TIM April 2016 by TIM Admin

Costa Blanca

Welcome to the April edition of T.I.M. Covering the Costa Blanca, inland and coastal

137th Edition

... for you this month! 2

Windows 10

Bish Bash

Cocktails in Cuba part 3

Front Cover: Courtyard in bloom - Cordoba

10 TIM Bikers 20 Viva España

Advertise with us Nickie Pickering: 606 891 644 editor@timspain.com Alicante Area, Aspe, La Romana, Onil, Sax , Salinas, Monova, Pinoso, Elda, Petrer, Elche and all other areas John McGregor: 600 088 341 La Marina area and surrounding districts. Graham: 609 187 808 graham@timspain.com Guardamar El Raso, Quesada and Torrevieja Martin: 649 280 204 martin@timspain.com Hondon de los Frailes, Hondon de las Nieves Albatera, Catral, La Murada, Fortuna, Benferri and Orihuela Costa.

SPOT THE BULL COMPETITION! Last Months bully was on page 19 on the J and Foam advert. Congratulations to Mr W. Beck of San Fulgencio who spotted bully and won the 50 euros for doing so. For a chance to win €50 this month, the entry form can be found on page 45 Please make sure that your entry is readable. Entries that are illegible will be discarded. Good Luck!

Deposito legal A 1065 2004 TIM is a registered trade mark. No .2.665.866. No part of this publication wholly or in part can be reproduced or copied for or by any other publication with out prior consent of the editor, this includes adverts and all written material. Bank Transfer Number 0081 1041 02 0001025004 Or write to: T.I.M., Apartado de Correos 285, 03630 SAX (Alicante)

DISCLAIMER TIM is an independently published magazine and cannot accept any responsibility for claims or advice given in articles or advertisements and reserves the right to withdraw or alter material without notice. It is advisable for the reader to check information prior to acting on it. RENUNCIA La revista T.I.M no se hace responsable de los errores cometidos o de las ideas u opiniones expresadas por los colaboradores o anunciantes. Mientras tengamos un cuidado razonable, los publicistas no tendremos culpa ninguna por insatisfactoria que resulte cualquier transacción realizada atravez de la revista.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor or staff. And the TIM magazine and or its staff will not be held liable for views in articles that the reader may not agree with.

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TIM Magazine™

Windows 10 review

This time last year, Microsoft was announcing Windows 10s release. It was poorly received after the car crash that was Windows 8. A year later, and have things changed? Windows 10 is now well regarded by professionals and computer users alike. It’s much more stable (with some caveats!) than its predecessor, Windows 8/8.1. Although its recent push, pretty much forcing an upgrade, has not gone down well with users, especially with older devices that struggle with Windows 7, overall, the vast majority of upgrades have gone well and users are happy once they are used to the new system. I have not gone to Windows 10 yet - Is it time to upgrade? In a word, YES! Nearly all the glitches have been removed from it, and the whole system seems pretty decent. There is a glitch with some of the older anti-virus systems though, which I have had to deal with a few – even on my own system. Removing the third party antivirus, and allowing the Microsoft one to take over does fix the issues though. We were told that the upgrade would only be free for a year, but there have (as of today at least) not been any announcements made to say the free upgrade being stopped, so if you are still unsure, you have some time left still. If you do the update, and hate it, you still have a month to go back to the earlier version of Windows – so it is definitely worth a go. Are there any Cons? Windows 10 is a large operating system, and as such, means an older slow machine will still struggle to run it, but in reality, if your machine came with Windows 8, it is a no-brainer to upgrade. There are also some compatibility issues with very old hardware (such as old printers, webcams etc). If you are not willing to replace a printer over 7 years old, then it’s a risk to do the upgrade. One thing that people will miss out on is the DVD player option, if they have Windows 7 currently. To get around this, you can install a third party program – I personally recommend VLC player, available from the videolan.org website (http://www.videolan.org). What are the Pros? Microsoft have already announced the retirement schedule for Windows Vista, 7 and 8, meaning that if you want to use your system for many years to come, Windows 10 is an essential download. It’s fast becoming the industry standard system, and therefore it will be the only system compatible for some devices (for example, the top of the range FitBits only work with Windows 10). Many people have said they will lose their games (such as Solitaire and Minesweeper). This is actually untrue, and these are available as free downloads in the Store. Yes, they do require a Microsoft account, but anyone with a hotmail/outlook account already have one of these, and those using any other email accounts can create 2

a year in, is it worth the update?

one for free, with their current email address. Once installed, you don’t need to keep annoying licence keys either – and Microsoft automatically recognise the machine you install on – meaning a reinstall will automatically validate your licence (no more worn licence stickers you cannot read!). TL:DR? (Too long, didn´t read) – Go ahead and install it now. If you have problems, try removing your antivirus and using the built in one.

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Enjoy, and back next month!

Costa Blanca

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TIM Magazine™

THE BISH BASH https://johnbishopauthor.wordpress.com

Words by John Bishop.

Can you hear it? The thunderous roar of the clash of Titans? Isn’t it echoing all the way through France and Catalunya, grabbing you with the intensity of the conflict? Can’t you, like the whole population of the UK, wait for the day of decision, the moment next month when the future of Europe is decided? And can you hide your anger and frustration at being denied the opportunity to take part? Surely it matters to you as much as to the rest of us – if we vote to leave the Eurovision Song Contest.

The Exes do appear to have all the powerful arguments. Who wouldn’t want to escape being slagged off and ganged up on by all those tinpot mid-European states who provide us with nothing? (Apart from cheap locations for our TV mini-series, obviously, now that Spain’s become too expensive) They’re not even decent partners, being run by small, privileged elites only interested in feathering their own nests and refusing to take in Syrian refugees. Not like us at all.

I know you’ve heard all the arguments but this is too serious to ignore, even if you haven’t got a say. You could still influence friends and family back home. The decision is very much in the balance, with the ‘outers’ looking strong, perhaps because their campaign tag – SEXIT- has caused a number of people to think leaving will bring benefits that perhaps won’t be there. But the SEXIT pitch has been confused by the FLEXIT group who – following Boris Johnson’s lead - want to vote no so they can negotiate for extra bonus points in order to say yes. Further uncertainty is caused by those wanting to keep their decision until the last moment – the SPEXSAVEIT group.

If we leave we won’t be hamstrung by having to find some talentless D-list singer who’s willing to slog all the way to a godforsaken dump beyond Dover and sing a dirge voted for by punters still jet-lagged from the X-Factor. No, we can set up our own, more scintillating competition, perhaps the Mid-Atlantic Challenge in which, by competing with the likes of Greenland, the Faroes and St Kilda, we might (a) spread our deep and historic cultural heritage to corners of the globe we haven’t previously enslaved and (b) win. Tempting or what? Moreover, and to counter ludicrous arguments that leaving will incur huge costs, we could always show it on BBC3 which, as it’s now online only, will amount to peanuts. (As we’ll have left Euroviz, a trade agreement to import the peanuts will be needed but this will take the blink of an eye, or ten years at the most)

The IN crowd are certainly having difficulty convincing the don’t knows of the benefits of staying in. Resorting to a competition to see who should succeed Terry Wogan as our presenter has whipped up very little enthusiasm and few entries. Pieers Morgan has the largest following, but only if it’s held in Siberia during a blackout. (Apologies, after this year’s Oscars furore, that should read ‘whiteout’} In fact, their claim that it brings to UK TV an evening of riotous and dazzling colour has drawn the riposte that so does watching the test card. Though watching the test card is less of an insult to your intelligence. Their strongest play is that by staying in we can influence the final vote, helping to make sure that next year’s competition takes place as far away from the UK as possible and so not landing the BBC with the bill for staging it. Of course, in so doing we have to tolerate the shame of not winning for the twenty-seventh year on the run and indeed coming behind even Uzbekistan. Short of bringing back Sandie Shaw it’s difficult to see the answer to this one. 4

The freedom to make up our own rules, unencumbered by bureaucratic European self-interest will be a bonus. So, weighting votes by population could prove decisive though we’d need to beware, in boosting our numbers, of encouraging immigration. (Not that we need to, of course and there is the chance leaving will put some immigrants off. Mind you, if they’ve not already been put off by ‘The Jump’, this shouldn’t matter. However, I’ve not mentioned the decisive group: those so bored by the whole thing they’ve forgotten the question: the FEXITs. (The F does stand for ‘Forget’) What’s their proposal? The obvious one: head for Spain on Decision Day.

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Costa Blanca

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The Inland Magazine™

Cocktails in Cuba - Part 3 Words and photos by Rob Innis

Mariano, our Cuban coach driver, steered through vast puddles undeterred by the torrential rain inundating the dual carriageway on our journey to Trinidad with his foot firmly on the accelerator. Fortunately, the roads in Cuba are relatively empty compared to European congestion levels. Trinidad lies in the south east corner of Cuba, on the Caribbean coast. Diego Velaquez Cuellar a Spanish conquistador founded Trinidad in 1514. He conquered and governed Cuba as part of the Spanish empire. We made a brief motorway stop discovering the Cubans have adopted the UK motorway cafeteria-pricing model (expensive and average quality) Onto Cienfuegos where after a brief tour we enjoyed lunch and then the teeming rain disrupted our afternoon plans so we moved onto Trinidad. Pity as Cienfuegos looked very interesting. Arriving in the evening gloom and damp we checked into our hotel, which failed to live up to the standards we had experienced in Soroa. However, the promised delights in Trinidad overcame our disappointment and we adjourned to the hotel open-air dining room. Within minutes, we were plunged into darkness by a power cut and obliged to dine with a few candles and mobile phone lights. Romantic? Well maybe for some, most of us decided to call it a day and await the next days adventures. Day 10 - Following a steep ascent in the coach, we arrived at the Escamray Mountains information centre where we climbed into a

six wheel ex-Russian military truck for the ride up to the walk start point. The paths were muddy. Our guide explained that the wet season was overrunning its normal timetable. The highest peak in the region is Pico San Juan around 960 mts. We survived the mud and visited a delightful little coffee bar where I tasted a Guaniquical, an excellent coffee cocktail – coffee, aguadente, ginger and honey, heaven in a coffee cup. Our guide then showed us lunch - pork being spit roasted over an open fire. We explored caves and saw more wildlife before returning for the roast feast served with potatoes which we had not seen much of during our Cuban experience. Then the Russian technology negotiated the boggy roads back down to collect our coach. We ventured into Trinidad centre for dinner and discovered a thronging mass of restaurants, tourist shops, bars and music. The only problem was selecting which restaurant to sample. As we had four other nights to enjoy we decided on a rooftop terrace dining experience and saved the others for later. Excellent meal well served by professional waiters, eager to practise their English. For a complete contrast we boarded a catamaran for a 2 hour cruise from Trinidad marina across the calm blue Caribbean sea to a little desert island Iguana Key. Some opted for snorkelling but I was eager to set foot on my first truly desert island - totally uninhabited except for iguanas and a man who works a 15 day shift to prepare the lunch and generally act as ‘caretaker’. Unsurprisingly, he was

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Costa Blanca eager to chat and showed me his ‘casita’ a little wooden hut with a solar panel providing power for a TV and fan. We swam, explored and enjoyed a fish and rice lunch before cruising back to the mainland, although we were on a walking holiday we all enjoyed the nautical excursion and being Robinson Crusoe for a day. Trinidad has an amazing selection of buildings and colonial architecture as well as some valuable antique furniture. It made its past fortunes from the sugar cane industry, exploiting slaves to create vast wealth for the rich owners. Now, its elegance has deteriorated and tourists are eagerly welcomed and offered a never-ending display of souvenirs including some original and high quality artwork. We climbed the tower, not an easy undertaking up a narrow staircase, and stared out over the rooftops into the surrounding green mountains. The atmosphere is welcoming and lively, people here are relaxed and enjoy meeting the tourists. A definite ‘must’ on the Cuba visit list despite the sometimes tricky cobbled streets, torture for the girl’s high heel shoes! Our final walk was in the El Cubano. We felt like old hands now we could recognise native trees and birds as we walked the trails, standing aside for the passing horse riders. The experience was drawing to a close as we lunched and planned our final dinner in Trinidad. Day 14 – We checked out and prepared for our last coach journey, around 340 kms back to Havana, fortunately the sun was shining, Mariano kept his foot down all the way as usual. We arrived back at the Hotel Plaza and with our previous experience all hoping to avoid the dreaded fourth floor restoration works and possible lack of water. As the rooms were not ready people headed off in different directions as we were now on our own, our guides finished and departed. We jumped aboard the double decker tour bus which for only 5

CUC (around 5€) offers a choice of two excellent value tours around Havana. You can get off and on at any point that appeals to your adventurous spirit. We opted for what we thought was a local crafts building but it was in fact a vast warehouse selling Cuban souvenirs. Too overwhelming so we escaped and sought sustenance. A hotel doorman caught our eye and invited us up to his hotel’s rooftop bar, which was an excellent choice as we enjoyed a light lunch (yes with cocktails) with views across Havana on an uncrowded terrace, a true gem. After a final dinner with mojitos, we prepared for departure as some people were leaving the following day whilst others planned their extended stay activities. I had one final day to enjoy before the long flight back to Madrid. Day 16 - I visited the Revolution Museum and toured through the rooms of the ex Palace studying the displays and improving my Cuban history knowledge. Next was the Havana Belles Artes Museum – an amazing ‘tardis’ of a building, crammed with interesting Cuban art and photo exhibitions. I would have stayed longer but the vicious air conditioning drove my freezing body back onto the warm humid streets for a final cocktail in Sloppy Joes. Great selection of drinks but, unusually, disappointing bar service. The adventure was over as I repacked for the last time and took a taxi to the airport and checked in for the overnight Air Europa flight back to a cool Madrid. A unique and memorable experience, I loved every minute (and every cocktail). My advice? If you want to go – Go soon! Because the prices are like the tourist numbers – going up. Another top tip is to be very careful with using your mobile phone – the costs are astronomical! For more http://walk-andalucia.com/walking-holidays

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TIM Magazine™

Nice And Sleazy Does It Every Time

Sir Kevin Barron

Marty Funkhauser

The Standards and Privileges Committee was established in 1995. On the 7th of January 2013 it was split into two committees, Standards and Privileges. The committees each have ten members and their role is to sit in judgement on the MP´s. For this exercise you may want to think of them as thieves sitting in judgement of thieves or for balance honourable men for honourable men. Occasionally, the House of Commons orders changes to be made in terms of membership of select committees, as proposed by the Committee of Selection. If you are following this you will have realised that committees have been set up to select ... committees. The Standards Committee is having a bad time, its chairman has “stepped aside” and MP´s have been accused of using “fanciful” legal arguments to prevent changes that have been put forward by, you guessed it, another committee. Chairman of the Standards Committee Sir Kevin Barron has stood down pending an enquiry that he signed a contract with a group of companies pledging to host events for them in Parliament for which they would pay wedges of cash. At this juncture I would love to tell you that brown paper bags and clandestine meetings in laybys near Carlisle were going to feature but it seems they are no longer necessary in the sleazy world of politics as everything seems to be done in broad daylight without even a nod or a wink, gone are the good old days. Sir Kevin (at this point I am doing everything I possibly can to stop myself from going into Monty Python and the Holy Grail mode)a Labour MP, is the second member of the committee currently facing an investigation and another member resigned earlier after breaching Commons rule. Mathematicians amongst you will by now have worked out that give or take a third of the committee is bent.

Of the ten members of the Standards Committee three are “lay members”, indeed they are members of the public called in to help prevent corruption in a committee set up to judge corruption in others and appointed following the Expenses Scandal. “Oh, wow, how sensible” I hear you say, I use the term “you” as I´m guessing that by now there is only one of you left, the rest of the readers are out searching for walls to bang their heads against or have switched to Google and Wiki hoping to confirm that I have made this whole thing up. So, “Oh, wow, how sensible”………….well, not really as the lay members are not allowed to vote, they are allowed to watch, listen even and maybe knit but not vote. A separate committee on Standards In Public Life (I kid you not) and known quite brilliantly as the CSPL has warned that the lay members have to be given a vote or the Standards Committee lacks credibility. I love this bit as we are suggesting that a committee that started with zero credibility and has only gone downwards from that point is in danger of “lacking credibility”. Lord Bew, Chair of CSPL, who when appointed in 2013 was confident that public opinion regarding the dishonesty of MP´s could be turned around and then admitted two years later “I don´t believe that is possible anymore” is fighting for lay members to be given a vote but in true Lord Bew style has said it would be impossible as it would breach parliamentary privilege. The CSPL has faced mounting criticism into its handling of inquiries into MP´s, including its exoneration of former ministers Jack “I´m yours for a fiver” Straw, Sir Malcolm “I´m not as cheap as Jack” Rifkind and Tim Yeo. This week it has been revealed that its SNP member, Tommy Sheppard, is being investigated for failing to declare a shareholding worth £200,000 following the resignation of another on the panel for also breaching the rules. I wish I had made this whole thing up.

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Costa Blanca

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TIM Magazine™

MotoGP got under way in Qatar with tons of anticipation. Changes of rules, tyres and software but guess what? That cheeky Spanish lad only won again. Yes Jorge Lorenzo led them home with some ease at the end. Maverick Viñales never recovered from a terrible start to achieve the shock they feared and Marc Marquez couldn’t get past Andrea Dovizioso for second. The Doctor had to settle for fourth and Dani Pedrosa got a good 5th after a bad weekend. Argentina on April 3rd will be very interesting. World Superbikes got off to a great start down under with a very familiar face on the number 1 spot for both races. Yes Jonny Rea did it again, a double at the first attempt at keeping his crown. He followed that up with a win in the first in Thailand and we were all thinking “Oh no, he’s gonna win the lot”. Enter Tom Sykes from stage left to nick it on a superbly enthralling last lap where the champ made no fewer than 3 errors, which I think is more than he made all last season. I’m sure I could hear Sykesy’s teeth grating above the engine noise! So, onto Aragon in early April with JR already 29 points ahead from Sykes who is a point ahead of flying Dutchman Michael Van der Mark. My prediction is more of the same from these three and Chaz Davies. Nicky Hayden is starting to move up the grid as well and he can’t be written off. Bring it on! Well after saying it was a great do I didn’t make Roldan because there was a howling gale round ours on the day and apparently it was “reet rough” down there as well according to my Yorkshire informant. I did make the swap meet at Intruder though which was very well organised and had proper music as well as a good number of stalls.

Coming up in April we have a huuuuuge range of possibilities for you:

On Sunday 3rd Classic cars and bikes at the IFA Centre near the airport 5€ entry, no poster 5€ entry.

If you don’t see anything you like I don’t know why you’re reading this, but try the annual Alhama de Murcia bash. It starts on Friday 29th April and finishes on Sunday 1st May. Saturday night is not for the faint hearted. If you want to sleep don’t camp at the site, es imposible! Well have a great April guys and remember if you have any comments or want to advertise your club, group or an event I can be contacted via email at timbikers@gmail.com or on Facebook at Tim Bikers where you will also find details of events where I have got less notice. I am also start-

ing an events calendar so if you have anything for inclusion let me know. Spanish word of the month – Embrague, clutch. (Pronounced Em-bragay) Stay safe moteros and all the Biking Best

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Jack

Costa Blanca

The Alegria Singing Group invite you to a nostalgic & fun “EVENING WITH COLE PORTER” where “anything goes” to raise money for the Caritas charity who help the needy in Fortuna. The performance will take place at the Baños de Leana Teatro, Fortuna APRIL 11th at 19.00 AND La Biblioteca Pública de Fortuna, Salón de Actos Calle de los Remedios 39, Fortuna

FRIDAY, APRIL 29th at 20.30 Tickets €4 A Classical Music Concert will also be held at the Baños de Leana on APRIL 8th commencing 19.00 Tickets €4 Call 634 381 057/676014877 for more information E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com

TIM Magazine™

UK Expats #YourVoteMatters News release British Embassy Madrid

Apply by post

25 February 2016

At the 2015 General Election almost 106,000 people registered as overseas electors - the highest

number ever!

Apply online

If you aren’t registered

you can’t vote.

It only takes 5 minutes

Do you qualify?

How you can register to vote ahead of the EU Referendum Surge in expats applying to register to vote as EU Referendum date is set

1. A referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union will be held on 23 June.

The announcement of the date for the Referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union has triggered a surge in the numbers of British expats wanting to register to vote.

UK nationals who have been registered to 2. Ifin the youUKwere onlast the electoral roll in the UK within the last 15 vote within the 15 years can registerthen as overseas to be able years, you electors, can register astoan overseas voter and have your vote in UK Parliamentary General say. #yourvotematters. Elections, UK-wide referendums, and You will need to know your National European Parliamentary elections. Insurance number and date of birth, and have your passport to hand if you have 3. If you last lived in England, Scotland Wales, to www. one. If youor don’t have ago National Insurance number youneed can still is register, data. All you your gov.uk/register-to-vote and fill in your but you may have to supply more National Insurance number, passport detailsto and date information show who youof are.birth.

Latest figures show thousands of British nationals who live overseas are now going to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote in order to be able to have their say on 23 June. The average daily rate of online registrations by Britons abroad has quadrupled from an average of just over 600 per day before the announcement of the referendum date last weekend, to more than 2600 per day since then. The Electoral Commission has launched a global campaign to encourage an estimated five million Britons living overseas to check their eligibility to vote ahead of the referendum on EU membership. The Foreign Office is supporting the campaign overseas, including in Spain. The British Ambassador Simon Manley, visiting Malaga on Tuesday (23 February), said: “Whether you think the UK should remain in or leave the EU, the 23rd of June will be your chance to have your say. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the British people to decide. “You might be asking yourself, why bother to vote? Although you may now live in Spain, most expats still have strong ties with the UK – financial, family, friends. You may also decide to return one day. So you very probably do have a stake in the outcome and how it may affect your life. I strongly encourage you to register to vote – just go online and follow the simple process.” If you have been on the UK electoral roll within the last 15 years, you are eligible to vote. Former residents of England, Scotland and Wales can quickly register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. If you last lived in Northern Ireland then you need to download an overseas voter application form from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, at www.eoni.org.uk. 12

verseas

egister

eclare

(Even if you don’t have an NI number, you can still register).

You have to sign an annual declaration 4. Choose how you want once you are registered to renew yourto vote – by post, proxy, or even in registration everywill year. be So if in youBritain were person if you on polling day. If you choose to registered to vote for the 2015 General vote by post, ballot forms will be despatched about one You can choose how you wishmonth to vote. Election you will have to renew your can vote by post, by proxy (voting registration with your local Electoral ahead, giving you time to receive,You complete and return your by appointing someone you trust to vote Registration Officer in the UK or register on your behalf), or even in person at your vote. again. polling station.

ote

5. If you were last registered to vote in Northern Ireland, download an overseas voter application form from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland, at www.eoni.org.uk. You can choose to vote by proxy or in person, but not by post.

www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

6. Do register now, don’t wait until the last minute and miss the deadline. Thousands of expatriates are already doing signing up. If you wait, you may miss your chance to have your say. 7. Just as in the UK, you need to register annually. So if you registered as an overseas voter for last year’s General Election, you still need to renew ahead of the EU referendum. 8. Out of 283,000 Britons officially resident in Spain, just 11,000 were registered to vote in last year’s UK General Election. Many British expats could miss out on their say in the EU referendum, so tell your friends to register too. 9. Use Facebook and Twitter to pass the message on that #yourvotematters. 10. Go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote - make sure you can have your say

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Costa Blanca

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TIM Magazine™

Discover Spain on a Shoestring By Maxine Raynor

Now that the weather is getting better, it’s time to get out and about and discover all that Spain has to offer. Travelling can be expensive, so this month MoneySaverSpain.com will be offering some great tips on how to save and discover Spain at the same time. When to Go? Check if there are any local events where you’re planning to visit, as hotels will have higher prices on those dates and the crowds will probably ruin your trip. Don’t just think of the most obvious fiestas; everyone knows that the running of the bulls in Pamplona starts on July 6 and unless you really want to see it you should choose any other date. Events that you’d probably never think about, such as trade fairs or major sporting events, will also drive up prices in big cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga or Valencia. Where to Stay? More stars don’t necessary mean a better hotel, as you may end up paying for services you won’t use. Four and five star hotels will have conference facilities, gyms and spas – all these increase the price but won’t give you any extra value. City hotels tend to have higher prices midweek and offers at the weekend, whereas it’s often the reverse for tourist towns and villages. However there are lots more options than hotels. How about a hostel? What??? A hostel? No way! Well, you’re in for a surprise. Although you can still find the typical hostel full of backpackers who may be in need of a shower, there are lots of smaller hotels or “pensiones” that are clean, modern and rooms come with a private bathroom. When you search online, take a look at the ratings before booking. Another great alternative is AirBnB – you can find rooms from 9€ per night to over 1000€ with everything in-between. Farmhouses, castles, listed buildings and more can be found on AirBnB’s website. Tip: Reviews on Trip Advisor are not necessarily from people who’ve stayed at a hotel, however if you take a look at Booking.com reviews are only allowed from those who have actually made a reservation. How to Travel? By Air: Low cost airlines offer travel to and between cities such as Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca, Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Granada or Seville. Take a look at Ryanair, Vueling, and even Iberia. To cut down on cost, travel with hand luggage only. By Train: Renfe has lots of offers for travel, and it’s always cheaper to buy a return ticket rather than two single trips. Over 60’s should get 14

