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September 17th - September 30th 2015
Corbyn’s battle for war Brigades NEW British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is fighting to retain a University of Madrid memorial to the International Brigades. The veteran MP and activist, who won this month’s Labour leadership election, tabled a parliament Early Day Motion demanding the Spanish Supreme Court retain the memorial. Many UK volunteers were killed around the university district during the vicious 1936 civil war defence of Madrid. But despite this, a Madrid high court
ordered the memorial’s removal, claiming the body didn’t have planning permission. The university insisted it had, in fact, applied twice to then PP-led city council, before finally erecting it in 2011. It was unveiled with four surviving Brigadistas, including British member David Lomon. Around 4,000 British people joined the International Brigades to fight Franco’s forces, with hundreds dying in Spain. The Islington MP Corbyn Continued Page 9
VOLUNTEERS: British International Brigade battalion
Breast op horror!
LIVING HELL: For Tarry
Expat sues hospital after translation mix up leads to an ‘unnecessary’ double mastectomy
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan
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16th September
A BRITISH expat is suing a Spanish hospital after a translation mix up resulted in her having an ‘unnecessary’ double mastectomy. Teresa Tarry, 49, has gone through ‘eight years of hell’ after surgery for a benign lump in 2007. Left with 55% incapacity following the operation, mother-of-two Tarry was led to believe she had a cancerous tumour in her right breast. However, weeks later she discovered the lump was, in fact, not cancerous and doctors at A Coruna’s Abente y Lago hospital had misinterpreted her medical records. It emerged that while undergoing preventative treatment, a translation mix up had led doctors to believe that both Tarry’s mother and sister had suffered from breast cancer. In reality, Tarry – who moved to Spain from Manchester in 2000 – has no immediate family history of cancer and it was therefore unnecessary to remove her breasts. “I have never gone through such a torrid time,” Tarry told the Olive Press. “I came to Spain to start a new life. In reality
it has been an eight-year living hell.” She added: “The operation has left me completely broken. My self-confidence is shattered, I can’t even touch myself, let alone let someone else touch me.” Tarry is set to have her case heard at trial next month and is seeking €600,000 in compensation for negligent practice.
Incapacity
Forced to quit her job as a chamber maid, due to her reduced mobility, Tarry has been living off just €190 a month in incapacity benefits plus savings since 2007. She claims the hospital never provided her with a translator, despite her Spanish being ‘very limited’ at the time. The hospital, however, insisted that they ‘always provide translators when requested’. “We cannot comment on this individual case,” a hospital spokesman told the Olive Press, last night. Opinion Page 6
Hit-andrun tragedy
British lad left for dead in heartless late-night crash Page 14
Whats the hold up?
Kaiser Chief’s Ricky Wilson on the edge at Gib Music Fest Page 20
Cooks to the stars
Which Costa chefs wowed Kate Moss and the Queen? Pages 36 and 38
2
CRIME NEWS
www.theolivepress.es
September 17th - September 30th 2015
The transporter Brit lorry driver desperately seeks Fastcat bosses after drugs container lands him in court 4
NEWS IN BRIEF
Falls kill teen...
Agnese decision... a year on A MARBELLA judge is set to rule if two British men are to stand trial over missing Agnese Klavina, who disappeared a year ago. The 30-year-old Latvian vanished on September 6 after a night out in Marbella. She was seen on CCTV getting into a car with expats Westley Capper, 37, and Craig Porter, 32, outside Aqwa Mist nightclub. Their lawyer insists their innocence, although he doesn’t deny they were partying with Klavina on the fateful night.
, 17, was A DUTCH tourist jumpkilled in a bungee Cantabria ing accident in 40 metres when she fell into a riverbed.
...and toddler
R-OLD A THREE-YEA died after boy in Coin s from falling 10 metre window a bedroom ’s apartin his family ment.
- September
2nd 2015
FAST ONE! gs as prized belongin Expats lose ehouse Fastcat shuts nces storage war us circumsta under mysterio
expats have poA GROUP of s of euros tentially lost millionions after of prized possesswarehouse a British storage ht. EXCLUSIVE n shut down overnig punters By Rob Horga Dozens of furious an action group gone unhave set up their items and has apparently to track down bosses after Hardy, nd as has Fastcat’s predergrou the company’s vanished vious owner Peter Gibson.expat Coin-based Fastcat victim, British earlier this year. ers currently One Newall, 63, has lost Up to 50 containstorage yard, Jean nds of pounds’ worth lie empty at the over by firm ‘thousa of goods. which was taken in there,” she year ago. “I had my life ork, MJ Levi SL a d no commu- said. “Important paperw the They have receive since the old photos which meantental nication for months trading. to me, and sentim company ceased boss, Eddie world The last known
The wares VANISHED: irreplaceable. items which are my grandmoth“I have lost and a lot of er’s record player jewellery.” has my mother’s victim Another British those at fault. to find to vowed are fighting She said: “Weback and hope eightan stuff after our get can’t believe that bank is still not for a miracle. take on these year battle the ibility.” will Page we Front “Then From them.” accepting respons for the bank Boys and expose taking my life A spokesman sentence, but Del problems seem to have now they are ber the The confirmed when in Septem required to away too.” has lived in insisted it was nota civil court begun MJ Levi SL took over “I The expat, who 2014, a container 2005, added: cough up unless company after favour. Incred50, died Almeria since ruled in her has a €700,000 the found to be storing €2.8 A BRITISH diver, the coast of . ibly, Reardon with Cajamar, was on a dive off while million of cocaine nicamortgage left er all commupuntto pay it. Cartagena, Murcia Decemb By money r-old no 99-yea but has down, with exploring a tion had gone contact the comshipwreck. ers unable to or phone. OLD BritJustice A FOUR-YEARis pany via email attempted to drowned in a year until she ish boy has she Extended last s she will never When Newall in Mijas. her belongings swimming pool(reportedly) 95, she believe will soon be remove facility empty. The boy was the pool see justice, andthe home due found thetotal of 34 people are running around urbanisaSo far, a forced to leave affected. ts. n, including on paymen have known to have been email adin the Mijas Golfchildren at default to TWO wome were rs and and family tion with other he fell in. While friends up until now, All numbe ing one Brit, ted to the comafter they around 9pm when ted her dresses connec onded as we having suppor help were the hospitalised by a car d went unresp His parents time and did she has now solicite FACUA to pany to press. were struck famous dinner at the went his body of consumer group outside the money. not realise until in Ibihelp recoup her Amnesia Disco was found.
Cop crash
including FOUR people, en, were three policem ng a hospitalised followi a Marbelcar accident at la crossroads.
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Deadly dive
Child drowns in pool
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan
Nightclub nightmare
za.
A BRITISH lorry driver is facing prison after unwittingly transporting a container full of cannabis from Coin to the HIDDEN LOAD: Rob Ward was ‘shocked’ to discover UK. and (inset) our previous story Mijas resident Rob Ward, iacannabis list Clinic for Spec owned 53, is now desperately trying company in June claims he was ‘hoodwinked’ gy lo Implanto ental 2014. to track down the ownersDof into taking the shipment of l ra O d ce an dv and AWard, who has lived on the Fastcat after he transported 33 kilos of cannabis through n tio ta abili del Sol for 34 years, RehCosta the goods for the Britishthe continent. and Dental implant k k Sam Mar Soheil S. Mar degree in Master and Implantology tion oral Rehabilita
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AN attempted murder suspect has handed himself in to police in Gibraltar. Robert Mortby, 28, is wanted in Britain over the shooting of a man outside an Elephant & Castle pub in July 2012.
August 20th
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ress. www.theolivep
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New Wild West
GUN-WIELDING criminals were caught on camera in a ‘Grand Theft Auto-style’ car robbery in San Pedro. Shocking footage shows people fleeing the scene as a group of armed men stole an Audi from a public car park. One onlooker likened the robbery to popular videogame Grand Theft Auto. “No one is safe here,” he said. “Thankfully no one was hurt but this part of the world is turning into the Wild West.” Police are now investigating the possibility that the incident is linked to drug trafficking.
It was only when he was pulled over in Dover, that he discovered the true consignment. Last month, the Olive Press revealed how 50 containers were mysteriously emptied at Fastcat’s storage warehouse, in Coin, with countless expats losing possessions. Owners Eddie Hardy and Peter Gibson, have gone AWOL, with no clients able to contact them since January.
Shocked
Ward is among them and insists he has ‘nowhere left to turn’ as he awaits trial, out on bail, in the UK. “I need to find where these guys are,” Ward told the Olive Press. “I could end up behind bars for up to nine years for this and it is not my fault.” The driver, who is currently living in Essex, with his passport seized, added: “I was as shocked as anyone when customs officers found the cannabis in the back.” Ward, who will stand trial on September 27, has also lost thousands of euros as he has been unable to operate his business, Rob’s English Garage, in Mijas. A group of 34 expats are also currently seeking legal advice after their worldly belongings disappeared from the warehouse.
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A MOROCCAN has been arrested five months after the brutal double murder of a popular British expat couple. A firearm was found at the suspect’s home but he is yet to be charged. British expats David and Jean Tarsey, both 77, were shot dead in each other’s arms in their villa, near Benidorm. They were found by friends they were expecting for lunch in March. The couple had been living in their Xalo villa for 18 years but were planning to sell up to spend more time with their family in Mallorca.
Camino death confession
THE body of a missing American hiker has been found near the Camino de Santiago path. Denise Thiem, 41, disappeared on Easter Sunday while walking the camino route. Police arrested a 39-yearold man, Miguel Ángel M. B, in an Asturian village bar in connection with the death. He confessed to the crime and led police to the body, which was covered with tree branches at his home, according to sources.
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September 17th - September 30th 2015
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king’s my chauffeur THEY may be the princesses of Spain, but Sofia and Leonor did not get the royal horse and carriage treatment last week. King Felipe and Queen Letizia even eschewed the chauffeur to drive their daughters to school for the new term. It was a short Madrid commute in
ROYAL SERVICE: Back to school
their grey Lexus Crossover from Zarzuela Palace to €7,000-a-year Colegio Santa Maria de los Rosales. Other famous tots taken back to school were Penelope Cruz (pictured right) and Javier Bardem’s two children, Leo, 4, and Luna, 2, who headed back to their €9,000-a-year English Montessori.
No brotherly love Battle of biblical proportions as Marbella restaurant and religious brotherhood lock horns over late-night noise
LA CALA
Triple decker
New champagne bar, new TV show AND a new girl for Elliott Wright
DATING: Elliott Wright and Sadie Stuart
E
MBARRASSINGLY, on my last trip home the paps didn’t recognise me when I got out of the taxi and instead started snapping my new girl – who isn’t actually famous! Sadie is, however, absolutely stunning and I’m not surprised they mistook her for a celeb. To keep you in the loop, she’s 23, a British singer but, above all, NOT an Essex gal. It’s been a whistle stop romance and I got to show her off to my TOWIE pals at cousin Jess’s 30th birthday with the producers, predictably, all over her to do a turn on the show. But it’s not her scene. I actually met her at the Olivia’s restaurant launch, while on holiday with her family. I decided to cut contact with my ex Chloe in July, so I’m slightly apprehensive about seeing her next weekend when the full TOWIE cast comes out for another special. It’s going to be massive and the timing’s perfect as we open the upstairs champagne and cocktail bar. Arg ‘can’t wait’ he tells me and Gemma Collins is even coming. Talking of TV, I’ve just filmed for ITV’s Big Star’s Little Star, where celebs and their kids have to answer questions about each other for a charity cash prize. I’m pretty worried about what little Olivia has said about her old man! But I’m good as gold most of the time so there shouldn’t be any problems…
CRAFTSMEN IN PAINT AND PAPER
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A MICHELIN-starred restaurant is waging a bitter war against a ‘noisy’ Christian brotherhood neighbour. The owner of popular restaurant Skina, in Marbella, has complained to the town hall about the charitable Rocio Brotherhood’s that raucous evening celebrations. Restauranteur Marcos Granda, 39, claims countless clients have bemoaned that the ‘noisy neighbours’ have ruined their expensive dinner out. Asturian Granda insists the religious brotherhood often drink in the street until 4am, despite lacking a licence to hold events or serve food. Granda, whose restaurant was awarded a coveted Michelin star in 2008, even brought in a detective and audio specialists to prove the brotherhood were breaking the law. “We have always had a good relationship with them until nine months ago, when they started expanding and making more noise,” Granda told
PENELO PE Cruz she return looked first Spa ed to the big scstunning as nish lead re The 41-y role fo en in her the role ear-old actress r five years. of , was dres a cancer victim who plays sed to kil in l in a sle Ma Ma, dress at ek black Recently the Madrid prem vo ie alive’ sheted ‘sexiest womre. an w a s a p on the fi ro lm, direc ducer ted by Julio Me dem.
EXCLUSIVE By Rob Horgan & Tom Powell
the Olive Press. “Customers at a Michelinstarred restaurant should not have to put up with it,” he added. “I know they do good work, but it’s all about showing respect to each other, especially your neighbours.” However, the brotherhood - which helps underprivileged children with computers, bicycles and trips - are ‘shocked’ by the complaints. Established for 25 years in Marbella, they are surprised at Granda’s ‘sudden change of heart’ after an amicable ten years. “We have been neighbours for ten years and have never had a single complaint until now,” a spokesman said. “We want to have a good relationship with all our neighbours and hope that we can resolve this amicably.”
Opinion Page 6
Good old Watson! ACTRESS Emily Watson will join the ranks of Robert de Niro, Julia Roberts and Woody Allen when she scoops up the Donostia prize at Spain’s most prestigious film festival. The British star, who made her name with Breaking the Waves in
Cruz control
1996, will receive the career achievement prize at the 63rd San Sebastian Film Festival on September 25. She has been nominated for two Oscars and recently joined Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen in the cast for TV’s The Dresser.
Batman Bale’s film flies in
CHRISTIAN Bale’s new movie The Promise has started filming in Toledo. The Batman star himself is set to swoop into Spain for the shooting, which takes place in seven Spanish locations, including Segovia and Parraces. Director Terry George’s film is set in the Ottoman Empire’s last days. AUDREY Hepburn’s son Some 300 cast and crew deis taking legal proceedings scended on Toledo for the against the Alhambra Pal- shoot.
Wedding woe
ace’s ex-director after being accused of holding an illegal wedding there. Sean Hepburn-Ferrer has demanded €100,000 compensation at an arbitration hearing after accusing Mar Villafranca of damaging his reputation. Villafranca, who did not attend the hearing, is said to have published photos of the wedding, saying it was illegal.
SWOOPING IN: Bale
4
NEWS
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NEWS IN BRIEF Royal visit KING Felipe and Queen Letizia have arrived in the USA and are meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss Europe’s economy, as well as celebrating Letizia’s 43rd birthday.
Flying high MALAGA airport enjoyed its busiest ever August with more than 1.7 million travellers passing through, AENA airport authority announced.
Sticky situation PRIME Minister Mariano Rajoy will stir controversy by acting as a witness at his colleague’s gay wedding despite publically and vocally opposing same-sex marriage.
Job hunting DESPERATE for a job, more than 11,000 people applied for 817 part-time jobs announced by Malaga city at the start of September.
Safe cities MALAGA, Madrid and Barcelona are among 12 Spanish cities to declare themselves as ‘safe cities’ for refugees coming to Europe.
September 17th - September 30th 2015
We’re scared to go out!
Angry expats fight violent drink and drug culture in Duquesa port
HAYMAKER: Clegg
ANGRY expats and locals have slammed a wave of illegal behaviour that has left Duquesa port a ‘hotbed’ of drugs, drinking and violence. Some two dozen business owners and residents have penned complaints to Manilva town hall for ‘failing to protect’ them. They feel the police presence is insufficient in the face of binge-drinking, littering and vandalism - and the town hall agrees. The group claims a ‘botellon culture’ operates around Italian Square after 11pm on weekend nights with some areas out of bounds for women. “There is seemingly a complete lack of police foot patrols – apparently because they don’t have stab vests,” said British resident Stephen Amore, 47, who regularly has sleepless nights due to the disturbance. “My wife will not go out alone in parts of Duquesa at night
HE was dubbed ‘el Clegg’ by the Olive Press some years back for his close ties to Spain. Now former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg is to star at Spain’s hottest literary festival. Ex-Lib Democrat leader Clegg, who is married to Spanish lawyer Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, is to give a talk on politics at the Hay Festival Segovia on September 26. His wife is also due to speak at the festival, now in its tenth year, alongside award-winning novelists Tim Bowler and Owen Sheers.
Clegg making Hay
EXCLUSIVE By Iona Napier and I have seen several people get beaten up.” He continued: “It’s like Jekyll and Hyde because Duquesa is beautiful in the daytime and should be the jewel in Manilva’s crown.” The Olive Press found several cases of leftover cocaine on outdoor surfaces following complaints of open drug dealing where locals claim ‘police turn a blind eye’. Only last month, two young British teenagers were mugged at knifepoint as they left the port late at night. Molly Sheridan and Annabelle Blythe told the Olive Press: “It was really nasty and could have led to serious injury.” Meanwhile, British expat Paul Charrington, 41, from Duquesa Business Centre has to clean outside his premises every morning due to ‘litter
HOTBED: Port problems include fighting and drugs and public urination’. He said: “It’s a bad way to start the day. “It is time for a clean up.” Last night, Manilva councillor Dean Tyler Shelton told the Olive Press that he was ‘taking action’ to remedy the problem. He said the ‘root of the problem’ was due to police staffing, with on average just five officers per shift stretched between Manilva, Sabinillas, Duquesa and Castillo.
“We know there is a problem, and I am personally taking action to see policing is increased,” he said. “But unless the padron reaches 23,000, which we believe it should be, we cannot get the improved support of national police and our local officers are stretched.” Manilva official padron stands at 15,000 while the town hall believes there are, in fact, up to 25,000 residents and approaching 50,000 in summer.
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NEWS
5
Come slide away A GIANT slide has made a big splash in Torremolinos. The 50-metre-long slide turned Calle Europa into an aqua-park on September 12 during the local feria.
Do cry for me, Marbella Live music could be mostly curtailed under a new town hall crackdown
SILENCED: Marbella’s music scene
MARBELLA may have to kiss goodbye to its thriving live music scene. A political crackdown has left businesses facing fines of up to €3,000 for allowing artists to serenade their customers.
Olive Press Adv:Layout 1 10/09/2015 09:16 Page 1
We are very pleased to announce the opening of our new office in Fuengirola. Please telephone Paul: for the very best discounted golf times on 952 479 004 or Email: paul@gastongolf.com Pop into our office next door to the PYR Hotel on the Paseo Maritimo, Fuengirola.
EXCLUSIVE By Iona Napier So far 130 residents and businesses have signed an expatled change.org petition to continue Marbella’s ‘Vesarte’ programme, after it was shut down by the town hall on September 1. The PP’s scheme was introduced four years ago to encourage the local arts scene. Vesarte circumvented national laws allowing bars to play without full licences so long as performances ended by midnight and were officially publicised. But the new socialist town hall’s crackdown means bars and restaurants playing music without a full licence can now be fined from €1,000 on the spot. “This change will have a devastating effect on virtually all local bars and businesses,” said Tom Jennings, Irish owner of The Golfer bar. The 36-year-old from Galway added: “Continuing live music is just not a risk I can afford to take. “This leaves us in legal limbo.” Jennings has had to cancel numerous events lined up for September for fear of being fined. The town hall claims an alternative to the Vesarte scheme is ‘in the pipeline’ but have told businesses it will not take shape until ‘at least the new year’.
More airport strikes SPAIN’S air traffic controllers are set to strike yet again. After a summer of disruption, airport staff will strike on September 26 and October 3. The 12-hour strikes are in protest at disciplinary sanctions placed on 61 Barcelona-based controllers in 2010.
September 17th - September 30th 2015
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FEATURE
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August 6th17th - August 19th 2015 www.theolivepress.es September - September 30th 2015
66
OPINION Lost in translation MALE or female, the horror of losing a body part is unimaginable. But Teresa Tarry’s shocking double mastectomy can only be described as the stuff of nightmares. Having to go through any operation is gut-wrenching enough, without coming out of anaesthetic to find your breasts are gone… and for no actual reason. Add the dimension of a foreign country where you barely speak the language, and it only gets worse. The Foreign Office estimates a million or more Brits are living in Spain with many of them struggling with a huge language barrier. Teresa is not the only one, with the recent, horrific Stacey Cottle baby snatch story clear testament of that. It’s vital that Spain be aware of this language barrier and always insist - particularly in hospitals - that paid translators are on hand for such delicate cases.
Will he ‘Pasaran’? JEREMY Corbyn’s dizzying ascent to the Labour leadership is another boon for Europe’s left. After the rise of Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain, Britain’s bedraggled left finally has a rallying figure it hopes can reverse its fortunes. The Spanish Republic has long been a totemic cause for the left, and Corbyn’s support for the heroic International Brigades is indicative of his strong personal attachment to Spain. With his ‘No Pasaran’ spirit and no-nonsense campaigning approach, Corbyn’s election just injected a jolt of adrenalin into the battered rump of British paternalistic socialism. For the country that abolished slavery, introduced free healthcare and a welfare state, this could put Britain back among the world’s most caring, modern-thinking nations.
Let’s be friends A BEAUTIFUL Spanish old town centre should be the perfect location for an up-market Michelin-starred restaurant. A romantic atmosphere seeping through narrow streets and quaint squares... but also a culture dating back hundreds of years before anyone knew what a ‘Michelin star’ was. In the case of Skina in Marbella, its owner must respect the charitable Christian brotherhood who are his neighbours. But respect should normally be a two-way street. Perhaps the two sides could meet over a glass of fine wine and a delicious meal to work it out… We know a great little restaurant in the Old Town… though it can be a little noisy.
Olive Press payments THE following companies are no longer allowed to do business with the Olive Press (Luke Stewart Media SL - CIF B91664029), due to long standing debts: - MWM Investments Ltd - Petersham Coins, Marbella - Investor Spain - Simple Care - Autotunes Manilva - Hotel Embrujo, Arriate
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olive press
Tel: 951 273 575 (admin) Accounts: 658 750 424 Sales: 692 725 475 A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Iona Napier Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 iona@theolivepress.es 951 273 575 Joe Duggan Carretera Nacional 340, km 144.5 joe@theolivepress.es Calle Espinosa 1 Admin / Distribution / Accounts: Edificio centro comercial El Duque, planta primera, 29692 San Luis de Maria González Sabinillas, Manilva accounts@theolivepress.es Printed by Corporación de Medios Mirian Moreno de Andalucía S.A. admin@theolivepress.es Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Newsdesk SALES TEAM: newsdesk@theolivepress.es Chris Birkett Head of Sales Tel: 665 798 618 652 512 956 Stephen Shutes 671 834 479 Tom Powell Sarah Adams 655 825 683 tom@theolivepress.es Axarquia Rob Horgan Charlie Bamber 661 452 180 rob@theolivepress.es
Impossible commute
Live in Spain, work in London... it’s cheaper, quipped British MP Tessa Jowell. But guess what – some career high flyers do exactly that! Joe Duggan and Nina Chausow track down the new jetset commuters
R
OLL out of bed, grab a coffee and your briefcase and… jump on a jet? Commuting between the grey skies of London and the sun-drenched streets of Spain seems an impossible dream for umbrella-toting workers trapped in the ‘Big Smoke’ by their careers. But what if you really could end the business week at Canary Wharf and be home in time for tapas and a nightcap at one of Spain’s quintessential chiringuitos? It sounds like pie in the sky after one sangria too many but extortionate London rental prices have forced many city slickers to get creative. And, as the Olive Press has discovered, there are far more expats doing it than you might imagine. With dozens - even hundreds - of intrepid souls checking in on Europe’s blearyeye flights to trade dark and dreary evenings for stunning sunsets over Spain every month. BBC presenter Nick Knowles is one of them. He joined the new breed of jetset commuters when he relocated to Spain earlier this year (See box on Page 7).
It’s also a lifestyle choice that suits naturists Sally and Stephen Pike. The Bristol IT consultants often used to rise at 5am, not returning home until after dark, passing each other like ships in the night. But, after an epiphany, the couple, both 48, who live with their two children, upped sticks and moved to Arcos de la Frontera, near Cadiz, in June 2014... and it has revolutionised their lives.
Exorbitant
While Sally has retrained as a teacher working in Arcos, Stephen flies from Malaga to Bristol on Monday morning, and returns home (where he rents a room in a house in Cheltenham for €620 a month) via Gibraltar, on Thursday, a commute which works out at around €11,000 per year. And, even better, Spain’s leaner living costs have left the Pikes with a fatter wallet, totalling thousands of euros a year. “Our rent here is so much cheaper than it was in the UK,” explains Sal. “And we had to spend
a massive amount on heating and electricity. It’s an awful lot less here because we don’t have to pay for heat. “My husband did some research into the cost of an average shopping basket in Europe and Spain is one of the cheapest. “Most important of all, our previous Bristol property cost four times as much as our current rented home in Arcos de la Frontera. “When we were in the UK we were basically living on credit cards. We had quite a lot of debt built up. We’re now in a position where we live well within our means, and with a much better quality of life,” she adds. “We’re now looking at the very real prospect of being debt free in 12 months time, which I honestly think would have taken five to eight years in the UK.” The couple previously enjoyed a joint net income of €67,000. Although Sal’s salary dropped to €240 a month initially when she took a job as an English teacher in Spain, it has barely affected the family of four. In fact, things are so good they are planning to open a naturist holiday business.
The British Pablo Iglesias New British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn stands to scare off voters if he doesn’t keep his distance from Podemos
I
T might be a coincidence that a film channel showed Peter Sellers’ highly acclaimed 1979 movie Being There on Sunday night. The film tells the story of a simple gardener who, through a chance meeting, becomes a well-connected Washington insider and political confidante. New Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s 32 years as an MP, without a ministerial portfolio, pretty much mimics the Sellers’ story. A relative unknown, Corbyn has been surprisingly thrust into the hot seat in the latest
move by European voters fedup over growing inequality in society. Hours after Corbyn’s landslide victory, the American press was comparing his sudden rise to power to that of Spain’s Podemos and Greece’s Syriza parties. Even the UK media were dubbing him ‘the British Pablo Iglesias’. “Increasingly socialists are joining us to defend democracy, to fight against austerity and inequality,” Iglesias wrote in an op-ed piece that appeared in The Guardian on Monday. He continued: “We can only
say: welcome, comrades. Let’s walk together.” Even if Corbyn’s message may contain some similarities with Iglesias’s own preaching, the new Labour leader is bound to scare off a good portion of his own voters if he doesn’t keep a safe distance from Podemos. As Spain gears up for general elections, support is waning for Iglesias and his disciples, despite many of them running key municipal governments The dramatic events in Greece this summer over debt renegotiations, which led to a loss of confidence in Prime
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CAPITAL COMMUTE: Living in Madrid and working in London works out much cheaper, insists MP Tessa Jowell (below)
MADRI MATTE D RS
Minister Tsipras’ Syriza Party, took a lot of steam away from Podemos. Iglesias faces even further damage if the Greeks decide to bring back the conservative New Democracy Party to power in Sunday’s elections, as expected. Corbyn’s best bet will be to concoct his own home-brew of domestic policies by looking at the shortcomings and failures that have occurred in southern Europe.
FEATURE
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August 6th17th - August 19th 2015 www.theolivepress.es September - September 30th 2015
LONDON LIGHT: Big smoke too pricey compared to Spain?
‘We miss Nick like mad when he’s away’
Jetset Joe
High-flying Olive Press reporter Joe Duggan …. reminisces on his own ‘red-eye’ days I spent over a year commuting from Madrid to my investment bank in London. The door-to-door journey took just over five hours. That’s longer than a tube ride, granted. But after years spent suffering interminable delays on the Metropolitan Line, it felt like a lot less. I travelled three or four times a month, usually leaving after work on a Friday and coming back on the first flight on Monday, after spending the weekend enjoying the Spanish capital. With some judicious planning, my flight costs were kept to a minimum. Sometimes I was lucky enough to get return flights for around €40. But that could rise to around €300, depending on the time of year and which airport I travelled from (City Airport was the most expensive). I would leave London after work around 5.30pm and be painting Madrid red before midnight. On Monday, I would be at my desk in London by 9.30am, bright-eyed and bushy tailed (so long as I had a sensible Sunday night), and none the worse for the commute. “We can walk to the places where we socialise and our neighbours are so friendly and helpful,” adds Sal. “It’s so easygoing here, and there is a great community spirit.” The Pikes (pictured) are living proof of the way Brits are getting inventive to escape the eye-wateringly high costs of housing back home. The issue was highlighted by London Mayoral candidate MP Tessa Jowell when she suggested it was cheaper for British workers to live in Madrid and commute to London. While this is obviously theoretical, due to the travel time, the Labour MP was suggesting it to highlight the exorbitant €2,629-a-month rental being charged for a one-bedroom flat in London.
However, weekly it is possible, with personal trainer Andrew O’Donnell and his wife Henrietta, making the move from a Chelsea flat to Guadalmina three years ago. But despite annual flight costs of around €25,000, Spain’s cheaper lifestyle more than compensates the O’Donnells. “We pay a lot less now. It was about €680 a week for a two-bedroom flat in Chelsea, but it’s much more economical here,” explains Andrew, 49, who flies from Malaga to London every three-and-a-half days (staying with a friend for €140 a week) to keep an eye on the couple’s gym business, The Mission. “We have a beautiful house with a swim-
High flyer saves bucks Martina Willis is the MD of a Swiss-based company and the owner of The Source of Wellbeing, near Coin. For three years, she flew weekly between Zurich and Spain, leaving on Monday lunchtime and returning on Friday. The two-and-a-half hour flights set her back €1,000 each month, but her quality of life in Spain was much better. For the same price as the monthly €3,000 cost of her Zurich flat, she was able tolive in a much more luxurious place in Spain. “You can spend every weekend at the pool and properly relax,” she says. “My flat in Switzerland costs about the same as the big house we have here.”
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UPS AND DOWNS: But life is better for the Knowles ming pool and 300 days of sunshine.” Henrietta, 39, a qualified surfing instructor, keeps a close eye on the Marbella branch of The Mission when he is away. And, as Andrew adds: “Business-wise, it is simpler than you might think. Most of what we do is in writing and we can talk to our staff by email.” For some commuting expats, it’s the outdoor climate, rather than the cheaper lifestyle, that entices them to these shores. PR consultant Yasmin Sethna, who has a home in Sotogrande, remains based in London for work but came here about four years ago when her partner took a job in Gibraltar. “We get the best of both worlds,” she explains. “ You spend a lot more time outdoors and I do like outdoor activities,” she said. “There is plenty to do if you like sport with great golf courses, sailing, tennis and padel clubs as well as a good variety of restaurants.” Yasmin can indulge her love of horse riding for only €30
But dividing your time between two countries can come at a cost. A non-stop filming schedule can make life tough, as Jessica Knowles attests. The wife of DIY SOS! presenter, Nick, lives in Sotogrande with her one-year-old son Eddie while her famous hubby commutes back and forth. The family relocated to Spain following a health scare, when the BBC star underwent surgery for a ruptured artery in his sinus. Jessica blogs about the delights of living in Spain and watching her son grow but laments the ‘baby stages’ (talking, walking) that her husband can miss out on when he travels. When he returns, however, she sees the benefits of living in the beautiful Andalucian countryside, and being able to ‘settle into life in Spain a little more as a family’. “Being out here means the time we will spend together as a family will be so much more special, and hopefully less pressured,” she said. “There is such a sense of space here – I feel like I can finally breathe.”
A TALE OF TWO CITIES: Living in Camden Town: €2800.44* o Rent (one bedroom): €2629.18 o Travel card: €171.25 Living in Madrid: € 2396.72 o Rent: €738.89 o Commute: €1657.83 (Stansted to Barajas return) Savings: €403.72 (*Tessa Jowell’s statistics)
SHOPPING BY NUMBERS: UK Weekly food shop: €80.45 (ONS) Pint of beer in London: €5.39 (Good Pub Guide) Litre of petrol: €1.511 (Fuel Prices Europe ) Spain Weekly food shop: €83 (El Pais) Pint of beer in Malaga: €1.94 (Pint price) Litre of petrol: €1.189 (Fuel Prices Europe) a time in Sotogrande, a galloping discount on the hefty €130 it costs to do the same in Hyde Park. London-based blogger Sam Cookney meanwhile also proved it can make sense. “I think many people thought I
was joking when I boldly declared it would be cheaper for me to rent a two-bed flat in Barcelona and commute to London,” he wrote on his blog. So this summer, Cookney upped sticks for Barcelona, racking up a five-and-a-half-hour com-
mute to central London several times a month from his €800-per-month two-bedroom apartment in Spain. In London, he had been paying almost €960 a month for a flat in a downmarket area. Now, rising at 4.30am, he is in his London office by 9.30am and estimates that relocating to the Catalan city saves him several hundred euros a month. Another long-distance commuter, Matt Ibbs, has travelled between Granada and Dublin every week for the past 20 years to his IT consultancy job. He describes the area’s natural beauty as the primary draw for his family. “We have a small farm in Granada, and we can ski in the winter, mountain bike in the spring and autumn,” he said. “We didn’t choose Spain for financial reasons, we could have gone to any European country but we chose to live in one we like and where we have ties.” Keeping ties in two countries can yield rich rewards, providing you don’t mind flying. And just think of all those Air Miles!
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Tory MP blasts ‘Franco’ bill CONSERVATIVE MP David Davis has compared his party’s proposed Trade Union Bill to Franco’s Spain. The former Tory chairman slammed the legislation, which demands pickets give their names to police. Strike ballots would require a minimum 50% turnout and unions would have to give police two weeks’ notice of any social media campaign. Davis said: “What is this? This isn’t Franco’s Britain, this is Queen Elizabeth II’s Britain.” The bill passed its first House of Commons hurdle on Monday.
August 6th - August 19th 2015 www.theolivepress.es September 17th September 30th2015 2015 the Olive Press September 17th - -September 30th
UK and Spain quash Catalan hopes
SPANISH deputy prime minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria has insisted that a majority vote for Catalan separatists won’t be a mandate for independence. Speaking ahead of Catalan elections on September 27, the PP minister insisted that the independence of any region could only be decided by the entire Spanish electorate. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron has warned Catalan nationalists that independence would also spell leaving the EU. At a meeting with Spain leader Mariano Rajoy, Cameron said: “Just like the UK, Spain is a great country with a long and proud history, and if I had a message, it would be the same as the one in the UK, that we are better off together. “If one part of a state secedes, it’s no longer part of the European Union and has to take its place at the back of the queue,” he added.
Pablo’s pal From Page 1
MARCHING IN THE STREETS: For Catalan independence
We need to talk By Tom Powell in San Roque
Former foreign minister insists a PSOE victory will bring a new dawn for Spain/Gibraltar relations
FORMER Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has called for ‘cross-border cooperation’ in a defiant keynote speech in the Campo de Gibraltar. A staunch defender of dialogue with Gibraltar, the PSOE’s Moratinos was introduced by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo in San Roque on Monday evening. In a rousing speech, he slammed the PP government’s current aggressive stance to the Rock and insisted it was ‘bad for trade’. “The Campo de Gibraltar could be one of the biggest economic zones in Europe because of its strategic location,” he said. “Some would say it’s crazy that an ex-Spanish minister is stood here talking about how we can help Gibraltar. But 300 years on from the Treaty of Utrecht it should be normal to seek good relations without being accused of disloyalty. “The first thing the new Spanish government needs to do after elections should be to talk to Great Britain and Gibraltar about working together,” added Moratinos. Fabian Picardo reiterated how Spain’s current ‘mean-spirited’ policy was damaging for the general Campo de Gibraltar area. He told the Olive Press: “The PP government is as mean-spirited as it is negative. Rajoy has failed his
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Poll looms PRIME Minister Mariano Rajoy has mooted December 20 as a ‘likely’ date for Spain’s general election.
has a long association with Spain’s left-wing struggles. His father, who met his mother on a Republican rally in London, wanted to join the International Brigades, but poor health scuppered the plan. His second wife, Chilean Claudia Bracchitta had a grandfather who fought for the Republic, before he and his family were exiled to Cuba after Franco’s victory in 1939. Meanwhile, Corbyn’s victory has been hailed by Spain’s left-wing parties. Anti-corruption party Podemos’ leader Pablo Iglesias said: “At last we have an ally in the UK with whom we share a diagnosis of the current political crisis and a plan to fight for the defence of social rights through policies to tackle inequality”. PSOE general secretary Pedro Sanchez described Labour and the PSOE as ‘brother parties’.
Opinion Page 6
FRIENDS: Moratinos and Picardo party and the people of the Campo de Gibraltar. “We all fail from this confrontation… and I hope that if the PSOE wins the election in December our similar socialist principles will create better dialogue and stop seeing us turning our backs against one another.” Moratinos played a central role in the negotiations that led to the signing of the Cordoba Agreement in 2006, as he endeavoured to end centuries of confrontation and tension that produced no positive results. However, since the PP came to power, Foreign Secretary Jose Margallo has run a continually ‘negative’ campaign against Gibraltar. It has led to countless incursions in territorial waters, uncertainty, increased queues and further problems for Spanish workers on the Rock.
Majestic mayor faces 18 years A FORMER mayor of Casares is facing 18 years in jail for his dealings with the ‘CEO of European organised crime’. The public prosecutor is also seeking a fine of €1.2 million for Juan Sanchez over permission he granted for the illegal Majestic residential estate built between 2000 and 2005. It comes after he was linked to Italian gangster Ricardo THE judge in the ERE cor- Fanchini and his cohorts, ruption case, Maria Nunez, Armenians Robert Mani and is calling on the Ministry of Robert Gaspar, who are also Employment to detail pay- accused of money laundering. ments made to retired Huel- Five other town hall workva mine workers. ers are facing prison over a It is believed that €172 mil- scheme that saw money launlion was paid to 802 mine dered into the Majestic projworkers who may not have ect via radio and TV stations existed, in 2003. and the Mijas hippodrome.
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THE Andalucian parliament is creating a commission to investigate a billion euro training fraud. The PSOE-led Junta has agreed to let coalition partners Ciudadanos chair the investigation into the massive misuse of public subsidies for training schemes that did not take place. The Junta has so far demanded the return of €71.9 million in bogus grants awarded since 2007, although the probe will go back to 2002.
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the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015
Gender imbalance
NEWS IN BRIEF Caravan of love
A MASSIVE 75% of suicides in Spain are committed by men. In 2013 a total of 3,870 people killed themselves: 2,911 men and 959 women.
A MADRID woman will lead a convoy of vehicles driving parcels of aid to refugees in the Hungarian capital Budapest over the last two weeks in September.
Train crash
Heart beat
TWENTY-SEVEN commuters were injured when a Bilbao train struck buffers at the city’s main station.
MALAGA’S Materno Infantil hospital has installed new equipment to help children born with heart defects.
NEWS
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Speared to death
BRUTAL: Men on horseback spear bull to death at controversial festival MEN on horseback have gored a bull to death amid protests at the Toro de la Vega festival.. Thousands of demonstrators clashed with officials at Spain’s annual bull-spearing event, near Valladolid. Up to 10,000 animal rights activists voiced their discontent at the controversial event and staged a sit-down protest. Despite weeks of demonstrations, the event went ahead with
over 30 men on horseback chasing after the running bull to spear it to death. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of protesters, including Spanish musicians, artists and journalists marched through Madrid in a bid to get it banned. Over 120,000 signatures were presented to the mayor of Tordesillas, Jose Poncela, to abolish the event.
Eternal reminder Controversial visit to new remembrance shrine by the mother and stepfather of missing Amy
AMY Fitzpatrick and four other missing Mijas residents have been honoured in a ceremony at a brand new remembrance park.
The missing teenager has a plaque, alongside one for British actor John Leach, who disappeared from his house in La Cala in 2012.
TEEN GOES MISSING A 15-YEAR-OLD girl has gone missing in Malaga. Police are still searching for Paraguayan expat Kathering Alonso Samaniego, who disappeared on Monday. The alarm was raised when Kathering failed to turn up to school, the Instituto Padre Jacobo in the barrio of Huelin, where she lives with her mother and two sisters. She was said to have been ‘looking forward’ to the start of the school year. If you have information call 951 311 044
SEARCH ON: For Kathering
REMEMBERED: Amy and others missing on Costa del Sol
By Tom Powell Five trees have been planted in total at the Parque de los Sentidos (Park of Senses), one for each of those missing. The event was attended by Amy’s mother, who has returned to Spain to reignite search efforts for her daughter who disappeared on January 1, 2008. Audrey Mahon, 46, is staying in Calahonda, near where Amy disappeared, with partner Dave Mahon, 44, following their wedding in May. Businessman Mahon has, controversially, been allowed to travel, controversially, despite awaiting trial for the murder of Amy’s brother Dean in 2014. Audrey said she was inspired
by the Graham Dwyer murder trial in Ireland, in which childcare worker Elaine O’Hara’s body was found over a year after she disappeared. “It’s an awful way of thinking but we are looking at the Dwyer case, how that poor girl Elaine O’Hara was found,” she said. “The land changes with the rain and the ground moves. Buildings become disused and new people go in and renovate places that were empty.” She added: “I’d love to get a reconstruction done in Spain. That would be hard work as it’s never been done before.” Incredibly, Audrey has stuck by her partner, who is charged with killing 23-yearold Dean, after he confronted his stepfather over the disappearance of Amy at his flat in Dublin.
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the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015
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Up for air ROYAL Navy nuclear submarine HMS Torbay has docked in Gibraltar’s naval base as part of a scheduled operational visit.
Made to wait COMMUTERS from Spain have been enduring early morning rush-hour delays due to airport resurfacing works, which are being carried out daily from 10pm until 10am.
Final two THERE are just two candidates - one military, one civilian - remaining in the contest to become Gibraltar’s new governor.
On film POLICE officers are wearing on-the-body video cameras as part of a pilot scheme to up transparency and accountability.
Post n’ go! A NEW ‘post and go’ machine has been installed at the Post Office in a bid to cut queues and also interest stamp collectors.
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Blown was talking leader The Rock’s lawyer wife Jusalongside hisof his key speech tine ahead Day, one of the at National t ever’. “It is ‘most significan Olive Press: He told the auspicious this particularly day commemoyear with the anniversary of rating the 75th n of the Rock, great evacuatio in the week By UK’s as well as coming Navy becomes the .” when he inin calls for British the Queen monarch DEFIANT to be stationed again a got the biggest cheer, should - once serving was longest Navy during of his weekat the battleships s permanentbeen made sisted the Royal A highlight of Leon Gibraltar have Day rally. - have battleship . watching Kings Festival. s de- again of in Gibraltar raucous National Music British politicianfocus- ly stationed of Gibraltar are a part would 11 I Gibraltar of as front A group I would g speeches Spain “The people “Not at the family and apprehe joked. livered rip-roarin to tensions withto self- the Great British when have got crushed,” Day with battleship here right blown away in the sing on recent National like to see aSpanish ship to illegally Gibraltar’s “But I was celebrate ’s hands and backing said. best Gibraltarians red hend any I saw everyone waters,” he e on Fire, the determination.s crowd – a sea of ental PARTY MODE: enter BritishUnionist MP Ian Paisley air for Sex the last decade.” barbary macaqu nal the patriotic The Casemate due to its environm inflatable Democratic – echoed rock song of for his first reare our internatio cent years are be place. “These and white as Chief Minister Fabian these the date ever – took added: up at As for a rumoured to is our country, get impactas the crowds gazed sky, Tina Day will never sentiments the final address, waters, this and we must support “National it will only election contest,r 20, he said: Then, speckled salute to the Picardo delivered ed. In fact, red white our people around a be on Novembe who knows red and white the Best blasted rock!” diminish stand together, centering generation’ of 75 years them.” signalling bigger. We bellowed. “The only person surrender this Turner’s Simply ‘evacuation the sound system, free!” he speeches, the tradiaddress. “We will never is my wife.” – through of an almighty party. in a rousingof ‘best wishes’ and refugee crithe ago. the current to he roared Following the start of the balloons Linking it to Europe, he vowed the After waving a letter Chief Minister sy in retional releasing the caused controver sis engulfing as possible under National from the Queen, which has vowed to increase help as much to come. is caring’. ns in years MP for finally plea that ‘sharing Conservative l, who Day celebratio was it But Andrew Rosindel Romford,
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GIBRALTAR NEWS
ON the Rock
We have lift-off
A BRAND new newspaper has launched in Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Olive Press aims to be the territory’s most innovative and interesting publication, with 10,000 free copies circulating throughout the Rock and nearby. Aimed at both locals and expatriates, working and living in Gibraltar plus sur-
rounding areas, readers will enjoy a varied and detailed editorial content with local, regional and Spanish news. As a totally new publication, The Gibraltar Olive Press will also provide businesses with a unique platform to reach tens of thousands of potential clients, a significant proportion of whom spend money locally and nearby on the Costa del Sol.
‘This is our country’ Age 4-18 ence-building, , confid in acting Fun, classes educational dance. singing and
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By Tom Powell The Casemates crowd – a sea of red and white – echoed the patriotic sentiments as Chief Minister Fabian Picardo delivered the final address, centering around a salute to the ‘evacuation generation’ of 75 years ago.
Linking it to the current refugee crisis engulfing Europe, he vowed to help as much as possible under the plea that ‘sharing is caring’. But it was Conservative MP for Romford, Andrew Rosindell, who got the biggest cheer, when he insisted the Royal Navy should - once again -
October 1-4
The Gibraltar National Dance Organisation organises the IOD European Showdance Championships at the Tercentenary Sports Hall. Details www. eurodanceshow2015.com.
October 3-4 have battleships permanently stationed in Gibraltar. “The people of Gibraltar are a part of the Great British family and I would like to see a battleship here to apprehend any Spanish ship to illegally enter British waters,” he said. Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley added: “These are our international waters, this is our country, these are our people and we must support them.” “We will never surrender this rock!” he roared in a rousing address.
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St Andrew’s Craft & Collector’s Fair will feature stalls selling hand-crafted items to genuine vintage and antique pieces. Entrance fee £1. Stalls available for £10.
Politicians call for British Royal Navy gunships to be permanently stationed in Gibraltar during defiant National Day speeches DEFIANT calls for British Navy battleships to be stationed again in Gibraltar have been made during a raucous National Day rally. A group of 11 British politicians delivered rip-roaring speeches focussing on recent tensions with Spain and backing Gibraltar’s right to self-determination.
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PARTY MODE: Gibraltarians celebrate National Day with inflatable barbary macaque
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LEGEND: Joe Bossano
Tribe came back EXCLUSIVE
FORMER Chief Minister Joe Bossano believes the number of Second World War evacuees who returned to live on the Rock is a key factor in proving that Gibraltarians are a race. Of the 600 people still alive from the thousands of women and children who were sent abroad - an incredible 500 live in Gibraltar. “This is where our tribe lives,” he told the Olive Press during National Day. “And the fact that they all came back to live here is clear proof of our identity.” Singled out as a figurehead of the ‘evacuation generation’ during Fabian Picardo’s keynote National Day speech, Bossano, 76, had been sent with his mother to live in Morocco for months before ending up in the UK.
After waving a letter of ‘best wishes’ from the Queen, the Chief Minister finally vowed to increase National Day celebrations in years to come. “National Day will never ever be diminished. In fact, it will only get bigger. We stand together, red white and free!” he bellowed. Following the speeches, the traditional releasing of the balloons – which has caused controversy in recent years due to its environmental impact – took place. Then, as the crowds gazed up at the red and white speckled sky, Tina Turner’s Simply the Best blasted through the sound system, signalling the start of an almighty party.
GIBRALTAR will play its national football on the Rock by 2017… but where exactly? We’re one step further to finding out. After continual arguments over a proposed Europa Point site and failed attempts to extend Victoria Park, the government has come up with a new alternative. It has emerged that Lathbury Parade Ground is now being lined up as a potential site for a 6,000-seater stadium, with residents and focus groups now being consulted.
Sick of losing? Open your minds! OLIVE Press readers have voted in favour of scouring the world for any professional football players eligible to play for the Rock. In our online poll, 56.8% insisted Gibraltar should simply ‘get anyone they can’ to turn around the team’s losing streak in the current European qualifiers. It comes after former Stoke player Danny Higginbotham declared Gibraltar must be ‘more open-minded’ if they are ever to be successful. Higginbotham, who was himself called up for Gibraltar due to his grandmother - called for a return to the policy of recruiting eligible overseas players to boost the home-grown crop. “The population of Gibraltar is only about 28,000 but they are closed-minded and just include players from Gibraltar,” he told Sky News. “They were very open-minded at first and had a lot of players involved from England.” “It is all about them opening up again,” he added.
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AXARQUIA
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September 17th - September 30th 2015
Back for Moor
Postman Pot AN English expat has been arrested for operating a postal drug service. The unnamed 52-year-old woman from Almunecar was apprehended after police intercepted two parcels both containing 50 grams of marihuana. A police raid on her home uncovered two cannabis plants and nearly 3,000 kg of hash. It is thought that she had been operating out of her home for almost a decade.
Tact training LGBT awareness training for local police has begun in Rincon de la Victoria. The town’s police force is the first in the Axarquia to undergo ‘sensitivity training’ in relation to homophobia and transphobia. The training will be provided by the Rainbow Federation and is being strongly supported by the town’s deputy mayor Antonio Moreno. “The need to train and sensitise all sectors of society on hate crimes and discrimination in Spain is imperative to good policing,” Moreno said. “This is particularly relevant to discrimination against the LGBT population.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Quick dip RINCON de la Victoria expat Matteo Narzisi saw his villa’s pool used by a firefighting helicopter to fill up the ‘Bambi’ bucket before zipping off to fight a fire.
Hotel hit HOTEL occupancy in Nerja hit 96% this summer with increased Spanish tourists and a total of 11,629 tourist office enquiries over the summer.
Farmer’s hand POLICE in Nerja and Frigiliana are devising a strategy to reduce the number of thefts from local farms.
End exclusion VELEZ-MALAGA Town Hall has committed to give struggling local families of financial boost thanks to a new regulation offering emergency aid of up to €300 utility bill.
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LOCALS will line Salares’ Moorish streets for the annual Festival Arabe Andalusi on September 18-21. With music, dance, workshops, mint tea, pastries and a parade, it is set to be a weekend day out. Visit the town hall for more information.
Left for dead EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan A YOUNG British expat has been left with ‘horrific injuries’ after he was hit by a speeding vehicle, near Torre del Mar. Alfie Martin, 20, has suffered fractures to his pelvis and spine, as well as a smashed hip and broken cheekbone. Martin was left for dead, while walking home to his village of Sayalonga at 1.30am
SURGERY: Alfie
Young Brit suffers horrific injuries after ‘animals’ leave him near death after a hit-and-run after a night out with friends. His parents only discovered his plight when they were called by a neighbour some hours later. Gary, 59, and Carole Martin, 61, from Sussex, rushed to their only child’s bedside in Velez-Malaga hospital.
Sneaky sparkies THIEVES masquerading as Endesa electricians have stolen an expat couple’s valuable jewellery collection. The Nerja couple were heartbroken to discover the theft included a bespoke 57-yearold engagement ring. It came after Tony Bailey and his wife allowed the two men inside to ‘check an installation’ and were distracted filling out a form while the men
EXCLUSIVE By Iona Napier
scoured the premises. “They emptied out my wife’s jewellery box and inside – with the most value – was her engagement ring,” said Mr Bailey. “I had it made in Sri Lanka, 57 years ago, and it is of great sentimental value.” Police informed Bailey that they were not the first victims of the pair. “I just want Olive Press readers to be aware of these bogus electricians who showed NERJA has been turned into a Bollywood an ID card, haven. Not one, but two Bollywood films are which becurrently being shot in the town by awardcause I don’t winning director Rajoo ‘Shakti’ Subramaspeak good nian. The films Teri Talash and Bandhan Spanish I are not the first Bollywood blockbusters to couldn’t be shot in the Axarquia, with Son of Sathycheck propamurty and Jill shot there earlier this year. erly.”
Bolly good fun
“Whoever did this is an animal. I don’t know how they can live with themselves, leaving someone for dead like that,” Gary told the Olive Press. “I would not do that to a dog, let alone a human being. Alfie looks like a smashed packet of crisps.” He added: “The whole village has been up in arms. He could not get more support than he is getting.”
Suspect
Unconfirmed reports suggest a suspect has been arrested, although the Guardia Civil would not comment. Alfie had been due to travel to France to work with a cousin in the coming weeks. That trip has been cancelled and Alfie has been moved to a Malaga hospital where he will undergo surgery.
YOUR BRITISH GP Dr.Paul Godden Home visits on the Costa del Sol, Guadalhorce Valley and AXARQUIA For a home visit call 692 42 41 42 www.britishgp.es
Contact our Marbella Office: Avda De Manolete, Centro Plaza Local 12-13, Nueva Andalucia, 29660, Marbella, Malaga
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www.theolivepress.es 1616the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015 GREEN NEWS
BEST PALS: Due to climate change
Climate changed dogs’ behaviour MAN’S best friend was turned from predator to pooch thanks to climate change. Malaga scientists have discovered that a change in climate over hundreds of years forced dogs to evolve, becomeing sociable and accessible to humans. The mood shift took place due to the evolution of ancient canines’ body shapes. A change in habitat, from woodland areas to wide-open spaces, forced hounds to evolve in order to chase their prey rather than ambush it. As a byproduct, scientists at Malaga University claim their temperament was altered and is the main reason why dogs are man’s best friend today.
Carrion carnage
the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015 www.theolivepress.es
Dolphin alert
Spain’s use of a controversial ‘killer drug’ is blamed for falling vulture population ANIMAL rights groups have slammed Spain for its use of a ‘killer drug’ that could ‘lead to the extinction of vultures’. BirdLife International, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Vulture Conservation Foundation accused Mariano Rajoy among other European leaders of ‘choosing pharmaceutical companies ahead of the environment’. “Vultures provide services to our farmers that are far more valuable than the ben-
efits of this product, a product that can easily be replaced by safer drugs,” said Asuncion Ruiz, CEO of BirdLife Spain. Spain is home to 95% of Europe’s vultures. The drug, diclofenac, is widely considered responsible for the death of millions of vultures worldwide and has already been banned in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Diclofenac is used as an anti-inflammatory, usually to treat sheep and pigs for early signs of arthritis.
AT RISK: Of ‘killer drug’
A TWO-WEEK-OLD striped dolphin separated from its mother has been rescued off Gibraltar. The calf was spotted floundering in shallow waters near Marina Bay by a Waterport Terraces resident and taken back to sea by rescue services. But the distressed dolphin returned shortly afterwards and was grounded on Western Beach. Concerned passers-by attended to the baby mammal and contacted the rescue service (ERPU) once more. Fortunately, a pod of striped dolphins was located in the bay and the calf was released among the group. It has not been seen since but ERPU is continuing to monitor the area.
DELUGE: Streets became rivers across southern Spain
KILLER storm THE worst storm in years claimed the lives of four people in Andalucia last week. After one of the hottest summers on record, Andalucia’s heavens opened torrentially on September 7, turning streets into rivers across the province. There were three fatalities in Granada. A 61-year-old man was washed away in Polopos-La Mamola, a 50-year-old man drowned in Albunol and a man in his sixties died in
Eye of the tiger
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TWO tigers are prowling through Fuengirola Bioparc as worldwide numbers dwindle. The majestic Sumatran beasts are part of the park’s drive to protect the endangered species. Only 300 tigers remain in Indonesia. But visitors to Fuengirola’s Bioparc can still admire this glorious creature.
Castell de Ferro. A fourth body was discovered washed up east of Motril, an area which took a massive 80 litres of rain per cubic metre in just 40 minutes. Meanwhile, shocking scenes unfolded in Almeria, where over 30 people were rescued from their vehicles and emergency services received over 100 calls (see video, www. theolivepress.es). Albox expat councillor Maura Hillen said it was the ‘worst flood in years’. “I can’t remember many storms like this in this part of Spain,” she told the Olive Press. The road to Malaga airport was also closed, with 12 flights diverted, yellow weather alerts raised and numerous streets swamped. The towns of Torremolinos, Malaga City, Churriana Benidorm and Alicante were also badly affected.
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the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015
17
the Olive Press September - September 1818 18the Olive Press September 17th 17th - September 30th30th 20152015 Different POTTED carriages
POINTERS ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 62.45% Same week last year: 67.94% Same week in 2005: 50.56% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000 EMERGENCIES Police 091 Guardia Civil 062 Medical service 061 Fire 080
EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.13 American dollars 0.73 British pounds 1.50 Canadian dollars 7.46 Danish kroner 8.75 H Kong dollars 9.26 Norwegian kroner 1.60 Singapore dollars
DEAR OP, I AM appalled by recent proposals in the UK to have women-only carriages on trains. After 24 years living outside the UK it astonishes me that anyone could even suggest that women should be forced to travel in separate carriages to protect them from being molested. If that is the case, then come to Spain! I regularly catch the last train to Malaga from Fuengirola and can’t imagine that any woman would feel threatened on that train.Has the UK changed that much in the 23 years I’ve lived elsewhere? It seems to me that the UK has more fundamental problems. Get your act together, Britain! I hope I never have to live there again, and I’m 72. David Frost, Malaga
Village people YOU may well be able to buy a village in Galicia for €200,000 but why in the world would you?! (A pittance for pastoral properties, issue 221). There is no work, no facilities, an awful climate and you are surrounded or lost inside the eucalyptus forests that cloak Galicia with the depressing grey/ green colour - I know, I lived there. It was once an incredibly beautiful place but Franco’s command to plant Eucalyptus totally destroyed
LETTERS
In the line of duty
Best made plans
La limbo
IN theory anything that brings more business/ jobs to the area has to be positive and therefore this has to be a good idea (Call of duty… for La Linea free trade, issue 221). The key to success is to make it easy for people to visit both places and make sure there is a good spread of trade. La Linea already gets plenty of business from Gibraltar – hotels are very expensive in Gibraltar and most visitors stay in La Linea which means the restaurants also get more trade. Spain must view Gibraltar as an asset, not a hindrance, and this proposed scheme gives both sides a chance to really make it work.
I LIVE in La Linea and this is the first time I’ve heard of this scheme. Jorge Ramos, who heads up similar schemes in Algeciras and Los Barrios clearly needs to budget for advertising as I’ve never heard of those duty-free zones either. I think the idea is great… I am encouraged to see the new mayor of La Linea looking to improve relations with Gibraltar and I hope this scheme will encourage people to travel between the two countries. A united Spain and Gibraltar may be a fantasy but I’d like to think this is a step in the right direction.
Jane Garrett, Ronda
Amy Bennett, La Linea
that and I well remember a Galician newspaper reprinting front pages from the 1950s’ showing the exodus of a huge percentage of the population embarking for Argentina/ Venezuela or the USA to escape starvation. The northern rias are a great place for a vacation in summer and show how abysmal the Mediterranean coast is in comparison - the rest of the year: depressing. Stuart Crawford, Coin
Bad banks MY heart goes out to the Mintos (We’re not money launderers, issue 221).
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Leading TV and Harley Street psychologist, Louise Van der Velde, is now offering her full range of treatments. r
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Just as with Louise Reardon the week before (Give my money back, issue 220) the Olive Press has rightly shown the banks up for what they are… Greedy, self-obsessed and unable to see the person behind their bank account. I too lost my dream home when moving to Spain, although it was in very different circumstances it was also not my fault and I was left completely enraged. I’m sure over time the Mintos will move on, as I have done, and I hope they are able to live a happy life in Spain. Georgia Short, Fuengirola
No Magaluf I’VE been to Magaluf, several times actually, and I’ve also been to Malaga. So I feel well-placed to state that the latter is a million miles away from the former and will be for at least the next couple of millennia (Malaga: the new Magaluf? Issue 221). The city may be receiving more tourists than ever before, but that’s because it is a cultural hub bursting with top-quality museums. The mayor is right to defend Malaga, a bit of nudity once a year barely compares to the non-stop debauchery of Magaluf… not that I’m complaining about either!
Neighbour from hell LET us not forget that La Linea is no Gibraltar. In my opinion, La Linea is the worst town in southern Spain. No one realistically goes to La Linea unless they live there or have to get into Gibraltar. Maybe if they need to use the hospital or go to trafico. The last mayor complained that no one stayed there to spend and the reason is simple, it’s just not as good as Gibraltar. In my opinion the duty-free zone would benefit only those in La Linea, I struggle to see any upside for the Rock. Steven Quinn, Algeciras
Bring in the ringers I WAS flicking through the papers and found one of the funniest misprints I can remember. As Gibraltar prepared for its European qualifier with Ireland, one Irish newspaper thought they’d even up the odds. Throwing minnows Gibraltar a lifeline the Irish Independent included five of Germany’s world cup winning side in Gibraltar’s lineup. Unfortunately the German quintet didn’t make themselves available and Ireland were able to cruise to a four goal victory. Alex O’Neill, Dublin, Ireland
12 inch wonder DOES anyone recognise this 12 inch creature? The cat brought it into the house as a pressie for me and the wife. It was helplessly laid on its back with the cats paw on it. I rescued it and took it outside, but it was barely moving. After 10mins it recovered and was very annoyed with me, striking hard, almost leaping off the floor! I don’t know if it’s fully grown or if it’s poisonous, but it certainly was intimidating... It moved in a very convoluted way, almost like a Sidewinder. Anyway, the cat got interested again and it curled up and played dead after a few ineffective strikes so I scooped it up and popped it over the fence. One annoyed cat!
Keith Hallam, Iznate Alex Fernandez, Marbella Letters should be emailed to letters@theolivepress.es. The writer’s name and address should be provided. Opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor.
What’s hot on the web The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks (August 29th - September 13th): 1) VIDEO SPECIAL: Hell and high water as shocking floods leave deaths in Andalucia (93,743 pageviews) 2) Irish expat dies in Estepona car crash at 5am (12,724) 3) Spanish airport baggage handlers an-
nounce September strikes (8,409) 4) Freak floods in Andalucia threaten annual Almeria pilgrimage (4,051) 5) VIDEO: Gunfire in Marbella ‘Grand Theft Auto-style’ car robbery (3,321)
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la cultura
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Picture perfect
ALMERIA’S stunning scenery stars in the hotly-awaited drama series Mar de Plastico, which premiered last week at the FesTVal de Vitoria. The thrilling tale of a mayor’s daughter’s murder is set in the imaginary town of Campoamargo against a backdrop of African workers, gypsies and Russians. Filming took place in San Isidro, Cabo de Gata, Campohermoso, las Tabernas, El Ejido, Balerma, Vicar and Nijar. “The creative process was genuinely delicious and the sun, light and heat of Almeria play a starring role,” said fiction director Sonia Martinez.
Oscar trio A TRIO of Spanish films are bidding for an Oscar. Happy 140, Magical Girl and Loreak have all been shortlisted to represent Spain for a Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar. The trio was whittled down from an original group of 54 by the Spanish film academy. The academy will announce the finalist on September 29.
Goya or gimmick?
Controversy at the National Gallery as scholars suspect Goya portrait is a fake A PORTRAIT by one of Spain’s most famous artists is causing a stir at London’s National Gallery. Goya’s painting of Ronda lady Doña Isabel de Porcel has long been heralded as one of the Old Master’s greatest… but now there are doubts about its true origins. Scholars in England have discovered that beneath the portrait of Porcel lies another painting. “There is no doubt that this is a great painting, painted with masterful flair,” a National Gallery spokesman said. “The portrait’s brushwork and the hidden painting beneath are the main points of controversy.” A painting of a man wearing a striped jacket was found be-
the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015 September 17th - September 30th 2015
TV Queen
BLANCA Suarez wowed at the premiere costume drama Charles, King Emperor. The series is being seen as Spain´s version of Downton Abbey. The Goya Award-nominated beauty, who plays Queen Isabel of Portugal, stunned onlookers at the Principal Theatre of VitoriaGasteiz, Alava.. Television viewers caught the first episode of the show on TVE1 on Monday, September 7. The programme follows the fortunes of the Habsburg ruler King Charles 1.
Flying colours REAL DEAL? Dona Isabel neath the portrait when the painting was x-rayed following scholarly scepticism. Experts are now looking into the portrait’s history, thought to have been painted in 1805, to determine if it truly is a Goya. The work is part of a major 70-piece retrospective currently on display in London.
1919
A SPANISH duke is playing chaperone to his family’s rare art collection stateside. The Duke of Alba (Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Martinez de Irujo) is heading up the team bringing the priceless artwork to the USA for the very first time. The collection includes 130 works from across their Spanish palaces with works by Titian, Goya, Rubens, Rembrandt, Ingres, Sorolla and Renoir. A Dallas’ museum is the lucky location for Treasures from the House of Alba: 500 years of art and collecting. The news comes after his younger brother Cayetano Martinez housed two Syrian families in his Sevilla palace.
what’s on
G
ibraltar, September 19
Head to La Sala Gibraltar on the Sunborn to see the talented Nikki Rae singing some big hits in her show Someone Like Adele, for information and bookings call 200 16 870
F
uengirola, September 18-22
Memory of Water, winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for the Best Comedy of 2000, come sto the Salon Varietes Theatre. Tickets 952 27 45 42.
T
arifa, September 1827
Award-winning photographer Juan Villalta’s black-and-white images span 50 years of life in Tarifa in this exhibition at Carcel Real.
C
oin, October 3
Local burlesque dancers The Dirty Diamonds perform at Venta Miralmonte to raise money for charities Animals in Distress and ARCH. Tickets at Papeleria Cristina and ARCH charity shop.
20
la cultura
the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 202015
www.theolivepress.es
Holding up the years
PICTURE SPECIAL BY JON CLARKE
ARMED AND DANGEROUS: Why the blue arm behind Kaiser Chief Ricky’s back? It’s t
W
ITH its biggest and glitziest lineup ever - some 50 acts playing across three stages to a sell-out 15,000 ticket crowd (half the Rock’s population) - this
year’s Gibraltar Music Festival broke al cords. Paloma Faith’s ‘Hola Espana’ b der was the only discordant note in a m gig that was gigabytes of fun, with zip thrills, spheres and cooling waterjets thr
The best
Kings of Leon impressed but UK and Madness stole the show, wr
K
PERFECT PERCH: A young fan gets a hitch up
INGS of Leon showed their regal class but it was two British bands who took the crown at Gibraltar Music Festival. While Kings of Leon closed the festival with undoubted style, the energy of the Kaiser Chiefs and the feelgood factor of Madness showed why British pop music is still ‘definitively’ the best in the world. Incredibly, on their first ever trip to the Rock, Madness had no intention of embarrassing themselves. Kicking off with, appropriately, Embarrassment, this was a crowd-pleasing trip back to the 80s and 90s perfectly set up by ‘special guest’ Gabrielle (Dreams will come true, etc) before them. With saxophonist Lee in fine form and lead singer Suggs in sparkling humour, the Nutty seven embarked on a medley of greatest hits which had the Gibraltar radio stage truly hopping. Over on the main stage – somewhat bizarrely overlapping – the Kaiser Chiefs were showing why they are one of the true festival kings of the summer. After an amazing show supporting Blur at Benicassim – here Ricky and Co were warming up for rock gods Kings of Leon… And they all but blew them off the stage with stunning renditions of hits including I Predict a Riot, Every Day I Love You Less and Less and Ruby. One of the world’s best front men (think Freddy Mercury, think Jim Morrison) Ricky Wilson has a wonderful mix of charisma and energy (all very apparent from his starring role on TV show The Voice). When he launched into Angry Mob, the crowd – with a legion of teens camped out at the front – went wild. It was a hard act to follow, and Nashville-bred Kings of Leon took a while to take up the challenge. A touch linear, perhaps a little jetlagged, they seemed serious and slightly out of place. But what they have in droves is sheer musical talent. A massive coup for the Rock, they were tight, driven and slowly got into their groove. With an amazing filmatography backdrop, they began to show their class. The deep country and western roots, the slick guitar riffs – their energy started to come through. In particular, Use Somebody, Molly’s Chambers
21 September 17th - September 30th 2015
TRULY NUTTY: Top festival act Madness always bring out the most colourful fans and (inset) Paloma Faith
Cosmic curtain raiser Duran Duran put their all into it, Paloma Faith put her foot in it, but the opening day of GMF 15 was a blast, any way you rock it, writes Iona Napier
the only thing keeping him from falling into the crowd
ll reblunmega pwire rown
in. The Olive Press was among the crowds at Victoria Stadium on both days to present a double dose of reviews and photos of the rip-roaring two-day event.
of British
K stars Kaiser Chiefs rites Jon Clarke
DAY 2
and the amazing The Bucket, from their first album Aha Shake Breakdown, were standouts. Finally came huge hit Sex on Fire to bring down the stadium and put a smile on the face of Fabian Picardo, being one of the Gibraltar leader’s favourite bands, as he told the Olive Press two years ago. All in all, Gibraltar showed it can rock way above its weight.
A
S ‘80s legends Duran Duran might have put it, Save a Prayer for Paloma Faith. It was certainly no Ordinary World on the first day of the biggest ever Gibraltar Music Festival when the British singer got her politics in a twist and thought she was singing in Spain. The star greeted crowds with a rip-roaring ‘Hola Espana’ and claimed it was ‘great to be somewhere half-British and half-Spanish’. The 34-year-old from Hackney, famous for her haunting ballads, was left Picking Up the Pieces after getting it Upside Down, despite her father being Spanish. But the convivial crowd seemed to be on too much of a high to mind, singing along and cheering loudly even when Paloma delivered her diatribe on ‘peace’, a ‘podium moment’ that would give Oscar acceptance speech luvvies Gwyneth Paltrow and Patricia Arquette
DAY 1
a run for their money. Eighties legends Duran Duran later showed their durability, bringing the curtain down with aplomb while an emotional Tom Odell smashed his piano to the floor to complete his soulful performance. The star-studded programme also saw Brit rock band The Feeling and reggae group Third World take a bow while a Gibraltar-flag draped Lawson were delighted to be on a return ticket to the gig. “It’s incredible to be here again, we love Gibraltar and we’ll be out there in the crowd partying with you guys later,” promised lead vocalist Andy Brown. Spanish rock stars Estopa and last-minute-confirmation Little Mix also had the Saturday crowds on their feet, dancing and singing along in the balmy September heat.
SLICK: Kings of Leon were a Sex on fire indeed
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OLIVE PRESS – 105mm x 256mm – Colour
16th September
22
Property
22 the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015
www.theolivepress.es September 17th- July - September 30th 2015 the Olive Press June 25th 9th 2015
Aladin’s Mijas Magic
Cool pool IS YOUR HOME READY FOR SOME LOVE?
THE heart of a tiny Huelva village has been turned into a summer oasis. Eight years after the plan was first mooted, the Canaveral de Leon’s town square has been converted into a natural splash pool. Sourced from a nearby spring, the town’s 400 inhabitants now have use of an 8,000 square metre pool.
Green light for green house New Gibraltar development will feature first ‘green wall’ seen on the Rock
GREEN-thinking developers have come up with a ground-breaking new scheme in Ocean Village. Dubbed the ‘start of an environmentally-conscious building sector on the Rock’, Ocean Spa Plaza will have the territory’s first ever ‘vertical green wall’. The idea is that the foliage on the wall will emit high levels of oxygen, while absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It will be incorporated into the wall of the car park, which will be available to both residents, as well as the
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The market is back on track and Andalucia is still buyers’ favourite spot
general public. The project of 120 apartments - which also has a rooftop spa with sauna, jacuzzi and steam room - has now been given the green light. “We are delighted to have been granted permission for the next phase in Ocean Village,” marketing manager Sandra Lamplough told the Olive Press. “This iconic building with its stunning views and perfect location is sure to set a new standard for future residential development.”
The Property Insider
by Adam Neale
Bricks under the sun back on the rise
T
HE latest Malaga property sale data confirms the market has gone steadily up over the past year. We have seen a rise of over 14% in July’s transactions, the biggest increase for the same period since 2008. Spain’s Statistics Institute has just revealed figures for July’s residential property sales and Malaga province ranks above both the regional and national averages, registering a 14.5% increase compared to 2014. A total of 2,228 Malaga properties were sold in July compared to 2,313 in July 2008 – it’s still well down on the pre-crisis total (3,599), but is the best result for seven years. Interestingly, less than 20% of homes sold were new. This reflects the relative lack of newbuild properties available in the market now, although it looks set to rise over the rest of 2015 and next year as more new developments are completed. Nationally, house sales increased by 13.9% in July compared to 2014, reaching 32,700 deals for the year, to date. Although slower than June - which saw a 17% increase on the year before - July’s rise marks the eleventh consecutive month of growth. Andalucia remains the most popular area in Spain, with almost 6,750 deals completed here, followed by
Catalunya, Valencia, and Madrid. Malaga alone accounts for almost a third of the region’s total, marking a comeback since the all-time low of March 2013 when less than 1,000 homes changed hands. Over 14,500 properties have already been sold in the province in the first six months of this year, 13% higher than last year and 30% more than in 2013. After six years of falling values, Spanish property prices are firmly on the rise, with a 4% increase in average prices in the second quarter of 2015 compared to last year. This is not only a 1.5% increase over the first quarter of the year, but is also the largest jump since the end of 2007 and is the fifth successive three-month period in which house prices have risen. New properties increased in value nationwide by almost 5%, while the price resale homes climbed by some 3.8%. All this is clearly good news for vendors who held on to their homes during the darkest hours of ‘la crisis’. But it should also come as a reminder to buyers who may have had doubts about entering the marketplace over the last few years that now is the time to move, before prices climb any higher.
Terra Meridiana. 77 Calle Caridad, 29680 Estepona. Tel: +34 951 318480. Office Mob: +34 678 452109 Email: info@terrameridiana.com. http://www.terrameridiana. com
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A ‘ONE-OF-A-KIND’ second-hand shop has opened in Mijas. Offering brand new and upcycled furniture, Aladin La Cala has breathed new life into an otherwise barren row of empty units. Transforming three empty plots in La Cala’s hills, the shop has become the talk of the town. “We have had a great reception since opening,” says British managing director Majid. “The units were dilapitated without any services or utilities when we took them over.” “€100,000 and a lot of hard work later and it is almost unrecognisable.” With a warehouse and retail store, building has begun on a workshop to upcycle unwanted items on site. And that’s not all. Xmas stock is being ordered and furniture packs are on the horizon for 2016. Majid has big plans including a quarterly auction night - the first of which is pencilled in for December. He also wants Aladin La Cala to become the first place in Spain to offer auction nights to under 16s. For more information call 654 595 482
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2424 the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015 24
NEWS IN BRIEF
Higher and higher PROPERTY prices are already on the rise but increase by a further 2% by the end of the year, commercial bank Bankinter has predicted.
Black Monday A TOTAL of 333,107 people lost their jobs on Monday August 31 as summer contracts ended. Spain’s unemployment figures soared by 21,679 during the same month.
BOOMING AT LAST
Expat hospitality businesses are prospering on coast and inland as recession eases, writes Iona Napier
Real boom EUROPE’S real estate investment has increased by 25% since January.
Factory boost INDUSTRIAL production in Spain rose 0.6% in July and is now 5.2% higher than the same month last year, said the statistical office INE.
ON THE UP: Big growth at La Sala and (inset) Molino del Santo
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September 17th - September 30th 2015
LIFE’S A BEACH: Sunset Beach Club up 17% A TRIO of local expat-run businesses have matched the summer’s mercury-busting heat with record-breaking business figures of their own. La Sala’s restaurants, Benaojan hotel Molino del Santo and Benalmadena’s Sunset Beach Club are all celebrating a summer of success. Sala Group’s Marbella restaurants and clubs have seen an increase in turnover of around 20% so far in 2015 compared to 2014, having opened in 2008 into the throes of Spain’s crisis. “I believe our growth it is due to a combination of increased tourism numbers, more people choosing to relocate again in this amazing place, and of course our brand and reputation should be more established now,” said Ian Radford, founder
and chairman of Sala Group. Inland, idyllic hotel Molino del Santo near is also enjoying success with advanced bookings for 2016 up 500% on this year. “We are seeing a significant upturn in business for 2016, particularly with lots of family groups booking now for big celebrations or get-togethers,” said owner Andy Chapell. “There has also been an important improvement in numbers of enquiries and we are expecting a bumper season in 2016.” Yet another expat-owned business, Sunset Beach Club Hotel in Benalmadena, saw occupancy up by 17% in the first half of the year and a packed July and August. “We now expect to break records in both September and October - a fantastic result!” said general manager Mark Wardell.
Pricey public SPAIN has less public employees than most European countries, but spends more on pay. And while there may be fewer of them, Spain’s public sector employees take home a healthier pay-packet than their private sector equivalents. According to data from the Spanish Statistical Office (INE) public sector salaries were on average €2,530 a month, compared to private sector workers who earn on average €1,691. Meanwhile, economic think tank the OECD found Spain’s public sector makes up 13% of the country’s workforce, 6% lower than the European
CASHING IN: Public sector workers average. However, 24.8% of public spending goes on public sector salaries, whereas the average of the 34 countries surveyed is just 22.9%.
Piketty line
SKY HIGH: Number of Sierra Nevada summer tourists
Popularity peak
A RECORD number of sporty Spaniards have flocked to the Sierra Nevada to enjoy its summer activities. The Granada mountain range drew 4,436 budding sports stars to participate in competitions between June and September, a rise of 20% on last year. A new programme of summer outdoor activities, topped by mountain biking, are proving big hits with energetic visitors to the Andalucian resort and boosting the winter season’s ski and snowboarding attractions. Overall, more than 41,000 visitors flocked to the resort this summer, up 13% on last year.
ONE of the world’s leading economists has teamed up with Podemos. French economist, Thomas Piketty, is advising the political party on its economic programme. The best-selling author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century will join a panel of international experts helping the left-wing party as they gear up for December’s general election. Podemos are currently third in the polls behind the PP and the PSOE. Piketty earned worldwide acclaim when his controversial work came out in 2013. The book dealt with the deepening inequality between the rich and poor.
Top Dollar
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Gay tourist boom
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the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015 25 25
the Olive Press July 10th -July 24th
Spain is now the most visited destination in Europe for LGBT tourists
PROUD: Spain’s LGBT scene booming
Twitter king abdicates MANNING the police Twitter account isn’t as exciting as arresting drug dealers and high speed car chases, but in Spain it’s a job with just as much responsibility. The National Police force has more followers than any other law enforcement agency in the world, including the FBI. But the man behind its success, Carlos Fernandez Guerra, has now left to work for energy firm Iberdrola. His replacement, Carolina Gonzalez, previously worked as part of an investigations unit in Barcelona before joining the communication team. “I always liked to communicate and I always liked the police,” said Gonzalez. “This job brings together both of my passions. I can’t imagine a better post.” In total there are eight people behind the social media presence, with tweets of between 10 and 15 a day. They caused controversy in 2014 when they replied to a Tweet asking for the best way to smuggle cannabis through airport security with some genuine advice.
GAY tourism is booming in Spain, the most popular destination in Europe for LGBT visitors. The ‘rainbow crew’ pumped over €6 billion into the Spanish economy via tourism in the past 12 months. And it seems these ‘spend spend’ tourists are happier to splash the cash on their travels than other market sectors, with the average LGBT-er forking out 30% more than their heterosexual counterparts. Barcelona is their favourite Spanish destination, followed by Madrid, with the Costa del Sol in third place and Torremolinos flying the rainbow flag as the gay capital of the coast. In fact, the summer boom saw 20% more gay businesses open in Torremolinos. Last month, 71,000 visitors descended on Barcelona for the second-largest LGBT pride festival in Europe. For more LGBT news and features visit www.theolivepress.es and search for our All about pride supplement.
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Playing the markets is common sense, not rocket science, says Saltydog
The Three Peaks
M
ANY passive investors, in the hands of their financial advisors, will be watching the current gyrations of the world’s stock markets with fear and dread for their own financial future. This is a natural and understandable reaction. However, look at the graph above of the FTSE100, and you will see that this correction, if it continues as such, is becoming a regular occurrence. It is not necessary to sit and let the markets do with your savings what they will. You can take corrective action. During the latest stormy period, the Saltydog portfolio has actually been making gains and avoiding dips. As an active individual with access to the Saltydog numbers you too could achieve a similar result. This is common sense, not rocket science. The big question is, will this correction take the FTSE100 back down to the 4,000 level? There would seem to be a number of reasons to suggest that this could happen. China’s economy is faltering and the Far East
emerging markets will move in tandem… Commodity prices have tumbled, dragging down mining shares and many of these companies are in the FTSE 100. The UK stock markets are in the 77th month run of a bull market, as our diagram shows. There is only one other occasion in history that the market has risen for longer, and that was in the lead up to the great crash in 1929. Oil price is the purest barometer of global health and demand, and it is presently a third of the price of a couple of years ago. The UK and USA stock markets, even today, are still over priced compared with history. So there really is not much to like,and a fairly major correction could be around the corner. Nevertheless, if you were to take some of your savings into your own hands, you could avoid this calamity. You just need accurate up-todate fund information, the correct attitude to risk and the avoidance of greed. It surely has to be worth a free trial. Go to www.saltydoginvestor.com to subscribe now! For a FREE TRIAL call +44 7899 990473
Short of income? With interest rates remaining stubbornly low, now is the time for your capital to work harder! Invest £50,000 or €65,000 minimum and potential annual returns could be from 3.9% to 5.8%.
Independent and licensed for Spain, UK and all EU countries 40 years financial planning experience Small dedicated business; very individual in our approach Reliable financial planning, including pension and investment advice
RAFP
RAFP Ltd, Anderida, Curtisden Green, Goudhurst, Kent TN17 1LE, UK. T +44 (0)1580 212617 E info@ra-fp.com W www.ra-fp.com Richard Alexander Financial Planning Ltd is an appointed representative of LJ Financial Planning Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA Registered No: 526007 UK Registered Company No: 7277868
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Top Dollar
Let it grow!
SPAIN’S economy is the ‘leading light’ among eurozone nations. An 11th straight month of growth has led Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to label Spain as the ‘Germany of southern Europe’. And it’s not just the Spanish tooting their own horn… leading mar-
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the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th24th 2015 July 10th -July
ket experts around the continent are praising Spain’s recovery. “It is Spain that remains the star performer among the largest eurozone countries,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit. “It really is Europe’s leading light.”
Making a splash! Spanish academy lures hundreds of would-be mermaids from all over the world MERMAID enthusiasts across the globe are slithering into a ‘monofin’ and taking to the water thanks to an ingenious Spanish mermaid school. ‘Sirens’ opened last year in Tarragona and has lured
FISHY TAIL: Mermaid school training
an incredible 600 people from Britain, the USA and across Europe wanting to learn how to swim like a mermaid.
Don’t phone home EXPATS phoning home will have to fork out more as Spanish operators up their roaming fees. Spain is the only country which currently adds on an additional charge for calls between European countries… and that cost is about to go up. Currently standing at 20 cents a call, mobile providers Orange, Vodafone, Yoigo and Movistar are set to raise the cost by 10% to 22 cent/ per call.
Women – and the occasional merman – are flipping into a fantasy world with teacher Susana Seuma, 40, who shattered her leg in a 2011 car accident. Seuma had to quit her job a sales manager and is realising her childhood dream – and many others’ – with the help of a spandex tail and a monofin. Students at Sirenas Mediterranean Academy swim in a pool for 90 minutes before being unleashed on the Mediterranean.
Barclays sells assets BARCLAYS is selling Portuguese assets to Spanish bank Bankinter SA for around €175 million. News that the British bank is offloading its retail banking and wealth investments, as well as its insurance arm to subsidiary Bankinter Vida, pushed share price up almost 1.5% on the day. Some 1,000 Barclays staff and 84 branches will move across to Bakinter. Barclays expects to make a loss after tax of around €275 million on the deal, despite a decrease in risk-weighted assets of €2.4 billion. Barclaycard and the investment arm of the business will continue to operate in Portugal. The bank was recently taken over by John McFarlane after chief executive Antony Jenkins was ousted.
AGONY ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES
Knowledge is power Our legal go-to Antonio Flores reveals all you need to know about Spain’s independent financial advisors
P
EOPLE move to Spain for an easier life but bureaucracy and legality can be a minefield. This must-read Q&A demystifies the Independent Financial Advisors in Spain (EAFI) for all your money queries. What is an EAFI? An EAFI firm provides independent financial advice based on professional and customised recommendations. It is the equivalent to the UKregulated IFA (Independent Financial Advisor). EAFIs are rigorously regulated – they must comply with a staff code of conduct; offer a customer attention desk and collaborate with the anti-money laundering department of the Bank of Spain. Regulation of EAFIs originate in European Union Directives and, in Spain, are implemented by the Securities Markets Law, the Royal Decree 217/2008 and especially, by Resolution 10/2008 on EAFIs. What are the requirements? EAFIs must be authorised and registered by the equivalent of the Financial Conduct Authority, the CNMV. The CNMV supervises the EAFI’s activity, requiring its team to meet standards and proove their expertise and knowledge. Not just anyone can be an EAFI: despite a huge number of requests, the Spanish Financial Services Authority has so far authorized just 90 EAFIs. How do they get paid? Up to 70% of the EAFIs get paid solely by the client and do not receive commissions from financial en-
tities, claims the Spanish financial regulator. How do insurance brokers and EAFI overlap? It is normal for insurance brokers with a license to sell products that have a marked financial component i.e. ‘unit linked’ insurance policies or pension plans. EAFIs, however, are not allowed to advise on, market or sell these products without an insurance license, granted by the Spanish insurance regulator (the DGS). Equally, insurance brokers with a valid EAFI license cannot advise on, market or sell financial investment products. What about EU-registered EAFI? Companies and individuals can be granted a license to ‘passport’ their business into Spain by virtue of the Freedom to Provide Services agreement under the European Directive 92/96/EEC of 10th November 1992 (the Third Life Directive), which enables suitably regulated companies to offer cross-border advice. Some companies have been authorized in operate in Spain but have since lost their ‘passport’ and therefore are no longer able to provide their services. How do I check if a company is EAFI-registered? There are two ways to know if a company is registered to legally provide independent financial advice: 1- Checking with the CNMV (www.cnmv.es). 2- Checking with the country of registration to find out if it has a valid ‘passport’ to operate in Spain.
Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.es
Top Dollar
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the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015
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September 3rd - September 16th 2015
ASBESTOS CLAIMS ON THE RISE ASBESTOS CLAIMS ON THE RISE ADVERTORIAL
ASBESTOS CLAIMS ON THE RISE
asbestos whilst in Gibraltar, we are still able to bring Unfortunately, more and more British citizens have a claim forward for your exposure in the British retired to Spain and Gibraltar only to be diagnosed courts to ensure that you receive compensation for with an asbestos related chest condition which was asbestos whilst in Gibraltar, wesuffer are still more and more British citizens have the significant care that is required if you anable to bring caused byUnfortunately, the asbestos to which they were exposed a claim forward for your exposure in the British retired towhilst Spainworking and Gibraltar only to the be diagnosed asbestos disease” Dean Cruickshanks, asbestos many years earlier in the UK. 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Ifyou you now inasbestos Gibraltar or Spain and you have care that receive compensation for are the significant asbestos disease” Dean Cruickshanks, many years earlier whilst working in and the UK. the thickening, fibrosis orlive lung cancer, then you still between the 1950’s theIn1980’s was widespread, been exposed the deadly mineral. been diagnosed with anUK. asbestos condition solicitor atable Wolferstans. that is required if you an Itasbestos disease” Dean majority of cases, to they were unaware that they had to claim compensation insuffer the is related it is possible that anyone working in a dockyard, on a In the of cases, they were that they even beenmajority exposed to asbestos. 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Usually these coughing, specialist years. firm of solicitors such as Wolferstans become apparent. Usually these involve coughing, They can be contacted on 00441752292362 breathlessness and other symptoms down to their ness, fatigue, a persistent cough or a tight chest, then it without delay. breathlessness and fatigue. without delay. breathlessness fatigue. Once someone has beentheir exposed to asbestos it can take or by emailing dcruickshanks@wolferstans.com. natural agingand rather than exposure to asbestos is essential that you contact a specialist firm of solicitors Wolferstans have been helping people for over 200 “Unfortunately many oursymptoms clients putto their between 20 and for the become Wolferstans havesuch been helping people over Wolferstans areWolferstans happy to for offer a 200 free no obligation “Unfortunately many of50 ouryears clients putof their as without delay. as they are not aware of the dangers of exposure.” years. 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ASBESTOS CLAIMS ON THE RISE
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Top Salud
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September 17th - September 30th 2015
MY
No more of the ‘Andalucian Way’
Mañana, mañana
W
HEN I first came to Spain I did what all the ‘nice’ foreigners do. I turned a blind eye to the lack of ‘quality’ work and total disregard for punctuality. Actually, I was happy if workers turned up at all and simply accepted the ‘Andalucian Way of Work’. Who was I, a newcomer, to try to change the system? However, when I opened The Source Of Wellbeing it became quickly apparent that things needed to change if I wanted to be successful. As foreigners on holidays have very little tolerance and patience for the ‘Andalucian Way’, I was faced with a real challenge. What had become ‘good enough’ for me was, for others, way off the scale. I had to change my way of dealing with staff completely and set expectations and boundaries. Basically I had to apply my project management skills and leadership abilities. At first I was met with blank looks and a ‘what’s wrong with her’ attitude. But then a miracle happened. They changed their ways, almost without exception. Along the way I realised a couple of things.
There are some people who will never change. So there was no way they ever would be able to live up to The Source’s high standards. Others were just plain lazy and thought they could get away with it. They mostly shaped up or shipped out. And then another set of people started to enter my life. People who shared my values and attitudes towards quality and standards. The moral of the story is the same as always. We cannot change others but we can change ourselves. And if we change, the circumstances and people around us will change. But we need to be very clear about what we want and what our own values and expectations are. Only then will we become genuine leaders others will follow. Our own behavior, words and actions should reflect this and then others will relate to us on all levels. What about you? Do you feel stuck with an issue or a certain person or people? Do you have clear expectations and values? Or do you say one thing but do another? For help with all these issues and more, get in touch by emailing martina@thesourceofwellbeing.com
Landline: +34 951 20 43 06 Mobile: +34 673 293 333 www.thesourceofwellbeing.com martina@thesourceofwellbeing.com
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SURGERY: Can alleviate pain
D
Back on track
O you stoop over your shopping trolley or lean on your golf bag to relieve back pain? If so, you may be suffering from spinal stenosis. Stenosis is a medical term that describes a narrowing of a tube or canal and is common in the spinal canal. This can be a problem that one is born with, and it is associated with certain conditions such as achondroplasia (dwarfism). However, it is more commonly a problem acquired in later life due to degenerative changes within the spine. The parts of the spine that cause the stenosis are the intervertebral discs and the facet joints. The result is a reduced area for the nerves to travel in, as they pass along the spine. The stenosis can cause a profound reduction in the space available for all of the nerves, or just the space for one nerve. Hence the symptoms and signs can be mixed. The classical symptoms of spinal stenosis are activity related pain radiating from the lower back region, into the buttocks and down the legs. It can be in one or both of the legs. This can be
Spinal stenosis is often the cause of aches and pains in the lower back and legs, writes Andrew Clarke
associated with numbness and heaviness. The activities that tend to provoke this are standing and walking. The ability to undertake both is reduced, sometimes dramatically. Often, there is little to find in examination. However, on walking, stooping forward is a common feature. The reason for this is to try to increase the space within the spinal canal. Other medical problems can produce similar features. This is especially true when there is a reduced blood supply to the legs due to vascular issues. Hence, your health care provider should check your foot pulses, when confronted with these complaints. The management of spinal stenosis depends on the exact cause and the level of symptoms that the patient is suffering. Essentially, it is a quality of life issue. Therefore, one must consider this when
planning treatment. An MRI scan is required to confirm the diagnosis. The first line of treatment consists of physiotherapy and physical conditioning, including if possible, cycling. Cycling can be well tolerated by patients with spinal stenosis, as the position on a bike makes the spinal canal open up. If symptoms are still problematic, pain killers can be used. The next level of intervention includes injections such as epidurals but success is mixed. Finally, a surgical decompression can be performed to increase the space within the spinal canal. This has about a 70% chance of bringing good pain relief and increased function.
exeter.enquiries@nuffieldhealth.com www.nuffieldhealth.com/exeterhospital
Such treatments are available at the Exeter Nuffield Hospital. There are daily flights to Exeter from Malaga and Alicante for much of the year. For many expats, the comfort of having such important surgery undertaken in the UK is well worth the cheap round trip
Top Salud Viva Espana! 29
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MAYBE it’s the Mediterranean lifestyle or maybe it’s something in the water. Because the average Spaniard’s life expectancy is up by almost five years since 1990. Whereas the Spanish lifespan used to sit at 77, a 2013 study funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation revealed it is now almost 82. People are living longer worldwide - the average life
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Spaniards living longer than before expectancy was 65 in 1990 but by 2013 it was 71.5. Health kick or otherwise, the Spanish life expectancy has stabilised since the crisis but women still live longer than men although male life expectancy has
Dear Love Doc columnist Louise Van der Velde is hoping to help expat couples and singles spice up their lives and overcome problems...
gone up by 5.7 years compared to the female which has gone up 3.89%. Spain sits in 13th position worldwide with Andorra in the lead (83.9 years), Japan (83.3), Iceland (82.8), Switzerland (82.7), Israel and Cyprus (82.2), and Malta and Italy (82.1). The UK life expectancy sits at 81.5 years compared to 76 in 1990.
Dear oc Love D
No holds barred Lost my libido
My husband drinks too much
Dear Louise, Since moving to Spain a few years ago my husI am 55 years old and have always had a good band’s drinking has got out of control. He is sex life with my wife of 20 years - but as of late becoming aggressive and distant. Since I do I have found it difficult to get and maintain an not have my family here I’m at my wits end and erection during sex. I don’t like taking medica- wanting to drink more too. How can you help? tions. Is there anything else that can help me? My wife is now getting very upset and taking it personally. F.J, Almeria D.T, Answer: Marbella It’s really important that you stay strong and help your husband take control of this. I would suggest you find help. Answer: There are many reasons for erectile disfunc- An assessment of all areas of his life can help tion and it’s important you visit your doctor to get things turned around and depending on how much he drinks medications can help, but rule out any health issues. Also ask your doctor for a testosterone hor- really he needs to rediscover his life purpose mone check. A small dose from the doctor and needs to change some values. In therapy can really sort out these issues and increase we look at eight areas and work on clearing vitality in men as hormones do drop. Other the past - breaking patterns and creating focus than that it’s important to realise the greatest on the future you want. Remember all change erogenous zone is the brain - so clearing past must happen on a subconscious level as we negative sexual experiences is important - as are only 1% consciously aware of what is maka cycle of expecting it to happen will just per- ing us do what we do and be the way we are. petuate the problem. This can be done in a few There’s no simple answer but with your support and professional help he can turn this hours with a sex therapist. around. ADVERTORIAL
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September 17th - September 30th 2015
Decoding your diagnosis Leighton Griffiths, Director of Specsavers Opticas Marbella, answers your eye care questions Q My optician gave me a copy of my prescription and it refers to an ‘axis’. Can you explain what this means? A Most of us have small amounts of astigmatism. This means that our eyes are not completely round but slightly oval in shape. In some people, this can result in blurred vision or eye strain. To correct it, a spectacle lens must be glazed in a frame at a precise angle. The number in the ‘axis’ box tells the glazer exactly what this angle is. Q I’ve been prescribed prisms in my glasses. Why is this? A Prisms are usually prescribed if there is a muscle imbalance in one or both eyes. The position of each eyeball is controlled by six muscles. Even a minor misalignment can result in headaches, double vision or eye strain. Prisms are prescribed to help realign the eyes and reduce these symptoms.
Q Do computer glasses actually work? A Most computer glasses have corrective lenses designed to allow the user to remain comfortable while looking at a computer screen for long periods. Depending on the individual’s requirements, these glasses could incorporate a correction for long sight, short sight or astigmatism. If your optician thinks it will help, tinted or coated lenses may also be recommended. Q I get little white spots on my eyelids. What are these? A You’re probably describing ‘milia’ but without examining your eyes it’s impossible to say for certain. You need to make an appointment to see your optometrist for an accurate diagnosis, as any new spots or lumps on or around the eyes need to be examined. Milia are harmless cysts, which are often found around the eyelids, cheeks, nose and forehead. If their appearance concerns you, a GP or skin specialist can discuss options for their removal. If you would like your questions answered in our next column please email specsavers@ shawmarketingservices.com and we will do our best to fit them in.
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30 The Olive Press’
OP
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30 monthly youth and education section
September 17th - September 30th 2015
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treme
SCHOOL’S IN: Doors open for new term
Welcome back for 156,700
SHOE polish, pencil sharpenings and the smell of fresh paint… it must be back to school! This term saw 156,700 kids go back to Malaga’s schools, boosted by a €15 million Junta investment in primary school books and €1.16 million of structural improvements across 39 schools. Meanwhile the University of Malaga welcomed 7% more students this year.
Students at two brand new Gibraltar schools St Bernard’s First and St Bernard’s Middle Schools were ushered through the gates by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Minister for Education Gilbert Licudi on September 3. Less thrilled were parents dropping kids off at Mijas’ Indira Gandhi centre aka the ‘tin school’ where 400 pupils will be taught in 20 temporary ‘rusty, leaky’ huts. HELLO SIRS: Licudi (centre) and Picardo (right)
Baa humbug SHEEP PROTEST: In Madrid, 2014
Granada makes the grade
Shepherding qualification lambasted by Spanish agricultural industry
SPANISH shepherds have branded plans by big city schools to teach shepherding a ‘sheep trick’. GRANADA University Higher education schools in both Madrid and Barcelona are is the only one in Spain now offering shepherding courses as a way to boost the dwinto have a department in dling sheep-farming industry. the world’s top 50. However, the shepherding community has reacted badly and The IT and Commuis against the move, claiming school-taught qualifications take nications department away from ‘rural traditions’. of Granada University “It used to be just something that you learnt from your dad,” jumped from 101st place one shepherd, Jordana Madrid, said. in 2012 to 42nd in the “The survival of sheep isn’t at risk because there will always prestigious Shanghai be a sheep-farming industry Rankings 2015. but the values and traditions of the shepherds certainly Cuts is.” The result, which moves The number of shepherds the department up to in Spain has halved over the seventh place in Eupast century, although there rope, is even more imare no official statistics for pressive given recent the neglected industry. OVER 130,000 budding linguists touch down in financial cuts. Students who undertake Malaga each year to brush up on their Spanish. The only other Spanish shepherding in school will The Costa del Sol’s nerve centre is second only to university making the be granted a certificate by Salamanca, Madrid and Barcelona on Spain’s lantop 200 was the Univerthe regional ministry of agguage tourism scene. sity of Barcelona while riculture. The Andalucia Spanish Schools Association reprethe best internationally In November 2014, shepherds sents 30 Instituto Cervantes-acclaimed academies was Harvard, USA at guided a flock of 2,000 sheep across the region, 13 of them in Malaga city. number one and Camthrough Madrid’s streets in Outside the provincial capital, Marbella and Nerja bridge, UK at number protest against modern agriare the most popular destinations to learn Spanish. Gaston Golf - Olive Press - revised:Layout 1 21/07/2015 16:47 Page 1 five. cultural practices.
Lingo bingo
Presenting the
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31 September 17th - September 30th 2015 the Olive Press
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It’s only Rock ‘n’ Roll and I like it...
M
USIC has always been an important part of my life. When I’m not talking about it on my radio shows, I’m usually reading about it, writing about it, talking about it or playing it. Playing it badly, I must add. I fancied myself as the Costa del Sol’s answer to Sting in the mid-’80s and belted out a bad acoustic version of Roxanne whenever I got the chance. I’ve also worked in live music, doing everything from being a runner for Sugarbabes, driver for the reggae band Third World and sorting out the VIPs for Simply Red. From hard-earned experience I’ve come to the conclusion that the music business runs on chaos theory and crisis management at all times. I’ve also been lucky enough to see some brilliant bands over the years in Spain: Kid Creole and the Coconuts (a tropical blast from my mid-’80s past), Nile Rodgers, Deep Purple (everyone’s ears were ringing with Smoke on the Water for days afterwards) and, two summers ago, I sat transfixed while Paco de Lucia gave what was to be one of his last performances under a beautiful Marbella moon. All of this means that I’m pretty much regular feature at any concert on the coast, normally lurking near the refreshments area. This year, however, turned into ‘The Summer I Saw No Live Music’. It started with the ill-fated Mal-
…but I didn’t get a look-in on the concert circuit this year
GILES’ GIGLESS SUMMER: But he didn’t let it ruin the fun aga Rocks Mijas which tried to style itself ‘Glastonbury in the Sun’, overlooking the ‘minor issue’ of actually getting the right permissions from the town hall. (Note to all future promotors: just because the town hall approves the logo on your poster doesn’t mean they are going to let you hold the damn thing). The organisers tried a last-
The law fought me, the law won
minute relocation to distinctly un-Rock‘n‘Roll Manilva, before the event fizzled out completely. (Another note to promoters: Facebook is not an acceptable medium to let performing acts know the event is off. Especially if they are waiting for their lift at the arrivals lounge in Malaga at the time!) It didn’t help that Spandau Bal-
let cancelled their gig in Marbella (as well as Barcelona and Ibiza) due to their drummer being taken ill. I had my ’80s shoulder pads and Bowie bags dusted down and ready to go. I then spent a few weeks sending emails that were pinballed around various PR people at Starlite in the vain attempt to get press accreditation for a few of the concerts. Needless to say, I didn’t receive one pass so it was more than a little galling to see other media professionals taking selfies in front of the performing artists. My last and best bet was the Gibraltar Music Festival. I had the correct passes and everything was looking sweet when the brake discs on the 4x4 decided to give up the ghost on the Friday afternoon before the festival. The Yummy Mummy came to my rescue with her offer of a lift. But my visions of swanning around backstage flashing my Access All Areas pass and hanging out with the Kings of Leon were dashed in full Rock chick style when she called in sick on the morning of the concert. Gutted to see the glut of photos from the gig posted on the Olive Press website, there was only one thing for it. I dug out my favourite skull T-shirt, composed a heavy metal playlist on the iPod, stuck my biggest headphones on and rocked out on my terrace that evening. I’m thinking of making it an annual event and calling it ‘Lakestock’.
The day I got taken out by three policemen because I thought they were thieves, by Danny Williams
I
GET a firm grip of my bag, take a step back and make a break for it, except I don’t get far. The next thing I know I’m slammed against a car door by three men and dragged helplessly across the road in a headlock, heart racing. They take my passport and my bag and throw it in the back of their black car. But these weren’t any old roadside robbers, these were the men whose job it is to stop them; the Guardia Civil. This unbelievable (but somehow true) episode began when I was dropped off on the outskirts of Estepona, at a roundabout off the A-7. A ‘policeman’ approached and asked to see my identification, I told them I live here but happened to have my passport on me so went to get it out. But at that moment it dawned on me that this was just a normal man wearing a fluorescent jacket, and the car behind him was just a normal black hatchback.
Slammed
CIVIL CASE: Police pounced on innocent Danny
Olive Press BLOG OF THE MONTH - to view more visit www.theolivepress. es. To begin blogging yourself, contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es
So to put my suspicions to bed, I withheld my passport momentarily and asked if HE had ID. At which point he grew angry and lunged for the rucksack on my shoulders. There and then I made the decision to get myself to a more public place, a place where there would be other cars. I did what came naturally, and legged it. Except I didn’t bank on two other men diving out of the car and straight for me. The next thing I know I’m slammed against the side of a car and head-locked forcefully. This is it I think, shouting for help and wrestling with my attackers… As it later transpired - after some heated discussions - these actually were policemen, keeping an eye out for anyone trying to dodge the roadblock just out of sight. As it also transpired, I was not a drug-laden fugitive. My bag contained only my passport, camera and a brand new pair of orange swimshorts. Things which I am not willing to hand over to any old person who approaches me with a fluorescent jacket on.
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35
EX CL U SI V E
Fit for a king
ON SCREEN: Justin Bautista has TV show
What’s cooking good looking?
HE started off in the kitchen with his grandmother and now a Gibraltar chef can be seen cooking on-screen all over the world. Entrepreneur Justin Bautista, 25, hosts A Gibraltarian Kitchen which combines cookery with history and culture. “I’m loving every minute, it’s been funny and educational,” he told the Olive Press. “I would have loved to have had Mama Lottie on screen with me but she wasn’t having any of it!” Bautista’s Mama Lottie’s cookbook came third in the Gourmand World Cookbook awards 2015. For episodes visit www.gbc.gi/tv
Top of bill HE’S been the best, and now one of Spain’s top chefs wants to charge the most. After 23 years cooking with his brother Ferran at elBulli, fivetimes winner of the world’s best restaurant award, Albert Adria wants to open ‘the most expensive restaurant in Spain’. Spain’s ‘busiest chef’ is opening Enigma in Barcelona in January 2016, a year later than
35 the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015 FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com
King Felipe’s svelte new look comes thanks to a mindful Mediterranean diet, a sporty lifestyle and a close shave WHO knew that dropping a few kilos and ditching the beard could make a Prince Charming out of grizzly King Felipe VI? Clearly weight-conscious Queen Letizia did. The monarch’s pencil-slim exjournalist wife champions the Dr. Perricone diet (Gwyneth Paltrow is also a fan), living on a three-egg breakfast, grilled fish and
steamed broccoli. Lately, however, Spaniards have been marvelling at the transformation in her now pin-up hubby, with phrases such as ‘Europe’s sexiest king’ being bandied around on Twitter since he shaved off his greying beard. According to El Pais, the 47-year-old father-of-two has limited his eating, regularly missing lunch or hav-
PRINCE CHARMING: King Felipe before and after
ing a light snack to avoid the afternoon ‘carb crash’. Although less of a foodie than his father, King Fe-
Make merry with sherry PRICEY DINER: Adria planned, which he promises will reinvent how people go to restaurants.
JEREZ is marking the climax to its annual sherry harvest with a gigantic gastrofest. Between 8,000 and 10,000 revellers are expected on each day of this gourmet tribute, to be staged in the Alameda Vieja from September 15-20 as one of the highlights of the Fiesta of the Vendimia 2015. Some 16 stalls and bars will participate, with each establishment offering a choice of two
designer tapas, or a €3.50 deal for a tapa and a beer. The merry-making will continue into the wee small hours - from 1pm to 2am Wednesday and Thursday and until 3am on Friday and Saturday. Inventive local chefs will serve up gourmet tapas using Jerez brandy, tuna and mojama, a Barbate speciality.
lipe’s favourite dishes are jamon iberico, seafood, fish – specifically sole – as well as burgers and steak. He also enjoys more exotic dishes, such as couscous, and is a regular client of David Munoz’s trendy Madrid restaurant DiverXO. The real secret is that he drinks sensibly – although he admits a good vintage of wine or a gin and tonic can help him relax. The 6 foot 5 inch monarch hits his Zarzuela gym for half an hour a day, and also plays padel.
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FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com
the Olive36 Press September 17th - September 30th 2015
www.theolivepress.es
Cibo is forging ahead in the quality Italian stakes thanks to well-connected chef Lawrence Otterburn, writes Dining Secrets of Andalucia editor Jon Clarke
XMAS SPECIAL: Lawrence cooks with Sally Wood
C
OOKING for Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood and his wife Sally on an exclusive Ibiza island, it was one week-long gig that even Jamie Oliver wouldn’t turn down. Throw in a birthday party for Kate Moss and the odd lunch or two for Roman Abramovich, and it is fair to say that chef Lawrence Otterburn knows a bit about heat in the kitchen. In terms of well travelled, well seasoned chefs, you’d struggle to find someone in Spain with a better CV. Having worked for Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White in the UK, it is
GLAMOUROUS: Cibo in Marbella
Cooking for Kate and Ronnie gives me the edge
certainly something of a coup for the Metro Group to land him as their head chef at Marbella’s glamourous Cibo. Swooping in from Ibiza, he has certainly sprinkled a heady dose of magic on this well located Golden Mile eatery, that was previously Polo House. I remember Lawrence (who is half Italian/half Catalan, but grew up in England) well from an earlier guise, running the highlyrated La Casita on the San PedroRonda road some years back. And he has cleverly transposed the romantic charm of that hillside restaurant on Cibo, which
is broadly geared towards Italian food, but more than anything pitches itself towards quality. Above all though, it is original, with plenty of dishes on the menu that I had not tried before or didn’t expect to like. Take the lasagne, which I was talked into trying. Disguised as ‘Vincisgrassi’, this is a genuine twist on the traditional Italian stalwart, heralding from a 17th century recipe Lawrence picked up from his father. “It was how we invented lasagne, before we ruined it with bolognese,” explains Lawrence. With crunchy minced Parma ham and porcini mushrooms, plus a pinch of black truffle, this was a definitive ‘posh lasagne’, easily the best I have ever eaten. “I want people to know we are not Da Brunos and we are more than just traditional Italian...we are trying to do something different, ” insists
Lawrence, who also recently did a stint at London’s Hawksmoor. “Yes we want the classics, but we are doing them better.” The starters reflect that. A carpaccio of wild duck ham, rocket and spicy peach was a real looker, while the thin crust garlic bread with Parmesan, cherry tomatoes and parsley was simple but splendid. The best was yet to come though, with the homemade lobster ravioli in a seafood bisque both meaty and with a piquant kick. So good, in fact, that I asked for a spoon to scoop up the last drop of sauce. The mains were varied and enticing, with the veal rump steak with a Martini Rosso sauce and the entrecote with a wild mushroom ragu both excellent. Pudding-wise a pot of chocolate caramel made up for a rather strange
CLIENTS: Moss and (inset) Roman variation on Eton Mess, which left me cold. With the festive season now fast-approaching, it will be interesting to see what sort of magic comes out of Lawrence’s kitchen. Having spent last Christmas cooking for Ronnie and Sally Wood - with Mick Jagger popping in for lunch - he must have a few things up his sleeve. “Definitely. We created a lot of lovely things for Sally’s Sweet Theatre chocolate company and I hope to roll out a few of them at Cibo,” says Lawrence. But before that he is working hard to make his new, exciting Sunday lunch ‘the best in Marbella’. Either way, it is well worth checking out this culinary rolling stone, who has thankfully rolled back to the Golden Mile once again.
TM
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the Olive Press September 17th - September 30th 2015
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Wednesday 30th September RESERVE YOUR TABLE NOW FOR THIS EXCLUSIVE EVENT BOOK NOW CALL 95 281 4145 ● reservations@LaSalaBanus.com ● www.LaSalaBanus.com
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FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com
38
FLOWER POWER by Steven Saunders of the Little Geranium
A dish fit for a Queen
His blackened cod has impressed no less than HRH herself. Now resident Master Chef Steven Saunders of La Cala’s Little Geranium Restaurant and Ready Steady Cook fame shares his right royal recipe with Olive Press readers
Local issue 46:The Local Issue 5 5/13/14 10:54 PM Page 104
IT was 1999 and we were about to open a new restaurant in Manchester, Steven Saunders at The Lowry. I was excited because it was a fantastic multi-million pound project built by the same architect, Frank Gehry, who designed the Guggenheim in Bilbao. We called a meeting to discuss the launch. “Why don’t you ask your friend Laurence LlewelynBowen to open it for us?” someone said. Now Laurence is great but this was a Millennium project for the North West. I replied, “Why don’t we ask the Queen?” There were a few seconds of silence that felt like hours and then a typically left-wing board member observed (in his usual negative way): “We will never get the Queen to Manchester, you are dreaming!” Anyway, we still sent the invite, via the Mayor of Man-
The €5.00 Lunch
chester, and anxiously awaited the response. Much to all the sceptics’ surprise, an official envelope duly arrived, which read: ‘Her Majesty The Queen of England would be delighted to open Steven Saunders at The Lowry.’ I was so thrilled! However, what the heck did I cook for a Queen? It had to be special but conform to official guidelines; for example, Her Majesty does not eat garlic, hot spices nor many other things. I created a menu that started with a vegetarian terrine. In the middle I placed a slightly risky blackened cod dish with wild rocket, followed by rack of lamb Nicoise. The Queen adores lamb, but it has to be well cooked. I sat and ate lunch with her, and was told not to ask questions but only to answer them. She was adorable, it was like talking to my grandmother, she was so normal. “My son is also into organic,” she told me. “I am sure you would get on, I love your cod!” “Ma’am”, I replied. “I know your son well. We love him and we work closely together. He loves sustainable fish and he has had my cod dish, he loved it.” When the Queen left, the press were all over me for a
LONG MAY SHE REIGN: Queen Elizabeth II
COD FOR THE QUEEN Ingredients for 4 4 x 250g pieces of fresh cod skin on. For the glaze/marinade 2 tablespoons honey 1 dessertspoon of soy sauce 1 tablespoon sake 1 tablespoon mirin ( Rice wine or regular dry white wine) 4 tablespoons white miso paste 1 tablespoon brown sugar Preparation Bring the sake, soy, mirin (or wine) and honey to a boil in a medium saucepan over a high heat. Boil for 20 seconds to evaporate the alcohol. Turn the heat down to low, add the miso paste, and whisk. When the miso has dissolved completely, turn the heat up to high again and add the sugar, whisking constantly to ensure that the sugar doesn’t burn on the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat once the sugar is fully dissolved. Cool to room temperature. Pat the cod fillets thoroughly dry with paper towels. Slather the fish with the miso marinade and place in a dish or bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Leave to marinate in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To cook the fish Preheat oven to the highest heat. Heat an oven-proof skillet over high heat on the stove top. Lightly wipe off any excess miso clinging to the fillets but don’t rinse it off. Cover the pan with a little oil, then sear the fish skin-side down in the pan and cook until the skin crisps, about 2 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until the other side is browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to the oven and bake for 5 minutes or less, depending on the thickness of the fish, until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily. Serve on a bed of wild rocket drizzled with basil oil or good olive oil and some of the cooking juices and season well. Enjoy one of Her Majesty´s favourite dishes ! story. “Leave me alone, please!” I said, throwing them a few titbits. “I was honoured to have her here, we had a great time together, etc. etc.” After that great experience I have always tried to feature the cod dish on my menu.
This simple dish really depends on the freshest of cod that you can get hold of and you’ll find it on the menu at our Little Geranium restaurant in La Cala de Mijas. Cod can be a bit flavourless so follow this recipe to get the most out of it … although don’t expect HRH to show up!
Tame your hunger!
Steven Saunders FMCGB - www.thelittlegeranium.com steven@thelittlegeranium.com 0034 952 49 36 02
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Andalucia’s Chef of the Sea moves his fish restaurant to not-so-distant shores
ONE of Spain’s top restaurants has found a new – but very old – home. Angel Leon’s two-Michelin-star Aponiente has relocated by less than a kilometre to a beautiful, 17th century mill on the shores of Puerto de Santa Maria, near Cadiz. The mill sits on the edge of swampland, where the tide gently ebbs and flows, and is now decorated inside with polished shells, sea horses and sculptures of deep-sea creatures. Andalucia’s wild boy of the kitchen, known around Spain ON THE MOVE: Leon as ‘the chef of the sea’, Leon has single-handedly revolutionised the way we eat fish. In fact, Aponiente was the only restaurant in A BARCELONA volunteer group is picking reject fruit Spain to be awarded an and vegetables to help feed hungry Catalans. extra Michelin star in Espigoladors salvages food discarded by farmers in Cata- 2014. lonia for being too ugly, overripe or unpopular. Leading the drive to The project, working with hard-up volunteers from social services, has around 30 producers and distributors sustainable eating, the chef has deliberately essigned up. Within 24 hours of Espigoladors being advised there is chewed popular – and spare food, a team of ten to 20 people is dispatched to largely endangered – fish to seek out unfashharvest the leftovers . little-known The volunteers can take as much as they want for them- ionable, selves with the rest divided between community kitchens. breeds instead.
Harvest home
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Dining out SPANIARDS are embracing the good life and spending less on cooking at home. Last year 4.2% more money spent in bars and restaurants while 2.2% less was lavished on alcohol in supermarkets, according to new government statistics,
Lazy or rich, Spain is choosing eating out over home-cooked food... as Spaniards dine out in droves. The same goes for food,
MIXING IT UP: Madrid mixology party
Get in the spirit SPAIN is shaking it up to host the country’s largest ever cocktail party in Madrid later this month. The inaugural Mixology Trends will see Michelin-starred chefs pair food and drinks for thousands of visitors at the Palacio de Congreso from September 28-29. Professionals from the drinks industry will attend the event, which will also reward achievements across the spirits and food industries. With Spain at last recovering from the global economic crisis, it’s perfect timing to launch the event, according to Nacho Espadas de la Cruz, Marketing Manager for organisers Drinks Marketing Group. “Demand for new quality products and services are key for Spanish trade and consumers,” he said.
A dog’s life,
S
O what time does your master or mistress get up? Mine is at best variable. OK, sometimes he’s working til quite late. Tells the mistress he’s entertaining people with his wit and repartee. Oh really. They obviously haven’t heard the same old drivel over and over again like I have. So I am left to wait each morning to see whether he will make time for a walk with me. He hardly ever does and if there were the canine equivalent of a helpline for abused animals, I’d be calling it.
with supermarket spending dips of 2.8% on meat and 3.8% on fish in the first half of this year, suggesting restaurants are reaping the rewards. Despite an economy in recovery, Spaniards are simply buying less food for the home, with 29.5 million kilos and litres of foodstuffs consumed in 2014 versus 30 million in 2013. This year, people are purchasing less meat, fish, vegetables, oil and alcohol while sales are up for canned foods, chocolate, cocoa, biscuits, and water.
A VALENCIAN ale has been lauded as one of the best-ever craft beers. Golden ale La Socarrada has been crowned the fourth best beer of all time by leading experts at the annual World Beer awards. Topping the list however was Belgian-beer Brasserie St. James Red Headed Stranger, while American stout Outer Darkness came in second.
by Eddie the hotel hound
Perfect guest Giving guests guided walks is doggie heaven for Eddie
“Darling, I see The Times recommends a hotel near Ronda” “Molino del Santo, sweetheart. The Times rated it one of the 20 Best Hotels in the whole of Europe for foodies”
Top tipple
“Let’s visit. We can stay over and get a special rate if we mention The Olive Press” “You do have some great ideas but we must reserve - they’ve only got 18 rooms and they get very busy” Until the 9th of November 2015 why not escape to Hotel Molino del Santo in the village of Benaoján near Ronda? The hotel has an award-winning restaurant which is open every day and non-residents are always welcome. Reservations usually essential. The setting is stunning, the service is friendly and efficient and the food is excellent. The Hotel and Restaurant close on the 9th November 2015 and re-open on the 4th March 2016 Great
l0lIdeas ke the to ma of the most AREA A D N RO y Chapell d by And Compile
Stunning
But every now and then the perfect guest returns to the hotel…. Cue Mrs JC from Andover. I spotted the email a few weeks ago. “Any chance of a guided walk before breakfast? Such a lovely time of day in the mountains.” Now if I were to send him a message like that it would be totally ignored but from a hotel guest, he manages to make an effort. Thus on Sunday morning we are up at dawn and driving to a nearby valley just as the sun starts to raise its head over the peaks. It is idyllic. The light is amazing, The peace is stunning. We pass a ruined Roman
Spoil Yourself at Molino del Santo
with the
help of
Free Guide to 101 THINGS TO DO IN THE RONDA AREA available by e-mailing info@molinodelsanto.com
FRE E GIF T
the dog Eddie
CALL OR E-MAIL TO BOOK OR FOR MORE INFORMATION
TEL: 952 16 71 51 info@molinodelsanto.com Full menus available on the website www.molinodelsanto.com
TALL TAIL: Eddie’s Sunday stroll bridge and ford a stream. There are cattle grazing which I would love to chase but he’s on one of his brighter days and puts on the lead before I notice. Even so I am in doggie heaven.
Fancy a visit to the mountains? Send an e-mail beforehand and see if you can get Mr Sleepyhead to join you and me on an adventure. He’ll make the effort for hotel guests and totally ignore the messages I give him.
To get in touch with Eddie, contact his owners Andy and Pauline at the Hotel Molino del Santo. Bda Estacion s/n, 29370 Benaojan, Malaga. 952 167 151 - 952 167 927. info@molinodelsanto.com
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More information of any kind e-mail
info@molinodelsanto.com
www.molinodelsanto.com | info@molinodelsanto.com | 952 16 71 51 ESTACIÓN DE BENAOJÁN, NEAR RONDA, MÁLAGA
the
Covering Andalucia in 2015 with over 200,000 papers (130,000 digital) and around 500,000 visits to the website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!
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September 17th - September 30th 2015
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How many workers does it take to bury a jellyfish? THE first ever commercial flight has touched down at Spain’s infamous ghost airport in Castellon, four-and-a-half years after it first opened.
FINAL WORDS
Friendly fire
advice
SPAIN’S friendly with England in November has been moved from Madrid to Alicante after Gerard Pique was booed by Real Madrid fans while playing for Spain this month.
High tide SPANISH customs officers seized ten tonnes of cannabis from a yacht off the Almeria coast, which was at ‘serious risk of sinking’ because of its enormous hidden load.
Salt shakedown FOURTEEN Scottish tourists were marched off a flight to Tenerife when attendants mistook a bag of salt for drugs.
EXCLUSIVE NO less than four lifeguards, two council staff and even a tractor were enlisted to dispose of one unwelcome beach dweller in Estepona. The huge jellyfish around 50cm wide was first scooped up into a bin bag on Playa de la Rada before being ceremoniously buried, to the amusement of beachgoers. Should Estepona win the award for the most efficient Town Hall in Spain? Send your answer to newsdesk@theolivepress.es
PICTURE BY IONA NAPIER
Back to life
Sweet justice!
Chocolate box thief fingered in Gibraltar after two decades on run IT will go down as one of the sweetest crime breakthroughs in living memory. Nearly two decades after the theft of a box of chocolates in Gibraltar, the culprit has
EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan been caught with his hand in the jar. The Quality Street thief
Tranquilo,
they’re on their way home..
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must have thought he had got away with stealing the £3.50 (€4.77) box of chocolates from a shop in 1998. But, after chewing over the crime for 17 years, the Rock’s crack crime agency finally stuck it to him. Now Spaniard Carlos Javier Aguilar-Ballester, 47, has been taken to court over the theft. The La Linea resident pleaded guilty to the crime and has been sentenced to a sixmonth conditional discharge. He was fingered after being arrested over a separate animal cruelty offence last month; allegedly drunk and swinging his dog by the hind legs. Picked up after residents’ complaints, detectives quickly matched him to the older case, which was incredibly still on file. “When we arrested him, we found he had the outstanding warrant for the chocolates,” a police spokesman told the Olive Press. He is now set to appear in court later this year on a
Tearing off a strip! AN Italian woman is demanding nearly €500,000 in damages after a Spanish website published a naked photo of her on her Canary Islands holiday. The 38-year-old artist was unaware she had been papped in the nude and was horrified when a friend found a Spanish website using her photo to promote nudism online. “It’s one thing to spend the day on a nudist beach, but it’s another when everybody can see you naked,” she said.
charge of animal cruelty. The policeman added: “I think he will remember these chocolates for a long time. They certainly came back to haunt him.”
Dolled up QUEEN Letizia is to get her very own Barbie doll. King Felipe VI’s stylish wife is being honoured by Russian company AFD Group, which has also designed Lady Gaga and Elizabeth Taylor dolls.
On yer bike! A €12,000 bike stolen at the Vuelta a Espana has been recovered from a Malaga secondhand shop. The bike, which was pilfered on the third stage of the race through Malaga, was on offer for just €120. “We are going to offer a jersey with stripes for the person who stole the Orica bicycle,” said a police spokesman. “The final stage is jail.”