Costa Blanca South Olive Press - Issue 7 by Olive Press Newspaper Spain

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OLIVE PRESS

COSTA BLANCA SUR / MURCIA

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Your expat

voice in Spain

Vol. 1 Issue 7 www.theolivepress.es February 6th - February 19th 2020

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND? Take a visit to Spain’s secret Acropolis See page 10

Oh and it’s Valentines Day, chaps! Don’t Forget Find our romantic recipes inside

LIFE ON THE EDGE, See page 5

Goose chase trade deal

A UK plan for a Canada-style free trade deal with the European Union has been rejected. It comes as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out his vision for a trade deal with Brussels insisting there was ‘no need’ to follow EU rules. His aim is an agreement like the one Canada signed in 2016 where import tariffs on most goods have been eliminated. The flow of services, such as banking – which is of more importance to the UK – however are much more restricted. He also mentioned however, that if this deal is not reached the UK will return to the Withdrawal Agreement, or have a similar deal to Australia. Boris used his speech - titled ‘unleashing Britain’s potential’ - to highlight the fact that the UK intends to revert to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms if the EU refuses such a deal. He said: “The choice is emphatically not ‘deal or no deal’. “The question is whether we agree a trading relationship with the EU comparable to Canada’s - or more like Australia’s. In either case, I have no doubt that Britain will prosper mightily.” See Time’s Up on page 6

Charity case See page 14

HUNDREDS of British-run charity shops are ignoring new Spanish laws that require them to charge value added tax (IVA) on second-hand goods. A tax clampdown has seen a number already slammed with big fines, with many more now in the firing line, the Olive Press can reveal. One well known shop on the Costa Blanca is now facing fines of ‘up to €24,000’ after an inspection revealed they charged no IVA on sales throughout 2018. The Torrevieja charity’s accountant, who asked not to be named, said shops are being viewed as any other high-street business following law changes to crackdown on fraudulent behaviour. “The government’s view is that it is not fair that a legitimate business is charging IVA on sales while next door a charity shop can cut down prices,” the accountant told the Olive Press this week. “There are a lot of expats who need to make themselves aware that this is not a clampdown but merely the government doing its job properly.” The accountant said he was fighting Hacienda over the money demanded from his client as the client ‘was not aware’ of the laws. He pointed out that back home in the UK, charity shops enjoy zero-rated VAT on sales of donated

Hundreds of British-run charity shops are facing fines after ignoring tax laws EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

goods. It comes as another British charity, which has two shops in Torrevieja, has also been hit with a €5,000 fine after an inspection revealed no IVA was paid on second-hand items in 2017. “It’s completely unfair,” the president, who asked to remain nameless to protect the charity’s humanitarian work, told the Olive Press. “Our charity steps in because the government is failing to care for its citizens, and now we have to pay them for it? “Factoring 21% IVA into existing prices will heavily affect the work we do and mean we reach fewer people in need.” The president added his two charity shops were some ‘of the very few’ British-run enterprises which are now adding the tax. He urged all charity shops to make double sure they are not liable to

UNDER PRESSURE: Charity shops face hefty Government fines fines. “You have to bear in mind that most Susan Weeding, who operates four of our rescues come at the request of charity shops for her Easy Horse police and councils directly – someCare Rescue Centre in Rojales, said times from as far as Murcia and she ‘might as well give up’ if she Granada. starts having to pay IVA to the gov- “We’re not allowed to re-home them ernment. as they become evidence in court “The September storms already left cases, so why should we be hit by the the Vega Baja region with no forage government for doing our best?” crops and we’re now in debt just to keep our 121 horses, ponies and Opinion Page 6 donkeys alive,” she said.

CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Beach rubbish OVER two tonnes of plastic and other rubbish was collected by 100 volunteers from the coast around El Carmoli in the Mar Menor on Sunday 2nd. The event was organised to coincide with World Wetlands Day.

People power SAN JAVIER residents raised concerns to Murcia Guardia Civil about a mix of Spanish, Colombian and Moroccan men stealing from cars - 12 are now being detained.

Car Tax fines CARTAGENA Town Hall is reminding motorists in the municipality that fines will be levied for those that don’t pay car tax (IVTM) before the end of the March.

Illegal Fish TORREVIEJA authorities seized 800kg of fish that was destined for hotels and restaurants. The octopus, grouper, sea bass and other stock didn’t have relevant paperwork showing its source - and was considered a health risk.

Charity posers A ROMANIAN woman has been arrested after posing as a fundraiser for a deaf and dumb charity in Cabo de Palos. Three of her family members, all based in Elche, are also being questioned in relation to the charges. It comes after the Guardia Civil pursued the family in a dramatic car chase on the AP-7 following complaints that they had been pickpocketing members of the public. The car containing two men and two women was found to have hundreds of flyers in the boot, all representing a fake charity for deaf and dumb people.

January 23th - February 5th 2020

Spiking alert By Dilip Kuner

TOURISTS are being warned to watch out for an alarming spate of drink spikings in Spain. The American embassy in Madrid has put out a security alert after a rise in sex assaults against its citizens. It is now urging Americans to take precautions against predators by watching out for spiked drinks and avoiding being alone.

US embassy issues sex attack warning telling public to ‘watch out’ for drinks spiking

In a message on its website, it warned: “The Spanish Ministry of Interior reports a steady increase in the number of sexual assaults over the past five

The story behind the name

I went from working in a senior role within a large corporate financial services company, where I was well respected, to entering a very male dominated industry here in Spain, where I knew from that very first day, I had a mountain to climb! It didn’t take me long to see the magnitude of differences between how Financial Advisers operated in Spain compared to the UK and it amazed me back then, as it does today, some of the things that go on. It was tough, I constantly felt like I was swimming against the tide trying to create a reputation that was honest and trustworthy within an industry that just seemed have such a bad reputation. I remember being embarrassed about being a financial adviser, watching people’s reactions when I told them what I did, as

I was a good financial adviser that had just entered a country where ‘good’ and ‘financial adviser’ was rarely used in the same sentence. What I didn’t know back then was that this was going to be the biggest challenge of my life! My journey over the last 9 years has had its lows, most particularly seeing the industry ‘named and shamed’ in what felt like every edition of every newspaper following the notorious collapse of Continental Wealth Management, a firm who operated not too far from my own office. Chorus had been publicly warning against their practises for several years prior to the collapse, but we were also central in supporting many of their victims afterwards. This was a tough and emotional time as we got to see firsthand the damage that company had done to real people’s lives. This left the reputation of our entire industry in tatters, and trust at an all-time low. These lows did of course help me deve-

Drinkspiking outcry silenced

The Olive Press launches

a campaign against

drink-spiking, see page 2

olive press

the

The original and only English-language investigative newspape r in Andalucía

THE British Consulate has joined the offensive against sexual attacks in iday hotspots. Spanish holLet HiFX help you Will Middleton, Vol. 8 Issue 193 reach your consular director the British www.theolivepress.es instigated a series for Spain, August 7 - August destination. 20 2014 posters warning of dramatic British tourwww.hifx.co.uk ists how to stay safe on nights out. ‘Don’t walk home with someone you alone or it could cost you don’t trust, read one poster. your life’, ‘Keep an eye on your drink: It second for your only takes a night out to turn into a nightmare’, said another. However, Ibiza’s book, Linkedin tourist inand by word dustry has shockingly of mouth, operates silenced Middleton’s Exclusive own home as well out of his Hill, 52, was also attempt to crackdown on By Tom P0well clients’ both on the as visiting a hearing of the struck off in coast and Nursing and ing and sexual drink-spikregularly back in Midwifery Council assaults by A MENTAL England. in August banning the posters. The UK Nursing health nurse who 2011, banning him from pracwas sacked and jailed The Consulate’s hearing report on Council’s for tor- tising as a nurse in England. Hill, who turing an 85-year-old come just weeks warnings qualified as a mental after the tia patient is giving demen- But he did not attend the Olive Press launched nurse in 1983, states: health Recently retired its own jections on the Costabotox in- hearing, with UK newspapers “There campaign against is no evidence footballer-turne Premiership reporting he was del Sol. drink-spikbefore the d-MarbellaDavid Hill was working at a ing – called Smash panel of either insight businessman David the Spikfor six months in imprisoned botox clinic in Spain. or reBentley morse.” on living in Spain pleading guilty to 2010, after Fast forward four years and A spokeswoman and humiliating’ ‘degrading the Olive Press has traced See Page 21 Council, Ann Brown,for the told the bound Dorothy wheelchair- Hill, now living with his wife Olive Press that Tunstall at a in a luxury villa in UK care home in the Atalaya Spain, Hill now by moving to development, St Helens, comes Estepona, and Liverpool. under ‘the jurisdiction working as a self-employed of the equivJudge Robert Warnock alent Spanish authority’. told ‘aesthetic practitioner’. Hill at Liverpool Hill: Jailed for abuse Court: “You grossly Crown But when client Natalie Rose discovered abused his unsavoury what he had No remorse your patient’s trust, done ently for your own appar- past via a Google search, she ens I was amazed,in St Hel- “He cannot practise perverse immediately raised the as a nurse shocked in England enjoyment. alarm and upset. but according bell. “You force-fed “My mum had dementia February 2014 report, to a “I’ve her, known it you and apDavid for three he was so sympathetic flicked food in pears non-registered people with can you put her in her face and years, I even introduced him me, but now I am appalled, he the still administer Botox in spun her arounda hoist and to people in Coin and helped must have no shame,” UK,” she confirmed. when you him advertise on Facebook,” Rose, knew she was terrified.” ing – following who has lived inadded However, the Spanish British expat Rose minisCoin try of health investigation intoan exclusive confirmed that Olive Press. “Whentold the with her family for 11 years. attacks in to administer botox Spain’s most popular I saw Hill, who advertises on in Spain, Face- you must holiday destinations. be a qualified doc- Retracing seminal 1960s’ Costa del Sol novel tor and registered. The investigation And the Ocean Clinic complete absence revealed a See Page 22 in Marbella confirmed: statistics in Spainof official regardto be a qualified “You need ing reports of drink-spiking minister Botox indoctor to ad– from police, hospitals and registered with Spain, and town halls – despite the Ministry rumours of Health.” that this type of crime is on When contacted the increase. Press, Hill statedby the Olive Our aims are simple: that he is a more ‘fully trained and statistics, better policing, thetic practitioner’,legal aesclearer advice. in both Spain and working The Olive Press is currently “I was told I did England. in communication not need with a the certificate from British consul, town the Ministry halls in of Health to administer Continues page and fillers in Spain,” botox 2 More than 65,000 he said, while expressing people sign petition no remorse demanding a stop for his previous actions. to Donkey carousels A look at the high “I went to prison - see page 11 life in thing I didn’t do,” for some- our Sotogrande supplement he claimed.

FREE

Olive Press discover s shameles off nurse giving botox injections, jailed and struck s on Costa del Sol

My new golden goal

SMASH

the spiking

Mapping The

the olive press - August

7 - August 20 2014

s.es Driftersolivepres ... www.the

StopNEWS the ride! CRIME

SMASH the

spiking BIG developments have insists potential victims World of A Norwegian expat after she was drugged and been made by tech experts its Own into preventing drink-spikneed to be warned, e ing. I A UK-based company has assaulted in Alicant jump out of the window, See Pages 25-31

a small Find your dream property developed ‘Spikey’, have.” would Turn today! to page 8 toidentity plastic tube and stopper find out more Despite numerous glass who EXCLUSIVE the confessions that fits into most people parades, A NORWEGIAN expat 694 473 055 and a pre- bottles to prevent three menide.com By Imogen Calderwood of all spainbuyinggu was drugged and brutally in the is deliminary hearing dropping substances raped on a night out story felt in March in front drink. termined to have her to her side to a taxi rank, and I them that of a Benidorm Clubs can even order told and bring justice safe because I was sure to their judge, there is in bulk to hand out driver would realise taxi attackers. the asstill no court case patrons. A year after she was something was wrong. If you don’t fancy a bottled pending. saulted after being drugged “But then one of the three to here is “Everything just drink then pd.id by David in an Albir bar, in Alicante guys walked to the driver’s I help. Developed takes so long. got in, and I reUK TV Solutions province, Goril Hvidsten to side andwas his taxi. an- Wilson, a medical technolonly want Installations has waived her right alised it one get a expert, this small, USB swers and no Troubleshootogy anonymity in an attempt “You’re always told to out lives ing device victhem. me night drive-sized give potential a • can to warn other 663 303 932 / 675 taxi home after 033 474 drink and flashes info@alpusat.coin your I have a Spanish that’s the safest tims. www.alpusat.com he’s mwhenever it has been tamto me, because men on and these happened lawyer was Hvidsten has it Goril this But “If Fully accreditted BSKYB technician JUSTICE NEEDED: know, way. with. in Las Alpujarraspered trying to basedhelp (inset) Goril’s and to other people I other that attacked me.” to a the the road to recovery, and me, but it’s just It can even be synced attack who knows how many are,” Hvidsten was driven to give notithe day after the brutal the system here. smartphone and chemical countless victims there Olive Romanian man’s apart- injuries raped that crushed three front teeth fications when the There are so many excuses. Hvidsten, 48, told the ment, where she was has composition of your drink three men. that Hvidsten was The Olive Press Press. who by all identity parades on three clude , launched campaign changes. a “What about the girls and “They were so relaxed, like of drugged with Scolapamine occasions. known as burun- against drink-spiking in aren’t in their 40s to go they had done this before, different The bar-owner showed otherwise exclusive aren’t strong enough like it was an everyday CCTV footage of Hvidsten danga, previously reported Spain, after an an sufferare invesrevealed that Press police, investigation to the thing. men to other taxi on in the Olive left early because and the the area, and one tigation into drink-spiking alarming absence of statising in silence.” in in “One man to go back to driving drivers tics and advice for tourists. Hvidsten - who arrived - was he had identified the Romanian in Spain. fast- The campaign, which aims Albir in August 2013 she his taxi. The drug is powerful, as his own brother. touroutside the bar whenthree “It was so brutal that I was manthree men have admit- acting and notoriously sim- to improve safety for aims: All administer as it does ists, has three simple was approached by and a bruised and scarred all over, of ted to having sex with Hvid- ple to but more statistics, better policmen: two Spaniards and they crushed three not need to be ingested sten, but deny the charges teeth. ing, clearer advice. get in Romanian. merely inhaled. drugging and raping her. of beers my front and like to “I had only had two But “When it was over one go of say I must “He had it on his fingerput it If you would Olive Press doctors “The can drunk. you and from touch with the so I was far reached over them said ‘Okay, have been drugged because just any aspect of the camkicked me out.” nose, and I was suddenly I was completely re- now’ and reported the crime of the violence I endured,” under my spell for seven about email newsdesk@ don’t I control. of his paign, out under the Hvidsten five argued Hvidsten. the hours. theolivepress.es member much fromsome to the police in Altea and Medical reports from to next seven hours, but days after the assault, out Hospital Comarcal con- “If they had asked me things are very clear. out- has picked her attackers “I remember walking Find us on facebook.com/alpusat.al

pujarra

American sisters who made complaints of rape and sexual aggression following a New Year’s Eve party in Murcia made international headlines before Christmas. Three Lebanese men, who deny the allegations, were arrested and then released on bail. The sisters aged 18, 20 and 23 flew back to Ohio and are being kept informed of police inquiries. The Olive Press launched a campaign against drink spiking in 2014. It came after an investigation discovered that dozens of people had become victims during nights out on the Costa del Sol. our After 10 years of helping in Spain, customers buy safely Costa we’ve opened our new it even del Sol office to make property! easier to find your dream to From property agents all the legal advice, we have in one place. expertise you need

So whodunnit?

they thought ‘oh another one of them’ but the truth was, I wasn’t another one of them. This was my career and reputation, along with being the home where I was raising my family, and I was very much in this for the long term.

