The weekender issue 14 marina baixa (benidorm) by IMPACT GROUP

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ISSUE 014 IssueB #147

Friday 29th September

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Marina Baixa

Your Weekend Starts Here! STOP PRESS: ADAM KING JOINS GALAXY RADIO - READ MORE PAGE 2

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Brexit roadkill

By Jack Troughton EXPATS fear being sacrificed and thrown “under the Brexit bus” and have demanded Theresa May give real guarantees about citizens’ rights.

In a strongly worded letter to the prime minister, campaigners for British nationals living across Europe call for a “lifetime” guarantee to be agreed by the 28 members of the EU. British in Europe is a coalition of

11 groups living in the 27 member states outside the UK, it has also forged an alliance with the3million, which represents EU citizens living in Britain. Together, they say Brexit affects some 4.2 million people living outside their own country. The letter – copied to Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Brexit Secretary David Davis – was penned on 22nd September, after the Premier’s key speech to EU leaders in Florence. The campaign group asks the government stop treating the rights of all expats as a “minor issue” that could be pushed aside in the headlong dash for a trade or indeed a security agreement.”And the government is further urged to stop treating the question of people’s rights as “an immigration issue”. Continued Page 2...

See Page 6

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Expats urge PM to take action From Front page... British in Europe said since June last year European leaders and Members of the European Parliament had underlined the protection of citizens’ rights was of “fundamental importance”. The group said Mrs May appeared to agree in her earlier Lancaster House speech when she said the government wanted to “guarantee” the rights of expats and “the same rules and laws will apply on the day after Brexit as they did before.” But they say despite her hopes of clearing the “Brexit logjam”, the prime minister had done nothing in Italy to end uncertainty of people who took up a legal right to free movement. British in Europe said unless proper steps were taken the position of expats would continue to be undermined because “reciprocity means reciprocity”. The letter said: “The 1.2 million British in Europe are the canaries in the coalmine for any future relationship between the

UK and the EU. “If (chief EU negotiator) Michel Barnier, the European Parliament and the UE st member states see that the UK government is willing to throw us, our rights, our livelihoods, and our children under the Brexit bus, they will have no confidence that it will recognise and protect the rights of the three million or any other post-Brexit obligation.” At risk, it said was “Britain’s reputation, credibility, and any prospect of a free trade deal and cross-border access for our group, let alone UK citizens in future, will disappear down the Brexit rabbit hole.” Chair of British in Europe, Berlin-based lawyer Jane Golding believes Mrs May missed an opportunity to end the uncertainty for 4.2 million people affected and a future UK-EU relationship. “We now appeal for her to listen to the voice of British citizens in the EU and all those EU citizens who make such a valuable contribution to the UK.”

Snap, crackle and pop!

GET a great start to the day and tune into the new-look Galaxy Radio and the Breakfast Show with the irrepressible voice of presenter Adam King. Adam leads a team of new faces from the front as he breathes new life into the daily school run and promises bundles of fun and competitions first thing in the morning. A familiar voice across the airwaves, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the station and aims to woo an audience with a professional touch. “I hope we will become the best on the Costa Blanca and certainly sound the best. There are loads of specialised shows in the pipeline and even more new faces coming on board,” said Adam. “It will be great to get back on air presenting a show every morning, who knows, people may have actually missed me!” Joining Adam in the Galaxy Radio studios are Mark Dennison with a mixture of modern music and classic soul – and a whole lot of sports knowledge; Jessie Brooke bringing her talent to the weekend; and James Martin , lighting up drive time in the afternoon.

Adam is also looking at creating marketing and design packages that are affordable and embrace the spoken and written word. “I just see it as a great opportunity to hop aboard the Galaxy Radio bus and help provide it with a new sound and image,” he said. Adam believes everyone tuning in will find the new-look Galaxy meltingly good.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

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THE Costa Blanca has escaped the second round of cancellations by Ryanair as the budget carrier hits turbulence again over its dire shortage of pilots to get people around. Christmas is bang in the middle of the latest crisis and crossed fingers – people hoping to return to the UK or family heading out to Spain for their turkey and trimmings will make it on time to enjoy the festivities without further worry. It’s getting close to that time of year when everyone remembers the sacrifices of the Armed Forces and Remembrance Sunday – note from The Weekender, please buy a poppy and support the sterling work of the Royal British Legion. Out in the rarefied air of FIFA, someone has seen sense about the ban on sporting a poppy on the shirts of players ahead of Remembrance Day – threats of fines and yellow cards were made 12 months ago when the home country teams defied association orders. It should mean that during the relevant period footballers will again wear a poppy with pride and show some very real respect. All that needs to happen now is for the now sensible FIFA to look inwards and the strange wheeling and dealing that went

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Marco Baiardo

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Adam King

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on ahead of awarding World Cups and rethink Qatar...perhaps a sandcastle too far. Brexit uncertainty continues to be a worry. Remember the words ‘priority’ when it comes to sorting out the complex situation for expats in Europe and those in the UK? Round four of negotiations has come and gone and still only crumbs of information falling from above. This week campaigners British in Europe have sent a ‘poke’ to Theresa May in a letter that pretty much says ´we’re here and waiting’. Patience is growing thin over the whole business. Actor Ricky Tomlinson spotted in civilian clothes at the opening party of Albir’s Orange Tree, looking fit and healthy ahead of his 78th birthday; lucky Jim Royle couldn’t make it, so we were able to quote Ricky in full!

Jack Troughton Editor - The Weekender

Editor

Jack Troughton

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Senior Reporter

Simon Russell

simon@weekender.news

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Marco Baiardo Jr. studio@weekender.news

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Samuel Fielder

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FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

RYANAIR CRASHES

THROUGH LAW By Jack Troughton

BUDGET airline Ryanair has been threatened with legal action for “persistently misleading” passengers about their rights over the cancellations of thousands of flights. The Civil Aviation Authority was said to be “furious” with the airline for failure to comply with the law – with Ryanair owner Michael O’Leary singled out for particular criticism. The CAA has launched “enforcement action” against the low cost carrier as it announced 18,000 more cancellations – likely to affect another 400,000 passengers – between November and March and including the busy Christmas period. Earlier this month the Irish airline cancelled up to 50 flights a day until the end of October because of a cockpit crisis caused by an acute shortage of pilots. The CAA, the industry’s regulator, said as Ryanair wielded the axe on

its flight schedules, it had failed to provide customers with “necessary and accurate” information over their rights. It announced action against the airline for wrongly claiming it did not have to reroute travelers on rival carriers and said information on the Ryanair website failed to make it clear it was obliged to refund all expenses incurred by the cancellations. These include meals, hotels, and transfer costs to re-route passengers onto other airlines when there was not a suitable alternative. CAA chief Andrew Haines said it was”unacceptable” Ryanair disregarded the law and customer rights. He said: “These are simple things to fix and they’re choosing not to fix them. People should not have to choose between low fares and legal rights. “Michael (O’Leary) himself said he wasn’t going to pay for passengers

to fly on other airlines. That’s against the law. My concern with Ryanair…is they say one thing and yet they don’t follow it through.” Ryanair has said it will cooperate. In a statement, it said: “We already comply fully with all EU legislation, are meeting with the CAA and will comply fully with whatever requirements they ask us to.” It has said affected passengers will be offered alternative flights or full refunds and have been emailed advising of flight changes taking place until the end of October. Customers will also be offered vouchers of €40 one way or €80 return towards alternative flights on top of refunds.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Brit press trip By Matthew Richards

A group of travel journalists from the UK press recently visited Alicante to enable them to report back on its various attractions. Writers from the Daily Mirror and Lonely Planet amongst others spent two days touring the city last week with the focus on food, shopping, culture and the beaches, accompanied by an official guide. Alicante’s

By Simon Russell

Tourism Councillor, Eva Montesinos, said that the British are the main international tourist in the region and Alicante-Elche airport connects with over 20 British airports, making the future potential huge. Highlights of the trip included the Central Market, the Esplanade and the main shopping zone, aiming to concentrate on where the local Alicantinos would eat, drink and shop.

More drama for troubled soap star By Simon Russell

JUST a few days after hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons, actress Daniella Westbrook is

back in the news after smashing up her hotel room during a row with her fiancée. The pregnant Eastenders star was staying at the Hotel City Olympia

in Benidorm and was heard complaining in a local bar later about being billed for the damage. A witness said “She was moaning that her and her bloke had got into a fight, trashed the place and now

Rainy day money

had to pay the hotel €900 for the damage.” A possible source of their argument was photos that emerged earlier this month of Ms Westbrook kissing a young British holidaymaker in another Benidorm bar.

She was also criticised in the press for drinking heavily while pregnant on the holiday. After the latest incident she was seen out without her fiancée, leading to further rumours about the state of their relationship.

THE Valencian Consell has approved payments of €7 million across the community for repairs on damage caused by the heavy rain and storms at the end of last year. The payment will be a mixture of direct aids and grants; with direct aid payments the municipalities concerned have 12 months to implement the repairs. The government will be carrying out random checks on at least 5% of approved monies to ensure the cash is being spent in an appropriate and timely fashion. The series of storms in November and December caused huge damage to many towns in the region, especially in coastal areas.

Danniella Westbrook behind the bar in the Black Chicken

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Children fend for themselves after suicide pact By Simon Russell

POLICE were called out to a house in Huelva and discovered the bodies of two adults whose young children had been looking after themselves. The authorities believe the death was a suicide pact but the four children, aged between five and thirteen, did not realise that their mother and stepfather were lying dead in their bedroom. Apparently the youngsters were often left to their own devices and were used to the adults being absent for long periods

so had carried on as usual. However the landlord of the property they rented became suspicious at the absence of the adults and called the police who discovered the bodies; they believe the man and woman died due to intentional drugs overdoses. It is thought they had been dead for around five days and decomposition had started to set in. The couple had been experiencing financial problems according to local sources. The four children have been taken into the care of the father of the youngest three.

Roaring success By Simon Russell

THE Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Den of TeuladaMoraira celebrated its third anniversary last week with a party for those involved. The charity shop, run by the local Lions group, has raised an impressive â&#x201A;Ź112,000

for various good causes over this period. The shop can be found under the Pepe la Sal supermarket in Moraira (just past the fountain roundabout) and is open on Monday to Saturday in the mornings. Any donations of goods or your time is always gratefully received.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Dreaming of a white September By Matthew Richards

WHILE most people on the Costa Blanca are enjoying their usual extended summer, parts of Spain have already had their first proper snowfall. The Picos de Europa in Northern Spain saw five centimetres of snow, a record for this time of year. Pictures

were posted by locals on social media who, though certainly used to snow, were clearly surprised to see this much this early. The Picos de Europa is a national park in the Cantabrian Mountains and much of it will be open for skiing and other winter sports when the heavy snow comes, usually around December.

Killed after reporting violence By Matthew Richards

A young woman was murdered by her boyfriend within an hour of reporting him to the police for a previous incident. The attack happened in Cartagena on 26 September; when the 20 year old

returned from the police station her partner was lying in wait for her at the house where she lived. He stabbed her fatally in the neck and heart and then fled the scene. Neighbours called the authorities and the man was apprehended later after being stopped by local residents in a city square. A neighbour of the pair described their relationship as “a complicated on and off” one.

Dog ﬁght By Matthew Richards

TWO women have been arrested in Valencia after attacking a man whose dog tried to mount the dog they were walking. The victim had tried to separate the dogs but ended up on the ground with wounds to his head and face after he hit the pavement. The women left the scene but were witnessed and reported to police. They were traced by the National Police and charged with crimes of assault and leaving the scene of an accident. The incident happened last month but is coming to court this week.

Insurer counts the cost By Simon Russell

INSURANCE giant Mapfre has estimated the recent hurricanes that swept through parts of the Caribbean and North America will cost the firm up to €200 million and their shares fell over by 3% on the back of the announcement.

The Mexican earthquakes earlier this month will also have an impact on the company which has a strong presence in Latin America. Mapfre have announced they will be cutting their profit forecasts on the back of these “acts of God” which resulted in the 3.17% drop in the firm’s stock price on the Spanish IBEX.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Grand re-opening By Simon Russell

THE Mayor of Finestrat, Juan Perez, presided over the opening of the revamped Carrefour superstore at Finestrat’s La Marina shopping centre on 22 September. The store has been completely redesigned and now includes innovations such as a sushi counter and Mercado de Frescas which is meant to represent a

large traditional marketplace for meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. Many people will be glad to know the wine section has been expanded and there are also over 1,000 organic products now on sale. In his speech Mayor Perez noted that Carrefour was the first major shop to risk coming to the new centre when it opened its doors in 1989. Once they were there, other stores soon followed and La Marina continues to grow each year.

Off the wall By Simon Russell

THE giant wall mural that Callosa d’en Sarria commissioned for the upcoming Moors and Christians Festival has now been completed. The artwork, which depicts scenes from the festival, was done by local painter Toni Ferri whose finishing touches involved coating the work with a special varnish to protect the surface. The painting is on one of the walls on Plaza del Convent, an area earmarked for regeneration by the

Town Hall. While carrying out the work, which took several weeks, Mr Ferri often took time out to answer general queries from local amateur artists who came to watch him paint. Mayor Luis Puigcerver declared himself delighted with the finished mural.

Bull running death By Simon Russell

A 46-year-old man was killed during the annual running of the bulls in the Valencian town of Pucol last weekend. Described locally as “an amateur veteran” of the bous el carrer, the man died on Saturday 23 September

after being gored in the femur by the bull’s horns. He was transported in a private ambulance that was at the scene to the Puerto de Sagunto Hospital but died soon after arrival. The festival was suspended as a mark of respect and the Sunday was declared an official day of mourning in the small town.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Discovery from the start of history By Simon Russell

A complete human skull dating back an estimated 5,000 years has been found in the archaeological dig at Pedreguer’s Randero Caves. Discoveries of complete skulls this old are rare and this find is being seen by the excavation team as one of the most important of the latest dig. The 20-strong team, from universities around Spain,

have also found ceramics, flint arrowheads and decorative objects in what they think was probably some form of burial site. 5,000 years ago man was coming to end of the Stone Age and starting to enter the Bronze Age; this period is often described as the beginning of human history, although Homo sapiens have been on the planet for around 200,000 years.

By Simon Russell

Body found after 24 hour search By Simon Russell

THE corpse of a 60-yearold man who disappeared while swimming on Postiguet beach (Alicante) on 25 September was found floating

in the water the following afternoon. Helicopters had led the search for the man along with police and fire crews. It was a helicopter that spotted the body floating about 200

No sugar coating

metres offshore; the Maritime Guardia Civil picked it up and confirmed it to be that of the missing bather. The warm weather means many people are still swimming in the sea as

October approaches. However most beaches have little or no lifeguard service this time of year, and as the evenings get cooler the chances of hypothermia or other problems effecting swimmers increases.

PHARMACIES in the region handed out sugar this week – as a protest against the rise of homeopathic medicine which they regard as a pseudo-science. Members of the Farmacienca Association gave out the sugar sachets to customers on the Day of the Pharmacist (26 September) with the logo “#homeopathy; 100% sugar”. They are concerned about unscientifically proven drugs being sold to the public, to the user’s detriment and also taking away sales from legitimate outlets. The Health Ministry recently released guidelines saying that non-conventional medical practices such as homeopathy and even yoga cannot be supported or promoted using public funds.

FRIDAY 15TH SEPT 2017

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Safety ďŹ rst By Simon Russell

AS a result of the recent Barcelona terror attacks, Elche has started updating its security measures around the city. Areas judged most prone to trouble are tourist spots, landmarks, key thoroughfares and any places where there is a large gathering of people such as fiestas. The Town Hall stressed that this was purely a sensible and precautionary approach and they had no reason to think Elche was a particular target. They pointed out that the city

has a crime rate below the national average, partly down to having a strong and effective police force. As part of the plans there will also be anti-terrorism

training seminars for the police forces and an appeal for help from citizens in all communities if they have reason to believe someone is being radicalised.

A wet end to the year? By Matthew Richards

THE State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has issued its long range forecast for the region for the next three months â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and it could be a damp autumn if the predictions are correct. Jorge Tamayo,

the AEMET spokesman, said that October is set to be relatively dry across Valencia but the region can expect rainfall above average for November and, in particular, December. AEMET admit that forecasting this far in the future is far from an

exact science and plenty can happen to change the situation. However, based on current conditions and past data combined with factors such as the sea temperature there could be plenty of heavy rain on the cards in the run up to winter.

Ten drink drivers a day nabbed By Matthew Richards

POLICE across Alicante Province had 3,800 motorists test positive for drink or drugs behind the wheel last year, an average of over ten a day. Other common serious offences included speeding, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, reckless driving and refusal to take a breathalyser test. Over 5,500 cases went to court and despite sanctions varying from

imprisonment to points on your licence plus heavy fines the number of serious motoring offences is on the increase in the province. Partly this is due to an increase in police presence and the use of powers such as random road blocks, when drivers are tested and documentation checked. However authorities in Alicante say they will continue to educate drivers as to the danger of their actions, for themselves and other road users.

Back In

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

MILE HIGH CLUB CLASS By Simon Russell

AIR travellers between London and Qatar will be the first in the world to be able to enjoy a double bed on their flight. The beds are being rolled out on Boeing 777’s flying from the UK capital to Doha on Qatar Airways and can be created by removing the privacy screen – presumably with the consent of the person in the adjoining seat. Groups of four passengers can also use the same method to create a private cabin. Qatar hopes to roll out the “Qsuite” beds on flights to New York and Paris in the near future.

By Jack Troughton

A ’LOST’ masterpiece by the Flemish painter Rubens has been rediscovered in Scotland after almost 400 years. The portrait of the Duke of Buckingham is a ‘head study’ painted by Peter Paul Rubens and was discovered in Glasgow Museum’s collection and on public display at the city’s Pollok House. However, overpainting and centuries of dirt disguised the hand that created it. It was believed to be a copy until it was identified by Dr Bendor Grosvenor of BBC Four’s programme Britain’s Lost Masterpieces. The restored painting of George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham, has now been authenticated as a Rubens by Ben van Beneden, director of

Duke sees the light the Rubenshuis in Antwerp Dr Grosvenor said: “The chance to discover a portrait of such a pivotal figure in British history by one of the greatest artists who ever lived has been thrillingly exciting.” The portrait of the duke dates from around 1625. He was a controversial figure in the Jacobean era who rose from minor nobility to become one of the favourites of James I, who was James VI in Scotland. The nature of their relationship is controversial. Some experts claim they were lovers, while others believe it was a close platonic friendship. The Duke was assassinated in 1628 at the age of just 35, three years after James died. Overpainting of the background and other areas by a later artist, along with hundreds of years of dust and dirt, had obscured Rubens’ hand. But scientific analysis of the wood it was painted on dated it to the 1620s, and found it had been prepared in a way done by Rubens’ studio. Additional cleaning and x-rays of the hair showed it was not a copy but was by the artist himself. It went on display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow yesterday (Thursday) and featured in the first programme of the new series of Lost Masterpieces on Wednesday evening.

Britain

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

NEW SHOW FOR POP PICKERS By Jack Troughton

UBER & OUT?

By Jack Troughton

UBER, the controversial ridehailing company, has lost its licence to operate in London but plans to appeal the Transp ort for London decisio n. A new private hire licence will not be issued when the current one runs out tomorr ow (Saturd ay 30th Septem ber) TfL announ ced; allegin g the interna tional company was not fit and proper to operate in the capital . However, within three days more than 500,00 0 people had signed a petition demand ing Uber – the public use an app to hail transpo rt – be allowed to continu e to offer London ers a 24-hou r service . Uber, founde d in 2009, has around 3.5 million passen gers using its service in UK capital and some 40,000 drivers respon ding to hi-tech calls using its app. TfL mainta ins it took the decisio n becaus e of “public safety and securit y implica tions”; with concer ns includi ng the company’s approa ch checks backgr ound to on drivers and reporti ng serious crimina l offence s. And Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I fully

suppor t TfL’s decisio n – it would be wrong if TfL continu ed to license Uber if there is in any way that this could pose a threat to London ers’ safety and securit y.” The company can continu e to operate during the appeal, but Fred Jones – head of cities for Uber in the UK and Ireland – mainta ins its drivers had to pass the same safety checks as black cab and mini cab drivers in London . Uber itself said the TfL decisio n showed the world that far from being open; London “is closed to innova tive compan ies.” And the genera ; manage r in London , Tom Elvidg e said: “By wantin g to ban our app from the capital , TfL and the mayor have caved in to a small numbe r of people who want to restrict consum er choice. “If the decisio n stands, it will put more than 40,000 license d drivers out of work and deprive London ers of a conven ient and afforda ble form of transpo rt.” The Licens ed Taxi Drivers ’ Associ ation believe s TfL had made the “right call”; saying “this immora l company has no place on London ’s streets” . However, popula r with million s of mainly London ers, young Uber will use every avenue to keep its operati on on the go.

