The Leader in Spain 26 September 22 – Edition 938

Although HM Queen Elizabeth was laid to rest two days earlier, the Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa Branches of the Royal British Legion made their final farewells to the former monarch in the packed Church of the Immaculate Conception, in Torrevieja city centre, on Wednesday.

Led by Fr Richard Seabrook, the service was organised by the Torrevieja Ayuntamiento, in a show of both admiration and respect to the former monarch, and in solidarity, alongside it’s large British population in the city.

The mass was attended by the mayor, Eduardo Dolon, the Deputy mayor, Rosario Martínez, along with the Councillor for Foreign Residents, Gitte Lund Thomsen, Jean Paul Mulero who manages the Department of International Residents and his predecessor, Graham Knight. Also at the service was the councillor for security, Federico Alarcon Martinez and a number of other guests including Guardia Civil officer, Francisco Morales, founder of the N332 FB page.

In his eulogy Fr Richard spoke of the transformation of London into a pageant of both mourning and celebration. The endless rows of Union Jacks. Acres of red Beefeater uniforms. Forests of raised arms with mobile phones snapping and filming.

Flowers everywhere, whether laid in neat piles or pelting the black Jaguar hearse as it glided through the crowds as well as the dignity and respect shown during the period of mourning, and the service, itself by King Charles and members of the Royal Family.

He saluted the crisply dressed military men and women in uniform with their gleaming epaulets; the impeccably behaved and beautifully groomed horses; the traditional gun carriage that carried the queen's father and grandfather, both kings, before her, rather fittingly ending with a tribute paid to Her Majesty by King Felipe IV of Spain, in which he said that Queen Elizabeth "will be remembered as one of the greatest monarchs of all time for her dignity, sense of duty, courage and devotion to her people throughout her entire reign”.

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TORREVIEJA SAYS GOODBYE

Continued from Page One

The Torrevieja Mayor, Eduardo Dolon, took up in the same vein as Fr Richard, praising the dedication shown by the Queen over her 70 year reign, her devotion to duty, dignity and the love and respect she has shown to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth since she was first thrust into the limelight upon the death of her father, George VI, back in 1952.

Under the direction of Parade Marshall, Mike Whitbread, the standard bearers were resplendent, as was the RBLConcert Band led by David Last. Crescendo International choir were in fine voice and both bugler Mark Benton and Pipe Major Brian Day ensured that there wasn’t a dry eye in the church as the service finished, for the very first time in Torrevieja, with the National Anthem, ‘God Save the King’.

The Torrevieja council also ensured that a Book of Condolence was placed at the entrance to the church for those wishing to pay their final respects.

Goodbye to Her Majesty the Queen with afternoon tea and marmalade sandwiches

By Wendy Macdiarmid

Customers of the Marina Bar in Torreta 2 were invited to watch the televised coverage of Her Majesty the Queen´s final journey and enjoy an afternoon tea with a glass of Cava to toast Queen Elizabeth the Second.

The owners, Dave & Rita, had decided to close the bar on Monday, the day of the funeral, as a mark of respect.

The staff had other ideas.

They suggested it would be far better to host an afternoon tea for all who wished to come along and watch the event together on their wide screen TV.I´m sure all those who attended would agree that it was a good decision.

Some people arrived as early as 11am to watch all the pomp and ceremony taking place in London.David and Lorraine, regulars at the bar, kindly volunteered to decorate the premises with bunting, flags and a wonderful table display.We arrived a bit later with our Columbian friends who felt honoured to be invited.

The mood was very sombre.Rita and the staff, Debbie, Dawn and Linda were all dressed in black and looking far more serious than usual

but, as always, very professional.There was a mixture of permanent residents and holiday makers mostly from the UK, but also a couple from Denmark.

At just after 3pm when the coffin was being transferred to the official hearse on its way to Windsor Castle, the sound of the bagpipes could be heard outside on the terrace. Donnie, the piper, was delighted to attend his local bar to play a few tunes to mark this historic event.

After an emotional rendition of Going Home, he finished with the National Anthem.

Most people had, up until then, managed to contain their grief but now many were in tears, including the piper, himself!

Afternoon Tea was then served.Delicious sandwiches, cakes and even a platinum trifle beautifully prepared by Steph.

An additional plate was delivered to each table.It contained 2 rounds of white bread cut into 4 triangles with a marmalade filing and a note from Paddington Bear saying, “Thank you Ma´am”.

I would like to personally thank Rita (Dave is away in the UK) and especially the staff who persuaded her to go ahead and host the event.

It gave all of us who attended the chance to feel part of the historic event taking place in our homeland even though we were hundreds of miles away.

Plan for a s(w)inging Autumn with Crescendo International Choir

Teatro while on Friday December 16,both groups will perform Christmas music together in the evening at the main plaza in Torrevieja.

crescendo-choir.com.

The choir would be delighted to have more male singers,especially basses.The choir includes sopranos,altos,tenors and basses.

On Friday,November 11, Crescendo will be performing with the RBL at the Plaza de Constitucion in Torrevieja for a Poppy Day remembrance service.

Time of the event will be publicized later.

In the month of December,two

Singing last Wednesday at the service for HMQueen Elizabeth

Crescendo and RBL concerts are planned.One will be held Friday, December 9 in the San Fulgencio

In addition,Crescendo plans at least three public concerts of its own.The first will take place at Salt Church in Los Montesinos on November 26 at 6pm.Concerts are also planned for Saturday evening, December 10 in Benijofar as well as Saturday December 17 at La Siesta Church in Torrevieja.

If interested in joining Crescendo, see the Crescendo website at

The group sings a variety of songs ranging from musicals to spirituals,from pop to classical,in English and Spanish.

Choir rehearsals began September 5 and will continue until June 2023.Rehearsals take place at Rincon de Miguel Restaurant in Los Montesinos Mondays between 17:45 to 20:00.All singers are welcome!

Crescendo International Choir has many concerts planned this fall, including several with the Royal British Legion.

The first one to be held with RBL is in Benidorm and will take place Saturday,October 15 at 1900 at the Don Poncho Hotel.

A WAR INCREASINGLY CLOSER TO TORREVIEJA

Lastweek’s mobilisation of reservists is causing concern amongst the Russian community in Torrevieja, many of whom still have families back in their homeland.

“Seeing it on TV is one thing, believing what Russian channels tell you is another, but when it directly affects you and your family it is something completely different". This is how the employee of a Russian supermarket in Torrevieja sums up the feelings of many of his fellow residents who live in the city, after the announcement by President Vladimir Putin of the partial mobilisation of 300,000 reservists to strengthen the war effort in Ukraine.

“No one talks about it, nor does anyone want to speak about it in public, but those of us who are here and have children of military age are relieved that they cannot be called up. Thankfully we are very far away, “says a middle-aged woman in the same supermarket when asked about the fear of forced recruitment that is now very much a reality amongst the general Russian population six months after the war began. "The regretful thing is that we will not be able to return to our homes in Russia for a very long time for fear of being located.”

No one who speaks to us will give us their name, no one is willing to appear in a photo. The spiral of silence, the one that validates a majority opinion because no one is willing to express what they really feel, also works effectively in Torrevieja, 4,000 kilometres from Moscow.

After more than 200 days of the war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian citizens forced to flee from their country now make up the second largest foreign population group in the city, only surpassed by the British and now far more than the number of registered Russian residents as more than one thousand three hundred new Ukrainian inhabitants have settled in Torrevieja in recent months.

Long gone are the days of large cash purchases. Of milliondollar investments in real estate at property exhibitions organised in the International Auditorium with municipal and Provincial support or the arrival of upper-middle class families who could afford to live in Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa without any problem, whilst still maintaining their economic activities back in Russia

Now the Russian tricolor flags, which flew freely until very recently, have disappeared from real estate and hotel establishments.

Globus is one of the main Russian associations in the city. Its headquarters is a unique Cyrillic union of bar, social lounge and library, sharing it’s large space with a real estate business. Tucked away in locked drawers amongst other items are the posters for the Russian film festival that brings it’s movie culture to the city every year, although this year, amongst the

changes, the festival lost the “Russian” in its name. However, the alteration did not prevent hundreds of Ukrainian residents from protesting against the event outside the Municipal Theatre.

Amongst the members of the Russian association nobody wants to talk either, although for different reasons. They just ask us to leave. “We have made many statements since the conflict began to explain our point of view, but in all of them we have lost out to the Spanish media, so we have now been told not to speak to the press, "said a young woman when questioned by the Spanish media.

“We have lived in Torrevieja for 20 years. We are very far away,” says another middle-aged woman. They won't say anything else.

The occupation of Crimea back in 2014 had already changed many things in the relationship between Russians and Ukrainians in Torrevieja. The two communities coexisted almost as one in many economic and cultural activities, used for mutual benefit by both communities. But now nationality is above everything. The differences are present in the daily life of both groups. In Torrevieja where they are now simply invaders and invaded.

And now, leaving Russia, which has been increasingly complicated since last February, is beginning to become a problem for Russian residents in the city, unless they have have a certain economic capacity. But with the mobilisation of ‘the innocents’ there is now a real exodus of Russian citizens that is being transferred to the prices of airline tickets, although at this early stage it is still too difficult to quantify.

Businessmen who continue to do business in Russia pay up to four thousand euros, often more, for two AlicanteIstanbul-Moscow plane tickets, while one round trip could be obtained non-stop for 300 euros at the beginning of the year.

Ukraine protesters in Torrevieja

New Food Law Will Protect Consumers and Reduce Waste

Onceit is finally approved, most likely in the early part of 2023, Spain will have a pioneering law on food loss and waste.

The regulations will serve to prevent inefficiencies in the food chain, from harvest to consumption, which will have economic, environmental, and ethical consequences.

The bill on food losses and waste will be the first law in Spain on this matter. It will require all of the agents involved in the food chain (producers, manufacturers, and distributors with more than 1,300 square metres of sales room) to have a loss and waste prevention plan. If they do not comply, it will be considered a violation, punishable by sanctions of between 2,000 and 500,000 euro.

The law is also a pioneer in the European Union: only France and Italy have a similar regulation. In the words of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, this

Growth of solar energy slowed down by lack of 500 qualified engineers

The "boom" of photovoltaic plants and self-consumption facilities for domestic, public and industrial supply is slowing down in the province of Alicante due to the lack of qualified engineers

The Provincial Association of Companies in the Energy Sector of Alicante (Asener) has said that the number of installers and assemblers that are currently needed in order to cover all the potential development projects in the interior and on the Alicante coast is over 1000, or which

they are only able to fill 500.

