The Courier Week 48

Edition 48

www.thecourier.es

Friday, January 20, 2012

We’re the dog’s b******s (sorry, the cat’s whiskers) Peter and his ‘teacher’ Billy

100,000 REASONS WHY PETER IS TOPS WE knew his column would spark great interest among pet lovers, but it seems that every one of our estimated 100,000 readers wants advice from our animal behaviour expert PETER SINGH. And the problem most people seem to be barking about is, you guessed it, BARKING. Peter, a top dog psychologist (or behaviourist as he prefers to call himself) has an enviable record of success in weaving his animal magic on troublesome pets - so we invited him to write a weekly column and asked readers to submit questions about the behaviour of their cats and dogs.

And boy, did you bombard the poor man! We have published a selection of your letters on the Centre Pages, along with Peter’s replies, and

apologise to those whose questions do not appear this week.

Meanwhile, Peter is ready, willing and able to keep handling a bumper mailbag, so please keep the questions coming.

Last night, as we went to press, he told us: “I have had a terrific response from readers of The Courier and it is always a pleasure to help owners and their dogs to live a more harmonious life together.

“I hope the Alicante region is a little more peaceful this week, with less barking!’’

Now turn to Pages 24, 25 and 30 - and if you have any questions, email the man himself at peter@thedogyourneed.com

DEATH SHIP ‘WAS TOP HEAVY’ DOOMED cruise liner Costa Concordia may have been dicing with death even before its launch in 2006, according to one of its first passengers.

Torrevieja businessman Keith Barry (pictured left), himself a former shipbuilder, marvelled at the size and ornateness of the massive Italian vessel during a 2007 voyage with wife Keiley and daughter Jessica.

But he was not unduly surprised when the ship keeled over after running aground off the Italian coast last week, leaving 11 people dead and 24 unaccounted for. ‘’I remember sitting in the spa on the 14th floor, looking around at all the marble embellishment and thinking ‘This ship is top heavy,’ he recalled yesterday (Thursday). ‘’Whilst that would not have been responsible for it running aground, it may well have

EXCLUSIVE

By DONNA GEE

been the reason it keeled over. ‘’Having said that, it was an amazing ship and one of the best cruises I have been on. ‘’The facilities were excellent, the food fantastic and I would happily do it all again.’’

When TKO broadcaster Dennis Christian cruised on the Costa Concordia in 2008, he sensed another potential danger area soon after he and his partner Gretta boarded ship at Barcelona.

Because of the arrival of different passengers at each port, many of the newcomers had to wait THREE DAYS before being given a vital safety drill.

Torrevieja-based Christian, who recalls

Turn to Page 4

LITTLE AND LARGE: The bow of the Costa Concordia dwarfs Keiley and Jessica Barry

2

Friday, January 20, 2012

Hey Bonzo, stop lying there like a piece of wood 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 Jeanette Erath Alex Trelinski Dave Silver Steve Bott Tony Mayes Jake Monroe

Affiliations

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.

Picture of the Week

96 692 1003

NO WANT SPEAK!

Spaniards fear English errors

The survey by Pueblo Inglés – More than English, also revealed that 98 per cent of those questioned thought standards of English teaching in Spanish schools were poor.

Solar panels were fitted on a council A new survey has revealed that nine in ten house in North Wales – facing AWAY from Spaniards feel uncomfortable speaking English, even though 37 per cent of them have spent the sun. Tenant Gerald Evans pointed it out to the fitters but claims he was ignored. more than 15 years studying the language.

The retired labourer suggested the panelling Thirty five per cent said they felt insecure and embarrassed, and four per cent said they would would be best at the front of the property where not attempt to speak English in case they it would be exposed to more sunlight during the day. seemed ‘ridiculous’ But he said: "I was told the correct positioning However, half said that although they knew their grammar was not correct, they would still had been assessed using a compass."

The contractor, social housing refurbishment try to speak English. specialists Forrest, later apologised for the error on a bungalow in Chirk, near Wrexham.

They have agreed to fix … he has also mistreated the eldest actions amounted to illegal abduction. and he even punched me in the stomIt also said she had violated an them the right way round free ach when I was pregnant with my last order from a Nottingham court banning of charge. child.” her from taking two of her children outShe decided to return to Spain after side the jurisdiction of England and claiming he threatened to take the chil- Wales. dren to Nigeria and she was advised Accusations against the husband by the Spanish Consulate in were not taken into account and Nottingham that it was better for her Carolina’s lawyer has requested that children to be in Spain. The mother the official complaints now be provided does not have sole custody of the chil- to Spain. It is understood he has also dren, aged eight, five and four months. lodged a denuncia for rape and abuse The Valencia court applied the at the National Court, the body responHague Convention in its ruling, made sible for safeguarding the rights public on Monday, that the woman’s Spanish citizens.

It’s not just the Brits in Spain that struggle with language and the embarrassment of making stupid mistakes when trying to speak Spanish.

q

‘Abuser’ husband wins back kids A VALENCIA woman, named only as Carolina AG, has been ordered to return her children to their father in the UK - even though she accuses him of abuse and rape.

The woman and her Nigerian husband married in Spain in 2003 but moved to Britain in 2008.

Carolina fled back to Spain with their three children after claiming her husband abused her throughout her marriage. She finally reported him for the abuse and for rape last year.

She told EFE news agency: “I feared for mine and my children’s lives

Friday Sunny High 18°C Low 7°C Chance of Rain 10% Monday Sunny High 17°C Low 8°C Chance of Rain 0%

Tuesday PM Showers High 17°C Low 8°C Chance of Rain 50 %

Saturday Sunny High 18°C Low 7°C Chance of Rain 10% Wednesday Mostly Sunny High 17°C Low 8°C Chance of Rain 0%

Sunday Sunny High 18°C Low 7°C Chance of Rain 10% Thursday Light Rain High 17°C Low 8°C Chance of rain 40 %

3

Friday, January 20, 2012

Filipinas clean-up ends 20 years of aggro

COURIER ADVERTISING IS THE MEAL THING! BUSINESS hasn’t been too good at Ricardo’s Bar and Bistro in El Raso recently, like most local eateries. So the decision to bring back their remarkable Sunday Roast Special was not a difficult one for proprietors Jane and Graham Lilley.

What they did not expect was the massive response to their advert in last week’s Courier.

“We had so many people here that we ran out of food,’’ gasped Graham, who underestimated the response by 50 per cent.

“We served nearly 60 lunches on the day, which is a record for this time of year.’’

Last summer, the Lilleys dropped their Sunday lunches (which are prepared personally by Jane and complemented by

roast and mash potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, fresh veg and trimmings) when the demand for heavy meals dropped in the heat of the holiday season.

Head chef Jane prepares all the meals personally...but was taken by complete surprise as the 25 customers she expected for Sunday lunch mushroomed to the point that she and her reduced winter staff were stretched to the limit.

“We apologise that some people did not get the full choice of chicken, beef or pork plus all the trimmings - but we are aiming not to be caught out again,’’ said Graham.

One thing that won’t be changing is the astonishing price - £3.95. Yes, £3.95. Check out the Ricardo’s advert on Page 7.

Sunday sellout: Jane and Graham Lilley

Budget Brits on way back as Spain holiday cost falls IT’S official – the price of holidaying in Spain has gone down for British holiday makers. In fact, it is now up to 40 per cent cheaper to take a break in the Spanish sun than it was five years ago.

The annual Holiday Money Spain’s resorts after totting up the cost of a range of typical holiday items including drinks, meals and suntan lotion.

Of the 40 resorts surveyed, Spain was the second cheapest place to holiday – coming second only to longhaul destination, Sri Lanka.

This is great news for cash-strapped Brits who have a love affair with Spain but have been put off by rising prices in recent years.

And it’s even better news for all Costa businesses hoping for a bumper number of visitors in 2012.

The 40 per cent drop is mainly due to cuts in prices as shops, bars and restaurants compete for business.

But the rise of sterling against the euro – up 6.4 per cent in the past three months – has helped, too.

Holiday Money Report’s shopping list came to a total

CHEAPEST; Sri Lanka

Report by Post Office Travel Money delivered its verdict on

By SALLY BENGTSSON and AMANDA BLACK of £38 on the Costa del Sol. The same items cost £28 in Sri Lanka and a staggering £115.69 in the most expensive destination– Brisbane in Australia.

Europe’s most expensive place was Italy, with £89.03.

Eight items were on the shopping list – a cup of coffee in a bar or café, a bottle of local beer, a can of CocaCola, a bottle of sun cream, a 1.5 litre bottle of mineral water from a supermarket, insect repellent, a pack of cigarettes and a threecourse evening meal for two adults with a bottle of house wine.

On value for money, Spain beat off competition from resorts that have previously been seen as a cheap alternative.

Bulgaria’s shopping list came in more than £10 high-

er than Spain’s, while Turkey, once seen as Europe’s cheapest destination, was 60 per cent more expensive.

The report is especially good news for Spain as this year, more than ever, with money in such short supply, people are looking at affordability when booking their summer breaks.

Post Office Travel Money head Sarah Munro said: “The message that came out clearly from our holiday budgeting research was that 2012 will be all about affordability. Holidays may still be a priority but they are not a necessity and people will not knowingly get into debt to fund them.”

So, brace yourself to welcome a bumper crop of Brits on a budget this summer.

AFTER a 20-year battle, Las Filipinas urbanisation in San Miguel is to have a proper water supply at last.

Work to connect the urbanisation, which is home to hundreds of families, to a clean water supply finally began on Monday.

The local Neighbourhood association, San Miguel Arcángel, welcomed the move. The group has been fighting for this basic service since 2004.

The battle for clean water went as far as the European parliament after it was found that water to the homes on Las Filipinas was contaminated.

Despite relief that the work to supply the urbanisation with clean water is at last going ahead, San Miguel Arcángel were angry that the people of the urbanisation – “the victims of this mess” – were having to pay more than six euros per cubic metre.

l

DEAREST: Brisbane

MORE than 3,000 resale properties changed hands in Torrevieja last year, putting the city among the top ten markets in the sector throughout Spain.

The year ended with 3,158 second-hand properties being sold in Torrevieja.

However, there was little movement in construction of first homes. The oversupply of property in previous years saw 2011 finishing with licences granted for the building of just 85 new homes.

From the mid-nineties until 2007, new homes were being built in the thousands each year.

4

Friday, January 20, 2012

THE COLD REALITY OF CRUISE SAFETY THE terrifying events off the small Italian island at the weekend will, I hope, be a wake-up call to the cruise industry.

The ship hit submerged rocks, which ripped a huge gash below the waterline of the huge floating island - home to more than 4,000 passengers and crew.

Frankly, the accident has put me off cruise holidays.

Just imagine what would have happened if the accident had been off Norway or Alaska, with sea temperatures hovering around freezing rather than around 15 degrees in the Med. The death toll from hypothermia would have been enormous - on the scale of the Titanic. I hope the cruise industry looks at several aspects of this accident as a matter of urgency.

1) Is it practical to have such huge liners to travel so close to land at cruising speed? Should they not have to be at least a few miles offshore in case anything untoward goes wrong?

2) Is it sensible to built larger and larger liners with the potential for loss of life or injuries ever increasing?

And 3) is there something basically wrong with the design of cruise liners that such vessels can take in water so quickly and list so quickly that it is impossible to launch lifeboats within minutes of an incident?

Well, here we are (briefly) in the UK arranging for our furniture in storage to be driven to our new home in Spain. It's freezing cold, we're scraping the ice off the car every morning, and we've faced the usual endless traffic jams every time we take to the roads.

Nothing in the UK has changed and it makes us realise how lucky we are to be living in Spain almost full-time now.

Our family in Britain is split between the north and south, which means a lot of driving and nothing has changed with the price of fuel. How on earth can a 4p per litre difference in fuel cost between north and south be justified within the same company?

Another noticeable thing is how friendly the people are up north compared to their southern counterparts. Supermarket staff couldn't do enough to help us find items on the shelves.

Something perhaps that staff in Spanish supermarkets could learn!

WHIPPING UP THE PREMIUMS SOMETHING we have been trying to avoid while in the UK is a terrible new disease - whiplash!

It's become an epidemic in Britain with drivers and passengers apparently far more likely to "catch" it in the UK than the rest of Europe.

Claims for whiplash now account for threequarters of the country’s personal injury accident claims - because, conveniently, it is very difficult for doctors to prove that a painful neck actually exists.

It really is a sickening situation as people involved in the most minor of accidents claim whiplash pain and seek compensation. It is pushing up insurance premiums by 30 per cent or more - a totally crazy situation which needs addressing.

Even worse is news that people are actually causing accidents, particularly at roundabouts, in order to make whiplash injury claims. Sickening Britain.

MEALS AND STEALS WHAT on earth gets into people who have pots of money and still go into shops and steal?

I refer to last week's sad case of celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson who was stupid enough to steal lowvalue items from a local supermarket.

It resembles the case of a former mayor of my home town who did the very same thing, even though she had the money to buy the goods thousands of times over.

Is it something to do with the thrill of doing something ille-

The Stagesruck! crew

gal? I can't understand why people who have wealth, act like people who are destitute. In fact, there are many who are living on the breadline who wouldn't dream of stealing.

The reason for me writing about this is the attitude of the British legal system over such incidents. If this theft had been committed by a Joe Bloggs he would have been hauled before the courts and faced the humiliation of standing in the dock charged with theft.

Instead, the police merely issued an "official caution" to Mr Thompson. What sort of example does this present to people?

Firstly, what example does Mr Thompson, who is a celebrity, give to the rest of society, and what example are the police and the legal profession showing to society by giving a caution? It's like tapping him on the head and telling him not to be a naughty boy again.

Millions of pounds are stolen from shops every year and, as a result, prices are pushed higher to pay for it. An example needs to be set - and a hefty fine or community service would be far more fitting.

JOCKS AWAY SO the Scots want to jump ship and become an independent nation, do they? Well, good riddance to them.

The Scots have been a problem ever since Roman times - after all, they had to build a wall across the country to keep them out.

So, if they want to go it alone, let them. But they don't have a penny more of English money, they have to provide their own defence and cannot come running back if the going gets tough.

And no using the £ either - let them enjoy the woes of the euro. Perhaps a few years of not having handouts from England to help give students free university education and lower council tax might make the Scots think twice.

And just imagine it - no chance of the likes of Blair and Brown in Westminster and less likelihood of Labour gaining power with the loss of so many Labour voters from north of the border.

Just for the record, I value a lot of Scots as friends. It's the politics north of the border that rankles.

Grease and favour THE highly successful production of ‘Ancient Grease’ last May was a complete sell out for its three-night run - and many people missed it because the tickets went like Greased Lightnin’!

So . . . due to public demand, Stagestruck! will be performing the show again on May 24, 25 and 26 at the School of Music and Culture in Los Montesinos.

All proceeds will go to Adismon for disabled children.

Some of the original cast were already in the group but there were no problems casting

the remaining roles from the other members plus a couple of new characters so it promises to be even bigger, better and funnier than last time!

Tickets are 5€, available from the theatre or by phoning the numbers below and everyone will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of wine. Doors open 7.15pm and show starts 8pm.

Early booking is strongly advised so remember - if you were Born To Hand Jive then You’re The Ones That We Want because We’re Hopelessly

Devoted To You and there’s the guarantee you’ll remember those Summer Nights! The Worst Thing You Can Do is miss it!!

The group offer their services to anyone who would like to book them for their ‘Now For Something Completely Different’ occasions!

To reserve tickets, please ring Stella on 966 786 154 or Sally on 648 783 601.

Notice: Would Mary, who visited rehearsals at Casa Ventura a couple of times, please contact the group ASAP.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Reaching for the moon...

OK, so I´m not 21 any more, in fact in just over a year I will be double that. But I can honestly say my life now is at the point that I wanted it to be when I was 21.

choices. Why did I want to stay in Spain and how did I know that I would?

You see, I had no doubt in my mind that I was not going to go back to the UK. “I do not go backwards,” I would tell anyone who listened. Turns out, so far that I was right but Well, maybe not quite, I mean I´m not was it positive mental attitude that kept me stinking rich and not even a little bit famous, here? but I am comfortable in my skin, I have the I guess I could have given up and gone family I wanted, maybe not in the traditional back. All it would have proved was that either sense, but I am happy.

I wasn´t a fighter or that I really didn´t want I can spend my days with my son or doing to be here, and I know that neither of those things that need to be done, such as shopare true. I believe that I owe my current situping and ation, which is cleaning a very happy and I can one, to severspend my al factors: I evenings really want to when my lad be in Spain, I is in bed love the relaxing and lifestyle, the writing. weather, the When I people - and I was with my believe it is a son’s father, better place to who was an raise children artist, I than the UK. thought my I am a life was complete. I had a man I loved, a strong person, I firmly believe we are all beautiful child and the bohemian life I´d strong and we all have the power to rise to dreamed of. Then, one afternoon, it came any occasion that presents itself and we can crashing down around my ears, when the overcome any obstacle. But possibly the man I thought was my dream turned out to main reasons I have been able to stay in be my worst nightmare.

Spain are three very good friends, who were It has been a long year since he left Spain, there for me when I had nothing. Friends I we separated a year before that, and since have had for several years. One I met when he left I have had to make many choices.

I first came to Spain and became an ally Recently I have been thinking about those against certain neighbours; the others, a couple I met when my son was a baby and we kept in touch. They were there when I had nothing and helped me back to my feet.

Positive attitude certainly did help me as well and I think it also helped the peoKING´S COLLEGE, the British School of Murcia, is ple around me. They felt that opening its own Art Gallery on Thursday (January 26).

I wasn´t giving up and maybe The new facility will showcase expeditions, mainly of felt more inclined to help, local artists, on a six to eight weekly basis. plus without the positivity it is The opening exhibition will be of paintings by Sñr easy to sink into despair and José María Cardelo, aka Eppo Cardelo, who has his even depression and no one own studio at the La Manga Club. This will run until wants to go down that road.

Friday March 16.

Sometimes we all have to Visitors are welcome to visit the gallery on weekdays reach out to people and between 9.30am and 5.30pm. On arrival, please go to accept help, and sometimes reception, where you will be given a pass and the we all have to look to our opportunity to browse the gallery at your leisure. friends and neighbours and The second exhibition will be by Stanislav Majorosi, recognise when help is needbeginning on Thursday March 22. Visitors attending ed. When we are down we the openings on January 26 and March 22 will receive need someone to pick us up, but don´t forget when we are drinks and tapas from 6.30pm. up, there may be someone who needs us to raise them to our level.

Above all, do not be afraid to pick yourself up and try again, making mistakes is part of learning and growing as a person. Being on your own isn´t so bad, but whatever you want, go for it, reach for the moon, after all, if you miss it you will still hit the stars.

King’s College in affair of the art

5

6

Friday, January 20, 2012

Alicante women to sue over breast implants

SOME 80 women in Alicante province have united to bring a class action after discovering they received the controversial French PIP breast implants.

The women fear for their health after finding that the implants from Poly Implante Prothese (PIP) contained industrial silicone. Many are desperate to get the potentially dangerous implants out of their bodies. One of those is Sandra Albaladejo, who had surgery in 2007, and last Thursday discovered her implant was a PIP. “The surgeon sold it to A MAN was quizzed by cops after taking his mum's me as the best on the marcorpse home on a bus after she suddenly dropped ket,” said Sandra. dead. According to The Sun, he was on a day trip with She does not know if the the 88-year-old when she passed away on the journey. implant has ruptured but Instead of reporting her death the shocked son put says she wants it out. the body in her wheelchair and boarded ANOTHER bus “I spend the day crying home. Cops alerted by fellow passengers stopped the and have great anxiety 52-year-old man in the street and called an ambulance. about what might happen to The incident happened on Monday evening after the me,” she said. “I denounce pair had spent the day in Lancaster. At Preston the everyone from the surgeon man, who is not being named, put his mum in a wheelto the Ministry of Health chair before boarding a bus to Chorley. because they are playing A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "We with our health.” became aware of a man pushing a lady through the The clinic wants 3,000 street in Chorley. It is very tragic. This man has lost his euros to remove her mother and was struggling to know how to deal with implant. it."

As well as containing

Son takes his dead mum home on bus

industrial silicone, the PIP implants are believed to be more likely to rupture.

Julio Sáez Castán, head of Elche Tesla diagnostic imaging clinic, said: “We are seeing a lot of broken implants. In the past two years we have seen about 110 implants that were broken and, mostly, these are PIP prosthesis.”

He added that it is the PIP implants manufactured after 2004 or 2005 that are most likely to break. Prior to that they had about the same rupture rate as other brands, according to Sáez.

France has called for all affected women to have the implants removed, but at present the official line in Spain is that removal is not

advised if the implants are not broken.

But many women in Spain distrust this advice and fear their implants may rupture without them knowing.

Mirella Casanova had surgery in 2007 in a private clinic in Alicante and in 2010 underwent a review.

Although neither the ultrasound, MRI nor mammogram revealed a rupture, she decided to change the implants anyway.

Once they were out Mirella discovered that “one of the prosthesis had lost volume without being broken. They explained that the silicone had leaked through the pores of the prosthesis. Now I have to have analysis with tumour markers every year.”

Other women complain that they have not been contacted.

DOOMED SHIP ‘TOP HEAVY’ From Page One

Keith and Keiley Barry in the glitz of the Costa Concordia

the trip as vividly as he does the gaudy decoration of the Costa Concordia, said: ‘’People were getting on at different places, and for three days we had no idea what the security drill was. Had there been an emergency, we would not have known what to do.’’

Dennis (pictured right) and Gretta (pictured below on board the Costa Concordia) are veteran cruisers and remember the Costa Concordia primarily for its incredible size – it has been described as ‘a floating town’ - and the fact that very few of the crew spoke English.

“As well as the crew, the vast majority of the passengers were also Italian,’’ said Dennis. “The cruise as different to all the others in that there was no dress code.

‘People would turn up for dinner in shorts and tee-shirts and no one gave a damn. Personally, I found it excessively informal...but then, everyone has their own preference.’’

Among the victims of the tragedy was Spaniard Guillermo Gual, 68, who suffered from mental disabilities. The rest of his family, Juan and Ana Tomás, their four children and two friends of their eldest daughter, managed to flee the keeling ship, some in lifeboats and some in the water. But Guillermo went missing.

All nine members of the party managed to convene on the third floor of the Concordia, only for the ship to begin listing more and

more. "We didn't know anything, whether to head for the right side or the left side of the boat,’’ said Juan. “ The waiters tried to look calm, but you could see they were also nervous and didn't know what to do. The boat was sinking further and further and we were told to wait for the captain's instructions, but they never came.

"In the end, we decided to save ourselves.’’

They all jumped into the water at the same time. But in the freezing sea, Guillermo was not with them.

7

Friday, January 20, 2012

Chocs away! This diet thing is hard to swallow AS I sit at my desk writing this, I’d like to be able to assure you that the only consumable item within my grasp is a cup of tea.

And I can confirm that this is the case, now that I’ve finished off the box of praline chocolates I won at the local Quiz earlier this evening.

Oh, I also have to confess

that after the tenth and final choc, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to dunk a couple of biscuits into my brew while it was hot. OK, six if you have to know.

The point is that, 19 days into 2012, my New Year’s Resolution has long bitten the dust - and I’ve probably bitten

off more chocolate than I did in the whole of 2011.

Unfortunately I swallowed it as well - distancing myself even further from the sylph-like figure I dreamt of as I emptied those tins of Celebrations and Quality Street over the Christmas hols.

The world was going to

change for me on January 1 and it did. I actually got a couple of salads down me (admittedly accompanied by a large dollop of Hellman’s Light from Mercadona) and I swear I didn’t put on an ounce for the first week of the year.

I made a pact with my lodger Mike that we would avoid eating

‘naughties’ simply by not bringing them into the house.

Of course I had to sneak a bar of chocolate into our weekly shop - just for the occasional treat, you understand.

I wolfed down the lot and now I fear I’m doomed to spend the rest of the year starring in The Choccy Horror Show. Help!

THE CANE SCRUTINY

Yob rule a direct result of corporal punishment ban

WHEN I was in junior school, I was petrified of the cane in Mr Coleman’s study.

He was the headmaster - and the only teacher allowed to dish out corporal punishment.

Understandably afraid of being beaten, I worked hard to make sure I never crossed Mr C - or any other teacher for that matter.

When I think back, the fear of bamboo on youthful fingers was probably the biggest deterrent of all in keeping boisterous 10year-olds on the straight and narrow.

My Dad wasn’t averse to clipping me around the ear when I stepped out off line at home; indeed he occasionally whacked me on the back of the head and was promptly ticked off by my stepmother for overstepping the mark.

“Jack, that’s dangerous,’’ she would complain. ‘’If you must hit her, smack her on the leg.’’

Naughty To anyone under 30, the above scenario will sound Dickensian – and to some extent it was.

But whilst I was a bit of a naughty child at home, I made sure I kept on the right side of the school authorities.

Only once was I marched to Mr Coleman’s study...for stupidly lobbing a lump of coal onto the playground.

Don’t ask me where the coal came from because I haven’t a clue.

Mind you, this was in South Wales and at the time I was a minor!

Anyway, you can imagine how this cowardly coalchucker reacted when the headmaster brought out his cane. I burst into a flood of tears and apologies... and literally begged for mercy.

My emotional plea had desired effect on Mr though I’ll never know if cane would have hurt

the C, the my

The Broadband and Telephone Company

966 784 532

hand more than his alternative punishment – the exertion of writing ‘I shall not throw coal on the playground’ 100 times.

Now I was a pretty typical kid and, whilst I was an angel compared to the child rioters of 2011, there is no doubt the fear of physical discipline taught me and my friends to

respect authority.

I’ve a message for David Cameron, Theresa May and Co. Corporal punishment works. And it’s because Britain abandoned discipline that loony looters ran wild in the nation’s major cities last year.

I have certainly never come across anyone who

was permanently damaged, physically or mentally, by the after-effects of six of the best. In fact, everyone I’ve spoken to said the experience did them good.

But try telling that to the politically-correct dummies who run our country.

They would rather collaborate with the thugs rather than confront them – believing you can talk sense to the brain dead.

The vermin who destroyed England come from a subculture that has developed over the last few decades – a scum society where scallies perform street carnage while mum and dad are either enjoying the pleasantries of a comfortable jail cell or out of their minds on drink and drugs.

These lowlifes are a tiny minority of British society, yet they can cause havoc, as we have seen so painfully in recent times.

They respect nobody, would not dream of working, and believe the only way of life is to steal from others.

They live by the law of insolence, robbery and violence.

And the only way to deal with them when they go on the rampage is to give the police and, if necessary, the Army the freedom to stamp on them.

But in a country where most policemen are not even armed, what chance have we got?

Political correctness rules, just as it does in the schools where the little scumbags develop their obnoxious charms.

Teachers cannot so much as raise a hand to discipline the rebels, who celebrate by threatening and even attacking the people trying to educate them.

This is where the problem began...we took legalised discipline out of the equation when the cane was confiscated from our schoolteachers.

It might already be too late, but Mr Coleman, your cane is needed. Desperately.

8

Friday, January 20, 2012

Friday, January 20, 2012

9

10

Friday, January 20, 2012

SIGN OF A SPANISH ADVENTURE

I INVITED my three grandchildren to stand in line in the kitchen and explained the situation.

'Right, you lot. I have only one carton of fruit juice left so two of you shall have to make do with water.

'But how to decide which one gets the blackcurrant drink?'

All three shrugged their little shoulders.

'We could draw straws.' I went on, 'But I have only the one straw and that's stickytaped to the single fruit drink.

So that plan ain't gonna work.

'We could decide on the throw of a dice but I've mislaid the dice so . . .'

'You didn't lose the dice,' Mrs S butted in. 'You deliberately threw both dice behind the sideboard in a childish show of temper when we were playing Monopoly.'

She went on: 'And your petulant behaviour was just because I had an hotel and two houses on my Park Lane when your old boot token landed on it.'

(That happens to be my wife's biggest fault -- total recall.)

'Have you finished?' I snorted. 'I happen to be talking to the kids. So where were we?'

All three grandchildren shrugged again.

Okay,' I said. 'I'll ask you a general knowledge question and the first to answer wins the fruit juice.''I can submit a question,' Mrs S said.

'Why is your grandad so infantile when he plays board games?'

I grabbed the phone and mimicked making a call.

‘Hello, doctor, what do you suggest for an interfering busybody who is in danger of suffering cramp of the tongue Smartypants,' I said. 'Wrong thirsty anyway. answer. But for showing iniMrs S popped her head from talking too much?'

Mrs S tutted with the afore- tiative I shall award you the round the kitchen door. 'And tell them about the time you mentioned tongue and left prize.'

I opened the fridge and knocked the board over the kitchen, no doubt to drive reached for the juice carton. when you were losing at someone else crazy.

'I don't want it,' said the six- Snakes and Ladders. You 'Back to business,' I said, viper!' clapping my hands. 'The first year-old. 'I want milk.'

It was my turn to shrug.

'Right, kids,' I said. 'Who one who can tell me the capital of Spain gets the black- 'Well, that battle of wits wants to watch some telly?' turned out to be somewhat of Two of them legged it into currant drink.' the living room but the middle The two three-year-olds an anti-climax.'

So I poured the eldest grandchild, who hadn't been shrugged for the umpteenth time that day but the six- child a glass of milk and gave thirsty, stayed put.

'Grandpa?' she asked. year-old piped up: 'The capi- the blackcurrant juice to the youngest infant after the mid- 'Who is that lady?’ tal of Spain is S.' 'Okay, Senor dle child said she wasn't 'You know who it is,' I said,

'It's your grandma. She sometimes talks too much.'

‘Not nana,' chuckled my granddaughter. 'That lady you just told us about? The one you called Auntie Climax? Is she really our auntie?'

I laughed. 'That's not a person, sweetie. That's a figure of speech. I'll explain what an anti-climax is.'

And I recounted the following story: Once upon a time Mrs S and I spent a week in Madrid (the real capital of Spain.)We

were doing a bit of sightseeing when we came across this monument-type thingy with a plaque attached.

Mrs S was intrigued. 'I wonder what that's all about.

Why don't you nip up there and see what the plaque says.'

'Up there' happened to be 39 marble steps (actually, there were 24 but 39 sounds more literary.)

'No way,' I said. 'It's too dangerous. It's been raining and I'll probably slip and break my neck on those marble steps. I'm not going up there and that's final.'

Ten minutes later I was back down again, huffing and puffing on the pavement.

'Well?' asked Mrs S. 'The plaque is in Spanish,' I said through gritted teeth.

'But I've written the words down anyway.'

We got home and while Mrs S unpacked I nipped round to the house of my best pal, Eric the dentist.

Eric's mother was halfSpanish (and half-wasn't)

and so he speaks a bit of the lingo.

'Well, what does it say?' I asked, brandishing the piece of paper.

Eric studied the words. 'Well, it's hardly brimming with Spanish culture.

'All that's written on the plaque is: Danger, Keep Off the Marble Steps.'

And that -- I turned to my little granddaughter -- was what one termed an anti-climax.

But the child was nowhere to be seen.

She'd disappeared into the living room to join her older brother and younger cousin.

They were sitting quietly on the sofa, passing the single fruit-juice carton between them.

'Kids can be so cute,' cooed Dave the barman down at the pub that evening.

'You know,' he went on, 'I should have married but I've been too busy over the years looking after your alcohol needs.'

'I'll tell you something, Dave,' I told him. 'You do remind me of my own dear father.'

'Ah, that is a lovely thing to say,' Dave said 'It's true,' I responded.

'When I was a little boy I used to wake my dad during the night and ask him for a drink.

'And the water he brought me tasted just like your draft beer does.'

11

Friday, January 20, 2012

SAY IT IN SPANISH Learn the lingo - with a little help from JEANETTE ERATH STARTING SPANISH, LESSON 3 THIS week we are going to learn the days of the week, the months and the seasons. I will give you the English, then the Spanish, then how the word sounds in Spanish. Keep practising all week, use the words when you can.

The Months January – Enero (en er oh) February – Febrero (feb rare oh) March – Marzo (mar tho as in throw) April – Abril (ab riil) May – Mayo (my oh) June – Junio (hoo nee oh) July – Julio (hoo lee oh) August – Agosto (agos toh) September – Septiembre (sep tea em bray) October – Octubre (oc too bray) November – Noviembre (no vee em bray) December – Diciembre (Di thee em bray)

The Seasons

Days of the Week Monday – Lunes (loo ness) Tuesday – Martes (mar tes) Wednesday – Miércoles (me er co les) Thursday – Jueves (huay ves) Friday – Viernes (vee er nes) Saturday – Sábado (sa bad oh) Sunday – Domingo (dom in go)

Spring – primavera (pri ma ver uh) Summer – verano (ver an oh) Autumn – otoño (au tonyo) Winter – invierno (in vee er no) When you are familiar with the words you can begin to use them in short sentences. For that you need to know the two verbs in Spanish that mean ´to be´. You may have heard them and if you´ve started to learn any Spanish you will have come across them. They are SER and ESTAR. As a general rule, SER is used for things that are permanent, such as gender, where you´re from, family relations, etc and ESTAR for short term or locations.

In this week’s context, we will use SER in the form IT IS which is ES, so to say ‘today is Tuesday’ we would say HOY ES MARTES, or to say ‘ it is autumn’, we say ES OTOÑO. Practise a few sayings using ES and the words you have learnt from the above list; every day you can say what day it is and what month and season. That way you will get into the habit of speaking Spanish, and making sure you get it right.

A good way to remember words is to write them down on stickers, and place them where you will see them, or on the item they relate to. For example, you could write the Spanish word for drawer on a sticker and place it on your drawer. Make sure the sticker comes off easily so when you have learnt the word you aren´t having to scrape sticky glue off all your surfaces - and obviously be careful with wallpaper.

For words like ´day´ or ´month´, where there isn´t a physical object, you can write the word and the translation and place the sticker wherever you think you will see it regularly.

Every time you see the sticker, say the word, you will be surprised how quickly Spanish words start sticking in your mind.

Next week we will be looking at numbers and telling the time.

12

Friday, January 20, 2012

THE SPANISH PRESS

SHOCK OVER TEEN KILLER’S SENTENCE

Celebrating the start of democracy La Verdad

THE 200th anniversary of the 1812 Constitution is being celebrated in Cádiz this La Opinion year, the city where it was proclaimed.

Marta del The Cádiz Constitution is seen by many as Castillo A MURDER case that has appalled and intrigued the start of democracy in Spain. and her Spain over the past three years has ended in a The document established people as citikiller shockingly lenient punishment. zens rather than subjects and introduced the Miguel Despite the prosecution requesting 52 years, a Seville concepts of freedom of expression and freeCarcaño court has handed down a 20-year prison sentence to the dom of the press. It also recognised the right murderer of 17-year-old Marta del Castillo. Her body has still to private property and personal safety. not been found.

The constitution was short lived and Spain Miguel Carcaño, 21, was found guilty of killing his ex-girlwould have to wait until 1931 for popular sovfriend with an ashtray, then disposing of the body with the ereignty, the real basis of democracy. help of other people. Three other suspects were acquitted.

However, the Cádiz Constitution is recognised Last spring, Javier García, was also acquitted of the muras the starting point for democracy in Spain. der and rape of Marta del Castillo but convicted of covering “It was legendary even though it was only up for Carcaño. in effect for a few years, because it set two The victim’s father, Antonio del Castillo, said on Friday that precedents that formed the basis of the liberthe court’s decision “makes no sense”, as it acquits three out al political system: national sovereignty and of the four suspects, making it seem as if Carcaño killed the division of powers,” says Emilio La Parra, Marta and got rid of her body by himself. “There is no justice a professor of contemporary in this country,” he said, promising to “keep fighting” and to history at Alicante University. appeal the decision. “Eva [Marta’s mother] is upstairs crying, “Cádiz became a political devastated; she cannot believe it and neither can we.” school that influenced the During the trial, the accused offered their apologies to the Americas and Europe, as a victim’s relatives, yet none revealed where her body was. role model of a country fightCarcaño was ordered to pay 340,000 euros in damages to ing for independence against the family. an invading army yet still capable of conducting a politEl Pais ical revolution,” says Alberto Ramos, a professor at Cádiz A Religious Education teacher who was barred from University.

La Verdad teaching at public schools after marrying a divorced man The city will host many has just won her case - after 11 years. events to celebrate the The Constitutional Court ordered the Superior Court of anniversary.

MOTHERS in crisis-hit families are turning to prostitution in a Justice of Andalucia, which desperate attempt to feed their children. had ruled in favour of the And the problem is so great, with so many women competRoman Catholic Church, ing for trade, that some are selling their bodies for as little as to retract in favour five euros. of Resurrección Galera La Verdad Even then, with few men having spare cash to pay for sex, Navarro, a former teacher the women often walk the streets in skimpy clothes, bearing Galera Navarro of Catholic religion. the cold for hours on end before coming home with nothing.

Although the new sen- SPAIN’S controversial Ley de Costas (Coastal Law) will The work is dangerous and tence establishes Galera be reformed, the new government minister in charge many women are beaten or Navarro must be returned has said. robbed.

Miguel Arias Cañete, the Minister of Agriculture, th- to her post, Catholic The women are often ga Baja. In 2011 ten ear Food and the Environment, has announced a profound Ve ny ma ke wo e bishops have said she housewives in families where AN earthquak re recorded in the reform of the coastal laws, with the aim of harmonising , Orihuela quakes we all wage-earners have lost people in Torrevieja de la area, the strongest being 3.5 will not get her job back. economic development and the protection of natural ar Pil ce and The education ministry Sin their jobs. Once unemploy- Costa September 13th. on e Th resources. “Tourism is compatible with protecting the . day tur Sa t thquakes have will have to pay an ment benefit runs out, the Horadada las 7am, 1994 270 ear environment,” according to Cañete.

6.0 at d rte sta and g rcia kin unspecified amount in sha families have no income. been recorded in Mu at tre cen The minister has also said he will act as a bridge epi s ke’ ca qua r’s Lor damages, which might Some of the women are as with the s Alicante. Last yea between different administrations in a bid to reach a r hte Ric . A magnitude of 1.7 wa the sea on be upwards of 200,000 old as fifty and many are small quake was 5.2 national agreement on water. recorded. This type of euros. immigrants. the scale. in n mo com is earthquake

Mums selling sex

Wife of divorcee CAN teach religion

Coast law reform

Tremor in Torrevieja

Friday, January 20, 2012

LÍNEA DIRECTA, THE BEST COMPANY FOR EXPATRIATES AT THE BEST PRICE Since 1998 Línea Directa, the market leader in the sale of direct car, motorbike and home insurance in Spain, has offered an exclusive telephone service entirely in English and German. This service, the first of its kind in Spain, forms part of the company’s commitment to quality and excellence, which have also made it the market leader in this business sector, due to the fact that it currently has over 63,000 foreign customers residing in Spain.

As a result, services such as purchasing a policy, making enquiries, processing claims, sending documents and 24-hour assistance can all be carried out in English or German at a time which is convenient for the customer by making just one phone call.

And not only does Línea Directa offer the best, it also offers its services at the most competitive price on the market.

A real case

“This email to confirm receipt of insurance settlement in my bank account today.

Many thanks for the professional and efficient way you have dealt with this claim.

Regards.”

Call now 902 123 104

13

14

Friday, January 20, 2012

PURE COP-ULATION Well, Nuck me!

A MARRIED police officer has been sacked after he was found to have had sex with five different women while on duty, it has emerged.

An internal investigation found Troy Van-Eda, 44, a police constable for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), had sex at two stations and also at the women's homes.

In one instance, he had intercourse with one woman in a station’s boiler room, less than 24 hours after she was stopped for failing to wear a seatbelt.

The father-of-three, who claimed he had separated from his wife, was accused of using his “police uniform to feed his obsession with women”.

On Wednesday, the PC, from Cutgate, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was dismissed for gross misconduct following at a three-day disciplinary hearing. Senior officers admitted on Thursday that the officer’s behaviour, while on duty, was “completely unacceptable”.

It came after an 18-month internal GMP investigation, undertaken by the force’s Professional Standards Branch, following a formal complaint from one of the women.

Two other women also gave statements to police alleging they had sex with the officer while he was on duty. A further two women later gave similar evidence at the disciplinary hearing. The PC, who denied the allegations, plans to appeal his sacking.

In her statement to police, Joanne Pinder, 34, claimed the pair had sex in the boiler room of Littleborough Police Station in April 2004. The day before, he had pulled her over for failing to wear a seatbelt but instead of issuing her with a fine, asked for her phone number instead.

The pair, who also had sex at Milnrow Police Station, then began a three year relationship.

The officer, who has since become engaged, admitted he was a married father-of-three who had separated from his wife. He told her he lived at his mother’s house.

Despite the revelation Miss Pinder, from Littleborough, Rochdale stood by him for a further three years until she discovered he was seeing another woman.

"He received a salary to do an important job not to sleep with women,” said the charity support worker.

“There are many decent people who would love the chance to become a police officer. He used his police uniform to feed his obsession with women.”

GMP launched an inquiry in 2010 after she lodged a formal complaint. He was accused of gross misconduct but remained on restricted duties at Rochdale Police Station for 18 months and was banned Troy Van-Eda: from any contact with the pub‘Obsession lic with women’ None of the other women, who all gave evidence at the hearing, have been named.

The disciplinary panel of senior officers, dismissed claims from Van-Eda, a former special constable in West Yorkshire, that he was a victim of smear campaign.

On Thursday, Dawn Copley, the Assistant Chief Constable of GMP, admitted the officer had failed in his duty after he was sacked without notice. "Greater Manchester Police expects the very highest standards of all its offices and staff,” she said.

“Clearly this officer's behaviour while on duty was completely unacceptable."

Van-Eda, who now lives with his new fiancée, Rachael Smith, said: "I have lost my job for doing nothing.

“Being in the police was a job I always wanted to do. I never wanted to bring disrepute to GMP and want to get my job back."

Miliband: The naked truth

A NAKED blonde woman appeared on a monitor in the background of a news discussion on Ed Miliband's leadership of the Labour Party on Tuesday night.

The scene, from Channel 4 drama Shameless, appeared on screen for a number of seconds as host John MacKay interviewed Labour blogger Dan Hodges.

Mr Hodges, a critic of Mr Miliband's leadership, was in ITN's London studio and was debating with shadow Scottish minister Willie Bain on STV's Scotland Tonight programme.

The broadcaster apologised for the mistake after Paul Traynor, a viewer, made a formal complaint.

Mr Traynor said: “Is this really what we’ve come to expect of Scottish journalism?

Someone should explain why, while watching the political debate with John Mackay about Ed Miliband, some irresponsible employee decided to watch porn in the studio while live on TV.”

A SNACK MAKER in Australia has won approval to call its product "Nuckin Futs" after authorities accepted the f-word was part of the country's vernacular.

The trademark regulator agreed to allow the name as long as the product is not marketed to children after the company's lawyers argued that "----" and "----ing" were not offensive and were "now part of the universal discourse of the ordinary Australian".

The authority overturned a ruling last year that the name was an "obvious spoonerism" and was shameful and inappropriate. The decision to allow the name came as little surprise in Australia, where the f-word is a common feature of everyday parlance.

Australia's dictionary of record, the Macquarie, has an

entry for the f-word – and the word was accidentally dropped in a recent live speech by the Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, who oversees the country's broadcasting standards.

It makes regular inadvertent appearances in live sports commentaries, which tends to prompt an embarrassed apology but occasionally goes unnoticed.

"Should we be alarmed and outraged to the point of storming the trade mark office with the pucking fitchforks mentioned above?" said a columnist, Anthony Sharwood, on thepunch.com.au.

"If you're that way inclined, go crucking fazy. But bear in mind, the f-word has been gradually sneaking its way into all sorts of upstanding Australian institutions."

The company's lawyer, Jamie White, said the snack, which is mostly comprised of edible nuts, was only intended to be sold in pubs, nightclubs and entertainment venues.

"We submit that whilst there may be a mere sentimental objection or mere distaste to Nuckin Futs, this is not a sufficient ground for rejection of the Trade Mark, particularly since a substantial number of people would not find the words shocking," said a five-page submission to the Trade Mark Examiner.

Action Signs and Print

ACTIONS SIGNS has been established on the Costa Blanca Since 2006. We have continually provided a reliable service to all our customers. In June 2010 we moved to a new studio above the Tyres Direct offices in Guardamar, which is situated on the N332 in the Poligono Santa Ana. At ACTION SIGNS we design, manufacture and fit your signage requirements. We specialise in all aspects of signage from vehicle graphics, shop signs internal & external, Illuminated signs, 3D lettering, urbanisation signs, pavement signs, banners for your business or personalised banners for birthdays, anniversaries or any occasion.

We also design & print

business cards and flyers for your business at VERY competitive rates.

In this current economic climate here at ACTION SIGNS we strive to provide a competitively priced and very reliable service to all our existing and new clients.See our ad on page 45

15

Friday, January 20, 2012

Bye bye Scotland!

Cam’s big McPlan IT’S a red letter day when a Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition find something to agree over, but we’ve actually seen a rare piece of unity over the future of Scotland.

For any Conservatives reading this, I should remind them that Scotland is that part of the United Kingdom which is north of Cumbria and Northumberland, and where once upon a time the Tories had MPs elected.

David Cameron, for reasons on the face of it best known to himself, has thrust the whole issue of Scottish Independence into the forefront of politics, by suggesting that the Westminster Government is the only body that can introduce a vote on Scotland breaking away from the Union.

Ed Miliband has supported him on this, but all that’s happened is a lot of folk leaping up and down across the border, as they get ready to pipe in their Haggis for Burns Night next Wednesday.

On first looks, you find it hard to understand why Cameron has thought this issue so important as to get involved in a bare knuckle fight against the popular Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond. Yes, the Scottish National Party might be run-

Look, it’s Blackadder disguised as David Cameron

ning the show in Edinburgh, but despite the voters liking and voting for the SNP, those same electors would normally come out convincingly against Scotland going it alone.

The only smell of a chance of that happening would be if some London-based politicians started to tell them how to run their affairs, like in organising a referendum on the union. You could certainly image the Scots justifiably sticking up two fingers at Westminster if they believed they were being bullied around. But might I suggest that this is part of some grand secret plan that Mr.Cameron may be keeping from us?

This Blackadder-style plot goes like this. What better for the Tories if Scotland went its own way, with all those nasty Scottish Labour MPs no longer being elected to a Westminster Parliament, thus giving the Conservatives an almost unbreakable hold on power. Doubly so now, with the big NO vote against Proportional Representation last May. You’ll find plenty of English Tory MPs who, though publicly supporting the Union, would privately be happy to rebuild Hadrian’s Wall, and to give Alex Salmond whatever he wants. In fact, an ICM opinion poll last weekend suggested that more English voters wanted Scottish independence than those in Scotland!

It’s clear that Ed Miliband is scared of any notion of independence, as his Scottish power base would be flushed down the Clyde and Forth. That’s why he was smiling away and nodding in the Prime Minister’s direction over this matter, but perhaps without realising that Cameron might be playing something of a double-bluff.

The Prime Minister, meanwhile, is playing a risky game in antagonising Scotland, and if the Union starts to rock, he might find a Royal handbag swinging dangerously at him in his Tuesday night audiences with the Queen!

Don’t you just hate it when politicians start poking their noses into matters that they scarcely know anything about, and then make a complete pigs proverbial about it all. David Cameron the other day started spouting off about the state of the UK film industry and saying that British films should all be big commercial hits and award winners like The King's Speech. If the PM has the secret formula for making hit films, then I’m sure that every producer on the planet would

Andrew Lansley: Full marks

like to know it!

Cameron almost brushed aside the small budget and independent UK movie sector, which of course is a crucial learning ground for up-and-coming film makers and actors/actresses. I’d suggest that he has enough on his plate without making stupid comments on a subject area he does not know.

Cameron is only the latest in a long line of British leaders who have done little or nothing to support the Arts, but are always quick to smile and line up for a photo-opportunity if Brits do well in any major international awards like the Oscars.

Full marks to the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, in refusing to spend NHS money on replacing private boob jobs that have gone wrong. He’s been generous enough in offering NHS resources in removing PIP implants if there’s a clinical need, but I suggest these wealthy women should get their cheque-books out of their expensive handbags, rather than wasting British taxpayers’ resources on funding yet another vanity exercise.

Perhaps these ladies should donate generously to help disfigured poor children in, say, Africa?

16

Friday, January 20, 2012

THE UK NEWS

WHAT A NIGHT Brit talent adds shine to Golden

IT was a great night for the Brits at the 69th Golden Globes as both Kate Winslet and Downton Abbey scooped top awards.

Kate Winslet was named best actress in a mini series for Sky’s Mildred Pierce, while ITV’s Downton Abbey won best mini series.

Kate, 36, was accompanied by her new man, 33-year-old Ned Rocknroll – nephew of Sir Richard Branson.

She said: “I share this with my beautiful children Mia and Joe who light up my life every day.”

Downton creator Julian Fellowes,

Globes as stars scoop awards

Daily Mirror

there with two of its stars, Elizabeth McGovern and Hugh Bonneville, said: “How fabulous! The whole Downton Abbey adventure has been an extraordinary one, like spotting a promising child and waking up to find they won the Olympics.”

Briton Idris Elba, 39, could barely hide his excitement as he collected a best actor prize for BBC’s Luther.

Compere Ricky Gervais toned down his approach after shocking A CAT hurled from a high window in Buenos A-list stars the previous Aires, Argentina, seriously hurt a woman, 85, year. Madonna even got when it hit her on the head. one over on the cheeky The pet cat was thrown out of the fourth host, who had introduced floor window of an apartment block in her as “like a Virgin”.

Buenos Aires as a married couple quarrelled.

She said to cheers: “If During the blazing row, the husband picI’m just like a virgin, ked up the family pet and threw it at his wife, Ricky, why don’t you who ducked. come over here and do The cat then flew out of an open window, something about it?” landing on the elderly woman’s head as she Meryl Streep won best crossed the street below. actress for her role as The victim, a former opera singer named Mrs Thatcher in The Iron as Betty, also happens to be the couple’s Lady. Streep thanked neighbour. “everyone in England She was said to be in a critical condition in who let me come over hospital after suffering a fractured skull. there and trample over The cat didn’t survive the fall. their history”.

Woman, 85, hit by flying moggy Daily Mirror

Kate Winslet and Ned Rocknroll at the ceremony

Cop’s Olympian blunder A SECRET dossier detailing plans for policing this summer’s London Olympics was left on a TRAIN. A cop lost the file but a commuter found it and handed it to The Sun. The shocking security blunder could have provided terrorists planning an attack with invaluable data. A shamed senior cop has been carpeted.

The chief inspector in Scotland Yard’s Territorial Policing branch

The Sun is said to be “hugely embarrassed” by the potentially serious blunder.

The dossier contained details of security plans and provided minutes of top-level meetings where ways to beat terrorists were discussed.

Names and mobile phone numbers of constables, sergeants and inspectors were included.

Girl, 6, left alone at home for five days The Sun

A LITTLE girl had to live on Monster Munch and water after being left alone by her wicked mother for FIVE DAYS. Scared Shekinha Terry, 6, was abandoned in a freezing council house covered in cat mess.

Challenged by cops, heartless mum Natalie told them: "I neglected my daughter — end of."

A court heard how Shekinha got to find Terry, 28, was not there.

The bewildered child waited for a while but then took off her school uniform and switched on the TV. Throughout her ordeal she ate pickled onion flavour Monster Munch, said by food experts to have no nutritional value, and yoghurt. And she drank just water.

Finally, shaking and sobbing hysterically, she knocked on a neighbour's door and told her: "Mum has left me for five days and she has not come back."

Terry's shocking callousness was revealed at Maidstone Crown Court as she was jailed for 18 months for child cruelty.

Hunt for Cotswold big cat continues as second body found Daily Mirror A KILLER big cat is believed to be on the loose in the Cotswolds after a second deer was mutilated.

The carcass was found in a field 10 miles from where the first deer was ripped apart a fortnight ago in Woodchester Park, near Stroud.

Experts fear the animals were brought down and devoured by a powerful predator such as a puma, jaguar or leopard.

Big cat expert Frank Tunbridge said of the latest kill: “I believe it could be the same cat that attacked in Woodchester because these animals usually have a territory of 100 square miles.

“Big cats could be thriving because there are plenty of deer, and winter weather creates cover for hunting.”

The second body was found by a woman walking her dog between Whiteway and Rendcomb, Glos.

When she returned to take photos, the roe deer had been stripped out with just its spine left.

The first body had been ripped open and the heart, kidneys and liver were gone. Dr Robin Allaby, of Warwick University, is studying DNA samples from this deer to see if it was killed by a panther-like cat.

He said: “I’m prepared to believe in the existence of big cats in the UK and we have a decent chance of finding out if it was there.”

Friday, January 20, 2012

THE TABLOIDS

CARE COSTS TO DOUBLE Hardworking homeowners will be punished

MILLIONS of pensioners Counting the cost: Caring for could be forced to pay the elderly is ever more costly £60,000 for care in old age under plans to almost double fees.

It would mean yet more hardworking homeowners having to sell their properties to pay bills as the initiative could see elderly couples forking out as much as £120,000 for their places in a nursing home.

Yet the less thrifty who spend their money instead of saving through their working lives will still qualify for care paid for by the taxpayer.

The figure nearly doubles the £35,000 cap on Liberal Democrat care fees put to the services minister Paul Government by its own care cost commission Burstow has rejected the boss, economist Andrew £60,000 cap plan saying the matter was still under Dilnot, last year.

Financial experts and consideration.

Dot Gibson, general campaigners for the secretary of the National elderly criticised the Department of Health Pensioners Convention, said: “We all pay for eduplans.

Stuart Grennan, of cation, the NHS and Gallagher Employee defence – so why should Benefits said: “It is hard it be left to the individual to see the rationale and their families to pay behind a doubling of the for someone to look after Dilnot-suggested £35,000 someone suffering from dementia?’’ cap.”

Daily Express

17

Life CAN mean life for notorious killers BRITAIN’S most notorious criminals can be kept behind bars for the rest of their lives, European judges have ruled.

Jeremy Bamber and two other convicted murderers, Peter Moore and Douglas Vinter, lost their appeal to the European Court of Human Rights that whole-life tariffs condemning prisoners to die in jail amounted to “inhuman or degrading treatment”.

In a statement Bamber said: “This political decision that I must die in jail is the death penalty using old age or infirmity as the method.

“Both the trial judge and the Lord Chief Justice set my minimum tariff as 25 years. Quite why the Home Secretary felt I should die in jail

Daily Mirror when the judges felt otherwise is a mystery.

“To then be told by the European Court that it was reasonable and fair for the Home Secretary to resentence me to die in jail is quite extraordinary.”

Bamber has always protested his innocence and says it was his schizophrenic sister who shot their parents and her twin sons before turning the gun on herself.

His legal team claim to have new evidence that could overturn Bamber’s conviction but the Criminal Cases Review Commission reached a provisional decision not to refer his case back to the Court of Appeal.

Teen seductress posed as boy

Gemma Barker: Fooled cops

A WOMAN who disguised herself as a BOY to trick teenage girls into relationships faces jail.

Gemma Barker, 19, would don male clothes and hoodies to hide her female features as she deceived girls she fancied.

The brunette's victims were completely taken in and even enjoyed sexual fumblings with their friend – who they believed was Aaron Lampard, Connor McCormack and Luke Jones.

Cops were also fooled and believed they had arrested Aaron Lampard on sus-

The Sun picion of sexual assault. It was only once "his" clothes were removed in the cells that stunned police realised "he" was a girl.

Judge Peter Moss told Barker he could not be sure whether she was "bad and dangerous to know or mad and dangerous to know".

Barker, of Staines, Middlesex, faces up to two years in jail after admitting two counts of sexual assault and one of fraud.

Deportation of ‘hate cleric’ against human rights Daily Express A HATE cleric has been told he can stay in the UK because of his human rights, despite being described as Osama bin Laden’s right hand man in Europe.

In a blow to the British government,

radical Muslim Abu Qatada was told that he would not be deported back to Jordan even though he has been convicted on terror charges.

He remains an iconic figure for many supporters of Jihad but was told by the European Court of Human Rights that he would not be sent back.

This is because “there remains a real risk that evidence obtained by torture will be used against him” and he would not receive a fair trial.

The decision flies in the face of UK law Lords who ruled almost three years ago that he could be sent back to Jordan. It is the first time the Strasbourg-based court has

found that an expulsion would be in violation of the right to a fair trial.

Home Secretary Theresa May said she was “disappointed” but it was “not the end of the road” and “all the legal options” will be considered.

The battle to kick Qatada, who remains in prison, out of the country has been ongoing for ten years.

18

Friday, January 20, 2012

VEGETARIAN WINTER SALADS Comfort food with a wholesome kick.

Eat your greens, reds and oranges with these seasonal salads ROASTED BABY VEGETABLE SALAD WITH CROUTONS A healthy vegetarian salad recipe that packs a punch. The ingredients are roasted for a fuller flavour and the croutons pick up on the gorgeous dressing.

Ingredients 1. 1 red onion, cut into wedges 2. Carrots and sweetcorn, halved if large, from a 200g pack mixed baby vegetables (set the mangetout aside) 3. 6 tbsp. olive oil 4. 1/2 x garlic and rosemary flatbread, torn into chunky croutons (the rest can be frozen) 5. 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar 6. Small bag herb leaf salad

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan200°C/gas 7. Put the onion into a roasting tin.

Add the carrots and sweetcorn. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, season and toss together. Roast for 20 minutes, turning halfway, until just tender.

2. Add the bread to the vegetables and toss together. Roast for a further 8-10 minutes, until the vegetables are lightly charred and the croutons crisp.

3. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining oil, the vinegar and some seasoning. Tip the salad into a large bowl, along with the reserved mangetout. Add the roasted vegetables and croutons drizzle with the dressing and gently toss together.

Divide between bowls to serve.

VEGETABLE AND FETA SALAD This vegetarian salad recipe is a tasty way to use up leftover roasted vegetables.

heat. Fry the garlic for a couple of minutes before adding the vegetables. Fry for a few more minutes until warmed through.

2.

Meanwhile, whisk together the oil, lemon zest and juice, then season to taste. Add to the pan to warm through. Transfer the vegetables to a serving plate and stir through the herbs and crumbled feta.

GREEN BEAN AND SESAME SEED SALAD This green bean and sesame seed salad couldn't be simpler to make - and is ideal for vegetarians.

Ingredients 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Method 1. Cook the green beans in a large saucepan of boiling water for 4-5 minutes, until tender. Drain well.

2. Meanwhile, place the mint and flatleaf parsley in a small food processor and whizz until finely chopped.

Add the vinegar and olive oil and some salt and pepper and whizz again, until combined.

3. Add the herb dressing to the beans along with the sesame seeds and red onion and toss together well. Set aside to cool, then cover and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

Ingredients 1. Knob of butter 2. 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped 3. About 800g leftover sticky roast carrots and parsnips with hazelnuts and balsamic 4. 1½ tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 5. Grated zest and juice of ½ lemon 6. Small bunch of fresh flatleaf parsley, leaves chopped 7. Small bunch of fresh mint, leaves chopped 8. 100g feta, crumbled

Method 1. Heat the butter in a large sauté pan over a medium

500g fine green beans, trimmed Small bunch of fresh mint Small bunch of fresh flatleaf parsley 1 tsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp sesame seeds, toasted 1 small red onion, very finely chopped

GRIDDLED HALLOUMI WITH WATERCRESS SALAD Serve this vegetarian shortcut starter straightaway or the halloumi will turn rubbery.

Ingredients 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Grated zest of ½ lemon and 2 tbsp juice 5 tbsp olive oil Handful of fresh flatleaf parsley, chopped 2 tbsp small capers, drained and rinsed 8 medium vine-ripened tomatoes l 100g watercress

7. 2 x 200g packs of Pittas pre-sliced grilled halloumi

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. To make the dressing, whisk together the lemon zest and juice, olive oil, parsley, capers and freshly ground black pepper, then set aside.

2. Cut the tomatoes into quarters. Divide the watercress and tomato wedges among four plates.

3. Place the halloumi slices on a baking sheet lined with foil and bake for 2-3 minutes or until just beginning to melt.

4. Add the hot halloumi to the plates, drizzle with the dressing and serve at once.

WILD RICE AND CRANBERRY SALAD This wild rice and cranberry salad recipe is full of great fresh flavours to complement a rich meat dish.

Ingredients 1. 25g butter 2. 200g wild rice 3. 750ml vegetable stock, hot 4. 50g dried cranberries 5. 100g fresh or frozen cranberries (defrosted) 6. Pared zest and juice of 1 orange 7. 150g basmati rice, rinsed 8. Bunch of spring onions, chopped 9. Large bunch of fresh flatleaf parsley, finely chopped 10. 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Method 1. Melt the butter in a large pan, add the wild rice, stirring to coat, then pour in the stock. Add the dried and fresh/frozen cranberries and the orange zest. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes until the rice is tender and the stock is absorbed. Set aside to cool.

2. Meanwhile, put the basmati rice in another pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes until the rice has absorbed all the water and is tender and fluffy. Set aside to cool.

3. When both types of rice are cool, fluff them up with a fork and tip into a serving bowl. Fold through the spring onions, parsley, olive oil and a splash of orange juice, then season. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more orange juice or olive oil to taste.

It’s Quesada Fish & Chips 2!

Quesada Fish & Chips has now expanded by opening Quesada Fish & Chips 2 in Villa Martin Plaza. The same high quality food and standards will be present in this new restaurant that made Quesada Fish & Chips such a success. The Menu of the Day, which consists of Cod or Haddock plus Chips, Peas, Bread & Butter all for just €6, is available between 12 noon and 5pm, and the Home-Made Pie Special, served all day long, is a real treat priced at just €5. An extensive menu is also available throughout the day. For reservations and take-away orders Telephone: 966 764 441

Friday, January 20, 2012

19

CAFE GOLF – FOUR YEARS ON AND STILL GOING STRONG Cafe Golf certainly has something to celebrate. This much loved bar and restaurant has been open for four years, and is the only one on the San Javier strip which has not changed hands. Nike and Neil give both locals and holiday makers alike such a warm welcome and such good service that from day one Cafe Golf has become the one place in which customers are assured value for money, fun and a smiling friendly face.

To celebrate their fourth anniversary there will be a party on Thursday January 26th, with a barbeque available and live entertainment provided by the Everly Brothers Tribute Act. Everyone is welcome and entry is free. Please book if you’d like the barbeque.

And in conjunction with this celebration Cafe Golf is offering a brand new menu, new daily specials, and an array of daytime and evening entertainment, including: Thursday evenings, from 7pm, their weekly barbecue, (which is every Thursday of the year) and changes every week, offers regular live entertainment.

Wednesdays are quiz nights, and the fun kicks off at 9pm.

Bring your thinking caps and a good sense of humour.

Fridays from 5pm to 7pm is Bingo Time, with prizes. This promises to be a firm favourite on a Friday afternoon.

And if you fancy a drink and a snack, Cafe Golf is the place to go on a Friday and Saturday evening (from 7pm), when all the drinks are served with a delicious free tapa.

If you can’t decide where to have Sunday lunch, why not come and try Cafe Golf’s Sunday roast. With prices starting at just 7.50€ you are guaranteed a mouth-watering meal at

great value. There is a choice of three meats, and vegetarians are catered for too. Sunday roasts are served all year round from 1pm to 6pm, and if you fancy something lighter the regular menu is available too.

There is even a loyalty scheme available. For every ten stamps you will get a Sunday lunch completely free!

All the food at Cafe Golf is home-made, including the burgers, chips, cakes and biscuits. Takeaways are available too.

Breakfasts are served all day, and that really does mean ALL day.

Apart from great food, drinks and company, Cafe Golf also offers a postal service to the UK. All letters brought in are guaranteed to be in the UK postal system within two days.

And if you need some washing doing Cafe Golf offers a laundry service, which collects items every Tuesday and Thursday, and offers competitive prices.

And that is not all. Cafe Golf also offers a wide range of beautiful hand-made cards and jewellery, and a large book exchange. You can exchange a book for free or buy one for just 50 cents, which goes to charity.

And Cafe Golf is a great place to pick up a local paper.

Most are available here, and as opening hours are 9am to

10pm every day (except Tuesdays when they close at 5pm), you needn’t worry about siesta time. There is free Wi-Fi too, for those who are looking for somewhere to use their laptop.

Starting in February are art classes on Wednesday mornings. A 2euro donation for each class will go to MABS charity.

And for sports -lovers Cafe Golf has started to show a selection of premier matches, and is the ideal place to watch a good game in the company of other fellow spectators.

There are two terraces, one at the front and one at the back, so if you want to sit outdoors you will always have the choice of sun or shade.

So as you can see, Cafe Golf has something for everyone.

Nike and Neil are your ideal hosts and really seem to know just what their customers want. The Courier would like to congratulate them on their success and popularity over the past four years, and wish them all the very best for the future.

20

WHEN the Iceland Overseas team in San Javier nominated MABS Cancer Support Group as their charity for 2011, they set the 12-month target at €6,000.

And they not only achieved that figure - they exceeded it, with a final fundraising total for 2011 of €6,656.

Starting out with MABS Murcia volunteers packing bags for 2010 Christmas shoppers and a big Christmas raffle, Iceland Overseas then went on to hold an Easter Fun Day, organised by Sorelle Fox. MABS volunteers were again on hand to pack customers’ bags in return for a small donation. There were com-

Friday, January 20, 2012

Store’s cold comfort petitions and a fabulous array of raffle prizes, including a pair of Hugo Boss sunglasses from Specsavers worth €200 - thanks to the lovely Kathleen who gathered all the prizes.

Several other local businesses supported this event, including AngloINFO, C&M Bouncy Castles, Sunshine FM Radio, Viva TV and the Classic Car Club of Torrevieja.

MABS volunteers returned to Iceland again in December 2011 to

join in the seasonal fun and help pack customers’ Christmas shopping. They were joined by Spangles Ladies’ Harmony Chorus (pictured), who got everyone in the festive mood with Christmas songs. Many chorus members are MABS volunteers, and the chorus sponsors the charity.

San Javier’s Iceland Overseas team was so impressed with the work of MABS that it has chosen the charity as its charity of the year 2012, too.

GRAND FINALE Six legs are better than three as two brave horses are linked

Diamante’s £1,149 sparkle

lunch saw the ladies enjoy a wonderful Christmas meal with entertainment by Viva Quartet. Everyone dug deep into their pockets to buy those extra raffle tickets and at the end of the lunch, Diamantes’ owners, Terri and Karla, announced that they had exceeded their goal and presented MABS with €1,149.

“This is a marvellous achievement and I’d like to thank Terri, Karla and everyone who attended the lunches for supporting us,” said MABS Fundraiser, Janet Bell. “It’s meal of been an absolute pleasure ts €6 (includes ke Tic e. us ca m & CARE GROUP, peas) available fro d E an AR getting to know everyone SH ips ch , 20 en January vier, chick ll 634 362 during the year and I know Centre, San Ja e, San Javier or ca ntr Ce BS MA MABS Cancer for mal get-together we all intend to continue 11.00am. An infor GROUP, me along 826.

Co er. nc ca - SHARE & CARE these friendships.” by 17 ry ua br Fe r, anyone affected For more infor ntre, San Javie at.

Ce ch a Indeed they will, because er d nc an Ca e ffe MABS for a co 247. on 693 795 247. the Lunch Club is going to Anne on 693 795 ll Ca . am .00 11 mation call Anne ES G, Y & IVORY LADI NTEERS’ MEETIN carry on through 2012.

February 21 - EBON February 1 – VOLU .00 am.

11 , tes Restaurant, El res za an cá am Al Di The first lunch will be held , s UB CL H NC LU se Las Claras, Lo w you can help 2pm. Three cour ho t for ou on Tuesday, 21st February at m ab 0p re 1.3 mo , t in Find ou Bev Mojón of wine €10. Raffle r information ring 1.30 pm for 2.00 pm, when lunch with glass d MABS. For furthe an and meet the ladies will enjoy a three MABS. Come along on 693 362 823. esday) - aid of ur place with course lunch and glass of dn yo We ok ery Bo . ev ds en en fri w ne ke ma February 1 (th r, vie 7. , Café Golf, San Ja wine is just 10€. tes on 965 352 94 ART WORKSHOP head for Diaman SALE - The r pe OK BO €2 – of y n da All Ladies are welcome to tio Satur ery Ev 11.00am. Dona .00 Los Alcázares 10 968 192 768. t, an on ur go along for the lunch where off sta Ge Re ll es Ca .

Arch MABS ARITY FUN RACE they are guaranteed excel. pm 0 1.0 am February 10 - CH re e bil rcia.com for mo ge, San Javier Mo lent food and company Visit www.mabsmu NIGHT, Lui’s Loun rse, be a ho a 826. n 2 36 Ow 4 m.

63 Book your place with ll 0p ca or ts, en ev Home Park, 6.3 all for a good r, tte flu Diamantes on 965 352 947. a ve ha jockey, AT the beginning of 2011, Diamantes Restaurant in El Mojón, launched the Ebony & Ivory Ladies’ Lunch Club with the aim of raising €1000 for MABS Cancer Support Group by the end of the year.

In September, with just three months to go, the figure had reached €688 and the club called for more ladies to share in the monthly lunches to make sure the target was met.

Well it was – and more! The December

ry a i d s t n e v e S B A Your M

GASP eye winning double AFTER a successful but poorly supported production of 'Pack of Lies' in November, the Gran Alicant and Santa Pola Theatre Group (GASP) is back in rehearsal.

Next productions is two short plays - 'Sparrows’ and 'Getting Along' - to be staged in May at the Life Resort in Gran Alacant.

GASP, a small, very friendly and supportive group, are looking for members, particularly actors plus backstage .

No experience is required.

They meet Mondays and Wednesdays at 7.30pm at the Life Resort (above the Prensa). Come for a chat or give the President, David Ashley a call on 966 181113. Or e-mail GASP at gasptheatre@hotmail.co. uk

EASY Horse Care Rescue Centre founders Sue and Rod Weeding had a successful trip to America to visit Molly, the horse that inspired their treatment of Faith, the three-legged horse at their centre in Rojales.

The decision to go ahead with the amputation of Faith’s leg was taken after Sue and Rod heard Molly’s inspirational story.

Molly was rescued by Kaye and Glenn Harris after Hurricane Katrina. Sadly, several months later she was attacked by a pit bull and the injury to her leg so serious she had to have the limb amputated.

Sue and Rod presented Molly with around 30 Christmas cards from people on the Costa Blanca, as well as a Liverpool football scarf given to them for the little horse.

Sue was so impressed with Kaye and Glenn that she has promised to work closely with them in the future. “We are going to interact with Molly’s Facebook page and look at doing a joint Molly and Faith book together,” she said.

“Kaye and Glenn risked their lives during Hurricane Katrina to rescue animals and they are just normal people, living a very humble existence in a log cabin giving all the money they can to the animals. We will do all we can to raise awareness for them.”

Faith is currently with a specialist horse vet in Barcelona where she faces more surgery.

Friday, January 20, 2012

21

Final call for new players HAVE you got what it takes to tread the boards or work behind the scenes of a successful theatre company? If so, Adhoc Theatre Company wants to hear from you.

Known for its hugely enjoyable productions of Allo, Allo and Run For Your Wife, Adhoc is fast gaining a reputation as one of the best comedy theatre groups on the Costa Blanca.

The group also raises money for charity and has given great support to ADMISON. Now, with an exciting new play in the pipeline, Adhoc is looking to recruit not only actors, but also the all-important backstage crew, such as electricians, painters, seamstresses, ticket sellers and front of house staff.

The company will be holding an open evening at The Club, Calle Azul in Quesada on January 25 from 8pm. Everyone is welcome to pop along for a drink and meet the current members.

If you would like more details call Jax on 677 600 809 or email adhocspain@hotmail.com. Or join Adhoc’s Facebook group ADHOC.

Charity is one-stop-shop for help and info needs

cted this year for Crushed Ice expe No frosty receptions

G N I N E T S I L Y Z E FRE year off to a great CRUSHED Ice got the first gig of 2012 at start with a buzzing b last Friday.

Clu try Quesada Coun been together The band has only r, but they’re yea t las er since Septemb . far from inexperienced band is made up The five-piece cover musicians, handof a talented group of member Ray ing nd fou picked by Prentice. start a band, Ray When he decided to best talent on the advertised for the the result. is Ice ed Costa. Crush Tuite on rhythm The line-up is Eric Parsons on lead rs) ge (fin guitar, Keith on bass guitar, guitar, John Wiggan s, and Ray holdcal vo d lea Chas Randal

er on drums. ing the rhythm togeth wide variety of a y Crushed Ice pla k and pop classics music, covering roc present day. They from the 60s to the ists such as The art by sic feature mu a Reeves and the rth Blues Brothers, Ma Elvis Presley, es, atl Be e Th Vandellas, The Rolling O, EL Fleetwood Mac, s, The Who, Otis Stones, The Supreme y, Eric Clapton, an Redding, Bad Comp er, The Hollies, The Eagles, Badfing ff Richard and Cli Free, Status Quo, many, many more. for your bar, To book Crushed Ice , call Ray on 966 restaurant or function ook CRUSHED ceb Fa 712 987 or visit information.

ICE SPAIN for more

HELP’S offices in San Miguel de Salinas and Torrevieja provide a range of free information and advice to members of the public.

Typical enquiries include questions on residencia, health care, cars, bereavement, wills and burglaries. If the answer to a problem is not known immediately, Help’s team will do their best to find information.

Both offices are open Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 1.30pm.

Help also operates a 24-hour Emergency Help Line on 965 704 282.

A diabetic support group is held once a month to provide information and help to all those people living with diabetes.

Help’s Friendship Centre at Playa Flamenca is open Mondays from 2pm, and is a popular meeting place where many new, long-lasting friendships are formed.

Hospital visiting teams visit both the Vega Baja and the Torrevieja hospitals. Books and talking tapes from Help’s library are loaned to patients free of charge.

Help has a wide range of orthopaedic equipment for hire from its San Miguel de Salinas office. This service is available to both residents and visitors to the area.

Friends Unlimited is the social arm of Help Vega Baja. It meets on Thursday afternoons at The Club in Quesada between 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm. A variety of events is on offer, including coach trips, guest speakers, demonstrations, discussions and charity functions.

For further information on any of Help’s activities, contact the offices in San Miguel on 966 723 733, Torrevieja on 965 704 282 or visit the website www.helpvegabaja.com

Kids bowled over IT WAS a truly international competition when petanca players from nine countries met at Rocajuna pistes to raise money for EMAUS orphanage at Elche.

The competition was fierce but friendly, and with the sun shining on the event, everyone had a wonderful time.

While players were determined to do their best in the tournament, they were even more

determined to raise money for disadvantaged children. So it was a proud moment when Graham Knight presented a donation of €780 to Annette English from EMAUS. Children from EMAUS came to watch the tournament and the players hope that they will join them in a game sometime.

Graham Knight was kept busy with his ceremonial duties as, having presented the cheque to EMAUS, he was called on to hand out the medals and prizes. He had an excellent helper in the task in the form of Gina Marks from Sol TV. Third place went to Kelvin Radford and Pat Wenban from the Bandidos, second to Guy Fernandez and Julien Van Buggenoot from Amigos Belgas and first to Francis (Paco) Lopez and Alan (Pepinio) Liabue from Rocajuna.

The players thanked everyone who donated prizes, medals, food and time to make the day such a success, Petanca prize guys:LEFT: Graham Knight, Pepinio Liabue, Paco Lopez and Gina Marks. RIGHT: Jackie Lopez, Graham and are already looking forward to next year’s event.

Knight, Gina Marks, Kelvin Radford, Guy Fernandez and Julien Van Buggenoot

22

Friday, January 20, 2012

23

Friday, January 20, 2012

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!

Do you ever have to queue for ages to get an appointment with the doctor?

Well, I have the answer!

I don’t know about you but every time Liesl (‘er indoors) or I have need to go to the doctor the biggest frustration is the fact that we know that we will need to traipse to the medical centre and queue for up to an hour – and that is just to get the appointment to see the doctor!

Like many of the ex-pats here, I am quick to point out to others that the Spanish health system is far superior to that of good old Blighty, but also like most of my country folk, I have just “heard” that and don’t actually know whether it’s true.

So this month I decided, (being far from an expert in this topic) that I would look it up. The best data that I could find

health centre!

I thought that I would share my wonderful discovery with you guys. It’s a pretty big website and does so much more than allow you to book appointments, but today this is the area we are going to focus on.

So first, you will need your computer, an Internet connection and your SIP card. Fire up your computer and get onto the Internet, once there navigate to www.san.gva.es, you will be shown a page with 3 options (Ciutadania, Professionals, Institucional), you need to click on the Ciutadania after which you will be shown a very busy website the same as (image 1) As you will see there are only two languages for this site (Valencian or Castilliano), so no English I’m afraid. Next you need to click on the second menu item down on the left hand side, titled “Sanitat24: Solicitud de Cita Previa en atención primaria” this will display some hidden options, one of which is “Cita por Internet”, this is the option you need, once you click it you may get a message from your web browser say-

was from that great online encyclopaedia – Wikipedia Countries’ health services are ranked based on life expectancy, responsiveness (i.e. speed of service) and financial contribution. I’m guessing that my little area of the Costa Blanca didn’t help in the responsiveness factor!

Anyway, overall Spain was ranked number 7 in the world, with the UK coming 18th so it seems, in this case at least, the “jungle drums” were right; it still doesn’t change the fact, that, at least for my family, it’s a right royal pain in the rear to get a simple appointment!

You can imagine my joy when I visited a customer, Graham in Gran Alacant, last week and he told me about a website he had found – www.san.gva.es If you have a SIP then you can use this website to book appointments with your local GP. This is all done over the Internet from the comfort of your own home so there is no need to stand for hours in dark, depressing, illness ridden reception halls in the local

registered to. Just choose the doctor that you want to see and click on the Seleccionar button to continue.

The next page (image 3) displays information about your particular health service (your doctor’s name etc) and allows you to type your requested appointment information. In here just type the date that you would like your appointment on, using the format DD/MM/YYYY. Then enter the time range that you would like to see the available appointments for, so if you want to see what appointments are available from 10am to 11am enter 10:00 in the first box and 11:00 in the second for example, then click on the “Demanar cita” button to view the available slots.

The final screen (image 4) displays the appointments that are available to you, just select the specific appointment time and click “Confirmar cita” to confirm the appointment. If none of the appointments suit and you would like to check another time or date just click on the “Modificar criteris” to go back to the previous page and enter different information.

Once confirmed a page will be displayed that you can print to take with you to your appointment.

ing that the “content is blocked”, just click to accept that you want to view the blocked content and you will see the same as (image 2).

You are almost there now, just enter your SIP card number in the box under “Número SIP / Número SIP” and your date of birth under the box “Data de naixement / Fecha de nacimiento”. Once done click on the button “Validar” to continue.

The website will then confirm Don’t forget you can follow me on twitter the information that the health service have on record, i.e. @bluemoonspain your name etc. and it will then Alternatively why don’t you sign up for my list any doctors that you are

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.

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

Office: 902 906 200

24

Friday, January 20, 2012

WHY DO THEY DO THAT?

Top dog psychologist PETER SINGH answers questions on the behaviour of pets. If YOUR dog or cat is giving you problems, email peter@thedogyouneed.com THE world at the moment seems to be filled with many negative energies.

War, fighting, killing, anger, greed, stress, I could go on and on.

Many individuals are also suffering from some form of mental illness, mainly depression.

In 2010/11 alone, 43.4 million prescriptions were given to people in the UK for antidepressants.

With all these negative things happening, many people search for a new meaning to life and read different self help books to try to find out how they can improve their outlook on life and how to live in the moment and stop worrying.

With this in mind, most of those suffering from some form of depression or searching for the meaning of life, are ignoring the greatest teachers on earth. Dogs!

Dogs have so many valuable lessons to teach humans.

But to learn from them we need to stop and heed these teachings they have to share with us.

Rather than humans taking dogs to training, in reality they should be training us.

Dogs don’t have egos, most of us do.

Dogs are forgiving, most of us are not.

Dogs live in the moment, most of us don’t.

Dogs live calm lives, most of us donʼt.

Ego is the worst offender in human beings. Ego makes you believe you are right. If you are right, then someone has to be wrong. Then, because we feel we are in the right, it makes us not want to forgive. Then, because of that, it stops us living in the moment, and we then spend most of our time worrying about the situation or talking to other people about it.

Or, worse still, acting on our grievance, which is as far away from calm as you can get!

Hopefully, by now you are beginning to agree that dogs should be showing us the way, rather than the other way around. If we do start to follow the teachings our dogs have for us, we will all be more balanced human beings, rather than the social chaos we witness in many situations.

I work with aggressive dogs mostly. That is the number one reason most clients ask me to visit their homes.

Interestingly, you will find that no other life form in the universe knows negativity, only humans. The only animals that

CALM DOWN YOUR DOG

will show anything close to negativity are those that live in close contact with humans. That is, dogs!

Humans pass on their insecure emotions and negativity to their dogs, which is where you begin to see problems with our four- legged friends.

If dogs were left alone, there wouldnʼt be any unbalanced

dogs. When I work with my clients who have aggressive dogs, I know that I have to help the human, before I can help the dog.

Once the human starts showing calm, balanced behaviour, along with meeting the dog’s needs, the problems then dissolve. So a dog never displays negative behaviour of its own accord. It is always because of something humankind did to the dog.

Once I teach my clients how to eradicate the negativity in their lives and to live more towards the dogs’ network of teachings, i.e. no ego, forgiveness, living in the moment, and being calm, magic happens. All because they have simply learnt what their dog was trying to teach them all along.

What astonishes me is that Spainʼs rescue centres are absolutely full to the brim of these wonderful four-legged teachers. All waiting to teach you the real valuable lessons of life.

Go and rescue one and connect with your new dog in the way nature intended. I sincerely promise you that it will be the most rewarding thing you have ever done in your life. This was how I was taught.

My teacher has big brown eyes and two big ears that stick up. He is covered in beige and black fur and is a German Shepherd by the name of Billy. He is my Guardian Angel and there are many for you to choose from in all of Spainʼs rescue centres. Who needs counsellors, therapists or doctors when you have your dog by your side?

Next week I will write about how to start your relationship with your new rescue dog.

a

Don’t miss PETER SINGH’S animal advice column ever HI PETER, I have a fouryear-old shihtzu who has a real attitude problem. He loves to be in the garden but over the past year or so has begun to bark at everything and everyone.

If someone passes the front gate, he launches himself at the gate and barks until they are completely out of sight.

Our villa is first line to the golf course and he never used to bother about the golfers, but recently he has begun to bark at them when he can hear them chatting, He can't actually see them because of the wall. I appreciate he thinks he is defending his own area and probably telling everyone he is here, but I am worried that the neighbours will get thoroughly sick of him and make a complaint.

If I go out to bring him inside when he is barking, he refuses to come to me and runs off.

He stays when I tell him to, but when I bend down to pick him up he begins to bite (in a

Barmy Barney’s a barking machine So maybe he thinks he is protecting her (even when she isn't here).

I would very much appreciate your advice on how to stop Barney from making everyone's life a complete misery with his constant barking.

CHRISTINE MORT Hi Christine, Thank you for your question.

From what you say, it is apparent that your dog needs more exercise in order to drain his energy.

q

playful way, not aggressively), but he does have very sharp teeth!

I have owned dogs all my life, usually Cavalier Spaniels and a little Spanish rescue dog and have always been able to control them, but the shihtzu has really got a mind of his own!

He is marvellous with my two-year-old grandchild and

i s so patient with her and she is the only one who he seems to respect.

Actually, when I think about it, the barking problem began just after she was born.

They lived with us for the first few months and we take care of her every day whilst my daughter works full time.

He has started this barking obsession for two reasons.

Firstly, because of the lack of exercise, he barks in order to rid himself of his excess energy - and secondly, because he is the most dominant one in the household.

You also can’t bend down to pick him up, as

this is a sign of affection to a dog, so he is, in his eyes, being rewarded for barking at strangers. When you correct him, you should do this by first of all being calm. If you get frustrated or anxious, dogs view this as weakness and unstable behaviour from humans and they then have to become the leaders in their own home because of this.

When Barney barks in future, make a sound to get his attention, then approach him and claim the space he is in by walking into it and backing him away.

If he runs off you must follow him until he shows you calm behaviour, which will be lying down, sitting down and generally switching off from an alert state into a calm state.

His eyes will also indicate that he is now calm as they will become soft, rather than dilated.

Use no words. Once he is calm, just walk away.

This is the way his Mother would have corrected him.

OUR FOX JUST WON

Hi Peter I have read and enjoyed your new colu you with a problem that we are having w Terrier, approximately 18 months old. He local rescue centre. As he wasn’t chipped so he came to live with us six months ago ily.

It seems as if he had been well cared f had his tail docked and walks well on although a little nervous is quite sociabl is a good little watchdog and always ale road outside, which we accept is him pro The problem we have is that when we and try to assure him that they are OK, he and finds it difficult to settle. Eventually make a move to leave he then starts all o We’d be grateful for any ideas you ma

q

Hi Lorna, Thank you for your questio is showing this fearful behaviour, yo At present you are giving affection wh that the visitors are OK. Because of this, this negative bahaviour.

When he shows this behaviour in futu attention and then move towards him and Don't use words. Make sure you are c calmed down. If he walks away, you sho Once he has, you can then walk away. T Good luck, Lorna

25

Friday, January 20, 2012

It’s a dog’s life as Courier readers besiege Peter PETER SINGH provides one-to-one consultations with dog owners who experience problem behaviour with their pets.

Peter, who himself owns five dogs and three cats, also runs monthly dog psychology courses for clients.

He has joined The Courier to help our readers solve all those problems that

irritate dog and cat owners. And, judging by the enormous response to his first column, he’s let himself in for an extremely busy time.

Peter’s initial article last week prompted an amazing response as dozens of dog owners bombarded him with all sorts of questions.

A selection are published today, together with Peter’s advice to each owner.

We had planned to publish all the letters we received this week, but the sheer volume has made this impossible.

Peter’s philosophy regarding dog behaviour is uncomplicated and easy to

understand - you can check it out at www.thedogyouneed.com Peter has had a 100% success rate with clients in both Spain and the UK. He also provides a relaxing and peaceful mode of travelling with his pet transport business. Check the service out at www.europeanpettransport. com

- AND LEARN FROM

(and cat, of course)

Living in the day: Peter Singh’s ‘Guardian Angel’ Billy - that’s him asa floppy-eared pup on the left

q

ry week - only in The Courier

XY FELLA N’T SETTLE

umn in The Courier and thought I’d email with our dog. Bobby is a lovely little Fox e was found as a stray and handed into a d his previous owners could not be traced o and has quickly become part of our fam-

for in the past as he had been castrated, the lead. He is a happy little thing and e both with humans and other dogs. He rts us to anyone near our gate or on the otecting his territory. e let friends in (even ones he knows well) e continues to bark at them for a long time y he does calm down but as soon as they over again. ay have to help him get over this.

LORNA

on. It is very important that while your dog ou are not giving affection. en he does this as you are assuring him he is being rewarded by you for showing

ure, you should make a sound to get his d wait for him to calm down. calm. You cannot back away until he has ould follow him until he shows you calm.

That is the end of the correction.

Hi Peter, I was very interested to read the article about you in The Courier and am wondering if you can help me with my cat problem.

Until recently I had four cats (all rescue, acquired at different times) - one female and three male (two of which were brothers).

One of the brothers was recently knocked down and killed by a car and ever since I have had a big problem with his brother spraying in the house - at least I am pretty sure it is him.

They have all been neutered and therefore I am puzzled by this behaviour and very concerned as I keep discovering cat's pee on all sorts of things, not all of which are washable.

Also, in the kitchen, which is not very nice.

I have tried spraying certain things with Repellente but it seems to have no effect whatsoever.

Can you help me as to the possible cause and/or remedy for this problem?

JANET ELDRIDGE Hi Janet, Cats can start to suddenly spray when there has been a sudden change in the household, which there has been due to the sad loss of one of your cats.

The cat that has started to spray because he feels something is wrong and does not feel safe any more.

Cats spray, regardless of whether they are male or female or whether they have been neutered or not.I would suggest firstly that

DEAR Peter, Our 13-year-old Jack Russell Terrier is starting to go blind from glaucoma. A vet has given us some eye drops that will not reverse to problem but may arrest it.

Our problem is administering the drops, because our dog is not very happy about it and fights with teeth and claws.

Up to now, with my wife putting in the drops and me holding the dog, we have had moderate success, but my arm is getting very badly cut up by our dog.

We have not tried wrapping her up in a towel, or getting some body armour for me. Perhaps you can put forward the best method as this is going to be a long-term problem.

FRAN, ALAN and SALLY THE DOG. Hi Fran, Alan & Sally!

Thank you for your question. It is important that when you administer the drops, your dog has drained her energy from a walk or other forms of exercise. Also, you have to make sure you are both calm and that you are not

q

you clean the surfaces with a solution of washing powder and warm water.

Then, over the top of that, spray surgical spirit, which will disinfect the area. Do not use any ammonia or chlorine-based solutions, as this will confuse the cat further since their urine contains these products.

You should contain your cats in a smaller area for about a week and make sure that this new area has all the things they need to make them feel safe and comfortable.

If you can't stop your cat from going to the same area where he is spraying, try putting his food there after you have cleaned the area.

ONE IN THE EYE

feeling sorry for her. The reason for this is because if you are feeling sorry for a dog, they pick this up as a weak energy from a human and will then try to be more dominant than you.

Showing her the bottle the eye drops are in before you administer them will also help. Let her smell the bottle. This will help her to gain more trust in you, which is vital in these situations.Make sure you are very patient and wait until she is showing you calm before you insert the eye drops. You will be surprised at what can be achieved by showing a high level of patience.

HOLA Peter, I am sure hou have been inundated with emails after the article in The Courier. It was a good article, and like you, we love animals. But we do have a problem Yorkie.

He is six years old, and for about 7/8 months he never

whimpered, but now he is such a noisy little Tyke and we have tried lots of things to stop him, He yaps constantly when he is on the way out for a walk, when we come in, and he will bark for nothing occasionally.

We have tried water in a spray, electronic collar, plastic bottle with small stones in, and of course the usual "Pepe, NO," and "What have I said". I have talked to him, picked him up and spoken

gently to him, but it doesn’t make any difference. We live in an apartment complex, fortunately our nearest neighbours are two floors below, so although they hear him, they say it’s not too bad.

However we may be getting next-door neighbours, and I know they will complain - and if they are Spanish, then they will denounce us.We live next door to the Guardia Civil building, so it will be quite easy for these people to

THE ENERGY GAP

Luis TURID BÖRSETH, San but DEAR Peter, I like dogs you k an Th , rid Tu Hi r as I I am not a dog owne . It ion est for your qu flexilike my freedom and gs do the t tha m see , I would bility more. However not getting are ion est qu urs in bo have three neigh have enough exercise. who amongst them not If a dog’s energy is blem pro d seven dogs. The fin l wil it ily, da d that draine with all these dogs is to ich wh in as another activity it they bark and whine y- drain that energy. That, an or ne yo an soon as ur yo at wh ssible would seem, is thing moves. Is it po are t to neighbours’ dogs no m the to teach . ing do behave like that?

q

make a complaint.

We have another little rescue dog, who has been very good, but now she has decided to make almost as much noise as the Yorkie.

Fortunately she understands when I say NO, Help!

ANN HOWLETT Almoradi Hi Ann, Thank you for your question. First of all, you are giving affection when you are trying to make him stop barking.

Whenever you give a dog affection, you are nurturing the state of mind they are currently in.

Dogs start unwanted behaviour such as constant barking because of a lack of exercise and because the correction is not being administered in a 'dog psychology way'.

When Pepe next barks, make a sound to get his attention. Do not use words, or touch him.

This will only excite him

q

Turn to Page 30

26

Friday, January 20, 2012

SAUNA DETOXIFICATION With the amount of toxins and environmental contaminants in the modern world, the need for periodic detoxification is evident. Toxins exist everywhere, from our food, soaps and shampoos to the air we breathe and the clothes we wear.

These environmental toxins are suspected of playing a role in a number of diseases, including cancer, arthritis, weakened immune systems, autism, fibromyalgia, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and many more. The toxins that infest our bodies come from a variety of sources, including industrial pollutants, pesticide residue, food additives and heavy metals.

With all these health challenges coming at us every day, the need to detoxify our bodies is obvious.

There are several methods of detoxification, and there is still considerable debate as to which method works best. The first detoxification method is chelation therapy, in which preparations of enzymes are injected into the bloodstream, where they bind with toxins and remove them.

Another popular detoxification method is fasting, either alone or in combination with herbal therapies and mineral preparations.

Fasting allows the toxins in the body to be stripped away.

Another popular method of detoxification is the sauna method, in which toxins are removed through heating.

One advantage of the sauna method is obvious. The sauna method is the easiest method, and it can be used effectively by just about everyone. In addition, the sauna detoxification method can be used in conjunction with the other methods to make them more effective and useful.

Sweating and sauna baths

The traditional hot rocks sauna is still quite popular today, but it has begun to lose ground to the modern infrared saunas, which are able to provide benefits like energy efficiency, increased comfort, deeper heat penetration, and better detoxification.

Infrared saunas have been found to produce sweat that has more toxins and other organic compounds in it. As much as 15% of the sweat produced in a typical infrared sauna, for instance, is composed of dissolved fats, toxins and other materials, whereas only about 5%-6% of sweat in the traditional hot rock sauna contains these materials, with the remaining 9495% being composed only of water.

No matter what type of sauna you choose, there is little doubt that such sauna treatments can be good for the body as well as the soul.

Saunas are a relaxing, and very effective way to remove the many toxins that build up through everyday living.

are an ancient tradition, and one long associated with good health and healing.

The tradition of the sauna goes back at least as far as ancient Rome, with the famous Roman baths, and includes such popular and well-known institutions as the Finnish Savusauna, the Sweat Lodge of the Native Americans, the Russian Banya and the Hammam of Morocco. It is obvious from studying history that people have been enjoying the detoxifying effects of the sauna for many years.

In today’s world, there are a great many choices when it comes to sauna and steam treatments and detoxifying programs. There are choices to fit almost any budget, from

exotic and expensive built-in home saunas to simple and less expensive portable units. Some saunas use conventional steam, whereas others use heated rocks and still others use modern and efficient infrared heaters. The effectiveness of any sauna detoxification program will depend in large measure on the type of heat that is used and the protocol that is employed.

There are some important differences between a traditional sauna and the type of steam room often found at gyms. Even though a steam room feels hotter because of the high humidity it contains, it is actually harder for the body to sweat in a steam room than in a sauna.

WHAT IS ALCOHOL POISONING? Alcohol poisoning is a serious and sometimes deadly consequence of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Binge drinking, rapidly downing five or more drinks in a row, is a main cause of alcohol poisoning. The term alcohol can sometimes be confusing because it is a group of substances that are chemically similar. Ethanol is one type of alcohol and is usually found in alcoholic beverages. The other types of alcohol may not be meant to be consumed, but may be ingested accidentally or intentionally. The more common types of alcohol that may be consumed by humans, other than ethanol are methanol: also known as wood alcohol and is chemically similar to ethanol and also an inexpensive substance that is used in various industrial and household items; Ethyl glycol: primarily found in antifreeze, and very toxic to humans; Isopropanol: widely used in many household substances, and not as toxic as the others.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and not a stimulant. It depresses various other systems in the body mainly through the action of the nerves supplying different organs. It also has a direct chemical effect on various tissues throughout the body, some of which are extremely toxic. The danger lies in two possible outcomes of alcohol poisoning: Choking, as vomit may enter the airways and cause aspiration, since the gag reflex is depressed in a person who is intoxicated and Suffocation as the respiratory centre in the brain is depressed and causes slow and irregular breathing. Other effects that are life threatening

Sauna Health Benefits Saunas, which are generally considered a "beauty therapy" treatment, can in fact double as a cardio-vascular, fat-burning therapy session as well. Yes, you heard right, spending some time in the sauna has been proven to offer cardio-vascular ‘training’ and in turn, literally burn off calories.

Repeated sauna treatments improve cardio functioning which, in return, can improve cardiac functioning.

This happens because the body responds to the steam of the sauna and increases your heart rate, which ultimately increases your metabolic rate, which leads to calories burnt.

include liver and kidney failure and cardiovascular dysfunction which is more likely in a short period of time with toxic alcohols like ethyl glycol. Furthermore alcohol causes stupor, confusion or even coma which puts a person in harm’s way, particularly if driving or operating heavy machinery.

There may be a slight variation in the symptoms of alcohol poisoning, among the different types of alcohol, but the presentation in all is preceded by a state of intoxication or inebriation. Many of the other symptoms that then follow are usually associated with intoxication as well such as vomiting, headaches and stupor. The more definitive symptoms of alcohol poisoning may develop only within hours and include: slow and irregular breathing, seizures, low body temperature, bluish tinge on the lips and fingers, loss of consciousness, and confusion and stupor. Additional symptoms may be seen with all types of alcohol poisoning, but particularly with methanol and ethyl glycol. These symptoms along with the type of alcohol poisoning in which it is most prominent include: redness or paleness of the pupil - methanol; muscle spasm and abnormal reflexes - ethyl glycol; cloudy or complete loss of vision – methanol; and coma – ethyl glycol.

If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, call for emergency medical help right away. Alcohol poisoning treatment consists of providing breathing support, intravenous fluids and vitamins until the alcohol is completely out of the body. Before help arrives, you can provide the following assistance: keep them sitting and awake; give water to drink if requested, never coffee; lie on their side to avoid them choking on their vomit; keep them warm; and stay with them.

Dr Machi Mannu is a Neuro-repatterning Specialist.

For queries, send your email to contact@mindspa.es

Friday, January 20, 2012

27

28

Friday, January 20, 2012

James Bond's amazing vehicles James Bond first burst onto our cinema screens in 1962 and right from the start the films always included beautiful women, criminal masterminds with plans for world domination and exciting cars generally with amazing gadgets.

The Beaulieu National Motor Museum's brandnew 'Bond In Motion' exhibit has gathered together the best loved and most iconic of the Bond vehicles to present the largest collection of Bond vehicles ever seen in one place.

Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger (1964)

The eagerly anticipated 23rd Bond film, Skyfall is set to be released in October 2012 and some of the vehicles used in that will appear at the exhibition once filming is complete. The Beaulieu exhibition runs until December 2012.

men during a car chase which included them getting involved in a stock-car race on an ice-covered track. Three Cougars were used in filming and this is one of two survivors.

This car was acquired after being found by an enthusiast in Sweden.

Ford Mustang Mach 1 Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III - Goldfinger (1964) Auric Goldfinger's Rolls was chassis no 3BU168 with a Barker Sedanca de Ville body that held a surprising secret, because Goldfinger was smuggling gold from England to Austria by melting it down and recasting it into the shape of the panels of his car. The AU1 number plate refers to the periodic table symbol for gold. In the novel the Rolls-Royce used was a Silver Ghost.

Probably the most memorable film car ever made, this Aston appeared on screen boasting machine guns, bulletproof shield, spinning number plates and a passenger ejector seat adapted from a fighter aircraft.

The gadgets made this Aston some 136kg heavier but with its 330bhp engine this was barely noticeable. Aston Martin later built two replicas for publicity purposes.

'Little Nellie' and the alligator packing cases - You Only Live Twice (1967)

This one-seater autogiro, codenamed 'Little Nellie', was just 9.5 feet long and weighed 250lb. Little Nellie had a top speed 90mph and a maximum altitude of 18,000 feet. Q brought her to Japan in four suitcases where Bond used her array of guns and heat-seeking missiles to destroy a squadron of SPECTRE attack helicopters.

Tracy's Ford Cougar On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

The highlight of the Diamonds Are Forever Las Vegas car chase is the 1971 Mustang Mach 1 balancing on two wheels to drive through a narrow alley. Yet it's most remembered for a continuity mistake; the car comes out the other end of the alley tilted on the opposite side to when it went in.

This recently found unrestored Mustang had a 429ci (seven litre) Cobra Jet Ram Air engine and was used mainly in the car park chase scenes.

Honda three-wheeler bike - Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

The Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo drove this 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7 428 convertible, helping Bond escape Blofeld's hench-

When Bond steals a moon buggy the bad guys give chase on Honda ATC 90 threewheel all-terrain motorcycles. Built from 1970 onward, the bikes have a 90cc engine and use 22-inch tyres inflated to a low pressure meaning they can climb a gradient of

Jet Reaction: 450mph jet bike

British engineer Richard Brown is preparing to strap himself into this homemade motorcycle equipped with an afterburning jet engine in a bid to smash the world motorcycle speed record. Makes you proud to be British doesn't it?

Friday, January 20, 2012 anxious Q, this Lotus was capable of transforming into a submarine equipped with antiaircraft missiles. Several full-size Esprit body shells were used for the transformation and the memorable underwater scenes took four months to film. Although the sub was only capable of 10 knots, the road-going version of the Esprit could hit 60mph in under eight seconds and top 130mph.

Glastron boat - Moonraker (1979)

Wetbike - The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

outrun the pursuers. Four identical cars were used, including this one employed purely for studio back projection and dialogue close-up filming. Citroën produced a special edition version with fake bullet holes.

Tuk-tuk taxi - Octopussy (1983)

35 degrees. It's the forerunner of today's popular quad bikes and five were used in filming.

AMC Hornet X - The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)

29

Glastron once again provided craft for Bond in the shape of a heavily modified Glastron/Carlson CV-23HT. This limited-edition model finished in silver glitter flake paint came with a bulletproof shield, mines and torpedoes. After filming the special equipment was removed when the boat was sold but the gadgets have since been put back in.

Citroën 2CV For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Two of these Bajaj RE auto rickshaws are used in a chase sequence through the streets of Udaipur. Bond and fellow MI6 agent Vijay are in one, with Gobinda and his henchmen in the pursuing vehicle.

Fortunately the one driven

by Vijay has been modified

by MI6 with a more powerful Honda motorcycle that even allows Vijay to perform a wheelie.

Commonly known as a Tuk-tuk due to the sound of their engines the Bajaj's design is based on the 1956 Piaggio Ape.

Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II - A View To A Kill (1985)

Bond steals this 1974 Hornet hatchback from an AMC dealership in Bangkok, Thailand. A specially modified Hornet with central driving position - for perfect weight distribution - performed the twisting corkscrew jump. A computer had calculated everything precisely down to the 40mph launch speed meaning the stunt went perfectly first time.

Lotus Esprit 'Wet Nellie' The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Delivered to Bond in Sardinia by the ever

This vehicle represents the world's first wetbike. It was built as a prototype using a 50bhp two-stroke Suzuki engine and once the Bond producers had seen the machine they immediately wrote it into the script.

Production wetbikes went on sale to the public the following year. A sensation in the film in 1977, the things have been annoying sea bathers and sailors ever since.

Chitty Chitty Gone Gone

Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans has bought the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car from the selftitled movie for a rumoured £500,000.

Evans revealed he had bought the car from a Californian individual – a friend of Evans’ – as the private owner’s garage wasn’t large enough to accommodate all 17 feet (5.2 metres) of the vehicle’s monstrous length.

Evans stepped in to purchase the car, offering what his friend paid for it, and has

now reportedly sent the cinematic classic from the 1968 film to be restored.

Evans commented at the weekend, “my pal had bought the car on his birthday before he went skiing, not realising she is over 17 feet long. Garage problem.

No money lost or gained.

“Chitty is now officially part of the Berkshire Automotive Massive. She is indeed Truly Scrumptious.

She’s also gone into the workshop for some muchneeded road legalisation.”

The car was the only working example built for the film and features a Ford Racing 3.0-litre V6, a dashboard plate from a WWI British fighter plane, a polished aluminium bonnet, red and white cedar boat deck and brass fittings lifted from Edwardian motor vehicles.

Evans is no stranger to rare and valuable automobiles, however. The radio personality already owns a string of classic Ferraris, including a £12 million Ferrari 250 GTO and a £5 million 250 GT SWB California Spyder, once owned by actor James Coburn.

It appears Evans has succeeded where the King of pop, Michael Jackson never did though, after the music artist once tried – and failed – to buy the vehicle for display at his Neverland ranch.

Bond states that 'we're being out horse powered' as companion Melina's seemingly indestructible Citroën gets bashed and pushed off the road by a pair of Peugeot 504s. The 2CV used in the car chase was fitted with a Citroën GS 1,015cc flat-four engine producing 54bhp - doubling the original 29bhp output.

Stiffer shock absorbers and roll bars improved the handling allowing the 2CV to

After Bond is knocked unconscious in this Roller the vehicle is pushed into a lake where it sinks. Bond escapes by breathing air from the vehicle's tyres. The car in the film, a 1962 model, was owned by producer Cubby Broccoli, hence the number plate CUB1, although a different car actually went in the lake. The Cloud II had a 6.2 litre V8 and was built between 1959 and 1966.

30

Friday,December January 20, Friday, 16,2012 2011

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

The 50 euro man is back!

OUR seasonal visitor returned to the Orihuela Costa last weekend and has been seen plying his trade in a number of the Residencias, asking for money on a false pretence.

What he does is not an offence under the Spanish law.

He knocks on doors asking for money to pay for a locksmith as he has either lost his house keys or had his house broken into.

He says he is living in a house close by and gives his address.

The house selected is unoccupied at this time and is either not his or is non-existent. He says he has to pay the locksmith and can´t get enough money from a cash machine to do so.

Sometimes he finds out the name of the President of the Residencia and says that the President knows him.

Over the years he has asked

to borrow 30, 50 and 40 euros. If you are lucky you may be invited to attend a party at his house or to go there for a drink.

Another story is that he needs to go to the German Embassy in Alicante with his children and asks to borrow the money to get there.

He is very plausible in his tale and may change his story.

Description:- he is in his forties, tall with fair hair and previ-

ously scruffily dressed.

He speaks perfect English and has said that he is from Germany, Holland or Denmark, and his name is Martin. But this might again be part of his tale.

Please warn as many people as possible not to be taken in by this scam CHRIS POOLE, Orihuela Costa Neighbourhood Watch

WELL, WE STILL HAVE THE SUN I AM one of the thousands of ex-pats over the decades who flocked to Spain -- the land of the rising sun - for a cut-price better lifestyle.

As the last decade passed and the new utility infrastructures (Iberdrola and Aqua) and roads were installed I often wondered who was (eventually) going to pay for it all.

Cheap petrol was also one incentive for ex-pats to count the savings from that charged at the forecourts back in Britain.

With 2012 only just weeks old I read that in Spain water rates are to increase up to 60% this year. Petrol is at an all time high. Electricity increases have occurred during the last year.

I know of people (both ex-pats and Spanish) who are struggling - some in dire straits.

Simply, the bubble has burst. Not for all, as there are still wealthy folk in Spain, but for many the party is over.

And (ex-pats) have gone - and continue - to go home.

Taxes are to increase in 2012; with the average household set to cough up more money to the Town Halls, with property tax reportedly set to increase by 4-10%. Added to that of the utility increases.

And for mortgagees, annual increases are faced.

Hundreds more euros that will see the purse strings pulled even tighter.

Many worried people - of all nationalities - are waiting for the next tap on the shoulFrom Page 25 der to hand over their cash.

In some cases, it is money more. Do not use any tools they haven't got and they such as electric collars or spray bottles. All they will face repossession.

With food and wine in do is teach a dog not to Spain remaining at a decent trust you.

Wait until he shows calm cost - in some cases (Menu del Dia €5-8 and a glass of behaviour (which will be wine €1.50) - a meal in the shown by his eyes becoming soft and blinking, sun is something to savour.

But gone are the days of rather than dilated) and cheap petrol, aqua, then either walk away (if Iberdrola, and taxes in Spain. indoors) or carry on with Not forgetting the 1.50 (1.60) the walk if you are out with him. If he walks away while Euro/£1 exchange rate.

I have been the guy who you are giving the correcflies the flag for Spain, tion, you must follow him always have done. until he shows calm.

It's not all doom and gloom Dogs understand this - Spain still has the sun. But correction because it is the times are a changing. way their Mother corrected WERDNA NOSNIKTA, them. You must be calm Alicante when doing this and mean

Lynn, you really are the queen of Zumba!

HELP Murcia Mar Menor would like to publicly express their gratitude to Lynn Preston, Zumba Instructor, for very kindly donating half of the proceeds (€375) of the Zumbathon held at the Torre Pacheco Hotel on November 5 to HELP Murcia Mar Menor.

HELP Murcia Mar Menor receives no assistance from provincial or local government, therefore all time and donations are greatly appreciated.

Lynn holds Zumba classes in the Innova Gym at Los Alcazares on Monday 11-12 noon, Tuesday 7-8pm, Wednesday 11-12 noon, Thursday 7-8 m, Ya & La Estudio de danza, Santiago de la Ribera, Monday and Wednesday 8.30 – 9.30pm, La Torre/Kings College Tuesday and Thursday 5-6 pm, Sucina, La Vereda Wednesday 4-5 pm. and Go Fitness gym San Javier Monday and Wednesday 7-8 pm.

ELAINE DALE, President

THE DOG PSYCHOLOGIST...your questions answered

How do I stop her spinning?

the correction. Good luck.

Hi Peter. We read about you in The Courier. Our little Cindy, a chihuahua maybe whippet cross from the K9 rescue in La Marina, is a lovely dog - very affectionate and gives so much pleasure.

She has a few problems behaviour wise, though. She goes round in circles, especially when she is excited,ie, if she thinks she is going out for a walk or that her food is going to be put out for her.

She lets us know people are about but is not a persistent barker, which is good.

We have tried to stop her

going in circles but failed.

Can you please give us an idea what to do? Someone says it is because she was kept in a cage and it was her way of getting exercise.

BILL and PAT WINTERBURN Hi Bill and Pat. Spinning is a sign of anxiety. First of all I would suggest she needs more exercise to drain her energy. You also have to remember not to give affection when she is displaying this unbalanced behaviour.

When you give affection

to a dog, you are nurturing the state of mind they are currently in. Only give Cindy affection when she is showing calm behaviour.

When she does spin, you need to make a sound to get her attention. Then walk towards her and wait until she shows calm. Her eyes will be a good indication of her becoming calm.

When dogs are excited or stressed, their eyes dilate. When they show calm, their eyes become softer and normal blinking occurs.

If Cindy walks away

while you are doing this correction technique, you must follow her until she is calm. Do not talk to her or stroke her at this point.

You are simply using your energy, which has to be calm, and your body language to correct her, just as her Mother would have done.

Remember that exercise makes a dog calm and discipline (the correction technique) makes a dog submissive. That is the ideal state for a dog to be in - calm and submissive.

31

Friday, January 20, 2012

Where do u live?

Here’s what frequency you need to be listening to!

Don’t forget throughout January, February & March, for every advert you buy we’ll give you another one absolutely FREE!!

Call us now on: 965 99 66 66 or email: advertise@tkofm.com for more information ROBBIE FRANCE (1959 ‐ 2012) All at the TKO Media Group are deeply saddened to report of the passing of one of our former TKO GOLD presenters. Robbie joined TKO in early 2007 and for the next two and a half years displayed across the airwaves a fantastic knowledge of music delivered with a relaxed style and manner. "The French Connection" became a must‐listen‐to show, initially on a Saturday lunchtime and then during weekday afternoons. You knew that when "Blue Nile ‐ Tinsel Town In The Rain" began his show, you were in for a musical treat. He never let you down.

Before working on radio, Robbie had a successful music career as a drummer, tutor, pro‐ ducer, and composer, most famously being an original member of Skunk Anansie as well as spells with Wishbone Ash, Diamond Head and Alphaville. He became a successful columnist in newspapers and music magazines and spent much of the last couple of years sailing around his beloved Meditteranean "chilling out"! And that was Robbie. A chilled out guy, a devoted father to his young son Max and to partner Karen. Our thoughts are with them and the rest of his family, particuarly his mother in Australia.

Robbie died suddenly on Saturday 14th January. He was 52.

Let’s see if you can win yourself a meal for two and a bottle of wine at Quesada Fish & Chips POP QUIZ January 20 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. Susan Dallion was the lead singer with this punk band.

2. Home State for Roy Orbison.

3. Jimi Hendrix first double L.P. 4. A boat Creedence and Tina sang about.

5. Gary Brooker sang lead vocals with this 60s group.

6. A never ending scoreless tennis match could sum up this song title.

7. Daughter of Ravi Shankar.

8. The High Numbers was this groups original name.

9. December 10th 1967 saw the tragic death of this Soul legend.

10. Green Tambourine was a hit for this group in 1968.

11. In the 60s his backing band were The Dreamers.

32

Friday, January 20, 2012

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, 4 represents B and 19 represents Z, when these letters have been entered throughout the puzzle, you should have enough information to start guessing words and discovering other letters.

QUICKIE

Across 1 Muslim sovereign (6) 4 Incidental remarks (6) 9 Exile who flees for safety (7) 10 Worker in stone (5) 11 Squander (5) 12 Legislative act (7) 13 Contentious speech act (11) 18 Tornado (7) 20 Cover with liquid before cooking (5) 22 Triangular glass optical device (5) 23 Relating to swine (7) 24 Yearly (6) 25 Strait of the English Channel (6)

Down 1 Astute (6) 2 Elevators (5) 3 Increase (7) 5 Group of islands in Polynesia (5) 6 Debate (7) 7 Wrongdoer (6) 8 Instrument for measuring earthquakes (11) 14 Personal belief (7) 15 Trade stoppage (7) 16 Ideally perfect state (6) 17 Choose (6) 19 Resort city in western Florida (5) 21 Avoid work (5)

Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Possess, 5 Split, 8 Cheapen, 9 Avian, 10 Sprat, 11 Lettuce, 12 Always, 14 Athens, 17 Surgeon, 19 Added, 22 Exist, 23 Release, 24 Spray, 25 Perhaps.

Down: 1 Pacts, 2 Swear, 3 Empathy, 4 Single, 5 Shaft, 6 Leisure, 7 Tunnels, 12 Abscess, 13 Warrior, 15 Trawler, 16 Unwrap, 18 Entry, 20 Diana, 21 Dress.

Scribble Pad

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 Beginner with a gun (7) 5 Avoid the Spanish with due preparation (5) 8 Right sick and complaining! (7) 9 Sailor consumed tail off (5) 10 Spoil a spoilt Titan (5) 11 Take out former partner’s piece of land (7) 12 Oriental brass made into weapons (6) 14 Vet ran out of inn (6) 17 Wrong gear can mean bloodshed (7) 19 Runner has nothing for the party (5) 22 Unable to see window screen (5) 23 Eat a cut cooked spark (7) 24 Trials for important matches (5) 25 Poles in trouble with character from Greece (7)

Down 1 Building support from trust (5) 2 Elsewhere in Dali biography (5) 3 Let this represent a Scottish emblem (7) 4 Reading, for example, about Tory leader’s shame (6) 5 Pass laws about a cent (5) 6 Ignorant of bizarre new aura (7) 7 Continually not turning up with the toffees (7) 12 It’s a container, however, for an old instrument (7) 13 Chuck and Halle provide fruits (7) 15 But you and me go under argon plant (7) 16 Not a wild type of a steed (6) 18 And directions for a mountain range (5) 20 Use a yashmak, so to speak (5) 21 A great sea responsible for canoe wreckage (5)

STANDARD CLUES

Down 1 Swagger (5) 2 Excuse (5) 3 Prickly plant (7) 4 Rue (6) 5 Decree (5) 6 Ignorant of (7) 7 District of Liverpool (7) 12 Early form of trombone (7) 13 Small round fruits (7) 15 Evergreen shrub (7) 16 Staid (6) 18 South American mountain system (5) 20 Make use of (5) 21 Large expanse of sea (5)

Across 1 First course (7) 5 Escape (5) 8 Fence (7) 9 Decrease (5) 10 Contaminate (5) 11 Remove (7) 12 Fencing swords (6) 14 Public house (6) 17 Massacre (7) 19 Informal party (5) 22 Sightless (5) 23 Move (7) 24 Experiments (5) 25 Greek letter (7)

Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Mishap, 4 Chides, 9 Siberia, 10 Riser, 11 Irene, 12 Lanyard, 13 Odds and ends, 18 Octagon, 20 Glade, 22 Crane, 23 Earlobe, 24 Netted, 25 Reader.

Down: 1 Misfit, 2 Sabre, 3 Airless, 5 Heron, 6 Disband, 7 Strode, 8 Fallen angel, 14 Detract, 15 En garde, 16 Toucan, 17 Veneer, 19 Geese, 21 Avoid.

FILL IT IN

Complete the crossword grid by using the given words:

Arcs Nil 2 letter words Area Nun My Clam Oaf Of Coal Pop So Eddy Rat To Flee Roe 3 letter words Lass Set Are Liar Sly Bad Lone Son Bag Nods Tad Bah Oath Tan Cab Pent Tap Cat 6 Rate Tat Dad Slot The Dot Told Thy Eel 8 Tops Tin Hop Trot Yap Lab 5 letter words Yes Lap Argot 4 letter words Lea Curio Airy New

Feral Harem Omens Pence Piety Robot Satin Snaps Stoat Taper Tenor Total letter words Papers Scenic letter words Rosewood Sentence

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

Across 1 Thing (object) (4) 3 Horses (8) 9 Farmacia (tienda) (7) 10 Heron (5) 11 Después de (tras un hecho concreto) (5) 12 Tuesday (6) 14 Spiders (6) 16 Castillo (6) 19 Morado (6) 21 Spy (5) 24 Pavement (5) 25 Job (employment) (7) 26 Lawyers (8) 27 Alone (by oneself) (4)

Down 1 Spoons (8) 2 Sábana (de cama) (5) 4 Otoño (estación) (6) 5 Ira (de persona) (5) 6 El más grande (7) 7 Estrella (4) 8 Grass (botany) (6) 13 Traffic lights (8) 15 Tile (floor) (7) 17 In addition (6) 18 Theatre (6) 20 Square (town) (5) 22 Plate (for eating) (5) 23 Cow (4)

33

Friday, January 20, 2012 Across 1 Which genus of plant includes cabbage, swede, rape, and mustard? (8) 7 Which Ancient Scottish settlement to the north of Perth was where the kings of medieval Scotland were crowned on the Stone of Destiny? (5) 8 Which of the ancient Athenian philosophers was a pupil of Plato and the teacher of Alexander the Great? (9) 9 According to the Old Testament, God chose to spare which nephew of Abraham and his family, who were told to flee without looking back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? (3) 10 According to Greek mythology, which son of Aphrodite was the god of love? (4) 11 What is the British slang term for £500? (6) 13 What was the surname of the actor who played Marshal Matt Dillon’s lame deputy Chester Goode in the television series Gunsmoke and the title character in the police television drama series McCloud? (6) 14 What name was given to a priest or priestess acting as a medium through whom advice or prophecy was sought from the gods in classical antiquity? (6) 17 See 5 Down 18/16 What was the name of the second wife of King Henry VIII of England and mother of Queen Elizabeth I? (4,6) 20 What was the surname of the Confederate general who surrendered at Appomattox courthouse on April 9, 1865?

(3) 22 Which town in Hertfordshire was designated a planned

SUDOKU

Quiz Word

urban centre in 1946 and developed as a new town? (9) 23 What was the maiden name of former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham? (5) 24 Sb is the chemical symbol of which brittle silvery-white semi-metal? (8)

Down 1 See 13 2 Phoenix is the capital of which state of the USA? (7) 3 According to the Old Testament, what was the name of the third son of Adam and Eve, given by God in place of the murdered Abel? (4) 4 Which soft white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical and subtropical plant is used as textile fibre and thread for sewing? (6) 5/17A Jolene and 9 to 5 were both British hit singles for which American country singer? (5,6) 6 Which unit of surface area is equal to 10,000 square meters? (7) 7 Which Australian folkinfluenced vocal group originally consisted of Judith Durham, Keith Potger, Bruce Woodley and Athol Guy? (7) 12 What name is given to a female heir, especially to vast wealth? (7) 13/1 Jerusalem is the best-known major work by which 18th/19th century English poet, painter, engraver and visionary mystic? (7,5) 15 Which monetary unit of Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, and certain other countries, chiefly in Latin America, is equal to 100th of the basic unit? (7) 16 See 18 Across 17 What name is given to each of the segments of the corolla of a flower, which are modified leaves and are typically coloured? (5) 19 Which hard greyish-black mineral consisting of corundum and either haematite or magnetite is used as an abrasive, especially as a coating on paper? (5)

SALLY’S SIMPLE SPANISH COMUNICACIONES 2 -COMMUNICATIONS 2 Match these words with their Spanish translations then find them in the wordsearch.

(Answers below)

1. Which Scottish Loch Is The Deepest?

2. Which Cambridge Bridge Was Put Together In The 18th Century Without The Use Of A Nail?

3. By What Name Do Most Of Us Know The Peak The French Call Mount Cervin & The Italians Monte Cervino?

4. How many stars are on the flag of New Zealand?

5. What are the Aki, Daishimizu and the Seikan in Japan?

6. In Which Country Is Europe's Highest Mountain Mt Elbrus?

7. In which continent would you find the Mississippi River?

8. What Nationality Was Vasco Da Gama?

9. Of Where Are The Maoris The Indigenous Population?

10. Bridgetown is the capital of Where?

11. By Which City Does The Sugar Loaf Mountains Stand?

12. "Can you give me the capital of the following three countries: Syria, Morocco and Libya? "?

1. Loch Ness 2. The Mathematical Bridge (Queens College) 3. The Matterhorn 4. four 5. Tunnels 6. Russia 7.

North America 8. Portugese 9. New Zealand 10.

Barbados 11. Rio De Janeiro 12. "Damascus, Rabat, Tripoli"

ANSWERS

Last Week’s Solutions Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Wordsolution Across: 1 Charcoal, 7 Tenor, 8 Rod Taylor, 9 Rig, 10 Ibex, 11 Mersey, 13 Austin, 14 Waffle, 17 Loafer, 18 Iris, 20/23 Eva Braun, 22 Irene Cara, 24 Tenerife.

Down: 1 Corgi, 2 Andrews, 3 Clay, 4 Asleep, 5/6 Angry Brigade, 7 Tristan, 12 Vitamin, 13 Adverbs, 15 Ferrari, 16 Selene, 17 La Paz, 19 Skate, 21 Rene.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

microfono, contestador, interruptor, teclado, suprimir.

a. delete, b. tuner, c. cable, d. telephone network, e. remote control, f. key, g. aerial,

h. keyboard, i. plug, j. dish aerial, k. microphone, l. amplifier, m. answering machine, n. ear phones, o. wave, p. switch, q. screen, r. loud-speaker.

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

Geography QUIZ

1. red-telefonica, 2. parabolica, 3. onda, 4. altavoz, 5. pantalla, 6. antena, 7. cable, 8. mando-a-distancia, 9. amplificador, 10. auriculares, 11. enchufe, 12. sintonizador, 13. tecla,

ALAJ P U YAV R M S E R C ALTAVOZ MICROFONO L O N L T V N H I E A I R O O ONDA L H N G C T M M S O N E T D N AMPLIFICADOR A E Y O E E I Y P T D A E A T ANTENA PANTALLA T D N N F R TY E T O D C Z E PARABOLICA N E A C P O P R E J A N L I S AURICULARES AO J U HAR L J G D OAN T CABLE RED-TELEFONICA P P S V U U E C M R I M D OA CONTESTADOR SINTONIZAG Z V P P F F V I D S B O T D Y S T T O H A E L M T B I N O ENCHUFE DOR K X O N E L B A C S A H U I R INTERRUPTOR SUPRIMIR C R I A L TA V O Z N M I S W A C I L O B A R A P C R V L R MANDO-A-DISTECLA A D U R O D A C I F I L P M A TANCIA TECLADO O J B A U R I C U LA R E S K Soduko

Span - Eng

Quizword

Fill It In

34

Friday, January 20, 2012

Horoscopes

By Pandora

Aries March 21 - April 19 You're not sure if your new mousetrap is better, but due to its horrifying use of liquefying blades, the world will beat a path to your door out of sheer morbid curiosity.

Am I wrong?

My ex-girlfriend lives in Murcia (I live in Torrevieja) and my mate lives about 3 miles from me. I still talk to my ex and she told me yesterday that she had some time off and she was coming up to Murcia, to meet up with my friend.

Apparently she had been talking to him a lot on Facebook and became good friends so she would be meeting up with him, bearing in mind they have only met up once with myself.

Now the problem I have is my (so called) friend has had a history of stealing my ex's and female friends and turning them against me by accusing me of doing and saying things I never did. But me being me I always accepted his apology.

So now I can't help but feel he is stealing my ex who I am still very good friends with. She has said they are meeting on friendship terms but I know he wants more than that, but she disagrees. Every single person I have asked have said they wouldn't meet up with their ex's mate as it just seems wrong and awkward.

Surely I can't be wrong?

What do I do because I'm losing sleep worrying that the same is going to happen again?

Taurus April 20 - May 20 You'll need to find new solutions to the same old problems this week, mostly because you're really building up quite a tolerance to alcohol. This week your destiny has the wings of an inebriated bird.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 Take comfort in the fact that we are all part of a larger plan, although really it's more of an eons-spanning game of universal domination played by uncaring immortals than a "plan."

Cancer June 21 - July 22

If you have a problem Romany Rose can help you with, email her at office@thecourier.es

assumed he was too.

We hadn't seen each other for 6 weeks and he insisted on meeting up, taking me for dinner (I normally pay Dutch) and started being all needy. I told him to stop, that we were just as we were before and he started with the "yeah we work so well, uncomplicated" which is half right, I'm not complicated but he's getting more complicated by the minute.

I was thinking I should just call it a day but he's not giving me a chance. I'm DAVID Torrevieja starting to feel a bit smothered. He also asked if I'd Hello David. I really don't slept with anyone else. I think there's anything you said I'd dated since we can do David. If you've weren't an item, he seemed explained your concerns to a little hurt. Have I misread her and told her that he has things? I mean on our first spread malicious hurtful date we laid our cards on rumours to your ex's in the the table, we both weren't past and broken good friend- looking for serious, no ships, then there's not much commitment, wouldn't be else you can do. At the end of boyfriend / girlfriend and the day, she's a grown up and neither of us were looking will make her own decision. I for marriage or kids. I hope she sees through this mean these were his other chap and doesn't listen words, what has hapto anything he says but you'll pened?

Basically I know I can't just have to let things take their course. Hopefully she give and don't want to give values your friendship more more than what I do. He's than his. Why not offer to never going to be number meet up with her afterwards one on my list because no guy ever is. I've said that, since she's in the area?

Either way, I'd get rid of this he said he understood, so male friend, he sounds like a what the heck is going on? scheming so and so.

He's changed I started seeing this guy on a very casual basis as neither of us had time to commit. As we weren't committing I continued to date other people,

read a lot of stories recently where this has happened and it doesn't seem to end well.

There could be a chance he offered this hoping it would eventually lead to a more permanent long term relationship.

I honestly think if all this is too much for you then the kindest thing would be to let him go. I don't think it’s fair carrying on this type of relationship when one person wants more and it’s cruel to carry on when you know he is hoping for just that.

Hopefully by sorting things now it will save him more hurt in the future.

Is he cheating?

I think my boyfriend maybe cheating on me. I have been with him for a year and he insists that he never has and never will cheat on me. Last week I went on msn and saw that in October and November 2011 he became friends with two girls and both have the status of being 'h*rny'. When I asked him about it he said he met them before he and I got together but that's not even possible. What do I do? Is he cheating?

JOY La Marina

JULIE Via email

Hi Joy, This seems like such a reoccurring situation with many who go into what has been discussed as a casual relationship but other times one person will have more feelings than the other even though everything was talked through at the beginning. I've

Hello Julie. Firstly by being friends with these girls he is not actually doing anything wrong we all like to meet new people for chatting. However if it is on his account that he has only recently become friends with them then he has lied to you. Presuming you have not hacked into his

account and it is there for all to see when they became friends I would confront him.

Just ask him why he felt he had to lie to you and that you don’t care who he is or is not friends with you just would like him to be open and honest with you. Sit down when you both have plenty of time and have a heart to heart both be open and honest with each other. You must tell him how you feel and ask him to do the same in return.

Good luck

I can’t converse I have been in a relationship for 5 months but it is now becoming difficult to make conversation.

This is making me anxious and I feel it’s only a matter of time before she dumps me because of this.

I don't think we know each other as well as we should do ffor a relationship of 5 months. We both love each other but I not sure what to talk to her about.

PETER San luis Hello Peter. 5 months is no time at all. People can be together for years and are still getting to know each other. you can only find out about each other if you make time for each other sit down talk about what she has done that day what she enjoys doing. Go out and do activities you both like. Have time just the 2 of you alone.

Surprise her by planning a day out together. If you’re on a tight budget all these things can be achieved with little or no money and just a bit of imagination. A relationship does not just make itself it takes a lot of work and effort on both sides and the more you put in the more you will get back in return.

For the next week, laws will not apply to you, which is a real pain, as you've become pretty accustomed to Newton's first and third. "Hullabaloo" is your preferred word to add into conversations this week.

Leo July 23 - August 22 This is a terrible week to make decisions about your love life, although to be perfectly honest, the problem's less with the week and more with you. Chuckles, guffaws but not LOLs are favoured by the planets for more times than not.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 It's time to make people take you more seriously. If they don't respond to your demands within a half-hour of reading this, start killing the hostages. This week your flanges are in need of a service.

Libra September 23 - October 22 Walk confidently in the direction of your life's dreams, but be warned that it's really quite a long walk to Madrid. Distrust any person who shakes your hand with a view to winning your vote in any election this week.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 Although no one is currently keeping statistics on falcon attacks, your next few weeks will motivate several people to begin considering the necessity. A phone call will answer a question you have pondered upon since the 16th of last month.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 People say you're too easygoing, unmotivated, and accepting of your own flaws, but you'll learn to live with that. Most accidents occur at home, so stay safe this week by living on the streets of a distant city.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 The great thing about dogs is they still feel the same way about you when your back is turned. In related news, you'll never see the Doberman attack coming.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 While it's true there are only two kinds of people in the world, the stars believe it would be unkind to tell you just how much better than you the other one is. This week your preferred order of Banana Splits is Snork, Bingo, Fleagle and Drooper.

Pisces February 19 - March 20 It turns out that pianos hardly ever suddenly fall out of twelfth story windows onto people, although you'll have a hard time feeling special about it.

35

Friday, January 20, 2012

TRELI ON THE TELLY Three cheers are not enough, dear Holmes

THE BBC have really turned up trumps with some great drama in the first three weeks of 2012, led by the fantastic Sherlock, which gave us a gasping cliff-hanger in its last story on Sunday.

Is the great man really dead, a victim of Moriarty? Andrew Scott has been a hoot camping it up as the baddie, and the three new stories we have had are simply not enough!

With Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman so busy with other projects, along with the boss of the show, Steven Moffat, I fear we may have to wait a fair while for some more tales, assuming that Sherlock is alive, that is!

A word as well for the delightful Una Stubbs as the landlady, Mrs. Hudson, who seemed to revel in every scene she was in.

Sunday evening has always been a time for big popular dramas on BBC1, and we’ve seen the start of Call the Midwife, based on the best-selling memoirs of Jennifer

with ALEX TRELINSKI

Is Sherlock Holmes really dead? Maybe Benedict Cumberbatch (left) knows

Worth. Judging from the first episode, this series is ticking many of the right boxes, including nostalgia from the fifties, and a good cast of stalwarts like Pam Ferris and Jenny Agutter, supporting the star, Jessica Raine as the newly qualified midwife, Jenny Lee. I liked the opener a lot, and I predict this will be a big hit, which will probably mean it’ll bomb!

Sadly, last Friday saw the start of the final series of Hustle on BBC1, with creator Tony Jordan deciding to call it a day.

There was nothing original about the first story or Mark, who was a greedy gold dealer, but what makes Hustle so much fun is that you can’t help liking the team of grifters led by Adrian Lester, and you just know that the cast are having a really good time.

Not all TV drama has to be a Downton or Sherlock to be entertaining, which over the years Hustle has succeeded in being. I can’t wait to see one of the original team, Jaime Murray, popping up in the final episode.

I had to blink a few times on Saturday night, as I thought that Jabba the Hut was making an unscheduled appearance on primetime TV. But a caption soon told me that it was in fact a bloated and bald Derek Hobson, who hosted ITV’s New Faces back in the seventies.

He, along with Tony Hatch, was talking about the ground-breaking show as part of ITV 1’s five-part series, Talent Show Story, and a surprisingly enjoyable series it has turned out to be, even though the UK viewing figures are poor.

Hatch, along with his fellow recordproducer, Mickie Most, were part of the first-ever talent show panel on UK TV, generations before anybody had heard of Simon Cowell, and they were not scared to dish out some very honest comments about some of the acts.

Sadly, not many editions of the ATVproduced show have survived, which is a pity, as my favourite moment was when the third hard man of the Most and

THE TEMPEST 12 The sorceress Prospera has been exiled from Milan and lives on a desolate, rocky island in the Mediterranean. Her only companions are her daughter Miranda who has grown up knowing no others; Ariel, a spirit she has ensorcelled to do her bidding; and her Caliban, the island’s original inhabitant that she has enslaved and who hates her. Prospera conjures up a tempest to wreck a passing ship containing Milanese dignitaries. The survivors wash ashore on the island. The unworldwise Miranda

things is how, having set the film up, Julie Taymor otherwise leaves the island a bare landscape. This does lead to a film that is oddly extravagant visually but equally seems to take place almost entirely out of doors, apart from Prospera’s courtyard near the end. Even Prospera’s wardrobe of costumes is peculiarly located out of doors. One thing that must be commended hugely in Julie Taymor’s favour is that she opens the dialogue itself up. Watching Shakespeare film adapta-

CAST: Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Alfred Molina, Djimon Hounsou, David Strathairn DIRECTOR: Julie Taymor GENRE: SciFi/Fantasy, Drama, Romance RATING: 2.5/5 RUNNING TIME: 110 min. meets the young Tempest (1610-1). It comes Ferdinand and the two fall from Julie Taymor who is in love with each other. best known for her work as Caliban discovers two of a theatrical director, she the servants and recruits gaining acclaim for adaptthem into his schemes to ing various classic operas take revenge against and plays and interpreting Prospera.

Meanwhile, them with a great deal of Prospera sends Ariel to visual flair. taunt and terrify the others One of the more interesting as they make their way This dvd review was brought to you by MOVING across the island.

This is a new version of the MOVIES - OVER 7000 DVDS IN STOCK. Delivering all classic William over Spain and the UK Visit www.movingmovies.biz Tel Shakespeare play The 650 751 072 or email movingmoviesdvds@gmail.com

Professor Brian Cox: A top presenter

Hatch trio, TV critic Clifford Davis, gave a zero for ‘Star Quality’ to a useless “Bonnie Langford-style” girl singer barely out of nappies. A sharp edit of the videotape then cut to Hobson, who straight away introduced the next act, and clearly some tears and commotion had been cut out of the final transmission.

It was certainly far too strong for the UK teatime viewers of 1973, but I’d have loved to have seen what actually did happen with no comforting hugs from the likes of Ant and Dec or Dermot O’Leary.

Full credit to Cowell that he has always cited New Faces as the template for his formats and success, but much as I am a Cowell fan, the series has ended up as being undisguised propaganda for him. The clips have been great, but surely it should all have been done in some kind of chronological order, with the oily Hughie Green and Opportunity Knocks kicking things off with that famous ‘Clapometer’. At least we get to see all that in tomorrow night’s third programme!

Two of the best of the new generation of TV presenters are Dara O’Briain and Professor Brian Cox, and it’s been great seeing them in tandem on BBC2’s Stargazing LIVE this week. It’s also been an excellent example of how you can do popular yet informative television, without dumbing down to the level of a primitive caveman.

A quick note if you love a great drama mystery series. One of my favourite shows of 2011 starts a repeat run on the BBC HD Channel tonight at 11.30. I’m talking about The Shadow Line, which will reward you richly if you stay right with it. tions, unless you have memorised or are closely familiar with the text, you often need a set of primer notes to interpret and follow what is being said.

Rather than people coming on a delivering dialogue by memorised rote as you usually get, Julie Taymor has her actors deliver it as though it were everyday dialogue, which certainly makes the play easier to follow.

36

The Courier Friday TV

January 20

00:35 This Week 01:20 Skiing Weatherview 01:25 Countryfile 02:25 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 03:10 Britain's Killer Roads 03:55 You've Been Scammed 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 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain's Empty Homes 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Weather; Regional News 16:05 Deadly 60 16:30 Richard Hammond's Blast Lab: The Experiments 16:35 Wingin' It 17:00 All Over the Place 17:30 The Owl 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Room 101 22:00 Hustle 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 The Graham Norton Show

00:20 01:10 03:10 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:40

Snooker: The Masters Snooker Extra Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Close

05:00 Around the World in 80 Faiths 06:00 Around the World in 80 Faiths 07:00 Little Robots 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Raa Raa the Noisy Lion 07:35 Octonauts 07:45 Dipdap 07:50 Everything's Rosie 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:40 Eliot Kid 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Copycats 09:25 LazyTown 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 The Large Family 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Bob's Mini Projects 10:50 Uki 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Little Charley Bear 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 13:30 Live Snooker: The Masters 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Live Snooker: The Masters 21:00 Mastermind 21:30 On Hannibal's Trail 22:00 Sicily Unpacked 23:00 QI 23:30 Newsnight

00:35 Take Me Out 01:45 ITV News Headlines 01:45 The Zone 03:45 Tonight 04:10 ITV Nightscreen 05:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Safari Vet School 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Law & Order: UK 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 Jaws

00:35 Random Acts 00:40 Coppers 01:45 Curated by Lyle and Scott 02:00 Coming Up: Hooked 02:25 Embarrassing Bodies 03:20 One Minute Past Midnight 03:35 A Guide to Taking a Photo 03:40 Britain AD: King Arthur's Britain 04:35 Chrono-Perambulator 04:45 St Elsewhere 05:35 90210 06:15 Countdown 07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:25 According to Jim 09:20 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:50 Frasier 10:55 Relocation: Phil Down Under 12:00 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 Come Dine with Me 14:05 Vacation, Vacation, Vacation 14:35 Bad Day at Black Rock 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Coach Trip 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:30 4thought.tv 20:35 Come Dine with Me 21:30 New Girl 22:00 The Million Pound Drop Live 23:35 Chris Moyles' Quiz Night

HUSTLE The tricksters discover a valuable Picasso has been stolen, so they try to sell a forgery of the painting back to the original owner - only to come unstuck when Mickey is kidnapped. To rescue their leader, the grifters have to find out who took the original and then steal it back, but with so many fakes and double-crossers lurking behind every corner, they have a challenge on their hands to save Mickey in time. Sheila Hancock, Bill Bailey and Martin Kemp guest star. Postponed from January 13.

00:00 It's All About Amy 01:00 SuperCasino 04:55 HouseBusters 05:20 Michaela's Wild Challenge 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 House Doctor 06:35 House Doctor 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 The WotWots 07:20 City of Friends 07:30 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Castle Farm 07:55 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Mio Mao 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Milkshake! Monkey 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana's Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:15 Secrets in the Walls 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 21:00 World's Toughest Trucker 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Celebrity Wedding Planner

YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE IT...

HANGING AROUND TALK ABOUT OVERKILL The Dutch air force says two of its F-16 jet fighters tried to help police chase a criminal suspect.

Spokesman Olav Spanjer says the jets were about to leave Volkel airbase on a training mission Thursday evening when they heard local police had requested a military jeep to chase a suspect over soggy terrain.

The pilots volunteered to help search using their infrared cameras.

Spanjer conceded last Friday, "It was kind of a long-shot."

The suspect was in a car with stolen license plates that sped away when police tried to pull it over. After an exchange of gunfire, the car crashed into a canal and the man ran away across a field.

In the end, a tip from a suspicious neighbor, and not a high-tech jet, led police to the suspect.

Got any I.D?

Art student Andrzej Sobiepan didn't want to wait decades for his work to appear in museums. So he took matters in his own hands, covertly hanging one of his paintings in a major Polish gallery.

By Wednesday, the young artist was getting plenty of attention after a nationwide TV channel reported on his stunt at the National Museum in the southwestern city of Wroclaw. He told reporters he hoped galleries would give more exhibition space to young artists as a result.

"I decided that I will not wait 30 or 40 years for my works to appear at a place like this," Sobiepan told TVN24. "I want to benefit from them in the here and now."

Sobiepan, a Wroclaw Fine Arts Academy student whose last name means "his own master," said he was inspired by the elusive British graffiti artist known only as Banksy.

His own painting is small, white and green, and partly uses swine leather to show a drooping acacia leaf.

Sobiepan put it up in a room with contemporary Polish art when a guard at the museum was looking the other way. Museum officials didn't notice the new painting for three days.

Museum director Mariusz Hermansdorfer told TVN24 on Wednesday that the action revealed some security breaches, but that he also considered it a "witty artistic happening."

"It has shown that the young generation of artists, unlike their predecessors, wants to see their works in museums," Hermansdorfer said.

The museum has kept the painting on display — in its cafe. It will be offered for sale at Poland's biggest charity auction.

A British man had his passport tattooed on his back and even used the image as an ID to take money out of the bank, he said.

Richard Ashton, 27, had his passport inked on his back while backpacking in Australia in 2006.

“I wanted something to remember my holiday by, but also wanted something patriotic,” he said. “My girlfriend at the time thought I was a bit daft, but eventually she found it hilarious. That seems to be the general reaction.”

The London personal trainer said when he ran out of cash on his trip to Australia, he took off his shirt at a bank to use as ID. “The cashier gave me a strange look. She typed in my name and details after reading my tattoo and allowed me $50.”

37

The Courier Saturday TV

January 21

00:20 The National Lottery Friday Night Draws 00:30 The Ruins 01:55 Weatherview 02:00 Question Time 03:00 MasterChef: The Professionals 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Click 04:45 Newswatch 05:00 BBC News 05:30 On the Road With 06:00 BBC News 06:30 Our World 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Nigel Slater's Simple Suppers 13:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 13:15 Football Focus 14:00 Live Snooker: The Masters 17:30 Final Score 18:15 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 18:35 Winter Wipeout 19:35 The Magicians 20:50 The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins 21:40 Casualty 22:30 Live at the Apollo 23:00 BBC News; Weather 23:20 Match of the Day

00:00 00:05 00:55 02:55

Weather Snooker: The Masters Snooker Extra Click

03:00 03:30 04:00 07:00 07:10 07:25 07:35 07:45 08:00 Lab 08:30 08:40 09:05 09:35 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:25 12:40 13:00 14:35 16:30 17:30 18:30 19:30 20:30 21:00 23:30

BBC News Nicole's Legacy Close Little Robots Zigby Finley the Fire Engine Octonauts Everything's Rosie Richard Hammond's Blast Dennis and Gnasher The Scooby-Doo Show Pixelface Prank Patrol Down Under Deadly 60 Barney's Latin America Animals at Work Trapped Ever After Hacker Time OOglies MOTD Kickabout Whale Rider Fire Down Below Escape to the Country Live Snooker: The Masters Pappano's Essential Tosca Flog It! Dad's Army Live Snooker: The Masters Doubt

01:55 ITV News Headlines 01:55 The Zone 04:00 A Home at the End of the World 05:30 ITV Nightscreen 06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 ITV News 10:35 Richie Rich 12:25 This Morning: Saturday 13:25 Murder, She Wrote 14:30 Murder, She Wrote 15:30 ITV News and Weather 15:44 Meridian Weather 15:45 Animals Do the Funniest Things 16:45 Jurassic Park III 18:30 Meridian News and Weather 18:45 ITV News and Weather 19:00 New You've Been Framed!

19:30 Harry Hill's TV Burp 20:00 Take Me Out 21:15 The Talent Show Story 22:15 The Jonathan Ross Show 23:15 ITV News and Weather 23:29 Meridian Weather 23:30 Celebrity Juice

THE TRANSPORTER 2

Action sequel starring Jason Statham, Alessandro Gassman and Amber Valletta. Slick mercenary Frank Martin has relocated from the French Riviera to Miami, where he's working as a driver for the rich Billings family as a favour to a friend. Developing an unexpected bond with their six-year-old son, Jack, he's forced to take tough action when the boy is kidnapped.

00:35 Rude Tube 01:30 Sideways 03:40 Random Acts 03:45 Home Road Movies 04:00 The Birthday 04:15 My Name Is Earl 04:40 My Name Is Earl 05:00 Hung 05:30 St Elsewhere 06:20 Countdown 07:05 Sali Mali 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 Freesports on 4 08:25 GT Academy 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 Everybody's Talking About 10:25 Live and Lost 10:55 The Big Bang Theory 11:25 Desperate Scousewives 12:25 The Simpsons 12:55 New Girl 13:25 Playing It Straight 14:25 The Big Bang Theory 14:55 Channel 4 Racing 17:20 Channel 4 Presents - Will Bayley 2012 17:25 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Channel 4 News 19:00 4thought.tv 19:05 Fame 21:15 The Million Pound Drop Live 22:50 The Transporter 2

00:00 Celebrity Big Brother 00:35 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:15 SuperCasino 04:55 Motorsport Mundial 05:20 Michaela's Wild Challenge 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 House Doctor 06:35 House Doctor 07:00 Peppa Pig 07:05 Roary the Racing Car 07:15 Fifi and the Flowertots 07:25 Fireman Sam 07:40 Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs 07:50 Castle Farm 07:55 Igam Ogam 08:05 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:15 The Milkshake! Show 08:30 Make Way for Noddy 08:45 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:55 Little Princess 09:10 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Angelina Ballerina 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Mr Men Show 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 11:00 Animal Rescue Squad 11:20 It's All About Amy 12:20 Celebrity Big Brother 13:20 Celebrity Big Brother 13:50 Along Came Polly 15:30 55 Days at Peking 18:30 Joe Kidd 20:10 5 News Weekend 20:15 NCIS 21:15 Celebrity Big Brother 22:15 Made of Honor

38

The Courier Sunday TV

January 22

00:45 The Football League Show 02:00 Weatherview 02:05 BBC News 02:30 On the Road With 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 Nicole's Legacy 07:00 Breakfast 08:30 Match of the Day 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 The Big Questions 12:00 Country Tracks 13:00 Sunday Politics 14:00 EastEnders 15:55 The Royal Bodyguard 16:25 Escape to the Country 17:25 Songs of Praise 18:00 Olympic Dreams

01:10 Snooker Extra 03:10 Close 07:00 Little Robots 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Octonauts 07:45 Everything's Rosie 08:00 Richard Hammond's Blast Lab 08:30 Dennis and Gnasher 08:40 The Owl 08:40 The Scooby-Doo Show 09:05 Paradise Cafe 09:30 Wingin' It 09:30 Diddy Dick & Dom 10:00 Friday Download 11:00 Something for the Weekend 12:30 The High and the Mighty 14:50 Live Snooker: The Masters 17:45 Ski Sunday 18:30 Porridge 19:00 The Last Explorers 20:00 The Many Faces of Les Dawson 21:00 Live Snooker: The Masters

00:15 Inside I'm Dancing 02:05 The Zone 04:05 In Plain Sight 04:50 ITV Nightscreen 06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 10:25 ITV News 10:30 Ade in Britain 11:30 Dinner Date 12:30 Dickinson's Real Deal 13:30 ITV News and Weather 13:39 Meridian Weather 13:40 Murder, She Wrote 14:45 Columbo: Requiem for a Falling Star 16:45 Vera 18:40 Meridian News and Weather 18:55 ITV News and Weather 19:10 Dancing on Ice 21:30 Wild at Heart 22:30 Dancing on Ice: The Skate Off 23:00 That Sunday Night Show 23:30 ITV News and Weather 23:44 Meridian Weather 23:45 Alexander

127 HOURS

18:30 Antiques Roadshow 19:30 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Call the Midwife 22:00 Birdsong 23:25 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 23:45 Match of the Day 2

Drama based on a true story, directed by Danny Boyle and starring James Franco. While solo climbing in the Utah canyons, Aron Ralston falls into a crevasse and becomes trapped by a falling boulder.

As time slips by, he resigns himself to the fact that his survival depends on resorting to desperate measures.

00:30 03:05 03:20 03:35 04:25 05:05 05:30 06:25 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:30 08:35 09:00 09:50 12:20 12:55 13:55 14:35 15:05 17:25 18:25 18:55 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:50

The Abyss The Island Abductees St Elsewhere 90210 Force of Nature Lost Buildings of Britain Countdown The Hoobs The Hoobs Freesports on 4 Channel 4 Presents That Paralympic Show One Tree Hill Hollyoaks The Big Bang Theory Shipwrecked The Simpsons The Simpsons Ladyhawke Deal or No Deal Channel 4 News 4thought.tv Time Team Hugh's Three Hungry Boys The Hotel 127 Hours Chris Moyles' Quiz Night

00:10 Celebrity Wedding Planner 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 Roary the Racing Car 07:15 Fifi and the Flowertots 07:25 Fireman Sam 07:40 Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs 07:50 Castle Farm 07:55 Igam Ogam 08:05 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:15 The Milkshake! Show 08:35 Make Way for Noddy 08:45 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:55 Little Princess 09:05 Olivia 09:20 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Angelina Ballerina 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Mr Men Show 10:30 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 11:00 Zoo Days 11:05 Meerkat Manor 11:35 Grey's Anatomy 12:30 Celebrity Big Brother 13:30 Benidorm ER 14:30 Police Academy 3: Back in Training 16:05 Little Man 17:55 Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls 19:40 Spider-Man 22:05 World's 22:55 5 News 23:00 Celebrity Big Brother

39

The Courier Monday TV

January 23

00:55 Room 101 - Extra Storage 01:35 Weatherview 01:40 Film 2012 with Claudia Winkleman 02:20 Holby City 03:20 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 04:05 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 05:05 Newsday 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain's Empty Homes 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Weather; Regional News 16:05 The Big Performance 16:35 Wingin' It 17:00 All Over the Place 17:30 The Owl 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 Inside Out 21:00 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 The Royal Bodyguard 22:30 Mrs Brown's Boys 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 A Question of Sport

00:00 00:30 01:00 02:40 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 05:10

Frank Skinner's Opinionated Fast and Loose Jacknife Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Close

07:00 Little Robots 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Octonauts 07:45 Dipdap 07:50 Everything's Rosie 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:40 Eliot Kid 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Remote Control Star 09:25 LazyTown 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 The Large Family 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Bob's Mini Projects 10:50 Louie 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Chuggington: Badge Quest 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live Bowls 16:00 Helicopter Heroes 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Baking Made Easy 20:30 A Question of Taste 21:00 University Challenge 21:30 An Island Parish 22:00 The Real Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines: A Wonderland Film 23:00 Mock the Week 23:30 Weather

02:45 ITV News Headlines 03:00 Ladette to Lady: Australia 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 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Cornwall with Caroline Quentin 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Above Suspicion 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 That Sunday Night Show

PARTY PARAMEDICS Documentary following paramedics and volunteers as they travel around Colchester, Essex, on the `booze bus', dealing with the town's binge drinkers.

Funded by local bars and clubs, the service deals with everything from accidental falls, to the aftermath of alcohol-and-drug-fuelled fights. Thousands of revellers head to the town at the weekend, and it is left to the SOS team to pick up the pieces.

00:40 80s 02:35 03:05 03:35 03:45 04:35 05:15 06:10 06:55 07:00 07:10 07:35 08:00 08:30 08:55 09:25 09:55 10:55 12:00 13:00 13:05 Away 14:05 14:10 14:30 16:10 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:55 21:00 22:00 23:00

Ben Elton: Laughing at the Coming Up: Geronimo Hallo Panda A Film from My Parish St Elsewhere 90210 Lost Buildings of Britain Countdown Sali Mali The Treacle People The Hoobs The Hoobs Freshly Squeezed According to Jim Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Undercover Boss USA Phil Spencer: Secret Agent Secret Location Channel 4 News Summary A Place in the Sun: Home or Channel 4 Presents River Cottage Bites Passport to Pimlico Countdown Deal or No Deal Celebrity Coach Trip Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News 4thought.tv SuperScrimpers Coppers Party Paramedics

00:00 Single White Female 02:10 SuperCasino 05:00 County Secrets 05:10 Great Scientists 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 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Castle Farm 08:00 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana's Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 16:15 Jane Doe: Ties that Bind 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 World's Toughest Trucker 21:00 Police Interceptors 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Celebrity Wedding Planner

40

The Courier Tuesday TV

January 24

00:05 Late Kick Off 00:35 The Graham Norton Show 01:20 Weatherview 01:25 Who Do You Think You Are? 02:25 MasterChef: The Professionals 02:55 You've Been Scammed 03:40 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 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 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain's Empty Homes 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Weather; Regional News 16:05 The Big Performance 16:35 Wingin' It 17:00 All Over the Place 17:30 The Owl 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 BBC News; Regional News 21:00 Holby City 22:00 MasterChef 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Death Row Dogs

00:20 01:20 02:20 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:40

American Football Bowls Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Close

05:00 Blethering Scots 05:30 Blethering Scots 06:00 Scots Scuil 07:00 Little Robots 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Octonauts 07:45 Dipdap 07:50 Everything's Rosie 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:40 Eliot Kid 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Remote Control Star 09:25 LazyTown 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 The Large Family 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Bob's Mini Projects 10:50 Louie 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Chuggington: Badge Quest 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live Bowls 16:00 Helicopter Heroes 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Escape to the Country 20:30 Match of the Day Live 23:00 Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience 23:30 Newsnight

00:10 Law & Order: UK 01:05 River Monsters 01:30 ITV News Headlines 03:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 04:30 ITV Nightscreen 05:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Farewell Becky 21:00 The Exit List 22:00 The Biggest Loser 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 Benidorm

THE FAT FIGHTERS The trainers focus on exercises to get their clients' legs into shape. Tamaya Adams turns her attention to Susan, a 36-year-old woman with poor self-confidence who has tried a range of diets over the years to keep her weight under control. However, though she sheds the pounds quickly, Tamaya is concerned about her eating habits, and tries to teach her how to diet healthily.

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

Random Acts Shameless The Joy of Teen Sex Embarrassing Bodies Undressing My Mother Brain Damage St Elsewhere 90210 Designers Under Pressure Rome: The Model Empire Lost Buildings of Britain Sali Mali The Treacle People The Hoobs The Hoobs Freshly Squeezed According to Jim Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Undercover Boss USA Phil Spencer: Secret Agent Secret Location Channel 4 News Summary A Place in the Sun: Home or River Cottage Blithe Spirit Countdown Deal or No Deal Celebrity Coach Trip Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News 4thought.tv The Fat Fighters 15 Kids and Counting Shameless

00:00 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 Kate Thornton - Anorexic: My Secret Past 02:00 SuperCasino 05:00 Animal Rescue Squad 05:10 Grey's Anatomy 06:00 County Secrets 06:10 House Doctor 06:35 House Doctor 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 The WotWots 07:20 City of Friends 07:35 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Castle Farm 08:00 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana's Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Miami 16:15 Uncorked 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Police Interceptors 21:00 Cowboy Builders 22:00 Body of Proof 23:00 Celebrity Big Brother

41

The Courier Wednesday TV

January 25

00:30 Open Range 02:40 Weatherview 02:45 The Manor Reborn 03:45 Nature's Miracle Babies 04:45 MasterChef: The Professionals 05:45 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain's Empty Homes 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Weather; Regional News 16:05 The Big Performance 16:35 Deadly 60 Bites 17:00 All Over the Place 17:30 My Life: Boy Racers 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News Programmes 20:00 The One Show 20:30 BBC News: Regional News 21:00 DIY SOS: The Big Build 22:00 MasterChef 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 The National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Film 2012 with Claudia Winkleman

00:20 01:20 02:20 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45

Royal Institution Lectures Bowls Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today

05:00 Seriously Raleigh 06:00 After Life: Rot Box Detectives 07:00 Little Robots 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Octonauts 07:45 Dipdap 07:50 Everything's Rosie 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:40 Eliot Kid 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Remote Control Star 09:25 LazyTown 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 The Large Family 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Bob's Mini Projects 10:50 Louie 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Chuggington: Badge Quest 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 See Hear 14:30 Live Bowls 16:00 Helicopter Heroes 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 21:00 Natural World 22:00 The Crusades 23:00 Have I Got News for You 23:30 Weather

00:35 Homes from Hell 2009 01:30 ITV News Headlines 04:00 Crossing Jordan 04:50 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 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 The National Television Awards 2012 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 The Constant Gardener

THE NATIONAL TELEVISION AWARDS 2012

Dermot O'Leary hosts the star-studded ceremony celebrating the best of British TV over the past year, as the biggest names on the small screen gather at the O2 for the results of a nationwide poll across 14 categories.

00:05 Desperate Housewives 01:00 Random Acts 01:05 Poker 02:10 Sailing 02:35 KOTV Boxing Weekly 03:05 Volleyball 04:00 GT Academy 04:25 That Paralympic Show 04:55 Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby GB Cup 2011 05:50 European Wheelchair Fencing Championships 2011 06:15 Scrapheap Challenge 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Undercover Boss USA 10:55 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 12:00 Secret Location 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 14:05 River Cottage Bites 14:25 The Belles of St Trinian's 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Celebrity Coach Trip 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 How to Cook Like Heston 21:30 The Fabulous Baker Brothers 22:00 One Born Every Minute 23:00 The Channel 4 Mash Up 23:35 Run Fatboy Run

00:00 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 Celebrity Wedding Planner 02:00 SuperCasino 04:55 HouseBusters 05:20 Michaela's Wild Challenge 05:45 Michaela's Wild Challenge 06:10 House Doctor 06:35 House Doctor 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 The WotWots 07:20 City of Friends 07:35 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Castle Farm 08:00 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:40 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana's Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: Miami 16:10 Honeymoon with Mom 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Cowboy Builders 21:00 Benidorm ER 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Jodie Marsh - Bullied: My Secret Past

42

The Courier Thusday TV

January 26

00:25 National Lottery Update 01:10 In Her Defense 02:45 Weatherview 02:50 See Hear 03:20 Country Tracks 04:15 MasterChef: The Professionals 05:15 Newsday 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Wanted Down Under 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Saints and Scroungers 12:45 Britain's Empty Homes 13:13 BBC News; Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 BBC News; Weather 14:30 Regional News and Weather 14:45 Doctors 15:15 Escape to the Country 16:00 BBC News; Weather; Regional News 16:05 The Big Performance 16:35 Wingin' It 17:00 All Over the Place 17:30 The Owl 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 BBC News; Regional News 21:00 Earthflight 22:00 Crimewatch 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 Crimewatch Update 23:45 Question Time

00:20 Royal Institution Lectures 01:20 Bowls 02:20 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 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Key Stage 4 History Curriculum Bites - International

Relations 1919-1939 06:00 Keeping Loch Lomond 06:30 The Code 07:00 Little Robots 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Finley the Fire Engine 07:35 Octonauts 07:45 Dipdap 07:50 Everything's Rosie 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:40 Eliot Kid 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Remote Control Star 09:25 LazyTown 09:50 Lulu Zipadoo 10:05 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:20 The Large Family 10:35 Guess with Jess 10:45 Bob's Mini Projects 10:50 Louie 10:55 Same Smile 11:10 Chuggington: Badge Quest 11:15 64 Zoo Lane 11:30 Wibbly Pig 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Live Bowls 16:00 Helicopter Heroes 16:45 Flog It! 17:30 Perfection 18:15 Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 Great British Railway Journeys 20:00 Hairy Bikers' Best of British 21:00 Saxon Hoard: A Golden Discovery 22:00 Putin, Russia & the West 23:00 Never Mind the Buzzcocks 23:30 Weather

01:50 ITV News Headlines 03:55 Frantic 05:55 ITV Nightscreen 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 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:00 The Alan Titchmarsh Show 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 The Hungry Sailors 18:00 The Chase 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Tonight 21:00 Emmerdale 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Eternal Law 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 The Jonathan Ross Show

JAPANS TSUNAMI: CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Amateur footage and eyewitness accounts telling the story of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that caused devastation in Japan in March 2011.

The film also discovers how the country dealt with the aftermath of these natural disasters, as people struggled to rebuild their lives and communities.

01:30 Random Acts 01:35 Launched at Red Bull Studios 01:50 Launched at Red Bull Studios 02:05 Curated by Lyle and Scott 02:20 Professor Green Unseen: After Hours 02:50 4Play: Beardyman 03:00 That Riviera Touch 04:45 St Elsewhere 05:30 Force of Nature 06:00 Gone Fishing 06:15 Countdown 07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 The Hoobs 08:00 Freshly Squeezed 08:30 According to Jim 08:55 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 09:55 Undercover Boss USA 10:55 Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 12:00 Secret Location 13:00 Channel 4 News Summary 13:05 A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 14:10 The Third Man 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Celebrity Coach Trip 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 4thought.tv 21:00 Location, Location, Location 22:00 The Restoration Man 23:00 Japan's Tsunami: Caught on Camera

00:00 Celebrity Big Brother 00:30 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:30 Poker: The Big Game 02:30 SuperCasino 04:55 HouseBusters 05:20 Nick's Quest 05:45 Nick's Quest 06:10 House Doctor 06:35 House Doctor 07:00 Thomas & Friends 07:10 The WotWots 07:20 City of Friends 07:35 Jelly Jamm 07:45 Peppa Pig 07:50 Castle Farm 08:00 Little Princess 08:10 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 08:20 The Mr Men Show 08:35 Thomas & Friends 08:45 Noddy in Toyland 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Milkshake! Monkey 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Hana's Helpline 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 LIVE with Gabby 12:40 5 News Lunchtime 12:45 Celebrity Big Brother 13:45 Celebrity Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 CSI: NY 16:10 Bridge of Time 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Building the Ice Hotel 21:00 World's 22:00 Celebrity Big Brother 23:00 Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side

43

Friday, January 20, 2012

AWNINGS

ACCOMODATION Small, economic family run hotel, situated on the CV951, San Miguel de Salinas. Modern air-conditioned and ensuite rooms available, 35 € per room, per night. Call 966 842 070 for reservations. (48)

ACCOUNTANTS

contact Reverend Eddie on 966 7693 00 or 650 509 606. Reg No:2009-SG/A

Are you running a business?

Let us simplify things for you – accountancy, taxes, payroll services and more. We cater for companies and individuals. Established in 1984 on the Costa Blanca. Call us on 966 923 963 for your first consultation free of charge. (48)

CARS FOR SALE

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES EXCELLENT RECESSION PROOF BUSINESS WITH NO OVERHEADS AND ALL CASH. 5 COLD DRINK VENDING MACHINES €24,900. 25 PRINGLE MACHINES €14,900, ALL WITH GUARANTEED SITES. 619 307 318. (52) Huge Bar Restaurant with 6 room Hotel FOR RENT Very popular place only 36,000 euro for the whole year - NO MONTHLY RENT TO PAY! Call 651 885 200

AIR CONDITIONING

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

Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday services 11am. Children's church 11am. House groups in Torrevieja, Los Balcones, San Javier.

Ladies meeting Thursdays 11am.

Craft club, Tuesdays, 2pm. Pastor, Rafael Restrepo.

All nationalities welcome. Call 966 799 273 or 660 127 276.

Pilar Christian Community Church Calle Canalejas 3.

Pilar de la Horadada.

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

Home groups meet during the week. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information contact Pilar ChristianCommunity Church@gmail.com or

Try Professional Business Support for your quick quote for car insurance.

Excellent prices for expats, all policies available in English or German. We will call you back with a price. 966 923 963 Looking for a car? We have a good selection of LHD & RHD vehicles for sale or exchange. Simply view our easy to use website www.fwreurocars.com or Telephone 600 726 221 - 965687976 Ford Fiesta 1.4, 2003 5dr, 72,000 kms, stunning only 3950 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Ford Ka 1.3, Nov 2006, 53,000 kms, fsh, 4250 euros Tel 600 726 221 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Ford Fusion 1.6 plus, 2005, 49,000 kms, 5950 euros Tel 600 726 221 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Peugeot 307cc cabrio 2.0 auto/tip 2008, 48,000 kms, fsh, 14,250 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com

Ford Focus 1.6, 2006, 52,000 kms 7,600 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Renault Clio 1.2 5 door, bargain, 1950 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com BMW Compact 318, 2750 euros Tel 600 726 221 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Seat Ibiza, 1.9 TDI Cupra Sport 160 BHP, Oct 2007, 37,000 kms, fsh, 7,750 euros Tel 600 726 221 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Alfa Romeo 166 T-Spark, Nov 2001, 92,000 kms, 2950 Tel 600 726 221 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Honda CRV 4 X 4 RHD, Spanish registered 2001, 51,000 miles, fully equipped, 3450 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Lexus RX300 4 X 4 auto, 2003, 12,450 euros Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Good selection of RHD vehicles FOR SALE or EXCHANGE Tel 600 726 221 - 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com

FOR SALE Two orange gas cylinders.

One full, one half full. 25€ each or 45€ for pair. Tel: 672192482. Santiago de la Ribera.

Kymco Zing 125cc chopper style motorbike. Year 2000. 5768km. ITV July 2012. 400 euros. Tel 622 208 934. Two helmets included. (49)

For all your insurance needs, ie.home, car, health, funeral, travel, etc Excellent cover from Spain´s 5th biggest insurance company, “CASER”.

Policies available in English and German. Call Professional Business Support on 966 923 963 for a quick quote from a real person/our friendly staff.

MEDICAL Make the most of private health care and private hospitals, we have great cover and a two tier pricing system to suit your age and pocket. All policies in English, many English speaking doctors or free translators at your service.

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

Caser Health Care .

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Viva Villa and Vacation Services, For Short or Long Term Rentals visit: www.villaandvacation.com or Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 TipTop Villa Care, for all your property needs. Meet and Greets. Cleaning.

Holiday and Long Term Rentals. Advertising. Baby Equipment Hire. www.tiptopvillacare.com e-mail linda@tiptopvillacare.com Tel 667848582 (50)

PROPERTY FOR RENT COSTA BLANCA SOUTH LONG TERM RENTALS ROLDAN LARGE DETACHED VILLA available furnished or UNFURNISHED Near to town centre and schools. Ideal for La Torre Golf Resort and Kings College. linda@tiptopvillacare.com or call Tel 667848582 www.tiptopvillacare.com (50) LONG TERM RENTALS (ALICANTE region) FORMENTERA de la SEGURA. NEAR ROJALES. Sunny and Bright 2 bedroom apartment. Large Terrace with BBQ. Walking distance to Town Centre 350€/mth* Linda 667848582 (50) Punta Prima 3 bed 2 bath apartment. 20m2 fully glazes balcony. Gated appartment. 400€ per month. Beautiful sea views. 5 mins to beach, bars and shops. 966 703 297. (48) 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 term only. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

COMPUTERS

BLINDS / AWNINGS

Architect

ALARMS

INSURANCE

CARPENTER

CAR HIRE

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

FUNERAL SERVICES

AUCTION

CAR MECHANIC

44

Friday, January 20, 2012

Ref: 63, Two bedroom 1st floor apartment situated in Monino Blanco. The property overlooks a superb communal pool area, in within walking distance of bars, restaurants and shops. Short or long term rental available. €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

CREATIVE CONCRETE

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: 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 chairs,

FURNITURE

DAMP PROOFING

HEATING

FISHING

ENERGY SAVER

FAST BROADBAND

ELECTRICIAN

NEWS AGENTS

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 (48)

PROPERTY FOR SALE Excellent cover for your house and home, includes travel assistance for when you go away. Interesting prices for expats; policies available in English or German. Call 966 923 963 for a quote.

BEACH HOUSE 1 street from beach. LOS NAREJOS 3 bedroom 2 bathroom Townhouse HUGE BASEMENT, currently set out as GYM and DOUBLE bedroom. 175,000€. Linda 667848582 (50) BARGAIN 199,950 CEHEGIN 1 hour San Javier Airport. 40 mins. Corvera.

5 bedroom 2 bath FINCA with over 5,000m2 plot.

Stunning. Tel. 667848 582 (50)

HOUSE CLEARANCES

GARDENING

PLUMBERS

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, 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

MASSAGE

PETS

SECURITY

SEWING

LOCKSMITH

Advertise here for only a fiver!

45

Friday, January 20, 2012 Calling all serious Buyers.

I have a 5 bed, 4 bath, 2 kitchens, 2 lounges, detached Villa with self-filling 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 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

PLASTERER

PERSONAL

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 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

SIGN WRITING

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 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

REMOVALS

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 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 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

TRANSLATOR

SOLICITORS 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. (48)

WIG SPECIALIST SALON MARGARETHAS, 23 years in Torrevieja Hair/Wig specialist for Medical illness and Hair Loss problems. We offer different Hair Replacements, top fillers, Hair prostheses, Toupees and Wigs, Natural and Artificial hair and much more. Also fashion/festival accessories TV/TS are welcome to our service.

Please call our salon reception for an appointment with Margaretha on Tel no 966 921 846 Torrevieja (51)

WANTED

REMOVALS SINGLES

SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE

NEW VENTURE - Meet interesting individuals for friendships, socialising, trips etc. Single people only - all nationalities - all ages. Santa Pola. For more info call Sarah 680173140. (48)

Recovery & Breakdown Services

46

Thursday, January 20, 2012

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

A frown like Alliss

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE THOUGHTFUL SIDE OF GOLF? IT WAS interesting to hear Peter Alliss complain, and rightly so, that “nobody lets anyone through any more.”

He was commentating on a group of two top professionals waiting for a ruling on a Par 3. It’s quite normal to wait for the match referee to adjudicate on a question of rules, but in this case the next group, including the tournament leader, were waiting on the tee.

It was quite obvious that up on the green it did not enter anybody’s mind to call the group through - and for those who observe some of the more selfish elements of pro golf, it comes as no surprise.

The problem is, of course, that everything seen on television is mirrored at amateur level.

There might be an excuse for pros playing for loads of money, but there is no reason why club golfers should not be more thoughtful to those playing behind.

The game of golf is based on honesty and consideration, which are honed into its traditions, so let’s not follow these poor examples set by those who really should know better.

Under the same heading as Slow Play, that dreaded scourge of golf, comes Etiquette, another thing that sometimes irritates me to a high score (any excuse).

How often do we see holiday golfers turning up in beach shorts and vests?

Where have the standards gone?

If they do not know how to dress properly, do they really know how to play golf?

It appears that anything goes now at golf courses and although they say you have to show a handicap certificate, how often does that actually happen?

Now I am not saying we

Peter Alliss

Mini golf at Benidorm - for those who want to dress for the beach

should resort to Draconian methods as at some clubs in England, where everything is barred, apart from a blazer, tie and long socks, if you wear shorts on the one hot day in summer.

But etiquette is something different. It is courtesy, understanding other players’ needs, the traditions of golf. This is where golf clubs and tour operators should take a lead by ensuring that players are dressed correctly, have a good understanding of golf and appreciate the etiquet-

te of golf.

If they want to dress for the beach to swing a club, there is always the mini golf at Benidorm.

So, coming back, I do think that dress codes, sensible ones, should be adhered to. This in turn would lead to a better understanding of golf and its traditions.

Talking of dress codes reminds me of the traveller who got lost in the Sahara Desert.

Realising his only chance of survival was to find civilisation, he started to walk.

Time passed and he became very thirsty; more time passed and he began feeling faint.

He was on the verge of falling unconscious when he came across a Bedouin tent. Barely conscious, he called out, “Water, water…”

A Bedouin appeared and brandished a superb range

of colourful silk ties.

“I have no water, but would you like to buy a tie?” he said.

“You fool,” gasped the man, “I’m dying of thirst! I need water!”

“If you really need water, there is a tent about two kilometres over there where you can get some,” replied the Bedouin.

The man summoned up all of his remaining strength to drag his parched body the two kilometres to the second tent.

With his last ounce of strength, he pulled at the door of the tent and collapsed in a heap at the feet of an immaculately dressed Bedouin, who enquired: “May I help you sir?”

“Water…” was the feeble reply.

“Oh, sir,” replied the Bedouin, “I’m sorry but you can’t come in here without a tie!”

2012 RULE CHANGES

RULE 1-2. Exerting Influence on Movement of Ball or Altering Physical Conditions The Rule is amended to establish more clearly that, if a player intentionally takes an action to influence the movement of a ball or to alter physical conditions affecting the playing of a hole in a way that is not permitted by the Rules, Rule 1-2 applies only when the action is not already covered in another Rule. For example, a player improving the lie of his ball is in breach of Rule 13-2 and therefore that Rule would apply, whereas a player intentionally improving the lie of a fellow-competitor’s ball is not a situation covered

by Rule 13-2 and, therefore, is governed by Rule 1-2.

Rule 6-3a. Time of Starting Rule 6-3a is amended to provide that the penalty for starting late, but within five minutes of the starting time, is reduced from disqualification to loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Previously this penalty reduction could be introduced as a condition of competition.

Rule 12-1. Seeing Ball; Searching for Ball. Rule 12-1 is reformatted for clarity. In addition, it is amended to (i) permit a player to search for his ball anywhere on the course when it may be covered by sand and to clarify that there is no penalty if the ball is moved in these circumstances, and (ii) apply a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a if a player moves his ball in a hazard when searching for it when it is believed to be covered by loose impediments.

Rule 13-4. Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 is amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from that hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 is not breached.

Rule 18-2b. Ball Moving After Address. A new Exception is added that exonerates the player from penalty if his ball moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that he did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.

Rule 19-1. Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped; By Outside Agency. The note is expanded to prescribe the various outcomes when a ball in motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by an outside agency.

Rule 20-7c. Playing from Wrong Place; Stroke Play. Note 3 is amended so that if a player is to be penalised for playing from a wrong place, in most cases the penalty will be limited to two strokes, even if another Rule has been breached prior to his making the stroke.

Appendix IV. A new Appendix is added to prescribe general regulations for the design of devices and other equipment, such as tees, gloves and distance measuring devices.

5. Distance-Measuring Devices (Rule 14-3). During a stipulated round, the use of any distance measuring device is not permitted unless the Committee has introduced a Local Rule to that effect (see Note to Rule 14-3 and Appendix I; Part B; Section 9).

Even when the Local Rule is in effect, the device must be limited to measuring distance only. Features that would render use of the device contrary to the Local Rule include, but are not limited to: l The gauging or measuring of slope; l The gauging or measuring of other conditions that might affect play (e.g. wind speed or direction, or other climate-based information such as temperature, humidity, etc.) lRecommendations that might assist the player in making a stroke or in his play (e.g. club selection, type of shot to be played, green reading or any other advice related matter); or l Calculating the effective distance between two points based on slope or other conditions affecting shot distance.

Such non-conforming features render use of the device contrary to the Rules, irrespective of whether or not: l The features can be switched off or disengaged; and l The features are switched off or disengaged.

A multi-functional device, such as a smartphone or PDA, may be used as a distance measuring device provided it contains a distance measuring application that meets all of the above limitations (i.e. it must measure distance only).

In addition, when the distance measuring application is being used, there must be no other features or applications installed on the device that, if used, would be in breach of the Rules, whether or not they are actually used.

I hope that explains it but for a copy of the Rules of Golf go onto the website; http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-AmateurStatus/New-Rules-2012.aspx and scroll down to the bottom.

47

Thursday, January 20, 2012

A COLD WIND

Suicidal football stars get no sympathy for our outspoken football reporter. The Bottman has been there himself...and without the money PARDON ME if I don't shed too many tears over suicidal footballers.

Following on from the sad case of Gary Speed, we have Dean Windass telling all and sundry about how he attempted suicide twice in two hours because he couldn't knock around with his footballing mates any more on the training ground and pitch.

Windass scored the goal that took his hometown club Hull City into the Premier League a few years back, but he has since retired and now says he had trouble getting out of bed afterwards and just went down the pub. He lost his wife and family, went off with another woman, not necessarily in that order, spent most of his dough after bringing in more than half a million a year, then tried

to top himself.

Dean He took pills and then Windass: when that failed tied a Tried to kill bedsheet to the stairs rail. himself The sheet was too long, though, and after tying it around his neck, he didn't have enough stairs left to jump off. He was drunk at the time, I might add.

Now we all have our emotional and mental problems. I tried the old early euthanasia stunt way back in 1998 after losing my job, car, house and wife and two kids in the space of a week.

I'm still here too (more's the pity, I hear echoing around the globe) and I won't be trying it again. But Windass really had me in

stitches when he declared that everyone thinks moneybags Premier League footballers have it made on all fronts - until they

stop playing.

Money, girls, houses, cars. You name it, if they want it they can have it. But the key to it all came in a simple sentence when Dean admitted a lot of his kind are not the brightest buttons in the box.

There's no excuse for not having common sense unless you really do have a mental health problem that prevents you from learning ANYTHING. So next time Dean - or any other moaning ex-pro for that matter - contemplates the exit door, he should get himself down to a place of learning i.e the local library, for instance, and drink at the fount of all knowledge. It's free, too, so even if you have blown your millions on wine, women and song, it’s not too late to start again.

Can ANYONE afford Tevez?

THE Carlos Tevez saga rumbles on with Inter now joining the interested parties, following on from city rivals AC Milan.

There was even a whisper that Tevez might yet stay at Manchester City - and as he may well be asking for up to £250,000 a week wages from any new employer, that is hardly surprising. Nobody can afford him!

Didier Drogba might be a better option for any club wanting a big, powerful, tried and trusted striker who still has a bit left in the tank.

That wily old fox Carlo Ancelotti is set to return to Stamford Bridge with a bid for the Drog after cheekily telling Andre Villas-Boas and Roman Abramovich that Chelsea MUST sell the Ivorian to leave the way free for £50 million flop Fernando Torres.

Torres is trying hard, but like those kids in the classroom, must do better! Carlo just wants to help things along by leaving Fernando as the only choice up front alongside Daniel Sturridge - if he stays - as Nicolas Anelka is definitely going, too.

Things at Old Trafford seem to have quietened down as far as Wayne Rooney leaving is concerned. But never say never and there are still 11 days to go to the transfer window cut-off point.

United have other problems in that a gaggle of their promising kids are demanding outrageous new contracts. In the past, Fergie would simply show them the door if they persisted - but these days it’s the players and their agents who appear to be calling the shots, so Fergie may have met his match in the transfer dealing stakes.

Danny Wellbeck, Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison are the three players said to be holding out for big-money deals.

Now Wellbeck has proved his worth and people are raving about French youth skipper Pogba and local lad Morrison, even though they have yet to play serious senior football for United.

Fergie should remember that there are loads of kids down at the local park with the talent, should he fail to bring any through from the current crop in the United Academy teams

and upwards.

He needs to get down to the rec and grab the best before they get agents and start demanding more than a fridge for Mum and a BMW for Dad as signing sweeteners.

Oh Danny joy...then it’s sieve and let die for sad Orihuela THE weekend began well for ITV Orihuela RFC with victories for their cadet and juvenile teams.

The cadets fought back from 7-0 down at half-time to win 14-7 against Elche. And the juveniles triumphed 2517 at home to UCAM Murcia.

So when Danny landed a penalty to put the senior side ahead against league leaders UCAM, Orihuela looked on course for an impressive hat-trick of wins.

But UCAM showed why they are at the top, breaking down a very resilient Orihuela defence to go in at the break 14-3 up. It could have been different had the home attack taken their chances and had got the ball out wide with the overlaps – but the second half is probably best forgotten.

Orihuela came out with their defence more holed than a sieve, which was a shame after the excellent work in the first half. And UCAM Murcia ran out comfortable winners 52-3.

On February 24-26, ITV Orihuela RFC will have their usual No.7 stand at the “This is Spain exhibition” at La

Zenia Hotel, supporting as always The Butterfly Children.

The new rugby union supporters club at the Steak House in Rojales will be showing all televised rugby games on Sky Sports and free to view channels. This weekend features the Heineken Cup, starting tonight (Friday).

Tomorrow, Saturday January 21, ITV Orihuela juveniles and seniors entertain San Javier at the start of the second round of league games (4pm).

The club trains on Tuesday and Thursday at the Miguel Hernandez University. Juniors at 6.15pm, juveniles and seniors starting at 8.30.

More information from Garry on 692 767 242, and (juniors) Oscar on 600 871 606 (Spanish).

RESULTS: ITV Vega Baja 3 UCAM Murcia 52; Albacete 21 XV Murcia 21; Lorca 19 Squalos San Javier 0; Gegants Novelda 7 Cartagena 34.

LEAGUE TABLE (9ª Jornada)

48

Friday, January 20, 2012

PURE (G)OLD!

Scholes and Henry roll back the years IT used to be crown green bowls and dominoes that were regarded as games for old men. Now it's Premier League football!

Paul Scholes and Thierry Henry rolled back the years to return for Manchester United and Arsenal at an age when some guys are already grandads!

Now don't get me wrong. I love a game of doms myself and travel a fair distance to play competitively.

But I would think more than twice about donning a pair of football boots and trying to match the best in the business at the grand old age of 56!

I gave up footie at around 35, then tried a comeback in my forties with a bunch of colleagues half my age - and nearly collapsed after 30 seconds in an airless gym in Newcastle!

Scholesy actually scored a goal in United’s 3-0 win against Bolton - but then again I always knew he had

STEVE BOTT reports

it in him - from the cradle to the grave!

He comes from Middleton, the same town as I do, and I first came across him at my local cricket club.

I stood on the pavilion terrace watching a gang of young kids kicking a football around the edge of the field after the cricket match had finished.

A little ginger-haired lad received the ball at one end of the gaggle and proceeded to dribble his way two-footed through the lot of them in scintillating fashion.

I shouted out at no-one in particular: "Who’s that?"

A young lad next to me said: "That's Paul Scholes.

He's signing for United on Wednesday."

He did - and the rest, as they say, is.....well, not quite history yet as Paul seems to be pretty good at this comeback lark.

I have always admired talent - and particularly talent that stands the test of time. A tear came to my eye the other day as friends and admirers marked Muhammad Ali's 70th birthday with a huge round of applause and other tributes.

I am not into hero worshipping but Ali and George

Best come pretty close to it for me. The way Ali has withstood the ravages of Parkinson's disease for so many years after a wondrous career as the best boxer in living memory is truly awesome.

Tom Jones, Cliff Richards, the Rolling Stones and Michael Canine are my others who fall into the longlived great talents category, so Scholesy and Thierry have some way to go yet - despite their fantastic efforts.

Henry did himself no favours after getting himself involved in a few verbals with the fans at Swansea.

He wasn't happy about them having a go after Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat and let them know it, telling them they should get behind the team.

You can imagine the response. Not quite as bad as the one Emmanuel Adebayo got when he sprinted across the pitch to goad the Arsenal fans after scoring against them for his new club Manchester City, but close.

Anyway, I'll stick to a gentle day out in the Dales and just dream of scoring for United... at 56.