A SWEDISH expat had the shock of his life when he returned home to find it occuIn your face! pied by an armed drug trafficker. The unnamed Swede, 39, was forced to call police when he returned to his Torrevieja vilTech fights drinklangto find a 25-year-old narco s nd spiki ma de tim Rape vic pointing a gun at him. justice Guardia Civil arrived to the sounds of gunshots before seeing the suspect fire two more in the direction of the Swede and making a run for years. it. The Spaniard, who was “This includes a rise in soon cornered by agents, had sexual assaults against turned the expat’s home into young US visitors and stu- a drugs den, while the expat was away. dents throughout Spain.” rty today! am prope your dreafter Findcomes It three

FLASHBACK: Our spiking campaign and back issues

A GROUP of seven have been acquitted for the murder of a Costa Blanca mayor. The gang of alleged hitmen and rivals were absolved of the shooting of Polop politician Alejandro Ponsoda outside his home 13 years ago. Ponsoda died in hospital eight days after being shot three times as he arrived home, sparking a lengthy murder investigation. However, the prosecution was built around the testimony of one witness, who alleged the mayor’s successor Juan Cano conspired with a businessman and a brothel owner to contract three hitmen. The hit was allegedly arranged at a meeting held in the VIP room of the brothel. However the jury was not convinced, voting 5 to 4 in favour of acquittal. The prosecutors struggled to make their case after investigators found no bullet casings or DNA at the scene of the crime. “Leave me alone, I’m a normal person again,” Cano told reporters outside the court.

fter a successful 6 years working for a large UK financial services firm, I took a brave and bold move to enter the international market place some 9 years ago. Fed up with working in the city, the commuting, the cold weather and dark nights, I seized the opportunity to swap city life for beach life and made my move to the Costa Blanca. What an eye opener it was!

Stockholm syndrome

Sol Centro Comercial Cala 17 Boulevard La Cala 29649 La Cala de Mijas

Mijas Costa Malaga

694 473 055

Machete

Police discovered 86 ecstasy pills, 27g of marijuana, a revolver, a large machete, a baseball bat, cash and several mobile phones. But no sooner had the Swede got his house back when he TOO was arrested. It came after police discovered the car he had driven back from Sweden was stolen and had been fitted with false number plates. He is now facing charges of car theft and the falsifying of documents. The Spaniard has been charged with violent robbery, drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons and resisting arrest, among other charges. m

info@spainbuyingguide.co spainbuyingguide.com

Providing multi-award winning advice for your pensions, investments & tax planning.

By Tracy Storer, Senior Partner lop as an adviser, but I’d say my ethics, honesty and values have got me where I am today. Let’s not forget the highs, getting to meet and work with my 100+ clients. Easily my biggest achievement to date is knowing that the very first client I took on all those years ago is still happily my client, as are each and every one of the clients I’ve taken on since. I’m incredibly proud of that and it tells me I must be doing something right! Being part Chorus has been a special experience. We’ve won multiple awards, our clients are always recommending us to others, and we’ve been very honoured to have regularly sat on panels with the British Consulate and other prestigious speakers. These are things that make me feel proud and motivated. They also tell me I’m doing a good job and are the reasons why I will continue to provide the best service for my existing clients and new clients for many years to come.

965 641 163

www.chorusfinancial.es info@chorusfinancial.es Make sure you do your homework when getting financial advice. Make sure the company are regulated, they offer transparency etc. But also make sure that the financial adviser is right for you. Ask for references, look for reviews, be confident with your choice. Call me today on 693 107 044 or email t.storer@chorusfinancial.es.

Investment contracts are intended as medium to long term investments, and all investments have some level of risk. Figures in our articles are examples of what can be achieved and cannot be guaranteed; the value of your investments can go down as well as up. Fees and charges can vary and will be fully explained to you before any advice can take place. This article should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular product.

Chorus Financial is a trading style of Tourbillon Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (Gibraltar), Licence Number FSC1118B, registered with the UK FCA reference 539348, registered with the Spanish DGS and CNMV Nº Registro Oficial 3214.

NEWS Christmas comes late

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A SPANISH film has scooped a major BAFTA film award in London. Klaus, directed by Sergio Pablos, won the award for Best Animated Film. The Netflix film came out on top against Frozen 2, Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and Toy Story 4. Pablos took to the stage to make his acceptance speech

February 6th - February 19th 2020

and thanked Netflix for ‘betting on it’. He also thanked everyone who was involved with the film for ‘making this possible.’ The film is centred around Santa Claus and is the first animated feature film made in Spain. The Christmas film is also up for an Oscar this weekend.

Glory for Gloria PEDRO Almodovar’s Dolor y Gloria has swept the boards at this year’s Goya Awards. The movie scooped seven gongs at the Malaga ceremony, including one for the seasoned director. The film also appropriately won Malaga’s most famous

Banderas feels ‘very alive’ as he celebrates first big career win

WINNER: Almodovar with Cruz behind

son, actor Antonio Banderas, a Best Actor award. It also won best picture and

best screenplay, out of 16 nominations, with the big surprise that Penelope Cruz

Recycled red

Goals in the kitchen

FORMER British expat Julie Neville, married to England Women’s manager Phil Neville, has launched a Spanish cookbook. The 44-year-old draws inspiration from her time in Valencia, where she lived with her husband and their two children for three years. Naturally, the mum-of-two did not forget the region’s most famous dish paella in her new 248page book, Authentic Spanish Cooking. The former receptionist revealed she got her paella recipe from renowned restaurant Ca ‘Pepico. Valencian oysters also get a look-in, as do salt-crusted sea bass, which she honed at revered local fish joint, Civera.

PRINCESS Leonor has followed in the footsteps of her mother by recycling her outfit. The princess, 15, wore the same outfit at the official opening of Parliament that she wore in November at an event in Catalunya. The red tweed dress and a red jacket were worn in honour of mum, Queen Letizia’s lucky colour. The young Royal is following in the footsteps of her environmentally-aware mother who often re-uses her clothes. It came as many celebrities were showered in praise for wearing recycled outfits at the BAFTA awards in London this week. In particular, the Duchess of Cambridge who wore the same gown as in 2012.

lost out to Belen Cuesta in La trinchera infinita. Almodovar gave a long acceptance speech for best movie, in which he serenaded Spain’s newly elected Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, wishing him well over the next four years. When he returned later to accept his Best Director prize, his message was more specific. “Spanish cinema is in a good place, but it has many dark areas. “I would like to tell the President that independent cinema is in serious danger of extinction,” he said.

Oscar time

Banderas was very emotional in his speech, thanking Almodovar for his friendship and life lessons and finished his speech: “Today is three years since I had a heart attack. Not only am I alive, but I feel very alive.” Now Spanish film goers will be hoping that their top actor wins an Oscar for the first time this week. While he has been nominated for previous films, including The Mask of Zorro and Evita, he has yet to take home a major trophy.

Grab a Grammy

SPAIN’S top singer has scooped her first Grammy. 26-year-old Rosalia won Best Latin Album for El Mal Querer at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles. It was the first time an all-Spanish album has won the category. While she told the audience it was an honour to win the award, she said she was more excited about performing a ‘flamenco-inspired’ song for them. The artist had already won four Latin Grammys in 2019, including Album of the Year. During her debut performance, the Barcelona singer gave the audience a taste of her new flamenco-powered pop single, titled Juro Que.

www.theolivepress.es

Reporters Simon Wade and Joshua Parfitt

Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es

NEWS

February 6th - February 19th 2020

Back to his old tricks

Expat pet transport scoundrel emerges again after years working below the radar around Spain SAFELY HOME: Gatsby SOCIAL media recommendations can be life-saving – but for one over-trusting expat a post led her into the hands of an alleged serial conman. The recommendation for a pet transport company on Facebook saw Maria Vila lose €350 to a firm she claims is a ‘scam’ and operating ‘without appropriate licences’. The 43-year-old had contacted Malaga-based Pet Taxi Transport to arrange the travel of her cat from London to her home in Spain in January.

Despite further checks she paid the company in full to bring her kitten, a Cornish Rex called Gatsby to her villa in Gandia, Valencia. It was only when owner Jeremy Griffiths (above right) refused requests to provide basic company information that Vila became suspicious. “I then put his name into Google to find his company website, and I was absolutely speechless,” Maria told the Olive Press. “Articles from the Olive Press

Beach cops boost

(Personal contacts on page 6)

BEACHES in Orihuela will have a far greater police presence this year. Security is being boosted with a new ‘beach surveillance and proximity unit’ to patrol beaches from May to December. As well as preventing thefts, the additional police presence will help to stop the illegal

You should apply for a Spanish residency card if:

• You spend more than 90 days in Spain • You want to be legal in Spain • You want to have healthcare in Spain You’re staying in Spain for over 90 days

If you spend more than 90 days in Spain per year then you must apply for a Spanish residency card, which in effect is a stay permit. The UK withdrawal agreement allows applications to continue for British residents until the end of 2020, when they will be swapped over to a different card. With possible delays in the appointment system because of a rush of British nationals looking to register, you need to apply now before it is too late. You want to be legal in Spain We want to help you become legal in Spain and bring you peace of mind, as doing everything according to Spanish rules can only bring benefits. As an example, as a British person per-

came up over a number of years about dogs dying in transit and other problems. I then found Jeremy insisting one poor client’s dog had died because it was ‘overweight and fat’.” She continued: “Most pet transporters I’ve known are amazing and will bend over backwards for a beloved pet, but this man is an utter crook.” She immediately cancelled the order and asked for a refund

sale of clothing, food and massage services. It comes after local businesses and residents complained about dozens of illegal sellers in the Aguamarina area last year. Local associations also claim some have even been selling drugs on the beach. Local markets will also have an additional police presence to prevent various crimes. A total of 12 agents will be split between the beaches and other parts of Orihuela Costa, with an extra 40 cops being introduced throughout busy times.

Getting your residency UN Lawyers are ready and waiting to guide you through what you need to do if you are looking to get yourself fully legal in Spain by getting a residencia card. With some delays in applying for a Spanish residencia recently cleared up, now is the time to get yours if you haven’t already done so. And don’t worry about the complex process, as Sun Lawyers will sort everything out for you. That includes getting the appointment as quickly as possible!

EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

manently resident in Spain, once you have obtained your Spanish residency card, you then move to exchange your EU/British Driving License for a Spanish one. That licence swap is part of the law, and so if you get stopped by the police, you’ll have the Spanish driving licence, opposed to a driving licence from a foreign country that the police officer might not be familiar with. Sun Lawyers will sort out the residencia application through all the various stages and keep to a bare minimum what you must do. You want to use the Spanish healthcare system There is no free healthcare in Spain, and all costs must be covered one way or another, though emergencies are universally covered. There are two main categories here: Limited and temporary healthcare in Spain. This must be done through the EHIC health card, but this does not include ongoing treatments. Permanent all-inclusive healthcare in Spain. One essential requirement to qualify is to have Spanish residency, in order to get a SIP card. Ready to act? It is common for Sun Lawyers to see people postponing important decisions, like applying for residency or sorting out taxes or buying a home without a reputable lawyer. Get the right advice by getting in touch with Sun Lawyers now to start helping you. Send an email to admin@sun-lawyers.com or telephone on 965 321 189. The Sun Lawyers team will deal with your query as soon as possible!

for the January 25 trip. However, when no refund was made, she was forced to shell out an extra €275 for a separate transport company to deliver her kitten. She has now made a denuncia to the Guardia Civil and reported Griffiths to Malaga Trading Standards (OMIC). But without any registration details it will be difficult to see results. “I’m determined to stop this man,” insisted Vila. “He is so dodgy, using his mother’s address and an English mobile number.” When contacted by the Olive Press, Griffiths was unrepentant and insisted his business was registered in the UK – however Companies House has no record of the company ever existing. A spokesperson for the UK’s Defra Transport Compliance Team confirmed in emails that there is ‘no transporter authorisation for Mr Griffiths’. Griffiths added Maria had ‘vi-

CONMAN: Jeremy Griffiths olated clause 11’ of the company’s contract as she cancelled under 24 hours in advance and was therefore ‘not entitled’ to a refund. However clause 11 of the contract, seen by the Olive Press, makes no mention of cancellations and instead details what will happen in the event no person is present to receive a pet.

Heart-attack

He said the money would be used to help bring over a pet ‘for charity’ in the future. It comes after Dianne Lunt, from Marbella, said her pet pug suffered a heart-attack while in transit under Griffiths from Spain in 2013. Another expat, Alec Strathern, also denounced Pet Taxi Transport after claiming his three dogs were transported in a van without ‘air conditioning’ and with holes in the floor. Opinion Page 6

NOT LETTING GO EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt

A BRITISH daredevil has blasted his treatment at the hands of Spanish police after repeatedly breaking the law illegally scaling buildings. Adam Lockwood, 19, claims police ‘did nothing properly’ as they ordered him to descend from a 14-storey Benidorm block where he was filming himself dangling over a busy road. The stuntman, who brands himself a ‘professional idiot’, claimed police attempted to confiscate his GoPro camera after he filmed them from the back of their car. Police allegedly also succeeded in deactivating his Instagram A PLANE crash that killed Paul Hollywood’s brother-inlaw was caused by ‘poor flight planning’, an investigation has found. Simon Moores piloted the plane that crashed into a Spanish mountain in January last year. The Great British Bake Off star, whose father lives in Alicante, was married to Moores’ sister, Alex Hollywood for almost 20 years. The 62-year-old crashed into Mount Hernio, in the Basque region, after flying through thick cloud and fog. The pilot and his passenger David Hockings died instantly in the crash. Any aircraft fault was ruled out during the investigation.

British daredevil vows to carry on illegal climbing despite arrest

account – where he has 5,000 followers - after he uploaded videos of his antics. “They can’t just take me away without reading my rights,” the teenager insisted to the Olive Press this week. However, a spokesman for the Policia Nacional hit back insisting it was the ‘second time’ officers had caught Lockwood climbing buildings without authorisation. “Officers did not arrest him, but took him to the station as he had no identification and need-

ed to be identified,” he stated. The spokesman added that Lockwood, along with four young accomplices, will be fined between €100 to €600 for breaking a law which forbids citizens from climbing without authorisation. Lockwood has been to court three times in the UK for similar offences. He told the Olive Press there was no point requesting permission as it is never granted and using safety ropes ‘takes the fun out of it’. Asked why he doesn’t climb a mountain, he said: “I climb urban areas because there’s so much opportunity and it’s completely different to a mountain.”

Hollywood death due to ‘bad planning’

TRAGIC: Hollywood and brother-in-law Moores

February 6th - February 19th 2020

Life saving Brits

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AN EXPAT walking football team in Formentera del Segura has raised cash to buy an emergency defibrillator - something the village has always lacked. Mick Hyam, who referees many of the games, admitted, “We were surprised because even the medical centre didn’t have one!” The sprightly 71-year-old told us that his wife had suffered heart problems in the past, and it got him thinking about firstaid and resuscitation. “We organised raffles and sales, and players’ subs all went to raising the €1,000 that was needed,” he said. “When we handed it over to the local police to keep in their car, the mayor heard about it and came along to thank us,” he added.

FRENCH and Portuguese drivers are far worse than British, when it comes to driving offences in Spain. According to official Traffic Department (DGT) stats, an alarming 33% of all fines were handed out to French drivers. Out of over 170,000 denuncias for overseas offenders, 56,453 went to Gallic drivers. The Portuguese came a close second with 43,643 denuncias (25%) while the UK came third with 21,384 offences, or just 12%. The French are the worst drivers in every region apart from Alicante and Cadiz, where Brits topped the charts. In the Balearics and Tenerife, drivers from Germany were the biggest offenders.

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OPINION

Facebook failure Companies such as Pet Taxi Transport highlight the ease with which anybody in the digital world can set up a ‘company’ and charge for services remotely. In many cases without any paperwork or licences. Yet it also highlights the perils of failing to undertake due-diligence. With an enormous amount of companies across all sectors, it can be difficult to know which is legitimate and which is bogus. It is equally hard to know if that 5-star rating was earned or is faked. Yet when a company such as Pet Taxi doesn’t even have the correct registration to carry out the simplest of jobs it is important for media groups like ours to step in and expose them. For one thing’s for certain, the likes of Facebook are not going to do it.

