Gibraltar Olive Press - Issue 106

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Modern masterpieces But which is Spain

THE healthcare costs of hundreds of thousands of British nationals in Spain may only be covered for a matter of months.

Government officials have confirmed that in the event of a nodeal Brexit expats’ unrestricted access to healthcare could end after just six months.

In the nightmare scenario, the often costly treatment would have to be funded by the individuals after that date.

While a British embassy spokesman insisted the new ruling would not be introduced until the end of 2020, it is still a major jolt for already worried expats.

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Vol. 4 Issue 106 www.theolivepress.es September 26th - October 9th 2019

Gibraltar parties gear up for snap election called before the UK’s EU departure date

By John Culatto

ELECTION fever is taking over the Rock after a snap poll was called unexpectedly.

The two main parties are joined by a third this year, as Together Gibraltar muscles in to be counted on October 17.

The election was called by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo last week, just days after a frenetic two weeks of National celebrations and a music festival.

The surprise announcement was made with none of the parties having compiled their manifestos.

It comes months before an expected December date and just two weeks before the UK is expected to leave the European Union.

The GSLP will be sticking to the experienced of its sevenstrong team from the last two terms.

Fabian Picardo leader of the GSLP said: “What we are working on is a programme that builds on all the massive steps this community has taken in the last eight years.

“This is a programme that consolidates the legacy of the work we have done to date and builds on it to the advantage of every generation of Gibraltarians.”

Coalition partners the Liberal Party will be without Neil Costa, who will not be putting his name forward for this election.

“We are working hard today to honour our past and to secure our future, the future of all Gibraltarians,” said Liberal leader Joseph Garcia.

“We are shattering the glass ceiling of Brexit to emerge on the other side better, stron-

Fabian Picardo

ger, and more confident than ever before.”

Progressive Together Gibraltar (TG) was the only party to register its slate for the election before the announcement was made.

Marlene Nahon Hassan heads an interesting mix of young professionals, businesspeople and even an openly gay man for the first time in Gibraltar’s history.

The current independent MP told the Olive Press her party was ‘ready’ for the elections.

Marlene Nahon Hassan

Keith Azopardi

“Our vision for Gibraltar is different and exciting, producing a programme that prioritises policies for sustainability, anti corruption, civil rights and equality,” she said.

One of her fellow candidates, businessman Kamlesh Khubchand said they ‘wanted to restore trust in politics in Gibraltar’ and that TG offered something ‘fresh’.

Another, Daniel Ghio said he hoped the party moved things away from the ‘whole tribal system’.

Meanwhile, the current Opposition party, the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) chose its candidates on Monday.

It includes five candidates who were MPs till Parliament was dissolved last week, as well as two relative newcomers to the political scene.

Party leader, Keith Azopardi, described the team as one that combines ‘political experience with freshness and energy’.

As well as the experience of

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“Having paid taxes our whole working lives, pensioners should be entitled to free healthcare whether we choose to retire in Bradford, Bournemouth or Barcelona,” said Sue Wilson, of Bremain in Spain.

“The UK government is trying to reassure people with this new announcement, but inevitably people will ask ‘what about after six months?’”

The Department of Health has so-far only pledged £150m to cover the costs of British nationals living in the EU after a no-deal.

This would cover pensioners, students, those on disability benefits and UK workers posted to the EU, as well as UK tourists who began their holiday before the UK’s exit.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Protecting the healthcare rights of UK nationals is a priority of this government. UK nationals in the EU’ should nevertheless act now and take the simple steps needed to secure their access to healthcare.”

Opinion Page 6

In Ibiza

favourite ’s building? modernist See page picture in III (a clue is in the middle) the

SPAIN has ish foreig month for recorded its best n 11 years, newproperty sales for growth. has revealed. government data In total, 11 of difficult Spain’s 17 gions grew A total of re- tourists. for owners to 47,890 transacti It made up over the last year. rent to were reported This has ons year for a 9% in July 2019, year-on- ty on the islands made propermarking drop in June, less attractive which sug- as investment increase. a 3.8% year-on-year gested the market opportunities. slowing down. was really Further negative June 2008 news saw eign buyers more homeswas the last time There have also fordrop by 7%, British been some were snapped declines in Spain, up eigners in the long time big ing put buyers among thosewith of steady continuing the trend off purchasi befavourite for- (see market growth. the Balearics as well as Slow Down, ng in Spain The regions Madrid, which pg hoped that (23.4%), La of Extremedura drops of 21.9% the end of II). It is and 8.1% saw it saga, possibly the BrexCastilla-L Rioja (22.4%) and spectively. In renext month, corded thea Mancha (21.6%) re- slump follows the Balearics the and the long awaited largest year-onon political from the troduction stability can return to inof strict year laws which have new rental perate British losses help recumade it more bringing a while also foreign and boost to both the domestic markets.

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OLIVE PRESS

From pet passports to dodg removaly men, one British family’s and lowshighs they set as up in Spain befor Brexit strike e s...

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BAREBACK:

The old and the new and the downright, bizarre. Find out what’s hot in our Property Magazine FREE INSIDE

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A RANDY A WOMAN missing tortoise has from his gone filmed Blanca has a red riding naked been owner ishome while hisCosta Appeal launched Ferrari upon urgently FOOT Brit after gar-chomping to the public as its FETISH: appealing it escapes for ‘randy’ ciTortoise es the streets driver for help.

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Music to our ears ROSALIA the first has become win an Spaniard to Award, MTV Music by bagging ‘Best Latino for her Video’ tura withsong Con AlJ Balvin El Guincho. and

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Daniel Feetham and Damon Bossino, he has new faces like Orlando Yeats and Joelle Wahnon-Ladislaus in the team.

The Gibraltar Social Democrats are rallying under the banner ‘Let’s get it right’.

“We can deliver the future people deserve,” said Azopardi. “It’s a strong and diverse team of people from different backgrounds.”

Opinion Page 6

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NEWS

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Bomb plot POLICE in Barcelona have arrested nine Catalan separatists over charges of ‘rebellion, terrorism and possession of explosives’.

Thanks M’lud AN inmate has thanked a judge for handing him a prison sentence, saying it has given him ‘a whole new life’.

Rapist released A SERIAL Malaga rapist has who was sentenced to 271 years behind bars will be allowed to leave prison at weekends, after a judge softened the conditions of his sentence.

Foul play BARCELONA footballer Samuel Umtiti’s house was burgled while he watched his team lose 5-2 against Valencia.

September 26th - October 9th 2019

White horses Retired expat couple who lived the high life facing 12 years in prison for cocaine smuggling on cruises

A RETIRED expat couple arrested with nearly €1million of cocaine on a luxury cruise have claimed a mystery ‘Jamaican businessman’ funded their lavish lifestyle, court papers reveal.

Roger and Sue Clarke were set to take another €4,500 twoweek trip from Cuba to the Caribbean and back home to

By Joshua Parfitt

Spain before Portuguese police arrested them in Lisbon in December.

A handwritten diary by Sue Clarke and made public reads that the cruise, via Antigua, Barbados and back via Malaga and Alicante this March would set them back ‘approx £4,000’.

This was despite the Clarkes living on an income of just €1,000 a month at their home in Alicante.

The couple are facing up to 12 years in prison for drug smuggling at Lisbon court.

They both wept in court claiming they had been betrayed by friends, when police found the drugs on their ship the MC

Marco Polo. Former chef Roger, 72, insisted he had no idea the cocaine was hidden in the lining of four suitcases picked up on the paradise island of St Lucia. He claims his friends asked him to bring the suitcases back ‘because they could fetch a high price in places like Harrods’. After their arrest they pointed the finger at a man called ‘Lee of Jamaican origin’, who paid for their €7,700 cruise. Mr Clarke claimed the businessman asked him to pick up empty new suitcases in St Lucia and then buy exotic fruit that could be sold for a ‘massive profit’ in the UK. The Clarkes, who also have a house in Kent, have been held in separate prisons in Portugal for the past 10 months, awaiting trial. Portuguese police

House of hashish

Blast from the past A POLICE hunt has been launched for a British gang that used explosives to blow up cash machines. The suspects used homemade bombs to bust open a dozen ATMs in Malaga and Marbella, making off with €300,000 cash. Investigators in Spain have traced three of the men to Merseyside after the crime spree between December 2013 and January and February 2014.

POLICE have arrested 14 people and seized more than 11 tonnes of hash across Anadalucia in this week.

Guardia Civil seized 10 drug smuggling boats and seven vehicles as part of operations along the coast of Huelva, Cádiz and Málaga.

In Algeciras, 333 kilos of hash were found hidden in a van attempting to enter the peninsula through the port,

after the driver was apprehended.

A further 1,500 kilos of hash were seized on Monte Calafete after suspects fled police in a car. Some 49 bundles of hash were later found scattered across the mountain.

Smugglers left 70 bundles of hash on a beach in Conil, Cadiz, after fleeing offshore when they spotted the Guardia Civil.

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Inspetor Carla Nunes insisted it made ‘no sense’ that mystery businessman paid for the cruise. She said that Mr Clarke was unable to provide police with a phone number, email or name of any import-export firms the businessman entrepreneur was involved in. Nunes added: “They could both have been making between nearly €20,000 and €30,000 plus expenses per trip.’ The Clarkes were jailed in Norway in 2010 for trafficking 240kg of cannabis resin on another cruise.

Check out Chik

A WELL known Russian fugitive is believed to be hiding out in Spain.

Aleksandr Chikovani, 43, is wanted by various Russian law enforcement agencies for a number of financial frauds.

According to Russian media, he has defrauded many people via a series of companies including Nord Construction and Gephest Construction.

While Chikovani denied links to the companies, police in Russia proved otherwise by linking his other firms’ IP addresses to them.

Gephest Construction filed for bankruptcy with a loan debt of 50 million rubles, which Moscow Arbitration Court believes was to avoid paying off debts.

Hot wheels

CLUBBED TO BITS

A HOODED gang has stormed a nightclub before wrecking it with iron bars.

The thugs approached the Momento club, in Marbella in four high-end cars with their license plates covered.

Four people left each vehicle, before entering the club and destroying chairs, tables and other furniture inside. After the 10-minute attack, the thugs fled the scene, hurling a smoke bomb behind them.

ARSONISTS have set fire to 17 vehicles and forced up to 50 residents from their homes over the course of a single night in Malaga.

Emergency services evacuated an apartment block in the resort town of Torre del Mar after a fire was started.

