BRITCHAT The international magazine for the Valencian Community
World Cup Special Sponsored by Portland Ale House
Read our 4 page pullout to find out when the big games are on, and the best places to watch them.
Also in this issue| The hotspot of Alcoy| I heart Valencia - Big Ben vs El Miguelete| This month’s fiestas and parties| Valencia’s up & coming artists| Playing safe in the sun| Cinema Jove Film Festival| and more..|
Important numbers Fire| 080 Local police | 092 Medical emergancy| 061 General emergency| 112 French embassy| 96 351 0359 British embassy| 96 3520710 USA embassy| 96 351 6973 Dutch embassy| 96 341 4633 German embassy| 96 310 62 53 Legal chat We do our very best to strive for accuracy in this magazine but we do not accept responsibility for any unintentional errors or omissions. Any opinions given in the magazine are just that – opinions – and as such they may differ from the reader’s own.
Welcome to Britchat Dear Readers, Time itself never changes, but times do and it is with some sadness and regret, that this month, I announce my departure from Britchat and write to you all for the last time. My partner and I are moving on to pursue other business elsewhere and Andy and Kelly, who also own the brilliant, new book exchange shop in Valencia called KandA Books, have taken on Britchat with another friend, Sean. Your advertisements will of course be equally valued by the new team, who will continue to publish them all. So then, I’ll take this opportunity to wish you all the best of luck in these still difficult times and, knowing some of their background and experience, I believe I can safely say that they’ll make an excellent effort in keeping Britchat going for you, with the same aims and objectives and every bit as, if not more, interesting and successful. We hope you’ll all continue to both support and benefit from Britchat. ¡Que tengáis todos buena suerte! ¡Hasta siempre! Chris Proctor 4| News 5| Holidays & parties 6| Valencia community 8| I heart Valencia 10| Restaurant of the month 11| Free in Valencia 12| Bar of the month 14| Cinema 15| World Cup Special 19| Tierra 20| Music 22| Art in the community 23| Art to see this month 24| Talking teaching 25| Health 26| Charity of the month 27| A little help 28| Events, classifieds 29| F1 30| Downtime, recipe 31| Animals
Hello and welcome to this month’s edition of (and our first) Britchat. First of all, a big thanks to Chris & John for all their hard work and for helping us take over Britchat so easily. I am sure many of you will miss them, and we hope they are settling in well back at home. You’ll notice some changes each month as we try to bring you a fresh and interesting read. With everyone gearing up for the World Cup, our four page World Cup section will point you towards the right time and place for the right match. Alongside the already established Sports and Charity sections you’ll find Top Trumps in I love Valencia, Music, Tierra & Art and with the weather finally picking up, check out our Health section on how to take care of yourself when making those frequent trips to the beach. We hope you enjoy the new-look magazine and look forward to hearing your opinions and suggestions. Happy reading, Sean, Kelly & Andy
Contact us information email| britchateditor@gmail.com phone| 639 740 746 - English speakers phone| 628 831 400 - Spanish speakers If you have any thoughts, comments or complaints, please email or phone us. If you are interested in advertising with us, please use the same details.
News Cycling in Spain| New traffic laws are now in force in Valencia and a lot of them are aimed directly at cyclists. As of the 26th May 2010 cycling on pavements will no longer be tolerated, nor listening to iPods, talking on a mobile phone or travelling faster than 30 Km/h in designated areas of that kind while on your bike. Failure to use reflective aids such as a jacket, arm or leg reflector to enhance visibility to other road users will also be punishable by fines. Cycling at night will also mean that you need a front light and a rear reflector as a minimum. Cyclists must now use the designated cycle paths or if those are not available, cycle in the traffic and follow the same rules as engine driven transport. Care should also be taken when parking bikes on pavements. If they are deemed to be obstructive to pedestrians a fine may also follow. The fines range from 90 to 300 Euros. There are also other plans afoot to restrict cyclists to only the existing and proposed new cycle paths while in the Turia river bed area.
|4| Mosquitos| Malaria was believed to be eradicated in Spain in the middle of the last century but a recent report by the University of Valencia has shown that since 1983 (the last year of zero cases), instances of the disease have grown in Valencia year on year to 70 in 2008. Scientists believe that the disease has been brought back by tourists and others coming to the Valencian region for work.
The findings state that of the thirty types of mosquitoes that they found in the Valencia region – seven are capable of carrying and passing on Malaria. The scientists are focussing on the Aedes albopictus (or Tiger Mosquito) which can be present for up to 40 weeks a year (allowing them a great deal of time for breeding) due to the high temperatures and number of hours of sunlight. This pest is very aggressive and can carry not only Malaria but Yellow Fever as well. Anyone showing symptoms of these diseases should head straight to their nearest medical centre. Symptoms include chills, headaches, back pain, fever, muscle aches, fatigue, nausea and weakness (and vomiting for Yellow Fever). Please remember though that numbers are still relatively small and there is no real reason to panic should you be bitten. In 99.99% of cases the worst that will happen is an allergic reaction causing puffiness and itching. If you are one of the unlucky ones that they seem to focus on, remember to use repellent around dusk and dawn times when they are at their hungriest.
30 June 1520 - Montezuma, the last of the Aztec emperors dies. He was (possibly) either killed by his own people or murdered by the Conquistadors. Gets his revenge by regularly giving diarrhoea to unsuspecting visitors to Mexico.
Holidays & parties
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Advanced
June and July are probably the only months with no official bank holidays, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be short of a party or two.
three times to burn away your problems. But if you’re going to go down this route, please find a nice small fire and take off your flip-flops first.
June| To welcome in the beginning of the summer, the San Juan Fiesta will start on 23rd of June - the shortest night of the year. The celebrations will take place all over Spain, especially on the beaches.
Entering the sea at midnight will apparently wash away those pesky evil spirits too. July| In 1870 the local government set up a holiday in July, to encourage the wealthy residents to stay in the city, rather than escape the heat, taking their money with them.
Unsurprisingly there will be music, dancing and fireworks, but there’ll also be bonfires, midnight dips and the mixing of herbs to make this a night to remember.
This has now grown, and the month of July is full of parties, concerts, celebrations and fun, making it a great month to be around. It’s called Feria de Julio, and it makes Valencia one of the best places to be in the summer.
There are a few traditions thrown into the mix to look out for, or even join in on. The women amongst you can prepare perfumed water mixing scents of seven plants – including rosemary, rose and laurel – and purify yourselves by bathing and washing in this water. The day will be spent with Valencianos building the bonfires on the beaches with their scrapwood, and then at night the bonfires will be lit, and the party begins.