THE BBC plans a love in with music lovers with a new weekly show a decade after Top of the Pops was a staple part of the television diet. Friday Like Sounds Night is promised to be a cross between the one-time Thursday night favourite and the US hit Saturday Night Live; mixing music performances with topical entertainment and comedy sketches. DJs Greg James and Dotty, presented from Radio 1 and 1Xtra, will be hosts the primetime show; arriving on screens 42 years after the launch of Top of the Pops, which saw the plug pulled in 2006. Commissioned as a sixpart series – just like TOTP all those years ago – the show is being made Corden’s James by company production Fulwell 73 and will be broadcast live from the BBC Television Centre in London’s White City. James said: “We have been missing a primetime music show from our TV

screens for far too long, so it’s fair to say being part of Sounds Like Friday Night is something I’m really, really excited about. “One thing that’s fantastic about the show is being able to provide new and emerging acts a home alongside the megastars, introducing them to a new audience. the having “Also opportunity to interview and have a laugh with some of the biggest stars in the world, on the actual telly, is completely brilliant. I can’t wait to get going!” TOTP was axed but still has a cult audience of night owls as the long-running series is screened by BBC4... featuring veteran Radio 1 DJs and resident acts Pans People Legs and and Co.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Local lookout

Javea-Xabia Autumn kicks off in Javea By Simon Russell

THERE is plenty for everyone in Javea during the first week of October. The first of the month has the regular Artesania Crafts Fair, selling everything from pottery to toys, all hand made locally. There is an exhibition of vintage bicycles at the Municipal Market which is underway and continues until the middle of the month. Other exhibitions in the first week of October include one on local

botanic life and the artwork of Antuan EL8. Also on the 1 October there is a tour of the “Pilgrims Way” taking in town sites such as the convents, gothic church and the chapel as well as museum (registration required). Musical attractions include a classical concert on 7 October and Balambambu which is aimed at younger residents. Most of the events are free; for further details you can visit; http://www.ajxabia.com/ver/1075/1/

Flying carpet By Simon Russell

FIREFIGHTERS in Javea were called out to an unusual incident his week – rescuing a rug. The carpet sized 4x4 metre rug was being shaken out by an elderly resident when apparently the wind caught it and it landed on a nearby third story roof. Police judged that if the heavy object had fallen

from the roof it could have hurt a passer-by; also it could have landed on a passing car which obviously would have caused problems for the driver. A fire crew from Denia came out and needed their longest ladder to reach the rug – which was retrieved and returned safely to its grateful though slightly embarrassed owner.

FRIDAY 22ND SEPT 2017

Local lookout

Enjoy a ﬂutter By Jack Troughton

THE Unstable Lads Racing Team returns with another fun night out where the winner is charity; on this occasion the food bank run by the Red Cross of Javea and Pedregeur. A fun filled evening is offered at Monroe’s Restaurant in Pedregeur on 5th October where punter can tuck into an enjoyable meal and watch real races with professional commentary on a giant screen – and have a little wager. The food bank is currently in “dire need” according to Unstable Lads Racing Team’s Alan Higgins; the volunteers have been arranging

charity Race Nights for more than 10 years. Alan, who said last year a Gandia event made €1,000 for the MABS Cancer Support Group, is confident the night – with a Race Card sponsored by Golden Leaves International and the Original Charity Shop and Library – will again raise “a four figure sum”. The evening starts at 6pm for 6.30pm and costs €9, including a famous Monroe’s carvery meal with a choice of meat and vegetables, and apple crumble or chocolate nut sundae for dessert. To book call Sandy on 626 681 720 or Alan on 96 280 7015, or email gascbookings@gmail.com or ambulanciaparajavea@ live.com.

All the world’s a stage By Jack Troughton

JAVEA Players raise the curtain on an Open Day on Sunday 15th October and hope the special production will whet the appetites of those interested in theatre. Everyone is invited to the group’s Studio Theatre in Calle Cronista Figueres Pacheco between noon and 4pm; whether they are interested in appearing onstage, helping out behind the scenes, or just want to find out more about 40 years of successful

productions and a hint of future plans. The afternoon kicks off with a Cava Reception when Javea’s Councillor for Culture Quico Moragues will be the guest of honour. The doors are open until 4pm with a glass of wine and nibbles ready to fortify the curious. Javea Players are a enthusiastic bunch and warn visitors to the studio theatre might just find the welcome a touch too contagious and demand more.

Javea-Xabia

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Local lookout

Benidorm Leap of faith By Simon Russell

THE Benidorm leg of the 2017 Base Jump Competition was held at the Bali Hotel last weekend. The winner was Spaniard Eder Navacerrada while British jumper Thomas Berryman was the runner up with German Klaus Renz coming third to underline the international nature of the contest. Andalucian Navacerrada made perfect landings each time in the centre of the target, beating Berryman by five points. Base jumping (the base stands for building, antenna, span, earth) involves parachuting

from fixed structures, aiming for a target in competitive jumping. It is regarded as an extreme sport and is very dangerous due to the low altitude of the jumps. It is illegal in many places and at least 200 hundred people have died taking part in the sport, usually in unsanctioned jumps.

Further education for OAPs By Simon Russell

BENIDORM is repeating its long running initiative to provide educational courses for residents in the town over the age of 55. Entitled the University of Experience (or Aunex) the programme started back in 1999 and has been developing ever since. No previous levels of education need to be held to attend the twice weekly afternoon sessions that run for two years.

The classes are are run by university teachers and at the end of the course anyone completing the studies will receive a diploma. Subjects covered include economics, physiology, literature, IT, music and sociology. Registration has started now and is open until 10 October at the Jose Llorca Linares Social Centre where the courses will also be held. There is a limit of 60 places, and fees to cover the course expenses start from â&#x201A;Ź25.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Local lookout

Benidorm

Benidorm actor dies on holiday By Simon Russell

CHARACTER actor and comedian Bobby Knutt passed away suddenly while on holiday in the south of France at the age of 71 earlier this week. A cause of death has not yet been released. Bobby will be known to many as Albert Dingle in soap Emmerdale and he also had a recent role as Eddie Dawson in the hit comedy Benidorm. Knutt real name Robert Wass – started out as a young stand-up comic in the 1960’s. He moved into acting in the 70’s and was able to switch between light comedy and serious roles, always being in demand throughout his career. The actor was married

to Donna Hartley, hailed the ‘golden girl’ of British athletics at the 1980 Olympics, who died while sunbathing in the couple’s garden in Barnsley in 2013. Tributes poured in from fans and coworkers alike with Derren Litten, writer of Benidorm, wrote on Twitter: “Very sad Benidorm news guys. The wonderful Bobby Knutt has passed away suddenly aged 71. Sending our Beni love to his family.” Tony Maudsley, who plays Kenneth

In the swim with fashion awards By Simon Russell

BENIDORM has been chosen to host the first national design awards contest for beach and bathing wear. The Centre for Fashion Design in Madrid made the announcement this week and the show will be held in the Costa Blanca city next June. The

awards aim to recognise new talent in this field and are open to designers under the age of 35. The Deputy Mayor, Ana Pellicer, thanked the organisers for choosing Benidorm, saying that it was appropriate after the city had become the first Spanish resort to allow bikinis on their beaches over 50 years ago.

in Benidorm, tweeting “Take a bow Granddad Dawson. Your Benidorm family will miss you. RIP Bobby Knutt xx”.

Better buses BENIDORM continues to improve its fleet of city buses as it aims to get more people out of their cars and onto public transport.

Five vehicles now have mobile charging points and Wi-Fi is being installed on all buses. The new urban voucher system is also being introduced and there will be large subsidies for pensioners and

disabled citizens as well as people under the age of 31. The Wi-Fi and charging point initiative also ties in with the cities aim to become an official “smart tourist destination”.

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By Matthew Richards

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Local lookout

Alfas, Albir & Altea,

Car bursts into ﬂames By Simon Russell

The two occupants, a French married couple, were driving in their high end Mercedes SUV, when it went completly up in flames after its engine caught fire while

driving along the N332, near the crossing to l’Albir from l’Alfàs del Pi. Firefighters received a warning from a witness who saw the car catch fire. Sources from the Provincial Consortium of Firefighters have explained that, the couple were unharmed. The couple, once seeing smoke billowing out of the hood of the vehicle, opted to set the car aside

on the shoulder of the road and quiclky exit the car. A l m o s t immediately, the car was been engulfed in flames and, despite the rapid intervention of fire fighters, the fire was so extreme that it completely devoured the whole body at speed.

Vintage High Tea Parties

Lills Lounge Vintage High Tea Parties the new trend happening in Albir; golden wedding-50 years-was the Occasion on Sat 23/09 with Danny and Margaret Allen from Almafra Camping. From 3pm with a Cava reception, selection of savoury and sweet pastries on a three teer display stands. Scones with strawberry Jam and clotted cream, Victoria Sponge, individual trifles, smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwiches. Topped with authentic choice of tea served in bone china cups and saucers but for those who prefer a tipple, then you can swap your tea for your favourite tipple served out of a tea pot to your choice of strength. Groups of 4 or 5 up to 30 are catered for by a pre booking in advance any day of the week a perfect way of making a perfect celebration. Call Phil or Margaret to make your booking 652590120 or look on Facebook for Lills Lounge Albir. - See Advert Below.

Award winning dolls By Simon Russell

THE winner of the third L’Alfas del Pi Fidewa Festival was announced as international web series “Munecas” (Dolls).

The programme has over two million viewers worldwide and is a celebration of diversity in everyone. 150 different web series were submitted to the contest which is gaining

worldwide recognition and raising the profile of L’Alfas del Pi. The winning programme won a prize of €1,000 while the runnerup, “Entertainment” collected

€500 and the third placed “Supercafetera” went away with €250. There were also awards for acting, best international series, best social media campaign and the public’s choice winner which

was voted on earlier. Fideua, which the competition is named after, and champagne were the order of the day for those in attendance at the towns Casa de Cultura.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

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Home building business recovers faster in Alicante than Valencia The Weekender recommends source - www.SpanishPropertyInsight.com

Alicante doesn’t beat Valencia very often when it comes to big economic figures, but there’s one activity where it does win against its northern neighbour: the property sector. Construction in Alicante is recovering at a faster rate than in Valencia. Both have suffered similar problems since the property bubble burst back in 2008, although the impact was higher in Alicante. But almost ten years later, the property industry is on the way to stability. And in the race to recovery, Alicante is ahead of Valencia thanks to the driving force of residential tourism. While Valencia beats Alicante in some market sectors such as luxury city homes, offices, business premises and industrial warehouses, when it comes to sales of houses and land, new developments, finished projects and investment figures, Alicante leads the race. In terms of sales, Alicante is way in front of Valencia. Official statistics point to 32,068 sales in Alicante province in the year to June compared to 23,644 in Valencia province.

