The Courier Week 72

Edition 72

www.thecourier.es

Friday, July 6, 2012

BITTER PILL

Angry pharmacists tear up the script in Alicante strike FED-UP pharmacists in the Alicante region have called an indefinite strike as the dispute over prescription payments reaches crisis point.

ROCKIN’ AND RAVIN’: Louise on stage with her dad Malcolm

By AMANDA BLACK

medications sold on prescription as far back as February. Meeting in Alicante, some 600 pharmacists voted for the strike and a number of other tough measures to put pressure Prolonged strike action and other tough on the health authority to pay up. measures agreed this week could cause real They agreed that anyone without money problems for patients requiring medication, should inform their drugs supplier that they with closed pharmacies, drug shortages and will no longer pay, opening up the possibility higher costs for customers on the cards. of companies withholding drugs which could “We did not want to get to this,” said the lead to medication shortages. president of the Pharmaceutical College of And, if money’s still not paid by July 30, Alicante, Jaime Carbonell, “but people are pharmacists will start to charge customers desperate. We are all desperate. We have the full cost of prescription medicine. endured the unspeakable, but no more.”

“The last time they paid us was a month The pharmacists have been battling the ago when we were paid for January. Since health department over late payments for then nothing,” said Carbonell.

“We are owed from February until now. months. They are currently owed money for That is five months. It is terrible. There is no other community in which the payment of pharmacists has been THE number of unemployed in Spain dropped nearly delayed so much.”

100,000 last month - the biggest fall since records began.

Carbonell insisted he would Some 2.10 per cent – or 98,853 – fewer Spaniards were “be in contact with patients out of work in June than the previous month. groups and will explain what It was the sharpest fall on record for a single month since is happening to them”. the government began collecting job data in 1996.

As the Alicante pharmacists The news came as a glimmer of hope after months of grim were debating measures to figures, during which unemployment rose above 24 per cent force payment, Valencia’s and more than half of under-25s were out of work. health minister Luis Rosado Despite the positive sign, social security chief Tomás appealed for responsibility Burgos said the government was still “cautious.” from the sector, giving assur“We have to wait to see if this becomes an overall tenden- ances that he was trying to cy,” echoed deputy labour minister Engracia Hidalgo. speed up payments.

Jobless figures plummet

By DONNA GEE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL tribute singer Louise Halsall has been given a huge lift in her battle to recover from horrific leg injuries – by the Costa Blanca’s fellow stage artistes.

The 33-year-old roadaccident victim, known to show goers as Rockin’ Lou Lou, suffered a compound leg fracture when a car ploughed into the back of her father’s 800cc Kawasaki Cruiser motorbike.

Dad Malcolm Heaton – Ravin’ Rupert to his fans - suffered only cuts and bruises in the 11am accident, which occurred in Benijuzar as he and

Thanks a pillion!

Stars give crash girl Louise a lift Louise were looking for a café in order to quench their thirst. Los Altos resident Malcolm, whose own record-breaking Elvis tribute act dates back to 1966, recalled: “This car just came from nowhere and Louise’s leg was so badly broken that the bone was protruding through the skin.

The car driver was

Spanish and although the police and authorities presumably know who the driver is, we have been given no information at all. There seems to be a conspiracy of silence.’’

Louise is unlikely to sing again until next year.

But Malcolm, whose bike suffered

Turn to Page 2

2

Friday, July 6, 2012

I’ll lick this thing - missed the last drop by a whisker

TELEPHONE

96 692 1003 679 096 309 96 692 1003 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 966 921 003 office@thecourier.es TELESALES 966 921 003 679 096 309 Sally Los Alcazares, San Javier 618 391 491 Myra Quesada, Rojales, Torrevieja, San Miguel Tel. 618 583 765 Jean La Zenia, Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig Tel. 618 898 034 Patrick International Rep 5 Languages Tel 685 901 265 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

JUNGLE DRUMS

GONE TO PLOT

David’s 12-year war with rogue builder

Benefit bandwagon rocks for Louise From Page 1

AN aging British expat’s 12-year battle for justice against a rogue Spanish builder has been hit by a new delay.

And David Howells fears he won’t live long enough to get back any of the money he laid out for his planned retirement home in Quesada.

The house was never built – and the builder later renaged on an agreement to pay him 10,000,000 pesetas (around £60,000) in returned deposit

By DONNA GEE and compensation.

In September 2004, David's David agreed to buy the solicitor advised him to take it first house built on land the to a criminal court as a crime rogue builder had purchased had been commited. And in Ciudad Quesada - this after eight years the court property to be used as a pilorecently decided that no to (show house) until all 26 crime has been commited dwellings in the development and David will have to take were completed. out civil proceedings.

“The house was due to be Now David’s solicitor is ready end of February 2000,’’ preparing the ground for a he recalls. “ We went to the civil action which will cost solicitor’s office and a connearly €3,000 more, with no tract was drawn up (which guarantee he will ever we both signed) to this effect receive a cent. and I paid an initial deposit of David and wife Patricia, two million pesetas (around who now live in San €12,000).

Fulgencio, came to Spain “Building didn’t start, and I from Witney in Oxfordshire in found out that the builder had sold some of the land to 1990.

Louise... horrific leg injury another developer, including my plot where the piloto was going to be built.

“He told me he was still going to build houses on the rest of the land, and marked out another plot for the piloto.

He built this house, then said he’d sold it to somebody else and gave me another plot on which my house was to be

Friday Sunny High 30° Low 22° Chance of rain 0% Monday Sunny High 31° Low 22° Chance of rain 0%

Tuesday Sunny High 30° Low 22° Chance of rain 0%

surprisingly little damage, is already back onstage, despite having to cancel several concerts in which he was due to appear with his daughter.

Meanwhile, Jukebox Promotions have arranged a benefit night for Louise, who remains an inpatient at Torrevieja Hospital.

The show is at Viloriens Restaurant in Rojales on Sunday July 29 and among the acts appearing with Ravin’ Rupert will be Andy Jones, Red Strokes, Tony Kelly and Jukebox Legends. Tickets are available at the venue or by calling 695135134.

Peter Day from Jukebox Legends says: "This was a particularly bad accident and Louise will be out of action for at least a year. Rupert has lesser injuries but has been badly built. “This was now two bruised and cut. We are years after it was supposed only to happy to arrange to be erected and I now knew this benefit night.’’ that it would never be built as the excuses came thick and fast. The last one was that there was now an embargo on the rest of the plots and he could not build any more

See Next Page

Saturday Sunny High 30° Low 21° Chance of rain 0% Wednesday Sunny High 30° Low 23° Chance of rain 0%

Sunday Sunny High 30° Lo 22° Chance of rain 0% Thursday Sunny High 32° Lo 23° Chance of rain 0%

3

Friday, July 6, 2012

Hair we go for £4,500!

TONY HARRISON knows what close shaves are about. He’s in remission after two years battling prostate cancer.

So when his pals in Norwich decided to raise money for the MacMillan Trust by having their heads shaved, he got in on the act quicker than you can say Sweeney Todd.

The arrangement was that the 23 participants would not have their hair cut from April 30 – and on Saturday June 30, they would all be scalped during a visit by local hairdressers.

Only in Tony’s case, wife Penny would do the job at their holiday home in El Raso, where they were taking a break. While pal Andy King organised the action in Norfolk – where six of the guys also had their legs waxed by beautician, Tony raised funds at a recent St. James's Golf Society event at Alenda Golf.

And between them, the brilliant baldies – most of whom had been personally affected by cancer in their families - were able to donate an astonishing £4,516 to the Trust. And he money is still coming in...

HAVE YOU SEEN DU?

READY: Tony before

STEADY: Wife Penny gets to work...

Expats urged to join murder manhunt

UK POLICE have called on Brits in Spain to help catch a fugitive murder suspect who is believed to have fled to Morocco. And there’s a £25,000 reward on offer for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

Anxiang Du (pictured) is wanted in connection with the brutal murder of Gifeng (Jeff) Ding, his wife Ge (Helen) and their two teenage daughters in their Northamptonshire home last year.

In Madrid yesterday (Thursday), Detective Chief Inspector Tom Davies of Northamptonshire Police called on citizens to assist Crimestoppers and Law Enforcement agencies in the search for Du who is believed to be in northern Morocco, having travelled there from southern Spain.

Du, 53, from Coventry, was declared the only suspect soon after the discovery of the murders.

At a press conference in the British Embassy DCI Davies, leading the investigation, said: “We now know that he left the UK soon after the homicides and travelled from Victoria bus station, London on a bus to Paris, Gallieni. After this he travelled through France into Spain (again probably by using public transport). His final known journey was to Algeciras in Spain where he caught a ferry to Tangier, Morocco.

“We believe that having made his way to Morocco, Mr Du may still be in the Tangier area. As a fugitive, he may take any opportunity to flee, using the routes or countries he is familiar with. We know that Du has previously spent time in Spain and is comfortable in the country.

“We have been working with the police and law enforcement agencies in Spain and Morocco and they are in posses-

ROGUE PLOT From Page 2 houses there.’’ The builder agreed to a ten million pesetas compensation package, to be paid by end of September 2004. But when no money materialised, David (pictured right) instructed his solicitor to go to court “as the builder has my money and I have nothing’’.

He revealed: “After eight years, the court has just decided that nothing criminal has taken place. My solicitor says that if I want to continue a claim against the builder I will have to start all over again with a civil claim.

“I paid the criminal court 900€, which won’t be refunded, and now I have to start all

over again. I am now 73 years old and may not even live to see the result. I think this is outrageous.’’

There was, however, one tiny chink of light for David this week.

“The solicitor has told me that he is prepared to give me discount on his fees, so the bill will not be as much as first thought. He also says the civil action should not take more than a year. ‘’

sion of the required extradition papers, should Mr Du be located and arrested. This should mean that he can then be brought back to the UK to stand trial. “ We are now asking members of the public who are or will be using the ferries from Algeciras to Tangier during the Campaña del Paso de Estrecho to be aware of our manhunt.

“We would ask members of the public to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 900 555 111 from Spain, so that we can bring justice to the families of the victims. Alternatively people can also contact their local police.’’

GONE! Tony faces the bald truth

4

Friday, July 6, 2012

Friday, July 6, 2012

Forget the car, we’ll take you to Benidorm to see…

THE THEMES OF YOUR DREAMS WE have some great ideas for holidaymakers and their families to fill those summer vacations with loads of fun - and at very reasonable prices.

Benidorm and its theme parks is now being offered seven days a week during July and August and with loads of pick-up points in and around Torrevieja to choose from. Whether you live in Torrevieja, or one of its many urbanisations, plus Quesada, La Mata, Guardamar, Orihuela Playa, San Pedro, Almoradi, Los Alcazares, Catral, Albatera or even Hondon, there is going to be a coach near you. This is great news if you have no car, want to be able to have a drink on your day out, or don’t want the hassle of parking.

Benidorm, of course, is one of the world’s most famous holiday resorts so a day out here gives you lots to do when you get there.

No matter what age you are. On top of this, the huge Benidorm market is open every Wednesday and Sunday.

If you want something different, there are a great range of theme parks to choose from. You can pay a one-off “coach plus entry” price, which is equal or close to the normal “entry only” price - thus saving on travel costs.

Theme park tickets are issued on board, so there is no queuing to buy your entry.

If you are a water lover and adore the thrills and spills of sliding down huge chutes into crystal clear water, swimming to your heart’s content and lazing about in ideal surroundings, then your perfect day is going to be Aqualandia theme park.

If you love plants and animals, with incredibly good shows from parrots, sea lions and most of all dolphins, then you can see the best animal shows ever right there in Mundomar.

On the other hand, if your interests lie with scary rides, brilliant theatrical shows and some less frightening but equally entertaining rides, then a day at Terra Mitica is beckoning.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a bit of night life, then every Friday evening you can choose between a low cost night on the town, doing your own thing in the clubs, pubs and discos.

Or you can enjoy an elegant dinner dance and show at the internationally famous Benidorm Palace. It’s without doubt the Costa’s most dazzling night out and a fitting addition to any holiday.

To set up a great day for you and your loved ones, just call David’s Coachtrips SL on (0034) 966785910. The prices are good, and with almost door-to-door service and the attention of well informed couriers, you will waste no time in travelling in comfort to the attraction of your choice.

Simply call (0034) 966785910 and reserve your places. (Phone operators speak English)

5

6

Friday, July 6, 2012

7

Friday, July 6, 2012

A WASTE OF ENERGY THE company that supplied gas and electricity to the home I still own in the UK were tops for propaganda power.

‘We know that the energy industry is often criticised for its poor customer service,’’ they wrote. ‘‘At EDF Energy we’re determined to do something about it.’’

Ironically, the letter containing that promise arrived days after I kicked EDF out of my life. I’d been trying without luck to contact them for several weeks with a query about an excessively large bill.

The frustration prompted me to think up an apt alternative for those initials ... Every Day Fruitless.

Staggered at their cheek in claiming the unclaimable, I continued to read – and the bluster got worse (or better if you enjoy blatant distortions of reality). ’In a recent survey by uSwitch, we came runner-up for both best overall customer satisfaction and best customer service,’’ continued EDF’s letter.

Had it said '‘customer dissatisfaction’', I might have found it almost believable. Because a company that keeps callers waiting interminably to speak to a member of staff is satisfying nobody.

It was bad enough that my dual bill for gas and electricity had gone through the roof. What blew my top was that I could not contact anyone at EDF to query it. They simply would not answer the phone.

OK, that’s not quite as bad as being cut off without warning – which Spanish utility companies are all too quick to do. But how aggravating to listen for up to 25 minutes to recorded messages insisting that all operators are ‘’very busy’’! For all my efforts, I never once got through to a real person.

I LIKE football – and q I’ll like it a lot more now that England’s deluded fans have been shown up for what they are. Pure dreamers.

The cream of Europe has exposed them as a determined bunch of plodders who mistakenly believed hard work and tactical organisation can compensate for limited natural skill.

I cannot think of one English player whose natural talents remotely approach those of ball wizards like Spain’s David

In despair, I fired off an angry email threatening to switch suppliers and giving EDF three days to contact me.

Two weeks later, I was still talking to a recording machine.

So, 11 days after my 72-hour ultimatum had expired, I sent EDF a goodbye email and transferred my allegiance to Eon. Ironically, a woman from EDF called me from Sunderland the same day, saying she had just seen my ‘goodbye’ email.

Why had my initial complaint not even been acknowledged?

That, she said, would be because the company was locked in a reorganisational programme which prevented anyone accessing it. So that’s all right, then.

And, yes, there were problems getting through to an EDF operator. But that would be sorted once the reorganisation was completed.

That’s OK too, then. So much for the company with the Best Customer Service. Just go missing and everyone is

Silva (pictured), Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.

Maybe someone can tell me WHY a genius like George Best emerges on the home football scene only once in a generation.

Not so Spain.

The magnificent matadors are on a different planet to the rest of Europe - and light years ahead of Roy Hodgson’s

one-dimensional English robots.

Face up to the truth, guys. You won the World Cup 46 years ago...but there’s little chance of the trophy ‘coming home’ again in the next 46.

At least there are people alive who saw Bobby Moore’s boys win the ultimate battle in 1966.

Before that, it was Bill Conqueror’s lot in 1066.

happy. I just hope EDF completed their reorganisation without the loss of entire customer base.

I will concede one point to them. At least UK utility providers don’t cut customers off without plenty of warning.

Spanish suppliers operate instant blackouts if direct debit payments don’t go through immediately. No letter, no phone call, no warning of any description. They just send the office bailiff round and leave you in the dark. Or as dry as a bone.

If any utility company out there - electricity, gas, water, whatever - is civilized enough to give innocent victims a chance to pay before decapitating them, then I want to know.

Because I’d rather use EDF’s Spanish arm (if one existed) than leave my heating, lighting and water supply in the hands of the heartless sadists who monopolise the Costa Blanca.

Is there anyone out there who’s never been cut off? Fear not, you will be!

8

Friday, July 6, 2012

Friday, July 6, 2012

9

10

Friday, July 6, 2012

The affair of the cheating husband ONE rainy night recently I stumbled into the pub and plonked myself down on my usual stool at the bar.

I was shivering and shaking and looking decidedly pale.

Dave the barman was most concerned. 'Are you ill, Dave?'

'Of course he's ill,' snorted Daft Barry, swivelling round on his stool to stare fixedly at me. 'It's plain enough for the most stupid man in the world to see.'

'And YOU should know!' retorted Dave the barman.

Daft Barry nodded vigorously in agreement. He swung round on his stool twice more, either because he believed it would lend gravitas to his remarks or simply because he enjoyed the manoeuvre.

'Look at him!' yelled Daft Barry, pointing at me. 'Poor Dave has even brought his medicines with him.'

All eyes belonging to my fellow members of the pub discussion group stared at the bulging suitcase I was clutching to my midriff.

'Blimey,' commented Ol' Red Eyes, the cleverest member of the group who had awakened momentarily from his semi-coma to observe what all the fuss was about.

All the others who were gathered around the bar gazed intently at Ol' Red Eyes, waiting for him to expand on his one-word utterance - but he'd already gone back to sleep.

'Give Ol' Red Eyes a nudge,' instructed Dave the barman. 'He might want to elucidate on his observation.'

Daft Barry stuck his finger into Ol' Red Eyes' ear.

The latter yawned, opened one bloodshot eye and extended a gnarled digit in my direction. 'All I was going to add is that we all know that Dave is a chronic hypochondriac.

'The fact that he has scooped what looks like the entire stock of the all-night chemist's into his suitcase does not necessarily mean he is genuinely ill. He is merely convinced he is.

What we must do now is . . . is . . .'

'Pray continue, Mr Red Eyes,' urged Dave the barman. The other members of the pub discussion group held their breath, waiting for the alehouse oracle to complete his sentence.

'Sorry, I've been awake too long,' sighed Ol' Red Eyes after a few minutes. He let his head drop onto his arms and returned to his slumbers.

Daft Barry burst into tears. 'I don't want our Dave to be ill.

He's a very nice man.'

Everybody fell about laughing at that one.

'Fellas!' I croaked. 'I'm NOT ill.'

'Told you,' mumbled Ol' Red Eyes without forcing open either of his peepers.

'Then why are you shivering and shaking and looking pale?' the others demanded of me.

'Because I've had an extreme shock.'

'So that's why your portmanteau is packed with pills,' observed Dave the barman. 'It's anti-anxiety medication.'

'No,' I groaned. 'My case is full of clothes. MY clothes. Mrs S has chucked me out.'

There was an awesome silence save the sound of Daft Barry sniffing with concern at my predicament.

'But why?' asked Dave the barman eventually.

'What have you done that is any

Watch the birdie – it’s fiesta time in Orihuela

ONCE again it’s time for the Moors to face up to the Christians and do battle on the streets of Orihuela.

From July 16 to 23, the bloody clashes between the two groups will be reenacted at the town’s famous festival.

And during this time, on July 17 to be precise, another lesser-known fiesta is celebrated.

Dia del Pajaro (Day of the Bird) is an important fiesta in Orihuela. On this day, the Oriol – the large bird depicted on Orihuela’s flag – is taken on a procession through the streets of the city, accompanied by the Moors and Christians actors.

The procession is so long it can be viewed from just

about every street in Orihuela. It will start at 11.30 and last around two hours, finishing at the town hall where the flag will be raised.

As this year the Day of the Bird falls on a Tuesday, spectators from the coast can take advantage of the weekly bus service to the city that runs on that day.

Anyone wishing to use the bus must book in advance by calling the tourist office on 966 760 000 or in person. Return tickets cost €4.90. The bus will depart from the Mercadona roundabout at Playa Flamenca at 09:00 and depart Orihuela at 16:00 for the return journey.

worse than the stuff you've been getting away with for years?'

Head down, like Ol' Red Eyes in sprightly mood, I mumbled into my chest: 'Mrs S discovered that I've been cheating on her.'

Another period of hush reigned until Dave the barman said: 'But I don't understand. How could you have been unfaithful? When you're not at home with Mrs S you're in here spouting rubbish with the rest of the pub discussion group.

'And there's certainly no-one in this establishment to offer temptation,' he went on. 'The most enticing of you lot is Daft Barry.'

Despite his cheeks being moist with tears and his nose dripping, Daft Barry grinned at what he regarded as a compliment.

Ol' Red Eyes woke up again. 'One doesn't have to be physically alluring to be attractive,' he intoned. 'It could be a magnetic personality or a giant intellect which makes one lovable.'

'Well that definitely rules out Daft Barry,' said Dave the barman. Daft Barry stopped smiling but his nose still dribbled.

Ol' Red Eyes slid off his stool, stretched out on the floor and began to doze off.

'That's better,' he yawned as he prepared to sink once more into insensibility.

'Oh, before I lose consciousness,' he added, propping himself up on one elbow. 'Might I suggest that Mr and Mrs S make an appointment to see the marriage guidance people.

'But don't try to make it for Tuesday afternoon because that's when me and my missus are booked in.'

Suddenly, into the pub burst my best friend Eric the dentist.

'I've just been round to your house and Mrs S is in bits. She said she was a bit harsh with you just now and wants you to return home.

'She said she loves you and don't forget to bring back the suitcase because you filled it with clothing from the dirty laundry basket.'

