The
OLIVE PRESS
Mijas Costa FREE
www.theolivepress.es
Your expat
voice in Spain
Vol. 13 Issue 330 www.theolivepress.es November 6th - November 19th 2019
Triple trouble A BELEAGUERED animal shelter By Lawrence Dolliemore has slammed a court order which contains a slew of allegations as The investigation found that the ‘unjust’. It comes after a judge ordered com- shelter acquired large amounts of euthanasia chemicals sometimes mittal hearings against six forwith German Pietsch ‘falsifying mer members of Marbella’s documents’. Triple A team for a ‘masBizarrely, she and anothsive and unjustified’ er former president alsacrifice of animals for legedly sacrificed black years. pets first. Marbella’s court is The Olive Press was the probing whether the first paper to reveal in charity allowed the April 2016 how a huge slow and agonising police operation saw deaths of numerthe arrests of two exous animals over pats and a vet at the at least a six-year sanctuary. period from 2011. An incredible 15 It believes that Guardia Civil offiformer President cers were involved Bettina Pietsch alin the dramatic raid lowed the animals, seizing computers, most of which documents and othwere healthy, to er evidence. be sacrificed with incorrect levels of Fraud anaesthetic. A disproporPietsch Dutch Sectionate number retary, Jan Weima, were killed, most and a senior vet ‘without veteriwere arrested for annary control’ and imal cruelty and dog without the right trafficking, along knowledge of the with 17 other staff doses needed to ARRESTS: How the Olive members. prevent pain. judge has Press reported the police The now dismissed the raids in 2016 charges against 14 of them, but the final six face charges of animal abuse, falsification of documents, misappropriation of funds, social security fraud and more. In particular, many animals were rehomed off the books. In a Facebook statement, the charity claimed the allegations are part of a ‘malicious campaign’ orchestrated ‘years before’, and that it is committed to proving the accused are innocent. Opinion page 6
You total doughnut! Find out what’s eating Paul Hollywood on Page 3
Better help Greta!
STRANDED: Environmental campaigner Thunberg needs a lift to Madrid by boat and train
Teen activist needs YOUR help to make it across the Atlantic to Spain for key climate summit SHE’S galvanized children across the world with her impassioned speeches on climate change. Kids in 4,000 cities staged mass walkouts to protest against adults and politicians polluting the planet. But now celebrity activist Greta Thunberg is facing her biggest challenge yet as she bids to cross the Atlantic for a critical climate summit, just announced for Spain. The 16-year-old Swede, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, is currently stuck in Texas, as she aims to make it to the Madrid conference over land and sea. Famed for her low carbon footprint, she is looking for help from expats across America and Europe as she refuses to fly or drive, instead preferring greener transport like trains
By Charlie Smith
and boats. But her green footprint has left her in trouble after the location for the UN COP25 climate summit was switched at the last minute from South America to Spain. Her plans to head to Chile have had to be shelved, with the showdown now moved to Madrid, after a series of massive protests scared off organisers in Santiago. But after Thunberg made her way to New York City by boat in August, en route to South America, she found herself stuck 5,700km from the Spanish capital. “It turns out I’ve traveled halfway around the world, the wrong way,” the teen wrote on her Twitter account, which has three million followers. “Now I need to find a way to cross the Atlantic,” she wrote, this week. “If anyone could help me find transport I would be so grateful.” The Olive Press has stepped in to offer her a lift in an elec-
tric car from any of the ports she can make it to on the Iberian Peninsula, that could include Cadiz, Lisbon or A Coruna. The summit that aims to implement the 2015 Paris agreement, will take place from December 2-13, leaving Greta with a little over three weeks to make it to Madrid. She already has an offer from Spain’s Minister for the Environment, Teresa Ribera, who said: “We would love to help you to cross the Atlantic. “It would be great to have you here in Madrid.”
Crisis
After she had made it all the way to LA, Thunberg is now heading back towards America’s east coast, having made stops in South Dakota and British Columbia. Thunberg will be one of 25,000 people to attend Spain’s first ever climate summit, which will cost around €90 million to hold. It comes as Spain’s government may be locked in political crisis again, as the latest polls suggest that no party will secure an overall majority in the November 10 general election. Can you help Greta Thunberg cross the Atlantic? Get in touch at newsdesk@theolivepress.es
Spain goes to the polls
Tel: 952 147 834
952 147 834
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NEWS
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NEWS IN BRIEF Scummy mummy AN expat mother in Benalmadena has been jailed for six years after making sex videos with her young daughters, aged just 8 and 14.
Weeded out POLICE dismantled a marijuana plantation in an abandoned house in Marbella with 303 plants and the appropriate electrical installation found.
Beggaring belief AN expat has been arrested for forcing his daughter to beg on the Costa del Sol. The 38-year-old Romanian has been charged with exploitation of an underage person, after the arrest in Torremolinos. It is the second time he has been arrested for sending his daughter, believed to be 11, out to solicit money from passers by and tourists.
Luxury car gang snared GUNS and thousands of euros have been seized as police rounded up an expat gang that stole luxury cars on the Costa del Sol. In total, seven expats from Germany, Italy, Romania and Algeria were arrested in the raids. The gang, between 21 and 61 years old, carried weapons and €7005 in cash. They also used a series of specialised electronic devices, to start cars and open locks. Police made the arrests after a four month investigation, which began in Velez-Malaga, and traced the cars to drug dealers in the Campo de Gibraltar and in Eastern Europe.
CRIME
Expats and Spaniards unite to demand urgent action over alleged animal killers
October 23rd - November 5th 2019
Hospitals, courts and more
Tragic end
A BRAND new hospital is to be built next year in Malaga. A whopping €208million has been set aside to build the facility in the car park of the existing Hospital Civil. A new metro line is being constructed underneath the new hospital.
A total of €2.6 million has been set aside for initial studies for the hospital. Other Malaga projects to get a boost include Antequera’s dry port, which has received a cash injection of €13million and the new Torremolinos law courts, with €1.9 million reserved.
9
Lighting up
Malaga will receive the most of any province in Andalucia, followed by Cadiz and Sevilla. Mijas meanwhile will get a total of €6.5 million to spend on two schools, while €500,000 is being set aside to reopen the CIO catering school nearby.
November 6th - November 19th 2019
A BRITISH teenager who plunged seven floors to his death in Andalucia has been named as Max McMullen. The 15-year-old, who is believed to have attended Bath’s Beechen Cliff school, died in Cordoba, where he was an exchange student. His tragic death came just two days into a week-long trip with other students and is still being investigated. The teen, a player at Walcot Rugby Club, was fixing a broken blind in the house of the host family he was staying in, according to reports. Local sources said the exchange trip’s travel insurer is now responsible for repatriating the student’s body. Police said there is no evidence to suggest criminality.
DRUG DEAL DEATH
Catch them!
EXCLUSIVE By Jacque Talbot
A GRUESOME image of a decapitated bunny allegedly found in a popular Costa del Sol park has horrified expats and local campaigners. The rabbit - which appears to be the same one seen in an image published in the Olive Press’ last issue - was apparently found with its head and paws cut off. It is one of three rabbits that have been attacked in Paloma Park, in Benalmadena, along with a number of birds, including chickens, doves and budgies.
Butterfly help
A CHARITY is gearing up for its annual awareness day for people with Epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition, also known as Butterfly Skin. DEBRA Butterfly Children’s Charity
hopes to raise more awareness for the condition which causes skin to be extremely fragile - as soon as a baby leaves the womb. The lightest touch causes painful open wounds, covering up to 80% of the body, leading to a life of disability and severe pain.
Home at last
THE friends and family of a missing British tourist have said they are relieved after he was found safe and well. Clifton Kandler, 57, from London had disappeared while hiking with some friends in Malaga. The dad-of-two was found by search and rescue teams, before being visiting the hospital in Malaga for a twisted ankle and general check-up. Clifton had damaged his ankle after trying to walk down a ravine, which became impassable due a series of waterfalls. He spent the night on the hillside before retracing his steps the next morning. He tried following a water pipe down but again went over on his ankle and couldn’t walk anymore. He spent a few hours calling for help before rescue teams found him but it took hours for them to get him off the mountain. “We are all so relieved,” Clifton’s friend and fellow walker Alan, who was the last person to see him, told the Olive Press. He added: “Clifton is extremely grateful for all the support given from the local population and the walking community in the region.” The retired former Head of E-learning at Greenwich University walked the route for 15 years.
British father and son had been back and forth to Costa del Sol in year before they vanished, reveals family
A BRITISH father and son who EXCLUSIVE mysteriously vanished from By Laurence Dollimore the Costa del Sol were likely killed during a drug deal gone “I think Liam’s died. I think wrong. That’s what the family of Dan- he’s been killed,” she revealed. iel Poole, 46, and his son, Liam, “I hope he’s not at the bottom 22, fear, having not heard from of the sea . . . I hope. People say he is but I want the chance for them since April. Liam’s grandmother Kathy people to give him back to me,” Catney, 63, believes they were she added. probably shot while on a trip “I think his dad got into some from West Sussex to Estepona, bother and Liam got caught in where they were last seen on the crossfire.” She continued: “We always April 2. suspected [Daniel] was up to
CATCH THESE SICKOS
AN Irish holiday maker has slammed a group of Spanish teenagers who ‘tried to kill a rabbit’ and abused other animals on the Costa del Sol. chickens and ducks like rugby balls’ at the park in Palermo Park in Benalmadena. Hundreds of people have liked and shared a Facebook post by Boyd, a professional dog groomer, that shows one of the teens gripping a rabbit. Phil Boyd, 52, from Ballygowan, was on a week-long break when he witnessed the trio. The dad-of-one told the Olive Press: “The lad grabbed turned his back to wring its neck. “If my wife Sharon and I hadn’t shouted at the boys they would have cut the rabbit open, they are bad kids. Something must be done.”
Doors closed THE new luxury designer outlet on Malaga’s Plaza Mayor did not open as planned after it failed to acquire the necessary permits. The Mcarthurglen Designer Outlet complex, due to open on October 22, has now said it will ‘open soon’, but failed to give a concrete date. Issues have arisen over the fact that small parts of the
complex have not yet been completed. In the agreement with Malaga town hall, it was a strict condition that the project must be 100% finished or its permit to operate would be invalid. Although it had been billed as having 100 stores, there are now just 61, and four restaurants. The largest store will be Ralph Lauren Polo, which will be located in the central plaza of the site.
GRUESOME: Decapitated bunny in popular park Shocking old-ag e problem Local resident Cruz Lopez group Benalmadena es Verde shared a number of the im- is now demanding urgent acages online saying she had tion despite admitting it was found the injured or dead not clear how they had died. animals while cleaning up the “It’s so horrific,” she told the park. Olive Press. “In one week we The leader of local green found two seriously injured rabbits and one beheaded. “It is awful and we are demanding the council take immediate action. “We certainly didn’t need a house of terror for Halloween POLICE have thwarted a gang of masked youths who inthis year - a walk in our local tended to riot and overturn cars on Halloween. park is horrific enough,” The alarm was raised after an image of two youths surroundExpats were quick to branded ed by weapons with the text: ‘What are you doing on Hallowthe unknown perpetrators as een?’ was shared on social media around Malaga city. ‘pure evil’. Luckily police spotted the post and flooded the area of Teati“This is disgusting benos, where over 100 youths gathered to run rampage. haviour,” commented one Dressed in black and wearing balaclavas to conceal their Facebook user. identities, they were stopped after turning over just one car. It comes after eyewitnesses During the police operation, one child was arrested for postold the Olive Press a fortsession of a pellet gun while six more were arrested for posnight ago (inset above) how sessing laser guns and razors. they had reported seeing a A further 25 balaclavas were seized by police. teenager abusing animals in the park.
Halloween thugs
AN alarming 23% of Andalucian poverty, a new study has found. pensioners are at risk of It makes the region second only to In a country with huge divides, the Extremadura with 28%. 6.5% in danger, while neighbouringBasque Region only has Navarra has 6.5%. The data collected by the AIS Group Cordoba are the worst affected, with found that those in a risk of poverty rate of 27%, followed by Malaga, Cadiz and Jaen with 23%. Huelva, Almeria and Sevilla, meanwhile, rated at 22%. The national data for the over 65s was 15.5% across the entire country.
no good but we just didn’t ask questions. “He was going to Spain to do some sort of deal. Whether that was property or drugs, I really didn’t know,” she told the Times.
MALAGA has started installing its 2019 Christmas decorations, ahead of the big switch on at the end of November. Cordoba lighting company, Illuminations Ximenez, is in charge of the city’s display this year. As ever, Calle Larios will remain the focal point of the seasonal light display, despite the town having recently sold the street’s famous light tunnel to Liverpool.
Reader Phil Boyd, a tourSunny frigh t ist from Ireland, revealed: “I watched this teenager and his two friends kicking the chickens and ducks. “He also tried to wring this poor little Mumrabbit’s Can you ’s the wor it from dig it?neck. I grabbed d him and chased him and his accomplices off. I’m sorry to say I think it’s a regular occurrence. COUG “Clearly he came back and H UP finished the job.” The full extent of the butchery was revealed when Benalmadena es Verde spent a day cleaning up the park at the weekend. The group has now called in police and demanded action from the town hall. “We need proper surveillance, and parents to better educate their children to love animals,” its statement read. When professional profiling of criminals began in the US in the 1970s, one of the FBI’s most consistent findings was that childhood animal cruelty was a common behaviour among later serial murderers and rapists. Many notorious serial killers – including Jeffrey Dahmer – began by torturing and killing animals when they were children.
while his father Daniel, a car mechanic with convictions for drug dealing, is related to the notorious London-based Richardson crime family on his mother’s side. Gang leaders The pair had made three trips Charlie and Eddie Richardson to Malaga in the four months were alleged to have tortured victims with bolt cutters and before they vanished. A family source told the Olive pliers during the 1960s. Press in June they ‘knew the The Olive Press can reveal that the family received a ransom pair were dead’. “We will never see them again, demand for over €100,000 the they were obviously doing day after Daniel and Liam dissomething illegal and it’s gone appeared. The ransom request was never south,” he said. “Liam was such a good boy, he made public, but police traced was smart and has obviously the call to a phone in Morocco. been influenced and dragged The family’s story featured on BBC One’s Inside Out with into this mess, it’s so tragic.” The young computer techni- Glen Campbell, which was cian had no criminal record, shown in the UK last week and featured the Olive Press.
THE remains of former dictator Francisco Franco are set exhumed from the Valley of the Fallen this week. His body is set to be finally entered and placed in a family mausoleum in Madrid this Thursday. The former dictator’s body
SPAIN has banned two children’s sun creams after they were labelled ‘dangerous’ by a consumer group. It came after the creams, which claimed to be Factor 50, turned out to be SPF 15 and 30, after studies by consumer group OCU. Both creams by Isdin and Babaria have now been withdrawn from sale after Spain’s Agency of Medicines and Medical Products (AEMPS) confirmed the findings.
has been at the controversial site since his death in 1975. But many Spaniards feel that the basilica, with has a 150-metre cross above, glorifies Franco rather than commemorating the deaths of 500,000 people who died during the Spanish civil war.
MARBELLA’S Starlite fees Festival, which this year use are related to the of the venue, the Nafeatured Kool & The gueles auditorium. Gang, John Legend and Organisers had agreed Jessie J, has yet to pay to pay up before June 1, its fee. when Despite the festival end- “We activities started. ing in mid September, this do not understand organisers of the event that delay and we demand still owe the town hall team the government act and demand the €125,000. payment of these funds, Socialist councillor Javi- which are important for er Porcuna claims the Marbella,” he said.
A SELFISH mother left her five-year-old son crying alone on a balcony, while she partied all night with friends. Police were called to the house in the Ciudad Jardin neighbourhood of Cordoba at around after concerned neighbours called the authorities. Officers tried to calm the boy while they waited for firefighters to arrive and rescue him from the balcony. The boy’s mother returned from partying at 7am in the morning and was informed by neighbours that police had taken her son. He is currently being looked after by family members while his mother awaits an appearance at court.
Have you seen any animals being attacked? Contact newsdesk@ theolivepress.es
www.theolivepress.es
Ronaldo back in the red CRISTIANO Ronaldo and his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez have stolen the show at the MTV EMA awards in Sevilla. The pair dazzled, stepping out in contrasting colours, with the footballer donning a red suit and white trainers, while his better half sported a blue dress that revealed one leg. Spanish model Rodriguez is adjusting to family life with Ronaldo and his children Cristiano Jr., nine, two-yearold twins Eva and Mateo, and Alana, age 22 months. The former Real Madrid star, who now plays for Juventus, recently said of their relationship: “She has helped me so much.” He added: “I’m in love with her and we’ll be married one day, for sure. It’s my mum’s dream as well.” His 25-year-old girlfriend recently admitted that’s ‘not easy’ being in a relationship with someone as famous as the Portuguese star.
NEWS
A little sprinkle of Hollywood
November 6th - November 19th 2019
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But grumpy Bake Off star threatens to fill in Olive Press’ cake hole for asking a question GREAT British Bake Off host, Paul Hollywood has spent some of his dough on a Halloween visit to Spain. The greying star - who made €10million last year - has been spotted running a rule over a number of local bakeries on the Costa Blanca, where his dad lives. Fresh from finishing another Channel Four series of the baking show, the 53-year old was spotted chewing over baguettes, bloomers and pastries in two cafe/bakeries in Quesada and Benijofar. At one, Redz, he has been a regular for years, coming over a number of times a year to see his dad
EXCLUSIVE By Jon Clarke and Simon Wade
himself, never engaging with his TOUGH COOKIE: Hollywood (inset) fans.” wouldn’t smile for the Olive Press, but He is also a regu- he does like Hamilton’s display (above) lar at Benijofar’s John, a former butcher from the celebrated Hamiltons, which is cakes and buns,” he told the Olive Wirral. one of the most popular expat Press this week. “He’s here every day of his holibakeries on the Costa Blanca Cheshire-born Hollywood has day with his dad,” said one of the south. judged on the Great British waiters. Boss Martin Ronald Dean, a forBake Off since 2010, forming an “Our boss Samantha has got mer croupier, who set up the bakeasy-going on-screen relationsome pics, but she can’t share ery and cafe seven years ago, said ship with Mary Berry, that the them as he doesn’t like selfies or the TV star was a very private Guardian newspaper described going on social media,” he addman of little words. as the show’s ‘secret weapon’. ed. “He doesn’t say much, but he did However, off the show life has “He basically has a full English say he really liked our display of been far more complicated. breakfast and keeps himself to Apart from a long and acrimonious divorce from his wife of 19 years Alexandra, he has just broken up from his girlfriend of two years Summer, 24. The split came after he tried to get her to sign a legal agreement The Olive Press has been reporting for 14 years in Spain. not to talk to the press earlier this And in all that time we have met and bumped into hundreds of celebrities from David Beckham to Alexei Sayle and Hugh year. Grant to that lot from TOWIE. It went down like a collapsed pie Yet not one of them behaved in the despicable way Bake Off in the oven and she moved her star Paul Hollywood - worth over €10m - did last week. clothes and various other items Indeed, every time we have stopped to say hello to someone from their shared home in Kent famous, asked them about the weather or their holiday or life last weekend. in Spain, whatever, they smiled and at least declined to comment It was perhaps not surprising politely. then, that when the Olive Press Hooligan Hollywood in contrast acted like a gangster swaggering politely asked him for a quote into his local bar to give us a countdown to leave ‘or else’. for a brand new issue of the paOne might call it comical. Others might say he needs to learn per on the Costa Blanca south, he FULL ENGLISH: At Redz some manners. couldn’t have been blunter. each day It just goes to show all the dough in the world doesn’t buy class. “You’ve got ten seconds to get out of here or else,” he threatened, afHE’S lived in Spain for the past six haven’t got a clue,” he admitted. ter pulling up in a Jagyears, playing in front of thousands of Bale, who earns £93,000 a day, said he uar at a local cafe in his Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu. was mostly just interested in golf. dad’s urbanisation of So perhaps he might be excused for not “I follow the golf, that’s about it. I Montebello, near Beniknowing who the current British Prime can tell you who’s number one in the jofar. Minister is. world.” Despite merely asking In a shocking interview with the Tele- The Cardiff-born striker, who has an him what he liked about graph, the Welsh footie ace said he apartment in Marbella, and is often the area - and what he thought Boris Johnson was still the seen teeing off at nearby Finca Cortethought of the local mayor of London. sin golf course, has been linked with a bread and pastries - he He added he knows almost nothing move from Real Madrid all year. continued: “You lot are about Brexit. It came after he was subject of harsh all the same, get lost. “I look in terms of stuff financially, be- public criticism from Galacticos boss “I told you stop talking cause [Brexit] affects me in a certain Zinedine Zidane, while rumours have just get out and leave,” way for investments or money, because swirled about a rift between him and he added, in the worst things change, but I don’t read most of his Real teammates. The winger was manners ever witnessed the nonsense. I genuinely don’t know close to a move to China in the summer by this newspaper in 99 per cent of Brexit. I don’t even know before Real called the deal off due to fi14 years publishing in who the prime minister is anymore. I nancial concerns. Spain.
OPINION
You total doughnut!
Simply Baleful
JOLLY: Jolie in Spain
Blown away not blown up SMILING Angelina Jolie put on an Oscar-winning show of calmness as she enjoyed a day out shopping in Spain. The 44-year-old was all smiles in the Canary Islands, despite having been evacuated from a film set following a bomb scare. An unexploded device found in sand on the set forced the American star to flee the set in Fuerteventura, where she was filming upcoming Marvel film The Eternals last week. The Maleficent star was accompanied by three of her children as she was spotted breezing through the streets of the island, famous for its winds.