The trend for number of new-build starts is similar. According to the latest Spanish government figures, some 2,080 new builds were started in Alicante between January and May this year. The Alicante Architects Association say 2,544 were started by June. In Valencia, the figure sits at just 698, three times lower than Alicante. Houses are also being finished more quickly in Alicante – between January and May this year 1,487 were completed. In Valencia, just 501 and it’s a similar story for non-residential construction. In Valencia, work started on 60 buildings in the first five months of the year while in Alicante, the figure was 63. Office and industrial construction is, however, higher in Valencia (11 buildings) than Alicante (5).

Real Estate Investment

According to the Alicante Technical Architects Association, some €182 million was invested in new residential projects in Alicante in the first six months of this year. Bearing in mind that construction activity in Alicante is considerably higher than in

Valencia, it seems to logical to conclude that investment is also much higher. S p a n i s h government figures put new-build investment in the Comunidad Valenciana region at €236 million. If Alicante is building 70% of the developments, some €165 million of the total was invested between January and May. Land sales are also more active in Alicante than Valencia. In the former, there have been 796 land sales over the last year with a value of €135 million and a total size of 1.3 million square metres. In Valencia province, 692 land sales took place with a value of €86 million and 1.08 million square metres. There are several reasons why the residential sector in Alicante is busier than in Valencia. The main one is demand from foreigners who buy 40% of all homes in Alicante, 12,700 properties out of the total 32,000. In Valencia, just 2,000 homes are

bought by foreigners. Alicante has always had more appeal for foreign buyers. Resorts such as Las Marinas, Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Pilar are dominated by the foreign market. “There are more residential projects because there’s more demand, especially for holiday homes,” say construction companies. Proof of this is the fact that Spain’s largest new-build construction companies are concentrating more on Alicante than Valencia. Aedas, Neinor, Activum SG and Lar y Merlin all include the Costa Blanca in their new development plans. Valencia is also included, although to a lesser extent. And Sareb (Spain’s so-called bad bank) also does more business in Alicante, tipping the balance in favour of Alicante.

Property

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UK Credit rating dips

By Jack Troughton

BRITAIN’S credit rating has been cut over mounting concerns about its public finances and fears Brexit with hit economic growth. Moody’s, one of the major ratings agencies, believes UK revenues will not compensate for higher spending and leaving the European Union was creating uncertainty; with government plans to reduce debt already missing targets. And it has downgraded the UK from an Aa1 rating to Aa2 – but the government believes the agency’s assessment regarding Brexit was “outdated” and did not take into account Theresa May’s plans outlined in Florence last week. The other main ratings agencies Fitch and S&P changed their assessment of UK credit ratings last year. S&P cut two notches, reducing the country from AAA to AA; Fitch lowering it from AA+ to AA. Credit ratings can affect the interest paid by a country to borrow money on international financial markets; the higher the rating, the lower the interest paid.

Moody’s said after failing to secure a majority in the general election, the government had further obscured the “future direction of economic policy”. It last saw the UK as a top grade AAA country in 2013, and said Brexit would continue to dominate legislative priorities, restricting the opportunity to address “substantial” challenges. And the agency believes that new free trade deals could take years to negotiate “prolonging the uncertainty for business.” The government said Moody’s cut the rating ahead of Mrs May setting out her vision for Britain’s post-Brexit future. “The prime minister has just set out an ambitious vision for the UK’s future relationship with the EU, making it clear both sides will benefit from a new and unique partnership,” Downing Street said. “The foundations on which we build this partnership are strong.” And while admitting there were challenges ahead, it added: “We are optimistic about our bright future.”

Is leaving money in the bank all that safe?

By Tracy Storer Senior Partner Chorus Financial

Time flies, and seems to get faster as you get older! How often do you reminisce about the past and then realise it was 10/20/30 years ago! Let’s take 1997 for example; the year the world mourned the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales, and the UK saw a landslide general election victory for the Labour Party under Tony Blair. Katrina and the waves won the Eurovision song contest with Love Shine a light and the year that channel 5 was launched. The

average price of a house was £68k and a litre of petrol?... 61p. It’s crazy how life evolves, the people and memories we pick up along the way, the mistakes we make and lessons we learn. Whilst technology is constantly changing and the way we do things is different, there is always one thing that stays the same – inflation. I cannot tell you how many times I have sat down with clients who haven’t taken inflation seriously. It was only last week that a client walked into the office and during his financial review it was revealed that before moving to Spain, 20 years ago, he sold his UK property and brought a Spanish property and had £70k surplus. Not knowing what to do with it, he decided to leave it safe and secure in a UK bank account. The years have passed and my client has settled into Spanish life and has never looked back. The £70k he originally put

in his UK bank was still there and overall he was happy with his life decisions. That was until I calculated the effect of inflation on his £70k, in today’s terms his £70k is worth the equivalent of £46k meaning he’d lost £24k in spending power – and people think the bank is the safest place to keep your money! Over that same period, if my client had placed his money into a cautious investment, returning 4% after fees, that £70k would now be worth £153k, beating inflation by £33k. As a truly independent advisory, Chorus have access to the whole of the market, however two providers who have proved incredibly popular with our clients here in Spain are The Prudential & Old Mutual. These FTSE 100 companies have a combined 40 million clients worldwide and have

set up solutions specifically for Expats in Spain. It’s reassuring for our clients that we only recommend solutions from wellknown, ‘house-hold name’ institutions. The Prudential and Old Mutual Spanish compliant bonds offer a whole host of advantages which can include tax efficiency, inheritance tax mitigation, ease of accounting and no requirement to report on the Modelo 720 as an overseas asset. Inflation risk is real and should be taken seriously. You don’t need to take aggressive financial risks to protect against it, just sensible financial planning. Investment contracts are intended as medium to long term investments, and all investments have some level of risk. Figures in this article are examples of what can be achieved, and cannot

be guaranteed; the value of your investments can go down as well as up. Fees and charges can vary and will be fully explained to you before any advice can take place. This article should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular product.

If you have any questions about these products or their suitability for you then please contact me today on 693 107 044 or email t.storer@ chorusfinancial.es Chorus Financial is a trading style of Tourbillon Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (Gibraltar), Licence Number FSC1118B and registered with the UK FCA as an EEA Authorised firm, reference 539348.

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Jack talks By Jack Troughton

THERESA May travelled to Italy for a key Brexit speech setting out the future – and took in some of the historic sights of Florence. The Prime Minister suggested a two-year transitional period after the UK’s departure, set for March 2019, and agreed the payment for current commitments; said to be about €20 million. Her words were intended to bring harmony to her cabinet – including Chancellor Philip Hammond and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, the familiar lead figures in the ‘remain’ and ‘leave’ camps – and kick start negotiations with the European Union. However, the speech also dug up some of the battle lines of the more recent past; both at home and abroad. The EU responded warmly to her words of wisdom but once again pointed out the sticking points that continue to dog talks in Brussels: EU citizens’ rights, the exit bill, and the Irish border question. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Mrs May’s initiative but wanted more detail and underlined there must be clarification on the three issues before discussions about future free trade. Mr Macron – who has put forward plans to give even greater powers for EU over the remaining 27 members – said “If those three points are not clarified, then we cannot move forward on the rest.” Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage was also back in the headlines, and hinting at the possibility of another bounce back into politics, warning any back door agreement to remaining in the EU would be a “two fingered salute” to those who voted to leave in the referendum. Mrs May said there should be a new security arrangement and a

new model for trade after the two years of transition; she wants the UK and EU to move towards a new “deep and special partnership”. She said she wanted to build a “comprehensive and ambitious” new economic model between the UK and EU. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, was in London this week for talks. He said at long last Britain had dropped the ‘cake and eat it” argument and progress was now being made...but not enough for the key question of free trade to be discussed. And EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Mrs May’s speech was “constructive” and the prime minister had shown Britain’s “willingness to move forward”. Down at the seaside, Labour was rallying to the battle cry of one Jeremy Corbyn at the annual party conference, saying the party stood “on the threshold of power”. Brexit naturally featured in the conference hall, Mr Corbyn claiming only Labour could unite the ‘leave’ and ‘remain’ EU voters and he intended “to unite everybody in our country around a progressive vision of what our country could be” after leaving. He said he would push for “unimpeded access” to the single market and fight to protect jobs and wages, while rejecting immigration targets. And he accused the conservatives of being more interested in “posturing for personal advantage than getting the best deal for Britain.” Mr Corbyn said: “Never has the national interest been so ill-served on such a vital issue. If there were no other reason for the Tories to go, their self-interested Brexit bungling would be reason enough. “So I have a simple message to the cabinet: for Britain’s sake pull yourself together...or make way.”

DELETE THAT PLEASE

By Simon Russell

ASKED at a recent conference what he would change about Windows if he had a time machine, Bill Gates came up with an honest answer. “If I could make one small edit, I’d make the Control-AltDelete function a single key.” Used to logon to early Windows versions and also when the PC freezes, Gates revealed the IBM were unwilling to change the three fingered Control-

Alt-Delete stretch that everyone will have used at some time to just one button on the keyboard. Gates has previously blamed Bradley for the awkward design. Speaking four years ago, he said: “We could have had a single button but the guy who did the IBM keyboard design didn’t want to give us our single button. We programmed at a low level. It was a mistake.”

SOCIALISING MORE IMPORTANT THAN DIY By Simon Russell

THE average amount Spanish residents spent on renovating their properties last year was €829, one of the lowest figures in Europe. This equates to 1.4% of household income, a figure that has held steady as incomes have risen and fallen. The survey found that most Spanish

had priorities other than their house when it came to spending any spare income, including eating and drinking out, cars and telecommunications. The figure is up to 10% less on average than our more house-proud European neighbours – who also spend more time in their houses rather than going out.

AWARD FOR BENIDORM RESORT By Simon Russell

A Benidorm resort complex has been awarded a top prize by a British travel firm. Jet2.com gave their 2016 Quality Award to Magic Natura, which is situated inside the Terra Natura wildlife park. This prize recognises the resorts professionalism, efficiency, quality and service and was given to the Magic Natura director in a special ceremony this week. The complex consists of 245 cabins set in the 45,000 square meter park which is home to over 200 species of wildlife.

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Tips for investing

By Christina Brady

BLACKTOWER Financial Management There is no doubt that when it comes to the world of investing, there are three words that come to mind: overwhelming, intimidating and scary. The terminology used can be confusing and it’s difficult to know who you can trust. At the moment placing money that you need to generate income or growth in a savings account, is quite frankly just not an option. Just look at interest rates being offered in the UK and Europe on

savings accounts, they are at an alltime low, and inflation is rising. Here are some tips to take onboard when you are investing. • Diversification is key, never put all your eggs in one basket, for investing this means never put all your money into just one fund or investment opportunity. Make sure your investments are spread over different sectors and regions, this helps manage your risk. • Never invest in anything that you are told is a sure bet, with no risk and high returns. You risk losing everything as in the world of investing there is no such thing as a sure bet. If it sounds too good to be true then IT IS. • Take care if you invest with a company that cold calls you, or sends you unsolicited emails

or brochures via the post. Ask yourself why are they resorting to methods that all regulatory bodies frown on and in the case of cold calling are looking to ban. • Liquidity is key so that you can react to market changes. • Unless you are an experienced investor don’t invest in Structured Notes, as with 99% of them a large percentage or all of your capital is at risk. You could end up with nothing when they mature. • Use funds that match your own requirements and needs, for example if you need income look at income funds, if you primarily want growth look at accumulation funds. A good investment manager will pick funds to match your requirements. • If possible use an investment

adviser/firm that has a good track record. Longevity, experience and independence = peace of mind. New companies appear all the time but ask yourself how long are they likely to be around. • Always have an annual financial health check. At least once a year you should receive a valuation of your investment from the Bond/Policy provider either directly or via your Financial Adviser - do NOT accept an email confirming a value. • Make sure that all investment recommendations are given to you in writing and that you understand them, if you don’t ask for clarification, if you still are unsure just walk away. • Don’t be talked into doing something by a smooth salesperson

If you have any questions regarding investing, or would like to arrange an independent, professional and impartial consultation please contact me by email christina.brady@ blacktowerfm.com or call me on 658 892 330. The information within this article was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. when your gut instinct says it isn’t for you. You deserve good advice. At Blacktower Financial Management we believe in simplifying the complicated, we will make sure you understand exactly what we are recommending and why, we will be by your side both now and in the future.

Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain.

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Is my dog going blind? Blindness can affect one or both eyes. If it affects only one eye, it is called unilateral blindness. If it affects both eyes, it is considered to be bilateral. Blindness in domestic dogs can come on suddenly or very gradually. Dogs (and cats) of any age or gender may be affected by blindness, depending upon its cause. Some breeds have an increased risk of developing blindness due to primary glaucoma, including the Beagle, Bassett Hound, Bouvier des Flandres, Chow Chow, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Dalmatian, Great Dane, Poodle, Shar-Pei, Malamute, Siberian Husky and certain Spaniel breeds. When the cause of blindness is lens luxation, the breeds at increased risk include Terriers, Spaniels, German Shepherd Dogs, Miniature Poodles, Toy Poodles and Chihuahuas. When blindness is caused by retinal detachment, Shih Tzu’s seem to be at increased risk. Older dogs tend to be predisposed

to developing blindness associated with cancer (neoplasia) and retinal detachment. Dogs with frequent access to the out-of-doors may be predisposed to developing infectious diseases and/or trauma associated with vision loss. Dogs with poorlyregulated diabetes mellitus are predisposed to developing cataracts, which can contribute to blindness. Dogs with hypertension (high blood pressure) are at increased risk for developing retinal detachment and corresponding vision loss.

-Difficulty catching balls or other objects -Exaggerated high-stepping gait -Walking with great caution -Walking with nose to the ground

Symptoms of Blindness The symptoms of vision loss often include one or more of the following: -Bumping into objects or structures in the dog’s own environment -Clumsiness -Vision deficits in dim light and darkness (loss of “night vision”) -Difficulty finding food bowls, water dishes, toys and other familiar things

-Reluctance to move -Disorientation -Confusion -Lethargy -Weakness -Anxiety -Depression -Redness of the eye(s) (+/-) -Dilated (enlarged) pupils (+/-) -Opacity of the eye(s) (+/-)

Dogs whose vision loss happens gradually tend to adjust better and compensate better than those with a sudden onset of vision deficits, especially if the vision loss is very slowly progressive.

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Non-melanoma skin cancers

By Family Medical Albir

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Non-melanoma skin cancers are a group of cancers that slowly develop in the upper layers of the skin. They affect more men than women and are more common in the elderly. Symptoms The first sign is usually the appearance of a lump or discoloured patch on the skin that doesn’t go away after a few weeks and slowly gets bigger over months or sometimes years. In most cases, cancerous lumps are red and firm and sometimes turn into ulcers, while cancerous patches are usually flat and scaly. Non-melanoma skin cancers most often develops on areas of skin regularly exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, hands, shoulders, upper chest and back. Types of non-melanoma skin cancer Non-melanoma skin cancers usually develop in the outermost layer of skin (epidermis), and are often named after the type of skin cell from which they develop. The two most common types of non-melanoma skin cancer are: • Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) – also known as a rodent ulcer, BCC starts in the

cells lining the bottom of the epidermis and accounts for about 75% of skin cancers • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – starts in the cells lining the top of the epidermis and accounts for about 20% of skin cancers Basal cell carcinoma Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) usually appears as a small, shiny pink or pearlywhite lump with a translucent or waxy appearance. It can also look like a red, scaly patch. There’s sometimes some brown or black pigment within the patch. The lump slowly gets bigger and may become crusty, bleed or develop into a painless ulcer. Squamous cell carcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) appears as a firm pink lump with a rough or crusted surface. There can be a lot of surface scale and sometimes even a spiky horn sticking up from the surface. The lump is often tender to touch, bleeds easily and may develop into an ulcer. Preventing nonmelanoma skin cancer Non-melanoma skin cancer isn’t always preventable,

but you can reduce your chances of developing it by avoiding overexposure to UV light. You can protect yourself from sunburn by using highfactor sunscreen, dressing sensibly in the sun, and limiting the amount of time you spend in the sun during the hottest part of the day. Sunbeds and sunlamps should also be avoided. When to get medical advice See your Dr if you have any skin abnormality, such as a lump, ulcer, lesion or skin discolouration that hasn’t healed after four weeks. While it’s unlikely to be skin cancer, it’s best to be sure. THROUGHOUT OCTOBER THE FAMILY MEDICAL CENTRE, ALBIR, ARE HOLDING ‘DESIGNATED MOLE CLINICS’ WHERE THE G.P. WILL CHECK ANY MOLES FOR JUST 15€.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

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Health care under the microscope

By Simon Russell

THE American Chamber of Commerce has completed its analysis of the Spanish healthcare system and what it sees as the biggest issues, both currently and moving forward. Lack of patient involvement is one, with patients needing to take more responsibility for their own welfare with things such as use of technology in the home. Other patient issues are more basic such as failing to properly follow medication regimes. Another factor highlighted is the diminishing ability of doctors and surgeons to make local decisions as they are increasingly hampered by governmental protocols and guidelines. Other issues include the differing quality of healthcare by region, red tape and an inability to devise an overall strategy due to

Read Online Weekender.News

short term “fire-fighting”. The report also pointed out that from a business point of view the

Spanish healthcare system is huge, accounting for €16,000 million in exports per annum.

Top tipple By Simon Russell

WINE from Valencia, and in particular Alicante province, features strongly in the latest edition of one of Europe’s most prestigious wine publications. Overall 134 wines from the Valencian Community are rated as excellent with eight being rated

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as exceptional in the new Penin Guide. One Alicantino wine, the Recondita Armonia 1978, a dessert wine, scores 98 out of a possible 100 points on the guides rating system, making it one of the country’s best wines. The guide tastes more than 11,500 Spanish wines (well someone

has to do it) and rates them from “ok” to “exceptional”. Last year 147 Valencian wines were rated at excellent or better so this year has seen a slight drop off, but the region remains one of Spain’s most conducive for wine growing due to its climate and soil.

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GARDENING ON THE COSTA BLANCA - Part 9 Bulbs seem to have taken over last week’s article even though it only scratched the surface of this subject, so back to smaller plants to plant now.

Pelargonium flowers

Geranium flowers

First, however, a slight (?) divergence to an FAQ: “What is the difference between a Pelargonium and a Geranium?” The flip answer to this is “if you have to ask, then you are probably growing Pelargoniums”! Pelargoniums are tender perennials and occur naturally almost entirely within South Africa whereas Geraniums are mostly hardy perennials from more northern

climes. Plants sold at garden centres in the UK which are labelled “Ivy Geranium”, “Scented Geranium” and “Zonal Geranium” are actually three different species of Pelargonium while true Geraniums are commonly listed as “Hardy Geranium”or “Cranes Bill”. To add to the confusion, possibly the worst pest of Pelargoniums out here is known as the Geranium Bronze Butterfly! (This is mainly a problem during the summer months so your plants may be safe from now on).Pelargoniums on the Costa Blanca are mostly grown as pot plants although they will do perfectly well in the ground. All Pelargoniums have 5 petals arranged as a 3 and a 2 and come in red, salmon, violet, white or pink. There are no blues but, apparently, there is a recently developed yellow which no one seems to yet have or it’s out-of-stock! The blooms of the Hardy Geranium come in different shades of white, pink, purple or blue and also have 5 petals but these are arranged symmetrically in a circle.

While some are remarkably drought tolerant, they don’t normally like prolonged heat so probably need some shade out here. More on Pelargoniums another time. Ipomoea indica

Hypericum

Hypericum, mainly regarded as a yellow flowered plant (although there are a few pink flowered forms) and commonly known as St. John,s Wort, has so many different forms, types and sizes that it would be impossible to list them all here. Again some of them prefer acid soil (so check up before parting with your cash) and some have pink or red berries as a bonus. Ipomoea indica - this gloriously blue morning glory will most often appear as a welcome visitor without an invitation but many have tried and failed to introduce it deliberately.

It’s a climber/sprawler of typical bindweed flower shape with very attractive leaves and its only problem seems to be confining it to where you want it to be as it is very vigorous.

