Olive Press Spain - Issue 410

Family and friends insist on action at alleged burial site with still no sign of missing teen who vanished 15 years ago

DIG FOR AMY!

THE aunt of missing Amy Fitzpatrick is demanding police excavate a derelict stable block where the teenager’s remains are allegedly buried.

She told the Olive Press ‘it’s time to bring her home’, while a former friend insisted he was prepared to dig up the site himself.

The plea comes 15 years after the Irish teenager vanished from Mijas Costa on New Year’s Day in 2008.

Christine Kenny believes Amy is buried at Mijas’s former Hippodrome race track, after receiving a letter from an anonymous source.

“It’s never been dug up and I would plead with the Spanish police to investigate this,” she told the Olive Press “This is about bringing a child home,

giving Amy a proper burial and making those involved in her disappearance responsible.”

The aunt added: “To this day I can confidently say the site hasn’t been touched as I’ve got a friend watching the site.”

The location is a short 10-minute drive from where she vanished in Riviera del Sol, sparking a long mystery that has pointed the finger at her stepfather.

Now a close friend, Alan Quieros, a former expat who grew up in Marbella, insists he is prepared to come over and investigate himself.

“When in Spain I’ll be tempted to dig the place up myself,” he told the Olive Press

“It’s not like you would be disturbing any businesses, or homes, it’s a disused racetrack and we’ve been told exactly which stable,” added the taxi company employee.

Quieros, now 40, said Amy was ‘like a little sister’ - and the pair had met one night at a party among locals and expats in 2005.

“There were a lot of parties and the place was crawling with expats who’d all go to bars and drink and play pool,” he said.

The pair developed a close friendship and chatted frequently online when he returned to his home in Broadstairs.

In particular, he confirmed she had fallen into some ‘rough’ company, but he declined to say more due to the threat of ramifications.

However, other former friends revealed that she had been introduced to a big local drugs gang via one of her pals.

Suspicious

One told the Olive Press she was ‘being paid by drug dealers’ to sit in a car with them to make them look less suspicious to police.

She was allegedly paid €100 each time she sat in the passenger seat next to a

PLEDGE: Quieros (pictured with Amy) has said he is willing to dig up stable (main pic) and ringed (left)

FLASHBACK: Our expose in 2008

EXCLUSIVE By Anthony Piovesan

Crackdown on crack

TWO crackhouses in Ronda just 100 metres apart have been busted. Police found 184 bags of heroin and cocaineworth around €1,000 at street level.

Thug life

FAR right hooligan Tommy Robinson, 40, got round his football ban in England and Wales by attending a second division match in Tenerife. He got a four-year ban in 2019 for punching a fan.

Fire starter

A SERIAL arsonist, 54, has been arrested for allegedly setting 19 forest fires in Extremadura’s Caceres over two years, burning 1,000 hectares and causing 800 people to flee their homes.

Grim month

DECEMBER was officially the worst month of 2022 for domestic violence, with eight instances of women murdered by men. The total for the year could be as high as 50.

Spanish prosecutors allege that a pay-

Follow the Mone

ment 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.

Horror dinner

A GROUP of Sunday afternoon diners made a macabre discovery after the headless and handless corpse of a woman washed up along the beach where they were eating.

The horrifying incident took place at 5pm in front of customers at Club 200 restaurant in Marbella.

As well as missing the main identifying parts of the body, the victim had also suffered a large slash along the abdomen.

Police have opened a murder investigation, although the de-

Headless and handless corpse washes up on Marbella beach in front of horrified diners

By Walter Finch

liberate removal of identifying features on the body complicates procedures.

The witnesses spotted the body floating in the surf, and at first intended to dive into the water to rescue the individual, who they believed to be drowning or in distress. However, they were advised

A COUPLE in Barcelona province has filed a police report after a video of their underage daughter performing a sex act in a nightclub went viral.

The images, which were shared on TikTok and Twitter, show the youngster with a young man in the middle of a packed dance floor at Waka

against it due to a storm in the area, and in the end the body washed up along the shore by itself, revealing its mutilated state to those present.

Videos of the corpse on social media prompted one individual to contact police saying it could be his sister, who has been missing since Sunday morning after leaving her work as ‘a domestic servant’. The woman had been suffering

SEX CRIME

When the man realises that he is being recorded, he pulls up his trousers and stops the filming. Police are now investigating the sharing of the video, which is an offence under Spanish law.

from harassment and threats from an abusive ex-boyfriend, for whom she had a restraining order out.

The man has now been arrested by police, but only for violating the restraining order. For now, the Guardia Civil do not consider him to be a suspect in the murder but that could change if the corpse is positively identified as the missing sister.

Delay

Other theories police are considering is that it could be a gang-related ‘settling of accounts’, with the head and hands removed to delay identification of the body.

It is not yet clear how long the body had been in the water before it was discovered but it is not thought to be a long time.

Search goes on

From front British man and sometimes his associates.

“By having a young girl in the car, Spanish police would be less inclined to pull it over,” said the friend this week.

That man, aunt Christine believes, was questioned by police in a UK prison a number of years ago - but he has never been arrested in relation to Amy’s disappearance.

She added she hopes information will come through in the next couple of months that will ‘shine a light’ on her niece’s whereabouts, dead or alive.

“There are people out there who know what happened to Amy but they’re scared,” she said.

“Please have the guts to come forward and say something, even if it’s confidential.”

Rough

As the Olive Press revealed at the time, she had been living practically rough, was rarely at home and was desperate to move back to Ireland to get away from her mother and stepfather, Dave Mahon.

On the night, the 15-year-old had been babysitting just a few hundred yards from her house in Riviera del Sol, but she never made it back home.

Her friends and family marked the anniversary at an emotional ceremony in Ireland last weekend.

Picture credit: Twitter @MichelleMone

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.

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.

“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.”

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

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.

PIC

CREDITS:

Instagram Maria Bravo & Eva Longoria

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 tourists - without 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.

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.”

Ukrainian flavour Booming Bena

THE crowds at the recent Three Kings parades had a taste of Ukraine.

Following a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the much anticipated tradition of throwing sweets to the crowds returned for the processions.

And of the hundreds of tonnes of caramelos hurled across the whole of Southern Spain on the Eve of Epiphany, half were made in Ukraine.

A company based in the town of Salteras in Sevilla, together with another company from Cadiz bought 200 tonnes worth of sweets from a Ukrainian factory specifically for this years ‘Cabalgata de Reyes.’

Face forward

A HOMELESS man who was paid to have a groom’s name tattooed on his forehead in Benidorm is finally getting it removed.

Every two months for the past year, Tomek Matuszewki, 39, has undergone an excruciating four-minute procedure to have the Brit’s name removed.

Now the majority of the tattoo has been erased, although the Polish national still has three sessions to endure, as forehead skin is too thin to have it removed all at once.

“It’s the worst pain ever in my life,” he told the Olive Press.

“It is like a really hot iron

By Walter Finch

pressing into your forehead every second - a tooth abscess is nothing compared to this.”

Tomek had been the victim of one the worst examples of British tourists abroad, when he came across the group of stags in 2018.

The trained chef had been liv-

ing on the streets of the resort, when the drunken gang offered him €100 to get the tattoo.

Desperate and starving - having walked to Spain after a painful split from a fiancee at home in Poland - it seemed like a godsend and he willingly accepted.

But it was only the following morning when he woke up with the name ‘Jamie Blake’ on his forehead that the full realisation of the humiliation dawned on him.

“It was terrible afterwards - I felt everyone looking at me. I had to go everywhere in a hat. I was even getting calls from friends in Poland who had read about it in the news,” he said. News of the cruel stunt prompted an uproar, both in Spain and abroad, with the Benidorm British Business Association branding it ‘utterly 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 Blan-

ca homeless charity Project4all.

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

Future

He now helps to deliver food, clothing and support to rough sleepers on the 130km ‘foodrun’ 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.

HOLIDAY REPRESENTATIVE, COSTA DE LA LUZ

Vintage Travel, a leading UK holiday company for villas with private pools, is seeking a dedicated Holiday Representative to be based in the Vejer de la Frontera area.

Responsibilities will include visiting clients at their holiday homes in the Vejer area, providing telephone support to those staying in some other areas of Andalucia, supplying detailed information about the area, answering queries, and liaising with property owners and suppliers to ensure that houses are well prepared and ready for the arrival of clients.

The role will involve approximately 20 hours per week, March – October, and will require occasional travel to other areas of Andalucia.

Applicants must own a car, live within 30 minutes of Vejer, speak fluent Spanish and English, have a passion for customer service and an abundance of local knowledge.

Please apply in writing only with your CV and a covering letter introducing yourself to Caroline Ashworth: caroline@vintagetravel.co.uk, www.vintagetravel.co.uk

Bale out

FORMER

age of 33.

The five-times Champions League winner, who Real Madrid made the most expensive player in the world in 2013, has ended his 12-month contract with Los Angeles FC after six months.

Bale was fresh off the back of leading Wales to their first World Cup since 1958, having run down his contract with Real Madrid in the summer.

The Cardiff native rose to prominence in the Premier League as a wing wizard for Tottenham Hotspur, terrorising full-backs and scoring screamers - most prominently ending the career of Brazilian stalwart Maicon in a 4-3 Champion’s League defeat against Inter Milan in 2011.

BENALMADENA has seen its population boom by nearly 5% in just a year.

According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), 73,160 lived in the town by the end of 2022, compared to 70,204 the previous yearthe second highest growth in the past decade.