4
www.theolivepress.es
EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt
November 6th - November 19th 2019
Profits and losses Director of disgraced Costa Blanca wealth management firm rakes in €1million for her businesses while trio of British claimants battle financial ruin, cancer and depression over €1million between them. ferred ₤325,000 (€375,000 One of the victims, Mark Da- approx) from a property sale to vison, tragically died, aged 59, CWM on the basis the firm was in July this year after CWM’s investing it in a villa in Monte September 2017 collapse left Pego. him with just €22,000 from But court papers revealed initial investments of more than ₤200,000 went directly to the ₤800,000 (approx €900,000). bank account of the wife of a Davison was former CWM diagnosed with employee - Eddepression just die Walker Ferrari 458 weeks after the while ₤100,000 collapse, bewent elsewhere. Speciale, fore turning to The money neva Bentley alcohol abuse er went to buy and developing the property, type-2 diabetes, Continental and a leaving Benjaaccording to a min scrambling Porsche video shot just to purchase a before his death. property with His body, covmoney left over ered with lesions and sores, had from the sale of his London lain undiscovered for up to a house he’d lived in for 65 years. week in the mid-summer heat “We just wanted some money at his home in Sanet. to tick over and live a quiet life,” “Mark died as a result of what Benjamin, who worked as an had been done to him,” Timo- engineer in the health industry, thy Benjamin, a fellow claim- said. But I was scammed and ant, told the Olive Press. now I can’t afford to go back “By the end he didn’t want the to England, while my partner’s daylight to appear.” unfit to work after a massive Benjamin, 67, likewise felt stroke andI’m battling type four ‘ashamed’ after he lost his colon cancer,” added the former €250,000 private pension, re- chairman of the City of London invested by CWM into ‘risky’ Crime Prevention Association. investments, via QROPS. The third claimant, named by In his official testimony he told court papers as Sally, is unthe court how he had trans- derstood to have given CWM
ACCUSED: Jody Smart (right), while (bottom), the previous Olive Press investigations
a €70,000 loan that was never repaid. While Darren Kirby failed to turn up in court, former financial director Alan Gorringe, who is also accused, insisted the victims were ‘financially groomed’. In testimony, he confirmed that Jody and Darren lived together and Jody received €12,000 a month from the company. In a Channel 4 lifestyle programme How the Other Half Live on her fashion business, in 2016, she boasted of being worth €13million while showing off her floorto-ceiling shoe collection with limited edition Jimmy Choos. According to former staff members she travelled twice to New York fashion week and bought Louis Vitton handbags at €5,000 a time. The pair had staff at one of her properties in Benidoleig, currently on the market for €760,000, and a leasing deal for CWM yielded a Ferrari 458 Speciale, a Bentley Continental and a Porsche Panamera, among others. However, in
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BACKING DOWN: Carles
Confusion reigns
SPAIN’S prime minister has accused Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing a declaration of independence. Mariano Rajoy demanded he clarify if he had really declared independence following Tuesday’s nail biting address to the Catalan parliament. If so, Rajoy insisted he could trigger Article 155 of Spain’s constitution to allow Madrid to take direct control of Catalunya. “There is an urgent need to put an end to the situation that Catalunya is going through - to Continues on Page 7
Who’s paying us? EXCLUSIVE
They’ve been getting stoned for centuries. Now UNESCO is interested in Mallorca walls. SEE PAGE 6
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As Spain celebrates Hispania Day, the Olive Press runs a rule over Columbus SEE PAGE 10
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As sherry gets big in London, we look at some quirky Jerez cocktails
PENSION OUTRAGE
Expats lose millions in life savings through failed investment scheme
CONFUSION reigns over who should foot the bill for Mallorca hotels hit by the collapse of airline Monarch. Balearic hotels are facing a EXCLUSIVE €10million bill over the colBy Joe Duggan lapse that saw the emergency repatriation of over 110,000 back to the UK, many from HUNDREDS of BritPalma. Administrator KPMG told the ish expats are battling Olive Press ‘the debt owed by to retrieve their penMonarch to hoteliers will rank sions after losing up to as an unsecured claim’ against £20 million in a failed pension investment OFF TO OZ: Boss Kirby the defunct airline. and (above) team at “They will have to file a claim to scheme. the joint administrators for all Spanish-based finan- March charity bash the money they are owed,” said cial advisory firm Continental Wealth Man- Many a spokesman. of them had “It has not been determined agement (CWM) folded (yet) how much money will be last month obliterat- transferred their private UK Untitled-1.pdf pensions available to creditors.” 1 16/06/2017 ing many 15:36 heartbroken
Brits’ life savings.
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Vol. 1 Issue 13 www.theolivepress.es October 12th - October 26th 2017
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whose boss Darren Kirby has now allegedly moved to Australia. One Costa-del-Solbased expat told the Olive Press he sunk £59,000 through CWM, only realising he had lost £39,000 when his pension trustees sent a statement. “I couldn’t believe it. I have lost thousands of pounds,” revealed the victim, asking to remain anonymous. “The adviser kept telling me, ‘This is guaranteed, it can’t go below a certain level’.” His money, and that of others across Spain and France, was put into high-risk ‘professional investor only’ assets, it has been claimed.
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It is believed at least 300 of CWM’s 900 clients have had their pension pots decimated, with victims shocked to later dis- to end up back in Britcover the value of their ain on benefits.” investments had plum- “I have nothing but praise for Tony Barnett meted dramatically. However, a source [Trafalgar MD] and close to the case in- Stewart Davies [Mosisted: ‘There are still mentum chef execumany customers who tive]. They have been are happy with their magnificent in trying to recoup people’s pension portfolio.’ A n d a l u c i a - b a s e d money.” tax specialist Angie The Olive Press unBrooks, a leading ex- derstands it is highly possible legal action pert on pension liberation schemes and may be taken by some the founder of Pension parties against CWM, Life, has now launched a fight to help get victims’ money back. She is working alongside pension trustees Trafalgar International and Momentum Pen- based out of headquarters in Alicante, and its sions. “People are terribly executives. Both the office in Javea distressed,” Granadabased Brooks told the and the website have Olive Press. “They have recently shut. lost large amounts of When the Olive Press their retirement sav- spoke to boss Kirby he ‘definitively’ ings.” denied She added: “Some of responsibility over the these people are going crash. “I have lost my world,” he said. A close associate of Kirby’s told the Olive Press former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’. “It is still quite raw for them, and they are working out what to do next,” he said.
her court declaration earlier this month, Smart claimed she said she knew ‘nothing about the business’ despite being officially sole director, according to Spain’s mercantile register. She added that she had never studied either economics or finance and was trained as a fashion designer, fitness instructor and makeup artist. She said she knew ‘nothing’ about the transactions and claimed her ex-partner Kirby ‘controlled all the money’ and that finanK
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A WELL-KNOWN expat fashion designer has been accused of receiving up to €1million from an unlicensed Costa Blanca financial advisory company. Companies in Jody Smart’s name were given the money by defunct Continental Wealth Management (CWM) in the two years’ before its high-profile collapse left hundreds of investors an estimated €20million out of pocket, it can be revealed. A total of €999,435 was paid to her fashion label Jody Bell SL and property holding company Mercurio Conpro SL between 2015 and 2017, according to bank statements shown to the Olive Press. Brit Jody, 43, was also paid a €144,000 salary - despite telling a court that she ‘did not know what it meant to be a sole director of company’ and was only involved in ‘marketing and PR’. In a series of shocking declarations given to Denia’s Court of Instruction No.3 it has emerged that the company could ill afford to pay these huge sums ‘without falling into losses’. Worse, it comes as it emerges that dozens of victims left destitute and penniless by the Denia-based firm are suing Smart and her former partner Darren Kirby. In the first case to reach the courts, three British claimants are seeking criminal charges for aggravated fraud, fake accounting and belonging to a criminal organisation. The complaints concern bungled house transactions, unpaid loans and failed pension investments that lost the claimants
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Govt in exile
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Fight Given the whole extradition process can take up to 60 days, it means he may have to run his entire election campaign for the Catalan European Democratic Party from Belgium. His party wants him to fight for continued leadership of the regional parliament in the December 21 elections. Puigdemont denied he had fled to Brussels to avoid justice but that he left because the Spanish government was preparing a ‘wave of oppression and violence’ against separatists. “I’m absolutely convinced that the state was preparing a harsh wave of repression for which we would have all been held responsible,” he said yesterday. “The Spanish state is committing a brutal repression… if we don’t battle repression together, the Spanish state may win this fight.” In a show of support to the deposed president, around 200 Catalan pro-independence mayors travelled to Brussels on Tuesday to stage a rally.
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CATALUNYA’S beleaguered leader has vowed to fight on from abroad. It came after Carles Puigdemont handed himself in to Belgian police when a European arrest warrant was issued. He and four other politicians are accused on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust. A judge in Belgium now has up to two weeks to decide if they will extradite the group to Spain.
Expats who lost millions rage at ‘unauthorised’ deals involving ‘worrying’ signing of blank sheets EXCLUSIVE By Joe Duggan
Pension peril
BRITISH expats who lost up to €20 million in a failed pension advisory firm believe their signatures may have been photocopied onto investment documents. Around 300 Brits, most living in Spain, are battling to retrieve their funds after Alicante-based firm Continental Wealth Management (CWM) folded in September, as first reported in the Olive Press a month ago. Boss Darren Kirby left for Australia following the closure of the company’s main Javea offices. Victims, who are spread across Spain, as well as in Ibiza, Mallorca, Portugal, France and Turkey, fear illegal practices after being asked to sign blank dealing instructions. Their pension pots were then invested in high-risk assets which promised to pay out large commissions. One 69-year-old pensioner told the Olive Press he lost €210,000 after transferring €470,000 despite stating he had a ‘low to medium aversion BOSS: Kirby now in Australia to risk’ attitude to investment. “I was asked, ‘Can you sign this he said. blank form. We will fill in the “They should have been looking Untitled-1.pdf 1 16/06/2017 15:36 details.’ I did that trusting they out for me but they were just would act in my best interests,” feathering their own nests. To
me they knew what they were doing.” He added: “I believe some of the investments were made without my knowledge. I think that is the case because I do not recall signing sheets for all the investments I had.” An email, seen by the Olive Press, shows CWM asking a client to sign and return a blank dealing instruction. Another British expat, 55, who is trying to recover around €200,000, said some pensioners ‘have lost everything’. “My paper work that I sent has been altered, my risk level was changed from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ and my dealing instructions have been photocopied repeatedly for buying and selling assets I didn’t authorise,” he said. “I still have some money left and I am still young enough to get compensation, but my fund
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SPAIN’S prime minister has accused Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing a declaration of independence. Mariano Rajoy demanded he clarify if he had really declared independence following Tuesday’s nail biting address to the Catalan parliament. If so, Rajoy insisted he could trigger Article 155 of Spain’s constitution to allow Madrid to take direct control of Catalunya. “There is an urgent need to put an end to the situation that Catalunya is going through - to
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Who’s paying us? EXCLUSIVE
Expats lose millions in life savings through
CONFUSION reigns over who failed should foot the bill for Mallorca investment national and Momentum Penhotels hit by the collapse of airsions. scheme line Monarch. “People are terribly disBalearic hotels are facing a tressed,” Granada-based EXCLUSIVE €10million bill over the colBrooks told the Olive Press. By Joe Duggan lapse that saw the emergency “They have lost large amounts repatriation of over 110,000 of their retirement savings.” back to the UK, many from HUNDREDS of British expats She added: “Some of these are battling to retrieve their Palma. people are going to end up Administrator KPMG told the pensions after losing up to back in Britain on benefits.” Olive Press ‘the debt owed by £20 million in a failed pension “I have nothing but praise for OFF TO OZ: Boss Kirby and Monarch to hoteliers will rank investment scheme. (above) team at March Tony Barnett [Trafalgar MD] as an unsecured claim’ against Spanish-based financial advicharity bash and Stewart Davies [Momensory firm Continental Wealth One the defunct airline. Marbella-based expat remain tum chef executive]. They anonymous. It is believed at least 300 of have been “They will have to file a claim to Management (CWM) folded told the Olive Press he sunk “The adviser kept telling magnificent the joint administrators for all last month obliterating many £59,000 through CWM, me, CWM’s 900 clients have had ing to recoup people’s in tryonly ‘This is guaranteed, it money.” their the money they are owed,” said heartbroken Brits’ life savings. realising he had lost £39,000 below a certain level’.” can’t go with pension pots decimated, The Olive Press understands it Many of them had transferred when a spokesman. victims shocked to later his pension trustees sent His money, and that of others discover the value “It has not been determined their private UK pensions a statement. across Spain and France, was vestments had of their in(yet) how much money will be through the company, whose “I couldn’t believe plummeted it. I have put into high-risk ‘professionboss Darren Untitled-1.pdf Kirby has now1 al- 16/06/2017 dramatically. available to creditors.” lost thousands 15:36 of pounds,” legedly moved to Australia. revealed the victim, asking to al investor only’ assets, it has However, a source close to been claimed. the case insisted: ‘There are still many customers who are is highly happy with their pension port- may be possible legal action taken by some parties folio.’ against CWM, based out of Andalucia-based tax specialist headquarters SPECIALIZING IN: Angie Brooks, a leading expert its executives. in Alicante, and C on pension liberation schemes Both CRIMINAL LAW the office in Javea and and the founder of Pension the website M Life, has now launched a fight The group have recently shut. CIVIL LAW to help get victims’ money ebrating were pictured celat a charity ball as reBANKING (FLOOR CLAUSE) Y back. cently She is working alongside pen- When as March this year. CM FAMILY LAW sion trustees Trafalgar Inter- to bossthe Olive Press spoke Kirby he ‘definitively’ denied responsibility over the MY crash. “I have lost my world,” CY he said. A close associate of Kirby’s CMY said former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’. K “It is still quite raw for them, and they are working out what to do next,” he said.
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A PALMA thief is facing 18 months in jail for stealingCY a leg of ham. Prosecutors are requesting CMY the lengthy term for taking the eight kilogram leg of 'CinK co Jotas' ¡ jamon from a shop in the capital. The Iberico ham is valued at €685, and has yet to be recovered.
rying’. “This negates the very essence of the service they are meant to offer,” said Flores. “It is a blank cheque to invest wherever, whenever. “If standard practice, this is very worrying. has gone down by half and I “Signing blank documents need compensation to get it would be seen back on track. as irregular in a “But some people court of law. The have lost everyproblem with thing and don’t these firms is that have enough to they were all inlive on. One rePENSION vesting in highly tired victim only risky investments has €50,000 left OUTRAGE without the clifrom €480,000.” ents knowing.” Andalucia-based He claimed that lawyer Antonio losses sustained Flores, whose by investors firm Lawbird would hopefully are representbe recoverable ing some CWM as the investments that failed victims, said signing blank into perform, or went bust, were vestment sheets was ‘very worlinked to life insurance policies. Pension trustees Momentum and Trafalgar are now attempting to recoup CMW clients’ losses. The Olive Press has so far been unable to discover if CWM was registered to provide investment advice with Spain’s official financial regulator CNMV.
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Carles
Confusion reigns SPAIN’S prime accused Catalan minister has leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing of independence. a declaration Mariano Rajoy demanded he clarify if he had really independence followingdeclared day’s nail biting address Tuesto the Catalan parliament. If so, Rajoy insisted trigger Article 155 he could constitution to allow of Spain’s Madrid to take direct control of Catalunya. “There is an urgent need to put an end to the Catalunya is goingsituation that through - to Continues on Page
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PENSION OUTRAGE
Expats lose millions in life savings
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whose boss Darren It is believed Kir- 300 at by has now allegedly of CWM’s least moved to Australia. clients have had 900 their One Costa-del-Sol- pension pots decibased expat told the mated, with victims Olive Press he sunk shocked to later dis- to end up back £59,000 through cover the value of their ain on benefits.”in BritCWM, only realising he investments had plum- “I have nothing but had lost £39,000 praise for Tony when meted dramatically. his pension Barnett trustees However, a source [Trafalgar MD] sent a statement. and close to the Stewart “I couldn’t believe sisted: ‘There case in- mentum Davies [Moare still chef execuhave lost thousandsit. I many customers who tive]. They have pounds,” revealed of are happy with their magnificent in been the pension victim, asking trying to recoup main anonymous.to re- A n d a l uportfolio.’ people’s c i a - b a s e d money.” “The adviser tax specialist Angie The Olive Press uning me, ‘This iskept tell- Brooks, guarana leading ex- derstands it is highly teed, it can’t go below a pert on pension lib- possible legal action certain level’.” eration schemes and may be taken by some His money, the founder of Pension parties against CWM, others acrossand that of Life, has now launched and France, was Spain put into a fight to help get pensions through15:36 the company, high-risk ‘professional tims’ money back. vicinvestor only’ assets, She it side is working alonghas been claimed. pension trustees Trafalgar International and Momentum based out of headquarPen- ters sions. in Alicante, and “People are its terribly executives. distressed,” Both the based Brooks Granada- and the office in Javea told the website have Olive Press. “They recently shut. have When lost large amounts of spoke the Olive Press their retirement to boss Kirby he sav- ‘definitively’ ings.” denied She added: responsibility over of these people “Some are going crash. “I have lost the my world,” he said. A close associate of Kirby’s told the Olive Press former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’. “It is still raw for them, andquite more on page XX they are 20 working out what to do next,” he said. Ave de
CONFUSION reigns through failed should foot the bill over who for Mallorca investment hotels hit by the collapse of airline Monarch. scheme Balearic hotels are facing a €10million bill over EXCLUSIVE the collapse that saw the By Joe Duggan emergency repatriation of back to the UK,over 110,000 many from HUNDREDS Palma. Administrator KPMG ish expats are of Britbattling Olive Press ‘the debt told the to retrieve Monarch to hoteliers owed by sions after their penlosing up to will rank as an unsecured claim’ against £20 million in a failed the defunct airline. pension investment OFF TO OZ: Boss “They will have to Kirby file a claim to scheme. and (above) team the joint administrators at for all Spanish-based finan- March the money they are charity bash owed,” said cial advisory firm a spokesman. tinental Wealth Con“It has not been determined agement (CWM) Man- Many of them (yet) how much money folded transferred had available to creditors.” will be last month their priobliterat- vate Untitled-1.pdf ing many UK 1 16/06/2017 heartbroken
Brits’ life savings.
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HOW WE TOLD IT: Our 2017 reports England.” The Olive Press exclusively revealed former member of staff. how CWM abruptly folded in 2017, “It was a prestigious place but one day they just shut the door,” losing hundreds of expats’ life she sa- said, asking not to be named. vings in the process. Victims had raised fears about The firm, which was based out of the asked to sign blank dealing being Marriott Hotel, in Denia, had ‘eight instructo ten’ telesales staff and clients sca- tions and their pensions being invested in high-risk assets which paid ttered around Europe, revealed a large commissions. One pensioner based on the Costa Blanca told the Olive Press he lost €210,000 after transferring €470,000 despite stating he had a low to medium risk attitude. “I was asked, ‘Can you sign this blank form. We will fill in the details.’ I did that trusting they would act in my best interests,” he said. “They should have been looking out for me and they were just feathering their own nests. To me they knew what they were doing.” Lawyer Antonio Flores, whose firm Lawbird is representing a number of victims, said signing blank investment sheets was ‘very worrying’. See pages 26-29 “This negates the very essence of financial advisory services,”said Flo-
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Issue 28
FACE THE MUSIC
SPAIN’S PP party has set out audacious plans for a power grab to take back control from Valencia and the other autonomous regions. Leader Pablo Casado announced his commitment to strengthen the central government’s role in the run up to the national elections in a fortnight. He insisted that such a move would prevent corruption and lead to a drop in taxes. EXCLUSIVE By Joshua Parfitt It comes as the party attempts to see off the threat from an insurgent Vox Party, whose leader has described the THE beleaguered boss of autonomous parliaments as the ‘cana failed wealth management company which cer of Spain’. Under the plan, the PP wants to increa- allegedly lost expats more than €20 se resources for regional government million has ignored a summons to delegations and paralyse any further court. Darren Kirby, of Alicante-based transfer of power to the regions. Continental Wealth Management (CWM), failed to turn up at Denia court on March 26. Supremacy According to Olive Press sources he Casado insisted the move would see was due to turn up, alongside Spain being administered ‘more effecformer business partners, who did turn up. tively’. The case involves a trio of investors, The election hopeful stated that party would carry out a sweeping his who lost substantial amounts of re- money when the company view of how the regional authorities folded in operate looking at ‘efficiency and equi- 2017. Kirby allegedly fled to Australia ty.’ foSpain’s quasi-federal political system llowing the collapse, finally returning to Alicante last year. of ‘autonomous states’ was added to “Darren has been sent a the constitution in 1978. Prime MinisBurofax ter Pedro Sanchez, whose party drafted which he didn’t sign for, so the court will now have to pursue him in other the constitution, strongly opposed the ways,” a source said. plan, insisting the PSOE would defend ‘tooth and nail’ the principal of regio- “A judge is dealing with this and it’s under legal review,” he added. nal self-government. “We understand he is currently in
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HE average property two consecutive years price in Spain has grown for Prices rise for two The national average for the first time in a decade. consecutive years, house price rose from 3.9% to 8.4%, according between while mortgage However, he added to various sources. ‘at the very least, the Along the Mediterranean values continue to Spanish property continued data suggests that the coasts and on grow Mortgage most foreigners buy, to grow last year.’ the average price hike the islands, where Balearic Islands. lending to home buyers cording to Tinsa, Spain’s has been 4.06%, acmeanwhile was up January to 19,390 new leading property appraisal “Prices have been rising 6.1% in But the figures have loans, according to most company. Spanish Notaries. the Association of during the long six mostly not yet made up for the big drops but nothing like they did in theyears since the recovery began, The year recession, with average boom years, and nowhere the exception of the enough to claw back the ground near an increase ofnew loan made in January had a value of lost in the respected analyst Mark €135,616, 0.9% in a year. As long Stucklin, of Spanish bust,” explained residential acquisitions as mortgage lending Property Insight. the last few years, the continues to increase, as it has done for for Spanish property market is set to grow.