The rise in electricity and gas bills and the instability of the energy market due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has trig-

gered the commitment to renewable energies among businessmen, families and even the Public Administration.

This is a situation that has exponentially multiplied the orders to the installation companies that are being overwhelmed with waiting lists that they cannot meet.

The companies cannot find assemblers or installers with knowledge of solar plants.

This is according to the president of Asener, Fernando Amat Guarinos as a result of which many of these companies, both national and multinational, are trying to recruit future workers by offering them advantageous conditions at Vocational Training institutes

provision represents an important opportunity, since "right now we are talking about the possibility of a food crisis and the need for food production in the world."

Amongst many other requirements producers and distributors must donate products that have not been put up for sale to food banks and charities, as long as they are within the dates indicated as preferential consumption.

Those that are out of date are to be transformed into other products, such as juices or jams.

If they cannot be used for human consumption, they will then be used in the manufacture of animal feed.

MANDATORYSPANISH DRIVING LICENSE

Newregulations governing the mandatory issue of Spanish drivers license for British citizens is an issue that’s causing concern for some of our English expatriate customers.

Our Legal Assistance service will keep you fully updated on all the latest news and provide details on driving schools closest to your home, where you can prepare for the exam in English, consult the registration fees and raise any questions you may have.

In this article we’ll explain the regulations and procedures that you’ll have to follow, and the possible sanctions for non-compliance. If you need more information or you’d like to speak to our Legal Assistance team, please call 919 180 022 and we’ll be happy to assist and advise you.

AUTOMATIC LICENSE EXPIRY AFTER 30 APRIL 2022

As of December 31st 2020, the UK ceased to belong to the European Union, and regulations that allowed driving in Spain, with a British driving license, ceased to be applicable.

UK issued driving licenses were only authorized to drive in Spain until April 30th 2022, and are now not valid. All existing agreements on highway regulations that protect the Member States of the European Union have ceased to be valid and applicable.

However, those British drivers who do not have their main residence in Spain and travel for periods of less than six months (tourist

type), may continue to drive in Spain, during that period, with their original permit.

ENGLISH FOR SPANISH LICENSE SWAP

Residents with a British driving license, had until December 31st 2020 to swap and redeem theirs for a Spanish license. Consequently, they must now obtain a new Spanish driving license from scratch, submitting to the requirements and tests established in Spain for obtaining said license.

Producers and distributors must donate products that have not been put up for sale to food banks and charities

CELEBRA CELEBRA TIN TIN G G

TEN YEARTEN YEAR S S WITH ZENIAWITH ZENIA

BOULE BOULE V V ARD ARD

Zenia

Boulevard is 10 years old and by way of a reward for it’s many customers, just last weekend, the popular venue celebrated the milestone with a two day party, featuring lots and lots of music, concerts, cartoons, children’s events and so much more.

It was a fiesta like no other at which The Leader caught up with Centre Manager, Cristina Ros.

“It has been ten years of great emotions, both good times and bad, but times that we have been privileged to share with our many thousands of wonderful clients.

Thank you for making these 10 years so successful and for allowing us to share them with you,” she said.

I asked Cristina about the team behind Zenia Boulevard;

“Zenia Boulevard has a great team of people who are passionate about their work. The day to day management of the centre is carried out by four people (Shopping Centre Manager, General Services, Marketing Manager and Specialty Leasing Manager), in addition, we have a large team of professionals who give us support from the Nhood Spain headquarters (the management company of the centre), based in Madrid”.

“The Boulevard also has a great support team made up security, maintenance, cleaning and gardening staff as well as out customer services team, and of course, we also have a wide network of local suppliers who are permanently dedicated to the centre”.

I then asked Cristina about the origins of the centre and it’s development since it first opened those many years ago”.

“The shopping centre opened its doors in September 2012 which was a somewhat turbulent year because of the economic crisis which the country was experiencing at the time. However, the centre was quickly filled with very few difficulties and within a few months of opening we had achieved practically 100% occupancy.

Since then, Zenia Boulevard has maintained a high level of commercial occupation and there are now many more brands that are keen to work with us in the centre”.

Currently, our visitors can shop in more than 160 stores in which we enjoy many major brands including Alcampo, Primark, Zara, Leroy Merlín, Decathlon, Conforama, Norauto, Mediamarkt and

Centre Manager, Cristina Ros

many others. In addition, there are many exclusive brands in our commercial mix thanks to stores such as Guess, Geox, Via di Milano, La Milla de Oro, Rewers and Best Brands”.

“And we mustn’t forget the wonderful dining experience we can also offer to ensure the complete shopping experience, with a wide range of brands such as Lizarrán, 100 Montaditos, Burger King, Foster's Hollywood, La Tagliattella, ¡Ché!

Argentine, etc as well as extensive leisure support that can also be enjoyed at Bowling La Zenia, Casinos del Mediterráneo and Zenia Park”.

How many visitors have visited the centre in the last 10 years?

Cristina told me, “Since its opening, Zenia Boulevard has been growing in footfall year after year and during the first decade we have exceeded 116 million visits. Obviously the number fell off during the pandemic prior to which we achieved close to 14 million annual visitors, exceeding 75,000 daily visitors on many occasion”.

Tell us about the struggles you had during covid? Is business now back to normal after the pandemic?

“With the onset of the pandemic, we had to rethink our entire strategy as we adapted to the ever-developing situation that was based on the restrictions introduced by the Valencian Community. Obviously, and taking into account the high tourist numbers visiting the center, Zenia Boulevard was affected by the arrival of the virus, however, since the first quarter of 2022, the centre has gradually recovered to pre 2019 figures and has now exceeded the figures of same year sales”.

What are you doing to celebrate the tenth anniversary”?

“If Zenia Boulevard is known for anything, it is for its popular events, and how could it be otherwise, so to celebrate the tenth anniversary we had an extensive program of activities on September 24 and 25.

There were Batucadas, brass bands, stilt walkers, tribute concerts, a giant omelette, photo opportuni-

ties, children's activities, free breakfasts, ice creams and hamburgers.

These were just some of the offers that were available to our clients as they were able to spend an unforgettable weekend”.

What can you now do to make the boulevard better?

“In these ten years we have managed to make Zenia Boulevard rather more than just a shopping centre.

We are that 'great town square', a meeting point, not only for residents of the Alicante coast, but also for the thousands of national and international tourists who enjoy their holidays and their liesure time in the area.

This has been achieved thanks to the hard work of all our teams, their attention to detail, and of course, the extensive program of promotions and social initiatives that we carry out on a daily basis, all of which make Zenia a venue with a very special atmosphere.

In order that we can continue to improve the shopping experience for our customers, we are already working on a number of projects that will improve the shopping centre, and that we hope will become a reality during 2023”.

During the first decade the Boulevard has exceeded 116 million visits

Cartagena

had received 100,000 cruise passengers by the end of August, in a year where the volume of cruise ships has risen exponentially, and in which the city has recovered part, but not all, of the ground lost following the pandemic.

The figures are similar to those seen in 2019, and invite optimism for the recovery of this type of tourism, encouraged by the rise of a sector in which customers have felt very well supported thanks to the measures and protocols that were introduced in ports as soon as they were opened to the reception of cruise ships.

The situation has been gradually changing in this year with the almost complete recovery of normality and the new cruise packages that have been contracted throughout 2022, representing capacity that is around 70% and 80% of the total, which will help the volume of tourists to recover in the final 3 months of the year. PASSENGERS FAR

A total of 110 ships have arrived in the Port of Cartagena since January, which represents an increase of approximately 10% compared to the 2019 data.

However, despite there being more ships there have been fewer passengers? The explanation is very simple, as during the first half of 2022 the shipping companies had contracted holiday packages from the previous year, when there were strict regulations on cruise capacity.

In some cases, they were limited to no more than 50% or 70% of the occupancy of the ship's capaci-

ty, which meant there were between 30% and 50% fewer tourists in the city.

CATALONIA TO BAN SMOKING ON TERRACES, BUS STOPS AND SCHOOL ENTRANCES

Catalonia will ban smoking in bus stops, entrances of schools and terraces. Minister of Health, Josep Maria Argimon, has announced new regulations to convert terraces, entrances and exits of schools and bus stops into places where smoking is banned.

The govt will also will offer free nicotine substitutes from January 2023 to people with incomes of less than 18,000 euros who want to quit.

King Felipe VI hands Rafael Nadal this year's Camino Real Award

King Felipe VI presents tennis superstar Rafael Nadal with the Camino Real Award

The award is traditionally made to those who represent Spain in a positive image in the United States. Nadal has also expressed his joy at receiving the award.

After spending time in the US, Nadal has returned to Spain to be with his

Thousands protest in Madrid urging govt to raise public salaries

Around 17000 people took to the streets in Madrid on 24 Sep to take part in a protest called by the CSIF civil servants' union.

The union is calling on the govt to update public salaries in 2022, to recover purchasing power and to negotiate a multi-year salary increase to compensate for the purchasing power that has decreased since 2010.

King Charles pictured with his red box at Buckingham Palace for first time

The concessionaire of the AP7 Motorway between Torrevieja and Cartagena,Ausur (Autopista del Sureste Concesionaria de Autopistas SA),posted an unexpected profit of 43 million euros in the 2021 financial year,although not as a result of its activity (which also grew notably) but for a financial transaction:the cancellation of part of a convertible loan by its shareholders.

According to the annual accounts,Ausur 's

turnover grew by 28%,from 9 million in 2020 to the 11.8 million it earned last year.In the figures the recovery of mobility in 2021,following the pandemic,was a major factor,compared to the several months of restrictions that it saw in 2020.

As a result its operating profit increased by 4 million,and,together with the cancellation of a debt allowed it to post the benefit of 43 million euro, compared to losses of 1.9 million the previous year.

King Charles III has been photographed with his red despatch box for the first time.

The image shows the king performing his official duties at Buckingham Palace.

The red box consists of official documents from government ministers in the UK and the realms, as well as Commonwealth representatives.

A UNITED ORIHUELA COSTA HAS A FUTURE

Eventhough PIOC and CLARO are separate parties, Independence is the only area in which they disagree, but the rest of our objectives are no different.