A 31-year-old man had to be treated in hospital because of the fire. The arson streak began after a motorcycle parking lot was found alight in the neighbourhood of Paz.

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NEWS

September 26th - October 9th 2019

A place in the mud Dr Quien?

A NEW Netflix series filmed by David Tennant has a twist: part of the series, Criminal, is shot in Spain, with the characters speaking the local lingo.

The four-part series takes place across four countries: the UK, Spain, France and Germany, with each episode unfolding in a police interrogation room.

Lee Ingleby from hit BBC crime drama Inspector George Gently will star in the UK instalment of the series.

Spanish actor Eduardo Fernandez, who starred in the award-winning spanish language film Biutiful, plays an Al Capone-esque figure in the Spanish section.

The show’s creators include George Kay, the man behind BBC thriller Killing Eve.

Heart’s back in it

ANTONIO Banderas has thanked a heart attack for getting him reinvesting in Malaga.

The Hollywood star insisted the 2017 attack led to retreating from the US to his hometown, where he has since bought a theatre and developed a theatre school.

Now the former Zorro star is to launch his first production, A Chorus Line, at the brand new Soho Caixabank Theatre, in Malaga, in November.

“The heart attack was one of the best things to ever happen to me,” said Banderas.

“A flash came to me and I said to myself, I’m going to buy a theatre.”

As well as the theatre he has launched his ESAEM performing arts school, which already has dozens of budding students. He is also adamant that culture should not be confined to the big cities of Madrid and Barcelona.

A PLACE in the Sun presenter Jasmine Harman has captured the aftermath of the torrid floods that killed seven in southeastern Spain.

The Costa Blanca had its worst storms in 140 years and Harman stepped out onto the beach in Murcia to show her Instagram followers the devastating effects.

She said: “The sand is like quicksand because of the floods.

“I normally enjoy a dip in the sea in the morning,

EMPATHY: From Jasmine Harman but now everything is a bit strange.”

The havoc even saw several towns become entirely en-

gulfed by water, with one British expat claiming he had lost ‘everything’.

Leading the way Basketball ace to join Freddie Flintoff and Katie Price with protection dog EXCLUSIVE

By Jacque Talbot

A SPANISH basketball star is taking a lead from a host of UK celebrities in buying an elite protection dog.

The Barcelona-based player will join cricketer Freddie Flintoff, model Katie Price and a host of British footballers and business magnates when he buys the topof-the-range dog from UK firm Protection Dogs Worldwide.

Costing from €16,000, the dogs - mostly Dobermans, Great Danes or German Shepherds - are hand-trained by a team of specialists.

They have worked alongside the Manof K9 institute, which has provided dogs for the Israeli special forces as well as alongside the Czech Police’ special dog division.

Attackers

“We carefully tailor our training to what our clients need,” explains lead trainor Leedor Borlant, who has also provided dogs for ambassadors.

“Some of what our celebrity clients have gone through, you wouldn’t believe,” he added.

“Being rich and famous makes you vulnerable.”

Through word of mouth, the company has acquired a string of leading clients from Katie Price, who bought a

SHE is one of Spain’s true celluloid sex symbols.

Now Paz Vega has set pulses racing sporting not much more than a leather jacket for a saucy lingerie shoot.

The Sevilla beauty, 43, was all smiles as she posed nearly topless, sporting a cropped haircut. She is currently starring alongside Rambo legend Sylvester Stallone in the film’s fifth installment, Rambo: Last Blood, which has had mixed reviews.

Vega, known for Lucia y El Sexo and Spanglish, plays an undercover journalist seeking revenge.

3

Like-ala-vista Paz!

Rolling in

WHO’S NEXT: Which star joining Katie and Freddie?

German Shepherd named Blade, to Flintoff, who purchased a Doberman called Trevor.

Now the Yorkshire company has started to expand into international territory, with Spain already taking around 15% of its dogs.

The most expensive dogs take years to train and come in at around €55,000.

“We teach our dogs to handle any situation we can think of, whether that be one attacker or multiple attackers,” he explains.

“The training is thorough.

Diligence is required to ensure the dog will be effective

in a real-life situation. From obedience training to protection training, the dogs build confidence, and soon they are able to start biting the padded sleeves on cue, before being put in scenarios catered for the buyer.”

And best of all, the company carefully vets each client to ensure the dogs are not sold to criminals.

“We get frequent calls from the underworld to buy dogs.

Criminals, drug dealers they come knocking, but we assess each client before we even allow them to visit us.”

Visit www.protectiondogs.co.uk

SPOKING OUT: Ambassador Hugh on missing bike BRITAIN’S top new mandarin in Spain has spoken of his fondness for the country at a private party to mark his arrival.

Hugh Elliot told a select group of diplomats, journalists and friends how he had fallen in love with Spain - and found a wife, Toni (above) - while teaching English in Salamanca.

Speaking over canapes at the official home in the leafy Madrid suburb of Valdezarza, the UK ambassador revealed how it had not, however, been the smoothest arrival in Spain in 1984.

Speaking in fluent Spanish, he raised a big laugh, when he revealed he had arrived here for a cycling holiday MINUS his bike.

He recalled how he got off the train in Burgos to find the bike had vanished and asked if there was anyone in the audience from RENFE who could still help find it. Elliot then joked that he would not have any problem filling the ‘big shoes’ left by outgoing ambassador Simon Manley, as he had size 47 feet (a UK 12). The ambassador, now in his 50s, has worked for the Foreign Office since 1989 and been posted in Argentina and France, as well as spent five years in Madrid in the 1990s.

The former Cambridge graduate has two children, both Real Madrid fans and born in Spain.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Top class act WORLD-renowned circus troupe Cirque du Soleil could be set to come to the Rock next spring following talks with the Gibraltar Government.

Ship shape ONE of the most advanced ships in the world, the Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, was in Gibraltar recently after returning from protecting oil tankers in the Straits of Hormuz.

Medical brilliance HEALTH service staff presented with awards ‘show the community appreciation towards individuals or teams in the GHA that go the extra mile’, according to the Minister, Neil Costa.

Blight future KERRY Blight, a banker with experience at the Gibraltar branches of both Natwest and Credit Suisse, will be the new Financial Services Commission CEO in August next year.

NEWS

September 26th - October 9th 2019

We’re not scared

Spain shutting the border would be like ‘cutting off its nose to spite its face’, slams deputy CM EXCLUSIVE

By John Culatto

GIBRALTAR’S second in command has fired a warning shot at the Spanish right wing on the eve of new elections.

Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia said that tightening frontier controls would hurt the Spanish as much as the Rock.

“At the moment, Vox is the only political party in Spain whose policy it is to close the border completely,” said Garcia.

“They hold the balance of power in the Andalucian parliament

and could get more than the 24 seats it won at the last national elections.

“But we are not scared of anything. We have been here more than 300 years as a people and withstood the combined military might of France and Spain.

“Whatever they may throw at us, that will make no difference for us to be what we want to be.”

With a no-deal Brexit possible just ten days before the Spanish general election, these are the two existential threats to modern Gibraltar.

He continued: “It is not in

Spain’s interests to have a disruptive border because Gibraltar generates 20% of the

On yer bike!

CHILDREN are being urged to walk or cycle to school on the Rock to protect the environment.

The new drive comes after the recent ‘School Strike for Change’ that took place last week.

A map showing walking and cycling times to the two new Bayside and Westside schools from the main residential areas has been issued.

The project is linked to the government’s sustainable traffic, transport and parking plan.

The government suggested walking or cycling ‘makes more sense’ as it helps to ‘keep fit, stay healthy and avoid traffic’.

Minister for Infrastructure Paul Balban said that although ‘change is difficult at first’,

walking and cycling is much better than going by car.

Unfortunately, plans for more extensive bicycle routes recommended in the plan are still to materialise.

GDP of the neighbouring region (the Campo).

“We buy €1.5 billion of goods a year from Spain and we are the second biggest employér for the whole of Andalusia.

“It would be like cutting off their nose to spite their faces.”

The Gibraltar frontier has not received as much attention as the Northern Ireland one, but the issue here is different, added Garcia.

“The issue in Ireland is about having controls and checkpoints,” he said. “We have those already so our concern is how those controls might be exercised when we are no longer in the European Union.

“We are working very hard to make sure that we mitigate against all these issues.”

HAMMER TIME

GIBRALTAR will suffer food and medicine shortages in the event of a no deal Brexit, according to British government documents.

Passengers crossing the Spanish border at the Rock could also face waits of more than four hours, say the recently released Yellowhammer papers.

The documents also warn of ‘prolonged’ risks to Gibraltar’s economy.

It comes after the UK government published the secret documents in full on last week after being forced to do so by MPs. Some of the documents had already been leaked to The Sunday Times in August.

The papers are also critical of the Gibraltarian authorities’ preparations for a no deal Brexit.

The report says: “Despite the extension of the exit process, they have not taken the necessary decision to invest in infrastructure.”

Following the initial Yellowhammer leaks in August, Gibraltar’s main opposition party questioned the state of the governing party’s no deal preparations.

At the time Chief Minister Fabian Picardo dismissed the report as ‘out-of-date.’

6

FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.

OPINION Election overload WITH the Spanish elections imminent and those in the UK looming, Gibraltar’s own public vote could set the tone for Europe.

Just as in Great Britain, Brexit will surely feature in the manifestos of the Rock’s three competing parties.

With such divide shown in the 2016 referendum back in the UK, can Gibraltarians again show its power of togetherness.

Get out and vote on October 17.

Healthcare a right, not a privilege THE news that British expats will have to pay for their healthcare if no-deal Brexit hap-

pens is a betrayal of hardworking people.

Many of these expats have paid their taxes for years and rightly expect quality care that they can afford as they age.

Brexiters told us that leaving the EU would give us an extra £350 million per week for the NHS. Even if that figure was exaggerated, surely all of that money should now be used to cover expats’ healthcare costs. People back in the UK already have guaranteed free healthcare. So far the Department of Health has pledged £150 million to cover British nationals’ healthcare costs. That sum is a slap in the face to the 360,000 Brits living in Spain. They expect better and they deserve better. As Sue Wilson from Bremain in Spain has said, British nationals should be entitled to free healthcare whether they choose to retire in ‘Bradford, Bournemouth or Barcelona.’

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September 26th - October 9th 2019

Losing their religion With atheism on the rise in Spain, Maya Eashwaran checks out why the masses are deserting the church

T

HINK Spain on Sunday and for many this conjures up an image of families soberly dressed, starting the day worshipping in their local churches.

