TM
Costa Blanca
Welcome to the December edition of T.I.M.
... for you this month! 2
The Spanish Iquisition
Covering the Costa Blanca, inland and coastal
6
Booming Busot
133rd Edition
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Spanish Lottery
10 The Gadget Page 32 The Fun Page
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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.
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TIM Magazine™
The Spanish Inquisition
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
by Chris Thompson
“Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition” was a line made famous by the Monty Python team in a 1970 sketch. I laughed at the prancing, red robed cardinals but I had no real idea what the Inquisition was. In fact the Inquisition existed to hunt out heretics defined as people who held beliefs based on inaccurate interpretations of the Bible. I suspect that Cayetano Ripoll, hanged in Valencia in 1826 for talking about the nature of God, wasn’t expecting the Spanish Inquisition. He was its last victim. You will remember that North African Muslims invaded Spain in 711 AD and that it took the Christians just over 700 years before the last outpost of Moorish Spain, Granada, fell to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, the Catholic Monarchs. At the time the population of Spain was a mix of three religious groups: Christians, Muslims and Jews. As winners the Catholic Monarchs intended to make it patently clear who was top dog.
This was important stuff for the Catholic Church. It’s not every day that your religion gives another one a good thumping and regains a whole country. Ferdinand and Isabella were in a strong negotiating position. In 1478, as they closed in on Granada, they pressured the Pope into allowing them to set up a tribunal or Inquisition to hunt out false Christians. In 1492, with the reconquest complete, the Monarchs ordered all the Jews out of Spain. Many chose to convert to Christianity rather than go. The Church mistrusted these converts and by 1502 eight tribunals were active.
The tribunals were made up of clergy to try the cases but they had an array of legal professionals to help. A fiscal presented the evidence, three notaries listed property, recorded evidence and recorded court proceedings whilst a sheriff took care of the physical arrest and interrogation which may well include torture. When the Inquisitors rolled into town there was a thirty day period for people to come forward. Under the promise of leniency many people gave themselves up and often accused other people in the hope of better treatment. Cases were investigated by “qualifiers” though often people were arrested before being investigated. Accusations were anonymous so many people spent years in prison not knowing what they were accused of or who had denounced them.
The outcomes of the trials ranged from acquittal to death. When there was doubt about the guilt of the accused, the case was suspended. The implied threat was that the case could be re-opened. Heavier penalties ranged through fines, confiscation of property, physical punishment and time in prison or serving as galley slaves. Top of the pile was Relaxation. Relaxation meant the accused would be burned alive at the stake. In time, as attitudes liberalised, the Inquisition lost pace and people were often burned in effigy rather than for real. In the 19th Century the changing European political scene, the rivalry between Church and state and many other factors meant that the Inquisition fell out of favour. It was suspended twice before being finally abolished in 1834. Just a little too late for Cayetano.
The Pope didn’t like this blood letting and tried to slow everything down. The Spanish rulers piled on the pressure. The Pope caved in and named Tomás de Torquemada as head of a new Inquisition. It was Torquemada who established new structures and procedures for the tribunals. So later, in 1609, when Philip III kicked all of the Moriscos, the families whose forebears had converted from Islam to Christianity, out of Spain the Inquisition was waiting for them. Later the Inquisition censored books as well as pursuing bigamists, blasphemers, witches, Freemasons, sodomites, mainly child abusers, and Protestants. 2
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Costa Blanca
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TIM Magazine™
https://johnbishopauthor.wordpress.com
THE BISH BASH
How to escape the stresses of the modern, technological world? I thought I’d found the answer. A week’s guided walking in Quatretondeta, (see TIM Feb 2013) up on the flanks of the Sierra Serrella (way) above Benidorm. Cottage accommodation, small group, no hassle.
The trip started badly. Fog all the way to Birmingham airport. Then the woman on security sniffed suspiciously at the used tube of Savlon in my first aid kit, which she’d identified as a liquid (I almost suggested she took a swig) and proceeded to subject it to some sort of chemical testing: obviously it could have been semtex which I’d substituted for the antiseptic cream, using the technique for inserting model sailing ships into bottles. I waited patiently, of course, avoiding any sarcastic comment (I was on an escape-from-hassle-trip, remember) or opening my jacket to reveal my t-shirt with ‘You don’t have to be thick to work here, but why be the odd one out?’ printed on it. With only a few teeth ground down I was soon on my way, the hassle left behind. Until I landed at Alicante. I sensed that the passport control queue was making little progress. Then I spied a woman officer coming down the queue examining passports. Ah, I thought, waving my eyeball recognition job introduced by Tony Blair at only double the previous cost, here’s a chance to nip ahead to the Soberano special offer in duty free. But I was spurned. Spurned! Only the people with the cr**py old pre-digital cardboard version were whisked out of sight. What was going on? I soon – well, before nightfall – found out. Alicante had joined the passport scanning revolution. Or, rather, embraced it. Or fallen head over heels in love with it. Because, whereas at UK airports the e-technology gates are shoved off to the side, the authorities having realised that (a) half the time they don’t work or (b) when they do most people find the instructions so befuddling that it doubles the time taken to get through, at Alicante they were defiantly installed full centre. Either reflecting a touching faith in the efficacy of humans-technology interaction or, perhaps more probably, set there to teach fallen man penance and to learn patience while waiting. Not that I did but the penalty for impatience was torture by technology. (Didn’t I read somewhere that the Inquisition had been expelled from Spain a few centuries ago? I’ve got news for you 4
– they’re back). Lacking a higher degree in Advanced IT Functionality, my torment was not brief. So by the time I’d stumbled through the techno gates (a) it was fortunate that Soberano was still on special offer (b) the escape from technological hassle plan hadn’t got off on the best foot. (Though my foot was the only bit not requiring to be scanned) Fortunately my expat walking companion, technology guru and driver, otherwise known as Jeeves, was able to negotiate the payment machines and multiple exit barriers in the airport car park – and even avoided driving the wrong way down the ramps this time – so I was soon being swept northwards to peace and tranquillity. And so it proved. Even Jeeves’ display of culinary wizardry in the kitchen – poached eggs – proved satisfactorily low tech: pan plus boiling water and we were soon following our walk leader, Tom, of Mountainwalks.com up into the hills. Sunshine, views and Autumn scents. What more could one want? (Apart from a cable car, obviously, to get me up the steeper ascents or, failing that, oxygen. Where are the wonders of technology when you need them?) A further three glorious days followed, accompanied by the excellent food from our hosts, Pat and Brian (Jeeves being restricted to breakfast duties to preserve his energy for bounding over the mountains, which he did with unnatural agility despite complaining he was shattered). Technology maintained a discreet role all week – via kettle and toaster– though we helped by resorting to even lower-tech equipment where possible eg bottle openers. In fact the only technology hassle came from Jeeves’ inability to find the Rugby World Cup match between Namibia and Georgia on the cottage’s TV. (There was, however, a nontechnological explanation for this: they weren’t playing.) So I had the answer: mountains, walking, Spanish hospitality. I was even tempted to become an expat. And so relaxed I nearly got wiped out on San Juan seafront by a Freddie Mercury lookalike on roller skates. Still, it would have been a low-tech end.
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Words by John Bishop.
Costa Blanca
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The Inland Magazine™
At first look Busot appears to be another typical Alicante village with narrow streets, town hall, church and plaza. I was attracted to visit by the recent opening of a museum for musical instruments but discovered much more. Busot is located inland from El Campello at the foot of the Sierra de Cabezon del Oro, surrounded by panoramic mountains and campo. Ideally located with Alicante city centre, airport, AVE high speed train services, motorways and beach all within easy reach. El Museo de Musica Etnica – the museum of ethnic music is the brainchild of Carlos Blanco Fadol who now lives in Busot, but originated from Uruguay. His CV explains: ‘Over 40 years, Carlos Blanco Fadol has used music as anthropologically pure element of communication between the various ethnic groups contacted on his pilgrimage through the world. In this way, he managed a narrow approach among the natives through the instruments played. That allowed him to investigate and collect a wide variety of ethnic musical instruments.’ He has received many awards, created new instruments and published various books on ethnic music instruments. The museum is located in the main plaza opposite the Busot town hall and is open every day (except Christmas/New Year) including Mondays – to coincide with the local caves (see below) The curator, who speaks English, greeted us and she explained the main points of the museum and invited us to walk around and to take photos. Entry was free when I visited but a combined museum/local caves entry ticket was under review. The variety of the 200 instruments on display is truly amazing, featuring many types from all around the world. Arranged in well-lit display areas with good English explanations of origins etc. Another brilliant facility are the electronic displays equipped with audio so you can both see and hear the instruments being played. The range includes a Jiaye-Quin from China and a stringed Bulumbata from the Gambia. Frankly some look rather weird and wonderful, especially one ‘multi-purpose’ instrument originating from Germany.
Words and photos by Rob Innis A truly exquisite hotel with seven beautifully designed and furnished bedrooms, all themed to the local mountains. Each of the bedrooms has an individual style and design, with extra large beds, en suite shower bathrooms and equipped with all the latest technology for internet access etc. We were invited to a tour of the elegant rooms and delightful roof top bar with stunning views across the mountains and down towards Alicante by Pepe Toni, the hotel’s public relations manager. He explained they opened recently but already have become number one on ‘Trip Advisor’ and are very proud of their modern comfortable establishment. Rooms can be reserved for very sensible prices and would make for a great special treat weekend or break. We took a cappuccino and a fresh muffin in the inviting coffee shop (Open to the public) and I admired the beautiful display of photography featuring the local mountains of our region whilst trying to resist the tempting pastries on display. Pepe told us that Busot is ideally located for guests to enjoy visiting the local area and exploring the countryside, including the local caves, San Juan beaches, and Alicante using the boutique hotel as their welcoming base for a stay in this region. We thoroughly enjoyed our morning exploring these attractions and along with the Cuevas del Canelobre and Jijona (a short drive further inland) Turron Museum (for more see TIM September 2015) visitors have plenty to explore and a delightful hotel to accommodate them. A local castle is currently being restored and will soon be open.
From didgeridoo to sitar and even a wakrapukus from Peru. However, maybe the most amazing or macabre (?) is a Kerar (or Krar) made from human bones. If that is not your thing (nor me) how about the Klong-Ae, from Buddhist temples, which uses a ‘sticky mix of boiled rice, banana and coal. Well I told you the range is amazing! Also take time to read the quotes displayed on various walls, all very apt and thought provoking.
I visited the amazing Caves at Canelobre a while ago which are claimed to be Spain’s largest caves open to the public. Having also visited the caves at Nerja (Malaga) I am unsure whether that is true. The size and shapes of the stalagmites and stalactites are emphasised by well arranged lighting and the guide will invite you to guess what they look like, great fun for children. It is cooler inside so be prepared with a warm jacket. Wonderful panoramic views from the parking area and there is a little cafeteria for refreshments, picnic area and a gift shop.
The museum houses a small percentage of the total collection of over 4,000 instruments gathered by Carlos on his extensive travels and research. In fact, more are on display in his other museum in Murcia.
For those who prefer to stay above ground the Cabezon del Oro mountain offers some great hiking routes and a large free car park, located before the cave visit parking. Well sign posted from Busot.
So even if you cannot play a musical instrument this is a collection containing many unique instruments and worth including in your visit to the Busot area.
Great to see that the various enterprises in Busot have combined and are working together to promote their various different attractions on offer – good strategic marketing, not always evidenced in Spain.
The Busot surprises continue next door with the Boutique Hotel – Sierra de Alicante – ‘Adventure and Relaxation between Sea and Mountains’
http://www.hotel-sierra-de-alicante.com/en/ http://www.cuevasdecanelobre.com/2.0/
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TIM Magazine™
Spanish Christmas lottery campaign tugs at the heart strings
The eagerly-awaited advert for Spain’s Christmas Lottery has been released and its main character has already got a huge following. Around this time every year, Spaniards start to go Christmas lottery mad, queuing for hours to buy their tickets and waiting excitedly for the grand unveiling of Spain’s annual Christmas lottery advert. And this year, it doesn’t disappoint, offering a particularly tear-jerking story. The animated advert, in the same style as Pixar’s Up, follows Justino, a lonely night-watchman in a mannequin factory. He spends his long night shifts all alone, never seeing his daytime colleagues. His only company is the dozens of mannequins in the factory. In his loneliness, he begins to interact with his colleagues on the morning shift through staging the mannequins, moving them into funny shapes and even making a giant Christmas tree out of the mannequins. In a heart warming twist the commercial ends with a Christmas lottery win for the factory staff and a surprise for the solitary watchman. The advert, produced by advertising agency Leo Burnett, has already gone viral in Spain and the character of Justino even has his own Instagram page @justino_vigilante. “They say that the key to a good story is to have a good protagonist who has a particular goal, which they fail to achieve, so that the reader or viewer roots for the main
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character to get their wish in the end,” Juan García Escudero, creative director of Leo Burnett, explained during the launch of the campaign. The hash tag #justino_vigilante was the top trending topic in Spain on Monday. It is the first time that Spain’s popular Christmas lottery advert has used animated characters rather than real-life actors. Last year, the advert featured a man in his local bar who had forgotten to buy a lottery ticket, while the year before the advert featured some of Spain’s best singers singing a Christmas lottery-themed song to the tune of “You were always on my mind”, but was mocked mercilessly on social media. Lifting the lid on Spain’s Christmas Lottery Spain’s Christmas lottery - known as El Gordo or the Fat One - is the richest in the world, paying out millions of euros to winners every year. The prize money for the 2015 draw - to be held on December 22nd - will be €2.2 billion. Its popularity stems from its many prizes, which mean that chances of winning at least something are high. The grand unveiling of the lottery balls is carried out in a unique way - lottery numbers are sung by pupils from Madrid’s San Ildefonso school.
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TIM Magazine™
The
Gadget Page
Usually, I give a run up of the best gadget pressies for the Christmas season, but to be honest, this year there really is nothing new thats noteworthy, so instead, it’s time for some Christmas fun!
by David Fraser
need. Keep track on gift shopping, get new festive wallpapers and kill time with casual games like Whack It! on this all-in-one app.
speed and many other options.
“Where’s Santa?”
Most of us now have smartphones, tablet and computers. Why should they be left out of the Christmas spirit? (BTW, I don’t suggest GIVING them spirits, as technology and fluids don’t really mix well!). Here is a roundup of some of the fun things to put on your devices, and of course, as it’s Christmas, it’s FREE! For those of you with Apple products, here are a couple of suggestions from the App Store:
“Appy Christmas”
“Talking Santa Free” Find out where Santa is anywhere in the world and what he is doing. A marker pinpoints his location, bearing a message describing what Santa is doing and where. With every location, Santa drops an anagram. See if you can solve it, from ‘Slider Puzzle’ to ‘Santa’s Reindeer Barn’. This app is also great to teach your children about the different world continents! Of course, those of us with proper Andriod devices are not left out (ducks from the Apple lovers!). A selection is here:
“Christmas Hymnal” This fun little app allows you to talk to Santa, and he will repeat back what you say. Great fun!
Entertain the entire family with this funny talking Santa that mimics whatever you say but in the HoHoHo Santa fashion. Of course, those with full sized devices such as PCs and Laptops can enjoy the fun as well. Many of the apps mentioned also have a computer version, and of course, there is the best of all: Santa Tracker!
“Christmas!!”
If you need a collection of lyrics for old but gold classic Christmas carols, then get the Christmas Hymnal.
“Christmas Tree Live Wallpaper” If you’re looking for an all-in-one app, then get Christmas!!. Packed with a countdown timer, advent calendar, gift list, Christmas jokes, songs, Christmas-themed wallpapers and games, this app has everything you 10
If you’re not going to have a real Christmas tree this season (I won’t – new kitten, say no more!), why not try decorating your own virtual version? Choose from the many settings to decorate your very own Christmas tree: snow, lights, quantity,
www.noradsanta.org - available from 1 December, you can see what Santa is up to, and track him on his deliveries during the festive season. I wish you all the best for Christmas 2015, and best wishes for New Year 2016!
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Costa Blanca
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TIM Magazine™ I swing slightly to the right; no this is nothing to do with my genitalia it’s to do with my politics. I used to be leftish for a while but I didn’t like it. It’s six days since I sat in horror watching the Paris atrocities and I have since travelled to Madrid to go to a rock concert and the cinema and many open spaces thronging with crowds of people. There were very few times that Paris wasn’t on my mind. The band I saw was thrilled that music had refused to be defeated and thanked us again and again. Just imagine that for one second, you are one of 2,500 who are being thanked for your bravery because you came to see a band play. Did you ever think this is something that would happen in your lifetime? Close the borders now.
you Turkey, we will live here, work hard, become nationals and prosper with you all, we will not make demands on you our hosts and we will be forever grateful”?
Non-Jews have said to me “You’re a Jew, how can you say this when the Syrian problem is the same as the Jews faced 70 years ago”? “Easily” I answer as this is not comparable in any way to Nazi Germany sweeping across Europe intent on wiping out the Jews. The Jews had no safe haven, no country wanted them and they were under threat of their lives wherever they were. So called safe countries were admitting as little as 1500 a year and even if they could get into them those countries such as England were being bombed on a nightly basis by the Luftwaffe.
Presidente Hollande has stated that France is at war which means Europe is at war and NATO is at war which also means that EU rules go out of the window. Merkel’s time is limited as she twists and U-Turns on an almost daily basis. Countries we think of as second rate or developing have been erecting fences and rolling out the barbed wire for months now and yet Merkel has carried on with her “everyone is welcome to The Fatherland”. I could go on but I’m angry, my son is living in Madrid and I worry about him every single day as he gets on the Metro to go to University and then changes for one stop on the packed bus or meets his friends in Puerta Del Sol on a Friday night as Parisians met their friends on that terrible night a week ago. I worry when he is coming home and taking the train from Atocha, Madrid’s massive rail station, the scene of the worst modern day tragedy Spain has ever suffered. When will our lives become the important ones?
Does anyone know any stories of Jews escaping with their lives into a country not yet occupied by the Nazis and saying “this country is not good enough for me I want to be put on a bus and taken to a more economically prosperous one and then send for the rest of my family when I am settled in a council house”? Given the situation today’s “refugees” have don’t you think that the Jews would have said “Thank
Please be safe everyone, have a wonderful Christmas, and let us all live and pray in peace whether we be Christian, Jew or Muslim. Most importantly please remember that these atrocities are not carried out by Muslims, they are carried out by haters and terrorists.
Close The Stable Door, Not All The Horses Have Bolted. By Marty Funkhauser 12
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Hondón Estate Agent wins “Business of the Year” It came as a complete surprise to Maureen Cook, owner and director of Hondón Villas, to be nominated by her clients for a Pride of Spain award. But to win first place in the prestigious category of “Business of the Year” 2015 was both a pleasant surprise and a shock. Maureen said as she collected her award: “What a wonderful gesture by my clients to put our name forward. The Hondón Villas team and I often get praise, cards and gifts for good service but to be publically voted for and win this award means we are doing a great job, especially in an industry that often gets bad press.”
No.1 for customer service, Hondón Villas has been established in the Hondón Valley area for over 8 years and in that time has gone from strength to strength. She continues: “It’s great to be recognised for something I have a passion for, work hard at and strive to be the best at. My many years of training and experience in Real Estate seems to have paid off as Hondón Villas has had it’s best year yet. Trust and reputation is something that is important to me as a service provider. We know our clients appreciate this as we get so many recommendations.” Hondón Villas has established a local office in Hondón de los Frailes with multi-lingual staff, local knowledge and a network of contacts in commercial, finance and domestic maintenance. As one client said “You really do give a Rolls Royce service”. Hondón Villas property portfolio can be seen at www.hondonvillas.net
Judging by the positive comments, testimonials and obvious support from her clients they wanted her team to be recognised at these annual awards as a pillar of the community and a trusted local business. Under Maureen’s experienced management and quest to be E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
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TIM Magazine™
Top Money Hacks to use in Spain By Maxine Raynor
billing in English, so you can’t use that as an excuse. Electric tariffs are boring, but with over 70% of households in Spain paying over the odds, it could be the best hour you spend this month. Take a look at the extended info on electricity bills, with lots of great savings tips at moneysaverspain.com/reduceelectric-bill/ 6 Money for Nothing and Credit Cards for free
1 Be Unfaithful To your bank, that is! If you’ve been with the same bank since you arrived in Spain, chances are you are paying for the privilege. There are lots of commissionfree accounts available with online banks, all you need is a regular wage or pension paid into the account. Most will pay you a monthly fee! Also do not forget to ditch your bank if you need to exchange large amounts of currency; 9 times out of 10 a specialist currency company will be cheaper. 2 What’s Happening Back Home? If you still have a bank account in your home country, check your statement thoroughly every year. Are you paying for pet insurance twice? Do you still have a subscription to a club “back home” that you never use? Small recurring payments are often missed, especially if they’re made by credit card, but once you detect and cancel them the savings soon add up. Once you’ve finished, do the same with your bank account in Spain. 3 Haggle & Compare Insurance companies love clients who just renew without querying the price. There are so many people who do this year after year, they’ll try and sneak in a slightly higher price even if have never claimed. Do not accept an increase without a fight! Even if you are not really interested in changing company, in most cases if you hint that you’re willing to go elsewhere you’ll find that they’re willing to negotiate a lower premium. 4 Know Your Rights If your Spanish is not perfect, that’s no reason for putting up with faulty goods or service. You’ll find that your local OMIC (municipal consumer office) is usually more than willing to point you in the right direction. If you have problems with a local or national authority in any EU country, use the EU Solvit service – it is free and available in all EU languages. 5 Be Tariff Savvy How did you choose your current electric tariff? Wellmeaning friends? Someone who called at your door a couple of years ago? Take one hour to get out your bills and make sure you are on the best tariff. Most companies offer
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Are you still paying for a credit card? Well, there are plenty of free credit cards available and most come with perks too. You could opt for Carrefour’s Pass card, with cashback to spend quarterly in store; Banco Popular with points to spend at travel agencies; Ikea Visa with automatic financing on Ikea purchases or Barclaycard with 1% cashback on all purchases. Just pay for your everyday shopping with one of these free cards, pay back in full at the end of the month to avoid interest, and enjoy the perks. 7 Make Extra Cash Spare room? Put it on AirBnB, Unused stuff in your garage? List it on Segundamano or eBay. Special skill? Give Skype classes and get paid via PayPal. Like to chat? Offer English conversation classes locally. Good photography skills? Sell your quality photos to an online stock photo website. The list is endless, just name your price. 8 Learn the Lingo If you really want to haggle a reduction, make sure you understand the T&Cs of an extended warranty contract or just find the best financial products for you then the best way is to learn the lingo. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or PC and use one of the many free apps available such as Duolingo, FluentU, Memrise or try Cat Spanish – a cat-themed app! 9 TIN vs TAE What language is this, you may be asking? Well, it is important to know when a store promo with 0% finance is really free for you. To find out, just make sure your check the TAE rather than the TIN rate: TIN is the nominal rate charged by the bank, without taking into account any commission or charges. (TIN = Tipo de Interés Nominal) TAE is the actual cost of the loan over a full year and takes into account all commissions and charges to be paid by the client. (TAE = Tasa Anual Equivalente) So if the TAE shows 0% you can be sure there won’t be any hidden charges. Why do companies offer this? Well, in this way you’ll be on their mailing list for years! For more and to sign up (free) to start saving visit http://moneysaverspain.com/
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Written by Rob Innis with Ignacio Pellicer Mollá and Pedro Heredia Ortiz (Abogado- Solicitors – Barristers) of Pellicer & Heredia Abogados. As 2015 moves into its final month and everyone starts to look forward to Christmas and New Year celebrations this month we are looking back and reviewing the important legal issues we covered during the year.
We will fully cover this issue in the January issue of TIM.
We must remind all persons due to make Spanish tax returns that this has become even more important to avoid problems including possible fines and bank account embargoes.
Remember if you were sold preference shares by any of the Spanish High Street banks or have lost money with Bankia investments it is still possible to lodge claims and you may be eligible for compen-sation. P&H are involved with settling these claims for mis-selling by the banks and are currently ad-vising clients on these important consumer issues. Banks have also been found at fault with clauses entered into some mortgage contracts and it is possi-ble for these abusive clauses to be removed - contact us if you need further advice. You may not have to repay at excessively high interest rates.
Another major topic that we covered was the new law regarding revised options for Expats to make Spanish wills. This has been a popular issue at many of our free seminars that we have run during the year. If you need to clarify your position or need to review your will please contact us and we can help you understand your situation.
Ignacio and Pedro and their staff across all of their offices would like to wish all past, current and fu-ture clients a peaceful Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year. They also look forward to meeting you at one of their free seminars during 2016 – watch out for the details in future TIM Legal Pages and advertisements.
Spanish property sales have continued to improve during 2015 and we offer a fully independent prop-erty surveying service. Acquiring Spanish property can me a legal minefield and Pellicer & Heredia strongly urge all TIM readers to always take fully independent professional legal advice. If you are considering renting a Spanish property again P&H advise that both landlords and tenants alike should take legal advise to fully understand their rights and to arrange a legal contract. Also see TIM October for more information on this issue.
If you require further legal advice on any tax, legal or administrative matters please contact Pellicer & Heredia Lawyers & Tax Advisors who will be pleased to help you. Do not forget to mention you are a TIM reader.
All residents should have made their Spanish tax declaracion by the end of June and all non-residents with taxable assets must complete theirs by the end of December.
For more information and free advice, call us on +34 965 480 737 or see our advertisement on the front cover of TIM or e-mail info@ pellicerheredia.com
Both Pedro and Ignacio explained that 2015 has been another busy year with advising clients on many varied issues and running seminars across the region. Ignacio said, ‘We have continued to see improvement in the Spanish property sales market with more sales being completed. The property market is now better regulated and buyers can complete with confidence.’ Pedro added, ‘The Spanish judicial system has made many decisions to help the market recover and enforce laws to protect all buyers. The most recent is the ruling regarding buying off plan and the pos-sible compensation to those that signed contracts to buy but the properties were never completed.`
STOP PRESS The Spanish Supreme Court has recently found Banco Popular (Banco Pastor), SGRCV and BBVA responsible to pay the money back to buyers of off plan resorts for not issuing the compul-sory individual bank guarantees Buyers who received a Bank Guarantee or Insurance Policy to cover the payments made towards their property or even those who never had it due to the developer or Bank failing to comply with the Law might be in luck. Due to an excellent Judgment from the Supreme Court of Spain, which has ordered these entities to pay back to the buyers of off plan properties, all the money they invested, plus legal interests from the time they made the payments.
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CYCLOGICAL. Cyclogical’s (Wild Hogs) Hybrid Group
In early 2010 I decided to start a gents cycling group on Hybrid / mountain bikes as many people had been buying bikes from us but had no friends or anyone to cycle with. Lynn and I were already taking a mixed group out on Saturday afternoons so I asked one of the guys Rob if he would be interested in taking a group out on a Wednesday morning and he was as he was already going out with a couple of friends. We asked around and on the first Wednesday we had 12 guys turn up and Rob who was 65 at the time took them out on a 30km ride which was a long ride at that time. They all thoroughly enjoyed it and kept coming back week after week. Rob has covered a few thousand kms since then and has also changed his bike a few times he has even bought himself a road bike (racer ) so as he can still keep up with his wife Tracy. He is 70 now and extremely fit for his age and has recently passed on the Leaders roll to Sam. The group was growing quickly and the abilities were all different and one day one of our customers a fellow Scotsman called Ken came in for a new spoke for his back wheel, the following week he was back for another then same again the following week, this kept going on for a few weeks but he would not take any help as he was determined to fix his wheel himself. He eventually gave in and i repaired the wheel for him and since then we have called him Ken (spoke ). We got to know Ken quite well and he said he would be delighted to go with the group and to take the slower guys back after about 30 -40kms allowing Rob to continue with the stronger ones on a longer ride. Ken who is now 73 had a heart operation a few years ago and has had stents fitted , he has been with the group for 4 years now and enjoys his cycling as it is a great cardio vascular workout with no impact on things like your knees, hips etc. Ken will also take beginners out on a one to one basis to assess their ability or just to give them confidence before joining the Monday and Wednesday groups.
would like to thank all the businesses that sponsored the tops and for their support : The Yorkshire linen Company, Ambience Fire and Solar, Arrow rent a car, Infinity international, Quesada Mini Golf, Go- Satellite and Quesada Autos. The group are pictured at the front of the shop with Lynn from Cyclogical in the centre about to have their first ride in their new kit. The guys leave from the shop every Monday and Wednesday at 10am with Group Cyclogical and cycle approx 25 kms before stopping for a coffee and a cake, they will then split into 2 groups with group one returning home with Ken (Spoke ) leading and Sam taking group 2 for a further 50 to 60 kms before returning to Quesada, Sam also does a longer ride ( approx 120kms ) on the first Wednesday of every month with anyone who feels up to it ,and has also started a road bike group on a Friday morning at 9.30am where they cover between 80 and 90kms anyone interesting in meeting new people, making new friends, getting fitter then come along and have a go at any of the groups just turn up or contact Gary on : 637487377. Gary and Lynn are available at Cyclogical, in Quesada Monday to Friday from 9.30am – 5.30pm and from 10am -2pm on Saturdays to assist and advise you on all you’re cycling requirements. www.cyclogicalcostablanca.com
Sam who is 63 is now the group leader and has been cycling with the group for just over 2 years. He only started cycling when he moved to Spain after retiring as a Financial consultant 3 years ago and now also has a road bike which he loves . He has also started a road bike group on a Friday morning at 9.30am which he takes out for approx 80- 90 kms. His Motto is we never leave anyone behind. The Cyclogical Hybrid / Mountain bike group are a great bunch of guys from all different walks of life and all of different fitness levels and abilities but all with the same interest, they all meet at the shop and cycle together helping each other along and having a really good crack at the same time, Ken also organises a social side to the group where they all meet up for a drink, dance , Bbq, Ten pin bowling etc, with their partners. The group now have their own identity as they all now have top quality team cycling tops making them not only feel better and part of a group but they also look smart and more professional . We 18
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TIM Magazine™
By John McGregor It’s said that everyone has a book in them. I’ve lost count of the number of people I’ve heard say ‘I am going/was going to write a book’ – but they never do, or did. Well, I did – and an amazing amount of things have happened to me as a result, an aspect I never, ever expected. The origins started when I served five years in the Royal Air Force between 1967 and 1972, a great time to be alive. I’m sure there were some down times, but virtually all my memories from that period are happy, fun-filled ones. My Air Force was served out up on an airfield actually working on the giant C130 Hercules transport aircraft, happily well away from any bull, discipline and officialdom. Here the aircraft was king, and keeping it flying and serviceable was the essential factor to everyone. ‘Up the line’ as it was known I worked with scruffy, long-haired individuals who soon got the job done, and then afterwards we went out and partied as much as we could afford. That happened both at home and abroad, and the era of the late sixties meant flower-power, discos, and fun. Wine, women and song, not necessarily in that order sort-of summed it all up. All good things come to an end, and I knew this kind of selfish, single, sexy life couldn’t last. I needed to get back to the real world and I did. Within five years I was married with two children and a mortgage the size of the Third World debt. I settled down, reasonably contentedly into suburbia and the rat race. But there was one legacy of that five years that never went away – my memories of those five magical years, and I vowed, one day to write it all down, I hoped in an interesting fashion. The stories were easily kept alive in me as I retold them in my head, and to anyone who’d listen. Thirty years somehow flew by, the kids grew up and now they’ve got kids. Eventually I took a wellearned early retirement and came to Spain. Initially my wife and I rented out houses and life was again puzzlingly busy before the penny dropped that there was an easier way. But being a football nut and finding sitting still difficult I found myself writing reports for local newspapers, and soon a magazine approached me to write articles for them on various subjects. Oh, and along the way I got hooked into the Open University, and an unplanned degree in English took up a lot of time. But that book was still in me, nagging away… So in 2009, aged sixty I sat down and wrote 38 chapters, calling my book ‘Fairy Tales of an SAC’. ‘SAC’ sounds better than it looks: it means ‘Senior Aircraftman’, ie an erk, the sort that keep the Air Force going, like a Naval Able Seamen or a Private in the army. ‘Fairy’ refers to my delicate trade on the aircraft being Aircraft Radio, as opposed to ‘Heavies’ who were Airframes, or ‘Oilies’ who were engines: all good urine-extracting stuff. Fortunately I soon found a publisher who specialised in a) forces tales b) the RAF particularly and c) humour – and happily ‘Fairy Tales’ ticked the boxes. OK, my masterpiece was finished, but you soon find out when you write anything, that that is only half the story. Organised by my UK publisher I went over and did 4 book-signings in Waterstones branches around the area where all the action from years ago had taken place. I did a BBC Radio Solent interview which was heard by a relevant number, and had articles written in the local papers across the area. One night in a local pub I met up with four of my old mates I hadn’t seen for forty years, and we laughed – oh, how we laughed over events from the book and many others I had forgotten about or never knew, but lapped up. The result of this? The book was selling OK, but we had to do this thing properly, and we managed 20
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This year’s reunion, dressed how we used to look in 1967!
Fairy Tales of an SAC* book signing
A Flock of Female Friends * Cover
to get a full RAF reunion together in May 2012 with about 80 ’old’ lags with a massive amount to catch up on. Since then there have been three more, and our early May reunion has become an annual event, each year with a few more old faces joining the ranks. I can honestly say the whole thing has blown me away: quite simply I never, ever thought anything like this would happen, all as a direct result of getting down to writing my book. One word of warning if you write in a similar genre. Be prepared, as I definitely wasn’t that you might one day meet up with the lads – and lasses – you wrote about from all those years ago. That’s another story, but has also been a great learning curve and a wonderful gift of receiving pleasure from very unexpected sources...
Fairy Tales Come True* Cover
When ‘Fairy Tales’ first came out I found a local author, Nik Morton lived nearby, and he gave me some valuable advice about the book and publishing it. Nik also said that he was the chairman of a Writing Circle... and so it was with some trepidation I went along to the Torrevieja Writing Circle, aka TWC the following week. A group of men and women, usually between 15 to 25 (that’s the number, not the ages) meet every Wednesday morning between eleven and one o’clock, and read out poetry and prose they have written for comment s and advice from the group: the group is very friendly and helpful to wannabee writers. Since joining in 2010 I have written two more books. The first of these was about an eventful 15 year period of my life and the last one which came out in March this year is an update of the first one. This is from five years on, with a ‘where are they now/what do they look like’ theme, although my very relevant title this time was ‘Fairy Tales Come True’: exactly. So that’s where I am today, with more writing plans to come, albeit probably not fiction – although I have done this genre on the OU course. I prefer to write about life, usually from a personal perspective, as I always say real life is much more interesting than fiction. You may disagree, no problems if you do. But please, if you’ve bothered to read so far (thanks) – why not pick up a pen and a pad, or head towards your PC. Just have a go - you just never know where it will take you, or what simple pleasure just writing can release in you – and it’s very therapeutic. I certainly never realised this, but my life has been vastly enriched as a result of just having a go – and your life can too. Go on, have a bash – and/or maybe join us on a Wednesday morning in Mil Palmeras?
* John’s books are all available via Amazon, or if you want a signed one contact John on mcgregorjaw@hotmail.co.uk - they make nice Christmas presents, only €10 each! E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
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TIM Magazine™
The History of The Christmas Fairy Lights Originally, Christmas lights were used in Germany in the homes of only the very wealthy as long ago as the 17th century. This was before electricity, and the lights were actually candles. They were only used on trees at that time, and were strategically placed to illuminate the ornaments that hung from the branches. The candles were held in place by either gluing melted wax to a tree branch or using pins to hold the candle. Around 1900, candleholders were being used, and by 1915 small lanterns and glass balls became a means of holding the candles in place. Then, in 1882, Thomas Edison’s assistant, Edward Johnson, came up with the idea of electric Christmas lights. He lit up a Christmas tree in New York City with 80 small electric bulbs. Within 20 years, stores were displaying electric lights and they were being mass-produced and sold to customers. Then, in 1917 there was a tragic fire in New York City there was a tragic fire caused by candles on Christmas lights. Albert Sadacca then invented safety lights for Christmas trees and created a multimillion dollar company that became the largest Christmas lighting company in the world (NOMA Electric Company). The outdoor Christmas tree that ran on electric lights became very popular throughout North America and the use of them began to regularly take place all over the world shortly thereafter. Decorating a live Christmas tree outdoors became the attractive thing to do, and many people still do it today, some even going as far as to decorate it as well as they would their own indoor tree. This slowly evolved into using electric lights on trees not only outdoors, but indoors as well. It also led to the use of lights for houses that everyone uses today. It took many years for Christmas lights to become what they are today, and many ideas and inventions helped lead us to the brightly lit and decorated homes and yards we see every year. 24
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5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE TAKING THE BUS IN SPAIN
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A trip across Europe is a must-do for many travelers, both novice and experimented alike, and understandably so. A culturally rich continent filled to the brim with years of history, Europe promises diverse and beautiful landscapes at every corner. To get the most out of these sights, traveling by bus is one of your best bets as it ranks high on both affordability and convenience.
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Costa Blanca There is no better way to embrace Spain’s timeless architectural heritage and diverse natural landscapes than through intercity bus traveling. Both affordable and convenient, the bus is a prime means of transportation among locals and tourists alike. Taking the bus lets you discover Spain’s picturesque views while gaining interesting insights into the Spaniards’ way of life. So you decided to travel through Spain by bus? Congratulations – you’ve already neatly adapted to the local way of getting around! In fact, Spaniards prefer traveling by bus over other modes of transport. It’s the most convenient way to travel the country and it’s also one of the only ways to get to and from some of its towns. What’s more, traveling by bus in Europe provides the ultimate comfort. Here’s what you need to know when taking the bus in Spain: 1. Bus your way around the country There’s a ton of Spanish towns that don’t have an airport or a train station. So, as you can imagine, the only way to get there is by bus! Among the myriad of Spanish bus providers, you will surely find one serving your route. And if you book online, it will save you the hassle of finding out which ones offer routes to your city.
1889, ALSA stands for quality service and punctuality and has a long tradition of innovation and excellence. It’s no wonder they’re the Spanish flagship among bus operators. 4.WiFi is available on most buses Yep, you read right! There is free WiFi available on most city routes in Spain. In case looking at the scenery seems too boring of a thing to do for hours on end, or in case you need to catch up on work during your vacation (we hope not!), you will get internet connection on the road. There’s no internet deprivation in Spain! 5. Ride with class Much like in air travel, most buses offer several class options linked to different services and price ranges. What can you get? Depending on what you opt for, you’ll find everything from movies, to TV, and even a hostess! ALSA, for example, offers several class options that generally come with the following benefits: Special waiting lounge, journals and magazines, choice of entertainment (movies and music), ample legroom, and free earphones. Each class offers the following sets of perks: Premium Luggage control, special menus, touch-screens for entertainment (more than 30 channels, movies, music, games), free WiFi, USB + plugs, special assistance for children, the elderly and the disabled, baby seats and bottle warmer, space for pets, and door-to-door pickup service. Premium is available to and from Madrid on the following routes: Madrid – San Sebastian, Madrid – Logrono, Madrid – Granada, Madrid – Bilbao. Supra Economy
ALSA’s Supra class
Free WiFi, additional travel security, free bottles of water, and animal transport. Supra+
2. Main bus routes It’s easy to visit all of Spain, along with neighboring countries – like Portugal, Italy, and France – with the bus. Even though the bus network covers the entire country, there are a few inter-city routes that are especially hot. Not surprisingly, most lead to Madrid! Bus from Madrid to Granada Bus from Granada to Madrid Bus from Vitoria to Bilbao Bus form Madrid to Almeria Bus from Madrid to Barcelona Bus from Madrid to Toledo Bus from Pamplona to Bilbao Bus from Zaragoza to Madrid Bus from Toledo to Madrid Bus from Valencia to Barcelona Bus from Madrid to Bilbao Bus from Barcelona to Madrid
Free WiFi, additional travel security, free bottles of water, animal transport, child care service, baggage control and service, catering & drinks, leather upholstered seats with leg rest, hostess to cater to your needs, and gifts for customers on weekends. Eurobus Preferential treatment, fast embarking, and free bottles of water. So what are you waiting for? Book your next bus ride through Spain!
3. Main bus companies The following operators offer bus routes in Spain: ALSA, Agreda, Andorinha, Bus Almeria Madrid BAM, Comes, Conda, Daibus, Interbus, Damas, Dainco, Garcia, Hife, iDBUS, La Serrana, Linebus, La Union, Lycar, OUIBUS, Therpasa. The biggest and most-used bus operator in Spain is definitely ALSA. In short, the probability of finding the bus connection you need is exponentially high as ALSA serves all of the major cities. Founded in
ALSA’s Premium class
By Steve and Emma Full Time Bloggers in Spain www.indefinitewanderers.com/
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Ingredients
termilk 1 3/4 cups but coarsely dried figs, 12 ounces chopped at flour te whole-whe 1 1/2 cups whi gar 1 cup white su gar - 4lbs Granulated Su baking powder 2 1/2 teaspoons nd nutmeg 1 teaspoon grou nd cinnamon 1 teaspoon grou lt 3 eggs 1 teaspoon sa bread crumbs 1 1/2 cups dry melted 1/2 cup butter, ed almonds 1 package slic ade orange marmal 3 tablespoons st ated orange ze 1 tablespoon gr voring ange-vanilla fla 1/2 teaspoon or
Christmas Figgy Pudding
Preparation
Gently heat buttermilk and figs in a saucepan over medium-low heat until softened, 10 to 15 minutes; set aside until cool. Preheat oven to 350 degre es F (175 degrees C). Grease a tube pan. Sift flour, sugar, bakin g powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt togeth er in a bowl.
Bake in preheated oven until firm and pulling away from sides of the pan, about 2 hours. Set aside to cool for 10 mi nutes before removing from pan.
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cut out and keep
Beat eggs in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer on high for 1 minute. Add figand-buttermilk mixture, bread crumbs, butter, almonds, orange marm alade, orange zest, and orange-vanilla flavorin g to the beaten eggs; beat on low speed un til blended. Gradually add flour mixture wh ile beating until just incorporated into a ba tter. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Grease a sheet of aluminum foil; use to cover pan.
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Going Out
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TIM BIKERS
TIM Magazine™
Well just when you think you’ve seen it all eh? What carry on in MotoGP. The fact that Jorge Lorenzo is champion again will be overshadowed by the shenanigans in Sepang in the Malaysian GP and it will run for a long time. In fact the Honda riders, Marquez and Pedrosa, were not allowed to talk about it at a recent press conference.
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Personally I blame Rossi (ooh I hear deep intakes of breath out there). Well he basically called Marc Marquez a liar about having his picture on the wall when he was a kid and said he wanted Lorenzo to win because he was Spanish. Then he insulted Marquez’s family when his mother produced a picture. Surprise, surprise the gloves were off as soon as the race began with a series of toe curling overtakes between Rossi and Marquez. BUT I don’t think anyone saw the Rossi push on Marquez coming and he was lucky not to get a stiffer penalty, he could have seriously injured him. Starting from the back in Valencia, Lorenzo’s favourite track, was always going to be too big an obstacle to overcome for Vale and Lorenzo won it how he likes
MotoGP Champion again, Jorge Lorenzo to win them, hit the front early and stay there. Rossi did brilliantly to get to 4th but he’d lost it in Malaysia. All very sad as the legions of his fans will no doubt harbour animosity towards Marquez and even Lorenzo for years to come. My good deed award goes to Manolo Ruíz e Hijos the tyre people in Los Montesinos who recently rescued Mrs. Bikers when she had a tyre disaster. We managed to limp to their place where they diagnosed a dodgy valve. They had it fixed in a crack and wouldn’t take any money. Big thanks to them and they do bike tyres... No concentracíones I can find in December guys if you find any let me know. There’s usually a charity ride or two around but I haven’t heard of any. If you do let me know and I’ll put it on facebook. Well have a great December and Christmas 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. Spanish word of the month – Campeone, champion in honour of Señor Lorenzo. Often accompanied by a few olés for good measure. Stay safe moteros and all the Biking Best!
Yo Harley Ho
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Sudoku Solutions
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IBERIAN FUNERAL PLANS PROUD TO SPONSOR T.I.M. FUN PAGE PROUD TO PROMOTE COMPASSION, HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY
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Clues Across 1, 4 Concentrating on only one aim (6-6) 4 See 1 9 Branch of maths — real bag (anag) (7) 10 Noblemen (5) 11 Early stages (5) 12 Orthodox Jewish seminary — is heavy (anag) (7) 13 Yorkshire seaside resort (11) 18 Apparition (7) 20 Provide housing for (5) 22 In front (5) 23 Call for (7) 24, 25 Person who says one thing and does another (6-6) 25 See 24
Clues
Across
Down 1 Dark area — follow secretly (6) 2 Mulled wine — genus (anag) (5) 3 Large edible crustacean (7) 5 Notions (5) 6 Sweetheart (7) 7 Dreary (6) 8 Postwar generation (4,7) 14 French country house (7) 15 Indirect — devious (7) 16 Ascending (6) 17 Neither masculine nor feminine (6) 19 Ebbing and flowing (5) 21 Reside (5)
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1 Cookery of a very high standard (5,7) 9 Mother-of-pearl (5) 10 Artwork from sundry stuckon items (7) 11 Cain’s brother (4) 12 First-rate (3-5) 14 Acquire (6) 15 Out of sight (6) 18 Altering (anag) (8) 20 Booted panto character (4) 22 One of three born together (7) 23 Additional (5) 24 Sweet dark red liqueur (6,6)
Down 2 Very old (7) 3 At that time (4) 4 Envelop for protection (6) 5 Chicago’s state (8) 6 Not appropriate (5) 7 Large aquatic mammal (8,4) 8 Hostile (12) 13 Unusual — striking (8) 16 Discouraged (7) 17 Relating to the University of Cambridge (6) 19 String (5) 21 Governing body of soccer in Europe (4)
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Winging it! A view from the pilot’s seat by Chris Pickles, Sol-aero flyers Unbelievable, but it’s that time of year again! Lets hope Santa has his wet weather skids on his sleigh! Although he’ll be OK because Rudolf the red knows rain dear! Ho Ho Ho! If you’re scratching your head for a gift that’s a bit different, we offer vouchers for trial lessons and pleasure flights. The perfect Christmas gift for your loved ones, we aim to make each flight a truly memorable, and fully hands on experience. It always surprises me how many people are nervous about using their vouchers through misplaced fear of flying, I know it was a topic of debate in the last article but really Flying is inherently safe. Few serious accidents are due to aircraft failure, but still, anything man made can go wrong. However, not many people realise just how much control you actually have, or how many things can go wrong before it becomes hopeless!! To understand, we need to know how aircraft fly in the first place and what the effects of individual controls are. The shape of the wings alters the air flowing past them, creating a higher pressure under the wing than above it creating Lift! The airflow is generated by propelling the aircraft forward with thrust from the engine. We can control the lift, direction, pitch and speed with the moveable surfaces on various parts of the aircraft. The Ailerons, along the outer part the wings, roll the plane and turn it like a banked motorcycle. The Rudder, on the tail fin, “yaws” or turns the aircraft.