The next few elections will not be a referendum for Independence but rather more about decentralisation of power towards Orihuela Costa, a fairer Budget, a Cultural Centre, as well as improved Services, Infrastructure etc.

It is PIOC’s objective, with the collaboration of CLARO, and

other Coastal Associations, Businesses and groups, to join together to achieve a solution which can resolve the lack of Municipal Services in Orihuela Costa. Complaining is not enough and meetings with Councillors, who occasionally come to the Coast with their great pronouncements and promises, achieve nothing, as they are rarely delivered.

Their token gestures of painting a few lines, roundabouts and filling potholes with sand shows exactly what they think of the residents of the coast.

They are misleading us all into thinking that the Council are a caring council, hoping that you will vote for them. Like the sand in the potholes, it is all a waste of time, just slipping away, as are the millions of euros spent of your taxes.

The time for talking is over, it is now time for us to unite and to act.

We must put ego’s and selfobjectives away as we best serve Orihuela Costa, otherwise other parties will benefit, leading to another 4 years of abandonment, intransigence at the hands of Orihuela’s City politicians.

We need to reach out to Communities, Presidents and Urbanisations to explain why Orihuela Costa cannot keep

going the way that it is.

PIOC continues to extend an olive branch to CLARO and its Membership. Let us now unite to form a list of unique Candidates from Orihuela Costa to fight on all our behalves at the next Municipal elections in May 2022.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Bad councillors are elected because residents do not vote. Orihuela Costa has a voice. Make sure that you use it in next May’s elections.

Watch out for our special events around the coast explaining the registration process. In the meantime you can help by checking that the details on your padron are correct, especially your address.

Calle Isla Tabarca 12, Across the road from the Cabo Roig Strip

Residents should not have to put up with inadequate services provided to the coast

WE ARE ALL VICTIMS OF FASHION NOW AND THEN

TheItalian film director Frederico Fellini, when asked about his work, said "Don't tell me what I'm doing, I don't want to know!" Which neatly sums up adolescence, or in some cases, most of our lives.

This is nowhere more evident than in the realm of fashion, where whole generations can become helpless victims overnight, or sometimes over decades.

Did you know a blanket with sleeves is a slanket? Do you actually have one?

Flared trousers had been around for a long time, but only one decade rescued them from wherever they had disappeared to -the 1970s. Also referred to as bell bottoms, loon pants and hiphuggers, they became wider from the knees downwards. Mine went in the dustbin in 1971, my flares not my knees. Sailors wore bell bottoms to make it easier to retrieve a shipmate who had fallen overboard, perhaps by tripping on the excess material of his trousers.

The opposite of flares as fashion fads were drainpipe trousers, skinny and straight. Zippers were needed to get them onto your legs unless you had reet petite feet. I often fell over when trying to get into drainpipes, hardly the suave fashionista you probably imagine me to be. Talk about falling victim to fashion.

Victorian doctors believed tight trousers were responsible for an outbreak of apoplexy in New York, so presumably they advised patients to move elsewhere.

'Teddy Boys' were a youth subculture in the mid-1950s and 60s. Their clothing included long drape jackets with a velvet trim collar and a 'Slim Jim' tie and crepe-sole shoes. Teddy Girls, also known as 'Judies', were much more stylish -- pencil skirts, straw boater hats, cameo brooches, high-heeled toreador shoes, elegant clutch bags, and ponytails (to be clutched at your peril.) I was more afraid of them than I was of Teddy Boys.

Wide lapels, blue suede shoes (later, cowboy boots from the Wild West store on Pier 39 in San Francisco), bootlace tie and Brylcreemed ducktail haircut, what a fashion plate I must have been.

I had come a long way (or felt I had) from pieces of cardboard as substitute insoles inside my leaky shoes. I came late to the door that said 'Dior'.

Discussing fashion in any meaningful sense is difficult, since 'current' fashion just goes in one year and out the other (like that

joke.) I was walking through an Edinburgh antique market with my late (and at that stage, antique) mother-in-law, when she saw a large jar for holding preserves, on offer for a considerable sum of money. "I threw away one identical to that, in 1951," she said. "I should have put it in the attic."

I said nothing, I was still doing the arithmetic and working out that by her reckoning, I was now a valuable antique. Perhaps one day I'll come back into fashion.

BITES

Work gets underway on drinking water network in Montesinos

Los Montesinos mayor José Manuel Butron (top of photo) at the signing of the contract starting renovations to the drinking water network on Calle San Antonio, which has been asphalted, had many of its pavements repaired and will see a new water network installed, with a budget of E59,917.

Why does Mar Menor need personhood status and protection?

Mar Menor is Europe's largest salt-water lagoon. It is home to several species of fish, seahorses and the endangered European eel.

For years, ecologists and residents have denounced the periodic die-offs of marine life in the lagoon due to the runoff of fertilisers from nearby farms. This month, Spain's government approved 20 million in aid to improve water treatment in towns near the Mar Menor.

The law codifies the lagoon's right to exist as an ecosystem and to evolve naturally" and recognises its right to protection, conservation and restoration. The group that pushed the measure hopes this will improve the ability to defend the lagoon from further degradation.

Spain studies introduction of tax on large fortunes

The Spanish govt is considering a temporary tax on individuals with large fortunes in order to help pay for measures to deal with the fallout of soaring inflation. This will take effect in January 2023, according to the govt.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is pushing to increase duties on banks and energy firms to bring in 7 billion euros ($6.9 billion) over the next two years.

Scott is a fun, 5 month old med/large crossbreed, who is just waiting for his forever family Is it you?

López-Bas denounces the permanent blockade of the N-332 road widening

FormerOrihuela Ciudadanos councillor, Juan Ignacio López-Bas, now a member of the Spanish Parliament, the Congress of Deputies, has reprimanded the central government for its “absolute inaction” and the “permanent blockade” of the work necessary to widen the variant of the N-332 road as it passes through the municipality of Torrevieja.

"Despite the Government receiving the question about the project in July 2021 and asking for it to be repeated just two months ago, the answer they have given is practically the same but with slightly different words,"

said the spokesman for Transportes del GPC, who has denounced the “multiple prevarications” by the Government to the question.

“A year ago they said that the delay was as a result of having to finish drafting and approving the layout project and now, in answer to the latest enquiry about the same project, all they can say is that it is still 'pending provisional approval'. We have now seen a whole year without any progress?

The Alicante deputy also pointed out that “in January 2019, the former mayor of Torrevieja, José Manuel Dolón (Los Verdes), congratula-

López-Bas at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid

ted himself because 'the deadlines were being met as planned' after having met with representatives at that time of the Ministry of Public Works.

López-Bas has highlighted that the Government's responses "demonstrate that there has been no movement at all, as now “the Minister says that his department is still awaiting a response from the City Council, for the occupation of land necessary to provide at least a provisional solution”. For this

reason, López-Bas has urged the Torrevieja council to “expedite the procedures for this transfer of land” and “finally begin to reactivate this project.”

"Meanwhile, the residents of the area, and the tourists who visit the region, continue to suffer traffic jams and accidents due to the bottleneck that forms, especially along the route that runs through the urban area of Torrevieja" with just "a single lane in each direction.”

When Tinkers were time-honoured Are

we allowed to use the word ‘Tinker’ anymore? One never knows these days! Anyway, like it or lump it, this week’s column is about Tinkers.

We wrote previously that one of the blessings of growing up in Ireland ‘back in the day’, was that everybody was accepted without question for being whom, what, and how they were. As for being equal we wouldn’t go that far in any society, but the common dominator was that ‘all were equal in the eyes of God’, and every man and woman was ‘the way God made them!’

The Tinkers were a part of that life. They were treated with dignity when they called to every door along country roads; where they would strategically erect a tent and make a ‘tinkers camp’ for a few days. The more affluent members possessed a horse-drawn caravan – but there weren’t too many of those on our road.

We knew a lot of tinkers by name and I suppose they would average a call once or twice a year.

There were ‘Dukes’, Paddy Kiely, and ‘Doyle the Tinker’ among the familiar ‘knights of the road’. Many, were tin-smiths and provided an essential service to a rural community. Paddy Kiely was always invited into our kitchen, where he would lay his wicker basket of trinkets on the floor. A sale or pushing of his goods was never mentioned. He would be given a mug of tea and a slice of bread and he would in return, impart news items from within the parameters of his travels. Paddy travelled in a pony and cart. ‘Doyle the Tinker’ was a chimney-sweep and also a tinsmith. I remember him putting a new bottom in a galvanised bucket.

*Author, entrepreneur and newspaper columnist, Bernie Comaskey, now spends most of his time on a farm in Ireland; but he retains his strong links with the Costa Blanca.

No washers or ‘plumbers tape’; just metal against metal, but that bucket never leaked a drop of milk!

Doyle had his son with him and he was around my age. ‘Young Doyle the Tinker’ would play with my brothers and me around the yard. I knew his name – but I forget it now. A funny thing one day when we were sort of playing ‘hide & seek’, ‘Young Doyle the Tinker’ would peek around the corner of the house and shout “Up Joyce.”

My father laughed when I told him and he told me that Joyce was ‘King of the Tinkers!’ Father and son were noticeably close and the people said that the wife and mother died when the young lad was born. I wonder now what ever became of him …

There was an old man called ‘Gallagher’ who walked the roads. He had nobody nor nothing but the bag on his back. Gallagher was very tall, wore a hat and had a long white beard down to his waist.

There was something sad in the demeanour of this soft-spoken Tinker, who called maybe once a year over all the years of my early childhood.

It was a hot summer’s day and the bees were falling out of the sycamore trees around the yard. Gallagher arrived in the gate and moved towards the open door. ‘God bless all here’, he said to my mother; and she replied, ‘and you too.’ It just so happened that she had a big saucepan (it had to be big pots in our house!) of custard and another of stewed rhubarb sitting on the Stanley range.

This operation was being monitored by us brats with the same intensity that the robin would be following the movement of a spade in the garden and waiting for the worm to be uncovered!

glistened like diamonds where they landed on his mighty beard. When he could get no more with the spoon, he ran the side of his finger around the dish and licked his grubby hand. Gallagher sat there quietly with the empty bowl in his hand until Mammy came to take it from him. I was still staring and I can still see the gratitude in his eyes as he told her; ‘it’s a long time since I ate anything like that; God bless you and your family.’