©TVCB, Valencia 2008. All rights reserved
If you are looking for an edgier way to purify yourself, there is a tradition of jumping over the bonfire
There’ll be a whole host of activities to suit everyone. These will include music and dance from classical to rock, flamenco to clubs, and flower parades, theatre, bullfighting, and sports events. Ask at a tourist information for a Feria de Julio Programme for a full list of what’s going on.
bank holidays /ɇbænk ɇhǘlǰdeǰz/ - días festivos
burn away* /bɇǢ:n ǟweǰ/ - quemar
short of /ȉɇǚ:t ǘv/ - fuera de
flip-flops /flɇǰpflǘps/ - chanclas
fireworks /fɇaǰjǟwǢ:ks/ - fuegos artificiales
pesky /pɇeski:/ - molesto
bonfires /bɇǘnfaǰjǟz/ - hogueras
set up /sɇet Ȓp/ - montar
dip /dɇǰp/ - un chapuzón
rather than /rɇǗ: ǟ æn/ - en lugar de
throw into the mix – incluir algo
whole host /ɇhǟȐl ɇhǟȐst/ - un montón
join in /dȘɇǚǰn ǰn/ - participar en
suit /su:t/ - venirle bien
scent /sɇent/ - un olor 19 June 1583 - First ever life insurance policy sold. The company set the tone for the future by refusing to pay out when the insured person died. Happily for the deceased’s estate, a court overruled that decision.
Valencia community
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First Certificate Ask anyone in Spain what they think when they hear the word Alcoy and they’ll say one of two things: tener más moral que el Alcoyano (to have more morale than El Alcoyano – the football team) or Los Moros y Cristianos. History says that in 1948, El Alcoyano were losing in a cup game when the referee, seeing the game as already won, ended the game 2 minutes early. The players surrounded the referee and begged him to recommence so that they could try to get a draw. What’s certain is that El Alcoyano were definitely losing but no one is quite sure as to what degree. The game continued with no change to the score and thus the saying tener más moral que el Alcoyano was coined. As for Los Moros y Cristianos, any proud Alcoyano will tell you that their particular celebrations are the oldest and the best in Spain. Legend has it that due to the help of Sant Jordi (Saint George) in 1276, the Christians were able to defend the attack of Al-Azraq, the leader of the Moorish rebellion. This eventually led to the defeat of the Moors and the return of Spain into Christian hands.
you can almost always see vultures circling above it from the nearby sanctuary. A visit to the old centre, once the heart of Spain’s textile industry, is essential. Plaza de España is where you’ll find La Iglesia de Santa María (The church of Santa Maria) and La Lonja de San Jorge (an underground hall normally reserved for exhibitions and is free of charge).
Sightseeing| Alcoy is known as La Ciudad de Los Puentes – The City of Bridges. A stroll around the city over three of them (San Jorge, Maria Cristina & La Pechina) is popular with local families enjoying some of the magnificent sights that Alcoy has to offer. Other popular activities amongst locals include climbing, cycling and motorcycling.
Eating out| Bar Victor is a hidden treat in the old town on C/ Santa Rita, a warm and friendly place with a lot of character and excellent tapas at a reasonable price. On C/ País Valencia there’s BuyKafe or why not try La Vinoteca in Plaza El Fossar which has its own selection of wines and has a nice selection of modern tapas. If you really love a good steak then El Niu on C/ Maestro Espí is where you can eat the chuletón (a huge steak served on a sizzling hot plate which the cook apparently cuts up with an axe).
The emblematic Barranc del Cinc is difficult to avoid even if you choose not to climb it
Bars & clubs| You’ll find that most bars outside Santa Rosa will close earlier
16 June 1904 - James Joyce’s masterpiece Ulysses takes place on this day in Dublin. The Irish celebrate this day every year by having a big party, so in effect, it’s much like every other day of the year in Ireland.
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Valencia community
(1 or 2 o’clock). Good places to meet and mix with locals are in and around the Plaça de dins area (Sports Passion on C/ Bambú), on La Avenida de Hispanidad in Zona Norte then, later on, in Santa Rosa. In the Santa Rosa part of the city there are a lot of nightclubs within a stone’s throw of each other. Whatever your age, there’s something for you to do in Alcoy; sampling the local cuisine, taking a walk, climbing or enjoying a nice cold beer. It’s well worth a look and boasts a landscape and lifestyle that gives the place a unique charm. Car| 1 hour 20 from Valencia; 1 hour from Alicante. N-7 & A-340 Bus| (from Valencia) €9.45 (one day return), takes about 2 hours TRAVICOI; (from Alicante) €6 (approx.), takes just under two hours www.subus.es Train| (from Valencia only) €7.85 one way, €14 return, takes just under two hours www.renfe.es
surrounded /sǟrɇaȐndǰd/- rodeado a draw /drɇǚ:/– un empate climb /klɇaǰm/- escalar underground /ɇȒndǟgrǟȐnd/– subterráneo within a stone’s throw – a tiro de piedra is well worth a look – vale la pena echar un vistazo
beg /beg/- rogar stroll /strɇǟȐl/ – un paseo nearby /ɇnǰǟbaǰ/- cercano a hidden treat – una joya escondida to sample /sɇæmpǟl/- probar boasts /bɇǟȐsts/- dispone de
14 June 1928 - Birthdate of Ernesto Rafael Guevara de la Serna who later became famous as ‘Che’ the anti capitalist revolutionary. Ironically went on to greatly help T-shirt and flag sellers profits all over the world.
I heart Valencia First certificate Each month we’re going to square off something famous from Valencia with something famous from back home. Our contenders this week are none other than Valencia’s very own El Miguelete and London’s Big Ben. You’ve probably all seen them both at some stage even if you’ve never been to London. El Miguelete can be found in La Plaza de Reina looking over the old cathedral and Big Ben is located on Westminster Bridge Road in London next to the Houses of Parliament. Round 1| Bell Weight In true boxing tradition we have to begin with a weigh in. No surprises here. Miguel weighs 7805kg whereas Big Ben lives up to its name at 16300kg. Winner – Big Ben Round 2| Age El Miguelete is the oldest of these two fine towers. Construction started on it in 1381 and was finished in 1429. Four key architects led the project including Pedro Balaguer who is more famous for his work on Les Torres de Quart. Big Ben was completed in 1858 after the original building was destroyed by a fire on 16th October 1834. Winner – El Miguelete Round 3| Height At 96.3 metres, Big Ben wins this round easily with 334 steps to the top. El Miguelete is only 63 metres high with 207 steps. Winner – Big Ben
square off /skwɇeǟr ǘf/- enfrentarse at some stage – en algún momento dado whereas /weǟrɇæz/– mientras que live up to /lǰv Ȓp tu:/ – estar a la altura de key /kɇi:/ - clave a couple /kɇȒpǟl/ – un par get into /get ɇǰntu:/ – poder entrar go up /gǟȐ Ȓp/ - subir to book well in advance – reservar con mucha antelación their own way – a su manera bells /belz/- campanas to have stuck /tu: hæv stȒk/ – haberle quedado oversee /ǟȐvǟsɇi:/ - supervisar heavyweight /hɇevi:weǰt/– de los pesos pesados 10 July 1099 - El Cid dies. He famously recaptured Valencia from the Moors. The Moors, adding insult to injury, quickly retook the city after his death.
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I heart Valencia
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Anyone with a couple of Euros can get into El Miguelete and climb to the terrace from Monday to Sunday (10-13 & 4.30pm7pm), but these may change for bank holidays, so check before going. Anyone not from the UK is going to be disappointed when they learn that going up Big Ben is simply not possible. If they want to climb to the top, residents of the UK have to contact their local Member of Parliament and book well in advance. Winner – El Miguelete Round 5| Name Both towers, in their own way take their name from the bells in their towers. El Miguelete was originally called El Campanar Nuevo or El Campanar de la Catedral but now takes the name of the bell Miguel, which was named after the saint who was obliged to protect the city from torment and evil. Big Ben is also the name of the bell and not the tower contrary to popular belief. The actual tower itself is called St. Stephen’s but the name Big Ben seems to have stuck. Why Big Ben? It has never been decided if the bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall who oversaw the construction or famous heavyweight boxing champion Benjamin Caunt. Winner – Big Ben WINNER! With Big Ben taking three out of five rounds we have a clear winner this month. Make sure to pick up a copy of next month’s issue to see who we throw into the mix. If you have any suggestions for our comparisons, or anything else in this issue, email us at britchateditor@gmail.com.
2 July 1961 - Nobel Prize winning author and part time lover of all things Spanish Ernest Hemmingway commits suicide. It is unclear if it was Death in the Afternoon.
Restaurant of the month - Il Bocconcino
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Intermediate We only print a Restaurant of the month if we have personally visited it and loved it. While we can’t account for everyone’s tastes, here’s ours. Our favourite restaurant this month is Il Bocconcino, an Italian family-owned restaurant with traditional recipes and Italian wines. Located on Calle Quart in the heart of El Carmen, Il Bocconcino has recently been refurbished and expanded. Where you used to be able to pick something up on the way home, you can now sit down and enjoy a nice meal with the friendly, multi-lingual staff and enjoy delicious food at a great price. There are plenty of different pizzas to choose from on the menu catering for just about any taste. And make sure not to miss out on their specialty: a tagliatelle pie which is as tasty as it is filling. A cosy environment with outdoor seating: an added bonus for those of you who enjoy a touch of al fresco on a warm Check it out! You won’t be disappointed. night.
Address| Calle Quart, 1, VLC Phone| 963 230 398 Price of pizza| €6-9 Price of a bottle of wine| €9 + Our favourite dish| Tagliatelle en crosta family-owned /fɇæmǰli: ɇǟȐnd/ - Una posesión familiar refurbished /ri:fɇǢ:bǰȉt/ - reformado pick up /ɇpǰkȒp/ - recoger staff /stɇæf/ – los empleados plenty of /plɇenti: ǘv/ - más que suficiente/ mucho cater for /ɇkeǰtǟ fǚ:/ - atender tasty /tɇeǰsti:/ - sabroso filling /fɇǰlǰ / - llena mucho cosy /kɇǟȐzi:/ - acogedor check out /ɇtȉek aȐt/ - echar un vistazo disappointed /dǰsæɇpǚǰntǰd/ - decepcionado 2 July 1566 - The world’s most famous seer Nostradamus dies. Begs the question - did he forsee it?
Free in Valencia
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First certificate Wanting to see the community on the cheap? You’ve loads of options. Every month we’ll list some of the places you can go to enjoy culture, nature and have some fun in Spain. This month you’ll find us: 1| Checking out the modernist style of the archways and stained windows at the train station Estación Del Norte. Beautifully designed and crafted, this building is a sight in itself. 2| Popping along to the ceramics museum on a Sunday morning. Not only is the outside of the building a masterpiece, the stylistic interiors of the building trumps even the amazing pieces of art they have on show there (see below). 3| Taking a walk along one of the many scenic paths which lead from Valencia along the coast or into the hills. www.comunitatvalenciana.com If you have any special spots to recommend, email us at britchateditor@gmail.com.
on the cheap - barato a sight in itself – un espectáculo popping along – pasar a ver masterpiece /mɇǗ:stǟpi:s/ – una obra maestra trumps /trɇȒmps/ - matar con un triunfo scenic /sɇi:nǰk/ - pintoresco The Museo Nacional de Ceramica is in the Palacio de Marques de Dos Aguas. The building was created in the 15th Century in the Gothic style, for the noble family of Marquis de Dos Aguas. It was developed in 1740 to include the entrance way in a Baroque style by Hipolito Rovira, and more enhancements made in 1854. It was bought in 1949 by the Ministry of Education. Look out for the plate created specially for them by Picasso.
Looking for customers for your business in the Valencian Community? Contact us on britchateditor@gmail.com ¿Estás buscando clientes para tu empresa en la comunidad valenciana? Ponte en contacto con nosotros britchateditor@gmail.com 12 July 100BC - Roman Emperor Julius Caesar born - Eventually the month of Quinctilis is renamed in his honour.
Bar of the month - Portland Ale House
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Intermediate We love bars. And when we find ones we love, we’ll tell you all about them. Obviously it’s all personal tastes, but we think these guys are great. Our favourite bar for this month can be found on C/ Salamanca near Plaza Cánovas. Popular with both the Spanish and international community, this microbrewery is famous for creating its own ales, intercambio nights (Wednesdays; 8:30pm), quiz nights (Sundays; 8pm) and Free Food Fridays (8pm-10pm). However, we like this place for the welcoming staff and friendly atmosphere no matter what the night. After a boom in the microbrewing sector which started in the US during the 80’s, owner Mauricio decided to take the idea somewhere else having originally learnt his trade in Portland, Oregon. Now up and running for four years, The Portland is set to take its continuing success and build on it. The current brewery in La Canyada produces enough beer to keep three bars in stock so they’ll be expanding in the future and they’re even working on a kitchen area at the current premises. Watch out for the next blend they’re working on which should be ready just in time for the beginning of the World Cup. Inside you’ll find a traditional looking American bar, the walls covered with postcards
microbrewery /mɇaǰkraȐbru:ǟri:/ - fabrica pequeña de cerveza memorabilia /memǟrǟbɇi:li:æ/ - objetos de interés ales /ɇeǰlz/ - cerveza welcoming /wɇelkȒmǰŬ/ - de bienvenida no matter what – pase lo que pase is set to take – ponerse a llevar blend – mezcla postcards /pɇǟȐstkǗ:dz/ - una postal rarely miss /rɇeǟli: mǰs/ - perder raras veces the box /LJǟ bǘks/ - la tele get talking /get tǚ:kǰŬ/ - ponerse a hablar chances are /tȉɇǗ:nsǰz Ǘ:/ - lo más probable guys /gɇaǰz/ - chavales 14 June 1777 - The Stars & Stripes is adopted as the US Flag. The Union Jack element of the Grand Union Flag was replaced by 13 stars. The layout of the stars, known as The Betsy Ross, looks suspiciously like the current EU flag.
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Bar of the month - Portland Ale House from back home and other memorabilia. The staff are super friendly and they go out of their way to help if they can. There’s always someone to talk to whether it be in English or Spanish and they rarely miss the important football, baseball and basketball games which they show on the box. Just don’t get them talking about your fantastic knowledge of beers because, chances are, these guys know way more than you.
