ISSUE NO. 1432
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM MARKUS MAINKA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
13 - 19 DECEMBER 2012
HOLIDAY REPRIEVE: But new strike dates may be set after Christmas.
Iberia strike now off
THE six-day strike planned by Iberia for the run-up to Christmas has been called off.
Industrial action was planned for tomorrow (Friday), and Monday to Friday (December 17-21) but
according to the spokesman for the airline sector of the General Workers’ Union (UGT), Francisco Rodriguez, it has been called off ‘to avoid problems for people who are travelling’. The strike committee met this week to consider setting new dates for the strikes after Christmas, but rangers are cutting at the time of going to down on overtime. “I Press, the exact details guarantee there are were unknown. fewer people taking The strikes are in protest care of areas in against Iberia’s plans to Axarquia mountains dismiss 4,500 staff where wild goats live. members and cut salaries They are falling short by up to 35 per cent. of resources,” Acedo There are also plans to said, adding: “It is no cancel 15 per cent of use reporting poaching routes and ground 25 when there is no one planes, as well as making to monitor it.” changes to maintenance and ground services.
Poaching on the rise in Axarquia’s natural parks
ILLEGAL hunting of animals in the Axarquia and Serrania de Ronda mountains has increased dramatically. Since the beginning of the financial crisis, reported cases of poaching have risen by more than 50 per cent, the Andalucian Hunting Federation
reports. The damage caused by illegal hunters is huge, according to the federation’s deputy in Malaga, Pedro Acedo. Some people pay good money for the head of a protected species, in most cases the wild goat or Iberian ibex. As a consequence of budgetary cuts, forest
FRONT EXTRA
Fatal crash on A7207 A MAN aged 54 died after being knocked down by a car at the A-7207 road in Torrox, near La Mula bar. The 22-year-old driver suffered minor injuries.
Heritage site A SEVENTEENTH century monument in Velez, known as the ‘Camarin de los Desamparados’, has being restored. It marks the spot those executed by Napoleonic squads would look at before being shot.
Poor show NO mayors from the different Axarquia towns attended the presentation of the newly-opened Mayor Information Office at Velez Town Hall.
Much closer THE first petrol station in Torrox’s old town will open as soon as possible, the town hall has announced. Residents will be saved a six-kilometre trip to the nearest station in El Morche.
Property sale AN estimated €600,000 could be added to the public coffers if the parking and shopping area at the La Cala del Moral health centre is sold, Rincon de la Victoria Town Hall has announced.
2 EWN
NEWS
13 - 19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga East
NEWS EXTRA
SMS alert for hospital A MOBILE phone message alert has been installed at Comarcal de la Axarquia Hospital in Velez, providing automatic information about equipment breakdowns. PATRIOT GAME: Will Velez’s flag really be larger than this one in Madrid?
Giant Spanish flag causes controversy THE local PSOE party in Velez-Malaga claims the town hall is spending €12,000 on the mast for a giant Spanish flag. It would be erected on Avenida Dolores Ibarruri. This decision, which has not been yet publicly confirmed by the town hall, has aroused much criticism by the different political parties in Velez. “The flag could well be even bigger than the one in Madrid,” Socialist party spokesman Juan Carlos Marquez said, in reference to the 14x21-metre flag with a
50-metre-high flag-pole in Madrid’s Plaza Colon, the largest one in Spain so far. Marquez also criticised the town hall for spending €11,775 on a television commercial and €6,000 on curtains. “Setting this giant flag is a bumpkin thing to do. Those, who are so patriotic, are ruining Spain,” IU party member town councillor Eva Fernandez said. Meanwhile, her GIPMTM party counterpart Jesus Atencia stated: “And while Velez will have an expensive flag, Torre del Mar’s is torn and bleached.”
Bike accident TWO people were injured after a motorbike accident at the Cotomar urbanisation in Rincon de la Victoria.
Job plan AFTER more than 15 people a day lost their jobs in Velez in November, a special plan for boosting employment in the town was proposed by the local PA party.
NEWS
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
Hit and run driver held A MAN from Barcelona aged 41 died after being run over by a vehicle at the N-340 road in Torre del Mar. The driver was held by the police for alleged hit and run.
Get nuts A NEW roast chestnuts stall will be at Nerja’s Calle Antonio Millon, working from December 17 until February 28, the town hall said.
Axarquía - Málaga East
To drill or not to drill? DRILLINGS searching for underground oil deposits off the Axarquia coast are a top priority for the Spanish Government. Their plans involve finding out whether there is oil or not on Spanish coasts. Wherever it was found, the Government would then apply to the European Union for extraction procedures to be allowed. During a visit to Velez-Malaga, the Deputy Secretary of the
Ministry of Industry and Energy Enrique Hernandez was asked his opinion about the controversy that has been around gas and oil drilling plans on Costa del Sol and Axarquia coasts - as well as in the Canary Islands – with several political parties and environmentalist groups claiming against their potential risk for the sea environment. “The Ministry is very clear about its position. We need to know if
there are oil banks on our coasts. It is very important for a country with a 90 per cent energy-dependency rate to find out if we have this rich resource available in close waters,” Hernandez said. “We have been betrayed by the Malaga PP party,” PSOE party vicesecretary in Malaga Pilar Serrano said. “They all denied what Hernandez just confirmed, that drillings have the Government’s goahead.”
Learn Spanish A NEW language centre opened in Rincon de la Victoria’s Pueblo Lago urbanisation. Spanish for foreigners is taught, as well as English, German and French.
Road diversion TRAFFIC at the A-7204 road connecting Periana with Colmenar was diverted to A-402 and A-356 roads, as drainage and repairs were announced by the Andalucian government.
PRETTY AS A PICTURE: Colourful patios attract thousands to Cordoba every year.
Blooming delight! Cordoba patios get UNESCO boost
T
HE patios of Cordoba are in the news... five months earlier than usual. Normally the focus turns on them in early May when local families celebrate the arrival of spring by opening their homes to exhibit their flowered-filled patios. But now UNESCO has included the annual Cordoba Patio Festival, which each year attracts thousands of international and national visitors, on its list of Intangible and Cultural Heritage of Humanity events. This follows a rejection last year. Cordoba’s Patio Festival loosely dates back to Roman times and was ongoing under Arab rule.
Quote of the week
‘
THREE different companies have tendered for the management of the ‘blue-zone’ parking areas in Velez and Torre del Mar, the local businessmen association said.
No opinion
Poetic evening
A NEW €273,000 greenhouse for studying Mediterranean and sub-tropical fruits has been approved for the La Mayora farming research centre in Algarrobo.
Parking areas
MORE than 200 people addicted to gambling from all over Andalucia will gather in Rincon de la Victoria until this Sunday for the 23rd Rehabilitated Problem Gamblers Summit.
A 16-YEAR-OLD girl died after a car crash in the road connecting the Sierra Nevada ski station with Monachil. The deceased had escaped from a correctional centre days before.
Greenhouse study
Nwatch ews
23rd summit
Snowy road
POEMS by Spanish poet Rafael Alberti will be read this Friday 7pm at Centro Cultural Provincial in Calle Olleria, Malaga, marking the Andalucia Reading Day (December 16).
3
We don’t want the Spaniards to leave. It will be very dangerous for us when they have left. We may get killed by the Taliban. There are lots in here.’
Mohammad Bayan, an interpreter for Spanish troops in Afghanistan.
Then almost 80 years ago, a contest to encourage local residents to embellish the city was introduced, and since 1933 the event has been an increasingly popular attraction. Prizes are awarded to the best patios, with some containing more than 150 potted plants. There are now more than 10 intangible and cultural heritage items listed in Spain. These include Castell, a Catalan tradition in which teams compete to make human towers; the Elche Mystery Play, a drama dating from the Middle Ages enacted and celebrated annually in mid-August, and also flamenco.
Number of the week
14
people were killed in 12 accidents over last week’s December 6-9 long holiday weekend, the Spanish traffic agency has revealed. Six other people were also seriously injured.
THE Nerja Businessmen Association said they were upset for not being asked their opinion when the town hall stopped the new General Urban Development Plan.
Book show A POETRY book with illustrations by local artist Carlos Ariza will be presented tomorrow (Friday) in VelezMalaga’s Centro de Estudios Sobre el Exilio, at 8pm.
Xmas decor NERJA shop doors and windows will be decorated this Christmas for a competition called by the local Businessmen Association. Information: 952 523 892.
and finally... ONLY the ruling Bildu political party paid homage in San Sebastian to the victims of terrorism in the Basque Region called by the city hall. But all other political parties attended an alternative tribute held the following day.
4
EWN
NEWS
13 - 19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga East
BRITISH
PRESS
Stories making headlines from the United Kingdom
Fiery food
ALLIANCE: Axarquia town mayors signing the project with Malaga Government President Elias Bendodo (centre).
€1.47m for new business centre A CENTRE for business promotion in the Axarquia will be opened in Torre del Mar. The €1.47 million effort by the Malaga provincial government will be sited at the old sugar factory building. Regional tourism, handicrafts, agriculture and gastronomy business
sectors will be promoted through this new initiative. Along with Velez-Malaga, the town halls of Nerja, Rincon de la Victoria, Torrox and Algarrobo are also involved. Out of the overall investment, nearly €990,000 will be allocated to the premises, while €440,000 will go for training courses and workshops. The latter will be about international business, management,
entrepreneur promotion, and technological innovation. Some additional €40,000 will be invested on a business market report. “This is a very important project for Velez and the Axarquia. It will provide SMEs with solutions and R&D services, as well as advice on funding,” Velez-Malaga Mayor Francisco Delgado said. Work will start soon and will be finished by April 2013.
Think twice when parking your camper CAMPERVANS and similar vehicles parking in the streets of Rincon de la Victoria for more than 24 hours in the same spot will be fined up to €200. The town hall passed a new local ruling trying to halt the growing number of motor homes, especially in areas near the beach. The aim is to benefit camping areas and hotels, since the town hall sees these vehicles as an unfair competition for them.
Opportunities for the unemployed A TOTAL of 432 unemployed people from around the province will be selected for a series of training workshops. Applications can be sent online until December 24 at: www.retos2020.es. Several courses will be taught in Axarquia,
including: tourist agent, olive products producer, home care assistant, children and elderly carers, water plant operator, etc. All jobless people aged over 16 can apply, except those living in Marbella, Velez, Fuengirola, Mijas, Malaga and Benalmadena.
A BRISTOL restaurant has produced a burger so spicy it makes diners sign a disclaimer and wear protective gloves. The Atomic Fallout Pizza burger is covered in a sauce that’s made from two of the fieriest chillies in the world, the Scotch Bonnet and the Ghost Chilli.
Cold gig AN ENGLISH musician has entered the Guinness Book of World Records by performing the coldest gig. Former Busted and Fightstar frontman, Charlie Simpson, played a 15 minute set to curious locals at the Siberian village of Oymyakon.
Digital Dandy PAUL McCARTNEY has appeared in the final print edition of Britain’s longestrunning children’s comic, The Dandy. It has now gone digitalonly, 75 years after it was first published.
Rhino charge A LONDONER has been jailed for 18 months following his attempt to steal a rhinoceros head from Castle Museum in Norwich. Patrick Kiely, aged 29, admitted trying to steal the stuffed specimen worth £500,000 (€615,000). Rhino horns are now worth more than gold.
Adult drama BBC ONE and BBC Drama have commissioned the adaptation of JK Rowling’s first adult novel The Casual Vacancy. The series is expected to be shown in 2014.
NEWS
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
NEWS EXTRA
Eviction prevented A HOME eviction has been stopped in Salobreña by a group of around 200 people from the ‘Stop Evictions’ (Stop Desahucios) platform.
Road aid PUBLIC funds have been requested from the Malaga provincial government to repair rural roads in Torrox, which were damaged after the storms, the town hall said.
Taxi strike TAXI drivers in Malaga Province have been called on to strike by unions next Monday 17, from 10am to 3pm. Minimum services will be provided.
Useful towers THE two buildings in front of the Malaga railway station’s entrance, which were restored after a €1.8 million investment, are to be used for offices and shops.
On the run THE Third Marathon was held in Malaga City, contested by 947 runners. The winners were Abdelhadi El Mouaziz in the men’s category and Gemma Arenas in the women’s.
Pipe problem MEMBERS of the residents’ association of La Noria area in Malaga have been advised by the regional government that their waterpipe system will be restored.
Axarquía - Málaga East
New ski-slope experience opens at Sierra Nevada
A NEW attraction has become available at the Sierra Nevada ski station since the recent long weekend. The ‘Superparque Sulayr’ is a six-metre-high, 165metre-long half-pipe for freestyle and snowboard experts. According to the resort, it is the largest permanent half-pipe in Spain and can be used to slide down at the Loma de Dilar area in Sierra Nevada. For those who prefer regular skiing or snowboarding, there are 30.5 kilometres of runs after new slopes and lifts opened in Borreguiles, Veleta, Loma de Dilar and El Rio. According to the latest forecast by the managers, there will be a 20 to 40-centimetre-thick snow covering, depending on the area. During the December 6 to 9 long weekend, more than 28,500 users were recorded at Sierra Nevada, equating to a daily average of 7,160. Hotel occupancy was around 75 per cent, 10 per cent more than the last decade’s average.
Building on hold
SLIDE DOWN: Weather forecast for this weekend in Sierra Nevada says it will be fine for skiing.
PLANS to build nearly 30,000 properties on the Malaga coast are on hold. These include hotel-resort projects providing capacity for more than 8,000 visitors. The situation affects all coastal town halls which did not pass their Andalucian Urban Development Plan. Town halls will have to adapt their projects to a new law passed by the regional government. This regional law - known as ‘Plan Litoral’ - is meant to protect the environment along the coast. The key ruling establishes that construction projects closer than 500 metres to the beach will be stopped. For example, the Playa Fenicia project in VelezMalaga, including 1,500 apartments and 5,000 hotel rooms could be at serious risk, Mayor Francisco Delgado said.
‘Lion King’ wins sign language festival THE second Sign Language Song Competition was held in Velez-Malaga’s Teatro del Carmen. The ‘Hakuna Matata’
theme song by ‘The Lion King’ choreography group from Jaen won the first prize. Fourteen teams took part. “Velez and Jaen are the only two cities in Spain that hold an event of this kind. Our aim is to promote sign language and break the communication boundaries within deaf and hearing people,” Mayor Francisco Delgado said.
Toy drop CROP: Nerja’s farming surface is set in around 779 square metres, official figures say.
Funds for farmers
NERJA Town Hall is asking the regional government to give more than €147 million in funds for Andalucian agriculture, to match the figure provided by the state government. “It is a gesture of commitment that the state is allocating more than €147 million to Andalucia,” Nerja Deputy Councillor Jose Miguel Jimena said.
5
TOYS are being collected for charity by the Red Cross in Velez-Malaga. This year’s Christmas campaign for needy children will run until December 28. Toys can be handed in at the Red Cross’ office at the Mercovelez building. They will later be handed out to families who request this service.
PA Hire, Club to Theatre Systems 24 Track Mobile Recording Experienced Engineers Supplied CD Mixing, Mastering, Duplicating Video Filming and Editing Photography Band Promo Packages and Demos Artist Web Sites Musicians and Equipment for All Events soundmill@me.com Tel: 634 371 709 www.soundmillstudios.com
6
NEWS
EWN
13 -19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga East
Funeral advice
€20m for Canal Sur
A SEMINAR and forum on funeral advice for expatriates will be held next Friday, December 14, 11am at Venta San Miguel in Nerja. It will focus on topics such as what to do when a loved one dies in Spain, including organisation of a funeral, payment of taxes and other legal procedures. Local solicitor Ernesto Sanchez will help answer some of these questions. Barry Dare from Avalon Funeral will advise on funeral solutions Kath Dillon from Speed Financial services will answer queries on getting expatriates’ affairs in order before death, thus reducing the liabilities for relatives. Also a member of the local clergy will give information on religious services and what options are available. Info: 634 043 092.
THE Junta de Andalucia will invest €20 million in regional TV channel Canal Sur to balance its accounts. The manager of Andalucian Radio and TV (RTVA), Pablo Carrasco, has said they had predicted a deficit of €22 million, as their expenses amount to more than €165 million. Most of that, €81.2 million, will be used to pay staff. The €20 million from the Junta will achieve the financial stability stipulated by national accounts. RTVA predicts it will save money next year.
EARLY BIRD: Institutional Relationships Councillor Maria del Mar Medina, seen with an owl during the market’s opening.
Medieval market
A MEDIEVAL theme market was held in Almuñecar. Nearly 100 stalls were set along the length of Paseo del Atillo. Among the unusual exhibits on display, the birds of prey caught most of the visitors’ attention. Handicrafts, food and toys were also on sale.
Tourism enhanced in Russia and China BESIDES tourism promotion in traditional markets like Britain, France or Germany, Andalucia will enhance its image in Russia and China. The Andalucian Board of
Tourism announced they will set in motion a special campaign to promote the region as a top tourism destination among emerging countries. Specific actions will be launched in
the two aforementioned giants. Apart from this, the Board also announced they will launch five different plans to enhance diversity. One of the plans,
for example, will promote sustainable tourism while another will try to develop quality on service. There are also plans to promote inland tourism and to avoid off-peak season.
Local weather for next 7 days AXARQUÍA TODAY AND TOMORROW ARCHIDONA
MALAGA
NERJA
R DE LA VICTORIA
ARCHIDONA
CASABERMEJA
VELEZ-MALAGA NERJA MALAGA
S Sun,
Cl Clear,
Sh Showers,
Alicante TODAY: CLEAR Fri - 18 9 C Sat - 22 13 Cl Sun - 22 11 Cl
TODAY: CLEAR Fri - 12 7 Sh Sat - 14 10 Sh Sun - 13 -5 Sh
MAX 18C, MIN 12C Mon - 18 12 Cl Tues - 17 12 Cl Wed - 17 11 C
TODAY: SUNNY, Fri - 18 10 C Sat - 18 13 Cl Sun - 20 11 Cl
MAX 10C, MIN 1C Mon - 11 -3 Cl Tues - 11 -3 C Wed - 9 3 C
Malaga MAX 18C, MIN 9C Mon - 16 10 Cl Tues - 16 9 Cl Wed - 14 8 C
Mallorca MAX 15C, MIN 7C Mon - 16 9 Cl Tues - 15 8 Cl Wed - 13 8 Cl
TODAY: SHOWERS, MAX 17C, MIN 9C Fri - 17 12 C Mon - 17 9 S Sat - 19 12 Cl Tues - 17 8 Cl Sun -19 9 S Wed - 17 8 Cl
MAX 20C, MIN 7C Mon - 19 10 Cl Tues - 19 9 Cl Wed - 18 8 Cl
TODAY: CLEAR, Fri - 18 8 C Sat - 21 12 Cl Sun - 21 9 Cl
Murcia
Benidorm TODAY: CLEAR, Fri - 20 9 C Sat - 23 14 Cl Sun - 23 11 Cl
Th Thunder
MAX 18C, MIN 7C Mon - 18 9 Cl Tues - 18 8 Cl Wed - 17 8 Cl
Barcelona TODAY: SHOWERS Fri - 16 8 C Sat - 18 12 Cl Sun - 19 10 Cl
Sn Snow,
C Cloud,
Madrid
Almeria TODAY: CLEAR Fri - 18 12 C Sat - 21 13 Cl Sun - 19 12 S
R DE LA VICTORIA
Fog,
PRESS
Stories making headlines from Germany
€5 strip search FOUR police officers in Munich are under investigation for allegedly forcing 27 students aged 13 and 14 to strip in the search for a missing €5 note.
Failed show LIVE German show Supertalent suffered a series of disasters as one singer choked on confetti during her performance and then a fire broke out on stage.
Tall light THE tallest lighthouse in Europe, standing at 100 metres, is planned for the Port of Hamburg.
Top carol AROUND 24 per cent of Germans named Stille Nacht (Silent Night) as their favourite Christmas carol, a survey showed.
Big cake
CASABERMEJA
VELEZ-MALAGA
GERMAN
MAX 18C, MIN 5C Mon - 18 8 Cl Tues - 17 7 Cl Wed - 17 6 Cl
A GIANT three ton, 3.64 metres long, 1.75 metres wide fruitcake locally known as Stollen, was baked by a team of 20 bakers in Dresden.
Cow effort A RECORD average of 8,000 litres of milk were produced by German dairy cows during the 2011/2012 season, the DLQ animal control agency said.
No consent THE NPD neo-Nazi party has been ordered to pay €12,000 in compensation to 12 minors after they were used in an election campaign video without parental consent.
NEWS
13 - 19 December 2012 www.euroweeklynews.com
Planning for the worst
Intruders set fire to former drug trafficker
MUNICIPAL plans for emergency actions (officially known as PEM) have been updated in 16 different towns in Malaga Province. These include Nerja, Campillos, Comares, Alcaucin and Arriate, among others. PEM plans are the basic guidelines which safety operatives (firemen, civil protection, rescue units, etc) have to follow whenever an emergency situation occurs; for example, during floods or forest fires. In the same way, these local regulations include the emergency protocol for self-protection in public buildings, such as the Cultural Centre in Nerja.
GUARDIA CIVIL in Pontevedra, Galicia, are investigating an attack in which intruders set fire to a drug-trafficker’s testicles.
currently owns a winery, but in the 1980s he was a well-known smuggler and drug-trafficker who was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison. The events are believed to have been a settling of scores related to his past involvement with drugs gangs, although it could also have been a violent burglary. The victim reports three intruders tied him up and beat him, then poured petrol on him and set it alight. His arms and testicles were the worst affected areas. He was able to get to a window and call to his neighbours for help. He was taken to hospital but has since PASSIONATE: Tickets will go on sale on been discharged. Saturday morning for €12 at box office.