Lavandula (Lavender)

Lavandula, otherwise known as Lavender. Is regarded as one of the most typical of Mediterranean plants - it is one of the best too being totally adapted to the heat and aridity of the region. Although everyone probably thinks that they know what a lavender looks like there are colour varieties with flowers ranging from

We are a friendly group who enjoy gardening and gardens. Our meetings are normally held on the 1st Wednesday in each month from October to June in Meeting Room (Aula) 1 on the 1st floor of La Senieta in Moraira next to the free car park used for the Market on Fridays. Meetings commence at 2:30 pm and finish at about 4:30pm.Visitors including holiday makers are always welcome – admission is by a donation of 3€ per person. Our attempts at a regular meeting date are sometimes interrupted by Fiestas etc and it is for this reason that our next meeting is on Wednesday, 11th October at 2.30 in La Senieta. Google “Costa Blanca Gardeners Circle” will provide you with our website.

spring green to the deepest royal purple imaginable. Then you have the colours in between such as the whites, pinks, indigos, red and even yellow! Plant size also varies from a few inches to a few feet! They mainly prefer alkaline soil though some, like the commonly available Lavendula stoechas, will cope with acid soil but will probably be shorter lived. That’s all there is space for this week.

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FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017 Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles | TV

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What’s ON TV

Unreported World

Strictly Come Dancing

NEW SERIES - Reporter Marcel Theroux travels to Chongqing in China, home of TF Entertainment which is grooming candidates for the nation’s next big boy band. The company’s current group - the TF Boys - sing songs about school and puppy love, which have made them the biggest such band in China, where half a billion people listen to music online.

WEEK 2 Last week, the pro-celebrity couples were given their first chance to show off their dancing prowess, and received a taste of what to expect from incoming judge Shirley Ballas and veteran adjudicators Craig Revel Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and Darcey Bussell, as they assess their prepared routines.

Channel 4 7:30pm Fri 29

Later - with Jools Holland

The Last Leg NEW SERIES Joanna Lumley and Russell Howard join Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker for a comic review, examining the biggest and most entertaining news stories currently being discussed and rounding up the main talking points of the week

Channel 4 11:00pm Fri 29 Sep

The Graham Norton Show NEW SERIES The host welcomes Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, who discuss Blade Runner 2049, a sequel to the cult 1982 sci-fi classic. Graham also chats to actress Margot Robbie, who promotes her new film Goodbye Christopher Robin, and Reese Witherspoon, who will be shedding light on her romantic comedy, Home Again. Plus, veteran girl group Bananarama perform their ‘80s hit Cruel Summern.

BBC1 11:35pm Fri 29 Sep

BBC1 7:45pm Sat 30 Sep NEW SERIES The pianist launches the 51st series with Canadian singer-songwriter Elise Legrow, who performs classic Chuck Berry tune You Never Can Tell. Liam Gallagher and his band perform songs from his solo album, As You Were. North Londoner Benjamin Clementine promotes tracks from his new LP, I Tell A Fly, and Walsall act Jorja Smith performs new track On My Mind.

BBC2 10:30pm Sat 30 Sep

The Hangover (2009)

Three men on a stag weekend in Las Vegas wake up after a night of heavy drinking and find they have not only misplaced the groom, but somehow gained a tiger and a baby. Unable to remember the details of the night before, they set about piecing the clues together in the hope of finding their missing friend. Comedy, starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis ITV2 10:00pm Sat 30 Sep

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017 TV | Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles

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V This Week

All T i Show mes n Ar e Span ish

Escape

NEW SERIES A group of five

engineers is stranded in the desert with the wreckage from a simulated plane crash and must use it to build a new vehicle to return to civilisation in. The team consists of an aerobatic pilot, a traditional craftsman, an aerospace engineer and two mechanical engineers. They must complete their task without access to a workshop and using improvised tools - while food and water are in short supply. Survival expert and former special forces soldier Ant Middleton is on hand to oversee the project

Channel 4 9:00pm Sun 1 Oct

The Last Post

NEW SERIES Castle Howard 1 New series. Drama about military police and their families faced with political and personal conflicts in a 1960s British colony on the Red Sea coast. An officer and his wife arrive in Aden, where he is to replace a much-loved captain. Starring Jessie Buckley and Jeremy Neumark Jones

BBC1 10:00pm Sun 1 Oct

Happy Feet (2006)

A young penguin disappoints his fellow seabirds with his inability to sing - but instead he displays a remarkable talent for tap dancing. However, his elders refuse to accept this outlandish behaviour and send the youngster into exile, marking the start of a wonderful journey.

ITV 2 4:45pm Sun 1 Oct

Pointless

NEW SERIES Quiz show in which pairs of contestants try to score the fewest points possible by giving the least obvious correct answers to questions posed to 100 people before the show. At the end of each round, the team with the most points is eliminated until the final two pairs battle for the chance to compete for a cash prize. Presented by Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman

BBC1 6:15pm Mon 2 Oct

Doctor Foster

LAST IN SERIES Gemma goes to extreme lengths in order to come out on top and win back her old life, but it remains to be seen whether she has gone too far this time. Drama, starring Suranne Jones and Bertie Carvel.

BBC1 10:00pm Tue 3 Oct

Total Recall (2012)

A man living in a bleak future years after a nuclear war has fake memories of being a secret agent implanted into his brain. However, the procedure uncovers the fact that he really is a spy with his memory erased, and he is forced to become a fugitive from the totalitarian government. Sci-fi thriller remake, with Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel

Channel 5 12:05am Tue 4 Oct

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

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Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles

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QUICK CROSSWORD

Across

1 Upset, agitate (7) 5 Shade of pink (5) 8 Wept (5) 9 Spoilsport (7) 10 Booming bird (7) 11 Expertise (5) 12 Most recent (6) 14 Capital of Greece (6) 18 Makes an effort (5) 20 Recommended (7) 22 Assassinated US president (7) 23 Automaton (5) 24 Carefree lively outing (5) 25 Come down (7)

Down

1 Measure of noise intensity (7) 2 Period of work (5) 3 Disrobe (7) 4 Two-piece swimsuit (6) 5 Accommodation for prisoners (5) 6 Exult, make merry (7) 7 Steadfast in allegiance (5) 13 Paint solvent (7) 15 Inns (7) 16 Calmed with drugs (7) 17 Prohibited (6) 18 Cash registers (5) 19 Unit of fourteen pounds (5) 21 Cavalry sword (5)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Defender returned (4) 3 Angered lover, we hear, displaying weapon (8) 9 Trade vehicles (7) 10 Kick out and start to paddle in river and lake (5) 11 Bay, for example, some authors entered (5) 12 Don’t go out with marine (6) 14 No time for secrets when forced to take a break (6) 16 Paint in schoolbook? (6) 19 Film company boss with lion’s heart (6) 21 Yale, perhaps, gets English philosopher (5) 24 Israeli city helping Arabs in fits and starts (5) 25 Study winner or missing prisoner (7) 26 With long novel one’s late to bed (5,3) 27 Place for the infernal characters from Othello (4)

Down

1 Schubert composition for sellers of meat (8) 2 Rocker, for example, is to be in charge of meeting(5) 4 Disc that may be broken (6) 5 Old engine-driver, second to join crew (5) 6 Initiation that’s suitable is in British Museum (7) 7 Barrier beginning to worry everyone (4) 8 Sort of feast including right dessert (6) 13 Poor relation from China, perhaps (8) 15 Sarcastic extract from a newspaper? (7) 17 Be less strict about time before Easter (6) 18 Farah’s lower in capital (6) 20 Draw up a plan for conscription (5) 22 Rebuke such ideas — but not all (5) 23 Some bathing suits are flimsy (4)

For Crossword & Sudoku answers - See Page 38

Sudoku

Easy

Medium

Hard

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017 Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles

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PLAYBOY MAGAZINE FOUNDER DIES AGED 91

By Spencer Williams LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd) ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) Learning more about yourself It’s that time of year when you and all your relationships is what experience your cosmic hiatus normally happens when the sun’s because the sun’s at its furthest in your sign. It’s also traditionally a point from you, so prepare for time when all your natural Libran bouts of feeling like you can’t traits of beauty, harmony and grace be fagged with anything or ARIES LIBRA are amplified, and all things being anybody. But there’ll still be a radical revision going on in your life. It’s equal you’d demonstrate them all with ease right unexpected, it’s thrilling and it’s the planet now to the watching world. Uranus in your sign that’s responsible! TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st)

SCORPIO (Oct 24th-Nov 22nd)

GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23rd-Dec 21st)

You might feel like a puppet It’s a week where you’re on a string this week because in a mission to prove your it’s like you’re being blown worth both at work and in along by circumstance. But the life generally. And rolling up energy of Mars soon hits you those sleeves could bring a lot TAURUS of sudden and very dramatic SCORPIO and you’ll make a positive and an immediate impact on the changes to your life in the form world around you. Now’s the time to recognise of job offers or uplifts out of the blue. your worth – and the needs of others at the same time.

GEMINI

You start the week with a real lust for life, and a new kind of an intimacy could rock you on your heels. You should also understand that sense of restlessness that you have as it verges on impatience this month if you let it.

All the cosmic coordinates are set for a fab week, Sagittarius. Much of the success that you achieve in life comes down to your natural optimism mingled SAGITTARIUS with a sense of reality thrown in along the way, and you’ll be dealing with ambition, so opportunities will come flying right at you.

CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd)

CAPRICORN (Dec 22nd-Jan 20th)

LEO (July 24th-August 23rd)

AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th)

VIRGO (August 24th-Sept 23rd)

PISCES (Feb 20th-March 20th)

You were born to climb any It’s time for weeding out what you number of ‘mountains’ just don’t want in your life any longer, like the surefooted goat that allowing room for what you do represents your sign. With Pluto want to flower quite beautifully in your sign, your standards are this week. Somebody’s attitude CANCER matures and yours does too, CAPRICORN even higher than usual, and if you fail to meet them, it’ll come as a and Uranus at the top of your horoscope helps you to continue to be that bigger blow to you. strong individual that you’ve been in the last wee while because it’ll mean that you’re at the front of the queue rather than not in it at all. You start your week with a crash, You’re not on the same page as bang, and a wallop and you’re the rest of us most of the time, and probably all smiles at hearing this, not everyone quite gets you. That’s Leo. You’re really up for whatever because you’re usually leagues life throws at you right now aren’t ahead of the rest of us. This is a you. Saturn in your sister sign thought to hold on to right now LEO of Sagittarius helps you make AQUARIUS as Uranus, your ruling planet, is changes, as well as giving you new promise and stimulated this week. It’s all about new beginnings, opportunity, while the sun, your ruling planet, new thought processes and seeing the bigger picture. helps you look quite clearly at new and exciting ideas and puts things in a knowledgeable context. There’s an amazing transformation happening within you that makes you feel tiptop over the next seven days, Virgo. You’re the one with all the answers. You’ve worked out the route-map. You VIRGO are more in control than others give you credit for. You’re capable and strong in yourself, know exactly what needs to change in your life, and you’re so aware of it all because of the dramatic happenings skyward.