Charity case CHARITY is the best of us; good people going into the shadows of society to share a little light. There is little as selfless as giving oneself for the benefit of a stranger. Which is why the charity sector is so respected, and revered. In the UK, it shapes our town highstreets and our currency – plans to scrap 1 and 2 pence coins were attacked by newspapers as it would see fewer coppers dropping into fewer buckets. Strong protections also exist to protect charities from paying VAT, ushering the good work onwards and upwards. But there are always those who pervert a good thing. In Spain, shady businesses have shrouded money trails under the protective cloak of the law. A leading accountant told us that efforts to clamp down on fraud will mean charities must declare income streams, and paying IVA is a means to this end. And this is also good – though the effect will damage charities that see many British expats selflessly devoting themselves to the betterment of Spain in too many ways to fill this paper. The law can be unfair, the law can be unbending, but the law is the law. Direct the anger against the scum who have ruined the protection it once gave. There will come a time of sacrifice – but, there again, is not sacrifice the very best of us, going into the shadows to share a guttering flame. PUBLISHER / EDITOR

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‘Brextranjeros’ were nowhere to be found on the night the UK ‘took back control’ from the EU, writes Charlie Smith

48.1% REMAIN

51.9% LEAVE

TIME’S UP S O are the shackles finally off or are we about to embark on one of the messiest and costly divorces in history? Maybe both. It depends who you listen to. But one thing is for sure. When the clock struck 12 on January 31, the UK officially left the European Union and we expats in Spain were all made ‘Brextranjeros’, as the Olive Press is dubbing you. It only took three prime ministers and 1,316 days of parliamentary bickering, but we are finally here. Possibly to his eternal discredit, Boris got it done and Brexit is happening. As Nigel Farage joyfully told the European Parliament this week, waving his Union Jack. Only one question remains though... to celebrate or commiserate? On Brexit night, the Olive Press dropped into popular Kinsales bar, in Duquesa Port. ITV News were also broadcasting live from the popular expat watering hole. We didn’t spot anyone weeping into a vino tinto or triumphantly sinking pints of Carling. Nor did anyone draw inspiration from Spanish New Year’s Eve and gobble down a dozen scotch eggs as the clock struck 12. On the stroke of midnight (11pm UK time) one man clapped. A very British way to see in this new era of British history. The words of T.S. Eliot’s poem The Hollow Men seemed very apt in summing up the night’s partying – or lack of. “This is the way the world ends. “Not with a bang but with a whimper.” Remain voter Brian Forgie, 57, told the Olive Press that ‘Brexit was a f**k up’ and he was just here to ‘enjoy a drink’. “This is beyond England, Scotland and everything. “The Southeast of England has just sucked everything into itself. “There’s so much in the EU that

VARIETY: Different ways the press marked Brexit departure

we don’t understand.” Other British expats in Spain were also out on Brexit night, regardless of whether they were Brexiteers (unlikely if you’re an Olive Press reader as our 75/25% poll last year discovered, more of which later) or Remainers. One fiercely British Remainer, 64-year-old Paul Darwent, hosted an ironic Brexit bash up in the hills on the way to Ronda. The expat of 22 years put on a ‘tongue-in-cheek’ evening of poetry, food, music and comedy at his popular Bar Allioli in Jimera de Libar. Think beans on toast, tunes like Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again and buckets of nostalgia on ice. One person who definitely didn’t celebrate was Anne Hernandez (above), President of Brexpats in Spain which is fighting for the rights of British residents here. “I feel violated,” she told the Olive Press, speaking ahead of mid-

Brexit in numbers 700,000

Britons actually living in Spain

365,967

Britons registered as living in Spain

180,000 9,000 60%

Spaniards registered in UK Spanish cross-border workers in Gibraltar

British expats who couldn’t vote in 2016 referendum or last general election

night, “I feel a personal sense of ‘Rise and shine...it’s a glorious bereavement, and tonight I will new Britain’. be losing my identity. Among the most self-aggran“I’ll be sitting indoors crying todising was the Daily Telegraph, night, I’ll be having a strong cup boasting in an eight-page Brexit of coffee. supplement how its former col“How can people celebrate losumnist (Boris Johnson) made it ing their rights? It’s barbaric, 47 into Downing Street and led the years of history erased. country into a new era. “My big question is, who is the The Daily Star went with the UK going to blame when it leaves end of Dry January. and it can’t use the EU as a Meanwhile, others scapegoat?” chose to optimistiMeanwhile, across the border on cally look ahead to the Rock, Fabian Picardo’s Gieven more holidays braltar marked the EU departure in Europe post-Brexit, with a ‘short and solemn’ EU flag including English jourlowering to the glorious sounds of nalist and theatre critic Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. Quentin Letts (below). The Commonwealth flag is to reWriting in The Sun, he place the EU flag. said: “The Further afield, hairpin bends other Brexit celeof Monte Carlo, Please sit brations included the bleat of Pyresome pathetic down, resume nean mountain Union Jack-waving the canals your seats and goats, by Nigel Farage and bong shops and his EuroscepAmsterdam, put your flags of tic cronies in the S candi navi a’s away European Parliafjords and frisky ment in Brussels. midsummer The Brexit Party freedoms, plus leader’s antics were swiftly cut all those amazing, bewildering, short by vice-president Mairead beautiful languages and literaMcGuiness, who turned off his tures and cooking styles: Europe microphone, adding: “Please sit will continue to exert her magical down, resume your seats, put allure on us.” your flags away and take them Local Mijas Councillor Bill Anderwith you if you’re leaving son, who became the first Brit now.” to take up the post in the Teary-eyed Retown’s 40 years of demain-suppor ting mocracy, was slightly MEPs also commore measured than memorated the Letts. approaching B-Day “Tonight I’m having by breaking into dinner at home with a rendition of Auld my Spanish wife,” he Lang Syne. told the Olive Press Farage’s anti-EU revbefore midnight, “I’m elry was matched by the definitely not going to front pages of Britain’s rightany Brexit parties. wing press, which invoked patri“Some are going to drown their otic sentiment with images of the sorrows I’m sure, but for me, it’s White Cliffs of Dover and Big Ben. not a chance to celebrate, I think ‘A new dawn for Britain’, was the a lot of British people will be afDaily Mail’s splash, while the Daifected. ly Express opted for the tedious “The biggest effect in the short

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IN-DEPTH: On the La Cala drownings, missing Harry and Storm Gloria

REAL SPANISH CONTENT

VARIETY: Different ways the press marked Brexit departure term will be on the national police, because we’ll all have to be registered. We’re foreigners, no longer EU citizens. “The police have been preparing for this for a long time, in Fuengirola they have been taking on more staff.” Fellow Mijas councillor, Arancha Lopez, highlighted the ‘importance’ of the 8,842 Brits registered in the municipality. She said: “The British in Mijas are one of the pillars of our residential tourism and a fundamental part of the Mijas society and economy.”

Changes

But beyond January 31, when the tiresome catchphrases, such as ‘taking back control,’ are a distant memory, what, if anything will actually change? Aside from a commemorative 50p coin and blue passports, most things will actually remain the same during the 11-month transition period, which ends on December 31 (See box). Unless it’s extended, which has got to be a distinct possibility. One thing that could change on New Year’s Day 2021 is pensions. For those still set on making Spain their retirement destination after that, current pension guarantees will not necessarily apply from December 31 and your state pension may be frozen. Unless guarantees are renewed, s o m e 650,000 Brit pensioners across the EU will no longer see their pension

increase each year in line with wage growth, inflation or by 2.5% (whichever figure is higher). Despite claims to the contrary by the British embassy and consulates, nothing has been set in stone. For the 365,967 Britons registered in Spain (the actual number of Brits in Spain is closer to 700,000) Spain issued a royal decree last year effectively guaranteeing several rights – healthcare, freedom of movement and the right to work. Brits living in Spain are advised to check the Government website for more information, but crucially should make sure they are registered on the padron, registered as a foreigner, have enough time left on their passport and have exchanged their driving license for a Spanish one.

Updated But as we embark upon a new chapter of European history, the Olive Press is still here to keep you updated. And we will do so on an almost daily basis most likely. Despite a recent poll by a downmarket jingoistic rag revealing that 81% of its readers would be out celebrating Brexit night, we expect the vast majority of you reading this (and not the loud rabble-rousers on Facebook) are still licking your wounds. According to our own poll of thousands last year some 25% of Olive Press readers supported Brexit – still a staggeringly high number, given our location. At the Olive Press we continue to fly the European flag on our front page every fortnight. Our passports may be about to change colour, but we will always be European and will continue to bring you the top stories from around Andalucia and Spain.

EUROTRASH

Known unknowns Blue passports

They are set to make a return, more than three decades since they replaced the existing burgundy-coloured versions. The ‘iconic’ blue and gold design, which was first used in 1921, will be slowly introduced, with all new passports to be blue by around July.

Brexit 50p

Around three million of the new coins will be brought into circulation. They are inscribed with ‘January 31’ and ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations’, will enter circulation on Friday’. Some Remainers, including Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former spin doctor, have already said they ‘won’t use’ the new mint.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

During the transition period, you can still use these cards, which provide UK nationals with state-provided medical treatment. However, whether or not you can use the card after the end of this year is still to be negotiated.

Budget contributions

The UK will continue to make payments to the EU budget during the transition period. This means that current EU grants will still be funded.

IGNORED: Jessie from Eastenders, Iran and the yawns of Megxit

HILE other websites bring you the news from Scotland, Iran and - yes - the soap opera Eastenders, we at the Olive Press stick to stories on Spain. Ignoring bombings in Baghdad, skirting around Megxit (unless there’s a Spanish angle), and avoiding the row between Hugh Grant and Piers Morgan, we concentrate on the country we’re in. Sticking to the core values we established 14 years ago, we bring you content from around the whole of Europe’s most vibrant nation. Be this flooding in Alicante, a missing teenager in Teruel, or a food festival in Fuengirola, we vow to cover it. With a dozen-plus qualified journalists (all writing in their REAL names) we are able to provide a comprehensive round-up of everything important and interesting happening in Spain. Indeed, ours is the only resource expats interested in Spain need to use, not to mention tourists arriving here in their millions each month. With dozens of stories a day and over 1,400 links (none paid for) from global sites - including the BBC, Daily Mail and New York Post - is it any wonder we are getting over a million readers a month. Visit www.theolivepress.es and see how much content we have... and if you’ve got a business just how much exposure we can give you. Here are the top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

- WATCH: Emergency declared in Spain’s Malaga as cars left stacked upon each other and homes and businesses wrecked while freak hail leaves cars in Marbella (32,417)

2 3

- Flights diverted from Malaga airport as orange level warning activated for Spain’s Costa del Sol (31,395)

- EXCLUSIVE: Missing British man speaks out in tell-all interview after he’s found two months following his disappearance (29,947)

- IN PICS: Parts of Spain see ‘worst snow in 50 years’ as Storm Gloria kills EIGHT while others still missing in Mallorca and Ibiza (14,708)

- BREAKING: lethal Chinese Coronavirus fear as suspected case in Andalucia, southern Spain (13,709)

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STAYING PUT

STORKS have stopped migrating to Africa for winter preferring to spend the cold months in Spain instead. Only about 20% currently make the journey across the straits, due to global warming, revealed SEO/Birdlife. The majority are staying in Spain, instead of heading to warmer climes in countries, including Mauritania, Senegal and Nigeria. It is far safer staying in Spain, where they continue to forage at the many landfill sites around the region.

More cash now!

A COSTA Calida mayor claims an €80 million flood prevention plan is nowhere near enough. Los Alcazares leader Fernando Lopez Miras claims more than €250 million is needed following extensive flooding in the past three years. It comes after a meeting on January 24 saw ministers agree to an initial budget of €1.5 million to improve water drainage at the protected Mar Menor lagoon. Miras also said regional president Mario Perez Cervera has taken far too long to open discussions on flood defences.

February 6th - February 19th 2020

SAND BLASTED By Joshua Parfitt

BEACHES in eastern Spain have lost an average of 11.1m of sand following January’s killer Storm Gloria. The worst-hit shoreline in Castello de la Plana lost up to 63.3m, while the Les Deveses beach in Oliva lost up to 50m in its most ravaged regions. The results from the Geo-environmental Cartography and Remote Sensing group, from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), are the first to investigate the damage to Spain’s coastline after storm Gloria swept through claiming 13 lives and leaving 10 people missing. Researchers analysed satellite images of 200km of

Storm Gloria causes mass loss of beach across Spain’s eastern coast coastline between Denia (Alicante) and Vinaroz (Castellón). Comparisons were made between images taken on January 6 and then January 26.

Planting for the future

“The results show the spectacular losses the shoreline has suffered,” the report said. “We’ve been able to measure that the average retreat of

TWO Vega Baja towns have kicked off a week of green activities by planting trees and shrubs with 1000 local school children. Coinciding with the Day of the Tree, the mayor of Guardamar del Segura, Jose Luis Saez, said the city was ‘planting the future’. Guardamar’s Alfonso Park XIII was chosen for the first planting session, with hundreds of children taking part. Neighbouring Callos del Segura also collaborated with hundreds of children taking time out to plant various flora.

all the beaches of the Gulf of Valencia has been 11.1 meters, although the local differences have been significant.” Guillermo, who runs a windsurf business, restaurant and owns a house in Les Deveses told the Olive Press the damage to the sea was ‘unprecedented’.

Blind

“I’ve been speaking to neighbours who’ve lived here for generations, and they’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. Guillermo said that festivals used to be held on the beach, but that now the sand has been progressively lost until the waves reach the houses. “It must be something to do with climate change – if you can’t see it, you’re blind,” he added.