Bernie has published four books; ëIf Ever a Man Sufferedí, ëThe Best of Bernieí, ëThe Teamí, and ëJust Between Ourselvesí. Bernieís books are available at half price, on sale from either Spanish Solutions or ëThe Leader.íCall 637 227 385 for info.

Mammy moved an outside chair into the shade and asked Gallagher to ‘take the weight off his legs.’ Next she arrived out with a bowl of steaming custard and rhubarb. I watched the man eat it – and even as a child, I could sense the indescribable pleasure this bit of food brought to our visitor. A child has no inhibition about staring at a person eating – and Gallagher didn’t care either. I took it all in. His hand shook a little and the yellow droplets

I believe that tinkers had their own language, but I never heard any of it. They would also do odd jobs for people –often just for food. Another service I recall was the sharpening of knives and repairing metal implements. The tinkers had many and varied skills. One showed me how to catch eels under the bridge. Others were ‘thatchers’ and repaired roofs. The tinker’s trades gave their surnames to families, such as Smith and Thatcher. Does this make the late Margaret Thatcher a tinker? Only askin’ like …!

Don’t Forget

The chief reward for idleness is

Rain lily, Zephyr lily and Fairy lily - Zephyranthes lily - will grace any garden border or container.

Like magic, following rain or watering, it produces abundant petite multiple blooms, reaching no more than 30cm in height, some of which have a pleasant sweet fragrance.

It's crocus like flowers bloom from late spring

through late summer, sometimes earlier during rainy seasons in colours of pink, yellow and white.

Plant in well-draining soil that holds the moisture well in the autumn time, in full sun. Some dappled shade or afternoon shade will be tolerated, especially in hot climates on the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida. ANY GARDEN

Water regularly, even during dormancy, as it's important to keep the grass like foliage lush and healthy.

The foliage may die back during periods of neglect, but usually returns when watering resumes.

Once established the foliage will spread and blooms will multiply. Only move bulbs when the bed is overcrowded, as they like to be compact.

REIKI .... The wonderful energy of our universe

INTRODUCTION

There are as many paths to enlightenment as there are people.Reiki is one of those paths and each person who practices it will walk the path in their own way.No one person owns it – it has been given to all of us as part of the essence of our human being.

Reiki is primarily perceived as a practice for healing the body, but it is also a method for healing the mind and spirit.Ultimately, Reiki has the power to reunite the trinity of Mind-Body-Spirit in their optimal state of harmony.All of us need to start the process of returning to that state of harmony.Reiki, with its power and simplicity and its methods for healing both the self and others, offers the way to start taking what I call the “the journey home”

THE MEANING OF REIKI

Reiki is one of the most ancient healing methods known to mankind.It originated in Tibet and was rediscovered in the early 1900’s by a Japanese priest named Dr Mikao Usui.The tradition of Reiki is referred to 2500-year-old writings in Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language.The Usui system of Natural Healing, named after Dr Usui, has been passed down by Reiki Masters since that time and is today practiced worldwide.

As humans we have Universal Life Energy all around us and within us.The Japanese word Reiki consists of two syllables:“Rei”which describes the cosmic, universal aspect of this energy and “ki”, which means the fundamental life force flowing and pulsating in all living things.

This life force energy is given to us at birth.We bring with us a certain amount of “ki”to life, and we use it up in the business of ordinary daily life.We then have to create a daily supply of new energy.When we are unable to make up for the energy consumption for a prolonged period, we may become physically or emotionally ill.

If our supply of life force energy is very low and depleted, we suffer from physical, emotional and mental exhaustion, and tend to be much more irritable, bad-tempered and depressed than usual.

WHAT IS REIKI?

Reiki is a natural and simple healing method which allows you to absorb more life force energy.The Reiki method vitalizes your life force and balances the energies in your body.This natural healing energy flows in a powerful and concentrated form through the hands of the Reiki healer. The laying on of the hands directs the healing energy into the body of the receiver.The Reiki healer is used as a channel to conduct the Universal Life Energy.

As a result, no personal energy is drawn or drained from the healer, who is simultaneously charged and strengthened.(The Reiki healer does not remove energy to give them theirs.Reiki energy balances and harmonizes – when there is an imbalance, there is a potential for illness)

WHAT DOES REIKI DO?

Reiki usually helps healing of all kinds and relieves pains and acute symptoms very quickly.Reiki makes it way to areas of imbalance during a treatment.It also has a positive influence on spiritual growth as it works on many levels, Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being are all enhanced with Reiki energy.

After a treatment, you may feel mentally much clearer about things and experience deep insights into particular questions or problems you are facing.Reiki then can help you to make the right changes and decisions in your life, if that is what you need or want to achieve.

Reiki affects each person differently, but it always acts wherever the receiver needs it most.However, there are common effects that everyone experiences. Energy used up in everyday life is replaced, so that when you feel exhausted or drained, the imbalance, which may adversely affect you physically, emotionally and mentally, can be put right.

If you suffer from stress, you may react with physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach aches, frequent colds, kidney pains and general disorders.These symptoms are the expression of excessive negative stress, accompanied by an imbalance of the energy system.To relieve these symptoms your energy needs to restored.

For example, a lowered immune system or a weak organ that is not functioning properly and needs recharging with extra energy.Reiki can balance the energies in the body, helping you to let go and relax, so reducing stress.

At the same time, it promotes the development of positive reactions to stressful situations.In other words, not only the symptoms but also the causes can be healed.

Reiki strengthens and harmonizes the immune system.We continually use up

life force energy without replacing it.Reiki helps us to replenish and add to our energy and, in this way, helps to create a healthy body

IS REIKI ALWAYS SAFE?

The purpose of Reiki is to supply the body with additional energy which it can use for healing itself.Reiki can be used safely regardless of whatever illness the receiver is suffering from.Reiki makes no diagnoses and is intended to be used as a complementary healing method.In the case of acute disorders such as imflammations, influenza, colds, digestive disorders, gall or kidney stones, backaches and headaches, Reiki often acts very quickly and directly by easing the pain and accelerating healing.

Reiki can also be applied as first aid as it stops bleeding in open wounds and has a very calming influence on the nervous system, particularly when people are in shock after an accident.With Reiki, you can also provide relief from allergies, arthritis and other chronic disorders.

As Reiki supports and complements other medical and natural healing techniques, you can combine it with other treatments, for example with allopathic or homeopathic treatments, body therapies, counselling and speech-therapy and other psychological treatments.A Reiki healer is charged with energy and becomes a channel for Universal Life Energy.Reiki is a gift of the universe, and is available to us all.

THE EFFECTS OF REIKI

In summary, Reiki is all-embracing in its effect.It involves your mind, body and soul and then attempts to set all these aspects of your being into a harmonious balance.Your personal energy, as a giver, is not transmitted to the receiver during a treatment, you are merely a channel.

If (without having attuned to Reiki) you try laying your hands on someone else, energy is still passed on, but at a much lower intensity than if you are attuned to Reiki.This is because Reiki is a highly powerful vibrating force, or light energy.

While the Universe Life Energy flows through you, as the giver, during the treatment, it is also fortifying and harmonizing you at the same time.You may also experience Reiki as a force which brings you more closely into contact with yourself, opening you up and allowing you to be more loving with yourself and with others.It is a unifying force which brings you closer to a condition of oneness and connection with the “whole”

So let me summarise the many benefits:

Balances the organs and glands and their bodily functions

Releases blocks and suppressed feelings

Promotes natural self-healing

Adapts to the natural needs of the receiver

Balances the energies in the body

Enhances personal awareness and helps meditative states

Relaxes and reduces stress

Promotes creativity

Strengthens life force energy

Treats symptoms and causes of illness

Heals holistically Strengthens the immune system

Relieves pain

Clears toxin

Reiki is a simple technique anyone can learn.Most people experience a huge leap in personal growth after receiving the attunements.This feeling of such

loving healing energy is a truly uplifting and empowering experience.

I WAS TOLD THAT REIKI WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE. IT DID.IT WILL CERTAINLY CHANGEYOURS

A REIKI BREATHING EXERCISE

If you want to experience a “taster”of Reiki before committing yourself to Reiki attunement or just to allow yourself to get an idea of what Reiki may feel like, try this exercise.The exercise will have the same relaxing effects as Reiki but without the added power and impact provided by the Universal Life Energy through attunement.

Make yourself comfortable, either sitting down or lying on your back and close your eyes.Pay attention to your breath and follow its rhythm.Notice how it flows in and out.Now take three deep breaths

Now put your hands on your body wherever you feel drawn to or where you feel tension.Use your intuition to locate the spot in your body that needs relaxation the most.

Now direct your breath consciously and repeatedly to this place.Imagine that your breath is the Universal Life Energy which flows through you.Let it collect and expand under your hands.Notice how a feeling of relaxation and peace gradually spreads from that place beneath your hands throughout your entire body

After a short while (about five minutes) place your hands on another part of your body.Once again breathe into your hands during the whole exercise.You may find that your breath changes in some positions as the body stores memories and experiences which may now be awakened.It is not necessary to consciously probe feelings or initiate stronger breathing.Just allow yourself to let go and plunge into this feeling of flowing.

Move on to two further places on your body and charge them with energy Slowly open your eyes, stretch yourself, and return to your normal daytime consciousness.You will feel more relaxed, calmer and more centred.

If you would like to experience the wonderful energy of Reiki as a treatment,please contact CHRISTINE QUINLAN ON 966 795 103 or email me on bodyharmony44@gmail.com

Los Montesinos Medical Centre Gets Increased Coverage

The Torrevieja Department of Health has made a significant effort to strengthen the Primary Care teams in Los Montesinos, by increasing the number of doctors, thus reducing the quotas per assigned doctor, and extending the operational hours at the clinic.

The medical centre at Los Montesinos has incorporated a new doctor and a paediatrician, reducing medical care quotas below 1,500 patients.

In addition, the office will offer care in the morning and afternoon, something which has never been done before in this municipality.

The new additions will make it possible to offer better care to patients and their families, reduce delays in care and favour a better approach to chronic patients, allowing them to return to levels prior to the start of the pandemic.

MINISTER “WE HAVE A PLAN FOR TORREVIEJA HOSPITAL”

According to the Valencia Minister of Health, Miguel Mínguez,the government has "a fairly well-configured plan",to deal with the problems at Torrevieja hospital,however,the problem,he says,is that "in the holiday period it is very difficult to implement".

He also said that the Medical Director,Juan Carlos Toral,didn´t resign from his post,as widely reported.