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NO SHOW: Darren Kirby
res. “It is a blank cheque to invest wherever, whenever. “It is very worrying as they were investing clients’ money in highly risky investments as well as dubious funds just because they paid the higher commissions.” He added that losses sustained by investors should however, be recoverable as the investments that failed to perform, or went bust, were linked to life insurance policies. When the Olive Press finally hold of Kirby in October 2017, got denied all responsibility. “I have he lost my world,” he said. Are you a victim or former staff member? Do you know more about the case? Contact the Olive Press at newsdesk@theolivepress.es
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cial transfers were executed by Gorringe. She said Kirby, who did not appear in court to be cross-examined, would become physically abusive when she didn’t do what he wanted - including making threats against her family . Jody did not respond to requests for comment. Avda. Madrid, 24, 03724 Moraira - Alicante
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Price for ice MORE expats have come forward complaining of bizarre charges at cafes and restaurants. We have had dozens of tourists and expats complain about strange charges for everything from tap water to salt and pepper and mayonnaise. It comes after we ran a story in August about an ice charge at a restaurant in Sevilla, followed up by restaurants charging customers for salt in Alicante. Now, expat Lilian Flesher has complained after she was charged for having an ice cube in her coffee at Gringos Bar, in Albir, near Benidorm. “It didn’t make sense as I didn’t get charged when I had a glass of tap water with ice in it, but when I asked for ice in a coffee I got charged,” she said.
November 6th - November 19th 2019
New Nolotil warning A year since the lethal drug’s ban, activist claims it is still being handed out without prescriptions
Spanish Medical Agency (AEMES) banned the medication’s sale without a prescription following a two-year ‘You’re killing us!’ campaign by the Olive Tragic end Press, alongside a separate one by Cristina. Nolotil, also known as NOLOTIL Metamizol, is Spain’s VICTORY KILL THE most sold medical drug and is marketed as an DRUG alternative to Ibuprofen 902 123 282 or Paracetamol. EXCLUSIVE “ I n By Robert Firth However, the drug has been Denia they linked to numerous deaths are giving and serious illnesses among A CAMPAIGNER against leit left, right SALE *Offer ends 30/11/18. Not valid for renewals. Subject to conditions. British expats and tourists, thal painkiller Nolotil has re- cies across 59 and centre Mosquito from sepsis and a drop in Screens vealed it is still being handed the Costa now,” she white blood cell count. out over the counter, despite Blanca. told the OlThe medication, which is health authorities banning In a shock- PROBE: Garcia with reports ive Press. usually harmless, is thought its use without a prescription ing study “They are to particularly affect North12 months ago. she found the drug avail- even giving it to people who ern Europeans with fair On the anniversary of the able over the counter in De- tell them specifically ‘I don’t complexions. Have you come across drug’s ban, medical transla- nia, Javea and other towns want it’. They are coming out It is already banned in the such peculiar charges? Get tor Cristina Garcia del Cam- around Alicante province, and they’ve been prescribed UK, Ireland and Sweden. in touch at newsdesk@ po revealed she was able to without a prescription this it.” Garcia is now calling on the theolivepress.es buy the painkiller in pharma- summer. The study comes after the sale of Nolotil to be banned completely to people whose home country the drug is illegal in. But she says she’s facing an ANDALUCIA is the region with the most speeding fines in Spain, acANGRY parents have slammed a ban on unuphill struggle against many cording to the Association of European Motorists (AEA). accompanied children from using a Malaga Spanish health professionData from Spain’s Traffic Directorate shows 1,293 speed traps in Spain, library as ‘absurd.’ als who refuse to accept the including 661 fixed cameras and 572 mobile units. Children under 14 have have been banned danger the drug poses. And from these, Andalucia sees the most speeding fines issued from the Alberto Jimenez library in the city’s “The Spanish are convinced (332,154), followed by Valencia (172,997) and then Madrid (169,624). Palma-Palmilla district unless they are superthat Nolotil is a safe mediLa Rioja is the area with the fewest (9,220) followed by Cantabria vised by an adult. cation,” she said. “They just (13,935) and Navarra (15,826). However, parents in one of Malaga’s poorest shrug their shoulders and The most notorious speed camera is located at kilometer 79.9 on the districts, have attacked the measure, saying say if you don’t want it, go H-31 in Huelva. Between January and June this year, it caught 38,930 that it is punishing children who want to betaway.” speeding drivers. This is followed by a speed trap on the A-92 in Sevilla. ter themselves.
Fine drivers
SINGLE IMPLANT
Stars from Anne Hathaway to Jodie Whittaker keep visiting Ronda, find out why in our travel supplement inside
New Andalucia Rough Guide See inside
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errania de Ronda
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Andalucia’s city in the mountains is a hot ticket for world leaders and their wives despite Hemingway’s lukewarm words, writes Elisa Menendez
‘
NICE promenades, good wine, excellent food and nothing to do…’ Thus Ernest Hemingway wrote off the town where he spent numerous holidays drinking the local wine and carousing at corridas, no doubt disappointing many of Ronda’s proud residents with his puzzlingly lacklustre review. Most of today’s travellers - including Britain’s last two prime ministers and an American First Lady - would certainly disagree with him. Ronda has been crowned Andalucia’s third most-visited town and it’s not hard to see why. The so-called ‘City of Dreams’ is a true wanderlust gem and somewhat of a celebrity hang-out. This year alone, Theresa May, Anne Hathaway, Ricky Gervais, Jodie Whittaker, Gordon Ramsay, Kristin Scott Thomas and Spain’s ex-premier Mariano Rajoy have all allegedly visited the stunning mountain town... so say locals in the know.
Obama
Michelle Obama also made headlines when she visited in 2010, touring the old town and discovering the Moorish dynasty with her daughter Sasha. Celebrity chef Jean Christophe Novelli went house hunting in the town after falling in love with it in 2009. With its spectacular high sierra setting, leafy parks, cobbled lanes and atmospheric ventas it’s no wonder Ronda has stolen the hearts of so many travellers. Over the centuries a slew of writers have waxed lyrical about its timeless character, stunning views and charming locals. The German poet Rilke baptised it the ‘City of Dreams’, Orson Welles took a shine to its bullfighting scene and
GRAND TOUR-ISTS: Painters tackle the gorge, while (inset) recent visitors Anne Hathaway, Gordon Ramsey, Jodie Whittaker and Ricky Gervais
Continues on Page 18
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Vol. 11 Issue 271
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EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
A BRITISH expat couple are fighting to save their Malaga home from demolition over a technicality. Gill and Bob Ward, both 74, have been locked in a battle
with their town hall, which claims their house in Almayate is illegal. Just yesterday the retired couple from Cornwall were given
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tribute bands Think Floyd, Deeper Purple Whole Lotta Led rocking out the greatest and hits of Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Led at the Plaza del Toros on August 26. Zeppelin For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Bolton, just answer the question; what year was Michael Bolton born in? For the Pink Purple Zep Fest in Estepona, tell us; Where was Jimmy Page born? just Email answers to the newsdesk@theolivepress.es.
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EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
A BRITISH expat couple are fighting to save their Malaga home from demolition over a technicality. Gill and Bob Ward, both 74, have been locked with their town in a battle claims their house hall, which in Almayate is illegal. Just yesterday the ple from Cornwall retired couwere given
doctor to get a renewal in April, tests showed the drug had caused a toxic poisoning in his bone marrow and his white blood cell was dangerously low. Billy, a keen sportsman, developed sepsis and necrotising fasciitis as a result and required ‘radical surgery’ to remove the affected tissue in an attempt to save his life.
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The dad-of-two later died from septic shock – believed to be linked to taking the Nolotil. Another British expat Hugh Wilcox was prescribed the same medication for mild shoulder pain on the Costa del Sol. He developed severe head
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drug by a dentist last week. one month to knock down their same drug that It’s the very only property (pictured Dr Nina King, of Oasis above). for killing his wifewas blamed In a court order in 2006. the campaign, telling Dental Care in Marbella, fully The Marbella-based Olive Press, the seen by the supports the Olive Press the she prescribes. expat drug is not something was furious when warned they will be Wards are he was told “It’s not a drug I use, held crimito take the painkiller nally responsible if she said, “And after I stick to safe and standard medication,” they refuse. by his Spanish dentist, “I don’t know what I won’t be using in seeing what damage it can do, ing from a difficultafter suffermore, I’m at the to do anyit’s a drug Marbella-based the future.” His wife Mary, 59, abscess. private doctor Dra. tether” Gill told the end of my had died afAlmeda also agrees Olive Press, Victoria María ter being prescribed “I’m totally exhausted the drug,” she told the drug is dangerous. “I don’t Chacón the same from the drug following a whole ordeal.” prescribe the Olive Press, “I tients and I am aware have lots of tomy at Costa deldouble vasecThe retired pair, who Sol Hospital. “There needs to be of what it is capable of doing.British pa“Within 24 hours spent thousands of have now a lot more research on its impact.” in intensive care, she was gal costs, bought euros on leblood cell count her white doctor to get house ‘in ruins’ the old farmplummeted in 2004, and to zero within days,” renewal in April,a were given permission The dad-of-two from Graham, a former explains tests showed the Velez-Malaga town later died from computer hall to retechnician, from drug had caused build it. HAPPIER TIMES: septic shock – London. Graham with She never regained a toxic poisoning But when the original wife, and Billy believed to be Smyth wall colness and was on conscious- again. in his bone marlapsed of its own linked to taking a life support “He said Metamizole, machine for FOUR she would be alive row construction, the accord during the Nolotil. if in the US, theNolotil is banned bloodand his white months, she hadn’t before spending tect told them it Wards’ archiUK, Ireland and Another cell was three years heard fromtaken it, but I have most of Europe, Britfighting the impact dangerously low. and that he wouldwould be fine dozens of Brits ish expat Hugh let the town of the and Irish scribed widely in but it is pre- Billy, drug, which led hall know. Unfortunately Wilcox was preSpain. a keen to organ fail- it,” addedwho have been given Irishman for ure. Graeme. William scribed the same ‘Billy’ sportsman, develIt is the third victim Smyth was given Continues on Page “The chief surgeon medication a five-day oped sepsis and of 8 for pital promised me at the hos- drug the Olive Press has the course of the drug in Febru- necrotising fascimild shoulder re- ary. he would ported on in never prescribe itis as a result and pain on the Costa that drug Sometimes under a year. known also as But when the 66-year-old re- required ‘radical surgery’ del Sol. turned to a different to He developed severe head Spanish remove the affected tissue in an attempt to save his life. Continues
research
CAMPAIGN: Previous SALE issue 59 despite various side effects,Mosquitowhich Screens can cause a rapid drop in white blood cells, leaving patients unable to fight infections. Medical translator, Cristina Garcia del Campo, who has pulled together hundreds of case studies from victims for the AEMPS’ probe, said she was ‘very happy’ the authorities have finally reacted. Following the results of her KILL THE rigorous investigation she DRUG has now demanded that the drug must not be sold without a prescription and a detailed patient analysis. “I am very happy that the problem has been dealt with,” she told the Olive Press. “I will be making sure that the AEMPS recommendations are carried out and if necessary make sure it’s banned completely.” The Olive Press began investigating after a trio of expat families told us how their relatives had died unnecessarCASHBACK ON ily in excruciating pain, after YOUR HOUSE taking the drug in Andalucia. In April, the paper revealed the first steps towards regulation had been taken, with Marina Salud, a big health network in Alicante, issuing a warning to PAYBACK WHEN stop administering the drug to British, Irish and Scandinavian YOU SELL patients.
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THE Olive Press pairs of tickets for is giving away three tribute bands certs on the Costa two of the best con- Whole Lotta Think Floyd, Deeper Purple and And all you have to del Sol this summer... of Pink Floyd,Led rocking out the greatest hits do is answer two simDeep ple questions! at the Plaza del TorosPurple and Led Zeppelin Michael Bolton takes For a chance to win on August 26. emotive end of season to the stage for an Bolton, just answer a pair of tickets to see night at Marbella’s Puente Romano on was Michael Bolton the question; what year August 10, while Estepona is set for its biggest For the Pink Purple born in? rock concert in years with mammoth tell us; Where was Zep Fest in Estepona, just Jimmy Page born? answers to the newsdesk@theolivepress.es. Email WIN WIN WIN: Bolton
THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a lethal painkiller that is killing countless of unsuspecting expats. British dentists are supporting and doctors the ban after Briton Graham complained to the Ward, 75, Olive Press of how he was prescribed the deadly Nolotil
Irish tourists. Expats in Spain will now be administered Nolotil on a short term prescription only. Furthermore it can only prescribed after a detailed analysis be of the patient’s medical history and heritage. It will also have to be much more closely monitored. It comes after an Olive Press investigation into the mysterious deaths of expats from the drug was See page 43 launched in 2016, along with a 1,000-strong petition to have it regulated a year later. Nolotil, also known as Metamizole, is banned in the UK, the US and most of Europe. Despite this, the drug is still one of the most popular painkillers in Spain,
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Doctors and dentists join Olive Press appeal for ban on dangerous painkiller Nolotil EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
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Need for more research
Dr Nina King, of Oasis Dental Care the campaign, telling the Olive Pressin Marbella, fully supports the drug is not something she prescribes. “It’s not a drug I use, I stick to safe and standard medication,” she said, “And after seeing what damage it can do, it’s a drug I won’t be using in the future.” Marbella-based private doctor Dra. Victoria María Chacón Almeda also agrees the drug is dangerous. “I don’t prescribe the drug,” she told the Olive Press, tients and I am aware of what it is “I have lots of British pacapable of doing. “There needs to be a lot more research on its impact.”
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banned for tourists in Spain. In a breakthrough move, The Spanish Medicine Agency (AEMPS) has finally issued a directive to all healthcare bodies to stop giving the drug to British and
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ENVIRONMENTAL groups are taking legal action against the Junta ‘failing to tackle toxic air’ in the Campo for de Gibraltar. Ecologistas en Accion has filed a complaint with the Health Ministry, claiming nothing has been done to protect citizens from a rise in air pollutants caused by the expansion of ‘toxic’ industries in the Bay of Algeciras. According to the green group, more than 10,000 tonnes of dangerous lutants were released into the atmosphere pollast year. This includes potentially lethal cancer-causing chemical benzene, as well as other fine particles. The writ comes as Cadiz province was officially declared to have the air quality in Spain. worst And alarmingly, La Linea, which borders Gibraltar, ranks as the 30th polluted place in the world in terms most The shocking stats were revealed of air quality. tion report which lists the world’s in a damning World Health Organisa‘most contaminated’ towns and cities. Adding salt to the wound, Cadiz Continues page 11 also came bottom in
me, thank you, I love you and I will miss you.”
However, her heartfelt messages had a cruel, bizarre twist, when her British-Brazilian boyfriend Richard Fitzsimons managed to take his off the top of the Corte Ingles life department store, while she miraculously survived. It came as a hero security guard somehow managed to grab the before she was able to plunge to girl her death after her lover. In a tragically sad incident - that has shocked the coast and made headlines around the world - the teenager, who we are not naming for legal A LETHAL painkiller believed to be rereasons, is now requiring serious sponsible for the deaths of dozens of expats is finally being regulated in Spain. Nolotil, which the Olive Press has invesContinues page 2 tigated for nearly two years, has been TM
EXCLUSIVE By Laurence Dollimore
THE Olive Press is calling on Spain to ban a lethal painkiller that is killing countless of unsuspecting expats. British dentists and doctors are supporting the ban after Briton Graham Ward, 75, complained to the Olive Press of how he was prescribed the deadly Nolotil drug by a dentist last week. It’s the very one month to knock down their same drug that was blamed only property (pictured above). for killing his wife in 2006. In a court order seen by the The Marbella-based expat Olive Press, the Wards are was furious when he was told warned they will be held crimito take the painkiller by his nally responsible if they refuse. Spanish dentist, after suffer“I don’t know what to do anying from a difficult abscess. more, I’m at the end of my His wife Mary, 59, had died aftether” Gill told the Olive Press, ter being prescribed the same “I’m totally exhausted from the drug following a double vasecwhole ordeal.” tomy at Costa del Sol Hospital. The retired pair, who have now “Within 24 hours she was spent thousands of euros on lein intensive care, her white gal costs, bought the old farmblood cell count plummeted house ‘in ruins’ in 2004, and to zero within days,” explains were given permission from Graham, a former computer Velez-Malaga town hall to reHAPPIER TIMES: Graham with technician, from London. wife, and Billy Smyth build it. She never regained conscious- again. But when the original wall colMetamizole, Nolotil ness and was on a life support “He said she would be alive if in the US, the UK, is banned lapsed of its own accord during machine for FOUR months, she hadn’t taken it, but I have most of Europe, Ireland and construction, the Wards’ archibefore spending three years heard from dozens but it is pretect told them it would be fine fighting the impact of the and Irish who have of Brits scribed widely in Spain. and that he would let the town William drug, which led to organ fail- it,” added Graeme. been given Irishman ‘Billy’ hall know. Unfortunately for Smyth was given a five-day ure. It is the third victim “The chief surgeon at the hos- drug the Olive Press of the course of the drug in FebruContinues on Page 8 has re- ary. pital promised me he would ported on in under But when the 66-year-old renever prescribe that drug Sometimes knowna year. also as turned to a different Spanish
What do a British pilot, Country Life magazine and two English teens have to do with Franco’s victory in the Spanish Civil War?
Vol. 13 Issue 304 www.theolivepress.es November 7th - November 20th 2018
MESSAGES: Left for teen
“IT’S a dirty world that I don’t want to live in anymore.” These were the intended last words of a British teen who had embarked on a suicide pact with her 16-yearold boyfriend in Marbella. The privately-educated expat, 14, added: “I’m Sorry: To anyone who has ever loved/known or supported
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A DANGEROUS lurch to the right could see Spain’s anti-immigrant Vox party becoming the kingmakers in this weekend’s general election. The massive surge - off the back of the recent Catalan crisis and a fear of Islam - could see the party seizing 15% of the seats in Parliament. The expected gain will seriously damage centre-right Ciudadanos, which could lose over half its seats, while the ruling PSOE and left wing Podemos are also expected to suffer. Vox, which has pledged to ‘defend’ Spain from immigrants, is predicted to finish third in the country’s fourth general election in as many years. The latest polling suggests Vox, led by Santiago Abascal, will increase its 24 seats in Spain’s 350-seat parliament to 46.
Failed
Meanwhile Albert Rivera’s Ciudadanos will be reduced from 57 to 14. In the 40dB poll Vox is set to gain 14% of the vote, alongside the PP in second place with 21.2% and 91 seats and the PSOE coming first with 27.3% and 121 votes. The PSOE’s predicted victory would see the party with two less seats than in April’s last election, prompting another headache for its leader Pedro Sanchez as he tries to form a government.
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The Olive Press joined thousands of Spania rds and Brits in last Brexit protest ditch See page 5
Stick to plagiarism and prostitutes Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. It’s a mantra which is extremely apt where one local downmarket rival newspaper is concerned. In 2016, the Olive Press reported carefully on the shocking claims that well-known Marbella animal shelter Triple A was under investigation for cruelty and animal trafficking. While we reported on the court probe and police raid, we dedicated over half the front page story to denials and comments from supporters. It ended with a quote from the charity that it was ‘carrying on as normal’ and it ‘was not at all true’. We even ran a feature supporting the charity a couple of months later. So we were as shocked as anyone when after three years of probing, a judge decided that six members of the shelter, mostly former employees, should face charges of fraud, cruelty, falsification and more. Yet, when we reported this on our website last week the same day as various local Spanish papers - we were hung out to dry by a screaming Facebook mob. Calling us ‘irresponsible’, ‘biased’ and even dubbing our story ‘fake news’, they bleated on for hours. That until they noticed perhaps, that the charity itself had actually confirmed the probe.
Impropriety
So what on earth can explain the behaviour of shoddy local rag, the Euro Weekly News, which decided to use these incorrect comments in a bizarre attack on both this paper and its publisher last week. Over an entire page in its October 31 edition, it ran quotes that we had ‘slaughtered’ Triple A, that we were ‘contradictory’, ‘badly written’ and ‘made no sense’. It even called on readers to boycott our paper and website, which has grown three times bigger than their this year, with no payment for links. Well, we have some advice for the owners of the EWN: Stick to stealing stories, as you admitted to in an email to our reporter Joshua Parfitt, who complained about many of his stories being copied. Stick to your diet of 80% advertising, hundreds of sex ads, and no sense of reporting rules or impropriety. Leave the actual journalism to real newspapers that stick to IPSO rules and employ NCTJ-trained journalists. When it comes to an issue as serious as killing pets, fraud and worse, it takes a proper paper to understand the issues. If members of Triple A end up guilty of these heinous crimes we hope they will be firmly punished. If they are absolved we will be the first to report on it. The jealous Euro Weekly News will no doubt copy it from our website - a day after us - as they normally do!