Watch out! AN Olive Press reader has sent in a dramatic shot of what he has branded the ‘Leaning Tower of Guardamar’ following devastating Storm Gloria. Gary Cummings, of Formentera del Segura, was cycling to La Mata when he saw the watchtower which had almost been blown over. “The watchtower was just left balancing on what was left of its foundations,” the owner of Your Holiday Bike told the Olive Press, “It looks really dangerous.” Got a great picture to share? Contact newsdesk@ theolivepress.es

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February 6th - February 19th 2020 Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es

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RECORD: Waves of up to 14m lashed Mallorca this week

Climate emergency declared as recordbreaking storm Gloria leaves 12 dead

ACTION STATIONS By Joshua Parﬁtt

declaring a landmark state of ‘climate emergency’ for the entire country. The PSOE leader surveyed the devas-

edented ‘climate change law’ expected within 100 days, following in the steps of scores of countries across the world. The island was hit badly, with heavy rainfall and giant waves in the fourth just ‘gota fria’ storm to hit Spain in one year (see panel left). Sa Dragonera saw record 14-metre waves, twice the height of a double decker bus, crash down onto the roof terrace of a hotel, as shocked holidaymakers clung for their lives. Videos posted on the Olive Press webit WASHED UP: Trio of boats site show the moment as they filmed from a fourth floor. on Thursday. Gusts of up to 110 kilometres per hour schoolforce 9 winds wrought havoc Gale were recorded in Capdepera, while 150 with 115km/h winds recorded in Oliva emergency services responded to and waves reaching a record-breaking separate incidents. ran 8.44m in Valencia. Some supermarkets reportedly 12 people have died around out of stock due to ferries not being So far, with a further four missing Spain, able to dock. Cataa around the Balearic Islands and Meanwhile, victim, age 44, died in bridge running over lunya. The first when a truck lost the Tordera river Asturias on Sunday snowfall and crashed has collapsed in control in heavy he was putting on into his car while Catalunya. Spain snow chains. Across died people The following day a 63-year-old 200,000 he was struck by a roof have been left in Avila after a 70-year-old man without electricity, tile. Meanwhile while 130,000 chilContinues on Page 5 dren did not attend

tation in the port of Cala Rajada and agreed to declare a ‘catastrophe zone’ in Mallorca as of today (Friday). Sanchez also insisted ecological transition would now be at the ‘forefront’ of government action with an unprec-

We’ve all gota learn

Untitled-1.pdf

vawith warmer air, the rising humidand pours immediately condense in drop a massive quantity of water one burst. In Orihuela in September than over 400mm of water fell in less an48 hours, nearly twice the town’s to nual average precipitation, due to a freak gota fría. The term refers only this unique weather event that is used in the western Mediterannean.

by A gota fría (cold drop) is causedthat pockets of arctic or polar air Eumove southeast across western rope before meeting the warmer, Alihumid Med climate, according to cante scientist Jorge Olcina. at The cold blast becomes ‘isolated’ term high altitude, hence its spanish High Depression at DANA, or Isolated 15:36 16/06/2017 Altitudes. When coming into contact

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to safety from the water? It seems to me to have been a terrible tragic accident; but if t h e r e h a v e b e e n p r o b lems with the pool then they should be exposed. B u t please, this is certainly a time when a warning should go out to all those w h o come on holiday to Spain, that just because we have a bright sunny day – the water temperatures in swimm i n g pools, unless heated, are certainly not what you would ever see in a UK s w i m m i n g pool. I was brought up in the N o r t h East of England where our outdoor pool was on the beach at Tynemouth and the w a t e r temp was 10°C at the annual opening of the pool in Easter to a maximum of 16°C in the summer. The sea temperature wo u l d never rise above 17°C. These are very different to the levels that we experience here.John

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stoic sacrifice

GIBRALTAR

The Gibraltar International Chess Festival returns to the Rock

see page 20

The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait

UK BASED

OVERWHELMED: Podemos’ Pablo Iglesias in tears after the coalition victory Nationalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva CaIn his letter, he referred to the two narias. men’s desire to look beyond ‘the eternal issue’ shared It was no surprise who voted against of soverthe lefteignty and he extended the hand of wing coalition, with 165 MPs from friendship on the Partido behalf of the people of Gibraltar. Popular, Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya, He also offered his support for the Navarra Suma and others saying 'no'. promotion of ‘policies based on the principle of The left erupted into applause, with dialogue, unsome shedderstanding and co-operation between ding tears, when it was revealed that Sanchez our respective people’. had clinched the vote. Key to Sanchez’s victory was the Representatives screamed 'si, se puede!' abstention while the pro-independence Catalan Republican of Sanchez hugged Iglesias, who was photographed Left party (ERC), which agreed to sit out in tears. Spain’s most recent election the vote after Sanchez vowed to find a solution fourth in as many years as the country was the to the pofailed to litical conflict that has dogged Spain form a cohesive government. since lunya’s separatist regional government Cata“It’s great news for Spain,” leading tried to expat Hissecede in 2017. panist, Sir Ian Gibson told the Olive Press. “There are going to be lots of compromises, but also solutions.” Terrorists He added: “Sanchez is an amazing man The government’s opponents argue Sanchez’ it’s remarkable to think he stuck it out and ‘Frankenstein government’ will be after too beholdbeing kicked out of his own party and en to Catalan separatists and pose then a threat to came fighting back. Spain’s national unity. “He has the qualities of a true statesman While Sanchez appealed for calm, and called on and speaks very well. He will be a great MPs to overcome the ‘atmosphere asof irritation’, set for Europe.” his adversaries went on the offensive. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian PP leader Pablo Casado, accused him Picardo of also sent a letter of congratulation ‘extremist’ who had left the country’s being an to Sanfuture in chez on being re-elected, after ‘a tortuous the hands of ‘terrorists and coup-mongers’. and fractious debate’. In a tweet sent after the vote, Sanchez “Spain is entering a time for defending wrote: dialogue and useful politics. A government for all people that restores co-existence and fights for social justice. Today is the dawn of a time of moderation, progress and hope.” Spain’s new coalition is expected to See page 23 roll out a policy of raising income tax for people in Spain who earn more than €130,000.

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Find out what’s going on in Mallorca this January See page 11

THE UK is failing British children overseas, as numerous paedophiles are being allowed to travel overseas to commit sex crimes, a new report has found. Dozens of dangerous sex offenders are being allowed to live around Europe, many in countries like Spain. In the hard hitting report, released yesterday, British expats have requested consular assistance numerous times over child sex and child pornography offences. a The findings have been released in 74-page report by the Truth Project, which is part of Britain’s in-depth Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Footing the bill

A THIEF has been caught after leaving his shoes behind at a crime scene. It happened after a resident of Palma heard rumbling in his garage – when he went to investigate he found his valuables in a pile by the door ready to be taken. of Mysteriously, he also found a pair someone else's shoes next to them.to Police were called and arrived find a barefoot Spaniard on the street nearby. The 26-year-old was already known for similar break-ins and has now been charged.

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The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait

Shocking

It found that UK offenders ‘figure highly’ in the numbers of sex crimes against British children abroad. According to the report, from March 31, 2018, only around 0.2% of the in 58,637 registered sex offenders England and Wales had their foreign travel restricted. It says that the disclosure and barring service is ‘confusing, inconsistent and in need of reform’. A shocking 361 suspected child sex abuse cases were recorded between in 2013 and 2017 alone. In 2018, Spain alone, around five Brits were arrested for child sex offences, according to data by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Up to five more Brits in Spain were held for child porn charges in the same year, although the exact figures are not given.

SEALED: Handshake from King confirms Sanchez as leader

He also offered his support for the Iglesias’s Podemos party and a promotion of ‘policies based on the “While there are going to be Pabloof other parties. host “QUICK, simple and painless. The Press: of compromises, there will also It helped that 18 MPs, the majority principle of dialogue, understanding pain comes later,” King Felipe told lotssolutions.” and co-operation between our reincoming Prime Minister Pedro San- be Madrid-based writer, who has from Catalunya, abstained. over spective people’. chez at a swearing in ceremony yes- The in Spain for half a century, add- It means Sanchez will preside in Key to Sanchez’s victory was the ablived the first coalition government of stention of the pro-independence terday. “I’m delighted. He’s an amazing death The PSOE leader will certainly hope ed: and it’s remarkable to think he Spain since 1977 after the Catalan party, the ERC, after Santo the of dictator Franco. not, having had to endure an agoniz- man stuck it out after being kicked out Podemos, chez vowed to find a solution ing two year wait and three general his own party and then fighting back. The coalition, includes conflict that has dogged Spain since PNV, Más País, Compromís, Galego government elections to get this far. at “He has the qualities of a true states- Nationalist Block, Teruel Existe and Catalunya’s separatist It was his second recent attempt tried to secede in 2017. man and speaks very well. Nueva Canarias. an investiture since the Socialists The government’s opponents argue The parties opposing included the Sanchez’ ‘Frankenstein government’ won the most seats in December’s Frankenstein PP, Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Cata- will be too beholden to Catalan sepageneral election, but failed to win an Navarra Suma. to Spain’s overall majority. He will be a great asset for Europe,” lunya and was the ratists and pose a threat And Sanchez, 47, pulled out all the added the Hispanist, who has penned Spain’s most recent election country national unity. PP leader Pablo Casafourth in as many years as the books on Spain. stops as he cracked heads at a mamdo accused him of being an ‘extremin numerous a cohesive government. future moth two-day weekend session Sanchez was sworn in at Zarzuela failed to form Fabian ist’ who had left the country’s Madrid, after which he finally won Palace after winning a second vote of Gibraltar’s Chief Minister in the hands of ‘terrorists and coupPicardo sent a letter of congratula- mongers’. the vote by two seats. confidence. re-elected, is expected to After years of instability, it is ‘great MPs voted by a knife-edge 167 votes tion to Sanchez on being fractious de- Spain’s new coalition news for Spain’ insisted one of the to 165 to support Sanchez’s left-wing after ‘a tortuous and roll out a policy of raising income tax 15:36 best known1expats. 16/06/2017 country’s coalition government, propped up by bate’. Untitled-1.pdf for people in Spain who earn more Irish author Ian Gibson told the Olive than €130,000. Sanchez has als0 sent a message that economic management is a priority in his new government, by keeping on Maria Jesus Montero (left) in the Treasury. However, in a further sign of loyalty, he has also awarded her the new poUK BASED sition of ‘spokesperson of the Coalition Executive’. Opinion Page 6

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‘Cover up’ EXCLUsIVE By Joshua Parfitt

ONE of the world’s leading experts on swimming pool deaths has flown to Spain to investigate the tragic drownings of three British citizens on Christmas Eve. Allen Wilson, a health and safety expert who has worked on numerous drowning cases around Europe, arrived on the Costa del Sol yesterday. He told the Olive Press last night he believed the pool, where British tourists Gabriel Diya, 52 Comfort Diya, nine, and Praise-Emmanuel Diya, 16, died on Christmas Eve, was ‘hazardous’. He insisted the Club La Costa World (CLC) resort in Fuengirola - which he is set to visit this week - was ‘most likely to blame’ for the shock deaths of the trio.

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Vol. 1 Issue 21 www.theolivepress.es

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swOrN IN January 9th - January 22nd 2020

The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait

Wilson claimed the pool’s design with just one floor ‘outlet’ – instead of two – could have created an ‘excessive suction vacuum’ and dragged them under water. It flies in the face of the Guardia il’s official investigation, which Civconcluded the three died as a result of their ‘inability to swim’. Their controversial report was thrown into jeopardy, however, when mother and wife Olubunmi Diya insisted all three could swim. Her lawyer, Fuengirola-based Javier Toro, later insisted daughter fort had even taken lessons a Com‘week before the holiday’. Toro told the Olive Press this week that ‘many lines of investigation remained open’. SEALED: Handshake Wilson, however, went further from King confirms to claim the report done by the police Sanchez as leader “QUICK, simple and painless. was a ‘cover up’ to protect the Spanpain comes later,” King Felipe The Press: “While there are going to be from Catalunya, ish tourist industry, the resort abstained. and incoming Prime Minister Pedro told lots of compromises, there will also It means and co-operation between our the tour operators. Sanchez will preside rechez at a swearing in ceremony San- be solutions.” “It stinks,” Wilson, who has worked the first coalition governmentover spective people’. yes- The Madrid-based writer, in Key to Sanchez’s victory terday. for leading European tour operators who was the ablived in Spain for half a century, has Spain since 1977 after the death of stention The PSOE leader will certainly of the pro-independence add- dictator Franco. hope ed: “I’m delighted. He’s not, having had to endure an agonizCatalan party, the ERC, after an amazing The coalition, Sanincludes Podemos, Continues on Page 4 ing two year wait and three general man and it’s remarkable to think he PNV, Más País, Compromís, Galego chez vowed to find a solution to the stuck it out after being kicked out elections to get this far. conflict that has dogged Spain of Nationalist Block, Teruel since his own party and then fighting Existe and Catalunya’s separatist It was his second recent attempt back. Nueva Canarias. government at “He has the qualities of an investiture since the Socialists tried to secede in 2017. a true states- The parties opposing included the The government’s won the most seats in December’s man and speaks very well. He will be PP, Vox, Ciudadanos, opponents argue a great asset for Europe,” added Junts per Cata- Sanchez’ ‘Frankenstein general election, but failed to win the lunya and Navarra government’ an Hispanist, who has penned overall majority. will be too numer- Spain’s most recentSuma. ous books on Spain. election was the aratists andbeholden to Catalan sepAnd Sanchez, 47, pulled out all pose a threat to Spain’s fourth in as many the Sanchez was sworn in stops as he cracked heads at a mamat Zarzuela failed to form a years as the country national unity. PP leader Pablo cohesive government. Casado Palace after winning a second vote moth two-day weekend session accused him of being an ‘exof Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Madrid, after which he finally in confidence. Picardo sent a letter of congratula- tremist’ who had left the country’s won MPs voted by a knife-edge the vote by two seats. future in the hands of ‘terrorists 167 votes tion to Sanchez and on being re-elected, coup-mongers’. to 165 to support Sanchez’s left-wing After years of instability, it is after ‘a tortuous and fractious ‘great coalition government, de- Spain’s new coalition is news for Spain’ insisted one of propped up by bate’. expected the Pablo Iglesias’s Podemos country’s best known expats. roll out a policy of raising income to party and a He also offered tax his support for host of other parties. Irish author Ian Gibson told the promotion of ‘policies based on the for people in Spain who earn more Olive It helped that 18 MPs, the than €130,000. the majority principle of dialogue, understanding Opinion Page 6 Tel. (+34) 96 649 18 29 info@hispaniahomes.es www.hispaniahomes.co.uk

EXPERT: Allen Wilson

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cold shock

Dear Olive Press, I have read and watched many reports about why this tragedy occurred (Diving in, Issue 334). in our communal pool in Benahavis every

Get educated

I swim essentially, as a political Moore sees the EU, Rose of our communias president andproud, year and day of the Issue 325, pg 7). The (Leave dictatorship to ensure that the pool is responsibility ty have There are 28 sovereign states, opposite. is thethe reality safe. the UK, which voluntarily chose to become including of year the time believes at this HoweverSteve would the UKtemperature thatwater Dunne associated. Eve our pool Christmas to 11°C now down I’m not going to Notonso. terms.and on WTO fairisbetter cold. is still, – this page at 13°C wasdown quoting chapter and byexceptionally your letters weigh in water at to swimming persons used those Onlybut looks into the into that Steve I recommend verse, going contemplate should knows. temperatures these of That Trump any industry that he warmer, specifics and if you look actually sea is the a pool with an EU-free UKinshould deal a trade to –get is trying the sea at of people swimming theallnumbers trade deals you want to know: Trump’s tellatyou the sea evenspeaks you will realise Christmas for temMahler Brentthat US-first labels. Finally, have person. to the average not enjoyable arecitizens peratures force wary of an EU armed of UK a number jumping into that can occur to anyone these are ideasshock ever closer union. However, an reaction andThe serious will cause that temperature waterbyofspecific EU policy. I am and people and notwearing floated in jumped40-plus whoinsidious anyone andworried of proyears clothes at the more out of their water them into the who followed shoes against Telegraph, Mail, the EEC/EU by the paganda be in serious difficulty in my wouldand, depth Times course, The Sun. What did of opinion, Express, very quickly. why he was so an-has to say when he was asked but Murdoch the question occurrence was a tragic ThisSomething I go into the lines of: “When along ti-EU? of cold degrees these – were EU.” The to the I go whento say: used what Ithey they do 10asked No.be were the family in the competent how water? Just to ask for an appointment! any he had is that implication

water? Were they clothed? and did they have knowledge of lifesaving techniques to get someone

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Dr Dolittle

big city life

I brought seven animals back to the UK (A dog is for life, Issue 334, pg 10). Two dogs and five cats. That was ten years ago now. I still have the two dogs and two of the cats. They’re now all 14 years old. There’s no way I would have left them. Susan Hargreaves, Wales

I never understand people who live in the heart of the city, wanting perfect peace and quiet. If you want to live in silence move to the campo! Otherwise just understand you are a city dweller. At least it’s not 300 years ago, with raw sewage running down the streets. Alex Brown, Malaga

Fine balance

Not pedantic

I lived above a bar in Brussels for three years. Sometimes it got a bit much, but a pair of ear plugs helped. Cities are not JUST for bars and cafes though, and when you drive residents out because of noise and overcrowding, you get a dead city. Balance. Careful planning. I think the council are trying to do that and should be supported. Heath Savage, Galicia

I mention this only because you may want to correct it, if indeed you concede (Air heads, Issue 334, pg 10), 95 klms square is a vast area. I suspect it was 95 square klms. I’m not being pedantic, it’s much more than a Freudian slip. I do enjoy your crossword, why don’t you do a cryptic one. This is not worthy of print, just a friendly note. Others will notice. William Carr, Malaga

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Caña give it a rest

Malaga is now swamped with bars and restaurants. Hardly any shops that sell everyday products now exist. Almost every building being restored is destined for holiday lets. Add in the hundreds of electric scooters and segways making it difficult to walk the narrow streets, and you see how everything has been sacrificed for tourism. Andrew Birch, Malaga

ryanair model

Why can’t these airlines make profits? (Airline Flybe saved by British Government deal that includes tax break, Online, January 14) Perhaps they should look at the dreaded Ryanair model. Neil Hollow, Fuente de Piedra

Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or message us on at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

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We will be thinking about you and your family at this sad time (Paws for thought, Issue 334, pg 30). You will all miss him terribly. Kenda Robson, Edinburgh

Readers react to the news that 103 Malaga streets are banned from opening new bars and restaurants due to noise complaints (Online, January 10)

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Vol. 5, Issue 113 www.theolivepress.es January 8th - January 21st 2020

FINALLY!

SERIOUS: Fabian Picardo

GIBRALTAR will ‘make a success’ of tough ‘challenges’ in 2020, the Chief Minister has said. In his New Year’s speech Fabian Picardo mentioned details of a major investment to be announced in the next couple of weeks Picardo said everyone must work together with ‘stoic sacrifice’ by asking for less ‘to secure our children’s future’. He noted the ‘critical importance’ of the MoUs and Tax Treaty which allowed Gibraltar to take part in the transition period. Picardo highlighted the ‘dangers and opportunities’ of leaving the EU, pointing out the agreement of a UK common that was a ‘Brexit Bonus’. RELIEVED: Pedro Sanchez after the vote Respect However, the Chief Minister prom- PEDRO Sanchez has become Spain's official ised to remain firm in agreements prime minister after winning a second vote of over future relations with the EU after confidence yesterday. the expected final departure date of The PSOE leader will govern the country for the next four years, after an agonizing the end of 2020. two-year wait “Any negotiation for Gibraltar for and three general elections. such a deal will be conducted for Gi- Acting prime minister Sanchez, 47, from Madrid, braltar by a team led by me or by Jo- was forced to recall MPs to sit for the first time seph Garcia,” he said. over the weekend to confirm “Such negotiations must be based on It was his second attempt his victory. at an investiture vote mutual recognition, mutual respect since the PSOE won the most seats in Decemand an understanding that nothing ber's general election, but failed to win can ever be imposed on Gibraltar. majority. The vote saw MPs in Spain'san overall congress “The Government I lead is willing to vote either 'yes' or 'no' to Sanchez's proposed walk away if the terms proposed do left-wing coalition government, propped up not favour Gibraltar or respect our by Pablo Iglesias's Podemos party and red lines.” a host of othThis would mean Gibraltar could opt er parties. out of a deal which gave other coun- After a heated afternoon session, he won a knifetries like Spain a greater say on the edge victory of 167 votes against 165, while 18 MPs, the majority from Catalunya, future of the overseas territory. abstained. After congratulating Pedro Sanchez It means Sanchez will preside over the first coaon forming a coalition government, lition government in Spain since 1977 after the Picardo will have breathed a huge sigh death of dictator Franco. The PSOE is propped up by MPs of relief he would not be up against from a more right-wing Spain. Podemos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Unidos Galego

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End of an era

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Vol. 13 Issue 309

drugpushing bloggers

SPAIN’s pharmaceutical watchdog has issued a warning over social media influencers pushing dodgy health products. The CGCF (General Council of Physiotherapist Associations of Spain) has filed a complaint with the Spanish Health Ministry about people promoting medicinal treatments for beauty conditions without proper knowledge or training. According to Spanish law, such medical promotion is banned and advertising is strictly monitored by industry professionals. However Spanish social media ‘stars’ have been advocating the use of certain creams, wipes and tablets in order to help with cosmetic issues, unaware of some of the potential health risks that indiscriminate use can cause. Pharmacist Guillermo Martin Melgar first noticed the problem when a certain brand of prescription facial wipe was suddenly selling out, only to find it was being recommended by a popular Youtube channel as a treatment for acne.

c o n d i t i o n s .

Good health

highest levels of THMs on the continent - behind only Cyprus with 23.2%, Malta with 17.9% and Ireland’s Liffey water coming a surprising third from bottom with 17.2%. At the opposite end of the H2O horror list, Denmark’s water was the purest, with a

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January 22th - February 4th 2020

After decades of believing it was safe to drink, a new study finds Spain’s tap water may not be SPAIN’s tap water is one of the dodgiest to drink in Europe. A major Barcelona study has found it carries the fourth highest risk for bladder cancer on the continent. Findings suggest that longterm exposure to a group of chemicals in tap water called trihalomethanes may be the cause for one in 20 cases of bladder cancer in Europe each year. Scientists from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) analysed the tap water of all 28 EU countries except Bulgaria and Romania between 2005 and 2018. At 10.9%, Spain’s tap water came out with the fourth

THM count of less than 0.1%, followed by the Netherlands ( 0.1%) and Germany (0.2%). The scientists also concluded that showering and bathing can also trigger the disease, allowing the chemicals to enter the body via the pores of the skin.

Milk matters

odds of being overweight or obese compared with their peers who drank lower-fat varieties. It has been speculated that whole milk causes CHILDREN who drink full-fat milk are less children to feel fuller, which reduces snacking. likely to be overweight than those given The research combined the results of 28 studies that were conducted across seven countries, skimmed or semi-skimmed. The findings were published in The American which had explored the correlation between Journal of Clinical Nutrition and they found that children drinking cow’s milk and the risk of children who drank whole milk had 40% lower being overweight.

OP QUICK CrOsswOrd

Across 7 Perch (5) 8 Hug (7) 10 Poorly matched (7) 11 Infectious agent (5) 12 Shout of discovery (6) 14 Mistake (4-2) 17 Showy and cheap (6) 19 Hue (6) 21 Mistaken (5) 23 Small bag (7) 24 Cap attachment (7) 25 Fertile area in a desert (5)

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Vol. 5, Issue 114 www.theolivepress.es January 22th - February 4th 2020

Down 1 Altercation (8) 2 D-i-y beer (4-4) 3 Hit (6) 4 Exchange for money (4) 5 Two identical things (4) 6 Military dining room (4) 9 Chamfer (5) 13 Some (3) 14 Not sweet (3) 15 Foretell (8) 16 Render immobile (8) 18 Majestic (5) 20 Choice (6) 21 Small songbird (4) 22 Rowing levers (4) 23 Drinks slowly (4)

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A SERIES of giant 14-metre waves as lashed the Balearics this week the Storm Gloria officially became most destructive winter storm since 1982. The record-breaking walls of water still have left 12 dead, while five are missing, including British man Ben Garland, 25, who disappeared from Portinatx, Ibiza, on Wednesday. The latest fatality was confirmed after the the discovery of a man’s body in Anoia river in Jorba, Barcelona. It comes as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (below) jetted into Mallorca after

All solutions are on page 30

Gibraltar faces UK resistance to create a free-flowing frontier deal with Spain

By John Culatto

A PROPOSAL for Gibraltarians to cross into Spain post-Brexit without a passport has been firmly knocked back by the UK. The plan to enter the Schengen agreement - despite leaving the EU - would also allow an estimated 10,000 Spaniards to enter Gibraltar every morning without unnecessary delays. However, the free movement scheme hatched by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo was scotched this week by Boris Johnson’s government. “After we leave, the UK will be negotiating the future relationship with the EU on behalf of the whole UK family, including Gibraltar,” insisted a spokesman.

TRAGIC: Brit Paul Aust died in house fire EXCLUSIVE By Dimitris Kouimtsidis

A BRITISH expat who died in a on the Costa del Sol was locked in fire his home from the inside. Paul Aust, 50, died after a mystery blaze engulfed the apartment shared with his partner of 20 years, he upmarket Alcaidesa, on December in The Olive Press understands police30. probing the circumstances behind are death, which came just hours afterthe he had rowed with his partner Ben Lake. According to the next door neighbour, Lake, in his 40s, sat in the back garden while the fire took hold. “I watched him sitting in the garden as smoke poured out the windows,” said the Irish expat neighbour, who asked not to be named. “He seemed not entirely there, like was in shock or something. Whenhe went down and asked him directly I if he needed help, he just ignored me,” he added. Other neighbours backed up the claims that the pair had had a serious row two hours before the 2am blaze. just “We were woken up by a series of shouts and doors slamming soon after midnight,” said a Spanish woman, who lived upstairs. “Then less than two hours later we Continues on Page 2

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“Working closely together, the UK and Gibraltar Governments have always supported arrangements at the border with Spain which promote fluidity and shared prosperity in the region,” he added. “The UK, including Gibraltar, is not part of the borderless Schengen zone.” It came after Picardo spoke on FRONTIER: Picardo’s freedom of movement plan batted Monday as the Government read away by Westminster Brexiteers the Withdrawal from the EU Bill, tween joining Schengen and free- want to cut any separate which will come into force on Jan- dom of movement under Schen- rangements for Northernfrontier ar- common travel areas with Schenuary 31. Ireland, so gen,” he added. it is unlikely to happen for Gibraltar, gen, even if they’re not entirely part “We have to hold our noses and “On January 31 we of the Schengen information syswill ensure Gi- which has even vote for an orderly Brexit,” he told braltar’s interests are less clout. tem,” he said. protected. Gibraltar’s Parliament. “As the UK will always Liechtenstein is one such tiny state, “It is important we distinguish bean, we will always be be EuropeMicrostates which is in Schengen but not in the British.” His deputy Joseph Garcia clarified Curbing freedom of movement is a EU. later that the so- core issue in the UK’s exit from the “There is the ability to move fluidly called ‘MoUs’ EU, with the UK government deter- between the territories of the EU a g r e e m e n t s mined to lower immigration from and these microstates,” he added. “All of these things will be considcould be used the EU. to give recipro- Picardo insisted that his proposal ered in the context of the negotiations going forward.” cated rights for was not new. both British and “We talked about this issue before Spanish citizens Brexit... about Gibraltar becoming crossing the bor- part of the Schengen zone,” he told AFP news agency last week. der. However John- “If you look at other microstates son does not in Europe, they take the benefit of

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PUSHBACK: To Picardo’s plan

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January 22th - February 4th 2020

Water worry

pharmaceutical SPAIN’s watchdog has issued a warnit was safe to drink, a ing over social media influ- After decades of believing may not be encers pushing dodgy health new study finds Spain’s tap water products. The CGCF (General Council of Physiotherapist Associ- SPAIN’s tap water is among ations of Spain) has filed a the worst in Europe. complaint with the Spanish A major Barcelona study has Health Ministry about peo- found it carries the fourth ple promoting medicinal highest risk for bladder cancer treatments for beauty condi- on the continent. longtions without proper knowl- Findings suggest athat term exposure to group of edge or training. tap water called According to Spanish law, chemicals in may be the such medical promotion is trihalomethanes for one in 20 cases of banned and advertising is cause cancer in Europe each THM count of less than 0.1%, highest levels of THMs on the followed by the Netherlands ( strictly monitored by indus- bladder year. continent - behind only Cy- 0.1%) and Germany (0.2%). try professionals. Scientists from the Barcelona

prus with 23.2%, Malta with Institute for Global Health 17.9% and Ireland’s Liffey wa- The scientists also concluded (ISGlobal) analysed the tap ter coming a surprising third that showering and bathing can also trigger the disease, alwater of all 28 EU countries However Spanish social me- except Bulgaria and Romania from bottom with 17.2%. lowing the chemicals to enter At the opposite end of the the body via the pores of the dia ‘stars’ have been advocat- between 2005 and 2018. ing the use of certain creams, At 10.9%, Spain’s tap wa- H2O horror list, Denmark’sa skin. wipes and tablets in order to ter came out with the fourth water was the purest, with help with cosmetic issues, uncompared aware of some of the potential odds of being overweight or obesevarieties. health risks that indiscrimiwith their peers who drank lower-fatmilk causes nate use can cause. It has been speculated that whole snacking. reduces Pharmacist Guillermo Martin are less children to feel fuller, which the results of 28 studCHILDREN who drink full-fat milk Melgar first noticed the probthose given The research combined across seven counlikely to be overweight than lem when a certain brand of ies that were conducted the correlation beskimmed or semi-skimmed. prescription facial wipes was American tries, which had explored The findings were published in The found that tween children drinking cows milk and the risk suddenly selling out, only to Journal of Clinical Nutrition and they40% lower of being overweight. find it was being recommendchildren who drank whole milk had ed by a popular Youtube channel as a treatment for acne.

Risks

Milk matters

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RECORD: Waves ofof up RECORD: Waves toup 14m eastern to lashed 14m lashed east Spain this week Spain this week

be at the ‘forefront’ of government action with an unprecedented mate change law’ expected within ‘cli100 days, following in the steps of scores of countries across the world. It came after serious storms lashed the Costa Blanca, also leaving millions of euros of damage. Gale force 9 winds wrought havoc with 115km/h A gota fría (cold drop) is caused winds recordby pockets of arctic or polar air that move southeast across ed in Oliva and western Europe before meeting the warmer, humid waves reaching a according to Alicante scientist Mediterannean climate, record-breaking Jorge Olcina. The cold blast becomes ‘isolated’ 8.44m in Valenat high altitude, hence its spanish term DANA, or Isolated cia, and a shocking Depression at High Altitudes. 14.22m in Ibiza. When coming into contact with So far, nine people warmer Mediterannean air, the rising humid vapours immediately have died around condense and drop a massive quantity of water Spain, with a furla back in September 2019 over in one burst. In Orihuether four missing less than 48 hours, nearly twice 400mm of water fell in around the Baletation, due to a freak gota fría. annual average precipiaric Islands and Catalunya. The By Joshua Parfitt

a landmark state of ‘climate emergency’ for the entire country. Leader Pedro Sanchez (below) insisted ecological transition would now

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A SERIES of giant 14-metre waves lashed eastern Spain this week Storm Gloria became officially as the most destructive winter storm since 1982. The record-breaking walls of water – and weather that left nine dead – came on cue as Spain declared

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STEREOT YPED GET EDUCATED Dear Olive Press,

exist.

do indeed voters British Leave lly, as a political The Moore EU, essentia sees the Rose l experien persona from Theand I speak pg 7). ce I can only Issue 325, proud, and hip (Leave dictators s. variation and ns exceptio many are states, there knowis the opposite. There are 28 sovereign reality reasonably retired, to be early tend voluntari to become But, they ly chose UK, which theoften including y educate modestl yet Dunne successd.ful, thatd.the UK would believes Steve associate thetoradar’, under ‘fly not to right is It 1. that going believe They I’m so. Not terms. fair better on WTO andimmiexceptio chapternot 2. They’re by quotingexpats, pagevaluable lettersnally down your weigh they are as the theminto ok forlooks be Steve 3. It willndallthat grants I recomme butand verse, taxes paying into and out caught be to Trump clever That too far knows. he that industry any of specifics padia, residenc as such trifles ng organisi should or UK here, EU-free an with deal is trying to get a trade . licences driving and cover health deals proper trade ron, you all you want to know: Trump’s tell respectf beingspeaks right thing theFinally, forul and doing Or, just BrentinMahler labels. US-first have . integrate to force trying by armed EU polite an of wary citizens UK of a number for that. too superior They , these are ideas union. However closer everfar an are and s but Ithey the Bahama be inand am can’t should they Reallyby not EU policy. people specific floated it. at the insidious 40-plus years of proafford worried more ssinglyh, most embarra obvious more the Mail, Telegrap What’s against by the EEC/EUand paganda too imfardid as ves themsel see they that is t What Sun. apparen The course, of Express, Times and, e languag the learning about d bothere anbe so to was he portantsay when he was asked why Murdoch cringing y found new home I go into of their of: “When linesgenerall the are g alongand Somethin ti-EU? question a simple The lar EU.”vernacu asked when I go tointhethe I say: when do what 10 they No. adios.’ y nada de salida? ent! la es appointm ‘donde an for ask to had implication is that he Rob Bajo, Mojacar

The ones who live here and voted to leave are hypocritical. They’re the ones who have one foot here and one foot back in the UK. Well they better get registered and change their cars and licences, the way the rest of us who are totally committed to living here have done. Jill Handley, Malaga

Patri Camps, Malaga

Nanna said

Remoaners

He was shot alongside his lover, a famous bullfighter. The family of the bullfighter will not allow anyone to to remove bodies (Chasing shadows, Issue 335, pg 6-7). A little old granny in Ardales told me that 22 years ago when I made the mistake to ask what happened in the village of Ardales during the Civil War. It’s a very tricky subject still! One day we will find out I guess? Alex Neate, Ardales

The Remainers wanted a second referendum. Well they got one in the General Election. Staunch Labour voters chose Tory, as their MPs had let them down. Also, after three years, many Remainers had finally seen how the EU machine works – and that it hasn’t submitted audited accounts for decades, which breaches their own laws. Mark Jones, Marbella

Worlds apart

There is a distinction between loving Europe, yet not wishing to be part of the EU. They are two different entities. Many people refuse to, fail to, or simply cannot grasp this simple reality. John Wolf, Leeds

No small change Reading the last edition of your newspaper, I came across the article Pesetas from Heaven (Issue 335, pg 20) and I am really interested in it as I have the coin depicted. Can you please offer any more information on the subject. Hector F Requena, Gibraltar

Can’t have your cake and eat it

Leave England to sort its own problems out. Those who now make their home in Spain will be in the European Union because Spain is in. Get over yourselves. You ought not to try and have your cake and eat it! Joy Lowry, Newcastle

Ed. Hi Hector, thank you for your letter. We will try and find out more for you, so that you can hopefully make a bit of money from your antique coin.

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first victim, age 44, died in Asturias on Sunday when a truck lost control in heavy snowfall and crashed into his car while he was putting on snow chains. The following day a 63-year-old died in Avila after he was struck by a roof tile. Meanwhile a 70-year-old man died of hypothermia in Moixent, icante after falling into snow closeAlhis home, and two homeless people to – one in Gandia and another in Carcaixent – also died from hypothermia. Four people died yesterday, including a farmer in a hailstorm, a homeless person killed by hypothermia Almeria, a woman whose house in lapsed in Alcoy, and a man whosecolcar was swept off a road near Benidorm. Four are still missing in Catalunya and the Balearic Islands – including a 25-year-old Brit in Ibiza. Leading climatologists backed the

Oh the irony

LEAVERS: Trio of Brits in Spain

for Spanish residents SALES & RENTALS SPECIALISTS

www.globelink.co.uk

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OP QUICK CROSSWORD Across 7 First shot in tennis (5) 8 Sterile (7) 9 Least difficult (7) 10 Above (5) 11 Book of elementary principles (6) 13 Register (5) 16 Wide open (5) 18 Violin (6) 21 Pending (5) 23 Move forward (7) 24 Chooses (7) 25 Indoor game (5)

9 5

OP SUDOKU

See health on page 13

Your voice in Spain

Well, I haved lived on the Costa del Sol for 25 years and this wasn’t the first time (Did climate change cause Storm Gloria?, Olive Press TV, January 25). It happens every couple of years. I remember my first year in Spain. We had so much heavy rain that I asked myself, why did I come to Spain? About 10 years ago we had snow close to the Viñuela area. Nothing new. The other problem is, building houses in an area were they shouldn’t be, or close to old river beds etc.

British expat blasts UK TV programme featuring Brexit voter who moved to Spain’s Costa del Sol as ‘not representative of Brits in Spain’

MALLORCA

The

Spain’s best yoga retreats.

Not the last time

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Down 1 Salad sauce (8) 2 Withdraw (6) 3 Kiln for drying hops (4) 4 Individual (6) 5 Pace (4) 6 Go away (5) 7 Drowsy (6) 12 Regret (3) 13 Mischievous person (3) 14 Commonplace (8) 15 Renovates (6) 17 Stately mansion (6) 19 Intrude upon (6) 20 Swearword (5) 22 Confer (4) 23 Too (4)

All solutions are on page 22

A medieval riot of colour ORIHUELA became a real ‘riot’ of colour, music and food as its annual food market opened on January 31. Hundreds of stalls set up to celebrate a weekend of all that is Orihuela, a tradition that goes back to the 13th century. The City Hall balcony provided an early focal point for the opening proclamation by ‘The Armengola’, a historical fictional character. “Rejoice! For our streets are filled with light and colour again,“ she yelled, adding: “Monotony has no place in Orihuela this weekend!” Throughout the day, there were sporadic parades through the streets by historical characters, while a falconer provided fun for children who were brave enough to hold the bird. There were even a few camels in attendance, giving rides to members of the public. British expat Nicola Kennerley, 45, who was visiting Orihuela’s market for the first time, said: “I’ve seen nothing like it, it’s an absolute riot of colour.” “Everything is wonderful: the costumes; the music; the food and even the weather turned out nice!”

THAT’S THE TICKET Spain’s top site just made it a whole lot easier to get tickets

THE Alhambra Palace has a new system for ticket sales making prices far fairer. From next month, 70% of tickets will be made available for purchase only via the official website, call centre, or in person at the site. The attraction – which was recently ranked number 11th most popular European destination – allows only a certain amount of visitors every day.

This means that tickets need to be bought well in advance and last minute tourists go to extreme lengths to get one. Until now, a staggering 49% of tickets went to travel agencies, with only 29% being available to the general public. However the system had its flaws as some agencies reserve tickets three months before possible use and do not have to confirm or pay for them until three days

before. The system led to corruption and over-pricing and meant that if the agencies didn’t sell them they were often going unused. Many agencies sold the tickets at inflated prices, often to secondary agencies or individuals, who charged up to ten times the actual price. The Granada monument attracts 2.7 million visitors each year, making it Spain’s most visited attraction.

Tourism hopes SAN Fulgencio councillor Darren Parmenter sees a new spirit of cooperation between neighbouring towns over tourism. The British PSOE politician said he sees a bright future for the Vega Baja area in particular having attended Spain’s biggest tourism fair FITUR. “Municipalities are now working together to promote fiestas, tapas routes and other events so that they actively support each other,” he explained. And he added: “Tourism inland is just as important as coastal towns. “Working with other municipalities is key to growth, and we’ll be spearheading a number of initiatives from 2020 onwards.”

Story and pictures by Simon Wade

LA CULTURA

February 6th - February 19th 2020

LA CULTURA

The Secret Acropolis

Tucked away in a rugged mountain redoubt north of Granada is Castellón Alto, an ancient abandoned settlement that should be on your must-see list this year. And it’s not just the breathtaking views that will captivate you, writes Nick Nutter

OU need to go back to between 2200 BC and 1550 BC, that the Argaric people roamed the south of Spain. Covering southeast of the Iberian peninsula, from Granada to Alicante and from Almeria to Ciudad Real, these ancient Bronze Age folk were way before their time. Indeed, thousands of years

CLOSE TO HOME: Burial ‘cysts’ were often under the house before the Romans they developed expertise in using bronze, particularly for weaponry, as well as creating sophisticated pottery and ceramic techniques. They also mined and worked silver and gold and, above all, developed a more sophisticated society than anything that had come before. For starters, the old fashioned

communal tombs were abandoned in favour of individual burials in ‘cysts’, often beneath each family’s own dwelling. There also appeared to be three levels of society. The upper and middle classes had access to metal and weapons and the lower class were basically slaves. The refinement of their work in metals and pottery allowed them to extend a trading network established by their predecessors, the people of Los Millares. These people are known today as the ‘Argaric people’ and their culture is called the Argar culture. It was about 1900 BC that the Argaric people built a fortified settlement near the village of Galera (pop: 1,130) in Granada’s little-visited and populated Altiplano region. On a craggy spur on the banks in the valley, each separated of the river Castillejar, the from the other by three kiloplace became metres. known as CasAt its peak, Castellón Alto, and tellón Alto is beSocial structure it is an amazing lieved to have was determined housed about place for both histor y -lover s 80 inhabitants and anyone by which terrace and it grew unwith a joy of each family lived til around 1600 getting out into BC, when it was on nature. suddenly abanThe site covers doned. about half a Built on a spur hectare and overlooks a fer- of the river, terraces were cut tile plain known as the Baza– out of the rock to provide a flat Huescar plateau, the two key surface on which the houses towns of the surrounding area. were built. It is one of four Argaric sites Each house had a low stone

foundation sat on the bedrock and then posts, made of pine, supported the walls and roof. The posts were set in the bedrock and held firmly in place with wooden wedges. Two further posts acted as door jambs, while the door itself comprised of an esparto grass mat, similar to the ones still woven in Andalucia today. The walls were cane or interwoven branches of tamarisk, broom, poplar, willow or rushes, bound together with mud or gypsum plaster. The flat roof was a frame of pine supporting interwoven material thickly impregnated with mud that then baked in the sun. But most interestingly was each inhabitant’s position in the social structure, which was determined by which terrace they lived on. The construction of the settlement, around a buttress of rock, made defence easy, the whole structure resembles a fortress. Crowning the settlement is an area called the Acropolis and it was up here, in this walled area, that the community leaders had their homes. A total of nine graves, all cyst type burials beneath the dwellings, have been found within the Acropolis, compared to a total of 130 tombs on the whole site. One of the Acropolis tombs

LA CULTURA

SCALE: The homes of the village leaders were at the top of the hill

SITE: Castellon Alto is in a rugged area contained a bowl, a jar, a halberd (a two-handed pole weapon) and, even, a short copper sword, all indicating the high position held by the deceased. Unfortunately, the other tombs on the Acropolis have been affected by erosion and clandestine pillaging. The Acropolis had its own wa-

ter cistern that would have been kept topped up by the serfs, who had to bring their own water as well up from the river far down below. As with modern towns, the settlement was not full built to start with, rather it developed over the whole period of occupation. The various phases

of construction are well explained at Castellรณn Alto. It is a great place to visit today and the majority of the site is well preserved and a huge amount of information has been gleaned about the Argar people and their culture. Anthropological study has shown that the people were typical Mediterranean types, of average height and slim build. The average height of a man was 1.67 metres and that of a woman 1.57 metres. A newborn child could expect to live about 23 years with only 3.5% surviving to the age of 60 years. The diet was primarily vegetarian with a little meat. Not unexpectedly the upper echelons of society tended to live longer and eat more meat.

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6th - February 19th 2020

DOORWAYS: Were made of elaborate esparto blinds that are still woven in Andalucia today

Why Castellon Alto was abandoned Beneath the settlement, extending down the valley sides to the irrigated land along the river, was a thick growth of holm-oak and Aleppo pine. The Argaric people of Castellรณn Alto denuded the valley sides of trees that they used for fuel and building. It is likely that this is the reason for it being abandoned after only 300 years.

Tours of Castellon Alto Tours of the site are conducted at set times and days throughout the year. Please check with the official website for opening times. The numerous informational plaques around the site are, unfortunately, only in Spanish, which is a pity because they display masses of information. The guide also only speaks Spanish. However, if when you book the tour, you ask for information in English, you will be presented with a plastic folder containing 16 sheets of A4 paper, each one a translation of the information on the plaques. For more info visit:

Nick Nutter owns travel website Visit Andalucia (www.visit-andalucia.com)

www.juntadeandalucia.es/ cultura/enclaves/enclave-arqueologico-castellon-alto

LA CULTURA

February 6th - February 19th 2020

Rewriting history

ARCHAEOLOGIST Eliseo Gil has been told he faces a lengthy prison sentence and anonymity from the archaeological community after being accused of falsifying artefacts that had the potential to ‘rewrite the history books.’ The professor, along with his geologist partner, Oscar Escribano, are being tried for fraud and damaging heritage after they doctored findings from an important excavation at the old Roman settlement of Veleia, northern Spain. Gil became a ‘celebrity’ in the Basque country after he supposedly discovered a link between early Christianity, Ancient Egyptian and Northern Spanish cultures.

Vulgar

The discoveries were made back in 2006, when the archaeology world was stunned to be presented with artefacts from the third century AD with early images depicting the crucifixion as well as early Basque language. However, Gil soon became under suspicion after he presented his findings to language expert Joaquin Gorrochategui, who soon began to spot inconsistencies. He noticed that the Latin used on the inscriptions was ‘vulgar’ and contained numerous errors. Gil was soon removed of his concession to continue to work at the site, and now faces up to five and a half years in prison if it is proved that his findings were doctored.

BREAKING THE MOLD

ELD up by armed robbers in Britain, shunned by the art world in Belgium, forced to put down his brushes and take up the tools of a trade for half his working life – David Grice once earned five figures for some of his pieces but he also knows what it means to be a struggling artist. But that’s all hopefully in the past. From their new home in the picture postcard village of Canillas de Aceituno in the hills of the Axarquia David, his artist wife Carol and their three cats are starting a fresh canvas. Now in their 70s, the couple are desperately seeking an outlet to display David’s outstanding collection of avant garde sculptures and paintings and re-establish his name in the ultra competitive world of contemporary art. The first thing you notice when you walk in the door is walls filled with paintings and bass relief works. Each piece has a backstory, enthusiastically told with such detail you’d think they’d been finished yesterday, although some pieces go back to the 1970s. David has lived and breathed art since he was a lad. “You might say it’s in my blood,” he

He grew up in the next town to David Hockney and was making a name in the art world until life got in the way. 30 years on, sculptor, poet and painter David Grice is staging his comeback from Spain, as James Warren reports tells the Olive Press. He was an early pioneer of the recycled art movement, using discarded items to create cutting edge sculptures and inventing the startling ‘Super Surreal Baroque’ genre. A contemporary of world-renowned pop artist David Hockney, although nine years his junior, David grew up in the next door Yorkshire town of Saltaire, in the shadow of the now famous Salts Mill which houses one of the world’s largest Hockney collections. A rebel, like Hockney, he even studied graphic design at the

EVENTS GUIDE Friday 7 Feb TORREVIEJA, Monroe’s Rock Cafe, 9pm. Poker against cancer. QUESADA, Rock n Roll Restaurant Steakhouse & Grill, 9.30pm. Bella Lyna - singer. TORREVIEJA, Queen Music Pub, 5pm. Live music from 70s / 80s / 90s.

ORIHUELA COSTA, Champagne Bar, 4pm. Soul Man - disco and funk. TORREVIEJA, Bar Carlos, 1.30pm. Sunday Chill, hosted by Forever Young.. TORREVIEJA Plaza María Asunción, 5.30pm. Carnival contest parade.

ROJALES, Cafe Bar El Paso, 1am. Exotoc Pole Dancing.

Tuesday 11 Feb TORREVIEJA, O’Connor’s, 9pm. Karaoke with Nikki Nock.

ROJALES, The Club Quesada, 7pm. The Desperados - music from The Eagles.

QUESADA, La Vida Sunset Bar, 7pm. Karaoke Night with Samantha Curtis.

Saturday 8 Feb GUARDAMAR, Playa el Robello, 10.30am. Reiki & restorative yoga. Bring a blanket and comfy clothes.

Wednesday 12 Feb QUESADA, Coopers Arms, 9pm. RanDM Back to the 80s Live Concert with Richie Alexander & Dougie Munro.

ORIHUELA COSTA, La Zenia Boulevard, 1pm. Pink Ladies Cancer Day.

Thursday 13 Feb FORMENTERA DEL SEGURA, The Inn Place, 11am. Mirror Image Jewellery Fare.

TORREVIEJA, El Paso Cafe, 7pm. Ladies Dine NIght with live entertainment.

VILLAMARTIN, Cafe Bar CC Novogolf 7pm. Bee Rumble Motown.

QUESADA, Laurel’s Restaurant & Bar. Terry Hart sings Sinatra, Buble, Bennett and Martin.

Friday 14 February TORREVIEJA, Tango Bar Cafe, 10pm. Sweet Rhythm.

TORREVIEJA - Cazuelica & wine roiute, discounted tapas and wine at 22 various restaurants.

QUESADA, Chefs on Broadway, 9pm. An evening of Michael Buble with Jim McMail.

TORREVIEJA, International Auditorio, 9.30pm. National Drag Queen Contest.

Tuesday 18 Feb TORREVIEJA, O’Connor’s, 9pm. Karaoke with Nikki Nock.

Sunday 9 Feb LA MARINA, Chiefs, 9pm. The Ambassadors.

Wednesday 19 Feb BENIJOFAR, La Cosecha Restaurant, 7pm. Ladies Night, dining and entertainment.

MULA, Town Hall Square. Artisan Market themed craft market with demonstrations.

Friday 21 Feb CABO ROIG, Bushwacker, 10.30pm.

NB: If your business has events from 24th Jan to 5th Feb, please email full details to us at simon@theolivepress.es

same art college in Bradford. But from there, the artists’ paths diverged. After his parents’ break up, David was forced to give up his studies and went into the building trade with his uncle. He’d hit 40 by the time he could afford to give up his day job to focus full time on his artwork. Opening a gallery in Saltaire, he quickly made a name for himself, buying and selling antiques and artwork, often for price tags with four noughts. “We started the business from scratch, we found a ruin and did it up, put a car park in, restored the whole thing, it was lovely,” recalls Carol. “But we had to leave after we had a series of armed roberries. I came face to face with an intruder and was threatened with a hammer; we just had to say enough is enough!”

Extraordinary

Deciding to try their luck in Belgium, they set up shop in Antwerp’s diamond district. The Orthodox Jewish neighbourhood inspired David to create a collection of surrealist paintings depicting the extraordinary faces and characters he saw (see below). But the Belgium art world proving to be very insular and CREATIVE: David and one of his creations difficult to crack. “The locals did not care for foreigners and even more so foreign artists,” says David. After five years of trying to recover the momentum they’d gained in Britain, in 2010 they moved to Spain, renting a number of apartments before falling in love with Canillas. Since then David has been busy adding to his collection of spectacular sculptures using items of scrap, lovingly transformed into art through his deviant imagination. The pair still hope there is still a worldwide market for David’s surreal brand of sculpture, providing they can find an agent to help them promote their pieces to a wider audience. With luck, it will unlock the door back into the art world and bring some wfinancial stability to their Spanish idyll.

SURREAL: Orthodox Jews and a fish and (right) a version of a cross

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Sky high Andalucia is one of three global bases offering space travel next year

THRILL-seekers will be offered the ultimate experience in southern Spain next year. A Spanish company is to blast tourists into space from a trio of global bases, one of them in Andalucia, in 2021. Zero 2 Infinity is building a base in Jaen, alongside two more in Saudi Arabia and Baja California, in Mexico. Costing up to €12 million to build, the launch pad in Villacarrillo, will offer punters 10 to 20-minute trips for around €125,000 each. The balloon-type craft will ascend 36 kilometres into space and punters will need to be of a certain level of fitness. The trip will be in a pressurised cabin or

DOUBLE DELIGHT A RESTAURANT in Toledo has served up the best croquettes in the country for two years in a row. Restaurante Ivan Cerdeno came top again for the ‘creaminess, texture and flavour’ of its Spanish delicacy. In second place was Casa Belarmino in Asturias, in the contest sponsored by celebrated jamon producer Joselito.

pod, propelled by a balloon fuelled by helium gas. It will soar higher than planes, but below satellites. No extensive training is needed and passengers will not be wearing astronaut gear, but overalls similar to those of a race car driver. Passengers will mostly feel the same as they do on a normal flight, but there will be a certain level of discomfort as there won’t be any catering or toilets. “As there is nothing abrupt about it, it’s the kind of tourism anyone can enjoy,” said co-onwer Kemel Kharbachi. “The 2021 tourists will have to have plenty of economic clout, but as both the technology and the program evolve, in five or 10 years we want this type of trip to become something like the ‘all-inclusive’ packages to the Caribbean.” Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans to have the first civilian in space this year, while Richard Branson plans to take 600 tourists into space this year, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Bieber.

SACRE BLUE ANDALUCIAN chef Agustin Herrera has scooped a prestigious French food competition. The Cordoba-born maestro won the Food in Sud contest, in Marseille, with a four-strong team from his Madrid-based El Clasico Taberna & Tapas restaurant. The Lucena chef, who has won various competitions over the last few years, was up against teams from around the Med. The judges chose him for his menu that ‘took the diner around our country with every bite’. His meal consisted of a Lucerne Grondin in a crab sauce, accompanied by a Madrid-style chickpea biscuit, yogurt, mint and a Navarra piparra.

February 6th - February 19th 2020

It’s bean coming THE nephew of the British-Italian founders of Costa Coffee has sparked a new coffeehouse franchise on Spain’s Costa Blanca. Junior Costa, 30 (below) has just opened the second branch of his Nostro Cafe Costa brand in Javea following in the footsteps of his two uncles, Bruno and Sergio Costa, who started the Costa Coffee chain in Lambeth back in 1971. After moving to Spain with his father Giancarlo 13 years ago, London-born Junior said that he set his sights on starting a new

franchise from Spain. “We want our chain to be focused on attention to the clientele,” Junior told the Olive Press. “As much as I want to represent what my family has done, I don’t want to do the same as them.” The new shop, on Avenida de Lepanto, offers freshpressed juices, pastries baked daily, smoothie bowls, sandwiches and tostadas. It is open from 8am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, in the iconic port area of Javea.

February 6th - February 19th 2020

Hillside romance

WHERE better to celebrate Valentine’s Day than in the intimate surroundings of Fountainhead hotel and restaurant, voted one of the top ten most romantic venues in Spain. Nestled in the beautiful hills near Riogordo in Malaga province, the views are stunning as is the décor of this award winning restaurant. Helen Bartlett’s inspired cooking draws gourmets from far afield, known for her imaginative infusion of modern and traditional dishes that also includes vegetarian and vegan options.

Pampering

The extensive wine list boasts around 100 of Spain’s best wines at reasonable prices. So, if you fancy a special dinner, head up to Fountainhead where you will be warmly welcomed by their pampering staff. And, if you don’t want to drive home, it’s also possible to stay the night in one of the four fabulous suites. Prices: around €40 per head for three-course a la carte dinner. Special Valentine’s Day package for two, dinner, bed and breakfast €295. Drinks not included. Reservations 696183309 www.fountainheadinspain.com

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Big heartshaped day

ALENTINE’S day is just one big heart-shaped excuse to eat mouth-watering, heart-melting food, our one true love. Wonderful meals aren’t only found on menus, in fact, the best dinners are undoubtedly those you prepare yourself… and your loved one will certainly appreciate it all the more. Cooking is a labour of love and whether you’re a Heston Blumenthal aficionado or a beans-on-toast connoisseur, it shows you care and takes you to the heart of the meal and the root of the flavour. It takes far more thought and care to create exciting, enticing food than it does to fall back lazily on the default flowers and chocolates combo. And why not experiment with some of mother nature’s own aphrodisiacs; avocado, almonds, honey and figs are all bound to cause a stir. So with love in the air and rumbling in the belly, treat that someone special to these romantic recipes without stepping out your front door (except, of course, to buy the ingredients).

Valentines Day is the perfect opportunity to woo your loved one, via the kitchen

Parmesanstuffed medjool dates wrapped in bacon

Roast salmon and asparagus It’s love at first sight when succulent salmon meets aphrodisiacal asparagus in this one-pot-pleaser... lPre-heat the oven to 200C. lTip new potatoes and 1 tbsp of olive oil into an ovenproof dish and roast for 20 minutes, until they are starting to brown. lToss the asparagus, trimmed and halved, in with the potatoes and return to the oven for 15 minutes. lAdd cherry tomatoes and vinegar and nestle salmon fillets amongst the vegetables, then drizzle more olive oil over and return to the oven for a final 10-15 minutes. lScatter over basil leaves and serve everything scooped straight from the dish.

For a Valentine’s ‘date’ to remember... lPull the pits out of large Medjool dates and stuff with a small chunk of Parmesan cheese. lCut slices of bacon in thirds and wrap each piece around a stuffed date. lPlace them seam-side down on a baking sheet and bake at 180C for 10 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked through.

FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

POP A CORK! You can’t have a romantic dinner without some sparkle and fizz.

CARPET HEAVEN

Fitted & Edged Carpet from the UK Traditional & Modern Rugs Soft Step Cushion Flooring Burmatex Carpet Tiles

Budget Fresh fizzy and oh so Spanish, check out Lidl’s amazing Aresel DO Brut Nature Vintage Cava €2.59 . Not everyone loves sparkles, but you won’t go wrong with this.

Honey baked figs and ice cream And something sweet for your sweetheart lCut a dozen fresh figs in half and put into a shallow baking dish and dot with 1 tsp butter. lMix 1 tbsp clear honey with juice of one orange and drizzle over the figs. lBake for 15 mins or until the figs are soft and sticky. lServe with vanilla ice cream topped with orange zest and chopped pistachios.

Blow it Head to Aldi for its award winning Veuve Monsigny Champagne €12.99. The prestigious International Wine and Spirits Challenge rate it as one of the ‘world’s best’ champagnes.

A Slice of Africa

FIVE times bigger than the UK, South Africa is a country you can’t hope to conquer. Cape Town to Durban is a full-day’s drive crossing desert, savannah and shrub from Atlantic Ocean to Indian Ocean. And yet thanks to monumental advancements in technology, this epic journey can be completed in just four days on the gigantic MSC Orchestra. With a special deal via Costa Blanca-based travel agency Falken Tours this marvel of the world will be just the first stepping stone on an adventure from South Africa to Venice via Mauritius, Seychelles, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia. Starting at €2,299 for an interior room – and €3,699 for a room with a balcony – this once-in-a-lifetime tour will depart from Cape Town on 14 April, lasting 30 days until arriving in Venice on 13 May. Ushering you on your trips to the palm-fringed Port Louis of Mauritius and Port Victoria of the Seychelles will be MSC Cruises Orchestra cruise ship. The ship can hold 2,550 passengers, with room for over 1,000 crew, and features a range of restaurants, swimming pools and spas to comfort you on your journey.

tel: 966 720 782

Avenida Del Mar 33B, 03187, Los Montesinos carpetheaven@hotmail.es

www.carpetheaven.es IF YOU LIKE COLOUR YOU WILL LOVE CARPET HEAVEN

PROPERTY

Brexit boost February 6th - February 19th 2020

String of estate agents say Brexit clarity is bringing new hope to Costa Blanca market for 2020 and up to 15% bounce in enquiries, writes Simon Wade

CONFIDENCE if finally returning to the Costa Blanca property market. The UK’s confirmed departure from the EU has led to a sharp upturn in enquiries, the Olive Press can reveal. While the world has become polarised on opinions over Brexit, the real estate industry has seen some welcome grass roots of recovery. Indeed, a trio of agents on the Costa Blanca, confirmed a much healthier situation than this time last year. One, Amael Bouarroudj, of A TELEPHONE translation service has just launched in Spain offering instant Spanish-English interpretation for a maximum of €1.57 per minute. My Friend in Spain puts English-language, non-Spanish speakers in direct contact with bilingual interpreters to help in emergency situations within seconds. The number for English-Spanish telephone interpretation

Suspended underwater in space BARGAIN: This amazing fifth floor three-bedroom apartment in the heart of Torrevieja is on sale for just over €189.000 with Invest For Home Invest For Home, in Torrevieja, said: “The increased confidence comes from the fact that for three years, people just didn’t know what was happening - now they know. “Buyers have been holding back since the referendum, is +34 807 499 846 and costs €1.21 from a Spanish landline or €1.57 from a Spanish mobile. There is NO NEED to register and no extra costs. Callers pay for the exact minutes they use through their telephone service provider. The instant Spanish translation service is only available from Spanish phones, but a UK number will be live by summer, 2020. Telephone interpretation is

which means they now have a bit more saved up, and the improved exchange rate means more buying power, too.” He sees the forthcoming Easter Holidays (April 4 to April 19) as the time when the market will be teeming with buy-

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ers wanting their ‘place in the sun’. “There is a distinct rise in enquiries from British buyers and I expect it to continue.” Nicola Kemp, who runs Barcelo Real Estate, in Ciudad Quesada, has also seen an improvement. “Compared to this time last year we are seeing a lot more confidence in the buyers from the United Kingdom. “A healthier exchange rate and the confirmed date for Brexit is helping to reassure people that the end to the waiting is in sight, and they are beginning to resume their house-hunting here. “We predict that over the coming months we will con-

tinue to see an increase in enquiries from British buyers, and the market will continue to grow and flourish!” Lindsey Smith, co-owner of Olivia Real Estate, in Los Montesinos, has seen a healthy 9% growth in completions since the Brexit date was confirmed, and roughly 15% more enquiries. She, like other agents we spoke to, is pleased with the high number of quality newbuild properties on the market, often competing in price with similar-sized previously-owned homes. And with a healthy market of buyers from Scandinavia and Russia as well as the UK,

THE largest overhanging pool in Europe is set to open in Murcia. The incredible cantilevered pool will be the second largest in the world, when it opens at the Odiseo leisure and casino complex later this year. The architect, Manuel Clavel, tested the facility and recorded a thrilling video some 30 metres above the ground. The pool itself is 42 metres long, with 20 metres jutting out. The Orenes Grupo have spent €18m on the building with only Singapore having a larger overhanging pool.

BUSINESS

February 6th - February 19th 2020

HEALTH

AGAINST THE ODDS A FIBROMYALGIA sufferer who experiences ‘constant’ pain has walked the Costa Blanca as part of a 6,000km journey to raise awareness about her illness. Violette Duval set out on April 13 from her home in Normandy before walking the entire Atlantic coastlines of France, Spain and Portugal. She said she battles through her ‘chronic fatigue’ – symptomatic of the musculoskeletal illness – as it is not

Fibromyalgia sufferer walks 6,000km in ‘constant pain’ to raise awareness about her forgotten condition

formally recognised as an illness in the countries through which she is walking. “I get muscle and bone pain in my body all the time,” Violette told the Olive Press during a stop-over in Javea. She said she ‘lost’ a well-paid job at KPMG because doctors would not sign her off for paid medical leave in France.

“I was hating my country for a long time – a lot of fibromyalgia sufferers have to pretend to be depressed to get time off work,” Violette added. “For 10 years I had doctors telling me it was all in my head and that I just didn’t want to work, but here I am walking 6,000 kilometres to make people see me.” Violette said movement aids her condition, though she admitted the ‘cold and the rain’ were affecting her on her journey, where she stays in hostels, hotels or with friends and acquaintances. “A lot of people on the street think I’m carrying my baby, or they see my flag, and I stop to explain my story,” she said. “I have been able to touch

the hearts of a lot of people and I’m hoping the French media will pick up on it when I return to Marseille so I can call on the health minister to make change.” Olive Press medical columnist J eremy Kenton said fibromyalgia is ‘not recognised in a majority of countries’ meaning that ‘millions are not eligible for benefits’. “The World Health Organisation has classified it as a disease, but often doctors only prescribe antidepressants, which don’t do a lot to help.” He added there are 2 million sufferers of the disease in France, and roughly 3% of people worldwide are afflicted, including Morgan Freeman and Lady Gaga.

SILENT PROTEST: Violette´s mammoth walk to highlight fibromyalgia

Cruel end

A 10-YEAR-OLD Congolese boy whose life was saved when a Valencian humanitarian foundation removed a humongous tumor from his face has died on return to his country. Emmanuel was last month flown in to see Manises-based surgeon Pedro Cavadas – of the Pedro Cavadas Foundation – after suffering five years with a craniofacial tumour than grew larger than his own head. “There’s no life in this boy. He’s been condemned to a rapid and horrific death,” Cavadas said before two gruelling 10-hour interventions that succeeded in removing the ‘largest tumour’ he had ever seen.

Choked

But the miracle was short-lived. Less than a month after receiving his second chance in life, Emmanuel died on board a flight from Madrid to Casablanca. Authorities investigating the boy’s death after an emergency landing in Malaga, January 31, confirmed he ‘choked to death’ after suffering a massive haemorrhage. “It will take a lot of time to recover from this tragedy, especially after everything pointed to a happy ever-after,” Cavadas said. “All deaths hurt, but with patients of the Foundation, they hurt a lot more.” The Pedro Cavadas Foundation was set up in 2003 with the goal of providing modern reconstructive surgery to underprivileged patients of African countries. Emmanuel’s father reportedly spent five years going from hospital to hospital to heal his child, until a humanitarian agency put the family in touch with Dr Cavadas.

Slipping up

HEALTH APPOINTMENT By Jeremy Kenton

‘Slipped disc’ is a misnomer for a variety of medical issues you’ll need to watch for in older age, writes osteopath Jeremy Kenton

Discs do not ‘slip’. They do not come flying out of place, and they cannot be pushed back into place. So what do they do? The intervertebral disc is a plate of cartilage that lies in between each individual vertebrae. (Imagine a chewy sweet filled with jelly inside – that is a typical disc.) It acts as a shock absorber for up-and-down movements in your spine. As you bend forward, the jelly inside – or nucleus pulposa – shifts backwards; when you bend backwards it moves forwards. Now, when we are young and healthy, the outer layer – annulus fibrosa – prevents too much movement of the jelly inside. However, as we get older or if we damage the outer layer, then it can tear or just deteriorate with age just like the wall of a car tyre. So what problems can this cause? Tears in this annulus fibrosa can allow the jelly inside to seep through the outer fibres, which then places direct pressure on the nerves that exit from in between the vertabra on each side, producing pain. (Try and imagine the nerves are like the wiring loom on a car.) Different nerves supply different parts. So if the pressure from the protruding gel is bulging through the disc is at a specific site, it will produce specific effects on that specific nerve. Leg pain, for example, is often called sciatica, but true sciatica is where there is pressure on the nerve that will give you pain straight down the middle of the back of the upper leg. Disc damage may be due to annular tear, where the outer covering is damaged. The classic disc damage, however, is where the jelly nucleus either protrudes or bulges – or, as we in the profession would call it, a herniation, rupture or in severe cases a full prolapse. If the disc material applies pressure directly onto the spinal cord, and the nerves exiting on each side and the pressure is equal, then this is called a central disc prolapse and will give pain into both legs at the same. If the central disc prolapse occurs at the lowest level of the spine in between the fourth and fifth Lumbar vertabra, then this can apply pressure to what is called the Cauda equina and can damage the nerves supplying the bowel and bladder leading to urine retention – an acute surgical emergency. Discs also dehydrate and reduce in size, narrowing as we get older, and this disc degeneration means they no longer cushion the shocks, jolts and bumps as we walk or run producing pain. Most of us over 40 will show some degree of disc degeneration on an X-ray or MRI often without any pain or symptoms. Surgery is not the only option and you should always consider other more conventional conservative treatments such as osteopathy, chiropractic or physiotherapy. Yes, there are times when surgery is the only option, but there is so much that can be done to help through manual methods of medicine and exercise. So, if you have been told you have a slipped disc, think again and consider which type of disc involvement you have.

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HEALTH

Health & Beauty

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February 6th - February 19th 2020

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THE WOBBLES effort, pain and cost

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February 6th - February 19th 2020

BREXIT DAY

COLUMNISTS GETTING CONNECTED By Loraine Gostling

Loraine Gostling’s tearful farewell to the EU is brightened by the inimitable comments on her Javea Connect Facebook group

My first thoughts as I sat down to try amuse those who have made it this far in the paper are tinged with sadness. I thought the dreaded Friday 31st would not affect me as much as it actually did. And I was fine, really I was, until my newsfeed popped up with a photo of Brussels lighting up the main square in Union Jack colours to say farewell to the Brits. I got all tearful, had to grab a tissue, followed closely by a large G&T – or two – that somehow eased the pain a bit. Then it occurred to me that soon, other EU countries will follow suit, and once France completes their Frexit, the Brits will want back in again anyway! The following day, after the mourning period (and minor hangover) was over, I thought I best go check on my flock in Javea Connect to see their reactions. Important questions were being asked, such as ‘will we still be able to get our duty free cigs?’ or ‘can I take my cat back as his passport is Spanish?’ There were some funny comments spotted now and again, such as ‘I voted Remain, not just for political reasons, but because my mum’s moved to Spain and I want her to stay there’ and ‘have we tried

unplugging 2016 waiting ten seconds and plugging it back in again?’. Another wrote: “Say goodbye to croissants people. Delicious croissants. We’re stuck with crumpets FOREVER.” Though I have to say my favourite was: “Why do we need any colour passport? We should just be able to shout, “British! Less of your nonsense!” and stroll straight through.” Although, a certain UK newspaper (not sure whether I can name it, so for safety’s sake I will name it the “Brexpress”), really did make a huge faux-pas by writing about Brits flying with their posh new blue passports this year. Their photo editor must have had one or two vinos too many at lunch, as the accompanying picture had been taken from a mock-up by Monty Python’s Flying Circus many years ago! But hey... you know what... I like hamsters.... and elderberry wine is pretty damn delicious... Fly with it UK Gov..... M.P. is rather more palatable when it stands for good old Monty! Just as a final thought here... if you make a faux pas twice... are they faux passes?

Storm after the storm

With forage at double the price following September’s floods, the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre faces going under in new tax scare, writes Susan Weeding WHEN we started the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre 11 years ago, we naively thought it would be a simple dream. We jumped all the legal hoops of becoming an asociacion and we even went twice to the tax office to double check we didn’t have to declare anything. We were told ‘no no, you are just an asociacion’. Sadly we didn’t have a crystal ball back then. Our work carried on developing, we deepened relationships with the police to rehome rescues, and here we are with 121 horses, ponies and donkeys. However, the troubles started around three years ago when an employment officer turned up out of the blue and told us we weren’t allowed any Spanish volunteers. He said that residents of Spain would have to be given contracts if they wanted to work at the rescue centre, and threatened us with a €9,000 fine if we didn’t comply within four weeks. It was a very bitter pill to swallow, as it would financially hit us hard, but we went along with it and employed three workers paying €900 minimum wage and the taxman for healthcare and pensions. And then, last September came the floods, which have seen us forking out double forage as the alfalfa crops have been decimated. The current bill is already €20,000. Our four shops get quiet

FARM FLASH By Susan Weeding

over the winter period, meaning we’ve been paying wages out of our own pockets as there’s nothing left in the charity coffer. And the latest development is the 21% IVA we will need to start charging on sales of donated goods in our charity shops – as reported by the Olive Press this week. It will mean us losing a lot our end, because we can’t make people pay an extra 21% on top of all our prices in the charity shop. So we’re doing everything we can to continue to function as a rescue centre. Two staff have gone – maybe a third will go too. I’m 64, my husband Rod is 70, and to top things off he’s been told it’s illegal for him to work at the centre as he’s a pensioner. How do we care for 121 horses, ponies and donkey without staff, with high costs, and less funding coming in? Several kind people have donated money, but long term we really do not know where we are going. We are doing everything we can to balance the books and give these abused animals a second chance in life.

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 7 Serve, 8 Aseptic, 9 Easiest, 10 Supra, 11 Primer, 13 Enrol, 16 Agape, 18 Fiddle, 21 Until, 23 Advance, 24 Selects, 25 Darts. . Down: 1 Dressing, 2 Recede, 3 Oast, 4 Person, 5 Step, 6 Scram, 7 Sleepy, 12 Rue, 13 Elf, 14 Ordinary, 15 Renews, 17 Palace, 19 Invade, 20 Curse, 22 Talk, 23 Also.

SUDOKU

6 9 5 7 4 2 8 3 1

1 7 3 9 5 8 6 4 2

2 8 4 1 3 6 5 7 9

7 2 8 4 6 9 1 5 3

3 5 9 2 1 7 4 8 6

4 6 1 5 8 3 2 9 7

9 1 6 8 7 4 3 2 5

8 3 2 6 9 5 7 1 4

5 4 7 3 2 1 9 6 8

Puzzle by websudoku.com

SPORT

While the world grieves for Kobe Bryant, Malaga mourns the untimely death of another hero of the game

FORMER Malaga and Great Britain basketball international Robert Archibald has died at the age of 39. University of Illinois athletics officials confirmed Archibald’s death in circumstances that still remain unclear. The seven-foot giant is the only Scotsman to ever play in the NBA when he was drafted in 2002 by the Memphis Grizzlies. He moved back to Europe in

Second blow for basketball 2004 and had a successful career in the Euroleague – Europe’s top tier competition. He played for four Spanish teams during that period including Valencia, Badalona and Zaragoza. However Malaga, where he spent three seasons from 2008 to 2011, was the team where he made the biggest impact. Archibald also had 37 caps as a Great Britain international, representing Team GB at the London Olympic Games in 2012, after which he subsequently retired from international duty. Tributes have come in from around the globe, including from Spanish legend Pau Gasol who was his teammate in Memphis. British Basketball Federation chairman Maurice Watkins said: “He was a fantastic ambassador for signed for the East London Scottish and British basketball club in the summer, but has and will be fondly remembered had a tough time adjusting to for his great contribution to the life in the Premier League. He game in our country, his talent has been criticised by fans for and his achievements.” his performances and, with His death came just two days the return of Darren Ranbefore the world lost another dolph from Middlesbrough, titan of the game in Kobe Brythe 33-year-old was now surant, who lost his life along with plus to requirements. eight other people in a helicopThe Madrileno has played for ter crash. The 41-year-old LA a few teams in Spain’s top tier, Lakers star and his daughter Giincluding Atletico Madrid, anna, 13 were killed when their Espanyol and Malaga – when chopper smashed into a hill in they were still in La Liga. California.

Roberto goes home ALAVES have signed Roberto Jimenez Gago on loan from West Ham. The Spaniard

RELIEVED: Roberto

HEARTBROKEN: The basketball world is hurting

February 6th - February 19th 2020 RAFAEL Nadal was knocked out of the Australian Open at the quarter final stage. The world number one suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Dominic Thiem. The world number five stunned the Spaniard in a four-set thriller, 7-6 7-6 4-6 7-6 at Melbourne Park. The Austrian qualified for his first Australian Open semi-final and faced Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Nadal, 33, had defeated Thiem in the last two French Open finals but the 26-year-old finally got his revenge. “I had luck in the right situations, the net cord was on my side,” Thiem said. “But it is necessary because Nadal is one of the greatest of all time and you need some luck to beat him.” The Spaniard seemed tense and tired throughout the entire match. He was given a time violation in the second set for taking too long to serve after winning

NADA MAS

a brutal 19-shot rally. That led to an irritated Nadal telling the umpire: “You don’t like good tennis.” But the hot shot from Mallorca was still unhappy about the incident and spoke to the tournament supervisor Andreas Egli about it. He later had another disagreement with the umpire over not being allowed to challenge a Thiem serve and throughout the match complained about the cool air blower next to his chair not working properly. All these incidents highlighted Nadal’s edginess and translated to his game as he missed shots he would normally be expected to make.

Enjoy the new Cashback promotion from Liberty and spend the benefit your way!

‘Spend it how you like’ is the slogan for the new Cashback offer from LIBERTY SEGUROS, the preferred expat insurer in Spain, because it’s entirely up to you what you spend that extra cash on! It’s simple too! Just take out a new car, home, life or funeral insurance from LIBERTY SEGUROS to access this new Cashback offer. You’ll receive the Cash back directly into your bank account! Until 26th March 2020, existing customers who take out a new policy on one or more of these insurance covers, can get 60€ Cashback on each one. That means, for example, if you contract a new car policy plus a life policy you can get 120€. Imagine what you could do with that money! New clients will also benefit. They will get 30€ Cashback on the first policy and for all subsequent new policies 60€ each. Again, as an example, the first is a car policy providing 30€ Cashback and if a home and life policy is contracted too that’s another 120€ making a possible Cashback total of 150€. There is no limit on policies, so there is no limit on Cashback, whether you’re an existing or new customer! What better time could there be to switch to LIBERTY SEGUROS for even greater savings and the best covers for all types of insurance. The main condition is that premiums are paid by direct debit and all Cashback is credited to the same bank account. For convenience, payments can be set up both in Spain or in your home country bank account, as long as it is within the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) zone. Customers must be aware that these offers are not for renewals or replacements and apply only to new policies for car, home, life and funeral cover. Minimum premiums to access this offer are 200€ for Life insurance and 160 € for Funeral. In the case of car it will be 400€ in mainland Spain and in the Balearics and 330€ in the Canary Islands, and 220€ and 160€ for home premiums in the mainland/Balearics and Canary Islands respectively. Over 175,000 expat clients have already chosen LIBERTY SEGUROS as their insurance provider and this figure grows almost daily because of the excellent service and quality of cover they get. LIBERTY SEGUROS has an extensive network of more than 300 brokers/agents who are dedicated to providing friendly and expert advice. Speaking your own language, these brokers and agents are available to discuss, face-to-face, the cover that will be perfect for you. This must be better than dealing with anyone only by phone! To find the location of your nearest broker/agent, please visit www.libertyexpatriates. es. or simply call 91 342 25 49

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FINAL WORDS

Dead men’s shoes SPECULATORS in Madrid are eyeing up prime properties in the capital where tenants have been paying as little as €7 a month due to laws honouring contracts signed before May 1985 until the tenant moves out or passes away.

Seismic shock A 4.2 MAGNITUDE earthquake shook Almogia, lying north of Torremolinos, but nobody was hurt and no significant damage was caused.

OLIVE PRESS

The The

A BRITISH expat has filed a denuncia in Marbella afer a new property development has ‘blocked his view’ across the Straits of Gibraltar to Morocco.

COSTA BLANCA

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Vol. 1 Issue 23 7www.theolivepress.es Vol. 1 Issue www.theolivepress.es February February6th 6th -- February February 19th 19th 2020 2020

CAR AHOY: Talk about dopey tourists.. this one reversed his hire car onto a boat in Cabopino this week. Pic sent in by reader Graham Pierce. Full story at www.theolivepress.es

SEA WEED SAGA By Joanne Oakley

A BRITISH sailor got the shock of his life when he pulled a bail of hash - worth €280,000 - out of the sea. The yacht captain Mike Stewart bucked the trend by immediately calling in police and coastguard on landing the haul off Murcia. The seasoned seadog, 58, had been sailing from the

Quite the buzz

British sailor finds €280,000 worth of marijuana in the Med

UK to Mallorca, via the Straits of Gibraltar. The Mancunian and his three crew - one a former policeman - spotted the huge 35kg package, wrapped in plastic off the port of Aguilas. After dragging it on board

they soon realised that it was a huge stash of marijuana and called the Spanish police. “You could hardly pick the thing up,” revealed Stewart. “One of our crew was in the police for 45 years and he hadn’t seen a thing like it.”

It is thought the drugs may have been dumped by traffickers in fear of being followed. It could also have been left anchored out at sea, ready for pick-up. The regular sailor added: “Coming through the Straits there’s always refugee boats, things like that.”

Submarine

A COSTA Blanca woman has been charged over the theft of 40 vibrators from a sex shop. The Callosa de Segura local was tracked down by the Guardia Civil a day later, by which time more than half of the items had already been used. The 40-year-old confessed that much of the €2000 haul had been shared with her neighbours and pals in the Costa Blanca town. One particular model, the Satisfyer, has become one of the most demanded sex products in Spain, with sales increasing by 1,300% in 2019. The woman is now awaiting trial for the January 23 robbery.

It comes after a Spanish man was sentenced to eight years for smuggling the largest ever haul of narcotics into Gibraltar. Last year a group of Galician smugglers were found bringing tons of cocaine into Spain via a specially-designed submarine.

Brolly good show A SPANISH ‘Super gran’ caught on camera taking on a robber with her umbrella has gone viral on social media. Amazing CCTV footage captured the moment the 73-year-old pensioner, from Madrid, tussled with the thief outside a supermarket. The video shows Antonia being thrown to the ground by the young thug after she tries to raise the alarm. The thief was attempting to open the cash register in the shop with a small knife, which she tried to wrestle off him. Despite her heroic efforts, the man made off with €2,000. However, footage shows him receiving one last blow to the head in the street outside. After Antonia reported the incident to police the man was arrested.