For more information see our main advert above or call 609 685 132 / 966 195 508 (Chris/Jan) The Elevator, on the tailplane, pitches the nose up or down, allowing the plane to climb or descend. Pitching also varies the drag, which in turn varies the airspeed! The Throttle controls thrust, propelling us forward faster. This in turn creates more airflow, therefore more lift. So, let’s look at some scenarios!! Suppose the rudder cable breaks? You still have yaw control with aileron, hard work, but you’ll live! Suppose the control column jams? You have no aileron, or elevator, but you still have yaw and roll control with rudder, and you can climb or descend using the throttle. Total engine failure? We glide! As long as we maintain sufficient airflow over the wings, we maintain control. This is done by lowering the nose and using gravity. Most light aircraft will descend at about 500 feet per minute, and are capable of landing within 200m. Engine failures should be seen as extremely inconvenient, not life threatening. A good pilot will never fly anywhere where a forced landing is not possible. Now would you come flying with me?? I’d ride in your car! Even in the rain!! Far more dangerous! Until next year, Chocks away and Happy Christmas!
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E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
Costa Blanca
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TIM Magazine™
Horoscopes
November 23rd - December 21st
Aries An intimate relationship is showing signs of strain. You’ll be forced to share close quarters, which conflicts with your desire for independence. Beware of issuing an ultimatum or you will do permanent damage to this bond. It’s better to learn to live together in peace. If that means overlooking sloppy habits or being more considerate, so be it. Loving bonds usually involve personal sacrifice. Insisting on having your own way all the time will pave the way for a lonely life.
Leo Travelling close to home is strongly advised. A short trip will give you welcome perspective on a domestic problem. You’re tired of avoiding an unpleasant subject with a relative. The sooner you address the elephant in the room, the happier you will be. Tell your family member it’s time to get treatment for a health problem. Don’t listen to their protests or excuses. This situation is having a serious impact on your own activities. Stick to the subject and find a resolution.
Sagittarius You may cut ties with a friend whose snobbish ways irritate you. Money has never meant a great deal to you. Spending lots of cash on expensive outings depletes valuable resources. Stop going on these outings and start saving your money for a trip. The less time you spend with them, the easier it will get. You won’t miss their company and you’ll welcome having more free time. Relationships are investments. Don’t spend resources on ones that are going nowhere.
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Taurus Keep a close eye on a group project or it will fly off the rails. Several members of the team are more interested in having fun than being productive. You might have to report these individuals for the sake of work. Although you hate being a tattletale, you will be more upset if a few bad apples spoil the bunch. Are you out of work? Finding a pleasant job will be more difficult than you expected. Accept a boring position while you continue to look for something more stimulating.
Virgo
Gemini
Cancer
Cultivating romance is difficult when you’re worried about money. It’s time to address financial challenges that have been weighing on your mind. Finding a lucrative job or paying off your bills will be challenging. You’ll have to sacrifice your leisure time for work, which is irritating. Unless you change your priorities, it will be increasingly difficult to sleep. Talk to someone who has established economic security. Their advice will be helpful and encouraging.
You want to get things just right on the home front, but the results will fall short of your goal. Try not to beat yourself up. If a reunion doesn’t come off the way you wanted or a piece of custom furniture isn’t want you envisioned, stay calm. You can get a discount for expenses that fell short of expectations, but you won’t get a full refund. Spare yourself a temper tantrum; it will do no good. Let a romantic partner lift your spirits with their silly jokes.
Libra
Scorpio
An emergency will make it difficult for you to get the raise you deserve. Your employer may be scrambling to cover expenses for a fine or lawsuit. As a result, raises will be delayed. Instead of waiting for your ship to come in, launch a job search. It will take time to find a steady position that pays well, so be patient. Taking control of this situation is better than remaining stuck. Accepting freelance assignments will be a good way to fill the gap in your income.
Don’t be pressured into making an important decision about your domestic life. If you want to buy or sell a property, it’s wise to wait for a better offer. Relatives will berate you for passing up an initial offer, but it doesn’t sit well with you. By listening to your intuition, you’ll attract a fair deal that doesn’t put you in financial jeopardy. Do you have to relocate? Turn a deaf ear to an estate agent who uses strong arm tactics.
Capricorn
Aquarius
A career opportunity is coming your way. The position that is originally described will undergo some significant changes, so take this offer with a pinch of salt. You may not get a promised assistant or you’ll have to work at a different branch than you first thought. Although you’ll be disappointed by this turn of events, it will work in your favour. You’ll gain some valuable experience that will help you land a bigger and better position. Be open, flexible and willing to learn.
Dealing with someone who is from a different culture will be frustrating. It will be difficult to understand their motives and reactions. Talk to somebody who has insight to their way of thinking. You’ll get valuable advice on making headway with this individual. If you’re not able to compromise, cut your losses and look for another opportunity. Your employer won’t be happy, but it can’t be helped. It’s important to recognise when you’ve embarked on a lost cause.
E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
Getting away from it all to rest, relax and recuperate will be a good for you. It will take all your resolve to stay off social media sites. Keeping your mobile off is also critical to your recovery. There are wonderful health benefits to be gained by unplugging from electronics. If anything exciting happens while you’re away, you’ll hear all about it when you get back. It’s more likely everything will continue to unfold as it usually does. Hopping back on the treadmill will be easier than expected.
Pisces Financial talks will be strained. If a friend owes you money, it could be impossible to get it back. Let this be a lesson about obeying generous impulses. Although you don’t place too much importance on money, you do need it. Wasting hard earned resources on people who don’t deserve them is a mistake. Be more protective of your income. Use it to create a secure foundation. Buying a home or car will make life much easier for you. Put a portion of your pay each month into savings.
Costa Blanca
10% OFF with this coupon on
teeth whitening
Not all people are suitable for teeth whitening
6 UP TEAM TIME TRIAL EVENT On Saturday the 24th October a team of 6 riders representing Cyclogical took part in a 6 up Team Time Trial event in Alhama de Murcia. The aim of the event is to complete the course of 20 km in as fast a time as possible with the time taken when the 3rd rider passes the finishing line. The Cyclogical team was Dave Brown, Keith Bayford, Peter Lambon, Alan Quearns, Les Orton and Ged Lacey ( see team photo). It was a cold grey morning when the event took place with 9 teams riding the event. The course was fairly flat with a short sharp incline near the halfway point which tested the teams ability to stay together. It was at this point we lost two of our team. The remaining 4 riders worked well together on the return to the finish. With only 2 km to go another of the riders dropped off leaving the required 3 riders to reach the finish line. The team finished in a time of 29 minutes 24 seconds to claim 4th place which was a very creditable performance considering the ages of the team! I would like to thank the host team CC La Purisma for organising a well run event. E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
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TIM Magazine™
Sterling v Euro update 965 070 584 / 635 015 818 E. janet.spain@currencies4you.com
Safety of your funds is paramount, we only use protected escrow accounts authorised and regulated by the FCA.
Well last month’s question as to when we would see 1.40 again was answered pretty quickly with the wall crumbling early November! Sterling is now holding on to a positive bias thanks to murmurings that markets are being too conservative GPB Soars above 1.40 in their expectations on the timing of the UK’s first interest rate rise in years. Hints have been dropped that the adjustment will happen earlier than the markets are expecting, leadingthe GBP to find further positive momentum. If they do and opt to bring forward their pricing on UK interest rates then the pound/euro exchange rate could move notably higher over coming weeks so anyone waiting to sell Euros - procrastinate at your peril! At the moment the EUR/GBP 0.70 (1.4285) area is proving to be a Whether you are considering moving money for land, property or just small ad
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hoc payments, call us or come and have a chat if you’d like any advice on international transfers or exchange rates. 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.
We can also help you set up a Spanish bank account so you can benefit from our banking agreements offered to all Currencies4Youclients -No maintenance fees or charges and minimum charges for bankers draft transactions, whatever the amount of the cheque, saving you 100s of Euros if you are buying or selling property, terms and conditions apply. 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:Vehicle Change of ownership & Vehicle re-registration, NIEs, Residencias, SIP Cards, UK Passport renewals, House, Car, Pet & Health Insurance and mailbox rental. We would like to wish all our clients, old and new and very happy Christmas and prosperous new year!
By Janet Lees Operations Director - Spain
E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
Costa Blanca
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TIM Magazine™
Words by CARMEN ORTUÑO LÓPEZ
From time to time I read these pages in TIM and I enjoy them very much. It is amazing to realize the way Spanish are according to them, I mean from the point of view of foreigners (usual writers and readers of this magazine). Spaniards have resounding voices. I totally agree. You can observe it on all public transport, here in Spain everybody speaks loud. But there were very important Spanish people who took advantage of that. The great María Malibrán was born in Spain. She was the better “prima donna” known in Paris during the XIX Century; younger gentlemen carried her float, due to the fact that they got excited after attending one of her performances. It’s impossible not to remember Pilar Lorengar, her success in Germany and Switzerland was legendary, also Victoria de los Angeles, who was well known everywhere too. For men it was the same: Alfredo Kraus, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras… Maybe we are a little bit noisy, but considering these classical singers… Couldn’t you forgive us? After all, those legends may have begun their career screeching in the street. There are so many kinds of Spaniards! I recently saw a film in which the great actress Maggie Smith says “If you are born British, you die British”. It’s not the same if you were born in Spain, you could be raised here, die nobody knows where and be named any old way. Gerald Brenan wrote about it in El laberinto español. We have to be different inevitably. Can you imagine something similar to the following anecdote happening in Chelsea? A woman was sewing outdoors in a very hot day; her child was playing beside her. Suddenly a bull escaped and run right straight at them. The mother took her chair and, terrified, came into the house crying “oh my daughter, my poor daughter”, but she got into the house and her child remained outside. Luckily the bull kept on going, arriving elsewhere and nothing serious happened. Spanish people and death keep together at all times. Even writing about love, the most important writer of the Gold Century Spanish Literature, referred to his ashes: They will be ashes, but they will have sense Dust they will be, but dust in love. FRANCISCO DE QUEVEDO We, Spanish people, talk about our lives too much. I agree. But you can tell, once upon a time lost a civil war, and we became refugees. We were looking for someone in Europe to listen to us. Nobody did. We may be still trying. And the only thing we wanted was to have the right to vote democratically. Don’t forget that you, the Anglophones, have had those rights for centuries, and we, the poor Iberians, just for the last forty years. We have to train our cognitive abilities a bit more… read what happened at the beginning of our democracy in a village whereabouts: A man was driving his car needlessly without respecting the stop signals. Someone asked him why he was driving so 40
dangerously, jumping lights and omitting traffic signals. This was his first answer: “we are free now, we don’t have to obey stops anymore”. He died in a traffic accident a week later, he died in a free way before freeways barely existed. And this story is 100% true. It happened in countryside, in the region called Castilla La Mancha. D. Miguel de Cervantes, who was born there, never wanted to remember the name of the village. At school it happens too. We have been submitted to rigid authorities for ages and suddenly we are on the other free side, the good one despite our poor use. Now if you want to become Principal you have to behave like a clown, amusing the kids and spoiling their future. Let me tell you the final anecdote: a majorette arrived at school, because she was a Primary School teacher too. She was in her twenties. She knew a lot about computers, as young people usually do. The Principal, a retired priest, didn’t know anything about technology, so he appointed her Director of Studies. The girl briefly became a dictator who transformed her deep knowledge as majorette to the children, and proudly stated that other teachers were awfully boring. Now she has escalated through the ranks, not only she has become Principal, but also Principal of Principals. In private school those things don’t happen but other problems arouse, in this case related to our steep adjustment to the market economy. Yes, it’s true, the Spanish citizen isn’t a “good manners model”. We live tied to a wild horse. The energy of this horse is fueled by Envy, and nobody is able to control that. When we are abroad we grow steadily, because the wildly horses aren’t with us. Be patient with us, please. (Carmen is a member of the San Juan Language exchange group and she loves to read TIM and she asks me for a copy every month. Rob Innis)
E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
Costa Blanca
HAVE YOU SUBMITTED YOUR NON RESIDENT TAX FORM YET? Remember that if your position is that of a nonresident here in Spain and you are the owner of an urban property located in this country, you will be subject to Non-Residents’ Income Tax. If you haven’t done it yet, you still have time to do it until the end of the year. Take into account that if you want the payment to be directly invoiced, forms must be submitted by 23rd December. If you need help filling in the form, contact us, we are registered tax advisors:
GESTORIA ASSINTEM SL Telf. 965561043 Email: assintem@assintem.com E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
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TIM Magazine™
HONDON VALLEY GOLF SOCIETY ALTORREAL AND BONALBA Altorreal– 20th October, 2015
Bonalba – 10th November, 2015
It has been some time since the Society held an event at Altorreal, but over thirtymembers supported this additional fixture and enjoyed a great day of golf. The course was in very good condition and staff were most helpful.
The society’s regular monthly event was held at Bonalba. Thirty-nine players turned out including new members Mike Clancy, Graham Smith and Malcolm McGuigan. Gerry O’Reilly played as a guest.
The golf was followed by a well prepared meal. Vice-Captain, Ken Knight, invited feedback and the general response was that Altorreal should feature as a more regular venue next year. He went on to present the prizes to the winners and thanked the Staff.
Although there were mixed comments on the condition of the course, the general consensus was that it is continuing to improve.
Altorreal Winners
Category
Pts
Bonalba Winners
Category
Albert Baggley John Forrester
Overall Winner Gold Winner
Pts
Jan Hendriks Dug Blair
Gold Runner Up Silver Winner
Graham Blank Monty Carr Trevor Batchelor Tony Saville
Silver Runner Up Bronze Winner Bronze Runner Up Best Guest
33 31 on c/back 31 31 on c/back 31 25 23 23
Koos Van Beek Mike Clancy Dug Blair Malcolm McGuigan Trevor Batchelor Steve Ingerson
Gold Winner Gold Runner Up Silver Winner Silver Runner Up Bronze Winner Bronze Runner Up
32 30 32 30 28 25
John Wilkinson Richard Bligh Richard Bligh Dug Blair Graham Palmer
Nearest the Pin Nearest the Pin Nearest the Pin Nearest the Pin Nearest the Pin in Three
Trevor Batchelor Bob Berriman John Forrester Albert Baggley John Forrester
Nearest the Pin Nearest the Pin Nearest the Pin Nearest the Pin Nearest the Pin in Three
Longest Drives Jan Hendriks Graham Blank Steve Ingerson Two on the card John Wilkinson Richard Bligh Graham Blank Steve Page Ken Knight
Hole 5 8 10 17 6
Captain, Steve Munn, presented the prizes and thanked the staff.
Two on the card Bob Berriman Graham Smith Steve Ingerson Cliff Parkinson
Gold Silver Bronze
Hole 4 8 11 14 13
Football Scratch Card Green Fee Refund
Forthcoming Fixtures & Social Events Friday 4th December – Roca Restaurant, Aspe Annual Presentation & Dinner Dance 19:30 for 20:00 Tuesday 15th December – Font del Llop Meet in the clubhouse at 08:30 Tuesday 12th January – Alicante Meet in the clubhouse at 08:30 Tuesday 9th February – Alenda Meet in Clubhouse at 08:30
For information on how to join HVGS contact the Secretary, David Fellows, on 965978104 and 649552730 or email davidfellows13@gmail.com . To reserve your place on the list for the Society Golf Days contact the Captain, Steve Munn, on 634326853 or e-mail him at steveandsonya@hotmail.com
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E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
Costa Blanca
CAMPO GOLF SOCIETY CAMPO MEETING 21ST OCTOBER at ALENDA As always the sun was out, and the course itself, is beginning to get back to its best again and this time round, all the members turned up. The play was too slow in regards to how many people were on the course. At the next meeting I am going to try to explain to a few members ,that looking for a ball for more than a few minutes is too long ,if the players behind are backing up and you are more than a hole behind. Just to remind members that I need to know for sure if they are playing at Alenda at the Christmas meeting on the 14th of December as I have to order the menu The January meeting is on the 22nd at Las Colinas 1st tee 10.0am The February meeting is on the 26th at Alenda 1st tee 10.40.am Winners at Alenda are as follows Gold winner Brian Johnson with 28 points Runner up Manny Niessen with 23 points Silver winner M Damen with 34 points Runner up Albert Baggaley 28 points N/P the pin on the 5th no one N/P the pin on the 13 Marictte wolde N/P the pin on the 16th Marictte Wolde Longest drive Albert Baggaley Two on the card was Jan Wolde Please ring me if you want to play or if you are not playing. Brian Mob 618 834 774 E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
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TIM Magazine™
BOXED TRADE ADVERTS
THE METAL MAN Quality Workmanship
All aspects of work in steel.
Gazebos, Car ports. Workshops, Sheds Pool pump rooms. Naya enclosures.
Log burners.
Repairs, Refurbishments & Installations
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Tel: 651-963-359. Office. 966-180-894. Email: metalmanspain@hotmail.com
FIREWOOD 658 626 315 Free kindling and free chimney sweep to all customers who purchase firewood from us. Also Mulch available Fruit tree, Olive and Almond wood cut to size of wood burner
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Care of the Elderly, permanent, respite and dementia clients, affordable rates TEL 659401945 or 677 804 691
Merry christmas to our readers from everyone at the tim
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TIM Magazine™
Classifieds
EMAIL your small ads to bargainads@yahoo.es or TEXT your FREE small ads up to €1.000 to 680 976 823
ADVERTISE YOUR UNWANTED ITEMS FOC UP TO THE VALUE OF 1,000 EUROS Sell it Fast Sell it For FREE! From July you can place your unwanted items in our Classifieds section FREE of charge up to the value of 1.000 euros. Simply text your unwanted items too 680 976 823 or email them to bargainads@ yahoo.es remember, no more than 25 words per item and no more than 3 items per household, and please always include what area you live in, we do not take FREE classifieds over the phone. Last day for Free ads is the 18th of the month. When sending through your items by email, please only send in normal size text.
GENERAL VOLVO 2001 V70 parts: RHD headlights €89, spare wheel/ tyre/jack €49, radio/CD player €39, footwell mats €29, ono. Algorfa 674 218 704. PACE 2600 digibox, complete leads and R/C, seen working, ideal fringe reception 25€, (San Fulgencio) 690 772 178 Toshiba 32 Inch TV for sale Dolby Digital Stereo Colour with fastext Model 32WD98B In full working condition beautiful faultless picture 75 Euros. With storage cupboard useful base stand grey in colour Tel Finca Terol Mobile 0034 620 375 734 BOOKS/novels, complete set all 23 of James Herbert’s novels; 15 cricket/sport biographies; €20 per set ono. Algorfa 674 218 704. Panasonic Vacuum Cleaner, Upright model, MC-E53, 900 watts, adjustable power, spare bags and belt 35€, (San Fulgencio) 690 772 178 Electric dehumidifier, large tank, adjustable power, ideal damp under build etc only 49€ (San Fulgencio) 690 772 178 46
Fuji HS50exr Bridge Camera, With Camera Bag, SD Card, Battery, CD,etc. 7 months old and in mint condition . Ring Rita on 666 136 611 in Castalla. 340 euros. Pentax Digital Camera Optio 330GS 3.2 Megapixels in silver with a green and black case, operating manual, spare lithium battery and 2 compact flash cards, 1 x 16 and 1 x 128MB for 30€. Extending wood finish Table, 110cm x 60cm extending to 173cm, in reasonable condition, 15€. Buyer collects, contact Colin on 634 332 092 2004 ford fiesta,4 door ,silver 57000 km ,2 new front tyres ,itv May 2016,serviced ,new battery, road tax 2016,excellent condition ,2800 euros tele :662 036 231 or glorialycett@hotmail.co.uk LG 42” flat screen LCD tv. HD ready 2 hdmi. Excellent condition. €110 tel 671 493 090 Three-piece suite with matching coffeetable (magazine shelf underneath), all with decorative wooden frames. Excellent condition €200. Hondón, 667 230 076.
