Olive Press Costa Blanca South and Murcia - Issue 81

Sunblocked

A PAIR of solar megafarms have been scrapped due to their impact on ‘protected’ countryside.

The proposals would have seen 300 hectares of panels covering the Sierra Escalona in the Vega Baja region.

The Ministry of Ecological Transition has turned down the application for the plants funded by the Atitlan investment fund.

The felling of pine forests would be detrimental to the ‘development of birds of prey’ according to the ruling.

“The solar plants would have had a significant adverse impact on the landscape and the environment, especially in the protected area,” confirmed a ministry spokesman.

“The proximity to wetlands in Torrevieja and San Pedro del Pinatar enriches the birdlife that passes and is seen in the area regularly,” he added.

Friends of Sierra Escalona (ASE) president Miguel Pavon was delighted with the news.

“This is a good start for 2023 and sets a good precedent for around a dozen other solar farm applications,” he told the Olive Press.

In theory the government could overturn the decision, but that is viewed as unlikely.

Currently there are said to be around 25 planned projects in the Vega Baja area with a total of 180 projects planned for Alicante province.

The Sierra Escalona was classified as a protected area in 2018 in particular for birds.

FACE FORWARD

Homeless man paid to have stag’s name tattooed on his forehead by drunk Brits finally having it removed… but still no apology

ly inhumane and akin to abuse.’

But Tomek has revealed that he has received ‘zero apology’ from Blake or any of his pals.

He now wants Blake, based in Tyneside, to apologise publicly and foot the removal bill,

which has cost €1,500 so far.

Fortunately the cost of the removal is being funded and supported by the Costa Blanca homeless charity Project4all.

The charity has helped him get off the streets and conquer his drinking problem.

Support

He now helps to deliver food, clothing and support to rough sleepers on the 130km ‘food-run’ along the Costa Blanca, including Javea, Calpe, Altea, Albir and Benidorm.

“I’ve got my own room, and every day I help people on the streets, to let them know they’re not alone,” he explained.

EXCLUSIVE

By Walter Finch

Environmentalists welcome rejection of Vega Baja’s giant solar plant plans

SAVED: The beautiful Sierra Escalona

PAIN: Tomek Matuszewki puts on a brave face

NEWS IN BRIEF

Costly banger

ELCHE police collared a man, 32, who was throwing fireworks that set off a blaze that caused €12,000 of damage to an apartment.

New pianos

TORREVIEJA council has shelled out €124,000 on two grand pianos. One of the instruments - costing €90,515will be used for concerts in the International Auditorium.

Water deaths

SOME 67 people died last year from accidental drownings in the Valencian Community - the highest regional figure in Spain’s total of 394 fatalities.

Pedal power

ONE of the world’s top cycle road racesSpain’s La Vuelta - is coming to Murcia this year. The event will have a full stage on September 3 between Cartagena and Caravaca de la Cruz.

Follow the Mone

SHAMAN YOU

A BRITISH couple have been arrested in Yecla for running an illegal spiritual healing business out of a finca.

The Brits - aged 47 and 52 years - ran an unlicensed operation that supplied ‘harmful potions’ to their clients, police claim.

Shamanic rituals were advertised on the internet offering a ‘healing centre’ to self-development groups, addiction recovery and detoxification.

Visitors were charged €45 per

Brit couple alleged to offer hallucinogenic drugs obtained from toad secretions in spiritual healing business

By Alex Trelinski

day for a minimum three-night stay with group packages of €500 per day for 16 guests.

An extra €100 per head was charged for a special shamanic ritual involving kambo, a substance obtained from the skin secretion of an Amazoni-

an frog which contains a high level of natural opiates, allege police.

Kambo is 40 times more powerful than morphine and can cause serious health issues.

The Guardia Civil raided the Yecla property and broke up a healing session led by the British couple as seven clients were apparently taking halluci-

Silly buggy Historical haul

AN American man who had been thrown off a golf course then returned to steal a buggy and drive it six kilometres to the airport has been arrested.

The 22-year-old was detained for road safety crimes. He had been spotted by security guards behind the wheel of the mini electric vehicle, who called police.

Officers tracked him down to the second-floor of the airport’s multi-storey car park where the thief was trying to park up.

ONE of the largest-ever illegal collections of archaeological artefacts to be found in Alicante Province has been removed from a Denia house.

Two men have been charged.

A police raid uncovered over 350 artefacts including a human skull, five amphorae, fossils and Roman remains.

The items had been inherited by the current inhabitant of a home previously owned by a deceased relative.

nogenic substances. Blood pressure monitors were available in the same room to deal with any problems caused by the banned substances.

Seized items included 14 litres of ayahuasca - a potion used by South American natives that due to its psychoactive components, causes hallucinations.

Also found was a pot of sananga - Amazonian drops to treat eye ailments which are also used in some ceremonies to increase spiritual perception.

Magic

Marijuana, drug-laced sweets, San Pedro cactus (also used in South American medicine) and magic mushrooms were also removed.

Several wings belonging to goldfinches were discovered on the finca, ready to be used as ornamental decorations.

A BLACKMAIL gang has been arrested in Alicante and Valencia after pocketing over €200,000 by threatening users of an escort website.

Six people have been detained by the Policia Nacional with 12 victims identified so far across Spain.

Website users who contacted women by phone were called a few days later by gang members posing as pimps. They had kept records of previous encounters involving website clients to threaten them with telling families about their clandestine liaisons.

Once a transfer had been made, the criminals demanded further payments to remain quiet about the client’s sexual activities.

Hush money Blackout con

A MADRID gang posed as electricity company officials to threaten to cut off power to 26 Alicante and Murcia hotels and restaurants because their bills ‘had not been paid’.

Ten people have been arrested with the fraudsters pocketing over €100,000 from the scam. It involved a gang member phoning an establishment at a busy time to demand that unless the last two electricity bills were paid immediately, power would immediately be cut-off.

Bills were paid ‘over the phone’ by business owners worried about leaving customers in the lurch.

THE husband of Scottish Tory peer Michelle Mone is facing five years in prison if he is found guilty of fraud charges in Spain.

Doug Barrowman has been charged with crimes including corporate tax evasion, and is one of seven British businessmen that Spanish authorities want to put behind bars for their involvement in a business deal in 2008.

Spanish prosecutors allege that a payment was made fraudulently to UK firm Axis Ventura in 2008 to avoid paying around £436,000 in tax, and have demanded that the accused pay back the money to the Spanish Treasury. Barrowman has denied the charges and

his lawyers have said that he will ‘vigorously’ contest them in court. It comes after Michelle Mone stepped down from the House of Lords to ‘clear her name’ after she was alleged to have secretly profited from a government PPE contract.

Dogs (and cats) of war

A UKRAINIAN animal charity that has been rescuing cats and dogs from the warzone is asking kind-hearted residents of Spain to find homes for the destitute pets.

By Cristina Hodgson

Thousands of animals have been evacuated, whilst others remain in danger within Ukraine.

During the last 10 months Zoopatrul has rescued over 1,000 cats and dogs from war terror and human cruelty.

In order to house the influx of animals that they are caring for, Zoopatrul, is building the first modern European-type animal shelter in Ukraine. But they need help.

“We are desperately looking for financial help with the purchase of construction material for the completion of our shelter in Irpin” said spokesperson Elena Sorokina.

Zoopatrul have opened a donation platform via PayPal (zoopatrulshelter@gmail.com) and can be contacted on zoopatrul@m-p.ua or via Facebook or Twitter (search ZooPatrul).

Dean slides in

Expat snake catcher calls for help after car gives up the ghost

DEAN Gallagher is something of a guardian angel in Ibiza.

Not content with lending a hand to tourists who have broken down, or bringing bottled water to elderly neighbours, he also volunteers providing pest control: if you find a snake in your property, Dean will come and deal with it.

“The island has always been free of snakes, that’s what it was famous for,’ the teacher and property manager tells the Olive Press. “But in the last 10 years, they started appearing in rural areas.”

The reason for this reptile invasion is the importation by property owners of ol-

EXCLUSIVE By Simon Hunter

ive trees, which have been brought in from not just mainland Spain but also other parts of the world.

And nestled inside these trees were non-venomous horseshoe whip snakes and ladder snakes – and their eggs.

“They reproduce in exponential numbers, like rabbits,” he says. “They’ve very quickly established a very solid, firm population around the north of the islands especially.”

The snakes are putting Ibiza’s lizards in jeopardy. ‘The main problem is the wall lizard,’ explains Dean. “It’s too trusting. They’ve never seen

Bad ratings

KING Felipe VI’s traditional Christmas Eve speech attracted a million fewer television viewers than the year before, and had the third-worst audience since he came to power in 2014.

In total, 6,711,000 people watched the speech on television. The speech actually had a bigger audience share than in 2021, with 64.5% of the total – up 1.3 percentage points. But it attracted 1,145,000 fewer viewers.

DANGER: Dean has been bitten 18 times and found 188 snakes

a snake before, and by the time they’ve worked it out the snake has gobbled them up.”

He added: “I am simply trying to protect the species that have existed here since the beginning of time and are now nearing extinction.”

His volunteer work started with the Ibizan branch of Friends of the Earth (Amics de la Terra), and has seen him drive an estimated 23,000 kilometres this summer alone.

But all of those journeys, often on rocky terrain, have taken their toll on Dean’s Land Rover Freelander, which now needs a new clutch and repairs to the bodywork.

So that he can continue his altruistic tasks, Dean has launched a Go Fund Me Page – ideally to pay for the repair to the Land Rover, but also, if possible, so he can invest in a 4x4 that’s better suited to the Ibizan roads and tracks.

Bitten

“This year I’ve dealt with 188 snakes, rescued two stranded tourists, assisted in three road accidents and I’ve been bitten around 18 times.

“I’m happy, because it’s positive results and there aren’t any venomous snakes (yet).” So far Dean has raised just over €700 of his €20,000 goal.

US actress Eva Longoria spent a few days in Spain over the festive period, alongside her husband, Mexican businessman Jose Antonio Baston and her son Santi. The popular performer, who rose to fame playing sassy Gabrielle Solis in the TV series Desperate Housewives, celebrated the New Year at Nota Blu, a restaurant owned by former Qatari soccer player Zazou Belounis though the Casanis Group, Longoria - a self-confessed lover of Marbella - was accompanied by her son’s godparents, local businesswoman Maria Bravo and Puerto Rican actor Amaury Nolasco, as well as by Spanish boxer of Georgian origin Ilia Topuria (inset with Longoria and Bravo) and some close friends. The 47-year-old American has been in Figueras (Girona) to film a six-episode series Land of Women for Apple TV+. It is based on Sandra Barneda's novel La tierra de las mujeres

HAPPY EVA AFTER Prickly times

SEVERAL hedgehogs affected by the forest fires this summer in the Doñana Natural Park have been returned to the wild. Following a spell at the Wendy Clements Animal Sanctuary in Chucenam, the release is of enormous environmental importance.’

A single hedgehog can eat over 100 invertebrates in a night, their presence therefore indicates a good diversity of habitat and a healthy and thriving ecosystem.

“In addition to rescuing dogs and cats, we are open for adoption applications and can help with transportation of saved and neutered pets to any country, including Spain.”

PIC CREDITS: Instagram Maria Bravo & Eva Longoria

Sailing away

ALICANTE Province's population has risen by 19,832 in just one year.

The total - based on municipal padron registrations - is now 1,901,594.

It’s the largest population figure in a decade with Alicante city and Elche having both recorded record highs of 338,577 and 235,580 inhabitants respectively.

The third biggest municipality is Torrevieja followed by Orihuela, Benidorm, and San Vicente del Raspeig which has overtaken Alcoy as the sixth-most populous municipality in the province.

PASSENGERS returned in their droves last year to Valencia airports.

Alicante airport registered 13.2 million passengers in 2022, recovering 87.7% of 2019's pre-pandemic travellers.

Valencia meanwhile, pulled in 8.1 million people, just 5% off 2019’s record-breaking figure.

UK passengers dominated foreign arrivals at Alicante, with 4.6 million journeys, followed far behind by the Netherlands with 942,354 trips.

A MOTORIST cheated death when his van plunged 60 metres down a ravine in the Petrer area.

The 24-year-old man was not trapped in the vehicle, enabling him to get out despite multiple injuries. As a fire crew were unable to pull him out due to the steep gradient a helicopter was brought in to winch him to safety.

THE World Ocean Race sets sail from Alicante this Sunday.

A total of 11 teams will take part in the dangerous endurance event, first held in 1973. Two classes of boat will take part, visiting seven ports in six months.

The stops include Cape Town, Newport (in the US) and the Hague, while the finishing line is at Genoa in Italy.

It’s the fifth time the launch takes place in Alicante and an ‘Ocean Live Park’ has been set up in the port to provide music and entertainment for the launch.

This includes a fly-past by the Eagle Patrol of the Spanish Air Force, while a drone light show takes place at 8pm tonight (Thursday).

DAMNED AT CHRISTMAS

A GROUP of disgruntled expats are taking legal action after their UK health company shut down without warning in Spain.

The 40 sacked workers are taking Dam Health to court insisting they have not been paid proper redundancy pay by the firm.

The majority, who worked at the Orihuela Costa call centre, claim they are thousands of euros out of pocket.

Staff heading to work on December 17 received voice messages telling them the centre was closing 'immediately' as it was 'no longer'

PENSION PINCHERS

A NUMBER of British expats, and even a Spanish national, have come forward with worrying stories about their struggles to claim their pensions in Spain.

It comes after the Olive Press reported on a pair of expats, who were locked in battles with the country’s social security office.

Multiple people contacted the newspaper, while dozens more have joined arms with the Olive Press on a mission to get answers.

One of the new cases involves Spanish national Teodoro Sanz Arranz who claims to have battled the Ministry of Social Security for more than eight years.

“The answer is always the same; that they will not pay me in accordance with a law which they have invented,” he told the Olive Press.

Arranz said authorities told him his application was denied as he did not work for two years prior to his 65th birthday, when he would have been entitled to a pension payment.

But he said he is not asking for the full pension to be paid to him, only for the years he paid into the system, which he claimed was five years, two months and four days.

Arranz was born in Spain but moved to the United Kingdom for 24 years.

He even wrote to the European Union, the

By Alex Trelinski

viable.

Dam Health's three clinics in Benidorm, Orihuela and Marbella have also apparently closed.

Phone calls to the clinics have been routed to recorded messages and music which give no indication of any closure and are not replied to.

Speaking anonymously to the Olive Press, an ex-worker quoted the company’s Spanish boss telling her that 'we have no more money’

and 'we can't pay you'.

Dam Health supplied a range of private health services including tests for Covid-19 and even signed a deal to provide PCR tests to La Liga side Espanyol in 2021.

The company's parent division is based in Liverpool with the Orihuela Costa call centre initially employing 65 people and handling most of the UK’s calls.

Dam has now apparently moved onto a 'digital emailbased' system of clients submitting queries and booking appointments via its website only.

Another former employee who worked elsewhere for Dam Health in Spain said

she left 'voluntarily' last year after she could 'see the writing on the wall'.

“Wages were reduced and hours increased for staff which led most people to the conclusion that there were problems,” she commented.

Luck

The Olive Press has tried to contact the listed Spanish boss of the company, who lives in the Marbella area, without luck.

No number is listed for the Liverpool office and emails went unanswered.

The heat is on

THE Valencian Community has had its hottest year since records began.

The region’s average temperature in 2022 was 16.9 degrees - 1.6 degrees above the norm.

Honoured

TWO Brits in Spain have been named in the UK’s New Year’s Honours list.

Beverley Corbett in Tenerife has been awarded an MBE, while the Costa Blanca’s Michele Masson has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM).

Masson was recognised for her work with Help Vega Baja, having served as its president since 2015.

According to the British Embassy, she has steered the charity ‘through the twin challenges of Brexit and COVID, as well as the severe flooding that hit the Vega in September 2019 – providing a source of constant support to the community when they needed’.

An embassy spokesperson added that Corbett ‘has been a leading influence on charitable and community work in Tenerife for over 17 years, volunteering initially at The Living Room and then co-founding Noah’s Ark.’

Rave reviews

THE authorities were left scratching their heads after an illegal five-day rave.

The bash in a village near Granada was attended by at least 5,000 people - many of them expats and touristswithout any kind of permit or licence.

Residents of La Peza watched in bemusement as an unscheduled stream of caravans rolled into the mountainous spot on December 30.

Soon dozens of tents and seven stages had been erected in a field about a mile outside the village, which counts on just over 1,100 residents.

“It was 24 hours a day of chin chin boom,” explained Mayor Fernando Alvarez, who immediately reported it to local police on New Year’s Eve.

Insisting there was little they could do, police instead took a watching brief as revellers arrived from as far as Italy and Holland.

European Court of Human Rights and The Defensor del Pueblo (Ombudsman), plus others, but said he did not receive any helpful reply.

In another case, British expatriate Jeremy Johnson, based in Denia, said he has been waiting 20 years for his pension.

He said it comes after the authorities first told him to apply for his UK pension, explaining that they would then contact the other social security offices in the countries Johnson had listed as having worked in.

“We waited a long time for any response from the UK and when we eventually phoned, we were informed that the relevant departments in Spain had not responded to them,” he told the Olive Press.

Brexpats in Spain has pledged to help as best it can.

Its founder Anne Hernandez said: “Brits who live and work here and contribute to the system deserve to get what they’re owed.”

December’s average temperatures of 11.6 degrees make it the warmest December on record.

The records don’t stop with temperatures, with 2022 being the wettest year this century (fifth all time) with an average rainfall of 687 l/m2 - 35% above average.

No time for the horn

A BULL died when it charged onto the AP-7 motorway in Valencia and was hit by a car.

The 300-kilo beast was hit by a female driver in the Alberic area at 5am.

The bull was killed instantly while the car was a write off.

The bull had no identification tags and did not appear to come from any local farms.

He’s Bale-ing out

FORMER Real Madrid star and Wales legend Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from club football at the age of 33.

The five-times Champions League winner,

Most of the residents were anything but upset at the noise, with one 80-year-old admitting to joining in and having a dance.

The identities of the event organisers are unknown, but mayor Alvarez admitted that if he knew who they were, he would ‘hire them to plan our village fiesta’.

“Frankly it was magnificently organised,” Alvarez added.

“We got six days of entertainment out of it and it has put us on the map.”

FIESTA: Caravans rolled

who Real Madrid made the most expensive player in the world in 2013, has ended his contract with Los Angeles FC after six months.

Scarred, but not for life

TOMEK Matuszewki was a down-and-out in Benidorm in 2018 when a gang of despicable Brits on a stag paid him to get the groom’s name tattooed on his forehead. On that night Tomek was drunk, just as he was every night back then, in order to soothe the horror of roughing it on the streets.

One hundred euros, rock-bottom self-esteem and a conniving tattoo artist all contributed to Tomek making one of the worst decisions of his life.

A terrible collision of the ugly culture of British lads abroad with the attitude that the lives of homeless people are worth less, it is time for some hard lessons for thoughtless idiots who behave like animals abroad. While the experience has badly scarred Tomek, thankfully it is not for life.

A fantastic big-hearted homeless charity, Project4all, has gone some way to making up for the hooligans that caused his nightmare in the first place. We salute it and hope that our readers in the area come out in support next month.

Face the heat

IT’S time for Spain’s social security office to face scrutiny and answer some questions.

More people have emerged with shocking stories about authorities denying their applications to claim their pensions.

These people have paid into the country’s social security system for years, so where is the money they’re owed? And at least, why are they not being told what more they need to do in order for their applications to be successful?

Silence is not a sufficient reply, it is degrading and rude. Stop the stonewalling and answer these residents’ questions, whether they speak Valenciano, Catalan or not, it is their money no matter where they’re from, or what dialect they speak.

PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD

AFFECTING seven out of 10 cities – 149 throughout Spain, and 75% of vehicles, the scheme was approved by the government two years ago but has received minimal publicity – possibly because it is a proverbial hot potato.

Now surprised residents are suddenly learning, from friends in the bar, that their older cars won’t be welcome in their neighbouring town or city from the end of 2023. They’ll have to find an alternative –such as the tram or bus.

WHAT’S GOING ON?

‘Low Emission Zones’ (LEZ), also known as ‘Zonas Bajas Emisiones’ (ZBE) and ‘Zero Emission Zones’ (ZEZ) are being created in cities with over 50,000 inhabitants, and, in some with as few as 20,000 inhabitants. Town halls have until the end of 2023 to delimit and enforce these zones or be fined.

