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FISHING FOR PLASTIC By Jack Troughton

SPANISH fishermen working off the Costa Blanca coast are playing their part in cleaning the planet’s seas as they fill their nets with fish – and plastic and other rubbish. The debris is separated from the catch and once back in port thrown into special containers. Each week the bins are emptied and the plastic bottles and bags, old tyres, old fishing nets and the other debris, sent for recycling. Continued Page 2

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FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

FISHING FOR PLASTIC By Jack Troughton From Front Page... Clothing manufacturer Ecoalf turns the resulting raw material from the process into high fashion clothes and shoes, selling on line and in stores in Madrid and London. The process is called Ocean Upcycling and it launched in September 2015 in Spain with backing from an American charity. The following year the Ecoalf Foundation began a similar project in Thailand. A recent survey by Greenpeace discovered 96% of litter floating on the surface of the Mediterranean was plastic. Around the world it is estimated that 12.7 million metric tonnes of plastic finds its way into the sea each year. And as it breaks down under the combined effects of water, salt and sun, it finds its way into fish...and ends up in the food chain. Trawling has been criticised for damaging the sea bed with its nets, but by playing a part in Ocean Upcycling, the fishermen employed on the boats see themselves as giving something back. They also recognise the damage

pollution can cause on fish stocks – levels of pollution raised by the number or tourists arriving on the Mediterranean coast. The ‘fishing’ project involved the boast from nine ports in Alicante and Castellon in 2015, it was extended the following year and now 28 ports and the provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona and Valencia are involved. It means more than 2,000 fishermen and some 440 boats – each boat bringing back 4kg to 5kg of rubbish from the sea bed each day. And estimated 150 tonnes will be recycled in 2017. And next year the Ecoalf project it is planned Ocean Upcycling will spread even further around the Spanish coastline, including boast fishing in the Atlantic. The forecast is to involve 60 ports, 770 boats and some 3,000 fishermen; landing an impressive 250 tonnes of rubbish. Working with partners in the recycling and manufacturing field; the plastic is broken down into chips and processed into pellets. These will eventually be processed and become a

thread which is spun into fabric. Javier Goyeneche is the president and founder of Ecoalf and was inspired to invest in a process that allowed the Spanish company to remain a market leader while helping the environment. He said: “The concept arose in 2009 from my frustration with the excessive use of the world’s natural resources and the amount of waste produced by industrialised countries. The idea was to create a fashion brand that is truly sustainable.” Fashion from recycled products means “we show there is no need to

use our world’s natural resources in such a careless way”, he said. He believes around 30 million plastic bottles have so far been given a new life but accepts the problem is truly international. Mr Goyeneche said in Thailand: “We did a trial test with 1,000 divers in January; we took 7.5 tonnes of waste in one day out of the ocean; 7.5kg per diver. “It’s not a problem of Spain or Thailand; it’s the same problem in Mexico, Columbia or Hawaii. This is a worldwide problem.”

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

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STERLING’S slide in value against the Euro has hit people where it hurts, in the pocket. Expats paid in pounds and tourists heading for the Continent are suffering as everything suddenly seems a bit more expensive. This week there was a little rally for the hardpressed currency and it climbed back up over the €1.12 level, a welcome increase coming on the back of the news the British economy grew by 0.3% in the second quarter. However, it can all get a little scary. Some financial experts have predicted by the end of the year there will be parity between Sterling and the Euro, or even worse. In simple terms, and if their tip is on the money, a new plush and plastic British fiver will not procure a five Euro note; just a handful of coins. HSBC strategists used their crystal ball to predict this particular exchange rate crisis – Sterling has also fallen dramatically against the US Dollar – and believe the pound will continue to be under pressure as the UK moves towards leaving the European Union. Another currency horror story currently grabbing attention is the frightening tale of the airport exchange bureau. The rates offered at the ‘last chance saloon’ are eye-watering…cross legs here…people are already getting well under a Euro for a pound. The Weekender has stolen the motto ´be prepared’ because it pays to plan ahead and do

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a little homework. Specialist foreign exchange companies beat the banks for value and are worth checking out for those expats moving large sums. Those heading for sun for a holiday or a short break can order currency ahead of the trip, some FX companies offer a card which can be loaded with Sterling and used abroad like a debit card. It also pays to quickly shop around ahead of an unexpected trip. Many high street outlets offer reasonable rates which are convenient and easily trump the airport deal, particular favourites (apparently) are The Post Office and Marks and Sparks. The pain started with Brexit and continued with currency market gloom over the general election. At least no one has popped up to assure us ‘this will not affect the pound in your pocket’ - half a century ago, then Prime Minister Harold Wilson was behind the now infamous little white lie. Talking of holiday cash, the Weekender team is off for a well-deserved break with bucket and spades in hand. The next edition of the Costa Blanca’s new favourite Friday read is out on the streets on August 18th.

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FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Bringing home the Bacon By Edward Graham THREE valuable works by British painter Francis Bacon stolen in a raid at an exclusive Madrid address have been recovered by police. They were part of a haul of five pictures by the Dublin-born artist – valued at around €30 million – stolen by an organised gang of thieves in July 2015. The daring theft of the paintings was immediately seen as the greatest contemporaryart heist in recent Spanish history. The paintings belonged to Jose Capelo, 59, a friend of Bacon – who died in 1992 -and an admirer of his work. He inherited them after the artist’s death. In January, three suspects were arrested by police in the capital and detectives believe the trio were the robbers who broke into Mr Capelo’s home, where the paintings hung on walls. Seven other alleged members

of the gang – including a mysterious mastermind – were held over 2016. They are accused of plotting the break in and are currently on bail. The burglary took place at an address close to Plaza de la Encarnacion; according to Spanish media the area is regarded as highly secure with little traffic and only metres from the Senate. It is understood thieves broke in while the owner was away in London and the first arrests were made acting on information gathered by a team based in the British capital specialising in art theft. Police are confident the missing pair of paintings will be recovered.

And it was claimed the gang tried to sell the paintings on at least two occasions; most recently at a meeting in February at a private address in Calle Duque de Alba in the Majadahonda district of Madrid. Bacon’s work is highly prized and commands some of the highest prices in global art market. His ‘Three Studies of Lucien Freud’, a friend and the grandson of Sigmund Freud, was sold at a New York auction in 2013 for a then record $142.4 million; the following year his ‘Seated Figure’ made €32 million at Christie’s in London.

Drug clan arrested By Simon Russell P O L I C E in Torrevieja have detained nine members of a notorious local family on suspicion of involvement in drug and kidnapping offences. The “Tote Clan” as they are unofficially known, has a long criminal record for similar crimes as well as burglary, possession of weapons and theft plus crimes with violence. They have been under investigation for a while by the Guardia Civil, and they moved to arrest the six

men and three women on 22 July. T h e kidnapping offences relate to the detention of people who were planning to testify against them, while the drugs distributed include cocaine and heroin. Items confiscated in the raid included scales and cutting equipment that could be used for drug dealing, computers, mobile phones and four grams of cocaine. Eight of the group are Spanish while the other is a woman of German nationality.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

New deal on gender violence By Simon Russell SPANISH politicians have reached an “unprecedented” €1 billion agreement to tackle gender violence across the nation. The cross-party deal encompasses 200 measures to fight the problem of domestic violence and forms part of a five-year programme; the “historic” parliamentary endorsement seen as a victory for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s ruling Partido Popular. The agreement comes after six months of work by politicians, who heard evidence from 66 expert witnesses. It is reported 870 women have died as a result of gender-based violence between 2003 and 2016. So far this year, it is believed there have been 32 deaths. The deal was endorsed late on Monday night and Congress is scheduled to

debate and vote on the proposed legislation today (Friday). The Spanish government plans to roll out the raft of measures from Monday as it engages with regional, provincial and local authorities. Amongst the agreed measures are plans to extend the status of ‘victim’ to women before they have filed a criminal complaint, allowing them to access assistance; mechanisms to identify victims at hospital emergency departments and primary care levels; and providing victims with six months of unconditional benefits to give them the chance of a new start.

Luck runs out for fugitive By Simon Russell A man suspected of a murder in Alicante province almost ten years ago has been apprehended after masquerading as his own brother. The man had gone on the run after being the prime suspect in the stabbing of a man in the streets of Novelda in 2008. It seems he had settled in

the Murcian town of TorrePacheco using his brother’s identity, something which came to light after the actual brother reported the loss of his passport. The brother was living in his native Ecuador, but tracking tools showed the owner of the passport was living in the Spanish region of Murcia. Ecuadorian authorities contacted their

Spanish counterparts who were able to put the pieces together and the suspect was arrested in TorrePacheco last week. The 34-year-old Ecuadorian has been charged with murder, falsifying documents and evading justice. Had he remained free until 2023 the statute of limitations would have expired on his offence.

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FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Fire ignites at beauty spot By Simon Russell SEVEN houses had to be evacuated as a forest fire spread through an area around Castell de Guadalest, one of the area’s top tourist attractions and a place of great natural beauty. The fire broke out on Tuesday 24 July and it was not until the next day that the fire-crews who attended were happy that it had been properly extinguished.

The blaze started at around 2.30pm and twelve fire fighting vehicles fought it through the night. Helicopters were also in attendance as well as two aircraft from the Ministry of the Environment. No-one was hurt in the fire and the reasons for it starting are unknown at this time. The fourteen people who had been evacuated were allowed to return to their properties the next day; fortunately the flames had not reached their homes.