Old and young alike brought together by tradition, religion and community.

But the deeply religious roots that have long been part of Spanish culture are being severed and instead of packed churches, clergymen are increasingly preaching to rows of empty pews, their sermons echoing round silent churches where congregations have gradually disappeared.

Spain’s younger generation is firmly turning its back on religion and, while this is not surprising, the growth of atheism in a country with a history of religious fervour certainly is, with almost half of young Spaniards aged between 18 to 24 claiming that no religion is their religion.

Decline in religion is a worldwide phenomenon.

According to The Guardian newspaper, 70% of 16-29 year-olds in the UK identify with no religion.

Around two thirds of people in this age range say they never pray.

Leading the faithless field in Europe, France and the Czech Republic come just under China and Japan in The Independent newspaper’s list of countries with the most ‘convinced atheists.’

Atheism is no longer a hidden minority in fact, Europe’s Christian population is forecast to drop by 100 million people in the next 30 years, according to a study conducted by Pew Research Center, a respected organisation in Washington, USA. Pew’s study takes into account factors like migration between Asia and Europe, the fertility levels of women of different religions, as well as the average ages of current religiously affiliated people.

The numbers are so substantive that no religion at all was called the ‘world’s newest major religion’ by National Geographic just a few years ago.

According to the Pew Research Center, non-religious people (labelled the ‘nones,’

SKY’S THE LIMIT: Young and old Spanish believers are in freefall, while (above top) Father Francesc Romeu battles to keep bums on pews and (above) the latest data an ironic homonym) make up a stunning between Franco’s dictatorship and Span16% of the world population. ish Catholicism. This age group still believe Non-religious groups have become so in God who was an obligatory element in prominent that they are often referred their childhood lives under the Franco reto as their own grouping entirely — the gime which lasted from the end of the Civil ‘nones’ actually come in second place as War until his death in 1975. the largest ‘religious group’ But following decades of dein almost half of the world’s mocracy, Varsavsky believes countries. This grouping ‘religion in Spain is mostly Religious includes those who do not becoming tradition.’ He identify with any official recontinues: “Sunday church marriages in ligion, including atheists, attendance is in the single agnostics and those who Spain declined digits. In this country, they practice a mix of religions or still teach religion in most from 79% to spiritual practices. schools, but to most it is as This rapid movement toif they were teaching Span19.8% wards atheism, coupled with ish history, the history of a the less surprising finding country that used to be relithat the majority of churchgious but it is not anymore.” goers are from older generations, does not According to Pew’s research, most western bode well for the future of European Chris- European adults still consider themselves tianity.

Christian, even though they may be nonSpain’s declining religious numbers are practicing. particularly interesting.

This group still makes up a larger portion El Pais reported earlier of society compared to the ‘nones’, showing this year that 27% of all how religion is adapted to fit the social and Spaniards are among cultural views of many modern day adults. the ‘nones’. In contrast, These non-practicing Christians do not be88.6% of the country’s lieve in the ‘biblical definition of God,’ as 65-and-overs still as- practicing Christians do although they incribe to traditional reli- clude elements of the religion in their daily gious beliefs, the most lives. prominent of which is But the clergy still hold out hope that there Christianity. could be a reversal. Father Francesc Romeu Church marriages have (pictured above preaching)remains optialso declined steeply; mistic, even though he has seen a decline in a 27 year-long period, in congregation numbers at his parish of the percentage of reli- Santa Maria de Taulat in the Barcelona bargious marriages in Spain rio of Poblenou since he was ordained 34 declined from 79% to years ago.

19.8%, a huge drop of “The old people I had when I started out nearly 60 percent. as a priest have died and now I have othMartin Varsavsky, in the ers who are retiring,” he told El Pais. “Their Huffington Post, goes grandchildren are now older and there to the history books to comes a day when they walk into the church explain that one of the and stay.” major factors behind Whether the growing tide of atheism sweepthe older generation’s ing across Europe will continue to empty religious adherence is church pews long term, only time will tell. the strong connection Or perhaps it’s in God’s hands.

www.theolivepress.es

FEATURE

7

LET’S TALK ABOUT PORN With more gang rapes reported every year, there is an urgent need to define the line between fact and fiction, writes Heather Galloway

P

ORNOGRAPHY used to be associated with middle-aged men hovering in front of magazine racks until they believed it was safe to reach up to the top shelf, snatch down the coveted item and make it to the till unobserved.

Then came the 1990s series Friends and porn was ushered into the mainstream with chums Joey and Chandler constantly alluding to their porn addiction in what was packaged as harmless fun.

Now, the founder of the Asturias Association for Sex Education, Ivan Rotella, claims that children as young as nine and ten are regularly consuming porn on their smart phones – a device which, according to the Spanish Institute of Statistics, is in the hands of 26.25% of this age bracket.

Consequently, a warped sex education begins before some even reach puberty.

“It creates a lot of problems,” Rotella tells me after explaining that any child looking up parts of the body for anatomy homework will be exposed to it.

“Some don’t want their parents to touch each other after seeing it,” he continues. “Nor do they want to give kisses themselves or go to the park where other children will show them more porn on their mobile, usually the most obscene or peculiar images they can find.”

7 Olive Press online

September 26th - October 9th 2019 that’s the

Spain’s best English news website

ON TOP: Olive Press website traffic for last four weeks

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At the Olive Press we simply publish our numbers according to official Google Analytics numbers (above) and report on our most popular stories of the fortnight.

We also like to remind our readers that we are Spain’s Number One English news site by a country mile.

What we DON’T do is buy followers on Facebook or Twitter or acquire overnight website links (hundreds of thousands of them, like some rivals do) to artificially boost our site.

We simply grow organically, thanks to our diet of good reporting and investing in journalism.

And we let the numbers do the talking.

FILMING: 12% of gang rapes in Spain were filmed

offender to have a notable criminal record, and more likely to be Spanish than foreign.

There is a pattern to these crimes too: they are frequently committed after fiestas or at weekends, suggesting that the blurring of the line between Rapes fantasy and reality has been exacerThe porn-addiction joke starts to ware bated by drink and drugs. particularly thin though, when we are But like Rotella, Andrea Giménez-Satold that the numbers of sex offences lina, president of the Foundation for and gang rapes are soaring.

Applied Research into Crime and SeAccording to Feminicidio.net there curity, is loath to draw conclusions. were a staggering 60 gang rapes “Recently there has been a lot of in Spain last year compared to 14 talk relating pornography to these in 2017, and 18 in 2016 when the attacks, but there is no empirical eviinfamous Pamplona San Fermines dence to support this,” she tells me. ‘manada’, - or wolf pack - took place Rotella believes the rise in gang rape with five Spanish men taking turns to is probably down to more victims rape an 18-year-old. feeling able to report This year, there have it. But he does make a been 42 reported tenuous link between cases taking place People think porn on tap and sex between January offences when he and August 2, when sex education is says, “Proper sex six men raped an about condoms education in schools 18-year-old who had would decrease genarranged to meet and orgasms. It’s der violence and sex one of her aggressors attacks,” adding that not through Instagram in porn distorts young Bilbao. people’s view of what Of the 134 gang rapes might be pleasurable committed since 2016, 12% were or acceptable because it is pure faneither filmed or photographed, as tasy. though the perpetrators were keen He goes on to draw parallels with scito make their own porn movie with ence fiction. “If a child watching Spithemselves as the stars. derman understands it as a climbing But while Rotella, who runs the Artur- manual, they’re going to have probsex program to educate teenagers, lems. Pornography is entertainment, agrees some offenders may want to not a handbook for sex,” he says. imitate porn, that doesn’t mean porn “The only solution is to educate our has actually driven the crime. children. People think sex education “They may prove a link in the future, is about condoms and orgasms. It’s but it hasn’t been done yet,” he says. not. It’s about getting young people Gang rapes are generally commit- to understand their bodies, accept ted by a younger demographic than themselves and express themselves similar crimes committed by an indi- and it’s about respect and commuvidual. nication.”

The average age is 25, according to Ana Fernández Alonso, director of the Spanish Ministry of the Interior. the sexology department at Oviedo They are also less likely than the lone University, goes further, explaining

that it is not enough to have sex education thrown in with another subject.

“It needs to be taught by someone qualified,” she says. “To think anyone can teach it because we are all sexual beings is like thinking we can all be cardiologists because we all have a heart.”

Fairy tales

Through the Artursex programme, Rotella and his colleagues visit schools to discuss sexism and homophobia with students, personal hygiene and sexual diversity with younger teenagers, jealousy, control issues and the risks of social media with pre-teens.

They also look at alternative endings to traditional fairy tales with the very young.

“It should start at the age of three,” says Rotella, “like any other subject.”

Back in January this year, the PSOE’s Ministry of Education was proposing to include sex education as part of a reform bill, enraging elements on the right, such as the Madrid region’s Vox candidate Rocío Monasterio who claimed that pupils aged eight were being introduced to bestiality in optional sex education sessions.

Rotella dismisses this as nonsense.

“We have had complaints from Vox, but they have no idea what they are talking about. We never introduce material that the school doesn’t approve beforehand.”

In any case, Monasterio can breathe easy as the reform bill has been put on ice while Pedro Sanchez struggles to form a government.

But as Rotella says, we haven’t yet had the chance to assess what effect exposure to porn will have on these nine and 10 year olds in later life – “Above all, on their relationships with a future partner.”

It’s time to get the conversation started.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Air commander SNOWBOARDING fan Wg Cdr Nel Doherty has taken over as Station Commander at RAF Gibraltar after the departure of John Kane to Ascension Island.

Colourful Caleta REPAINTING and repairing works of government rental homes at Seaview, Genoa and Shamrock Houses in Catalan Bay has been finished.

Blame Game FLIGHTS were cancelled after the airport was closed for an evening because of a lack of air traffic controllers blamed on the contractor, NAPS.

Eggs on boats AROUND 90 high profile guests saw what Gibraltar has to offer at a breakfast held at Trinity House during London Shipping Week.

TIMELY RULING

THE Supreme Court decision that proroguing parliament was illegal shows that no-one is above the law, said the Chief Minister.

Fabian Picardo welcomed the UK Parliament’s return to discuss Brexit the day after the ruling was announced.

"The judgement delivered by Lady Hale confirms the core principle that the Government and the Prime Minister are always subject to the control of the Courts,” said Picardo.

“In our system of law and government, whether someone is a Prince, a Prime Minister or a pauper, we are all subject to the law.

“This judgement is therefore a demonstration of the workings of a nation properly governed by the rule of law. “This is what keeps us - and our property - safe from political and governmental abuse and it distinguishes the UK and Gibraltar from so many other nations.”

The Chief Minister, a Queen’s Counsel, has not held back from calling for Brexit to be revoked in line with what the people of Gibraltar voted in 2016.

“We will now see the UK Parliament return to continue its deliberations of all aspects of Brexit,: he concluded.

“This is also a demonstration that the UK's core institutions are working neutrally - without fear or favour - despite the deep and palpable partisan and Brexit-related political divisions."

NEWS Paving the way

September 26th - October 9th 2019

ALL plastic could soon be recycled to pave Gibraltar’s roads in a new government initiative.

The revolutionary method costs less than getting rid of plastic and it makes sure it is put to good use too.

A section of Camp Bay car park next to the Europa Pool will be used to trial the new technology. Pre-cast paving blocks made up of 28 bottles each could become the mainstay of Gibraltar paving in the future.

“The quantity of bottles used in each specific block

or slab varies depending on its specific application, the compressive strength and construction properties required,” said the government.

“This is an excellent way to recycle plastic bottles and re-use the material, without causing unnecessary pressure on our already strained environment.”

The Minister for Infrastructure and Planning said that this experiment did not mean plastic was a good thing.

“We should always try to minimise our dependency on this material,” Paul Balban said.

Too little too late IT is too late to save the world from climate catastrophe, according to one of Gibraltar’s most senior environmental campaigners.

It comes after around 500 people marched from Casemates to Main Street as part of the Gibraltar version of the Climate Strike.

“The idea was to put pressure on the governments of the world to change their course of environmental destruction,” Henry Pinna of the Environmental Research Group told the Olive Press this week.

Just call him ‘Maggie’ Picardo is ‘like Margaret Thatcher’, poverty group claims

THE attitude of the Chief Minister is ‘very little different to that of Margeret Thatcher’, the Action On Poverty (AOP) group has claimed.

The comparison comes after Fabian Picardo called the AOP claims ‘utter nonsense’, labelling the group’s attempts to seek social justice as an ’attack’.

AOP leader Felix Alvarez revealed to the Olive Press just how Picardo’s response was like Maggie’s ‘get yourself up from the floor’ jibes.

“The top part of the population has become extremely

wealthy and left a lot of people behind,” he said.

“There’s a big crack in the wealth figures which more families are falling into.

“When you then fall into unemployment how the heck are you supposed to survive on the kind of benefits available, especially as nothing is published?

“The elderly and disabled are worst hit, and they get more socially isolated.”

Action on Poverty was launched in March of this year after a survey revealed the extent of poverty in the community.

“Despite all the construction there is still a problem under the radar,” Alvarez told the Olive Press.

“Politicians have to understand they are here to serve us and not the other way around.

“The media in Gibraltar is not sufficiently independent to hold them to account.”

The group has been forced to use social media as a platform instead.

“We have a social security system that is no longer working,” he concluded. “It’s too obscure, opaque and does not have a baseline to define poverty in Gibraltar.”

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www.theolivepress.com

Issue 33

September 2019

El Ca Cap nt ric ab h ria o,

Modern masterpieces

From pet passports to dodgy removal men, one British family’s highs and lows as they set up in Spain before Brexit strikes...

See page IV Ca Ba sa rc Ba el tll on o, a

But which is Spain’s favourite modernist building?

See page III (a clue is in the picture in the middle)

C Ca asa s Le tilla Lis, on y

P Lo alac M ngo io d ad ri e rid a,

UPS AND DOWNS Growth figures for July make up for sluggish foreign buyers and a drop in June SPAIN has recorded its best month for property sales for 11 years, new government data has revealed.

A total of 47,890 transactions were reported in July 2019, marking a 3.8% year-on-year increase.

June 2008 was the last time more homes were snapped up in Spain, continuing the trend of steady market growth.

The regions of Extremedura (23.4%), La Rioja (22.4%) and Castilla-La Mancha (21.6%) recorded the largest year-on-year

growth.

In total, 11 of Spain’s 17 regions grew over the last year.

It made up for a 9% year-onyear drop in June, which suggested the market was really slowing down.

There have also been some big declines in the long time foreigners favourite the Balearics as well as Madrid, which saw drops of 21.9% and 8.1% respectively. In the Balearics the slump follows on from the introduction of strict new rental laws which have made it more

difficult for owners to rent to tourists. This has made property on the islands less attractive as investment opportunities.

Further negative news saw foreign buyers drop by 7%, with British buyers among those being put off purchasing in Spain (see Slow Down, pg II). It is hoped that the end of the Brexit saga, possibly next month, and the long awaited return to political stability can help recuperate British losses while also bringing a boost to both the foreign and domestic markets.

DECLINE: Mallorca’s property market has dramatically slowed down following new rental laws

PROPERTY

II

COOLING OFF September 26th - October 9th, 2019

Mark Stucklin

www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

Foreign buyers, Brits included, were turned off investing in Spanish property this summer, writes Mark Stucklin SPAIN was not the flavour of the 2019 summer season for overseas buyers.

The number of Spanish homes purchased by foreigners declined in the second quarter compared to the same period last year.

And it’s not just a blip. This is the second consecutive quarterly decline in what looks like the start of a downward trend.

The number of property sales deeds registered in the Spanish land register by a foreign buyer in the second quarter of this year numbered 16,209, according to the latest report by Spain’s As-

sociation of Land Registrars.

That compares to 17,338 a year before, a decline of 7%.

Before Q1, foreign demand for Spanish property had not declined in any quarter since foreign demand started to recover back in 2010 (and four years before local demand began to recover).

Now it has declined for two quarters in a row.

By nationality, the biggest group of buyers was once again the British, with 2,159 Spanish property acquisitions registered in the quarter (13% of the foreign market), followed by the

French some way behind with peared to turn upwards towards 1,236 (8%), and the Germans positive growth in Q2, with the with 1,184 (7%). exception of the UK, where deIn terms of market share the ‘rest mand growth is negative and of the world’ is gainpointing down. ing whilst the bigWhen you look at gest markets are on the overall market The trend in the retreat. including local deAlmost all markets foreign demand is mand, the figures posted a decline in clearly downwards reveal a second Q2, with the excepconsecutive quarand looks set to terly decline and tion of Morocco, Romania, France, and continue that way a clear downward the rest of the world. trend, so it’s not However, if there is just foreigners who one bit of good news seem to be going in the figures it was that demand cold on Spanish property. from the biggest markets all ap- As a result of the change in both

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local and foreign demand, buyers from abroad represented 12.5% of the Spanish property market in Q2.

As I concluded in my article on the Q1 foreign demand for Spanish property figures: “The trend in foreign demand is clearly downwards and looks set to continue that way in the next few quarters at least.”

I see no reason yet to change that conclusion based on the Q2 figures. The downward trend is taking shape.

PROPERTY

III

September 25th - October 8, 2019

Access denied

Huge hotel, parking and commercial centre blocked by angry residents at Queensway Quay

Go Gaudi

By John Culatto

Mount marriages momentum

MARRIAGES could soon be held at The Mount, the Gibraltar government has announced.

The gardens of the former military home will become nature trails that lead to the Upper Rock nature reserve.

“We want to develop a kind of Commonwealth Park of the south at The Mount,” said Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Garcia. “This will be protected as an open, public, and green leisure area.”

Garcia added: “However, The Mount will become much

ANDALUCIA’S capital city is growing sharply having approved 2,000 new homes, with construction to be carried out mainly in the south and east of the city.

The new houses in Sevilla have been given the go-ahead, with some 18,000 homes set to be completed over the next three years.

Otaisa Architecture Studio will

more than that, with an emphasis on educational, cultural, environmental and leisure activities as well.” With Gibraltar being used as a location for weddings all over the world, the Mount will replace the Government Secretariat at Sir Joshua Hassan House.

This address-change is expected to give Gibraltar even more possibilities for hosting wedding ceremonies. The announcement comes after years of uncertainty by successive governments of what to do with the 3,000m2 site.

Capital growth carry out the plans, with the new neighborhood, named ‘Buenaire’.

It is set to have many trees, a children’s playground, spaces for walks, bike lanes and a leisure centre.

A DEVELOPER has had plans for a Queensway Quay expansion halted by its wealthy residents.

‘Save Queensway Quay’ got the support of both Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and the GSD Opposition.

It comes after more than 1,000 people signed a petition against a 120-bed hotel, parking and commercial centre at the site of the popular marina.

“If I am returned to office as Chief Minister then this development will simply not happen,” said Picardo.

“We fully sympathise and agree with the sentiments expressed by residents of the area and entirely support the campaign to save Queensway Quay.”

The government has the possibility to use its veto in the Head Lease if it really wants to stop the project.

Save Queensway Quay expressed ‘its enormous gratitude’ that the government chose to put ‘the community’s modern day values in front of a self-serving proposal’.

“It would not only destroy one of Gibraltar’s great local attractions but also result in years of pollution, turbulence

and eventual destruction to an area steeped in the history and heritage of Gibraltar,” said Save Queensway Quay.

Queensway Quay was built around 25 years ago on the site of one of the oldest quays in Gibraltar.

The campaigners pointed out that they wanted Gibraltar to

be less of ‘a concrete jungle’ and instead have more open spaces.

The current owner of Queensway Quay is Paul Butler, who is also one of the main investors in the proposed nearby Victoria Keys megadevelopment.

Round the houses HE might have problems selling his Spanish mansion, but it hasn’t stopped Michael Douglas playing the property market.

The US star has splashed €4.1 million on a home in the New York suburbs, despite failing to shift his S’Estaca estate, in Mallorca, now down to just €29 million from an original €50 million asking price. The Basic Instinct actor’s new buy, with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, dates back to 1895 and is set amongst 12 acres of meadow on the Hudson River.

It also boasts two indoor pools, a tennis court, gym, sauna, steam room, two-story library and guest cottage.

GAUDI’S remarkable Casa Batllo has been crowned the greatest modernist building in Spain.

An Architectural Digest poll put the Spanish architect’s masterpiece in Barcelona in first place with 21% of the vote.

In second place came Cantabria’s El Capricho, with Casa Lis in Castilla y Leon third, and Madrid’s exuberant Palacio de Longoria, in fourth.

Casa Batllo, which is known for its peculiar skeleton-like balcony, sits in Barcelona’s Eixample district. It was however, snubbed as the city’s best building in 1906, when it was finished, with another architect being awarded that year’s title.

Rental woes RENTS have surged at more than 30 times the rate of wages in Spain for the last five years.

Whilst the average rental cost in Spain is 50% higher than the same property in 2013, wages have only increased by 1.6% in the same period.

Around half of Spain’s tenants spend over 40% of their pay packet on rent.

Mallorca’s capital, Palma, saw the steepest increase in rents, alongside Barcelona, with rents going up by more than 50% since 2013.

In Malaga, Madrid and Valencia, properties are 45% more expensive than in 2013.

IV

September 26th - October 9th, 2019

PROPERTY

Brexit made us do it!

As the Halloween deadline looms, Karen Livermore relives the trials and tribulations of her own family’s recent Brexodus to Spain

R

EWIND to the summer of 2016 and refer- worse-than-usual poendum result day. My partner and I were litical backstabbing. relaxing on a friend’s terrace over a chilled Key messages about glass of Rioja, gazing up at the awe-inspir- trade and freedom of ing Sierra de las Nieves mountains, when the re- movement got lost. sults started to come in and pictures of a gurning We became increasNigel Farage filled the TV screens. ingly incredulous at Compared to our spectacular surroundings it was the inept handling of not quite such a pretty sight! negotiations with the It was also the outcome no one expected. Even EU and when MPs began acting like sulky chilFarage originally declared the dren in kindergarten we decided it Leavers had been defeated just was time to go. a few hours after the polls closed. Three quotes, one It wasn’t a decision taken lightly.

A shocked nation, a PM’s resignawere hardly militant pro-Euroif we moved pre- We tion, Parliament in turmoil, calls peans hoisting the blue and yellow for a general election ... the weeks Brexit, one for no- flag outside our house. But the following were muddled and chaextremism and fake news stories otic. Three years on it’s eerily the deal and another from both sides left us cold. Insame... stead, like a growing number of Back in the UK, we watched sides if there was a deal rationally-minded Brits, we could being drawn up. We were told how see what effect leaving the EU President Trump would give us would have, and we didn’t like huge trade deals to make up for the plethora of what we saw. companies and industries that were packing their If we were going to make a move, we wanted to go bags and heading for the nearest Channel port. before Brexit - whatever that looked like - to avoid Let’s see how that pans out. being caught in a potential red tape nightmare.

We witnessed changing global economies and After a dalliance with France and a mad half hour suddenly Leavers who had cast their votes on considering Australia, we chose Spain. the back of an immigration campaign started to My partner speaks fluent Spanish (which has realise that this was an insignificant part of the been a godsend) having lived in Menorca for over overall picture.

15 years, while his sister and her husband have I think at the time of the referendum, huge num- been based in Andalucia for almost 20. Really it bers of the electorate simply did not know what was a no brainer. And so the property hunt began. they were voting for or the impact the result would Many a Sunday morning was spent flicking have. The campaigns were full of rhetoric and through inmobiliario websites shortlisting proper-

IDYLL: Karen’s Brexit-free paradise with Hubby Terry (top left) and her dogs (right) ties that could be our new home.

A quick viewing trip back to Andalucia, and we fell in love with the first place we saw. Yes, very dangerous I know.

Alas, just as we were about to make an offer, the agent told us the vendor had accepted a private deal. The house with its 360-degree panoramic views of whitewashed villages, the Sierra de las Nieves and Sierra de Mijas was no longer an option.

However, as happens in the house hunting business, the next property we found had equally stunning views, needed less work and our offer was accepted.

By now it was December 2018 and the Brexit clock was ticking.

The vendors needed to find somewhere, their lawyers were not the fastest in the world and we wanted completion before the then Brexit deadline date of March 31.

Then, as now, no one really knew what would happen. Deal or no-deal, it could alter the stakes drastically in terms of freedom of movement and the status of Brits in Europe.

Meanwhile the exchange rates were going crazy, rollercoastering to highs not seen since 2017 before suddenly plunging to levels that made us gasp. Poring over the pound to euro exchange rates became an obsession. When you are changing property-sized amounts of cash, every centimo counts!

Even the physical move was hijacked by Brexit.

Astonishingly, one UK-based removal company gave us three quotes - one if we moved pre-Brexit, one for a no-deal scenario and another if we moved and there was a deal! Not unsurprisingly, they didn’t get our business. Instead, we found a great company based on the Costa del Sol which quoted one price and a good one at that!

We also didn’t realise how Brexit would affect our dog and two cats. Dylan the dog was already welltravelled with a pet passport from the previous year, obtained by a simple process - get the rabies jab, pay £90 and wait for the passport to arrive in the post.

This time around vets acting on DEFRA advice, which of course could not be definitive, were not

only recommending a £90 rabies jab for all three pets but a further blood test four weeks later at £120 and, depending on the antibody count, another £90 rabies jab and then another £120 blood test. Then a three month wait before they could travel and a potential further unspecified cost for a second certificate alongside the pet passport.

Oh, and despite only being a few months into her original rabies jab, Dylan had to go through the process again too.

However, we were advised that should Brexit not happen, then the old regime was adequate which made the whole process look like a money-making ploy rather than extra vigilance over rabies.

And this was all coming from the UK government, not Europe.

Given the cost for transporting our pets would come to £1,200, and convinced there was no way Brexit would be delivered by the end of March, we took a chance and brought them over on the current system. Since then, like a lot of expats, we have adopted another dog and getting her passport from our new Spanish vet was a breeze - at half the price!

Now we watch the news - glasses of chilled Rioja in hand - with a slightly more detached view, glad to be out of the mayhem choking the UK, although we sense the panic as the new October 31 deadline looms.

We eventually completed on our house on March 29 - just two slim days before the initial Leave Europe deadline. It all went smoothly, which is more than can be said for the shambles that is Brexit.

VI

September 26th - October 9th, 2019

PROPERTY

BUY HIGH, SELL LOW O

Jonathan Holdaway recounts Harry Enfield’s shaky lesson in finance, while offering his rather better advice on how to get a balanced investment portfolio

NE of my favourite comics is the and his advice sounds absolutely abgreat Harry Enfield, who first surd, it does serve to highlight the uncame to my attention when ap- certainty of investing for the unwary or pearing on C4’s Saturday Live. inexperienced.

It was the diversity of comic characters So what’s the best way to handle price that I really admired – having been a swings in stock markets and retain valbudding ‘impressionist’ myself around ue within an investment portfolio? the age of 10, putting on shows in old This is the perfect time to consider this, people’s homes with my Frank Spencer given market movements over the last or Columbo skits. two years, and the general state of Both Harry and his investment markets sidekick Paul Whiteglobally. house’s performances If you prepare yourself Constant tugreflected the mood of psychologically for a the mid 80s in the UK, potential bear market of-war going on with colourful characahead of time, it deters like the obnoxious inside our brains creases the chances plasterer ‘Loadsamonof ruining your portfolio ey’ and Stavros the between fear and by making unforced erGreek kebab shop rors. greed owner.

Over the past year But one of my favourite there have been a few characters ‘Tim Nicewarning signs of imBut-Dim, an endearing ‘upper class pending volatility appearing in markets. twit’, appeared later in his career in his You don’t need to get fancy with diown 90s TV series. saster hedges either - high quality Having just become a qualified financial short-term bonds have been your best adviser myself around that time I was option for preserving capital during an particularly amused when Tim was giv- economic disaster consistently in every ing advice to his bank manager on in- negative market year since 1928. vestment.

They do their job as the portfolio anchor ‘Buy high sell low’, he confidently ex- during periods of stress to give invesclaimed, then adding ‘or have I got that tors options for buying back into stocks the wrong way round? Course I have … on the dip or for spending purposes so sell low, buy high’. stocks can be held during a crash withAlthough Tim’s character is a parody out needing to be sold.

Removing some risk from the portfolio and it is suitable for your attitude to risk should result in less sleepless nights when volatility hits.

Don’t panic as stocks fall Stocks can fall far and fast but also tend to recover very quickly.

That’s why bailing out of stocks after they crash just compounds your problems compared to simply holding them through the crash in the first place.

If you have lost money on a stock investment my advice is to hold the stock unless there is a fundamental reason why that specific stock will not recover.

Balance is the key to surviving these periodic crashes.

The Balanced Asset Class Index which included large caps, small caps, value stocks and bonds fared much better than the all-stock options and outperformed other more aggressive/cautious options over a five cycle 80% of the time.

Diversify your portfolio The key is always having a diversified portfolio of investments.

The biggest thing is to have a plan and stick with it (everyone says this but it’s true).

You won’t know the exact reasons ahead of time as to why the market will fall, but understand that you will see a handful of market crashes over your

History, adventure and romance.

That’s just the setting.

lifetime.

There’s no way you can avoid risk in the financial markets if you hope to beat inflation over the long-term and earn a respectable return on your portfolio.

Stocks outperform bonds over longer cycles, which in turn outperform cash but bonds provide stability when you need it the most.

Stocks wouldn’t offer a risk premium over bonds if they didn’t have these periodic large selloffs.

It’s also important to understand your ability and willingness to take risk.

Allocate more money to less volatile investments if you can’t handle losses, but understand that you will likely have to save more to reach your financial goals if you carry a more risk averse portfolio.

Don’t tie everything up And for those investors that are in or approaching retirement, don’t have money tied up in stocks that you’ll need to use for spending purposes within three to five years or so.

It’s too much of a risk that stocks could take a hit right when you need to sell if you have an all-stock portfolio.

There really are no one-size-fits-all answers to this problem as every investor’s tolerance for risk and investment strategy is different.

Investing really is a balancing act that’s full of trade-offs.

There is a constant tug-of-war going on inside our brains between fear and greed depending on the market environment.

LESSON: Though wacky, Tim NiceBut-Dim’s advice does leave us with a lesson in uncertainty We want to be able to sidestep losses in the markets and only participate in the gains, but it’s impossible to invest in stocks and not experience periodic losses.

Pick your position and understand your emotional swings.

Maintain a balance of assets within your portfolio and always keep an eye open for a new entry point if stock markets do become cheaper.

Most importantly don’t overreact to short term movements.

And finally remember Tim’s closing remark to his bank manager – ‘never lend money to Charlie’.

Send your comments and feedback to Jonathan at jonathan.holdaway@ chasebuchanan.com or call him on 00447723027864

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Costa del Series

ALMOST 1,500 shows were shot in Andalucia in 2018, an increase of nearly 3% on the previous year.

The Crown, the season finale of Game of Thrones and the sixth installment of Terminator were amongst the popular TV shows and films shot in the province.

The Andalucian TV and film industry employs more than 23,000 people, up almost 8% on 2017, and brings in just over €130,000 to the region.

Other hit shows filmed in Andalucia in 2018 were the BBC’s media drama MotherFatherSon starring Richard Gere and the Netflix-produced Costa del Sol Brigade, which tells the story of the coast’s first anti-drugs squad.

LA CULTURA Medusa woz ere

17

September 26th - October 9

what’s on Lock it up CATCH a glimpse of the biannual ceremony of the keys on September 26 at 7pm when the Gibraltar Regiment locks the gates of Gibraltar as it did during the Great Siege.

Iconic Greek myth may have origins on the Rock of Gibraltar

Beating hearts WALK as many miles as you want for the Gibraltar Cardiac Association on the morning of September 28 starting off at Casemates Square.

By John Culatto

THE Greek myth of Medusa may have originated on the Rock of Gibraltar, new evidence has suggested.

It comes after a clay picture of Medusa was dug up at Gorham’s Cave by top archaeologists, bringing to light the area’s special significance.

“The relationship between the

SINKING STONES

Rock of Gibraltar and mythology is more than just coincidental,” culture minister John Cortes said.

“There is no doubt at all that the imposing feature of Gibraltar at the western end of the Mediterranean would have led to legend being developed.

“It is absolutely possible that

THE Spanish Government has ruled out rescuing ‘Spain’s Stonehenge’ from being submerged by a swamp.

The 55 granite standing stones of the 4,000-year-old Dolmen de Guadalperal made headlines when they emerged ‘like magic’ from the waters of Valdecanas lake in Extremadura in August. There is now a ‘very high probability the stones will be lost to water erosion’, according to the Geographical Association of Extremadura.

this artefact was put there because the ancients believed that this was where it had actually happened.”

The pottery was found in a part of the cave which was quite well-excavated, dating back to the sixth or seventh century BCE. “The clay sculpture occupied a

prime place in the sanctuary at the end of the Gorham’s Cave gallery,” said Cadiz museum director, Jose Maria Gutierrez, who helped in the dig.

Clive Finlayson assured the Olive Press that the artefact would remain at the Gibraltar Museum.

Backseat IF you prefer sitting to walking, you can take part in the fundraising effort for Calpe House surrounded by challenging art at the GEMA Gallery on October 1-11.

GREAT WHITE HOPE AN exhibition by Irish artist Sean Scully has been chosen to relaunch Malaga’s crisishit Centre for Contemporary Art (CAC).

The New York-based painter and printmaker, 74, is expected to exhibit his famous oil and fabric works at the gallery later this year.

The two-time Turner Prize nominee was selected for the CAC’s return, after the signing of a new five-year contract worth €13 million.

The gallery was shut down when its management contract expired in July.

This followed the sacking of 17 staff from on-site Oleo restaurant, while 22 CAC workers denounced Malaga Town Hall over contract disputes.

Eye on the prize A UNIQUE art exhibition has been planned for Jimena de la Frontera next month.

Jimena Style are a group of artists and designers, who live in the small eponymous community.

The collective use Instagram to show off their work, but now members of the public will be given an opportunity to see the work up close.

The week-long event, running from October 12 - 20, involves the artists styling a village house in Jimena, featuring a timeless array of sculpture.

This will include metalwork, handprinted textiles, pottery, woven blankets, and furniture.

Caroline Gullick, one of the organisers, said: “We decided to bring together a fusion of our work and styles to celebrate the importance of original art and design. The purpose is to move away from homogeneity through exhibiting original unique products in the local context.”

Show stoppers ONE of the top theatre troupes in Spain will perform a Zarzuela at the John Mackintosh Hall in early October, it has been announced.

Teatro Lirico Andaluz have performed around Spain and in Rome, Lithuania and Dubai.

With over 1,000 performances to date, they often attract some of the top solo singers from around the country.

Teatro Lirico Andaluz (Andalusian Lyrical Theatre) will perform La Dolorora on October 2 and 3.

The plot revolves around a tragic battle between love and duty at a convent. Tickets for the performance cost £5 with a maximum of 10 tickets each. A Zarzuela is a typically Spanish theatre performance which switches between dialogue and singing, similar to a musical.

18

September 26th - October 9EEth,

LA CULTURA

Lost in translation Setting up any new business in Spain is hard. Try setting up a newspaper. In the first part of a hilarious new serialisation, Jason Heppenstall (right) recounts the strange, bizarre and quite frankly shocking genesis of the Olive Press newspaper

W

HEN the door swung open into what would be our new office it revealed a scene that suggested the previous occupant had left in a hurry.

The brass plaque with the lawyer’s name was still attached outside the entrance and the picture from his law school graduation remained on the wall above the desk, but of the man himself there was no sign.

Next to the picture stood a bookshelf packed with leather-bound tomes of the type lawyers like to be pictured sitting in front of.

It was difficult to overlook the fact that the splintered wooden door had a bootprint on it, and an upturned chair lay on the floor surrounded by scattered legal

papers.

She waited for our reaction, and failThe elderly landlady was showing us ing to detect one, started again, a little around. louder this time. “These books are inMercedes was a sturdy-footed senior cluded in the price of the rent.” with a booming voice “We’re not lawyers,” and a cast iron hairstyle.

I pointed out, “but She was speaking so thanks for the offer.”

“At least you are fast that Marcus, our The landlady didn’t editor, had to translate not English. I must seem to understand for me as we inspected Spanish but repeatadmit, I respect my what was clearly a resied the offer again very dential apartment rath- what you Germans slowly as if we were er than an office, comboth deaf and dumb. have done” plete with floral curtains “THESE BOOKS ARE INand a kitchen sink full of CLUDED IN THE PRICE washing up.

OF THE RENT. “These books,” she “They are very valushouted as if we were deaf, “are in- able. Maybe you will need them here cluded in the rental agreement.” in my country so you can understand

the law.”

“Jesus,” grumbled Marcus, “why do these old Spanish people have to say everything three bloody times?”

Having considered cutting costs and working from home, the prospect of possessing an office in Órgiva would lend us at least some credibility, we figured.

But office space was in short supply in Órgiva, a town in the Alpujarras mountains of Granada province, unaccustomed to white-collar employment, and we had almost given up the search when Molly, Marcus’ girlfriend, had put us onto Mercedes.

Surveying the wreckage in the office before us the question had to be asked, and Marcus duly obliged: “What

FOUNDER: Olive Press stalwart Jason Heppenstall and behind Orgiva town happened to the lawyer who was here before?”

She eyed him suspiciously.

“Gone. He is gone away,” she said with a dismissive flick of the wrist, “to Madrid.” I got the impression that ‘Madrid’ was a euphemism for ‘away: destination unknown’.

19

September 26th - October 9th, 2019

“So he’s not going to come back and find us in his office?” I asked, a little hesitantly.

In truth I was more worried about people coming in looking for the man.

Whoever had kicked in the door and smashed the place up probably didn’t look wet behind the ears.

A SMALL FART AFTER A DUMP Our new printer Carlos greeted us and led our party inside the facility in an industrial estate in Granada (ED: appropriately in the suburb of Peligros, meaning ‘dangers’).

A handful of tired-looking workers wearing blue boiler suits were leaning against different parts of the mechanical contraptions that filled the cavernous space. He led us around, pointing out the functions of the machinery that would print The Olive Press. A worker yawned loudly, and Carlos apologised, telling us that they had just spent the night printing 200,000 copies of local rag Ideal, as well as various magazines and books, and all that stood between them and their beds were 10,000 copies of The Olive Press

Bloodshot

The man said something to his mates and they all burst out laughing. Carlos looked embarrassed.

“What did he say?” I asked, and Marcus explained that he’d said printing our newspaper would be “like a little fart at the end of a long shit.” And thus, with that thought in mind, and without any fanfare whatsoever I was invited to press a large button, setting in motion the entire printing press. The cacophony was enormous, like being inside an immense metal tank while men with jackhammers tried to smash their way out. A huge roll of paper, like a giant toilet roll, span around and a single continuous sheet of printed paper flew above us at speed as it was fed into a box. It appeared from this box just a fraction of a second later chopped neatly into small piles and recognisable as a newspaper. These newspapers flew onto a high speed conveyor belt, which took them around the warehouse at a dizzying speed before they emerged on another belt at table height where a man with a magnifying glass picked copies off at random, inspecting the colour balance with one bloodshot eye.

“He will not be coming back,” Mer- you say you are, you’d be pirates. And I cedes replied with a wry chuckle that do not let my office out to pirates!” sounded a little sinister. “If you want She spat the word ‘piratos’, disgust his books I will also throw in the desk flashing in her eyes. She continued, alblotter as well.” most at a whisper.

“As if we’d want that…” muttered Mar- “No, you are nothing more than babies. cus.

But at least you are not English and, I “What are you doing here in my coun- must admit, I respect what you Gertry?” she suddenly demanded, her mans have done in the past.” penetrating stare putting us both on “We’re not bloody Germans,” said Martrial. cus, in English.

“We’re making a newspaper,” said She reached out and squeezed his Marcus. cheek, causing him to blush, and con“An estate agency?” tinued almost in a whisshe replied, as though per. that was the only ra“You may rent my office tional reason to be Avocado-coloured but, by the Lord, the launching a business I am charging you bathroom with rent as an expat in the very is so low it pains me. rural region.

You hear me, it pains a leaking tap, “No a newspap...” me! And me, a pensionno light and an er being held hostage “Yes,” she interrupted, “you estate agents unflushable toilet in my own country by come here to sell the foreigners!” land from under our We both looked at her. feet. Just as I thought.

She seemed to be “Well, you may rent my office while you completely mad, but an office was an go about your unsavoury business, but office, even if it wasn’t really an office on my word, I trust you only because of and was a bit on the pricey side. your German heritage.”

“You may pay me a deposit of three “We’re English,” I interjected, feeling months’ rent and the first month’s that perhaps I’d missed some part of rental in cash, plus a breakages the conversation. The old woman’s deposit. But do not push my genereyes narrowed as she scrutinised my osity, if I do not hear from you by face for signs of dishonesty. tomorrow I will give it to someone “Ingles?” she said, h e r else.” And with that the old lady voice softenturned and left us on our own. We ing. looked around the apartment unim“If you were peded. It was large, conEnglish, as sisting of a spacious reception room and two smaller ones.