“This places us on the verge of reaching our goal of 75,000, which would allow us to become a Large Population Municipality,” the town’s mayor, Víctor Navas, said.

It is believed that around 7,500 foreign residents are not reflected in INE figures due to not being registered on the census.

Cash bid

THE EU is being asked for a whopping €2 billion to extend the Costa del Sol’s coastal railway as far as Algeciras in Cadiz.

For decades - despite several feasibility studies and schemes being drawn up - similar plans have been kicked down the line as no one was willing to stump up the cash.

Now, the Spanish Government has asked the autonomous communities for a series of proposals that fit in with the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the EU, and so qualify for Next Generation funds.

The Junta has replied with 241 different initiatives that could be carried out in Andalucia with the costa railway extension standing out as the Junta makes a grab for a total €43.2 billion of cash from the EU fund.

Butt out

NEW laws that force tobacco companies to pay the cost for cleaning up millions of cigarette butts have come into effect.

The rules were approved last year as part of a law banning single-use plastics such as cutlery and straws.

The law also states that tobacco companies could be required to pay for the installation of public receptacles for cigarette butts.

The cost is unknown, but could run into hundreds of millions of euros.

FIESTA: Caravans rolled in for five-days

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

EXCLUSIVE

TREATMENT: Tomas is having tattoo removed

Real Madrid star and Wales legend Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from club football at the

A SCOTS boxing coach who had trained the likes of Frank Bruno and Gary Jacobs has died suddenly in his apartment in Manilva.

Glaswegian Brian Ferguson, 65, the former British, European and Commonwealth welterweight champion, was found dead by his twin brother.

A well-known figure in the boxing world who ran a gym in the area, he had moved to Andalucia in January of the previous year.

He had previously spent 12 years working as a financial advisor in Qatar, where he met his partner of four years, Janine Hayek.

THIS photo shows the spectacular rescue of a hiker who had got stuck on a zipline in Gaucin. Firefighters from Manilva and Algatocin were called in to winch the unfortunate thrill-seeker to safety at the Castillo de Aguila.

One firefighter climbed along the line to reach her, then accompanied the hiker back as she was hauled to safety.

She was unhurt in the incident. The zipline, which is up to 40 metres above ground level, is part of a ‘via ferrata’ adventure route around the castle.

Organisers who run the route promise ‘fun adventure and adrenaline’ to participants.

Sudden death OH ZIP! Brits honoured

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

SPAIN’S government will not introduce a national road toll scheme in 2024 due to the state of the economy.

Spain has been under pressure to fall in line with other EU member states like France, Germany and Portugal where widespread toll road charging is the norm.

Introducing the measure was in return for getting €70 billion of EU Covid-recovery funding and next year had been pencilled for charging to start.

Expats and even Spanish nationals are fighting Spain’s social security to get their pensions

By Anthony Piovesan

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 de-

Tolls delayed

The government says the European Commission ‘fully understands’ the delay due to the economic hit taken by Russia's invasion of Ukraine resulting in higher inflation. The General Directorate of Highways(DGT) has paid €1.4 million to consultancy firm Ineco to look at nine options for a new highways financing scheme.

nied 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 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 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.

Support

Brexats in Spain has pledged to help as best it could.

Its founder Anne Hernandez said: “Brits who live and work here and contribute to the system deserve to get what they’re owed - At Brexpats we have experts here to help you.”

The Olive Press will continue to probe for answers.

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.

Brexit

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.’

Justice for Amy

CHRISTMAS and New Year should be a happy time of the year, but instead it’s the most dreaded time of the year for the Fitzpatrick family.

Each time the clock strikes midnight to ring in a new year, it’s a cruel reminder that it has been another 12 months without answers - it’s been 15 years in total. But have the answers been hiding beneath our noses this whole time?

An anonymous letter sent to Amy’s auntie in 2014 alleged that her remains were buried at a stable at a former racetrack in Mijas Costa, just 10 minutes from where Amy lived.

Amy’s auntie is confident that this area is yet to be searched. Why?

Surely Spanish authorities can collaborate with Irish police to dig up a patch of earth and ease the suffering of this poor family.

Even if the search comes up short, isn’t it better to leave no stone unturned?

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

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

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

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

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-

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 friendsjust 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.”

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!

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.

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

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

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.

MALAGA was the destination for the first commercial flight out of Brussels using sustainable fuel.

The Brussels Airlines flight used a mix of 38% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to 62% kerosene to power the ‘symbolic’ flight. The New Year’s Day trip was viewed as an important test of infrastructure that can be used to pipe in SAF using the NATO pipeline.

The underground Central European Pipeline Service, supplies the military air fleet as well as civil flights.

● 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

Green Matters By Martin Tye

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 Spanish contributions to create a mean average pension, with the extra payment coming from the Spanish Social Security.

This is complicated by the fact that you need a minimum of 15 years of contributions to receive a 50% pension.

Peter Sanderson, Marbella

Pension perils

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.

Margaret Ash, Alicante

Inside story

CAN I just say how much I enjoyed your two special supplements in December.

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! Keep em coming!

Bill Head, Ronda

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.

Iynall, Palma

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

I DON’T BELIEVE IT: More pensioner stories emerge

Pic Credit: BBC archive

Neil

It’s a new year. Key areas to

„ Are you taking advantage of the various Andalucía tax cuts over recent years?

„ Is your inheritance planning up to date and suitable for Spain?

„ Are you still liable for UK inheritance tax? The extended frozen allowances mean more families will pay more tax.

„ What is the best option for your UK pension as a Spanish resident?

„ Is your investment portfolio suitable for today’s world?

At Blevins Franks, we specialise in holistic, strategic financial planning, providing detailed and personalised advice. We’ll be happy to review your wealth management for 2023 and beyond.

Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited (BFWML) is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, registered number C 92917. Authorised to conduct investment services under the Investment Services Act and authorised to carry out insurance intermediary activities under the Insurance Distribution Act. Where advice is provided outside of Malta via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of Malta. BFWML also provides taxation advice; its tax advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of trusts, retirement schemes and companies. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFWML.

Fairway LAWYERS

SO MUCH TO SEE

THERE is much more to Malaga than nightlife and beaches, with the province’s historic landmarks becoming must-visit attractions for many.

In fact, Malaga’s iconic monuments, the Dolmens (Antequera), the Roman Theatre (Malaga City), the Roman town of Acinipo (Ronda) and the Arab Baths (Ronda) have received more than 523,500 visitors in 10 months.

The Roman Theatre was the most visited cultural site in the province, with 318,926 visitors between January and October, followed by the Dolmens of Antequera, with 121,062.

The Arab Baths of Ronda were visited by 68,955 people in the first 10 months and Acinipo by 14,568.

A

Nao Victoria

The

The big time

Contact Diego at Fairway Lawyers diego@fairwaylawyers.com

Tel: 952 77 11

606 307 885

www.fairwaylawyers.com

C/Nuestra Señora de Gracia 28, 1C 29602, Marbella (Malaga)

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

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 €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 complex - Alicante's

Ciudad de La Luz- reopened after being closed for a decade after falling foul of EU competition rules.

Stardust for Starlite

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.”

ROCKING IN: Rod Stewart will play Marbella

The

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

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

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 the country to satisfy the demands of any production,” added Rosado.

By Alex Trelinski

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

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.

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.

knighted by Prince William at Buckingham Palace in 2016 for his services to music and charity.

REPLICA of the first ship to sail around the world has arrived at Malaga port.

Nao Victoria will remain docked, and open to curious visitors, until January 15.

The ship arrived at Malaga as part of a world tour to mark the 500th anniversary of the Magellan-Elcano expedition - the first circumnavigation of the globe.

LA CULTURA

Orgiva

By Jo Chipchase

AFTER the indulgences of the festive season, you might be seeking healthy discipline to become fitter and happier in your daily life. If you’re seeking an experience that caters for your emotional and physical wellbeing, the area around the Alpujarran market town of Orgiva offers many progressive classes.

There’s something for everyone, although some disciplines aren’t for the faint-hearted or require an existing level of fitness. The Olive Press looks at a few of the available options.

Ecstatic dance

The Alpujarra has a growing community of ecstatic dancers. This is a healthy event where people come together and celebrate a journey into sound, lasting about two hours. The music may have a tribal or shamanic feel, or world music vibes. The dancers abandon themselves to the rhythm, move as if nobody is watching, and enter a feeling of trance or ecstasy. It’s seen as a form of meditation, to counteract stress. Sometimes, people may dance with their eyes closed. Alex of Ecstatic Dance Alpujarra said: “The goal is to connect to the music from the inside out.”

The DJ or band plays a wide variety of music that takes people on a wave-like journey. Starting gently with music that creates a meditative state, it goes into deeper brainwaves we use in our daily lives and builds from there. Ecstatic dance frequently has

NEW AGE

a guided introduction create the right atmo sphere and finishes with live or pre-record ed sound healing.”

Common rules at these events are no alcohol or drugs, no talking, and dancing barefoot. The partici pants drink cocoa be forehand for an energy boost.

Ecstatic Dance Alpujarra meets every second Thursday in Orgiva. One of the main DJs in the area is Alex Sevilla. Similar events take place in other towns and cities.

PROS: Enjoy throwing some

Biodanza

gain certificates. It is based on a group mentality and has a holistic philosophy behind it. Nataraj Garcia, dance session leader from Orgiva said: “Biodanza takes you on a journey through a landscape of movement, feeling, and music to achieve a heightened state of emotional wellbeing.”