Do not disturb! OFFICIALS at the museum dedicated to Salvador Dali announced the Surrealist artist was “resting again” after his body was controversially exhumed in a paternity case. Hair, nail and bone samples were taken as part of the legal claim by a woman who insists she is his daughter after her mother had an affair with the artist. Since his death in 1989, the Dali’s mummified body has been lying in a crypt in the Dali Theatre Muse-

Salvador Dali Remains returned to resting place

um in his home town of Figeures in Catalonia; managers of the artist’s estate had fought a prolonged legal battle maintaining he should be left alone. Officials of the Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation called the exhumation “totally uncalled for” and critics of the move attempted to cast doubt on the paternity case brought by Pilar Abel, who works as a professional fortune teller. The results of the DNA testing

should be available next month; the paternity court case is set for September 18th. Ironically, if Abel is proved to be Dali’s daughter she will be entitled to a quarter of his estate at the time of his death - the loser would be the Spanish state which was named by a childless Dali as his sole heir. Dali’s body was removed and returned to its resting place last week and was said to be in a good condition, his famous moustache still at

its extraordinary angle. To remove his remains, a 1.5 ton slab sealing the grave needed to be lifted and the wooden zinc-covered coffin opened. The exhumation triggered a flurry of activity outside the museum with a crowd of some 300 locals, press and police attending – the public split into clear groups, those who believe Abel is the artist’s daughter...and those who think Dali should be allowed to sleep in peace.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Crumb of comfort

By Edward Graham

THERESA May is determined to “secure the best possible outcome” for the expats on both sides of the Channel in a “unique” position as Britain heads towards a European Union exit. In a letter to a powerful alliance of groups representing up to five million EU citizens in the UK and British citizens living in the EU, she said she wants to provide “certainty”; allowing people to get on with their lives. It is the first time the Prime Minister has directly contacted the British in Europe coalition and the3million – representing EU nationals in the UK - since the historic Brexit referendum last June. The correspondence was written on official 10, Downing Street paper and dated July 20th. It was penned to Nicolas Hatton, co-chair of the3million. It comes after Brussels was highly critical of the British

government’s opening gambit on citizens’ rights – which will be a reciprocal deal - maintaining it risked creating “a second class of citizenship”. In her letter, Mrs May said expats were “incredibly valued” members of communities in the UK and Europe; making “significant contributions to the economic, cultural and social life of the countries in which they have chosen to make their home”. And she wrote: “I have been clear from the outset that I want to protect the rights of the over three million EU citizens in the UK and around one million UK nationals in the EU. “That is why the Government put forward a fair and serious offer in the paper ‘Safeguarding the position of EU Citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the EU’. “Our intention is to make sure that no one who has made their home in this country will have to leave, that

families will be able to stay together, and that people can go on living their lives as before. “We want to provide that certainty as soon as possible for both EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens elsewhere in the EU.” The Premier encouraged the expat lobby alliance to continue to feed its “important” views to government departments to help find a swift solution. Mrs May concluded she as “determined” to secure the “best possible outcome” for all the UK and EU nationals “who find themselves in this unique situation”.

Smaller shops hit bigger stores By Jack Troughton

By SImon Russell

ONE of Spain’s major supermarket chains has been hit by a change in Spanish shopping habits in recent years. Hipercor, the hypermarket arm of El Corte Ingles, used to account for 20% of all the retails giants sales but that figure has halved and plans are being put in place to change or even phase out the stores. The main change is that when Hipercor was at its peak the Spanish were doing a large monthly shop in their car, but they have now changed to the “little and often” meth-

od of grocery shopping and don’t feel the need to visit giant hypermarkets. The change was mainly as a result of the recession and although the economy is improving, many Spaniards and expatriates still prefer using smaller local shops. French chain Carrefour, who have a strong presence here, saw this change coming and started opening up their Carrefour Express stores; smaller, more central (but pricier) stores and this may well be the route that Hipercor goes down, although the decision will be made on a store by store basis across Spain.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Independence support ebbs By Simon Russell SUPPORT for Catalan independence is falling according to a new poll carried out by the regional government’s own Opinion Studies Centre (CEO). The figures are a blow for those attempting to steer the region secession; shoing public support for the move has ebbed by 3% since March. If it goes ahead, Catalonia is to stage a controversial referendum on October 1st; a move fiercely opposed by the Spanish central government in Madrid. The new survey results showed 41.1% of people in the region are in favour of independence, down from the 44.3% of four months ago – a drop described as “considerable” by CEO director Jordi Argelaguet. Meanwhile, 49.4% percent of people surveyed by the CEO are against the region splitting from Spain, up from 48.5% in March.

These statistics reveal the gap between the ‘si’ (yes) proindependence camp and those that oppose breaking away is at its widest for several years; a blow to the separatist movement. In terms of projected participation, 67.5% of people polled by the CEO said they will vote in the October 1 referendum if it goes ahead, with 62.4% of this group saying they would vote yes and 37.6% saying they would vote no. Madrid argues Spanish sovereignty resides with all Spaniards and all citizens should be entitled to vote in the event of any such ballot; central government will attempt to block the October poll in the Constitutional Court, insisting it will not go ahead. An informal referendum in November 2014 – ruled illegal by Madrid – showed strong support for independence with marches and demonstrations in Catalonia demanding the split from Spain.

No alternatives By Simon Russell THE Valencian Generalitat has instructed all its hospitals and other health personnel to ensure that they avoid the use of alternative medicines and treatments such as homeopathy and chiropractic’s. They have described these as “pseudo-sciences” and have made it clear that there can be no justification for using such treatments in lieu of conventional medicine. They have also issued a ban on advertising and promotion of these practices in any

public health centres or hospitals. Other therapies affected include acupuncture, naturopathy and traditional Chinese “medicine”. This ties in with similar guidelines across Spain as a whole; a local Health Ministry spokeswoman said “The available scientific evidence concludes that homeopathy has not proven effective in any clinical condition. To consider it a medicine poses a real risk to the restoration of health” She went on to say that they will not be introducing or funding any alternative treatment that is not backed up by clear scientific evidence.

Jack talks By Jack Troughton IT’S suddenly all change in the Brexit buzzwords being bandied round the corridors of power in London town as the guys and gals head off on a summer holiday. Everyone is now familiar with ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ Brexit, there has even been talk of a ‘clean’ Brexit to describe Britain leaving the European Union; and also the much trumpeted ‘Brexit means Brexit’. The new phrase is ‘pragmatic’ Brexit. That is defined as: ‘dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations’. And so as the Cabinet and MPs take their seats on the red Double Decker bus and the passengers start singing Cliff’s immortal and cheery song about all going on a summer holiday, ‘pragmatic’ is the new route master. Theresa May’s government was this week said to be “united” in the need for a ‘transitional period’ after the UK officially leaves in March 2019 Michael Gove called it an “implementation period” and added it must be driven by “pragmatism”...David Davis has also caught the bug and uses the ‘pragmatic’ word. The game plan is to help smooth and orderly Brexit and

the common sense approach is to achieve economic stability and allow access to migrant labour – that means an extension of the EU freedom of movement rule. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said he “doesn’t have a problem” with a “common sense” approach to secure stability for business and UK prosperity. Newly elected Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said it was encouraging some of the more “sensible and pragmatic” members of the government were looking to exert themselves and look to compromise. Please note; buzzwords are highly contagious. UKIP describes the transitional move as ‘a fudge’ and interim leader Steve Crowther said since the election, the Theresa May government was “badly holed and unseaworthy”. Back in June of last year voters chose to ‘leave’ or ‘remain’. There was nothing on the ballot sheet about ‘soft’, ‘hard’, or ‘clean’ Brexit; former UKIP leader Nigel Farage has always interpreted the referendum result as a call for severing all ties...but wasn’t he the guy promising £350 million a week for the NHS on the side of a campaign battle bus? No sign of that on the summer holiday coach.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Drugs are biggest problem at festival Jack Russell Troughton ByBy Simon OF the 24 arrests that led to detention at last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Benicassim Music Festival, 16 of them were drug related. Over the course of the festival police seized marijuana, hashish, speed, ecstasy, MDMA, amphetamines, cocaine and ketamine while 116 people were charged with possession and/or consumption of drugs although not detained. The other eight detentions were for theft, assault and serious traffic violations. Of the 2,000 drivers stopped for testing, 35 tested

positive for alcohol and six for drug use. There was a major police presence at the festival and, considering the tens of thousands of mainly young people that attended, the authorities were reasonably happy with these crime statistics. Overall the festival, one of Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest, succeeded in avoiding any serious incidents. Probably the most serious crime related to the event was the alleged rape of a young British woman, but as this took place on one of the beaches outside the grounds it will not count in the official festival crime figures.

By SImon Russell By Simon Russell

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Seafront boosted but eyesore remains By Simon Russell

Neglectful parents By Simon Russell

BUDDING Indiana Jones’ have the chance to pursue their interest when Villajoyosa holds two archaeological workshops in August. Aimed at children between eight and twelve, there are two workshops with ten places available on each. Run by the Vilamuseu the days are divided into “missions”, with the first day being excavation, day two is putting this into practice on your own plot while day three focuses VILLAJOYOSA’S council have taken some major steps towards improving the outlook on La Cala’s seafront. The ugly industrial unit that was being used to store building materials and other such goods, most of which was left over when the construction firm who were building the Atrium Hotel stopped work 14 years ago, has been cleared. Despite repeated requests the firm had not cleared the site, something the Town Hall has now arranged – and they will be sending the bill for the works to the company concerned.

However the eyesore that is the partly constructed Atrium complex remains a blight on the landscape. Work was halted on the Atrium in 2003, partly due to safety fears after two workers were killed on-site. Developers are confident that a buyer or business partner can be found for the site with well-known names such as the Hard Rock and Hilton being linked to the project. However Villajoyosa council have just this week announced that due to recent inactivity the licence to develop has expired - and much of the negotiating work will need to be started from scratch.

A Valencian couple have been asking their friends and family to donate to charity rather than give them birthday gifts for the last few years. This year they donated €1,200 to the Valencian Council for Scientific Research which is investigating Alzheimer’s disease.

on restoration work. The final day is research and a display to the public of any items found. Villajoyosa’s Councillor for Culture, Maria Angeles Gualde, said that “this new cultural initiative aimed at the younger residents, is a great way to learn more about the history of the town and its many hidden secrets”. If you have children who may be interested in attending the museums website is www.vilamuseu.es/vilakids please note places are limited.

Trouble for horseplay By Simon Russell

A club in Alicante faces penalties after having live horses on its premises as part of a Country and Western themed evening. The Texaco, at Alicante’s San Juan beach, did not have the proper permits to use live animals which were tethered up outside for much of the night while people had photos taken with them. A local resident alerted the police as they thought the animals looked to be in distress. The local police then arrived to

The gift of giving By Simon Russell

The donation was presented at the Institute of Biomedicine where the group is based; the regional coordinator Jose Beltran said this donation reflected the great value that citizens confer on research work. Juan Moreno, who along with his wife made the donation, said that they had set up a special charity account for donations in lieu of presents

find the animals tied up and confined in an outside space of only about five metres. Marisol Moreno, Alicante’s Councillor for Animal Protection, said that this “was a direct attack on animal welfare” and also contravened public safety laws. The animals were in a very noisy environment surrounded by people drinking alcohol and were understandably distressed, she continued. The arriving officers also found that the club did not have the permit to take over the public space outside and they are likely to face several charges.