It’s all about riding all the waves of transformation that will crash over your life this week, Pisces. Yes, this is a time of action, of galvanisation, PISCES and one where you’ll send out signals of ‘I mean business’ to the world. One realisation you may be hit with is that you’ve been putting up with a stale situation for too long rather than knocking it on the head.

Hugh Hefner, American founder of the international adult magazine Playboy, has died at the age of 91. Playboy Enterprises Inc said he passed away peacefully at home in Los Angeles, from natural causes. Hefner began publishing Playboy in his kitchen in 1953. It became the largestselling men's magazine in the world, shifting seven million copies a month at its peak.

Cooper Hefner, his son, said he would be "greatly missed by many". He paid tribute to his father's "exceptional and impactful life as a media and cultural pioneer," and called him an advocate for free speech, civil rights and sexual freedom. Hefner’s trailblazing magazine helped make nudity respectable in mainstream publications, despite emerging at a time when US states could legally ban

Hefner is survived by his third wife, Crystal Har

ris

contraceptives. It also made him a multimillionaire, spawning a business empire that included casinos and nightclubs. The first edition featured a set of nude photographs of Marilyn Monroe that Hefner had bought for $200. They had originally been shot for a 1949 calendar.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Motoring

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For Advertising enquiries please email sales@theweekender.es

Auto Mart Benissa Expands

Auto mart in Benissa has now taken its first big step towards being the biggest used car sales outlet in the Costa Blanca. Mathew and brother James have been working all the hours available in recent weeks preparing for the new opening of Automart La Nucia, you can now find the new showroom on rotonda 1 - opposite the La Nucia Sports centre CV70. The site has been reformed and extended to accommodate a large selection of cars. The display will give clients the choice of cars, vans and combos. The current outlet

on the N332 Benissa to Tuelada road also has a huge selection and it well known in the region for people looking for a great affordable price and high quality. Whilst Mathew looks after the clients his brother James keeps the office work in control and drives the online business forward consistently updating revamping the website. The Weekender team wish the very best wishes to Mathew and James in their business expansion and look forward to joining them on Monday 2nd October for the new opening.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Motoring

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Benissa - La Nucia

GRUPO

Auto Mart Benissa Ctra Nacional N-332 Partida Bonaire 60 Opposite Benissa Motorway Entrance

BENISSA

(+34) 965 733 311 WhatsApp 609 234 847 info@automartbenissa.com 9

12 6

Monday to Friday 19.30-19.00 Saturday 10.00-14.00

90+ vehicles to choose from!

PEUGEOT 207 Year 2007 1600cc, 110 hp Manual, Petrol 56,000 km

SUZUKI Swift Deductible IVA Year 2005, 1300cc, 70 hp Manual, Diesel 120,000 km

VOLKSWAGEN Beetle Year 1999 2000cc, 115 hp Manual, Petrol 111,000 km

SEAT Altea COPA Year 2011 1600cc, 105 hp Manual, Diesel 76,000 km

MERCEDES-BENZ B180 CDI Year 2011, 2000cc, 110 hp, Manual, Diesel 97,000 km

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FIAT DOBLO Year 2013 1300cc, 90 hp Manual, Diesel 98,000 km

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PEUGEOT 207 CC Year 2009 1600cc, 110 hp Manual, Diesel 137,000 km

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SEAT IBIZA Year 2012 1600cc, 90 hp Manual, Diesel 72,000 km

8,995€ SEAT IBIZA ST COPA ESTATE Year 2012, 1400cc, 85 hp, Manual, Petrol 30,000 km

PEUGEOT 207 Year 2009 140cc, 70 hp Manual, Diesel 111,000 km

FORD C-Max Year 2007 1600cc, 90 hp Manual, Diesel 132,000 km

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CITROEN C3 Year 2006 1400cc, 75 hp Manual, Petrol 104,000 km

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SELLING a Car WE BUY CARS FOR CASH! Avoid the pitfalls of private selling; we do ALL the work. Car transfers processed within 7 days Proof of ownership transfer provided

automartbenissa.com

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Motoring

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New truck for ﬁreﬁghters By Simon Russell

AN anonymous donation has helped to equip a new fire fighting truck for Benitatchell’s Civil Protection unit. The vehicle

is equipped with the latest technology and will have a capacity of 1,600 litres of water and 800 metres of hosepipe. After 2016’s devastating forest fires the call went out for new

equipment and at this stage a local resident, who has asked to remain anonymous, donated the cash to pay for a state of the art water pump. The new truck was officially inaugurated this week.

This Week In Automotive History September 29, 1913 The mysterious death of Rudolph Diesel

Puzzle Solutions

This day in 1913 the man credited with inventing the diesel engine disappeared and was not seen alive again, leading to several conspiracy theories. On the night of September 13, 1913 Diesel was traveling from Dresden to Antwerp via steamship. Following dinner aboard the ship Diesel requested to be called awake at 6:15 the following morning. When a person went to wake him he was nowhere to be found. His bed was not slept in and his nightshirt was laid on neatly on the bed. His watch was on the vanity and his hat and overcoat were found tucked neatly beneath the afterdeck railing. Ten days later a boat spotted a body in the North Sea. It was badly decomposed and was not kept onboard, but the sailors did take an I.D. card,

QUICK CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

SUDOKU MEDIUM

pocketknife and other personal items, thus identifying it as Diesel. A few days later another boatman found the body but also left it overboard. Before the trip Diesel left his wife Martha a bag with directions to not open it until the following week. Inside she found 200,000 German marks, about $1.2 million today, along with financial statements showing their bank accounts had been emptied. In Diesel’s diary, which was found on the ship, a cross was drawn for September 29, indicating death There are several theories regarding his death. While his biographers assume that suicide is most plausible, there are cases (conspiracy theories) that business and military interests in Diesel’s work could provide motive for murder.

SUDOKU HARD

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017 Food | Drink | Leisure | Events

Out & About

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Boats & The Coast

Oceanman race coming to Benidorm By Simon Russell

OCEANMAN is an international open water swimming event and on 15 October the final leg will be held in Benidorm for the third successive year. 1,500 swimmers are participating in the global circuit, around a fifth of who are Spanish with Russians making up the largest number of entrants with 333 of the field. With the contestants and their entourages the tourist office expects about 3,000 rooms to be booked for the event, not including spectators. The previous five legs of the event have been held in Malaysia, Russia, Greece,

Italy and Mexico. For the Spanish leg, the swimmers will race between Playa del Mal Pas to the Isla de Benidorm for a

distance of 10 kilometres. There is also a 1.5 kilometre route set up for novice open water swimmers.

Know your birds By Mathew Richards

WORLD Bird Day is on 3 October and to help recognise this Denia is arranging some special events this weekend. There will be free ornithological days on the Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October for people of all ages with the aim of getting them involved in the knowledge and care of our feathered friends. On Saturday those taking part will meet at Torrecremada and set off for the Pego-Oliva Natural Park.

These marshes are a haven for birdlife and a special bird trail has been organised, ending with a picnic at around midday. In the afternoon participants will head to the Montgo Interpretation Centre where environmental workshops will be laid on. On the Sunday people take to the seas in a catamaran to observe seabirds at the Cap de Sant Antoni Marine Reserve, starting at 9.30am and returning at about 11am. If you are interested there may still be last minute availability â&#x20AC;&#x201C; contact magicandnature16@gmail.com

Out & About

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017 Food | Drink | Leisure | Events

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Advertising Feature For Advertising enquiries please email sales@theweekender.es RICKY Tomlinson – the legendary ‘Jim’ of TV comedy Royle Family fame – was on hand to officially open the Orange Tree in Albir on Monday. The actor and writer, who was on hand to cut the ribbon at the opening party, happily posed for photographs and chatted with customers. A friend of the bar staff, Ricky said the Orange Tree was a “fantastic” bar and he hoped to be a regular as he was a local himself. The Orange Tree has had a complete refurbishment and hosts John, Wilma and Laura – a family team who also run the famous Ibrox Bar in Benidorm - treated everyone to a night of food and drinks and great company. And a cake was presented to Ricky as a surprise ahead of his 78th birthday celebration on Tuesday. Ricky told The Weekender he was now taking life a little easier; with some time off acting but keeping busy with his writing. He said: “This bar is great, it’s got everything; food, nice staff, it’s comfortable and also it’s really close by...so they will be

seeing a lot of me”. Wilma thanked everyone who attended the party and said a warm welcome awaited everyone at the Orange Tree. She revealed that the family team had decided that Albir was going to be their next venture and with their past experience with the Ibrox, they decided to add a few extra special elements to make it more than a sports bar. The Orange Tree serves a great choice of food from the traditional full English breakfast to a perfect Sunday lunch, as well as a Spanish tapas menu, also offering cocktails and a selection of draught beers. Food is available

from breakfast at 10.30am through to 9pm. The Orange Tree is open seven days a week, and also offers an outside terrace, a ‘chill out’ lounge area, and a comfortable lounge bar.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017 Food | Drink | Leisure | Events

Out & About

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Arts and Crafts Fair for ﬁrst time in Exponucia By Simon Russell

In the long weekend of 7, 8 and 9 Oktober (the ninth being the Día de la Comunidad Valenciana) La Nucía will hold its fourth Exponucía in the enormous sports complex Camilo Cano. What started as a local trade fair has grown into a big event that attracts every year more people from the whole county. More than 80 companies and businesses set op their stands in the main hall and outside there will be areas with new cars, a children’s playground and a big marquee housing the Oktoberfest (German beer festival). And this year as a novelty also an original craft fair of Amata, the same association that has been organising the well known medieval market in La Nucía. For the first time some twenty or more craftsmen and women will set up shop in Exponucía, offering a wide variety of quality hand made goods, from traditional pottery to wooden and soft toys, from lamps made of drift wood to ceramic castles, and jewelry of many different materials: silver,

macramé, leather, wood, silk and glass. All different and all hand made. Amata has spent the last 20 years or so organising markets as a way of helping to preserve the arts and crafts in Spain. Amata takes a careful look at people wishing to take part in one of its markets and selects for quality and originality. They use the words Artesanía de Autor® to announce their fairs, to make sure that nobody is in doubt about the originality of all that is on sale: the “author” is present in each and every stall. Through careful selection - not only for quality and originality, but also to avoid too many stalls offering similar products - Amata guarantees a quality market. Many stallholders bring along their materials and tools so that they can work during the market - an interesting way of getting to know how things are actually made. Often small alterations or additions can be made to suit the requirement of the visitor. That’s why the craft part of Exponucía promises to be very interesting. The visitor can see with what care and love

each object is made, and how much time and skill is required - here a man working with clay and there another will be carving wood or bone, or a woman working with macramé or copper wire and semi-precious stones to make original jewelry. You can even have a go at a potter’s wheel and make your own little bowl to take home. It’s all there, to be seen and remembered. Exponucía opens to the public on Saturday 7, Sunday 8 and Monday 9 (bank holiday) October from 10 am

to 9 pm. The sports complex is called Ciudad Deportiva Camilo Cano and to get to it, you drive from Benidorm to La Nucia, and where you turn normally left to the Sunday Rastro, you turn right and follow the signs.