Renfe’s Golden Card (it only costs 6€ per year) and you’ll get a 40% discount midweek and 25% at weekends. There are discounts for families and under-26 year olds too. Don’t forget that Renfe will compensate passengers for trains that arrive late. You can find more info on the MoneySaverSpain.com website. By Car: Avoid filling up on the major roads and motorways as it’s always more expensive than in town. Most roads in Spain also have alternative toll routes, check online whether the time saved is worth paying the toll fee (eg at ViaMichelin). If you’re more adventurous you could take a look at car sharing to reduce the cost, either offer the spare places in your own car or travel with someone else – try the Amovens website (available in English). What to See? First stop when you arrive should be the local tourist office where they should be able to let you know about freebies and cheaper entry to local places. Free entry to most museums is available on the first Sunday every month and if you check the museum website you’ll be able to see whether there are discounted rates available at other times. Make sure you take some photo ID with you if you need to take advantage of a reduced rate based on your age. Pop into any hotel and take a look at the promo leaflets available near reception, some even have a large screen where you can print out discounts. For many cities you can find dedicated websites such as Cheap in Madrid, ForFree (Barcelona), Free City Tours (Granada, Seville, Madrid) and lots more – just Google “free” and your chosen city. Where to Eat? First of all, try and avoid eating where all the guiris (foreigners) go: prices are higher and quality lower. Tapas are a wonderful way to eat on the cheap in many Spanish cities but if you’re feeling hungry a Menu del Dia is your best option. This may be a set menu, or offer a choice between two or three first and second courses for around 10€ in big cities and considerably less in smaller provincial cities and towns. Remember: always check your receipt, it’s easy for an extra beer or ice cream to suddenly appear! For more great savings tips check out the MoneySaverSpain.com website and sign up for the newsletter for a weekly round up of promos, consumer news and more ways to save in Spain.

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Sterling v Euro update Nothing like Fear & Uncertainty to create an unpredictable Market!

The GBP/EUR rate continues sideways between 1.26 – 1.29 as it has done since early Feb as Brexit fever moves into spring, however, there was some strength gained in GBP sentiment, mid March, in response to the Bank of England comments on its Quarterly Bulletin. The BoE has somewhat downplayed the inherent risks of a Chinese slowdown to the UK economy, Also, importantly, The BoE voted unanimously to leave Bank Rate at 0.5% and the size of the asset purchase facility at £375bn, boosting sterling and pushing the rate back up towards the 1.29 area. The MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) remain upbeat on the UK’s economic prospects, although there is clearly continued uncertainty being generated by the UK’s forthcoming referendum regarding ongoing membership of the European Union.

It is very interesting that the BoE have decided to finally express a view on Brexit with ”Leave” campaigners likely to be up in arms that they have come off the fence. The BoE acknowledge that the Brexit vote has weighed on sterling and may “also delay some spending decisions and depress growth of aggregate demand in the near term”. This is nothing more than stating the obvious, but it could be the first step into what could become a more concerted campaign to highlight the economic risks.

Whatever you are considering moving money for, large or small, call us or come and have a chat for advice. There’s no charges or fees at all and we will always get you the best rates. We can save you around 5% compared to transferring through the banks. Safety of your funds is paramount, we only use protected escrow accounts authorised and regulated by the FCA. We can also help you set up a Spanish bank account so you can benefit from the banking agreements offered to all Currencies4You clients, saving you 100s of Euros if you are buying or selling property,

If you are interested in any of the other services in we offer in ‘The Foreign Exchange office’ in Pinoso call us of pop in for more details:-

The Euro has come under pressure at the same time following the European Central Bank announcing a massive increase in stimulus. The ECB has announced a convincing set of policy initiatives which should ultimately see a lower euro as a by-product so we may be seeing a higher GBP/EUR rate during Spring!

Vehicle Change of ownership & Vehicle re-registration, NIEs, Residencias, SIP Cards, UK Passport renewals, Car, House, Pet & Health Insurance and mailbox rental.

Janet Lees Operations Director - Spain 965070584 / 635015818 • www.currencies4you.eu 16

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CYCLOGICAL. 1st Marcha Cicloturistica Albudeite Rio-Mula Cycle Sportif.

On Sunday 13th March 2016, ten members of Team “Cyclogical” based in Ciudad Quesada travelled to Albudeite in Murcia to participate in the 1st Marcha Cicloturistica, Albudeite Rio-Mula Sportif. The team left from “Cyclogicals” shop in Quesada at 6.00am and travelled in convoy along the AP7 heading for Murcia where they picked up the Almeria road following it for 20kms then heading up towards Mula where the tiny village of Albudeite sits tucked away at the bottom of a valley. When we arrived at 7 am it was like a ghost town and freezing 3 degrees in fact and there was not a cloud in the sky but the sun had started to pop up and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. Registration started at 8am just outside the Ayuntamiento so we all proceeded to the nearest restaurant for coffee and tostadas which soon warmed us up. The guys were first in the queue to collect our registration and goody bag after which we returned to the cars to prepare our bikes and kit. The car park had begun to fill up so it made sense to be their early . The race was well organised and started 15 mins late at 9.15am with a mass start following the pace car which was brilliant the group soon thinned out as many of us left the town and started climbing however the pace car kept slowing down to make sure everyone was together as part of the Police requirements at some of these events . We had only gone about 15km when we were passing through the first village at about 40km per hour and hit some speed humps most of us were airborne and when we landed many water bottles had jumped out of their cages and started running down the road including Binnsy’s, no one stops for them as it is too dangerous. Ten minutes later this tall lean Spanish semi pro looking cyclist caught up with Binnsy and tapped him on the shoulder to give him his bottle back, he had stopped and picked it up and chased Binnsy to give it back now thats Sportsmanship for you. There were over 200 riders participating and 2 of our guys were taking part in their first event Phil Nobbs and 18

Big Dave Bliston who were both a bit nervous at the start but soon settled in and found their own pace. The Route was well sign posted with plenty of helpers, dispatch riders and police motorcycles assisting to marshal the route, every village and town that we passed through had most of the village out shouting us on. The course covered a total distance of 90kms with just over 1200 metres of climbing involved which was an easy route and ideal for beginners. Most of the route was neutralised (following a pace car ) but there was various parts where we were free running including a timed 6km hill climb with an average gradient of 7%. Most of the fitter guys all sprinted up here to try and secure a trophy. At the half way point there was a compulsory food and water stop for approx 30 mins which also allowed the slower riders to catch up. Our two begineers Phil and Big Dave have only been cycling road bikes for 6 months and were taking part in their very first Sportif, they both performed really well and were delighted with themselves as it is at an event like this that you find out just how fit you are as you can compare your ability against others and not just your own guys. Once we had all crossed the finish line we had Baguettes, beer and music before the prize giving ceremony. Sniffer was not only one of the oldest competitors in the event but also won the trophy for the fastest up the hill climb in his age group ( 65-75 ) and was chuffed to

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Costa Blanca bits. We were all really pleased for him when he went up onto the stage to collect his trophy. He just looked like Rocky Bilboa in a Rocky film. “Well done everyone and here’s to the next one.”

us. Looking to improve your fitness, riding ability and speed and also have a new group of friends to train with then why not come along and give it a try or call Gary on 637487377.

The Team who took part were Malcky Murray, Alan Quearns, Owen Desmond, Richard Binns, Gary Routledge, Dave (sniffer ) Robertson , Big Dave Bliston, Phil Nobbs , Graham Kinghorn and Darren Heath. All of the Team had an excellent day’s cycling and returned to Quesada for a well deserved beer and a good laugh. The guys are now looking forward to riding up Xorret de Cati next week then returning to Monforte in April to participate in this year’s event. The team would also like to thank all their sponsors for their continued support, Sol-4 investment consulting, Expat pensions and investments, Arrow rent a car, Shenanigans bar, Spanish insurance, Securidan, Pulse core fitness and Ambience fires and solar. Team “Cyclogical” meet every Tuesday and Thursday nights at 5.30pm and Sunday mornings at 8am and cover between 90 and 120kms at a moderate to fast pace so if you fancy a challenge come along and join

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Reasons why Spain is (and isn’t) a brilliant place to be an expatriate Spain is a paradise of socializing, culture and good health, just don’t come here to make your fortune or climb the career ladder. The Expat Explorer Survey published by HSBC ranked 39 countries around the world on criteria such as quality of life, politics, career progression and health. While Spain came a respectable 13th overall, it did much better and much worse - in some areas. Take a look at why you definitely should (and should not) be an expat in Spain.

Reasons not to be an expat

Quality of life Spain ranks as the best place in Europe for expats wanting to enjoy life, and second overall, just behind New Zealand.

Wage growth Spain has struggled since the financial crisis but the situation is “steadily improving” according to the survey.

Culture “Rather than living mostly in the expat bubble, experience-hungry expats look for the local culture following their move to the country,” according to the survey. Over 70 percent of expats said they enjoy immersing themselves in the culture of Spain.

Entrepreneurship Spain lags behind when it comes to entrepreneurship, but is beginning to make strides to welcome new start-ups and open up to new businesses.

Health Spain is renowned for its healthy Mediterranean diet full of fresh vegetables, fish and olive oil, maybe this contributes to its ranking as number one expat destination when it comes to health. It also has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Making friends Spaniards are a friendly bunch, making Spain one of the best places in the world for expats to make friends. The survey advises making an effort to learn the local lingo, it will make socializing with locals much easier. Property “If you’re about to move to Spain you’ll have the opportunity to snap up a bargain property,” according to the survey. “After years of being in the doldrums, the Spanish property market is recovering thanks to foreign investment – but there are still plenty of apartments and houses available at low prices. Expats 20

usually prefer to buy in Spain, but it’s a good idea to rent while you get to know the area.” Social life As all of us who live in Spain know, the social life here is incredible. The survey agrees, ranking Spain has the best place in the world for expat social life.

Career progression Unemployment is still very high in Spain - the second highest in the EU - so “many expats run their own businesses” according to the survey. Job security Its high unemployment rate of just over 22 percent and recent economic woes mean Spain is not the best place to come for job security, in fact, it is one of the worst. Savings Nearly three quarters of expats said that at least one aspect of their finances “has become complicated” since moving abroad. Politics Spain does not rank highly when it comes to politics reaching only 32nd place out of 39 countries. Is it the countless corruption scandals or fractious regional politics that is putting people off?

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T.I.M. CrossWords

IBERIAN FUNERAL PLANS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE T.I.M PUZZLE PAGES PROUD TO PROMOTE COMPASSION, HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY

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nswers Answers

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Intermediate Sudoku Intermediate by KrazyDad, Sudoku by Volume KrazyDad, 2, Book Volume 1 2, Book 1

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Sudoku #2 Sudoku #2Sudoku #3 Sudoku #3 8 9 7 5 86 91 72 534 642 1 7 2 1 349 426 75 18 2 3 4 8 29 37 45 865 918 7 3 54 652 187 31 49 5 6 1 2 53 64 18 291 379 46 8 5 918 793 64 52 7 8 9 1 74 85 96 127 434 52 6 6 273 341 29 65 4 918 56 73 6 5 2 7 68 53 21 749 891 3 5 1 7 49 1 4 3 9 12 46 37 986 253 6 8 72 865 539 87 24 3 7 8 6 31 79 84 658 127 9 4 49 586 272 43 91 2 5 4 97 28 53 412 765 81 33 127 654 18 36 5 12 69 373 586 2 9 9 8 731 865 92 87 1 6 3 4 9

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Sudoku #6 Sudoku #6Sudoku #7 Sudoku #7 1 56 924 345 1 1 68 247 453 19 82 7 8 5 9 73 8 5 49 739 812 5 6 94 395 121 68 47 6 2 4 7 68 2 9 3 1 6 92 34 17 688 257 4 3 7 9 882 576 34 95 5 7 8 1 54 79 83 161 424 95 3 3 616 248 57 39 3 9 6 5 37 92 61 547 788 29 1 1 474 882 93 16 1 4 2 8 16 43 25 873 696 3 2 55 739 967 21 54 2 5 7 3 21 58 74 392 161 84 4 7 923 615 46 78 8 6 9 4 85 67 92 415 539 7 8 2 6 151 394 82 63 8 256 973 6 7 82 568 739 75 21 4 1 3 2 49 16 3

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Sudoku #4 Sudoku #4Sudoku #5 Sudoku #5 2 35 747 963 2 4 52 479 636 45 21 1 8 3 7 19 8 7 195 821 3 8 7 7 953 214 82 79 5 4 6 1 58 43 6 9 2 5 74 96 21 582 439 66 1 5 821 398 67 53 1 8 2 36 17 89 254 647 7 3 9 6 548 472 39 65 1 74 52 369 182 4 5 24 697 821 56 48 7 5 3 9 5 69 43 816 578 91 3 3 165 789 14 37 6 4 8 2 3 1 9 42 38 16 971 254 87 6 9 716 543 78 92 3 51 74 623 395 1 2 48 234 957 21 86 5 7 6 8 2 9 4 67 25 98 438 716 5 9 81 382 165 93 14 7 3 9 2 4 8 6

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Intermediate Sudoku by KrazyDad, Volume 2, Book 1

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Sherry [Thomas Sheridan] is dull, naturally dull; but it must have taken him a great deal of pains to become what we now see him. Such an excess of stupidity, sir, is not in Nature. -- Samuel Johnson

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Intermediate Sudoku by KrazyDad, Volume 2, Book 1

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Sudoku #2 Intermediate Sudoku by KrazyDad, Volume 2, Book 1

Intermediate Sudoku by KrazyDad, Volume 2, Book 1

Sudoku

Spring TIM Magazineâ&#x201E;˘

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COSTA BLANCA SCOOTERISTS By John McGregor

What a ride we had on Sat’day! Weather good? No, not exactly - wind ‘n rain, hailstones too, with the Alicante Scooter Krew. Mountains climbed, hairpin bends, the sort of ride that never ends! Pete ‘n Mike, Mark and Adam, Anders, John - the Mighty Atom - Dave was vital, Mister Scooter, kept us going, what a trouper. All in all, another fun day - when’s the next one? See you Sunday!

Eventually, as it was late afternoon it was time to return to our loved ones - but scooters being what they are we soon had a problem when Pete’s clutch cable went on the Gran Via in Alicante. Now our very own ‘know-everything’ mechanic, ‘Super Spanner’ Dave sprang into action and changed the cable with help from everyone. All back safely, another great outing, we all agreed, albeit the hairiest yet!

The above poem refers to one hell of a ride the Costa Blanca Scooterists went on recently. Five of us of CBS set off early from Torrevieja to Alicante, led by Pete (the Mod) Heyes, with Dave (Super Spanner) Solan, ‘Anders’ Andersson, Mike Cockerell, Me (RAF) John, and Mark Warne brought his son Adam on the back: three Vespas and two Lambrettas..On the far outskirts of the city we were met and welcomed by the ‘Alicante Scooter Krew’ one of three scooter groups in the city. There were well over 100 of them with all different strains, sizes and colours of scooters, they’re just as daft as we are about our Italian shopping trolleys. After being photographed, registering and paying our €30 we received the usual goody bag with badges, tee shirts, and vouchers for breakfast and lunch. There were friendly welcomes, and renewed friendships so after more photos (see attached), a bocadillo and a coffee we set off, well chaperoned by organised members of the Krew - to where we not sure.... We headed away from town towards a distant mountain range and the wind and rain increased somewhat - and at intervals hailstones came down. Of course, being British we were well Parka’d up – and we soon needed to be... As we approached the mountains we began to climb as the road got narrower and soon became hardly wide enough for a single car. We started to climb up and up round hairpin bends (don’t look down..). You could say the route was ‘challenging’ to say the least. Along the way we met a few unlucky motorists coming the other way, their cars squeezed into tiny lay-bys as they disbelievingly watched the huge number of us pass them – all of us concentrating very hard on what we were doing!.