Address| Calle Salamanca, 10, VLC Phone| 963 810 406 Price of a beer| €3 for a big one Price of a wine| €2 Opening times| Mon - Sun: 1pm - 1:30am
12 June 1839 - Baseball invented by Abner Doubleday in Cooperstown NY. Known in the UK as Rounders and not taken anywhere near as seriously.
Cinema
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Intermediate This month sees Cinema Jove back for its 25th Anniversary. Previous years have seen the work of people from around the globe including Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, 1995; X-Men, 2000) and Spain’s Álex de la Iglesia (La Comunidad, 2000 and Los Crímenes de Oxford, 2008), amongst others. Between June 19th and 26th, Valencia will showcase the works of international talents, old and new. This year is dedicated to the work of five directors in particular: Matteo Garrone, Italian filmmaker and winner of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival (Gomorra, 2008); Joanna Quinn, a British Oscar nominee and animator (Famous Fred, 1998; The Wife of Bath, 1999); Daniel Monzón, Spanish director and winner of 8 Goyas for Celda 211 (2009) and French duo Olivier Ducastel & Jaques Martinez (Jeanne y El Chico Formidable, 1998). You’ll find most cinemas and theatres in Valencia taking part in this festival and you might even bump into a few of the people involved in making the films. UGC Ciné Cité on C/ Tirso de Molina might be of interest for those of you interested in seeing films in their original language. It costs €2.50 for one screening, €12 for 10 screenings and a special individual price of €1.50 for students and retired people. Gomorra| Based on the best seller by Robert Saviano, Gomorra follows the lives of five individuals trying to make their own way in a world ruled by the Neapolitan Mafia. Violent and shocking, following the lives of ordinary people affected by mafia family La Camorra on a daily basis, demonstrating how far reaching the influences of the family are and the inner workings of the family itself.
Body Beautiful| A short animated film which tells the story of Beryl – a factory worker in a Welsh village who is continually harassed about her weight by colleagues. The odds are stacked against Beryl from the start and you can’t help but feel for her. Incredible animation combined with some sharp humour make for a great combination and build up to a great finale. All films mentioned above will be on along with many other classics such as King Kong (1933), Frenzy (1972), Jaws (1975) and The Thing (1982). You’ll be able to pick up a full listing of showings in any participating venue. See www.cinemajove.com for more information. amongst /ǟmɇȒ st/ – entre showcase /ȉɇǟȐkeǰs/ – exhibir from around the globe – de todo el mundo taking part /tɇeǰkǰ pǗ:t/ – participando bump into /bȒmp ǰntu:/ – encontrarse con make their own way – dejar su impronta shocking /ȉɇǘkǰ / - espeluznante on a daily basis - diariamente far reaching /fǗ: rɇi:tȉǰ / – de gran alcance harass /hǟrɇæs/ - acosar inner workings /ɇǰnǟ wɇǢ:kǰ z/– Funcionamiento interno the odds are stacked against – Ella tiene pocas probabilidades de ganar can’t help – No te puedes controlar feel for /fɇi:l fǚ:/ - compadecerse de 1 July 1941 - World’s first TV advert airs. It was for Bulova Clocks. It lasted 20 seconds on Channel WBNT in NYC, was seen by an audience of approximately 4,700 and cost just $9!
Britchat World Cup Special It begins with the hopes and dreams of 32 nations across the world and finishes 28 days later in the realisation of those dreams for just one. At 5pm on 11th of June 2010 the 19th FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa with the game between the host nation and Mexico, bringing to an end the wait for football fans everywhere. It will be the most popular single sporting event on the planet hoping to beat the combined audiences of 26.29 billion (FIFA figs.) for the last World Cup in Germany. The final itself pulling in more than 715.1 million viewers worldwide (FIFA figs.). The winners can expect to be the pride of their nation while provoking the envy of others and even doing better than is expected can provide whole countries with a feel-good factor. This four-yearly event brings nations together in a way that politicians can only dream about. It is clear that more than just a football competition is at stake here. Suddenly, the talk in bars is of potential team formations, the opposition faced, strengths and weaknesses and injuries all providing lengthy discussions for the supporters and unlimited column content for the media. It becomes a compulsion with even those who will tell you that they don’t like football in the intervening four years swept up in the fever that descends as the competition progresses. This World Cup is made special by the fact that it is the first to take place on African soil. Pele, perhaps the greatest ever to kick a ball, once said that an African nation would win the World Cup by 2000. While this prediction didn’t come to fruition (and indeed Pele does seem to tip whichever country his TV interview is taking place in at the time for success - this year he tipped Mexico while talking to Mexican reporters) there is no doubt that the perceived smaller teams are catching up fast. Many African players now feature heavily in the recognised strong domestic leagues such as England and Spain. While it remains unlikely, the World Cup in South Africa may give the African nations their best ever chance. It is a recurring theme of World Cups that the winning nation comes from the continent the tournament is being played in. 16 out of 18 wins have come on the back of this if you include North, Central and South America as The Americas.
Photos from MediaClubSouthAfrica.com
Britchat World Cup Special
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The current holders Italy will once again be expecting great things. Their Serie A League winning team also picked up the Coppa Italia and achieved an unprecented treble when Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid to win the Champions League. England once again will be getting stoked on national fever from back home but it will take an almighty effort for them to win the prize. The loss of Rio Ferdinand will hit especially hard. Spain on the other hand, current European Champions and with an almost embarrassing amount of talent in their ranks, may feel that this may be their year to win the big one. Brazil are most people’s second choice to win it (unless of course you are Brazilian), Argentina with the sensational Lionel Messi in their ranks are a good outsider bet and as always you can never rule out the Germans with their habit of coming good at the right time. Holland as well could be viewed as the dark horses of the competition after sailing through their qualifying rounds and at last looking like they have got rid of the in-fighting that has blighted their chances in the past.