Entrance is free and, being a sports complex, there is ample parking space. For more information you can call 639 979 678 (English spoken), or look at www.amata.es

Raising awareness Alzheimer’s By Jack Troughton

WORLD Awareness Day for Alzheimer’s was marked by a fund-raising Autumn Fair in Teulada. Members of the Alzheimer’s Family Association Day Centre team handed out information leaflets and answered people’s questions at a stall on the town’s busy market day. Inside, a number of stalls sold a variety

of goods at the fair organised by the Teulada Charity Shop, the Association Benefica de Teulada, raising €514 for the AFA. The charity shop also ran its own stalls selling home baking, bric-a-brac, and a traditional tombola. President Pat Bramah said stalls were rented out for 10€ and a donation. “The idea is to raise awareness of this cruel disease during World Alzheimer’s Week and also to raise some money for the centre which does such a wonderful job helping families.”

Paella takes centre stage By Simon Russell

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Sport

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La Vila find it tough at the top By Tony Fox

In their first away match of the season La Vila were soundly beaten by the Catalan side of F.C Barcelona 36-11. Unlike their previous match they started on fire with Mati Jara scoring a penalty in the third minute. They were unlucky not to have scored a try just two minutes later when good

defensive work, which was to be a keynote for the Catalan team throughout the match, foiled them just before the line. They flattered to deceive as Garcia opened the scoring for Barcelona with a try converted by Guemes and then a penalty score by him La Vila knew they were up against it. They hit back with a try by Perez which Jara

failed to convert. An unconverted Catalan try and a penalty score by Jara took the sides in 1511 at the interval. The second half scoring was one way traffic, with Barcelona adding a further 21 points to their tally without response. That is not to say that La Vila played badly as they had 60% possession in the second half but were always

held by Barcelona’s well orchestrated defence which allowed the speed of their counter attack to run holes through La Vila’s lack lustre defence. La Vila are, along with three other teams, bottom of the league with all of them having lost their first two matches. The next home game for La Vila is against Santaboiana, who only managed 12 points against El Salvador while conceding 41, and if that form is anything to go by La Vila who managed 21 points against 36 they have the strong possibility of breaking their duck! Kick off is at 12.00 at their Vilajoyosa ground, next Sunday October 1st.,just off exit 66 of the autopista. Entrance just 5 eus with under 18’s free.

We are the champions

By Jack Troughton

KICKING off a new chapter in the history of table football legend Subbuteo, the new Javea club staged its first tournament on Saturday. Competition was tough as players tested their finger tip skills on the green baize at the sports centre in Javea Port – and the winners were awarded medals, with a cup for the overall champion. The Marina Criterior Subbuteo Club is now a member of WASPA – the World Amateur Subbuteo Players Association – and is enjoying a growing membership, with local schools keen to take up the game. The monthly tournament is called MontGoal and will always be played at the Palau d’Esports in Javea; the home of the club which meets every Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Founder Pasquale Carrassi said the club was attracting an international membership with players of both sexes and families taking part. “I am meeting teachers at two schools to talk about Subbuteo as an extracurricular activity and that will boost our numbers,” he said. The club will not meet tomorrow (Saturday 30th September) because members are travelling to a major international tournament in Seville. For more information, call Pascuale on 654 887 301 or emailsubbuteo.marina@gmail.com.

FRIDAY 29TH SEPT 2017

Sport

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By Eric Malpus

It was another interesting week in the 9 Premier League games which gave the Alfaz Fantasy Football League a total of 27 goals,6 clean sheets,42 yellow cards and 1 red one which was Spur’s new signing Aurier who received his marching orders from Referee Mike Oliver.Fortunately, none of our Fantasy League Managers selected him because he was signed on too late for selection. There was no change in the top 3 positions in A.F.F.L. with Darren’s Daz XI holding on to a slight 3 point advantage over his mate’s team Joe’s Keith Lard F.C. Ryan’s My Gylfi Pleasure remain in 3rd place then we have 2 teams sharing 4th spot Pauline’s Vodka Army and Leroy’s Boulevard Bar both on 244 points.It’s interesting to note that the 2 leaders have the same strike force of Kane, Lukaku and Vardy who this week bagged 18 points between them. It could have been more if Jamie Vardy hadn’t missed his penalty. At the bottom end of the table, we have 3 teams in the relegation zone with only 10 points separating them. At the moment Laura’s Legends are trailing Tommy’s Quantrill’s Raiders by 5 points and Richard’s High Fivers by 10. We have new leaders at the Summit of our U.K.T.V.SPAIN Junior League with Robbie’s Tea & Busquets replacing young Harrison’s team Boden’s Boys mind you there is only 2 points in it. Jack’s Bullitellietubbies are nicely placed in the 3rd spot waiting for any slip-up by the top 2. Down at the very foot of the table, 2 teams are sharing the heavy load of holding everybody else up and they are 2 teams who are normally at the top Harley’s Ginger Ninjar & Leo’s 6 in a Row who won this section last Season and they are both struggling with 153 points which is 13 points behind Roo & Woos Wombles who were in the bottom spot last week. Our Mark Carter Ladies Section is shaping up nicely with only 11 points between the top 4 places. Manchester City Fan Isabel’s team The Bluebells, who top scored in this League moved to within 7 points of the leaders Pauline’s Vodka Army. The early pace setters Kim’s Ginger United have slipped to 3rd and are just 2 points above Marilyn’s Super Saints 2nd. There are 2 teams hovering over the trap door at the bottom Laura’s Legends and Reggie’s Rejects who are both in trouble and are beginning to fall away from

the rest of the pack. Wayne’s team Two Years Running, Maybe are coming under pressure from 2 in form teams Daz XI and Joe’s Keith Lard F.C. at the top of our Golden Boot League. The 2 goals from Harry Kane against the Hammers in the early kick-off on Saturday helped move them to within 9 points of the leaders.Top Player in the Golden Boot League is Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling with 35 points to his name, 5 ahead of the Manchester Strikers Aguero & Lukaku.Only 14 Fantasy Managers chose the jet Heeled winger and I bet none of them were Liverpool Fans.We have a fresh team in the bottom spot with Ken’s Dynamite Alfaz dropping down 2 places to take over from last weeks team Reinette’s Altea Springboks who have joined Reggie’s Rejects and are just above them by 5 points. The top scoring team this week was Neil’s Blue Moon Rising who collected 56 points courtesy of Manchester City German winger Leroy Sane who scored and had 2 assists in the massacre of Big Roy’s Crystal Palace at the Etihad.The lowest scoring team was Laura’s Legends who only managed a lowly 3 points.However, both teams will enter our Monthly Wyndham’s Wine draw. Manager of the Month for September is being kindly sponsored by Ana at Ana’s Cozy Corner Restuarant in Albir who provide excellent food at reasonable prices.At the moment with 1 week to go the Month is being dominated by Manchester City Fans teams.Jimmy’s team Nick;s Blues are in pole position with a fragile 2 point advantage over Gary’s team Blue Moon then comes Tom’s Loose Connections and Eric’s City Slickers.It will be interesting to see how much Manchester City’s game against Chelsea this weekend will influence the final outcome for this super meal for 2. This weekend the Preliminary Round of our Weekender K.O.Cup Competition takes place with 44 teams involved. Last Season’s Winners Dave’s team The Hatters will play Paul’s team Glory Leeds United while another interesting game is between Husband & Wife Ian & Val’s teams Red Lions & Borobabe go head to head for a place in the next round. Be careful what you have to eat before the Kick Off, Ian! Don’t forget you can get all the results and latest League tables by visiting our website which is www.alfazffl.com

Jukebox Football Predictions League

ALFAZ FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

SPORT Week Saturday 30th September 13:30 Huddersfield v Tottenham - EPL 16:00 West Brom v Watford - EPL 16:00 Stoke City v Southampton - EPL 16:00 Bournemouth v Leicester City - EPL 16:00 West Ham v Swansea- EPL 16:00Man Utd v Huddersfield - EPL 16:00 Man City v Crystal Palace - EPL Fixture s 16:15 Leganes v Athletico Madrid - La Liga 18:30 Chelsea v Man City - EPL 20:45 Girona v Barcelona - La Liga

Sunday 1st October 13:00 Arsenal v Brighton- EPL 15:15 Evertonv Burnley- EPL

16:45 Barcelona v Las Palmas 17:30 Newcastle v Liverpool- EPL

18:30 Valencia v Athletico Bilbao 20:45 Real Madrid v Espanyol

RUGBY LEAGUE FIXTURES Betfred Super League

Semi Final - Friday 29th September

20:45 - Leeds Rhinos - Hull FC

Grand Final - October 7th

RUGBY UNION - AVIVA Friday 29th September

h 20:45 - Newcastle Falcons v London Iris 20:45 - Worcester Warriors v Saracens 20:45 - Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby

Saturday 30th September

16:0 0 - Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs ns 16:0 0 - Northampton Saints v Harlequi 16:0 0 - Wasps v Bath Rugby

ON E FORMyU1sLt A October Sunda

Malaysian GP

Sunday 8th October

Japenese GP

FRIDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2017

Weekender Sport

POPPY POWER! By Jack Troughton

POPPIES will be proudly worn again on shirts when England players line up against Germany at Wembley in November. FIFA has lifted its controversial ban on players wearing the symbol of respect ahead of the clash scheduled for 10th November; the day before Remembrance Day. Last year players of all the home nations defied FIFA and found themselves outlaws for breaking

the rules…and fined. However, football’s governing body is now to relent, imposed because it was ruled a political symbol. FIFA’s much-publicised position last year was rewarded with a barrage of criticism. Prime Minister Theresa May described it as “utterly outrageous.” England played Scotland in a qualifier last year on Armistice Day last year. Players of both sides displayed poppies and the teams were fined a total of £51,000, which

they have appealed against. It is understood FIFA has sent out draft proposals to members saying that displaying the poppy on team shirts or armbands will be permitted if the two teams and the competition organisers agree. The Germans are understood to back the FA’s desire to display the poppy; and the International Football Association Board is expected to rubber stamp the proposals.