We have over 70 members now on our ‘Costa Blanca Scooterists’ Facebook page, with more members joining every month. Usually, but not always we meet on a Sunday morning in the square at San Miguel, 10 for 10.30. Regular numbers vary between 5 and 8, and we even hit the magic ‘10’ recently. Scoots are about 60/40 Vespas/Lambrettas, and we now have the odd LML and even a Scomadi in our ranks now (look them up if you don’t know...). We don’t run on any fixed membership rules and regulations, we are just a group of like-minded lads who like to get out on our scoots of a weekend – and sometimes midweek – for a ride, a stop or two for a coffee/snack and a laugh together. We sometimes ride inland towards Murcia, or the Mar Menor direction, or just tootle around Montesinos, Quesada, Torremendo and the surrounding area. Nothing too ambitious, although occasionally by previous arrangement as above we do venture a little further afield. One of our number of regular riders, Anders had an operation on his back recently, so last Sunday five of his mates from CBS paid him a cheer-up visit, see attached. Anders is on the mend and hopefully will be back out with us in the not-too-distant future. If you have a scooter and fancy joining our ranks, just contact us or turn up one Sunday morning at San Miguel. You will be made welcome!

After what seemed like hours, now with fabulous views between the dark clouds high in the hills we joined a main road and eventually stopped at a large petrol station near a town called Tibi. In international scootering language we congratulated each other on safely making it with nervous, disbelieving laughter at the hairy journey we had experienced. A more sedate journey on ‘real’ roads took us back to the starting point where in the large restaurant 12 large round tables were laid out for lunch. The service was slow, but plenty of beers and soft drinks flowed as we all thawed out and ate heartily. In the usual presentations afterwards our Mark Warne deservedly won the ‘Best Restored’ award for his well-turned-out Lambretta. 24

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What Are Silica Bags For?

You Definitely SHOULDN’T Have Thrown These Away...

Ever wondered what these little bags of beaded balls are for? Well, you’re going to regret throwing them away because they have more uses than you think! How many times have you opened a box of shoes, found a silica bag and thrown it out with the rubbish? Perhaps the large DO NOT EAT warning written across the packet scared you off? Or maybe you’re one of the many people who haven’t even realised it’s in your package all together! The chances are, you’ve never really given them much thought. What use does a little bag of beads have to my life? You ask. While it’s still important to keep these away from babies and animals (mainly because they are a choking hazard) did you know that the contents of these bags aren’t actually toxic? The silica gel bags are filled with a substance called silicon dioxide, a non-toxic substance that has the power to dry out moisture. So we really should be keeping these around the house because they can solve A LOT of everyday problems. QUICK! DIG THEM OUT OF THE TRASH...PRONTO! Here are some of the ways you can use silica bags around the house: 1. You can save your drenched phone! Next time you drop your phone in a pint, or worse yet, down the loo! Putting your phone in a bowl of silica gel is apparently 10 times more effective than rice! 2. Your makeup will last longer! Putting a bag or two in your makeup bag will stop your powderbased makeup from getting clogged together. 26

3. Put them in your gym bag to eliminate odour That’s right! Never worry about leaving smelly gym socks in your bag again! The silica will absorb the excess moisture in your gym shoes after a workout, to help keep your kit bacteria and stink free! 4. Keep your bath towels from smelling While we’re on the topic of odour...try popping a few of these bags in between your bath towels to prevent horrible smells and dampness. 5. Keep your car windscreen clear If you didn’t have a reason to keep them before then this is DEFINITELY it! Pop a few on the dashboard to prevent moisture build-up that causes condensation on the inside of the windscreen. In winter, it will also help prevent freezing on the inside. 6. Keep your jewellery looking brand new! If you didn’t already know - moisture leads to tarnishing and discolouration of silver jewellery. So a couple of bags in your jewellery box will slow down the process. We know! It’s a lot of mind-blowing information to take in... BUT THERE’S MORE! If your silica gel no longer seems to be doing the trick, you can pop them in the oven at 100F to draw out all the moisture so you can use them all over again. They’re basically RECHARGEABLE. (You may also wanna keep them in an air tight container when you’re not using them to keep them fresh.) We are gobsmacked! Well, they do say the best things come in tiny little packages!

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Going Out

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Baked Bream Madrid Style Recipe Dorada a la Madrileña This recipe is very straightforward and the breadcrumb mix on top of the fish is delicious. Traditionally it is made with whole fish as in this recipe but I think it would be a lot better on a filleted fish such as bream or bass or even any other white fish fillet. Serves 2

• 2 whole bream, cleaned and scaled • salt • 4 thin lemon wedges • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley • 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs

• 1 bay leaf, in small bits • 2 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 150ml white wine • Freshly ground black pepper.

Cooking Method Place the fish on a plate or dish with a lip. Make two diagonal cuts on one side of each of the fish and push a wedge of lemon into each cut. Pour the lemon juice over the fish and leave for about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Mix the breadcrumbs, parsley, bay leaf bits and crushed or chopped garlic in a bowl. Pour the oil into a flameproof dish and heat the oil by putting the dish in the hot oven for a few minutes. Take the dish out of the oven, place the 30

fish in it and cover them with the breadcrumb, parsley and garlic mix. Pour the wine round the fish and put the dish on a hot stove and bring to the boil. Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for about half an hour. You should spoon the wine over the fish a couple of times and you may find you have to add more wine at some stage. This dish could be accompanied by boiled baby potatoes, green salad or vegetables.

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ain

p S n I g n i v i L r O g isitin V f I y r T d l u o h S You s a p a T 9 p o T e h T

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A perfect venue to tailor a unique dining experience, whether you are a couple looking for a romantic meal or a party celebrating an occasion look no further than La Buena Vida, a warm welcome always assured. Some specials in addition to our menu are: • • • • • •

Slow roasted lamb shanks Scallops cooked in a garlic & chilli infused oil Fresh Galician mussels cooked in a white wine, garlic & cream sauce Sea Bass Lobster Thermidor on request Half roasted duck.

If you want a top quality steak try our full range which includes ﬁllet, Ribeye & sirloin. “Look to our website to see our full menu”. Booking recommended, booking service available online as well as by telephone.

Come and enjoy our superb freshly cooked Sunday lunch served from 1pm – 4pm. During the month of April we will be oﬀering a free bottle of house Red or White wine with our set evening menu on production of this voucher. La Buena Vida Restaurant is situated in Calle Padre Claret, Hondón de los Frailes Telephone: 965 48 20 98 Web: labuenavidahondon.com

April set evening menu

free wine offer voucher

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Horoscopes

February 20th - March 20th

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Your vitality will be spot-on and you won’t lack the wherewithal to direct your projects and be enterprising. However, you will have a tendency to put your routine tasks on one side and focus on what can be dealt with now, at this very moment. If you manage to get rid of your excessive impatience, everything will go well and you will avoid aggravating tendencies. The influence of Venus in your sign will lead your love-life to the heights and great satisfaction. You will set the bar very high, but have every chance of reaching it this month, whether through new encounters or looking after an already existing relationship very effectively. Emotional values will be inspirational and abandoning what isn’t working will be more obvious. Things will become clear in material terms, where life changes will be favoured this month. You will have enough elbow room to negotiate and obtain immediate advantages.

April is going to shake up the course of your life by forcing you to face situations which will seem to want to persuade you to change lots of things, take a stance and act in a direct, definite manner. You who like to act gradually will paradoxically feel an urge to take action, which will surprise those who know you well. The first three weeks will be good for jettisoning certain concerns, so that you can go forward into the future more lightheartedly. The Sun’s transit through your symbolic Twelfth House will entreat you to break free from the negative influences among those around you, especially since the beginning of 2015. The Sun’s influence over the second two weeks will flow much more easily and the road to follow will seem much clearer. Venus, your ruling planet will add dynamics to your relationship whilst in Aries, but will also make you more vulnerable.

This Month will be a positively determining factor in moving your most important plans forward. The trine aspect from Venus, Mercury and the Sun to your sign will inspire you with some constructive initiatives, which will enable you to progress in your plans more rapidly than you had envisaged, despite the fact that those around you will find it difficult to keep up. You will have the arguments to achieve your aims and surround yourself with people who will fit in with your ambitions. You will resolutely banish the idea or concept of fate this month, with a trine aspect from Uranus, strengthened by a conjunction between the Sun, Mercury and Venus. You will take clear and precise initiatives, which won’t leave room for life’s ups and downs or other people’s whims! Make the most of this to negotiate in your most important projects.

April is going to bring you face to face with situations which will be moving apace. There will be changes around you coming up and you will need to adapt. The need for change will be imperative and will be both positive and negative. It will be essential not to recoil before commitment or before certain concessions. The quincunx aspects from Uranus and the Sun, and Mercury and Venus will usher in a hectic life, where your relationships are concerned. You will be called upon to support others and come to their aid. It will be a case of not going too far with self-denial and not losing sight of keeping your finances balanced, especially during the first three weeks of April. Don’t recoil at the challenges that are going to arise at work. Above all, don’t underestimate yourself, and take time to analyse things. A door will open if you appear receptive to this idea, even if it’s only in your mind.

April looks set to make those around you predominate in the course of your life. It isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that this will give you the feeling that you are being listened to less than usual and that the desires of others come before yours, in that they urge you to show more flexibility and put you on the back-burner to let more urgent cases go first ... which won’t be yours. This could make you feel disillusioned, but also give you some satisfaction! The opposition aspects of the Sun and Uranus, Mercury and Venus will lead you to new knowledge, which will truly take you away from the beaten track and the habits of a lifetime. Discovering new horizons is a good thing, which will enable you to feel fulfilled in an original and unexpected manner, far away from certain restrictions which won’t suit you at all.

Capricorn

Aquarius

April is going to lead you into situations which will require wisdom, but also the ability to make rapid choices and carry them out. The square aspects from the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Uranus during the first three weeks of the month, will make you vulnerable to upheavals, especially in your private life and on the family front. You won’t have time to wallow in melancholy. The future will call to you and encourage you to go straight ahead, clearing your path of certain futile habits, or ones which were holding you back, without your necessarily being aware of them. The hidden faults of certain people won’t go unnoticed in your eyes and you will finally see clearly through certain people’s games. Make sure, however you don’t become too hard, as you will have a tendency to neglect certain aspects of being human, i.e. certain weaknesses.

The sextile aspects from the Sun, as well as Venus, Uranus and Mercury to your sector will bring you into a new cycle, where it will be easier to make new acquaintances, who will be more approachable and there will be more of them. Your need for action will increase without the slightest doubt, which will be a good thing, as long as you keep some moments for reflection and don’t confuse haste with speed. From 6th April, Mercury will form a square aspect to your sign and will confront you with an increased reality of the consequences of certain choices that you made last autumn. Digging in your heels regarding certain pseudo-certainties would be counter-productive, don’t forget. There will always be time to do things well, as well as forgiving faults which will often be caused simply by blunders rather than an intention to cause harm.

Leo

Sagittarius April looks to be stable and appealing where your overall future is concerned. Trine aspects to the Sun, as well as Venus, Mercury and Uranus, will help your initiatives. There won’t be an obstacle in sight! The main thing will be to avoid rushing things, though, in the heat of the moment, however quickly things happen. You will find it easy to expend your energy, with your endurance skills strengthened. It will be the ideal moment to take up a sport and also do some revisions for forthcoming exams, but in addition, devote your time to big plans. This won’t be the time to pull out of your relationships. There will be some very positive encounters on the cards for you this month, which will become of infallible support in your friendships over the long term.

Virgo

April is going to create a very exciting atmosphere in your life, galvanising your need for action and exchanges with others. The Sun in sextile aspect to your sign during the first three weeks of the month will boost your relationships, bring you new acquaintances and open you up to new horizons. There will be some thrilling exploration on the cards, which could lead you to a job change well within your scope, especially as Venus will also be in sextile aspect to your sign and will make it much easier for you to forge positive new alliances. This aspect will bring you harmony in your family relations. You won’t be lacking in new ideas to make progress in your family life and develop a closer relationship. Projects related to your home and home-life will certainly be very much centre stage and this will be the time to renovate, invest and plan a house move to have a vastly more comfortable existence.

Libra

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April is going to add enthusiasm to your life and this will be felt in particular in relation to your own personal freedom. You are automatically going to feel an inner tension, which will find relief by taking action, giving you more freedom with your own affairs. The influence of a quincunx aspect from Mars to your sign will indicate potential for action, which will have to come from your own free will, without expecting things to happen by themselves. You will have to get off to a running start off your own volition to set things in motion regarding freedom from certain constraints. Mars and Saturn in quincunx aspect to your sign, combined with a sextile aspect from Mercury, will make your mind teem with ideas for new possibilities and you will have the courage to think further ahead and on a higher plane, so that you can extract yourself from situations which will feel outmoded.

Scorpio April is going to help you to reveal your inner strength and basic energy to lead your projects banging the drum. Mars, your ruling planet in your symbolic Second House will have trine aspects to the Sun during the first three weeks, as well as Venus, Uranus and Mercury. This will create situations favouring the expression of your talents and desires. You won’t worry about the detail in forging ahead and will even manage to gain some time. The main thing will be to avoid being over-impulsive before anything else. Take some time out to recharge your batteries and think quietly, before you take definite initiatives, which will be for the long term. You will have the force of character, have no doubt, so the ideal thing will be to add attention to detail and a sense of strategy.

Pisces April is going to push you into action of a practical nature about where your life is heading. The transits of the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Uranus over the first three weeks of the month will favour other events, which will be a motive for bringing your desires to fruition. You will feel a greater need for stability and security. Whatever things are now like in your lovelife, you won’t feel able to stop here and will have more enthusiasm for action and a spirit of initiative than usual in relation to your partner. A great dynamic wind is going to blow through your relationships this month, which will sweep away some of your hesitations, whether you like it or not. This will be your greatest chance, as long as you don’t head for the opposite kind of excess. Don’t hesitate to assert your point of view out loud about what is essential to you.

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Written by Eric Arnold Sunday 28th February 2016, slightly overcast, windy and a chance of rain. One of the rare days we did not get perfect weather for the meeting of the Big Cats. Before I start this report, I must tell you, we have something special planned for our next meeting in April so do not miss it, a two day visit (4th to 6th April) to a Spa Resort in Archena, check out the details on our web site www.jec-spain. com//specialevents If you are quick I can still fit you in. This time we visited somewhere new, Casa Antonio in Heredades. Located at the back of an industrial estate it’s not easy to find so Ian arranged a meeting point just off the motorway which made things much easier. Casa Antonio had reserved special undercover parking for us which was great for the cars but lousy for my photographs, never mind I will know better next time. On arrival, most people congregated in the conservatory around the pool terrace, a few G&T’s, a beer or two, coke of course for us drivers, or just a tonic, slice of lemon! Great to meet our old friends again. We sat down for lunch just before 1:30pm in an area of the dining room that had been partitioned off especially for us. Hot bread, garlic and tomato to start, a plate of succulent ham and Manchego cheese, a prawn and vegetable puff pastry slice, beautiful tender deep fried squid rings then a tuna salad. A choice

Salmon, Dorada, Pork loin or Pig Cheeks for the main, I had the pork with a pepper sauce, very nice, my wife had the Dorada, I have to say not the best fish she has ever had. Wine flowed freely during all the courses. A selection of desserts and coffee’s finished the day off nicely, must have been a good day as we were still there at 6:00 pm. May I take this opportunity to thank all the members that attended especially the new members and the members that bought guests, bringing the total to 45 people and 18 cars. I am pleased to say, among the attendees were many of the old favourites and some new member’s cars as well. I have to say, when you looked at them all lined up it was a fabulous sight to behold. An art show in steel and leather which included some of the most iconic example of automotive art ever made. The meeting also held a few surprises, our good friend Colin Stickland won the 2015 Character of the year award, for his enthusiasm and support of the club. We found out some time ago that Hans Nilsson is addicted to M&M’s so just for a little humour we rewarded Hans with two bags of M&M’s for supporting the British confectionary industry. To show our gratitude to Restaurant Casa Antonio Ian presented a trophy to the Restaurant Manager.

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Satisfied and satiated, some members started to depart just before 5:30pm however some of us were still there at 6:00pm - what a great day. Our next meeting is something a little special, our Spa Break - Pamper yourself at Balneario De Archena Spa Resort. 2 days and nights at this luxurious spa, superior rooms and a special deal. Arrive Monday 4th April and depart Wednesday 6th April 2016. If you own a Jaguar in Spain, come and join us. Details can be found on www.jec-spain.com//specialevents The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club is the largest of the worlds Jaguar Clubs, apart from joining in the fun at the meetings, full members also benefit from a glossy 140 page A4 monthly magazine, Jaguar spares department and a technical advice service second to none. If you live in Spain and own a Jaguar you should be a member of The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club. The JEC in Spain is organised by Eric Arnold and Ian McMenemy. Eric can be contacted by email at jaguarspain@outlook.com or by phone on 609931647 or alternatively check out www.jec-spain.com or the JEC main web site www. jec.org.uk. Our Events director, Ian McMenemy can be contacted at McMenemy@JEC-events.com. Not forgetting David Shea who looks after our Facebook identity.

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Changes That Could Make a Difference to Your Tax Return It will come as no surprise that in Spain, like anywhere else in the world we are obliged to pay taxes… however what taxes need to be paid, by whom, and when???? … and it would seem that the minefield of paying taxes is once again about to change. Depending on whether you are a resident, non-resident, have assets overseas or in Spain, can determine the taxes that apply to you. First it was the State pension that had to be included in the tax return – declaracion de la renta – now there has been a new ruling that from 2016 – so NOT this year, but from next year – if you receive a Civil Service pension this MUST be included in your annual tax return. A Civil Service Pension is not an OAP State Pension, but a government pension (including municipal pensions) from the UK. Until now, a Civil Service pension has always been excluded when declaring your assets on the tax return.This will mean that as a taxpayer, all of your pensions : private, state and civil service pensions, will have to be included. RESIDENTS and the tax return With very few exceptions, everyone resident in Spain (more than 183 days) for tax purposes and with any income or capital gains anywhere in the world has to file a tax return. Non-resident property owners are also obliged to file tax returns, but must follow a different system to residents. Remember that it may be in your interest to make a tax

return when your earnings are low, for example if you have worked for only part of the year and may therefore be due a rebate. Also there are advantages of being fiscally resident in Spain specially when applying the Inheritance Taxes. Failure to pay tax can result in penalties of between 50% and 150% of the tax owed, plus interest. Late payment can result in penalties between 5% to 20% of the tax involved, plus interest. If you are a resident in Spain you will be taxed for your worldwide income, and will be obliged to file income tax returns. NON RESIDENTS and the tax return Non-residents are liable for tax on any income arising in Spain, such as a money deposit with a Spanish bank, a property in Spain, or income derived of any business in Spain. Property owners are taxed on their property income. The tax base is the property cadastral value (valor catastral) or the escritura value, which can be found the first one on any IBI bill (In Alicante province SUMA bill). Should you fail to pay this tax, you will be charged and penalised by the Spanish Tax Agency if you try to sell your property.

We also have offices in: Hondon de las Nieves, Ciudad Quesada, Petrer, Moraira, Alicante & Benidorm

“Peace of mind independent international lawyers” 38

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Executions By Chris Thompson everything was in place, a 55 kilo blade dropped two metres and made a nice clean cut decapitating the victim instantly. The Spanish were neck men too but here it was the garotte. It was originally intended as a merciful death for those heretics who admitted their crimes and accepted Christianity during the Spanish Inquisition. The condemned were strangled to death with a sharp cord. Difficult choice – purification by fire or strangulation – to repent or not? The more sophisticated version came later. It was basically a chair or bench with an upright post behind to which was attached an iron collar with a large metal screw in the back. The prisoner sat with their back to the post and the collar was fastened around their neck. The theory was that as the screw was tightened it would crush the brain stem and cause instant death. The stronger the executioner and the slighter the prisoner the better the chance that things would go to plan. The main problem though was that if the screw missed the precise point where the brain meets the spinal column it would simply bore into the condemned person’s neck tightening up the iron collar and strangling them, slowly, to death.

Crucifixion, firing squad, electric chair, lethal injection, gas chambers, beheading, drawing and quartering, burning at the stake, the breaking wheel. Every administration or country and every period has its favourite way of legally killing people. We British were keen on hanging. Black cap, grave voice and then “Christopher John Thompson you are sentenced to be taken hence to the prison in which you were last confined and from there to a place of execution where you will be hanged by the neck until dead and thereafter your body buried within the precincts of the prison and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul.” Hanging doesn’t always work cleanly. People choke to death as they dangle from the rope rather than having their neck snapped by the jerk.

My dad told me about having a drink in Albert Pierrepoint’s pub in Lancashire. Pierrepoint was a hangman. He executed over 400 people (there are no centralised records as hangmen were hired by local sheriff’s whose responsibility it was to hang people) and he is considered the most efficient and swiftest executioner in British history. He resigned in 1956. The last hanging in the UK was in 1964. Maybe the last Spanish executioner knew Albert in his incarnation as a publican because several of the reports about Antonio López Sierra have him drunk as he executed people. He only executed twenty or so people probably because most of the prisoners “legally” executed in Spain during the 20th Century were shot. His first was in 1952 and his last was in 1974 when he had a lot of trouble putting together the garotte having had a drink or two too many. It took quite a long time for his subject, militant anarchist Salvador Puig Antich, to die. That was the last time the garotte was used here. The last executions in Spain took place in September 1975 when two ETA and three FRAP members were killed by firing squad.

No such problem with the French system proposed by Dr. Joseph Guillotin. It always worked as intended. The soon to be dead prisoner was placed face down on a large wooden plank, their head was secured in a brace and steadied by an executioner’s assistant known as the photographer who held on to their hair (or, in the case of bald prisoners, their ears). When

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Three Spainsh executioners

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Guillotine

Hangmans Noose

Garotte Kit I Think? E-mail: editor@timspain.com â&#x20AC;˘ Web site: www.timspain.com

Garotte

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HONDON VALLEY GOLF SOCIETY BACK TO BACK WINS FOR DUG BLAIR Bonalba Golf Resort was the venue for March’s regular stableford competition. Thirty-three members and three guests assembled in the clubhouse for coffee at midday in preparation for the first group getting under way at the unusually late start time of 12:56. Graham Palmer won the Gold Division on countback. Dug Blair carried forward his winning form from February’s event in Las Colinas for a clear win in the Silver Division. Dug pressed the point home by achieving a solid victory in his round of the Match Play competition. Steve Ingerson triumphed in the Bronze Division. Several of the participants regarded the condition of the fairways to be poor. The captain, Ken Knight, thanked the staff of Bonalba for providing all of the players with sandwiches and refreshments on the course. He then presented the prizes for the day. Society members are reminded that April’s Stableford event at Font del Llop has been rescheduled for Friday 15th April. There will be a Two Tee Start and players are requested to meet in the clubhouse at 08:30. Please contact Ken Knight if this change affects your availability to play.

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Bonalba – Results for 08/03/2016 Winners

Friday 15th April – Font del Llop Meet in clubhouse at 08:30 Wednesday 20th April – Altorreal

Pts

Graham Palmer

Jamie Smith

John Ainscough

28 Silver Winner

Many Neissen

Dug Blair

Silver Runner Up (on countback)

Steve Collins

Silver Third Place

Steve Ingerson

Bronze Winner (on countback)

Albert Baggaley

Bronze Runner Up (on countback)

Andrew Doherty

Bronze Third Place (on countback)

Hole Andrew Doherty

Nearest the Pin

Harry Dame

Nearest the Pin

Dug Blair

Nearest the Pin

Clive Dalton

Nearest the Pin

John Forrester

Nearest the Pin in Two

Jamie Smith

Nearest the Pin in Two

Tony Brewer

Football scratch card

Wallace McKillop

Captain’s Pick

Richard Bell

Captain’s Pick

Chris Jennings

Captain’s Pick

Steve Ingerson & Paul Evans Match Play

Forthcoming Fixtures & Social Events