Group A:
Group B:
Group C:
Group D:
South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia
Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Group E:
Group F:
Group G:
Group H:
Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
Britchat World Cup Special
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France will be looking to improve on their bad press of recent times with the Thierry Henry handball incident against the Irish and also to make amends for the Zinedine Zidane headbutt tissue of the last World Cup Final. And who knows what the South Africans will do on the home soil? They did win the Rugby World cup as very much underdogs when it was held there. Expect bars to be mobbed when the tournament gets underway properly after the first round. Bars with big screens will be in huge demand as people crowd in to watch history being made. Saturday 26/06 Sunday 27/06 Monday 28/06 Tuesday 29/06
Port Elizabeth, 16:00
Round of 16 - Match 1
1A– 2B
Rustenburg, 20:30
Round of 16 - Match 3
1C– 2D
Bloemfontein, 16:00
Round of 16 - Match 4
1D– 2C
Johannesburg (SC), 20:30
Round of 16 - Match 2
1B– 2A
Durban, 16:00
Round of 16 - Match 5
1E– 2F
Johannesburg (Ellis), 20:30
Round of 16 - Match 7
1G– 2H
Pretoria, 16:00
Round of 16 - Match 6
1F– 2E
Cape Town, 20:30
Round of 16 - Match 8 1H– 2G
Wednesday 30/06 - Thursday 1/07
Rest days
Friday 2/07
Port Elizabeth, 16:00
Quarterfinal C
5– 7
Johannesburg (SC), 20:30
Quarterfinal A
1– 3
Cape Town, 16:00
Quarterfinal B
2– 4
Johannesburg (Ellis), 20:30
Quarterfinal D
6– 8
Saturday 3/07
Sunday 4/07 - Monday 5/07
Rest days
Tuesday 6/07
Cape Town, 20:30
Semifinal I
A– C
Wednesday 7/07
Durban, 20:30
Semifinal II
B– D
Thursday 8/07 - Friday 9/07
Rest days
Saturday 10/07
Third Place play-off LI – LII
Port Elizabeth, 20:30
Sunday 11/07 Johannesburg (SC), 20:30 Final Winner I – Winner II (All kick-off times are at Spanish Local Time according to fifa.com)
Britchat World Cup Special
|18|
It is a well known fact that watching football is more enjoyable with a drink in the hand for toasting winners and consoling losers. However it is this strong affiliation that may cause some of the almost inevitable front page headlines which could appear in conjunction to the back page ones. South Africa, whilst being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, has without a doubt some serious social issues that may come to the fore when an estimated 380,000 fans (FIFA figs.) converge in a country that will have never before experienced this kind of tourist invasion. At this juncture it would be fair to point out that the South Africans did manage to host the Rugby World Cup in 1995 without any real issues (and indeed this did much for the healing of some of the scars caused by the apartheid regime) but the football World cup will be an entirely different animal. A lot will depend on the police handling of the fans and their reaction to potential trouble-spots. Let’s hope the skills of the likes of Messi, Rooney and Torres are the only news stories we will be familiar with by the end.
Where to watch history being made on the big screen Cheers
Calle Jaime 1, Montserrat
The Dubliner
Avenuda de la Paz, Ribaroca
Finnegans
Plaza de la Reina VLC
The Guiness House
Plaza del Patriarca VLC
Max Max
Calle Vinalopo VLC
Portland Ale House
Calle Salamanca VLC
Sally O’Briens
Avenida Aragon VLC
Sherlock Holmes
Plaza Manises VLC
Sol i Lluna
Calle del Mar VLC
St Patricks
Gran Via Marques del Turia VLC
Tierra
|19| Declan is writing for Britchat about our Earth with some helpful hints and thoughts on how to improve it. His first article goes into a little depth as to why we should protect our planet: this ‘Oasis in Space’. As far as I’m concerned nature and the environment we live in are fundamental to our quality of life. Included in this is our own physical survival, though we sometimes forget or don’t want to admit it. We are totally dependent on the environment for our very survival and the survival of future generations. The more we degrade and destroy our environment, the lower the quality of our day to day existence will be, meanwhile the more we take care of this beautiful blue planet, using it with respect and love the greater the quality of our lives will be. “There are no new frontiers, we have got to make it here”. Last resort by Eagles Our interaction with nature is a spiritual experience and being out on the mountain with the wind in your face or listening to the waves rolling in on the beach is something really special. The tranquility of nature, the smell of the flowers and plants and the breathtaking views in the different parts of the Community of Valencia connect me again with the absolute magnificence of our environment. When I feel this, it’s impossible for me to even consider doing damage to such beauty. It would be sacrilage, indeed. The beauty that surrounds us, raises us up and makes us feel good and energized. Ugliness, contamination and degradation has the opposite effect, it drags us down and depresses us. The magic of vinegar What| Use vinegar for cleaning (windows, tiles, floors, washing up etc) Why| Doesn’t contaminate water Very economic Cleans very well Why not| Leaves a vinegar smell for a short time Instructions| Warm/hot water with a squirt of washing up liquid and 2/3 squirts of vinegar for all windows/tiles Benefits| Low cost efficient cleaning
Level: First certificate
The quality of our daily lives depends on the health of our bodies which in turn depends on the quality of our environment. When we eat tasty and healthy food which gives our bodies all they need regarding vitamins, minerals and energy then we feel good, energized and full of vitality. If the air we breath is fresh and clean it affects our health positively. “The rivers are our brothers, they quench our thirst. The rivers carry our canoes and feed our children”. Chief Seattle’s reply (part) to the US President’s offer to buy their land. When the water we drink is clean and tastes good, this also has long term positive effects on our health. We all know that a lot of the food we buy in supermarkets is pumped up tasteless low quality food which along with contaminated air and water can only have short and long term negative effects on our health. We can sacrifice our environment for temporary gains such as money, jobs, oil etc etc but all these come and will eventually go. Then we will be left with a degraded, contaminated earth which really won’t provide for us either physically or spiritually. Taking care of nature is an egotistical thing because it really is in our own self-interest to protect it. To use the resources in our area wisely, providing ourselves with a living and at the same time preserving them so we don’t have “food for today, hunger tomorrow”. Declan
27 June 1954 - The world’s first ever nuclear power station opens in Obninsk - only 53 miles from Moscow.
Music
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Advanced Festival season is finally looming so we’ll be showing you what’s on and where to go. This month we’ve got three particular events that we want to pick out. Circulo de Sonido| Normally a mecca for horchata lovers, Alboraya will be where people gather this month to celebrate the Summer Solstice through the medium of music. There will be circles of singing, didgeridoos, flutes, dancing, drums, the customary bongo and inevitably the odd hippy with one of those spinning stick things. It’s on at Playa de Patacona, Alboraya (Valencia), which is a walk to the end of the path on the beach, next to Alboraya Ayuntamiento. The date for your diaries is Monday 21st June 2010 (7.30pm onwards) and best of all, it’s free. Sonar| Tickets are still available for Sonar which takes places from the 17th – 19th of June. A Full Weekend pass will set you back around €155-€165, a 2-Night Ticket costs around €100 and for a Day Ticket you’ll be looking to spend around €39€45. The line up includes The Chemical Brothers, Roxy Music, Air, LCD Soundsystem, Dizzee Rascal, 2manydjs, Hot Chip and many more. For more information, check out www.sonar.es. Chris Isaak| The man himself has added more dates to his Spanish tour which will bring him to the Valencian capital. On Monday 28th June he’ll entertain listeners at the Palau de la Música with many of his classics. You can get a seat in the amphitheatre for €45 or you can get one in the stands for €34. Tickets are available from www.bancaja.es. And here’s an interesting fact – Chris Isaak was actually in Silence of the Lambs and Twin Peaks.
Music news Tom Jones launched his new spiritual single Reggae group The Wailers, English punk/ on Monday 7th June, and his new album is out rock phenomenon The Cult plus English rock in July. And on the same day he celebrated group Deep Purple are all coming to Valencia being 70 years old. Legend. for the July Festival. Woo! Iron Maiden are coming to Valencia on 21st of August. Buy your tickets from www.ticketmaster.es Noel Gallagher, Ian Brown, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg & Ciara have turned to acting, with David Beckham in the new FIFA World Cup/Star Wars themed Adidas Originals advert, launching on 12th June. Look for it on Youtube, it’s super cool. The sun is more definitely out, and I’ve spent a growing amount of time hanging out on the beach, listening to my iPod. Here are my most played songs on my iPod this month. 1. Paolo Nutini – Pencil Full Of Lead
6. 19 Días y 500 Noches – Joaquin Sabina
2. Sticks & Stones – Jamie T.
7. Don’t Stop Me Now - Queen
3. Me Llaman Calle – Manu Chao
8. Cousins - Vampire Weekend
4. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
9. Teddy Picker - Arctic Monkeys
5. Live Forever – Oasis
10. Lola – The Kinks
Think yours is better? Tell us what it is...britchateditor@gmail.com
3 July - Rock deaths. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones died on this day in 1969 in his swimming pool. Jim Morrison two years later in the bath. Rockstars who hope not to die before they get old should avoid water on this day.
Music
|21| Each month we’ll bring you the hottest new music releases, rereleases, compilations and news.
Advanced
Album of the month| Foals – Total Life Forever| After the success of their debut album Antidotes in 2008, many people have been awaiting their second album with bated breath. It doesn’t disappoint. Their second album boasts a mixture of songs and styles which they seem to have honed after endless touring over the last two years. Standout tracks: Blue Blood, Spanish Sahara and This Orient. Album from a local group| Ambros Chapel - Rome| A group of friends decided to get together to play some songs a couple of years ago and here they are. You’ll find these boys touring the local scene with their blend of atmospheric music with influences from many British and American bands. Standout tracks: Lovers and Recorder. Album to relax to| The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You| Formed after the breakup of rock group Nemo, the brothers Avett decided to experiment with acoustic music. Not just strumming, not just G, A, D chords nonsense but proper bluegrass and country. They’ve since been labelled folk-rock but who cares? They’ve got a great sound. Standout tracks: I and Love and You, Laundry Room & Tin Man. Album to have a beer to| Paul Weller - Wake up the Nation| The Modfather’s tenth solo album is more or less where he left off with the brilliant 22 Dreams. Drawing on styles old and new he’s got some Style Council in here, some soul and some all out rock set against a psychedelic theme which runs through most of the album. Standout tracks: Aim High and 7 & 3 Is The Striker’s name. Album that takes you back| The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street| This 1972 classic gets the rerelease treatment this month. Made at the height of their powers, this double album is a snapshot of the quality of music they were making when they were one of the world’s most important rock and roll bands. Standout tracks: Shake Your Hips, Shine a Light and Turd On The Run. Album that mixes things up a bit| Audio Bullys - Higher than the Eiffel| Their third album is a mixture of beats, guitar samples, electronic sounds and strings. Sometimes it sounds like something from 80’s Manchester, sometimes it sounds a bit punk, sometimes it sounds hip-hop. Each track manages to pull off something different. Standout tracks: Only Man, Twist Me Up.
compilations /kǘmpǰlɇeǰȉǟnz/ - recopilaciones with bated breath – con ansiedad to have honed /hæv hɇǟȐnd/ - haber afinado drawing on /drɇǚ:ǰ ǘn/ – recurriendo de all out /ǚ:l ɇaȐt/ – a fondo at the height of their powers – en la cúspide de su poder pull off /pɇǟl ǘf/ - conseguir strumming /strɇȒmǰ / - reasgueando nonsense /nɇǘnsǟns/ - tonterías touring /tɇǚ:rǰ / - de gira 7 July 1957 - John Lennon meets Paul McCartney for the first time at a Church fête. Exactly 7 years later sees the premiere of the Beatles film A Hard Days Night.
Art in the community
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In future editions of Britchat we’ll be supporting new and up and coming artistic talent in the Valencian Community. Each month we’ll choose one artist at random and devote a page to that artist and a sample of their work. Name| Sonia Diez Location| Originally from Elche (Alicante), but has lived and worked in Valencia for 14 years. Inspiration| Kawaii Japanese style and pop culture, especially in the world of cartoons. History| Studied Fine Arts, and has been working as an Artist for 3 1/2 years. Products| Handbags, brooches, dolls, necklaces, shirts. New developments| Recently started making women’s clothing and baby clothing. Prices| Range from €5 to €45. Special work can cost more. All prices are on the website. Website| www.soniadiez.com You can buy Sonia’s items at| Love Wear. Pasaje Dr. Serra, 7. VLC Ampliart. Pl / Miracle of Mocadoret No. 10 (corner C / Tapineria) VLC Caroline. C / Cadiz, 25 r. VLC Popland. C / Moratín, 5. VLC
If you, or anyone you know would like to feature in our art pages, contact us at britchateditor@ gmail.com.
Art to see this month
|23| The galleries are overflowing with great exhibitions. If you have time, seek out the smaller independent shows as well as the more popular spots.
First certificate
Galeria Charpa| exhibiting the works of Elizabeth Aro. Described as the most unique multi-dimensional pieces in Valencia, I wasn’t disappointed. The gallery closes for Summer at the end of June, so get in there fast. Calle Tapineria, 11. VLC la_charpa@hotmail.com T. 963 915 782 Gallery hours Tuesday - Saturday 6pm–9pm, Free entrance
and if you made it into the city centre, then why not also pop into: Galeria Tomas March| hidden down a side street, you’d be sorry to miss this gem of contemporary art, with regular changes to its pieces. Aparisi y Guijarro 7b. VLC T. 963 922 095 gtm@tomasmarch.com If modern isn’t your thing, take a wander to:
Museo de Bellas Artes| set in a stunning baroque building, in itself worth a visit, this gallery houses innumerable pieces from the 13th to the 19th century. Reputed to be the 2nd most important art collection in Spain, with good reason. There are both permanent and temporary exhibits, oh and best of all, its free. San Pio V, 9. VLC T. 963 870 300 www.museobellasartesvalencia.gva.es Tuesday – Sunday 10am–8pm.
up and coming – con probabilidad de éxito at random /æt rɇændǟm/ – al azar devote /devɇǟȐt/ - dedicar a sample /sæmpǟl/– una muestra overflowing /ǟȐvǟflɇǟȐwǰ /– lleno al desbordamiento seek out /sɇi:k aȐt/- buscar gem /dȘɇem/– una joya stunning /stɇȒnǰ / - sensacional it's reputed /ǰts rǟpɇju:tǰd/ - se supone
16 June 1958 - Yellow lines on roads introduced into the UK spawning one of Britain’s most disliked group of state employees.
Talking Teaching
|24|
First certificate I’ve spoken to plenty of other teachers and it appears that we’ve all been there before. Trying to explain the difference between ‘play with each other’ and ‘play with yourself’ to a group of female scientists has been my most memorable one. As native speakers of English living in Spain I’m sure we’ve all had those embarrassing moments in the classroom that have come close to jeopardising our professional integrity.
struggling finally ‘gets’ something. It’s made me so happy that I once picked up a student and ran around the class with him like some kind of human trophy. Yes, it was unorthodox. Yes, he was 23 and hasn’t been back since but I did it anyway. My employers were told not to question my methods when they hired me. That seemingly never-ending final term after Easter is always a killer. So let’s help each other out. We want to know your stories. Tell us about your teaching triumphs. Tell us about that piece of grammar you could never quite get across until now. Tell us something that you think we could all benefit from. Tell us why you do what you do and what moments make it worth it. If you don’t, it’s going to be a long, hot term.
During a proficiency class last year, a good friend of mine had one of his female students arrive late all hot and flushed. When he asked her ‘God! What have you been up to?’ and she replied ‘I’ve got the painters in’ you can imagine how hard it must have been not to let out an almighty guffaw. Or try explaining to a respectable, retired, former jeopardise /dȘɇepǟdaǰz/– poner en peligro Spanish teacher why he can’t flushed / flɇǟȉt/- colorado tell his classmates about an almighty guffaw /ǚ:lmɇaǰti: gǟfɇǚ:/– una gran carcajada the ‘wet dream’ (a sweaty nightmare) he had last night. a breakthrough /brɇeǰk ru:/– un gran avance But it’s worth it for that ‘Eureka’ moment. When you hear that satisfying Ah! that signals a breakthrough or when a student who has been
struggling /stɇȒglǰ /– una lucha it’s a killer – es mortal gear up /gɇǰǟ/- prepararse get across /get ǟkrɇǘs/- comunicar
For those of you who really want to get down to learning the language we’ll be bringing you an expression each month. This is our job. Your job? Get out there and use it! Then tell us how you got on… irse por las ramas – to go off at a tangent eg Hablaba con Juan ayer y de repente se fue por las ramas. I was speaking to Juan yesterday and suddenly he went off at a tangent. 14 July 1789 - The Paris State Prison - The Bastille - is stormed leading to the beginning of the French Revolution, leading to most of the aristocracy losing their heads in the aftermath.
Health
|25|
The weather in Spain has finally improved. But the sun is so strong, that it is taking some people unawares. While the sun is great for our health in some ways, we need to be careful. Here’s new tips and some old faithfuls on staying safe and healthy in the sun. 1| Seagull Sid, the Australian mascot says - Slip-Slop-Slap-Seek-Slide. It’s no longer the snappy three worder of the eighties, but ‘slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade, and slide on some sunnies’ seems like great advice to us. 2| Some Doctors recommend that you allow yourself 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure (on your hands, arms or back), twice a week to allow your body to absorb essential Vitamin D to aid bone strength. Be careful to only expose yourself when the temperature is low to prevent any skin damage. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip-Slop-Slap 3| Check your skin regularly for anything iffy. If you have any concerns, see a doctor. 4| Take care of the kids. They are at their most vulnerable. 5| Buy a suncream with UVA and UVB for overall protection. This might be called Broad Spectrum. 6| Put it on before moisturiser, make up or insect repellent. 7| Apply aloe vera or vinegar on burnt skin; it will stop inflammation and pain. 8| Grate some potatoes and apply them on the burnt skin. Starch from the potatoes will soothe the burn. 9| Eat foods with Vitamin E (asparagus, avacodo, milk and eggs) and Vitamin C (kiwi, broccoli, persimmon, lemon and tomato) as these are antioxidants that help cure sunburn. 10| And finally, drink water, and then a little more to stay hydrated.
CALL NOW! 96 131 0522 WE SPEAK ENGLISH! COMPUTERISED SPINAL CHECK IN THE CENTRO QUIROPRÁCTICO DE ROCAFORT
FREE spinal check Plaza San Sebastian, 8 Bajo 46111 ROCAFORT available
Have you ever experienced? -Stress -Tiredness, lack of energy -Pinched nerves -Migraines, headaches -Stiffness in the neck -Whiplash, neck trauma -Vertigos, dizziness -Tension, shoulder pains -Thoracic or lumbar pain -Chest pain, Asthma -Bad posture -Stomach acidity -Sciatica, pain down the leg -Joint pain, knee pain -Pins and needles, numbness arms or hands -Pins and needles or numbness down the leg If you have experienced one or more of these symptoms, chiropractic could be the solution. Call now for a free check, it could be the start of a new life!
4 July 1776 - US Independence Day and also the date of publication of the Communist Manifesto some 72 years later.
Charity of the month| Médecins Sans Frontières
|26|
Most of us are very lucky in our lives. However there are many people, animals and children who are not so fortunate. Each issue will focus on one cause, either local or international, which needs your support. If you can help in any way, please contact them directly. Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF (translated literally as ‘Doctors without Borders’) was set up by a group of French doctors on the premise that every person deserves medical attention regardless of race, colour, creed or political affiliation. It initially started as two separate groups, one which worked in Nigeria during the Civil War and another which worked in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) following a cyclone which killed nearly 500,000 people. The two groups merged on 20th December 1971 to create MSF. During the late 70’s, MSF extended its aid work in Thailand, where many Cambodians fled to in order to escape from the murderous Khmer Rouge, and then later during the Lebanese Civil War where they assisted both Christian and Muslim soldiers. Rapid expansion to various European countries during the 80s and 90s (including Spain in 1986, the USA in 1990, Canada in 1991 and the UK in 1993) greatly increased the profile of the group. As well as responding to the earthquake in Chile, MSF has also been set up in Paraguay in recent months. New projects are also up and running in Uganda to combat ‘sleeping sickness’ (a disease transmitted by the tsetse fly) and in Zambia where an outbreak of cholera ocurred at the end of January this year. MSF cites forgetfulness as the biggest problem facing third world countries today. Many people (including children) are dying every day from curable diseases that are not being treated simply because of a lack of supplies
© Pim Ras or poor training. So please don’t forget these people! Contribute now at www.msf.es or www.msf.org.uk.
Until the 10th of September, MSF Valencia will be exhibiting a selection of outstanding photos and videos called ‘First Women’. These show women affected by war in Nepal, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Southern Sudan. There’s more information on MSF there too. Address| Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Parque Viveros, VLC Hours| Tuesday - Saturday 9.30am - 1pm and 4.30pm - 8pm Sundays 10am - 8pm, (Mondays closed) Price| Free
|27|
A little help
You can’t always do everything yourself. So if you’re making changes this summer, from small jobs in the home to something more dramatic, here are some companies for you to consider.
If you want your business to be seen by members of the Valencian Community, please contact us to discuss how we can help - britchateditor@gmail.com
Events, classifieds
|28|
If you’ve got an event coming up, drop us a note at britchateditor@gmail.com and we’ll try to give it a mention here in the next issue. ‘Friends in Pedralba choir’ are holding a concert in the Teatro de S M ‘La Popular’ in Pedralba: “Hits from the musicals” on The Dubliner is having a huge month. Saturday 26th June at 20.00hrs. Thursdays Reggae Jam Session 20.00hrs Tickets 3€ available from Pedralba 11th and 12th June Riba-Rock Festival Ayuntamiento or via email to 19th June Dillon Covers Night oldmeldrew@aol.com. 26th June Live Music 23.00hrs 3rd July Rock/Blues Jam Session 19.00hrs The monthly bike meeting of VLC will 17th July Mac y Los Desertores 23.00hrs take place as usual on the first Friday of 24th July Enredo 23.00hrs the month. This aims to promote bikes and bike safety in VLC. Place| Virgin Square, VLC 7.30pm Are you buying, selling or donating? You can put a free advert in here for a month. Just email us at britchateditor@gmail.com and we’ll try to get it into the next issue. Two-person sofa, €300 & €100 for the desk only. twadson@mac.com or T: 680 835 246. Indoor/outdoor full size table tennis table as new. (As seen in Decathlon.) Complete with net and bats. €85 T: 667995977. Urb. Altury, Turis.
29 June 1801 - First ever UK census is taken. Registered population - 8,872,000. In 2008 the UK population was estimated at 61,383,000. Makes you wonder how large the population would have been had TV not been invented.
Sport - F1
|29|
Formula 1| This month sees Valencia buzzing even more than normal with the return of the European leg of the Formula 1 season. The race is taking place earlier in the year after the punishing Valencian temperatures hit 40 degrees C in last years Grand Prix in August. The practice, qualifiers and main race will all take place between 25th and 27th June. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello driving for Brawn-Mercedes won last time with Britain’s Lewis Hamilton slipping from his pole position start to take second in his McLaren Mercedes. This season both those drivers are behind the current leader in the competition Mark Webber in his RBR-Renault. Spanish interest as always will be high with the crowd’s favourite Fernando Alonso looking to improve on his 7th place position here last year. He’s currently lying in 4th position, some 14 points behind the Renault driver so he will be out to close the gap here in his homeland. Alonso is now with Ferarri so expect to see even more red prancing horse flags than usual. If you haven’t experienced the power and spectacle of these supercars then this event is not to be missed even if you can’t afford a ticket. Get down to the barriers when they are practicing or qualifying and just listen to the engines roar and growl. It truly is incredible. Just don’t expect to have a decent chat with whoever you go with. However it’s almost impossible to see the race action without a ticket unless you happen to live in one of the high rises overlooking the track so don’t miss out: turn the volume up, sit back and enjoy the thrills and spills with your friends by watching it live on the big screen. Drivers’ Championship Leader Board 1 - Mark Webber 2 - Jenson Button 3 - Lewis Hamilton 4 - Fernando Alonso 5 - Sebastian Vettel
Australian British British Spanish German
RBR-Renault McLaren-Mercedes McLaren-Mercedes Ferrari RBR-Renault
Fri 25 June 2010
Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30 Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
Number of Laps| 57
Sat 26 June 2010
Practice 3 11:00 - 12:00 Qualifying 14:00
Race Distance| 308.883 km
Sun 27 June 2010
Race 14:00
93 88 84 79 78
Circuit Length| 5.419 km Lap Record| 1:38.683 - T Glock (2009)
27 June 1906 - The first ever Grand Prix takes place at Le Mans, France. Each lap was 105km (65 miles) long and took about an hour each. The race was won by a Renault travelling at an average speed of 63MPH.
Recipe
Downtime Arroz al horno (4 people)
Each month we’re going to bring you a local dish to try out at home. The idea being that you can impress all of your friends when they come to visit with some of that wonderful Spanish gastronomy. This month is arroz al horno which is a famous dish from the region. For all of you veggies out there please accept my apologies beforehand.
Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number 1-26. Crack the code and solve the crossword. Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. 3 letters are already in place to get you started.
1 glass of rice 2 potatoes 2 glasses of stock (caldo de cocido) colouring 1 jar of chickpeas (garbanzos) 200g of tomato puree 2 black puddings 4/5 pork sausages 400 grams of pork ribs 1 tomato 1 bulb of garlic salt Preheat the oven on to its maximum temperature then heat the stock in a saucepan. Whilst this is heating up, you’ve got to chop up the pork ribs then chuck them in a frying pan with some olive oil and the sausages. Once the meat starts to brown you can then add the tomato puree, the chickpeas and the whole bulb of garlic along with the potatoes. Mix this all together for about 2 or 3 minutes. It’s best to put the black pudding in just before putting it all in the oven because it tends to fall apart if overcooked. Put the stock and the rice in a clay pot along with the contents of the frying pan. Make sure to arrange the slices of tomato on the top before putting it all in the oven. Also add the colouring at this stage to give the dish a yellow colour.
Competition Don Quixote is on his holidays. In this month’s competition, email us to tell us (from the text in the magazine) who celebrated their birthday on Monday 7th June. All entries to be in by the 1st of the month to be in with a chance to win a special prize. Email britchateditor@gmail.com Last months competition winner was Maria Angleles, well done Maria!
It should only take 20 minutes to cook in the oven but you might want to keep an eye on it just in case. The rice should absorb the stock and expand whilst in the oven and the texture of the whole thing should be quite dry. Add salt according to taste. Let us know how you get on with our recipes, and if you have any you want to share, please email us at britchateditor@gmail.com Wow factor| High, especially when you take it sizzling out of the oven Effort| Medium to Low
19 June 1829 - Robert Peel establishes the world’s first ever police force - The London Metropolitan, ultimately lending his name to one of their less insulting nicknames - The Bobbies.
Animals
|31|
Humans and dogs have always been partners. But its not just about rounding up sheep. Research has shown that people who keep dogs enjoy social, physical and mental benefits too. Studies tell us that people who live with pets tend to exercise more (particularly dog owners), have fewer illnesses and spend more time in positive social interactions. Pets have helped people overcome shyness, develop trust, enhance social skills and cope with illness. Additional studies support the idea that pets can provide owners with physical contact and comfort, whilst at the same time decrease loneliness and depression. Name| Saffie
This month we have been overwhelmed by requests to highlight the plight of animals that desperately need a new home.
Age| 4 months
Size| Will grow to be Labrador size. Personality| She’s a well socialised affectionate pup who behaves well with her foster carer’s own dog and cats. She’s also very bright, energetic and full of life. Saffie has had all her puppy vaccinations.
Here are three dogs that would love to be in your family. If you can help them and want to be helped by them in return, please contact the appropriate organisation for more information.
More information|P.E.P.A. on 650304746 www.pepaspain.com Name| Aidia Age| 6 years Weight| 8k
Source: www.2ndchance4pets.org/ HBV.pdf
Info| She has lived at the S.P.A.M.A. shelter for most of her life, but now she is being bullied by the others. Desperately needs a home. She’s got lovely eyes, and who couldn’t love that face? More info|Gail on 962 896 118 or Lesley on 962 813 226 Name| Alfie
Age| 10 months
Personality| He is good with children and other dogs. He is a very sociable and obedient dog. He walks well on and off the lead, is house trained and would be a wonderful companion in return for a loving home. More info| Call Lin on 680790059/962707229
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