"It was not a resignation,he told us several months ago that his commitment was for one year only, which he will complete at the end of this month."

The Minister stated that the strategic plan for the hospital will be implemented "at the end of October", that is,a year after having taken the reins of the Department of Health,and many months after the chaos generated in the Accident and Emergency Department,the increase in waiting lists,the worsening of patient care,and the considerable reduction in the motivation of medical staff.

Hospital Staff Now Facing Pay Battle

Medical staff at Torrevieja Hospital are now facing a new struggle, as they try to get paid the same salaries they were receiving before the change to public management.

Former Medical director, Dr. Juan Carlos Toral did not resign.

The Minister said that he is "absolutely convinced that with the implementation of the strategic plan, within a few months we are going to see a significant difference,improving all the points and all the health indicators”,he concluded.

Many of the medical staff have left the now public-run hospital and taken jobs in the private sector, adding to the problems that the hospital has faced since Ribera Salud were removed from the management of the facility last October, but according to the Central Sindical Independiente y de Funcionarios (CSIF) union, the public management are not helping to retain those who remain.

The CSIF union has said that the Ministry of Health "is failing to pay the same salaries that were established in the collective agreement in the Torrevieja Health Department from Ribera Salud. However, CSIF also states that although these amounts were in their salaries "they were not reflected in their contracts."

QUICKIE CROSSWORD

QUICK ACROSS: ACROSS: 1 Ploy; 3 Argument; 9 Overall; 10 Deter; 11 Preposterous; 13 Comely; 15 Crater; 17 Contraptions; 20 Prize; 21 Purloin; 22 Register; 23 True.

DOWN: DOWN: 1 Prospect; 2 Obese; 4 Relate; 5 Underwriters; 6 Entrust; 7 Tyro; 8 Man of letters; 12 Presence; 14 Mooring; 16 Sample; 18 Odour; 19 Spur.

CR CR YPTIC YPTIC

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS ACROSS

1.Child killing (11) (3) (9) (5) (7) (6)

DOWN DOWN (3) (5) (6) (7) (9) (11) (11) (9) (7)

ACROSS: ACROSS: 1 Roll; 3 Potholer; 9 Play-act; 10 Argue; 11 Constriction; 13 Tender; 15 Rocket; 17 Instrumental; 20 Tulle; 21 Surfeit; 22 Hesitate; 23 Hero.

DOWN: DOWN: 1 Rapacity; 2 Learn; 4 Outfit; 5 Heartto-heart; 6 Logbook; 7 Reel; 8 Maltreatment; 12 Stiletto; 14 Nonplus; 16 Outset; 18 Theme; 19 Utah.

ACROSS ACROSS

1.This entertainment has its points (6,5)

9.Reels the ends off fish (3)

10.She's used to getting low scores (9)

11.Can turn into American fighting formations (5)

13.I possibly sail around on an intrigue (7)

14.It's most attractive in America! (6)

16.Where to find a sheet anchor? (3-3)

18.Ran round in the commotion caused by the storm (7)

19.Start making pastries (5)

20.Boring routine that may be exhibited by a drill team (9)

21.It cannot fly in the murky gloom (3)

22.Retain a barrister on the quiet (4,7)

DOWN DOWN

2.The sum Capone left (3)

3.They fasten hair (5)

4.New agent holds fifty in confusion (6)

5.Ameasure of space and time (7)

6.Not having had any hot drinks (4,5)

7.What a revivalist may do (11)

8.Proceeded to argue like Siamese Twins (6,5)

12.Come between people (9)

15.Peremptory demand for a rise (5,2)

17.Adotty thing to play with (6)

19.Aclaw that can pick up a pound in weight (5)

21.It's earlier, either way (3)

LEADER TRIVIA QUIZ (Answers on page 22)

1. What is the name of the rabbit in the Disney film 'Bambi'?

2. What title was given to the leader of the Knights Templar?

3. Which five countries are the biggest sinners based on total worldwide CO2 emissions per capita?

4. In 1901 Marconi sent his trans-Atlantic message from 'Signal Hill'. In which country was it (Signal Hill) then and in which country is it now?

5. In which city is the headquarters for each of the following organisations? a. Greenpeace International. b. OPEC. c. NATO. d. International Criminal Court

6. In which film did Tom Hanks play a so called 'Master of the Universe'?

7. Who was the A in A&M records?

8. What are the two most populated cities in a. Colombia and b. Bangladesh?

9. Quite a number of artists had a hit using songs written by Carole King. Which Goffin and King composition gave Donny Osmond his only number one hit in the USA?

10. Which gemstone, which sometimes has a life of its own,

did the Greeks name Electron?

11. Also remembered for introducing the pillar box, who wrote the 'Barsetshire' novels?

12. For each off the following one-liners from famous songs of 1973, name the song title and the responsible artist: a: But if this ever-changing world in which we live in, b: While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock, c: But why in spite of our age difference do I cry, d: You walked into the party, e: Those were such happy times and not so long ago

13. Which exotic location was a hit for Bobby Bloom in 1970?

14. Which famous publisher makes a cameo appearance in the film 'Beverley Hills Cop II'?

15. Which country's flag shows a large star top left with an arc of four smaller stars to its right (all on a red background)?

16. Which actress co-starred with Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?

17. When the Titanic sank in 1912, which steamship was less than 20 miles away, yet failed to heed her distress signals?

18. Which eccentric businessman designed the bra that Jane Russell wore in the film The Outlaw?

19. Which country reached the 1974 and 1978 world cup finals, but ended up runners-up in both?

20. Which English county was known to the Romans as Vectis?

The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints in Torrevieja meet at 10.00 each Sunday in their chapel at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia, 104. All Welcome. Phone or whatsapp the missionaries on 659 016 733

La Siesta Evangelical Church, Torrevieja, a friendly, Englishspeaking church. We hold services at 11.15am on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month (and the 5th when there is one). For more info see our website at: www.lasiestaevangelicalchurch.org

Join us at the SALTCHURCH Sundays at 10.30 am. We are a

friendly church, bible centred in our teaching and informal in our worship. Meets at Calle Daya Nueva 12, PolÌgono Ind. Levante 11, 03187 Los Montesinos. We look forward to meeting you. www.Saltchurchspain. Facebook SaltChurchSpain International Christian Assembly, Calle Urbano Arregui, 23, TorreviejaEvangelical non-denominational church. Sunday service 11a.m.; Sunday school; Prayer meetings; craft and computer clubs. Ladies Bible Study: Thursday 11a.m. Church Bible Study: Thursday 1.30p.m. House groups in Torrevieja, La Siesta ñ

Contact: 966 752 543 / 617 215 463. Phone: 966 799 273 / 966 752 543 / 617 215 463. www.icatorrevieja.org

The Car of the Month at Automoviles Crespo is a 2020 Ford Focus ST3 petrol which is on Special Offer priced at just 37,900 euro. Come along to our showroom in Elche and see our vast range of new and used cars or call 96 666 22 60 for all our latest offers. The biggest and best for price, choice and quality. ENGLISH SPOKEN

Call Jean on: 630 28 08 99.

The RBLTorrevieja BranchMeets at the Oasis, formerly the Casa Ventura, San Luis on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6.30 pm for 7pm start. New members are always welcome. You do not have to be ex-services. For info please contact:Torrevieja.secretary@rbl. community

parent Association. Contact with the RAFAand the RMG is via the RAFAwebsite rafa.org.uk. Tel:0044 800 018 2361.

Over 50 - On your own in the Torrevieja area. Check out Phoenix Solos who meet every

Monday morning from 11am to 1pm at Reflections Bar/Restaurant, C/Aviles, San Luis Lakeside. Call Lynette on 643 098 173 or see website at; phoenixsolos.wix.com

attention. Maximum privacy in Campoamor. Fantasies. Tel. 672 539 332

Come Join The Band' The Royal British Legion Concert Band Spain is looking for a second violin player of any nationality to join our growing group of musicians. Please contact Graham Robinson at email by phone on 658 663 846 or by email at: robinsongraham256@ googlemail.com

Age Concern Costa Blanca Sur is here to help you with problem solving and well being for the over 50ís. We need volunteer Drivers and people to join our Home Visiting Team. to visit people in a Residential Home, and take them out for a coffee. If you think you can help call into our centre at C/Paganini s/n, Urb. La Siesta 03184 Torrevieja or ring 966 786 887. Or email: costablanca@ageconcern.org.es

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The October Meeting of the Royal British Legion Orihuela Costa and District Branch will be held at 7 for 7.30 pm on Thursday 20 October at the Olympia Pool Bar in Mil Palmeras. Everyone is welcome incl non members.

Royal Naval Association, Torrevieja Branch now meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 1700 (5pm) at CHE LOCO bar/restaurant, El Chaparral urbanisation, Torrevieja. For more information please contact Chairman Tony Jenkins on 693 866 709, Vice Chairman Danny Kay on 966 71 6274 or Margaret Forshaw on 966 92 1966.

The RAFACosta Blanca RMG replaces the RAFACosta Blanca Branch 1359 which is now closed. The RMG is a social group of caring people and remains affiliated to the

New Choral Group formed in Los Alcazares

Introducing the new multi national ladies Chorus, Sonrisas Harmony who will meet every Tuesday 10.30 am –1.30 pm at the Estribor Function Room in Los Alcazares.

Come along and meet the members, we are a friendly group of ladies some who have been singing together for many years and a few new members too. No previous singing experience required.

Our Musical Director Valerie Lynch has a wealth of knowledge and experience in Acapella four part harmony singing. So our programs will be varied, entertaining and packed full of songs past and present.

TURTLE BORN IN OCEANOGRÀFIC

By Andrew Atkinson

The first sea turtle - Caretta caretta - has been born in an incubator of the Oceanogràfic, from the only nest registered in Spain in 2022.

Of 31 eggs transferred to the aquarium facilities from the Guardamar del Segura beach, only two proved to be fertile, with one surviving.

Sonrisas Harmony love to sing, but we also like to enjoy ourselves and will have a regular social calendar. If you would like to come along and

The turtle, weighing 13 grams, will be part of the 'head-starting' programme for growth and re-introduction to the sea of the Fundación Oceanogràfic and the Department of the Environment.

The Ministry, with the aid of Xaloc and participation of the University of Valencia, has set up camp on Saler beach, where the Guardamar del Segura nest was relocated, for the final phase of the process of incubation.

During September more turtles will be born on the beach.

meet us please contact the chorus Coordinator Lynda on Movil 672192222 we look forward to welcoming you to our friendly group of ladies.

The 13 grams Turtle was born in an incubator

A Farewell Mass was held last week by Rev.José Manuel Poveda Ruvira, Vicar of Our Lady of Pilar after 4 years in the diocese. The photo shows the mayor of Pilar de la Horadada, José María Pérez Sánchez presenting a gift to Fr José who now moves the parish of La Mata.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Los Montesinos - La Herrada

2 double bed/fitted wardrobes, bath/shower. South facing ground floor bungalow apartment, DialPrix Supermket 2 mins away.

Private tiled garden, double glazed Patio, Seperate kitchen, galleria.

Close to all amenities - 35 min Alicante Airport,

Priced to sell at E88,995

Tel: +34 634 383 099.Tel: +44 776 230 3798. Tel: +44 770 234 0744.

‘MODESTY FORBIDS ...’

By John McGregor

Tobe honest, I was never a real Mod. Sure, in those crazy mid-Sixties I had the scooter, the parka, the tank aerial, tiger tail and a few other naff bits of kit, but in those days you needed money to be a ‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion’ to quote The Kinks. And cash was a commodity I didn’t have a lot of in those days. First as a schoolboy, then a student scooterist.

I worked all day Saturday and Sunday in a Mace Grocerscum-newsagent for the princely sum of two pounds, meaning that there was very little to spend on such Mod must-have accessories as Italian suits, Ben Sherman shirts, Lee Rider jeans, Desert Boots, umpteen mirrors and lights, and chrome everything. No money, no chance.

My first hand-me-down-from-friends scooter was a 1958 Lambretta LD - great once it started but a real stubborn sod to coax into life on a cold morning. Fortunately I lived near a steep road, and bump-starting her downhill usually worked. I later progressed to a sleeker Vespa 160 I affectionately named ‘Bubbles’ due to its side shape and that it ‘bubbled’ along, what a lovely unique sound they make.

Somehow I managed to afford it, and my allegiance swung to Vespas as the more reliable, if somewhat unstable love of my teenage transport life. Both types I came off numerous times, often sailing over the handlebars and thinking ‘I wish I’d put my crash hat on’, instead of having it dangling fashionably from the luggage rack.

What a plonker - how did I survive all those dangerous days? Then aged seventeen and three-quarters I joined up to serve Her Majesty, and ‘put away foolish things’ as it says in the bible (I think). RIP Ma’am, I was proud to serve you. So now if I fast forward fifty-five years (can’t be, surely) I’m doing it all again. Eight years ago on impulse I asked an English bloke on our Urb if he wanted to sell his Vespa that was parked outside his house. No was the answer but he put me in touch with someone near who sold them.

Within the hour I met a big Brummy who owned a lock-up on the way to Elche. As he threw open a big sliding metal door I gasped in wonderment as I gazed around scooter heaven.

There were about 70 Lambrettas and Vespas, with models dating right back to the 1950s, all in varying conditions and every colour and shade of rust possible. There were even a collection of Spanish Post Office yellow scooters.

Safely ignoring the financially-prohibitive and dodgy-starting Lambrettas I soon spotted a creamy-white Vespa, vintage 1989, classic Piaggio. ‘Bubbles 3’ was a TX 200 model with a kickstart, four manual gears and all the usual nobs and nicknacks that makes scootering the huge pleasure it has always been for me.

Soon it was mine – and re-sprayed to Garibaldi Red (Nottingham Forest colours). (BTW don’t ask what happened to Bubbles 2, it’s too painful to relate…).

And strangely enough I’m not alone… there are other likeminded scooter nuts, here on the Costa Blanca in Spain. We talk to each other in ‘Scootspeak’, a language only we understand, and nostalgically swap stories of the old days.

“My first hand-me-down-from-friends scooter was a 1958 Lambretta LD - great once it started but a real stubborn sod to coax into life on a cold morning. Fortunately I lived near a steep road, and bumpstarting her downhill usually worked.”

Although actually now some of my two-wheeled friends are in their early sixties and were being born when we babyboomers were busy breaking down and cursing our addiction to two-wheeled Italian designed transport. I call them the Quadrophenia generation – do you understand that?

We meet in San Miguel for coffee on Wednesdays and Sundays outside a typical Spanish bar where the locals traditionally put the world to rights playing dominoes etc. We then kick our babies into life and set off in line along the country roads of the Vega Baja. We all ‘ride out’ together, that’s Vespas, Lambrettas, and a few weirdy ones which we tolerate – all rolling back the years in traditional style.

Since my re-discovering scootering in 2014 our Costa Blanca Scooterists group have enjoyed three holidays together in Ibiza, three more in Mojacar and quite a few awaydays in yer actual Benidorm.

There are, I’m delighted to say still say a few of my real age and era, true old Mods from the actual Sixties. One has his fully-Modded classic Lambretta, complete with 104 mirrors, long aerial, British flags etc, and natty denim clothes to match. I still can’t afford all that stuff…

So there you are. If you are like me, a real owd Mod who yearns for a scootered two-wheeled blast from the past, and want to join mouldy-oldies like us, then get in touch.

Or even if you’re not that old but enjoy small two-wheeled bliss come along and meet us, we won’t bite. It helps if you own one and live here most of the time, but at CBS we have all sorts so don’t feel inhibited.

Rolling back the years? Oh yes, modesty doesn’t forbid me….

Studio 32 will be bringing you a celebration of award winning musicals in their latest production, ‘A Night on Broadway’.

Over the past 13 years Studio 32 have produced many award winning musicals, including Chicago, Anything Goes, White Xmas, Guys and Dolls and many more.

We have assembled a great cast to bring you an extravaganza of musical numbers and dance.

Pictured are Andy Kirkwood and Rose McLean who will be performing in the the number’s from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof”, as Tevye and Golde.

You will not be disappointed so book your tickets now using our online booking service outlined below. The show will run at the Cardenal Beluga Theatre, San Fulgencio, between the 10th,11th and 12th of November.

We are always looking for people to join our group (especially men) who can, or have aspirations to sing, dance

and act, or who have experience working in the theatre backstage, in lighting, sound etc and in particular who have experience working with costumes.

If you are that person and would like further information on our theatre company and rehearsal times, or you would like to book tickets for our show please see below:

website:www.studiothirtytwo.org

email: tickets@studiothirtytwo.org

Telephone: 679 062 272’

“I found ‘Scooter Heaven’ behing a sliding door in Elche.”

RESPECTED PSOE COUNCILLOR REALIGNS AS INDEPENDENT

She was both the deputy mayor and the councillor of Urban Planning during the progressive coalition government from 2015 to 2019.

As part of that coalition agreement, Serrano was to become Mayor halfway through the term, something which never happened and was never explained.

Serrano has now registered a letter to the Council of Torrevieja informing them that she has now left the PSOE socialist group, and instead has assigns herself as a non-attached councillor, an Independent so the PSOE now has just three councillors in Torrevieja - Andrés Navarro, Andrés Antón and Ana Pérez - compared to the five it had when the current term of office began.

Fanny Serrano joins the group of Independents along with Carolina Vigara (former leader of Vox), Nacho Torre-Marín (former leader of Los Verdes) and Rodolfo Carmona (former councillor of the PSOE), who left the socialist municipal group in July this year.

Spain has second driest year since records began

Whilst the Torrevieja PSOE are trying to decide on a new leader to take them into the next elections, despite being largely quiet in opposition, they were dealt another major blow last week as another of their key members left the party.

Fanny Serrano has been a PSOEcouncillor in Torrevieja since 2011 and also served as a provincial deputy in the period 2015-2019.

Meanwhile, José Manuel Martínez Andreu, former Izquierda Unida councillor, who now sits on the executive of the PSOE of Torrevieja, has also resigned.

The former councillor cites how "recent events and decisions lead him to leave the party" as the cause of his resignation and says the mutual trust that "should govern the relationship - in the executivedoes not exist at this time".

The hydrological year, which is from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022, will end up being the second driest year ever behind 2004-2005, according to the Agency State Meteorology (Aemet).

Up until 20 September, ten days before the close of the hydrological year, the average accumulated rainfall in Spain amounted to 464 litres, approximately 25% less than the normal amount corresponding to that period, which averages 623 litres per square metre.

This data makes the 2021-2022 hydro-

logical year the second driest since records began, only behind the 20042005 period when an average of 415 litres of rain per square metre was recorded in Spain.

However, Aemet has said that the rainfall over the next few days, especially in the north and northeast of the peninsula and in both archipelagos, could "increase" the rainfall collected to third place, but it would still end up being one of the driest since records began.

SING FOR JOY

The Joy Gospel Choir entertained a full house at The Hub in San Javier on Friday (23rd September) with a repertoire of African themed classics combined with gospel flavoured songs.

Also on hand offering bargains galore were local charities MABS and Cruz Azul as well as a Ya Visto fashion selection.

The event was hosted by Salt Church Mar Menor who meet at The Hub every Sunday at 10.45am.

CONTACTDETAILS:

Andy Neale: +34 622 416 793

Facebook: Facebook@saltchurchmarmenor

You Tube: Salt Church Mar Menor You Tube

Pets Thanksgiving Service at Campoverde

As 04 October is the day commemorating St Francis of Assisi,the patron saint of animals,Campoverde Church in the Community will be holding a ‘Service of Thanksgiving for our Pets’ on Sunday 02 September 2022 at 6pm in the Church Garden.All pets are welcome providing they are on a lead or in a suitable container. However,if you are unable to bring your pet,you are invited to bring a photograph to put up on our board. Visit our Facebook page on: facebook.com/churchinthecommunitycampoverde

Match Results for 22nd September Week 1

Mind the Gap11-1Leeson St. Trotters

Hub Hyenas10-2C.C.´s Bees

Fallen Angels7-5Tipsy Toad Tiaras

CK1 Lads4-8Danny's Bar

Pint Depot Queens4-8Freakie Taverners

El Capitan10-2CK1 Ladybirds

Tipsy T Toppers11-1Angels Delights

CC's Flyers12-0Hub Hellraisers

Domino's D’radosP-PMilo´s

Thisseason's Thursday evening darts, welcomes a new sponsor, Serenity Insurance, with last terms sponsors

One Way Services in a supporting role.

The benefit to League members, the opportunity of the best insurance cover through Jayne Leggatt of Serenity, but any personal legal issues through Matt Smith of O.W.S. Both organisations welcome your enquiries.

The league's committee have introduced an amended format this term. Eighteen teams will play each other once in a qualification round until early February.

Three divisions will then be introduced subject to position, each division of six playing each other twice for final placings. Prizes for winners and runners up in each division plus the usual singles, pairs and ko competitions throughout the league programme.

A time frame of 3 hours (8-30 to 11-30) considered sufficient for match completion in each format. The popular 3 triples, 3 pairs and 6 singles are retained, 1st division playing best of 3 in both pairs and singles, 2nd division, best of 3 in singles only, 3rd division, one leg only in each discipline.

Captains are reminded to ensure match results and a legible copy of the result sheet are forwarded by 10-00am the Friday following each game.

Hub Hyenas v C.C.'s Bees

Despite the cacophony of noise emanating from the Hub's loud speakers, both sides man-

aged to navigate the warm up, draw and match, without actually speaking to each other, “the noise ear splitting”.

Hub found themselves fortunate to be 3-0 up, through Alex Nikolov, Mark Ellis and Alan Havelock.

Ellis recording 123,99,135,180, Andre Wing 98,140. Tons from C.C.'s Bruce Admiral and Dave Jennings. The latter making it 3-1 on D18, partner Admiral taking care of the scoring. Nikolov and Ellis D6, then Wing D6 and Paul Durrant, closed the half at 5-1.

Ellis 100,95, took out 104 ensuring the draw, Admiral 100, outing on 32 for C.C.'s second leg. Wing 100,140, D11 claimed the match, Cam Nesbitt 92,100, hot on his heels.

Havelock, 81,100,D20, Durrant 100,81,114, D3 opponent Paul Christopher, 100,128. Eric Manders 112, finally found D1 in the last leg. POTM - Ellis, Admiral.

C.K. 1 Lads v Danny's Bar

Captain Bob Smith's squad rotation system, once again worked for the wily old ex serviceman.

The Lads opened with 2 wins in the triples via Paul Green and Malcolm Luckwell. Dannys Rob Norbury D18, making it 2-1 despite a Kevin Wood 140. Luckwell D7 regaining the 2 leg advantage. Smith 100,81 D8 and Lesley Lumb D1 taking it to all square at teatime.

Steve Lumb 140, D20, Mike Parry, D20 and Smith 83,95,138,D2, narrowly defeating C.K.'s Wood 81,85,135, ensuring a draw for Dannys. Ginge Lewis 85,85,100 D9 made it 4 for the hosts, Dave Spencer 100, D3 and Lesley Lumb 100, D8 rounding off the match, winning 5 of the 6 singles, crafty old Bob. POTM - Wood, Smith.

C.C.'s Flyers v Hub Hellraisers. Only 7 scores of note from the visitors and three of those courtesy of Lesley Dolling. Too much sun and Sangria indulgence l would imagine. Some notable performances from the Flyers, Doug Adkins, 140 and 2 game shots, Chelsea Campbell, 100,100,121 plus 2 outs. Jesus Madrid 2x100, 85,81,83 and 2 outs. Suso Madrid, 3 outs plus 3x100,140. POTM -

Suso Madrid - Dolling

El Capitan v C.K.Ladybirds

The Ladybirds faced last terms runners up in their seasons opener and managed 2 legs but a respectable number of decent scores. Sue Christie 95, D11, in the triples and Dons Ralph 95, D7 via the singles, were the "Birds" victors, there will be easier games for them in the coming weeks.

Richie McSweeney gave a good account of himself with 3 tons and 2 outs. Similarly, Vycka Bobinas, contributing 2 tons, 134, D8, D14.

Chris Logan a bucketful of 80+'s, 100, 123, but losing his singles to Ralph. Olly Walker showed the Caps how to do it with, 85,95, 100,125,138 and a tasty 130 out on the bull. POTM - Walker, Christie.

Pint Depot Queens v Freakie Taverners. A comfortable 2-4 half time lead for Freakies, possibly flattered the visitors, Depot edging in the scoring department. Marie Cummins 131, D4 and Jeanette Crooks D9 highlighted for Depot, Debbie de Grys D2, Trevor Morris D1, John Bowden D19, and Ernie WillisD18 for Freakies.

Cummins added a D10 to earn POTM, Debbie Wright D2, Depot's 4th leg. Noel Kenny D2 guaranteed a point for the visitors, Mitch Halliday 99,81,95,D9 the match. Skipper Sharon Frain D8 wrapping up the game. POTM - Halliday.

Mind the Gap v Leeson St Trotters League champions Gap opened their account with an emphatic victory, using just 7 legs to gain both points. Amanda Skinner was the lone Trotters victor, taking out a very worthy

victim, Carlos Escansiano on D8, plus a ton. Darren Sanderson was in fine form, recording 97, 3x100, 116, 2x140 plus 3 winning doubles.

James Brown was a little quite prior to the singles and then took it out on poor old Mike Fellows, recording 100,100,100,114,55, D16 in one for a quality 16 darter. POTM - Brown, Skinner.

Tipsy Toad Toppers v Angels Delight. At 11-0 to the hosts, a whitewash was on the cards for the delightful Angels. Step up Nikki Dean to find some necessary trebles, but more importantly the outer double ring, opting for D18, to earn the POTM award, opponent Phil de Lacy also deserving his POTM, but for earlier exploits.

Hugh Galloway 81, 140 excelled in the triples and enjoyed a useful 74 out in the pairs with Andy Rutter 100. Two more decent outs came via de Lacy's 98 and Rutter's 78.

With all available personnel, Toppers could well prove a handful for one or two of the favourites.

Sharon Crane and Billy Dolling POTM’s for Tipsy Tiaras and Fallen Angels

GEOGRAPHY:

Murcia is located in the south eastern corner of Spain covering 11,000 sq km has 45 municipalities with one million inhabitants located between the Valencian region to the north and Andalucian region to the west on the Mediterranean sea and has a saltwater lagoon called the Mar Menor with excellent beaches.

CLIMATE:

The climate is dry and hot in Summer and mild in winter with temperatures varying from 11 degrees in winter to 40 degrees in summer with an average of 18 degrees and Murcia has 320 days per year of sunshine, the most in Spain.

LANGUAGE:

The standard language is Castellon Spanish as taught in UK schools but English is spoken widely in the region.

GETTING THERE:

The region is serviced well with two international airports based at Corvera near to Murcia city and Alicante which is a one hour drive.

GETTING AROUND :

The region of Murcia has an excellent network of motorways and main roads linking all the major town and cities and relatively cheap car hire and the highspeed rail links have improved dramatically in recent years and there is a superb bus service to almost everywhere in Spain and taxi’s are readily available.

STANDARD OF LIVING:

The cost of living in Murcia is now comparable to that of the UK in many respects but eating out and fresh food are still exceptionally good value in Murcia.

GOLF COURSES:

The region of Murcia is blessed with a selection of 16 superb courses suitable for all standards of golfer designed by many of the world’s best golf course designers such as Jack Nicklaus, Dean Putman, Dave Thomas , Seve Ballesteros and Manuel Pinero to name a few and offer a variety of golfing experiences such as the typical resort style with lakes, large bunkers and undulating greens to those based on more of a desert style with rocks and waste areas.

The oldest courses in the region are the North, South and West courses on the La Manga Resort under the shadow of the superb 5* Hotel Principe Felipe and host to numerous celebrity and professional golf tournaments for many years.

The well documented Jack Nicklaus trail of golf courses including El Valle, Hacienda Riquelme, La Torre and Saurines de La Torre are located close to the RM-19 Autovia de la Mar Menor motorway and offer a mixture of resort and desert style golf.

Situated close to the Mar Menor beaches are the superb courses of Roda, which is one of the best manicured courses in Murcia and located close to the Hotel 525 which offers play and stay packages and La Serena which boasts 16 holes with water and just inland the resort style course at Mar Menor located next to the 5* Hotel Caleia.

Further to the south of the region are the courses of Lorca, Hacienda del Alamo and Alhama which is the Jack Nicklaus signature course and located on the outskirts of Murcia city is the beautiful Altorreal golf course which offers in many ways an English style golf experience.

HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION:

Murcia is not only a tourist destination but a

residential area for many other nationalities that have made this region their home so there are an abundance of apartments and villa’s available for rent in addition to the excellent 4* & 5* hotels such as the Hotel Felipe Principe, Hotel Caleia, Hotel Double Tree Hilton, Hotel 525 and Hotel Puerto Juan Montiel located close to the golf courses in the area and offering golf packages on a stay and play basis.

On a similar theme the Residences at Mar Menor and the Roda Golf Apartments offer apartment style accommodation for those with a slightly smaller budget or those that prefer a more relaxed style holiday and again offer stay and play packages.

THINGS TO DO FOR NON-GOLFERS OR ON REST DAYS:

For the non-golfers in your group or for your rest days away from the golf course in Murcia and Cartagena the region has cities of great historical significance but also well served by commercial shopping centres such as Thader, Nueva Condomina, Dos Mares and Espacio Mediterraneo and the beaches on the Mediterranean Sea and Mar Menor are second to none while inland are national parks and mountains where you can find wild boar.

Occidental Murcia Seven Crowns, the most modern hotel in the city.

LINEA DIRECT VALENCIAN BOWLS MOVES INTO FINAL DAYS

Aswe reach the final few days of this popular competition we now know who the semi finalists will be in many of the tournament disciplines, but more importantly, following Saturdayís matches at Greenlands Bowls Club, we have the finalists for the Menís Pairs, Mixed Pairs and Mixed Triples.

The Ladies Quarter Finals saw Debbie Perryman, Irene Everett, Lisa Bonsor and Maggie Furness progress to the semi final stage, all with relative ease. Bonsor will now meet Furness and Sunday afternoon with the Perryman/Everett semi schedule for Monday.

This was also the case in the Mixed Pairs Semi Finals where Graham Shoots and Debbie Perryman progressed and will meet current holders, and Greenlands Clubmates, Pete and Lisa Bonsor, in what is sure to be a thrilling final in the early part of this coming week.

The Menís Pairs Semi finals saw a comfortable 21-9 win for Pete Bonsor and Andy Miles against Graham Shoots and Dave Morrison

but in the top half of the draw there was a thrilling climax as Russell Marks and Noel Davis, of the Emerald Isle, edged out Vistabellaís Fred Wiley and Gary Thorpe on the final end, 19-18, to progress to Tuesdayís final.

There was a similar excitement in the Semi Final of the Mixed Triples where veteran Colin Lindgren, along with Drew and Ann Mari Gerrard, hung on to take their match 18-17, following the late comeback of Beattie/OíBrien and Hill.

With the remaining semi finals to be played on Sunday the date for two of the finals is still to be determined, but at the time of going to press we do know that the Menís and Ladies Pairs Finals will be played at Greenlands at 10am on Tuesday with the Finals of the Menís and Ladies Singles taking place at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Dates for the Triples and Rinks competitions will be determined once the names of the finalists are known.

Sapphire Golf Society @ Vistabella on 21September

In association with Sapphire Properties and Costa Blanca Green Fee Services.

For this month’s meeting the Sapphire Golf Society and a group of 33 players visited the established course at Vistabella taking advantage of the excellent society deal obtained from Costa Blanca Green Fee Services.

The temperatures had dropped and there was a threat of rain but the course was in excellent condition after the recent hollow tining.

Gold Division

1st - Neil Esseen – 38 points, 2nd – Noel Hedigan – 37 points

Silver Division

1st – Annie Pardoe - 34 points, 2nd – Mike Hobson - 33 points

Bronze Division

1st – Tony Wonfor - 42 points, 2nd – Carolyn Palmer - 37 pts

Nearest the Pins – Dexter, Johnston, Hedigan. Palmer C

Football Card - Edina

We returned to Edina’s Bar and Grill bar, which is located at Dona Pepa, Quesada for the presentation and we give our thanks for their support and that of our sponsor Sapphire Properties.

Our next fixture is Captains Day at Vistabella on the 5th October 2022 followed by the society day at Altorreal on the 19th October 2022.

Report by Mike Probert of Costa Blanca Green Fee Services on 966 704 752 or 661 345 931 or see us at our web-site at www.costablanca-greenfees.com

Spectators are welcome at both events so why not go along, enjoy the final days, and see some of Spainís very top bowlers in action. FROM PAGE 14:

LA MARINA GOLF SOCIETY

2-09.22 ñ With the wet weather predicted the members of the La Marina Golf Society packed their waterproofs into their golf bags and headed off to Font del Llop, for this weekís match for the Mundibuilt Trophy, where they were met with a beautiful blue sky. The course looked in great condition and with the sunny weather continuing throughout the day everyone had an enjoyable round of golf.

Later in the day, the members and partners met at the Grill House in La Marina for their presentation evening and enjoyed an excellent meal, a huge thank you to Rachael and her staff for making us feel so welcome.

Terry Whitehead the owner of Mundibuilt was on hand to present the Mundibuilt Trophy to the winner of the dayís play, which went to Roy Harris with 45 points, in second place was Sarah McCabe with 44 points and in third place was Alan Craig with 42 points.

The nearest the pin winners were as follows, on hole 3 was Elspeth McDavitt, on hole 8 was Lesley Cullen, on hole 12 was Gwyn Scale and on hole 16 was Sarah Mc Cabe.

If you are looking to join a friendly golf society, why not check out our website? www.lamarinagolfsociety.es

Costa Blanca Independent Pool League

The Winter Independent Pool League got underway this month with Cab Buddies and The Tavern result seeing the visitors chalk up a 6-5 win in div 2. Hals Heroes suffered a home 4-6 loss against The Shakers in division 1, with The Dream Team racking up a 73 victory over Mixed Spice in div 2.

Full Monte Azul returned a 6-4 away

1. Thumper, Grand Master, China (35.4%), the United States (19%), India (8.9%), Russia (6.3%). And Japan (3.8%), the rest Anthony Trollope. 12. Answers:

win at The Goof Shot Boys in division 2, Super Beer Monsters defeated The Pines Nuts away 6-5 in division 1, The Rancheros lost 6-5 against visitors The Flaggers in division 1, and The Young Boys gained a 8-2 win over The Almoradians in division 1, with John Smythe, Mick Margerum and Peter Cleaver winning two frames.

a: Live And Let Die - Paul McCartney & Wings, b: Crocodile Rock - Elton John, c: Clair - Gilbert O'Sullivan, d: You're So Vain - Carly Simon, e: Yesterday Once More – Carpenters. 13. Montego Bay. 14. Hugh Hefner. 15. China. 16. Jane Russell. 17. The SS Californian. 18. Howard Hughes. 19. Holland. 20. Isle of Wight

SUDUK SUDUK O O SOLUTION SOLUTION

Colin Lindgren and his team mates won the Mixed Triples competition back in 2017

Irene Everett watched by opponent Diane Yates

Drew Gerrard and John O’Brien get their match underway

The serious face of Noel Davis, with Freddie Willey

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER AS THADER SHOW GUTS AND DETERMINATION

Ruben, was headed into the back of the net by Quino. Although Murada had far more possession, if the scoreboard had been working, it would have read 1-1.

Fed up with taking a pounding, it was the men from Rojales who became the aggressors, the first being Pascual, who picked up a justified yellow card for a nasty foul on 48 mins.

From the resultant free kick on the edge of the box, Ruben was adjudged to have handled inside the area. Not only was Ruben booked, but Chema sent Mirete the wrong way to make it 2-1.

Back came Thader with a vengeance, with both Rosquin and Quino forcing important saves from Murada's keeper.

Screams of joy gave me quite a start, as local fans celebrated what they thought was a Murada goal on 72 mins, only for a linesman's flag to cut short their celebrations. Shortly after coming on as sub, Juanlu picked up a loose ball on 75 mins, then slammed the ball past a shell shocked Murada keeper, to put the visitors in front for the first time.

First Rafa then Berni saw yellow, as the hosts gave their all to regain parity.

They had what looked a justified penalty shout for handball on 85 mins, but thankfully it was not upheld.

Atrip

to La Murada is never one for the faint hearted, so it was no surprise to witness the match referee brandished cards in all directions, throughout this feisty match.

Thader were on a high, following the previous weeks 6-1 demolition of Novelda, and were in no mood to surrender their unbeaten run.

Manager Raul Mora made 2 changes to that starting line-up. Out went Miguel and Oscar, replaced by Juan and Ruben, whilst Mirete kept his place in goal.

Mirete justified his selection by pulling off a vital save, when faced with a 1 on 1 after only 2 mins.

The hosts were on the front foot early on, going close on 5 mins following a ball across the face of goal which went begging.

On 10 mins, the first of many bookings was given to the hosts - a vicious tackle from behind on Quino. Twice within the space of 4 mins, Mirete came to his sides rescue, as his topclass athleticism was evident when dealing with goal bound shots.

Pedro took the heat off his defence

on 25 mins, forcing a great save, then from the rebound, Rafa's effort was off target. By the half hour mark, not only had 3 Murada players been booked on the pitch, but one of their subs had also had his name taken. Thader's defence took their eye of the ball on 32 mins, allowing Lizor to slide the ball under an onrushing Mirete. This seemed to spur on Mora's men, who were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty for a clear foul on Calderon.

Deep into first half stoppage time, a text book cross from the left by

Pedro became the next Thader player cautioned, which could soon prove costly, as these bookings are mounting up already. High drama ensued on 55 mins, when Maya was sent off for handball on Murada's goal line, for which he was given his marching orders.

Lloyd executed his now trademark penalty blast, which would also take the keeper into the goal if he dared get anywhere near it!! So, 2-2 and all to play for, with Thader having the advantage of an extra man for the remaining 35 mins.

Congress on Sustainable Sport

The game should have been put to bed on 87 mins, when Thader sub Jony was faced with a 1 on 1 situation, but although he rounded the keeper, his final touch was too heavy, resulting in the advantage being lost.

Deep into stoppage time, yet another Mirete wonder save, prevented Murada from earning a share of the points.

So, for at least a few hours, Thader sat deservedly in 2nd position in group 4 of Preferente division.

Next Sunday 2 October, ko 11.30, Thader host newly promoted Catral at Moi Gomez stadium, Rojales.

Spain Women deny asking for coach to be sacked

CF Sporting Orihuela defeat

CD Altet

CF Sporting Orihuela defeated CD Altet 2-0 in the Valencia 2nd Regional Group 16 on Saturday.

Santa Pola CF B suffered a 2-0 home loss against visitors Guardamar Soccer CD.

CD Horadada took a point in a 2-2 draw against Bigastro CF, CF United Elche Adefeated CF Sporting Albatera 2-0.

Elche Dream CF Adefeated CFE Il-Licitana 3-2 in a five goals thriller in the Valencia 1st Regional Group 8 on Saturday.

*Sunday's results round-up will be

Óscar Sanchez nominated for Golsmedia Award

The nominations for the 2021-22 3rd RFEF Golsmedia awards include Orihuela's ”scar S·nchez, nominated as best coach.

Sanchez took the helm of the team last season almost halfway through the season during a period of turmoil.

Such was his work and dedication that he was able to reverse the situation, almost managing to reach the play promotion play-offs. Ayo is nominated as best player,

being UE Atzeneta's biggest offensive striker leading the attack last season.

Louis Booker is nominated for best player, playing with UCAM Murcia B, having captained the team being a fundamental piece to play the promotion play-offs.

By Andrew Atkinson San Javier football star Marta Peñalver Ramón has had to turn down the invitation from Los Montesinos mayor Jose Manuel Butron and Sports Councillor Ana Belen to speak at the Congress on Sustainable Sport on Sept 29.

"Unfortunately I could not attend, due to being in training in Galicia with my new club," Marta told The Leader.

In an Exclusive interview, Spanish International, Murcia born Marta, talks about her disappointment in not being able to attend the Congress on Sustainable Sport, her successful period in Italy at Citta di Falconara and returning to Spain with Galicia based Poio Pescamar (pictured).

NEXT WEEK - ONLY IN THE LEADER.

Spain star Alexia Putellas made a statement from the women’s players on social media

The players have denied they asked the country's football association to dismiss head coach Jorge Vilda.

The RFEF claimed 15 players said they would resign from the team unless Vilda was sacked as his tenure was affecting their emotional state and health.

But, in a statement, the players said they were disappointed the RFEF made their "private communication" public.

They added "we understand our job is not in any case to choose" the coach. However, they say that, while they are committed to the national team, they have asked not to be called up because of "situations that affect our emotional and personal state, our performance, and consequently the results of the national team".