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Franco exhu from his Vallmed ey of the Fallen grav after agonisi e 44-year wai ng t
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How we nailed a corruptUntitledChampagne SOM 1 BRE: Franco’s 16/06/2017 socialist MP 1.pdfPage 15:36 family carri mem 18 orial before it was taken
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By Jacque Talbot
SPAIN is rejoicing as one of the been exhumed from the grave world’s cruelest dictators victims. has he shared with his Civil War Finally the relatives conflict have been of those killed in the Franco’s death. offered some solace, 44 country’s bloodiest years after General The facist leader Fallen alongsid had been buried in Madrid’s Valley of year regime. e some of the 500,000 who died under his the 36-
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Millions around Spain rejoiced after the remains of evil dictator Franco were finally removed from his controversial burial spot. The Olive Press sent Heather Galloway to witness the historic day
N the event, it was an ignominious affair with even Franco’s staunchest supporters in short supply. What had been billed as a momentous occasion - something of a seminal turning point in Spain’s traumatic history - turned out to be a distinct anti-climax. With more of a whimper than a bang, the former dictator’s remains were finally unearthed from their burial place under the basilica at the Valley of the Fallen, and taken somewhat unceremoniously by helicopter to their new location, also near Madrid. Without any of the pomp and circum stance of his first send-off almost 44 years ago, Francisco Franco was reintered at Mingorrubio-el Pardo cemetery next to his wife, Carmen Polo. The low-key transfer took place in front of just a handful of supporters and family and with only two members of the Franco clan allowed to see his actual exhumation. The family had fought tooth and nail with Pedro Sanchez’s socialist government for years to keep their grandfather’s embalmed body in the basilica next to his far-right Falangist hero, Jose Antonio Prima de Rivera. But therein lay the problem - their bodies lay in the vicinity of some 30,000 victims of the Spanish Civil War (many actually killed by Franco’s troops), for whom the monument was actually built. So here I was alongside hundreds of journalists and a handful of Franco diehards gathered at the entrance to the monument, built 40 kilometres north of Madrid, as watched the two family members arrive for the exhumation being carried out several kilometres away beneath the towering 150-metre high cross. After being searched for recording devices, they stood within the screened-off area around Franco’s tomb along with Spain’s Minister of Justice Dolores Delgado, a forensic scientist and several other officials to record the historic event. Alongside me, there was some considerable indignation and rage. “The fact they have closed the basilica for two weeks and not allowed the faithful in to pray is an attack on Christianity and religious freedom,” Estefania Aguirre, 34, told me, adding that she was a personal friend of the Valley’s
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Benedictine Prior, Santiago Cantera, who ers and a crane had been on standby since Ocfought along with the family against exhuming tober 11 and trundled into action at 10.30 am Franco’s remains. on the morning of October 24 to lift the 1,500 “I think the whole exhumation has breached kilos of granite that covered the tomb. Church and State relations and we’re going to Once the flagstone was removed, there was see more and more attacks against religious reportedly a layer of lead and cement to get liberty in Spain.” through before the coffin could be lifted out. Her Barcelona-born mother Laura Wachter Inside, Franco’s body was sealed in zinc, which was holding a banner next to her reading sim- would have preserved it perfectly according to ply ‘Estado Dictatorial’, likening the actions to Dr Antonio Piga, one of the forensics who emthat of a dictatorship. balmed the dictator on his death. “This is North Korea,” she said repeatedly. “The tomb will be dry and the body in perfect “It’s very sad that Spaniards are being pitted condition,” he insisted. “Franco will be desicagainst one another when there are many cated like an Egyptian mummy; dry and hardmore important issues to tend ened but with all his organs.” to.” Curiously though, there was In another huddle, the most no Spanish flag draped on the vocal member, Pilar Gutierrez, “Franco will be coffin as it was borne away on who also happens to be a psythe shoulders of the family who desiccated like had by then been waiting over chologist, was entertaining the press with her views. two hours to receive it. an Egyptian “Some 8,000 people were No doubt it was a bitter mokilled for just being Catholic mummy; dry and ment; a year ago, they called during the war and this is what the exhumation ‘an act of retrohardened” this government wants to bring spective revenge without precback,” she railed. edent in the civilized world’. “You can only expect the worst Now, Europe’s last monument from the Socialists.” to a fascist dictator had finally morphed into Taking an equally strong line was a former something else. member of Spain’s army, who came sporting After a 15-minute flight to Mingorrubio, just 50 his green beret. kilometres away, the helicopter landed within “We are here to show our loyalty to our lead- the Royal Guard’s old firing range where 22 er,” Lorenzo Fernandez Navarro, 69, told me. family members were waiting to follow the Cau“When Franco died, I was a lieutenant in the dillo’s body in a cortege towards the cemetery. Sahara. We swore to respect and obey our Security was tight. The gathering had been leaders. And always means always, whether planned by the Franco Foundation ‘to pray for they are alive or dead. We have come here to the soul of Francisco Franco Bahamonde’ and comply with our oath that this government has lay flowers on his tomb but this was banned by insulted.” the Government the day before on the grounds Less vociferous, was his colleague Adolfo Co- it posed a risk to public order. loma, 66, who explained: “More than being Reduced then to include mainly family, the about one side or the other, the monument subsequent funeral was conducted in the cemstood for reconciliation. etery’s Pantheon by Prior Santiago Cantera, “We have managed to overcome the divisions and also intriguingly by Ramón Tejero, the son in Spain. To speak now about who killed more of Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero, who infapeople is bad news.” mously led 200 members of the Civil Guard in Judging by how long it took before Franco’s an attempted coup on February 23, 1981. body was raised heavenward by a military he- Spain’s national newspaper El País described licopter, excavating the Caudillo was no easy the exhumation as Pedro Sanchez’s ‘most feat. symbolic achievement’. Heavy machinery, including a forklift truck, roll- He has certainly managed to belittle the dictator’s legacy and close a chapter of Spain’s painful history, though as the authorities filed out of the valley, the Francoists berated their ‘evil’ actions with cries including: ‘You have not seen the end of this!’ The prophecy would seem to have little foundation given that the majority of Spaniards have shown themselves to be relatively diffident about Sanchez’s project. The statistics show that only 36% of the country agreed with the action, while an even smaller 28% were against. Clearly a full third of Spain would much rather get on with dealing with ‘more important’ matters. Either way, for those with Republican loved ones buried at the Valley of the Fallen - or in the thousands of other mass graves around Spain - it will be a day to savour for the rest of their lives. ‘FRANCO LIVES’: The dictator’s suppporters at his exhumation
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THE PAPER WITH THE REAL NUMBERS
Spaniards are heading to polling booths for the fourth time in four years as voters hope to bring an end to the country’s political stalemate. But who’s contesting it? What do they want? And what are their chances of success?
A
s Britain prepares for a snap general election, Spanish voters are getting ready to go to the ballot box themselves ahead of an election this Sunday. While Spaniards have cast their votes once already this year, no single party got a majority. The largest party, the left-leaning PSOE, called new elections after its coalition talks with left-wing upstart Podemos broke down. While the PSOE led by Pedro Sanchez is expected to emerge as election winners again, it is far from certain whether they will win enough votes to gain a majority. And with the Catalan riots causing waves across Spanish society and polarising opinions, a surprise could still be in store come Monday.
While the socialists are expected to emerge on top again, leader Pedro Sanchez looks unlikely to get the majority he was hoping for when he agreed to go back to the public in September. His backtracking, at least rhetorically, on his support for further Catalan autonomy has been attacked by Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias who has accused him of mimicking PP and Vox. Nonetheless, he remains popular with vast swathes of the electorate for increasing the minimum wage and rolling back some austerity measures.
I Spain’s centre-right party had taken a lurch to the right recently, in an attempt to claw votes back from farright Vox, which has eaten into its traditional base. During the recent Catalan riots against the imprisonment of pro-independence politicians, he called for the immediate suspension of Catalan autonomy on the pretext of restoring order to the region. While Pablo Casado’s party is expected to make some gains, it remains tainted in the minds of many Spaniards for implementing crushing austerity policies and a string of corruption scandals when it was last in government.
The left-wing anti-austerity party sent shockwaves through the Spanish political establishment back in 2016 when the new party stormed to third place. However, it has struggled to capitalise on its gains since. It is the only major party which supports granting a vote on independence to Catalunya and is hoping to distinguish itself from the PSOE with its ambitious social policies, including reducing the working week to 34 hours and imposing rent controls.
Dubbed as Spain’s answer to Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche party in France after it rocketed to third place in April’s elections, the centrists have been beset by a chain of damaging controversies ever since. Its eagerness to enter regional alliances with Vox saw Barcelona Pride ban the party from the city’s Pride parade in June and its tough stance on Catalan independence has seen it shed more left-leaning voters.
T’S not every day you knock a well known regional newspaper, a national newspaper and a popular consumer site into a cocked hat! But this week we find the Olive Press website ranking at 12,636th position in the world, according to Amazon’s Alexa.com. That is out of billions of websites and, in perspective, puts us above both the respected Liverpool Echo (13,156th), Scotland’s prestigious Daily Record (22,815th) and well known Mumsnet at 17,210th position. It also places www.theolivepress.es in the Top 1000 sites in Spain and the UK. By traffic numbers - around 40,000 to 50,000 visits a day - we are in 606th position in Britain and 910th in Spain. Meanwhile we rank at 813th in Ireland and 79th in Gibraltar, while 3% of our visitors come from America and 3% from Holland, Germany and France. Other local newspapers Sur in English and Euro Weekly News came in at a lowly 155,869 and 31,529th. The Mallorca Daily Bulletin ranks at 875,718, while the Costa Blanca News ranks at 2.9m, Costa-news at 1.23m, Alicantetoday at 2.51m and Typically Spanish at 1.5m
MILLIONS OF VISITORS This boils down to visitor numbers and pages viewed and we had 1.5 MILLION pages read over the last four weeks (see Google Analytics graph above), with 1.2 MILLION visits. Using the research of another respected site Similar Web we discovered that the Euro Weekly News is getting under a third of our traffic, while the Sur in English and the Costa Blanca News a fraction of that. Much of this is due to the sheer number of third-party sites linking into us over the last three months. The total is a healthy 1,057 sites, and this includes nine sites in the world’s Top 20, as well # as many from global media groups, including the BBC, the New York Post and the Daily Mail.
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The animal rights party PACMA, which wants to ban the sale of animals had its best showing yet in the April elections, gaining over 300,000 votes. The anti-war party also wants to ban bloodsports, such as bullfighting.
The far-right party’s hardline anti-independence stance on Catalunya has proved popular among the Spanish electorate following the October riots in Barcelona, with a recent poll putting the party in third place. Its leader Santiago Abascal recently described Catalan Independence as a ‘coup d’etat’ against the Spanish state. The party has also threatened to ban pro-independence parties and to take back Gibraltar from Britain if it gets its hands on the reigns of power.
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The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are: - British father and son who vanished from Spain’s Costa del Sol likely ‘killed in botched drug deal’ as ransom call from Morocco revealed (29,598)
2 The Catalan pro-independence party has surged in popularity in Barcelona following the jailing of the organisers of Catalan’s illegal independence referendum. Its jump in support comes on the back of the collapse of Ciudadanos in the region, who are against self-determination.
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Google Analytics is a transparent measuring tool and cannot be fiddled. Make sure that before you undertake any advertising campaign, you always ask for the last few months OFFICIAL visitor figures. Quite simply our 1.2 MILLION visitors a month, coupled with the 250,000 readers of our printed papers can guarantee your business gets the best exposure possible among the expat - as well as - key tourist market coming to Spain. We promise a keen and competitive price and that your business will be seen by millions of potential clients each month.
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- Mystery man found dead in ditch on Costa del Sol ‘had no roots’ in Spain and was killed ‘just a few hours before’ being dumped (27,152)
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- ‘Well-known’ restaurant owner in British tourist hotspot in Spain arrested for treating desperate staff like slaves with €2.80 per hour salaries and 14-hour days (26,369)
- Temperatures to soar on Spain’s Costa del Sol this holiday weekend starting from TOMORROW (23,375) - Number of British expats registering on Spain’s Costa del Sol SURGES as Brexit looms (20,443)
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Powerless ELECTRIC car sales may have gone into overdrive in Spain - the only trouble is finding somewhere to top them up. In a shocking study - released in the run up to the international climate conference in Madrid next month - has found the country has among the fewest charging points in Europe. There are just 2,900 public points in Spain, compared to 37,000 in the Netherlands, despite Spain being 12 times larger with more than double the population. Worse, some roads are without a single charging point for more than 150km, a study by the National Association of Car and Truck Manufacturers (Anfac) found. Vast areas of Spain remain without any charging points at all, as just under half (43%) of them are concentrated around Madrid and Barcelona. Germany has the second highest number of charging stations in Europe (27,000) followed by France (25,000) and the UK (20,000).
Spanish hens banged up in cramped cages suffer the worst conditions in Europe MORE than 80% of Spain’s egg-laying hens are still locked up in cages, new government data has revealed. In total 30 million birds live in ‘stressful’ and ‘overcrowded’ conditions provided by the ‘furnished cage system’. The hens are in ‘constant stress’ and are forced to lay around 470 eggs in a 100-week period, according to El Pais. Hens’ beaks are also allegedly trimmed, and the birds are kept without sunlight, each living in a space the size of an A4 piece of paper. Spain houses 82% of its hens in these kinds of cages - the highest percentage across the European Union (EU), along with Portugal. The EU average stands at just 52%, while other countries in the 28-member bloc, like Germany and the Netherlands
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Jailbirds have just 10% of their total eggs coming from furnished cages. Despite the seemingly shocking statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, there is evidence that attitudes in Spain are changing. Welfare-conscious egg production increased from TRAPPED: Spain’s hens make it worst in Europe for animal rights 7% in 2016 to 17.6% in 2018, ment on the ‘battery’ method The animal welfare group said: according to data from the of hen farming. “There is a very limited space Spanish Egg Producer Society But, according to the RSPCA, for hens to forage and ground(Aseprhu). the cages are still a problem, as scratch – areas provided for Furnished cages were original- hens’ natural behaviour is ‘not foraging are not adequate to ly designed to be an improve- able to be expressed’. meet the birds’ needs.”
and Soria in the Guadarrama mountains, has been ruled the third least polluted in the world, according to the World Health Organisation. Village mayor, Jose Maria de Pablo, said the scheme would help AN ASIAN car giant is letting a Spanish village share locals, who number just over 70, to visit the nearest one of its newest electric models for free. pharmacy in a neighbouring town. “We have good Residents of remote Campisabalos will be able to air quality, precisely because there is nothing to do drive the Hyundai KONA Electronico for a year around here,” he added. through a mobile app. The village’s inhabitants will be able to make journeys of up to 24 hours at a time and 170km in the vehicle, voted Spain’s ‘car of the year.’ The Korean company chose the Guadalajara province village for the initiative because it is the least polluted town in Spain. The stunning spot, that sits between Madrid
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Really no bull? MARBELLA has started its one million euro revamp of the town’s plaza de toros amid fears that bullfights could return to the town. Angeles Munoz, Marbella’s PP mayor, said that the eight month renovation is being undertaken so it can be used ‘for cultural events’. However, she has not denied whether bullfights will be revived as part of this edict. The local government announced plans to renovate the bullring in December last year. Fears were raised after the project specification stated that the space will be reserved for ‘the celebration of bullfighting shows and other events, such as concerts’. In January around 300 people staged a protest through the centre of Marbella against the possible return. The six-figure facelift will see the bullring’s roof and barriers repaired and re-painted. New electrics, a lighting projection system and a fire protection system are also be installed. Angeles Munoz said: “Our commitment was to recover this space for citizens.”
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November 6th - November 19th 2019 Check out our issues online at www.theolivepress.es
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MEDICAL marijuana in Gibraltar has finally become a reality as the Government has allowed the supply of cannabis products. Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) doctors will be allowed to hand out ‘cannabis-based products’ once they have undertaken the appropriate training. Patients with any of the following conditions are eligible for the medical cannabis: • Moderate to severe muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis that has failed to respond to • standard medications • Severe, refractory epilepsy that has failed to respond to standard medications • Severe and life-altering pain that has failed to respond to standard and rising levels of pain • control medications • Intractable nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy despite the use of • standard treatments under supervision According to a government statement the GHA will ‘not administer such products by smoking’.
Vol. 5, Issue 108 www.theolivepress.es October 23rd - November 6th 2019
deposited their trust in us once again,” Picardo told the Olive Press. “I think we’ve demonstrated a track record to be proud of, and that people thought it was worth ensuring we continued to remain in charge of
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Franco exhumed from his Valley of the Fallen grave after agonising 44-year wait
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cruelest dictators has SPAIN is rejoicing as one of the world’s shared with his Civil War been exhumed from the grave he victims. in the country’s bloodiest Finally the relatives of those killed 44 years after General conflict have been offered some solace, Franco’s death. in Madrid’s Valley of the The facist leader had been buried who died under his 36Fallen alongside some of the 500,000 year regime. Continues on Page 4
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Petrol bombs and bullets, Director of disgraced Costa Blanca an Olive Press dispatch wealth management firm rakes in €1million from Barcelona Page 6 for her
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A WELL-KNOWN expat fashion signer has been accused of receivingdeup to €1million from an unlicensed Costa Blanca financial advisory company. Companies in Jody Smart’s name were given the money by defunct Continental Wealth Management (CWM) in the two years’ before its high-profile collapse left hundreds of investors an estimated €20million out of pocket, it can be revealed. A total of €999,435 was paid to her fashion label Jody Bell SL and property holding company Mercurio Conpro SL between 2015 and 2017, according to bank statements shown to the Olive Press. Brit Jody, 43, was also paid a €144,000 salary - despite telling a court that she ‘did not know what it meant to be a sole director of company’ and was only involved in ‘marketing and PR’. In a series of shocking declarations given to Denia’s Court of Instruction No.3 it has emerged that the company could ill afford to pay these
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me they knew what they were doing.” rying’. He added: “I believe some “This negates the very essence of the investments were of the service they are meant without my knowledge. made to offer,” said Flores. “It is a that is the case because I I think blank cheque to invest wherever, recall signing sheets for do not all the whenever. investments I had.” “If standard practice, has gone down by half An email, seen by the this is very worrying. need compensation to and I Press, shows CWM asking Olive get it “Signing blank documents back on track. ent to sign and return a a cliblank would be seen “But some people dealing instruction. as irregular in a have lost everyAnother British expat, 55, who court of law. The thing and don’t is trying to recover problem have enough to €200,000, said some around with pensionthese firms is that live on. One reers ‘have lost everything’. they were all intired victim only “My paper work that PENSION vesting in highly has €50,000 left has been altered, my riskI sent level OUTRAGE risky investments from €480,000.” was changed from ‘medium’ to without the cliAndalucia-based ‘high’ and my dealing instrucents knowing.” lawyer Antonio tions have been photocopied He claimed that Flores, repeatedly for buying and whose selllosses sustained firm ing assets I didn’t authorise,” Lawbird by are investors he said. representwould hopefully ing some CWM “I still have some money be recoverable victims, said signing blank and I am still young enoughleft as the investments that vestment sheets was ‘very inget compensation, but my to worto perform, or went bust,failed fund were linked to life insurance policies. Pension trustees Momentum and Trafalgar are now attempting to recoup CMW clients’ losses. SPECIALIZING IN: The Olive Press has so far unable to discover if CWMbeen CRIMINAL LAW was registered to provide investment advice with Spain’s CIVIL LAW official financial regulator CNMV. BANKING (FLOOR CLAUSE)
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SPAIN’S prime minister accused Catalan has leader Carles Puigdemont sion’ after of causing ‘confusigning a declaration of independence. Mariano Rajoy demanded clarify if he he had really independence declared following day’s nail biting address TuesCatalan parliament. to the If so, Rajoy trigger Articleinsisted he could 155 of Spain’s constitution take direct to allow Madrid to “There is control of Catalunya. put an end an urgent need to Catalunya to the situation that is going through - to
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Expats lose millions in
life savings CONFUSION reigns over should foot through who failed hotels hit the bill for Mallorca by the collapse investment line Monarch. of airBalearic scheme €10millionhotels are facing lapse that bill over the col-a EXCLUSIVE repatriationsaw the emergency By Joe Duggan back to the of over 110,000 UK, many Palma. from HUNDREDS Administrator of BritKPMG ish expats Olive Press ‘the debt told the to retrieve are battling Monarch to hoteliers owed by sions their penas an unsecured will rank after claim’ against £20 millionlosing up to the defunct in a failed “They will airline. pension have to file investment OFF the joint administrators scheme. a claim to TO OZ: the money Spanish-based for all and (above) Boss Kirby they are owed,” a spokesman. cial advisory team at finansaid “It has not firm Con- March charity bash tinental been determined (yet) how agement Wealth Man(CWM) folded Many available tomuch money will be last month of them creditors.”
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whose boss Darren Kir- It is by has believed at moved tonow allegedly 300 of CWM’s least Australia. clients One Costa-del-Sol- pension have had 900 based expat their pots decitold the mated, Olive Press he sunk shocked with victims £59,000 through cover the to later dis- to end up CWM, only back value realising had lost he investments hadof their ain on benefits.”in Brit£39,000 his pension plum- “I have nothing when meted dramatically. praise for trustees However, sent a statement. but Tony Barnett a source [Trafalgar close to “I couldn’t the case MD] and sisted: ‘There have lost believe it. in- Stewart are still mentum Davies [Mopounds,” thousands ofI many customers chef revealed are happy victim, who tive]. They haveexecuasking to the pension with their magnificent main anonymous. been reing to recoup in tryA n d a l uportfolio.’ “The adviser cia-ba people’s ing me, ‘This kept tell- tax specialist s e d money.” is guaran- Brooks, teed, it can’t Angie The Olive go below pert on a leading ex- derstands Press uncertain level’.” a eration pension it is highly possible His money, obliterat- transferred schemes lib- may had legal action ing many Untitled-1.pdf their pri- others acrossand that of the founder and be taken vate 1 Brits’ life heartbroken 16/06/2017 of Pension UK Spain and Life, has by some parties against pensions France, savings. through15:36 the company, high-risk was put into a fight tonow launched CWM, help get investor ‘professional tims’ money vicback. has been only’ assets, it She is working claimed. side pension alongtrustees Trafalgar International and Momentum sions. Pen- based out of headquarters in Alicante, “People are terribly executives. distressed,” and its based Brooks Granada- Both the told the and the office in Javea Olive Press. website lost large “They have recently shut. have amounts their retirement of When the Olive ings.” Press sav- spoke to boss ‘definitively’ Kirby he She added: these people “Some of responsibility denied are going crash. “I over the world,” have lost my A closehe said. associate Kirby’s told of the Olive Press former staff were Find out more all ‘veryCWM set’. upon page XX “It is still 20 quite raw for them, Ave de Gabriel working and they are Roca 4, Palma next,” he out what to do said.
