Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 165 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

WELCOME TO OUR BUMPER NEW SIZE... MORE THAN EVER INSIDE!

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olive press PP: 20 years of illegal funding FREE

They put on make-up to attract mates... not TOWIE wannabes, but the pink flamingos of Fuente de Piedra See page 18

STARS OF THE SHOW: Enjoy our official 12page pull-out to this summer’s hot Starlite Festival on page 27

The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

Earpiece new size 39mm x 50mm

Vol. 7 Issue 165

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EXCLUSIVE By Alex Iszatt and Mason Jones

THREAT: Barcenas was the PP’s former treasurer

Benji vs the Bulls... Anyone attending Running of the Bulls has blood on their hands, says leading UK poet see page 24

July 10 - July 24, 2013

Former treasurer Luis Barcenas claims he can prove PP party was corrupt for 20 years

THE government has insisted that the so-called ‘Barcenas files’ do not threaten the stability of the government. It comes after the former treasurer for the right wing PP party Luis Barcenas claimed he can prove that the party has been violating fundraising laws for over 20 years. After being sent to prison to await trial for his part in the Gurtel corruption scandal, he revealed that he had a series of documents to back up his claims. He broke his silence to reveal how donors used to arrive at party headquarters with bags and suitcases full of cash. Some of this would be channelled into the official party bank accounts, while some would be used to cover election expenses outside the official campaign fund. Another portion of the money however, would go into a safe and contribute to a party slush fund.

Arenas took 2.8 million pesetas in cash while working as the government’s employment minister in 1997 on top of his salary. Two former PP ministers Jaime Mayor and Rodrigo Rato took the same amount of money as Rajoy in he socalled ‘Caja B’ black money accounts. Earlier this year Barcenas was arrested after the courts discovered over 40m euros of money had been salted away, apparently for the party, in a series of offshore bank accounts in Switzerland. Other accounts apparently

Black money Leaked papers earlier showed that Rajoy received 35 cash payments from the slush fund between 1997 and 2008; worth a total of €322,000. New documents published by the newspaper showed that other senior party figures, including Andalucia PP party boss Javier Arenas, also took cash payments.

IN HOT WATER: Rajoy

EVIDENCE: The ledgers which show PM Rajoy’s name exist in the Cayman Islands and other offshore entities. However last night finance minister Luis de Guindos insisted that the claims would not threaten the government or the country’s ‘return to stability’. “The markets are continuing to bounce back as confidence in the Spanish economy returns,” he said in an interview yesterday. Rajoy refused to comment on the growing corruption scandal engulfing the party at a meeting of the rightwing FAES think-thank at the weekend, but instead pointed out that green shoots were starting to appear in the economy. “We cannot say, like in other times, that Spain is doing well, but we can say that it is doing better and that the direction is correct.

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the olive press - July 10 - July 24 2013

CRIME NEWS

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Out of the closet One of Britain’s most wanted fugitives has been arrested in Spain after 13 years on the run

SNARED: Lilley was located hidding in a panic room in a wardrob in his house

12 Maddie suspects could be living in Spain UK cops have identified a dozen British suspects in the Maddie McCann case, some of whom could now be living in Spain. Scotland Yard detectives believe that 12 of the 38 people they are investigating are expats or holidaymakers living close to the resort of Praia de Luz, in Portugal, around the time the five year old went missing. Many of them are dangerous and could be living between Portugal and Spain. One of the suspects named was Urs Hans Von Aesch, a Swiss man who lived in Spain. He was a known paedophile who took his own life after killing a five-year old Swiss girl, just three months after McCann’s disappearance. He is believed to have been on holiday on the Algarve at the time of Maddie’s disappearance in 2007. Investigators insist they have no information to suggest Maddie has been murdered.

By Alex Iszatt DRUGS baron, Mark Alan Lilley, was hiding naked, in a panic room behind a bedroom wardrobe in his luxury villa, when 40 armed officers stormed in. Lilley, 41, had been alerted to the police presence by his patrol dogs and went to hide in his closet, to watch the officers via his CCTV. However, this did not deter Spanish detectives who smashed down his front door in Alhaurin de la Torre and then tried to get into his panic room. The ex-gas fitter from Newton-le-Willows in Merseyside eventually surrendered. The 6ft, 20st bodybuilder – also known as Fatboy – fled the UK in 2000 after £1.2million worth of drugs were seized from his homes. He was sentenced to 23 years in his absence. The National Crime Squad described him as one of the ‘worst types of drug dealers’ who used violence against people who crossed him. Dave Allen, Head of the Fugitives Unit at the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency, said: “Lilley evaded capture by moving around Spain and using false identities. “Now he’s behind bars where he belongs.” Lilley is now being held in prison pending extradition to the UK which could take several months.

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NEWS

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RADIO WARS Ash’s Champagne Splash HIGH spending Ashley Cole got into a champagne war with a group of high rolling Arabs during a visit to Marbella. On a night out at Aqwa Mist

nightclub the Chelsea and England footballer ordered dozens of bottles in a competition with the Saudi party which was sitting on a next door table. According to an Olive Press source the night had begun quietly until Ashley saw the group partying next to him. “Not to be outdone, Ashley started to order bottle after bottle and the two groups were soon trying to out do each other by ordering larger quantities of champagne,” said the source. R&B SUPERSTAR Ne-Yo is rock- “One thing led to ing in to perform in Marbella this another and the two groups soon summer. The American chart topper will began spraying at play songs from his new hit album champagne RED, at Puerto Banus nightspot each other. Ashley ended up Aqwa Mist. He will party it up on the beach at returning to the the La Sala Beach club from 11am. club the following Those interested in tickets should night for Round contact info@aqwamistbanus. Two, with the same results. com or at 673 441 719

Ne-Yo rolls into town

Row breaks out between iTalk boss Maurice Boland and Talk Radio Europe (TRE) presenter David Klein A WAR has broken out on the Costa del Sol airwaves between two of its best known presenters. The spat has led to iTalk boss Maurice Boland threatening to sue David ‘The Dogman’ Klein, after he announced that his rival’s station was off air. Klein, who has a regular Saturday show at Talk Radio Europe (TRE), demanded to know why the station was no longer broadcasting on its normal FM frequency. And he also claimed the beleaguered station was no longer based at the luxurious five-star Kempinski hotel in

EXCLUSIVE Estepona. This however, quickly angered iTalk owner Boland, who issued statements insisting that his station was not only still based at the hotel, but that he was continuing broadcasting, albeit via the internet. He told the Olive Press last night: “This is a scandalous rumour started by one man on the internet. “Yes it is true I took the station off the FM frequency because as a small business the station could not afford a fine of up to 500,000 eu-

Radio Wars 2: No More Heart GUADALHORCEBASED radio station Heartfm Spain has been forced to cease transmission and rebrand itself. The station based in Coin has had to change its name to YJT96.1fm

after legal proceedings from the company behind UK station Heart FM. It comes despite the station broadcasting for seven years without any trouble. The company This is

Nicole doing Nicely

THEIR break up may have turned Lewis Hamilton’s world upside down, but Ni-

Global Limited has global copyright on the word ‘Heart’ when used in anything connected with broadcasting. Unable to face the huge legal costs Heartfm Spain has decided the best option would be a simple change of name.

Community

“Nothing has changed on 96.1 just the name” said a spokesperson. “So out with the old and in with the new and welcome to YJT96.1fm, and enjoy your community radio!”

cole Scherzinger seemed to be enjoying the single life in Marbella last week.

Top banana! THEY might only now be two, but Bananarama are bound to be popular when they play a concert in Marbella next month. While Siobhan Fahey has departed, Keren Woodward and Sara

ros that the Junta has been threatening English stations if they haven’t got the correct licences. “We are still at the Kempinski and anyone can come and visit and I will show them around the studios.” Klein insisted he had merely investigated the issue after finding the station online merely ‘playing continuous music with no presenters’. “I simply wanted to let my

Dallin are teaming up with the Human League for an 80s evening at the Puente Romano Tennis Club on August 12. Contact 952 887 795 or www.ticketmaster.es for tickets

The 35-year-old singer and X-Factor judge was in town to celebrate her birthday.

By Giles Brown She was spotted at Suite Nightclub in the Hotel Puente Romano as well as Olivia Valere’s Discotheque, where she held an impromptu performance of a couple of her hits from the DJ booth! Nicole also found time to drop into Puerto Banus and do a little shopping at the the designer boutiques.

AT WAR: Boland and Klein (left) listeners know what was going on with the station,” Klein told The Olive Press. “But I couldn’t get any answer from the number, so I called reception. The operator asked me to hold on and then informed me that that the radio station was ‘no longer’ at the hotel. “It now appears that they are still there but on a month to month basis their contract having expired. “Boland has now threatened me with legal action when his business partner returns from overseas” Klein added. Talk Radio Europe refused to be drawn into the row officially, stating that David was merely a ‘freelance pet presenter’. “We have no interest in what goes on with iTalk or its business arrangements, ” said a spokesman. Boland had previously run long-established station TRE, before being sacked three years ago after an indiscretion with a 15-yearold girl. While he denied the relationship with the winner of his competition the WOW Factor – Spain’s local equivalent of the X-Factor - he admitted he had got too close.

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NEWS

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More ERE arrests Another 20 to be questioned – including former Finance Minister – as Junta chief gets closer to being named in the €136 million corruption scandal

WORRIED: Alvarez

THE leader of the Junta has come one step nearer to being hauled into the ERE corruption scandal. It comes after the Judge investigating the €136million employment benefit scam named another 20 suspects. These included Magdalena Alvarez, who was the predecessor of current Junta leader Jose Antonio Grinan, as boss of the Finance Ministry. She has been ordered to court

by Kat Mayhew to explain her potential involvement in the scandal that saw millions of euros destined for job creation schemes syphoned off by Andalucia officials. Judge Mercedes Alaya believes that the current Vice President of the European Investment Bank was either involved or, at least, turned a blind eye to illegal procedures.

PM Rajoy took 35 cash payments From Page 1

channelled into the official party bank accounts, while some would be used to cover election expenses outside the official campaign fund. Another portion of the money however, would go into a safe and contribute to a party slush fund he told El Mundo. Leaked papers earlier showed that Rajoy received 35 cash payments from the slush fund between 1997 and 2008; worth a total of €322,000. New documents published by the newspaper show that other senior party figures, including Andalucia PP party boss Javier Arenas, also took cash payments. Arenas took at least 2.8 million pesetas in cash while

working as the government’s employment minister in 1997 on top of his salary. Two former PP ministers Jaime Mayor and Rodrigo Rato took the same amount of money as Rajoy in the socalled ‘Caja B’ black money accounts. Earlier this year Barcenas was arrested after the courts discovered over 40m euros of money had been salted away, apparently for the party, in a series of offshore bank accounts in Switzerland. Similar accounts apparently exist in the Cayman Islands and other offshore entities. However last night finance minister Luis de Guindos insisted that the claims would not threaten the government or the country’s ‘return to sta-

bility’. “The markets are continuing to bounce back as confidence in the Spanish economy returns,” he said. Rajoy refused to comment on the growing corruption scandal engulfing the party at a meeting of the rightwing FAES think-tank at the weekend, but instead pointed out that green shoots were starting to appear in the economy. “We cannot say, like in other times, that Spain is doing well, but we can say that it is doing better and that the direction is correct. “We are much better than last year, but much worse than in July of the year 2015; that it is our aim — you can be sure that we are going to achieve it.”

Her job as Finance Minister was taken by Grinan in April 2004, during a period when much of the money was wrongly taken. The investigation has centred around the dealings of former Employment Minister Javier Guerrero who is accused of stealing millions. He and his former chauffeur are accused of setting up a string of dummy companies and with the 450,000 euros claimed for each company spent it on cocaine and prostitutes. On cue, Grinan announced this weekend that he would not be running for another term in office.

Corruption soars

SOME 66% of Spaniards believe that government corruption has worsened since 2011. According to the report by Transparency International, 71% said reporting it made no difference, while 84% actively tried to fight it through protests, petitions and social media.

the olive press - July 10 - July 24 2013

FEATURE

the olive press - July 10 - July 24 2013

OPINION Waiting Game OUR front page story this issue proves that even the biggest names in the property business can sometimes come up far short of their professed high standards. The fact that a pensioner couple were forced to call in debt collectors to try and get the proceeds from their property sale from German agent Engel & Volkers is bad enough. But to then find that a quarter of those proceeds have been swallowed up in agent’s fees and ‘honorary’ payments should shame the international agency to take a long hard look in the mirror. And to try and pass the buck explaining that the couple do not ‘understand Spanish rules’ is insulting in the extreme. But yes, in a British (and surely German) sense of fair play punters do not expect to wait four months to get paid and then find out they have been mugged in the process.

Malaga Magic MALAGA is finally getting the recognition it justly deserves. For decades all the city was known for was the airport and the majority of visitors simply turned right and headed down to the fleshpots on the coast. All this has changed over the past decade that has seen Malaga reinvent itself with a great selection of galleries and museums as well as fantastic bars and restaurants. This change has been reflected in the increases reported at the recent Malaga Tourism Forum – with double the amount of tourists now visiting the city than five years ago. If you haven’t been to Malaga recently – what are you waiting for?

Bigger and better WE hope you have noticed a few of the changes we have introduced this issue. In a continuing quest for change and improvement the Olive Press has grown in size. We have now fully come of age and regularly print and produce papers the same size as our main rivals in both numbers and pages. But there are three very big differences... One, we print on better quality paper, two, we maintain an editorial/advertising balance that stays at around 50/50, and three, we have better journalists and stories. Yes, the Olive Press is bigger... and yes, we are continuing to get better.

Got a news story? Contact our team of journalists in our Costa del Sol office on 951127006 or 691831399 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

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The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

olive press

Tel: 951127006/951166060 (admin/editorial/sales/advertising) or admin@theolivepress.es A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 198,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month. Luke Stewart Media S.L - CIF: B91664029 Urb Cayetano Arroyo, Buzon 13, Arriate 29350 Malaga Printed by Corporación de Medios de Andalucía S.A. Editor: Jon Clarke jon@theolivepress.es Reporters: Newsdesk Newsdesk@theolivepress.es Alex Iszatt Alex@theolivepress.es

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It is about to get red hot in the people’s republic of Gordillo, writes Jon Clarke, as the controversial radical mayor launches a new summer campaign of direct action around Andalucia

T is all set to be a long hot summer of discontent in Andalucia with the austerity measures continuing to bite and the recession refusing to abate. But for the leader of one small village of Sevilla province it is about to get even hotter. For the Marching Season is about to begin for the hard left gang of syndicalists, anarchists and communists who support Spain’s longest-running mayor Juan Manuel Sanchez Gordillo, in Marinaleda. Despite being the subject of numerous death threats, countless arrests and two assassination attempts (more of which later), he is about to take on the establishment yet again when he launches another summer of direct action that could include ‘supermarket raids’, sit ins and the seizure of yet more private land. Frequently arrested for his endeavours – and a few years ago having his arm broken by an overzealous policeman during one protest - the Robin Hood figure is fully prepared to spend weeks ‘on the road’ and even time in prison in order to highlight the plight of the Andalucian working man. “I am already facing up to 10 with sell-by dates,” he explains. years while my town hall collec- While staying tight-lipped tively faces 53 years from last about the exact nature of the year’s actions,” the former his- forthcoming protests, they are tory teacher told me this week. unlikely to begin until after Speaking in his office below the annual Marinaleda feria a photo of Che Guevara and this weekend, at which the a Republican flag, he insists: 62-year-old leader famously “But I will not works behind be cowed. The a bar serving authorities drinks in clasCiting Gandhi and have misintersic egalitarian preted our acfashion. Jesus Christ as hetions and are Citing Ganroes, he promises going about it dhi, anarchist the wrong way. leader Proudit will be an action I very much hon and surpacked summer doubt they can prisingly Jesus get me put inChrist as heside.” roes, he promHe is referring ises though to the series of land seizures that it will be an inspirational and in particular a supermar- and action-packed summer. ket raid on a Mercadona last His passion comes from helpAugust. During the fracas in ing the landless labourers nearby Ecija, 100 supporters of who have traditionally inhabhis locally-formed trade union ited many parts of Andalucia SAT stole a dozen supermarket – Spain’s poorest region - and trolleys of food for the ‘poor who comprise the vast majority and needy’. of his village of 2600 inhabit“It was merely a symbolic ges- ants. ture to highlight the appalling “There are far too many people waste of food supermarkets going hungry and far too many throw out and the situation people without work. The situ-

Let the Marching Season begin PROTEST: Marinaleda’s walls are full of ‘radical murals and (top) Gordillo ation in Spain is not dissimilar to South America in terms of land ownership. And under the current government it is getting worse with the massive latifundia landowners owning the vast majority of land, much of it which is hardly used.” It was this glaring paradox that spurred his village into radical and highly successful action back in 1980 when a year after getting into power they seized a huge, largely unused estate from a rich landowner the Duque de Infantado. Through a series of hunger strikes, pickets and sit ins they had soon got water rights for

UTOPIA: The village has some of the best facilities and parks in Andalucia

the 1200 hectare estate and were planting a series of crops including cotton, artichokes and olive trees. And it is this much-vaunted co-operative that should be envied and serve as a shining light for towns and cities across the world struggling against the global recession. Called El Humoso, it is located eight kilometres outside of the village and is a crucial source of work for many residents, who earn 47 euros a day as part of 15 day ‘campaigns’ picking, planting or preparing or weeding the land for cultivation. I talked to a number of men and women who were weeding land around a cotton crop during 35 degree heat last week. Back-breaking work, they were nonetheless mostly happy to be working at a time when over 38% of Andalucians are out of work. “Once you get used to it, it is fine,” says mother-of-one Amanda Saavedra, 30. “And with so many people unemployed it is simply great to have work.” It took 12 years of political fighting to finally wrestle the right to cultivate the land, which is now technically administered by the

www.theolivepress.es Junta and leased to the village. It is undoubtedly the mayor’s finest achievement in a reign that has stretched for 33 years, by far the longest in Spain. Since the acquisition of the land, it has been gradually transformed from a barren, dry wasteland to an irrigated and fertile stretch that can grow a range of vegetables and fruit, all allegedly 100% organic. All the revenue made by selling the produce is re-invested to buy new tractors and tools and increase productivity and the workforce yet further. The land is apparently being well used today and creating plenty of employment, with the town registering unemployment figures of as little as 7%, according to Gordillo and 20% according to the local branch of the PSOE socialist party, which is still well below average. As well as rows of tomatoes and peppers, there are large plantations of artichokes and green beans and the aforementioned cotton, which is a good cash crop. The town has recently created its own brand Humar and invested in a canning factory, where over 100 women work during the harvest season. Produce sells to a number of supermarket chains and even to Germany under a current trial, while the estate’s olive oil currently sells around 10% of its two million litres produced each year to Venezuela. “Gordillo was the inspiration behind us finally being given this land,” explains worker Antonio Gomes. “Every day for two months he would lead us on a peaceful march up here to protest for the right to be granted the land, which finally came in 1991. Overall it took many years but he never stopped fighting for what he thought was rightfully ours.” Testament to this is the entrance with a big sign ‘Tierra Utopia’ and the long slogan that reads: “This farm belongs to the unemployed day labourers of Marinaleda.” Back in the village meanwhile, the locals were getting prepared for their annual feria with one of the frequently called ‘red Sundays’. A now popular day, hundreds of volunteers were out in force cleaning the streets, painting and repairing things entirely unpaid and with, mostly, smiles

FEATURE

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on their faces. Called out via a loudspeaker around 9am families and even teenagers with tattoos are prepared to go out to help. This is the amazing community spirit that has been instilled in the town, where over 80% still vote for their mayor, who represents the IU party, despite insisting his politics are anything, but classic communism, with an equal dash of ‘deep Christianity, anarchism and syndicalism’. Unlike any other Andalucian village, its walls are lined with GRAFT: Workers, including Saavedra (right) till a cotton crop, while (top) the Che Guevara sports centre and (inset) expat Norton graffiti and murals. They depict the destruction of tanks and weaponry, the ting rid of the local police force didn’t know anything about work at the communal farm, a to mention death threats? The latest came threat came binning of Nazi symbols and to save money (by all accounts Gordillo when we moved here, claim he denies. a column of workers march- around 48,000 euros a year for but we couldn’t believe how Most of all, some people criti- last summer and followed two ing through the fields. Others four policemen) and subsidiz- well looked after the place was cize the lack of real democracy attempts on his life, the first champion Spain’s 15M upris- ing housing to the tune of just and what amazing facilities it in the town, with town council when a bullet was fired through has,” he continues. meetings rarely being called his car window by a man from ing or the virtues of turning off 15 euros a month per family. the television, while Che Gue- On top of this residents pay just He is certainly right. The village (police are currently investi- nearby El Rubio, missing him 3 euros to use not only counts one of the most gating this claim) and the op- by inches as he drove around vara adorns the village pool charming flower-filled parks position PSOE party insisting the town. ‘He got just three the sports hall. for the entire in Sevilla province, but it has Gordillo’s project has been ‘a months in jail,’ claims Gordillo. With its street But describing it summer pe- no fewer than three big foot- failure’. The other was in 1997 when names named as a ‘communist riod, while the ball pitches – one indoor – at But, by his own admittance an unemployed Guardia Civil after global revolutionarutopia’ does not go local creche is least four tennis courts, three Gordillo agrees there is still threatened him with a gun out15 euros paddle courts and two Olympic- work to be done. side his house. “It was scary ies including down well with eve- just a month per sized pools. “We are on the right road and and, of course, I worry for my Salvador Allenryone child, including But describing it as a ‘commu- trying,” he insists. “We can al- family, but this is a project I trude and Pablo lunch. nist utopia’ does not go down ways get better and improve ly believe in and it isn’t about Neruda, it has “And then we well with everyone. things and I think the proof is to stop yet.” often been only have to A number of locals grumble in the fact that only two out of With these words off troops described as being a ‘left wing Utopia’, and pay 60 euros a year for our that unemployment is higher the 11 councillors of the town Juan Manuel Sanchez Gordillo, there has certainly been an rates (IBI),” explains local ex- than Gordillo makes out, while are not in the IU, two less than easily one of Spain’s most inspiring and intriguing men. For admirable attempt to do things pat resident Eddie Norton, who others complain if you don’t four years ago.” retired to the town from Es- vote for him and support his Ultimately though, is it all worth right or for wrong, he is somedifferently. Radical measures include get- sex nearly a decade ago. “We campaigns you cannot get it with all the court cases, not how making a difference.

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NEWS

8 News IN BRIEF

Double Up THE Office of Tourism in Malaga has announced they have successfully doubled tourism numbers from five years ago.

Domestic Killing A 68-year old man died in Malaga last Saturday after a domestic dispute with his wife, who is in the hospital recovering from knife wounds

Heat Death Two men died on Sunday, July 7 in Matalascanas in what is now being attributed to high temperatures.

Art Show The art collection of writer Antonio Segovia Lobillo is now on display in the small town of Moclinejo.

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We have lift off

IF you’ve ever wanted to walk on water well now is your chance. The recently opened Nomad Jets Jetlev Flight Centre in Marbella is offering daredevils a James Bond style jet pack to fire you into the sky. A brand new concept for Spain, Jetlev is fuelled by a 220 horsepower engine pumping 4,000 litres of water per minute - the ultimate in highoctane enjoyment. Already a hit in the US, the flights last for around 30 exhilarating minutes. Strap on and lift off... that’s if you’ve got a spare 199 euros.

Sun cream nightmare SHE came to Spain to enjoy a two week holiday for the first time in five years. But Clare Myers trip ended in tears when she had a horrific reaction to her sun cream that left her needing emergency care for two days in hospital. The mother-of-two was left looking ‘less model and more Michelin man’ when her face swelled up after applying Piz Buin’s 1 Day Long sun cream. “My cheeks were so big I had to drink through a straw,” said Clare, 42, who had to have a course of steroids creams and antihistamines to stop her body flaring up more.

Mother-of-two spends two days in Spanish hospital after suffering violent reaction to sun cream Her family rushed her to Clinica Juaneda, in Menorca where she was put on a drip to bring down the allergic reaction. Doctors at the hospital’s A&E department were concerned about her high blood pressure and feared she would struggle to breathe because of the swelling. Ms Myers said: ‘It completely ruined our holiday. It cost us £2,000 and it was our first twoweek holiday in five years.’ Manufacturers Johnson &

Johnson insisted: ‘Piz Buin 1 Day Long is a safe and effective sun protection product. It contains only permitted ingredients and is labelled according to legal requirements.’ However, Marie Goldie, 37, from Glasgow, suffered a similar reaction to Ms Myers while on holiday in Spain in 2011. Doctors in Tenerife said her reaction was so bad they feared she’d need surgery to save her sight

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NEWS

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MYSTERY: Tracks seen in sand near Casabermeja are 12cm in diametre

La Cala Cougar back on the prowl? THEY certainly look larger than the average moggy. And it ain’t the Hound of the Baskervilles. Billy Masson, from the Axarquia believes that these remarkable prints suggest there is a wild cat on the loose, possibly a panther or cougar. Masson, from the hamlet of Cortijuelo, near Casabermeja, has sent the pictures to the zoology department of Aberdeen University in the hope of working out what made the tracks. “I found them in sand in the

garden and it is clear they are much bigger than a normal cat and dog. “I am hoping that perhaps an Olive Press reader can help to identify the prowler.” Five years ago the Olive Press first tracked a wildcat living near the golf courses near La Cala. The cat was spotted by nearly a dozen readers and was spotted on both sides of the mountains that straddle the coast, heading into the Guadalhorce Valley. Have any other readers seen any evidence of this big cat? Please send an email to newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 951127006.

FLY AWAY SCHEME

ENVIRONMENTAL groups are up in arms over a construction project which they claim is endangering one of the world’s rarest flies. The protesters claim that a road project, near Juzcar, in the Genal Valley, is endangering the insect, called a snailcase caddisfly, which is only found in the valley. According to the environmental group Grupo de Trabajo Valle del Genal, the scheme is destroying their habitat. The species, scientifically known as helicopsychidae, was discovered recently in 2008 at the source of the Suas River in Juzcar. Very little is known about it other than its habitat—pure, cold water high in oxygen and vegetation—and its shell-like nest, which is constructed out of grains of sand.

EVER fancied lounging about in Napoleon’s slippers? Or bashing your next door neighbour with a pair of Mike Tyson’s boxing gloves? Well now’s your chance in a prestigious celebrity auction in Marbella next week. As well as the above, punters can bid for a slice of Wills and Kate’s Royal Wedding cake from last year, as well as a signed image of the former Russian Tsar Nicholas. In total, the auction at the Puente Romano hotel has over 800 letters, photographs, historical documents and artefacts for sale. The range includes au-

tographs of entertainers, sports personalities, historical figures and Nobel Prize winners. The live auction, hosted by International Autograph Auctions (IAA), will be conducted in English, with Spanish translators present. Bids are expected to start high for the penmanship of celebrities such as Sinatra, Picasso, Churchill and Humphrey Bogart. Auctioneer Richard Davie will conduct the sale which takes place on Saturday, July 13. For more information visit www.autographauctions.co.uk or www.autografosubastas.es

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the olive press - July 10 - July 24 2013

NEWS

the olive press - July 10 - July 24 2013

News IN BRIEF

Prices hold MARBELLA’s summer rental prices remain the same despite prices dropping 20% overall in the province of Malaga.

New Signing ATLETICO Madrid football club have signed David Villa on a three-year contract from FC Barcelona for €5.1 million.

You What! THE director of the Cervantes Institute, Spain’s most important Spanish language teaching body, has said that it is now ‘fashionable to speak badly.’

Olive Ban SPAIN revives its plan to ban olive oil dispensers in restaurants, in hopes to stop the common practice of refilling branded bottles with cheaper oil.

Bike Boy Sevilla Police have detained a child and three adolescents accused of attempting to steal a motorbike.

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Starving for water Mayor goes on a hunger strike after his town’s water supply runs out yet again A MAYOR went on a hunger strike after his town’s water supply dried up for the eighth year in a row. Victor Castillo, mayor of Valle

by Kat Mayhew de Abdalajis, is furious that damage to the town’s aquifers by train company Adif has

still not been overcome. The protest however only lasted for a day after the infrastructure group stepped in promising to at least pay

EMBATTLED: Mayor Castillo is desperate to see justice to have water brought to the town through the summer months.

Bank threatens to make children pay mortgage A BANK has demanded rent payment from two young children after their father died, leaving them without income. Ages four and nine, the children lost their father, 41, in March of 2012 in a work related accident. Although the man’s will did include life insurance on his rent, BBVA officials say he had stopped paying his life insurance a year before his death. The Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (PAH), which helps citizens keep their homes when threatened with rent trouble, announced their intention to help the pair navigate the situation. The situation could potentially leave them with a lifetime of debt.

Supporters of PAH held a protest in front of the family’s local bank in Madrid to ask for a withdrawal of the demands on the minors. BBVA explained that it is not demanding money directly from the children, but rather from their inheritance. It claimed it had reportedly called the children’s mother repeatedly over the last year demanding monthly installments. She insisted she was unable to pay due to a lack of income. However, BBVA representatives say they are willing to work with the family to negotiate payment plans. The children are under no threat of eviction.

Each year the small municipality of 2,800 people has to pay hundreds of thousands of euros to bring water in by lorry. Last year it cost €380,000 to bring in enough potable water. “We are a small town and our reserves simply cannot support these costs,” insisted the mayor.

Damage

“This year, I was not prepared to let it happen again.” The water supply has been damaged ever since 2005, when the construction of a tunnel for the AVE train from Cordoba to Malaga hit the town’s main aquifer. But while Adif agreed to promised to repair the damage and compensate the town, some clauses have been ignored.

WORSE BUS CRASH IN OVER FIVE YEARS

NINE people have died and 21 were injured in Spain’s worst bus crash for five years. The accident occurred near the town of Tornadizos, in

Avila, when the bus careered off the road and overturned. A number of passengers were trapped inside the vehicle, including a six-year-old girl

FREE HERNIA CHECK THE British Surgical Clinic is inviting patients to make a free appointment with consultant specialist David Deardon to have his or her hernia checked. Don’t suffer in silence on a long waiting list. Pop in and see David on July 25 from 2pm at Clinica Ochoa, Marbella. Call Jane Naughton on 951 703 243 or email info@thebritishsurgicalclinic.com.

who had to be evacuated by helicopter and taken to the Intensive Care Unit in Salamanca. The 54-year-old driver has been arrested and accused of falling asleep at the wheel. The driver tested negatively for alcohol, and was not physically harmed. Although the vehicle had the correct papers, it had no seat belts (it was made prior to the 2007 legislation requiring seat belts). Although it is still unclear as to the cause of the accident, several sources say the bus was going excessively fast, and the driver lost control as he was going around a curve.

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AXARQUIA NEWS

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Axq IN BRIEF Better Buses TORROX has a new free bus service on weekend nights to transport people between the town and the coast. It is expected to reduce the number of summer auto accidents.

Top beach in Andalucia Maro now on the shortlist to be named the best beach in Spain

Free Kayaks

By Alex Iszatt

The Junta is donating free kayaks and scuba diving equipment to Maro CerroGordo beaches as part of a plan to raise awareness of their environmental importance of the coast.

AN Axarquia beach could be named Spain’s best. Maro, near Nerja, has just been named the best beach in Andalucia in a competition being organised by TV channel Antena 3. It will now be put forward into the competition to find the best beach in Spain. It won the first round of the competition, beating Bolonia, in Cadiz, into second place by nearly 2,500 votes. The second phase of the competition is under way this month, with the best beach from each region in Spain going through to the final phase in August, when the overall winner will be chosen. Last year’s winner was La Granadella beach in Jávea, Alicante.

Top Cave The PP, PSOE and IU have come together with the Junta de Andalucia to propose that the popular Nerja Caves become an official Unesco World Heritage site.

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Beatles play Frigiliana

It may not be the real thing, but it’s as good as it gets. Now in a huge coup for the small Axarquia town of Frigiliana, The Bootleg Beatles are to headline its local football stadium. The band, who just played at Glastonbury, are to play in the town as part of their world tour, which includes sell out shows in Australia and the UK. Even dubbed ‘terrific’ by former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney himself, they will be performing on August 31. Their 90 minute theatrical sing along event will feature 22 hit singles from the Beatles’ 13 albums. Opening for the tribute band will be the Mama Paula’s Blues Band, whose main act will be a collection of some of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin’s greatest hits. She has previously played with both Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler. Tickets are €25 each, and will go on sale this weekend.

Improvements for pool Watch out

The council run open-air swimming pool in Frigiliana has been reopened after undergoing €120,000 worth of refurbishment works. The 20-year-old pool has had the changing rooms, communal areas, water pumping and filtration system replaced, along with improvements around the pool, including

a new area covered with artificial grass. World swimming champion David Meca took part in the opening ceremony on Friday and gave a swimming clinic to local children, demonstrating different swimming styles and gave a talk on his experiences in the sport of swimming.

Bogus gas inspectors are on the prowl Residents in Nerja and Maro have reported that there are at least four bogus gas inspectors trying to charge more than €250 for their services. The faux inspectors are quite aggressive and informing owners that they need new hoses attached to their gas bottle. Although a gas inspection is compulsory every five years, inspectors only come out by request and will charge about €50.

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GIB NEWS

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Ruck on the Rock

New sports row brewing after Spain opposes Gib bid to join European rugby association IT’S scrum down as a new sports battle brews between Gibraltar and Spain. It comes after Spain blacklisted Gibraltar’s bid to join the

European Rugby Association. Similar to objections Spain made to the football team joining UEFA (an objection that was recently overcome),

Tuberculosis fears ease A FEARED outbreak of TB has been avoided. THE Gibraltar Health Authority has completed testing for tuberculosis around the enclave and found nobody else testing positive for the disease. The scare came after a child attending two nurseries in Gibraltar was diagnosed with the infectious disease on June 20. The infected child is responding well to treatment and there is no current risk to the public, sources at GHA say.

Sand Stealers! EXCLUSIVE AN environmental group has accused Gibraltar of stealing sand from Tarifa's famous Valdevaqueros dune (right). Ecologistas en Acción claims up to 40 lorries of sand have been taken to the Rock from the area around Punta Paloma. The sand was meant to have been returned to the beaches around Tarifa, but the environmental group alleges that a large quantity was illegally reclassified as being for commercial use by the company Verdemar. The group has now denounced Verdemar claiming it is being used in an ongoing landfill project.

Gibraltar’s rugby team has been denied a spot in the equivalent association, the FIRA-AER. Gibraltar Rugby Football Union secretary Chad Thomson insisted that ‘despite meeting all the criteria’ for membership, the bid failed to receive the two-thirds majority it needed to be accepted. There is speculation of dirty play by Spain, as Jose Maria Epalza, the Spanish treasurer of FIRA-AER, made a speech against Gibraltar’s bid although it was not on the official agenda. “Rugby lost and politics won today,” said Thomson.

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GIB NEWS

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Spanish Jets Buzz Gib

Stoneage site

‘We need real warriors’

New Buoys

New incident stops BA flight from take off just weeks after jet-skier is shot at by Spanish police

Following a string of ‘incursions’ and the shooting of a jet-skier, local pressure group Defenders of Gibraltar tell Giles Brown that Gibraltarians need to stand up and fight

IBRALTARIANS are ready to fight to protect their 300 years of independence from Spain. A number of patriotic groups have sworn their allegiance to the British flag and voiced their indignation that the overseas territory had once again been violated following bullets being fired at a jet skier by Spanish police. Both the local UKIP party, which set up just two months ago, and a group that goes by the name The Defenders of Gibraltar, insist they are prepared to fight against this ‘aggression’. “These types of actions are happening more and more,” said Defenders of Gibraltar chairman Gareth Gingell. “The Guardia Civil are acting in a crazy manner and this is totally over the top,” The former serviceman, 26, insists his group has been

warning the authorities that the jetskier shooting incident was inevitable, since his group set up last year. “We have been working tirelessly to bring attention to the oppression and harassment of British citizens, by the Spanish paramilitary forces, in British Territorial Waters for well over a year. “We have been warning that it was only a matter of time before the Guardia Civil became more brazen in their illegal incursions. “It comes as thanks to the apparent UK inaction and apathy, and unfortunately that day has now come.” He added that the mood today in Gibraltar is one of anger. “People are really disenchanted,” continued the IT worker. “They are saying this is all the fault of the UK government... they’ve let this happen by letting the Spanish get away with this for so long.

WARRIORS: Defenders on patrol with Gingell (centre) “We are good people. We do not deserve to be harassed by our much larger neighbours simply because we want the same rights as the rest of the world. “Spain’s oppressive tactics against Gibraltar, their attacks against our economy, our

sovereignty, our people, need to stop, and they need to stop now. “The time for just words is over. We need real warriors to stand up now. It’s time to put the words into action before someone gets killed!”

BRITAIN and Spain were plunged into a fresh round of diplomacy after four Spanish jets allegedly flew into Gibraltar airspace. Gibraltar reacted angrily after the Matador jets were seen flying ‘very close’ to the north end of the Rock, preventing planes from taking off or landing. Described as ‘another incursion into British territory’, the incident led to a British Airways flight being delayed by 12 minutes. This comes soon after the incident of the Guardia Civil shooting at a jet skier Dale Villa, 32, on June 23, as well as a Spanish patrol boat sailing into Gibraltarian waters the following day. Despite the government asking the UK to investigate this ‘military incursion into the airspace of Gibraltar’, a Ministry of Defence spokesman insisted it had not been given any evidence to work with. “There is no evidence to suggest that the aircraft flew into Gibraltar air space,” he said. Spain insisted the incident came after the planes were returning to aircraft carrier Juan Carlos I during a military exercise.

Gib IN BRIEF

GIBRALTAR has won Gold in the Junior Show Dance and Jazz Solo categories at the Dance World Cup, held at the Brighton Dome

The Gibraltar Port Authority and the Gibraltar Tourist Board are giving beaches new sets of buoys to promote safety.

Summer Jobs A RECORD number of 340 summer job placements have been offered to university students back in Gibraltar for the holidays.

Gib Gold VANGUARD Cave excavations revealed a 40,000 year-old Neanderthal site.

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GREEN NEWS

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Pink on purpose

CIENTISTS in Andalucia have confirmed that flamingos really do put on ‘make-up’ in order to find a mate. The study at Fuente de Piedra – Europe’s second-largest breeding ground – found that before going out to socialise, the birds not only tidy their feathers, but intensify their pink colour as well. They do this by using a natural secretion as ‘make-up’ to make themselves pinker. The more they use the gland, which is in the base of their tail, and the longer they use it, the pinker they turn. And apparently, it works. According to researchers, the pinker the flamingo, the more popular it is with potential mates. This year has been a record year for flamingo, who traditionally come to the large wetland area near Fuente de Piedra to mate and hatch their chicks. In total an estimated 22,000 pairs have arrived this year, creating an amazing landscape.

Please save our villages! Mayors unite to save the celebrated Antequera vega and its nature including Europe’s second largest colony of flamingos after rail test track plan gets green light from Madrid MAYORS from five town halls have made a desperate trip to Brussels in a bid to save their local environment. The group from Alameda, Humilladero, Cuevas Bajas, Fuente de Piedra and Asaja are up in arms after a controversial €400m AVE test track was passed by central government. The scheme, that would carve its way around the

celebrated farmland of the Antequera vega, would be Europe’s first fast track testing loop. The project, which will see the trains reaching speeds of 520kph on the track’s nine kilometre straight will cost an estimated €386,2 million. But while the government and developers insist it will create thousands of jobs when it opens in 2016, locals insist it will destroy valuable farmland and threaten the famous breeding group of flamingo near Fuente de Piedra (see above). They insist it will also cause the compulsory purchase of hundreds of homes and destroy historic

GROUP ACTION: Representatives for the threatened village in Brussels sites. their pleas at a special hearRepresentatives from the ing of the petitions committown halls were joined by tee in October. members of Ecologistas en They will be given a five Accion and other local cam- minute slot to put over their paigning groups in a second grievances and concerns. visit to Brussels to appeal the Mayor of Humilladero Epi decision. Alarcon has also visited the Their visit drew some success leader of the IU party Cayo with the European Commis- Lara in Madrid to elicit his sion, which agreed to listen to help.

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Fuel dump Power-plant plans to use sewage to pioneer a new fuel for vehicle use

A PLANT in Andalucia will be the first in the world to convert sewage into clean fuel for vehicles. The waste-water plant in Chiclana de la Frontera is

using sunlight to create algae before turning the green substance into gas. The project, dubbed All-gas, is part of a €12 million plan to produce alternative energies

Doñana closer to losing Unesco status SPAIN has been given until February to sort out the water problems around Donana National Park. The country has been told the park will lose its Unesco status unless it stops strawberry growers from illegally draining water, as well as polluting the area. It has been given until February to send a report confirming that the issue has been resolved. The Junta had originally been told to deal with the problem by January this year, but failed to implement any sort of plan. Doñana, between Sevilla, Cadiz and Huelva provinces, is one of Spain’s most important reserves and famous for its thousands of migratory birds and the last reserve of the rare Spanish lynx, which numbers around 300 left in the world.

and reduce Spain’s reliance on foreign oil. While factories and mills have long produced wastewater gas for their own energy needs, All-gas is the first to produce the bio-fuel with the intention of exporting it to power vehicles. “Nobody has done the transformation from waste-water to bio-fuel, which is a sustainable approach,” said All-gas project leader Frank Rogalla. The plant, owned by water company Aqualia, is still in its pilot phase at just 200 metres squared. All-gas expects to be producing €100,000 of bio-fuel a year by 2015, enough to power 200 cars or ten trucks for the year. Although researchers have said it may take years before algae bio-fuel is economically viable on a large scale, they have admitted the project will be able to replace a portion of Spain’s petroleum use. Project leader, Rogalla, is optimistic however: “The opportunity is such that 40 million people, roughly the population of Spain, would be able to power 200,000 vehicles from just flushing their toilet!” he said.

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LETTERS

POTTED POINTERS

KEEP THE FUEL ALLOWANCE Dear OP My wife and I have lived in Spain since 1996, mainly because we could no longer earn a living back home as Market Traders. We’ve also had ongoing arthritis problems.Temperature tests here, like anywhere else in the world, would show that temperatures are changing and becoming more extreme.Our winters here have become extremely cold. Snow is

ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 83.41% full Same week last year: 61.47% Same week in 2003: 63.64% 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 1.29 American Dollars 0.85 British Pounds 1.36 Canadian Dollars 7.46 Danish Kroner 10.07 H Kong Dollars 7.94 Norwegian Kroner 1.65 Singapore Dollars

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common here, and this makes heating necessary for several months. Electricity in Spain is very expensive, consuming 25% of my monthly Pension.We moved here when I turned 60, and I have been paying national Insurance, Income Tax since I was 15 years of age. I feel totally entitled to my Winter Fuel Allowance. Jake Marshall, Antequera

Well stacked Dear OP, Here’s a point about Toni Muldoon for the next time you report on him. He is extremely short and paranoid about it, so he wears high heels. He won’t be able to do this at Her Majesty’s pleasure though. Anonymous OP reader

Roadrage Dear OP, A couple of weeks ago, I flew back to the UK for a ‘big birthday’ with my friends and relatives. I flew from Gibraltar and took my car across the border to park in the Airport Car Park, which is very good value for money. It took me just over an hour to reach the parking lot after joining the queue in La

Linea. I was subject to continuous honkingand pushing in by drivers thinking they were too important to wait in the queue. A woman with a badly dented Mercedes bashed into the back of me twice. “I´m just trying to get to the Car Park” she shrieked as she tried to cut in between me and the car behind. I had an entirely different experience when I collected my car from Gatwick Airport and drove the 300 miles to Lincoln. Although there was ten times the amount of traffic and it was raining, everybodybehaved nicely. If they changed lanes they were let in with a smile and an acknowledging wave and although it was a tough drive around the M25 it was accomplished without hassle. If you let somebody in on the Costa del Sol, you

are usually met with a sullen stare or totally ignored. Overall, I travelled around 900 miles in the eight days I was in the UK and never once was subject to the bad-mannered ‘me first at all costs’ attitudes I found on the Costa del Sol. Can somebody please explain this? Bob Gaston, Sotogrande

Gib’s great Dear OP, My history of visiting Gibraltar goes back to 1989. Back then, it seemed like it needed a good clean, the shops were

all expensive, and the weather when we were there wasn’t much better than the UK. Over following months and years we have visited quite a lot. I’m pleased to say it has gotten much better and the improvements continue. Bob Cartmell

Hypocrites Dear OP, It is a total hypocrisy to consider Gibraltar a part of Spain because of its connection to the Iberian peninsula while at the same time considering Ceuta and Melilla separate from Morocco even though

CROSSMOT 11

they are joined to Morocco and are not even in Europe. They’re in Africa!The Spanish claim to Gibraltar is pathetic and medieval. Spain should concentrate on her economy and the millions and millions of unemployed and forget her 300-year-old fantasy. Jonathan Connor, Marbella

Fruit farce

Dear OP, Today Jose, our fruit and vegetable man, made his normal delivery. He pulled up outside, dropped off produce for our cafe, and went back to his van. Total time? Less than a minute. The local police decided to give him a ticket. The length of time the road was partially obstructed while the police wrote the ticket? Approximately five minutes. This is madness!! It’s a service road, not a main bus route!!! How are small local businesses supposed to survive when the local police behave like this?! Simon, Barboru Calahonda

Bulldog ban

Across 7 Experimentando (13) * 8 Estornudar (8) * 9 Island (4) * 10 Defence (7) * 12 Gansos (5) * 14 Vertido (5) * 16 Proporcionar (7) * 19 Three (4) * 20 Surname (8) * 22 Correspondiente (13). Down 1 Bueyes (4) * 2 Grave (6) * 3 Vicious (7) * 4 Reinado (5) * 5 Raya (6) * 6 Adjunto (8) * 11 Experts (8) * 13 Libertad (7) * 15 Perdedores (6) * 17 Flown (6) * 18 Cintura (5) * 21 Negar (4). L = 199

Dear OP, After reading your story on the dogs attacking a bull, I wonder why these Animal Rights people object to this? After all, it’s the same Animal Rights people who try to prevent us from banning this type of dog. So they want us to keep the bulldog types that were specifically genetically engineered to do precisely what this picture shows, but then they are outraged when these bulldog types do exactly what they were genetically engineered to do? The Animal Rights people are as much to blame for this attack as the owner of these bulldogs. Jane Rawlings, Alhaurin

Letters should be posted to Urb. Cayetano Arroyo, Buzon 13, Arriate 29350, Malaga or emailed to letters@theolivepress.es The writer’s name and address should be provided. Published opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor.

la cultura 31

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REDS UNDER THE BEDS

Franco’s culture ministry had a strong sway over Hollywood and British movies, it has emerged

FORMER dictator Francisco Franco was able to change the words ‘republican loyalists’ to ‘reds’ in a hit Hollywood film about the Spanish Civil War. According to letters recently uncovered by the British Film

Industry (BFI) the dictator was also able to supplant the word ‘fascist’ with ‘nationalist’ in the 1940 film For Whom the Bell Tolls. The missives sent to the UK and Hollywood from Spain’s

Britain’s got (real) talent SIX British students are among the first group of students to graduate from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Valencia. Established in September 2012 as a hub for talented musicians to pursue international careers, the one-year masters programme saw 74 students graduate from 27 different countries.

culture ministry were aimed at editing various words and phrases in films about Spain. The dictator was very sensitive about his public image abroad and insisted on influencing any films about his country. For Whom the Bell Tolls, written by Ernest Hemingway, was highly critical of the right wing atrocities in the civil war but was changed dramatically when it was adapted for the big screen. Franco banned all Columbia Studios movies from the country after they failed to heed the advice of his culture ministers during the filming of Fred Zinnemann’s Behold

a Pale Horse. The movie loosely detailed the life of the Spanish anarchist guerrilla, Francisco Sabaté Llopart. The basic censorship model that the government established remained in operation until well after Franco’s death in 1975. The Cuenca Crime, by Pilar Miró, is a typical example: seized by the police in February 1980 for its criticism of the Francoist repressive apparatus, the film did not see the light of day until 1981.

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Van and man needed!

A CHARITY walk needs a driver for a Nepal fundraising trip. But don’t worry you won’t need to drive all the way to Kathmandu. The helper is needed to support a big group of expats who will be undertaking the so-called ‘Coast to Coast Walk’ from Nerja to Tarifa in September. The 21-day trip, which covers 430 kilometres, takes place from September 15 to October 5. A van and a man is vital to help with logistical support. Walk organiser Guy Hunter-Watts told the Olive Press: “The driver who originally offered to help has returned to the UK with his van, so we’re desperately looking for a replacement vehicle. “This would ideally be a 7 or 8 seater minivan, like a VW transporter or Ford Transit. And if the van were to come with a driver that would be even better.” As this is a charity walk the organisers aren’t able to pay a wage, but they are offering a small daily allowance for food and accommodation. If anyone can help please contact Guy HunterWatts: guy@rondatejar.com or phone 616057184 Visit www.helpingnepalschildren.org

la cultura LONG LIVE THE MEMORIES

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New Picasso family exhibition blurs the boundaries of life and art

MEMORIES are made throughout a lifetime; it is part of human nature to retain them in hearts, minds and through portraits and photographs. Pablo Picasso was no different, and a new exhibition at the Picasso Museum, in Malaga, showcases pieces which represented those closest to him. A celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the museum the exhibit is bringing together more than 40 portraits of Picasso’s close family and friends. The paintings from the private collection of the artist’s heirs were produced between 1906 and 1971 and many were inspired by his children and the female companions with whom he shared his life. The artworks include oil paintings, drawings, sculptures, lino cuts and engrav-

By Rose Lapp

ings – each showing his creativity and versatility and highlighting the everchanging skill which has established him firmly in art history. There is also a rare opportunity to view a selection of 73 photographs - some of

which have never been seen in public before - allowing visitors an insight into the artist’s personal life. ‘Pablo Picasso. Family Album’ is open seven days a week during July and August, and runs until October 6.

la cultura Digging in the Deep Pond www.theolivepress.es

Ancient site could prove to be one of Spain’s most important ARCHAEOLOGISTS have begun work on an ancient site that dates back between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago. The site, in Vicalvaro, near Madrid, is expected to uncover hundreds of ancient ar-

tefacts including a collection of flint and handmade tools.

Axe

The site is named Charco Hondo, which translates as ‘Deep Pond’ was discovered

No stranger in paradise A JAZZ singer has released a new single. Expat Sara de Ville, from Vera, has released the song Stranger in Paradise having recently settled in the Almeria town. Creativity is a family business for the Belgium De Ville family. Her father is a pianist and composer known as Tio Jazzy, who accompanies her on the piano.

six years ago, when investigators noticed a slight dip in the ground. After some digging, they found pieces of DIG IT: Archeologists at work discarded flint, the first hint to the amazing discovery they ery day digging in this remote site believe this 50-squarewere about to make. meter patch of land to be a Late Palaeolithic era flint Preserved quarry. The real excavation started “The site is extremely well earlier this month, with excit- preserved, like a moment froing discoveries like axe blades zen in time,’ said archaeoloalready being made. gist Sergio Barez, explaining The half dozen archaeologists it is likely to be one of Spain’s who are working carefully ev- most important sites.

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British poet criticises anyone attending this week’s Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona, writes Giles Brown

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Blood on their hands

BRITISH poet has blasted Brits taking part in this week’s Pamplona bull running festival. Reggae star Benjamin Zephaniah insists anyone attending the seven day festival will have ‘blood on their hands’. His attack came after a British reveller was injured on the first day of the San Fermín festival.

John Bennett, 44, from Wolverhampton, nearly suffocated beneath a pile of bodies after falling the moment a lone bull turned on runners. Trapped, Bennett insisted his life was saved when he was dragged out by a first aid worker. “It was the first time I’ve run and it will be the last” said Mr Bennett in an article in The Guardian, Zephaniah

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FERMIN FRENZY: Scenes from this years’ festival

meanwhile claimed that anyone visiting Pamplona during San Fermín, even if

they weren’t actually running the bulls, contributing to the suffering of the animals. “Every shared tapa, every cerveza, every booked hotel room and balcony bolsters

Tormenting and butchering bulls for entertainment belongs in the dark ages - not the 21st century the killing,” he wrote. “Tormenting and butchering bulls for entertainment belongs to the dark ages – not the 21st century’ he continued. Animal rights group PETA also highlighted the body count by sending people to lie in 48 coffins in Pamplona, to represent the four dozen bulls killed during San Fermín.

PAMPLONA PROTEST: PETA activists made their point in coffins

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The many changing faces of a tree surgeon

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WITH a series of wardrobe changes that would give Lady Gaga a run for her money, lead singer of the band Biagra and the Maneaters, Kit Hogg managed to transform himself over a dozen times while headlining at the Live Music Spain festival this weekend. The rock singer may be a tree surgeon by day, but his alter-ego definitely comes out at night and over a 100 people came to witness the transition at the show in Manilva. Organized by Live Music Spain, in collaboration with the foreigners department of Manilva, the three day festival at Camping Bella Vista saw hundreds of people enjoy artists including Carmen Dragonfly, Marcus Myers and Frank Skott – among others. Pictures courtesy of Gary Beaumont

Sheffield honours Spain Two Spanish films have been nominated for a prestigious documentary award

A PAIR of hard-hitting Spanish documentaries have been shortlisted in the annual

Sheffield Doc/Fest Awards. Plot for Peace, directed by Carlos Agulló (above), and

GET ON THE SOUL TRAIN A LITTLE bit of Americana is coming to the Costa Del Sol in the form of Soul Train. Get your dancing shoes on and cheer along to classics such as Don’t Blame It On The Boogie, My Girl and Sexy Thing. From the producers of the award winning Jersey Boys, Soul Train comes to La Bella Vista Camping and Caravan park on July 13 at 8pm.

I’ll be there SHE has travelled around the world as a student, artist and teacher. Now expat Tutu Lahiri, born in India, but educated at Oxford, has launched her first book. Entitled Close Your Eyes and I’ll be There, it is largely a tribute to her grandfather, who was a contemporary of Gandhi and a well-known member of the Quit India movement. Based in Benalmadena, Costa, she describes him as ‘a loving

yet wild bouquet of India, and the kind of man that is no more.’ She explained how the book is written “Through the eyes of a young person, learning and observing life with her grandfather in the land of old Bangladesh before the partition of India.” Lahiri, who has lived in Andalucia for more than 24 years, studied history of art at Oxford and Yale, before becoming an art teacher.

Google and the World Brain, produced by Carles Brugueres (above left), are among the films put forward for this year’s award. An international jury will select the winner on July 16. Plot for Peace is about French businessman Jean Yves Ollivier who fled Algeria in 1962 and went on to help South Africa in its peaceful transition out of apartheid. Google and the World Brain follows Google’s bid to launch the most audacious world brain scheme ever: the scanning of all the world’s books – and the possibility of it delivering us straight into an Orwellian nightmare.

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Never say never

STAR PROPERTIES: But could Julio Iglesias (left) finally duet with his heartthrob son, Enrique (right) at this years hot Starlite Festival

As the Iglesias pair finally come head to head at Marbella’s fabulous Starlite festival - also featuring UB40, Bryan Adams and the Buena Vista Social Club (left) - could they duet for the first time ever?

S lotharios go, this father and son team could get a fan’s knickers off quicker than you can say Julio and Enrique. But, as similar as they are in looks, style, and their ability to get gorgeous gals, their differences have seen them drift apart. Could it be that this year’s Starlite Festival in Marbella can encourage the pair to mend the family rift and serenade the Andalucian masses with sweet music? Not according to father Julio who, at 69, said; “Singing with my son is something that would come off as very commercial. “I think that he and I will never sing together.” With such a famous dad it was no wonder that Enrique released his first album under an assumed name and

then signed a record contract without his father’s knowledge. The divide between the two has grown ever since; Enrique famously didn’t attend his brother’s wedding due to his father’s attendance. He is now older, and wiser, but he is still determined not to be an ageing lothario, and is adamant that he won’t be singing past 60. His father’s lifestyle is ‘not the way I want to live my life’. Julio once boasted of sleeping with more than 3,000 women but the bitter Enrique,38, has long tried to show that he is a one girl guy. His relationship with tennis sweetie Anna Kournakova is now in its 12th year, and he doesn’t plan to stray. “Anna is the coolest girl I’ve ever known, because she’s the kind of girl you can take to McDonald’s. You can be in

the mountains camping and she won’t complain.” Proud of his son, even if he doesn’t follow in daddy’s footsteps, Julio knows that Enrique is on the right path; “With Enrique, it’s not a question of singing; it’s a question of aptitude. He has the blood, the spirit, the character of a champion. You go into a fight with Enrique boxing, he’d kill you. The champions are the people who dictate the curves of the road, and it’s very difficult to follow them. They go up to their limits and they became champions, and he is one of these.” A poignant, poetic statement. All is not lost, Julio admits that musical duets are his favourite thing; he has already had hits with Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, and Dolly Parton. So, who knows, a duet could well be a possibility.

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More than just music W

ITH such big names headlining the month long festival it is easy to forget that there are numerous other events to get you excited about. They include:

actors themselves. A special treat awaits avid cinema goers with a never before seen production that has been produced specifically for the Marbella Russian Film Festival.

Fashion Spanish models will hit the catwalk wearing the latest high-end fashions.

Grey Goose is hosting its Le Privée Grey Goose event every night - a must if you want to mingle with the stars.

Live stage shows

Food and drink

Following on from the success of the Starlite Lounge last year, the organisers have promised bigger and better shows. The festival will be introducing new, attractive and adventurous elements that will no doubt make each night magical. Professional ballerinas will transport the audience back in time, from the world of 19th century American vaudeville up until today. Roko, the versatile actress, will also make an appearance singing live and performing a show that is bound to be full of surprises.

This year Starlite Festi-

VIP Party

val is working with the restaurant La Meridiana del Alabardero, where you can sit and eat while you enjoy the show. The restaurant comibines experience, tradition and innovation with high quality products. It’s one of Marbella’s most signature restaurants. There are many other gourmet restaurants around the site, including the Japanese Takumi, the Andalusian Taberna Volapié, Mexican Zapata Tex Mex, and a delightful Italian called O’ Mamma Mia.

Art exposition There will be four art expositions at the festival, including paintings by artist, photographer, singer and businessman Prince Hubertus von Hohenlohe. Bernardo Doral, one of the most solicited fashion photographers in the world will showcase his collection which features photographs of the schoolchildren of the ‘Ninos en Alegria’ school in Mexico. Film premiers Taking advantage of the beautiful Andalucian weather, the organisers have provided a cinema screen under the stars. Visitors will be embraced as VIPs as they take to the red carpet with the

Paco - back by popular demand Paco de Lucia comes to Starlite after a three year musical absence

THE music maestro makes a magnanimous return more than three years after his last Spanish performance. Paco de Lucia is one of history’s greatest guitarists; as soon as his fingers brush the strings, his spirit flows through the instrument enamouring all that listen. Famous for his revolutionary

flamenco recordings, he has a technique like no other. The strength and fluidity of his right hand means he is capable of executing extremely fast and fluent picados. He often mixes the classic Spanish sounds with jazz influences. Paco has successfully crossed over into other genres, playing classical and jazz. Since 2004 he has shied away from touring, only giving occasional concerts, and since 2010 he hasn’t played at all. Starlite is lucky to have this legend perform on August 15.

FEEL THE MUSIC

For one night only DAVID Bisbal, the multi-million selling artist, is coming to Starlite for his only concert this summer. Rising to fame via the interactive reality television show Operación Triunfo, David quickly received a huge following.

Since then he has released four studio albums, all topping the Spanish Albums Chart. His European and Latin American tour has just come to a close, but David is back for this one-off special performance on Saturday, August 24.

FOREVER KING OF POP, is a homage to the legend that is Michael Jackson. A group of over 20 musicians perform his greatest hits, in an emotional and vibrant performance on August 16. Meanwhile, many of the legendary singers of the La Movida come together for the first time in history on August 2 – not to be missed. Finally, Grease is the word on August 23, when you can watch the movie and sing along to all your favourites.

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The face of Andalucia Sara Baras leads a list of other huge stars at the festival

Dance to the beat VARIETY: (From left) Malú and Alejandro Sanz, Sara Baras (above and below) and Noa and UB40 (bottom)

THE leading lady of the dance, Sara Baras, shows off her talent in a uniquely choreographed flamenco routine on August 9. Her energy and exuberance shines through in every step she takes. Her passion and dedication - not to mention her beauty - has won her favour throughout Spain; she has even been named ‘the face of Andalucia.’ More than 20 years ago, she began her journey to the stages of the world. Her beginnings, in Cadiz, her homeland, is part of her history, and the first link in the chain of her career. Her mother, Concha Baras, was her greatest influence, and helped coach Sara down the professional path. Sara then began to train with other dance legends such as Ciro, Manolete, El Güito, Dania Gonzalez, before opening her own company Ballet Flamenco and choreographing a number of shows. Meanwhile Noa, the most renowned Israeli artist in recent history, comes to the festival accompanied by Gil Dor and the Solis String Quartet on July 28. Watch out ladies, Alejandro Sanz, the Spanish heartthrob is ending his- tour by performing on August 11. Selling over 22 million CDs, his La musica no se toca, was the most successful album of 2012. Keeping it in the family, Ale-

jandro’s goddaughter Malú will be showcasing her beautiful voice on August 14. A week later, on August 21, British legends UB40 will be

singing favourites Kingston Town, I can’t help falling in love with you, Red Red Wine, among others, in their only concert in Spain.