FRIDAY 7TH JULY 2017

Open Letter to UK Expats, from HMA Simon Manley “Given the success of the Spanish State Visit to the UK the week before last, which, among other things, highlighted the importance of people to people links between our two countries, I thought it timely to return to the subject of citizens’ rights in the negotiations on our departure from and future partnership with the EU. In the year since the EU referendum, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you across the country, from the Balearics to the Canaries, along the Costas and in Madrid, and our consular teams have met many more. I know from those conversations that there has been uncertainty for many of you. My teams and I have listened to your concerns about the future, including about your residency status in Spain, the level of your UK pensions, and your access to Spanish health and other social services, and have noted the questions you have about tax, inheritance, right to work and the implications of applying for Spanish nationality. At our meetings, on our social media and in interviews, I have also pledged to keep you up to date as negotiations on our exit from the European Union continue. So, let me update you on where matters stand now, in light of the latest negotiation round in Brussels last week. The UK Government has been clear that citizens are our top priority in the exit negotiations. We want an agreement that provides citizens with greater certainty about their future. Last week, we held constructive and substantive discussions with the European Commission on the bulk of the issues underpinning our respective positions on

citizens’ rights. Together we have taken a big step forward. There is a much clearer understanding on the detail of the positions on both sides and significant convergence on the key issues that really matter to citizens. You can read this technical note which compares the UK and EU positions on these issues here. It is clear both sides want to move towards an agreement. As you know, on 26 June, the Prime Minister outlined to Parliament an offer to protect the rights of EU citizens in the UK. We are entering the negotiations with the European Commission and the other 27 EU Member States constructively and we therefore hope that the EU27 will offer reciprocal treatment for British nationals resident in the other Member States. Many of you will have seen press reports of our 26 June offer, whether in the UK or Spanish media. I hope you will also have read the detailed proposals which are set out in “Safeguarding the position of EU citizens in the UK and UK nationals in the EU” (https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/brexit) and I would encourage you to sign-up for email alerts (you can do so on the Home Office gov.uk page) to receive updates, to ensure that you are receiving information and guidance from official sources. The first key element of the new proposal is residence status and working rights. Until the UK’s exit, EU citizens in the UK will continue to enjoy all the rights they currently have under EU law; they can continue to live and work in the UK just as they do now. The same rights also apply to you, British residents in Spain. You can continue to

live and work here in Spain as you always have done. After the UK’s exit from the EU, we are proposing a reciprocal deal that would protect the right of UK nationals already in the EU to continue to live and work in the EU. We hope that the European Commission and the 27 other Member States will agree to this. The second key element is healthcare, pensions, education and access to benefits. It is our intention to treat EU citizens with settled status in the UK in the same way as if they were UK citizens for the purposes of access to education, benefits and pensions. For you, the Government has announced that the UK will continue to export and uprate the UK State Pension and provide associated healthcare cover within the EU, issues which I know from my conversations over the last year were important to many of you. At the moment, those of you who are UK pensioners and resident in Spain access healthcare through the S1 form. This means the UK reimburses Spain the cost of providing medical treatment. After the UK leaves the EU, we want to continue your healthcare entitlements on the same basis. Healthcare in Spain was indeed one of the case studies cited in the detailed proposals made by the British Government on 26 June (see link). Subject to negotiations, we want to continue participating in the European Health Insurance Card scheme meaning EHIC

holders continue to benefit from free, or reduced-cost, needs-arising healthcare while on a temporary stay in the EU — and vice versa for EU EHIC holders visiting the UK. We hope the European Commission will agree to this. The British Government has repeatedly said that, until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. You can continue travelling throughout the EU on your UK passport, without any visa requirements. You can continue to access Spanish healthcare and draw your UK pension. If you have any difficulties accessing those rights, do please let our Consulates know I will continue to engage with you and listen to you, as will my consular teams across Spain. In the meantime, please follow me on Twitter (@SimonManleyFCO) and access the Embassy’s social media (@ UKinSpain on Twitter; British Embassy Madrid and Brits in Spain on Facebook) to keep up to date with developments.”

FRIDAY 7TH JULY 2017

Balearics ban death Most pubs; bar none in the afternoon By Simon Russell THE Balearic Islands has banned matadors from killing bulls in the ring as part of radical new laws on bullfighting, making it illegal for the animals to endure physical or psychological damage. Bullfighters will not be allowed to take objects into the fight that could harm the creature; instead the focus will be on the spectacle created with the traditional capes, or muletas. Traditionally, every bullfight involves six animals, each facing a matador for 20 to 30 minutes before being killed. Now the parliament has decreed the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;contestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will be 10 minutes long, the bull will have a medical after leaving the ring; and be sent back to the ranch. Other changes include outlawing animals younger than four being used; anyone under the age of 18 will be being pro-

hibited from attending; and a ban on the sale of alcohol. The Balearics join other regions with the ban on killing the bulls. Many people will see this as a huge step forward. However, staunch anti-bullfighters will take the view that

bulls should not be used for entertainment in any way. Ironically, many bullfighting fans will think these changes will ruin a pastime they feel passionate about and a vital part of Spanish history, tradition, and culture.

By Simon Russell DESPITE the recent financial crisis which hit the hostelry sector heavily, Spain still has more bars per person than any other country in the European Union. There are 280,000 across the country, one for every 170 people that live here. The highest concentration is in Andalucia which has 47,000 pubs, bars, cafes or other licenced establishments. One

of the reasons, other than tourism, that Spain has so many places to drink is that all ages and sexes use them and, of course, alcohol is not the only thing on the menu. Before the recession there were actually 350,000 bars across Spain, but eating and drinking out still accounts for around 15% of Spainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gross Domestic Product and is a hugely important part of the economy.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Himalaya Tandoori Altea

The first Nepalese restaurant to open on the Costa Blanca explains why the Himalaya Tandoori is so popular and it has built a strong reputation for serving the best quality Indian and Nepalese food in the region. People travel from all surrounding areas to visit this restaurant in Altea. The Himalaya was founded in 2004 and is the original restaurant specialising in the two regional cuisines. Arriving at the restaurant, there was an outside seated area that was inviting diners to eat ‘al fresco’ but I decided to eat in the luxurious dining room facing the Mediterranean sea, with an uninterrupted view through picture window across the front of the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of both meat and vegetarian dishes, cooked with the traditional mix of herbs and spices. The choice on offer is simply mouth watering, and includes the Tandoori Special Dinner Menu cost only €17.50 and gives a choice of any starter, main course and also includes a desert. All the dishes are beautifully presented and provide the taste of authentic delicacies. What most impressed me were the real Indian selection, as well as the chef specials, which included a variety of Nepalese cuisine. I found a genuine curry menu at the Himalaya; a selection of Bhuna curries - fish, lamb, chicken and king prawn - with either tikka style or plain meat, cooked with on-

ion, garlic and ginger in a thick sauce; served medium spicy, it is one of my favourites. The other traditional Indian curries served here are Dhansak, Vindaloo, Madras, Biriyani and for the milder palate, the very popular Korma. Again, each of these individual cooking styles is available with lamb, chicken, king prawn and fish, and each of these curries includes pilau rice. I could see that other customer’s choices included the famous sizzling tandoori iron dishes; the extensive variety offered on the tandoori menu is amazing. So what was going to be served on our table? We were promised a little bit if a surprise devised by head chef and owner Keshar Bahadur Thapa, who has more than 28 years of experience. His working history includes the high-end restaurants such as Moti Mahal Delux Kitchen in India; Mugal Mahal Kitchen of Kuwait; Taj Mugal Mahal Kitchen in Lebanon; and La Porte des Indes in Brussels. So with this experience ‘Thapa’ has combined his skills with the traditional tastes of authentic dishes to create and refine his own recipes with new innovative Nepalese and Indian dishes that are simply delectable. We were treated to a selection of these home-cooked recipes, including a Lamb Khasi Ko Sekuwa - a starter dish consisting of marinated lamb pieces with ginger, garlic and Himalayan spices grilled in the tandoor. Also as a starter we enjoyed a sizzling mixed tandoori, with chicken tikka and Sheek Kebab, a mix of mince pork and lamb skewer. The main course included a dish named Lamb Nilgiri, tender cooked meat with fresh tomato and cream

Nepalese spices with a slight spinach favour. Also served was Chicken Tikka Labab Dar, which was chopped red and green capsicum, tomato Nepalese spices, fresh cream with a Kasoori Methi - fenugreekflavoured sauce; this dish was created by ‘Thapa’ when he started work at the Moraira Himalaya in 2004. We were served with a selection of plain white rice and also pilau rice as well as a garlic naan and Pashwari naan breads. The food was a rainbow of colours and the flavours were amazing. It was served by owner Anju Poon who grew up in the

mountainous city of Pokara, in Nepal. She has previously run traditional Nepali Restaurant in Poon Hill, one of the most famous view point of Annanapurna Mountain Range in Nepal, brings over 8 years of professional restaurant experience with her to Himalaya Tandoori.

Find Himalaya Tandoori on Facebook and also visit the TripAdvisor page for up to date information and specials. Call 965 840 968 for reservations or email himalayatandoorialtea@gmail.com; the restaurant can be found at Carrer Sant Pere No.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017 Food | Drink | Leisure | Events

Out & About

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New arrival

By Simon Russell

VISITORS to Valencia’s Bioparc certainly experienced the “aaah” factor when they got a glimpse of the new four day old baby in the gorilla compound. Ali, born on 21 July is a west coast gorilla,

the third of the species born in the Bioparc. They decided on 24 July he was well enough to go on view to the public if his parents were happy to take him out, which they were. Ali has an older sibling, Virunga, who is also just eleven months old and

still partly dependant on her mother for food. This species of gorilla is at serious risk of extinction in the wild, and the Bioparc works with conservation experts with their breeding programme and also with the BIOPARC Foundation.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Out & About

Food | Drink | Leisure | Events

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MOORS & CHRISTIANS VILLAJOYOSA

For eight days, the whole town steps back in time to hold a spectacular re-enactment of a battle fought in 1538. The festival of Moors and Christians is the biggest event of the year in Villajoyosa. The festival has been held for over 250 years in honour of Santa Marta (St. Martha) and commemorates events which occurred in 1538, when Berber pirates led by Zalé-Arraez tried to attack Villajoyosa. According to legend, St. Martha came to the rescue of the townsfolk by causing a flash flood which wiped out the enemy fleet, thus preventing the corsairs from reaching the coast. To show their gratitude, the town made her its patron saint and hold this annual festival in her honour, the main event being a re-enactment of the Moorish landing. The festivities commence with the fabulous processions of Moors and Christians on 25 and 26 July: The various factions that make up each procession march majestically through the streets to the sound of music. Then, in the early hours of the 28th, the spectacular landing is held. Crowds of people start to arrive

at the beach around five in the morning and, while the Christians make ready their artillery to defend the shore, over 30 Moorish vessels approach the coastline. Once they have landed, both armies battle it out until they reach the foot of the castle, which is eventually taken by the Moors. In the afternoon, the Christian soldiers come back and retake the castle: first of all, they try to persuade the enemy to surrender, but after some unsuccessful negotiations, a great battle ensues ending in the defeat of the Moors, who are symbolically sent back to the sea. Villajoyosa is brimming over with fun and merriment during these festivities. There are also many activities to enjoy, such as gastronomic competitions, open-air dances, firework displays and music concerts. Moors and Christians is a popular festival in many parts of Spain and each place has its own original way of celebrating, depending on their particular history and tradition. The re-enactment of the landing is unique to Villajoyosa and sets it apart from all other festivals of its kind.

Fiesta Schedule Monday 24th July 21:00 Inauguration of the Fieta with the switching on of the Fiesta Street Lights, followed by a Parade of the Music Bands. Route: Calles Ciudad de Valencia, Avda. del País Valencià, Barranquet finishing in la Barbera dels Aragonés where there will be an interruption of the Himno Regional and a large firework will be lit signifying the start of the fiesta. Tuesday 25th July 20:30 Christian Parade. Route starting from Calle Colón, along Avda. del País Valencià and finishing at the Plaza de la Generalitat. Wednesday 26th July 23:30 Moors Parade. Route starting from Calle Colón, along Avda. del País Valencià and finishing at the Plaza de la Generalitat. Thursday 27th July 18:00 Gathering of the Christian companies Cias, Pescadores, Marinos , Piratas Corsarios and Contrabandistas in the Glorieta del Barranquet for the walk along Avda. Varadero to the Port and the start of the embarcar. 19:00 Gathering of the other Christian companies in the Parque Censal on Calle Pizarro for the walk to the Recinto (fairground) on Playa Centro and the parade to the Castle. 20:00 Battle on the beach at Playa Centro, the Moor companies of Alijo de Contrabanistas and the Pirates Corsarios engage in intense combat with the Christians, but manage to win and arrive at the castle for the negotiation / embassy Contrabandista. 21:00 Parade along Avda. Pais Valencià and Costera la Mar to the castle on Playa Centro where the presentation of the Moorish

troops to their King takes place followed by the negotiation Beduina. Friday 28th July 04:45 The Desembarc (Disembarkation) Battle on the Sea at Playa Centro, this is a naval battle between the Moors and Christians fleets, after which the Moors jump into the sea and swim to shore to conquer the castle, accompanied all the time by music and the unceasing firing of the blunderbusses. 18:30 Moor companies gather in the Plaza de la Genaralitat and the Christian companies in the Parque Censal. 20:00 Act of Reconquest by the Christians at the castle on Playa Centro, then onto the Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. De la Asunción for the act of Giving Thanks, followed by the ‘Disparo de 21 Salva de Honor’ in the Plaza de la Generalitat by the Christian Artillery, the presentation of the Moor and Christian King and their advance parties.

Saturday 29th July 12:00 Mass in honour of Santa Marta at the Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. De la Asunción. 20:00 Solemn Procession in honour of Santa Marta with her statue through the historical streets of the town accompanied by the fiesta dignitaries, civil and religious personal, countless devotees, members of some Moors and Christians companies. 01:00 Firework display in the Playa Centro. Sunday 30th July 13:00 Paella competition in the Recinto del Mercadillo.

Monday 31st July 20:00 Grand Children’s Carnival Parade. Route: Ibiza, Colón, Avenida del País Valencià, Pizarro and Avenida Juan Carlos I

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017 Food | Drink | Leisure | Events

Out & About

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Access for all

Simon Russell

CALPE’S two main beaches have opened separate bathing areas for people with mobility problems as well as the elderly and visually impaired. The areas are equipped with amphibious chairs, special toilets and showers, a changing area

and amphibious crutches. They are open from now until 15 September at 10.30am to 7pm each day. There are reserved parking spaces close by if you have a handicapped parking card. Elderly people who wish to use the facilities but do not have a parking pass should also be able to use the reserved parking.

Art for Mums By

Simon Russell

DENIA’S Department of Health is taking part in a project that uses art as a therapy for new mothers and pregnant women. Developed by the University of Madrid the “artotherapy” sessions aim to help with personal

development, self-esteem and gaining a better awareness of their own needs. It also encourages healthy links with the child and is a useful skill for when the baby is old enough to enjoy art themselves. The research has also been trialled in Calpe and is being monitored and analysed by staff from the university.

Junior classical stars By Simon Russell PUPILS who have been attending an intensive classical music course showcased their talents in front of more than 100 spectators in La Nucia’s music auditorium this month. The forty hour course has been run and taught by Isaac Szekely, a renowned Hungarian professor of music and Gloria Fabuel, from the

Conservatory of Master Singers. Students from all over Spain attended the prestigious course and fourteen of them showed how much they have learnt at the concert. Recitals were sung and played on the piano with the children, the youngest of which is only 11, interpreting works by Mozart and Chopin among others.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Property

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NOTARIES: Spanish home sales up 17.5% in May By Mark Stücklin Spanish Property Insight There were 47,145 homes sales witnessed by Spanish notaries in May, an increase of 17.5% compared to the same time last year (13% if seasonally adjusted). Last month the notaries released figures for April showing a decline of 2% in home sales, so as I wrote then the figures can be volatile, and one month’s decline is

not enough to talk of a change in the trend towards growth. Spanish home sales as reported by the Notaries’ Association have grown almost every month since the start of 2014, and May’s figures confirm that trend is still on course. As I said last month “I suspect the market has just paused for breath in April, and will return to growth in the coming months. Nothing has changed on the macroeconomic front to the recovery in sales has run out of steam just yet.” When you strip out subsidised housing and look

just at the free market, flat sales were up 19.2%, with resales up 20.4% and new home sales up 6.5%. The average price of homes sold in the month increased 0.3% to 1,318 €/m2, with flats up 1.6% and single-family homes down 3.5%. Excluding subsidised housing, the price in terms of Euro per square metre of apartments sold was 1,448 €/m2 for resales, and 1,798 €/ m2 for new homes. T h a t still leaves Spanish home sales around 40% below where

they were in 2007, and prices sales inscribed in the Land Register, not sales that took 30% below. 2007 is not a healthy place in the month. The INE’s benchmark because it was the figures lag the market by top of the real estate bubble, a month or two, whilst the but it still helps to show how notaries’ figures report actual far the market has fallen. If and sales in the month. New Spanish Mortgage when sales get back to 20% below the 2007 peak we can Lending In May New residential Spanish talk of the market having fully mortgage lending rose 11.7% recovered. I recently reported home in May, whilst the average sales figures from the National new loan value fell 2.6% to Institute of Statistics (INE) €125,738. Roughly half of showing home sales in May new home purchases involve up 25%. Why the difference? mortgage financing. Because the Full Source & The Weekender Recomends INE’s figures www.spanishpropertyinsight.com are based on

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Property & Finance

“John had no idea his investment fees were so high!”

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By Sam Kelly Managing Partner Chorus Financial

Last week, a gentleman, we’ll call him John, (I’ve changed his name to protect his identity) came to see me. John wanted a second opinion on an investment plan he had set up when he first moved to Spain 5 years ago. Somehow, despite strong financial markets, John’s portfolio hadn’t made a penny this entire time.

John was helpful enough to bring along all the valuations he’d been issued since he started his plan, along with some Fund Fact Sheets. From these documents, I quickly realised that the funds that had been recommended to John had incredibly high entry and ongoing fees. These anomalies were directly related to the fact that these funds were not FCA regulated. FCA regulated funds cannot make non-disclosed payments to financial advisors, yet the funds John’s advisor had recommended actually charged the client a 5% entry fee, all of which was subsequently paid to John’s advisor here in Spain, and also paid John’s advisor a hidden ‘trail’ fee of 1% per year. This explains the incredibly high

ongoing fees, which were 3 to 4 times higher than I’d expect of an FCA regulated fund. In addition, the client had also paid open fees to his advisor – 3% to set up his plan and 1% annual advisor fee. To add insult to injury, around 18 months ago, John’s advisor had switched all of John’s funds because his firm now had access to a new ‘exclusive’ fund. This cost John another 5% of his portfolio, to buy into a fund with absolutely no track record, which subsequently underperformed. John’s total fund and advice fees over 5 years were close to 25%, over three-quarters of which had been paid to his advisor. Due to the complex way the fees were disguised and layered, John had no idea his investment fees were so high. There were only 2 small reassurances I could make. Firstly, he was not alone –

10,000s of expats in Spain have been set-up with similarly over-priced portfolios as this is widely practised by firms here. Secondly, it’s a very easy problem to solve. John agreed for Chorus to take over the management of his portfolio, and we immediately reduced his annual advisor fee, and sold those over-priced, underperforming funds. John now has a diverse portfolio of FCA regulated funds, with a strong track record from well-known, UK based investment institutions, none of which charged an entry cost. His total fund and ongoing advice fees are down to just 1% per year, meaning John will save significant amounts in fees over the coming years which will have a positive effect on the growth of his plan. The exact overall fees paid will depend on the specific situation so may vary, but

Chorus pride ourselves on fair, transparent and above all, value for money fees. Chorus may not be the oldest, or indeed the biggest company out here in Spain, but we firmly believe that our approach to UK style, truly independent advice, makes us the best. If you would like me to demonstrate where I can help reduce costs and improve the returns on your existing portfolio, including QROPS and Spanish Bonds, please call me today to book a free, no obligation review on 664 398 702. Chorus Financial is a trading style of Tourbillon Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (Gibraltar), licence Number FSC1118B & registered with the UK FCA, ref. 539348.

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FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Property

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Unsold housing stock continues

By Simon Russell

THE number of unsold newly built houses now stands at half a million, the lowest figure since 2007 and the seventh consecutive year the figures have reduced. Although this is tentatively seen as a good indicator of continued recovery in the Spanish housing market,

partly this is down to a marked reduction in houses being built; 40,000 in 2016 compared to 640,000 in 2007. The Valencia Community still has one of the largest stocks of unsold new properties, with the Basque Country at the other end of the scale with a negligible amount.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Refresh

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GARDENING ON THE COSTA BLANCA - Part 2 The first point to be made is DO NOT buy plants at this time of year! As mentioned last week, the beautiful plants available in the Garden Centres have been pampered - spoilt if you will and are simply not prepared to withstand mid-summer conditions on the Costas. Best planting time is the autumn from about the middle of September onwards when you can expect temperatures to drop and rain to fall. All this is assuming that you are planting trees, shrubs or other perennials that you hope to keep going for a number of years. Annuals which will die after flowering will manage without special treatment as th ou Gr d ce lan Image 1 - Ba long as they are watered while vegetables for eating are something else altogether and will be dealt with separately. [See Image 1] You should try to buy small plants that are balanced in growth with only as much above the pot as there are roots in the pot and preferably not growing in a peat or similar based compost. This tends to shrink away when dry leaving the roots dangling in space. It is often advocated that you wash as much nursery compost off the roots as is possible without damaging them. Smaller plants are not only cheaper but are not as disturbed by being planted out and will soon catch up on bigger plants. [See Image 2] Obviously, you should g lin rd Root Gi Image 2 - Excessive

always try to ensure that plants are not root bound – if you can’t (surreptitiously?) check this before you pay for them, take them back if they prove to be so. Root bound means that the roots have begun to fill the pot and spiral round the outside of the root ball. [See Image 3] Then you make a proper planting hole (using dynamite if necessary?) A plant from a 1 or 2 litre pot (about 13 and 17 cm in diameter respectively) will require a planting hole at least 30cms deep and 40cms wide. Don’t add any peat, compost or manure just replace the original soil mixed with a little sand or gravel which will help water to penetrate to the root ball more easily. Firm it in to avoid air pockets but don’t stamp it in! After that comes the watering basin. This should be at least 60cms in diameter and 20cms deep in order to hold 20 or 30 litres of water at a time. (A watering can holds about 10 or 15 litres)This filled every 2 weeks should be enough although hoeing the surface of the basin will help to reduce evaporation. Obviously you can check the speed of your hose by timing how long it takes to fill your watering can. Correct watering, both amount and frequency, is perhaps the most misunderstood

aspect of gardening on the Costa and will be returned in another article. • •

•

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. Contact Numbers:- Chairman Joan Birch 697320169 / Secretary Joy Lally 966498681 or typing in Costa Blanca Gardeners will get you to the Website.