Everybody applauded at the happy outcome as Eric the dentist lifted me off my bar stool and led me gently towards the pub exit. 'Mrs S is one forgiving woman,' Dave the barman remarked. 'After all, you did cheat on her.'

'I know,' I sighed. 'I should never have pretended to throw a six instead of a four. Will she ever play Snakes & Ladders with me again?'

It was still raining outside. It was also still drizzling inside until someone passed Daft Barry a handkerchief.

THE WINNING TEAM Keytech/Mailroom link for unbeatable service

• KEYTECH Computers has joined forces with the Mailroom at Torre de la Horadada.

• Rob and Susi have run the Mailroom for the last nine years, offering an array of products and services; from mailbox rental to mobile phones, greeting cards and gifts, SIM cards, fast internet access, fax, ink jets. The Mailroom also offers a property management service. Everything from keyholding and security checks to house cleans and property rental.

• Steve of Keytech Computers has over 30 years experience and has been offering his expert-

ise to the Orihuela Costa community for almost 10 years. He offers new laptops and towers (in any language), printer/scanners and monitors at very competitive prices, tower and laptop repairs, upgrades, accessories and much more.

• The Mailroom/Keytech Computers is situated beachside of Torre de la Horadada, opposite the farmacia. It is situated between two picturesque squares full of bars and restaurants and within 100 metres of three sandy, blue flag beaches.

• Contact Rob, Susi & Steve on (0034)966 746 689

11

Friday, July 6, 2012

SAY IT IN SPANISH Learn the lingo - with a little help from JEANETTE ERATH LESSON 27 HOLA, how did you get on with last week’s lesson? I decided to teach the present participle conjugation before teaching more verbs as it is a fairly straightforward conjugation in its regular form. Hopefully those of you with a good level of Spanish are able to keep up.

Those of you who find yourself maybe getting left behind a little bit, take your time. These lessons are meant to be cut out and kept, then when you are ready you move on to the next one. Some people will be able to keep up but I am sure very many won´t, which is why there is no rush and I will be taking my time with you to ensure no one gets left behind.

Maybe some of you have decided it´s worth taking a few lessons, and some of you will be keeping up, but whatever your level I can´t keep with all of you so please bear with me. Take your time, this is your lesson and you do it in your time.

Feedback is always welcome, along with suggestions for future lessons. I am here for you, this is our journey into Spanish together and if you get left behind I will wait for you with revision lessons, etc.

So, here are the answers from last week and this week’s lesson will be about terms I am using in these lessons so I´m not blinding you with science.

He is reading the newspaper (periódico) - Él está leyendo el periódico; I am bringing books to the school – Estoy trayendo libros a la escuela (al colegio); We are not reading anything (remember with the negative anything becomes nothing – nada) - No estamos leyendo nada; They are bringing wine to the party – Están trayendo vino a la fiesta; The cat is sleeping on the sofa (en el sofá) - El gato está durmiendo en el sofá; she is boiling the water – Ella está hirviendo el agua; I am studying it - Estoy estudiándolo.

Now for a few words that I will be using more and more as we get into learning Spanish. Be sure to keep this lesson somewhere safe with all the others and try to remember what these words are. You will get used to reading them and, like the Spanish, they will stick in your head.

What does CONJUGATED and INFINITIVE mean? The mai+n verb, with its -ar, -er or -ir ending, is called the INFINITIVE; for example, hablar, dormir, ir, hacer.

When we change a verb in any way we CONJUGATE it.

For example: Hablo, Hablas, Voy, Hago, Haces.

So, as we go on you will notice that I am using the words INFINITIVE and CONJUGATE(D) quite a lot.

As I mentioned last week, the STEM of a verb is the verb without the -ar, -er or -ir ending, for example habl for hablar, com for comer and viv for vivir.

We all by now know what a VERB is; it is any action or mood, in English it is preceded by ´to´ for example, to drive,

to see, to feel.

These next descriptions are the basic one for each word: A NOUN is a word or group of words that refers to a person, place or thing or any similar word. Such as a table, a chair, a person.

An ADJECTIVE is any word that modifies a noun or pronoun. They are describing words, such as wise in a wise man, or perfect in a perfect score. Or green as in a green field.

A PRONOUN is a word that replaces a noun, such as I, he, she, it. We also call these the SUBJECT of a sentence when we are learning Spanish.

The GENDER of a noun is important in Spanish.

There are two genders: MASCULINE and FEMININE. After a noun in a dictionary there will usually be a ´n´ which stands for noun followed by ´m´ or ´f´ which stand for masculine or feminine.

The gender of nouns is important in Spanish as everything around it goes with the GENDER. The DEFINITE ARTICLE in English is the word ´the´. As we know in Spanish there are four ways to say ´the´ depending on GENDER and whether we are talking singular or plural; the four ways are: el, la, los, las.

The INDEFINITE ARTCLE in English is ´a´ or ´an´ or ´some´ and again, as we know, in Spanish there are four ways to express the indefinite article: un, una, unos, unas.

Remember: un and una can mean ´a´, ´an´ or ´one´ e.g: un libro = a book or one book, una manzana = an apple or one apple I hope you are still enjoying your Spanish and taking every opportunity. I love hearing your comments and if you have any words of advice you would like to share that have helped you through this learning jungle, please e-mail me via The Courier and I will share them with your fellow students.

Have a great week. Hasta la próxima.(until next time)

12

Friday, July 6, 2012

WHY DO THEY DO THAT? Top dog psychologist PETER SINGH writes exclusively for The Courier. Check out www.thedogyouneed.com or email Peter at peter@thedogyouneed.com

A question of ego THIS week Spain won their third major football tournament in a row, when they thumped Italy 4-0 - and in doing so created history, as no European country has achieved such a feat.

The football they play is majestic and they are now officially confirmed as the greatest team in the history of the game.

One of the main ingredients which has helped them achieve history is discipline. They totally believe in what they are doing and have stuck to the plan.

Another vital aspect is the refreshing absence of any egos.

They are a humble group of players who keep their feet on the ground, unlike most English ‘stars’, who think they are world-beaters after making one appearance in the Premier League!

The reason why I am writing about the world’s greatest team in a column dedicated to dogs, is because there is a similarity. I always make a point to my clients that in order to have balanced, well-behaved dogs, we as owners have to be disciplined and throw our egos away. We have to be disciplined in making sure that each day, not some days, we are meeting our dog’s needs and the ego has to be dropped in order to ask questions and learn more.

These qualities are something I don’t see a lot of any more.

I visited a client before Christmas, because he reported that his dog had started to become aggressive.

He emailed me two weeks ago to say his dog had just bitten his daughter and also gone for her friend. He was asking me what I thought he should do and at the end mentioned that he had never followed any of my consultation advice!

I’m not too sure what he wanted my reply to be as he had all the answers in the report I had given him after the consultation. The point I am making is that he did not have the discipline to stick to the very easy plan I had provided.

Many people are too lazy to be disciplined and do the right thing. Many let their dogs pull them on a walk, because it is far easier to tolerate the pulling than to do anything about it.

Many also fail to realise that they have invited a different

CAMPEONES! Spain celebrate - and not an ego in sight

species into their homes to live with them and the only guidance they give the dog is dog training, which is not understanding dogs, but simply commanding them to do specific tasks they would never do in the wild. My belief is that we don’t have to put so much ridiculous pressure on dogs to sit and stay or lay down. As long as the dog is calm, WHY do they have to keep sitting down or lying down?

What people should be doing is tuning in to how dogs think and realising that they have a completely different psychological set-up to that of a human being. But most people still treat a dog like a human and never stop to think they have different needs entirely.

If 1,000 dogs took part in a referendum on whether their owners should follow dog training or dog behaviour and understanding the dog’s needs, not one would vote for dog

training. The reason is because dog training is not about understanding dogs, it is simply about getting them to do what people want them to do, not what the dog wants to do.

And that is to follow a calm life and retain the hope that one day their owner will actually get this message.

When I walk my five dogs together, I get a lot of attention from passers by and people in cars looking and pointing at the dogs. I’m not keen on all this attention at all. Some people would love it but I’d rather just blend in than stand out.

I’m not a magic man and I’m not doing something extraordinary. I’m simply walking five dogs who all stay in line with me and don’t pull. The reason I am able to do this is because we understand each other. I do the same as the Spanish national team - I stay disciplined, stick to the plan and I threw my ego away a long time ago. The result - success.

PETS’ CORNER: CAN YOU TAKE IN A HOMELESS DOG OR CAT?

Waggy

WAGGY is a three-year-old terrier cross. He is vaccinated and castrated. Waggy is very friendly and good with dogs, cats and people. He would make a lovely companion.

Contact K9 Club on 633 936 501, email k9clubinfo@gmail. com or visit www.k9club.es

Domino

DOMINO is 12 weeks old and in need of a home.

He is a lovely, friendly kitten and in good health.

To help Domino

call 646 645 035. xx Jake is a 16-month-old Braco Aleman. He is a very lively dog and would suit someone who has time to train him. He is neutered, chipped and vaccinated.

For details on Jake call 634 002 100. Or visit Pets in Spain at www.petsins pain.com or email info@pet sinspain. info.

Pets in S p a i n has many more animals in need on Jake the site.

Tam TAM is an 11-year-old male GSD cross. He was left alone when his owner died. He is

Webster

very loving and affectionate. All he wants is someone to care for him and not to end his days in a refuge.

Webster is a Toby 15-month-old male Spaniel TOBY is a three-year-old (Munsterlander) pointer cross who’s been who was thrown pushed from pillar to post. over a fence in His last owner left him in the kennels and never the middle of the came back. Well-behaved, night. He was loving and great with other very frightened dogs. Call Eleanor on 677 by this.

381 111, Finca La Call SAT on Castellana, San Miguel.

966 710 047 or visit www.satani- To advertise animals email office@thecourier.es malrescue.com

Friday, July 6, 2012

13

FRANCISCO VALENCIA, LÍNEA DIRECTA’S CORPORATE GOVERNANCE DIRECTOR

“When a car has been written off you have the chance to give customers back the trust that they have placed in you.”

An accident in which a car has been written off is always the worst kind, because it implies the disappearance of the insured car.

Francisco Valencia, Línea Directa’s Corporate Governance Director, describes to us the quality measures taken by his company, a leading insurance company for foreigners.

Losing your vehicle in a foreign country is undoubtedly a major setback for anybody. What makes Línea Directa different from other companies?

First of all, the personalised service. Línea Directa offers customer service over the telephone entirely in English and German, and also acts as an intermediary and translator with garages and scrap merchants. In addition to this, we also offer different cover options which no other insurer offers, such as our amount of compensation, which is never below €1000, or when appropriate, double the price paid by customers for their insurance.

You also have a purchasing centre if customers wish to acquire a new vehicle after theirs has been written off.

At Línea Directa we believe that when a car has been written off, it is an opportunity to give customers back the trust that they have placed in you.

As a result, if customers ask us to, we take care of all the processes involved in buying a new vehicle in their name, including the paperwork and delivery of the vehicle to their home address.

And finally, how does Línea Directa pay compensation?

Línea Directa is committted to paying compensation within 40 days at the very most, although the average waiting time is always much less. If the car is less than 2 years old, either we pay its value when new in compensation or we take care of all the processes involved in purchasing another vehicle. In addition, if the car is between 2 and 3 years old, we offer 15% more than its official value, as a quality measure.

14

Friday, July 6, 2012

Who’d be famous?

I WAS reading about some party full of apparently famous people whom I had never heard of, mainly I am sure because I don´t have English television, when I had a thought about my own youth.

I began to remember how I was when I was younger, when I used to go to clubs and bars - and some of the things I used to get up to.

I also began to think about how glad I was that I hadn´t been some five-minute wonder on some reality programme, with cameras following my every move and everything I did scrutinised in minute detail.

I can only now begin to imagine the horror of my youth being captured on camera and splashed across tabloid newspapers and trashy magazines.

We are all a bit foolish in our youth, it´s part of the fun of growing up, part of the experience of life, but to have that experience commented on by people who don´t know anything about you must be strange to say the least.

So it begs the question, why do so many people want to be famous?

Fame is no longer solely reserved for those who have a talent, whether it be singing, acting, playing a musical instrument, dancing or any other art form. It is now becoming the norm to become famous just by appearing on television.

There are numerous examples of people who became famous simply by being on

telly. The late Jade Goody is a prime example, a young girl with very little, if any, education, went on a television programme whose whole premise is to be seen acting normally day to day, and she became a miland lionairess had her life not been cruelly cut short by cancer I firmly believe she would still be in the public eye now.

Another example is Jordan, or Katie Price (pictured). Can anyone please tell me what skills exactly she has? She got famous by being seen, by having a nice figure, albeit in parts fake, orange skin and false hair. What message exactly is this sending out to our young people? There are many other names

I can pluck out of thin air but this column is not endless and I am sure you know who I mean.

OK, today’s news is tomorrow’s chip paper, it´s a well known saying and for sure the vast majority of these people have their five minutes of fame then slink back to the day job. And if that is what makes them happy or satisfied then so be it, but please don’t make these people out to be role models for our children.

In my opinion role models are ordinary people who do extraordinary jobs, our police, fire service, ambulance crews, doctors, vets, lawyers, I could go on. To me a waitress in a roadside cafe deserves more respect than one of these so-called reality TV personalities, and I use that word very loosely.

I hope my son aspires to have a good job when he is older; however whatever he does decide I hope he refuses to idolise these idiots who think they are someone special because they´ve been on the television.

And I hope he learns to respect those who merit his respect, not those who deserve to be flipping burgers in a fast food chain.

15

Friday, July 6, 2012

WHAT’S going on at Westminster with the latest futile attempt to reform the old farts club that masquerades under the title of the House of Lords? For a country that prides itself as being democratic, the complete failure to make fundamental changes to a 19th century relic is a disgrace.

The Cameron government is now planning to reduce the number of Lords, with most of them being elected.

Why not all of them?

Then we hear that discussing all of this in the Commons could last even longer than a Katie Price marriage, so Joe Public starts asking the question whether British politicians should be concentrating their minds on matters that really affect them, like the economy. All of this stuff about the Lords is windowdressing and shows the political parties (with the exception of the Liberal Democrats) for what they really are. They don’t want to totally remove a chance to stick their noses into a bit of patronage and backhanding, rather than scrapping this

affront to democracy. It’s simple. Totally abolish the Lords whilst saving a lot of money, and don’t even bother with an expensively elected second chamber. That’s a bit of belt-tightening that everybody in Britain is having to do at the moment, but not for the first time the politicians will not lead by example. Why are we not surprised?

I’M not the greatest fan of the European Union, having seen the many problems that have been created, though on balance I’m still for Britain being in it. But the sabre rattling by some of Mr Cameron’s Tory backbenchers just doesn’t make any sense. Many of them have signed a piece of paper wanting the PM to commit his party to a referendum over the EU after the next election, but nobody has a clue what the question will be. Then, two days later, Cameron does a curtsy in their direction by promising a referendum sometime in the future, but again we have no idea about the question. It’s pure party politics as the Conservatives get ready for the next General Election

q

ABOLISH THE CHAMBER OF HORRORS! with what they think will be popular with the electorate, and try to get in first with something that even Labour are seriously talking about.

It’s utter nonsense, as the government has already passed a law saying a referendum would have to be held if Westminster were to lose further powers. And for all his European misgivings, Foreign Secretary William Hague still very much sees the future of Britain as part of the EU. Despite some failings, surely it is better to be

in the EU fighting a British corner with your major trading partners, rather than doing a Dunkirk-style evacuation wanted by some Tories which could cost countless jobs and destroy the British economy?

Like it or not, the EU is here to stay, and lifting up the drawbridge is not the answer for the UK, no matter how exciting a short-term vote winner it might be for some politicians.

If you are fed up with the bureaucracy and red tape of the Spanish councils, with a hankering for good old Blighty, then you have short memories over some of the nonsense that English councils excel at.

Take last Saturday night, and the multi-million worldwide audience watching the Andy Murray match at Wimbledon. The council has a strict 11pm cut-off point for the action because of the problems that might allegedly be caused for the residents. That’s despite the fact that the tournament runs for just a fortnight and night matches are not the norm. It was also a Saturday night as opposed to a weeknight, so Colonel Blimp would not be going to the office the following morning.

It had serious potential for

Britain, with the Olympics around the corner, to have become an instant laughing stock around the world, had it not been for Murray bringing a timely finish to his contest.

q

Considering all the money and prestige it brings to that part of London, would it have been that much trouble for some cretin from Wimbledon council to have rung the All England Club earlier in the evening to wish them well and to give them a one-off exemption to stop the panic?

Sorry, that was too obvious, and it was a reminder of the countless idiots involved in running expensive and over-blown UK councils.

16

Friday, July 6, 2012

Ireland – where green lights have turned red WELL folks, I'm taking time off a well-deserved (well, I think so) holiday in Ireland to write my weekly rant.

Apologies if it's a bit shorter than usual - can I hear you saying ‘thank goodness for that’?

This is our first holiday in the Emerald Isle, and I must say I'm most impressed.

It's a lovely place and if you've never crossed the Irish Sea, I can really recommend you trying it.

The people are so very friendly, can't do enough for you, the countryside is grand, but what most impresses is the pride everyone seems to have in their surroundings.

Everywhere are the most lovely houses, all so very well kept, as are the gardens and public spaces. Ireland has been hit by the recession every bit as hard as the UK and Spain. But you wouldn't think so from first appearances.

It's only when you get embroiled in the public protests on the streets (all very low key thankfully), as we were just a few hours ago, that you start to learn how the people are being hit by ever-increasing taxes.

Rising property tax, water charges, and other price rises, coupled with reductions in public services are the subjects of the day. While another major talking point in Ireland is how the super rich are getting away with avoiding paying income tax which lesser mortals have to find. Doesn't that sound familiar?

I heard Bob Geldof's name mentioned on Irish TV in this regard - how someone can on one hand be instrumental in raising millions in aid for the starving can think it morally right to deprive his home country of the income tax he should be paying baffles me.

Another interesting point is how the town centres are so very different from the UK, where the multiples have been allowed to make every shopping area look the same.

In Ireland the small independent shopkeeper is alive and still there, if not flourishing. And with far fewer out of town supermarkets they face much less competition.

The real difference is when you start comparing prices.

Property is cheaper than the UK, so is diesel which is cheaper than petrol. But try and buy alcohol and you're in for a shock - the tax is astronomic.

However, that is not the main thrust of what I want to write about this week. We are in Ireland staying at a timeshare resort.

A good few years ago we sold our touring caravan and bought two weeks timeshare, after being taken in by the patter that the value of the weeks would rise every year, that it would be a great investment that we could use it to exchange for holidays all over the world, etc., etc.

We bought two weeks accommodation with two bedrooms to sleep a maximum of six, believing our children would love to take advantage.

How wrong we were in that regard. And every year since our purchase the annual maintenance fees have risen year on year, so much so that the bill is now around £1,000 a

q

q

year.

Now bear in mind that that charge only puts a roof over your head for two weeks. The accommodation has a kitchen but you still have to pay for food, and you have to pay to get to the resort.

Flights or fuel costs and food can put a serious hole in another £1,000 so a modest holiday can easily set a couple back £2,000. More, obviously, if there are more people in the party.

The timeshare might be good value for money if the accommodation is first class and to be fair, some of the places where we have stayed have been superb.

But where we stayed in Ireland left much to be desired.

The timeshare company admit the accommodation is "tired" and there are plans for a major revamp. But apparently they have been on the drawing board for years.

There's no restaurant, no bar, no night-time entertainment, no swimming pool, inside or outside, in fact no place of contact with other holiday-makers.

It's miles from anywhere in a tiny village which has a church, a garage and adjoining store, and a hotel/pub which serves food at prices of nearly 20 euros for a main course.

I felt so sorry for the Spanish couple who spoke no English with two young children who were there on an exchange and had no car. What they did all day during a week when the weather was far from kind, heaven knows.

The point of all this is to warn readers to be very careful if they are ever tempted, as we were, to buy a timeshare.

A package deal, cruise or holiday found over the internet could easily end up far better value for money.

POLICE WEED OUT MARIJUANA BRIT

A BRITISH man has been arrested after police swooped on the “largest illegal marijuana plantation in Europe”.

Sixteen greenhouses with more than 10,000 plants were found in Lliber, Alicante.

A 45-year-old Brit and an 18-year-old Spaniard were detained.

Police also seized 43 kilos of vacuum-packed marijuana ready for distribution and a British-registered van with a false floor that could be used for hiding

Most importantly, when you sign up for a timeshare you sign to buy those weeks for a long period of time - ours was 72 years. And we know of timeshare companies who take owners to court if they fail to pay their annual maintenance charges.

Many are trying to sell and can't. So, be warned!

NOT so very long ago a banker - or the local bank manager - was a person people looked up to. His (or hers) was one of the professions you would go to get a signature for a passport, for example.

What do you think of bankers now? I can hear your answers from here!

It beggars belief that when Britain can least afford it, the country is plunged into yet another banking crisis, brought about yet again by banking idiots on the fiddle.

First we got the city slickers over much of the world creating fairytale investments, enabling people to borrow vast amounts of money for mortgages and business loans they had no hope of repaying if times went sour.

Then we had bankers creating all manner of insurances, aggressively selling them even to people who would not benefit one penny from them.

And now we hear that smart arses in banks were manipulating inter-bank interest rates (the libor rate) to the benefit of the banks.

To cap it all, banks were also selling risky and inappropriate insurance to thousands of small firms.

The Financial Services Authority said the big four mis-sold hard-to-understand interest rate swaps to thousands of businesses, leading some of them to go bust.

However, we must not forget that much of this appalling banking greed, which led to the so-damaging recession, was happening during the last Labour government.

It is somewhat hypocritical, therefore, to hear the now Labour leader Ed Miliband saying that while most people in the City were honest and hardworking, a minority appear to be in the grip of ‘institutionalised corruption’.

OK, so why wasn't the government sufficiently on the ball to see what was going on and stop it? It's the easiest thing in the world to be wise after the event.

What I find sinister is the suggestion that behind the scenes were politicians in the last government who were discussing with senior bankers ways of suppressing the interbank rates to lessen the banking crisis and artificially peg mortgage rates and rates to business.

To my mind, a public inquiry into the banking industry is far more vital to the future well-being of Britain and to get the banking industry on a firm and honest footing, than the current inquiry into the worst practices of the Press.

It's my hope that all those greedy investment bankers responsible for the craziness which has brought misery to millions are at last brought into court - preferably in America where far harsher penalties are handed out than in soft and soppy Britain.

drugs.

It is believed the van was destined for Holland and Belgium.

Police have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests.

A luxury villa near the site was searched and mobile phones and computer equipment taken by police.

The operation was launched after greenhouses were erected without a licence from Lliber Town Hall.

AN Irish tourist plunged eight floors to his death from a Majorcan hotel balcony on Monday.

Daniel Kenny, 24, from Athlone, Co Westmeath plummeted over 25 metres from his room at around 3am.

It is understood he had only arrived on the popular Spanish island a few hours before tragedy struck.

Local police have launched an investigation into the horror incident at the Globales Verdemar Apartments in the seaside resort of Santa Ponsa.

But they have ruled out the new phenomenon of

Irishman, 24, in holiday death plunge ‘balconing’, where people climb from one room to another or try to dive into swimming pools from upper rooms.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: “We have few details at the moment of the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death

but we are providing assistance to his family.”

Earlier this year three Brits died in separate hotel falls in Santa Ponsa in the space of three weeks.

The party resort is very popular with Irish holidaymakers at this time of year.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Lovely leftovers Not sure what to do with leftover chicken, or potatoes?

We've got a couple of brilliant leftover recipes so you can rustle up tasty dishes and save time and money.

MEXICAN CHICKEN AND CHEESE TORTILLAS Turn leftover roast chicken into these satisfying cheesy Mexican tortillas in just 10 minutes.

Ingredients 4 soft flour tortillas 60g (4tbsp) ready-made salsa sauce 250g (8oz) Original Dutch Edam wedge, thinly sliced 250g (8oz) cooked or leftover Mexican style or roast chicken, shredded 50 g (2oz) rocket leaves

Method 1.Place a griddle pan or nonstick frying pan over a medium heat. Place 1 tortilla in the pan and spoon over the salsa, arrange the cheese slices over the top, then scatter over the chicken and rocket leaves.

2.Place the other tortilla over the top of the mixture and press down lightly. Cook for 2 mins until golden, carefully flip over and cook for 2-3 mins until the underneath is golden and the cheese has melted.

3.Transfer to a chopping board and cut into 4 wedges.

Serve immediately

EGG AND BACON POTATO CAKES Use up your leftovers with these quick-to-prepare but ohso-satisfying potato cakes.

Ingredients 300g (10½ oz) leftover mashed potato 2tbsp chopped chives Knob of butter 4 rindless rashers back bacon 2 medium eggs

Method 1.Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F, gas mark 6). Place the cold mashed potato in a bowl and stir in the chives. Season, then shape into two round cakes.

2.Heat a non-stick frying pan, add the butter, and cook the potato cakes for a few mins on each side until golden.

3.Place on a baking tray and cook in the oven for 10-15 mins or until piping hot. Meanwhile, grill the bacon on both sides until crisp.

4.Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, crack in the eggs and poach to taste.

5.To serve, place a hot potato cake on each plate, followed by a couple of bacon rashers and top with a poached egg.

17

18

Friday, July 6, 2012

19

Friday, July 6, 2012

SPANISH PRESS

TOO HOT TO HANDLE Record heatwave sparks forest-fire catastrophe

El País

El Mundo

HUNDREDS of people were evacuated and over 45,000 hectares of land had been burnt by noon on Sunday in the two worst forest fires to hit Valencia province in decades.

The blazes, which originated in the municipalities of Cortes de Pallás and Andilla, continued to devour pine woods and brush despite the best efforts of 2,000 firefighting personnel, who spent all of Saturday night trying to contain the flames.

The fires followed a week-long record-breaking heatwave.

The fire in Cortes de Pallás has reportedly ravaged over 30,000 hectares, making it the worst forest fire since 1991 in a country used to battling summer blazes.

Mayors of surrounding towns and firefighting personnel are already calling it an environmental catastrophe.

On Sunday the fire kept advancing out of control, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. Many were “tired and desperate,” said the mayor of Andilla, Jesús Ruiz.

An enormous cloud of smoke darkened the sky between La Ribera, south of Valencia city, and Sagunto, to the north.

The environmental group Ecologists in Action said it had warned that such a thing could happen.

A spokesperson said that two people on horseback first reported the blaze. The fire apparently originated in a steep bank around four in the afternoon, and advanced six kilometres in just over half an hour.

A helicopter pilot fighting the blaze was tragically killed when his craft crashed on Monday.

Shortly after the first crash was confirmed, a second accident involving another helicopter was reported. Authorities stated that that both crew members of the stricken craft were “conscious” and being treated by the emergency services.

The evacuees were able to return to their homes on Monday as the fires were largely brought under control by the massive deployment of firefighters, military personnel, emergency brigades, police and civil guards.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE...2,000 firefighters fought the blazes

THE Department of Health has identified eight new cases of L egionnaire’s disease at the Diamond Beach Hotel in Calpe, Alicante, where three British tourists contracted and later died of the disease last January.

The victims, all Spanish from Madrid, holidayed at the hotel during the last week of June.

They were admitted to various hospitals in the Madrid Community after falling sick on their return home.

Because of the outbreak a preventative action and cleaning protocol has been drawn up and hotel customers are being relocated to other hotels.

So far tests at the hotel have not proved positive for the Legionnaire’s bacteria.

The Health Department’s director of public health, Manuel Escolano, held a press conference on the new cases.

At the conference, which was attended by the mayor of the municipality, Cesar Sanchez, the mayor called to the tourism sector for “prudence and confidence”.

Last January, three British citizens, aged 73 and 78, lost their lives due to a hall and the Department of Justice Legionnaire’s outbreak at the and Social Welfare. same hotel.

Minister for Justice and Social Fifteen people were affectWelfare, Jorge Cabré said the ed at that time. scheme would “raise awareness of NATIONAL Police an unpleasant reality – the abuse working in collaboraand neglect of animals”.

He added it would help the youths tion with tax authorities to learn “responsibility and values seized 2,800 kilos of hashish on the A-7 and arrested 15 such as generosity”.

The shelter houses nearly 400 people belonging to one of animals, including around 250 the most active drug groups dogs, hundreds of cats, a chicken on the Costa Levante.

According to the General that thinks it is a cat, donkeys, Directorate of Police, the sheep and a dozen Vietnamese pot- group was disbanded by belly pigs, which became fashion- waiting police when attemptable pets after actor George ing to enter Alicante with Clooney bought one. Many people nearly three tons of hashish later abandoned them. stashed in a van.

Young offenders sent to the dog pound

AN Alicante dog and cat shelter this week launched an innovative scheme to help young offenders by bringing them into contact with abused and abandoned animals.

The first three youths have already begun voluntary work at the Protectora de Animales y Plantas de Alicante through the project.

Explaining that troubled youngsters often respond well to animals, m ste sy d an s lems with bar code shelter president Raul Merida said: rm, many errors were the no “Animals do not discriminate his an on ed pharmacists report against anyone and look at everytime, t firs the for , en wh toric day one in the same way. This is an nt ce r pe 10 y seniors had to pa exciting project because it can help The . ce pri 's on ati dic of their me these young people to integrate a of rt pa is m controversial syste and work toward a career.” down ng bri to ve dri t en governm The scheme is a joint initiative . sts co public healthcare between the shelter, Alicante town

Prescription for change co-payDAY one of the new idised bs su for tem sys ment and ps e-u lin drugs caused armaph at es tch gli l ica techn although cies across Spain, dictions pre t ies om glo the aos did ch d ise about general se. iali ter not ma probCollapsed databases,

Disease may be back at hotel where Brits died

q

20

Friday, July 6, 2012

Friday, July 6, 2012

Ten Keys to Healthy Eating In a time of fast food, dinner-to-go and Pizza hotlines it becomes more and more crucial for people to remember healthy eating in order to stay active, feel good and maintain a healthy weight. For those that already chronically feel sick, fatigued and overweight it is important to review these keys to healthy eating in order to change back to a healthier lifestyle.

with the starch providing dietary fibre, minerals and vitamins. If you want to use whole-wheat flour for baking add about 10% more water to the dough. If you want to compromise use 2/3 wholewheat flour and 1/3 white flour.

9. Say 'No' to Sugar

1. Eat Green Green vegetables have a huge amount of minerals and dietary fibre in them.

The minerals are essential to your health, wellbeing and fighting sickness. Dietary fibre is like the magic pill when it comes to keeping your colon healthy and working efficiently. Greens that are good to eat are spinach leaves, broccoli, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, fresh wheat grass and collards.

2. Get Moving Start with a very small amount but do it continually to build up a habit. When the habit is there you can increase the amount of exercise you are doing. For weight loss the slow increase over time will be more beneficial than a long workout over only a short time period. Exercise has been proven to work as a hunger depressant. A few minutes of walking before dinner also helps in keeping the portion size down.

3. Laugh and Be Social When you eat with others you can focus more of your attention on the conversations and the interaction that is taking place. You do not have to rely solely on your food to make you happy.

Also, laughing is good for the soul. It defeats stress and works against depression, two major reasons why people overeat and turn to food as their comforter.

4. Drink Water Somehow we forget this alot during our busy

lifestyles. If you don't drink enough your body actually starts to store water, which will lead to weight gain and will counteract weight loss.

Therefore, make sure you are getting your recommended eight cups a day.

5. Get Enough Sleep Most people need about seven to eight hours of sleep a night. When losing weight and going through physical changes you will be needing more sleep. Not getting enough sleep will lead to fatigue and a craving for high energy foods to keep you going through the day.

When you notice fatigue, try a power nap of maximum 30minutes instead of a candy bar.

6. Eat Fresh Everything that comes in cans, bags, boxes, bottles and so on is processed food and has already lost a large amount of its minerals and vitamins. It might have the same calories as it did fresh, but the quality has degraded. Make sure you get enough fresh food in your diet to fuel your body with all the nutrients it needs.

Always have fresh fruit in the house, keep fresh vegetables in your refrigerator and if you can afford it buy your fresh produce in the organic section. Also, a farmers'

market is usually the better choice than a big store.

7. Avoid Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils

More and more people are picking up on this.

Hydrogenated vegetable oils have been linked to many diseases lately. They are being used in pastry to extend its shelf life.

Therefore, always check the ingredients before buying pastries and other baked goods.

8. Choose Whole Wheat Instead of White Flour The diet experts are screaming it at you all the time. Avoid the white flour. A grain consists of its shell, the seed and a starch pocket. In the process of producing flour the grain is stripped off the seed, which is fatty and would make the flour turn bad in short time.

For white flour the shell is also taken away, leaving mainly the starch. In wholewheat flour the shell is left

White sugar is so refined that it does not have any vitamins or minerals left.

Actually, when white sugar is digested it takes those minerals from the body that it needs to be processed.

Sugar has an addictive effect on the body. Some people may have mild symptoms of dizziness, headache and sweating when they stop consuming sugar.

10. Change Bad Eating Habits with Good Ones Changing to healthy eating is about exchanging bad eating habits with good ones. This is the important thing to keep in mind when pursuing weight loss and health improvement. Take time to think about bad eating habits that you have and instead of ending them, exchange them for good ones. Once you have that good eating habit implemented move on to the next bad habit you have and keep continuing on this path of permanent health.

21

NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ALLERGIES Allergies occur due to an exaggerated reaction of the immune system in response to repeated bodily contact with certain foreign substances. It is exaggerated because these foreign substances are usually seen by the body as harmless and no response occurs in non- allergic people.

However, people who suffer from allergies recognize the foreign substance and a part of their immune system turned on. Allergy-producing substances are called Allergens, and include substances such as pollens, dust mite, molds, dander, and foods. Allergic reactions tend to happen when a foreign substance triggers the body cells to produce anti-bodies, especially the type known as IgE, and once its production begins, it can persist for months or even years. These IgE antibodies remain active and alert in the body, waiting for the next allergen encounter to trigger a reaction. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic bronchial asthma are triggered when IgE binds to certain body cells causing them to release chemicals such as histamine ultimately resulting in problems such as nasal congestion with watery discharge, sneezing, and itching eyes.

The main focus of traditional allergy treatment has always been to suppress the production of histamine using anti-histamines and decongestants. Nevertheless,

dietary changes often coupled with nutritional supplements are known to provide relief and support for the immune system without the main side effects of prescription medication. Bioflavonoids are a complex family of naturally-occurring compounds found in many plants.

Quercetin – a Bioflavonoid found in fruits, flowers, and herbs – may reduce IgE formation, inhibit the release of histamine, and reduce or eliminate allergy symptoms.

Additionally, quercetin works to control asthma as an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory compound. For optimal absorption, quercetin is usually combined with bromelain, the anti-inflammatory enzyme from pineapple.

Carotenoids, found in fruits and vegetables such as carrots, are powerful antioxidants and in part act to reduce histamine production and strengthen the respiratory tract lining. A diet high in carrots, yams, pumpkins, greens and other foods high in carotenoids reduces allergic reactivity.

Anti-oxidants such as vitamin C can reduce allergic reactions. Vitamin C is a powerful antihistamine with both preventive and therapeutic properties. It also suppresses the narrowing of the airways which is very common in allergies. High levels of vitamin C, with supportive bioflavonoids, are an important part of any good daily dietary regimen. A common allergy recommendation for vitamin C is 1,000 - 2,000 mg three times a day. Vitamin A and Zinc may also alleviate allergy symptoms and prevent sinusitis infections. They help to heal the mucus producing layer of the stomach, in turn improving or normalizing the body´s response to antigens, which is often misappropriated in people with allergies. Garlic has also been shown to suppress the overproduction of IgE. Garlic is also a potent antioxidant herb and immune system stimulator and contains relatively large levels of quercetin. Omega 3 fatty acids have also been clinically demonstrated to reduce the symptoms that occur in allergic hay fever and seasonal asthma.

Other beneficial ways to reduce the occurrence of allergies include detoxification and reducing the intake of mucus producing foods such as dairy and wheat.

Reduction of stress also plays a major role in the treatment of allergies. A health approach combining nutritional supplements and minor lifestyle changes may offset the worst symptoms.

To find out more about anti-oxidant supplements discussed as well as for questions, please email contact@medb.es

22

Friday, July 6, 2012

Friday, July 6, 2012

23

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!

Joyce wanted to know how to get the British £ sign on her ADVICE: Rose wanted to know the difference between Spanish keyboard uninstall and delete

Q A

Hola. I asked you how we can utilise a British pound sign on a Spanish keypad when you gave a talk to our social club at the Asturias Restaurant some time ago.

I need to use my Internet bank account. Hoping for a speedy reply Joyce.

Hi Joyce, it really depends on how your computer is set up.

Ok, physically it has a Spanish keyboard based on your email, however what happens for example when you press SHIFT and the number 3? If you get a pound sign then you have an English keyboard loaded on your computer and you can use that method in the future to get your pound sign, if you get a dot when you press that key combination then you have a Spanish keyboard loaded on your computer and there simply is no pound sign so you will have to use the work around below.

In order to get the pound sign on a keyboard that doesn’t have one by default you should hold down the ALT key and press 0163 and then release the ALT key, you should see a pound sign after releasing the key if you have done it correctly.

Additional keyboard shortcuts can be found at http://www.bluemoonsolutions.es/more-keyboard-tips

Q

Hi Richard, Hope you are coping with this hot and muggy weather? I must admit to struggling a bit! Some time ago you wrote about how to change the spacing in word to the 2007 version; I meant to keep this article but forgot!! Can you please refresh my memory and also is "uninstall" the same as "delete" please? I know how to delete but not sure how to uninstall. Keep cool, Rose

A

Hi Rose, if you are referring to the question about Microsoft Word margins then you can find the answer on our website at http://tinyurl.com/WordMargins With regards to uninstall and delete, usually they are referred to in different circumstances, when you uninstall an application or program you are permanently removing it from your computer, now you could call that deleting it but usually that’s not the same thing. You might delete an icon from your desktop and that would remove the icon but not the program itself, to do that you would need to uninstall it.

Hope that makes sense?

Chris wanted to know what to do in the event of leaving FEEDBACK: Brian comments on a recent question about a her computer for several weeks unattended. pop up box asking for a dial up connection Hi Richard, I was reading your reply to a readers question in the paper the other day Hi Richard, I am going regarding the pop up box asking for a dial up connection every time they switched the away to Northern computer on with interest as on my new computer I have always had the same probIreland tomorrow for lem and it could take between 12 /20 clicks to rid it. four and a half weeks, Anyway I followed your instructions and hey presto problem gone away. Isn`t techand just wondered if I should nology wonder -----if only we knew how to use it! Keep up the column, thanks turn my Computer off completeMichael ly. I have put everything that is important to me on my extra office@bluemoonsolutions.es www.bluemoonsolutions.es hard drive, as I am not sure what the FBI would do to my computer while I am away.

Office: 902 906 200 Mobile: 655 044 970 Nothing I hope!!!!!! Looking forDon’t forget you can follow me on twitter ward to your feedback, regards @bluemoonspain Chris

Q

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

A

Hi Chris, I would certainly unplug it from the power and Internet (if you are not WiFi) and yes I would shut it down fully, if you have already checked out your computer for the 9th July virus by using the instructions in our article… http://www.bluemoonsolutions.es/the-fbi-could-turn-off-your-internet-on-the-9th-july …then you are not at risk.

24

Friday, July 6, 2012

Hubby’s little treasure(r) takes his job

Great Scott, it’s Engel ENGELBERT Humperdinck himself and his family recently enjoyed Scott Dee’s fabulous charismatic tribute to the ‘King of Romance’ in Las Vegas. And local Engelbert fans can see Scott’s act live in his upcoming Costa Blanca tour.

July dates and venues (tickets €8.50 unless stated): Wed 18th - Las Palmeras, Crevillente (965400188); Thurs 19th Santa Pola Life Resort, Gran Alacant - theatre style (966619010); Sat 21st - Olympia, Mil Palmeras (965320822); Sun 22nd - The Rendezvous, Campoamor (608467597), €10 (includes great buffet); Tue 24th - La Marina Sport Complex (966796389); Wed 25th - Lounge Bar, Torrevieja (966922134); Thur 26th - Rocajuna, Punta Prima (965997260), €10 (includes pre-show buffet) Fri 27th - The Club, Quesada (966717028) . All shows start at 8-30pm (seating at 8pm).

Tickets from venues or online at www.jukeboxpromotions. co.uk For more information, call 695135134.

TORREVIEJA Lions Club kept it in the family when the outgoing president handed over to his successor at the annual Presidents’ Night.

At the ceremony in Lo Marabu Restaurant, retiring president Iain Bennett passed on the presidential regalia to... his wife Janette.

And the leading Lioness is no stranger to office in the den.

“Janette was treasurer, or ‘my little treasure’, while I was president for the past two years,” Iain told The Courier.

In his final speech to the club, Iain thanked the directors and members for their commitment and enthusiasm over his two-year tenure.

He said he looks forward to new and exciting times for the club with new directors, members and ideas helping the Lions’ quest to assist people in need in the local, national and international community.

But far from taking things easy now he has passed on the top job to his wife, Iain is going to keep busy as Lions’ secretary and press relations officer.

Meanwhile, Janette is looking forward to a very busy and challenging year ahead, with a focus on the recruitment of new Lions.

To find out more about the Lions, go along to the monthly meeting on the second Thursday of every month at bucks fizz on arrival, sand- Hotel Cabo Cervera at 7.30pm. Or call membership wiches and scones.

The live races proved an director, Dave, on 617 enjoyable gamble.. and the 069 064 - or email raffle a charity winner. davedanie@gmail.com

GETTING MESSI PRIDE OF LIONS: Janette Bennett and husband Iain

Doc kicks cancer into touch with charity special

PAUL ‘Doc’ Docherty is a man with a goal - and he’s not going to let a diagnosis of cancer stand in his way.

Despite getting the unexpected news at the end of last year and having to undergo weekly treatments to fight the disease, Doc still continues to work as a painter and enjoy time with his young family.

And he has even found the energy to organise a big charity football match in aid of the Mary Leishman Foundation.

The match will take place on July 28 between BEING alone in hospital in San Fulgencio Local a country where you don’t Police and a team of speak the language can be Paul’s friends. a frightening experience.

It promises to be a great But thanks to the dedication of two local charifun day, and for all you ties, the experience was non-footie fans, it won’t made a little easier for one just be a football match.

Englishman.

There will also be a giant Alerted by the British pool party, with food, Consulate, HELP Murcia music and DJs. Mar Menor stepped in to And as if that wasn’t help the man who had enough, a huge framed, been in hospital for a numsigned and authenticated ber of months. photo of football legend He had no family in Lionel Messi will be on Spain or the UK and had show. received no EnglishIt is hoped having Messi speaking visitors. looking on will inspire the “He was very pleased to less talented but just as have someone to talk to,” keen players. say HELP. “We were able After the match the to put his mind at rest by photo will be auctioned off getting information that to the highest bidder for related to his condition.” charity.

On his discharge from In the run up to the big hospital HELP, along with game, the Messi picture cancer support group will be displayed in the La MABS, was able to settle the man into his home and Marina urbanisation office assure him that he was not in Calle Madrid. alone.

If you can’t wait until the Local MABS volunteers day of the match to bid on are now keeping an eye on this fantastic picture, him and helping with his sealed bids can be submitneeds at home. ted at the office.

Helpers join up in best of British

UNDER starters orders... an Ascot Ladies Day celebration at Ruby’s in El Raso raised yet more funds for one of the bar’s favourite

charities - the EMAUS Orphanage. Everyone made their own hats, which really were a work of art - and guests enjoyed a cocktail of

Irish hounding dogs the British Legion

ONE of the newest members of the Royal British Legion played a starring role in the European Fiesta at the Marina Salinas in Torrevieja last week.

Megan looked splendid in her coat as she led the Orihuela Costa and District branch of the Legion on parade.

But if you are imagining a smartly dressed woman, decked out in Legion colours, you’d be barking up the wrong tree.

Megan, an impressive Irish Wolfhound, is the new branch mascot.

With her help, the work of the Legion was promoted to fiesta-goers and €288 was raised toward the Poppy Appeal.

Branch chairman, Keith Carter, said a big thank you to all who took part and donated money to the Poppy Appeal, and to all Legion members who gave up their time to help out on the stand.

The Orihuela Costa and District Branch of the Royal British Legion meet at The Olympia Restaurant, Mil Palmeras on the third Thursday of every month from 7pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and to join the Legion.

You do not have to be ex-services to become a member. For more information visit www.orihuelacos tarbl.com

25

Friday, July 6, 2012

Second-hand style fashions fab show THE Paul Cunningham Nurses Charity Shops held their 2012 Fashion show last week.

Stunning styles were expertly modelled around the swimming pool of El Corazon Hotel in this colourful, glamorous and fun event.

Everyone who attended agreed a great time was had by all.

And not only was it a fabulous evening of

entertainment, the efforts of the many models and organisers raised a much-needed €840 for Paul Cunningham Nurses.

PCN thanked everyone from the shops who gave their time and all who attended.

Paul Cunningham Nurses is a charity that provides free care for people in the later stages of terminal illness.

SWEET MUSICALS Cantemos kids help make melodies at magical night

SO popular was the Melody Makers International concert that more than 600 people queued for over an hour to get the best seats at the sell-out show.

And the wait proved well worth it with the audience at Orihuela’s Costa Resort Hotel enthralled from the moment professional singer and conductor Nigel Hopkins picked up his baton.

The 60-strong chorus delighted the crowds with their show The Magic of the Musicals.

The group’s new baritone, Derrick Davies, led a fine array of soloists, who all performed flawlessly.

Also on the bill were the 24 singers of Cantemos! Children’s Choir.

The youngsters took to the stage with a medley from the musical Oliver, which had the audience on its feet.

Nine-year-old Hadley Coleman had many in tears with his rendition of Where Is Love.

Notable soloists included Jane

Atkinson with Send In The Clowns. And young soloists from Cantemos!, Janelle Gaskell and Rebecca Holt thrilled with their performance of I Know Him So Well from Chess - and again in the second half with the emotional duet from Miss Saigon, I Still Believe.

Fourteen-year-old Elise MacGregor gave a superb, mature rendition of On My Own from Les Miserables and Graham Cooke’s Stars from the same

show had the audience on its feet again.

Mary Beer's impressive Can't Help Lovin from Showboat was stunning and Eric Berg’s rendition of Flash, Bang, Wallop! got the audience laughing.

The concert ended with an arrangement of the UK National Anthem sung

by Cantemos! and Melody Makers.

Some 800 euros was raised for local charity, Costa Blanca Samaritans.

Smashing the glass slipper HAVE you ever wondered what happened to Cinderella once she had married her prince?

We are left to make up our own minds and most of us imagine that they had a blissful marriage and, as they say, lived happily ever after. But was it really all roses and glass slippers?

If you want to know the truth, if you can face the truth, keep an eye out for Stagestruck’s Happily Ever After?

Stagestruck promises to tell you the true story. But they ask you to please spare the younger children, they don't want to shatter their beliefs.

“If you're big enough to watch what really happened, we are prepared to show you,” say Stagestruck. “You must clear your minds of all fairy story propaganda that has been fed to you since childhood. Grow up and realise that happy endings rarely happen.”

So will Cinderella come to her senses? Have the ugly sisters had cosmetic surgery?

Stagestruck has all the answers and more. If you enjoyed Ancient Grease, don’t miss Happily Ever After?

Could you be Stagestruck’s Cinderella? Are you 40ish?

Can you sing or hum in tune? If all the answers to these questions are yes then phone Stella on 966 786 154 or Ellen on 627 887 010.

Dates and times of the show to be announced.

q

Several members of HELP Murcia Mar Menor went to see the Campoverde Players at the New Asturias restaurant in Punta Prima for an evening of Titters and Tapas. During the event, Bernard Ash, president of HELP MMM, was presented with a cheque for €250 by Tony Kelly, chairman of the Campoverde players.

26

Friday, July 6, 2012

UK HEADLINES

BANK FAT CATS FACE CAM PROBE

CHEATING bankers will be hauled before Parliament to answer for their arrogance.

The Sun

It will be able to order fat cat executives to appear before them as well as subpoena any documents they want.

Meanwhile, the Serious Fraud Office stepped up its drive to bring the greedy to book.

Investigators said they would decide within a month whether current laws allowed them to The Sun pursue criminal charges against traders and bosses who manipulated lending rates for their own gain.

At least 14 traders at Barclays are alleged to have been involved with the con MOORS Murderer Ian Brady is undergoing a series of that left millions of ordinary customers cheated. tests after having a seizure.

Treasury insiders said last He is due to attend a mental health tribunal on night that with as many as 20 Monday regarding his application to be transferred to banks also involved in fixing a Scottish prison and be allowed to die.

But his appearance at that hearing is in doubt after the Libor rate, the final figure he was taken ill at the high- could exceed 200 bankers.

Mr Cameron told MPs: “The security Ashworth Hospital in Merseyside where he has spent the last 25 years.

A hospital spokesman said: “Ian Brady, a patient at Ashworth Hospital, has been admitted to a general hospital after becoming acutely physically unwell on the ward. He is undergoing a series of tests and, as a precaution, he will be kept in.

“Ian Brady, 74, is in a single room and will be accompanied in that room at all times by two nurses from Ashworth Hospital. Two other members of Ashworth Hospital staff will also be on duty outside his room throughout his stay in the general hospital.

“It is too soon to provide a comment about his condition.”

Brady, pictured, has been tube-fed since refusing food 12 years ago.

He and his partner, Myra Hindley, were responsible for the murders of five youngsters in the 1960s, burying their bodies on Saddleworth Moor.

£394,000!

Dad makes hay from daughter’s cock-up A STUNNED dad landed the £394,000 Scoop6 jackpot — after his daughter picked two wrong horses.

Thomas Galligan, 53, needed all six of his selections to win in Saturday’s rollover.

Amber, 22, (pictured with her dad) put on

Hundreds more may also be prosecuted for fraud following the rate-rigging scandal.

PM David Cameron this week announced a powerful inquiry to probe what went wrong with Britain’s banks.

The joint committee of MPs and Lords is tasked with rooting out why standards collapsed and what lessons should be learned.

Moors fiend Brady in seizure scare

The Sun

British people want to see two things. That bankers who act improperly are punished, and that we learn the broader lessons of what happened in this particular scandal.”

The inquiry will report by Christmas. Mr Cameron made it clear that ex-PM Gordon Brown — who presided over a decade of light touch regulation while Chancellor — is likely to be called to give evi-

dence, along with then Treasury advisers Ed Balls and Ed Miliband, now Labour’s leader.

Ex-Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling urged ministers not to use the Parliament probe as “a partisan exercise to settle scores”.

Mr Darling added: “The public may not like bankers, but they don’t care much for politicians either.”

‘Corrupted’ rapist spared A TEENAGER who raped a five-year-old girl while babysitting her was spared a custodial sentence after a judge heard he had been “corrupted” by internet pornography.

In a disturbing case that has raised fresh concerns about the sexualisation of children, the 14-year-old told his young victim to cover her eyes before performing an indecent act on her while her parents were out.

But instead of jailing the boy, a judge spared him, blaming “the world and society” for his exposure to explicit sexual material on the web.

The case comes amid growing alarm about the impact on Britain’s children of sexual content on the internet. Just last

Daily Mail month, a government report found a wave of depraved sex attacks across Britain was being carried out by youngsters who have had their minds warped by online porn.

Appearing in the dock in his school uniform, the teenager, now 15, was handed a three-year community order at Cambridge Crown Court.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to raping a girl aged under 13 after his victim told her father what had happened.

Prosecutor John Kellett said the boy had been paid £10 to look after the little girl at her home last December.

the £2 bet for the arthritis sufferer but made mistakes in two races. Luckily both nags won, along with another three.

Her dad still thought his first horse had let him down. But his Betfred shop in Newcastle later told Amber it was a nonrunner, so his money had switched to the favourite, which won.

Friday, July 6, 2012

UK HEADLINES

27

30 YEARS FOR MUM WHO KILLED HER KIDS ‘Lovely’ lawyer James Ward

Daily Mirror

gunned down at his desk

A WOMAN who murdered her young son and daughter in a Spanish hotel room was sentenced on Tuesday to 30 years in prison.

Lianne Smith, 45, had admitted smothering 11-month-old Daniel and five-year-old Rebecca with a plastic bag at the Miramar Hotel in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava in May 2010.

In a written sentence issued to the media, Judge Adolfo Garcia Morales jailed Smith for 15 years for each of the murders.

It comes after a jury at the Provincial Court in Girona, north east Spain, decided last month that Smith was criminally responsible for the children’s deaths.

At the conclusion of the trial, prosecutor Victor Pillado Quintas asked for Smith to be sentenced to 34 years in prison.

Her defence wanted her to be acquitted, claiming she was in a state of “psychiatric disturbance” and suffering insurmountable fear when the tragedy happened.

Judge Garcia Morales said he was imposing the minimum sentence for murder because he considered that, although responsible for her actions, Smith was suffering a degree of “mental disturbance” when she committed the crimes.

He wrote: “The jury stressed that this mental disturbance was not as important as the defence had argued.

“This was based on facts such as several suicide attempts made by Smith, a statement she gave during which she appeared normal and did not make any significant mistakes as she described what had happened and how it happened, the composition of several coherent notes, and calculations she made in order to pay what she believed she still owed to the hotel.”

The judge also dismissed the defence’s claim that Smith had been suffering “insurmountable fear” when she murdered her children because she was afraid British social services would take them away from her.

Daily Mirror

A PROPERTY developer has been charged with the attempted murder of a solicitor who was blasted in the head with a sawn-off shotgun.

Dad-of-three James Ward, 59, is critical in hospital after being shot with a single cartridge while at his desk.

Three members of staff were in the FACE OF A KILLER: Lianne Smith sits expressionless in court office at the time of the shooting and two members of the public - including an off-duty paramedic - rushed to the solicitor’s aid.

The man accused of the crime is Ferrari-driving developer Michael A FORMER top cop has Madeleine was nearly four Chudleigh, 62, thought to The Sun claimed there is a good when she disappeared from be known to Mr Ward.

Police have recovered a chance Madeleine McCann He visited the Portuguese the family’s holiday apartment weapon. may be alive. holiday resort where the tod- in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in Mr Ward’s partner is Veteran Met detective Ian dler vanished and scoured May 2007.

Horrocks has drawn on three police files and media reports.

The Portuguese police Nicola Morris, a consultdecades of experience invesinvestigations ant solicitor at the firm.

Mr Horrocks has now pub- abandoned A neighbour who lives tigating murder, kidnap and lished his detailed analysis of after 15 months as they had near their red-brick farmsex crimes to offer all possible the McCann mystery and no clues to what happened. explanations for her disap- explains it is possible that the Mr Horrocks added: “I have house, said: “He is just pearance. tried to look at this with fresh such a lovely man. missing girl is alive.

“The whole family is The former Scotland eyes untainted by what has Yard detective said: “The been written in the past, much lovely. It is such a shock thought that Kate and of which has been totally unin- this has happened, he Gerry McCann had any- formed and not based upon wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

65. a, lot Vil ing driver Emilio de rac F1 Mr Ward was working in sia irus ser Ma s thing to do with the any evidence. wa g for the One test driver She was test drivin nd’s British Grand A WOMAN Formula ay. his office in Devizes, Wilts, esd “I do not believe that Tu on death of their daughter, sh eke cra we r s rro team ahead of thi p on ously injured in a ho lap ram a g ed din ish on Monday just before loa fin a t Madeleine was abducted with o jus int whether being directly d ha Prix. Maria crashed Maria de Villota, 32, t transported her car elerated into the 3pm when a gunman shot tha acc the intention of some sort of ry ly lor en responsible or covering dd the su of r car r rea the when he rial War Museum ck. long-term grooming and him and fled in a car. it up, is preposterous. airfield at the Impe the to l back of a support tru ful the Cambs. r helmet took Armed officers arrested “There is not one abuse. A girl of Madeleine’s airfield in Duxford, Witnesses said he and uries but in Cambridgeshire head and facial inj ion red llis ffe co su e the Sh of ce shred of evidence, age is not the usual target age a man on suspicion of en to for ok sp s ha . e tes sh nu im mi 15 reports in Spain cla ital she did not move for direct or otherwise, to for a paedophile; she is sub- attempted murder 35 minone from her hosp conscious from the r family on the ph he She was taken un l. ita sp indicate that this is stantially younger than most utes later in nearby ho in nd rou e cam t bu bed. wrecked car Spanish r me for even a remote possibility.”

Rowde. victims of these offences.” of r hte ug is the da

Maddie may well be alive, says ex-top cop

r o rr o h h s ra c in a ri a M n F1 quee

Maria

28

Friday, July 6, 2012

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

A measly £200 - but we deserve it AT last, some good news regarding Winter Fuel Allowance. It seems we WILL be getting what we deserve.

A Strasbourg ruling says the UK Government must pay WFA to all pensioners, even though we live in "hot countries".

The ignorant Iain Duncan Smith says, "we will fight these

ridiculous EU rules". I suggest he devotes his energies on other projects if he wants to save money.

A measly £200? l WHAT ABOUT the thousands given to immigrants who haven't contributed a penny? lWHAT ABOUT Eastern bloc people who claim and get child

allowance for their kids back home? l WHAT ABOUT the stupid war in Afghanistan, costing not only £billions but the lives of our brave lads? l WHAT ABOUT cheating, lying MPs who avoid tax and fiddle their expenses?

The list is endless, so lay off

the Pensioners, we've paid our taxes and NIC contributions.

Does anybody know if this is paid direct or do we have to claim?

Also, will there be any back pay? I think I'm being a bit hopeful there!

DAVE MOORE, San Fulgencio

HOT OF BOTHER

Whingers tax me to the limit

The shame of Donna’s put the front page item to bed once and for eful all. Edition 71 Winter Fuel Payments: Let's start c a r g is d with the taxes we Brits pay. blasphemy LET'S

Whilst working we pay tax on our monthly salary, VAT, National Insurance, Council Tax, TV Licence (still a tax) car tax and every other tax. Thus over a working life-time (44 years for t tremely upse men, 39 years for women, recently changed to 30 years for both I AM ex as bl ’s na Gee men and women) we have paid into the system. On reaching by Don st la in le tic ar phemous retirement we are allocated our state pension.

Courier Whilst living in the UK we are then asked to claim the winter week’s you-know). had found to fuel allowance. Once allocated, that's it. If like us you move to (above rn rt bo so re a lieve ‘MY Yes I am she had to who. I be I so-called warmer climes, the whingers come out of the woodise d rw an he ot n, H R IS T e tia us is U ca Chr that be R D J E S S C LO e work demanding that because we live in Spain, a hot country OK again th an t e bu su it is ) preached I like reading urge her to (your words in July and August... day ser di st r ye he yet you as r w fo e s, last tim apology forgivenes n But have any of these whingers spent a winter on the Costa y tia m is hr of C e t to crucify and all my graceful usag seem to wan Blanca? You get SNOW in Madrid!! e. m SUS sa JE e th oke to a y sp sa friends LORD me. I just ESo I have paid in for my state pension etc., I have been allocatd IN an EL U E Q M A a church JAC CHRIST’S N friend who is ed it. Whingers who think Spain is still 35-40 C in the winter need she RATT R A ay G w commitE t N a N an d A the flipp organist an to research their facts before putting pen to paper! We have cened E cr E G sa n and he used DONNA has ted Christia tral heating in our villa, but it only takes the chill off! nd fe of I ay offend If w s: replie speech. was in no So let's get to the front page grabber that should have been ad ur re t yo no d do other We would ed. What ed you an there - UK Ex-Pats having to pay for prescriptions. From the pret the bu r te e, af is r og ink? Was I ol rie th the Cou Christians friends, I ap vious item you will have noted that taxes paid during a working lifeol lt ap fe I to at d th last editor ha out of order? all I said was time also allowed FREE prescriptions for UK pensioners. The UK ilar ho for his sim n-believer w e no is a og e lik government pays Spain £3,500 per expat to cover medical costs A shame language. including prescriptions. Not all expats require prescriptions, a winMy UK state pension is £488.96 per month which equates ner for Spain. Plus a lot of drugs are much cheaper in Spain, to €611.20, but in the Murcia region the third lowest average pension is believe me they are! €730.50, this is stated as €99.07 below the Spanish social security average So why does our government via the Embassy not tell the Spanish govof €829.57. This is €218.37 more than we expat Brits are allocated and the ernment that expats have paid during their working lifetime, thus not having Spanish still think we are wealthy!! Think again Spain! to pay for prescription drugs. I will not pay twice.

MARTYN BAVERSTOCK, La Marina Urb

q

Smacker smacked IN REPLY to your article warning holidaymakers about getting arrested, we live in the Murcia region at San Pedro.

Six weeks ago my daughter came over for her 40th birthday and during the party I asked an 18-stone man in is 40s if he would move out of my daughter’s chair so she could sit next to her mum. His reply was ‘Do you own it?’

Anyway he moved.

At the end of the night I went home to bring the dog to meet my wife. She was sat outside finishing her drink

when this man walked out of the door and without saying anything smacked me in the face. My wife asked him why and he smacked her and then ran off.

We went to the Guardia and made a statement and appeared in court three days later. He got a 180-euro fine, we got 200 euros damages and he flew home the same day.

The moral to this story is do not live in the Murcia region.

NAME SUPPLIED, Murcia

q

WHAT is going on with the protesters? I was a firm supporter of CLR when they were teamed up with CLARO, and was really pleased when, BEFORE the election, they broke away and formed their own party, including their own party office, on the "strip".

I attended their party christening in Orihuela Town. It was in their office on the "strip" I met with a Mr Ray Kearney, a very nice man, who informed me he was the financial backer and had many properties on the Costa.

When I went to vote I voted CLR. What is the problem with those OAPs? I know they should all go to Specsavers. Everyone had the chance to vote for which party they wanted.

VICTOR, La Florida

Legends tour was not our doing...

I REFER to your article in the June 15 edition in which several references indicated that the Costa Blanca Blues Branch of the official Manchester City Supporters Club (1949) were in some way associated with the Manchester City legends tour event that took place in Playa Flamenca and other venues.

I would like to advise you that the Costa Blanca Branch had no involvement whatsoever with the organisation, sponsorship, provision of a team to play the legends, charities or any other items associated with the Legends tour.

The article has created some embarrassment to the branch and I would be grateful if you could advise your readers of the Branch concerns.

PETER SMITH Chairman, Manchester City Supporters Club (1949), Costa Blanca Blues branch

An unfortunate choice I FEEL I must reply to an article that appeared in your newspaper of Friday June 15 entitled “The Scourge of Gossip" It is unfortunate that the writer of the article, who is an otherwise nice person, has chosen to go down this path.

It is not rocket science to work out which community is being mentioned. The writer is in fact a Vice President of this community and will of course take a biased point of view.

It was mentioned that no effort was made to approach the committee regarding a decision made. The article failed to men-

tion that the President is totally unapproachable. There was a recent incident, which the writer witnessed, when the said President was very aggressive towards residents which resulted in the Guardia Civil being called to the building.

I appreciate that the article is meant to be a personal view, but the writer would do well to stop and think where all the nastiness is being generated.

Perhaps the title "The Scourge of Gossip" was an apt title.

DISAPPOINTED MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY

29

Friday, July 6, 2012

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

Floored by a pane in the glass I WENT to Alicante Airport on Sunday night to meet some friends on their return from England.

After parking my car on Level 4, I walked over the footbridge to the terminal building.

I was walking on the left side of the footbridge and looking up at the stairway to departures when I was literally stopped in my tracks and knocked off my feet.

The “automatic doors “ had failed to open and I had inad-

vertantly walked into the plain glass side panel.

I sat on the floor for a few moments and then a young man came to my aid and helped me back to my feet.

Shaken and stirred.

The Liverpool flight was a few minutes late in arriving and so I had time to visit the ladies washroom where I bathed my forehead and left hand in cold water to help ease the pain and bruising. (The part that I landed on had to wait until I got home!)

Prescription charges: The new rules

FROM THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN MADRID BRITISH pensioners living in Spain are now required to pay towards the cost of their prescriptions under changes to the public healthcare system introduced by the Spanish government.

One of the changes means that all state pensioners who are registered for healthcare in Spain as residents must now pay a percentage towards the cost of their medicines. The contribution for state pensioners has been set at 10% of the cost, with a cap of as low as eight euros per month depending on personal income.

How much a pensioner must pay depends on personal circumstances. If you need more information you can contact your local health service provider directly, who should be able to give you detailed information on the prescription charges. This system of ‘co-payment’ - paying a percentage of the total cost of medicines - is common among European countries and has been applied to those classed as ‘active’ in Spain i.e. those normally considered to be of workingage, for some time.

Under European Union regulations, the UK pays Spain an average annual cost to provide healthcare for its pensioners. This entitles UK pensioners who are resident in Spain and registered with an S1/E121 form to the same access to state healthcare as would be provided to a Spanish pensioner.

As a result, any healthcare changes that are applicable to Spanish state pensioners are equally applicable to all UK state pensioners, as well

If I could have spotted a member of staff, I would have been able to show “someone” what had happened and point out the danger that it could happen again.

I showed my friends the forehead and hand prints on the glass when we returned to the car park, and told them what had happened.

One pointed out that all four panels at the car park end of the footbridge have coloured strips across them, but at the

terminal side only the centre panels are highlighted.

MARJORY NORRIS, El Raso I hope your bruises were not too severe, Marjory. If that had happened in the UK, you’d have a good case for suing the airport. In Spain, they’re more than likely to fine YOU for vandalising the glass panel. The cleaning bill is probably on its way to you as I write - along with a 100-euro fine for speeding on the footbridge.

-EDITOR

q

SCANDAL OF THE ILLEGAL UK CARS

Law-cheating Brit motorists so aggravating - but the police know where to find them I AND many other members of the expat community are getting really fed up with the amount of illegal UK registered cars still on the road here.

as those from other EU/EEA countries. These include any costs that someone may be charged, including those for prescriptions.

The system for co-payment is being managed by each individual autonomous community, so the process may differ slightly between regions.

For those in the Valencia autonomous community, a freephone helpline has

been set up which has English speakers available.

The telephone number is 900 101 081.

You can find out more information and check for future updates on changes on public healthcare provision on the at website UKinSpain http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/ h e l p - f o r - b r i t i s h nationals/living-ins p a i n / a c c e s s healthcare/healthcare/healthcare-updates .

Opinions expressed on these pages are those of the writers, and not of The Courier

All English registered cars that have been here more than six months are Illegal.

If they are here more than six months they should be transferred onto Spanish plates. (same for German cars, too).

If they have no MOT, they have NO insurance. There is no way around this one.

Why should I have to pay to Spain, road tax, ITV money and insurance policies while these guys ride around for free?

They just pay for petrol. It is unfair, illegal, immoral and I hope they all get caught in the next roadblock.

My friend Molly says: "As sad as it may be, I have taken more notice of UK cars here without tax discs, I have recorded 67 cars in two days and that’s without looking in drives etc.

On one, car, tax ran out in 2006 that’s six years without paying Suma or ITV, and I presume not MOT’d as it’s an old Rover that woudn't make it to UK.’’ If you have an English car please check that it is legal. If not, at best police will eventually catch up with you and give a big fine and impound your car, At the worst you may be involved

in an accident and insurance will more than likely be invalid.

The legal time to use a car abroad on most insurance company policies is 90 days (green card). You will be liable to pay for third party if any accident is proved to be your fault, So if you have an English car please, please check it’s legal and you are not the one going to court.

For more info go to any transfer company in the free papers.

RHD cars are very dangerous here. Try to overtake in one, while relying on your missus to say its safe to go.! Turning right at a T junction you have blind spots.

The biggest pain is going to put your ticket in car parking machines.

If alone you mostly have to get out of your car and walk around to put your ticket in the machine, while holding every one up.

Also at motorway tolls, drive through takeaways McD's etc there is always a queue after a UK reg car if the driver is alone..

The Local Police and the Guardia Civil know about you, don't think they don't. They will get you one day.

There are traffic cameras all over Torrevieja and surrounding areas now.

The are watching every move you make. Boost the economy - buy a Spanish registered car, pay your Spanish road tax and insurance like evryone else who is driving Spanish cars.

MISS GRUNTLED Torrevieja

Latest edition always online at www.thecourier.es

30

Friday, July 6, 16, 2012 Friday, December 2011

Most drivers want left-hand-drive MORE than half of British drivers would prefer the UK to switch to left-handdrive, according to a survey released today.

Confusion with foreign road rules, and even accidentally driving on the wrong side of the road, is causing UK motorists too many problems according to the data released by insurance comparison website Confused.com.

Almost three quarters of survey respondents (73%) said they ‘dread’ driving abroad because of the potential confusion of local road signage and driving on the other side of the carriageway.

Just under one in five (19%) drivers who have crossed the English Channel say they have accidentally still driven on the left at some point during their trip.

The research also claims that 20% of car trips from the UK to Europe end in a crash or bump, while 66% experience something going wrong with their journey.

As many as 39% say driving on the right is their number one fear when it comes to driving holidays abroad, while

54% want Britain to switch to driving on the right in order to make driving abroad easier.

However, Britain has been a right-hand-drive nation for 300 years, since the days when knights used to pass each other on the left so that their right arm – always the sword arm – was in between them and their opponent.

If tradition isn’t a valid reason, finances may be. While Sweden switched to driving on the right in the 1960s and saw large reductions in accidents, the cost involved in such a switch in the UK would be prohibitive.

Benjamin Heydecker, Professor of Transport Studies at Centre for Transport Studies, UCL said: “Changing the UK’s vehicles and infrastructures at this stage would be prohibitive from a cost point of view.

“Road-running public transport vehicles (mainly buses) would have to be modified to allow passenger access from the right-hand side of the pavement in order to operate safely, all junctions on two-way roads would need to be rearranged, and motorway interchanges would need to be rebuilt.”

French breathalyser laws come into force NEW MOTORING laws have come into force in France making it compulsory for drivers to carry breathalyser kits in their vehicles.

As of July 1, motorists and motorcyclists will face an onthe-spot fine unless they travel with two single-use devices as part of a government drive to reduce the number of drink-drive related deaths.

The new regulations, w h i c h excludes mopeds, will be fully enforced and include foreign drivers from November 1 following a four-month period of grace. Anyone failing to produce a breathalyser after that date will receive an 11 euro fine.

French police have warned they will be carrying out random checks on drivers crossing into France via ferries and through the Channel Tunnel to enforce the new rules.

Retailers in the UK have

reported a massive rise in breathalyser sales as British drivers travelling across the Channel ensure they do not fall foul of the new legislation.

Car accessory retailer Halfords said it is selling one kit every minute of the day and has rushed extra stock into stores to cope with the unprecedented demand.

Six out of 10 Britons travelling to France are not aware they have to carry two NF approved breathalysers at all times, according to the company.

The French government hopes to save around 500 lives a year by introducing the new laws, which will encourage drivers who suspect they may be over the limit to test themselves with the kits.

The French drink-driving limit is 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood - substantially less than the UK limit of

Friday, July 6, 2012

31

London to host F1 race?

No Top Gear until next year IT could be manic on the streets of London if Bernie Ecclestone gets his way as news of a surprise F1 development emerges.

The Formula One impresario has been making more noises about staging a London Grand Prix, which could see the likes of Hamilton and Vettel jostling for position past London’s big-ticket landmarks, including Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.

Formula One’s billionaire chief has made no secret of his ambitions to hold a street race in the capital to rival the glitzy Monaco grand prix.

Actually, the capital has reverberated to the tune of screaming F1 cars before – a demonstration event on Regent Street in 2004 saw Nigel Mansell and Jenson Button flambé some tyres in front of a rapturous crowd – and it’s thought a

fully-fledged 59 lap race would attract huge interest – although it isn’t expected to replace the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

“Think what it would do for tourism. It would be fantastic, good for London, good for England – a lot better than the Olympics,” said the mop-haired octogenarian in typically modest style.

According to reports in The Times, Ecclestone is prepared to stump up £35m to bring the F1 show to London – which, it’s hoped, could bring in as much as £100m in revenue and attract more than 120,000 spectators.

Full plans, including details of the 3.2mile route, which is believed to have been designed with input from McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, are set to be unveiled at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall this week.

A 4.5-litre Bentley ‘Blower’ has set a new record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by selling for £4.5 million at auction.

The Bentley Blower, which used to race at Brooklands in the 1930s, becomes the most expensive Bentley ever sold – beating the previous record achieved by ‘Old No 2’ at the Le Mans Classic in 2004.

It is not the first time the supercharged Bentley Blower, once owned by Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin, has broken records, either: in 1932, the 240hp machine set a record top speed of 137.96mph at Brooklands.

Birkin was no stranger to Bentley in the 1930s and is actually one of the original ‘Bentley Boys’. It’s thus fitting that the exfighter pilot and Le Mans racer’s old car

continues to set records even today.

Commenting on the exploits of Birkin and his 4 ½ litre at Brooklands, Richard Charlesworth, Bentley’s director of VIP and Royal relations said: “Birkin along with his Bentley racing friends like Woolf Barnato, Dudley Benjafield and Glen Kidston were true sporting superstars, renowned not only for their driving ability and courage but living life to the full and in some considerable style.

“They would create the enduring legend of the Bentley Boy racer at Brooklands and Le Mans and this new record price for a Bentley achieved by Bonhams reflects the enduring respect and admiration for their story and their cars.”

Bentley sells for record £4.5m

THERE will not be a new series of Top Gear until 2013. It has been confirmed by Jeremy Clarkson that the hit BBC2 motoring show will not return to the nation’s television screens until next year due to “boring reasons.”

The outspoken lead presenter took to his Twitter account – @jcrclarksonesq – to break the news, saying, “Pay attention.

There will be no Top Gear until next year.

Boring reasons.”

Clarkson’s latest comments follow his previous tweets in suggesting that it’d be a while before the trio of presenters – including his colleagues Richard Hammond and James May – would return with a new series of the show.

Back in May this year Clarkson outlined, again via Twitter that, “there’s a rumour in internet land that there will be no more Top

Gear this year. I’m afraid that apart from an Xmas Special, it’s true.”

In his usual pithy style the Yorkshire man suggested rival TV programs were the reason for Top Gear’s postponed return, adding “Would love to be back in the Autumn but Sunday nights will be full of fat people singing” – a reference to Simon Cowell’s X Factor show.

It now appears that initial rumours surrounding the delayed return of TG to TV were correct.

In a battle to keep ratings for the long-running program high, the BBC could move the show from its traditional autumn slot to a January window. However, it has not yet confirmed when a new series of the motoring program will make its arrival in 2013.

Still, we can look forward to the Christmas special.

32

Friday, July 6, 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, 21 represents Z and 11 represents P, 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 Scratch (6) 4 Floor covering (6) 9 Tropical fruit (7) 10 One who gives (5) 11 Relative magnitudes of two quantities (5) 12 Clever Dick (4-3) 13 Walt Disney character (6,5) 18 Attack (7) 20 Frighten (5) 22 Ensnares (5) 23 Slaughter (7) 24 Well-mannered (6) 25 Kind (6)

Down 1 Steps (6) 2 Bird perch (5) 3 Colourful bird (7) 5 Sound (5) 6 Letter traders (3,4) 7 Exhilarate (6) 8 Sports implement (6,5) 14 Put in (7) 15 Watch (7) 16 Small computer (6) 17 Draw back (6) 19 Disturb (5) 21 Alter to fit (5)

Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Fuss, 3 Pancreas, 9 Amorous, 10 Abide, 11 Spent, 12 Monkey, 14 Master, 16 Barter, 19 Writhe, 21 Chaos, 24 Align, 25 Terrier, 26 Evensong, 27 Here.

Down: 1 Fearsome, 2 Scope, 4 Assume, 5 Chain, 6 Eminent, 7 Sues, 8 Bottle, 13 Preserve, 15 Service, 17 Accord, 18 Beaten, 20 Tongs, 22 Alive, 23 Bare.

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 Make up new form of maracas (7) 5 Basil's without love foundation (5) 8 Turn tee around for Hazel (3,4) 9 Hilaire Belloc uncovered protestor (5) 10 Love without change, where one finds respite (5) 11 Religious residence with Spanish outlet (7) 12 Sibyl is aeroplane's pilot returning with no trouble (6) 14 Princess teed off, tries to lose weight (6) 17 Daily tell a fib to Angel's boss (7) 19 Cobbler's tools persists (5) 22 Look high and low in Appeals Court (5) 23 Badly written letters of support (7) 24 Goes out with dried fruits (5) 25 Wanted to see a knight in action (7)

Down 1 Tropical fruit among corruption (5) 2 Point ties out on locations (5) 3 A looser mix for spray can (7) 4 Bureau found in Reichstag encyclopaedia (6) 5 Born a devious business leader (5) 6 Put through content (7) 7 Unhappy about player, but honoured (7) 12 The case, in the end, was fully packed (7) 13 Dover, for instance, puts water before wine (7) 15 Silliness is without a malady (7) 16 The New Testament is indeed spoilt (6) 18 High jinks strictly for the birds (5) 20 Instrument used in moving flight of steps (5) 21 Comes back up in deep sea diver's rush (5)

STANDARD CLUES

Down

Across

1 Tropical fruit (5) 2 Locations (5) 3 Spray can (7) 4 Bureau (6) 5 Nobleman (5) 6 Theme (7) 7 Greeted (7) 12 Surrounded (7) 13 Harbour (7) 15 Disease (7) 16 Bent (6) 18 Songbirds (5) 20 Indian lute (5) 21 Rush (5)

1 Eye makeup (7) 5 Foundation (5) 8 Hazel (3,4) 9 Revolutionary (5) 10 Refuge (5) 11 Nunnery (7) 12 Effortlessly (6) 14 Fasted (6) 17 Mr Chaplin (7) 19 Shoemakers' tools (5) 22 Scrub (5) 23 Braced framework (7) 24 Courts (5) 25 Wanted (7)

Last weeks Solution Across: 1 Obstacle, 7 Shake, 8 Inanimate, 9 Tug, 10 Maid, 11 Nettle, 13 Sandal, 14 Renews, 17 Static, 18 Beer, 20 Two, 22 Rearrange, 23 Naive, 24 Consults.

Down: 1 Opium, 2 Station, 3 Asia, 4 Leader, 5 Haste, 6 Leagues, 7 Seethed, 12 Macabre, 13 Sitting, 15 Eternal, 16 Virago, 17 Sonic, 19 Reels, 21 Arms.

FILL IT IN

Complete the crossword grid by using the given words:

Issue Lego Sin 2 letter words Manna Less Sit As Nitre Liar Sow At Psalm Lies Tar He Rebut Lure Tat Ma Skims Mine Tea 3 letter words Spree Oats Ten Act Tired Ogre The Aid Vapid Pond Try Are 6 letter words Purl Vac Ask Arrest Sale Vis Cue Ascend Sand 4 letter words Eat Marble Sane Acre Emu Ornate Snap Acts Era Setter Sore Ages Get Tassel Sort Ante Inn 7 letter words Taco Area Ode Antenna Tent Arts Oft Respire Tree Bast Ore 8 letter words Twee Earl Pea Gremlins Typo Eddy Psi Selenium 5 letter words Envy Rat Aroma Free Rob Could Hear Sad Egret Ides She

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

Across

Down

1 Shadow (6) 4 Barbas (6) 9 To tighten (belt, shoes) (7) 10 Fault (blame) (5) 11 Abejas (4) 12 El más alto (7) 15 Lección (6) 16 Predicar (6) 19 Walls (interior) (7) 21 Granja (4) 24 Tiger (5) 25 Hares (7) 26 Paquete (grande) (6) 27 Bebidas (líquido) (6)

1 Cinturón de seguridad (8) 2 Mercados (7) 3 Rat (4) 5 Staircase (8) 6 Rollos (de tela, papel, cuerda fina, cable fino) (5) 7 Puñalada (herida) (4) 8 Nata (en repostería) (5) 13 ¡Ven aquí! (4,4) 14 Farmacias (establecimiento) (8) 17 Saffron (7) 18 Campanas (de iglesias, puertas) (5) 20 Ira (de persona) (5) 22 Paso (4) 23 Ciervo (4)

33

Friday, July 6, 2012 Across 1 An Everlasting Love and I Just Wana Be Your Everything were both British hit singles for which singer who died in 1988, aged just 30? (4,4) 7 Which is the largest (in area) of the six New England states?

(5) 8 Which English poet and prose writer’s best known work was Cider with Rosie, a memoir of the author’s boyhood in the Cotswold countryside? (6,3) 9 What name is applied to any one of the terminal members of a vertebrate’s foot? (3) 10 What name is given to the yellow or greenish viscid alkaline fluid secreted by the liver and passed into the duodenum where it aids especially in the emulsification and absorption of fats? (4) 11 What name is given to the bone on the thumb side of the human forearm? (6) 13 The name of which thicksoled boot worn by actors in ancient Greek tragedies has come to mean ‘tragedy’? (6) 14 Jean-Paul were the first names of which 20th century French novelist, playwright and exponent of existentialism? (6) 17 What was the surname of the 19th century French literary artist who produced a vast number of novels and short stories collectively called La Comédie humaine (The Human Comedy)? (6) 18 Which exclamation indicating disapproval, rebuke, or contempt is also American slang for the buttocks? (4) 20 Which alcoholic beverage is brewed especially by rapid fermentation from an infusion of malt with the addition of hops?

SUDOKU

Quiz Word

(3) 22 See 2 Down 23 Which city and port is the capital of Ghana? (5) 24 Telstar was which instrumental group’s first British number one hit single? (8)

Down 1 Which Latin phrase means ‘without restraint or limit’? (2,3) 2/22 Which US general, who served as chief of staff and commanded Allied forces in the South Pacific during World War II, accepted the surrender of Japan? (7,9) 3 What name is given to the starting positions of cars on a racecourse? (4) 4 What name is given to an aromatic and usually oily and resinous substance flowing from various plants? (6) 5 What name is given to hands with the fingers clenched in the palm, as for hitting? (5) 6 Which sports official usually has the final authority in administering a game? (7) 7 What was the nationality of the popular entertainer Mario Moreno, better known as ‘Cantinflas’? (7) 12 What name is given to a document bearing record of graduation from or of a degree conferred by an educational institution? (7) 13 Which fruits of the genus Musa, of the family Musaceae, are one of the most important food crops of the world? (7) 15 Which word can mean ‘having come into contact’ or ‘slightly insane’? (7) 16 In the television/movie series The Cisco Kid, what was the name of the hero’s sidekick, played by actor Leo Carrillo? (6) 17 The surname of which character from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, means ‘to eject or emit violently’? (5) 19 What was the name of the Egyptian god of light and the son of Osiris and Isis? (5) 21 Fe is the chemical symbol for which heavy malleable ductile magnetic silver-white metallic element? (4)

SALLY’S SIMPLE SPANISH

Different gender, different meaning Match these words with their Spanish translations then find them in the wordsearch.

(Answers below)

el capital

la capital

el coma

la coma

el corte

la corte

el cura

la cura

el cólera

la cólera

el final

la final

el frente

la frente

music QUIZ

el orden

la orden

1. Which Lyricist Worked With Richard Rogers On Such Songs As Blue Moon , Where Or When, & My Funny Valentine?

2. Who Recorded The Albums Our Favourite Shop & Home And Abroad?

3. Who won the Euro song contest with the song 'Save All Your Kisses For Me'?

4. What record label issued the first Beatles LP in the US? 5. Rattle And Hum' Was A Hit Album For Which Group?

6. Which Female Vocalist Guested With Massive Attack On Their 3rd Album Mezzanine?

7. Adam Clayton Plays Bass Guitar For Which Band?

8. Who Was Declared Dead On New Years Day 1953 At The Age Of 29?

9. What instrument is also called the octave flute?

10. Who Had A Hit With 'I Love A Rainy Night'?

11. George Michaels 'Father Figure' Was Released In 1986 Or 1988?

12. Who Had A Top 5 Hit In 1971 With 'Me And You And A Dog Named Boo'?

13. How Old Was Leann Rhymes When She Had Her First Number One Country Album?

el papa

la papa

el parte

la parte

el pendiente

la pendiente

el pez

la pez

ANSWERS 1. Lorenz Hart 2. The Style Council 3.

Brotherhood of Man 4. VeeJay Records 5. U2 6. Elizabeth Frazier 7. U2 8. Hank Williams 9. Piccolo 10. Eddie Rabbitt 11. 1988 12. Lobo 13. Thirteen

Code Cracker Last weeks Quiz Wordsolution Across: 1 Tom Jones, 7 Blaze, 8 Gladiator, 9 Tit, 10 Rams, 11 Vectis, 14 Geyser, 17 Bursar, 18 Kepi, 20 Ace, 22/13 Charlotte Corday, 23 Twice, 24 Lake Erie.

Down: 1 Tiger, 2 Myanmar, 3 Odin, 4 Entree, 5 Darts, 6 Centaur, 7 Britten, 12 Caprice, 13 Chianti, 15 Sweater, 16 Papaya, 17 Benin, 19 Irene, 21 Elbe.

1.el capital, 2.el coma,

18.la final, 19.la frente,

l. order, m. message, report,

3.el corte, 4.el cura,

20.la orden, 21.la papa,

n.tar, pitch, o.earring,

5.el cólera,6.el final, 7.el frente,

22.la parte, 23.la pendiente,

p.capital city, q.bile, anger,

8.el orden, 9.el papa,

24.la pez

r.court, s.cure, t.forehead,

10.el parte, 11.el pendiente,

a.capital (money), b.cholera,

u.decree, holy order, v.potato,

12.el pez, 13.la capital,

c. priest, d. fish, e. comma,

w.part, portion, x.slope, hillside.

14.la coma, 15.la corte,

f. coma, g ending, h. the cut,

16.la cura, 17.la cólera,

i. front, j. sports final, k. Pope,

Soduko

Span - Eng

Quizword

Answers:1a, 2f, 3h, 4c, 5b, 6g, 7i, 8l, 9k, 10m, 11o, 12d, 13p, 14e, 15r, 16s, 17q, 18j, 19t, 20u, 21v, 22w, 23x, 24n

Last Week’s Solutions

Empareja estas palabras – Match these Spanish and English words for word suffixes.

You will find the answers at the bottom of the quiz.

Fill It In

34

Friday, July 6, 2012

TRELI ON THE TELLY IF I see the name of Christopher Eccleston on the cast list, I know a TV drama is going to be worth watching. It shouldn’t be forgotten that before the double wonders of David Tennant and Matt Smith, Eccleston made the new version of Dr Who a hit, and if he’d failed, it would have been a disaster on many fronts.

He’s now popped up on a new BBC1 mini-series, Blackout, where he plays a councillor who hits the bottle too much and happens to be corrupt. That rings a bell with me, as I had to do regular business with a number of councillors who fitted that bill.

Anyway, we see Ecclestone’s character doing a deal in a wet alleyway, only to find him waking up back at home worse for wear, with many questions to be answered. It’s another summer drama treat from the BBC that works, with a superb cast that also features Andrew Scott (the wonderful Moriarty from Sherlock) as a copper trying to get Ecclestone to face the music.

Meanwhile, ITV1 seems to have called it quits until September, with no new drama (barring the soaps),

q

Blackout is a real knockout for Chris

with ALEX TRELINSKI and just a tedious Midsummer Murders repeat on Wednesday night. That really isn’t good enough and it makes you shudder wondering what they’ll do when the Beeb is showing nonstop Olympics from the end of the month.

I think Paddy McGuinness is great on the ITV1 dating show, Take Me Out, and clearly the network is copying the BBC “Alexander Armstrong” treatment by throwing every new idea at him to keep him happy and to make sure he doesn’t switch channels.

But his new project, a clips-based panel show called Mad Mad World, is truly shocking, with the finished product guaranteed to get Paddy’s agent hawking

q

him around other networks to preserve his integrity and credibility.

I’d certainly love to know what his old mucker Peter Kay thought of it!

It’s not Paddy’s fault, but that of the producers, as he gamely tries to keep things bouncing along in a sea of mediocrity with a bunch of old clips that the second-rate guests try to make some lame and vaguely amusing

comments on. These are all clips, by the way, that we saw ages ago on You Tube, and on other TV panel shows.

The fact that this is buried late on a Saturday night suggests it has already been classified by the network bosses as a turkey, fittingly joining the Alistair McGowan disaster earlier in the evening. The one good thing was that nobody saw Mad Mad World, as ITV suffered

Christopher Ecclestone in Blackout

Horoscopes Aries March 21 - April 19 Having a nice long chat over a pot of tea is well starred again this week, especially if sitting in an east to westerly direction.

Giggling, laughing, general leg slapping of your own or someone else's is your lucky style of intercourse.Knitting socks, cardigans and some such like your granny used to do has its attractions this week until you see how expensive the wool is these days.

Taurus April 20 - May 20 Avoid any Get A Beach Body In 3 Weeks adverts - it's too late for that now better to get those close to you to call you names or look with derision or disgust at you whilst wearing your new summer costumes if you really want to prepare.

(Venus says get the crying over now and you will be able to enjoy your holiday much more later.)

Gemini May 21 - June 20 You tried crunching crackers in rhythm, maybe to music, once, remember? Yes, when you were much younger, for a short while. Now is a good time to revisit this, especially in any cheese and wine type parties with gentle music playing in the background. Your 'crunch dance' routine will be subliminally alluring to someone or other.

Cancer June 21 - July 22 Now is the time to count your ill-gotten gains in any likely completely illegal but you've been getting away with it for years bank type espionage carried out in the middle of the last decade. Like in the song The Gambler, you never count your money when you're sitting at the table - well, the table is long gone and you need to start counting before that knock at the door on the 18th of the month...

its worst Saturday night ratings in its 57-year history, completed and deservedly demolished by the Murray tennis match on a re-scheduled BBC1.

Well done to Spain in holding on to the footie Euro crown on Sunday night in magnificent style. As always, the BBC got the lion’s share of the UK viewing figures, though that’s really out of habit, rather than a negative comment on what has been a good tournament for ITV. I have to say, though, that the ITV team looked totally out of it in their Warsaw base for the final, as opposed to Gary Lineker’s guys being right with the action at the stadium in Kiev.

As I’ve written before, both channels have been found sadly wanting in terms of a top flight commentator.

Perhaps one of them should have had the inspiration to

q

offer a short-term secondment deal to Sky’s Martin Tyler, who is head and shoulders above the rest.

The best people behind the sports commentator’s microphone are those who know when to keep quiet, so it’s been great to enjoy Barry Davies (long gone from the soccer commentary box) giving us a masterclass during the BBC Wimbledon coverage. There’d be long periods of silence whilst you just enjoyed the pictures tellling the story.

Sadly, Barry is one of a dying breed who believes that the viewer is intelligent, rather having to put up with the chattering soundtrack we get on all sports coverage in virtually every country in the world. Spanish TV is one of the very worst offenders Telecinco being a case in point for the Euro final last Sunday night!

By Pandora Leo July 23 - August 22 Brain storming with alcohol is temporarily well starred this week in any office based meeting that starts around 10am and finishes before 2 in the afternoon. This week your destiny is like a poodle with fleas. F5 continues to be your lucky function computer key for most of the time

Virgo August 23 - September 22 After last weeks's Scottish based exertions, this month your planetary aspect moves southwards to Newcastle in Northern England where they filmed the UK MTV Jersey Shore lookie-likie show Geordie Shore. Time to break out the six packs, orange tan and say weyaiii Cheryl.

Libra September 23 - October 22 Any invitation to have your say on any subject in the typable social media sites is well starred this month, with a seemingly effortless ability to type the right thing right at that moment. Don't, whatever you do, look back at what you wrote for at least three years afterwards, or before if your solicitor tells you you will need to.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 Real life stunt action sequences continue to be badly starred unless you have prearranged sufficient cardboard boxes in which to fall when jumping from buildings.

There may be an answer waiting for you in Stanley Kubric's iconic 2001: A Space Odyssey this week. This week your destiny feels like mayo in the Subway sandwich of your choice.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 Sword fights in supermarkets - but without the swords - are well starred this month. Head straight for the baguette shelves if challenged in or near the bakery section, anywhere else head for the broom handles in the home supplies aisles. This month your thingie needs a new doobry.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 Flying long distances in carriage / economy class and getting the seat closest to the toilet has never been better starred.

Venus has ensured that even the cheapest airline has enough deodorant and chemicals to control smells in even the longest of flights, even if your fellow passengers sitting nowhere near the toilet choose to leave the door open after they exit.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 This week is a good month to try a new hairstyle, unless you have already decided to shave all the hair off your head. Bouffant, full bodied and that bouncy thing hair does in slow motion on tv ads are all well starred much of the time. This week your destiny shines like an Olympic torch on a large screen ten times its normal size.

Pisces February 19 - March 20 Tense meetings late into the night over some sort of agreement with neighbours, even governments if you are a European, are well starred, but only if the fat neighbours, probably Taurus or Scorpio, leave some of the buffet left. Time spent brushing your teeth will be the most productive use of your time much of the month.

35

The Courier Friday TV 00:35 01:20 01:25 01:55 02:55 03:55 04:40 05:10 05:40 06:00 06:30 06:45 07:00 10:15 11:00 11:58 12:00 12:45 13:13 13:15 14:00 14:30 14:45 19:00 19:30 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 23:00 23:25 23:35

This Week Holiday Weatherview Panorama Countryfile Antiques Roadshow Crime and Punishment Great British Menu Great British Menu HARDtalk BBC News World Business Report BBC News Breakfast Crimewatch Roadshow Homes Under the Hammer BBC News; Weather Real Rescues Doorstep Crime 999 BBC News; Weather Bargain Hunt BBC News; Weather Regional News and Weather Wimbledon 2012 BBC News Regional News Programmes Weather The One Show BBC News; Regional News EastEnders Would I Lie to You? New Tricks BBC News Regional News and Weather The Graham Norton Show

00:20 London: A Tale of Two Cities with Dan Cruickshank 01:20 The Culture Show 01:50 HARDtalk 02:00 Newsday 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 Newsday 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 Newsday 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Schools: Human Planet Change and Sustainability 06:00 Schools: Orbit - Earth's Extraordinary Journey

07:00 The Pingu Show 07:10 Pinky Dinky Doo 07:25 Timmy Time 07:35 Chuggington 07:50 Rastamouse 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:45 Frankenstein's Cat 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Dick 'n' Dom Go Wild 09:30 Nina and the Neurons 09:45 Big & Small 10:00 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:10 Little Charley Bear 10:20 Raa Raa the Noisy Lion 10:30 Bob the Builder: Ready, Steady, Build!

10:40 The Koala Brothers 10:50 Lunar Jim 11:00 Dipdap 11:05 Kerwhizz 11:30 Driver Dan's Story Train 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Daily Politics 13:00 Animal Park 13:30 Wimbledon 2012 16:25 Deadly Art 16:40 Prank Patrol Down Under 17:05 Me and My Monsters 17:30 Blue Peter 18:00 Newsround 18:10 Copycats 18:40 Shaun the Sheep 18:50 Wimbledon 2012 21:00 Today at Wimbledon 22:00 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2012 23:00 Episodes 23:30 Newsnight

00:35 Caroline Quentin: A Passage Through India 01:30 Jackpot247 03:30 Tonight 03:55 ITV Nightscreen 05:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show 06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Loose Women 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Dickinson's Real Deal 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 A Touch of Frost 18:00 Tipping Point 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Grimefighters 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Let's Get Gold 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 State of Play

THE BACHELOR Spencer Matthews continues his bid to find true love in romantic settings across Europe. Nine women were sent home last week, leaving 15 to move into the luxury French Riviera villa that will be their home while they compete to win the Made in Chelsea star's heart.

Then it's down to business with the first three dates, beginning with a photoshoot in which the chosen girls re-enact a romantic movie moment, with one of the hopefuls stealing the scene.

00:05 Gordon Behind Bars 01:10 Random Acts 01:15 4thought.tv 01:20 Undercover Boss 02:15 Our Man In 03:10 Dispatches 03:40 Time Team 04:35 Ancient Egyptians 05:30 Deal or No Deal 06:25 Countdown 07:10 Sali Mali 07:15 The Hoobs 07:40 The Hoobs 08:05 Freshly Squeezed 08:35 According to Jim 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:25 Frasier 10:00 Undercover Boss Canada 11:00 Four Rooms 12:00 You Deserve This House 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:05 Jamie's 30 Minute Meals 13:35 How to Cook Like Heston 14:00 Hombre 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Come Dine with Me 22:00 The Million Pound Drop Live 23:35 8 Out of 10 Cats

July 6

00:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 SuperCasino 05:00 Great Artists 05:25 Wildlife SOS 05:50 Wildlife SOS 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 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:20 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:50 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Igam Ogam 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 NCIS 16:15 Survival on the Mountain 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 Craziest Police Pursuits 21:00 Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads 22:00 Big Brother 23:00 The Bachelor

36

The Courier Saturday TV

July 7

00:20 The National Lottery Friday Night Draws 00:30 White Van Man 01:00 EastEnders 03:25 Weatherview 03:30 Chatsworth 04:30 Question Time 05:30 On the Road With 06:00 BBC News 06:30 Our World 07:00 Breakfast 11:00 Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30 Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets 13:00 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 13:15 Bargain Hunt 14:00 Escape to the Country 14:30 Wimbledon 2012 19:10 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 19:30 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 21:20 The National Lottery: Secret Fortune 22:10 Casualty 23:00 BBC News; Weather 23:20 Mrs Brown's Boys 23:50 National Lottery Update

00:00 00:45 00:50 02:15 03:40 04:00 04:30 04:45

The Review Show Weather My Summer of Love Taken The Record Review BBC News Click Newswatch

05:00 05:30 07:00 07:10 07:25 07:35 07:45 08:00 08:30 08:40 09:05 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:25 12:40 13:10 15:30 16:10 17:40 18:40 19:10 21:00 22:00 23:55

BBC News Close The Pingu Show Pinky Dinky Doo Timmy Time Chuggington Rastamouse Barney's Barrier Reef Dennis and Gnasher The Scooby-Doo Show Project Parent The Slammer Blue Peter Incredible Edibles My Genius Idea Deadly 60 Bites Copycats Eliot Kid MOTD Kickabout Formula One The Sky at Night The Desperados Flog It! Dad's Army Wimbledon 2012 Today at Wimbledon The Hollow Crown Shakespeare Uncovered

01:55 ITV News Headlines 04:00 Battle of Midway 06:10 ITV Nightscreen 06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 09:25 Saturday Cookbook 10:25 ITV News 10:30 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 11:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 12:20 The Real Housewives of New York City 13:15 ITV News and Weather 13:24 Meridian Weather 13:25 Casino Royale 15:55 Diamonds Are Forever 18:05 Meridian News and Weather 18:15 ITV News and Weather 18:30 Primeval 19:25 You Cannot Be Serious!

19:55 You've Been Framed!

20:25 Superstar 21:25 Let's Get Gold 22:55 ITV News and Weather 23:09 Meridian Weather 23:10 Mad Mad World 23:50 Take Me Out

SUPERSTAR New series. Amanda Holden is the host as Andrew Lloyd Webber launches a new talent search to find a singer and actor to play the title role in a forthcoming arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. He is helped by judges Jason Donovan and Melanie C, who will be playing Mary Magdalene in the show, which also stars Tim Minchin and radio's Chris Moyles, as Judas and Herod respectively. The process begins with the audition tour, where Andrew meets the early hopefuls, before the top 100 face the panel.

00:05 Rude Tube 01:10 Random Acts 01:15 4thought.tv 01:20 Wayne's World 03:00 School Disco 03:10 My Name Is Earl 03:30 I Hate That Smile 03:35 The Million Pound Drop Live 05:00 Amelia and Michael 05:10 1300 CC 05:25 Atlantic 05:30 Deal or No Deal 06:25 Countdown 07:10 The Hoobs 07:35 The Hoobs 08:00 British GT 08:25 The Grid 08:55 The Morning Line 09:55 T4 on the Beach 2012: Buried Treasures 11:00 Love Shaft 11:35 Revenge 12:35 The Big Bang Theory 13:10 Summer Daze 13:45 The Simpsons 14:20 Road to London 2012: That Paralympic Show 14:55 Channel 4 Racing 17:05 Celebrity Deal or No Deal 18:05 Come Dine with Me 20:35 Channel 4 News 21:00 River Cottage 22:00 The Million Pound Drop Live 23:35 Witness

00:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 SuperCasino 05:00 Motorsport Mundial 05:25 Wildlife SOS 05:50 Wildlife SOS 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 City of Friends 07:40 Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs 07:50 Abby's Flying Fairy School 08:00 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:05 Bananas in Pyjamas 08:20 Family!

08:25 Noddy in Toyland 08:45 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:55 Little Princess 09:15 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:30 Angelina Ballerina 09:50 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Mr Men Show 10:25 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Jelly Jamm 11:00 Meerkat Manor 11:30 World's Craziest Police Pursuits 12:25 Big Brother 13:20 Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads 14:25 Rio Bravo 17:10 North by Northwest 19:55 5 News Weekend 20:00 Cricket on 5 21:00 NCIS 22:00 Big Brother 23:00 International Boxing

37

The Courier Sunday TV

July 8

00:35 16 Blocks 02:10 Weatherview 02:15 BBC News 02:30 The Bottom Line 03:00 BBC News 03:30 Dateline London 04:00 BBC News 04:30 Rhinos on the Move 05:00 BBC News 05:30 Click 06:00 BBC News 06:30 The Record Europe 07:00 Breakfast 10:00 The Andrew Marr Show 11:00 Sunday Morning Live 12:00 Country Tracks 13:00 BBC News 13:05 Formula One 13:55 Wimbledon 2012 18:30 Escape to the Country 19:30 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 20:00 Countryfile 21:00 Antiques Roadshow 22:00 Wallander 23:30 BBC News; Regional News and Weather 23:55 John Bishop's Britain

00:55 01:55 03:30 07:00 07:10 07:25 07:35 07:45 08:00 08:30 08:40 09:05 09:30 09:50 10:00 11:00 12:30 13:55 16:30 17:55 18:30 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:30

TOTP2 Small Engine Repair Close The Pingu Show Pinky Dinky Doo Timmy Time Chuggington Rastamouse Barney's Barrier Reef Dennis and Gnasher The Owl Scoop Wingin' It Shaun the Sheep Friday Download Saturday Kitchen Best Bites MotoGP Formula One Herbie Rides Again Songs of Praise Wimbledon 2012 Secrets of Our Living Planet World's Most Dangerous Roads Mock the Week Line of Duty

01:05 ITV News Headlines 03:05 In Plain Sight 03:50 ITV Nightscreen 06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Mini CITV 08:25 CITV 09:25 Dinner Date 10:25 ITV News 10:30 House Gift 11:25 There's No Taste Like Home 12:25 The Hungry Sailors 13:25 ITV News and Weather 13:34 Meridian Weather 13:35 Dickinson's Real Deal 14:35 Murder, She Wrote 15:40 Columbo Goes to the Guillotine 17:30 Doc Martin 18:35 The Chase 19:30 Meridian News and Weather 19:45 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Superstar 22:00 The Nation's Favourite Number One Single 23:30 ITV News and Weather 23:44 Meridian Weather 23:45 Children of Men

THELMA’S GYPSY GIRLS Dress-maker Thelma Madine, whose elaborate outfits have been seen on Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, wants to expand her business to keep up with demand. To give back to the community that helped make her name, she is hiring a group of inexperienced gypsy and traveller girls, including teenagers Margaret, Kathleen and Rosanne, as trainees. But it's a big risk, as some have poor literacy and numeracy skills and others cannot even tell the time - so turning up for work could be a challenge in itself.

01:50 4thought.tv 01:55 Stand Up for the Week 02:40 Comedy Lab 03:05 Lucky Escape 03:10 The Million Pound Drop Live 04:30 My Friend Michael Sniff 04:35 Night Walking 04:40 St Elsewhere 05:30 Deal or No Deal 06:25 Countdown 07:10 Sali Mali 07:15 The Hoobs 08:05 Ironman Triathlon 08:35 FIM World Superbikes 09:00 Will & Grace 09:55 Frasier 10:25 Frasier 11:00 Sunday Brunch 13:40 The Big Bang Theory 14:10 The Big Bang Theory 14:40 The Simpsons 15:10 Take the Lead 17:30 Come Dine with Me 18:30 Deal or No Deal 19:30 Channel 4 News 20:00 St Trinian's 2: the Legend of Fritton's Gold 22:00 Thelma's Gypsy Girls 23:00 Undercover Lover

01:00 SuperCasino 05:00 HouseBusters 05:25 Great Scientists 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 City of Friends 07:35 Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs 07:50 Castle Farm 07:55 Abby's Flying Fairy School 08:05 Roobarb and Custard Too 08:10 Bananas in Pyjamas 08:25 Family!

08:30 Noddy in Toyland 08:45 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 08:55 Little Princess 09:05 Mio Mao 09:10 The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 09:20 Milkshake! Show Songs 09:25 Angelina Ballerina 09:45 Rupert Bear 10:00 Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15 The Mr Men Show 10:25 Roary the Racing Car 10:40 Jelly Jamm 11:00 Meerkat Manor 11:30 Police Interceptors 12:30 Big Brother 13:30 Murder Most Foul 15:15 Home Alone 4 17:00 5 News Weekend 17:05 Zathura: a Space Adventure 19:00 Ghost Busters 21:00 Once Upon a Time 22:00 Big Brother 23:00 AVP: Alien vs Predator

38

The Courier Monday TV

July 9

00:40 Room 101 - Extra Storage 01:20 Weatherview 01:25 Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve 02:25 Holby City 03:25 The Great British Countryside 04:25 Great British Railway Journeys 04:55 Sport Today 05:00 BBC World News 05:30 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Cowboy Trap 12:45 Doorstep Crime 999 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; 16:05 Deadly 60 16:35 Diddy Dick & Dom 17:00 Copycats 17:30 Help! My Supply Teacher Is Magic 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 EastEnders 21:30 Panorama 22:00 Blackout 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 How to Live Beyond 100

00:30 01:00 02:00 03:25 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00

Episodes Today at Wimbledon MotoGP BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today Close

07:00 The Pingu Show 07:10 Pinky Dinky Doo 07:25 Timmy Time 07:35 Dirtgirlworld 07:50 Rastamouse 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:45 The Owl 08:55 Newsround 09:00 Dick 'n' Dom Go Wild 09:30 Nina and the Neurons 09:45 Big & Small 10:00 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:10 Little Charley Bear 10:20 Raa Raa the Noisy Lion 10:30 Bob the Builder 10:40 The Koala Brothers 10:50 Lunar Jim 11:00 Dipdap 11:05 Kerwhizz 11:30 Driver Dan's Story Train 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Climbing Great Buildings 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Weakest Link 16:00 Show Me the Monet 16:45 The Hairy Bikers' Food Tour of Britain 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 The Farm Fixer 20:00 Faster, Higher, Stronger 21:00 Volcano Live 22:00 Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies 23:00 QI 23:30 Weather 23:30 Newsnight

01:45 ITV News Headlines 03:45 Golden Balls 04:35 Motorsport UK 05:25 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 Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 A Touch of Frost 18:00 Tipping Point 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Countrywise 21:30 Coronation Street 22:00 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

23:00 ITV News at Ten 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 I Took My Baby's Life

BLACKOUT Daniel begins his quest for redemption, desperate to keep his dark secret from Alex. But while Detective Bevan questions the integrity of the investigation into Pulis's attack, Ruth begins to piece together the truth a hunt that leads her dangerously close to the new mayor. Psychological thriller, with Dervla Kirwan, Ewen Bremner, MyAnna Buring and Andrew Scott.

00:05 The Running Man 01:55 4thought.tv 02:00 Camelot 02:45 Hollyoaks 04:50 Southland 05:35 Deal or No Deal 06:30 Countdown 07:15 The Hoobs 08:05 Freshly Squeezed 08:35 According to Jim 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:00 Undercover Boss USA 11:00 Four Rooms 12:00 You Deserve This House 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Jamie's 30 Minute Meals 13:35 Quick Bakes with Eric Lanlard 13:45 The Fabulous Baker Brothers 14:15 Blossoms in the Dust 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Dispatches 21:30 Jamie's Summer Food Rave Up 22:00 Undercover Boss 23:00 Thelma's Gypsy Girls

00:55 World's 01:55 SuperCasino 05:00 Sons of Anarchy 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 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 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Igam Ogam 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Mentalist 16:15 Rosamunde Pilcher's Summer 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Jurassic Park: The True Story 21:00 Police Interceptors 22:00 Big Brother 23:00 The Walking Dead

39

The Courier Tuesday TV

July 10

00:15 The Graham Norton Show 01:00 Educating Rita 02:45 Weatherview 02:50 Coast 03:50 The Little Paris Kitchen: Cooking with Rachel Khoo 04:20 Fake Britain 05:05 Great British Railway Journeys 05:35 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Cowboy Trap 12:45 Doorstep Crime 999 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; 16:05 Deadly 60 16:35 Diddy Dick & Dom 17:00 Copycats 17:30 Serious Explorers 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 Holby City 22:00 Turn Back Time - The Family 23:00 BBC News 23:25 National Lottery Update 23:35 Imagine

00:20 Lost Land of the Volcano 01:20 World's Most Dangerous Roads 02:20 Newsday 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 BBC World News 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 BBC World News 04:15 The Super League Show 05:00 Schools: 3, 2, 1 Go! - Key

Stage 1 06:00 Schools: 3, 2, 1 Go! - Key Stage 2 07:00 The Pingu Show 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Timmy Time 07:35 Dirtgirlworld 07:50 Rastamouse 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:45 The Owl 09:00 Dick 'n' Dom Go Wild 09:30 Nina and the Neurons 09:45 Big & Small 10:00 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:10 Little Charley Bear 10:20 Raa Raa the Noisy Lion 10:30 Bob the Builder 10:40 The Koala Brothers 10:50 Lunar Jim 11:00 Dipdap 11:05 Kerwhizz 11:30 Driver Dan's Story Train 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Climbing Great Buildings 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Weakest Link 16:00 Show Me the Monet 16:45 The Hairy Bikers' Food Tour of Britain 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 The Farm Fixer 20:00 Faster, Higher, Stronger 21:00 Volcano Live 22:00 Line of Duty 23:00 Twenty Twelve 23:30 Weather

00:35 In Plain Sight 01:20 ITV News Headlines 04:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 04:55 ITV Nightscreen 05:35 The Jeremy Kyle Show 06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 A Touch of Frost 18:00 Tipping Point 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Trash to Treasure 21:00 Love Your Garden 22:00 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 American Dreamz

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST New series. Image-obsessed Britons have their conceptions of beauty challenged by people with disfigurements. Drama student Gary Thompson, who wants to undergo plastic surgery so his nose will look more like Kim Kardashian's, meets Reggie Bibbs, a man from Texas with a severe case of neurofibromatosis, a condition that has caused tumours to grow all over his body. They spend a week sampling each other's lives, and Gary witnesses the reality of a rhinoplasty operation - as well as meeting a woman who lost her sense of smell after a botched nose job.

00:05 Coming Up 00:40 Random Acts 00:45 Embarrassing Bodies 01:45 The Good Wife 03:15 The Big C 03:45 The True Story of Jesse James 05:20 St Elsewhere 06:05 Deal or No Deal 07:00 The Treacle People 07:10 Sali Mali 07:15 The Hoobs 08:05 Freshly Squeezed 08:35 According to Jim 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:00 Undercover Boss USA 11:00 Four Rooms 12:00 You Deserve This House 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Jamie's 30 Minute Meals 13:35 River Cottage 13:45 The Fabulous Baker Brothers 14:15 Party Girl 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Beauty and the Beast: Ugly Face of Prejudice 22:00 Gordon Behind Bars 23:00 Secrets of the Shoplifters

00:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 The Hotel Inspector 02:00 SuperCasino 04:55 Great Artists 05:20 Wildlife SOS 05:45 Wildlife SOS 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 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Igam Ogam 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Mentalist 16:15 Stolen Innocence 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 The Hotel Inspector 21:00 Half Built House 22:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 23:00 Big Brother

40

The Courier Wednesday TV

July 11

00:40 Passchendaele 02:25 Weatherview 02:30 The Meat Market: Inside Smithfield 03:30 The Men Who Made Us Fat 04:30 Crime and Punishment 05:15 Great British Menu 05:45 HARDtalk 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Cowboy Trap 12:45 Doorstep Crime 999 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 16:05 Deadly 60 16:35 Diddy Dick & Dom 17:00 Copycats 17:30 HH: Gory Games 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 DIY SOS: The Big Build 22:00 The Town That Never Retired 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 The National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 23:45 Have I Got Old News for You

00:20 01:20 01:30 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45

Lost Land of the Volcano BBC News HARDtalk Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today

05:00 Schools - Curious Cat: Wool, Glass Paper 07:00 The Pingu Show 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Timmy Time 07:35 Dirtgirlworld 07:50 Rastamouse 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:45 The Owl 09:00 Dick 'n' Dom Go Wild 09:30 Nina and the Neurons 09:45 Big & Small 10:00 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:10 Little Charley Bear 10:20 Raa Raa the Noisy Lion 10:30 Bob the Builder: Project Build It 10:40 The Koala Brothers 10:50 Lunar Jim 11:00 Dipdap 11:05 Kerwhizz 11:30 Driver Dan's Story Train 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 Daily Politics 14:00 Climbing Great Buildings 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Weakest Link 16:00 Show Me the Monet 16:45 The Hairy Bikers' Food Tour of Britain 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 The Farm Fixer 20:00 Faster, Higher, Stronger 21:00 Volcano Live 22:00 The Secret History of Our Streets 23:00 The Culture Show 23:30 Weather

01:35 Jackpot247 04:00 Golden Balls 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 Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 A Touch of Frost 18:00 Tipping Point 19:00 Meridian Tonight 19:30 ITV News and Weather 20:00 Emmerdale 20:30 Coronation Street 21:00 Super Tiny Animals 22:00 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 Caddyshack

THE TOWN THAT NEVER RETIRED

00:10 Kashmir's Torture Trail 01:10 Random Acts 01:15 Daredevils: Life on the Edge 02:15 KOTV Boxing Weekly 02:40 Sailing 03:10 FIVB Beach Volleyball 04:05 The Grid 04:30 British GT 05:00 FIM World Superbikes 05:25 Ironman Triathlon 05:55 Road to London 2012 06:20 FIA GT1 World Championship 07:15 The Hoobs 08:05 Freshly Squeezed 08:35 According to Jim 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:00 Undercover Boss USA 11:00 Four Rooms 12:00 You Deserve This House 13:00 Channel 4 News 13:05 Jamie's 30 Minute Meals 13:30 Channel 4 Presents 13:35 The Fabulous Baker Brothers 14:05 River Cottage Bites 14:15 One of Our Aircraft Is Missing 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic 22:00 24 Hours in A&E 23:00 Show Me Your Money

Apprentice buddies Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford patrol this experiment, part of the BBC’s ageing season, to see if men and women in their 70s can still cut it in the modern workplace, in a world where the minimum retirement age is expected to rocket. From the outset, Nick isn’t convinced. Won’t the pensioner guinea pigs get tired? Margaret is made of sterner stuff and has more faith.

TKO FM - WEEKLY POWER PLAY Little Mix - Wings This is the new single from the XFactor winner’s debut album. The band says the new single has influences from Beyoncé and Michael Jackson. They performed wings for the first time live at T4 on the Beach at the beginning of the month. The single is out on July 22nd and the album is due out around August / September time.

ourite v a f r u o see y o t dio? t u n t a s e W h t ve in i l s r e t n prese

TKO GOLD - FUTURE GOLD TRACK TKO GOLD Pet Shop Boys – Winner Taken from the band's eleventh studio album “Elysium” due for release in September this year. This first single was premiered on July 2nd on the Ken Bruce Show on BBC Radio 2. The single is due out on August 6th but is available to download now.

Coming soon

00:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 Cricket on 5 02:05 SuperCasino 04:55 Great Artists 05:20 Wildlife SOS 05:45 Wildlife SOS 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 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:10 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:40 Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Igam Ogam 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Mentalist 16:15 Soldier Love Story 18:00 5 News at 5 18:30 Neighbours 19:00 Home and Away 19:30 5 News at 6.30 20:00 Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads 21:00 Building the London Underground 22:00 NCIS 23:00 Big Brother

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

POP QUIZ July 7th Welcome to the famous TKO Gold pop quiz!

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. Youngest Beatle.

2. 70s band The Tourists became far more famous by another name.

3. This Gary formed Tubeway Army.

4. See question 3 they asked are friends what.

5. Tony Williams was the lead singer with this group in the 50s & 60s.

6. Desmond Dekkers follow up to the Israelites.

7. What area of London did Dave Clark hail from.

8. This 80s band were formed from the remnants of Joy Division.

9. One half of this double act has a first name of Issac..name the duo.

10. Staying with duos Alison Moyet was part of this one.

41

The Courier Thursday TV

July 12

00:15 Brooklyn's Finest 02:20 Weatherview 02:25 Brick by Brick: Rebuilding Our Past 03:25 Arts Troubleshooter 04:25 Fake Britain 05:10 Great British Menu 05:40 Panorama 06:00 BBC News 06:30 World Business Report 06:45 BBC News 07:00 Breakfast 10:15 Heir Hunters 11:00 Homes Under the Hammer 11:58 BBC News; Weather 12:00 Cowboy Trap 12:45 Doorstep Crime 999 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 16:05 Deadly 60 16:35 Diddy Dick & Dom 17:00 Copycats 17:30 Young Dracula 18:00 Newsround 18:15 Pointless 19:00 BBC News 19:30 Regional News Programmes 19:30 Weather 20:00 The One Show 20:30 BBC News; Regional News 20:30 EastEnders 21:00 Traffic Cops 22:00 The Town That Never Retired 23:00 BBC News 23:25 Regional News and Weather 23:35 June Brown: Respect Your Elders

00:20 01:20 01:30 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30 04:45 05:00 Stage

Lost Land of the Volcano BBC News HARDtalk Newsday Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today Schools: 3, 2, 1, Go! - Key 3

07:00 The Pingu Show 07:10 Zigby 07:25 Timmy Time 07:35 Dirtgirlworld 07:50 Rastamouse 08:00 Roar 08:30 League of Super Evil 08:45 Frankenstein's Cat 08:55 The Owl 09:00 Dick 'n' Dom Go Wild 09:30 Nina and the Neurons 09:45 Big & Small 10:00 Tinga Tinga Tales 10:10 Little Charley Bear 10:20 Raa Raa the Noisy Lion 10:30 Bob the Builder: Project Build It 10:40 The Koala Brothers 10:50 Lunar Jim 11:00 Dipdap 11:05 Kerwhizz 11:30 Driver Dan's Story Train 11:40 Waybuloo 12:00 In the Night Garden 12:30 BBC World News 13:00 Daily Politics 14:00 Climbing Great Buildings 14:30 To Buy or Not to Buy 15:15 Weakest Link 16:00 Show Me the Monet 16:45 The Hairy Bikers' Food Tour of Britain 17:30 Flog It! 18:15 Antiques Road Trip 19:00 Eggheads 19:30 The Farm Fixer 20:00 Faster, Higher, Stronger 21:00 Volcano Live 22:00 Pompeii: Life and Death in a Roman Town 23:00 Mock the Week 23:30 Weather 23:30 Newsnight

01:25 ITV News Headlines 03:35 Must Love Dogs 05:10 ITV Nightscreen 06:30 ITV Morning News 07:00 Daybreak 09:30 Lorraine 10:25 The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30 This Morning 13:30 Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel 14:30 ITV News and Weather 14:55 Meridian News and Weather 15:00 May the Best House Win 16:00 Secret Dealers 16:59 Meridian Weather 17:00 A Touch of Frost 18:00 Tipping Point 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 Case Sensitive 23:00 ITV News at Ten and Weather 23:30 Meridian Tonight and Weather 23:35 Piers Morgan's Life Stories

CASE SENSITIVE A young man called Aidan proposes to his girlfriend Ruth in the folly of a country garden. It’s a grand romantic gesture, until he drops an emotionally charged incendiary device into their loving afterglow - he confesses that he once hurt a woman, and she died. Understandably his brand new fiancée with a sparkly engagement ring wants to know more but her swain is saying nothing.

00:05 Random Acts 00:10 The Killing 01:05 2 Broke Girls 01:35 Summer Daze 02:05 Tribes: Intro 02:20 4Play 02:30 Spotlight 02:40 The Crush 03:35 Akeelah and the Bee 05:25 Deal or No Deal 06:20 Countdown 07:05 The Treacle People 07:15 The Hoobs 07:40 The Hoobs 08:05 Freshly Squeezed 08:35 According to Jim 09:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 09:30 Frasier 10:00 Undercover Boss USA 11:00 Four Rooms 12:00 You Deserve This House 13:00 Channel 4 News Midday Summary 13:05 Jamie's 30 Minute Meals 13:30 The Fabulous Baker Brothers 14:00 Channel 4 Racing 16:10 Countdown 17:00 Deal or No Deal 18:00 Four in a Bed 18:30 Come Dine with Me 19:00 The Simpsons 19:30 Hollyoaks 19:55 4thought.tv 20:00 Channel 4 News 20:55 Channel 4 Presents 21:00 Country House Rescue 22:00 Bank of Dave 23:00 24 Hours in A&E

00:00 Big Brother's Bit on the Side 01:00 Poker: The Big Game 02:00 SuperCasino 04:55 Great Artists 05:20 Wildlife SOS 05:45 Wildlife SOS 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 Make Way for Noddy 09:00 Fifi and the Flowertots 09:15 Peppa Pig 09:25 Peppa Pig 09:30 Roary the Racing Car 09:45 Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00 Igam Ogam 10:15 The Wright Stuff 12:10 Extreme Fishing with Robson Green 13:10 5 News Lunchtime 13:15 Big Brother 14:15 Home and Away 14:45 Neighbours 15:15 The Mentalist 16:15 While My Pretty One Sleeps 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 Marco Pierre White's Kitchen Wars 22:00 The Hotel Inspector 23:00 Big Brother

42

Friday, July 6, 2012

ACCOUNTANTS 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.

BOATS BOATING LICENSES ARE NOW A LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN SPAIN Serenity Sailing RYA Training Centre, Competent Crew to Yachtmaster, VHF & ICC. Own-boat tuition on sail and power. If you have a yacht or powerboat get qualified and certified. Contact Richard 0034 638 056 224 / enquiries@serenitysailing.co m / www.serenitysailing. com

ANN SUMMERS

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 contact Reverend Eddie on 966 7693 00 or 650 509 606. Reg No:2009-SG/A

CARS FOR SALE 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 Ford Focus 1.5 auto tiptronic 2005, facelift model, 1 owner 68,000 kms FSH, fully equipped with air con , multi airbag, rear luggage cover, rear head restraint, alloys, silver 7,450 euros 600 726 221 / 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Looking for a car? We have a good selection of LHD & RHD vehicles for sale or exchange Tel 600 726 221 / 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Ford Fiesta 1.4 Trend 2003, 2 owners, 66,000 kms, FSH, aircon, front fogs, read head restraints, rear luggage cover silver 4,500 euros 600 726 221 / 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Renault Megan Gran Scenic 7 seater, June 2011 latest model, 1.6 dci 6 spd, dynamque, 1 owner, 21,000 kms, fully serviced, cruise control, front fogs, cd, rear picnic table, rear light sensors, ISOFIX stunning condition, pearlescent white with half leather, Cost 25,000 euros new - 18,950 euros with manufacturers warranty 600 726 221 / 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Peugeot 206 SW Est 2.0 HDI XS 2002, 2 owners, 105.000 kms, FSH, air con, roof rails,

BOUTIQUE

alloys, front fogs, rear head restraints, rear luggage cover, cd, metallic burgundy lovely condition 4,950euros 600 726 221 / 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com Volkswagen Golf Est 1.9 tdi, 2007 1 owner, 55,000 kms FSH, air con, roof rails, multi airbags, rear luggage cover, rear head restraints, metallic silver, stunning conditions 8,750 euros 600 726 221 / 965 687 976 www.fwreurocars.com

INSURANCE 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

BARBER

963, and we will call you back with your quote. Caser Health Care .

PROPERTY FOR RENT Viva Villa and Vacation Services, For Short or Long Term Rentals visit: www.villaandvacation.com or Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 2 or 3 bed/2 bath apartments in San Miguel. Lift, communal rooftop pool & solarium, video entry system. Available for short or long term rent from 300 pcm. Tel 966723437 or 636615716. (72) El Chaparel/La Siesta Two bedroom apartment in a quiet gated urbanisation for rent €350 per month plus bills.

Reference No 17 Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 49, 2nd floor one bedroom apartment situated conveniently located in the town centre of Torrevieja, with a small sun balcony overlooking the lovely communal pool.

Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref 33, Ground floor spacious 2 bedroom apartment, located in Torre la Mata. Close to all amenities and beach.

3 month rental €300pcm Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 112, Spacious 3 bedroom detached villa with its private pool is located on the El Raso urbanisation near Guardamar.

Convenient for all amenities, shops, supermarket, restaurants and bars. Short term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

Ref: 63, Two bedroom 1st floor apartment situated in Monino Blanco. The property overlooks a superb communal pool area, in within walking distance of bars, restaurants and shops. Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 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 rental €800PCM, Short term available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref 702: Beautiful 2 bedroom apartment, located near los Locos beach, beautifully furnished. Short term rentals from 175€ per week. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 709, A lovely 1 bedroom apartment in Aguas Nuevas, within a 5 minute walk of the beach. There is a terrace outside with views to the sea.

Short or long term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

COMPUTERS

CAR MECHANICS

AUCTIONS

BLINDS

AIR CONDITIONING

AUTO ELECTRICIAN

AIRPORT COLLECTION

CARPENTER ALARMS

CAR HIRE

BOARDING KENNELS

CLEANERS

43

Friday, July 6, 2012 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.

Long and short term rental available. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 61, A lovely two bedroomed ground floor apartment, located in the centre of the small Spanish town of Los Montesinos, With a pleasant communal swimming pool adjacent & all amenities in walking distance. Long and short term rental available.

Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

Ref: 104, 2 Bedroom apartment in Torrevieja, (near gypsy lane), small balcony, near all amenities and Friday market. €350pcm Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

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 We urgently require properties for sale or rent in Orihuela Costa & surrounding areas for

DRAINAGE

waiting clients. Please contact Sitara Properties on 966723437 or 636615716.

(72) Lovely Corner property in Novamar V, Gran Alacant. 2 bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms Being sold fully furnished including appliances, Has secure underground parking and faces large oasis communal pool. Walking distance to beach. 139.000 Euros, Call 627 711 155 and quote Ref No. K10 Ground floor duplex, with splendid views. Quiet location in Gran Alacant. Immaculate condition. Price has just been reduced to 105.000 and includes everything. For viewing call 627 711 155 Ref. No K27

DOG GROOMING

ELECTRICIAN

Rare opportunity to purchase on Mediterrania III, Gran Alacant. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Private Parking, F/Furnished, Large communal pools & Tennis courts S/W facing, Dramatically reduced for quick sale to 126.000 euros. Ref No. K58 Call 627 711 155 for immediate viewing Don Pueblo, Gran Alacant. 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Large Kitchen with Galleria, Secure underground parking, Gas Central Heating, Glazed in Porch, Solarium with stunning views.

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

Situated opposite Gran Alacant and over looks projected golf course. Ref No. K52. 627 711 155 2 Bed, 1 Bath Ground floor duplex. Central heating, Grills, Fully furnished, Glazed in Galleria, 2 communal pools, private parking and walking distance to the Gran Alacant commercial centre. Situated in the popular urbanisation of Puerto Marino. Now only 96,500 euros for quick sale Ref No. K46. 627 711 155 Immaculate ground floor Duplex, 2 beds, 2 bath, Private Parking, Situated in Novamar, Gran Alacant. Price includes very tasteful furniture and white goods. Walking distance to all local amenities and beach. Now only 129,750 euros. Ref No K24. 627 711 155 Gran Alacant Detached villa, located in a very sought after

location.Situated on a 560m2 S/W facing plot and constructed in 2005. Comprising of 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 full baths), Lounge-Diner, fully equipped Kitchen, Porch and Solarium with Alicante & Sea Views. ref.L81. €258,000 neg.

Tel. 680333242 Gran Alacant villa located in a very quiet area , situated at the end of a cul-de-sac means there is no through traffic.3 bed, 3 bath, 330m2 plot, established large gardens, working fireplace, solar panel for hot water,private parking, south facing great views, fully furnished, fantastic opportunity. ref. L85. €215,000 Tel 680333242 Ref 533: Lovely 2 bedroom Townhouse located in the popular area of Punta Prima, the property has a large

lounge and fully equipped kitchen, 2 double bedrooms, one with balcony, bathroom with double shower. €126,000 Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Gran Alacant Opportunity to purchase a beautiful 3 bedroomed, 3 bathroomed,large kitchen, detached property with roof- top solarium. Well established gardens and drive way for 2 cars, whilst also overlooking the projected 18 hole golf course. Comprising of fitted wardrobes, utility room, air con H/C, alarm system, electric wall heaters, intercom system, fireplace, ceilings fans, 8x7 gazebo, use of 2 large communal pools, immaculate condition with many extras. ref K12. €180,000 Tel 680333242

FAST BROADBAND

INTERIOR DESIGN

ENERGY SAVER

HOT TUBS/SPAS

DENTIST

DAMP PROOFING

ELECTRICIAN

FISHING

HAIRDRESSERS

HAIR AND BEAUTY

HEARING AIDS

HEATING

INK

44

Friday, July 6, 2012

Gran Alacant bargain, detached villa with pool on 400m2 plot. Briefly comprising of 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Lounge Diner, independent kitchen, solarium with views, well maintained gardens.

Quiet location yet within walking distance of all amenities.

Top quality furniture and appliances included in the price.

LOCKSMITH

Extras include, mosquito nets, grills, toldos blinds, built in wardrobes, gas fire, electric heating, ceiling fans, English & Spanish TV, tastefully tiled & graveled garden with irrigation system. ref K43. €229,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant South facing attractive corner house Situated in the sought after urbanization of Monte Faro, this secure gated urbanization offers a stunning oasis pool, with mountain views, tennis courts and football courts.

Consisting of 3 double beds with balconies, 2 bathrooms, kitchen leading onto court yard which can easily be converted into an extra room, lounge diner with working fireplace, front garden with private parking for 2 cars. Being sold fully furnishes with white goods, built in 2006 so immaculate condition hardly lived in. Ref K48 €168,000

priced for quick sale Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant Gem! Fabulous detached Villa, with Alicante sea views to the front and wood land views to the rear, means this immaculate villa is very private and un-overlooked. Comprising of 2 large bedrooms with fitted wardrobes, 2 bath, large fully equipped kitchen,glazed porch sitting area, solarium, Attractive Pool with cover, well maintained Gardens. Central Heating, Air Con, Ceiling fans, Private Parking, Alarm system, Decorative working Fire Place complete with electric Fire. Outdoor work- shop/storage area, Quality Pergola & BBQ. Constructed in 2006, on plot size of 380m2 and being sold fully furnished including white goods. ref L80. €234,995 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant immaculate villa, 3 bedroomed, 3 bathroomed property maintained to a very high standard inside and out and the interior furnishings are top quality, offering a feeling of luxury and good taste.

The plot size is 400m2 and has been beautifully tiles, and graveled and has established

palms and plants. Oil fired central heating throughout, log effect fire place, ceiling fans in all rooms, towel heater rails, glazed in shower units, instant hot water, water purifier, free English TV, phone & internet lines, fitted double hanging wardrobes, safe, glazed in front porch, vanity units and much more. The pool is an 8 X 4 m2 salt water pool, meaning maintenance is much easier plus outside toilet and shower. Sea views to front with Greenland views to the rear. ref K51. €245,000 Tel 680333242 Gran Alacant immaculate outstanding south facing villa in sought after road. Set on a 350m2 plot with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths,large porch, solarium and terraces. The large under build includes a lounge, kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom and patio doors leading to

PAINTER

pool area. Internal & external access for under build. Extras include electric radiators, air con H/C, ceiling fans, gas fire, heated towel rails, extended walk-in shower, fitted wardrobes. Decorative tiling inside and out. Panoramic views towards Alicante Bay,

Sky TV, phone line and Internet & Private parking, established gardens, water features and fruit trees. Being sold with exquisite furniture and all white goods.

Immaculate finishes and decor. ref L84. €278,000 Tel 680333242

PAINTER

PARTY PLANNING

LIMOUSINES

PERSONAL

MOSQIUITO SCREENS LAUNDERETTE

PAVING

KENNELS PETS

POOLS

PLUMBERS

PLASTERER

MASSAGE

MOBILE CAR REPAIRS

POOL TABLES

Recovery & Breakdown Services

45

Friday, July 6, 2012 Gran Alacant South facing attractive corner house Situated in the sought after urbanization of Monte Faro, this secure gated urbanization offers a stunning oasis pool, with mountain views, tennis courts and football courts.

Consisting of 3 double beds with balconies, 2 bathrooms, kitchen leading onto court yard which can easily be converted into an extra room, lounge diner with working fire-

REMOVALS

place, front garden with private parking for 2 cars. Being sold fully furnishes with white goods, built in 2006 so immaculate condition hardly lived in. Ref K48 €168,000 priced for quick sale Tel 680333242 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 Balsares is opposite Gran Alacant where the proposed golf course is now being started so this property will virtually be on the golf course, it is an investment not to be missed. The property is on a small gated urbanisation of 18 houses with private underground parking for 2 cars and direct access to the house, communal pool and toilets/changing rooms etc.

The house is brand new and consists of 4 bedrooms, 3

bathrooms, lounge with working fire place, large kitchen 12 m2, large galleria/ utility room, bedroom balcony and front tiled terrace. This property also has a converted under build for an extra lounge or bedroom. ref K52 €198,000 Tel 680333242 Ref: 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: 516, €39,999. Studio apartment in San Luis, close to amenities. Open plan fully equipped kitchen. Good sized lounge, bedroom and out onto balcony which has been glazed to create another room. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 510, €70,000. Bungalow located in San Luis. It is close

RAG AND BONE MAN

to the supermarkets, bars and restaurants and is on the local bus route. An Opel Corsa car is included in this sale. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: KP3100, €183,000.

Three bedroom, two bathroom detached villa, located in San Luis, on a 450sqm plot, with communal pool. Garage to side of house. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 78, €120,000. Three bedroom Quad in Jardin Del Mar VII. There is off-road parking and small storage shed in the enclosed garden area, communal pool nearby. Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397 Ref: 709, €60,000 A lovely 1 bedroom apartment in Aguas Nuevas, within a 5 minute

TELEVISION

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 Ref 532: 3 Bedroom Detached villa Located on the edge of a small Spanish village with 3,800 sqm of landscaped gardens, Private Pool, Bargain €180,000 Call: 965 707 188 or 626 397 397

SITUATIONS VACANT The installation company www.jovalaccesibilidad.com is looking for independent sales representatives to promote and sell their products throughout the province of Alicante and Murcia. Essential Spanish and English speaking. To arrange an interview, call 966 090 762 (72)

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.

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 (64)

WANTED

SOLICITORS SURVEYS

Need English Speaking Solicitors in Torrevieja? Let us help to solve your problems

SUN PROTECTION

SHOWERS

STORAGE

WATER FILTERS

SEWING

SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE

RECYCLING CLOTHES

UPHOLSTERY

46

Friday, July 6, 2012

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

Taking the heat out of summer golf…

Don't look now but the hot days of summer are upon us. Our last respite of cool weather has long since gone, leaving us with stifling heat and humidity.

Of course this time of year also comes with its advantages. Indeed, it can be the best time to play golf. The courses are less crowded and green fees are at their lowest. It's daylight until late evening.

There is one very big problem, though -- trying to beat the heat. Riding in a buggy helps, but your body needs more than a taxi to stay cool and comfortable.

The main concern for everyone playing golf in hot weather should be avoiding heat exhaustion, stroke and dehydration.

Preparing for the warmer temperatures is a very wise idea, especially if you don’t let those “fry an egg on the car bonnet” days keep you off the course.

There is no doubt that the summer temperatures and humidity can influence a round of golf. When combined, these two measures can elevate ‘real feel’ temperatures well above 38ºC and note that temperatures over 27º with high humidity levels can even present dangerous conditions. If not prepared, golfers will physically

struggle getting through a four to five-hour round.

When the outside ambient conditions surpass the internal body temperature, there is an increased demand for the circulatory system to dissipate body heat. This generally requires the heart to work harder as the blood it pumps moves the heat from inside the body out to the skin where it can be dispersed.

The higher the heat index, the tougher it is to dissipate the heat. This will not only tax a person’s energy levels, and bring on fatigue and lethargy more quickly; it can also lead up to more serious disorders such as heat cramps and exhaustion.

Heat cramps are just that, muscle spasms usually caused by loss of essential minerals (electrolytes) through the sweat. To avoid this, stay hydrated and drink electrolyte drinks.

Evaporation of sweat is one mechanism for regulating the internal body heat, but that process becomes less effective as humidity and heat index levels increase.

Sweat on the skin will take longer to evaporate if the ambient air is more saturated with water vapour as it is on more humid days.

Consider wearing sweat- take to lesson your chances wicking apparel to facilitate of heat-induced illness. sweat and heat loss away This will allow for better from the body.

If you are taking medication, your body may need even more assistance to keep cool. Some medications interfere with sweating, putting you at a greater risk of a lifethreatening heat stroke.

Blood pressure and heart medicines that slow the heart rate force the body to work harder to get rid of heat. Check with your doctor to see if your medication could be putting you at risk and what measures you should

Keep in mind, too, that diuretics such as coffee, beer, and certain medications will flush water out of the body and can make matters worse by increasing sensitivity to heat

TITTER ON THE TEE “Titleist have just launched a new golf ball. It’s called the Cameron ball because it flies a long way, but you never know where it’s going to land.”

adaptation by the body; however, there are additional factors that should be considered.

Water consumption is also very crucial. Even a small amount of dehydration via sweat loss and increased respiration can impact performance. This can be avoided by simply drinking plain water before, during and after the round, as hydration must be a p r i o r i t y.

Don’t wait for thirst to set in!

stress. If excessive sweat is a trait, electrolyte supplementation may be warranted as sodium, potassium, magnesium and other essential minerals are lost through sweat. This can impair muscle, nerve and cardiovascular function.

Sport drinks are available, but calorie count and sugar content, for some, are a concern.

The recent introduction of electrolyte replacements tablets NUUN tablets (www.nuun.com) seems to be a viable alternative as they can contain fewer calories and sugar.

Die-hard golfers who challenge the summer heat and humidity may not succumb to the rigours of the golf course, rather to the environmental conditions present.

Preparing will improve safety and help keep you, the golfer, fresh throughout the entire round.

So remember, drink a couple of glasses of water at least two hours before you play, as it takes time to re-hydrate - and take in plenty of water when playing.

We all want to enjoy our round and play our best.

When temperatures rise, your golf game doesn't have to fall. If you're careful and follow a few of these tips, you can make sure that your next round isn't your last.

Rugby life’s a beach for Centurion Centurion Rugby Summer School is running beach training sessions near the restaurants in Guardamar on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Sessions are being set up for over 18’s and ladies following lots of requests. And if there is sufficient interest, training sessions for U18’s will also follow.

Initially, all of the beach training ses-

sions will be free. This is the start of a brand new rugby venture in Guardamar/Rojales/La Marina area, so all are welcome.

ITV Orihuela RFC have now stopped training until the beginning of September.

For more details contact Garry on 692 767 242 or head coach Ian on 634 367 295.

THE Torry Army AGM is being held at the Casa Ventura in San Luis on Thursday July 12, starting at 8pm. If you are a member of the Torry Army please try to be there. A buffet will be provided after the meeting.

47

Friday, July 6, 2012

IT'S just a few short weeks until the 2012-13 Premier League season kicks off and already the storm clouds are gathering over Old Trafford.

Following on from their massive overshadowing by arch-rivals and neighbours Manchester City last season, the rats are starting to leave the sinking ship. Paul Pogba, an exciting young prospect and captain of the French youth team, has done the dirty and left for Juventus - a deal that was apparently done months ago and has incurred the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Other not so pleasing factors currently in force at OT include the ostracisation of Dimitar Berbatov once again and the stories revolving around

NANI STATE Problems mount up for Manchester Disunited ROBIN VAN PERSIE: Where would Arsenal be without his goals?

NANI: What’s his game?

Portuguese winger Nani about his wish to leave. I wouldn't mind betting the latter was generated by the player himself. It’s not the first time he and others have used this tactic to engineer a better deal for themselves but this time it may well rebound on him.

With the signing of Shinji Kagawa, United have a surfeit of potential wingers.

Antonio Valencia, Park Ji Sung, Tom Cleverley, Ryan Giggs and now Kagawa join Nani in fighting for places in the team and if I were Fergie I might well decide to cash in on any £20m plus bid for Nani.

On top of all that player unrest, United's money men have announced yet another

share flotation, this time on the New York stock exchange in a bid to raise £67m. It has been stated that this will be used to pay off the debt incurred by the Glazers when they bought the club. A little bit into the transfer pot might help as United fans look for some positive signs in the face of all that adversity.

It’s going to be hard enough to keep tabs on City's shirt tails without lots of in-fighting breaking out.

United's success was built on long-term stability and at the moment exactly the opposite appears to be imminent.

Elsewhere, City look to be aiming for some of that stability themselves after offering manager Roberto

Mancini a lucrative new longterm contract. Chelsea, too, have done the sensible thing and given Roberto di Matteo a permanent deal and I can't see further than those two for the major honours next season.

Tottenham are and will be in disarray despite the appointment of Andre VillasBoas. It will take a long time to get over Harry Redknapp's departure and if they lose the likes of Luka Modric it will just make things tougher. I can see AVB struggling just like he did at Chelsea. He would have been much wiser to go home to Portugal and lick his wounds surrounded by his own. But pride is a major driving force and if he does turn things round for himself

and Tottenham it will be highly laudable.

Down the road at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger has a lot to do to win back the fans and if they do lose Robin van Persie it will leave a massive hole in their squad, particularly in terms of someone to score the goals.

Brendan Rodgers might have half a chance of lifting Liverpool back towards the top four if the Anfield hierarchy leave him to it and those notoriously fickle Liverpool fans give him time. The same can be said of Paul Lambert at Aston Villa - but the man and team I take to really make people sit up and take notice next season is Alan Pardew at Newcastle United.

They did very well last season, just missing out on a Champions League spot and putting together a team that looks strong in every department and with three very gifted players in Demba Ba, Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse.

If he can keep hold of them - and the big boys have been sniffing around for a while - I take Newcastle to more than ruffle a few feathers this coming season and actually achieve something - and by that I mean Champions League qualification at the very least.

It's all shaping up for another great campaign. But what's that you say?

England? Roy Hodgson? I have forgotten about that already. Time to move lads and lasses! Onwards and upwards!

Mil Palmeras pride guys CF Mil Palmeras entered the Torrevieja Cup with a PreBen 04/05 team and an Alevine/Benjamine mixed team – and did themselves proud.

The Prebens, fielding a couple of debutants, got off drew 2-2 with Strikers before beating Elche A 9-5 and then, in a second clash,

caning them 9-0. A couple of early mistakes in the final against Strikers saw Mil Palmeras 3-2 adrift at halftime.

And with earlier exertions taking their toll, they suffered an 8-4 defeat despite grabbing two second-half goals, one from a penalty.

Mil Palmeras punched well above their weight in the Alevin category as they convincingly beat federation side Torrevieja 5-2 in their first game after taking a 3-0 lead in a lightning start.

In their second game against Junior Strikers, Mil Palmeras rocketed 2-0 ahead inside ten minutes, only to concede a scrappy goal before edging through

3-2.

As group winners, Mil Palmeras faced San Fulgencio in the semi-final and after another fantastic first half display, led 1-0 at the break.

But with just five minutes to go, San Fulgencio levelled - and to add to the misery they took the lead with only seconds left to play leaving Mil Palmeras wondering how they had lost the game.

Tournament sponsors LYNDYLOOINSPAIN For information on joining C. F Mil Palmeras, call Scott on 619700439 or Martin 622295186 or email cfmilpalmeras@yahoo.co.uk www.cfmilpalmeras.co.uk

48

Friday, July 6, 2012

THE GREATEST Carlos Alberto (left) and the legendary Pele - was their team superior to the all-conquering Spanish side fronted by Fernando Torres (below)?

Pele’s Brazil of 1970 were better than Spain’s coached monkeys SPAIN are worthy European Champions once again and their history-making achievement in winning three titles in a row is to be applauded.

They are a truly gifted bunch of players but when the arguments started raging as to whether they are the best team EVER left me rather cold.

For me no team will ever surpass the Brazil side of the 1970 World Cup. They had real skill and ability from 1 to 11 but the big difference is they all had flair and it was natural.

What Spain have got has been coached into them and while it quite obviously works I could teach a bunch of monkeys how to pass a football around effectively.

What is most appealing about the Spanish style is the way they grind teams into submission without the use of an out and out striker first and then bring on arguably the world's current No 1 hitman in Fernando Torres to finish the job. It’s truly frightening and in the current modern era, where technical ability reigns supreme, I can't see many beating them for years to

STEVE BOTT reports

come. A lot of teams have adopted similar styles in the past, most notably my favourite European side, AC Milan. They had great technique based on a solid defence and a particularly outstanding finisher in Filipo Inzaghi, who had the predatory instincts of a lioness, cheetah, leopard and tiger all rolled into one.

Inzaghi would lurk in and around the opposition's defensive line, dragging them this way and that while his team mates passed their opponents to distraction.

Then, when the decisive killer ball was played through into the danger area, Inzaghi would be on to it in a flash, invariably despatching the ball swiftly and cleanly into the back of the net.

Great to watch - and the European Cup Final of 2007, when Milan gained revenge for that defeat in the 2005 epic in Istanbul against Liverpool, was the performance that stands out in my mind.

Brazil, though, to a man were outstanding. From captain Carlos Alberto at full-back through to the great Pele, they were simply wonderful gifted individuals that blended into an awesome team - one never to be surpassed in my lifetime I’d wager - and hopefully I have another 20 years or so to go yet!

It looks like we may be in for another wee treat in the Olympics, judging by the standard of player in the football squads. Great Britain coach Stuart Pearce has

been berated for leaving out David Beckham but football teams are not picked on sentiment - except in testimonials - and Pearce has made the right decision in going for three over age stars who are still playing at the highest level.

After all it’s a major world tournament not an audition for Britain's Got Talent or The Voice and Pearce is going for gold, not a load of oohs and aahs from a soppy audience.

GB have the likes of Micah Richards, Jack Butland, Ryan Giggs, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Cork, Tom Cleverley, Craig Bellamy and hopefully Daniel Sturridge in their squad. Everyone in football will be hoping that Sturridge overcomes his viral meningitis scare and pulls through - if not in time for the Olympics certainly for the start of the new season next month.

But once again Spain look likely to be formidable opposition with Juan Mata, Jordi Alba and Javi Martinez in their squad alongside Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea and Chelsea midfielder Mata's team-mate Oriol Romeu.

Let's hope Pearce's boys can do it and show their senior colleagues how it's done, but stand by for the "It should have been Becks" moans if they don't!