If you have an item for sale over 1.000 euros or if you have a commercial advert and would like them listed in the Classifieds section of the magazine, then call 606 891 644. Closing date for Classifieds in the magazine is the 19th of the month. Advertise Your Classifieds For FREE No Value Restrictions. Sell anything fast at www.timspain.com classifieds, its totally FREE. Sell you House/car/boat or what you have at www.timspain.com
SERVICES
conversation. Feel confident in your Day to Day life in Spain !Also, TRANSLATION SERVICE Hospital, Notary, Court, etc. PHONE PETER 625-834-920 flow-talk@hotmail.com PERSONAL
Peak Transport, Vince Webster Large Van UkSpain-Uk, Monthly runs, competitive quotes, reliable, friendly service. Telephone 690 818 090 and Uk mobile 0750 492 7034 email: spain2ukpeaktrans @yahoo.co.uk Translation and multiservice. For all you needs in Spain. Nie numbers, building permits etc. call Michael 647 150 827 mjcaw87@gmail.com Qualified carer available for personal one to one care Tel Barbara 675 874 665 SPANISH CLASSES AND TRANSLATION SERVICE Hospital, Notary, Court, etc. In the Castalla Area, Spanish Classes for all levels from Basic communication to advanced
E-mail: editor@timspain.com • Web site: www.timspain.com
Looking for a lady 35--60 years young to spend a little time sharing some of life’s simple pleasures, any nationality live in Alicante province speak English some Spanish and a little German, I’m also a biker, contact me. wilboyracer@ gmail.com or call 651 943 037. VEHICLES
CASH CASH
CASH
INSTANT CASH WAITING Cars Vans M/Bikes Quads etc. MOTOR VEHICLES SCRAPPED ALL LEGAL PAPERWORK ISSUED
COLLECTION SERVICE Tel Phil (Fortuna) 607 848 332
2nd hand cars bought and sold Tel 691 260 502
Costa Blanca WANTED
is welcome to attend any of our meetings. For further information please contact Alan on 868 171 936. or e-mail alan.aylward@rocketmail.com
centre and charity shop at Punta Prima off N332 24 hour Helpline 900 525 100 or email pat@samaritansinspain.com EMPLOYMENT
BADMINT0N AT PILAR DE LA HORADADA Mon, Tues, Wed and Thurs. 10-1pm. For information ring John McGilvray on 966 786 774 or Mobiles 634 658 506/695 871 707 or e mailcarolejohn_3@ hotmail.com Wanted. 6ft x 3ft poolSnooker Table with no need for repairs. Hondon de las Nieves. Tel 639 564 242 Wanted chest or stand up freezer also multi gym Tel 688 805 958 WANTED: Can anyone give a permanent home to a beautiful stray good natured Peacock. No charges involved. Photograph can be emailed on request. Albatera area. Tel: 96-619-5231. CLUBS/MEETINGS TORREVIEJA PHILATELIC SOCIETY. We are Stamp Club with members fro many European Countries who share a like minded interest in collecting stamps. We were established in 2003 and currently have 26 members mostly British, but others from Germany, Belgium, Switzerland & Spain. Our members collect, sell and swap stamps from every country in the world, our meetings are informal and friendly, we hold stamp auctions, quizzes and have talks on stamp collecting. We hold meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month and they start at 3pm, Meetings are held at he “La Torre” Hotel on the outskirts of Los Montesinos. Did you collect stamps when you were young? are you interested in taking-up the hobby again? or perhaps you have an old Stamp Album that you would like to share with other collectors. Everyone
A group of us meet every Thursday at 9.30 at Waldamars Restaurant in Orihuela Costa All makes of bike and nationality welcome. For more info contact Rob via mollyandbaileybassett@ hotmail.com or call Rob on 671-826-201 CASTELLA COMMUNITY CHURCH Held at 137 Avenida Fernando Fenoll Bergua Castalla International At 10.30am every Sunday. Every Wednesday start at 11am. We have a Bible Study Group To explore the meaning of LIFE by discussion, sounds boring but is Great Fun. Come and air your views on CHRISTIANITY ALL WELCOME Refreshments provided Please contact Doug on 618 490 700 OR Anne on 607 165 744 We have a candle lit carol service on the 13th December 7pm with mulled wine and mince pies At the above address at Castalla International EVENTS PARTY YOURSELF INTO SHAPE FOR CHRISTMAS!! Ditch the Workout, Join the Party!! Zumba Fitness Classes with Licensed Zumba Instructor in Pinoso, Fortuna, the Hondons. For details contact Donna 966 195 876 / 699 408 773 www. zumbaiberia.com CHARITIES The Samaritans cover the whole of Spain and operate 24/7. We also have a drop off
PROPERTY SALES
NEW PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED IN THE SAX/SALINAS/PINOSO/ VILLENA AREAS. FABFINCAS IS A FULLY LEGAL & INDEPENDENT AGENCY. NO SALE - NO FEE. Contact Steve or Claire on
PETS Canaries for sale this years. Singers varies colours 12 euros, ideal Christmas presents. call 672 924 557 Castalla.
965 474 314 / 675 218 436 fabfincas@gmail.com Website: www.fabfincas.com
PROPERTY RENTALS For long term rent, 3 bed fully furnished period property, recently refurbished, small fenced garden, more land available, quiet country location, short distance from village La Font de la Figuera, 250 euros per month, INCLUDING water, electric and council tax. 963 146 701, workshop/ garage/store available. House to rent, center of Salinas, 3 beds, furnished, small outside space, short term or long term, 200 euros per month ex bills. Tel 0044 1924 865 668 or 0044 7583 100 143 email petermcshane@ ymail.com For long term rent, new 1 bed apartment in Guardamar, near the High Street and 10 minutes walk to the beach. Beautiful modern furnishings, spacious double bedroom and well equipped kitchen area. Call 636165880 for more info.
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NOW you can Place your items for sale for ree up to the value of
€1000 47
TIM Magazine™
enapoyo de
OUR CHRISTMAS CONCERT THIS YEAR, IN AID OF THOSE IN NEED, WILL BE OPENED BY THE ALCALDI OF FORTUNA, JOSE ENRIQUE GIL CARRILLO. IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE BAÑOS DE FORTUNA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15TH COMMENCING 7.00pm COME AND HAVE FUN WITH US AND GET INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. WE WILL ALSO BE PERFORMING IN THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCH LA IGLESIA DE LA PURISMA, FORTUNA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26th at 8.00pm IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR PATRON FATHER MANUEL GUILLÉN MORENO
A PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES
The Royal British Legion in Spain, Pinoso On Sunday 8th November, the Pinoso branch of the Royal British Legion in Spain held its annual Service of Remembrance at the Parochial Church of St. Peter. A wreath was laid by Branch Chairman Mr. Frank Ring. The service was attended by a large Spanish and British congregation and was conducted by Father Manuel Llopis and Sue Fancourt-Buske. Local Spanish Band the Union Lirica Pinosense played during the service and their Solo trumpeter played flawless renditions of The Last Post & Reveille.
N.B. Monthly Meetings held the last Tuesday of the Month 19:30 at Meson Tonet restaurant in Pinoso. For more details, please contact: Email: robinson. sandra60@gmail.com l: (0034) 693790843
Pinoso and District Trefoil Guild also attended, a wreath was carried by Susan Ring and Ann Gibbins was the Standard Bearer. Afterword, members of the Royal British Legion and their guests, enjoyed lunch at Meson Tonet restaurant. Special thanks to everyone who made this such a successful day. The Pinoso branch of the Royal British Legion in Spain has a full programme of social events throughout the year. The monthly quiz and our popular Menu Del Dia, gives you the opportunity to meet old friends and make new friends together with trying many local restaurants. The Christmas Dinner will be on Thursday 10th December at Oasis. Please remember, you do not have to be an ex Member of the Armed Forces to join. Meet people, make new friends and raise money to help the armed forces of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Visit our new website at http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/pinoso 48
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Costa Blanca
FAB FINCAS FAB Pr oper ti es • FA B P rice s • FA B S e rv ic e
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Sax - Ref: ff0799. Reduced to 188,950 Large, impressive villa within walking distance to the beautiful town of Sax. The property is in very good condition and has 4 double bedrooms (one with en-suite bathroom) a large kitchen/diner, 2 further bathrooms and a large swimming pool. There is also a separate casita for renovation. On a fenced plot of 3,200m2 land. Extremely good value. For full description and more photos click this link. http://fabfincas.com/index.php/component/ezrealty/ ezrealty/2-fincas-or-country-houses/215-large-villa-close-to-town-ref-ff0799
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Gorgeous wooden villa 3 beds, 2 baths Huge kitchen/diner Landscaped gardens, hot tub
Large villa with WOW factor. 4 beds, 4 baths Swimming pool, landscaped gardens, Basement & underbuild Price: 600,000 euros
Bargain country house 2/3 beds, 1 bath Fitted kitchen 1,350m2 land.
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