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Living the dream

Jamie Facts; He’s sold more than 10 million CDs worldwide. Cullum’s concerts often feature a stomp box, which is used to amplify his tapping foot. He never uses a set list, preferring to gauge the audience himself. Most of his recordings are live; he loves to hear the response. One of his first jobs was as a musician for the food chain Pizza Express

WATCHING Jamie Cullum on stage, is an experience in itself. Not content to sit quietly behind his piano he is often found leaping around, cracking jokes with the audience and generally giving the impression he’s having the time of his life. His love of music and jazz is clear when he begins to sing and it is no wonder that in 2003, Cullum became Britain’s best-selling jazz artist of all time. The 33-year-old singer, musician and host of BBC Radio 2’s ‘Jamie Cullum With The Best of Jazz’ will encourage festival goers to sway along. Known for mixing contemporary jazz (Twentysomething) piano-driven singer-songwriter pop (All At Sea) with standards (Blame It On My Youth, Just One Of Those Things) and pop

covers (Pharrell’s Frontin, Rihanna’s Don’t Stop The Music) he will be singing a range from past and present albums. His six albums have flown off the shelves, each recorded in a slightly unsual way, from live audience to his kitchen. His life is his studio, and his family is his muse. Married to former model and food critic Sophie Dahl, the couple have two daughters, and he used the birth as a jumping point for “Sad, Sad World”; “It manages to state a very complex paradox of an emotion that I experienced when I had children, which is this great happiness and this great intensity but with that intensity comes a deeper understanding of the world. Performing Saturday, July 27.

MAKING SWEET MUSIC T

he legendary singer, known as the ‘Spanish Frank Sinatra,’ has had a successful career that spans decades. However, when he was a young boy, Iglesias never dreamed of becoming a musician. He only learned to play guitar when a car accident left him bedridden for months. Thankfully for his fans he soon discovered his talent for music, and his prolific career took off in 1968, when he won the Benidorm Festival with ‘La vida sigue igual,’ a song he wrote himself. A fan of all styles of music, Julio made cheesy, Spanish, pop a worldwide phenomenon, with fans falling over

themselves to get a glimpse of the Grammy Award winning star. Moving to Miami, he was a regular on the Hollywood scene and even got a star on its Walk of Fame. Winning an American Music Award plus selling 2,600 platinum and gold discs, hasn’t stopped him from making music. His greatest hits album is currently in the charts and features duets with Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder. This year, Julio set the new world record for the Best Selling Latin Artist. After an extremely successful performance last year Julio returns to the Starlite Festval to give his final performance of his 2013 tour. Performing Sat, August 3.

Summer of 2013 LADIES, prepare to swoon as Bryan Adams seranades you on the opening night of Starlite. The rough and tough hearthrob has been belting out classics for more than 30 years, releasing over 20 albums and blowing us away with kareoke favourits such as ´Everything I do, I do it for you´ and ´Summer of ´69.´ His distinctive voice has been known to make

women week at the knees, he truly is a formidable presence on the international stage. No stranger to the top of the charts, he has received 15 Grammy nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, and three Academy Award nominations for his work over the years. Bryan Adams is a complete giver, he has been involved in philanthropic

activity, through both benefit concerts and his own charity; the Bryan Adams Foundation. Which aims to advance education and learning opportunities for children and young people worldwide. On July 24, Bryan Adams will open the Starlite Festival 2013 with his only concert in Spain on his worldwide tour, kicking off a month full of toplevel concerts.

CLICK THOSE CUBAN HEELS

Bryan Facts:

He dropped out of school at 16. His first band was called ‘Sweeney Todd.’ A 2005 British poll found that his hit ‘Everything I do’ was the most popular choice for the first dance at UK weddings. He is also a published photographer; with photos in British Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Esquire, and advertising campaigns such as Guess Jeans, Converse, and Escada. He has been vegan since the age of 28.

Canadian rock god Bryan Adams sings his hits ‘Straight from the Heart’

For the past 15 years Bueno Vista Social Club have travelled the globe, bringing together some of the best musicians that Cuba has to offer and giving listeners the unique opportunity to embrace a range of Cuban styles that encompasses several generations. Never a formal group or band, they all have one thing

in common, that they began their journey at the Bueno Vista Social Club. The club is an integral part of Cuban history since the 40s, when musicians travelled from all over South America to play at the exclusive membership club. But they weren’t known globally until Cuban bandleader and musician Juan de Marcos González and American guitarist Ry Cooder became inspired by the Social Club’s story and produced an album. Many of the artists who can be heard on the first album performed

at the club in its heyday. The album quickly garnered considerable praise, receiving numerous accolades from several music writers and publications. In 2003 the album was ranked number 260 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time - one of only two albums on the list to be produced in a non-English speaking country. Although some of the original members are no longer with us, the success of the Bueno Vista Social Club has gone from strength to strength. Starlite is proud to welcome the talent of Eliades Ochoa and Omara Portuondo, among others as they take to the stage on August 5.

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Life, love and his emotions

Enrique Facts; He has been dating Russian tennis player and supermodel Anna Kournikova for more than eight years. He is the third and youngest child of Spanish superstar Julio Iglesias, who is also performing at Starlite 2013. He has also developed an interest in acting, appearing in several movies and American television shows, such as Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother.

Enrique Iglesias explores his inner thoughts, feelings and desires through his music WITH more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, Enrique Iglesias certainly is one of the most—if not the most—globally successful contemporary Spanish artist. He has produced nine studio albums, that have gone multi-platinum in

almost every country in the world. With eight world tours behind him and 23 number one hits on the Latin charts, he is without a doubt one of the biggest Latino artists in music history. His music has successful crossed over into the English-speaking

music world. Four of his albums are in Spanish, four are in English, and his most recent, Euphoria, is bilingual. Nicknamed ‘The King of Latin Pop’ and ‘The

King of Dance,’ Enrique recently officially surpassed Michael Jackson on the charts to earn the title: ‘King of the Charts.’ Enrique’s performance at the Starlite Festival

offers a rare and special opportunity to view him at the most intimate and personal level. Performing Saturday, August 17.

He has won 16 Billboard Music Awards, 26 Billboard Latin Music Awards, five American Music Awards, one Grammy, one Latin Grammy, and seven World Music Awards. He has nearly 5 million fans on social networking site Twitter.

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Creating a cultural unity the borders for the common good. Starlite Festival, is expected to help improve the economy by creating more than 300 jobs, contracting local suppliers and increasing foreign capital spent in nearby hotels, restaurants and businesses. In 2012, the festival brought in more than €25 million.

GIVING BACK

Antonio with the children who are helped by his foundation, and with his wife.

THE Starlite Festival promises to be a month of full-on entertainment but it isn’t just about providing visitors with a great night the event is also giving back to the community. The organisers are working together with Marca España – whose objective is to improve Spain’s image both domestically and beyond

STARLITE is making a difference both at home and abroad. The organisers care for a number of charities and use the money it earns to help others

La Fundacion Niños en Alegria (Mexico), founded by Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan and Alejandra Aleman, celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and has constructed eight schools and taught 2500 school children. At the end of 2012, the fund signed a contract with the Carlos Slim Foundation to continue constructing schools together.

Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros with Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan

THE MOST EXCLUSIVE NIGHT Whichever night you chose to attend the amazing Starlight Festival, why not travel in style with the Starlite jet. Guests can sit back in comfort knowing their round-trip from the UK will be a pleasant one. For those who enjoy their comfort while watching one of the concerts, the Bubble Box is a must. These VIP galleries are in the middle of the audience

and will sit up to six people. Each table comes with a bottle of champagne and waiter service, as well as VIP parking and access to Le Privée Grey Goose after parties when the concerts are over. Starlite can also arrange for you to mingle with the stars, giving you the chance to meet the celebrities backstage, and in their dressing rooms.

The objective of the festival is to help many families, and children, without resources in Spain and throughout the world.

THE Starlite Gala will donate 100% of the proceeds from its tickets, dinners, raffles, and auctions to charities. The Gala is funded by private sponsors, and also by the Starlite Festival, which donates manpower, infrastructure, and technical support to the Gala. Guest host, Antonio Banderas, will be opening the Gala as part of his birthday celebrations. The Gala counts on the support and generosity of artists, celebrities, and public figures who donate their time and art. Among these is singer Marta Sanchez, who went to Acapulco this year for first-hand experience

with the charity “Niños en Alegría,” helping to inaugurate the last school built with funds from the 2012 Starlite Gala. She will perform in this year’s Gala alongside Alejandro Sanz, Sara Baras and Roko. Juan Peña is set to perform flamenco at the after party. Anne Igartiburu and Imanol Arias will present the gala, and dinner will be served by Samantha Vallejo-Najera, Jordi Cruz, and Pepe Rodriguez Rey, the three chef judges of MasterChef. The Humanitarian Prize at the Starlite Gala 2013

will be awarded to Alejandro Sanz. The Philanthropic Prize will go to Valeria Mazza, Ambassador of the Special Olympics and of UNICEF’s program “Together against neonatal tetanus.” Returning to Starlite this year is the international top model Adriana Karembeau, and Melanie Griffith, wife of festival host Antonio Banderas. She will be accompanying her husband to celebrate his birthday with him with him and with all of the guests.

The Antonio Banderas Foundation, Lagrimas y favores (Malaga) issues 30 annual grants to the University of Malaga. Caritas, helps those in need. Cudeca Foundation, has financed programs for the treatment of terminally ill cancer patients through the This year, Starlite Festival will also join up with the Corinto Foundation.

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Fine food

stantly adding to his La Sala brand over the last five years. With a series of famous backers, including footballers David Bentley, Stephen Carr and Shay Given, he has been able to create two of the town’s landmark restaurants; La Sala in Puerto Banus and Rincon de la Sala in San Pedro. Currently turning away over 100 bookings a day, the original La Sala on the way up to the Nueva Andalucia bull ring is probably the most talked about eaterie in Marbella. This is the place to find the ‘ladies who lunch’, the movers and shakers and the wealthy empresarios who make Marbella what it is. An emporium of glass and seductive lighting, its real strength though, lies in its wood-decked terrace, that serves as the ideal tourist sundeck. Oh, and the food, is surprisingly very good too, with a superb range of classic dishes with a contemporary twist. And to keep its chefs on their toes a second restaurant Rincon de la Sala opened in San Pedro last year, with perhaps an even better quality of food.

And finally don’t forget the group’s beach restaurant Sala Beach, in Puerto Banus, where just about every self respecting TV star and footballer heads come the summer season. A little out of the heat of Puerto Banus, but well worth the trip is the excellent Playwrights a short drive away in Elviria. Now well established, it is run by owners Marc and Lynn, who cut their teeth in the Irish restaurant scene and also run Beckitts in the heart of Marbella. Busy for much of the day, this stylishly-decorated place with a theatrical theme, has an enticing menu with some classic dishes and a great €25 ‘early bird’ special with three courses, served before 7.30pm. Nearby is easily one of the best beach restaurants on the coast. The Beach House, sitting on lovely Monteros beach, has become one of the key references of the Marbella scene over the last decade. With an adventurous head chef Jeff Mynott and a boss Guy McCrow who works hard

While in Marbella treat yourself to some of the finest delicacies at the best restaurants in town

to constantly improve the quality of food and ambiance, you will be hard pressed to find anywhere better for lunch or supper. Somewhere however, which can equal the standard is Nueva Campana, in the heart of Nueva Andalucia, where stalwart of the restaurant scene Garry Waite has carved out his niche as a must-try modern European. Spectacularly good food with a contemporary twist, the authentic venue is romantic and very good value with a set menu coming in at just €15 euros. Also in Nueva Andalucia – in Centro Plaza – is the superb American-style diner Yanx, which is nearly 20 years old. If burgers, ribs or chicken wings are what you are after, then you will find no better in town. Fanatical about quality, its genial expat owner David Fisher is insistent on using as much

From top left: Playwrights, La Sala, Cafe de Ronda and Chouka

SUCCESSFUL restaurant in Marbella must have a sense of fun,’ explains Ram Nandkishore, and he should know, having opened a dozen establishments in the town, including Mumtaz, Jacks and Chowka. “People don’t want to go to a boring place that takes itself too seriously... people come down here to have fun. They want places with a sense of humour.” But it is not just fun restaurants on offer in Marbella... the town has half of Andalucia’s Michelin star restaurants with El Lago and Skina counting on a star... and Dani Garcia restaurant Calima having two. A massive supporter of the town, where he grew up, Garcia told the Olive Press: “Marbella just keeps getting better and better and the real tragedy is that it is not being properly rewarded for its great cooking and variety.” Without a doubt one of the businessmen making the biggest waves in the food stakes these days is Ian Radford. The former professional squash player has been con-

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Loss of a true Marbella great THE Marbella expat community has lost a hugely popular member with the sudden death of Books4Spain founder Rod Younger

Luxurious surroundings

T is the height of comfort for travellers looking to relax. Coming top of Trip Advisor for years, The Marbella Heights Boutique Hotel, is in a beautiful location in the hills above the town. While it is also incredibly well appointed and luxurious it is the hotel’s staff that truly sets

it apart. Hotel owner Mercedes Boto’s pride and care is evident in every aspect of the four bed, onesuite luxury villa. It is a peaceful hideout where you can eat gourmet meals, enjoy a massage or spa treatment, exercise in the gym, or just wander the romantic gardens.

If you’re the adventurous type, you can use the hotel as your base for all the activities Marbella has to offer. And no time better than during this summer’s Starlite festival. For more information visit themarbellaheights.com

P.O.S.H with a capital ‘P’ BELLY dancers, head and neck massages and funky mushroom lighting. Nothing was left to chance for the opening of Marbella’s hottest new shop. It was distinctly posh with a capital ‘P’ as the new quality second hand and antique furniture emporium P.O.S.H Seconds held its official

launch party at the weekend. Guests were treated to great tunes thanks to DJ Tito Pulp, while belly dancers and other musicians played along. There was a great display of items on sale, including carpets, furniture and artwork and for those in need of a bit of relaxation there were head and neck massages.

Standing for Prestigious, Opulent, Sophisticated, Hedonism, P.O.S.H is the place to find offbeat and unusual items on the coast.

Located on the N340, exit 184, urb panorama, loc 17, marbella 29603. Telephone 951388100 www. poshmarbella.com

Rod, 53, suffered a sudden massive heart attack at his Nueva Andalucia home. Born in Spain but growing up in London, Rod descibed himself as ‘AngloSpanish’ and being bi-lingual he was equally at home with both locals and expats. This passion for Spanish culture - especially food, history and literature -found a natural voice in his constantly evolving website books4spain, which specialised in Spanish books and had the motto ‘Passion for Spain’. Rod had also been on

the expert panel that helped picked the 100 most influential expats in Andalucia for the Expat 100 special edition of the Olive Press two years ago. Rod’s funeral was held on Friday at the Cementario Virgin del Carmen on the Ojen road. Friends packed into the chapel with many standing outside to hear Rod’s sister

Fine Foods Cont´d...

further than Mumtaz in the port. Now open for 28 years it is the second-oldest restaurant in the port its style comes from the Moghul tradition, weighing heavily on tandooris, biryanis and sabjis (seasonal vegetables). Finally, if you want an Indian with a real twist, then you must head to Chowka (meaning Mother’s kitchen) on the Golden Mile. This amazing spot is fast becoming one of the restaurants of reference on the coast, with its head chef Ravi Deulkar, formerly of Rasoi in London, cooking up a creative storm every night. Billed as ‘a rising star in the Modern Indian food move-

cruelty-free ingredients as possible, including humanely raised chicken, without antibiotics or unnecesary chemicals. In the heart of the old town of Marbella you have a huge range of places to eat. Easily one of the best though is Il Tartufo which serves authentic Italian food. The original menu consists of home made pasta, risotto, meat and fish with the speciality of the house being fresh truffle which is imported from family in the north of Italy. Just off the golden mile is the well established Cafe de Ronda, run by successful local businessman Douglas Goullet. A long-time stalwart you will find a decent mixed menu and now a special set lunch for just €9.50 thanks to a joint venture with Relais de Paris, serving its ‘sauce originale’ with a lovely entrecote steak and classic French fries. Just up the road on the heart of the Golden Mile is the incredibly popular Pan & Mermelada set up by the enterprising Canadian Lauren Gilbert. A psychotherapist by trade, she fell into the restaurant trade by accident, after starting a cake business, bored of waiting to be allowed to practice here. Selling like the proverbial hotcakes it was no surprise when she started a cafe and now it is one of the busiest in town. Another great place for a cake and a coffee is Bellaria near the H10 in Puerto Banus while a typical Irish venue where you can get a great pint of Guinness and mouth watering steaks is Hogan’s Stand in San Pedro. Choose from T-bone, Fillet, or Rib Eye and enjoy every live sporting occasion. If it is traditional Indian you are after then you should look no

deliver a moving eulogy. Books4Spain later announced that it would keep the website operating as a fitting tribute to Rod. ment’ his food is healthy and heavily influenced by the traditional cooking methods found in typical Indian chowka’s – or ‘mother’s kitchens’. Last but not least a mention must go out to Iglu, which, while technically just across the border in Estepona, is an amazingly good place to head for supper . You read that here first, b u t really – if it is quality food you are after you won’t be disappointed.

FACES: Chef Ravi, Garry Waite, Dani Garcia and team at Yanx

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39 39

Petrol price drop

Fatality crash It is now safer to drive in Spain than in France, Germany and Italy as road deaths halve in a decade

DEATHS on the road have more than halved in a decade. In a remarkable turnaround, the number of fatal accidents in Spain have re-

– is being put down to improvements to the country’s roads and its vehicles. duced by 67% since 2001. It has also been helped by The drop – the second high- successful safety campaigns est in Europe after Latvia and heavier fines for speeding and drinking. In total, Spain recorded 1,834 fatalities in 2012, a figure just above the UK’s road deaths of 1,768. France, Germany, Italy and Poland all recorded figures well above 3,000 fatalities. Now, as 80 million car journeys are expected to be made over the summer, Spain’s DGT traffic department has launched a new campaign in the hope of reducing road accidents even more. The campaign A NEW report has slammed the warns motorcost of Andalucia’s toll roads. ists to take The report, issued by watchdog particular care group Consumer, reveals that on secondthe region’s tolls are the most ary roads, on expensive in the country. which 208 of Additionally, the most expenthe 260 people sive tolls around Spain are four killed in road times the price of the cheapest, accidents died without any difference in ‘serlast summer. vice, cleanliness or safety’ says The DGT is the report. also highRIP OFF: A toll booth Researchers also found that lighting the only 44% of tolls displayed importance legally required information of seatbelts such as price and vehicle type signage to signal the recomand childwhile many of the tolls apmended distance between cars, seats, along peared to be out of service. traffic conditions and dangerwith warnConsumers pulled no punches ous stretches of road. ing people of when it came to the conditions Some 20% of roads inspected the dangers of of Spain’s motorways. also lacked well defined lane driving under The report found national markings, according to the rethe influence motorways to be lacking clear port. or above the speed-limit.

By Mason Jones

Taking its toll in Andalucia

FILL up the car and head to the beach or mountains as the price of fuel has gone down by over 2%. The average price per litre has fallen to €1.428, and the price of diesel has dropped to €1.342 per litre, representing declines of 2.46% and 2.33%, respectively. It comes while the average price of petrol reached €1.6 per litre in the eurozone, while diesel prices reached €1.4 per litre. El Economista reported that, compared with the prices at the beginning of this year, petrol has increased in price by 2%, while the price of diesel has dropped by 1.54%.

Battling the bends with average speed fines A NEW speeding ticket system is already clocking up heavy fines on one of the most dangerous stretches of road in Andalucia. Drivers are facing penalties of between €100 and €600 for falling foul of the average speed system set

up to slow down cars on the deadly series of bends near La Cala de Mijas. After years of appeals from local residents – and an in-depth feature by the Olive Press four years ago that recorded 15 crashes in just one week - cameras will be installed on the A-7

east of La Cala de Mijas. The five kilometre stretch goes between KM201 and 205.3 driving westwards towards La Cala. Police initially handed out warnings to those caught speeding.

Property

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Property rental fraud hits €180million a year MARKET COMES BACK TO LIFE! The green shoots of recovery are beginning to show, explains property insider Bob Callan in a new column for the Olive Press

WHAT a headline to start my first column, but as a property expert based on the Costa del Sol for decades I genuinely believe it to be true. I am in constant contact with banks, lawyers, financial advisors and fellow Costa Del Sol agents and most of them are in agreement, the pulse is getting stronger by the month. I have lived and breathed property for over 30 years, having started as a developer in London. Nowadays I specialise in property on the Costa del Sol and particularly Marbella. How different things are to five years ago when I featured on the ITV programme

Paradise Lost about the downturn in the market here. Since then plenty of the big names are gone or struggling... the MRIs, the Andalucian Dream Homes and Cristina Zekely, who I have known for over 25 years. But the demand is still high and these days there are a staggering 1.5m property searches a month for Spanish property on UK website Right Move alone. Much higher than during the boom a decade ago. Serious investors are, quite simply, pouncing on that ‘Once In A Lifetime Investment Deal!’ I know one developer, for instance, who sold 90% of his recently finished luxury properties in Marbella in just nine

months. The starting prices for these apartments, and penthouses, starting at €1.3m so there is clearly money around. And there are some terrific deals to be had, such as the repossession in Zagaleta, which was previously on at €4.5m, but sold at just €2m, or the three-bed penthouse with stunning views near the mosque in Marbella, which sold for €260,000 after its price dropped from €465,000. The list thankfully goes on and on and fingers crossed this new invigorated market continues to grow. Visit Bob’s website at www. MarbellaMansions.com

The Property Insider

BARGAIN: This Zagaleta mansion sold at under half the asking price

A STAGGERING €180million of income is being undeclared from rental homes in Andalucia. As the peak summer rental season gets into full swing an amazing 120,000 houses are estimated to be rented in the black. A total of 23,000 families are said to be living off the income, according to the report by finance agency Gestha. Two of the areas most responsible for the fraud are the Costa del Sol and the Costa de la Luz in Cadiz, where an incredible 32,000 homes are being rented illegally. A similar number are being rented on the Levante coast around Alicante. It is estimated that the province of Cadiz and Huelva are to account for €73.4m, while Malaga alone has €59.3 million in undeclared payments. In Cadiz the undeclared stays are said to account for around 80% of total rentals. The situation is continuing despite a new law being introduced last month to fight fraud from rentals. In just three years popular rental site www.homeaway.com has gone from featuring 15,000 spanish properties to advertising 36,000.

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Property

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BIG SELL OFF Desperate times see government auction off 15,000 state properties

Asking price: €84million for a forest ONE of the properties the government plans to sell is a stunning 16,000 hectare estate in Cadiz. Worth around €84million, La Almoraima, near Castellar de la Frontera, is a huge hunting estate – one of Spain’s largest that produces its own cork and other crops. Despite local opposition, the government intends to sell the estate – the largest cork

estate in Spain - to the highest bidder. Most of the estate sits inside the Alcornocales Natural Park and is full of deer and rare birds. The government has given tacit approval for any buyer to develop the estate to include a five star hotel and two golf courses, with a private aerodrome for guests to arrive by air.

THE government has approved the plans to sell off more than 15,000 properties over the next seven years. In a scramble to raise hundreds of millions of euros the government has sanctioned the sale, similar to one that happened in Greece last year. The sales portfolio includes an old army barracks, an aerodrome in Minorca, a military shooting range and thousands of office buildings – totaling a quarter of all state-owned properties. A prominent Madrid mansion, used by the government and more recently Secretary of State for Security, and a country estate in Cadiz - with more than 35,000 acres of natural parkland filled with cork trees (see left) – are just a couple of the larger properties on offer. Last year the sales of government buildings brought in €90million of revenue.

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The Olive Press fortnightly business section taking a look at the Spanish economy and offering tips on how to save AND make money

Clothing king forced to pay up

SUPER RICH: Ortega with daughter Marta, is unlikely to be affected by the fine

SPANISH clothing billionaire Amancio Ortega has fallen foul of the tax authorities and will now have to pay €33million in unpaid taxes. The high court has ruled that the Zara founder must pay back taxes for the years 2001 -2003. But the judges stressed that he was not guilty of fraud or concealment. In 2001, Ortega sold a number of Inditex shares pocketing €1.3 billion, which he then reinvested into two family-run property companies. Such family investments are generally tax-exempt in Spain, but the court argued that advisers had actually set up ‘an artificial family network’ and the clothing magnate would have to pay tax on assets earned. Tax auditors in Galicia concluded that ‘this was a situation where the rules were abused’.

RISING FROM THE DEBT After a deep recession, the country is finally pulling itself out of economic despair

FOR five dark years the country has been wallowing in a deep hole of debt and unemployment.

But finally there is a glimmer of light on the horizon for the financially ravaged country. Economy Minister Luis de Guindos claims that Spain’s economy haS emerged from the worst of the financial crisis.

Better

Upgrading growth figures for the next couple of years, he also expects the secondquarter employment figures to improve. De Guindos said: “Figures compiled by the government indicate that the labour force shows significant employment recovery and the drop in unemploy-

Blyde gets his just dessert AFTER months of hard work and training, Robert Blyde has finally got his just desserts... or not as the case should be. Proudly showing off his new figure at the Don Carlos Hotel on June 28, Blyde was officially named ‘Slimmer of the Year 2013’ at the Cambridge 800 Convention in Marbella. Blyde beat six finalists to the award at the company’s first convention here since its launch in Spain in January 2012. Cambridge 800 is a weight management company specialising in weight loss programs and products.

by Alex Iszatt ment goes beyond seasonal factors”. Prime Minister Rajoy is also keeping positive about the future. At a meeting of the rightwing FAES think-thank he added: “We cannot say, like in other times, that Spain is doing well, but we can say that it is doing better and that the direction is correct. “We are much better than last year, but much worse than in July of the year 2015; that it is our aim you can be sure that we are going to achieve it.” More good news came when the EU confirmed

that Spain did not need any more money to capitalise its banks. It had previously sanctioned a 100 billion euro fund to help the sector. But after lending 41.3 billion last year, a report by the European Central Bank (ECB), insisted: “There is at present no reason to foresee further disbursements.” That said, the ECB, along with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), estimates that profitability will remain one of the main challenges ahead for the Spanish banking sector given the current setting of low interest rates and rising bad debt.

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Top Dollar

Road to Riches, by Richard Alexander

hen deciding to makie an investment there is an automatic focus on risk. Some people are ultra cautious, only ever holding their money in the bank. Then there are experienced investors, those who like to select their own stocks and shares to invest in, and will typically have larger holdings in a few companies. The cautious investor is driven by a fear of losing money, or a narrowed knowledge of investment types, and are more interested in preserving capital or growing value. Ironically, most people of this type stick with one bank and don’t hunt for the best rates available, which means they are likely to be earning between 1.4% and 2% gross. If they are a taxpayer in the UK or Spain, there will be at least 20% tax due, leaving a net return of 1.6% - just over half the latest Retail Prices Index inflation figures for the UK of 3.1%. In reality, a cautious person could see the value of their capital decrease by 1.5% a year, and if they are spending the interest, their reduction is 3.1% in real terms. What about experienced investors? They may well be

Taking a risk without the worry

Richard Alexander takes a look at the chance of losing money when making an investment receiving a reasonable level of dividend income - many FTSE 100 share index companies paying between 3% and 6% at present with capital growth prospects as well - that

The cautious investor is driven by a fear of losing money dividend income is taxable of course, but many investors of this type ignore the tax on dividends and focus on the growth in capital value. To gain access to that growth the shares need to be sold, and for direct investments of

this type, there is little protection from Capital Gains Tax. In this regard, the UK is a kinder place to have taxable gains than Spain at the moment, but either way, tax is being paid when maybe it didn’t need to be. Risk is not just about assessing the chance of losing money; it should also be about avoiding unnecessary payment of tax as well, and retaining access to capital at a time when you need it. You should think about your timescales. If you don’t need access to the income for the foreseeable future, choose an investment that allows capital growth that is not subject to tax. If you want to preserve capital values, don’t rely on interest bearing accounts because in

real terms they will not achieve this. If you like to play the stock market, maybe do so within a pension wrapper, which would shelter gains from Capital

UK is a kinder place to have taxable gains than Spain at the moment Gains Tax. This is just the tip of the iceberg - the great thing about financial planning is that it is not an exact science and there are many ways to achieve investment objectives within the right risk profile as well.

Richard Alexander Financial Planning Limited is an appointed representative of L J Financial Planning Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK. Contact him at Richard@ra-fp.com

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Hospital privatisation probe launched after claims of bribery and misuse of government funds ACCUSED: Former President Esperanza Aguirre

Birth rates drop while marriages are soaring SPAIN is facing a costly ageing crisis as it emerges that the national birth rate has dropped for the fourth year in a row. The drop is expected to cost the country billions as the birth rate fell last year by 3.9% with just 453,000 births in Spain. The previous year it fell by 3%. According to the Statistics Institute the decline is due to more people deciding not to have children, plus the fact that there are fewer women of childbearing age. Meanwhile marriages have increased for the first time since 2004. The increase of 3.4% is due mainly to civil marriages, which rose by 8.7%. Of the total marriages registered (168,835), 2.3% were same sex marriages (3,834).

The study also notes that couples are leaving it longer before marrying: with the average age standing at 36.2 years for men and 33 for women.

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Privatisation investigation A COURT in Madrid has opened an investigation into the privatisation of hospitals in the capital in 2003, when the President of the region was Esperanza Aguirre. It comes after Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medical association, Afem, filed a complaint, alleging crimes of bribery, prevarication, and the misuse of public funds. The complaint is 86 pages long and it has 70 annexes of documentation prepared by lawyers, paid by a group of Madrid health workers. Four members of the original group who started the privatisation process have been called to testify before the judge, who has asked for a long list of information, from the facturas of the first three privatised hospitals, to a formal request which he has sent to Luxembourg. He also wants the managers of the 13 hospitals in Ma-

drid, public and private to show their invoices for the years 2010, 2011, and 2012. Afem and the opposition

think that the cost paid per patient was excessively high in the private hospitals which opened in 2008.

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Coast with the most

Pathway to open between Mijas and Marbella will stimulate economy MIJAS and Marbella are soon to be linked via a six kilometre coast path thanks to a €2m grant from Malaga province. Both walkers and cyclists will be able to enjoy a coastal jaunt between La Cala de Mijas and Calahonda under the new plan.

Link

Tips for summer driving WITH the busy summer season now upon us, insurer Linea Directa has a series of tips about what to do if involved in an accident. As well as ringing 112 they insist you should remain calm and

switch on your emergency lights. Never try to remove anyone injured and put on your safety jacket as soon as getting out of the car. For more information, call Linea Directa Insurace at 902 123 104

The council will finance the sections between La Cala de Mijas and El Juncal – just over three kilometres - and between urbanization El Capricho and Calahonda Royale, just over 1.3kms. The Consortium put together to construct the path will be responsible for funding the remaining 1.5 kilometres. “We hope this new project will stimulate both economies and create jobs,” estimated regional boss Elias Bendodo. He added that the investment was ‘unprecedented’ due to the current economic situation.

Up to 150,000 raised from forgotten pensions IT has been a busy year so far for financial company IFA International. The UK-based team, who work in various countries around the world, have helped dozens of clients unlock forgotten pension funds, many of them left unmanaged back in the UK. “We have helped quite a number of clients and helped to consolidate amounts ranging from 20,000 to a staggering 150,000 euros,” explained Stephen Davis from IFA. “In each case the clients have allowed us to work on their behalf contacting their previous employer or pension provider to establish pension values,” For more information contact - clientservices@ifainternational.com or visit us - www.ifaiqrops.co.uk / www.ifainternational.com

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Top Dollar

Spain bad for start ups The country is world’s 136th hardest place to run a business SPAIN is one of the worst countries in the world to be an entrepreneur. That is the damning conclusion of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor in its annual global study. Only six percent of Spain’s working age population are considered entrepreneurs, while less than 20 percent of students want to start a business. The website spoke to 100 start-ups and found the same complaints - that it was incredibly difficult to start a business here.

Obstacle

The biggest obstacle was the government and the amount of paperwork involved. The World Bank meanwhile ranks Spain as 136th worldwide for ease of starting a business, with a cost of about €1,000 in public paperwork

that takes more than a month to process. It also ranks 44th on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, well behind most European countries, except for Greece and Italy. “It is expensive and patience-prohibitive to be an entrepreneur in Spain,” claimed the report.

Paperwork

“Before you even start, you have to jump through an absurd number of hoops, fill out tons of paperwork, wait for signatures, and pay fees and taxes, long before a profit is even envisioned.” It comes after a recent survey found that 80% of university students in Spain wanted to be civil servants rather than start their own businesses. This is almost the opposite of America where over 70% wanted to be entrepreneurs.

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Law

the olive press - July 10 - July 24 2013

Law

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I’ve saved my home! Dutch woman is the first expat to benefit from new anti-eviction law by Rose Lapp A DUTCH woman is the first expat to benefit from Andalucia’s new anti-eviction law. Anne Elisabeth Verschaffel, (pictured right) who has been living in Marbella for 28 years, will now not be forced from her home due to mounting mortgage debts. The law, introduced this spring, is designed to protect homeowners from having their houses repossessed by banks after not being able to pay their mortgages. This temporary protection plan allows the bank to take possession of a property without evicting its residents. Her problems started when Jyske Bank, based in Gibraltar, allegedly convinced her in 2008 to sign a deal in which she took out loans and acquired more real estate. Verschaffel was 62 at the time. She blames the bank for tricking her, saying she made a mistake in letting them convince her that they were working with her. This came despite her having no official income at the time in Spain, claims her lawyer Antonio Flores, from Lawbird. “All the money she had came from either her children or her pension from Belgium,” insisted the Marbella-based lawyer. Despite this, Jyske Bank thought she would be able to repay the real estate loans, which came to a total of €600,000.

Flores claims Jyske also “used non-authorized valuation companies to assess the property values.” “It’s in combatting this kind of mistreatment by banks that the anti-eviction law is most necessary,” he said. Known as the Decreto de Funcion Social de la vivienda, it is likely to ease pressure on struggling homeowners around Andalucia. It allows people to temporarily live rent free for up to three years in their homes. Until now, hundreds of families have been getting evicted each month due to unemployment and a struggling economy.

Decade to win refund only to find developer is going bankrupt A BRITISH woman has won a legal battle against a developer. The woman has won the right to a refund on the money she put down on the off-plan property she purchased from developers Marbella Vista Golf in 2003. The building in the Santa Maria Green Hills development was not completed on time and had no habitation licence, denying the buyer the deeds to the property. The entire development was later declared illegal and its licence for building was revoked by the town hall. Now, ten years after the purchase of the property, the buyer is legally entitled to a full refund of €236,000 plus interest. The only problem: Marbella Vista Golf is filing for bankruptcy.

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AGONY ANT

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

The implications of Anne’s eviction being stopped A

Anthony Flores, of Lawbird, explains the ins and outs of the case involving Dutchwoman Anne Verschaffel (on page 50), who is being allowed to stay in her home under a new Junta ruling

nne Vershchaffel could be the first foreign resident of Spain to benefit from the expropriation of her repossessed home from the lender. It comes after the Junta ruled that it was totally unacceptable that people should risk being socially marginalized due to loan foreclosures. In the case of Anne, her aristocratic origins were no impediment for Jyske Bank to try to kick her out of her home; but it shouldn’t have been a reason

to not qualify for the protection, which reeks of communist ideology. The preamble of this decree touches what seems a very sensitive issue: the situation of social emergency caused by human tragedies. Where the right to life has been thwarted as a consequence of the eviction ordered on the residence. Read into it and you can see it comes after a spate of suicides directly attributable to evictions. The evictions ultimately contra-

vene the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights! From a legal point of view, the new rule is a bit vague and loose: for example, it allows use for a maximum of three years but then, it does not provide for what happens after the third year. It also gives the authorities investigative powers to keep track of properties that lie vacant and establishes two presumptions of a property being unoccupied: when it is not effectively used for accommodation purposes, during six consecutive months, or where there is no water/electricity supply. To effectively achieve this, utility companies are legally made ‘informants’ of the Junta, in addition to Town Halls who are also required to grass up properties (and their owners) who have no one living in them.

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GOLF In the swing of it

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Business plan A GOLFING alliance of the area’s top clubs has been created on the Costa del Sol. The Junta hopes that uniting clubs on the coast, particularly in Marbella, Mijas and Estepona, will boot the success of the entire sector. In a collaborative effort, 11 golf clubs and two hotels have united to form a network said the region’s

Golfer’s treasure MEMORABILIA, which belonged to one of Andalucia’s golfing legends, will be auctioned in London this month. The collection belonged to the late Jaime OrtizPatino, a long-time resident of Andalucia who passed away in January at the age of 82. An enthusiast of all aspects of the sport, OrtizPatino’s ‘spectacular’ collection includes art, antique clubs and balls, books and other memorabilia. A highlight of the auction is a golf club dating back to 1680, thought to be one of the oldest clubs still in existence which could fetch between €60,000 and €80,000. Ortiz-Patino, founder of the prestigious Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande, is considered to

Minister for Tourism. The alliance includes such clubs as the La Cala Resort, Marbella Golf Country Club, Golf Finca Cortesin, Santa Clara Golf and GreenLife Golf. Hotels involved in the group are the Marbella Heights-Boutique Hotel and La Reserva del Higueron. The 13 integrated busines-

ses are working with the committee to look for more partnership and better the golf tourism sector. Last year, 300,000 golf tourists visited Malaga, directly adding €400 million to the economy, and indirectly generating €900 million. Experts predict a 4.5-5% increase this year.

Collection which belonged to an Andalucian legend to be sold at Sotheby’s

be one of the driving forces behind bringing major golf to Spain. In 1997, Valderrama hosted the first-ever Ryder Cup in continental Europe. Ortiz-Patino also saw 16 Volvo Masters, two World Golf Championship events and two Andalucia Masters tournaments held at his course. The auction will take place at Sotheby’s on July 15.

Hacked off

LEGENDS of Spanish football have gone head-tohead with journalists for a charity golf tournament in Mijas. The Manu Sarabia Trophy featured a host of soccer stars including the former national striker which the tournament takes its name from. Also on course were Real Madrid heroes Santillana and Isidoro San Jose,

along with Sevilla star Jose Salguero and ex-Chelsea player Neil Clement. The journalist team, led by renowned golf writer Jose Angel, was made up of several sports reporters from Diario Sur and several other publications. All proceeds from the three day event went to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation and Asociacion Cielo133.

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FEATURE

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EAT MORE BUGS! Europeans should eat more insects to fight world hunger, obesity and help the environment

NSECTS have long been well integrated into African and Asian cuisine. Close to 2000 insect species are eaten across the world, but to most Europeans the idea of eating an insect is, well simply, disgusting. However, according to the Food and Agricultural branch of the United Nations, we should all be

by Rose Lapp incorporating a variety of insects into our diets. As well as a solution to growing world hunger, the UN report claims increased consumption of insects in Europe and America could help combat a dangerous rise in obesity. Insects have the same

protein and mineral content as meat and fish, with the added benefit of healthy nutrients and lower fat content. As an added benefit, insect consumption is better for the environment, as their production emits fewer harmful gasses. Here the Olive Press gives a breakdown on five common insects available to those living in Spain:

Most commonly consumed insects Beetles

With the highest overall protein content, beetles are among the most commonly eaten insects in the world. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re often eaten fried, after being stripped of wings and legs.

Caterpillars

Full of iron, caterpillars are suggested supplements for children and pregnant women. Though they can be cooked a number of ways, caterpillars are often dried and eaten later.

Bees and Wasps

Bees are a popular, crunchy snack in countries in South America and in Asia. Bees, apparently, taste like peanuts and almonds, whereas wasps have a pine-nut flavour.

Ants

Though it takes a lot of ants to make a meal, this insect contains a higher protein percentage than eggs. Famously low in calories, ants also provide calcium and iron. Ants can be dried and sprinkled over rice, or used to add texture to chocolate.

Grasshoppers and Crickets

These insects are the easiest to find and to catch. A great source of protein, they have a neutral taste, easily absorbing other flavours. Crickets are often sautĂŠed.

Belinda Beckett (aka Mistress of Sizzle) on why she’s not an IT girl

OP Columnists

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M I the only journalist in the world who doesn’t get excited about the latest electronic gadgets? Call me old fashioned but low tech still rocks for me. And that’s not just because I started my career in the Stone Age of hot metal typesetting. Bill Gates is my age! My mobile phone isn’t ‘smart’ but it does all I ask of it. It’s mobile and it’s a

LONG LIVE THE NOTEBOOK! (And I don’t mean the Sony version) phone. I could have done with one, 20 years ago, when we hacks had to file from the

field via ye olde red public telephone box. (If we were literally in a field, it was just bad luck and we missed the edition.)

Tablets

So what if it doesn’t have internet access? I realise I could miss an important status update on Facebook while I’m out but I’ve got more Pinteresting things to do than Tweeting every five seconds. That may sound like a big ‘but’ – yet ‘social ‘notworking’ (as I call it) can be that, too … …. a Big, Unpaid Time-guzzler. I don’t use a tablet, either. But Holy Moses, does that make me a Luddite? There’s nothing really new there anyway, as Moses would know.

Footy Frenzy!

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PAIN’S national football team received a timely wake-up call at the Confederations Cup, the tournament that acts as a warm up to the World Cup proper. Beaten 3-0 by Brazil, the Spanish sports media did a huge amount of soul searching asking if this was the end of the golden age of Spanish football and wondering if this was the last time that they would see players such as Torres in the national side. They have certainly had a pretty good run of it. Two European Championships and a World Cup in the past five years is a fantastic achieve-

ment. But like all sports, football goes in cycles and the Spanish media surely didn’t think that all that their beloved La Roja had to do was simply turn up to win? In the same week that Rafa was turfed out of Wimbledon (and what a win for Murray!) and Fernando struggled to a third place at the British Grand Prix, you might be forgiven for thinking that Spain had given up on sport, such was the public outcry. It seems that, in Spain, winning football tournaments is as traditional as England going out on penalties in the semis.

Owning a Tower PC may make me an unevolved freak of nature but my sturdy keyboard is way more userfriendly than anything yet on the market. Words come more easily back in the comfort of my office and I get my coffee the way I like it!

Digital

Nor do I need to go to interviews with the latest video, film and digital recording equipment. There’s nothing guaranteed to scare off an interview subject like the threat of saying or doing something stupid and inerasable on film or tape. I’m after the sizzle and subtlety is required to encourage my subjects to spill the beans! Anyway, for photos and video we still have photographers. Let’s not do them out of a liv-

Whiter than White I didn’t make it down to the Noche de San Juan celebrations this year, but once again was struck by the fact that popping on a white shirt, leaping over flames and taking a paddle in the sea is a fairly low key way of cleansing your sins. One of my colleagues remarked that with my lifestyle, four tubs of whitewash, a flamethrower and water canon borrowed from Istambul might be more appropriate…

As seen on TV If you saw the tragic deaths of the Wood family in Mijas, you may have noticed yours truly being interviewed by the BBC. It’s the second time the Beeb has called on the services of ‘Our Man in Marbella’, and it presented me with a sartorial problem. I was due to go to a beach party that night and was wearing a T-shirt with a big logo on the front. Five minutes before going live I realised that this might not be the most appropriate outfit. So if you were looking closely you might have noticed that I was wearing my T-shirt inside out, thus hiding the logo. I now never travel without a crisp white shirt in the back of the 4x4, just in case.

Old School. Belinda goes back to the book ing yet! The very thought of investing in the latest gadget brings me out in a cold sweat. Too much choice can be no choice at all! The more labour-saving bells and whistles on offer, the more labour-intensive it is working out how to use them. May I share with you the benefits of the best tool in my journalistic arsenal? • There are no service provider costs • You can use it in bright sunlight • It works anywhere, without power, batteries or the need to comb the area for wifi hotspots • It’s the ultimate in portability, fitting into a pocket or average-sized (not Prada supersized) handbag • Storage is unlimited – when it’s full you simply boot up a new one • It’s 100% virus proof and will never crash • It’s recyclable and doesn’t fry your brain with microwaves • Losing it doesn’t mean your entire life’s work gone forever • It works with just one app a pen As you’ve probably guessed I’m talking about the humble paper notebook, the reporter’s failsafe ever since a certain Thomas W. Holley, a Massachusetts lawyer, invented them in 1888.

Progress

Not being totally anti-progress, I advocate the later, ringbound version. Many attempts have been made to integrate the simplicity of the notebook in a computer but nothing has quite measured up. Not Netbooks nor PalmTops nor Digital Paper nor Voice–to-Text software (which, if you speak with any accent at all, comes out as gobbledygook). Best of all, a notebook is completely unhackable. Well, you just try reading my shorthand!

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Making your golden years matter

ou’ve worked hard over the years to care for your family and to build that nest egg. Now you’re looking at your retirement years, but where do you want to spend them. Do you have dreams of travel? Do you picture yourself on a sunny beach sipping margaritas? Do you want to take up the hobbies you’ve never had time to enjoy: woodworking, painting, music? Whatever your retirement dreams, you’ll need to decide in a cer- mean a limitation of public serwhethtain cli- vices — another consideration Granny quote er to m a t e ? in your final decision. s t a y Do you right The hardest years in life are e n j o y General Living Condiwhere those between ten and 70. the out you are of doors tions - Helen Hayes or take a n d the opn e e d The general living conditions portub i k e are often those intangibles nity to trails, hiking trails and other that you don’t see or learn make a change in location. outdoor recreational sites about with just a one-time visit to give you optimal satisfac- to a new area. What safety facCost of Living tion? Are you a golfer or tennis tors do you need to be aware player? How important is it to of? Is there a high incidence of You’ll most likely need to re- have those facilities nearby? crime or gang activity nearby? vise your monthly budget down Don’t underestimate the lo- Are there libraries and other a bit once you’re retired. You’ll cal climate and beauty of your senior social offerings in your pay more for your health care chosen home. target living area? Can you and your income will easily find doctors, denmost likely decrease. If tists and hospital care? Granny fact you’ve planned well, you Are there opportunities may have your mortgage for volunteer work in the What is a grandparent, paid off, or you may decommunity? Are there cide this is the time to sidewalks, footpaths, according to a child? sell. The cost of buying a bike paths and the like? “Grandparents are a lady and new home, food, gas and Is there a variety of eata man who have no children other monthly expenses ing establishments that will be a big deciding of their own. They like other suit your needs? Will factor in choosing your you be able to access people’s. They don’t have to do retirement location. Do the activities you enjoy anything except be there when your research, because most? Day to day living we come to see them and they the cost of living is just is enriched by the opone of the factors to conare so old they shouldn’t play portunity to take part in sider when making this the things you love doing or run too much. It’s great as all-important decision. and to be safe while you they drive us to the shops and do them. Check it out have lots of money for us.” through your local chamClimate/Scenic bers of commerce and Beauty through online searches.

Juliet Hambro offers her top tips to get the best out of your retirement dreams

What climate do you enjoy? Some like the stark beauty of desert areas and the sunshine that comes along with that drier climate. Others love the mountains and trees of northern climates which also include a lot of cloudy, rainy days. Does your health require you to live

The Tax Climate for Retirees

Where Your Children Live

Spend the necessary time to know the tax laws for retirees in your prospective home area. You may find that retirees are given special tax breaks in certain areas and are charged more in others. Is there a state or local income tax? Don’t make the mistake of buying property only to find you can’t afford the taxes. Remember that low taxes may also

Many retirees are happy to choose their living location in the place they like the most and then travel when they want to visit family. Others want to live near their family members if at all possible. Either way, your retirement decision will affect the entire extended family for a period of years. Young people are more transient than ever and their jobs will move them periodically. You may find you choose a home near your loved ones only to find that they must move away. What will be the best decision for you? Today’s retiree enjoys better health and a greater degree of activity than ever before. Retirement can last 20 or 30 years or even longer. Your fi-

www.askgranny.com is a unique website and resource for grandparents and senior citizens worldwide created by Granny Juliet and provides useful information on a number of topics.

nancial health will dictate many of the decisions related to living location, but don’t neglect the above five areas as you make important retirement decisions. Whatever your

choice, look forward to retirement as a time to stay active, enjoy life and give of your time and skills to enrich your new community.

Granny quote Leave something for someone, but don’t leave someone for something. Enid Blyton

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James Whaley, owner of The Hurricane Hotel in Tarifa, loves the strange-looking and delicious artichoke. And as he reveals, he’ll do just about anything to get some for his popular restaurant

Anything for the artichokes B

Choke hold: Jerusalem artichokes

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it by bit, our restaurant started filling up after we opened it in Tarifa 25 years ago. I hate hotels where you are forced to eat a dinner you don’t want, so I wanted to turn the hotel restaurant into something fantastic. In order to attract more foodies, I needed to improve the menu, I figured. One of my favorite soups is made from Jerusalem artichokes, but they are difficult to find in southern Spain, as they need a freeze in winter like apples, daffodils and tulips. However, they can be easily bought in the fruit and veg market in Tangiers, so one winter day I took the ancient Russian-built hydrofoil to the dark continent, accompanied by my Spanish sister in law, Nieves, and her son. On arrival in Tangiers, snake charmers insisted on taking photos of Nieves with hideous snakes draped around her neck. As she was frightened of all sorts of animals including dogs, cats, horses, cows and chickens I thought she would refuse – but she complied. “I thought you hated animals,” I said after her Polaroid snapshot had been taken for a hefty sum. “I do,” she replied, “apart from snakes and spiders.” How strange, I thought, of all the animals to like. After lunch, a storm broke out, so I bought umbrellas… and I finally found my Jerusalem artichokes. I bought several kilos in the market where you don’t have to haggle as the prices are written up in Dirham. Tourists gener-

ally buy carpets and jewelry anyway, not mint and coriander. The storm increased so the Russian hydrofoil couldn’t leave the port. We were obliged to spend the night in the Minzah, the most expensive hotel in the town. As it had turned cold, I bought my nephew a leather jacket and a woolen coat for my sister in law. As the storm was still raging the following day, we hailed a taxi to drive us to Ceuta, where we spent the night in another expensive hotel and the following day took the ferry to Algeciras. On the way back to Tarifa in the taxi, Nieves made some calculations. “I reckon,” she said “what with the price of the hotels, the clothes you bought, the taxis and the ferries, these few kilos of ‘potatoes’ have cost you about three hundred pounds sterling.” Back at the Hurricane, I made Jerusalem artichoke soup (you can find the recipe on internet – I add some lettuce to turn it a pleasant green colour or you can add fresh artichoke hearts to give it a boost.) The remaining artichokes I gave to the gardener to plant but he forgot about them so they rotted in his shed. Of course, they never would have grown in the warm climate of Southern Spain but I didn’t know that in those days. Either way, the soup was a great success and to this day if any friend or guest goes to Tangiers for a day trip I advise them not to buy any carpets but to bring me back a few kilos of Jerusalem artichokes.

Braised artichokes

ut off the prickly bits of the artichokes, and cut them in half vertically. Dig out the choke (the fuzzy part above the heart), pull off the outer leaves and trim the bottom. Heat a large skillet with olive oil or butter, and put each half cut-side down in the skillet. When they begin to brown, add stock or white wine and cover the pan. After about 20 minutes remove the artichokes, but continue heating up the remaining liquid in the pan, adding a squeeze of lemon and a bit more butter or oil to make a lovely sauce.

Artichokes Facts 1. The artichoke is technically a flower that hasn’t yet bloomed. 2. Italy, Egypt and Spain are the world’s top producers of artichokes. 3. Jupiter is said to have turned the goddess Cynara into an artichoke when he did not return her love. 4. Cynar is a popular Italian liquor made of artichokes. 5. One artichoke plant can produce 20 artichokes per year.

6. Although normally served with fattening butter or aoli, the artichoke itself is a healthy superfood: basically fat-free and very low in sodium, one whole artichoke is surprisingly only 25 calories. 7. Until the 16th century, women were prohibited from eating artichokes in many places because they were considered strong aphrodisiacs. 8.In 1948, Marilyn Monroe was crowned the “Artichoke Queen.”

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Top chef threatens to quit Spain It comes after a tax raid that shut down Sergi Arola’s popular Madrid restaurant by Rose Lapp

Consula gets urgent cash injection to keep going THE Junta has promised to save the celebrated La Consula cookery school with an urgent cash injection. The cookery school in Churriana, which is popular with celebrities including Antonio Banderas, was forced to close a fortnight ago when a lack of supplies made it impossible for its pupils to cook. It led to dozens of pupils to go out into the nearby streets protesting, with a banner that read: ‘They’re robbing our future’. But now the Junta has promised to give the school – which has taught at least five Michelin-starred chefs, including Marbella’s Dani Garcia - the necessary €635,000 to keep it going.

Financial problems have been accumulating over the last 15 months, as La Consula went further into debt. As resources dwindled, employees worked for months without pay. But while the school had been asking the Education Department for financial help for months, the government did not acknowledge its requests until late May. This grant from the Junta, half of which is to be paid up front, is meant to allow for La Consula’s reopening in September. While the school is staying optimistic about reopening, officials say it may take a while to get the restaurant back up and running.

ONE of Spain’s top chefs is threatening to quit the country after the bar of his restaurant was shut down by tax collectors. Double Michelin-starred Sergi Arola is furious after his popular Madrid restaurant Gastro was raided by six inspectors on a busy Saturday last week. The team barged into the restaurant's lunchtime sitting and humiliated Arola in front of his staff. It comes after it emerged he had been struggling financially, accumulating a debt of around €300,000 over the past few years. The Valencian chef, who is a keen advocate of responsible eating, insisted however, that he had been in negotiation over a payment plan for months. While he admits he owes a lot of money, he claims he has presented a payment plan to the tax department and was waiting for it to be accepted. He even recently put his house on the market in a bid to raise money. He has now told the Spanish press he is not sure what his next move will be or whether he will even continue running his restaurant. However, he insists he has a 'clear conscience' and is keeping his calm.

the olive press - July 10 - July 24 201361 61

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Pancho’s Punch There are so many famous faces branching into wine, explains Olive Press wine expert Pancho Campo

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EVERY SIP YOU TAKE

elebrities around the world are becoming more involved in the production and promotion of their own wines. This craze has boosted the popularity of wine and is a great benefit to the industry. Some stars are true experts and have a tremendous experience in tasting the fine wines of the world. A couple of years ago I was invited to Julio Iglesias´s residence in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to try some gorgeous wines from his collection of 50,000. As part owner of Montecastro winery, in Ribera del Duero, he has an excellent knowledge and passion for the grape. Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary Hollywood director, was my guest at a conference I organised in Hong Kong in 2010. Francis owns several wineries in California under the name of Francis Ford Coppola Winery and produces numerous styles of wines. He is a true connoisseur and en-

Sting owns a winery at his fantastic villa in Tuscany where he makes a red wine under the name ‘Sister Moon’ joys wine and food tremendously. Sting owns a winery at his fantastic villa in Tuscany where he makes a red wine under the name of Sister Moon. My wife and I had the honour of being invited by Sting and his wife, Trudie, where we enjoyed a superb BBQ with several premium Italian wines. Recently, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt got involved with Chateau Miraval in the French Provence. This region is famous for its light, fresh, pale and elegant rose wines. Miraval back in the 1970 was the property of the famous pianist Jacques Loussier who created a recording studio within the chateau, used by names such as Pink Floyd, the Gipsy Kings, Sting and Sade among others. Today it is the summer residence of Brad and Angelina and where they make a fantastic wine under the supervision of the Perrin family, a legendary name from the Rhône. The list of wine-loving celebrities goes on; golf icon Greg Norman; Kiwi actor Sam Neil; football star Lionel Messi; singer Mick Hucknall; Barça striker Andrés Iniesta and Gerard Depardieu.

STAND SO CLOSE TO ME: Pancho and Sting, while (right from top) Coppola’s wine, Brad and Angelina, Gerard Depardieu, Antonio Banderas and Chateau Miraval and Julio Iglesias’ Iglesias Vieja

Eating out at

RESTAURANTE USATEGUI

idrería Usategui is one of the very few restaurants in Marbella where I have been going for lunch or dinner for the last eight years. A traditional Basque cider house or “sidreria” the restaurant was founded 13 years ago. Located in the neighbourhood of El Mirador, it has wooden tables and benches, decorated with large barrels of cider but with the charm of a traditional Basque cider house. Usategui is the kind of place you go to eat good

traditional food made with superb products. It has a beautiful Basque ‘chuletón’ or steak on the bone, and a nice cellar where you can find a pretty good selection of Spanish reds. Although red wine is my thing, I strongly recommend you try the house cider that you can serve yourself straight from one of the three huge barrels they have right in the middle of the restaurant. If you are not a fan of red meat go for fish. “Merluza a la Vasca” (hake), clams, grilled fish of the day and cod are just some of the specialties. To finish the meal order “leche frita” or fried milk, which is delicious, not too

USATEGUI: Authentic Basque Charm sweet but enough to cleanse your palate. Sideraria Usategui offers excellent quality for a reasonable price and it is a true culinary

experience, with great ambiance, as well as a friendly and efficient service. Book in advance on weekends www. sidreriausategui.com

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Pretty in pink

Big leap in Rosé wine sales helping Spanish producers by Rose Lapp

PANISH Rosé is having something of a renaissance in the UK. Sales of the wine have soared by 11% so far this year with the main region’s benefiting said to be Rioja, in Spain, and Provence, in France. Long thought of as a lowerquality alternative to more expensive, sophisticated whites, it is now coming into its own. According to wine expert Helen McGinn it is the perfect summer drink. ‘Light and sweet, it’s ideal for relaxing on a hot July night,’ she writes. The author of the Knackered

The roses from Spain are more dry and fruit than elsewhere in the world Mother’s Wine Club has picked no less than three Spanish roses in her list of the Top Ten best buys in the UK. She says the roses from Spain are typically more dry and fruity than elsewhere in the world. This makes them perfect for

MUMMY KNOWS BEST: Author McGinn and (above) Rioja savoury and salty foods like jamon or chorizo. Above all, McGinn names picked Toro Loco 2012, sold at Aldi, as the best deal of the summer. Rating it as a fabulous 8/10, best of all it only costs €3.69 for a bottle. Also among her favourites is Spanish wine Pelayo Rosé sold at Asda, while Tesco’s Simply Pink moscatel rated as 5/10, and Waitrose Spanish rose came in at 7/10. In general the Rioja wines are approximately half the price of their French couterparts.

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‘Must do’ Malaga What will Thiago do? MANCHESTER United are in a tug of war over Spanish starlet Thiago Alcantara. They have offered the 22-year-old Barcelona player Thiago Alcantara, who captained Spain’s Under21s to victory in the European Championship earlier this summer, triple his salary in a deal worth £15million.

City sees its tourism numbers double in just five years

IT used to be said that 99% of visitors to Malaga airport didn’t visit the city. Tourists used to instead jump in their cars to visit the flesh pots of the Costa del Sol or seek out the better known tourist cities of Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba. Now that has apparenlty all changed with news that visitors to Malaga city have doubled in just five years. In wonderful news for the capital of the Costa del Sol, it has emerged that the number of cruise line tourists has more than doubled (126%) while the number of visitors coming for conferences has almost doubled (90%). Malaga’s tourism minister Damian Caneda insisted the growth proved how the town hall’s tourism strategy was more than working. “We are very satisfied at a time of economic crisis” he said. Javier Gonzalez de Lara, president of the Malaga Confederation of Businesses, added that Malaga had undergone a great change and was now a much more attractive destination. “Málaga is now an important destination for the tourist.” he said Reasons for the growth are being put down to the new port and marina, as well as current restoration projects including the Customs House Museum and the Baños del Carmen. But its burgeoning art scene and the opening of its Roman amphitheatre must also take the honours. Other reasons must include the pedestrianisation of the old town, a booming restaurant scene and better promotion of its monuments.

Half of Spain’s parents have left kids in cars NEARLY half of all Spanish parents admit to having left their child behind in the car after forgetting that they were there. According to a report by the Spanish Paediatric Association this can be lethal in summer leading to heat stroke. “It can bring on multiple organ failure caused by dangerously-high body temperatures and thus a very real risk of death,” said doctor Jordi

SUFFERING TO BE SO VERY BRITISH BRITONS abroad are an eclectic bunch, enjoying the experience, but above all they like to suffer in silence. Now a new Twitter site @SoVeryBritish is highlighting some of the obvious ways to tell a Brit abroad. They include ‘running out of ways to say thanks when a succession of doors are held open for you, having already deployed ‘cheers’, ‘ta’ and ‘nice one’. Also ‘saying sorry as a way of catching someone’s attention’, and ‘protecting your area at baggage reclaim as if the lives of your family depend on it.’

Pou Children’s body temperatures rise three to five times faster than those of adults, as they have lower bodily reserves of water. Under fours are at the most risk of heatstroke. Temperatures inside cars can rise by between 10ºC and 15ºC in just minutes once the vehicle is stationary and opening the windows makes no difference, since it merely allows extra heat to enter. “They can suffer from hyperthermia within under 20 minutes of being left in an excessively hot car,” continued paediatrician Dr Pau. “And once hyperthermia has set in, the child can die within two hours.”

Glucose

Children suffering from heat stroke should be moved to a cool place, removing all clothes and giving them a rehydrating drink – available from chemists – containing glucose and saline solution. Mix this with cool, but not ice-cold water, and mop them with a cold, wet flannel or sponge, particularly on the wrists and back of the neck, then get them to A&E as quickly as possible.

DANGER: It can take just 20 mins for a child to die in a hot car

Hair bear causes quite a stir! AN Andalucian woman has made news around Spain... for not shaving! Malaga journalist Paloma Goni has made headlines of her own after going public with the admission that she doesn’t shave her legs or armpits On her blog Aires de Cambio, she admitted she hadn’t touched a razor blade for nine months. She explains—without modesty—her compelling arguments for going ‘wild,’ saying she felt it is a waste of time, ‘nonsense’ brought on by society, and downright ‘torture.’ She also includes photos of her in a short skirt and tank top. The photos and the post have caused quite a ruckus online, sparking a dialogue on the issue. Not worried the least bit with aesthetics or social norms, Goni is undeniably making quite a statement. “I’m a very hairy woman,” she says simply. And she seems to be just fine with it.