The idea is to categorise all Spanish-plated vehicles with stickers, according to their pollution level. The sticker will determine whether your car is allowed into the LEZs and ZEZs.

WHAT ARE THE CLASSES OF STICKER?

The stickers currently come in four valid categories: Zero, ECO, C and B. Category A means no sticker: you’re not entering the zone.

Those with a B sticker can enter, but not park there.

Some drivers have complained that the DGT website says they are eligible for B, but receive C in the post.

You can see what sticker your car will get on the DGT website – if any: diesel vehicles registered before 2006, for example, aren’t eligible.

SOME LIMITED EMISSION ZONES ALREADY EXIST IN SPAIN

Sevilla, Valencia, and Valladolid already have LEZs, as does Barcelona.

Since 2021, drivers entering Barcelona’s massive 95km2 LEZ between the peak hours of 7am and 8pm have been obliged to display a distintivo ambiental (environmental sticker) on their windscreen. Madrid introduced a ZEZ in late 2018, much smaller but with stricter and more

Spain’s drivers brace for chaos as older cars are banned from cities

complicated restrictions.

Vehicles without the distintivo ambiental sticker cannot enter.

Those displaying 0 and ECO stickers can park for free, while drivers of C and B vehicles have special rules. Residents with C and B must register to park in the zone.

They can receive visitors and suppliers up to 20 times a month – provided these drivers also have C or B stickers. Motorcycles with C and B can’t enter between 10pm and 7am.

If you’re driving through Spain, be aware that the M-30 motorway is included in a Madrid ZEZ. The fine for non-compliance

BLANK DATE

Do

SERIOUSLY, January 16 has been designated as a day for just sitting around and not engaging in activities (though good luck explaining that to your boss as it’s a Monday).

The idea is for people to appreciate the peace of mind that comes from disengaging from routines.

The concept is amusing and irreverent, to be sure, but there is a degree of wisdom behind it.

It is no accident that the chosen date comes after what is for many, a hectic holiday season involving too many calories, too much familial schmoozing,

much credit card damage, an excess of wine, and too much travel. Maybe, just maybe, a day of inactivity could be a net positive. Sitting on the sofa all day, or adopting a ‘back to-thesack’ approach might be just what the doctor ordered.

It is the exact opposite of the axiom ‘don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today’. For one day only, the message being preached is ‘put off today what you can do tomorrow’.

The Nothing Day was initiated by American humorist Harold Coffin in 1973. Fed up with the daily hijacking of the calendar by both political lobbying groups special designated days, with examples ranging from World Toilet Day (November 19) to America’s National Whiskey Sour Day (July 25) and Bring your Brownies to Brunch Day (August 19).

and frivolous interest groups, Coffin, with tongue firmly in cheek, made the effort to launch the day officially.

The irony was not lost on him: “In combating the proliferation of special days,” he observed wryly, “I am forced to create yet another special day”.

There was no shortage of ridiculous

But Coffin acknowledged there were also many more serious commemorative days that helped bring issues of concern to the attention of the general public.

These, such as World Clean Water Day (March 22), World Social Justice Day (February 20) and Human Achievement Day (October 21) were dedicated to mobilising action and celebrating worthwhile social endeavours.

Although International Nothing Day is an officially recognised commemorative day, the general idea of nothingness is

is €200.

THE FINES

Motorists who drive into restricted zones without the correct sticker will receive a €200 fine (reduced to €100 if paid within 20 days).

According to some reports, it will be the driver’s responsibility to check for fines on the DGT app or website, rather than receive the notifications as registered mail in the traditional way.

There are exemptions for vehicles registered to people with mobility problems and health issues preventing them from using public transport, or used for emergency and essential services.

Foreign vehicles don’t need a sticker. Does this create temptation to drive around in UK-plated cars?

COST

However green people want to be, a cost-of-living crisis, with electricity and food at inflated prices, is hardly the best moment to ask people to buy new cars. Most can’t afford a hybrid or electric vehicle, or to lease a new car for €300 or more per month.

To add insult to injury, older vehicles in category A (no sticker), will be devalued and difficult to sell.

Meanwhile, certain organisations will benefit from the latest ‘green’ initiative – namely, car manufacturers, leasing companies, finance companies and the DGT, with endless penalty fines to collect.

STUCK IN THE CAMPO

Take the example of rural regions where many motorists have older vehicles because of the harsh driving conditions –mountain tracks don’t bode well for anything too new and shiny. A bus is impossible with heavy loads or dogs to transport.

With the new emission zones and stickers in place they are likely not to bother visiting Alicante, Granada, Sevilla or Malaga.

While the city of Granada has a tram system and bus routes, they are insufficient for a park and ride scheme capable of matching the coming demand. Where is the infrastructure and investment ahead of creating the delimited zones?

NO SENSE

In my own case, in the hilly Alpujarra outback the new rules prove particularly ironic. My 2002 Citroen Berlingo, bought in March 2022 for its fuel economy, has a diesel engine. It can’t get a sticker – even though it passes its ITV emissions test with flying colours. Now, it needs to be changed for a newer one.

In contrast, my 2006 Mitsubishi L200 pickup scrapes through the DGT system with category B –but is a fuel-guzzling monster and a tank, awkward to manoeuvre in built up areas.

THE STICKER CLASSIFICATIONS

NO STICKER - GASOLINE vehicles registered before 2001 or which don’t comply with the Euro III standard. All diesel before 2006 or that don’t comply with Euro IV.

B - GASOLINE registered as of January 1, 2001, or complying with Euro III. All diesels registered from January 1, 2006, or that comply with Euro IV and V.

C - GASOLINE registered after January 1, 2006, or complying with Euro IV, Euro V or Euro VI. All diesels registered after September 1, 2015, or that comply with Euro VI.

ECO - HYBRID or plug-in hybrid vehicles with an electric range of less than 40 ki-

POWER OF THE PRESS

IT is always satisfying for journalists when they feel that they actually do make a difference.

And one story on the Olive Press online gave us all a festive feelgood factor.

A home has been found for the beloved dogs of a British expatriate living in Granada after he was rushed into hospital and forced to quickly find a home for his furry friends - just days after we reported the case.

The man’s friend Trudy McCaffery had told us the Velez de Benaudalla resident was likely to be in hospital for ‘a while’.

The Olive Press then published an article online detailing the dramatic attempt to find the dogs a home by the end of January or the two elderly Springer Spaniels faced an uncertain future.

Soon after, a Good Samaritan online reader in the UK had come forward to help out.

“I’ve managed to rehome them back to the UK by car – I don’t think they’d survive a flight and all the associated things that happen with that,” she said.

“So all being well they will be going home by the end of the month, and then we’ll try and sort everything else from there.”

not new.

Many religious practices view quiet time (prayer, meditation, introspection) as a practice which can bring everything into perspective.

Scientific research has shown that by focusing attention inward and being still, a wide range of physical and cognitive benefits begin to take root.

We become more empathetic, stress is stabilised, and blood pressure settles. Being still enhances the capacity to stay focused, pay attention and ignore distractions.

Whether serious or not, January 16 is a day that I plan to use for a reset, reboot, recharge and replenish ahead of the next winter stretch taking us to spring. Who is with me?

lometres. All vehicles powered by natural gas, compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and that additionally meet the requirements of C.

ZERO ‘0’ - ELECTRIFIED vehicles with an electric range of more than 40 kilometres, including pure electric, plug-in hybrids or extended range electric vehicles. All vehicles powered by hydrogen or fuel cell.

More information can be found online at the N332 advice site.

So a big Olive Press THANK YOU to our reader - both for giving the dogs a home and giving us all a little good cheer to start the year with!

UNHAPPY: This driver in Madrid is protesting that his vehicle contaminates no more than a modern car

HAPPY: Not everyone is against the regulations, with cyclists (far left) calling for an end to car pollution and backing low emission zones

Dangerous times

Spain at worst risk of climaterelated home damage

PEOPLE in Spain have the highest risk of suffering climate-related home damage in Europe, according to a new study.

Much of the UK and Europe suffered droughts, flash floods, forest fires, and torrential rain in 2022, leading to many insurance claims.

Now an insurance price comparison website has put together a guide of which locations in England and Europe are most at risk of climate-related home damage - and Spain comes out worst.

“With a vast 4,185 acres of land burned by forest wildfires per year and an air quality and pollution level of 47, Spain topped the list as the European country most at risk of home damage caused by climate-related issues,” the study from Compare the Market found.

Next on the list was Bosnia and Herzegovina, ‘which sees less damage by wildfires (1,995 acres burned per year) but more floods caused by heavy rain (one per year).’

The UK, which came third, experiences far fewer wildfires than either Spain or Bosnia and Herzegovina (381 acres burned per year) but has a much worse

Biomass

budget

THE Murcia regional government will spend €4.7 million this year on the continuing process of removing biomass from the Mar Menor lagoon. The money will go to eliminating rotting seaweed and other organic matter from the Mar Menor shores and shallow waters, which can have a devastating impact on the ecology.

The administration said this was part of its ongoing ‘commitment to the protection and recovery of the ecosystem’.

By Alex Trelinski

air quality and pollution level (60), according to the study.

The site used a range of factors to draw up its list, including changes to average temperatures, the number of floods caused by heavy rain, how many acres of land are

burned by wildfires and pollution levels.

Portugal was found to be the most at-risk country in terms

of wildfires, with an average of 6,039 acres burnt every year. It was followed by Spain (4,158 acres) and Italy (3,373 acres).

Hydrogen test

TESTS on a new hydrogen refuelling centre are to be made in the Ports of Valencia this month.

The facility has been installed as part of the EU’s Clean Hydrogen JU program, with the project in Spain called H2Ports.

This initial refuelling station is not designed for fuelling-up ‘green’ ships - hydrogen powered shipping operations remain some years off - but will be used to make port operations more environmentally friendly.

The mobile station will be used initially to fuel the prototype Reach Stacker Vehicle (or container stacker) and a conventional 4X4 tractor unit for loading and unloading operations.

The latter is due to be converted to a hydrogen cell system later this year.

Expect more hollow promises in the coming year

2023…. FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE?

IT’S that time of year when we reflect on last year and look forward to the New Year.

As far as the environment is concerned and the fight to mitigate and eradicate the harm caused by climate change, will this year be better than last?

My 11-year-old son Rafa said something to me recently when we were driving in the car. He asked me: “Dad, why do we continue to destroy the planet? There will be nothing left for future generations.”

Pretty profound for an 11-year-old. These simply put questions set me on a much deeper reflection. In many ways, world events are allied to climate change.

When you consider what’s going on in the world;

● Putin’s inhumane and disastrous invasion of Ukraine is nearing its first anniversary and is highly unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.

● The number of people facing starvation on the African continent continues to rise.

● Kim ‘Wrong-Un’ is hell-bent on increasing his nuclear threat.

● The Arab/Israeli conflict will undoubtedly escalate with the election of the far-right Benjamin Netanyahu.

● The Taliban will continue to take women’s rights back to pre-historic levels in Afghanistan.

● China will ramp up its claims over Taiwan this year, giving America the opportunity to fight another war abroad.

And I don’t have enough column space to go into Myanmar, Columbia, Haiti, Sudan, Lebanon, Nigeria, The Sahel, Yemen or Ethiopia. I think you’ve got the message…. the world is a messed-up place.

Reflecting on some of the major environmental issues of last year tells a similar story;

● Hurricane Ian caused havoc in Cuba and the US.

● Extreme drought in Europe saw river levels drop to the lowest levels on record. Spain’s reservoirs fell to the lowest levels for more than 30 years. End result - billions of euros of losses to the agriculture, livestock and energy generation sectors.

● Unprecedented floods in China.

● Despite the floods in China huge areas suffered drought conditions.

● Floods in Australia.

● Super intense monsoon season in Pakistan inundated a significant part of the country killing over a million livestock and destroying 10 million acres of crops. Some 7 million people

were forced to evacuate their homes and nearly 2,000 people died.

● Storm Eunice hit northern and Central Europe in February. Billions of euros of damage was caused in Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Poland, the UK and the Netherlands.

● Continued deforestation in Brazil caused reduced rainfall and ensuing drought.

● Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Canada. It was the most intense tropical storm ever.

● Biggest floods in South Africa ever recorded.

NOT A GOOD YEAR FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

Will this year be any better?

Sadly, I very much doubt it. Expect to hear even more hollow promises and commitments from the same people who could actually make a difference.

Martin Tye is the owner of energy switch company Mariposa Energy.

( Spain Phone ) Email him at martin@mariposaenergia.es

Know the system

Dear Olive Press,

I HAVE worked as an accountant in Spain for 40 years and helped expatriates with their UK and Spanish pensions.

The Spanish pension system is understood by very few expatriates.

Taking the case of Jerry Wayne. Paying tax in Spain counts for nothing since the Social Security department is only interested in your Social Security contributions.

In the case of Chris Scott he has been waiting two years for his Spanish pension having worked here for 12 years.

His situation is complicated as he is already receiving a UK state pension and that before Brexit any UK pension accruals would be added to his ate a mean average pension, ing from the Spanish Social This is complicated by the fact that you need a minimum of 15 years of contributions to re

Peter Sanderson, Marbella

Pension perils

Olive Press

Keep receipts

I AM very sorry for the people struggling to claim their Spanish pensions but my experience has been quite different.

I paid into UK Social Security for ten years and received a very small pension from there.

I then paid into Social Security in Spain for 35 years - first as an Autonomo and later as an employed person.

Every month I paid my contribution to Social Security and I kept every single receipt of payment very carefully in a folder over the 35 years.

From time to time the Social Security Office at Alicante would send me a letter claiming that I had not paid my dues for various random months.

I took photocopies of the receipts of payment of the ‘unpaid’ months and sent them off, and no more questions were asked.

Ash, Alicante

I just say how much I enjoyed your two special supplements in

I now live near Ronda and found all the info on restaurants and secret places to visit nearby really useful… while the Sierra Nevada skiing special came in handy when I took a pal up there just after Xmas! Both are genuine Insider guides!

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

WHY do we feel so much nostalgia for the 80s? It was such a stressfree decade with bold fashion statements and new hair trends. Remember mixing music on cassette tapes, recording your message on home answering machines, and not to forget how neon colours rocked with scrunched-up legwarmers over spandex tights. So satisfying. Well 9 out of 10 Línea Directa customers get the same satisfaction and recommend the best priced car, bike and home insurance to friends and family.

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CHECK-OUT OUR POLICIES

All customer service and documentation is in English, their claims service is fast and efficient, you can get quick no obligation quotes over the phone, and their easy payment options help spread the cost of premiums.

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ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS IN ENGLISH

Their Roadside Assistance team speaks English and will quickly help you with your onward journey. If you urgently need a duplicate set of keys for your motorcycle, then their English-speaking customer service will sort it out. And should you require Home Assistance to set up your new Wi-Fi connection, then English speaking technical staff will set up a visit.

DID YOU KNOW?

All Línea Directa insurance policies offer some exciting features specifically designed for British expatriates living in Spain. Their home insurance includes Pet Assistance, IT Assistance, and Home Maintenance. All motorbike policies come with Replacement Motorbike, Technical Equipment cover and even Young Person’s Night-time Assistance. And their car insurance includes helpful services such as Legal Assistance that can provide help when applying or renewing your driving license in Spain.

Flight woes

I recently had a flight from Palma to Bristol via Barcelona.

The first flight was over an hour late with no communication at all. Then there was no last boarding announcement and while wait- ing for the last families to board I went to quickly charge my phone.

Twenty seconds later I presented my passport and was denied.

Four more people arrived and the same result, even though the computer board still showed 'boarding'.

I have never experienced such a disgusting lack of professional- ism.

The

inbox has been inundated with worrying stories about people struggling to claim their retirement money from Spain’s Social Security office

Margaret

Bill Head, Ronda

I DON’T BELIEVE IT: More pensioner stories emerge

Pic Credit: BBC archive

Neil Iynall, Palma

Relive those stress-free days with the all-in English services of Linea Directa

ALICANTE’S loss could be Murcia’s gain when it comes to a new Thyssen museum proposal.

The Baraka Group has submitted a proposal to renovate the derelict Ideal cinema in Alicante and turn it into an emblematic art gallery called the Carmen Thyssen Centre.

But nearly three months on, Baraka has heard nothing from either the city or provincial council.

Now the investment group - which would spend €25 million on the scheme in exchange for a 20 year lease - is saying three other cities where it already owns property could benefit instead. Murcia is one city where the group has

Murcia’s gain

suitable premises and so could find itself in pole position for the investment and cultural boost the name Thyssen would bring.

Baraka already has an agreement with Baroness Thyssen (pictured left) to use her name and works of art in her collection.

The Thyssen name is one of the biggest in Spain’s world of art, with the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid and the Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga classified as leading art galleries.

THE BIG TIME

Cash in the cellar

A WOMAN who decided to clear out her cellar found three Roman amphorae hidden amid junk.

Believing they might be valuable, she contacted the Guardia Civil who brought in experts from Santa Pola’s Museum of the Sea to inspect the items.

SPAIN has brought in bigger tax breaks to woo more international TV and movie producers to the country.

As of January 1, tax rebates on international TV shows shooting in Spain now reach €10 million per episode.

Films and TV series will also be able to take advantage of total tax relief doubling to

By Alex Trelinski

€20 million per production.

A deductions ceiling enjoyed by a project’s top creative team that was set at €100,000 has been scrapped.

The changes come just six months after the country’s biggest movie and TV studio complexAlicante’s Ciudad de La Luzreopened after being closed for a decade after falling foul of EU competition rules.

A UK TV

Stardust for Starlite

and film production company co-founded by comedy performer and children’s book writer David Walliams has since been looking into using the studios.

The new tax breaks may end up sealing the deal as they are potentially worth millions of euros.

The studios are regarded as one of the best in Europe both for their facilities and for their geographical location and transport connections.

Alicante Province this year reported over 50 shoots from foreign TV shows, films, commercials, or corporate videos.

Spain already has seen major productions like Game of Thrones and its prequel House of the Dragon, film a significant number of scenes along with shows like The Witcher and Vampire Academy Spain Film Commission president, Carlos Rosado, said: “Spain is now positioned as the most competitive and attractive destination in Europe for audiovisual production.”

“The new tax measures offer total legal security and guarantee our institutions’ commitment to the industry as a strategic sector,” he added.

ROD Stewart is heading to Spain this summer.

The British artist will perform his greatest hits at the Starlite Festival in Marbella on Friday July 21.

The legendary British rock and pop singer, with his distinctive raspy singing voice, will warble tunes like Forever Young, Can’t Stop Me Now, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?’, Maggie May and Rhythm of My Heart among many others.

Throughout his more than 50 year career, Rod Stewart, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, has received many awards, including being knighted by Prince William at Buckingham Palace in 2016 for his services to music and charity.

Best

“Spain is now the best bet for international productions and the incentives join a complete package of locations, top-rate professionals, global connectivity and a network of 38 film commissions and offices across Spain to satisfy the demands of any production,” commented Rosado.

They have now been confirmed as being 2,000 years old and were used to transport olive oil - or wine - on ships, often to Italy from Spain.

The homeowner could have faced fines of between €60,001 and €150,000 had she not called in police.

An official authentication will be carried out by the University of Alicante, before being transferred to the Santa Pola museum for permanent display.

International TV companies to cash in on tax breaks worth up to €10 million per episode

FILMED: Scenes from House of the Dragon (left) were shot in Trujillo

ROCKING IN: Rod Stewart will play Marbella

LET’S GET DIRTY

Els Enfarinats, Ibi

FIRST on our list, although rounding off the year, is the just finished flour fight on the Costa Blanca.

As food fights go, Els Enfarinats in Ibi, Alicante, egg-cells itself, as participants engage in hand-to-hand combat with flour and eggs. The annual festival has been taking place for two centuries, imitating a mock coup d’etat.

The Els Enfarinats Army advances on the town every December 28, collect ing taxes which are then donated to a designated charity.

La Tomatina, Buñol

La Merengada (Meringue War), Vilanova i La Geltru, Catalonia

OTHER food fisticuffs pale into insignificance beside this blood-red, tomato-stained outdoor food fight.

Today some 150,000 tomatoes and 125 tonnes of tomato puree are thrown be-

tween 45,000 in Buñol.

The colour and smell lasts for days afterwards, although the fight itself lasts just half an hour and takes place on the last Wednesday of August.

La Raima Grape Throwing Festival, Pobla del Duc

HEAD to Pobla del Duc on the last Friday in August and be prepared to be doused in grape juice!

The arrival of four trucks bearing some 50-90 tonnes of garnacha tintorera grapes is the signal for the fun to start.

Every citizen grabs handfuls of grape grenades and starts throwing them around until everyone’s the colour purple.

PART of Carnival Week in this Catalonian town, La Merengada showcases a free-for-all of flying meringues. It’s usually the messy soft sort, but boiled sweets are also thrown into the crowds which is why it’s also known as the Batalla de Caramelos and, ouch, they can hurt!

This sweet celebration begins on Mardi Gras (the Thursday before Lent).

Batalla del Vino, Haro, La Rioja

THE Batalla del Vino, or Wine-Throwing Fight, got underway 800 years ago. Stare too open-mouthed and you’ll get very drunk very quickly. Starting as a land dispute, it seems the only way to resolve it was by the locals chucking copious amounts of wine at each other. Nowadays, thousands take part in this tipple-tossing event at the end of June.

PRESENT arms, take aim, fire! When it comes to food, Spain is a warring nation so watch out for that grapeshot - it really does come from the vine! From wine warfare to a ‘Battle of the

Flour’, nowhere does it quite like Spain, so if being on the frontline of a frenzied food fight sounds like good fun, you’ve come to the right place. Here are five of the nation’s biggest and best foodie affrays.

The Spanish like nothing better than a good old foodie fisticuffs and everything from meringue missiles to grape grenades are weapons of choice for these culinary conquistadors, writes Dilip Kuner

CHINESE IMPORTS

TWO of Spain’s leading immunology and epidemiology experts want coordinated European Union action to reduce the chances of a new Covid-19 strain being imported from China.

The main concern is that since China has a high level of Covid cases, the virus can mutate leading to a new strain that current vaccines cannot deal with.

Spain has already introduced mandatory proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test for visitors flying in directly from China, which means checks at Barcelona and Madrid airports.

Italy is the only other EU country to have introduced Covid checks for flight arrivals from China.

Spanish Society of Immunology

President Marcos Lopez Hoyos and Spanish Society of Epidemiology (SEE) President Oscar Zurriaga told the EFE news agency that border controls in Spain of passengers from China are ‘relatively effective’ but want a coordinated approach across the European Union.

Their argument is that a person with Covid may have travelled from China to another continent and then on to Spain or another EU country.

The outbreak of a new Covid strain that is immune to current vaccines ‘cannot be predicted’, and it is ‘totally random’, they warned.

(SEI)

A vaccination certificate doesn’t stop people getting infected and ‘you have to do a PCR or antigen test’, warned Marcos Lo-

pez Hoyos.

Zurriaga added that when the Omicron Covid strain surfaced in South Africa, restricting flights between that country and the EU ‘did not prevent it from being spread across the globe’.

Unwelcome firsts

Youngest boozers and smokers in Spain are found in Valencia region

THE youngest alcohol drinkers and tobacco smokers in Spain are in the Valencian Community according to a Health Ministry study.

No reason has been given for why there’s a younger start in Valencia compared to elsewhere.

The survey - prepared as background for a national plan on drugs - says that Valencians start drinking alcohol at the age of 15.9 years, compared to the national average among the 17 regions of 16.5 years.

At the other end of the scale are the North African en-

By Alex Trelinski

claves of Ceuta and Melilla where the average starting age is 17.3 years.

The Valencian Community has the highest percentage of people who have drunk alcohol at some stage of their lives, coming in at 96.9%.

The region also has the highest number of residents who have had a tipple in a year or in the last month.

The study shows a 2.7 point fall in intensive alcohol consumption in 2022 among people aged between 15 and

Return of the bug

THERE has been a significant increase in respiratory infections caused by viruses.

Cases of colds and flu shot up in December and urgent care centres received up to 400 patients daily.

This increase in patients in urgent care was also due to the fact that normal healthcare centres were closed for three consecutive days over the Christmas holidays. The increase in respiratory infections has been put down to several factors, including the fact that the population has stopped wearing masks.

Home decision

AN employee has won an appeal to have a fall he suffered in his kitchen while teleworking at home deemed as a workplace accident.

Social Security and the Madrid Social Court concluded the incident was ‘non-work related’. But The Superior Court of Justice (TSJ) of Madrid has now overturned the decision.

The employee of Canal de Isabel II was teleworking when he slipped while walking to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. He injured his left hand, which required surgery.

OP Puzzle solutions

Quick Crossword

Across: 1 Perfume, 5 Staff, 9 Hainan, 10 Spear, 11 Recall, 12 Expose, 13 Air, 14 Safer, 16 Sober, 18 Sky, 20 Disarm, 22 Intent, 24 Apart, 25 Phobia, 26 Bales, 27 Settled.

Down: 2 Erase, 3 Fanfare, 4 Manila, 6 Tie up, 7 Foresee, 8 Aster, 15 Ali Baba, 17 Outmost, 18 Smith, 19 Yippee, 21 Awake, 23 Noise

64 years compared to 2020, with the total now standing at 16.7%.

There’s also been a 2.5 point drop in people drinking booze in botellones going from 9.9% in 2020 to 7.4% last year.

In tobacco smoking, the Valencian Community also starts puffing away at the youngest age (16.1 years)the same as Castilla y Leon and Navarra.

As with alcohol, the region also has the highest proportion of people who have smoked in the past 12 months and the last four weeks.

Kraken awakens

KRAKEN, the latest strain of Covid, has been detected in Spain after becoming the latest im port from the USA.

Known technically as XBB.1.5, Kraken is making its way through the US infecting all and sundry.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been tracking the XBB variant, a fusion of two Omicron strains, since early December.

It is quickly becoming the dominant strain globally, particularly in the US, where it accounts for nearly half of all cases.

The WHO has detected the variant in 25 countries, including Spain, where only a few sporadic cases have been identified.

Since vaccines have been widely distributed, none of the SARS-CoV-2 variants have proven to be more severe than previous ones.

So far Kraken does not appear to be an exception, with vaccines effective against it.

ARRIVALS: Visitors to Spain from China will need to be Covid registered to enter the country

Judge Jose Luis Asenjo Pinilla said the workplace while people were working from home was more than just the table and chair where they physically worked.

RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN

Make

1. Start supplementing

Regardless of your age or lifestyle, these really are a must to maintain good health. These are the basics you need to feel good at any age.

VITAMIN C - It’s a vital support to our immune system and a protective antioxidant. A good daily dose is 500mg. Taking more than 1,000mg a day may cause stomach pain, diarrhoea or flatulence. And of course living in Spain, take advantage of the juiciest citrus fruits and add more to your diet.

B COMPLEX - Essential for energy production in your body and to support your hormones. A good average dose is 25-50mg of each of the main Bs (1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and smaller amounts of B9 and B12) in one B-complex tablet. These nutrients are not stored in the body, so you need to top up the supply every day.

OMEGA-6 EVENING PRIMROSE OIL (or starflower oil) slows signs of ageing, balances hormones and helps with PMS and menopause symptoms. Take 1,000mg daily, increasing to three times a day for hormonal imbalances, such as PMS.

OMEGA-3 FISH OIL or LINSEED OIL - can help reduce inflammation and maximise brain function. Take 1,000mg daily or twice a day if you suffer from dry skin or sore joints. Your body’s cells are dependent on Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), such as Omega-3 and -6; without them, your body will deteriorate more rapidly. If you’re getting enough, your skin will be beautifully strong and supple.

VITAMIN D - You need this to absorb calcium and phosphorus to keep bones and teeth healthy, most of our body’s vitamin D comes from exposure to sunlight. Thank goodness for the Spanish sun!

We check

4. A bit of juice

After the excesses of the holiday season, give your body a break and start juicing. It’s a great way of using up leftover fruit and veg and you get an instant shot of nutrients.

Some swear by a full on 3, 7 or ten day juicing detox regime, but you don’t have to go that far. Even pledging to start your day with a healthy cucumber juice will make a difference.

And British researchers found that one in six devices were contaminated with E. coli!). Use cleaning wipes that don’t contain bleach as that’s safer for your phones and tablets and do it every week.

3. Add some spice to your life

Turmeric should really be known as trendy spice given everyone was talking about it last year. And not without reason. It’s an incredible anti-inflammatory and can help ease rheumatoid pain.

Ginger like turmeric is also anti inflammatory and is a powerful remedy for upset stomachs and nausea

5. Get a better nights sleep

One in three of us don’t get a good night’s sleep. Overthinking, the glare of TV, phone and computer screens are all sleep wreckers.

Lack of sleep impacts your mental and physical wellbeing. If this is you, try the 4-7-8 breathing method which can help calm before sleep. Breathe in for a steady count of 4 – hold for 7 –breathe out for 8.

6. Hop it!

Hopping for five minutes a day may protect women from breaking their hips, according to a new study.

It could strengthen bones in the legs, making them more dense and less likely to break.

Brittle bones, caused by a condition called osteoporosis which makes holes inside the bones, is a common issue for women who have been through the menopause.

Scientists at Loughborough University, followed 35 women aged 55-70 over the course of six months and told them to do up to 50 onelegged hops each day. At the end they found the density of their leg bones had increased in the hopping leg while it had decreased in the non-hopping leg.

The team also did MRI scans of the women’s knees to check the exercise had not done any damage to the joints, which it hadn’t.

8. Eat superherbs for a brain boost

Add sage to your food or simply inhale its scent and you’ll get a brain boost. It’s been known to increase memory recall and retention so may be a superfood for the mind.

Sage is high in Vitamin K - just two grammes provides 43% of your daily recommended intake.

It can also help with cholesterol levels, treat symptoms of the menopause and improve blood sugar levels. Fresh rosemary is another herb that can help as a cognitive booster, helping with focus and mental clarity. Its rich in vitamins A, B6, C, folate and thiamine. Phew!

9. Get your eyes tested

Our eyes are often called ‘windows to the soul’ but they are also a very effective window to our overall health.

Many people first learn they have diabetes, high cholesterol and even cancer from a routine eye exam.

So as well as evaluating whether you need glasses or a new prescription or have glaucoma, an annual eye check could be one of the best things you can do for your health.

Researchers are even working on an eye test that can identify your risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

10. Don’t fear fats

helps make collagen, the protein that keeps skin plump and elastic, while Vitamin E is an antioxidant which helps protect skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays.

REuse REduce REcycle

O P LIVE The

Royal flush

EMBARRASSED officials scrambled to remove copies of Prince Harry’s tellall memoir, Spare, after it accidentally went on sale across Spain five days before its official release date on January 10.

Bad parking

THE Mayor of Malaga had his new car towed for parking in an officials-only spot during an event as he hadn’t got round to registering it with the city hall as an official vehicle.

Calls fine

VODAFONE will have to pay out €6,000 to a man for harassing him at all hours with sales calls. A judge refused to believe their excuse that another company had been making the calls fraudulently in their name.

Pooch that disappeared rescued after bomb squad called in

A HUNTING dog that had been trapped in a cave for five days has been rescued unharmed after a massive Guardia Civil operation.

Bomb squad officers were called in to help blast a way through a narrow fissure to the frightened pooch with a series of 20 ‘micro explosions’.

Once the opening was widened enough, a mountain rescue officer crawled in and brought Kira the podenco to safety after an hours-long operation.

It involved the Explosives

Dog-gone

By Dilip Kuner

Service of Madrid, experts in micro-blasting, the Explosives Group of Zaragoza, the Mountain Service of Jaca, Boltaña and Mora de Rubielos (Teruel), with the support of Citizen Security personnel from Alcañiz (Teruel).

Kira had last been seen chasing a boar in Samper de Calanda (Teruel) when she disappeared.

When she failed to return home, her owner spent four days scouring the countryside before eventually track-

A COUPLE returned to their home in Mallorca’s Manacor to find a naked stranger sitting in their kitchen eating their food and guzzling beer. A trail of water led from the bathroom to the Argentinian man, who had helped himself to a shower after breaking in. The male householder grabbed the 42-year-old by his arm and led him

ing her down to a narrow cave entrance using a GPS tracking device attached to Kira’s collar. There he heard Kira’s fright-

Rude awakening

to the front door where the intruder grabbed a towel to cover his modesty before leaving.

Police quickly arrested the man as he walked down the street. He was easy to spot as he was wearing only a towel.

ON THE PROWL

A HOMEOWNER had the shock of his life when he spotted a massive 20 kilo big cat lurking in the garden of his home.

The alarmed man called police to report what he thought was a lynx.

Guardia Civil were unable to track it down but called in Marbellas’s animal rescue unit when they got a second report of a ‘lynx’ in the garden of another home the

next day.

The team identified it as a caracat, which is a hybrid between a desert lynx and an Abyssinian cat and is classified as a ‘potentially dangerous domestic animal’.

Named Jakar, it had escaped from its home in Nueva Andalucia and roamed almost 20 kilometres in a few hours to the Costabella neighbourhood.

The caracat was then taken to a rescue centre, where it was found to be in good health.

It is currently awaiting its owner to present the necessary document before it can return home.

ened yelping but he had no way to enter the fissure, and Kira was unable to get out, so he called in Mountain Rescue.

Explosive

When they too were unable to help, they notified explosives experts, and after a day-long operation involving careful micro explosions with rubble being painstakingly removed by hand, they managed to rescue Kira unharmed.

Wild cat chase

AN unidentified ‘large feline’ feared to be an albino jaguar or a Siberian white tiger is on the loose in Los Barrios (Cadiz). Since its sighting at the start of the month, images of the big cat have gone viral and local residents are panicking about a possible jungle beast in the area.

It is thought it may be an escaped pet.