Image 3 - Planting

Hole

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How to survive the Spanish heat What to wear Natural fibres such as Silk, Linen, Cotton or Ramie. Any combination or mix of these fibres is also good. Very important to steer clear from polyester, acrylic lycra, elastane and nylon. These fabrics don Â´ t allow the skin to breath and will keep the heat close to your skin.

Choose pale coloured clothes to wear. White, beige and pastel colours. They are more comfortable than wearing darker colours which absorb heat. Wear a Hat. It protects you from overheating and can help prevent sunstroke. If you have a wide brimmed hat it will prevent you getting a sunburnt neck too (painful) Your hair will also be more protected and stay in good condition too. Especially if you have coloured hair or highlights, a the hat or headscarf will stop your lovely locks from discoloration and drying out. Your hairdresser will be pleased ; ) Again choose pale colours for your headwear. Dark coloured hats will attract heat and may cause you overheat. Parasols are becoming more populat in Spain recently. It seems that the trend is catching on here. Colourful paper parasols are eyecatching but practical. You may also have an umbrella in a white or pale shade to protect yourself from the strong sunshine. Some even protect from UV radiation. Sunglasses. Well in Spain you need them all year rounds and wear them for most of the day. Make sure they have UV protection of course and better to choose a style that covers a large area of the face if possible. Remember to avoid looking directly at the sun as this may hurt your eyes without your glasses on.

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What is a Sexual Health Adviser? My name is Vanessa Harvey and I am a registered nurse specialising in the field of Sexual Health. I operate a clinic at the Family Medical Centre in Albir, near Benidorm. After completing my studies for the Bachelor of Sciences degree in Adult Nursing at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Essex, UK, I undertook further training with the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) plus 3 years in a Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic to specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections, followed by a post-registration course in Reproductive and Sexual Health. I have also continued my professional development by taking an advanced course in genital skin conditions, and have trained in “Delay” techniques to help when counselling young people who are thinking for starting a sexual relationship. I also give talks on sex education for both young people and

adults. I set up my clinic in Albir in October 2016 after learning that anonymous clinics solely for treating these issues, like the GUM clinics in the UK, aren´t available in Spain. The UK is the world leader in its provision of sexual health services so I wanted to bring my expertise here as there is a very real need for the service. I work in the same way here as I did for the NHS. Everyone is welcome and, in order to protect confidentiality, no ID is required. As a Sexual Health Adviser, I offer asymptomatic (no symptoms) and symptomatic (with symptoms) STI screening and treatments exactly as is offered at GUM clinics in the UK. I also advise people on safe and healthy sexual relations, give sex education to young people and adults, advise on the best contraceptive options, conduct contraceptive pill checks, do contact tracing (anonymously contact sexual partners on your behalf), provide risky-behaviour advice and help you to work through mitigating factors, provide vaccinations against Hepatitis, counsel clients and discuss the best ways to tell their sexual partners if a test comes back positive, and can get your HIV test results back within 24hrs. Sexual Health is still a very taboo subject and many people suffer in silence when they don´t have to. I am

very approachable and lend a nonjudgmental ear to all of my clients. I see people of all ages, sexualities, genders, ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, people working in the sex industry, those attending swingers parties, people trying to get pregnant, the list goes on… All I ask of my clients is that they´re completely honest with me about their sexual practices so that I can ensure I provide the best service and appropriate tests for them. Many people ask me if they need to be tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections. My answer is always “yes, if you have ever had sex without a condom”. Here’s why… Imagine you´re a virgin and you have sex with another virgin – you´re coming into contact with the “germs” of just one person. Now, say for example your first sexual partner has had unprotected sex with 5 people prior to you – you´re in contact with the “germs” of 6 people. If you then use the same theory of 5 partners for each new partner you have, and each of their previous partners also having 5 previous partners and so on, by your 10th partner change you´ve come into contact with the “germs” of more than 12 million people!

So even if you think you´re “Okay down there”, it´s still a good idea to get checked after each partner change to ensure you have the All Clear. People spend a lot of money on material items, but very little on their health. A sexual health screen should be part of your annual MOT, especially if you have changed sexual partner. Confidentiality is paramount in my line of work, clients are never discussed within or outside clinic, and should you feel the need to provide an alias when booking, this too is not a problem. After all, people put their trust in me to help them in their time of need and I take this duty extremely seriously. Consultations can be booked by calling the Family Medical Centre on 966 865 072.

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Do Dogs Dream? Whether or not dogs dream isn’t known with scientific certainty, but it sure is difficult to imagine that they don’t. We’ve all watched our dogs demonstrate behaviors in their sleep that resemble what they do in a fully awake state. Paddling legs, whining, growling, wagging tails, chewing jowls, and twitching noses inspire us to wonder what our dogs are dreaming about.

What we know about dogs and dreams While our knowledge on this topic is very limited, the following known information helps us believe that dogs do indeed experience dreams. Matthew Wilson, a professor of neuroscience at MIT in America, and Kenway Louie, a graduate student in 2001, have studied the relationships between memory, sleep and dreams. They found that when rats were trained to run along a circular track for food rewards, their brains created a distinctive firing pattern of neurons (brain cells). The researchers repeated the brain monitoring while the rats were sleeping. Low and behold, they observed the same signature brain activity pattern associated with running whether the

rats were awake or asleep. In fact, the memories played at approximately the same speed during sleep as when the rats were awake.

Can we apply this to dogs? Can we take what is known about dreaming in rats and humans and apply the information to dogs? Wilson believes that we can.”My guess is — unless there is something special about rats and humans — that cats and dogs are doing exactly the same thing,” It is known that the hippocampus, the portion of the brain that collects and stores memories, is wired much the same way in all mammals. According to healthday.com, Professor Wilson says, “If you compared a hippocampus in a rat to a dog; in a cat to a human, they contain all of the same pieces.” He believes that as dogs sleep, images of past events replay in their minds, much the same way people recall experiences while dreaming. In people it is known that most dreams occur during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, according to the National Institutes of Health. Dogs also experience periods of REM sleep. Psychology Today’s website says that during REM their breathing becomes

more irregular and shallow. There may be muscle twitching during REM and, when one looks closely, rapid eye movements behind closed eyelids can often be observed. It is during REM sleep that behaviors thought to be associated with dreaming (legs paddling, twitching, vocalizing, etc.) are most commonly observed. What we want to believe about dog dreams When we observe our dogs as they sleep, it’s just about impossible to imagine that they are not dreaming. Just like the rats studied by Wilson and Louie, it is tempting to believe that our four-legged best buddies are reenacting their recent experiences; playing

at the dog park, sniffing in the woods, chewing on a treasured bone, and chasing squirrels. The National Institutes of Health says that Sigmund Freud theorized that dreaming was a “safety valve” for our unconscious desires. Perhaps he is correct, and, when our dogs sleep, they dream about catching the neighbor’s pesky cat, continuous belly rubs in conjunction with unlimited dog treats, and stealing the Sunday roast from the dining room table. If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

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Read Online Weekender.News

Treating sunburin in children Your baby’s skin: soft, sweet-smelling, vulnerable. You notice that when you’re diapering: irritation develops easily; a soothing cream clears it up like magic. Young skin heals faster than older skin, but it is also less able to protect itself from injury, including injury from the sun. Babies under six months of age should never be exposed to the sun. Babies older than six months should be protected from the sun, and wear UV-blocking sunglasses to protect their eyes. However, if your child is sunburned: -For a baby under one year old, sunburn should be treated as an emergency. Call your doctor immediately. -For a child one year or older, call your doctor if there is severe pain, blistering, lethargy, or fever over 101 F (38.3 C). -Sunburn can cause dehydration. Give your child water or juice to replace body fluids, especially if your child is not urinating regularly.

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RESIDENCIA CANINA Y FELINA BOARDING KENNEL & CATTERY Habitaciones individuales Ozono Hilo musical Calefacción Parques ajardinados Servicio a domicilio Admitimos todas las razas

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Baths in clear, tepid water may cool the skin. -Light moisturizing lotion may sooth the skin, but do not rub it in. If touching the skin is painful, don’t use lotion. -Dabbing on plain calamine lotion may help, but don’t use one with an added antihistamine. -Do not apply alcohol, which can overcool the skin. -Do not use any medicated cream - hydrocortisone, benzocaine - unless your baby’s doctor tells you to. -Keep your child out of the sun entirely until the sunburn heals. -Familarize yourself with the rules of sun protection, and make sure that no matter where you child goes daycare, play dates, nursery school - sun safety is taken into account. Source: http://www.skincancer.org

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

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Whats ON TV

Gogglesprogs

The young TV viewers offer their honest, inimitable and ultimately hilarious take on First Dates, Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Weirdest Events and classic movie Dirty Dancing. Last in the series

Channel 4 9:00pm Fri 28

Big Brother

Season 18 Episode 54 of 54

The Big Brother: Live Final After almost eight weeks, Emma Willis reveals the result of the public vote to choose the winner of Big Brother 2017. Whittling them down one by one, Emma leads the runnersup quickly through the best and worst of their time on Big Brother, until there is only one remaining. She chats to the winner about life in the house, why they think they have won and how it feels to be back in the outside world. Last in the series. Celebrity Big Brother promises to return soon.

Channel 5 10:00pm Fri 28 Jul

Gardenersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; World

Monty Don takes steps to ensure that fruits and vegetables give maximum cropping by dispensing advice on the summer pruning of fruit trees as well as revealing how to get the best from tomatoes and chillies. He also recommends plants that will carry on flowering into the autumn.

BBC2 10:00pm Fri 28 Jul

Death Becomes Her (1992)

Two romantic rivals are both granted the secret of eternal youth by a mysterious mystic. However, as they battle to get their claws into a plastic surgeon, they discover their now-immortal bodies are capable of taking whatever damage they can dish out. Black comedy fantasy, starring Goldie Hawn, Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis and Isabella Rossellini

Live Pre-Season Football ITV 10.30am Sat 29 Jul

Brendan Foster: A Life in Athletics Season 1 Episode 6 of 6

An insight into the career of the broadcaster and former athlete, who won gold as a long distance runner at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games in the 1970s, before going on to become a commentator.

BBC1 2:15pm Sat 29 Jul

The Hobbit: The

Desolation of Smaug (2013)

The party of dwarves and their hobbit ally continue the quest to reclaim their lost kingdom, journeying through the forest home of ancestral enemy the elves and finally facing the dragon that drove them from their home.

BBC1 9:00pm Sat 29 Jul

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017 TV | Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles

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V This Week

All T i Show mes n Ar e Span ish

Live Challenge Cup Rugby League

Wigan Warriors v Salford Red Devils (Kick-off 2.30pm). Tanya Arnold presents coverage of the second semi-final, which takes place at Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington. The Warriors are the most successful club in the history of this competition, having won it on 20 occasions, most recently in 2013, and appearing in 32 finals in total.

BBC2 2:00pm Sun 30 Jul

Ross Kemp: Extreme World

Season 6 Episode 4 of 6

Naples Ross gains unprecedented access to the world of the Camorra crime syndicate as he investigates a street war that has claimed more than 4,000 lives in Naples

Sky 1 10:00pm Sun 30 Jul

Poldark

Season 2 Episode 5 of 5

Ross is determined to ensure that George loses in the election, and resolves to make up for some of Trenwith’s neglect - he also becomes aware of Hugh’s feelings for Demelza as he returns to Nampara to find them together.

BBC1 London 9:00pm Sun 30

Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 3 of 7

The Queen’s Justice - New series Daenerys holds court, Cersei returns a gift, and Jaime learns from his mistakes

Sky Atlantic 3:00am Sky Atlantic 10:00PM Mon 31 Jul

Holiday Horrors: Caught on Camera Season 2 Episode 2 of 4

Another selection of clips showcasing what can go wrong on holiday, including an unexpected visitor to a couple’s tent on their safari holiday, footage from a GoPro camera lost at sea, and a man who took a flight to the edge of space

ITV 10:00pm Mon 31 Jul

In the Dark

Season 1 Episode 4 of 4

Helen finds herself in more danger as the investigation pulls her further into Manchester’s criminal underworld. Paranoid, vulnerable but unperturbed, she tracks down the gang responsible for the shooting - before the case throws up some shocking revelations. And can Theo cheat death as the gang continues to be hunted by a mystery gunman? Last in the series

BBC1 10:00pm Tue 1 Aug

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

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QUICK CROSSWORD

Across

1. Pharaoh’s tomb (7) 5. Documents to be filled in (5) 8. Stow (5) 9. Out of the ordinary (7) 10. Moral (7) 11. Ostentatious (5) 12. Powerful (6) 14. Pursued (6) 18. Books (5) 20. Injurious (7) 22. Steal (7) 23. Early part of life (5) 24. Garb (5) 25. Make intelligible (7)

Down

1. Own (7) 2. Freshwater fish of the carp family (5) 3. Red Indian style haircut (7) 4. Twofold (6) 5. Smoke ducts (5) 6. Harshly loud (7) 7. Foolish (5) 13. Regret (7) 15. Get a move on (7) 16. Marine mammal (7) 17. Alter (6) 18. Lukewarm (5) 19. Retail businesses (5) 21. The animals found in a particular area (5)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

Down

1 Wan publican’s first drink (4)

1 South American rave-up in ruins (8) 2 Tulip may be illuminated (3,2) 4 Stop copper and solicitor (3,3) 5 Old friends providing gems (5) 6 New part, new port (7) 7 Son’s beginning to anger father (4) 8 Material contained in half a brick (6) 13 I mention sound or vision (8) 15 Rough terrain for coach (7) 17 Quarreling â€” or turning up on side (6) 18 Time to add salt and pepper? (6) 20 Raised collection when in distress (5) 22 Girl with head of hair like a leprechaun? (5) 23 Youngster devouring hot fish (4)

3 Circus performers with fleece in a musical (8) 9 Take back religious education pamphlet (7) 10 Flower beheaded more quickly (5) 11 Five plus one for each adder (5) 12 Invisible nun wandering around diocese (6) 14 Tomfoolery? Not for leaders in Civil Service (6) 16 Prize required for astrophysicist (6) 19 River possibly making a U-bend (6) 21 Glendower’s land heard plaintive cries (5) 24 Frank almost gets sharp (5) 25 Evil ruler going under (7) 26 Singer turning into bear (8) 27 Small crudely built house is closed (4)

Sudoku

Easy

Medium

Hard

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

TV | Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles

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TAURUS

you’re more of a social animal this week. There’s also an edge to you. It’s called ambition. Crossed 21st) words or a TAURUS (April 21st-May power to struggle is all about someone Expect experience an eventful understanding that we all must take week where family is concerned, the rough with the smooth. Nostalgia orsuits because they think they’re you.

SCORPIO

your signal for fun, laughter and generally feeling good. Spend time SCORPIO (Oct 24th-Nov 22nd) and on getting creative midweek, You’re hungry forshake, success there’ll be plenty of rattle,and and you instinctively thatarrives. with roll by the time theknow weekend the right attitude you’ll manage You’re on fire. Well done.

SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN

but you’ll feel like you’re in a balanced place again by the weekend. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23rd-Dec 21st) CAPRICORN (Dec 22nd-Jan 20th) You’re in aand positive mood time this A very fast unpredictable week everything seems to be awaits as some Capricorns. The sun in falling exactlythat intoit’s place. Work is Pisces means a fast-paced going any discord in your week inwell, general. A revelation at relationships should be onsocial the the weekend stimulates your way out, finances have life, and thisyour is a time to be among stabilised and the outlook for a positive people.

to climb one ladder or a number right, but also you think that SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23rd-Dec 21st) GEMINI (MayIt’s 22nd-June of them, whether that’s socially you’re right. at times21st) like this You’ve extra-special connection to Your individuality amazingside and or at an work. Just don’t step on your placid,is patient TAURUS where SCORPIO the roots of your life and there’ll be you’re strong and purposeful. The sun anyone’s toes. Great news does you a great favour because lots of family issues to be dealt with. in Pisces puts you under the spotlight the might weekend and reminds you you don’t feel the to week, have the lastirritation word reaches you byThis get deep and memories for need one last yet an to use your intuition overflying a love conundrum. all the time. There’s something secretive about could come back. There’ll be a needs to be ironed out at the start of fewyour surprises at the top up of the week, heart? That’s to you. your weekend. the week – possibly at work. The rest Should you follow

GEMINI

GEMINI CANCER

of the week and the weekend should be plain sailing. GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st) CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd) Confl ict early in the The sun in your sisterweek sign quickly of Pisces disappears, allowing youin your to means that you’ll strike out move onto a way, smoother own individual plus thistime also opens the your board. mind toMinor help you see across family the Opportunity aff airs bigger may picture. still need some could strikebut without and the attention, usingwarning your charm outlook for the weekend is dramatic will get you what you want. Work

looks bright. Use the charm and money improve slowly but at least you feel new love interest AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th) LEO (July 24th-August 23rd) what want at the weekend. that you’re finallyExpect getting there. sunyou concentrates its rays on what a changeable type of week offensive to getThe

LEO

when people are hard to second guess. The sky also shifts your focus towards taking a constructive stance CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd) over your long-term plans. It’s all in Now that atyou’ve found your the timing the weekend. voice andthings your confidence Don’t rush

has returned, you’ll find your VIRGO (August 24th-Sept 23rd) innovative ideas being well The sun in your opposite sign received by across the board of means you’ll be dealing with ALL life. Midweek, the cosmos CANCER your your relationships this week. This smiles upon well-starred your personal and is extremely so please social life and this might help you get noticed don’t panic. You’ll be quirky in your by someone special. There’s a bonanza the and your at thought VIRGO communications weekend. processes midweek.

you want for you, and you come to know your worth this week if you don’t already. This is a time of self. Of individuality. sky also20th) opens CAPRICORN (DecThe 22nd-Jan up so many opportunities at the Good news sees you looking weekend for those of you looking to to a fresh start this AQUARIUS forward make a connection. week and it’s just the thing PISCES 20th-March to lift (Feb your spirits. 20th) Positive There’s no stopping you, and right from developments and the top of the week,atyourwork individuality might you like will set you apartmake - as will yourfeel thought CAPRICORN home you’re inAllclover points, and processes. of thisat cosmic goodness even what looked liketoimpossible scenarios conspires make you a winner in the eyes of in people who matter. You Plant can’t career seem to be turning your favour. seeds andpage watchof them grow. waitPISCES to turn to the next your life Travel story.is also well starred.

LEO (July 24th-August 23rd)

AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th)

VIRGO (August 24th-Sept 23rd)

PISCES (Feb 20th-March 20th)

The sun’s now in your sign You’ve got to going on this and this opens up your big week and everybody wants a heart to love, and your mind piece of you. If love has been to new and brilliant ideas. Use absent from your life, this your fabulous creativity when may well be the week where you voice your opinions and fate smiles on you and brings LEO AQUARIUS others will be more receptive someone new into your circle. to listening to what you have to say. You’re Friendship is also strong. Trust your instincts positive and focused at the weekend, so please and listen to your inner voice before making don’t let your pride get in the way of this. your move - and this advice applies right across the board of your life. No one can doubt your Loved ones are candid about communication skills this week. their feelings this week and some You’re also brilliant when it of the things they say may take comes to reading between the you by surprise. Don’t go on the lines. If there’s any awkwardness defensive yourself. Hear them at all, please try to mix humour PISCES out. Please watch your finances VIRGO into the proceedings, and and lose that cavalier attitude especially if you have a serious point to make. over spending, especially on others. Are you too It’ll be better received. The cosmos reminds you generous? You definitely feel like doing something to work harder at all your relationships. different at the weekend.

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LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd) ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) Be careful how you23rd) introduce Your charm, 21st-April creativity ARIES (March 20th)and LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct The inactivityreturn and inertia that’sforce been You’ll take a cool, at impartial at new concepts this look week, originality in full surrounding you could good you finances this week. The Pisces because if others feel sun thatinyou’re this week and you’llbego allforout because it pours cold water on your is about rolling up those sleeves, pushing them into something toimpulsiveness. prove yourself in a number The sun in Pisces helps getting yourrebel. shoulder to get the more wheel they may You’ll ofyou ways. you look If over theget waythe the chance last year to has and making work vinegar, for you. with honey things than with turn situation ARIES gone.aTime to changearound, direction?please Finance LIBRA Whatever it is you’re after, if you set it so downplay your need to waste any time dithering. also crops up in conversation at the top ARIES don’t up now, you stand a better chance of LIBRA of the week and you’re in charge.a new succeed or they’ll think your interests at purely It’s not you. Relationships have reached isn’t entirely fair.22nd) Have fun level of understanding this could be cause self interested, which TAURUSand (April 21st-May 21st) SCORPIO (Oct 24th-Nov for celebration atEven the ifweekend. you’re on the shy side of Taurus at the weekend.Sun in your sister sign of Pisces is

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HOROSCOPES

BOND 25 ANNOUNCEMENT

James Bond to return in By Spencer Williams

James Bond will return to cinemas on November 8, 2019 with a traditional earlier release in the UK and the rest of the world. Bond 25; the next adventure in the longrunning action franchise, will be written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, long time collaborators and writers on previous Bond films including CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, SKYFALL and SPECTRE. The film will be produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. Additional details regarding distribution, including international release dates, the film’s cast and

2019

director, will be announced at a later date. Frontrunners have been revealed according to Deadline Magazine; however the press release didn’t reveal who the cast or director would be, let alone if Daniel Craig would return for a fifth movie. While Christopher Nolan has been hotly tipped to direct a new James Bond movie – something he’s admitted himself – the Dunkirk director isn’t one of the three frontrunners for James Bond 25. According to Deadline, it’s Yann Demange, Denis Villeneuve and David Mackenzie – all of whom have had meetings.

Frank Sinatra’s WIfe Dies By Spencer Williams

Barbara Sinatra, philanthropist and fourth and last wife of Frank Sinatra, has passed at the age of 90. She died of natural causes on Tuesday surrounded by family and friends at her home in Rancho Mirage, California, according to John Thoresen, director of the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. The former Las Vegas showgirl and model, who was previously married to Zeppo Marx of The Marx Brothers, wed Sinatra in 1976 and they were together until his death from a heart attack in 1998 - the longest lasting of the singer’s marriages. In 1986, Barbara and Frank founded the Barbara Sinatra Children’s

Center, which provides services for abused, neglected and at-risk children, in LA and she was actively involved in the facility. In 2011 she published the book Lady Blue Eyes: My Life with Frank Sinatra in which she recalled her first meeting her future husband when she was asked to be a doubles partner with Frank’s second wife, Ava Gardner. Barbara told said in 2011 that she wasn’t bothered by Frank remaining on good terms with his ex-wives, Gardner, Mia Farrow and his first wife, Nancy Barbato. “A very wise French lady once said to me: ‘You never worry about old flames. You worry about new ones,’” she said.

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FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017 Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles

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CODE CRACKER

Scribble Pad

Find the 9 letter word and as many other words as you can!

SCORE

BRILLIANT < 70 EXCELLENT< 55 GOOD < 25 FOR KIDS < 15

FM A L U D I SE Puzzle Solutions

QUICK CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

CODE CRACKER

Find the 9 letter word! sulfamide (9) feudalism (9) sulfide (7) mislead (7) misfuel (7) misdeal (7) medusal (7) dualism (7) smiled (6)

Back In

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Talent champ Pudsey dies By Jack Troughton

BRITAIN’S Got Talent winner Pudsey the dancing dog has died aged 11 after a shor t battle with leukaemia. A cross between a border collie, bich on frise and Chinese crested, he won the telev ision talent show in 2012 with owner Ashleig h Butler in 2012; and went on to perform in fron t of the Queen as the first dog act to win the com petition. Paying tribute to her pet, Ashleigh, of Wellingborough in Northamptonshire, desc ribed him as a “beautiful boy” who had chan ged her life. In October 2012, a book ‘Pudsey: My Autobidography’ was published charting his rise to fame and he hit the silver screen in 2014 taking the title role in the film ‘Pudsey the Dog: The Movie’. Following their big win, Ash leigh and Pudsey travelled to America to perform on America’s Got talent and appeared on The Tonight Show. Tributes poured in after Ashleigh rele ased the news Pudsey had been put to sleep to spare him suffering, Britain’s Got Talent post ing on Twitter: “We are saddened to hear that today we lost Pudsey, a most marvellous winner. Our thoughts are with Ashleigh.” Ashleigh said: “I had to make the hard est decision of my life to let my beautiful boy go to sleep at the age of 11. From the minute he was born he brought nothing but joy to me, and as a winner of BGT millions of others who adored him too. “No words can express just how muc h I

will miss him. He changed my life and I have so many wonderful memories of our time toge ther. He will always be in my heart.” Comedian David Walliams, one of the talen t show’s judges, posted: “Farewell to a very special dg that the nation fell in love with.”

LATEST VICTIMS OF UK’S ‘FACE-MELTER’ Two young men suffered scorched and bleached skin and were ‘screami ng in agony’ after having acid thrown in their faces in the latest London ‘face-me lter’ attack. The victims were heard franticall y yelling: ‘We’ve got acid on us’ and staggered into an off licence in Bethnal Green begging for help just before 7pm last night. Shocking footage of the aftermath shows the men had litres of bottled water poured over them before fire fighters arrived and used their hoses to douse them down. One of the victims, Shakwat Hussain, 24, is due to be released from Broomfie ld Hospital in Chelmsfo rd today after being treated overnigh t at a specialis t burns unit. He and a friend flagged down a police car for help before running into a shop screamin g in agony for help after the liquid was thrown on them.

Britain

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

WICKED MOTHER SUFFOCATED 2 YEAR O LD

A ‘wicked and appalling’ young moth er who suffocated her two-year-old daughter after sending the girl’s father ‘one last picture’ of her was jailed for 16 years. Cody-Anne Jackson, 20, killed little Mac ey Hogan after sending her father a message reading: ‘Sorry, just thought you deserved one last picture and memory of her.’ Jackson used a dressing gown cord or pillow to ‘smother or strangle’ Macey a week after the toddler’s father, Paul Hogan, 22, had moved out of the family home. Stafford Crown Court heard she killed her daughter in an act of ‘cold, callous revenge’ agai nst her exboyfriend. Police found Macey’s body at the house in Stokeon-Trent, Staffordshire, on October 10 last year after Jackson dialled 999 saying the tot was not breathing. Dramatic video footage shows the moment officers were forced to smash their way into the house where they found the toddler lying dead. They also found Jackson, who was 19 at the time of the murder, with knife wounds. Jackson originally denied murder but dram atically changed her plea six days into her trial.

PARADE FOR PRINCE PHILIP BUCKINGHAM Palace has revealed the date and venue of Prince Philip’s last public engagement before his retirement this autumn. The Duke of Edinburgh’s last outing as the Queen’s consort will take place on Wednesday, August 2. He will attend a Royal Marines’ charity parade outside Buckingham Palace before stepping back from official duties at the age of 96. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said that the ceremony would “bring His Royal Highness’s individual programme to a conclusion, although he may choose to attend certain events, alongside the Queen, from time to time”. The parade will formally bring to an end more than 60 years’ of distinguished public service by the Duke, which was not without its humour and controversry. The prince is renowned for his many public gaffes, which have amused and offended in equal measure. Some of his best known mishaps include telling

workers at a Scottish factory that a fusebox looked to have been installed “by an Indian” when in fact he meant “cowboy”. He once turned to a group of deaf children stood next to a steel band in Cardiff and said: “Deaf? If you are near there, no wonder you are deaf.” In 2003 he told the President of Nigeria that his national dress made him look “ready for bed” and in 2002 during a visit to Australia he asked an aboriginal leader: “Do you still chuck spears at each other?” The palace announced in May that the prince had made the decision to retire from the public eye with the support of the Queen. Although the royal is largely good health, he has missed several engagements in recent months with illness. Last month he was unable to attend the state opening of Parliament as he underwent treatement in hospital for a bladder infection. But both the Duke and Buckingham Palace have always denied his decision to retire was based on health grounds.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Local Lookout

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New Hospital Planned By Simon Russell THE group which owns the Hospital Clinica Benidorm and several other private clinics in the area has made public its plans to open a private hospital in Denia. They have been printed in the official newsletter of the Valencian Generalitat and involve using a site on Denia’s Avenida Gandia to construct a 30 bed clinic. However, Denia Town Hall has said that they have received no official requests from anyone regarding the purchase and

Looking after visitors By Edward Graham

conversion of the site. Benidorm Clinic also owns private hospitals in El Albir,

Calpe, Jalon and Calpe plus various other medical interests across the Alicante province.

Feeling the pinch By Simon Russell

TOURISM plays a key part in the Costa Blanca economy and a new town hall awareness campaign looks to build on the relationship. Teulada Moraira’s initiative called ‘it is our common interest’ – or ‘En Man de Tots’ – looks to build a role model for a sustainable future. Mayor Carlos Linares launched the move, saying the municipality was a tourist destination and owed visitors “big time”; so it was important to realize what it meant to the area and its people. “The improvement in our quality of life and quality of our services has been possible thanks to tourism and, therefore, we have to preserve and improve tourism so it will never decrease or fail,” he said. He said it was important to educate residents and businesses in ways of explaining the area’s identity and way of life, the council publishing a booklet ‘Good Tourism Practices’ to help in the long term strategy. The aim is to communicate the importance of visitors to help Teulada Moraira become a better holiday destination.

PEOPLE have been urged to be cautious when wearing jewellery in the summer after firefighters had to be called in to remove a ring from a girl in Calpe this week. The youngster purchased the new ring and wore it on her middle finger which then swelled up, cutting off her circulation. She went to the local health centre but the staff there couldn’t remove the jewellery and had to call firemen who used special cutting equipment to eventually remove the item. The girl was unharmed by the procedure – unlike her new ring unfortunately.

Clubs & Charity -

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All the world’s a stage By Edward Graham BIG-HEARTED Freemasons played their part in helping the youngsters and staff of Calpe’s Gargasindi School stage a successful musical production in La Nucia. Members of the Armonia Lodge of Calpe donated €501 to help pay for the colourful costumes needed for the performance at the Auditorium if La Nucia.

The school caters for children with special needs from across the Costa Blanca and 90 youngsters and their teachers took part in the show. Students and staff put on a show every two years and it is hoped to repeat the success of La Nucia by repeating the performance in Calpe in February. Pictured are two Lodge members with (left) councillor Carole Saunders and a member of the school’s teaching staff.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Local Lookout

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Sniffed Out! By SImon Russell BENIDORM is using a specially trained dog to help it fight the problems that can arise with drugs over the summer months. The German Shepherd has been seconded in along with a specially trained handler to start patrolling the streets. The dog will be used on the night shift when narcotics are more likely to be around and, if successful, the city may consider adding a second dog. This move has not been well received by the police union who have said that the new arrival is something of a smokescreen for the real problem

Clubs & Charity -

of the cities understaffed police force, many of whom are coming up to retirement age. However Benidorm has recently said that it does intend to create twenty new roles in the near future.

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A perfect recipe FUN and friendship were ideal ingredients as members and friends of the Church of England in Albir gathered together for an enjoyable afternoon. Hazel and Tony Layt hosted the event on a steaming hot and sticky afternoon – Tony getting even warmer as he took on chef duties and cooked paella at the couple’s finca. The 20 guests were challenged with a quiz and

no one managed more than 50% success, despite some competitors remembering seeing the questions several years ago. The meal started with a variety of nibbles and dips, followed by as much of Tony’s traditional Spanish rice dish as people could find room for, and ending with a choice of three desserts. The church congratulated Hazel, Tony and their helpers after another successful social function – there are several

organised throughout the year – which helps build fellowship within the congregation. A service of Holy Communion is held in Albir every Sunday at 9.45am. It is held in the Norwegian Seaman’s Church in Carrer Mart, near the Rober Plas Hotel. Every Thursday at 11am at the Forum Mare Nostrum, Alfaz del Pi there is also a service of Holy Communion and the second Thursday of each month is a healing service. For further information,

call the local Church Warden Elaine Mitchell on 96 686 4962 or 636 164 467. Albir is one of eight congregations in the Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy from Gandia to El Campello; full details are available at: www.costablancaanglicanchaplaincy.org



By Edward Graham

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Motoring

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Mazda 6 Tourer (2012)

The Mazda 6 Tourer is exactly what you would expect it to be – a well built and practical family car with plenty of space. It’s also one of best family estate cars on sale, with excellent handling, strong engines and a well-finished cabin. The higher roofline means back row space is better in the Tourer than the saloon, with ample head and legroom even for adult occupants. The boot has a volume of 506 litres, with a nice wide hatch and a flat floor,

making it ideal for getting bulky items like pushchairs in and out. Folding the seats down frees up 1632 litres of space. The engine range is straightforward, with either a 2.0-litre petrol or 2.2-litre diesel on offer. The former produces 145PS or 165PS, while the latter is offered with outputs of 150PS or 175PS. The petrol versions are capable and fairly economical and, in practice, there is little difference between the two diesel variants. We’d recommend the 150PS diesel option for most buyers.

It’s versatile, with a broad spread of torque giving good performance on the road – yet it’s also economical. Official figures are 67.3mpg and while that might not be feasible in real world driving, fuel bills should still be very small for such a large and practical car. The 6, whether in saloon or estate form, is a great car to drive, with precise, well-weighted steering, a satisfying gear change and a sense of nimbleness that belies the car’s size. The Mondeo might have been the most

enjoyable driver’s car in its class in the past, but the Mazda6 has probably taken the crown now. But competition is stiff. The Ford Mondeo matches the Mazda 6 in every key area, while the Volkswagen Passat Estate is more refined has a more spacious and versatile load area. But the Mazda 6 Tourer is certainly worth a look – its practical, well-made cabin, stylish looks and excellent driving capabilities make it very appealing indeed.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Motoring

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FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Local Sport

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BETTAS TORREVIEJA RFC KEEP MOVING FORWARD Last week saw numbers increase again in both the ladies and junior section, specially on the Sunday morning thanks to all of the great publicity and the hard work been put in by the players helping to push the recruitment forward. It is really good seeing this new team going in the right direction as it takes a lot of hard work by the people involved at the club to do this. Make their dream come true to get at least 30 players by September ready for training to enter the league. This would be a great achievement.

Due to the summer festivals etc it would be best to contact Javi on the number below to check where the training is, but normally on Wednesday it will be on the beach at Naufragos Beach Torrevieja from 20.30-22.00 and on Sunday in the morning at the athletics track at 11.30. So looking forward to seeing even more people down there this week, so come and join the newest ladies team in the area and join in the fun. For more information about the team and training contact Javi on 603 727 179

Marathon Night runners THE 34th Benidorm Half Marathon will be run at night for the first time it has been announced. The 10k run, Benidormâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest sporting event, attracts runners from all over Spain and Europe and is regarded as one of the highlights of the Spanish athletics calendar; it now receives the official seal of approval of the Royal Spanish Athletics Association. The route is through the streets and past the beaches of the city, and over the weekend of the race there will be several other activities, both sporting and gastronomic. Normally held in November the race itself is now being held on 3 March next year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so plenty of time to get in training.

Sport

FRIDAY 14TH JULY 2017

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FRIDAY 28TH JULY

Sport

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Garcia to play British Masters

Golf star Sergio Garcia has confirmed he will be heading to the North East to take part in this year’s British Masters. The Spaniard has accepted an invitation from Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood to play in the event at Close House Golf Club in Northumberland. It will be the first time a European Tour event will be held in the county since 2002, and it will be hosted by Mr Westwood, who has been a Close House tour pro since 2011. Mr Garcia told Sky Sports: “It’s going to be great. Lee came to play our charity event last year in Switzerland, Sergio and Friends, so he made a great effort to come over there right after The

Open Championship. “He asked me if I would do the same thing for him for the British Masters and obviously he is a good friend of mine, so I said yes. “I’m excited about it. I played it as an amateur a couple of times and I have good memories. “It should be fun to go back there and it seems like the last couple of years the event has taken a big step forward and it looks really fun, so we will try to have a great weekend at Close House.” The world’s best golfers will compete over four days on the luxury 18-hole course, which is nestled between the banks of the River Tyne and Hadrian’s Wall. Mr Westwood

told Sky Sports that plans to bring the tournament to the region got a brilliant reception from fans. He said: “I’ve known Sergio for a long time, since he came out on tour. When he was playing events as an amateur, you keep an eye

Taylor sets up MVG clash Phil Taylor thrashed rival Raymond van Barneveld 11-3 to storm through to the Quarter-Finals of the 2017 World Matchplay - where he will meet defending champion Michael van Gerwen. Taylor, appearing in his 24th and final World Matchplay, kept the dream of a fairy-tale 16th Blackpool crown alive with a ruthless rout of his great rival. In the 80th and potentially last competitive meeting between the legendary duo, ‘The Power’ reeled off seven consecutive legs to shatter the

Dutchman’s hopes of a maiden Matchplay crown. “I just didn’t give him a chance,” admitted Taylor. “It was a lot easier than I expected. “Raymond didn’t seem to hit his doubles and that dropped his confidence. “Raymond never gives in and his scoring was lovely, but a couple of his doubles let him down tonight and he’s a better player than that.” “I feel relaxed, I’m enjoying it and if I win - it’s an extra bonus,” he added.

on someone when everyone is talking about them. “And then obviously we’ve been partners in The Ryder Cup, which was special. I remember playing together at the Belfry. I was in a bit of a slump and Sergio was the

ideal partner for me. “He really helped me and I ended up having a good week and we’ve been friends ever since. He’s just a nice guy. I like going out for dinner and playing golf with him. I just enjoy his company.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Sport

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Ferrer hits winner!

J AV E A - B O R N tennis star David Ferrer hopes to be back to winning ways after lifting the silverware in the Swedish Open in Bastad; his third victory in the competition. The 35-year-old defeated Ukrainian Alexander Dolgopolov 6-4, 6-4 on his seventh match point to win the ATP event; his first title since winning in Vienna 24 years ago which has seen his ranking slide to 46th. His aim is to get back into the ATP top 10 and victory came in a season ‘veterans’ are enjoying success

– Roger Federer, Feliciano Lopez, and Victor Estrella Burgos also lifting titles; just the second time in the open era that at least four players aged 35 and over have claimed ATP World Tour crowns. It was Ferrer’s 27th tour title and the player – once ranked third in the world – believes it will extend his career and show he can still be competitive. “I am going week by week, match by match, and I still have the motivation. I know it will be very difficult getting back in the

Top 10, but if I stay competitive like this week, I will play next year for sure. I still enjoy playing tennis, but it’s different as I am 35-years-old,” he said. The Spanish player, who previously won the Swedish Open in 2007 and 2012, joins Magnus Gustafsson, Mats Willander and Bjorn Borg, to be the only players to win Bastad at least three times. And winning the title immediately paid dividend to Ferrer’s quest to climb the rankings again; earning him a 13 spot boost.

FRIDAY 28TH JULY 2017

Sport

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Ladies leaping at Lords ENGLAND’S women cricketers celebrated well into the night after beating India to lift the World Cup final trophy at Lord’s over the weekend. In a game that looked to be slipping away from them, the bowlers suddenly turned things around with India going from 1913 to 219 all out chasing only 228 for victory. Star performer for the English women was Anya Shrubsole who took 6 wickets for 46 runs, including the final wicket that gave them victory. England last won the prestigious trophy in 2009 and have since been undergoing a period of rebuilding, something which is now clearly paying off. Captain Heather Knight said after the win “I can’t stop smiling. I am so proud of this group of girls. We made it hard for ourselves – but I couldn’t care less!” Unlucky India have played in two World Cup finals now, but were on the losing side both times.

Chris Vroom-Froome From back page... Froome said the 2017 title will be remembered for a hardfought battle with GC rivals. “Each time I’ve won the tour it’s so unique and different and it is such a different battle to get to this moment. “It feels amazing.

The Champs Elysees never disappoints, it’s something magical. When you’ve spent three weeks thinking about being here in this moment, it is so rewarding every time.” Next month Froome will again have the chance of a double when he competes

in Spain’s La Vuelta; last year he narrowly lost out to Columbian Nairo Quintana in the gruelling competition. However, the Team Sky rider did thrill Costa Blanca fans with victory in the Javea to Calpe time trial and is pictured on the podium after the stage win.

Premier League Friday 11th August Arsenal v Leicester

Saturday 12th August

Watford v Liverpool C.Palace v Huddersfield West Brom v Bournemouth Brighton v Man City Everton v Stoke City Southampton v Swansea Chelsea v Burnley

Sunday 13th August Newcastle v Tottenham Man Utd v West Ham FORMULA ONE July 30th - Hungarian GP --Summer Break-August 27th - Belgian GP RUGBY LEAGUE

Challenge Cup Semi Final Saturday 29th July Hull FC v Leeds Rhin os Sunday 30th July Wigan Warriors v Salf ord Red Devils

Betfred Super League

Thursday 3rd August Castleford Tigers v St Helens

FRIDAY 21ST JULY 2017

Weekender Sport

FROOME IS SKY HIGH CYCLIST Chris Froome is celebrating his fourth Tour de France victory; the first rider to take three titles in a row after the legendary Miguel Indurain won a run of five triumphs between 1991 and 1995. After sealing the title in Marseille on Saturday in the 22.5km time trial, Sunday saw Froome, a Team Sky rider, enjoy the victory parade into Paris, finishing riding down the cobbles

of the Champs-Elysees with a well-deserved glass of bubbly in hand. A record five titles were achieved by Indurain, Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx; and achievement now in 32-year-old Froome’s sights. He won the Tour in 2013, 2015, and 2016. Team Sky has now won five of the last six races, Sir Bradley Wiggins tasted victory in 2012.

Another victory will draw Froome put the cyclist in the exclusive ‘five win club’ and in the history books of the 114-yearold race. And he said: “It’s a huge honour to be talked about in the same sentence as those guys with their place in history of the Tour de France; it is just a privilege to even be in the position to be going for that kind of record.” Continued page 45...