“At its simplest level, it’s about connecting with others, feeling states of joy in your body, free of stress, worry and anxiety, happy to be alive. Through the group dynamic and energy created in the class, we learn to expand our sense of humanity, integrate and bond on a level of friendship and affection. It can also be seen as meditation in movement.”

BAG A BARGAIN

Some tips on getting the best from the January sales

SOMETHING to keep up your spirits during the disappointing post-Christmas calendar are the January sales!

A chance to get your mitts on as many brilliant bargains as you can find.

However, as much as I love the sales, they can be both a blessing and a curse.

Sale-induced anxiety is real. I can safely say that we’ve all made awful impulse purchases because of it (yes, I’m thinking of the orange striped boots you convinced yourself you couldn’t live without for 10 euros…). I’ve made many such purchases but, thanks to years of dedicated practice, I’ve figured out what types of items to avoid - the ones we end up regretting!

Getting caught up in the urgency and excitement of a sale does not make for clear-headed shopping, so I’m here to provide a little guidance…

Snap up shoes and jeans. Sales are a great time to invest in everyday items for less money. I always find a plethora of denim

and footwear during the winter sales, so that’s usually what goes into my basket first. I stick to brands I know and like, and that fit me well, to avoid returning them later. Many shops don’t offer returns during the sales. Shoes are an item that can be expensive if you buy quality. So, the sales provide a great chance to snap up footwear you otherwise wouldn’t buy for yourself. A good pair of boots or some good running shoes can change your life!

Coats and outerwear are items that can prove expensive but are so necessary! A warm and stylish coat can make all the difference on a chilly winter night. Choose classic shapes that won’t date and look for good quality natural fabrics as far as possible. If your style is sportier, choose a higher end sports brand and keep colours neutral for maximum combination opps.

Most people, when they think sales, think clothes! But it’s an intelligent choice to stock up on makeup, beauty, and healthcare

Fashion advice and styling can be found in The Armario de Freya, Calle Correo 1, Orgiva, 18418 Granada

essentials. Investing in these items in the sales will save you a fortune over the coming months. Good brands in this arena can be pricey, so buy two YSL Touch Eclat instead of just one!

Whatever you choose this sales season, do it wisely and never go for cheap or high fashion pieces that you’ll regret and relegate to the back of the wardrobe, never to be seen again.

FASHION with Freya

He adds: “Everyone can do Biodanza. We dance in ones, twos, and threes but in an easy way. You don’t need to know how to dance. There are no steps to learn. Many dance methods focus on the individual, but Biodanza focuses on the group. Gradually, there’s a whole new dimension to be explored. Feelings of isolation and loneliness dissolve. You are connected, accepted, and loved.”

Chris White of Orgiva, a participant, says: “l’ve been doing Biodanza for years. There’s eye contact, hugging and other contact with hands. Done in a group, this is healing, emotionally connecting, and feels good.”

PROS: It’s a recognised discipline.

CONS: Group hugs are not for everyone.

Acroyoga

A combination of yoga and acrobatics, Acroyoga looks complex but can apparently be done by most people.

Mira, who runs sessions at Las Torcas, Tablones, Orgiva, has written a book about the discipline. She says: “Acroyoga teaches you to achieve a delicate communication with a partner you trust with your life. It teaches you to respect another person's needs, feelings, and fears.”

The participants work in groups of three or four. Each group includes a flyer (in the air), a base person (on the ground) and a spotter (keeping everyone safe). They all learn the three roles. Although the flyer might look the most glamorous of the set, everyone is equally important. They work together to keep the flyer safe.

Mira says: "Acroyoga isn’t just sports: “It’s a life lesson in communication, connection, and balance. Though another

A good pair of boots or some good running shoes can change your life!

The market town of

offers various workout options for your mind, body, and soul

shapes without a hangover the next day. CONS: Possibly feeling self-conscious at first.

Biodanza was created in the 1960s by the Chilean anthropologist and psychologist, Rolando Toro Araneda. It exists in 54 countries worldwide, including Spain, and students can

FITNESS

person's body, through my own body - strong and yet vulnerable at the same time.”

PROS: It is impressive.

CONS: Not for those who don’t like close contact or teamwork. Not for the elderly!

Aerial skills

Siobhan Padmore has taught aerial skills for 25 years: these classes are popular in Orgiva, Durcal, and Granada. She says: “In aerial cir-

cus, we use our strength and flexibility to perform acrobatic tricks in the air. The three main skills are silks, hoop, and static trapeze.”

“The silks are two long lengths of material to suspend yourself. They are challenging, as you need upper body strength. You can literally fall from a great height and catch yourself in a carefully conceived knot. It’s beautiful to watch.”

“The hoop is pretty and easier to start learning. The acrobat needs good flexibility. The hoop usually spins and can be hoisted up and down.”

She adds: “The trapeze is sometimes learnt

first. People can spin around the bar, hang from their knees, toes, heels or by their necks. The ropes are also used. Artists can climb above the bar and create gymnastic shapes.”