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Rose Moore sees the EU, essentia with group watch rhoodIssue a neighbo I am from The pg 7). 325, and proud, hip (Leave dictators a marbell near ina Guadalm in rs neighbo 120 states, sovereign reality is the opposite. There are 28 329, Issue to the bank, wayvoluntari g all (Laughinthe to become ly chose which UK,the including pg 7). d. Steve Dunne believes that the UK would associate squat-to s with terrible haveonhad Webetter not going Not so. I’m terms. problem WTO fair beautithis invade to started have who ters and chapter weigh down your letters page by quoting three overinto takenlooks already havend ful area. the that Steve recomme but IThey verse, every six months houses ofwithin Trump That other knows. that he and any industry specifics another to getdeal EU-free UK should with anone. a trade to gettry tryingthey isweek for help. ask you I would Trump’s trade deals to know: youtowant you alllike tell with appoint had an that we as labels. As well for speaks Mahlerment Brent Finally, US-first have l who Naciona Policia the of sioner commis the force armed EU an of wary citizens UK of a number that and well very they know thatcloser toldanusever , these are ideas However union.them and d. they are and not EU policy. I am specific people by organize floated help! 40-plus years of procan’t police But the insidious at the worried more by the Mail, Telegraph, EEC/EU the against paganda Sun. What did Express, Times and, of course, TheGuadal Stein, so anwhy he wasmina he was asked Murdoch say when Sabine of: “When I go into ti-EU? Something along the lines . You letter your for Ed.10Thank The to the EU.” I go Sabine when I say: what they doyou No. into ent! ations investig our seen have will appointm an for ask to had implication is that he
squatters over the last few weeks Kate Ferry, Altea
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Ghostly gates
Driving around in Spain you often come across a pair of beautiful ornate gates that are attached to gate posts and nothing else. No walls or fence of any kind, just random gates, very strange. Kim Baron, Chiclana
Use it or lose it
Maybe there was money that needed spending before the end of the tax year or it’s something to do with the budget for next year. A city in the UK spent £1.4 million on rebuilding an existing roundabout purely so it was allocated the same amount of money in its budget for the following tax year. Basically, use it or lose it. I’m not sure if the authorities work the same way in Spain, but it could explain it. Marie Troake, Jerez
Questions abound
Why aren’t crossings in towns as well lit as this one? Maybe this is a ‘weathering’ test? Arthur Webster, Coin
This is a sign of our times (Mansion shopping, Issue 329, pg 20). Jaw dropping expensive is nothing to proudly advertise - elitism is killing the world. Nobody needs a mansion for €32 million. It is obscene. Gloria Zimmermann, Ronda
Tunnel vision Riding the wave, you take the highs with the lows but that wave is bound to crash at some point (Drug deal death, Issue 329, pg 9). It’s those left behind you have to feel for, that’s if they weren’t profiting from the illicit earnings. No parent or family member can’t stop someone doing something if they have tunnel vision. That person will do what they want regardless of how anyone else feels about it. Mandy Smith, Marbella
Flood defence?
Sad but true
We need zebras
This is yet another very sad story but I ask why do young people today have no common sense (Tragic end, Issue 329, pg 9)? If mending a blind meant it may be dangerous, then common sense should say ‘don’t do it!’ Who teaches these young and vulnerable people it’s OK to take stupid risks? Sue Allder, Malaga
It’s a test for flooding. If it’s still there after heavy rain then there wasn’t any flooding. If it’s gone... Barrie Hemley, London My own mother was killed by a drunk driver, so crossings are important. But it does look very strange. Angie Baker, Malaga
Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or message us on at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress
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I think it’s fairly obvious from the jingoisms and sound bites he came out with in that interview, plus his time at DexEU, that he’s not a civil servant, he’s a Tory puppet (Hugh’d of thought it, Issue 329, pg 4)! Paul Blüthner Speight, Malaga
Sign of the times
Law breaking for lavish lifestyle
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CATALUNYA’S beleaguered leader has vowed to fight on from abroad. It came after Carles Puigdemont handed himself Belgian police when a in to European arrest warrant was issued. He and four other politicians are accused on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust. A judge in Belgium now EXCLUSIVE up to two weeks to decidehas By Joe Duggan if they will extradite the group to Spain. BRITISH expats who lost up to €20 million in a failed Fight sion advisory firm believe pensignatures may have been their tocopied onto investment phoGiven the whole extradition documents. process can take up days, it means he mayto 60 Around 300 Brits, most living have in Spain, to run his entire election are battling to retrieve their funds after Alicante-based campaign for the Catalan firm Continental Wealth European Democratic ManParty agement from Belgium. (CWM) folded tember, as first reportedin SepHis party wants him to in the fight Olive Press for continued leadership a month ago. the regional parliament of Boss Darren Kirby left for Austhe December 21 elections. in tralia following the closure the company’s main Javea of Puigdemont denied he offled to Brussels to avoid had fices. jus- Victims, tice but that he left because who are spread across Spain, the Spanish government was lorca, as well as in Ibiza, Malpreparing a ‘wave of oppresPortugal, France and Turkey, fear illegal practices sion and violence’ against after being asked to sign separatists. blank dealing instructions. “I’m absolutely convinced Their pension pots were that the state was preparing invested in high-risk then a harsh wave of repression which promised to pay outassets for which we would have large been held responsible,” all commissions. he One 69-year-old said yesterday. pensioner told the Olive Press “The Spanish state is he lost com- €210,000 mitting a brutal repression… after transferring €470,000 despite stating if we don’t battle repression he had a together, the Spanish state to risk’‘low to medium aversion BOSS: Kirby now in may win this fight.” attitude to investment. Australia “I was In a show of support to the blank asked, ‘Can you sign this he said. deposed president, around form. We will fill in the “They should have been looking details.’ I did Untitled-1.pdf 200 Catalan pro-indepenthat trusting they 1 16/06/2017 15:36 out for me would act in my best interests,” dence mayors travelled but they were to feathering their own nests.just Brussels on Tuesday to To stage a rally.
three British claimants are seeking crimafter CWM’s September 2017 collapse inal charges for aggravated fraud, fake left him with just €22,000 from accounting and belonging to a criminal initial investments of more than ₤800,000 organisation. The complaints concern bungled house (approx €900,000). transactions, unpaid loans and failed Davison was diagnosed with deprespension investments that lost the claim- sion just weeks after the collapse, before turning to alcohol abuse and developants over €1million between them. One of the victims, Mark Davison, trag- ing type-2 diabetes, according to a video shot just before his death. ically died, aged 59, in July this year His body, covered with lesions sores, had lain undiscovered for upand a week in the mid-summer heat at to his home in Sanet. “Mark died as a result of what had been In documents seen by the Olive done to him,” Timothy Benjamin, a Press, CWM was paid €3,391,873 of low claimant, told the Olive Press. felcommission for selling insurance “By the end he didn’t want the daylight bonds and investments by two Cyto appear.” prus-based financial firms, between Benjamin, 67, likewise felt ‘ashamed’ October 2015 and September after he lost his €250,000 private penA January 2019 statement 2017. from sion, reinvested by CWM into ‘risky’ Spain’s financial regulator revealed investments, via QROPS. insurance bonds were sold in In his official testimony he told breach of the law. the court how he had transferred ₤325,000 What is certain is that this (€375,000 approx) from a property funded a ‘lavish lifestyle’ for money sale to CWM on the basis the firm players Kirby and Smart, whoits key investing it in a villa in Monte Pego. was in a relationship together fromwere 2011 But court papers revealed ₤200,000 to March 2017, according to former went directly to the bank account staff members. of
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HE average property price two consecutive years for thein Spain has grown The national for Prices first 3.9% to 8.4%, average house price time in a decade. rise for two Along the rose from between according to Mediterranean consecutive while mortgage various sources. most foreigners coasts and buy, the values continueyears, on cording to However, he Tinsa, Spain’saverage price hike the islands, where added ‘at the But the figures to grow Spanish property Balearic Islands. leading property has been 4.06%, very have mostly acduring the continued to least, the data suggests Mortgage long six year not yet made upappraisal company. “Prices have been rising grow that the but nothing for the big January to lending to home buyers last year.’ recession, with most years drops enough 19,390 like they meanwhile since the exception was up 6.1% to claw back did in the boom years,the recovery began, Spanish Notaries. new loans, according of the respected in to the Association analyst Markthe ground lost in and nowhere near The average new loan of the bust,” explained an increase made Stucklin, of Spanish Property residential of 0.9% in a year.in January had a value of €135,616, As long as Insight. the last acquisitions continues mortgage lending few years, the to increase, for Spanish property as it market is sethas done for to grow.
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FACE THE MUSIC
SPAIN’S PP party has set out cious plans for a power grab audaback to take control from Valencia and the other autonomou s regions. Leader Pablo Casado announced his commitment to strengthen the central government’s role in the run to the national up elections in a fortnight. He insisted that prevent corruptionsuch a move would and lead to a in taxes. drop It comes as the EXCLUSIVE off the threat party attempts to see By Joshua Parfitt Voted from an insurgent Party, whose leader REuse expat REduce paper has described Vox autonomous parliaments REcycle in Spain the THE beleaguered Voted as the ‘cancer of Spain’. Govt in expat wealth managementboss of a failed paper exile REuse Under the plan, in Spain company which REduce allegedly REcycle se resources forthe PP wants to increa- million lost expats more than €20 delegations and regional government court. has ignored a summons Confusion reigns to transfer of power paralyse any further Darren to the regions. Kirby, of Alicante-based Continental (CWM), failedWealth Management Supremacy court on March to turn up at Denia Who’s paying us? According to 26. Olive Press sources was due to turn he up, alongside business partners, former The election hopeful stated The case involves who did turn up. party would carry that a trio of investors, out a sweeping his who lost substantial view of how re- money Should amounts of the regional authorities Three Lions when the company pub have operate looking legged it 2017. folded in at ‘efficiency and ty.’ Three Lions equi- Kirby pub allegedly fled Spain’s quasi-federal HOW WE TOLD political system llowing the collapse,to Australia foIT: Our 2017 of ‘autonomous finally returreports ning to Alicante the constitution states’ was added to England.” last year. “Darren has in 1978. Prime ter Pedro Sanchez, The Olive Press been sent Minisexclusively revealed former member the constitution, whose party drafted which he didn’t sign for, soa Burofax how CWM abruptly of staff. folded in 2017, “It was a prestigious plan, insisting strongly opposed the will now have to pursue himthe court losing hundreds place but one ways,” a source day they just in other vings of ‘tooth and nail’the PSOE would defend said. shut the door,” in the process. expats’ life sa- said, asking “A judge the principal of she nal self-government. not to be named. The firm, which regio- it’s under is dealing with this Victims had was based and legal “We understand review,” he added. Marriott Hotel, in Denia, out of the asked to signraised fears about being to ten’ telesales had ‘eight blank dealing he is currently in ttered around staff and clients sca- tions and their pensions instrucvested in high-risk being inNO SHOW: Europe, revealed Darren Kirby assets which paid a large commissions. res. “It is a blank One pensioner cheque to invest ta Blanca told based on the Cos- wherever, whenever. lost €210,000 the Olive Press he “It is very worrying as €470,000 despiteafter transferring investing clients’ money they were risky investments in highly stating he had low to medium as well as dubious a funds just because they “I was asked, risk attitude. paid the hiblank form. We ‘Can you sign this gher commissions.” He added that will fill in ls.’ I did that losses sustained trusting they the detai- investors should by in my best interests,” would act however, be verable as the recohe said. “They should have been looking led to perform,investments that faifor me and they or went out their own nests.were just feathering linked to life insurance bust, were what they were To me they knew When the Olive Presspolicies. finally hold of Kirby Lawyer Antoniodoing.” in October 2017, got denied all responsibility. Flores, whose he Lawbird is representing firm “I have lost a number my world,” he said. of victims, said See pages 26-29 ment sheets wassigning blank investAre you a victim “This negates ‘very worrying’. or former staff the very essence member? Do financial advisory you services,”said of the case? Contact know more about Tel. (+34) 96 649 Flo- newsdesk@theolivepress.es the Olive Press 18 29 at info@hispaniahomes.es www.hispaniahomes.co.uk Casado insisted the move would Spain being administered see ‘more effectively’.
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whose boss Darren It is believed Kir- 300 at by has now allegedly of CWM’s least moved to Australia. clients have had 900 their One Costa-del-Sol- pension pots decibased expat told the mated, with victims Olive Press he sunk shocked to later dis- to end up back £59,000 through cover the value of their ain on benefits.”in BritCWM, only realising he investments had plum- “I have nothing but had lost £39,000 praise for Tony when meted dramatically. his pension Barnett trustees However, a source [Trafalgar MD] sent a statement. and close to the Stewart “I couldn’t believe sisted: ‘There case in- mentum Davies [Moare still chef execuhave lost thousandsit. I many customers who tive]. They have pounds,” revealed of are happy with their magnificent in been the pension victim, asking trying to recoup main anonymous.to re- A n d a l uportfolio.’ people’s c i a - b a s e d money.” “The adviser tax specialist Angie The Olive Press uning me, ‘This iskept tell- Brooks, guarana leading ex- derstands it is highly teed, it can’t go below a pert on pension lib- possible legal action certain level’.” eration schemes and may be taken by some His money, the founder of Pension parties against CWM, others acrossand that of Life, has now launched and France, was Spain put into a fight to help get vichigh-risk ‘professional tims’ money back. investor only’ assets, She it side is working alonghas been claimed. pension trustees Trafalgar International and Momentum based out of headquarPen- ters sions. in Alicante, and “People are its terribly executives. distressed,” Both the office in Javea based Brooks Granadatold the and the website have Olive Press. “They recently shut. have When lost large amounts of spoke the Olive Press their retirement to boss Kirby he sav- ‘definitively’ ings.” denied She added: of responsibility over these people “Some are going crash. “I have lost the my world,” he said. A close associate of Kirby’s told the Olive Press former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’. “It is still raw for them, andquite they are working out what to do next,” he said. Ave de
huge sums ‘without falling into losses’. Worse, it comes as it emerges that dozens of victims left destitute and penniless by the Denia-based firm are suing Smart and her former partner Darren Kirby. In the first case to reach the courts,
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Wealth agement (CWM) Man- Many of them folded transferred had last month obliterattheir priUntitled-1.pdf vate ing many UK 1 16/06/2017 heartbroken pensions through15:36 Brits’ life savings. the company,
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Confusion reigns SPAIN’S prime accused Catalan minister has leader Carles Puigdemont of causing ‘confusion’ after signing of independence. a declaration Mariano Rajoy demanded he clarify if he had really independence followingdeclared day’s nail biting address Tuesto the Catalan parliament. If so, Rajoy insisted trigger Article 155 he could constitution to allow of Spain’s Madrid to take direct control of Catalunya. “There is an urgent need to put an end to the Catalunya is goingsituation that through - to
Who’s paying us?
CONFUSION reigns through failed should foot the bill over who for Mallorca investment hotels hit by the collapse of airline Monarch. scheme Balearic hotels are facing a €10million bill over EXCLUSIVE the collapse that saw the By Joe Duggan emergency repatriation of back to the UK,over 110,000 many from HUNDREDS Palma. Administrator KPMG ish expats are of Britbattling Olive Press ‘the debt told the to retrieve Monarch to hoteliers owed by sions after their penlosing up to will rank as an unsecured claim’ against £20 million in a failed the defunct airline. pension investment OFF TO OZ: Boss “They will have to Kirby file a claim to scheme. and (above) team the joint administrators at for all Spanish-based finan- March the money they are charity bash owed,” said cial advisory firm a spokesman. Continental
“It has not been determined (yet) how much money available to creditors.” will be
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The Olive Press joined thousands of Spaniards and Brits in last ditch Brexit protest See page 5
October 2019
Those looking to live in Spain better off buying are term, new figures than renting longshow
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LEAVERS: Trio YOU WHAT: Crossing in middle of campo?
UYING a property of Spain, according is cheaper than renting in most parts In 15 major cities to new calculations. to pay a landlord it is far cheaper to pay a mortgage than rent, it has been According to the discovered. of a mortgage findings, in none of the major In some cities, come above 31% of the average cities did the cost such as Merida, family earnings. 8% of the average the Only Barcelona salary, found the price of renting is as low Century 21. as report by global while Palma in cost more to rent at 44% estate agency In Sevilla, the Mallorca cost 34%. of average earnings, “Renting has become of the average cost of buying with a mortgage a necessity for to buy.” explained many people who was just 16% ofsalary, which is €2,671 a month, came to just 19% CEO of Century cardo Sousa. while in Valencia 21 for Spain and can’t afford Rental outlay in €2,776. it Portugal, Ri"Today, major the same two cities, cities around the 26% of monthly meanwhile came ing affordable and world earnings. to 32% and In Murcia - where adequate solutions. face the challenge of provid“This is especially the average are paying 20% the case in celona, where on rent, while salary is €2,683 a month there is stronglarge cities such as Madrid and Another example tenants owners options with affordable population Barshowed that the pay just 11% on a mortgage. apartment in Madrid owners of a 90-square-metre prices are scarce.” growth, while housing The cost of rents pay a mortgage tenants are paying years, according in Spain have jumped by €1,419 per month, of €960 per month, while ily’s income. 50% over the last to a study by the an alarming 40% lected by Idealista. five Bank of Spain, of a famusing data colAlmost 23% of the population the European average rent property, significantly of 30%. less than
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their affairs.” The Chief Minister boasted of winning his third term with such a comfortable margin. “I’m very proud of the fact they’ve won three elections on that the run as this was an important glass ceiling for us,” said Picardo, whose party got 10 seats. However, with the advent of Brexit looming large, he was unable to spend long celebrating the record victory.
“No, we didn’t have much time for celebrations because it was straight back into work on the morning of the 18th,” he added. His victory came after an intense month-long campaign, with 70% of Page 18 the electorate making their voices heard. While the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) and Together Gibraltar roperty argued for change, the government DILEMMAS OF A BILLIONAIRE naturally argued the opposite. One of the key battle grounds was the issue of Brexit, with the elector10 ate clearly trusting the government the most. After receiving nearly 10,000 votes, More with a mortgage Picardo appealed for unity ahead B of ‘one of the most challenging times that we have faced’. “We’re in touch with officials ministers In London in orderand Page 9 understand the latest twists to turns and what might happen,”and he ity.” explained. The new mandate was delivered on the promise of a green and childCollective friendly Gibraltar, all despite the With the departure of Neil Costa current Brexit uncertainty. portfolio reshuffle was announceda In excellent news for the exclave, to best tackle the next four years. Marlene Hassan Nahon, of Togeth“This is not a one man band,” in- er Gibraltar, was given the biggest sisted Picardo. vote of all the opposition members. “This is a team of friends working The daughter of Gibraltar’s longest together to deliver collegiate gov- leader, Sir Joshua Hassan, said ernment and collective responsibil- her recently-formed party brought ‘a fresh approach, an attentive ear and a loud, fearless voice’. Local businessman Craig Sacarello received the most support of all her TG party members, just missing out on a place in parliament by 35 votes. The rest of the Opposition was made up of the GSD, who got six seats, recovering Reliable private hire transfer from a poor showing at the services for any occasion last election. “We will be there working • Luxury vehicles shoulder to shoulder with • Door to door service you,” announced Azopardi. • Airport collections “I meant what I said that if • Weddings transport you need our help during the • Sightseeing day trips Brexit crisis you will have it. • Restaurant shuttles “All we want in return is Find out more at: reciprocity and real involvewww.simply-shuttles.com ment.”
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Proud as punch Picardo excited to govern Rock for third term as Azopardi offers Brexit olive branch
NEWLY elected Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo spoke of his pride at achieving a third term for his governing alliance. It came after the GSLP/Liberals took 52% of the votes with the GSD and Together Gibraltar sharing Opposition seats on October 17. the “I am delighted that people have
The pharmacy at St. Bernard’s Hospital is the only place the newly-authorised products are available from. A Government spokesperson said: “HM Government of Gibraltar is pleased to announce the publication of the Drugs (Misuse) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (the “Regulations”), which amend the Drugs (Misuse) Regulations 2005.” Acting Medical Director, Dr Krishna Rawal said: “In my considered view, cannabis oil certainly has its place in the modern medical care of some patients. “Over time, I am certain that the increased use of cannabis for medical purposes will generate overwhelming evidence in support of its use.”
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LA CULTURA Republican After a lengthy absence, one of the most elaborate Hebrew bibles will return to Spain, for an upcoming exhibiton ONE of the world’s most ornate and expensive Hebrew bibles is to returned to its birthplace in Spain from the UK. The 500-year-old Kennicott Bible will be displayed in Santiago de Compostela, the Galician government has announced. Many Jews who fled during the Spanish Inquisition smuggled out many books and artifacts out with them that would have otherwise been destroyed. The Kennicott Bible was written by Moises Ibn Zabara and illustrated by Joseph Ibn Hayyim for influential Jewish businessman Isaac di Braga. It is named after Benjamin Kennicott, a scholar whose work led to the book being stored at Oxford University. The prestigious establish-
monument vandalised
A MEMORIAL to dead republican soldiers has been vandalised in Andalucia, a day after ex-dictator Franco was exhumed. The monument stands in the cemetery of San Eufrasio in Jaen, where hundreds of republican soldiers are buried. Caretakers who look after the cemetery found that the names of victims engraved on the monument had been covered with
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November 6th - November 19th 2019 red graffiti reading: ‘We win, we will win.’ The local council criticised the vandalism, calling it ‘absolutely reprehensible’. The cemetery is listed as an asset of cultural interest (BIC). Council workers quickly washed the writing off the monument with high pressure waterjets. The memorial, which also bore signs of heavy blows, will be repaired in due course.
Back from the grave Best for ment, which owns the copy, has only agreed to lend the Bible to the Museo Centro Gaias in Santiago for the exhibition - Galicia, a Story of the World. Roman Rodriguez, minister for culture and tourism in the Galicia government, said: “The Kennicott is one of the world’s great Bibles and it has a dual value: a technical one because of its spectacular artistry, but also a symbolic one.
“It shows how, at one time, people of three religions – Jews, Muslims and Catholics – coexisted in Spain. “It also shows how at one time there was a strong cultural and economic Jewish presence in Galicia, but it was forced out – as Jews were from the rest of Spain.”
Very appt
A NEW app has been launched that lets people listen to the stories of women locked up under Franco. Created by Madrid artist Toxic Lesbian and the Institute of History, the interactive app lets users listen to the stories of women interned in mental homes. Users can even take a selfie with the
Banderas
The Kennicott Bible is worth millions and its pages teem with mythical beings and animals, while others feature geometric patterns. Its completion took 10 months and was finished in 1476.
women from the various sites, including Madrid’s ‘House of the Demented’, Santa Isabel. The women’s stories were gathered from the book Letters from the Asylum published last year, which details patients’ experiences from 1852 to 1952. Toxic Lesbian said: “Patients with mental health problems have been marginalized and remain so. Here they are empowering themselves with their own experiences.”
MALAGA-born actor Antonio Banderas has won the best actor gong at the Hollywood Film Awards. The 59-year-old was recognised for his starring role as a declining film director in Spanish drama Pain and Glory. Banderas plays an ill film director retracing his major life events through a series of flashbacks in the Oscar-nominated movie, directed by the ‘grandfather of Spanish cinema’, Pedro Almodovar. The celebrated actor picked up the award from actress Dakota Johnson, daughter of his ex-wife Melanie Griffith. The 23rd edition of the Hollywood Film Awards was held at the five-star, luxury Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
what’s on Fin for the win All in the mind
INTERNATIONALLY renowned FinnishH10 photogMARBELLA’S Anrapher exhibiting daluciaisPlaza Hotel some hosts of finest photos until theher Mind, Body & Spirit November 18 October at the CenFestival from 26 tro La Cala de - 27,Cultural 11am toin 8pm. Mijas.
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JUZCAR is holding DO miss Malaga’s its not popular MushInternational Jazz room Gathering Festival at the Teatro Weekend, a guided Cervantes, featuring walk through the legends like Charles forests foraging for Lloyd, Kenny Barron mushrooms, from and others8until November - 10. November 11.
Absolutely Strike a chord nuts
THE Love to Sing Choir THEperforming ‘Big Chestnut Roast’ are some of in Ojen, Malaga, Broadway’s biggest will hits have its 27th in Estepona at the edition Centro in the village square, Cultural Padre Manuel on November 3 for Sarah Almagrowhere who visitors can also enjoy lost her hands and feet to games on and food. sepsis November 8 at 7:30pm.
You’ve been You’ve Tango’dbeen Tango’d
LA Portena Tango will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Nerja on November 8 with a huge concert.
White Truffles in Winter N.M Kelby latest novel is one for foodies
This is a beautifully written fictional biography of legendary chef Auguste Escoffier who changed the way we dine through his restaurants at the Ritz and the Savoy. He was known as ‘The king of chefs and the chef of kings’. Considered to be the most innovative chef of his era, Escoffier’s influence is still felt today. The story weaves together a tale of love, passion and obsession for both food and women. The story is told from many perspectives. There is his wife, Delphine, who is at the end of her life. And also, Escoffier himself as he writes his memoir and a third person account of Escoffier’s life and loves such as his time as a soldier in the Franco-Prussian war, his relationship with Sarah Bernhardt and creating menus for the Titanic and the Savoy. Featuring recipes from his book, Le Guide Culinaire, this is a novel for foodies and for anyone who likes a good story. We will be discussing White Truffles in Winter at our Book Club on Tuesday November 19. All are welcome to join us. €10.50, Available from The Bookshop San Pedro - www.thebookshop.es
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LA CULTURA
12
To be or not to be November 6th - November 19th 2019
From Springsteen to Shakespeare, the surprising passions of the Spanish political leaders vying for your vote
SPAIN goes to the polls on November 10 for yet another General Election. But in a break from politics - who hasn’t had enough of the Brexit shambles in the UK after all - we checked out the main Spanish candidates’ cultural credentials to see what makes them tick. No one makes model buses like Boris Johnston but from secret Springsteen fans to Game of Thrones addicts, their passions may surprise you.
Pablo Iglesias
His education might have put him on a different side of the camera as the Podemos leader studied television at the Metropolis Professional School of Audiovisual Arts, short films at the Carlos III University School of Arts and speech and programme presentation at the RTVE. Wow! He was also the founder of the political theatre company Antigona and has acted in some of their works. Given his studies, it’s no wonder that TV hit Game of Thrones is a firm favourite in his casa. When not checking out the machinations of the Lannisters and Targeryens, he listens to godmother of soul, Aretha Franklin. He has also confessed to buying some of his clothes at discount hypermarket Alcampo.
Alberto Rivera
Books and films take up much of Snr Rivera’s time away from the political arena. His favourite read is The Human Factor by John Carlin which tells the story of how Nelson Mandela challenged apartheid in South Africa. It was also the basis of the film Invictus starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, which focused on how Mandela’s work brought a nation together to see the Springboks triumph in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final. Rivera’s favourite literary quote is from French writer Victor Hugo: “There is nothing more powerful than an idea that has reached its time.” No doubt he will be putting some of those ideas forward during the campaign.
Santiago Abascal
Passions of a different nature float the VOX leader’s boat. He is a true nature boy, enjoying hiking and mountaineering, and is a member of the Spanish Ornithological Society. Photography is a passion and friends say he has a talent for photographing wild animals and birds. He must also be a very patient man as another hobby is growing and trimming Bonsai trees - not the easiest of horticultural species to cultivate.
Pedro Sanchez
Alongside officiating at friends weddings, where he reads poems he has personally chosen for the happy couples, the currentPrime Minister has a wide range of interests. Speaking fluent English, he cites Shakespeare as one of his favourite playwrights. That’s in complete contrast to his musical choice as you’re likely to find indie bands Arcade Fire and Muse along with rocker Bruce Springsteen on the PM’s Ipod playlist. Spanish cinema is high on his list of ways to relax, as is chilling in front of the television. But even in his own living room Snr Sanchez is never far away from politics, with The West Wing and Game of Thrones among his favourite shows. Let’s hope he is not getting too many ideas from either of these cutthroat epics.
Pablo Casado
Less is known about PP leader Casados’s cultural leanings, but he confesses to being a keen chef. And apparently he is quite talented - although he admits he could never better his wife Isabel’s signature squid dish. Looking after himself, staying fit and eating healthily are his favourite things. Unsurprisingly his dishes are Med-based and include heaps of local fresh fish.
LA CULTURA To rest is to rust 14
November 6th - November 19th 2019
Heather Galloway meets Spain’s cult film director Carlos Saura who has no time for reactionary trends and at age 87 is launching a new photography exhibition
M
ost people fear change, but not Carlos Saura. Instead, the 87-year-old award-winning Spanish film director from Huesca revels in it. One of Spain’s most treasured exports along with Rioja and Manchego cheese, he stands among 118 of the photos he has shot over a period of 70 years that chronicle the evolution of Spain and his own career. “The photos are the foundation of my films,” he says clearly touched by the atmosphere of affection, admiration and respect in Madrid’s Circulo de Bellas Artes where the exhibition of his work has just opened. It wasn’t always like this. There was, in fact, a time when Saura, a close friend of the late off-beat Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel, claimed he was better treated outside his own country than within, winning the Berlin Festival’s Silver Bear for his 1966 movie The Hunt, a BAFTA for Carmen in 1983 and three Oscar nominations in 1980 for Mama reaches 100, in 1984 for Carmen and in 1999 for Tango. Now though, he is ubiquitously recognised as an icon of Spanish cinema, one who has distilled the essence of his country’s culture with understated yet powerful narratives, evident in movies such as Raising Ravens, 1976, Ay Carmela!, 1990, and The 7th Day, 2005. And anyone who has watched Taxi, his 1996 film about a group of extreme right-wing taxi drivers who take it upon themselves to cleanse the streets of Madrid of immigrants and other ‘undesirables’, has probably never felt the same again about taking a cab in the capital. Starring Ingrid Rubio and Carlos Fuentes, the protagonists are embroiled in a sinister response to migrants – accounting for just 1.4% of the population at that time – who are perceived to pose a contaminating threat to what was still a rather insular society. As a man of left-wing principles, a prolific film-maker, photographer
ICONIC: Carlos Saura’s Las ninas de Cria Cuervos, Madrid, 1975
and writer, Saura flagged up the changes afoot – the clash between ‘the family’ – as the taxi-driver clan dubbed themselves – and outsiders – which did not, of course, refer to the Brits, Scandinavians and Germans making their home along the Spanish coast. Foreigners now account for around 12.8% of Spain’s population and much has changed since Taxi was made, not least in Saura’s own journey. A renaissance man at heart, Saura is the David Bowie of film, constantly reinventing himself and refusing to be labelled. “I am an anarchist,” he tells me. “I don’t belong to any particular par-
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LA CULTURA
ty and never have. Of course, people have linked me to communism and socialism. But I like to be free of labels and have the freedom to change.” His hands flutter with resignation when asked about Brexit and the rise of right-wing populism in Europe, which appears to be harking back to an earlier age. “I’m not a politician,” he says, shaking his head. Perhaps these issues feel too familiar to interest Saura. And perhaps too, as he advances into his twilight years, he is letting music rather than political views dominate his work, evident from more recent films such as Flamenco Flamenco, 2010, J: Beyond Flamenco, 2016, and I, Don Giovanni, 2009 and the musical King of the Whole World, 2019, starring his wife, Eulalia Ramón. But music and dance, often with a strong flamenco bias, played a significant role in even in Saura’s earliest films. And now, for the first time, he is directing an opera – none other than Don Giovanni in A Coruña. “To rest is to rust,” he said recently, as though determined to ring the changes and face new challenges for as long as he is able. “I’m someone who is divided into cycles,” he says. “And sometimes when I see a photo from an earlier period, I don’t recognise myself. I see somebody else. But that doesn’t bother me. I’m not concerned with the past. I only care about the present and, as I have reached a certain time in my life, the future.” As might be expected from someone who does not spend time looking over his shoulder, Saura’s personal life has also been colourful. Married three times, after his first marriage to Adela Medrano, he went on to have a 13-year relationship with Geraldine Chaplin that ended when he fell in love Jude Law-style with their son’s nanny. Chaplin packed her bags, took the boy and left. Saura proceeded to marry the nanny, Mercedes Pérez. But he was never one to hang around once the passion had gone. His current relationship with actress Eulalia Ramón, who had roles in Taxi, The 7th Day and Dispara!, has, however, lasted 26 years, suggesting that, in this department, at least, Saura is happy to put his feet up.
CREATIVE: Saura with camera and (above) La Procesion, La Alberca, 1954
Looking to the future, Pablo Picasso is pencilled in on Saura’s agenda. An icon of the avant-garde with his ground-breaking strokes of genius, who better to keep the rust at bay? Carlos Saura photographer: A life behind the camera is showing in the Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid until January 12 ends.
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Issue 330
alley
www.theolivepress.es
June 26 - July 9 2014
Nov 6 - 19, 2019
Lose yourself in the valley Charlie Smith discovers why so many expats have found their Eldorado in the white towns of the green Guadalhorce Valley
IDYLLIC: The view down the valley towards Coin from Monda
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SPEND 15 minutes gawping at the rugged Alhaurin el Grande mountain range from our balcony before I realise I am late for breakfast. We’re running on empty, but the cloud-covered peak of the Sierra de Mijas looming beyond the palm trees outside the window is more than enough to distract me from hunger pangs. It feels like we’re in the wilds but this is Las Delicias, an urbanisation in Coín 33 km west of Malaga, 30 km north of Marbella. After pulling my travelling partner from his comfortable bed, we amble downstairs where our host has cooked up a mean breakfast.
‘Spanish toast’, complete with a piping cafetiere of the good stuff, lives up to the Las Delicias name. We aren’t the only guests at the hostel which Hazel Rennalls runs with her husband Tony, having made the leap to Spain from Wokingham 18 months ago. There are Americans staying. The Guadalhorce Valley has international appeal. Over a second cuppa, Hazel and fellow British expat Ursula Lewis endorse that, regaling me with tales of their adventures through the valley during their 25-year friendship. “Sundays in Coin are unforgettable,” says Ursula, who has travelled over 600 km from her home in Valencia for another glimpse of the valley - a reminder of the green, green
grass of her ex-home. “Every Sunday there is a flea market in La Trocha,” Hazel continues, referencing the swish commercial centre that has enticed the likes of Carrefour and Dunnes Stores to branch out into the rural hinterland to cater for the growing expat population. “The market is brilliant,” Ursula cuts in. “And very cheap. You can get anything from a pipe for your toilet to a lovely wardrobe.” Just as you can get pretty much anything in Coin, the valley’s cultural centre, a mix of old and new, traditional and Continues overleaf
18 November 6th - November 19th 2019 of Sierra Blanca, five kilometres south, was used to construct the amazing Roman town of Italica, near Sevilla, the birthplace of the mighty Emperor Haexpat. The feel of authentic rural drian in 76AD. Spain with a European ve- Then, like many parts neer explains why so many of Spain, Coin fell to the expats from the UK and fur- Moors in the 900s before ther afield, have chosen to being reconquered by the Christians in the late 15th call it home. One of the tapas we enjo- century. The town buckled yed at the Nueva Alameda under a siege in which, lecafeteria was a fried bacon, gend has it, the great New eggs and mushrooms dish. World explorer Christopher Columbus took part. Does it get more British? Only the name Coin, per- The fascinating 9th cenhaps, when spoken of by tury Mozarabe Monastery newbie Brits. It’s pronoun- will take you back to those ced ‘Co-een’ but they call it swashbuckling times. But the draw of the mounlike the money. Historically, Coin is very tains is too strong and we much on the money with a set off to explore them. This is the the cosmopolitan Sierra de las past stretching Nieves, Spain’s from the RoPinsapo fir newly-declared man Empire trees, Spanish national park. to pop culture. Largely untouEldorado, the ibex and ched by touBBC’s famousrists yet ridithriving otter ly flopped culously close soap, was filpopulations to the coast, med on a purit’s a weekend pose-built set getaway begoutside town. The Romans set the place ging to be booked. Pinsapo up as the market town of fir trees, Spanish ibex and Lacibis, mining the terrain thriving otter populations for minerals and laying the are some of the gems that foundations for the area’s won it National Park proteclatterly burgeoning ‘Green tion. Tolox is the back door to Coin’ ceramics trade. Marble from the quarries this incredible mountain wilderness. From Page 1
Valley life
As someone once described it, ‘If Coin sits at the foot of the Sierra de las Nieves, then Tolox is the toenail’. Once part of the Kingdom of Soleimán, this whitewashed Moorish village also draws visitors to explore the healing properties of its Fuente Amarga Spa. Stress and muscle fatigue are washed away with a variety of therapies ranging from natural gas inhalation
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RAMPARTS: An old fortress near Alhaurin
to mud spray treatments. Former Spanish Prime Minister Miguel Primo de Rivera is among the more famous faces to have indulged. Conveniently close to the spa on the fringes of the Sierra de las Nieves sits one of the Guadalhorce Valley’s finest hotels. Offering eagle-eye views as far as Malaga, the Cerro de Hijar hotel is one of Andalu-
cia’s more remote places to rest your head. If rigorous adventure is more your thing, you should try the winding walk from Marbella, which takes in the towns of Ojen, Monda, Guaro, Coin and - if you have the energy - eventually Alhaurin. Take water for the steep climb and a camera for the awesome scenery and views.
November 6th - November 19th 2019
Every hairpin bend round building that was used as a the steep cliffs offers up a sentry point as you arrive. fresh angle on the valley. And let’s not forget the CaLooking up at the imposing minito del Rey, a huge hit ceiling of white cloud, and with thrill seekers. down to waterfalls trickling Once dubbed ‘the world’s below, it’s easy to forget deadliest walkway, and with that the Costa 1,000 visitors del Sol metroa day, this hipolis is just Boars roam and g h - a d r e n a l i n over the mounhike above the tain. its aquamarine El Chorro gorArriving in Alge, is in high waters end haurin is like demand. deja vu as a It was recently in a magical ‘castle’ looms praised as a waterfall into view. It’s ‘shining examthe famous ple’ of a susbrick water tainable tourist tower that starred in the attraction. opening credits of the El- Emerging at the other end dorado series, built to look of the Caminito in Ardales, old. you’ll be hard-pressed to More striking is how Alhau- get in your car and leave. rin has grown. Where Coin Often called Andalucia’s may have one or two ama- Lake District, with turquoizing tapas places or cake se waters surrounding shops, Alhaurin has seve- tree-lined islands, it’s easy ral. to see why. The route south west out of The scenery is more akin to Alhaurin brings you to the the cantons of Switzerland serene Barranco Blanco than anything found on the (White Ravine). Costa del Sol. A photographer’s favourite, So many white villages, so buried in the countryside much still to discover about where wild boar feel safe the Guadalhorce Valley. In to roam, its aquamarine the towns our catchphrase waters end in a magical wa- of the day became ‘We’re terfall. not lost’ when people saw Everyone mentions the Na- us consulting our tourist zis, who allegedly used the office maps and offered area as training camp du- help. But really that is the ring WW2, due to the allian- only way to experience the ce between Franco and Hit- Guadalhorce Valley. Just ler. You can still see a white lose yourself.
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his morning I watched the sun rise over the Sierra de las Nieves. It's been my daily routine since moving to the Guadalhorce Valley four months ago. It's a peaceful way to start the day - but then again, living in The Valley is proving to be a pretty peaceful way of life. What drove us to choose a finca on a hillside just outside Guaro? Years of visiting family had made us fall in love with the area, but as everyone knows visiting and living here are very different. The summer months were
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taken up with hordes of visitors - I don't think we have ever been so popular. And as I am sure you can relate, not all visitors are equal. We got so ambushed with guests wanting to go to the nearby beaches and experience the hustle and bustle of bars along the coast, or simply laze round our pool or play golf, that we haven't had the chance to explore the countryside until now. We have driven into the biggest town Coin, and smiled as others have complained about the rush hour traffic. We still have the memory of the M25 fresh in our minds.
uadalhorce Valley
Karen Livermore shares why living in The Valley is such a joy - even if some visitors can be a pain
There is no comparison. We have eaten Spanish food with a twist at Coconut in Coin, where owner Rafa is fast gaining a reputation as owning the go-to restaurant in town. Heading out, we have discovered great ventas, where we can eaten royally and drink copiously for less than the price of two coffees and a plastic-tasting sandwich back in the UK. We have walked round the shimmering lakes at El Chorro and hiked some of the Caminito del Rey - we will do it all one day and we have made a promise to try kayaking on the lakes. And whilst I can say that the tiny town of Guaro with its winding streets and typically Spanish bars, where you can eat delicious tapa for â‚Ź1, holds a place in my heart, I am ashamed to say we have still not explored the white villages of Alozaina or Tolox or any of the others that nestle among the hillsides. They are on the list. We have, however sat on our terrace and watched hawks hover elegantly above before diving on their prey. We have listened to birdsong in the morning and wished there was a way of identifying these
BLISS: The valley offers so much that there’s no reason to be bored sweet sounds. Surely there must be an app? (Ed: There is now Karen). We did find an app for the constellations and spent many an evening with a glass of vino tinto in hand gazing up at the purplely velvet sky holding phones aloft looking for the Plough,
Orion Jupiter and Saturn and then gasping as a shooting star soared over our heads. It's a very different way of life to the one we had in the UK. More relaxed, but somehow it feels more real. But the question we get most asked is "Aren't you bored yet?"
How can we be when we have not even started to explore our new home, ask us in five ten, 15 years and maybe the answer will be different, but somehow I think there is enough in The Valley to keep us feeling we made the right choice coming here.
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Andalucia’s own ‘bread basket’
THE Guadalhorce Valley is 804km2 in size, and home to around 150,000 permanent residents, while many more own second homes there. It has always been known for its citrus production, with orange and lemon plantations stretching out in every direction from the valley’s towns. Of the eight municipalities, Coin is the biggest. But towns such as Alhaurin El Grande, Alora and Cartama are also immensely popular with expats. While first colonised by the Romans, it was the Moors who have had the largest influence on the area. Everywhere there is evidence of their work, which tamed the tumbling streams into irrigation systems and brought fertility to the whole of the valley. But while the region has been termed one of the bread-baskets of Andalucia since Roman times, the locals have long struggled with fluctuating rainfall, which can still bring devastating floods to the whole of the valley or leave the land parched for months on end.
Top dogs S
tudents from all over Europe come to Andalucia’s poshest pet facility to learn how to groom pets professionally but THEY have also come from as far as Russia and Iceland and Posh Pets Spain has just taken the first enquiry from China to learn how to groom dogs by Rachel Goutorbe. With an international reputation spanning over two decades, it is perhaps little surprise. The thriving business Posh Pets Spain, which Rachel runs with husband Les, literally treats its guests - that is, its pampered pooches and kitties - better than half the hotels in the region. The fortunate pets that end up getting groomed here, or who come to stay, come from as far as Madrid and Gibraltar and end up going home squeaky clean after booking an amazing Spa Package for their pets; With big smiles on their faces showing complete content.. “They absolutely love it in the “Red Wreck” Sensory playground, running around playing together, their tails wagging,” explains Rachel, who has been running her upmarket Pet Facility since 2004. “A lot of the dogs are ex- rescue dogs and you can see how they unwind and relax. Our Sensory Garden/Playground has been created to help build up their confidence as well as to tantalise all their senses, plus it helps them to
interact with their surroundings and provide physical and mental challenges to help enrich their lives.” With a sensory herb garden, a sandpit with treats hidden in it along with a huge play area… could there be a pet hotel in Spain quite as posh? It sits in a half acre grove of mature citrus trees and is a riot of smells and colours. Cleverly thought out, there is a big range of self-medicating plants such as valerian, often selected by anxious dogs for its calming effect, and marigolds, often selected by animals that are experiencing grief or emotional stress. Then there is lavender to encourage scar tissue regeneration, wheat grass for animals that are nervous, as well as peppermint which is good for its cooling properties and often selected by animals with skin irritations. It can also be used as an aid for training. The garden also boasts a water feature, a Wendy House, an illusion mirror and crazy daisies, which spray the dogs with water, keeping them cool in summer. The fantastic adjacent dog hotel has its pet chalets named after Coronation Street characters and each comes with its own pink sun bed. Aside to this there is a spacious boutique cattery away from the Dog Hotel boasting large individual rooms complete with climbing frames, cat trees, toys and music.
Each cat has a 360 degree view. “Our grounds are fully secure with CCTV and we live on site so there is peace of mind, we also ensure we have “specially selected classical pet music” that plays 24hours a day in the Pet Hotel & Grooming Salon” continues Rachel. “We understand owners concerns for the care of their pets and they receive the same love and attention as you would bestow upon them whilst they are in our care,” she says. Regularly photos of the pets on their holiday are posted on the Facebook page POSH PETS SPAIN. And clients that live some distance from Alhaurin can be picked up by a licensed Pet Pick-up service too. On top of this the company runs a fully licensed pet transportation service to and from the UK and Europe. Finally, the Grooming Salon & Groomers training centre is fully equipped and caters for all breeds & crossbreeds as well as cats. Courses to learn how to groom last two or three weeks and can take in first aid, canine massage and how to make your own products.
Visit www.poshpetsspain. com for more info or call 952 597 035
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Heard it on the grapevine Grapevine Properties prides itself in mixing human values with a professional service. They have worked hard to get this balance right over the years and are often complimented on the excellent customer service they provide to both vendors and purchasers. This way of working sets Grapevine apart from other local agencies. This starts with their free valuation service and in-house professional photographer, to their personalized feedback after viewings, all the way to their extensive aftersales service. They have been living and working in Guadalhorce Valley for over 17 years, getting to know the ins and outs of the towns, villages and country roads. They are passionate about how living in this region can change and enrich your life and bask in the fact that they get to show off this beautiful area every day from the Grapevine mobiles! Grapevine would be delighted to come and provide you with a property valuation. Tel. 952 457 761
Perfect overseas properties With a range of unbeatable homes stretching from Malaga to Sotogrande, Property Overseas is one of the most trusted real estate compa-
nies operating on the Costa del Sol and surrounding areas. From their offices nestled in the village of Coin, in the
Dream homes
This November marks two years since El Arcon de Charo arrived in the town of Alhaurin el Grande and made its name. In those two years, the owners have continued to surprise both locals and tourists, with novel and original ideas. Products brought back from the family-run firm’s frequent visits to some of Europe’s most recognised design fairs form the backbone of their excellent range. For El Arcon de Charo, the bal-
ance of quality and price is fundamental in giving customers the very best. The store prides itself on its close and friendly service for all those who step foot inside. Staff are always willing to advise anyone who intends to renovate furniture in their home or business. The aim is to help the customer find a piece that more than meets their expectations. Once again, at this important time of the year, with plenty of festivities taking place, El Arcon de Charo intends to surprise the public of all ages with its windows full of lights, snow and Christmas decorations. El Arcon de Charo will remain faithful to the mantra that has defined it from the beginning and that has been so warmly received by its clientele for years: turn your home ... into the home of your dreams.
heart of Andalucia, the company’s property experts hunt down southern Spain’s prime real estate. From eight bedroom villas with swimming pools, to rural fincas with panoramic views of the Andalucian countryside, their native English speaking team have the skills to find a property to meet even the most particular of tastes. The Property Overseas Group covers the breadth of the Costa del Sol and nearby countryside. Whether you’re looking for a glamorous second home among the plush golf courses of Nueva Andalucia or seeking a seaside retreat in the exclusive enclave of Sotogrande, the experts at Property Overseas Group have you covered. Their friendly, bilingual team bring their experience and expertise to every customer’s search in order to find a property that suits you. And with excellent links to the best agents in the south, there’s every reason to believe they’ll find you your dream home in no time.
Hilltop homes galore Offering houses for every budget across the Costa del Sol, Guadalhorce Valley and surrounding areas, Alora Properties’s dedicated team is on-hand to guide you through every step of the property buying process. Established in 1998, the English and Spanish-speaking team’s vast experience and local knowledge can help you find your perfect place in the sun. Based in the bustling market town of Alora, from which the company takes its name, Alora Properties has everything from small village houses for €40,000 to €1.4 million country villas. The real estate experts also offer a mix of traditional townhouses, remote cortijos and hilltop fincas with extensive grounds. Only a 30-minute drive from Malaga Airport, Alora Properties has specialist knowledge of the villages of the Guadalhorce Valley, such as Cartama, Alhaurin El Grande, Coin, Pizarra, Carratraca, Ardales, Valle de Abdaljis, El Chorro and of course Alora itself. The close-knit team have a wealth of experience of dealing with customers from across the world, whether they be from the UK, Germany, Morocco or further afield.
Perfect planning Costa Funeral Services offers the best in helping you plan the funeral of yourself or those close to you. An English-speaking company based on the Costa del Sol, the firm offers a widerange of funeral services, specifically catered towards the expat community. The team understand the difficulty in arranging a funeral in a country where you may not speak the language. Costa Funeral Services has a history in providing the best for its clientele - regardless of any geographical limitations. Taking responsibility for planning your own funeral is the best possible ways to take the burden off loved ones during a time of grievance. Costa Funeral Services deal with all aspects - from registering a death, cancelling passports and even speaking to a judge who needs to sign the crematorium request, all the things that need to be considered when someone passes. These well-respected funeral directors can help you every step of the way - and they are just a phone call away.
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The new decree about illegal houses: A lot to do about nothing? For years already homeowners all over Andalusia have been hoping for a solution for this on going problem. Hopes ranging from a -not very realistic- a full amnesty to a more common sense hope for a serious set of guidelines of how to finally be able to regularise your homes I am sorry to say that the very well publicised new decree doesn't even get close to solve the problems of illegal and irregular houses. It does however offer solutions for other problems such as contracting electricity and other services.
area, it will be possible for you and your neighbours to propose to your local council to class your neighbourhood as “Habitat Rural Diseminado”, a recognition of your area as being a kind of “soft” urbanisation, which will give you far more rights than the simple recognition of your individual home. The obvious disadvantage of this figure is that it will take a very long time to process: estimated are about 2 years and that the costs for infrastructure as roads, sewerage, water and electricity will have to be paid by the affected properties. Hardly a workable solution.
One of the main consequences is that the authority in most things that treat with urbanism problems is given back to the local councils. This “passing the hot potato” attitude does not really help: the main change from the 2012 decree is that the town councils and also groups of neighbours can propose “special plans” meaning that if you are living in a relatively densely build
But we hear through our grapevine that the Junta finally is seriously working on a major change in the LOUA (the main law which deals with all urbanism matters, and indeed caused most of the problems) and for what we have been told, the changes are going to be important and indeed finally might solve the problem once and for all. But, as usual: estimated timeframe: about 2 years. Live and
“special plans” .
hope.. At this point in time you can still put in -if necessary- for the recognition of your home as “fuera de ordenacion” which means your home exists outside of what is foreseen in the local or regional zoning plans. The decree gives various options which have to be studied almost on a case by case basis in order to define which figure applies to your individual situation. Most of
you will at this point of time find yourselves in the figure of “asimilado a fuera de ordenacion”, a figure which gives you legal protection against fines and demolition, allows you to contract electricity and other services, and gives access to the land registry and “allows” you to pay your rates. At todoserv we advise therefore to apply for the recognition on an individual basis and have a chat with your local council about the
Requirements are (amongst others): a certificate that your house exists for more than 6 years, that it complies with the minimum safety and health requirements for its intended use, that any fining file that might have been opened on your property has to be resolved or archived, you will have to show where and how you are going or are connected to the electricity grid and where you get your water from and the septic tanks have become a very important requirement. As usual, a lot of paperwork, but at todoserv we are already way advanced in talks with various councils about the practical consequences of this new decree. You should take into account a few things however: the councils will have up to 6 months to resolve on your application, and the decree makes it explicitly possible for them to levy new taxes in the process and allows the individual councils to make it obli-
gatory for you to register. As always it is a far better idea to take the initiative, it goes faster and definitely will cheaper. At any rate, we at todoserv have a quite unique view on these AFO certificates, and we will gladly explain this to you. Since there are indeed just about as many different situations as there are properties, varying on the classification of the land and from one council to the next, each case should be studied individually. We will gladly give you a free information appointment to discuss your personal case and tell you during this meeting what your possibilities are. At the same time we will give you a comprehensive idea of what the procedure might cost. More information? In person at our offices: 952 45 12 69 business hours: Mo./Fri. 8 am-6 pm. e-mail: todoservcoin@ todoserv.com by mail: todoserv coin s.l., calle Pozo Solis 11, 29100 Coin Malaga
PROPERTY
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Walk in the park A HOUSE with allegedly Spain’s largest garden has gone up for sale. The €4 million mansion in Asturias has 10 hectares of parks and gardens, the same size as London’s O2 arena. The house and its gardens were the labour of love of Jose Rivera de Larraya, founder of Spanish food company Panrico.
The entrepreneur created his own green belt by buying up 58 connected farms over the years. Known locally as Panrico Gardens, the estate includes its own botanical gardens, lake and ornate fountains. Prospective buyers must be happy sharing as the 10-bedroom house’s gardens are currently open to the public.
Mortgage crash
Number of new mortgages plunges in third quarter due to new law THE number of new mortgages registered in Spain has taken a dramatic nosedive compared with the previous year. This August there was a 29.9% decrease on the same month in 2018. The data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE) reveal that the uptake in mortgages for the eighth month of the year was also
the worst since 2015. In total 20,385 new mortgages have made it onto the Land Registry in 2019 so far. Of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities, La Rioja experienced the most negative mortgage drop off, with a decrease of -61.5%. The regions with the next largest slumps were Extremadura (-53.8%), Na-
Star in the east
FOREIGN buyers are most in love with Alicante. An astonishing 41.81% of homes sold in the province were snapped up by foreigners, in the second quarter of 2019. It was followed, at some distance, by the Canary Islands where 28.91% of homes were bought by expats, Malaga (27.9%) and the Balearics (27.49%). The north west of Spain was the least popular area for foreign buyers. In all four provinces within the Galicia region, buyers from abroad accounted for less than 1% of property purchases. Barcelona remains more popular with foreign home buyers than Madrid, with 9.33% of houses in the Catalan capital sold to people from abroad, compared to just 5.92% in the Spanish capital.
varra (-52.9%), the Canary Islands (-49.7%), Balearic Islands (-42.5%), Madrid (-37.6%) and Andalucia (-34.4%). The poor mortgage data has been blamed on Spain’s new property law, which was implemented this summer. Article 20 of the Real Estate Credit Act was enacted by the Spanish Government in June, and according to the INE, ‘could have affected data published in August’.
Expats
The new law makes it more difficult for expats seeking a mortgage if they are not in the eurozone, specifically, if they derive their incomes in a currency other than the euro. This is because the borrower has the right to convert the mortgage into their own currency, under certain circumstances, at a later date. This means that some banks are only lending to euro earners and others are reducing their loan-to-values for British clients, in particular.
FREE QUOTE info@sghaulage.com www.sghaulageltd.co.uk
+44 1522 702 443
BUSINESS
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Is DIY Expat Financial Planning a Good Idea? In recent years it has become something of a trend for the masses to distrust experts. Instead, many of us decide to go it alone when tackling life’s challenges because we all know Google can diagnose health symptoms and watching a short YouTube video can help you install a new shower! But if you are considering your wealth management and retirement planning journey and are having reservations about hiring a professional to help you plan and manage your money, is this a sensible approach? What is involved in DIY expat financial planning and is it going to fit in with your expat lifestyle in Spain?
BY Tim Govaerts
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. You should love the investment process and be so passionate about investing strategies that financial pursuits already take up a large part of your leisure time. If your bedside reading consists of books on economic theory, if you enjoy an extended breakfast with the Financial Times and you consider attending an investing seminar to be a reAre you cut out for DIY wealth management? laxing break, you might just be suited to managing When it comes to financial planning, a ‘do-it-your- your own wealth. self’ approach brings with it a great many ongoing responsibilities. To fulfill the required tasks you will . Another important qualifier for the DIY expat need to ensure that you not only have the necesfinancial planner is the ability to comfortably sary knowledge, expertise and practical skills but make decisions about your financial future. This also the time, organisation and emotional resil- means that you must not feel overwhelmed by the ience which are integral to the investment process. process and the high stakes and that this responsibility does not cause you to lose sleep at night. There are five key criteria essential to DIY financial planning: . You will need to be time-rich and prefer to spend time reviewing your portfolios rather than playing golf or hanging out with grandchildren. It sounds harsh, but it’s true. Good investment decisions require research, planning and accuracy.
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. You will need to be able to withstand market volatility without making rash decisions. Investment portfolios inevitably lose and gain value during times of economic instability and you must be able to withstand ups and downs in the value of your assets and investments without making knee jerk trades or heat-chasing purchases.
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. Can you keep your eyes on the long-game? It is easy for the self-investor to dip into their savings accounts, pensions and other assets without fully appreciating how this might affect future returns. Budgeting and time-horizon planning are key in this respect.
Only if the above describes you to a tee would you be a likely candidate for DIY financial planning. Robo-advisers – Are they a good compromise? Robo-advisers might seem like the perfect halfway point between DIY investment and working with a human financial adviser. However, in reality most investment platforms are little more than glorified algorithms that take some account of your risk tolerance and goals, following a short questionnaire, before grafting your funds into a pre-constructed portfolio. They are not personalised, cannot talk to you, cannot listen to you, and cannot help you stay disciplined during times of volatility. In contrast, a professional financial adviser will develop a relationship with you and will integrate your finances, tax considerations and estate plans while also taking account of all the unique cross-border concerns that go hand-in-hand with being an expat living in Spain. Lastly, a robo-adviser cannot know – or care – if you are having health issues, have a grandchild with special educational needs or are wondering about the financial implications of a divorce; a human adviser can make an invaluable difference at the times when you need expert, bespoke advice the most. Tried and tested expertise to advance your interests Blacktower Financial Management has more than three decades of experience advancing the financial interests of our clients. We can help you weath-
www.theblacktowergroup.com er the financial uncertainties and ramifications of challenging times – such as Brexit – so that you can be secure in the knowledge that your money will continue to work for you. We believe that attempting to negotiate Brexit is likely to present too many challenges for the expat in Spain – both emotionally and practically – for DIY money management to be a prudent option. The expat financial advice sector remains integral to helping British people abroad reach their retirement investment goals, particularly in Spain, where a climate of innovation and opportunity has created real excitement and momentum. Blacktower will be by your side both now and in the future, we are here to help you. To arrange a professional and impartial consultation please contact me info@blacktowerfm. com or call +34 952 816 443. Website: www. blacktowerfm.com. The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.
Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain
No problema SPAIN’s economy chief has played down suggestions that the country is heading towards economic turmoil. Recent reports have indicated that Spain is enduring a torrid period in the markets, with GDP estimates for next year being reduced and the tourism sector undergoing a drop in profit. But the economy minister Nadia Calvin has put paid to that. She said: “I just came back from IMF, World Bank and G20 meetings. There is concern around the world about the markets, but no crisis is yet foreseeable, even more so in Spain.” Calvino spoke as Spain is facing another election - its fourth in as many years - on November 10.
BUSINESS
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November 6th - November 19th 2019
Santander profit drop Spain’s biggest bank’s profits drop in first nine months of the year as Brexit bites into British arm’s profits. BREXIT has made a dent in the profits of Spanish bank Santander. The Spanish bank recorded a 35% drop in its net profits during the first nine months of the year, after its British subsidiary’s profits fell 19%. Spain’s largest bank recorded a net profit of €3,732 million between January and September, while its British arm earned €828 million. Difficulties in the UK were offset by a 19% increase
in profits in Brazil, where the Spanish bank earned €2,249 million. The bank’s Brazillian arm remains its most profitable subsidiary. The company’s American division witnessed the biggest leap in profits, seeing them rise to €619 million, an increase of 27%. Profits were also up significantly in Mexico, which saw a 14% rise to €659 million and in Portugal where profits surged 12% to €385 million.
Hit the high street The company’s Spanish wing remains its second most profitable division,
Shelf stacking graduates ONE in three workers in Spain are stuck in a job unsuited to their level of education. A new study by the EU found that 36.3% of workers are working in roles below their level of education. The findings back up research by temping agency organisation, Asempleo, which found that 41% of women across Spain were overqualified for their jobs. The EU study also found that better than average job growth
in the Canary Islands, Murcia and Valencia has led to more people working in jobs they're overqualified for. People in the north of Spain are more likely to be working in jobs mismatched to their level of education than workers in the south. It is thought this is because more skilled workers are attracted to cities in the north, where there is a higher concentration of high-skilled sectors.
seeing profits rise by 3% to €1.185 million. Ana Botin, the group’s president, said that the company had maintained ‘good trends’ despite a difficult business environment. She said: “We have achieved the figures thanks to the strength of our business model and our new regional organization structure announced in April.” Botin added that diversifying into both European and American markets had helped Santander distinguish itself from competitors. The bank has added six million customers in the last twelve months and already serves 144 million people worldwide.
RETAIL sales surged in September, meaning that there has now been 12 months of consecutive growth in the sector. Sales across Spain rocketed by 3.4% in September compared to the same month last year. Small chains registered the largest jump in sales of 6.5%. Despite September seeing the biggest increase in sales since August 2016, when retail sales rose by 3.8%, job growth in the sector remained stagnant. There was a 0.9% increase in retail jobs overall, but a 0.7% fall in jobs with large chains. Madrid saw the biggest rise in retail sales, 7.6%. The poorest performing regions were Ceuta and Asturias, where sales dropped -1.2% and -0.8% respectively.
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November 6th - November 19th 2019
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Bookworms ahoy! Don’t miss one of the top British cultural festivals outside the UK, the Gibraltar Literary Festival
THE Gibraltar Literary Festival will bring some of the top authors in politics, journalism and science onto the Rock this month. The Olive Press caught up with two of them before they fly over for the four day book extravaganza. Sally Bayley will be speaking about the power of storytelling after her novel Girl with Dove was accepted to be an A-level text. She believes the structure of stories are something we need from an early age. “We learn how to tell stories by listening and reading them for ourselves,” Bayley told the Olive Press. “Stories are wired into our brains because we all compulsively narrate. “It is a form of survival and a means of living day-today and how we understand ourselves in this world.” She believes children are told stories with a strong
History, adventure and romance. That’s just the setting.
BOOK OFF: Alba Arikha (above) will showcase her book
narrative and character types to put across ‘a clear moral instruction’. “Children need vivid language which ‘sings’ and imitates sound,” she insisted. “We absorb language through song and dance, as the Greeks did when they told their epics in oral form.” The children’s author will have a conversation with her audience using props and visuals. She said ‘a strong voice’ creates ‘real relationship’ allowing the audience ‘to participate and think for themselves’. Another speaker, Alba Arikha, wrote Where to Find Me because she was interested in how people confront a traumatic past. “The novel is about identi-
ty, and what it means to be displaced, a theme I’m particularly interested in,” she explained. The plot is about two women who briefly meet in Paris, and its long-lasting consequences. “I chose Paris during the occupation as a backdrop, because I’ve always been interested in that period of French history,” said Arikha. “British Mandate Palestine is the other geographical setting because I wanted to write about a love affair that takes place amid political turmoil.” Arikha’s personal connection with the plot is that she grew up in Paris and spent summers in Israel, with the French capital featuring in a lot of her books.
Arikha’s novel deals with the theme of belonging, which she believes is ‘a universal one’. “These themes touch every one of us no matter where we come from - there is no hierarchy to human emotions,” she claimed. The author believes that reading personal stories can help us overcome the negative ideas of our time. “The rise of populism and nationalism are contributing to a culture of racism and prejudice which is in direct opposition to empathy,” said Arikha. “I think curiosity and empathy are the key to uniting us all.” She will finish her lecture on November 15 with a song about the main character of the book, Flora. “Its words and music has to do with the five senses and emotional processing,” Arikha added. These are just two of the many talks being held at historical locations during the Gibraltar Gibunco Literary Festival from November 14 to 17. Tickets can be bought online or at each location as you can see at the website: http:// www.gibraltarliteraryfestival.com/.
Join us for a celebration of history, art, heritage and pageantry in a unique part of the world.
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November 6th - November 19th 2019 SPAIN has some of the world’s best restaurants, but not a single one of them is in Andalucia. Three Spanish restaurants made it into the top 15 in Trip Advisor’s annual Travelers’ Choice Restaurants Awards 2019. El Celler de Can Roca in Catalunya is the best Spanish restaurant, according to Trip Advisor. The restaurant in Girona, which has three Michelin stars, was voted the eighth best in the world by travellers. Restaurante Martin Berasategui near San Sebastian was voted the eleventh best eatery worldwide, making it
Roca-fellas Spanish restaurants are the flavour of the world according to Trip Advisor, but there is a north-south culinary divide
the second best in Spain. Barcelona’s Disfrutar was voted thirteenth best globally. It means the ultra modern restaurant is the third best eatery in Spain. Voters snubbed Andalucian
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restaurants, with not a single one of them making it into the top rankings of best Spanish restaurants. Catalunya has the best chefs in Spain, with four restaurants located in the region making the top 10 list of best restaurants nationwide. And unsurprisingly the Catalan capital is the undisputed culinary capital of the country, with three of these four restaurants being situated in Barcelona. Lounge bar cum restaurant Acces and Con Gracia, which
specialises in contemporary updates of Catalan classics, were the Barcelona names joining Disfruta in the top 10. A total of 584 restaurants worldwide gained a place in the 2019 edition of the culinary rankings. Trip Advisor said the chosen restaurants had ‘consistently received high marks and praise from diners around the world.’
Stop-Go food SPANISH dieticians have come out in support of mandatory traffic light ratings on supermarket food. The Catalan College of Dieticians and Nutritionists and the Spanish Society of Dieticians and Nutritionists have joined the campaign ‘Pro-nutriscore,’ which is pushing the EU Commission to make the red-and-green ratings obligatory.
killer
ALMOST two thirds of breakfast cereals sold in Spain contain so much sugar they shouldn’t be consumed by children. A shocking 63% of branded cereals exceed the EU’s recommended limit of 15g of sugar per 100g for children, a study by the European Commission has found. Some cereals had as much as 45g of sugar per 100g. It means that a 30g recommended serving would contain 13.5g of sugar, over half of the 24g of sugar that children should consume each day. A quarter of cereals studied were found to contain excess salt and another 44% contained too little fibre.
The campaign for colour-coded health ratings on food received a boost last week when the German health minister, Julia Klockner, said such a system would come into force across her country from 2020. A nutritional traffic light system would allocate health points to foods based on a score calculated by comparing their unhealthy properties (calories, sugar, fat and salt) with their healthy properties (protein, fibre and nutrients). The most nutritional foods would then be colour stamped dark green, and the unhealthiest red.
Vegan Spain no bull!
SPAIN might be famous for cured meats and seafood dishes, but it seems Spaniards are increasingly opting to go meat free. Online food order company Deliveroo has reported a 134% increase in people within Spain ordering vegan options. The rise is being driven by people living in Spain’s biggest cities. Barcelona residents buy the most meat and dairy free dishes, followed by people in Madrid and Valencia. Deliveroo already has over 30 restaurants on the app which specialise in vegan food. The most popular is Teresa’s in Barcelona, followed by Fit Kitchen and La Trocadero both also in the Catalan capital. Teresa’s roasted carrot and avocado salad is Deliveroo customers’ favourite dish.
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September 25th - October 8, 2019
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November 6th - November 19th 2019
FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL
Birds of aF feather From mass migrations heading south to Africa, to the more stay-at-home varieties, Autumn is the season to pick up your binoculars and be dazzled by Spain’s celebrated birds
OR seasoned ornithologists and amateur birdwatchers alike, Spain is the perfect place to seek out some spectacular avian species. The country is home to hundreds of varieties
Glossy ibis
Blue chaffinch Found only on two of Spain’s Canary Islands, the blue chaffinch resides in the towering pines of the islands’ coniferous forests. The male sports bright blue plumage, while the female has less flashy grey feathers. Blue chaffinches don’t migrate and are not threatened, so they can be spotted on Tenerife all year long.
Little bustard
This handsome green-and-brown water bird is Europe’s sole species of ibis, and though its numbers are declining across the continent, it has a breeding colony firmly established in southern Spain. Its iridescent feathers and gracefully curving neck and bill make it a star attraction of marshlands across Andalucia. If you want a look at this waterfowl, keep in mind that the glossy ibis, like most of the region’s migratory birds, will only stick around for a few more weeks before heading to sunny Africa for the winter.
Chances are you’ll need a pair of binoculars or especially sharp eyesight to spot this bird, as its golden-brown plumage is the perfect camouflage in its grassland habitat. If you do manage to find one, look for black-andwhite bands on its neck, which will mark it as a mature male (females sport more drab colouring). Don’t expect to see the little bustard in flight; this bird generally sticks to the ground. Even when frightened, it rarely takes to the air.
Red-knobbed coot From a distance, this freshwater bird, native to Africa and southern Spain, can be identified by its black plumage and the white shield on its face. If you get a closer look, you might notice the bird’s eponymous pair of red berry-like knobs crowning its head, along with a rather beady pair of red eyes. Tread with caution, however, as this waterfowl is fiercely territorial and known to be aggressive even towards its own young.
of feathered friends, from kites and kestrels to bitterns and bustards, and many of them are found nowhere else on earth. These 13 high-flying highlights have got birdwatchers going wild.
Lesser kestrel If you have the good fortune of spotting the lesser kestrel on a hunt, you’ll be amazed by its speed and agility as it swoops to snatch its prey. Though common across south-central Asia and Africa, the European variety is confined to the Mediterranean coast and Andalucia.
Audouin’s gull Unlike many of its relatives,
Audouin’s gull rarely scavenges, feeding instead on various small fish and crustaceans along the Mediterranean and West African coasts. It was nearly hunted to extinction in the 1960s but has since made a strong recovery. It is still quite rare, owing to its limited range. Luckily for local birdwatchers, an estimated 90% of these red-billed gulls live on the Spanish coast.
Hoopoe This bird’s quirky name is actually an onomatopoeia, said to describe the hoopoe’s peculiar call. It’s plentiful across Afro-Eurasia and was once considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians. Nowadays the hoopoe is the national bird of Israel and is certainly one of the most distinctive-looking species on this list, with its feathery Mohawk-like crown and zebra-striped wings and tail.
Balearic shearwater This medium-sized, dun-coloured seabird may not be especially eye-catching, but for serious birdwatchers, the Balearic shearwater is a big deal. It is only found on the coasts of Spain’s Balearic islands, where luxury holiday resorts increasingly infringe on the shearwater’s breeding grounds. Predators like gulls, cats and rats further threaten this species, which is expected to go extinct within 40 years if current trends continue.
Black-winged kite This long-winged bird of prey strikes a dapper image in its black, white and grey plumage — but if you get a closer look, it’s the kite’s ruby-red irises that will really catch your attention. Like several of the other species on this list, the blackwinged kite is plentiful across swathes of Africa and Asia, but the Iberian peninsula is its sole European foothold. As its name suggests, the kite has a habit of hovering in the air as it scans the ground for prey before swooping to catch its next meal.
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November 6th - November 19th 2019 Spanish imperial eagle One of the crowning jewels of Iberian fauna, the Spanish imperial eagle is native only to the Iberian peninsula (though unconfirmed sightings have been reported in northern Morocco). It was driven to the brink of extinction in the 1970s but has since recovered to “threatened” status. This bird is every bit as majestic as its name suggests, and luckily for locals, Andalucia is one of the best areas in Spain to catch a glimpse of this avian royalty.
Little bittern Not to be confused with the little bustard, the little bittern is a small waterfowl belonging to the heron family. Though it’s quite common in the wetlands of southern Europe, the little bittern’s golden-brown plumage and habit of skulking in tall reeds make it difficult to spot without a pair of binoculars. If you do manage to catch a glimpse, watch for its distinctive hunting behavior — standing stock-still in shallow water, then stabbing downward with its sharp bill to catch fish and insects.
European roller This striking blue and orange-brown bird can be found across southern Europe while the weather is warm, but as winter approaches, it heads south to sub-Saharan Africa. The roller’s English name comes from its high-flying acrobatic manoeuvres, while its Spanish name, which translates to ‘ratchet,’ comes from its distinctive raspy call.
Western swamphen What looks like a chicken and swims like a duck, but has the colouring of a bluebird and the call of a parrot? It’s the western swamphen, a subspecies of the purple swamphen that lives across southern Europe and northern Africa. It can be found in the vegetation surrounding wetlands, and despite its unwebbed red feet, the swamphen has no trouble swimming and even hunting for aquatic prey.
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November 6th - November 19th 2019
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PROPERTY
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Junta goes on offensive against influenza by buying up vaccines
THE Andalucian government will buy 15% more flu jabs this year, increasing the number of vaccines available to 1.38 million. Health centres throughout Andalucia gave out just under 1.92 million doses of the flu vaccine in 2018. The rise in vaccine purchases coincides with a government marketing campaign aimed at spreading word of the flu jab. Health authorities are hoping to increase takeup of the jab in people under 65, pregnant women and children under 6, among other groups. Despite the increase in flu jabs purchased, some areas of Andalucia will receive less doses of the vaccine than last year. Cordoba will only receive 135,100 doses of the jab this year, 13,006 less than the province received in 2018. Last year, the government gave the province 148,060 jabs
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November 6th - November 19th 2019
Flu jab boost
as part of efforts to increase vaccination rates among high-risk groups. The vaccination drive came at a cost of â‚Ź440,000. The decrease in jabs available in Cordoba comes despite warnings from the Satse Nursing Union that there are around 300,000
Disability shame THE Costa del Sol has the longest waiting lists for disability assessments in Andalucia, new figures have revealed. Data shows that there is an average waiting time of 13 months for those waiting to be assessed for physical disability benefits. The figure rises to 16 months to see a medical professional for those who have
people in the province who are at high-risk of catching flu. The Ministry of Health has spent â‚Ź3.7 million on vaccines for Andalucia this year. The 1.38 million jabs will be administered at 1,500 doctors, health centres and hospitals across the region.
mixed (physical-psychological) disabilities. Malaga province as a whole has 33% of its population classed with at least some form of disability (118,956 citizens), yet has only nine evaluation teams. This is also the worst in Andalucia and is lower than neighbouring province Sevilla, which has 113,911 people classed as disabled, yet has 12 evaluation teams.
COLUMNISTS
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November 6th - November 19th 2019
So what is wealth? Everyone has a different definition depending on their circumstances, however, I personally believe wealth is having a sufficient passive income to maintain your current standard of living. Your total assets (what you own) minus your total liabilities (what you owe) give you a number that is your net worth.
Financial independence
Jonathan Holdaway reveals his secrets to increasing your net wealth I then use a figure of 5% to determine how much passive income could be generated. For example; If a portfolio has a value of £1,000,000 it would be safe to assume a passive income of £50,000 per annum could be maintained given current yields and annuity rates. To achieve financial independence we need to increase our net worth then start to generate growth and passive income from it (capital gains, interest, income and dividends without requiring any work or labour). If you have a portfolio of private businesses, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate and other cash generators, you could sit by the pool all day. It’s also very difficult to totally wipe out a well-constructed portfolio in the event of a financial crisis. If you had to stop working right now, how long could you keep up your purchasing pattern for cars, clothing, music lessons, education fees, leisure activities etc.? The average person isn’t educated in this, which is why the more they earn, they are left
Crutch Control I’m still recovering from last month’s tumble when I managed to jangle most of the nerves in my left ankle. The face-long sprawl down a friend’s steps and the resultant sprain meant that I have been hobbling around Marbella like an extra from Pirates of the Caribbean for the past few months – all crutches, bags and pouches about my person and frequently muffled oaths. As a writer – though famously I was once derided as not being a ‘proper writer’ by an up and coming scribette who had the boho attitude, Frida Kahlo notebook and tome of Sylvia Plath poetry – I live by the mantra that ‘it’s all material’, and have made the following sage observations about life on one leg. The Flamingo Follies, if you will. Being forced to be flat on my back, one leg in the air is not my favoured position in bed. Stop sniggering at the back. It did, however, enable me to
A trip to the hospital has turned Giles Brown into a bookworm with six pack abs and restored his faith in humanity
rediscover my love of reading. I know that sounds like a particularly anodyne thing to say, but in a world where we would rather scroll and hit ‘like’, getting lost in a book is a rare pleasure. I managed to finish three books in four days. And only two of them required crayons. Moving on one leg also means that you live at a slower pace. On my first day on crutches I misjudged a corner and ended up sprawling across the kitchen floor. It was so painful that I invented an entire vocabulary that sounded like a cross between Dark Orcish and summoning the Balrog. From that point I did everything at half speed, and there is a rather satisfying feeling when most of your morning
is spent carefully preparing lunch. Even though one leg was out of action, there are health benefits as well. Propelling yourself around on crutches requires employing upper body strength and I even started to get ‘definition’ around my abs. Spraining an ankle is not a training programme that I would recommend, but there is an upside! Finally, people in general are happy to help. I’ve had doors opened, shopping trolleys pushed and even heavy items carried for me, confirming that, despite my dark and twisted worldview, there is a glimmer of good in everyone. Luckily I’m due to watch Joaquin Phoenix in Joker later, so abnormal service will be resumed…
wondering why financial independence and security continue to elude them, always seemingly just out of grasp because their expenses increase in line with their earnings. The only way to take advantage of investment opportunities is to have the money to invest until you reach a point where the returns generated on your assets can change your life; e.g., earning a 10% return on £10,000 is going to net you £1,000 before taxes - not too bad but hardly earth shattering, but the same return on a £1,000,000 portfolio is £100,000 despite requiring roughly the same effort and research. Amassing wealth and becoming financially independent is a slow process that takes time. You can do small things every day such as cut your expenses, generate extra income, and put the money into investment and tax efficient savings or investments. With time it will build. As each new opportunity appears, you can react on a larger scale than your previous investments. Over time the interest, dividends, and capital gains your money has earned begin to generate their own interest, dividends, and capital gains, and on and on in a virtuous cycle. Einstein called compound interest the ‘8th wonder of the world’ and it’s how €100,000 now can grow to €1,083,471 over 25 years at 10% per annum. Starting from £0 now, a saving of only €100 per month will be worth €133,789 over 25 years at 10% per annum. If you have not started yet then the only way you can have more money left over at the end of the month to start investing is to either increase revenue (your income) or decrease expenses. Make a plan, go through your current bank statements and see
where you can make changes -it’s that simple: Increase revenue, cut costs, or both then use the surplus to invest for your future. Use tax breaks - saving your money in the most tax efficient way is important. Depending on your nationality and country of residence there may be several options available to you to allow you to reduce or eliminate tax on your wealth and/or your income. So where do you put the money? I have four simple but key rules when sourcing investments for my private clients (these can vary slightly depending on a client’s exact requirements): 1. Diversify - Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Buy a mix of assets and buy assets according to a risk level you are comfortable with. Don’t know what to buy? Speak to a specialist. 2. Buy Quality - Buy the best quality investments you can afford. If you have the choice of three US Large Cap Equity funds and one has been consistently ranked in the top 10% for returns over the last five years. Buy it above the others. If buying property buy the best location you can afford. 3. Focus on Income - Try to buy assets and investments that produce income. It can help to lower overall risk and with regular income flowing into your portfolio you can choose how and where to re-invest the income to help diversity and, when ready, can start to use the additional passive income to fund your lifestyle. 4. Take a long term view - The value of all investments will fluctuate over time. Have patience and if you have followed the rules above you should develop some nice returns over the long term. If you follow these basic rules and ideas you should soon see your wealth begin to increase. Jonathan works with Cyprus-regulated financial advisor CHASE BUCHANAN, which has been operating in Cyprus since 2015.
Jonathan now has an office Malaga, which can be found here: Alameda Colón, 9, 1, 7. 29001 Málaga, Spain. Phone: +34 951 579226 Contact me for a no obligation investment product and/or portfolio review and at my expense on +34 654 898 303/+44 77230 27864 or email me at jonathan.holdaway@chasebuchanan.com I’ll even buy the coffee.
OP Puzzle solutions
Quick Crossword
Across: 1 Broth, 4 Helped, 10 Outflow, 11 Stuff, 12 Laid, 13 Reversed, 14 Assassinate, 18 Abnormal, 20 Uses, 22 Lilac, 23 Emotive, 24 Tenant, 25 Satyr. Down: 2 Retains, 3 Tile, 5 Eastern, 6 Paul’s, 7 Dyfed, 8 Pools, 9 Sweepstakes, 15 African, 16 Testify, 17 Islet, 18 Allot, 19 Nylon, 21 Sofa.
SUDOKU
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try to read several books each month and have just finished Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, which was a great read and advocates the importance of financial literacy, financial independence and building wealth by investing in assets. Why is it that some professionals making £1 million a year can quickly go bankrupt, while someone else on an average income can retire and have no financial worries? The path to achieve financial independence is not a secret. I will share with you a few simple rules. Most people think wealth is a high income job. Yes, it’s easier to amass assets if you have more money coming in each month, but then you find that most spend what they earn – or more in some cases! No, the true secret to increasing your net worth is to spend less than you make, and use the excess to generate passive income and growth on your money. I repeat, income is not wealth.
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November 6th - November 19th 2019
On a higher plane La Liga rule book ripped up as Barca and Madrid do battle with Andalucia’s best GRANADA’s unprecedented run may have taken a tumble in their last game but the side is making brilliant progress in La Liga this season. The newly-promoted club sit sixth in the league, high enough for a European spot, and are only two points off the top of the table. The Andalucian team have made serious strides this campaign despite their small stature but now face two tough
fixtures, as they prepare to face Valencia and Atletico Madrid the following game. The hope is that momentum isn’t lost after the southern side
suffered a late blow in their last game against Real Sociedad, losing 2-1 at home. In September, Granada turned over current league-leaders
Sinful streamers OVER half of Spaniards have used illegal platforms to stream sports games. Some 56% of Spaniards acknowledged having used an illegal platform to watch sport, according to results found by Smart Protection, a company dedicated to combat online piracy and counterfeiting. Its investigation also revealed that
while 36% have never streamed sports illegally, a large 74% knew someone who had and 32% knew more than one person who had. Interestingly, 60% of respondents agreed they should pay to watch a live match. However the report found that 36% of Spaniards resort to pirate transmissions because they can’t afford the subscription.
Barcelona 2-0, and the team has gone from strength-tostrength ever since. Diego Martinez Penas, the manager, was appointed in 2018 and helped the side achieve promotion to Spain’s top league. This year, his side made their best ever start to a La Liga campaign. The end of October even saw the Nazaries sit top of La Liga for a period, and though they have dropped off slightly, fans should be expecting more than just survival this season. In 12 games, Granada have won six, lost four and drawn two games.
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DELIVEROO has announced the launch of a collection service in Spain, where users can order their food and pick it up personally.
Vox pop TEMPERS had to be calmed and security called at a VOX party rally in Barcelona when one attendee said to another: “I am not Spanish? I am more Spanish than you - you have a monkey face.”
Late post A DECORATOR from Essex received a postcard he had sent to his parents 28 years ago while on holiday in Benidorm.
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OAP: Old age paradise SPAIN is the best country to retire to in Europe, according to a new report. Blacktower Financial Management has revealed the best - and worst - European countries for retirees based on cost of living, crime rates, life expectancy, property prices and population age. The country scored highly
Sunny Spain named best country in Europe to enjoy your golden years in every section with its average paving the way for it land the top spot overall. Spain has beautiful sur-
roundings, towns, cities, and of course lots of sunshine - which makes it a perfect setting for those ap-
cBlunder
A TASTELESS McDonald’s promotion for Halloween ice cream has caused the conglomerate to issue a grovelling apology. The company used the term ‘Sundae Bloody Sunday’ in its advertising campaign during the spooky season, in Portugal. It caused a huge uproar among the public who felt it was insensitive to the atrocities that occurred in Northern Ireland, in 1972, where 14 civilians were shot dead by British police. “Please give some f**king history lessons to your marketing department,” said one angry customer. A McDonald’s spokeswoman said: “It was intended as a celebration of Halloween, not as an insensitive reference to any historical event.”
proaching their final years. Second in the rankings is Finland, somewhat suprisingly. The chilled Scandinavian atmosphere and gorgeous magic of the Northern Lights makes it a great choice for retirees.
Grey
Italy came in third place, a country known for its wines, olive oils and pasta - a winning combination for when you’re past the point of no return and have no problems in packing on some extra pounds. The UK featured in 17th place - despite the perception of grey skies and constant rain, the rolling hills of the north are a joy to see, whatever the weather, and the south-west has with it some gorgeous coastline, and opportunity to grab a board and make for the waves - hitting retirement age gives some people a new lease of life.
Postcode lottery
A BRITISH couple who won big in the national lottery on their first wedding anniversary have decided to move to Spain. Martin Brandist, 54, and wife Debbie, 48, from Warwickshire are planning to move to a Lanzarote home after winning a sizeable £1 million in the jackpot lucky dip. Debbie is said to have danced around the bedroom ‘jigging about all over the place’ after discovering she had the winning numbers.