The kitchen was stacked to the ceiling with cardboard boxes, and an avocado-coloured bathroom with a leaking tap, no light and an unflushable toilet. The one large window looked down from the secWe needed a name for the newspaper, and ond floor onto an racked our brains to come up with one. The Órabandoned littergiva Post seemed an obvious moniker, but this strewn courtyard in was swiftly rejected by Marcus and Molly, who which a lone fig tree disliked the association with the town, which they had sprouted from regarded as a Spanish version of the spaceport a gutter. Stray cats Mos Eisley from Star Wars (“You will never find a sunned themselves more wretched hive of scum and villainy...”). The atop a graffiti covnext proposal was the leftie-sounding Voice of ered wall beside the the Alpujarras, which had a pleasing resonance church. “Órgiva and seemed to fit in with the area’s self-regard really is a dump as an enclave of radicalism. The name, however, isn’t it?” said was likely to put off people who lived outside Las Marcus. NatuAlpujarras. I looked around at the landscape with rally, we took my foreign eyes for inspiration and came up with the office.

The Lemon Tree. Nobody could find a good reason not to dislike this title and so it remained The Lemon Tree for quite some time prior to the first More adventures issue. But then, one day, standing in the kitchen next issue from of one of my neighbours and listening as he la: THE OLIVE mented the amount of work he had put into harPRESS: NEWS vesting his olives compared to the puny amount FROM THE LAND of oil he had received as payment from the olive OF MISFITS press, a new name struck me. I texted Molly: “The Olive Press?” She texted back immediately: “We (available on have a winner!”

Amazon)

Forget the Lemons!

INTREPID: Jason and daughter on Alpujarras peak, (left) his book and (top) the first issue

20

September 26th - October 9th, 2019

French connection FRANCE’S national grid has announced it will choose Spain over Britain for future electricity links due to Brexit uncertainty.

The country is planning €33 billion of investment by 2035 and has also been negotiating with Belgium and Germany.

A government source said projects with the UK ‘risk remaining on standby, as the UK is still set to crash out of the EU without a deal on October 31.

“There are three or four projects that are on standby, Brexit or not,” National Assembly spokesperson Francois Brottes said.

“If you multiply links, you may end up with too many of them.”

Covering losses

BUSINESS

MAN WITH A PLAN Oh Dia!

Main Street could receive complete makeover thanks to leading city planner NEW signs, branding, public services and apps could all be introduced to help local businesses in Gibraltar’s Main Street.

It comes after a UK company was brought in to write up a new Business Improvement District (BID) plan for the territory’s most important road.

“I find Main Street could be a much friendlier space with managed entertainment,” said Mo Aswat, who is organising the BID. “We could bring the sidestreets to life too but without changing everything.

“Shop front design could be looked at and how government entices high quality business here.”

Aswat got into town centre

management with the setting up of his Mosaic Partnership in 2006.

He has since prepared BIDs (Business Improvement Districts) in the UK, Europe and worldwide.

The first BIDs were arranged in Canada and the US, and there are now thousands from New York to Vancouver.

“The way it works is that if a majority votes yes, it will happen,” said Aswat. “Then it is underpinned by legislation which lasts for five years.”

Aswat has met with business organisations like the Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, landlords association and the government.

THE devastating floods in Almeria, the Costa Blanca and Murcia have affected at least 25,000 people and will see more than €140 million paid out in insurance claims.

According to experts at the Insurance Compensation Consortium, damages made to homes, shops and insured vehicles across the southeast peninsular will see at least €142 million paid out in claims. In Andalucia, the damage is estimated to be around €10 million euros, with about 2,500 people affected.

This is the beginning of a 12-month process to prepare a business plan in consultation with Gibraltar businesses.

“A BID is not a magic bullet,” he concluded. “It is a means by which businesses can organise themselves.”

Taking granny abroad A SPANISH company will soon start shipping its awardwinning Abuela Carmen (Granny Carmen) cheese abroad.

Sevilla-based Quesos Los Vazquez - which makes €10 million annually - is expanding around Europe from 2020 and expects to grow by 7% this year alone.

The cheese is named after the owner’s wife.

Pay gap WOMEN with degrees in Spain can expect to pocket up to €9,500 less than their male counterparts each year, it has been revealed.

While more Spanish women are working than ever before, their annual pay packet is still on average €5,982 less than men’s.

The Union General de Trabajadores (UGT) criticised the gender pay gap, saying that the shortfall could no longer be attributed to a lack of skills amongst women.

It added: “There is a severe undervaluation of women’s work.”

The OECD, which published the data, said the gap could partly be accounted for by women choosing lower paying careers.

DISCOUNT supermarket chain Dia lost an eye watering €420.7 million during the first half of 2019.

Losses at the beleaguered retailer were 14 times higher than in the first six months of 2018, when it shed €29.5 million.

The company said that recent measures, including store closures and redundancies, will lead to better results in the long-term. Its restructuring plan will see the closure of 30 Max Descuento stores, part of its Grupo El Arbol subsidiary.

Rock open

A CAMPAIGN to bring more business to Gibraltar has been launched in London. Think Gibraltar aims to bring more investment to the Rock as part of the common market arrangement agreed during the Brexit negotiations. The Rock with a British flag superimposed on it will be displayed on 300 taxis, 100 buses and 40 public transport centres around central London. Social media will also be used, with a campaigns on Facebook and LinkedIn. The website thinkgibraltar.gi highlights insurance, cryptocurrency, online gaming, and financial services as being the main areas the government is interested in attracting.

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL Street cred HAMtastic!

THERE’S more to the Spanish delicacy Jamon Iberico de Bellota than great flavour, texture and quality. It can also prevent digestive problems, scientists have discovered.

Munching on the meat made from acorn-fed pigs reduces the symptoms of intestinal conditions such as Ulcerative colitis.

Scientists found that a particular variety of ham made by the Joselito family for six generations had ‘superfood’ powers.

Dr. Felipe Lombo, who led the study, said: “[This] is the only one that does not contain heavy metals, dyes, or preservatives. “[It is] 100% natural and of the highest quality.”

Jose Gomez Sanchez, a member of the Joselito family, said: “We have 151 years of history: we develop a product of the highest quality, completely natural.”

Some 180,000 people in Spain suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, according to 2016 figures.

21

September 26th - October 9th, 2019

Boss Babes Uni on the Rock

Madrid barrio among top 10 coolest suburbs in the world A SPANISH suburb has made it into the top ten world’s most fashionable addresses.

Embajadores in Madrid has been voted in at number nine in a list of the 50 coolest places to live around the globe.

The barrio - just a stone’s throw from the city centre and historic Plaza Mayor - is awash with trendy restaurants, bars and shops, according to the poll by travel bible Time Out. As well as including the Lavapies district, which came top last year, it also incorpo-

Top tip

rates hip La Latina and the famous Rastro flea market area that has been going for a century in Madrid.

Edgy

It was pipped at the post by Arroios in Lisbon and Wedding in Berlin, while Peckham, in London comes 11th.

While many locals in Madrid warn tourists off the area, citing high levels of crime and drugs, the Olive Press spent a few days in the suburb this week finding, the very opposite.

‘Florists arrange their bouquets in Plaza Tirso de Molina next to the bold murals of street artist Okuda. Next to the Indian restaurants that have been popping up around Calle de Lavapies, you’ll find traditional eateries like the legendary Melo’s, where punters gather to order their famous zapatillas (two slices of bread, as large as a skateboard, stuffed with heaps of Lacon pork and tetilla cheese).

CHILLED: Rastro market (inset) and (right) caracoles chef The vast majority of residents were incredibly friendly and there was a real sense of an upwardly mobile, but above all proud and creative vibe.

Businessman Fernando Barandilla, 42, who owns a series of tourist apartments just off Plaza Cascorro, one of the area’s nicest squares said: “I love the alternative buzz and edgy feel - plus at the weekend it comes completely alive with the Rastro.”

The Time Out Index survey asked more than 27,000 citydwellers around the world

about the ‘best, most overrated and most undervalued’ neighbourhoods in their hometown.

BOSS Babes Uni is Gibraltar’s leading beauty and aesthetics training academy (see below).

With practices in London’s Harley Street and Liverpool’s Rodney Street, the internationally accredited firm is highly-respected.

The company offers over 45 different courses, in everything from anti-wrinkle injections, to weight loss treatments and non-surgical procedures.

Its highly-skilled team on the Rock provide elite training to around 30 students every week and beginners are more than welcome.

The name ‘Boss Babes Uni’ actually originates from the American Women’s Movement, and empowering women is a key motivation for the company.

With 15 years experience in clinics, Boss Babes Uni, provides a first-class education, so its trainees can ‘follow their dreams’.

For more information ring +34 670 481 509 or email suzymarbella@ icloud.com

22

September 26th - October 9th 2019

Future is green A SURVEY has revealed that 80% of Spaniards believe that hybrid or electric cars will take over the roads in the coming years.

According to European Mobility Week, rental car company Europcar carried out a study on Spanish drivers, which showed that most residents have a firm belief that motorists will soon turn to a greener mode of transport.

Some 70% of pollers also felt

MOTORS

that the shared car is a valid option to replace car ownership in the coming years.

This refers to the ‘round-trip’ model, which consists of users picking up a car for a temporary period, before returning it at the end of the service.

FOOD COMES FIRST!

Top business school predicts Spain’s automobile industry will rival Germans following huge surge THE Spanish car industry is set to grow by around 3.7% in 2019 and 2.4% by 2022, a study has found.

The findings from the EAE Business School also show that Spain ranks second among European producers, one place behind Germany.

Globally, the European

Driving forward

country is the eighth highest car manufacturer, while China is top with a massive 27.6%.

EAE professor Eduardo Irastroza said of the find-

ings: “We speak of a robust and recognized sector, both for the quality of the products and for the competitiveness of their costs and therefore of their prices.

Electric

Castile y Leon like Renault, Catalunya go for Seat or Nissan, Valencia chose Ford, while Aragon chose Opel.

Despite a recent survey suggesting the population believe Spain is heading towards hybrid or electric cars, the report indicates that the sales of electric cars in Spain are still very modest.

Since 2018 the sale of this car model accounted for 0.8% of the total, while petrol sales account for 63% and diesel 36.1%.

It comes after the Government also launched a €45 million buying incentive programme called MOVES this year, which offers buyers €5,500 for cars whose price is €48,400.

TM

902Directa 123 282 Home insurance with Linea has you covered if your fridge or freezer breaks

Fridge and freezer cover as standard Our home insurance policy covers the contents of your fridge and freezer up to a maximum of €300 per claim for food stored in a domestic refrigerator or freezer that has been spoiled due to the fridge or freezer unit breaking down or a power cut that lasts longer than six consecutive hours.

Putting in a claim If you need to claim, simply

* Fu l l y co m p re h e n s i ve o f fe r va l i d fo r n e w c u s to m e r s o n l y. G u a ra nte e s u b j e c t to cove r, re p a i r at a p p rove d g a ra g e, a n d co u r te s y ve h i c l e ava i l a b i l i t y. S u b j e c t to co n d i t i o n s. O f fe r e n d s 3 0 / 1 1 / 1 8 .

provide a copy of the repair invoice for the fridge or freezer, and in the event of a power cut spoiling your food contents, then a justification from the electricity company confirming the power outage.

Tips for power cuts and surges Power cuts and surges are a nuisance and often occur during thunderstorms during the hotter summer months. And it’s not only the contents of your fridge or freezer that can be spoiled, expensive electronics, home alarm systems and other appliances may be affected. We recommend you install surge protectors and remember to unplug your most prized electronics during thunderstorms.

We hope the information provided in this article is of interest.

If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 952 147 834 More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

2/8/18 17:01

DEATH DRIVE

SPAIN has suffered a weekend of carnage on the roads, with almost a dozen deaths occurring on September 14 and 15.

Ten people were killed in car accidents, including pedestrians and one cyclist.

This is according to the General Directorate of Traffic, which claimed this year there have been 759 deaths on the roads.

In September alone there have been a reported 48 people who have lost their lives in car accidents.

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TheOlivePress-256x170-CAR-4.indd 1

Contents insurance guarantee What about the contents of your fridge? A big part of our monthly expenditure goes on shopping for food. And a fridge packed full of food is a significant cost. Imagine your fridge or freezer stops working in these hot summer months and all the food is quickly ruined. Will it be covered as part of your contents insurance?

“This contributes to the powerful subsidiary industry that also has a great worldwidereputation.”

The study also reflects the autonomous communities’ favourite car.

Down: 1 Diesel, 2 Scramble, 3 Burn, 4 Giddyap, 5 Eats, 6 Mouser, 8 Mate, 12 Set, 13 Decrepit, 14 Abreast, 15 Stripy, 17 El Nino, 18 Flea, 20 Ions, 21 Calf.

Look, no hands!

A TECH park in Malaga has announced it will allow people to use driverless cars motorised by 5G. The project sees companies Telefonica and Dekra collaborate with the Malaga City Council.

The technology makes it possible for vehicles to communicate through 5G, meaning drivers would be able to communicate with other vehicles, roads, traffic lights and signals.

The newly-opened facilities - which consist of a simulated urban roads and buildings - will be available and open to anyone who wishes to use them.

GOLF

19

MUM’S THE WORD

Marbella expat golfer returns from maternity leave to beat Americans and take home Solheim Cup

AN expat living in Marbella has helped Europe beat the USA in the Solheim Cup 2019, before announcing her retirement from golf.

Suzann Pettersen, 38, had been away from the sport on maternity leave for two years.

Many doubted that she should have even be selected, having only played in two events prior to the competition.

But she came back with a bang, holing her birdie putt on the 18th to defeat Marina Alex and win the trophy.

The sportswoman celebrated as the ball rolled in, and soon her euphoric teammates joined - they had only half an hour prior resigned themselves to defeat in the competition.

Indeed, Pettersen’s selec-

89

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OPEN 7 DAYS – 10 TI BOXING, FOOTBA WORLD CUP ALL SHOWN ON HOMEMADE FOOD –

ESTE

Fabulous Fergusson

Peter Manley reflects on another exciting month of golf in the summer heat at Alcaidesa

D

uring the heights of the summer months and not withstanding the high temperatures, the ex-Estepona Old Boys Society have continued to prosper with ever increasing numbers wanting to play at Alcaidesa.

The real highlight of the summer was an arranged awayday for the group at Cabopino where 16 of the group played a Stableford Competition for the Away-Day Trophy.

The winner on the day with a very credible 38 points off a handicap of seven was the proprietor of Fergusson’s Bar in Estepona Andy Fergusson, who as penance for his victory had to provide the traditional chips for the group after the game.

Second was the old wounded golfer with golfer’s elbow, Nor-

man with 35 points and third with 34 points was Oreste.

Nearest the pin at the fourth in two was Andy, nobody made it onto the seventh, Ana was nearest the pin at the 13th and Martin (one inch away from a hole-in-one) at the 15th won the prize there. During the summer months we have enjoyed relatively empty courses because the number of visitors greatly decreases during this period. As the weather cools, the course will become busy again and we can say farewell to our ‘millionaire’s golf’ and go back to the frustration of fivehour rounds. However, what else would I do that gets me out in the fresh air, gives me a bit of exercise amongst such pleasant company and keeps the competitive juices flowing.

UNDERDOG: Petterson had been on maternity leave

tion by her captain, Catriona Matthew, had some eyebrows raised, some believing the Scandinavian was too rusty to compete, but she soon put paid to that.

Following her dramatic victory the Norwegian said: “I think this is a perfect closure.

“A good end to my profes-

sional career. It doesn’t get any better.

“Life’s changed so much for me over the last year.

“He’s [son Herman] obviously the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me.

“But now I know what it feels like to win as a mom.

I’m going to leave it like that.”

Pettersen retires with an esteemed career, having won 15 times on the LPGA Tour, including two majors - the 2007 Women’s PGA Championship and the 2013 Evian Championship.

She is a member of the Aloha Golf Club, a high-end private members’ 18-hole PGA Tour course between San Pedro and Marbella.

CARPETS TEXTILES & CRAFTS An amazing treasure trove of all things Moroccan and Persian in the heart of charming Gaucin

Garcia’s Dutch courage

SPANISH golfer Sergio Garcia has won the KLM Open in Amsterdam with a one-stroke victory.

The triumph marked his 16th European Tour win and the 2017 Masters

champion’s first title in the Netherlands.

A final-round three-under 69 did the job for the 39-year-old, as he finished one clear of Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard.

Fairway to hell A POPULAR golf resort has been flooded following the worst storms in Alicante for 140 years.

Two days of rain lashed Spain’s Costa Blanca, with deadly floods killing seven and washing away cars in Valencia, Murcia and eastern Almeria.

Online footage has

emerged of the popular Marquesa golf course’s bunkers and sandpits completely waterlogged by storms.

Thousands of locals and expats are believed to have joined the cleanup efforts dealing with the aftermath in the days that followed.

The victory could mark a return to w i n n i n g ways for the Castellonborn sportsman, who has fallen to 43rd in the world rankings.

Earlier this year, Garcia was disqualified from a tournam e nt held in Saudi Arabia after he damaged the greens.

He was also condemned for chucking his driver at his caddie.

All sorts of commissions undertaken… plus regular buying trips to Morocco and Turkey Tel: 722 51 10 57 Contact WhatsApp only: (0044) 751 687 1966 m.asummers@outlook.com www.alisregalosgaucin.com CHAMP: Sergio Garcia

Num 20 La Plazoleta, Gaucin, 29480 Malaga Spain

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French invasion

FINAL WORDS

A NOTORIOUS French artist has appeared in court over 15 mosaics he stuck to buildings in Malaga. The artist, known as Invader, is charged with crimes against heritage.

Pickpocketing pensioner A THIEVING pensioner who robbed other elderly people at banks and pharmacies has been arrested. The man was carrying four different identity cards when he was stopped by police.

Chill officer A POLICEMAN in Murcia was found with €220,000 of weed stashed in his house.

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WHITE STRIPES

AN albino tiger locked in a cage next to the swimming pool of a Spanish residence has raised alarm bells among municipal law enforcement.

A photograph of the tiger was released with a statement saying Policía Local,

Rare tiger - one of 20 left in world - found in garden

Seprona and the Department of Health were ‘checking’ if the owner possessed appropriate licences.

Tractor trek A BRIT has driven a tractor towing a caravan from Spain to Yorkshire and topped the Amazon book chart with a memoir about the 1,700 mile trundle.

The 65-year-old conservationist, Micheal James Wiggins, drove from the south of Spain to his home in West Yorkshire in the 56 year-old tractor with his dog Luna.

He had the idea of buying a tractor and taking it back

to the UK whilst holidaying with his partner Lindsey in Spain. Micheal said: “The tractor journey has been my greatest achievement.”

His travelogue about his experience, Tractorman: Adventure at a Snail’s Pace, has been called ́highly enjoyable by critics.

Five star success

RARE: Tiger found at Spanish home

The statement added albino tigers are ‘extinct’ in the wild and only ‘20’ exist in the whole world.

“Alicante, with this exceptional specimen in private hands, has become part of the few enclaves in Europe that have one of these wild oddities,” the statement said.

“But the Department of Health assumes these wild beasts must live in their natural habitats, since their trade is driving their extinction.”

Police and the Department of Health are now investigating if the owner lacks the ‘documentation, permits, insurance and other requirements concerning the

possession of a dangerous species’.

Spain’s Ley 42/2007 prohibits ownership of a list of animals deemed either invasive or critically endangered.

However, only indigenous Iberian animals at risk of extinction – not foreign animals such as tigers – are illegal to own as pets.

Owners of dangerous pets, such as dogs, are required to possess both licences and insurance of ‘no less than €120,000’, according to Spain’s Real Decreto 287/2002.

Lacking any special precautions for tigers, however, in theory it is easier to possess a licence for a tiger than for a Staffordshire Terrier.

A LOCAL swimmer has won five gold medals at the European Down Syndrome Swimming Championships in Italy.

Adam Stewart competed in six over-35 events in Olbia, Sardinia, taking first place in five and third in one of them.

Stewart secured four European records and six personal bests at the event for people with Down Syndrome.

The genetic condition tends to make victims shorter, causes intellectual disability, and gives them eyes that slant upwards.

Stewart worked hard with Gibraltar Amateur Swimming Association coaches Natalie and Annie Mary in the pool while strengthening his upper body in the gym.

Around 150 athletes took part in the open championships, which meant Down Syndrome athletes from USA and Russia could also take part.

“It was an exciting and exhausting competition so he will be resting for a few days before resuming training again,” said his mother Pauline Stewart.