9
Axarquía - Málaga East
The intruders broke into the home of the victim, aged 67, in the early hours of the morning when he was sleeping. He
Live tango brings night of dance sensuality A LIVE tango show will be held this Saturday at 9pm, in Centro Cultural Villa de Nerja. The ‘Fabian Carbone Tango Ensemble’, an Argentinian company with live musicians, singers and dancers will perform a mix of tango dancing, music and sensuality. Songs will range from traditional pieces by Carlos Gardel to the more contemporary by Astor Piazzolla.
EWN
SHINE ON: Decorations installed at town hall.
Ready to switch on
THE Christmas lights in Almuñecar will be officially switched on tomorrow (Friday) at 8pm. They are mainly found in the town’s shopping areas. Since this year’s decorations mix lights and tapestry, they will be relevant for both daytime and night-time. The town hall says they are cutting costs in half, by using energy-saving LED bulbs.
NEWS
10 EWN
13 -19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga East
Two Britons amongst 28 arrested in child porn network throughout Spain TWO British residents of Alicante are amongst the 28 people arrested throughout Spain for their involvement with a network which recorded child abuse. At the time of their arrest, two boys were arriving at the apartment where the abuse was due to take place. A further 10 have been charged in the international operation codenamed ‘Espada’ which focused on a network based in Canada selling videos of child abuse. Nineteen underage boys have been rescued in Madrid and Alicante, although most of the abused minors, aged between 11
and 16, who appeared in the videos were from the Ukraine, Romania and Germany. They were abused before and after the recordings, for which they were paid. Most have now been rescued. Four of the detainees, including the two Britons, are accused of abusing the children. One of them had spent a year in prison in the UK for child abuse. A third person is an elderly ‘sexual tourist’ also arrested in Alicante, and the fourth, in Madrid, manages a cycling club and is accused of abusing 14 children. A fifth person, arrested in Malaga, is also suspected of abusing minors.
Thirty-one properties were searched, and police seized 20 computers, 81 hard drives, 1,881 CDs and DVDs, 27 pen drives, seven memory cards, a modem, mobile phones, cameras, video cameras and printed photos of naked children. The company, selling videos of child abuse, had existed since 2004, and some clients had spent up to €1,000 for the images, purchased from three web sites. The company took an average of 1.6 million dollars per year . Several of the Spanish detainees had jobs in which they worked with children.
A pessimistic 2013 outlook ALMOST half of the Spanish think that 2013 will be worse financially than 2012 has been. Although the government claims the contrary, 47.3 per cent of Spanish think next year will be worse, and 31.7 per cent think it will be the same, according to a survey carried out by the Sociological Research Centre. Almost 55 per cent of those questioned said the financial situation in Spain is “very bad” and more than 80 per cent say their main worry is unemployment, followed by 42.7 per cent who are concerned about the country’s financial problems. They are also worried about politics (30.2 per cent), health (11.4 per cent), corruption (9.5 per cent), banks (8.4 per cent), education (6.7 per cent), evictions (6.3 per cent), cutbacks (5.5 per cent) and
SCANDINAVIAN PRESS Stories making headlines in Denmark, Norway and Sweden
Xmas goat SWEDEN – This year’s 13-metre tall straw Christmas goat in Gävle is being watched day and night by private security guards. Thirty three goats have been burnt and another seven vandalised, since 1966.
Son’s abuse NORWAY – An Indian couple living in Oslo were sentenced to 18 and 15 months in jail (father and mother, respectively) for physical abuse of their six-year-old son.
Party over DENMARK – Organisers of the 30year-old Copenhagen Carnival announced it will not be held next year, as public funding was cut from €67,000 to €27,000.
Fast job SWEDEN – Two managers in a McDonald’s restaurant in Stockholm were suspended from their jobs after allegedly selling work permits to illegal foreign workers.
Sex affair NORWAY – State secretary Roger Ingebrigtsens resigned after reportedly having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old member of the Labour Party.
Poker shot FINANCE: Almost half think 2013 will be worse. immigration (4.1 per cent). Almost one in four workers think they may lose their jobs in the coming year, although a higher proportion (27.2
per cent) does not believe such a thing could happen. More than 67 per cent of Spaniards are unsatisfied with democracy in Spain.
DENMARK – Danish poker champion Theo Jørgensen was robbed in his home in Copenhagen after being shot three times in one leg by three assailants.
NEWS
13 - 19 December 2012 www.euroweeklynews.com
Princess refuses to get divorce
STANDING BY HER MAN: Infanta Cristina of Spain.
THE Infanta Cristina of Spain could be thinking of giving up the privileges of her title for love. According to Spanish magazine, Lecturas , Princess Cristina is convinced of the innocence of her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, with regards to the Noos corruption scandal, and is ready to put her marriage before Royal title. She has reportedly been advised to get a divorce in order to distance herself from the charges against her husband, but refuses to do so. However, the Royal Household has
denied that she was given an ultimatum to either get a divorce or give up her privileges as Infanta. Lecturas claims that the Royal Family do not accept many of the things which Iñaki does, including having a royal escort. Renouncing her privileges would mean also renouncing those of her four children, whom she reportedly plans to send to boarding school in Switzerland. It is believed the princess wants to distance them from negative comments about their father.
Ritual mutilation leads to jail term By Gabrielle Devon THE Supreme Court has confirmed a six-year prison sentence for a Gambian man who carried out a ritual genital mutilation procedure on his daughter. The man, who had lived in Spain for 10 years, performed the mutilation when the girl was less than one year old, was sentenced by Teruel Provincial Court. Her mother was sentenced to two years in prison after it was confirmed she was not aware that the procedure was illegal in Spain. The case was discovered during a routine check-up with the paediatrician.
coloursinmylife / Shutterstock.com
A MAN from Sevilla has been acquitted of raping his wife because she did not report the attack until 22 days later. The prosecutor was asking for eight years in prison for the man, 32, for sexually abusing his wife, with whom he lived in an apartment with their daughter, 13, and nephew, 20. The provincial court acquitted him due to what was referred to as the ‘lack of interest’ shown by the wife, who failed to report ‘such a serious’ crime. She reportedly went to work following the attack in May 2010. The couple had separated but were still living together. On the day of the attack, they had a violent row, and the woman claimed to have been sexually abused but refused to go to hospital. In March 2011, she asked to withdraw the complaint against her husband, because she was fed up with constant calls from the police and courts, but ‘thought better of it’ when she was told that if she did so, the restraining order against him would be annulled.
Axarquía - Málaga East
ACREDITAR: © CASA DE SU MAJESTAD EL REY / DALDA
Husband cleared of wife rape
EWN 11
OUTLAWED TRADITION: Young girls at risk of 3,000-year-old practice. The father, said to be wellintegrated in Spanish society, appealed the sentence in the Supreme Court on the grounds it was a 3,000-year-old practice
which, he said, in his country, ‘seeks to help the child fit in’. But Judge Joaquin Gimenez said: “It is not culture, it is mutilation and discrimination of women.”
Female genital mutilation is a practice carried out mainly in African and Asian countries. Social Services in Spain attempt to contact families of girls whom they consider may be at risk of undergoing this procedure. They explain the dangers it involves, and attempt to dissuade them from returning to their country of origin for the ritual to be performed or from having it carried out by clandestine witch-doctors residing in Spain. There are several types of female genital mutilation, but all involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia.
13 - 19 December 2012 www.euroweeklynews.com
Stat of week SALARIES in Spain dropped between 3 and 4 per cent in 2010 and 2011, the International Work Organisation has revealed.
Finance,
business
&
A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 8 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION
EWN
13
Axarquía - Málaga East
legal www.ewnbusiness.com
Paradors facing worst year yet PARADOR hotels group is having its worst year ever. Occupancy levels for 2012 are predicted to be 52 per cent, and the company now has debts of more than €110 million. And against this backdrop, the company is facing more strikes on New Year’s Eve
and New Year’s Day in ongoing protests over company redundancy plans which could see 644 staff lose their jobs. There are plans to close seven Parador hotels and at other properties staff will have working hours and salaries reduced in cost-cutting moves. Throughout Spain, Parador hotels employ 4,400 people. In a recent stoppage, unions report that 80 per cent of staff backed the strike throughout Spain, with all staff striking in Ayamonte, Puerto Lumbreras, Albacete, ONLY 13.7 per cent of contracts in Spain are for Teruel, Manzanares and part-time jobs. Ferrol, and around 90 per While throughout the European Union (EU) an cent in Nerja, Toledo, average of almost 19 per cent of contracts are for Caceres and Zafra. part-time jobs, in Spain, this option is not popular, The person in charge of according to a Eurostat study. the section for ‘Paradores de Despite high unemployment and the Spanish Tourism’ of union Comisiones government praising part-time jobs as an option to Obreras (CCOO), Enrique allow people to spend more time with their families, Sanchez, has announced it just hasn’t taken off. that the redundancy plan But in other EU countries part-time work has been affects almost a third of the seen as a solution. staff. One of the main reasons against in Spain is the CCOO blames the drastic high cost to the employer, with taking on two people fall in the number of clients part-time rather than one full-time is a lot more and income on poor expensive. management. In Holland, 48 per cent of the population is The Paradors due to be employed in a part-time job, followed by Germany closed are two in Galicia, two and the UK at around 25 per cent. in Castilla-La Mancha, one in However, part-time employment in countries Andalucia, one in Murcia and including the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria one in Aragon. is even lower than in Spain, with 4.7, 3.9 and 2.2 per There are also plans to cent respectively. close a further 27 Paradors for five months of the year.
Part-time work is so unpopular
Fashionable Mango still growing SPAIN’S own Mango has now opened shops in Pakistan and Burma. Some 5,000 designs per year are created and distributed from the Barcelona headquarters of the Catalan fashion retailer. Though much smaller than Inditex’s Zara, Mango has 2,500 shops worldwide and employs more than 26,000 people.
Last year the company made €1.4 billion, up 35 per cent on the previous year, and this is expected to rise again. This is mainly thanks to the company’s strategy of lowering prices by 20 per cent and not increasing VAT in Spain this year, with its homeland remaining its best market with 18 per cent of its sales.
PRIZE LOCATION: Many Paradors - including in Malaga - are in prime positions.
14
EWN www.euroweeklynews.com
Steering a safe course when renewing licence
Q
I am a British resident in Spain and I have changed my British driving licence for a Spanish one. I have two questions: 1. I have renewed the part that permits me to drive a car but the category that covers small commercial vehicles expired at an earlier date and I failed to renew it. I now intend to buy a large motor-home. Can I still renew the expired part of my licence that covers this size of vehicle? It would be up to 7.5 You and the tons in the UK. 2. A friend is visiting Spain Law in Spain By David Searl in his transit van. The vehicle is UK registered, insured for any driver and is taxed in the UK. One of our friends is adamant that I cannot drive a UK-matriculated vehicle on a Spanish driving licence. This is not the first time that I have heard this. Is there any truth in it? R C (by email)
A
In principle, yes, drivers can renew the expired portion of their licences which allows them to operate vehicles up to 7.5 tons. Until a few years ago a Spanish driver who failed to renew his permit within three months of its expiry was forced to begin again from zero. Now renewals can be made at any time after it runs out. And, yes, some of the more advanced permits have shorter times between renewals than normal ones. Check at an official medical testing centre to be sure. Your second question has been answered here in an earlier edition of EWN but we will jog your memory. Of course the holder of a Spanish driving licence can legally operate a UK registered vehicle in Spain. Your friend may be confusing driving with owning. What you cannot do is own a UK vehicle and drive it in Spain on your Spanish licence. David will respond to queries but reserves the right to select letters which will be of interest to the greatest number of readers. You can also consult David through lawyers Ubeda-Retana and Associates in Fuengirola. ask@lawtaxspain.com or call 952 667 090.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
13 - 19 December 2012 Axarquía - Málaga East
Tasty deal gives Germans a crisp future A DEAL worth £397 million (€489 million) has seen favourite snacks like KP Nuts, McCoy’s crisps and Hula Hoops sold to a German firm. Intersnack has bought the brands from United Biscuits.
£££ THOMSON and First Choice owner TUI has posted a 32 per cent rise in earnings to £197 million (€242.5 million) after a surge in
B
ritish usiness riefs
late sales. Now next summer’s bookings are also up 12 per cent.
£££ TWO of the UK’s oldest nuclear power stations will have their
operating lives extended by seven years until 2023. French company Edf said Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B could safely be used.
£££ BRITISH AIRWAYS is looking to voluntary redundancies in a bid to shed 400 senior cabin crew. It has entered a 90-day consultation period with union Unite.
Ominous for Greece as funds held back until burden reduced IT is over a month since a so-called ‘troika’ agreed rules for clearing €44 billion from the second tranche of bail-out funds available to Athens. The funds were supposed to be available in mid-December, a date almost a month later than the original deadline. The original agreement cobbled together by the troika - the European Union (EU), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) involved a buy-back scheme intended to reduce Greece’s debt burden by 10 per cent of GDP, apparently with the aim of restoring the country’s long-term financial viability. But now, following delays in its implementation, the IMF has said it will not disburse funds until a eurozone buy-back scheme to reduce the debt burden is firmly in place. Even more ominous for Greece is that both Holland and Finland have intimated that should this delay linger on, they too will pull out. A fresh scheme has now been suggested and proposed, that Greece’s Central Bank should buy back €10 billion worth of
Jim Collins Costa Blanca
its outstanding bonds at today’s depressed market values, thus ‘retiring’ some €30 billion of the national debt. A bright idea to be sure, but many of the present bond-holders are reluctant to accept a further haircut on their stake following the 52.5 per cent loss already suffered earlier this year. They would prefer to hang on to their holdings in the hope of a better offer, even hanging on to collect the full face value upon maturity. The entire convoluted weave of proposals, plans, deadlines and agreements leading to an apparently uncertain financial future, does not attract favourable comment from bond fund managers. One gave his opinion that this Greek
COBBLED TOGETHER: Debt deal. Central Bank buy-back proposal “is just another milestone on Greece’s road to Hell, paved of course, with good intentions.” Bad as things are for Greece, the French also may be looking into the abyss. Figures just released show the Purchasing Managers Index for French manufacturing is now at 44.2, and with anything under 50 denoting contraction, the eurozone’s weakest, after Greece. “The figures are shocking,” said a sovereign debt strategist. “France has for some time been sailing dangerously close to the wind, but is now tipping into outright contraction following a year-and-a-half of nearzero growth.”
It seems the French car industry is the heaviest loser, usually employing 400,000 people but since the autumn shedding 40,000 jobs a month. Vehicle production has almost halved despite a scramble to expand abroad, but Renault and Peugeot have found themselves unable to compete with Volkswagen and even Seat. Of course, French bankers, always eager to look across the Channel for a culprit, have been quick to blame ‘Perfidious Albion’, telling anyone who will listen that Britain’s non-membership of the eurozone, (thus retaining its position as a world banking centre) is at the core of France’s economic woes. Ah, well, there’s no pleasing everybody.
13 - 19 December 2012
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
www.euroweeklynews.com Over the years, I have, in the Euro Weekly News, followed the ongoing story of how the UK’s Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man have had to adjust their practices to co-operate with UK, European and international calls for tax transparency. The story is not yet over. There is a move towards automatic exchange of information as the new global standard in international tax co-operation, with the US leading the way with its groundbreaking Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). The UK has now also opened negotiations with its offshore territories which is likely to herald in a new era of automatic exchange of information between the islands and the UK. It is likely that once agreement has been reached, other European countries will expect similar deals. While you would like your wealth management to be as tax efficient as possible, it is essential to only use arrangements that are compliant in your country of residence. A firm like Blevins Franks has decades of experience advising expatriates in Spain on their tax planning and wealth management and would guide you through your options.
EWN
15
Axarquía - Málaga East
UK To Demand More Tax Information From Crown Dependencies US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) FATCA will start in 2014 and obliges foreign financial institutions over the world to provide information on US citizens to the US tax authority, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The institutions have to enter into compliance agreements with the US Treasury to report on US clients. If not, they will have to pay a withholding penalty of 30% of the payments made to them. Offshore centres like the Channel Islands and Isle of Man are keen to sign up to avoid the penalties, which could damage their finance industry. In October they announced that they will negotiate partnership agreements with the US. The UK’s ‘son of FATCA’ US FATCA would mean that the Crown Dependencies exchange more tax-related information with the US than they do with the UK, so it is not surprising that the UK Treasury is now seeking to impose its own version on its territories. On 23rd November International Tax Review reported that its journalists had seen a leaked copy of
a draft government document detailing how a UK scheme would work. It called the scheme ‘son of FATCA’ and claimed it would “deal an almost fatal blow to tax evasion through the UK’s tax havens.” According to the report, the agreement would require the automatic exchange of information for each reportable account of each reporting financial institution. This would include full details of all beneficial owners of the account, including those whose identities might otherwise be hidden by trusts or companies. Jersey Finance acknowledged that: “It is well known that the principles behind the US FACTA arrangements are being looked at by the OECD, EU and UK.” According to the Observer, the UK government could force its territories to comply by threatening to veto their own FATCA agreements with the US – the UK needs to pass the laws needed for data to be provided to the US, so it could give the islands an ultimatum. On 30th November Jersey,
Guernsey and Isle of Man governments confirmed that they had attended an explanatory meeting with Treasury officials about the possibility of extending the principles behind FATCA to ‘an exchange of information’ with Britain, and that further discussions are expected. No details of the content of the meeting were given. In a joint statement, the Channel Islands said: “The UK and the Crown Dependencies share a common commitment to combat tax evasion and to participate generally in international efforts to combat financial and other crime including fiscal crime.” This implies that they will accept an agreement modelled on the US FATCA. The Isle of Man also reaffirmed its long-standing policy to meet established international standards. If legislation goes ahead, it is expected to come into effect on 1st January 2014. The biggest change will be in Jersey, since Guernsey and the Isle of Man already automatically exchange information on savings income under the EU Savings Tax Directive.
According to Richard Murphy of Tax Research UK, who was speaking to the Telegraph, information exchange currently impacts around 4% to 5% of total funds in Jersey. If the agreement goes through, over 90% of funds will be subject to information exchange. He described the demands as ‘radical’, explaining that it would not just be about interest payments but rather detailed financial information. For advice on legitimate tax planning in Spain, speak to an experienced advisory firm like Blevins Franks. By Bill Blevins, Financial Correspondent, Blevins Franks Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual should take personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
16
EWN www.euroweeklynews.com
13 - 19 December 2012 Axarquía - Málaga East
LONDON - FTSE 100 C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -0.10 -0.03 -15.00 -1.33 -26.00 -1.16 -4.85 -0.46 -7.50 -0.41 1.00 0.07 -5.00 -0.66 15.00 1.01 2.00 0.07 -8.12 -2.22 -6.50 -0.65 -0.31 -0.09 -2.13 -0.85 1.50 0.14 -19.50 -0.97 -0.60 -0.14 0.00 0.00 -0.30 -0.05
NET VOLUME 236.24 50.30 44.29 24.59 300.42 150.83 158.96 197.70 223.48 1,778.09 34.71 616.45 4,554.46 647.43 674.94 1,433.58 283.94 74.25
CU RR EN CI ES
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 10
PRICE(P) C O M PA N Y Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 340.90 Admiral Group PLC 1114.00 Aggreko PLC 2218.00 AMEC PLC 1058.00 Anglo American PLC 1804.25 Antofagasta PLC 1348.00 ARM Holdings PLC 749.25 Associated Brit Fds PLC 1500.50 AstraZeneca PLC 3002.50 Aviva PLC 358.20 Babcock Int Group... 995.50 BAE Systems PLC 338.10 Barclays PLC 249.40 BG Group PLC 1069.25 BHP Billiton PLC 1999.00 BP PLC 425.40 British Amn Tobacco PLC 3263.50 British Land Co PLC 554.50
0.80496
Units per €
United States $......................................................1.29094 Japan Yen ¥ ...........................................................106.230 Switzerland Francs................................................1.20676 Denmark Kroner ....................................................7.45939 Norway Kroner.......................................................7.33691
C O M PA N Y
PRICE(P)
British Sky Brdcstng Gr... BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Capital Shopping Cntrs Carnival PLC Centrica PLC Compass Group PLC CRH PLC
758.50 234.85 1035.00 1306.50 757.25 347.50 2448.00 335.65 728.50 1155.00
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G.
DOW JONES
NASDAQ
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 10
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 10
C O M PA N Y
PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME
MMM 3M Co 91.51 AA Alcoa Inc 8.50 AXP American Express Co 56.61 T AT&T Inc 33.74 BAC Bank of America Corp 10.64 BA Boeing Co 74.64 CAT Caterpillar Inc 86.99 CVX Chevron Corp 106.99 CSCO Cisco Systems Inc 19.34 DD E. I. du Pont de Nemours and C... 43.18 XOM Exxon Mobil Corp 88.60 GE General Electric Co 21.46 HPQ Hewlett-Packard Co 13.81 HD Home Depot Inc 64.45 INTC Intel Corp 20.16 IBM International Business Machine... 191.95 JNJ Johnson & Johnson 70.45 JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co 42.56 MCD McDonald's Corp 88.48 MRK Merck & Co Inc 44.63 MSFT Microsoft Corp 26.46
+0.56 -0.07 +0.49 +0.085 +0.18 +0.66 +1.04 +0.54 -0.145 +0.31 +0.60 +0.09 +0.11 +0.11 -0.005 +2.25 +0.40 +1.09 +0.39 +0.12 -0.27
+0.62% -0.82% +0.87% +0.25% +1.72% +0.89% +1.21% +0.51% -0.74% +0.72% +0.68% +0.42% +0.80% +0.17% -0.02% +1.19% +0.57% +2.63% +0.44% +0.27% -1.01%
2.5M 12.2M 3.7M 22.3M 192.1M 3.7M 7.3M 4.9M 50.6M 4.1M 10.6M 33.6M 25.3M 6.1M 41.7M 4.1M 10.0M 34.6M 8.1M 7.9M 46.2M
1.24229
-2.83 -0.30 -5.00 2.00 -2.50 -3.10 -9.00 -1.26 -1.00 -8.00
C O M PA N Y
Most Advanced Groupon, Inc. P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. Hydrogenics Corporation GT Advanced Technologies, Inc. CSP Inc. Charm Communications Inc. Virco Manufacturing Corporation Forbes Energy Services Ltd
-0.37 -0.13 -0.48 0.15 -0.33 -0.88 -0.37 -0.37 -0.14 -0.69
NET VOLUME 202.64 1,475.13 36.57 97.74 82.65 87.83 26.91 424.61 277.96 204.63
PRICE
CHANGE NET / %
$ 4.685 $ 10.22 $ 5.93 $ 8.75 $ 3.50 $ 6.23 $ 3.80 $ 2.60 $ 2.68
0.875 / +22.97% 1.11 / +12.18% 0.52 / +9.61% 0.71 / +8.83% 0.2785 / +8.65% 0.48 / +8.35% 0.29 / +8.26% 0.19 / +7.88% 0.18 / +7.20%
$ 9.69 $ 2.35 $4 $ 9.92 $ 15.95 $ 25.32 $ 4.76 $ 6.20 $ 4.44
2.26 / -18.91% 0.24 / -9.27% 0.40 / -9.09% 0.93 / -8.57% 1.42 / -8.18% 2.16 / -7.86% 0.39 / -7.57% 0.50 / -7.46% 0.33 / -6.92%
Most Declined Amarin Corporation PLC TranS1 Inc. Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. Asset Acceptance Capital Corp. Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. EMCORE Corporation
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Croda International PLC 2352.50 4.75 Diageo PLC 1882.00 3.18 Eurasian Natural Resources ...276.25 -6.70 EVRAZ PLC 239.75 -2.50 Experian PLC 1041.00 -10.00 Fresnillo PLC 1954.00 -14.00 G4S PLC 248.20 -1.00 GKN PLC 222.00 -1.30 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1355.50 6.50 Glencore Intl PLC 345.50 0.25 Hammerson PLC 481.10 -0.20 Hargreaves Lansdown 727.00 -8.29 HSBC Holdings PLC 639.90 -3.80 IMI PLC 1081.50 -9.00 Imperial Tobacco Gr PLC 2484.50 -13.00 InterContinental Hotels 1650.00 0.00 International Conslidatd 170.00 -1.20 Intertek Group PLC 3115.50 -15.00 ITV PLC 100.70 -1.10 Johnson Matthey PLC 2440.00 -3.00 Kazakhmys PLC 747.00 1.50 Kingfisher PLC 269.50 -1.80 Land Securities Grp PLC 811.50 -1.65 Legal & General Grp PLC 146.05 -0.90 Lloyds Banking Grp PLC 46.62 -0.11 Marks & Spencer Grp PLC 392.85 -0.86 Meggitt PLC 385.45 -0.40 Melrose Industries PLC 221.45 -2.50 National Grid PLC 706.25 -1.00 Next PLC 3699.50 -4.00 Old Mutual PLC 173.05 -1.30 Pearson PLC 1177.50 0.00 Pennon Group PLC 605.50 2.00 Petrofac Ltd 1700.50 14.00 Polymetal Intl PLC 1087.00 -0.68 Prudential PLC 900.00 -8.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 6407.50 20.00 Reckitt Benckiser Gr PLC 3979.50 17.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 644.75 -2.00 Resolution Ltd 247.80 2.46 REXAM PLC 448.70 -1.10 Rio Tinto PLC 3262.50 6.70 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 885.50 -11.50 Royal Bank of Scot Gr 295.85 -3.05 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2168.75 5.00 RSA Insurance Grp PLC 121.80 0.03 SABMiller PLC 2779.50 -21.00 Sage Group (The) PLC 293.90 -1.20 Sainsbury (J) PLC 342.85 -0.20 Schroders PLC 1638.00 -3.00 Serco Group PLC 544.50 -0.50 Severn Trent PLC 1552.50 3.70 Shire PLC 1893.00 -8.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 668.25 2.50 Smiths Group PLC 1126.00 -5.85 SSE PLC 1426.50 -5.00 Standard Chartered PLC 1475.50 -10.50 Standard Life PLC 328.10 -1.95 Tate & Lyle PLC 763.50 4.50 Tesco PLC 334.95 -1.85 Tullow Oil PLC 1238.50 -6.60 Unilever PLC 2412.00 -4.35 United Utilities Grp PLC 689.25 0.00 Vedanta Resources PLC 1103.50 -7.00 Vodafone Group PLC 160.92 -0.95 Weir Group PLC 1825.00 -10.00 Whitbread PLC 2437.50 9.15 Wm Morrison Sprmrkts 268.10 -0.97 Wolseley PLC 2827.00 -18.00 Wood Group (John) PLC 771.00 -3.00 WPP PLC 856.25 -13.50 Xstrata PLC 1036.00 1.00
% C H G. 0.20 0.17 -2.37 -1.03 -0.95 -0.71 -0.40 -0.58 0.48 0.07 -0.04 -1.13 -0.59 -0.83 -0.52 0.00 -0.70 -0.48 -1.08 -0.12 0.20 -0.66 -0.20 -0.61 -0.24 -0.22 -0.10 -1.12 -0.14 -0.11 -0.74 0.00 0.33 0.83 -0.06 -0.88 0.31 0.43 -0.31 1.00 -0.24 0.21 -1.28 -1.02 0.23 0.02 -0.75 -0.41 -0.06 -0.18 -0.09 0.24 -0.42 0.38 -0.52 -0.35 -0.71 -0.59 0.59 -0.55 -0.53 -0.18 0.00 -0.63 -0.59 -0.54 0.38 -0.36 -0.63 -0.39 -1.55 0.10
VOLUME 13.05 406.48 712.31 212.62 104.04 42.74 237.79 232.41 694.91 1,196.51 75.43 49.12 2,293.42 31.08 137.43 44.97 521.24 10.28 1,169.81 21.60 135.40 334.80 61.70 656.11 20,392.37 267.94 82.14 159.56 869.50 12.96 471.75 184.56 147.08 158.14 13.20 215.63 13.46 65.21 292.64 229.34 140.52 955.82 923.93 1,320.06 474.02 1,460.09 371.25 229.44 283.94 13.33 173.68 47.47 247.02 148.84 20.84 140.08 399.52 542.21 134.68 1,623.35 277.63 90.31 169.65 76.87 5,954.59 35.34 39.17 741.77 51.90 61.46 592.09 464.20
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN
Axarquía - Málaga East
www.euroweeklynews.com
The jobless who are just not learning MORE than 21 per cent of people in Spain between 15 and 29 neither work nor study. Spain is also one of the European
Union (EU) countries where more unemployed people not currently studying are not actively looking for work either.
The nation now has the highest number of people neither studying nor working in the whole EU zone. Seventy per cent have a
Open early for Xmas SPANISH retailer El Corte Ingles has decided to open at 9am over Christmas. The shops normally open at 10am, like most in Spain, and will continue to do so in Cataluña, the Basque Country and Andalucia, where laws do not permit them to open earlier. The Christmas campaign will last until January 5, but it is not known whether the stores will maintain the new opening hours beyond that period, especially while the sales are on.
17
low education level. The EU proposes that by law member states should guarantee that under 25s should receive an offer of work or an internship during the four months after they complete their studies or register as being unemployed. If neither option is possible, the EU wants to make sure that member states will give them further education.
‘Virus’ steals €36 million RE-FUEL: Diesel prices are lower on a Monday.
It’s cheaper on Mondays THE National Energy Committee (CNE) in Spain has revealed that fuel prices are lower on Mondays. The CNE has seen that prices drop by at least 1 per cent on
Mondays, the day on which the EU is informed of fuel prices, and then rise again on Tuesday. This mainly affects grade A diesel. A report also shows that in October, 95 octane petrol
was more expensive in Spain before taxes were applied than the EU average, meaning margins are higher. But prices paid by Spanish drivers are lower than the EU
A TROJAN virus allowed €5.8 million to be stolen from more than 11,000 bank accounts in Spain. The Trojan, named Eurograbber, which can be transferred from a PC to a mobile phone, affected seven banks in Spain and many more throughout Europe, making the total amount stolen close to €36 million.
GB
LOBAL IZ
Water relief GOOGLE is giving a $5 million (€3.86 million) grant to help provide clean and sustainable water supplies in impoverished parts of the world.
Plain talking SOUTH AFRICA is moving in to the multimillion-euro call centre industry. Amazon, Aegis and British company Coracall have opened centres in the country because of the more ‘neutral’ accent of workers compared to India.
Girly digger BARBIE is picking up a shovel. The iconic doll’s first line of construction sets has become a best seller in the US.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
18
EWN www.euroweeklynews.com
13 - 19 December 2012 Axarquía - Málaga East
When pricey gifts mean Xmas cheer, watch the festive spend IN America the average set of parents is reported to spend approximately $270 (€209) on presents for each child. One in 10 parents said the plan was to spend A look more than $500 at finance (€387). for females Spending figures for British mums and dads are a Jane Plunkett little more jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews. com reserved, with parents predicted to spend an average £104 EXPENSIVE: Watch your spending on gifts. (€129) on each of their children this Christmas, but Spanish parents are Christmas morning. 20 per cent of UK parents quoted as spending more In 2008, the general surveyed admitted to than €100 on presents for public across Europe and forking out more than £200 each child, while domestic America held back a little (€248) on each child. pets in many countries are on overspending during That would make a total also getting in on the the holiday season, as spend of almost £1.4 billion action, with about €10 advice was continually (€1.73 billion) on children’s being spent on a treat for being doled out to save presents across the UK. the dog or cat come and be sensible.
Loose change
Such advice seems to have fallen on deaf ears recently, with reports revealing that Christmas spending has increased dramatically in the past couple of years and shows no sign of slowing down. It appears that despite
B
USINESS IZ
Cash shot
continuing pressures on household budgets, consumers still enjoy moments of indulgence and like to treat their friends and family at Christmas. Obviously there is nothing wrong with wanting to spoil loved ones, but if overspending spoils finances, too, then it’s just not worth it. One way to approach Christmas presents is to treat children like adults. Explain that times are a little tough and that Santa will be cutting back on expensive gifts. Most children love the thrill of opening a present and won’t be bothered if the item inside cost €50 or €100. As for pets, sit them down for the same chat, or just scratch their gift right off the list!
GIANT insurance company AXA is set to follow MAPFRE and Mutua Madrilena in investing in Spain’s ‘bad bank’.
TV woes PUBLIC television station Telemadrid has set in motion plans to dismiss 925 workers, or 80 per cent of its staff. A rump workforce would fill air-time with bought-in programmes.
Big customer ANDALUCIA is Cataluña’s largest ‘export’ market after France. Next come Aragon and Valencia, in a report that shows the region’s reliance on Spain for trade.
Listen to staff to boost output and lift morale B OTH positive and negative employee morale has a significant effect on an organisation’s bottom line. Employees with high morale show up to work on time, work harder, show improved communication and creativity and are less likely to leave. The opposite is true when employees have low morale. The number of sick days goes up, more time is spent gossiping during work hours, only the basic job requirements are met, and there is an increased staff turnover rate. Listen to staff grievances and their suggestions and act to improve employee morale. As an organisation management holds the key. Employees are more motivated when they feel needed, appreciated and valued. There are countless ways to positively motivate employees. Below are 12 simple ways
Nigel Fitzpatrick
organisations can improve morale: 1. Give employees more control. When they feel more in charge they don’t get tied up with the small stuff and feel less helpless during times of uncertainty. Remember, control is earned through trust and should not be taken advantage of or abused. 2. Communication. When employees feel they are being kept in the loop they are more likely to trust that management has everyone’s best interests in mind. The sharing of ideas should be encouraged. 3. Express gratitude and reward staff. When
employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to help others and improve teamwork. Rewarding a job well done will foster the desire to continue producing positive results. 4. Flexitime. When employees are offered flexitime (telecommuting, summer hours, four-day work week), they are more productive even when financial rewards are not available. Flexitime offers a cost-effective approach to encouraging a proper life-work balance. 5. Celebrate special events. When employees have a social gathering to look forward to they are likelier to work harder and faster to ensure time lost is at a minimum. 6. Design a welcoming workspace. In addition to comfortable chairs and ergonomic desks, allow staff to bring in desk lamps, open
curtains and blinds. Provide free drinks and an enjoyable break room. 7. Clarify expectations. When employees clearly understand their role and the impact it has on the company they will feel more connected to the organisation’s performance and compelled to give 100 per cent. 8. Lead by example. When employees see management rolling up their sleeves to dive into a project they are more apt to follow in the same footsteps. Setting a good example is a language everyone understands and it gains maximum respect. 9. Provide a suggestion box. When employees can voice concerns in an anonymous fashion they are more likely to bring up issues that may be hard to mention in a face-to-face conversation. The suggestion box is also a unique forum for employees to express innovative ideas.
10. Volunteer as a group. When employees and organisations struggle during hard times, it’s inspiring to help others even less fortunate. Working as a group also allows staff who don’t normally have much interaction with each other to work side by side, further promoting teamwork and camaraderie. 11. Challenge employees. When employees feel pushed intellectually with new projects they will feel more enthused, competent and productive. Pairing a challenging project with the proper employee will help expand their particular skill set and the business will be rewarded. 12. Respect employees. When workers feel respected, not only as individuals but professionals, regardless of positions, they are likely to exhibit more professional mannerisms in the workplace.
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
W EEKLY
21
Axarquía - Málaga East
ROUND - UP OF REGULAR AND OCCASIONAL TOPICS
E XPAT EXTRA
LETTERS LEAPY HEALTH & BEAUTY
FOOD TIME OUT HOMES & GARDENS
PETS TV
Oh Crispin! How I hunger for you
WHAT a week! My feet have hardly touched the ground. It’s simply unbelievable that it is only seven days since I bumped into Mr Gorgeous in Hipercor. A case of instant chemistry, just like how I imagine Denise Van Outen felt when paired with dance partner James Jordan on Strictly Come
As I see it... Ana Jefferson-Smith takes an irreverent look at life as a singleton expat in Spain Dancing. But Crispin has definitely worn more masculine outfits than the jumpsuits and mesh T-shirts James has appeared in. And unfortunately I do not
COMMENT No time for politics
look like Denise. But you know where I’m coming from. Back to last week. It has truly been just like a fairy-tale. Before I had even reached my car after literally bumping
into Crispin at the supermarket, he had sent a message: ‘Can’t wait to see you again. x’ Only one kiss, but that’s a lot for a guy you’ve only known for five minutes. The following morning he sent me another text, saying: ‘Tonight. 9pm. Marbella old town. Wear something sexy. x’ He had a chilled bottle of
MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE A real touch of winter sweeps Southern Spain
WOUND-LICKING, backslapping and nostalgia were prominent during a homage to former president Felipe Gonzalez, 30 years after he won the 1982 elections. The PSOE needs to shift towards the centre, he declared, preferring not to remember that these are times for weathering the storm, not plotting a course in any direction. It is the country that the PSOE and every other party should be worrying about, not tweaking ideology.
No time for sabre-rattling A GENERAL was sacked as editor of the General Staff magazine Ejercito for criticising Artur Mas. The Catalan president’s separatism ‘diminishes Spain’s credibility’, wrote the general - who is in the reserve - in an unsigned editorial. This is an opinion that many share but using an official publication to air it confuses personal convictions and national politics. Spain had more than enough of that in the past.
Flush of popularity in the loo ALMOST one third of all Americans aged 18 to 24 use social networking sites in the bathroom, research has revealed. *** SEVERAL doctors reassured Aundrea Aragon from Arizona, USA, that the clear liquid running from her nose was simply caused by
JUST FANCY THAT... allergies. She was horrified to find out it was actually fluid leaking from her brain. *** CHINESE astronauts could grow fresh vegetables on Mars and
the moon after researchers successfully completed a preliminary test in Beijing, China. *** ROBOTS will replace some of the 80 dolphins currently used by the US
Navy to track down mines. Mammals are being used by the military at present as part of a programme dating back to the 1950s. *** A GIRL, 8, was bitten by a dolphin at Orlando’s Sea World. The theme park said they are ‘committed to guest safety’.
Champagne waiting for me at our table, tucked away in the corner of the restaurant; so secluded, so intimate, so perfect. On our second date, we strolled through Malaga, handin-hand, gazing at the sights, and he later sent me a huge bunch of flowers at work: Lily of the Valley, my favourite. Even when we took my dog Stella (McCartney) to the hairdressers it was romance all the way , with him opening doors for me, and carrying her to the car to ensure her newly-manicured toenails stayed smudge-free. I know it’s only been seven days and I shouldn’t get ahead of myself, but the butterflies in my tummy are in overdrive, and I am getting hotter by the day!. I struggle to eat around him because I’m so nervous. And I lie in bed at night wondering what tomorrow will bring. Each time my phone beeps, a feeling of desire shoots through me as I scramble to find it, and hang on every word Crispin utters in his deep and so masculine tones. What a turnaround from three weeks ago when I was happy being single, glad to be in control of the TV remote. Now I can’t concentrate on watching television without my mind wandering, dreaming of him. Next week he’s taking me on a surprise date, and I’ve been told to bring a bikini. Could he be whisking me away on a romantic holiday? I’ll let you know how it goes.
yoursay@ euroweeklynews.com
www.euroweeklynews.com
Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@ euroweekly news.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10, P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29630 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887
L etters OPINION & COMMENT
22 EWN
Tight parking spaces really drive me mad WHY is it that car parks in Spain have such small parking spaces? While my wife drives a VW Golf, I drive a larger 4x4, and neither is easy to park in the spots in car parks. All too frequently I have to pull in the wing mirrors to park because space near posts in underground car parks is so tight. It is not a case of just odd car parks. From my own observations over seven years living here, it is the vast majority. Lidl has just opened a new supermarket in La Cala, and sure enough, on the first visit, I found marked parking areas for individual vehicles to be once more small. And this is not to be critical of Lidl, for the local Mercado car park is just as bad, as is the municipal car park outside SuperSol. No wonder so many vehicles have bumps at the back, front, and sides. Fed-up driver Name and address supplied
Car park alert
Snapped! Ernie Barnes of Arroyo de la Miel, Malaga
P pub hotog r l em icati aphs pho ail w on sh for p o ton ews ith a f uld b ossibl e es @e ull e c uro wee aptio nt by klyn n to ews : .com
13 - 19 December 2012 Axarquía - Málaga East
Annoying bite I WAS very annoyed that Suzanne Manners did not report the dog bite (Issue 1431) to the police. It is clear that the dog’s owner was not bothered. How long before it bites a child and causes serious harm? A call to the police at this stage would perhaps convince the owner to have the animal trained. If you are not prepared to do the right thing when something wrong happens, then don’t complain. Andrew Coates, Fuengirola (Malaga)
Market thanks
Flying the flag! A girl carrying a huge Spanish flag during this year’s Constitution Day celebrations.
WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:
AFTER a two-month stay in our home country we picked up our car from one of the many airport car parks in Malaga. Before we left we had written down the kilometres on the trip meter. On our return we saw the meter had an extra 2,500 kilometres showing. We complained and were told they had charged the battery and it had probably changed the reading. Then we found things in our car that didn’t belong to us, and a parking ticket from Benamaldena Costa dated while we were away. The next day we made an official complaint to the police. People should be careful when using some of the airport car parks. Tineke van Melick Sayalonga (Malaga)
because it was warmer than the UK all year round. I chose to leave, so why now should I expect and demand the UK government to give me more than I am entitled to from my State Pension contributions? Yes, it is very hot in Spain in the summer, but surely that is the reason one came to the country. I might be poor, but that unfortunately is not a sufficient reason for the UK to continue to support me while I decide to live abroad. David Petrie, Alhaurin el Grande (Malaga)
Not entitled
Tax dilemma
THE Winter Fuel Allowance was introduced as a freebie to pensioners living in England. It had nothing to do with how much any person had paid. As a pensioner I decided to leave the UK and come to Spain partly
HOW many people realise their next Spanish tax return will have to declare assets held abroad that total more than €50,000? Although this new legislation would appear virtually impossible to implement, people will still face a
www.euroweeklynews.com
dilemma. That is whether or not to give the authorities full disclosure of overseas assets even when thinking they will not qualify for additional taxation. Failure to complete an accurate tax return constitutes a punishable offence in its own right. This is food for thought as the Spanish authorities have stated they intend to seek co-operation with EU governments to enforce the legislation. Ken Bethell, Puerto de Mazarron (Murcia)
No peace PLEASE advise Ms Jane Plunkett to research facts about Greenpeace before gratuitously extolling the merits of that particular outfit. If she should try to follow their home line to the controlling ‘powers that be’ she will soon learn that all is not lilywhite within that so-called charity. There are no ways to verify their accounts or who is the leader of the organisation. I agree there must be some members of Greenpeace that are totally committed to their idea of saving the planet, but these are in the main part the foot soldiers and not the hierarchy who hide their existence behind the Rainbow Banner. FJT (by email)
HELP VEGA BAJA’S Christmas Market was held at The Asturias restaurant on the N-332 in Punta Prima. We wish to thank all the volunteers and everyone who attended for their support which was crucial in raising €5,081. The proceeds of this event will go to the Reach Out project which helps the homeless and destitute. Pat Perrin (Alicante)
Challenging taboo CLEARLY there are some who can’t abide critical opinion of Spain. Accept us, warts and all or go (Letters Issue 1429). I made my reasons for being here clear as do Spaniards abroad. Some critics, who can’t even get my nationality right, were otherwise presumptuous. I am paid, not for being controversial, but for questioning, challenging orthodoxy and taboo. Michael Walsh (by email) EWN columnist
Big success THANKS to everybody who helped and donated to the Reach Out Christmas-themed family fun day at the Marina Bar, Torrevieja. The event was an outstanding success, raising €1,217. David and Lorraine Whitney, Torrevieja (Alicante)
Still booted The Javea Computer has not closed despite what some people believe. We are a thriving club and hope to continue to be well into the future. Mick Scarles, Javea (Alicante)
The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.
OPINION & COMMENT
24 EWN
13 - 19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
H
PC holiday pudding is just taking the biscuit LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT attempting to damage the tree would be left in a small, charred smoking heap on the pavement. In the event of that scenario it would be the last act of vandalism against this particular symbol of the Christian faith ever. Dream on, Leapy! In the light of all this I also got to wondering what would happen should they decide to shoot a version of I’m a Celebrity in the UK? The mind boggles. ‘I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Epping Forest’ not only doesn’t have quite the
TRADITIONAL: What happened to the ‘Christmas’ pud? same ring, it would also be a nightmare for the organisers and positively orgasmic for the ‘ealth ‘n’ safety brigade. Cockroaches would have to be cleansed. Rats would need de-clawing, snakes de-fanged. As for burials, suspended bridges, fireworks, ablutions in a bucket and negotiating
rapids whilst being bombarded by rubber balls... The committees for clamping down would be burning the (perfectly controlled) midnight oil for months! In the end it would, of course, be impossible to stage. Sad, ennit? I’m just waiting for them to ban the
army. After all you could get injured or even killed. Don’t laugh. If you can now face prosecution for killing the enemy, I would say just about anything is possible! Thanks for all the mail. Also your comments on the Euro Weekly News website (well worth a visit if you haven’t already). I do read them all, even if I don’t get the time to reply. I was surprised at the reaction to my IsraelPalestine piece and will definitely return to that subject at a later date. Meantime, try not to go skint in this year’s Yuletide run-up. Keep warm. Keep a spring in yer step. And, whatever ya do, Always keep the faith Love Leapy
Leapylee2002@gmail.com
Gaza debate ISRAEL did withdraw from Gaza five years ago, leaving 1.4 million people in an area about six miles wide and 24 miles long (Issue 1429). During Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine they have bulldozed 22,000 Palestinian homes and occupied an area of Palestine almost five times the size of the 1967 agreed border. Gary Richardson Orihuela Costa (Alicante)
END COLUMN
ERE we go again. Just taking this opportunity to wish you a happy PC and ‘ealth and safety Christmas. Yesterday I espied a ‘Holiday’ pudding in a local supermarket. ‘Happy holiday’ cards are also well in evidence. Whatever happened to Christmas pud and cards? What I found laughable, if it wasn’t so serious, was a report pointed out to me by a colleague. It appears that the traditional Christmas tree erected in Britain’s northern town of Stanley had been ordered to be taken down by local authorities. The reason? Wait for it. Apparently it was deemed ‘dangerous to vandals’. Local loonie Health and Safety individuals had decide that the 220 volts required to power up the Christmas bulbs could be a threat to potential vandals! You couldn’t make it up, could you? Personally, I’d like to see the power pumped up so high that anyone
Axarquía - Málaga East
Wrong again WHAT would you do if I were to build a wall around your home? As you and your children slowly starved to death you might even chuck a few bricks over the wall in desperation. Brian Hickey (Malaga)
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
25
Axarquía - Málaga East
The pitfalls of looking for love online are just part of the fun A THIRD of us now find relationships online with nine million people in the UK using internet sites to find partners. This trend is increasing rapidly, with Britons Europe’s most prolific internet daters. When I first learned of a friend of mine going online, I was a bit shocked (and amused) because of the usual preconceptions about internet dating. That is the idea of people searching for partners based on certain criteria like age, weight, height, hobbies, and politics. Then finding out the truth. Men lie about their height, women about their weight and everyone adds pictures to their profiles that are well out-ofdate, even men substituting pictures of their sons! But, as my friend pointed out, sometimes life’s just too busy for the usual dating game. The
Breaking Views NORA JOHNSON Nora, who has lived on the Costa del Sol for a number of years, is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers. To comment on any of the issues raised in Nora’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ nora-johnson
INTERNET DATING: Just like real life, really. important thing about the online version, she reckons, is not to take it too seriously. If she comes across someone a bit weird-sounding, she simply puts it down to an anecdote-making opportunity. Just as she does with the
inevitable scammers, invariably based in Nigeria. These are easy to identify as there are often major
inconsistencies within their profiles, and they all claim to have great jobs and live in big houses. The messages tend to be in stilted Pidgin English, and almost always begin “Hello My Dear” or “Hello Beautiful Lady.” Strangely, they all seem to be widowed with young children and have lost their parents early on in a tragic accident. They also want your email address immediately so they can still contact you when they’re kicked off the website and con you into parting with money in order to meet them. One who claimed to be from ‘Wombledon’ and saw ‘Andee Moray’ win the tennis
championship this summer raved about how ‘luvley Wombledon Common’ was, and that there was nothing as romantic as the setting sun reflected off London’s Centre Point. His children’s ages kept changing with each message. He also firmly believed my friend’s assertion she had a sister called Hyacinth Bucket and a brother named Victor Meldrew. Basically, internet dating is just another way to meet people in an increasingly fragmented society. But it’s also a case of beware of the smooth-talking rogues... just like real life, really. Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Soul Stealer’ & ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89; £0.77) and iBookstore.Profits to Cudeca
26 EWN
13 - 19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga East
A guide to surviving Christmas T
WELVE days is how long Christmas lasts, one popular carol would lead us to believe. But I bet by now you have already written a bundle of cards, faced long queues at the Correos to send off gifts, and if you went to every Christmas market on offer it would be a full-time job. Not to mention fretting about family gatherings or the lack of them. The season brings out not our true selves, but a slightly more frazzled and neurotic version. Sadly, we’re not all able to whisk up a feast in the kitchen regardless of Nigella’s reassurances that we are Domestic Goddesses. Fear not, though, as I am here to help you with my top tips for surviving Christmas in one piece. 1. Still haven’t written those cards? Time to play the eco-card. In 2012 you resolved to save trees and reduce your carbon foot-
print. An email or Facebook greeting to this effect will do nicely. 2. Puzzled by presents? Make a donation to your favourite charity instead. If this would go down like a lead balloon with your nearest and dearest, at least claim you are now fully ‘Spanified’ and ‘do’ presents on Three Kings Day, giving you more time and a chance to buy at a discount. 3. Baffled by baking? There is no shame in resorting to store-bought offerings. Personalise by roughing them up a bit, adding a touch of icing sugar and cake decorations. Wrap them up in pretty packaging, add a bow and a tag and you also have a perfectly acceptable present. The same can be applied to re-packaged jams and even wine. Just add your own label to impress. 4. Hosting Christmas? Divide and conquer. Ask guests to bring a
contribution starter or dessert, or outsource to the friendly supermarket again. Even without Marks and Sparks the local ones here have a small offering of ready-made dishes that can be served up with some added herbs and garnish to make it your own. And if you really can’t bear making the main dish, a couple of rotisserie chicken takeaways would be fine if you claim they are special Bonsai turkeys, the latest trend, didn’t they know? 5. Family feuds threatening the harmony of Christmas Day? One friend recommends this cardinal rule: anaesthetise the day with one drink (standard glass of wine or cava, not quadruple G&T) per hour throughout the gathering.
Expat Strife Swedish-born Ulrica is a freelance journalist living in Mallorca with her family. Her debut novel $Expat Wives is available on Amazon and iBooks. To comment on any of the issues raised in Ulrica’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ ulrica-marshall
ULRICA MARSHALL ulrica @euroweeklynews.com
Any more and you may be sloshed and any less the effect will wear off. 6. Not formally invited? Or too far to travel? Join celebrations at your local restaurant. Or why not hop on a cruise. If all else fails, just throw yourself into the mayhem with the fervour of a celebrity on a Bushtucker trial. Scream in excitement at the socks from Aunt Ethel, cry and laugh your way through It’s a Wonderful Life. As with everything in life, it is all about your frame of mind. You just have to believe…
SURVIVAL: Kit to get through Christmas Day.
28
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
HEALTH & BEAUTY
13 - 19 December 2012
Visit www.ewnlifestyle.com for more reading
Axarquía - Málaga East
Mutant gene linked to binge-drinking
L
AGER LOUTS may not be totally to blame for their bad behaviour. Scientists have discovered a bingedrinking gene that makes people want to drink more. They found that the mutant version of the RASGRF2 gene makes the brain more sensitive to habit-forming addictions, including alcohol. In a study of both mice and young teenage boys it was closely linked to alcohol-seeking behaviour. The research confirmed that those young men with the RASGRF2 variant consumed alcohol the most often. Professor Gunter Schumann, from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College in London, said: “People seek out
ALCOHOL REWARD: Brain wired to seek it out. situations which fulfil their sense of reward and make them happy, so if your brain is wired to find alcohol rewarding, you will seek it out.”
Around six in 10 young people aged 11 to 15 in England consume alcohol and the rates of teenage binge-drinking have soared in recent years.
Call for action after study reveals sharp fall in fertility rates A MAJOR French study has revealed that male sperm counts have fallen sharply since the start of the 1990s. Whilst the decline is being linked to diet, lifestyle and even tight underwear, a British expert said action was needed to investigate the causes. Professor Richard Sharpe, of the University of Edinburgh, said: “In the UK this issue has never been viewed as any sort of health priority. Doing nothing will ensure that couple fertility and average family size will decline below its present low level and place ever greater strains on society.” The researchers used data from 126 fertility treatment centres. They
DECLINING: Couple fertility. found that from 1989 to 2005, there was a 32.2 per cent decrease in
concentration of sperm, a rate of nearly 2 per cent a year.
13 - 19 December 2012
HEALTH & BEAUTY
www.euroweeklynews.com
Visit www.ewnlifestyle.com for more reading
EWN
29
Axarquía - Málaga East
White stuff is the right stuff for smoother skin TOO many hot showers and not enough body cream can make your skin resemble that of a desert creature. Arms and legs have fewer oil glands, so they tend to be drier and scalier than other parts, especially in the winter. The cure? Milk does a body good, inside and out. The natural fats and lactic acid in milk can soften skin, lightly exfoliate, and abate irritation. Draw yourself a
NIGHT-NIGHT: More shut-eye can help lower blood pressure.
nourishing bath by adding two cups of skim milk to warm - not hot water. Soak for about 15
minutes, pat skin dry, and apply a milk-andhoney cream to boost the benefits.
Sleep away worries with an extra hour GOING to bed just an hour earlier each night can help lower blood pressure. Researchers found people who were showing early signs of high blood pressure were able to reduce it to healthy levels in just six weeks if they had an extra hour in bed. Lack of sleep and a stressful lifestyle have long been associated with an increased risk of the condition, but this latest study by Harvard Medical School in Boston (USA) is one of the first to prove that blood pressure can be brought under control by simply increasing sleep.
Fighting the flab? Add water! WANT to fight off the pounds throughout Christmas? Drink cold water. Just 500 millilitres of H2O (a little more than a pint) may spike metabolism by 30 per cent for as long as an hour. Water triggers the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn stimulates your meta-bolism. On top of that, cold water may force your body to use energy to warm it. Also eat a protein-packed breakfast. Diges-ting protein takes up to seven times more energy than digesting carbo-hydrates
or fat. Try eating one of two hard-boiled eggs each day. And skipping breakfast is the worst thing to do, so start your day off right. At some point during your day, go for a brisk 15-minute walk. A trip around the block can triple your metabolic rate, and gives you a welcome break from the chaos of the festive period. This boost continues after you stop moving because the body consumes more oxygen, a crucial player in meta-bolism, when it’s recovering from exertion.
Cambridge 800. The Weight Evolution. Anna is the real proof it can work! We know that losing weight is only half the battle. Keeping ing it off long term is what really matters. With its unique ecome Why not b ge 800 one-to-one support, Cambridge 800 is the nutritional, a Cambrid NT? convenient and proven way to lose weight. CONSULTAING Anna,
size 22
Call 952 586 324 today
FULL TRAIN! GIVEN
or email admin@cambridge800.es for the name of your nearest arest consultant. consultant
Visit www.cambridge800.es
Anna,
size 8
30
FOOD
EWN
13 - 19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga East
Red wine ‘could prevent cancer’ say researchers MEDIEVAL ORIGINS: Mince pies.
Festive feast
MINCE PIES date back to medieval times and possibly long before. They are descended from a huge pie containing chopped beef, suet, nuts, spices and fruit, of which whole dried plums were an important constituent. The pie was originally baked open but as time wore on a crust was added with a pastry effigy of the Infant Jesus to represent him lying in his cradle.
DRINKING a large glass of red wine every day could help prevent bowel cancer. Researchers say that Resveratrol, found in the skins of red grapes and which gives the wine its colour, has long been known to have cancerfighting properties, but scientists did not know how much was needed to be effective. Now they say less appears to be more.
Tests on mice have shown that a dose equivalent to five milligrams in humans halved the growth of bowel tumours. This amount was far more effective than a one gram dose. Within two years the research team hopes to conduct a human trial on patients at high risk of bowel cancer to test its benefits. Meanwhile Cancer Research UK has warned that people should not
RED WINE: Less could be more. drink wine in an attempt to reap any benefits that Resveratrol can offer, saying that alcohol has been estimated to cause around 12,500 cases of cancer a year in the UK.
Food of the week
TOMATOES – eating tomatoes has long been linked to helping to protect against prostate cancer and heart attacks, but now it is thought they could ward off
depression. Researchers analysed the mental health records and eating habits of 1,000 men and women aged 70 or over. They found that those eating tomatoes two to six times a week were 46 per cent less likely to
suffer from depression than those eating them less than once a week. Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that gives them their deep red colour. It is believed that it could be the lycopene
that helps promote psychological wellbeing as well as physical health by reducing stress or damage to healthy brain cells.
That’s crackers, holes are good HOLES in crackers are there for a reason, not just for decoration. Without these holes the biscuits wouldn’t bake correctly. They allow steam to escape during cooking. This keeps the crackers flat, instead of rising like a normal biscuit. They also help to properly crisp the crackers. The holes’ positioning and number varies depending on the size and shape of the cracker. If the holes are too close together, the cracker will end up being dry and hard, if too far apart bubbles will form.
Loyal duo A COUPLE have saved up supermarket loyalty points to feed the guests at their wedding reception. Maggie and Mike Davies from Kidderminster (UK) met at Sainsbury’s and spent 18 months collecting 40,000 loyalty points.
Flat and crisp.
32 EWN
13 - 19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga East
In dark arts, ignorance is bliss T
HERE is much that governments and their agencies do that we shall never be privy to. It is ‘not in the public interest.’ Such secrecy and taboos obviously include the dark arts of government policy when rearranging the world to their liking. Governments can do without whistleblowers Mike Walsh pulling back the curtains of deceit. Secret service agencies vwww.michaelwalsh.es operate under clandInternational Journalism Europe Broadcaster Commentator International Radio estine cloaks. Most of us Awarded ‘Writer of the Year’ Mobile 0034 662 067 490 would shudder if we To comment on any of the issues raised in were to learn what really Mike’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ goes on in our name. mike-walsh Ignorance is bliss indeed. As long ago as the 1950s the Soviets were experimenting in thought ADVANCES IN SCIENCE: What discoveries await us in the years ahead? transference. No doubt their American counterparts were doing the same. interesting that a section of it, leading would mean that, on physical death, we We already know that matter cannot be members included, are less sceptical than each abandon our clapped out bodies just destroyed; nor can sound waves, so it is they once were about the possibility of our as we kiss goodbye to an old car. said. With advances in science is it possible souls outliving death. When the time comes, cuckoo-like we that the voices of Oliver Cromwell or Advances in these sciences are reaching take on a surrogate mortal coil; a younger Beethoven could be heard once again by some intriguing conclusions. version of course. The concept of recapturing sound waves of their voices still The prospect of our having a incarnation bridges just about every reverberating in rooms they used? consciousness that survives mortality is religious faith and culture. Medical science is playing catch-up. It is finding a receptive scientific audience. This Here is an intriguing thought. Your friend
hands you the latest innovation; it is a state of the art mobile phone. “Go ahead,” you’re invited. “Call your dad. See how he is doing and tell him I send my regards.” You look at your friend; you are incredulous. He knows as well as you do that your dad passed on back in 1974. Your disbelief is unsurprising but at the same time not a day passes without advances in science and communication that leaves you scratching your head. You timidly take the device from your friend’s hand and following his instructions wait for your call to be answered. You instinctively know this is some kind of sick joke but you’re going along with it anyway. The call tone stops and an unmistakable voice answers: “Hello, it’s (your father’s name): who is that?” Most intriguing of all, what are you going to say in response? Don’t smile indulgently, it could happen and much stranger things do so. Don’t be too quick to mock. Books have been written on those who once scoffed at unworldly predictions, including the phone now ringing on its table. If we can’t explain to a primitive tribesman how a live video or email is internationally transferred as quickly as conversational table talk, what other discoveries await us?
Advertising Feature
Blue Cat Parking and Car Park Malaga join forces BLUE CAT PARKING and CAR PARK MALAGA have joined forces to become the leading
supplier of premium indoor and outdoor parking supplier at Malaga Airport.
Councillor Gema Garcia (left) with Fernandez and Solli.
Gift from the heart
NORWEGIAN painter and Nerja resident Otto Jan Solli has donated €1,500 to charity. He raised the money by selling his paintings during an exhibition in Nerja. Charity organisation ‘Taller de la Amistad’ thanked Solli for the funds. “This kind of gesture makes it possible the ‘Taller’ exists,” President Cristina Fernandez said when she was given the cheque.
The company has a one office indoor and outdoor location right opposite San Miguel on the approach to the airport. They now provide both an exclusive guaranteed indoor garage as well as their popular moneysaving outdoor parking all at one location just one minute from the airport terminal. The company believes that these integrated facilities, coupled with a fast and efficient service further enhances the customer experience of their rapidly growing client base. All services can be catered for, from parking and professional valeting to car servicing and even in-house legal services to look after all your vehicle needs. The company has announced a 15 per cent discount for all online bookings and this will even run throughout Christmas! Its sister operation at Barajas Airport in Madrid, currently celebrating its successful first year of operations, has joined
COMPANY GOAL: To be the best full-service parking provider at Malaga Airport. this online campaign with even more attractive discounts of up to 25 per cent. Visit www.bluecatparking. com and make your reservation now to guarantee your discounted holiday parking. Christmas will again be the busiest time of year and they have recently added a further car park that doubles their outdoor capacity to over 2,000 vehicles. Their Malaga Airport operations manager Dave Caddick stated: “To be better than the rest we have to have the best facilities, best
equipment and a service level to match the company’s commitment. We can then achieve our goal of becoming the best full-service parking provider at Malaga Airport.”
Both Blue Cat Parking and Car Park Malaga would like to take this opportunity to wish all their clients a Very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Call 952 475 179 or 952 232 222 and make your reservation for Christmas, and receive a free bottle of vintage wine for all bookings over 10 days.
Best connections Best value Best all round
LVQ·W LW WLPH \RX switched and started saving? SUPERFAST MOBILE LANDLINE UKTV INTERNET CALLS RENTAL with REWIND BETTER CONNECTIONS, BETTER VALUE from from from from 24,99€ 5cents ALL-ROUND! 12.99€ 19,99€ BETTER per month per min per month per month TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY TO ALL OFFERS.
for more information, call us
902 88 90 70 / 965 743 473
www.telitec.com
34 EWN
13 - 19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
I
N January and February there will be plenty of opportunity to take cuttings for propagating new plants to extend your plantings and fill in gaps. Unfortunately, most plant pots kept from purchased plants and those available for sale in garden centres are shallow and do not allow deep roots to be developed. This is a great pity as probably a new plant with 20-centimetre-deep roots will be twice as easy to establish in the garden than one with only 12centimetre-long roots. The simple solution is to retain all 1.5 litre and 5 and 7 litre water and soft drink plastic bottles and use them as deep plant pots. If the top is cut to leave a hinge, rather than being totally cut off, one can use this as a cloche over your cutting which will protect it during the winter. Plant individual cuttings in the 1.5 litre bottles and up to six in the larger
H
Axarquía - Málaga East
&
Sponsored by
OMES Gardens Gardening Corner Don’t buy new, when you can propagate
For more information about the sponsor go to www.lineadirecta.com
By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe
Spain’s best known gardening authors who have lived and gardened in Spain for 25 years. www.gardeninginspain.com
bottles. If possible over winter put the planted-up cuttings in a greenhouse or cold frame. One can cut off the base of plastic bottles and invert them over plant cuttings in a same diameter bottle. Fix with tape and you have a mini greenhouse with a
constant moisture level. These can be kept at the back of a frostless greenhouse or on a shelf in a conservatory, or in a cold frame protected with fleece. Wine bottles full of water are also useful for raising cuttings from oleanders and bignonias. If you have never raised plants from cuttings do read Chapter 6.12 in the book ‘Your Garden in Spain – From planning to planting and maintenance.’ This describes, as does also Chapter 4.9 of the book ‘Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style,’ how to propagate various types of plants from stem, side, root, air, and leaf cuttings. