Important Notice 31 32 Theatre Superstitions

NOTICE URGENT/IMPORTANT

As you all probably know I am standing down as President at the AGM in March. As you know, we have no VP either, so whoever wants to be President should be co-opted onto the Committee so that they have an idea of how the Club works. Please think seriously about this and if you are at all interested please let me know.

We will also be looking for a Catering Manager. This does not have to be a committee post but it does help - again please think seriouslyabout it.

All members must enjoy the Club or you wouldn't join so PLEASE, if you can, think about whether you could do any of the 3 jobs that will be vacant in March.

Sue Potter—President

Janet, Michael and Chris Poole Poole rent-a-car

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ICE CLUB 32ND BIRTHDAY PARTY

Tuesday the 3rd of November saw the ICE Club’s 32nd Birthday Party held at Taberna Miguel in Estepona old town. The afternoon was sunny and warm and the turnout was good at 41, especially given the current Covid situation which limited the attendees to 6 per table. The venue has recently been renovated and provided excellent accommodation for hosting the party. All the guests were welcomed with a glass of Cava on arrival and, though music is not allowed in the current climate, there was much animated conversation and smiling faces all round. The party mood continued throughout the afternoon and the guests were treated to an excellent 3 course meal with friendly and attentive service. Festivities came to an end in the late afternoon when the raffle prizes were drawn. The main raffle prizes of restaurant meal vouchers were won by Audrey Frew, Brenda Taylor and Sheila Defries and 10 members were rewarded with an additional prize of a bottle of Cava which rounded off what was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Submitted by Danny & Renee Hackston

DECEMBER QUIZ

A good turn out for the quiz in November, over 42 attended and we were all there in time for the earlier start because of the new curfew rules. Fran was the quizmaster and we travelled around the world with the first set of questions about the Americas, then Africa then Asia and finally ending up in Europe. They were all multiple choice answers so one would think that made it easier, but no, a lot of changing of minds and crossing outs. Well done Fran, and congratulations to the winners, Stella, Paddy, Steph, Eve & Del.

The December quiz (4th December) is of course our Christmas quiz, and we have been assured that Father Christmas is sending 2 of his busy helpers to be the questionnaires, so come along and join in the fun. Submitted by Sue Potter

I just divorced my cross-eyed wife. I found out that she was seeing someone on the side.

My wife claims I'm the cheapest person she's ever met. I'm not buying it.

A raven has 17 rigid feathers called pinions, while a crow has only 16. Imagine that! The difference between a raven and a crow is just a matter of a pinion! I took my new girlfriend to the ice rink on our first date. They were having a half price promotion. She called me a cheap skate.

I didn't think the chiropractor would improve my posture. But I stand corrected. I used to date a girl with one leg who worked at a brewery. She was in charge of the hops. Margaret & Vic would like to wish all our ICE friends A Very Happy Christmas and a Healthy 2021, wherever you are.

REFLECTIONS OF ‘ICE’ Krafty Club

The Krafty Club was started by Julie Wood and Bea Sykes in January this year and gives an opportunity to get together and chat whilst doing a wide range of craft activities –crochet, knitting, quilting and hand made decorations.

I spent a very enjoyable morning with the club members and watching their many talents at work gave me great inspiration to bring out my sewing machine – Ed.

Apart from the traditional crafts, I watched this wonderful decoration being made (below).

By putting blobs of nail varnish into a dish of water an exciting mix of colours appeared.

It was a joy to see an idea put into practice and to share the artist’ s joy of creation .

From time to time people are invited to come along and demonstrate a particular skill. Recently there was a basket weaving display.

Made from old newspapers, rolled into tubes and then weaved together, they are then glued and painted to give this delightful result made by Sandy Smit.

This charming stocking was one of many made by Bea and snapped up by other members for their Christmas decorations.

As these photos show, there is a wealth of amazing talent in our club.

Everyone shares their skill and knowledge so if you have a problem, then the other members are delighted to help.

IMP0RTANT INFORMATION FOR S1 REGISTERED MEMBERS RE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (EHIC)

This is a new concern for all those who are here in Spain and registered via an S1 form. Basically, it now appears that ALL current EHIC cards will expire on 31st December 2020. For UK resident brits this is the end for the EHIC cards.

But Brit S1 residents who are living within the EU still have need of the EHIC for travel around Europe (not for use in the UK though) > SO, YOU NEED TO REAPPLY FOR A NEW EHIC CARD that will presumably carry information about the withdrawal agreement.

Below is the web site for applying for the EHIC card, if you already have an S1 of course. Under new NHSBSA guidelines that have just come out, you need to renew your UK issued EHIC, as your current card can only be used up to 31 December 2020. This is good news, I think, as the new EHICs will no doubt verify that you have continued rights to use them under the WA.

You can make your application online -if you currently have a UK issued S1 it's a very quick and straightforward process: you need to tick the box that says you have an S1: give your name, your address, your date of birth, a phone number (optional) and your email address.

You'll get an acknowledgement that you've completed your application, and an application number.

You will receive an email acknowledging your application and then presumably -your new EHIC-E.

Here's the link -just follow the simple instructions. It will take you quite literally 2 minutes; https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/cra/start

(This only applies to UK issued EHICs -if you have an EHIC issued by your host country it doesn't apply to you).

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO TRAFFIC LEGISLATION

Congress has passed new traffic legislation that will affect how motorists and cyclists use Spain’s roads. While the law will not come into effect for some months –and some of the reforms still need to be specified by a new regulation code slated for approval in June–these are some of the biggest changes. 1. Helmets mandatory in cities for cyclists under 16. After a long row over safety issues, the Popular Party has backtracked on its intention to make helmets mandatory for all riders within municipal limits. In the end, only minors will have to wear them. Not doing so could lead to fines of 200 euros for parents. 2. Small children may not ride in the front seat. Law enforcement officers will be able to stop and fine drivers carrying children under 1.35 meters in the front passenger seat, unless all the back seats are already taken up by other children also under the height limit (or the car has no back seats at all). Until now, under-12s could ride in the front as long as they had a booster seat or other approved retaining device. Taxis will have to follow the same rules, but parents, not taxi drivers, will be held accountable for violations. Fines can also reach 200 euros. 3. Bigger fines for drunk driving. Driving with double the allowed limit of alcohol in the blood will now mean a fine of 1,000 euros rather than 500. Those caught driving under the influence twice within the same year will get slapped with a 2,000 euro fine the second time round. 4. Fines for driving after taking drugs. The new law eliminates the need to prove that drug use influenced a person’s driving. Now, all it takes is a saliva test: if the result shows the presence of drugs in the body, drivers will be presented with a 1,000 euro fine regardless of whether the substances affected their driving or not. Prescription drugs are excluded. 5. Alcohol and drug tests for pedestrians. Pedestrians caught violating a traffic regulation –by crossing the road at the wrong place, for instance –will be obliged to submit to a drug and alcohol test. Until now, this was only the case if they were involved in an accident. 6. New speed limits. While the current speed limit on highways and freeways is 120km/h, the reforms contemplate raising this to 130km/h. The new code scheduled for approval in June will determine where and when this speed may be legally reached. Penalties will be the same: starting at 100 euros for vehicles going up to 150km/h. 7. No minimum speed restrictions for bicycles. This reform aims to solve a problem faced by cyclists in cities. Until now, vehicles could not travel at a speed below 50 percent of the limit. This was a problem for cyclists in spots such as Madrid’s Cuesta de la Vega, a steep slope where riders have a hard time going faster than 25km/h. Freeways remain off-limits to cyclists. 8. Ban on speed camera detectors and jammers. The new legislation expressly prohibits the use of speed camera detectors: drivers caught using them will be liable to fines of 200 euros and the loss of three points on their licence. Speed camera jammers

are considered much more serious and entail penalties of 6,000 euros and six points off the permit. Only alert systems offering information about the locations of speed cameras based on databases will be legal. Drivers with GPS devices incorporating speed camera detection capabilities will have to deactivate this option. 9. Foreign residents must register their vehicles. Because foreigners living in Spain were not under the obligation to register their cars here, in practice it was difficult to get them to pay traffic fines or submit to controls. The new regulations will determine the deadlines and conditions for vehicle registration. 10. Road works. It will be considered a serious offence to conduct any kind of road works without first informing the pertinent traffic authorities. 11. Road debris. Dropping items of any kind on the road will carry high penalties. 12. Inspecting driving schools. Hindering health department or traffic inspectors trying to carry out checks on driving schools and other vehicle-related centres will be considered an offence. 13. Police can fine vehicles without stopping them. Officers will be able to fine vehicles without hailing them down if they are performing duties that prevent them from doing so or giving chase. 14. Drivers to be responsible in accidents involving game animals. Until now, such accidents were only blamed on drivers if they were in violation of the rules of the road, otherwise the state or the owner of the hunting preserve were held accountable. Under the new law, drivers will always be considered to blame unless it can be proven that the animal stormed the road as a result of a big-game hunt held that day or within 12 hrs of one having taken place. The state will only be accountable if it fails to provide proper warning signals or to mend broken fences. In practice what this means is that no compensation will be handed out in the event of a driver being killed or seriously injured after collision with an animal on one of Spain’s nearly 25,000 hunting preserves. 15. 50 percent discount for early fine payment extended to 20 days. This is up from the current 15 days. 16. Environmental restrictions. Vehicles may be barred from entering certain roadways based on environmental criteria. The Environment Ministry will establish the exact rules governing this point. 17. New reasons for immobilising vehicles. As well as the vehicles of drivers who let children ride without the proper safety devices, authorities will also be able to immobilise those being driven without the proper permit (a C permit in the case of vehicles weighing between 3,500kg and 7,500kg and a D permit in the case of buses). 18. Ban on taking unsafe vehicles to other countries. This article is an application of the United Nations’ Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, which aims to discourage the importing and exporting of new or used vehicles deemed unsafe. 19. Priority for tow trucks. Tow trucks on their way to assist motorists will have right of way and have to be treated the same way as ambulances. 20. Fewer driving restrictions for cancer patients. Right now, cancer sufferers are hardly ever allowed to drive, unless their doctor takes it up with the traffic authority. But improved medical treatment is set to be reflected in the new road rules, which will place fewer restrictions on patients. Submitted by Doug Mitchell 17

Ambiguity of the English Language -

TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW. In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT. In aLondon department store: BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS… In an office: WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN. In an office: AFTER TEA BREAK, STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD.