernest Evans is the real name of which American singer who introduced the dance craze The Twist into Britain in 1960?

(6,7) 14 What was the surname of the Irish-born actor who played Oskar Schindler in the 1993 Steven Spielberg film Schindler’s List? (6) 17 See 20 18 Which substance with a penetrating persistent odour, obtained from a sac beneath the abdominal skin of the male of a certain type deer is used as a perfume fixative? (4) 20/17 Melvin Kaminsky is the real name of which American actor, writer director, and theatrical producer whose films include The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and Silent Movie? (3,6)

SUDOKU

Quiz Word

and Anticleia (the daughter of Autolycus of Parnassus), and father, by his wife, Penelope, of Telemachus? (8)

22 Which coastal town in north-western Egypt was the site of two major battles between British and Axis forces in 1942 during World War II? (2,7) 23 What name is given to the fruit of the oak tree? (5) 24 According to Homer, who was king of Ithaca, son of Laertes

Down 1 Which 1959 Stephen Sondheim/Jule Styne musical contains the songs Let Me Entertain You and Everything’s Coming up Roses? (5) 2 What was the surname of the French mime artiste who created the clown character Bip? (7) 3 Which city is the capital of Latvia? (4) 4 What name is given to a ballet duet by a man and woman or a mixed trio displaying difficult feats of balance, lifting, or spinning? (6) 5 What was the first name of the late husband of HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent?

(5) 6 Which country located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea is bounded to the north and east by Syria and to the south by Israel? (7) 7 See 13 Across 12 What name is given to the part of the body between the thorax and the pelvis? (7) 13 Which war between the Russians and the British, French, and Ottoman Turkish lasted from October 1853 to February 1856? (7) 15 Which group’s British top 10 hit singles include Cool For Cats, Up The Junction and Labelled With Love? (7) 16 Britt who has been married to actor Peter Sellers and musician Slim Jim Phantom? (6) 17 What body fluid contains a pigment called haemoglobin? (5) 19 What name is given to either of two narrative and historical books of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture (the 11th and 12th books of the Old Testament)? (5) 21 In which 1975 Stephen Spielberg film does a man-eating shark cause havoc off the Long Island coast? (4)

SALLY’S SIMPLE SPANISH DEPORTES DE INVIERNO -WINTER SPORTS Match these words with their Spanish translations then find them in the wordsearch.

(Answers below)

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

2. What three counties were Eliza Dolittle taught to pronounce?

3. Who created 'Doctor Who'?

4. Who created the animated character Screwy Squirrel'?

5. Who does the voice of the female hyena in the lion king?

6. Who was Humphry Bogart's first wife?

7. Who plays the character Data on Star Trek the Next Generation?

8. What TV character lived in Waratah National Park?

9. Who did Michael Caine play in the "Ipcress File"?

10. In the Beverly Hillbillies what was the name of Ellie's Chimp?

11. What job would a Foley Artist do?

12. In what film was the first flushing toilet seen?

13. Cheers exterior shots featured a real bar, what was it's name?

1. Wyatt Earp 2. Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire 3.

Terry Nation 4. Tex Avery 5. Whoopee Goldberg 6. Helen Mencken 7. Brent Spiner 8. Skippy 9. Harry Palmer 10.

Cousin Bessie 11. Incidental movie sound effects 12.

Psycho 13. Bull & Finch

ANSWERS

Last Week’s Solutions Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Wordsolution Across: 1/6 Annie Get Your Gun, 7 Yello, 8 Al Martino, 9 Ear, 10 Tuba, 11 Sonnet, 13 Snakes, 14 Benson, 17 Searle, 18 Boyd, 22 New Yorker, 23 Spike, 24 Apostles.

Down: 1 Avast, 2 Namibia, 3 Ebro, 4 Edison, 5 Sleet, 7 Younger, 12 Cezanne, 13 Swedish, 15 Snorkel, 16 BlowUp, 17 Syria, 19/20 Doris Day, 21 Dons.

E MR R E WS X O Z NB T GD NOHA E X GT CC MN S S I DE QOA DJ QV F GJ ROB V DNRP WD P I S OK RRI A NI P L A DNA F B QUCF Soduko

13.

14.

16.

17.

traje-de-esqui, casco, 15. refugio, esqui-de-fondo, gorro, 18. bufanda.

a. ski-suit, b. scarf, c. gloves, d. woolly hat, e. boots, f. skates, g. cross-country skiing,

K ROK RP E T I G S S DE P S Z RUO N L F S QMS A QR A UA UI A S J S R GN I L T ML E E O I DE OODODGC E OB RNNCE UI B ONHT GV E A R J V I DGNQS NE A T I NE S E QT F T A N WC E G U E E DE HRA A S I S L A A L B A T S QL E U B Y QT MJ C U T K H K D J MU B OI Span - Eng

h. ski resort, i. skiing, j. coach, k. slalom, l. down hill, m. ski pole, n. lodge, o. helmet, p. alpine snowboard, q. slope, r. ski lift.

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

movies/tv QUIZ

1. patines, 2. entrenador, 3. esqui, 4. botas, 5. descenso,6. eslalon, 7. estacion-de-esqui, 8. teleférico, 9. pista, 10. tabla-alpina, 11. guantes, 12. bastón,

BASTON

ESQUI

BOTAS

GORRO

BUFANDA

GUANTES

CASCO

PATINES

DESCENSO

PISTA

ENTRENADOR

REFUGIO

ESLALON

TABLA-ALPINA

ESQUI

TELEFERICO

ESQUI-DE-

TRAJE-DE-

FONDO

ESQUI

ESTACION-DEQuizword

Fill It In

34

Friday, November 25, 2011

Horoscopes

By Pandora

Aries March 21 - April 19 You will be named in an autobiography that comes out this week, maybe by name but most likely in general terms.

Enjoy your moment in the limelight and accept any of the benefits of your fame with a stoical, resigned aplomb.

Driving Me Crazy!!

Dear Rose. I am so in love with this girl, I would give her the world I really would, but she cannot make her mind up between me, her ex and possibly another guy I am not sure.

She says she loves aspects of each of us, she loves her ex because he has been in her life for a while and she has loved him during that time, he is tall handsome (he is, I've seen him and as a man I can say he is) and reserved, dignified.

She loves me because (she says) I am handsome even though I am a lot shorter than her, loving, funny, great to talk too and again very dignified honest and reserved.

There is another guy who she says is just a friend but he has the lifestyle, the cars, the houses and takes her out to nice places.

She says she can't be with either me or her ex coz she wants us both. She is crazy and drives me crazy. She says if she could merge me and the ex and give us her friend’s lifestyle she would be the happiest person and have the perfect man, that we each have perfect parts to us.

She is crazy yes? I should avoid her but I love her so much and when we are together I am sure she has loving feelings for me, she could not show such passion for me without these feelings, but I am sure she shows ex same passion which hurts me a lot.

How can I convince her to be with just me?

PETER LA MARINA

l

I'm sorry Peter and I hate to be harsh but you deserve happiness, not just happiness when she should decide; but your best off without this girl. She doesn't know what she wants and is happy to flaunt the fact there are other guys in your face. You deserve more respect than that.

There are girls out there who will love you for you, who you are and JUST you.

"She says if she could merge me and the ex and give us her friends lifestyle she would be the happiest person and have the perfect man, that we each have perfect parts to us."

That’s incredibly degrading to your personality and his.

The things she has stated she likes are shallow. I

Taurus April 20 - May 20 This week your mojo will be tested by the planets - avoid noisy bars with above average amounts of bare flesh especially if they have more than two pool tables.

A contretemps or a palaver are two moments of social madness you should avoid if at all possible.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 Cooking with seafood is particularly well starred this week but only at times of high tide - however beware Haddock and Cod in all of their forms. Mars suggests buying a yacht or an expensive car on your credit card on the 29th.

Cancer June 21 - July 22 A new toothpaste, mouthwash or soap that you try this week is set to introduce you to the world of your advertising inspired dreams where everyone is good looking, intelligent and welcoming.This week your destiny wears the shoes of an aristocrat but the hat of a performing monkey.

would say the same thing to anyone being a bit on the side of an affair... You will never come first with someone like this and you deserve to be treated like a human being, not a thing.

You are not an equal to her as she has to find 'other parts' she likes about other people. It doesn't even sound like she is willing to give this other guy up for you and its cruel to keep you as 'a thing on the side'.

This sounds like so many stories of affair I have read and she is keeping you dangling. She is playing you both.

I know you feel that you love her but you will most likely never get the relationship you want out of this. I'd say talk about it but considering she has already said that it sounds like there is no give-way there. I can only see this ending in more hurt if you carry on. I wish you all the best, I really do.

Am I Slutty

If you have a problem Romany Rose can help you with, email her at office@thecourier.es really slutty skirt but I really liked it. Should I follow what they say or be myself? I really want to be myself but I'm paranoid that people think I'm a slag just because of this skirt I like.

SALLY QUESADA

l

Dear Sally. Jealousy is a gross emotion. I don't believe you should stop wearing it just to please others. If you are confident and happy wearing it, then why not?

People are quick to make judgements based on what people wear/do which is a shame, but that is their problem and not yours.

Think of it this way. You wore something you felt happy in and they made comments. It says a lot more about them then it does about you, they are the ones judging you based on a bit of fabric.

did it and I didn't really see it coming but on the lead up he gave me the biggest back handed compliment. He said he couldn't believe how much he liked me because I wasn't the type of girl he would normally go for. He said he normally goes for blonde, skinny girls. I'm curvy with dark hair. I said "cheers for that, so you think I'm fat and ugly", he then said he wasn't very good at this and then said he fancied me more than any of his previous girlfriends. The thing is only one of them is "skinny" and "blonde". The other one is curvy with ginger hair and the other one skinny with dark hair. I can't stop thinking about it, why would he ask me out if I'm not his type. It makes me feel really ugly and insecure. On another note he does go on about exes in conversation and I recently brought it up saying it bothers me, he said it shouldn't and reeled of why and when it came to the curvy ginger one he said he never really fancied her, does that mean he doesn't fancy me?

No matter what we like (In terms of anything, food, cars, clothing) someone Dear Rose. I just brought will be there to dislike it. and received a skirt off eBay That's just normal, we can't and wore it to town last night. all like the same things but It's a rather short mini skirt. you can be the bigger perSARAH It's made flux leather and has son and not let this affect PUNTA PRIMA studding on it and a big buckyour confidence or what le on the front. I really like it you want to wear. Most I think you might be and I admit it’s on the short likely these girls where overreacting a bit to side but in town last night I jealous that they wouldn't the whole thing. He is tryhad a randomer come up to be so confident in a short ing to tell you that it’s not me and call me a "slut wearskirt. about your looks, but that ing that" and I swear some he likes you for you. Not other girls hissed a few other many guys out there are comments at me. And being like that. honest I felt my ass being

l

touch a lot more than normal.

So I asked one of my mates what she thought and she went all quiet. I eventually got it out her that she and my other mates thought it was a

On My Mind

Dear Rose. The night my boyfriend asked me out is playing on my mind. He seemed nervous before he

And so what if he talks about his exes? So long as he isn't saying "Well ginger did that, why don't you?” I don't think you need to worry too much.

Leo July 23 - August 22 A suicidal housefly will attempt to end it all by flying into your mouth at breakfast one morning. Swallow it / don't swallow it it's up to you. Saturn suggests choking theatrically for half an hour: ignore him.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 Singing, dancing and backward somersaults landing on your feet with the look of "Hey what did you expect, I'm a cool dude" will pepper this month like none before.This week your destiny is prone to blackouts at unforeseen moments. Beware when riding a horse.

Libra September 23 - October 22 Your recently discovered glamorous lifestyle will be beset with helicopter travel, jet travel and pampering to an almost opulent degree. Try the chocolates in the golden shiny paper, mmmmh, they are really quite special.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 This month a question that you asked a teacher in your final year at school will be finally answered in an unexpected way. A new hobby is about to enter your life to fill the coming frequent lulls. Saturn sees wood, metal and possibly plastic.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 A gushing apology is in the stars after a mix-up involving a piece of fruit. Stand your ground, you are completely right: the waiter you are supposed to have chastised only has himself to blame for bringing to your table the paw paw cut erotically like that...

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 A convoluted explanation you attempt to spin to a police officer or some kind of traffic control official will come back to haunt you around Thursday. Your only hope to stop this going any further is to back up your claims with heavily Photoshopped evidence.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 A misunderstanding involving a fish, a small yappy type dog and an ostrich is set to make this month zing with reappraised Discovery Channel type learning.

Jupiter applauds from afar.

Pisces February 19 - March 20 Dogs, especially dopily loyal ones who like hardluck cases, are set to provide moments of solace and cost effective joy this week. Saturn suggests that a box of doggie chocs always go down a treat.

35

Friday, November 25, 2011

TRELI ON THE TELLY

Beeb taste new turkey roast WHAT a massive fanfare we’ve had from BBC2, as we got four episodes in just four days of the new American drama ‘Pan Am’.

That swift turnaround of episodes suggested the Beeb have got themselves a turkey that they quickly wanted to get rid of. And I was even more suspicious when some of their press people started to bill the show as new ‘Mad Men’.

That’s like equating the daytime soap, ‘Doctors’ to a piece of work by Alan Bennett. But soap would actually be the kindest way to describe ‘Pan Am’, set on the old airline in the ’60s and also being screened on Canal Plus.

It’s as glossy as a magazine that you’d read in a dental surgery waiting room, and with just as little substance. In fact, all it missed was the late Leslie Nielsen reproducing his brilliant doctor routines from the ‘Airplane’ movies, because my reaction to watching all of this was one of unintentional laughter.

Most of the cast seemed to be smiling as if they had a ring of confidence from a toothpaste commercial - and the lines they uttered were banal at best. On the plus side, the set design and costumes smell 100 per cent ‘60s’, but you need a lot more than just that for a high-quality show.

American viewers have deserted this in their droves, so even they have some taste at times! Perhaps the writers should have taken the trouble to ring up their counterparts at ‘Mad Men’ to find out how it should be done.

In a different league to ‘Pan Am’ is ‘Person of Interest’, which started over a week ago on La Sexta. The show is the

with ALEX TRELINSKI

PAN AM: Heading for turkey land?

co-baby of Jonathan Nolan (who scripted the film Memento), and the creator of ‘Lost‘, JJ Abrams.

It’s all about a guy who used to work as a CIA killer, played by Jim Caviezel. He certainly knows how to handle himself as the first scene of the series sees him deal with a bunch of yobs on a New York subway train.

Michael Emmerson, best known for playing Linus on ‘Lost’, is a billionaire who has Caviezel’s character, Reese, on his radar, and persuades him to work for him to stop crimes like murder being committed before they happen.

Apparently there’s a US Government computer that Emmerson has clandestine access to which spouts out social security numbers of folk likely to hit serious trouble.

A computer that predicts the future? Wow! Clearly there’s a lot we need to learn. And that’s part of the intrigue of the show, along with a copper who has identified Reese as a ‘Person of Interest’ in a number of vigilante actions against criminals.

It’s action packed, well acted and written with some unexpected twists in the first two episodes. And it has become a big audience puller in America on CBS, who’ve given the show priority over the long-standing ’CSI’.

Credit as well to the Spanish channel La Sexta for not ruining it with zillions of ad breaks. Meanwhile, a general raspberry should be blown in the direction of the UK, as no channel has yet bought one of the most talked-about new dramas of the new American season.

Broadcasting can be a very cynical business, as I know all too well, but it reached a new nadir last week. Just days after Sir Jimmy Savile had been laid to rest in a Scarborough cemetery, news came from BBC1 controller Danny Cohen that there will be a ‘Jim’ll Fix It Christmas Special’ this year.

Even worse than the bad taste generated by this nonsensical decision, was the announcement that Shane Richie would be presenting it.

What the hell is the purpose in all of this? There had been countless opportunities for the great man himself to front a revival, but clearly nobody could be bothered to ask him. I suppose next week we’ll hear that the ‘Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show’ is making a return this year, with those gormless goons Reeves and Mortimer trying to do a useless

MY OWN LOVE SONG 12 Renée Zellweger plays Jane as a wounded soul with spirit and arms adorned with pretty cool tattoos. Jane used to be a bar singer but was in a car accident. Now she drinks alone, and looks accepting and resigned when men flee at the site of her wheeled chair.

Jane's quirky sidekick/best-friend Joey, played by Forest Whitaker, makes damaged and sad Jane totally look like the straight man (Joey talks to ghosts and tends to flip out quite easily). After Joey trashes Jane's already trashed house in a fit, they

Jane does end up getting CAST: Forest Whitaker, Renée Zellweger, Madeline to sing a couple of songs, Zima, Elias Koteas, Nick Nolte Director: Olivier Dahan and to her credit, I have to RUNNING TIME: 105 min. GENRE: Comedy, Drama admit that Renée Zellweger's RATING: 2.5/5 interpretation of "This Land is decide to take a road trip to (Madeline Zima) who is like a Your Land" turned the song Louisiana, seemingly on a black-hole of character into something completely whim. But it is revealed that development, yet still mannew for me. The plot of the Joey has ulterior motives. He ages to be a pseudo-lovemovie goes from Point A to has hidden a letter from interest for Joey. And then Point B quite seamlessly Jane's estranged 10-year old there is the kind of scary guy (despite attempting to throw son who has invited her to who turns out to be a nice in typical twists), and never his confirmation. guy even if he has perhaps leaves the audience in doubt As in any road movie, the sold his soul to the devil that there will be resolution leads encounter quirky char(Nick Nolte). for Jane and Joey. acters along the way. There is a charming thief (Elias This dvd review was brought to you by MOVING Koteas) who steals their car. MOVIES - OVER 7000 DVDS IN STOCK. Delivering all Then there is the slightly over Spain and the UK Visit www.movingmovies.biz Tel unhinged young woman 650 751 072 or email movingmoviesdvds@gmail.com

BIG HIT: CIA killer Jim Caviezel in Person of Interest

impression of Eric and Ernie.

Mind you, they need the work after the very sensible decision of BBC2 to pull ‘Shooting Stars’, their heavily overrated apology of a panel show.

Talking of filling a dead man’s shoes, Channel 4 have announced a new host for their long-running ‘Countdown’ show in the surprising form of Nick Hewer from ‘The Apprentice’. It’s a left-field choice, but it might just work as he has a lot of dry wit, and must surely have done a pilot which impressed the bosses.

He’ll be the fourth person to front the programme since the sad death of Richard Whiteley just six years ago, and that shows just how good the much-missed Yorkshireman was.

It’s also an indication of how many people just loved the banter between Richard and Carol Vorderman, and why the programme should have ended back in 2005.

Also, Vorderman’s subsequent bad treatment left a pretty nasty taste in the mouth, and she’s well shot of what are now damaged goods.

Another quick mention of ‘American Horror Story’ on the UK and Spanish FOX channels. This has quickly become my new autumn favourite, especially with Jessica Lange playing a terrific role as a nosey bitch of a neighbour.

She’s been given some terrific lines, which have me guffawing for hours. More please!

36

The Courier Friday TV

25th November

01:20 Holiday Weatherview 01:25 Meet the Burglars Panorama 01:55 Countryfile 02:55 Antiques Roadshow 03:55 Digging for Britain 04:55 Sport Today 05:00 Newsday 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 You've Been Scammed 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Filthy Rotten Scoundrels 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Driving Academy 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Stuck on Sheep Mountain 17:30 The Sarah Jane Adventures 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News Programmes 20:00 The One Show 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Would I Lie to You? 22:00 Have I Got News for You 22:30 Live at the Apollo 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 The Graham Norton Show BBC2 01:00 01:40 02:15 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 04:50

Pan Am Women!

Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Close

07:00 Wibbly Pig 07:10 The Large Family 07:20 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Little Charley Bear 07:45 Mike the Knight 08:00 Project Parent 08:30 Trust Me I'm a Genie 08:45 Pet Squad 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Copycats 09:30 Iconicles 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:25 Something Special 10:40 Charlie and Lola 10:55 Zingzillas 11:15 Big Barn Farm 11:25 Louie 11:35 Octonauts 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:40 The Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Trash to Cash 15:00 Live ATP World Tour Finals Tennis 16:45 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two 20:00 Heir Hunters 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 Autumnwatch Live 22:30 Autumnwatch Unsprung 23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight

00:35 01:05 01:55 03:55 05:35 06:30 07:00 09:30 10:25 11:30 13:30 14:30 14:55 15:00 16:00 16:59 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 Here!

23:30

The Last Word The Choir That Rocks The Zone ITV Nightscreen The Jeremy Kyle Show ITV Morning News Daybreak Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV News and Weather Meridian News and Weather May the Best House Win Dickinson's Real Deal Meridian Weather Ade in Britain Best Dish: The Chefs Meridian Tonight ITV News and Weather Emmerdale Coronation Street Wild Britain with Ray Mears Coronation Street I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of ITV News and Weather

TEARS OF THE SUN War action thriller starring Bruce Willis and Monica Bellucci. Navy SEAL Lt Waters is sent to rescue an American doctor working at a refugee clinic deep in war-torn Nigeria. But the singleminded doctor refuses to leave without her patients and Waters must decide whether to follow orders or his conscience.

00:05 Random Acts 00:10 The Secret Millionaire 01:15 Fresh Meat 02:00 Professor Green Unseen: After Hours 02:30 Inside SBTV: From Bedroom to Boardroom 02:55 Inputoutput 03:10 4Play: Maverick Sabre 03:25 Shameless USA 04:30 The Confession 04:35 Happy Endings 05:00 Go Greek for a Week 05:55 Unreported World 06:20 Countdown 07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 The Secret Millionaire USA 10:55 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 The Renovation Game 13:00 Drop Down Menu 14:00 Captain Horatio Hornblower 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:30 Unreported World 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Come Dine with Me 22:00 8 Out of 10 Cats 23:00 Jimmy Carr: Making People Laugh

00:00 NCIS 01:00 SuperCasino 05:00 Chinese Food in Minutes 05:15 How Not to Decorate 05:55 County Secrets 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Michaela's Wild Challenge 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 The WotWots 07:20 City of Friends 07:35 Elmo's World 07:50 Peppa Pig 07:55 Little Princess 08:05 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:10 The Mr Men Show 08:25 Thomas & Friends 08:40 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 09:55 Milkshake! Monkey 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Extraordinary People: The Real Sleeping Beauty 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Law & Order 16:15 Naughty or Nice 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 Fifth Gear 21:00 Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads 22:00 Tears of the Sun

37

The Courier Saturday TV

26th November

00:20 The National Lottery: 18 UK Millionaires 00:35 Snake Eyes 02:10 Weatherview 02:15 Question Time 03:15 Fry's Planet Word 04:15 Nigel Slater's Simple Cooking 04:45 Newswatch 05:00 BBC News 05:30 The Bottom Line 06:00 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Home Cooking Made Easy 13:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 13:15 Football Focus 14:00 World Olympic Dreams 14:30 Bargain Hunt Famous Finds 15:15 Cash in the Celebrity Attic 16:00 Formula 1: The Brazilian Grand Prix - Qualifying 18:25 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 18:40 A Question of Sport 19:10 The One Ronnie 20:00 Strictly Come Dancing 21:15 Merlin 22:00 Casualty 22:50 The National Lottery Saturday Night Draws 23:00 BBC News; Weather 23:20 Match of the Day 23:20 National Lottery Update bbc 2 00:00 00:45 00:50 01:55 03:15 03:30 04:00

The Review Show Weather Later with Jools Holland The Triangle BBC News HARDtalk BBC News

04:30 Click 04:45 Close 07:00 Wibbly Pig 07:10 The Large Family 07:20 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Little Charley Bear 07:45 Mike the Knight 08:00 Roar 08:30 Arthur 08:50 Dennis and Gnasher 09:05 Pixelface 09:35 Splatalot 10:00 Live 'n' Deadly 11:00 Who Let the Dogs Out? 11:30 I Want My Own Room 12:00 Deadly Art 12:15 Sorry, I've Got No Head 12:40 MOTD Kickabout 13:00 Priceless Antiques Roadshow 13:05 The Prince and the Showgirl 15:00 Live ATP World Tour Finals Tennis 18:00 Final Score 18:30 Coast 18:45 Escape to the Country 19:45 Flog It! 20:45 Dad's Army 21:15 TV Greats: Our Favourites from the North 22:15 QI XL 23:00 Pan Am 23:40 Pan Am

00:00 Meridian Tonight and Weather 00:05 Enter the Dragon 01:55 The Zone 01:55 ITV News Headlines 04:05 Columbo: Butterfly in Shades of Grey 05:40 ITV Nightscreen 06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Mini CITV 08:15 CITV 10:25 Coronation Street 12:45 This Morning: Saturday 13:45 ITV News and Weather 13:54 Meridian Weather 13:55 Animals Do the Funniest Things 14:55 Curly Sue 16:50 The Scorpion King 18:30 Meridian News and Weather 18:45 ITV News and Weather 19:00 The Chase 20:00 New You've Been Framed!

20:30 Harry Hill's TV Burp 21:00 The X Factor 22:45 I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

23:45 ITV News and Weather 23:59 Meridian Weather

TONY ROBINSON'S GODS AND MONSTERS New series. Tony Robinson explores the history of belief, superstition and religious experience in Britain. He begins by focusing on the human fascination with and terror of dead bodies, examining why people in the past thought they could rise from the grave to cause havoc among the living. During his investigation he encounters stories of a plaguebreathing zombie and monarchs who ate the remains of their subjects.

00:05 Pete Versus Life 00:40 Stand Up for the Week 01:30 Departures 03:45 Random Acts 03:50 Shameless USA 04:50 My Name Is Earl 05:15 Accidentally on Purpose 05:40 St Elsewhere 06:25 Countdown 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Sailing 08:25 Extreme Sailing Series 08:55 The Morning Line 09:50 Smallville 10:40 Made in Chelsea 11:40 4Music Video Honours: The Results 12:40 The Wanted: Backstage in Brazil 13:10 Moneyball: T4 Movie Special 13:25 The Big Bang Theory 13:55 The Big Bang Theory 14:25 The Simpsons 14:55 Channel 4 Racing 17:05 Come Dine with Me 19:40 Jamie's Great Britain 20:40 Channel 4 News 21:10 4thought.tv 21:15 Tony Robinson's Gods and Monsters 22:15 GI Joe: the Rise of Cobra

00:15 Al Capone and the Untouchables: The True Story 01:10 SuperCasino 05:05 Motorsport Mundial 05:30 Fifth Gear 05:55 County Secrets 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Michaela's Wild Challenge 07:00 Peppa Pig 07:05 Fifi and the Flowertots 07:15 Fireman Sam 07:25 Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs 07:40 Castle Farm 07:45 Igam Ogam 07:55 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:00 Mio Mao 08:05 The Milkshake! Show 08:30 Make Way for Noddy 08:45 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:00 Little Princess 09:15 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Angelina Ballerina 09:55 Rupert Bear 10:05 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:20 The Mr Men Show 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Animal Families 11:00 Animal Rescue Squad 11:20 The Gadget Show 12:20 London: The Inside Story 13:20 Dangerous Drivers' School 14:20 The Searchers 16:45 The Battle of the V1 18:50 Last of the Dogmen 21:10 5 News Weekend 21:15 An Audience with Ronnie Corbett 22:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:10 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

38

The Courier Sunday TV

27th November

00:50 The Football League Show 02:05 Weatherview 02:10 BBC News 02:30 The Bottom Line 03:00 BBC News 03:30 Dateline London 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Our World 05:00 BBC News 05:30 Click 06:00 BBC News 06:30 The Record Europe 07:00 Breakfast 08:30 Match of the Day 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 Fern Britton Meets Ann Widdecombe 12:00 Country Tracks 13:00 The Politics Show 14:00 Escape to the Country 15:00 Cash in the Attic 16:00 Formula 1: The Brazilian Grand Prix - Live 19:10 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 19:25 Countryfile 20:25 Strictly Come Dancing 21:00 Antiques Roadshow 22:00 Garrow's Law 23:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 23:30 Have I Got a Bit More News for You

00:20 The Girl in the Park

02:05 Later with Jools Holland 03:10 Close 07:00 Wibbly Pig 07:10 The Large Family 07:20 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Little Charley Bear 07:45 Mike the Knight 08:00 Roar 08:30 Arthur 08:50 Dennis and Gnasher 09:05 League of Super Evil 09:15 Jinx 09:35 Wingin' It 10:00 Sam & Mark's Big Friday Wind Up 11:00 Something for the Weekend 12:30 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 13:15 Kitty Foyle 15:00 Coast 15:05 EastEnders 17:25 Points of View 17:40 Songs of Praise 18:15 Live ATP World Tour Finals Tennis 21:00 How to Build a Satellite 22:00 Frontline Medicine 23:00 Match of the Day 2

00:00 Voice 01:00 01:55 04:00 05:00 06:30 07:00 08:15 10:25 10:45 a-lot 12:10 13:40 13:44 13:45 15:40 17:25 19:00 19:15 19:30 20:00 21:00 22:00 Here!

23:30 23:44 23:45

Russell Watsons Return of the 00:30 8 Out of 10 Cats Uncut 01:20 Unfaithful 03:30 Shameless USA The Cube 04:25 Shameless USA The Zone 05:20 Afghan Star Kojak 06:15 Countdown ITV Nightscreen 07:00 Sali Mali ITV Morning News 07:05 The Hoobs Mini CITV 07:30 Channel 4 Presents - Lee CITV Pearson 'The Dancer' Horrid Henry Care Bears: Journey to Joke- 07:35 Ironman Triathlon 08:30 Cardiff Half Marathon 08:55 One Tree Hill Dennis 09:40 Battlefront ITV News and Weather 10:00 Hollyoaks Meridian Weather 12:35 JLS: The Album Chart Show The 'Burbs Special The X Factor 13:05 The Simpsons Midsomer Murders 13:40 Shipwrecked: The Island Meridian News and Weather 14:45 The Simpsons ITV News and Weather 15:20 My Best Friend's Wedding Harry Hill's TV Burp 17:25 Deal or No Deal The Cube 18:25 St Trinian's The X Factor I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of 20:25 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 River Cottage Veg ITV News and Weather 22:00 The Secret Millionaire Meridian Weather 23:00 Alan Carr: Chatty Man Penn & Teller: Fool Us

ST TRINIANS Cartoonist Ronald Searle's most famous creation - the chaotic girls' boarding school that gave rise to the series of hit films in the 1950s and 60s - makes a surprisingly successful comeback in this amusing revamp. Directors Oliver Parker and Barnaby Thompson have updated the school for modern audiences, blending the traditions of dorms and jolly hockey sticks with more contemporary youth culture

00:10 NCIS 01:10 SuperCasino 05:00 Great Artists 05:25 Divine Designs 05:50 County Secrets 06:00 Hana's Helpline 06:10 The Milkshake! Show 06:35 Thomas & Friends 06:45 Roary the Racing Car 07:00 Peppa Pig 07:05 Fifi and the Flowertots 07:15 Fireman Sam 07:25 Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs 07:40 Castle Farm 07:45 Igam Ogam 07:55 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:05 Mio Mao 08:10 The Milkshake! Show 08:30 Make Way for Noddy 08:50 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:00 Little Princess 09:15 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Angelina Ballerina 09:50 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Mr Men Show 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:45 Animal Families 11:00 Animal Rescue Squad 11:20 The Andre Rieu Story 11:50 The Hotel Inspector 12:50 Paul Merton's Adventures 13:50 Highland Emergency 14:20 The Adventures of Robin Hood 16:20 Fly Away Home 18:25 The Fifth Element 20:55 5 News Weekend 21:00 Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads 22:00 Blood Work

39

The Courier Monday TV

28th November

00:15 Formula 1: The Brazilian Grand Prix - Highlights 01:15 In Dreams 02:50 Weatherview 02:55 Film 2011 with Claudia Winkleman 03:35 A Farmer's Life for Me 04:35 Holby City 05:35 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Noise Squad 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Driving Academy 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Deadly 60 17:30 Blue Peter 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News Programmes 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Inside Out 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Who's Getting Rich on Your Money? - Panorama 22:00 Young Apprentice 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 A Question of Sport

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:20 02:30 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:30

Fast and Loose Never Mind the Buzzcocks London to Brighton Newsday Reporters Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Close

07:00 Wibbly Pig 07:10 The Large Family 07:20 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Little Charley Bear 07:45 Mike the Knight 08:00 Project Parent 08:25 Trust Me I'm a Genie 08:40 Leon 08:45 Pet Squad 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Copycats 09:25 Iconicles 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 Something Special 10:40 Charlie and Lola 10:55 Zingzillas 11:15 Big Barn Farm 11:25 Louie 11:35 Octonauts 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 The New Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Coast 14:15 Trash to Cash 15:15 Weakest Link 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two 20:00 Heir Hunters 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 MasterChef: The Professionals 22:00 The Choir 23:00 Never Mind the Buzzcocks 23:30 Newsnight

01:15 Premiership Rugby Union 02:15 The Zone 03:00 Motorsport UK 03:50 ITV Nightscreen 06:30 ITV Morning News 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 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 Best Dish: The Chefs 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Little England 21:30 I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 Real Crime with Mark Austin: Manhunt

THE BRITISH WOMAN ON DEATH

The story of Linda Carty, a British grandmother and former teacher who is currently awaiting execution by lethal injection in Texas. Found guilty of being the mastermind behind the abduction of a three-day old baby boy and murder of his mother, she has always denied any involvement in the crime - but circumstantial evidence, together with testimony from the gang who carried it out, led to her conviction in 2002.

00:05 02:20 05:45 06:15 06:25 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:30 08:55 09:25 09:55 10:55 11:55 13:00 14:25 16:10 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:55 21:00 Death 22:00 23:35

An Officer and a Gentleman American Football Live Freesports on 4 Post Modern Pastimes Countdown The Hoobs The Hoobs Freshly Squeezed Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier The Secret Millionaire USA Relocation, Relocation The Renovation Game Drop Down Menu The Siege of the Saxons Countdown Deal or No Deal Four in a Bed Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News 4thought.tv The British Woman on Row Digging the Great Escape Assault on Precinct 13

00:15 Half Past Dead 02:10 SuperCasino 05:00 Chinese Food in Minutes 05:10 Nick's Quest 05:35 Divine Designs 06:00 Hana's Helpline 06:10 The Milkshake! Show 06:35 Thomas & Friends 06:45 Roary the Racing Car 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 The WotWots 07:20 City of Friends 07:35 Elmo's World 07:50 Peppa Pig 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 The Mr Men Show 08:25 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 09:55 Milkshake! Monkey 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Meerkat Manor 15:45 Meerkat Manor 16:15 While My Pretty One Sleeps 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 Celebrity Wish List 21:00 The Gadget Show 22:00 Charley Boorman's Extreme Frontiers 23:00 RoboCop

40

The Courier Tuesday TV

29th November

00:05 John Bishop's Britain 00:50 The Graham Norton Show 01:35 Weatherview 01:40 Paul Merton's Birth of Hollywood 02:40 The Impressionists - Painting and Revolution 03:40 The Story of Ireland 04:40 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Newsday 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Noise Squad 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Driving Academy 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Copycats 17:30 Blue Peter 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News Programmes 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Holby City 22:00 Death in Paradise 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Would I Lie to You?

00:20 00:50 01:50 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45

Rev How to Build a Satellite HARDtalk Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today

04:00 Newsday 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:40 Close 07:00 Wibbly Pig 07:10 The Large Family 07:20 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Little Charley Bear 07:45 Mike the Knight 08:00 Project Parent 08:25 Trust Me I'm a Genie 08:40 Leon 08:45 Pet Squad 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Copycats 09:25 Iconicles 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 Something Special: Out and About 10:40 Charlie and Lola 10:55 Zingzillas 11:15 Big Barn Farm 11:25 Louie 11:35 Octonauts 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 Coast 12:45 Lost Horizon 14:45 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Weakest Link 16:00 Autumn Statement 18:30 Flog It! 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two 20:00 Heir Hunters 21:00 MasterChef: The Professionals 22:00 Money 23:00 Life's Too Short 23:30 Newsnight

00:35 The Zoo 01:30 The Zone 03:35 Champions League Weekly 04:00 ITV Nightscreen 05:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 06:30 ITV Morning News 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 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 Best Dish: The Chefs 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 The Adventurer's Guide to Britain 21:00 Coronation Street 21:30 I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 The Witches of Eastwick

THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK Comedy drama starring Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. Nothing ever happens in the sleepy New England town of Eastwick. But that's about to change when three bored, independent women make a wish for a dynamic man to enter their lives. So when the charismatic and mysterious Daryl Van Horne arrives on the scene, they find themselves happily taken in by his charms, but then strange things start to happen.

01:40 4Play: Smith and Burrows 01:55 Late Night Poker 02:55 Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda 05:10 Truel 05:25 The Untold Great Fire of London 06:20 St Elsewhere 07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 The Secret Millionaire USA 10:55 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 The Renovation Game 13:00 Drop Down Menu 14:05 Channel 4 Presents - Oscar Pistorius 'Blade Runner' 14:10 A Matter of Life and Death 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 The Food Hospital 22:00 Jamie's Great Britain 23:00 My Transsexual Summer

01:10 Impossible?

02:10 SuperCasino 05:00 Chinese Food in Minutes 05:15 Grey's Anatomy 06:00 County Secrets 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Michaela's Wild Challenge 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 The WotWots 07:20 City of Friends 07:35 Elmo's World 07:50 Peppa Pig 07:55 Little Princess 08:05 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:10 The Mr Men Show 08:25 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Meerkat Manor 15:45 Meals in Moments 16:00 The Incident 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 How to Take Stunning Pictures 21:00 London: The Inside Story 22:00 CSI: Miami 23:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

41

The Courier Wednesday TV

30th November

00:05 The League Cup Show 01:05 Dragonfly 02:45 Weatherview 02:50 Frozen Planet 03:50 Mixed Britannia 04:50 Natural World: Heligan Secrets of the Lost Gardens 05:50 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Noise Squad 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Driving Academy 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Roy 17:30 Serious Explorers: Raleigh 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News Programmes 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 That's Britain!

21:30 The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson 22:00 Frozen Planet 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 The National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Who Do You Think You Are? US

00:20 The Choir: Unsung Town Revisited 01:20 BBC News 01:30 HARDtalk 02:00 Newsday 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 Newsday 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 Newsday

04:30 Asia Business Report 04:40 Close 07:00 Wibbly Pig 07:10 The Large Family 07:20 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Little Charley Bear 07:45 Mike the Knight 08:00 Gimme a Break 08:25 Trust Me I'm a Genie 08:40 Leon 08:45 Pet Squad 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Copycats 09:25 Iconicles 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 Something Special: Out and About 10:40 Charlie and Lola 10:55 Zingzillas 11:15 Big Barn Farm 11:25 Octonauts 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 See Hear 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Weakest Link 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two 20:00 Heir Hunters 21:00 MasterChef: The Professionals 22:00 Your Money and How They Spend It 23:00 Mock the Week - Again 23:30 Newsnight

01:45 The Zone 04:15 Kojak 05:10 ITV Nightscreen 06:30 ITV Morning News 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 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 Best Dish: The Chefs 19:00 Meridian Tonight and Weather 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Super Tiny Animals 21:30 I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 Cops with Cameras

CHRIS MOYLE’S QUIZ NIGHT Comedian Vic Reeves, X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos and singer Emma Bunton compete for a prize donated by the Radio 1 DJ himself. Contestants answer questions asked by various famous faces, with the loser singing out the show along with the all-female house band

00:05 Random Acts 00:10 True Blood 01:25 UK & Ireland Poker Tour 02:20 Sailing 02:50 Beach Volleyball 03:45 Extreme Sailing Series 04:15 KOTV Boxing Weekly 04:45 Cardiff Half Marathon 05:10 Freesports on 4 05:40 Road to London 2012: That Paralympic Show 06:10 Scrapheap Challenge 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 The Secret Millionaire USA 10:55 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 The Renovation Game 13:00 Drop Down Menu 14:10 That Touch of Mink 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Kirstie's Handmade Britain 22:00 Grand Designs 23:00 Chris Moyles' Quiz Night 23:50 Alan Carr: Chatty Man

00:00 CSI: Miami 01:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 01:50 SuperCasino 05:00 Chinese Food in Minutes 05:10 The Gadget Show 06:00 County Secrets 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Michaela's Wild Challenge 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 The WotWots 07:20 City of Friends 07:35 Elmo's World 07:50 Peppa Pig 07:55 Little Princess 08:05 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:10 The Mr Men Show 08:25 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Meerkat Manor 15:50 Meals in Moments 16:00 The Long Shot 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:25 OK! TV 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 Live UEFA Europa League Football 23:15 Second in Comman

42

The Courier Thursday TV

1st December

00:15 Film 2011 with Claudia Winkleman 00:55 Right at Your Door 02:25 Weatherview 02:30 See Hear 03:00 Planet Dinosaur 03:30 Country Tracks 04:25 Hairy Bikers' Meals on Wheels 05:25 Newsday 05:30 Panorama 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Rip Off Britain 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Noise Squad 12:45 Cash in the Attic 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:40 Doctors 15:10 Only Fools and Horses 16:05 Driving Academy 16:35 Splatalot 17:00 Copycats 17:30 Dani's House 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News Programmes 20:00 The One Show 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 DIY SOS: The Big Build 22:00 The Manor Reborn 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Question Time

00:20 01:20 01:30 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 04:55

Frontline Medicine BBC News HARDtalk Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Close

07:00 Wibbly Pig 07:10 The Large Family 07:20 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Little Charley Bear 07:45 Mike the Knight 08:00 Gimme a Break 08:25 Trust Me I'm a Genie 08:40 Leon 08:45 Pet Squad 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Copycats 09:25 Iconicles 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 Something Special: Out and About 10:40 Charlie and Lola 10:55 Zingzillas 11:15 Big Barn Farm 11:25 Louie 11:35 Octonauts 11:45 Waybuloo 12:05 In the Night Garden 12:35 The Pink Panther Show 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 GMT with George Alagiah 14:00 Coast 14:15 Trash to Cash 15:15 Weakest Link 16:00 Escape to the Country 16:45 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two 20:00 Heir Hunters 21:00 MasterChef: The Professionals 22:00 Rev 22:30 Life's Too Short 23:00 Frank Skinner's Opinionated 23:30 Newsnight

00:35 Homes from Hell 01:30 The Zone 03:35 Columbo: Uneasy Lies the Crown 05:10 ITV Nightscreen 06:30 ITV Morning News 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 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 Ade in Britain 18:00 Best Dish: The Chefs 19:00 Meridian Tonight and Weather 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 21:00 Coronation Street 21:30 I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 Piers Morgan's Life Stories: Des O'Connor

PIERS MORGANS LIFE STORIES: DES O’CONNOR The entertainer talks about his career on stage and TV, which has spanned five decades, and reveals how gambling cost him his family home. The former Countdown host shares his thoughts on Morecambe and Wise's jokes about his singing, and discusses becoming a father at the age of 72 to his first son, after four daughters by three wives.

Last in the series.

00:55 Random Acts 01:00 Live from Abbey Road 01:50 The Album Chart Show Introduces: Emeli Sande 02:05 4Play: Charlene Soraia 02:20 4Play: Ben Howard 02:35 The Album Chart Show: Spotlight 02:50 Holy Smoke 04:45 Meeting Helen 05:00 Amelia and Michael 05:10 Happy Endings 05:35 St Elsewhere 06:25 Countdown 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:20 Frasier 09:55 The Secret Millionaire USA 10:55 Relocation, Relocation 11:55 The Renovation Game 13:00 Drop Down Menu 13:55 Knights of the Round Table 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 The Ultimate Guide to Penny Pinching 22:00 Living with the Amish 23:00 The Joy of Teen Sex

01:05 Poker: The Big Game 02:05 SuperCasino 05:00 Animal Rescue Squad 05:15 Wildlife SOS 05:35 Wildlife SOS 06:00 County Secrets 06:10 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:35 Michaela's Wild Challenge 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 The WotWots 07:20 City of Friends 07:35 Elmo's World 07:50 Peppa Pig 07:55 Little Princess 08:05 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:10 The Mr Men Show 08:25 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:35 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:05 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Law & Order 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 Meerkat Manor 15:50 Chinese Food in Minutes 15:55 Cook & Peary: Race to the Pole 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 Home and Away: Bay Reporter 20:00 5 News at 7 20:30 New Highland Emergency 21:00 Fairground Attractions 22:00 The Mentalist 23:00 It's All About Amy

43

Friday, November 25, 2011

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Pilar de la Horadada.

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

Home groups meet during the week. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information contact Pilar Christian CommunityChurch@gmai l.com or contact Reverend Eddie on 966 7693 00 or 650 509 606. Reg No:2009-SG/A

CARS FOR SALE Ford Focus 1.6 auto triptronic 5 door new model 2008, 1 owner 65,000 kms FSH, fully equiped light metalic blue, 10,450 euros - Manual model in stock 2006, 7750 euros el 600 726 221 - 965 687 967 www.fwreurocars .com

Architect

Tata 4 x 2 2 litre TD EX 7 seater 2002, 86,000 km, fully serviced, alloys, aircon, bullbar side steps, CD etc, silver 3.450 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars .com Nissan Micra Cabriolet 1.4 90bhp 2006, 2 owners 84,000km, FSH, stunning car with solid power roof finished in metallic burnt orange, alloys, aircon, blue tooth etc etc 7450 euros Tel 600 726 221 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars .com Mercedes!

Mercedes! good selection of Mercedes over 10 different models in stock new and used vehicles sourced Tel 600 726 221 965 687 976 www.fwr eurocars.com Hyundai Atos 1.0 litre gls 5 dr, 2000 model, 73,000 kms, full service history, air con 2250 euros tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars .com Ford Focus Est 1.6 Vetec 9th month 2001, Black, Alloys, A/C, 3950 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 967 www.fwreurocars .com Renault Clio 2000 model 1.25 5 door, white, fully serviced 2950 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 967 www.fwreurocars .com Mitsubishi Carisma 1.6 RHD SPANISH REG, 1997 5 door hatch 1500 euros Tel 600 726 221 -

965 687 967 www.fwrceurocars .com RHD Pegeot 406 LX 2 LITRE HDI 12th month 2001, 76,000 miles MOT, TAXED, Met Burgundy 1650 EUROS Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 967 www.fwreurocars.com

FOR SALE Climbing frame with slide, fireman`s pole, climbing net ,etc ...900€ Double Swing...100€ ph 966 789 728 or 606 797 371 or email maria_cawley @hotmail.com Two orange gas cylinders.

One full, one half full. 25€ each or 45€ for pair. Tel: 672192482. Santiago de la Ribera.

Ketter large sturdy plastic shed with windows, floor and shelf. 6’x6’ excellent condition 175€ 966 842 326 (41) Two single beds, both with foldaway beds underneath. 50 euros each or 90 euros for all four beds.

Tel: 672192482. Santiago de la Ribera. Buyer must collect.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Viva Villa and Vacation Services, For Short or Long Term Rentals visit: www.villaandvacation.co m or Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

MOBILE GARAGE SERVICES

BUILDER / CONSTRUCTION

ALARMS

AWNINGS / POOL COVERS

CAR SALES

CARPENTER

CAR HIRE

AUCTION

CAR MECHANIC

COMPUTERS

44

Friday, November 25, 2011

PROPERTY FOR RENT Ref. 91, This lovely one bedroom apartment is on the fifth (top) floor of block one of the Miramar development - but don't worry about climbing the stairs, as there is a lift! A parking space is included in the key operated underground garage. €450PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 112, Spacious 3 bedroom detached villa with its private pool is located on the El Raso urbanisation near Guardamar.

Convenient for all amenities, shops, supermarket, restaurants and bars.

Short or long term rental available. €800PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 63, Two bedroom 1st floor apartment situated in Monino Blanco. The prop-

erty overlooks a superb communal pool area, in within walking distance of bars, restaurants and shops. Short or long term rental available. €P.O.A Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 155, Luxurious Three Bedroom Villa With Private Pool, in Quesada Close to shops and restaurants within a five minute drive, and Guadamar Beach is within a ten minute drive. Long term or Short term available. €795PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 709, A lovely 1 bedroom apartment in Aguas Nuevas, within a 5 minute walk of the beach. There is a terrace outside with views to the sea. Short or long term rental available. €300PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 708, A lovely two bedroom, one bathroom corner ground floor apartment in Algorfa, with a spacious patio & Residents off road parking. Communal pool near by. Short or long term rental available. €400PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 117, A Lovely 3 Bedroomed 1st floor

apartment on the outskirts of Torrevieja (Mar Azul).

The Apartment is in walking distance of the excellent beaches and a good selection of restaurants, shops and bars. €425PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 516, Well situated studio apartment in San Luis. The property has a balcony which has been glazed to create another room. Close to all shops and amenities, on a local bus route & 10 minutes from the beach. €250PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. 702, A lovely 2 bedroom apartment in a quiet area of Torrevieja yet within walking distance to local beaches and amenities. It’s also less than an hour’s drive from both Alicante and Murcia San Javier Airports. €400PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. 135, An outstanding two bedroom villa with one double and one twin room on the VillaMartin golf complex. There is a very pleasant terrace off the main bedroom and from the sun terrace on the roof the views are excellent. €400PCM Call:

DAMP PROOFING

ENERGY SAVER

965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. 04, A 2 bedroom apartment one street back from the famous Cabo Roig strip. There is a selection of local shops, restaurants and bars on the doorstep with the shopping strip only 400 metres away. €450PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. 92, A lovely three bedroom apartment on the ground floor of block one of the Miramar developments. A small balcony runs the width of the lounge area above the small private garden area at the front of the property. €450PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. 104, Lovely 2 Bedroom Apartment in Torrevieja, within walking distance to the Friday Market, Town Centre and the beach. Close to the Habaneres Shopping Centre and Aquapark. €350PCM Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref. 151, Beautiful Family 3 Bedroom Villa. Well equipped American kitchen, double bedroom and bathroom. A further 2 bedrooms, bathroom, large terrace with sun loungers, table and

FURNITURE

FAST BROADBAND

ELECTRICIAN

LOCKSMITH

NEWS AGENTS

FISHING

chairs, bbq, and beautiful sea view. Short or long term rental available. €P.O.A. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Luxury appartments, 2/3 bedrooms in San Miguel De Salinas. Floor heating, Elevator, Roof terrace with swimmingpool, from 385 euros/month Also holiday rentals and appartments in San Miguel de Salinas from 350 euros/month. 966 723 437 and 616 487 493

PROPERTY FOR SALE Detached villa with large oasis pool. Situated on first Urb. In Gran Alacant.

500m2 plot, electric gates, alarmed 3 beds, 3 baths, fully furnished. Recently reduced for a quick sale Now only 260.000 euros Call 680 333 242 quoting ref 33 Altomar II in Gran Alacant Investment opportunity…

82.000 euros. 2 bed, 1 bath, lounge diner, ind.

Kitchen, Glazed in Galleria, S/Facing, extra storage Fully furnished,

HOUSE CLEANRANCES

PLUMBERS

Private parking, Com pools Ring 627 711 155 to view.

Duplex in Monte y Mar, GA 2 Bed, 1 Bath, ground floor with views Fully furnished, A/Con, Heating, Ceiling Fans, English TV, garden, Communal pool, for apt please call 966 699 136 to view only 115.000 ono REDUCED Ground floor Duplex in Puerto Marino, Gran Alacant. Now only 99,500 euros. 2 bed, 1 bath, fully furnished Central heating, glazed galleria, grills, Mozzie nets, front garden, com pools, Private gated parking, walking distance to Shops bars restaurants etc. 627 711 155 Calling all serious Buyers.

I have a 5 bed, 4 bath, 2 kitchens, 2 lounges, detached Villa with selffilling pool in Gran Alacant.

Everything included in price, fantastic Alicante/sea views. As a starting price I am looking in the region of 265.000 euros Interested in making me an offer call me on 680 333 242

PETS

SECURITY

SEWING

45

Friday, November 25, 2011 Mid Terraced Town house in Gran Alacant 2 Bed, 3 Bath, being sold fully furnished.

Electrical Appliances included, large front and rear garden, choice of communal pools, Private secure parking and walking distance to GA Center.

140.000 euros ono. Call 627 711 155 for viewing.

Lovely well maintained terraced property situated in Mediterranea III in Gran Alacant. 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, everything included in price. Large communal pool, tennis courts, established gardens Walking distance to shops, bars restaurants.

Very quiet location, over looks nature reserve.

Private parking, call 680 333 242 for more details.

133.000 euros Beach Front property opposite Carabassi Beach 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge diner, roof top solarium under ground secure parking, walking distance to beach Situated on local tram and bus route. Being sold fully furnished. 4 communal pools, tennis courts, bar and restaurant with in urbanisation Please ring 966 699 136 after 6pm (english & spanish spoken) Now only 125.000 euros excellent value in Gran Alacant.

Quick sale needed.

199.000 euros ono Detached property in Puerto Marina. 3 Bed, 3 Bath, Immaculately furnished Alarmed, Central heating, Log fire, Hot & Cold air con, open fields to the rear, Private parking, Communal pools.

966.699.478 after 5 pm.

Don Pueblo, Gran Alacant 209,000 euros 3 Double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes 2 bathrooms, spacious kitchen with galleria Lounge complete with chimney, large under build, top quality furniture

and appliances inc. Com pools, underground garage, tennis courts To view call 627 711 155 Semi-detached villa in Gran Alacant 3 bed, 3 bath, lounge diner, independent kitchen, glazed in porch, large solarium with stunning views, Private Parking. A/Con Central heating, UK TV. Only 229.000 euros By appointment only call 966 699 136 Large detached villa, large pool with electronic solar cover, converted under build, roof top solarium with conservatory, panoramic views 545 m2 plot, part furnished, double glazed, A/con, alarmed, gas fire, est. irrigated gardens Call 680 333 242 for best price Ref 30 Close to Supavalue in Gran Alacant. Detached villa with pool on 640m2 plot. 3 bed, 2 bath, lounge

diner, large roof top solarium, Porch, Outside WC, 2 built-in BBQ’s, Log Fire, Under build, Alarmed, Mature Gardens, Toldos blinds, Garage, Electronic Gates. 260.000 euros 627 711 155 English & Spanish spoken.

Walking distance to all local amenities in GA Detached Villa with large pool. Decoratively tiled Garden, complete with BBQ. Est. palm & fruit trees. 3 bed, 3 bath, Fully Furnished including all electrical appliances.

Quick sale needed, 270.000 euros, but very negotiable. For appointment to view call 966 699 478 after 5pm Top floor duplex in Puerto Marina, G/Alacant 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, lounge-diner, glazed-in porch, large roof-top solarium with views, Top quality furniture and appliances included. Secure

SIGN WRITING

REPAIRS

private parking, communal pools, 108,000 euros.

If you would like to view call 627 711 155 for an immediate appointment.

LIMITED EDITION One of only a few bungalows in Gran Alacant. Top of the range furniture and appliances included. 3 bed, 2 bath, lounge diner, large kitchen, leading to galleria, huge roof top solarium with fantastic views of Alicante and mountains.

Electronic gates leading to garage, 500m2 plot, 10x5 pool with irrigated gardens By appointment only, ring 680333242 325.000 ono Large family Home in Izla de Izaro, G.A (bajo) 4 bed, 3 bath, stunning communal pool with Jacuzzi & water features. Children’s play area and fantastic communal gardens. Very high standard throughout, Large converted under build & garage, elec.

Gates Alarmed, A/con, outside kitchen and bathroom, 399.000 ono. To view call 966699136 after 5pm.

Monte Y Mar - Gran Alacant Detached Villa with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, lounge-diner, front porch, Large solarium with views. 400m2 plot Low maintenance irrigated gardens, Private pool & Parking. Tastefully furnished throughout and everything included.

Recently Reduced to 239.000 euros. For more details call 627.711.155 Gran Alacant, corner semi detached 3 bedroomed, 2 bathrooms, large garden, enclosed terrace, fully furnished, private drive for 2 cars, on gated desirable

REMOVALS

urbanisation Monte Faro, many facilities priced for quick sale 185,000 Tel 680 333 242 Balsares, terraced 4 bedroomed house, 3 bathrooms, large underbuild, private underground parking direct to house, small gated urbanisation, directly over looking proposed new golf course opposite Gran Alacant, priced for quick sale at original off plan price 195.000 Tel 680 333 242 Gran Alacant, front line, 2 bed, 1 bath, downstairs toilet, fully furnished, roof terrace, walking distance to beaches, large communal and resturants, beach front property priced for quick sale 125,000 Tel 680 333 242 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 Ref: 513, €115,000. Two bedroom ground floor apartment, in Aguas Nuevas, close to all amenities including the beach. It has a good size lounge, kitchen and has off road parking facilities.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 521, €105,000. This comfortable bungalow is located in San Luis with a new roof and solarium tiles. It is close to supermarkets, bars, restaurants and is on the local bus route. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 520, €85,000. Two bedroom apartment in

WANTED

Dream Hills, with a fully equipped kitchen, large lounge, glazed-in terrace and a large solarium. This property comes with a large communal swimming pool. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 30, €119,000. Two bedroom detached house with large front terrace.

This villa is in the Punta Marina area close to Playa Flamenca , Close to amenities. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 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 nearby.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

TRANSLATOR

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 Ref. 526, €49,900. A lovely bright 1 bedroom apartment in the area of Torreblanca.There is a large communal pool and well maintained gardens, with tennis courts and childrens play area. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

SOLICITORS

SURVEYS REMOVALS

Need English Speaking Solicitors in Torrevieja?

Let us help to solve your problems with debt recovery, divorce, property, accident claims, legalise land. Call us on 966 923 963, give us brief details and get in touch with your specialist solicitor. (40)

WANTED

SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE

A private buyer looking to buy a cheap car directly from the owner (middleman please do not call)Tel 638 811 881(43) Urgently wanted: Female Singer between 18 and 25 years who loves Latin rhythms a la Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, etc. Ready for production use at National level.

Send your resume to freddydupont@hotmail.com or call 675 150 614 (40)

46

Friday, November 25, 2011

The ABC of football TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME WITH OUR QUIZ WITH A DIFFERENCE ANOTHER football transfer window is nearly upon us - but how well do you remember the last one? It was hard to keep up with so many ins and outs in a particularly hectic summer window in Europe, but test yourself on these 26 moves involving a dozen UEFA premier leagues in our compelling Courier weekly quiz..

WHICH A, a Turkish international, moved from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid?

WHICH international striker Q moved from Napoli to Juventus?

WHICH B, a Ghana World Cup star, joined Milan from Genoa?

WHICH Norwegian R, no stranger to another type of club, joined Fulham from Roma?

WHICH C, a French international, joined Manchester City from Arsenal?

WHICH S, a Chilean international, moved from Udinese to Barcelona?

WHICH England international D moved from Villa to Liverpool?

WHICH vandal-sounding moved from Stuttgart Wolfsburg?

WHICH E is the Dutch club from which Dennis Bergkamp’s nephew Roland left to join Brighton?

WHICH G, a Brazilian striker, moved from French champions Lille to Arsenal?

WHICH H moved from Maccabi Haifa to Mallorca?

T to

WHICH U is the home nation of Martin Cacares, who moved from Barcelona to Seville?

WHICH I club completed the signing of Japanese defender Yuto Nagatomo from Cesena?

WHICH J left Celtic for Real Zaragoza on loan?

WHICH Y stepped up in the world from Villa to Manchester United?

WHICH record-breaking K left Bayern Munich for Lazio?

WHICH Z club called back onloan striker Sergei Kornilenko from Blackpool?

IN WHICH Mediterranean L city was Junior Agogo’s last club before joining Hibs?

WHICH notorious Romanian M left Fiorentina for Cesena?

WHICH N controversially moved from being Schalke keeper to Bayern Munich’s?

WHICH O signed for Rangers WHICH much-travelled Dutch V from relegated Almeria of joined Malaga from Hamburg?

Spain?

WHICH W, an 18-year-old WHICH World Cup-winning P left Brazilian, left Arsenal on loan for Levante?

Milan for Juventus?

ANSWERS Hamit Altintop; Kevin-Prince Boateng; Gael Clichy; Stewart Downing; Excelsior; Brad Friedel; Gervinho; Tomer Hemed; Inter Milan; Efrain Juarez; Miroslav Klose; Limassol; Adrian Mutu; Manuel Neuer; Fabio Quagliarelli; Juanma Ortiz; Andrea Pirlo; John-Arne Riise; Alexis Sanchez; Christian Trasch; Uruguay; Ruud Van Nistelrooy; Wellington; Xavi Torres; Ashley Young; Zenit St Petersburg.

WHICH veteran US keeper F moved from Villa to Spurs?

WHICH XT, whose names echo two of Spain’s World Cup stars, moved from Malaga to Levante on loan?

REF COPS POLICE ESCORT AS SIZZLER TURNS SOUR THESE two teams played each other pre-season, when Montesinos came away with a win. This time the Costa players had a hunger to put some disappointing results behind them and focus on the tough task ahead against a physical Montesinos side.

Costa got off to a great start with Sam Broadway and

Alex Cope troubling the visitors with their blistering pace and strength on the ball.

The home defence also looked more solid with Liam Nicholas leading the back four and repeatedly catching the visitors offside.

After some great play from midfield of Josh Fazzino, Patrick Bass and Charlie Frost, a great pass to Broadway left the striker with only the stranded Montesinos keeper to beat. And with a great strike he put Costa ahead on 15 minutes.

This sent the home crowd wild. It also sent the visiting players, manager and supporters into an abusive frenzy towards the referee, who later sent the Montesinos manager off for unsporting conduct.

Orihuela Costa F.C 1 CD Montesinos 1 The match itself was very hard fought with both teams creating chances. But Costa won most of the 50/50 balls and had more of the play.

On 22 minutes Montesinos did reply after their striker finally broke free, beat the offside trap and slotted the ball into the Costa goal.

In the second half, Costa tried to capitalise on both the wings, with Jack O'Brien and Luke Deegan on the right and Aidan Sullivan and Alex Cope on the left causing problems when going forward.

With the introduction of Jamie Cockroft, the extra strength, pace and sheer determination totally upset the visitors and rattled them further.

Costa should have sealed the game with the continued pressure but the Montesinos keeper made some fine saves.

There were no more goals but some unsavoury scenes led to the referee needing a five-man police escort from the pitch to his changing room. Threats to the home fans also ruined what was a great game for all to watch and participate in.

For more information on Orihulela Costa FC, contact Club Secretary George on 679 77 44 88 or visit www.orihuelacostafc.com

47

Friday, November 25, 2011

BECKHAM’S BUCKS SWIZZ!

By STEVE BOTT SO David Beckham enjoyed winning that cup with Los Angeles Galaxy as much as the Premier League, European crowns and various other pots he picked up with those tiny insignificant outfits Manchester United and Real Madrid, did he?

Some people will do, and say, ANYTHING to make another buck or three!

I know where he is coming from in that the act of winning and winning trophies is good wherever you do it. But Beckham is finished as a top professional footballer.

The only reason he went to America was because his talentless, sniffy wife wanted to be a film star. No-one would take her on and they even contemplated building their own film studio so she could shine on a silver screen!

Now she just concentrates on more ways of making money, something she IS good at, and producing kids with ridiculous names!

A Bridge too far for Valencia?

Now Becks is being bandied about in all quarters as he is not just still marketable, but an ambassador for English football all over the world. His name carries a lot of weight and the FA and others are milking it for all it’s worth.

But that old chestnut about him playing in England again for anyone other than Accrington Stanley Reserves is just a joke!

Let’s face it. The lad was a half-decent winger who could cross a ball and hit the odd decent free-kick. He was never tried or used fully in a central midfield role, at which I have seen him excel, so his football career never really went as far as it could.

He won NOTHING for England, just like every player who has pulled on the white shirt since that day at Wembley back in the summer of 66.

If he does come back to this country or any other, would you have him in your team?

I wouldn't- but if I was an advertising manager for a male aftershave or shirt company, I would be battering his door down so he could play ball for me!

By STEVE BOTT ARSENAL, Real Madrid and Barcelona have clinched their places in the knockout stage of the Champions League - but spare a thought for Valencia, who must still sweat it out for a spot despite a 7-0 win over Genk.

Their haul included a hat-trick from the outstanding Roberto Soldado but they now face a nerve-tingling clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to decide who goes through. The two teams are level on eight points – one point behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who should seal their place by beating Genk in their final group game.

Chelsea looked good at first against the Germans on Wednesday night in the Bay Arena as they led through a Didier Drogba goal. But they went down 2-1 as the hosts equalised and then snatched a dramatic late stoppage time winner.

Better news for Arsenal who clinched a knockout spot with a 2-1 win over another German outfit, Borussia Dortmund, at The Emirates. Two goals from Robin Van Persie, who else, did the job for the Gunners.

Manchester United and Manchester City also walk a tightrope with United needing to avoid defeat in their final game in Switzerland against Basel and City need a near miracle if they are to beat group leaders Bayern Munich and go through.

Napoli are favourites as they should win against Villarreal, who have not collected a single point in Group A as yet.

If United do make it they could play Arsenal if Sir Alex Ferguson and his men can negotiate a belated path through against the Swiss side. Phil Jones' own goal was wiped out by a superbly directed header from Dimitar Berbatov but

ITV Orihuela RFC Cadetes and Infantiles had mixed fortunes against UCAM Murcia last weekend. The Cadetes went down 19-7 after a very close first half but the Infantiles put up a dogged determined battle came out winners 25-20.

It was their second victory in as many weeks after beating Elche. This coming weekend the Seniors (pictured above in their new kit) are away to Torrevieja on

Roberto Soldado: Hat-trick hero

their artificial pitch.

The club is training on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at the Miguel Hernandez University for the Juveniles and Seniors starting at 20.30, with the Juniors on Tuesday and Thursday at 18.15.

For information on the club, call Garry on 692 767 242, and for the Juniors contact Oscar on 600 871 606 (Spanish).

despite a Darren Fletcher goal United were pegged back by Pablo Aimar's effort and now must go into battle again with a cautious game plan if they are to clinch that knockout place.

Real Madrid strolled into the knockout stages with a 6-2 win against Dinamo Zagreb which sees them sitting proudly atop their group after victories in all five of their games.

And Barcelona beat AC Milan 3-2 in an entertaining game at the San Siro that saw a feast of goals including a twicetaken penalty by Lionel Messi after the Argentinian ace had tried a tricky move with his first effort. Both teams are into the knockout stages though of course.

City rivals Inter will be accompanying Milan but Holland's Ajax need a point against Real or a defeat for Lyon in their game with Dinamo Zagreb to march on.

So just when some folk were hailing City as the new Barcelona following a comprehensive win in Spain against Villarreal a couple of weeks ago, the evidence is still clearly there that says City are still on a learning curve in Europe despite the strength of their squad purchased with all those millions. It’s to be hoped they do clinch the Premier League title otherwise even their "money no object" Arab owners may just start complaining a tad - especially after a loss of over £190million was announced by City this week!

And massive congratulations finally to Apoel Nicosia whose goalless draw in a smoke-filled Russian stadium saw them become the first Cypriot side ever to reach the knockout stages after their 0-0 draw with Zenit St Petersburg secured them another point in what has been a remarkable campaign for them thus far!

48

Friday, November 25, 2011

I’M THE BOAS!

Chelsea have faith in me, insists defiant manager SO what price Guus Hiddink to come in and do a rescue job at Wigan?

The Dutch master has been linked with Chelsea again, now he is a free agent - and that is still very much on the cards after the Pensioners suffered another European hiccup on Wednesday

By STEVE night on top of their dreadful Premier League form.

BOTT Roberto Martinez has got to be the luckiest manager going after Wigan’s appalling run this season . Only the reluctance to sack managers in general so far this term, plus a change at the top at the DW Stadium, appears to be keeping him in a job.

Wigan supremo Dave Whelan is about to retire and hand the reins to his 21-year-old grandson. But

rumours that Martinez will go and be replaced by Thomas the Tank Engine are grossly exaggerated!

Andre Villas-Boas insists that owner Roman Abramovich has faith in his long-term plans at Chelsea ,despite a third defeat in four league games.

Last Sunday, Chelsea said newspaper claims of fractures in their relationship were "total nonsense". And after the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool, Villas-Boas said he was confident he retained the owner's full support.

"We have enough talent to compete in all competitions," he said.

"Mr Abramovich didn't pay 15 million euros (£13.2m) to get me out of Porto and he won't pay another fortune to get me out of Chelsea.

"It is not a question of the owner having patience. I have said we have set out to build something new at this club and the club is committed to what we are building for the future."

The loss at home to Liverpool leaves Chelsea 12

points behind leaders Manchester City and Villas-Boas admits they now face a huge task to revive their title hopes.

"Our commitment is to the club and to what we are doing in the future and we have enough talent to compete in all competitions. This is our perspective at the moment," he added.

ROMAN ABRAMOVICH'S CHELSEA MANAGERS • Claudio Ranieri, July 2003*-May 2004 • Jose Mourinho, June 2004-September 2007 • Avram Grant, September 2007-May 2008 • Luiz Felipe Scolari, July 2008-February 2009 • Guus Hiddink, February-May 2009 • Carlo Ancelotti, June 2009-May 2011 • Andre Villas-Boas, June 2011-present

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