For any of these disciplines, it is useful to have previous dance or gymnastic training, good balance and a head for heights!”

PROS: Beautiful to watch.

CONS: It’s only suitable for people who are already fit and flexible.

Low pressure fitness

If the other options sound too much, why not try the more sedate Low-Pressure Fitness.

Trainer, Sophie Paulding Kopecky of 4D Academy, Orgiva, explains: “This discipline is ideal for anyone with back, shoulder or neck pain, prolapses, hernias, urinary incontinence, poor posture, etc. It has been used by singers, athletes and people wanting to reduce their waistline.”

“After warming up the layer of connective tissue under your skin (the fascia), the participants hold activation poses while doing breathwork that opens their joint spaces, increases lung function and oxygen capacity, strengthens core and pelvic floor, and balances the nervous system. This leaves people feeling stretched and activated for the day.”

atelier vintage

Up-cycled furniture in the heart of Capileira, where old is new again! New colours, new textures, new life, new look!

IMPRESSIVE: Aerial acrobatics can be beautiful and mesmerising on the eye

NORTH GORGE DEVELOPMENT

LAST 8 REMAINING VILLAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION – RESERVE YOURS NOW!

BLEAK END

Within the enclave of the natural backdrop of the historic North Gorge of Gibraltar, this development of 48 detached and terraced houses is underway as scheduled following the successful off plan sale of Phase I. The North Gorge development has been shortlisted for a Gibraltar Sustainability Award. Few remaining properties for sale in phase II with prices ranging between £1.450 to £1.895 million.

PETROL PAIN

FILLING up your car has become an average €13 more expensive following the end of the Spanish government's subsidy of 20 cents per litre at petrol stations.

According to the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the average price of 95 petrol is now €1.63 per litre, up by four cents on December 27.

Meanwhile, the average price of diesel is up three cents to €1.69 per litre compared to a week ago.

AFTER 34 years of legal wrangling, what’s left of a spinster’s multi-million inheritance has been given to good causes.

In a case reminiscent of Jarndyce v Jarndyce in Dickens’s Bleak House, Josefa Martell died at the age of 100 in 1988, leaving behind no will and sparking a battle between the Valencia region and the city of Castellon.

Martell had never married and her parents and four siblings died before she did. As she lost her relatives, she accumulated assets, with

THE Tesla Model 3 has become the best selling electric vehicle in Spain. And the company’s Model Y is in third place, with just one car fewer sold than the Fiat 500E .

By Simon Hunter

her family’s inheritances all passing to her.

When the resident of Castellon died, she was worth a hefty €4.7 million thanks to 32 holdings: 27 in the countryside, and five in the city of Castellon de la Plana.

In 1991, the Valencian regional government declared itself to be the only beneficiary of Martell.

Castellon council appealed on the basis that the pertinent law was not Valencia’s probate legislation but

Electric figures

rather the Civil Code, which specified that ‘two-thirds of the value’ should go to social causes. That would have been around €3.5 million. The Supreme Court ruled in the early 2000s that the inheritance had to be shared,

with two-thirds of the total going to Castellon.

Rather than complying, the Valencia regional government swapped the most-valuable plots in exchange for others in Valencia between the years 2003 and 2008 as it could not sell them.

Audit

Big data

TECH giant Microsoft is to build a massive data centre near Madrid.

The company has contracted Ferrovial to construct the facility. The cost has not been revealed, but it is thought to be worth several hundred million Euros.

It is part of an investment plan worth over €12.75 billion that Microsoft is rolling out across 17 European regions.

The new centre is planned for Sebastian de los Reyes, about 20 kilometres from Madrid. Microsoft is also planning another two projects in the Madrid area to develop Cloud services.

Jobless down

SPAIN closed 2022 with its lowest level of unemployment since 2007.

According to data from EU-EVs, 2,677 Model 3s were sold in Spain in 2022, with 1,866 Fiat 500Es ordered.

In fourth place is the Kia Niro with 1,513 sales.

Citroen E-C4 was the fifth biggest

seller with 1,418 units. These figures are tiny compared to the overall market (including conventional engines models). In 2022 there were 813,396 registrations in Spain, the lowest annual volume since 2013.

Now an audit has established that just €1 million was left over to be handed to Castellon.

Semi-detached 4 storey villa with integral garage, garden, balconies, car port and solarium terrace with jacuzzi. Passenger lift serving all levels including roof.

Plug-in electric cars make up about 10% of the market.

PROPERTY DETAILS

Total area: 319m² Garden/Outdoor Terrace: 26m²

URING the last two years the world has faced drastic changes in the economy and demand for housing, which was widely inte

It is now facing further interruptions from the looming worldwide crisis on energy

The sharp increases in the rising costs of inflation is affecting lifestyles and housing needs as one also considers energy efficiency in their homes.

In Gibraltar, we have seen an increasing demand from homeowners seeking larger living areas, open plan and bright layouts, and in particular outdoor spaces, where one can enjoy freedom within the seclusion of their homes.

The homes themselves are becoming a habitat to cater for all living requirements all year round and technology now embraces the function, ability and comfort of the ideal home as we move into a modern age of technology and building sustainability.

Two-thirds of that, more than €600,000, has since been paid out by the city to 11 charities, including Caritas and the Down Syndrome Association. As in Jarndce v Jarndce, the fortune had largely disappeared.

The Labour Ministry revealed that the jobless total now stands at 2.83 million, down 268,252 on December of 2021.

The number of people in work rose by 471,360 compared with 2021, bringing the total number of employed people to 20.29 million.

Terrace: 69m² | Garden/Outdoor Terrace: 31m²

Terraced Villas also with integral garage, rear garden, balconies, car port and solarium roof terrace. Passenger lift serving all levels including roof.

The North Gorge development, consisting of 48 townhouses with only eight left for sale off plan, is such an example of modern construction, blending within a beautiful natural environment and provi ding luxury living with smart design and services and resource efficient designs. Each house enjoys solarium terraces with the option to install a Jacuzzi, and is serviced with an integral lift serving all

PROPERTY DETAILS

Total area: 254m² Garden/Outdoor Terrace: 40m²

All bedrooms enjoy lush ensuite ba throoms, and vestibules, nicely arranged living areas incorporating open plan kit chens with bespoke kitchen cabinetry and high end electro-domestic appliances.

The development provides a range of 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses all with priva te carports integral garages, terrace and

The developer’s statement being: “Sus tainability is the principal driver of the

development. The aim is to deliver beautiful, energy efficient homes to ultimately protect Gibraltar’s precious electric and water supplies by reducing energy use, saving water, and minimizing waste

Terraced Villa also with integral garage, balconies, car port and solarium roof terrace.

PROPERTY DETAILS

Interior size: 204m² | Total area: 301m² Balcony/Roof Terrace: 78m² | Garden/Outdoor Terrace: 18m²

Continuous economic growth over the last decade has also initiated significant public-sector investment into new schools, sporting complexes, roads, public transport, services, and clean energy infrastructure, all within a vibrant economy with a strong growth in Gross Domestic Product against a low unemployment rate.

NORTH GORGE DEVELOPMENT

Designed with airtight building construction and photo-voltaic technology for the efficient use of sun power for lighting and heating, the properties are designed for luxury living within a beautifully natural enclave, sensitive to the environment, waste, water and energy efficiency.

Gibraltar continues to re-urbanize brownfield sites as well as reclaim new land to provide for the development of the peninsula, which is experiencing a growing demand for both local housing needs and other inward property investment within the private sector. The fiscal framework on the Rock provides a secure platform for investment and optimum returns on capital.

Within the enclave of the natural backdrop of the historic North Gorge of Gibraltar, this development of 48 detached and terraced houses is underway as scheduled following the successful off plan sale of Phase I. The North Gorge development has been shortlisted for a Gibraltar Sustainability Award. Few remaining properties for sale in phase II with prices ranging between £1.450 to £1.895 million.

Just €1m of €4.7m left to be handed to good causes after 34-year legal fight over spinster’s estate

STARS: Diana Rigg and Robin Bailey in Bleak House

TOURISM BOOM

SPAIN received nearly 140% more tourists in the first 11 months of last year compared to 2021.

Figures from the National Statistics Institute (NIE) show that 67.4 million tourists came to Spain in the first 11 months of 2022.

It represented a 138.9% increase compared to the 28.2 million visitors who travelled to Spain over the same period the previous year.

The data also showed that these tourists spent €81.8 billion - almost 161% more than the same period in 2021 when Covid-19 restrictions were still in place.

The United Kingdom topped the list of visitors to Spain in the first 11 months of 2022 with nearly 14.4 million - an annual increase of 269.4%.

France followed with 9.4 million visitors, and then Germany with 9.3 million.

Scaling the heights

By Simon Hunter

turning it into one of the best resorts in Europe.

The 2020-30 strategic plan for the slopes has been presented and includes new ski lifts and a huge increase in hotel rooms and a ‘glamping’ camping section in the

Dogs on the rails

RENFE, the state-owned railway company has included the Madrid-Malaga AVE trains in a pilot test that will allow dogs of up to 40 kilos to travel. From now until May, customers will be able to purchase a ticket for their pets on AVE trains departing from Madrid at 8:25am and 6:30 pm and from Malaga at 6:28am and 4:58 pm. Each pooch travels with its own ticket, at a price of €35, and only two large dogs will be allowed on each train during the trial period, with a maximum of one canine per passenger.

Alta forest.

This will be accompanied by ‘better options’ for big spenders, such as more luxury accommodation, as well

as an improved range of restaurants and other eateries.

The plan is to turn the resort into a year-round attraction, and not just one for when the snow falls.

The resort already attracts the highest number of skiers in Spain, who come for its 110 kilometres of runs and the highest vertical descent in the country too: 1,200 metres.

The Emile Allais and Alhambra lifts have already been refurbished, while other older lifts will be replaced with four new systems with chairs that carry six people at a time.

According to consultancy Deloitte, of the 17,900 beds in the resort, just 38% are in hotels - the rest are residential apartments. To address this problem, the Los Peñones car park area will be developed. Hotels, hostels and apartment-hotels will be built, offering a total of 2,450 new beds.

Enjoy

And in the Fuente Alta forest, a ‘glamping’ site will be installed, allowing visitors to enjoy the camping experience of being in nature as well as all of the comforts of a regular hotel room.

Numero uno

MALAGA is the number one trending tourist destination for 2023, according to Airbnb.

The southern Spanish city topped the top 10 list based on the number of trips booked through Airbnb last year. It was the only European city included.

Sydney and Melbourne in Australia came second and third, while Auckland and Bangkok rounded out the top five.

The rest of the top 10 were Queenstown (New Zealand), Florianopolis and Porto Seguro, (both Brazil), Perth (Australia) and Salvador (Brazil).

Airport ratings

THREE airports in Spain have been named in the world’s top 100 for shops and restaurants according to the AirHelp Score 2022 rankings.

Madrid came top in Spain thanks to its array of Terminal 4 fashion stores and is placed 33rd in the world.

Barcelona occupies slot 86, and Alicante-Elche airport is six places behind.

AirHelp is an air passenger rights organisation and its survey said Dubai was the world’s best airport for shopping and gastronomy.

More ski lifts, hotels and even a ‘glamping’ site in store for Sierra Nevada

Fuente

LET’S GET DIRTY

By Dilip Kuner

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, collecting taxes which are then donated to a designated charity.

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

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

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.

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).

La Raima Grape Throwing Festival, Pobla del Duc

Border control

MORE than 50 million people who travelled to Spain during the Covid-19 pandemic used the government’s health app to try to control the spread of the disease.

Ministry of Health data revealed that 52,709,223 travellers - or 94.12% of people who arrived in Spain during the pandemic - used the Spain Travel Health (SpTH) application.

The system was launched in April 2020, in a bid to control how many people with coronavirus were coming through the borders, and try to relieve demand in Spanish hospitals.

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.

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

By Alex Trelinski

country to have introduced Covid checks for flight arrivals from China.

Spanish Society of Immunology (SEI) 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

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.

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.

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

Omicron

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’.

Kraken awakens

KRAKEN, the latest strain of Covid, has been detected in Spain after becoming the latest import 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.

With a UNESCO world heritage site offering 120,000 years of human history and only short drive from the Costa del Sol, enjoy the warmth of the British Gibraltarians and splash out VAT-free in Sterling.

Gibraltar. Sun, sea and history served with a very British twist.

200 74950

Health experts want even more Covid checks on visitors from China

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

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.

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

(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

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.

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

2. Disinfect your phone!

We

3. Add some spice to your life

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.

EXPAT2EXPAT REWARDS

When an existing Línea Directa customer recommends a new customer, they both receive 30€. Línea Directa’s Expat2Expat programme is free and open to all existing customers. You can recommend up to 10 people and earn up to 300€ in cash per year. Simply ask your friend to call 952-14-78-34 and quote your full name. Then once their application for car, bike or home insurance has been approved, Línea Directa will pay the reward straight into the bank account following payment of next or first premium. For more information, see terms and conditions at lineadirecta.com

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.

DEDICATED TO EXPATS

Línea Directa has been providing comprehen-

sive car, motorbike and home insurance to British expatriates and residents in Spain for over 25 years. With over 3 million customers nationwide, Línea Directa makes sure you get the best possible price for the kind of insurance you really need.

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.

Turmeric should really be known as trendy spice given everyone was talking about it last year. And not without rea son.

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.

It’s an incredible anti-inflam matory and can help ease rheumatoid pain. Ginger like turmeric is also anti inflammatory and is a powerful remedy for upset stomachs and nausea

4. Get a better night’s 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.

5. Hop it!

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

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

STICK TO! !

6. Look after your mouth

Regular dental check ups and brushing twice a day is a must, but add in flossing once a day and tongue cleaning once a day and you’re on the way to the gold standard in oral health.

If you don’t clean your tongue, bacteria can build up on it quickly, leading to discolouration and risking bacteria spreading to your teeth and gums.

Tongue cleaning also helps prevent bad breath.

7. 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!

8. 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.

9. Don’t fear fats

Raw nuts, avocados and olive oil are all rich in good fats you should eat them regularly.

Avocados are also a good source of Vitamins E and C, which are important for skin health. Vitamin C 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

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.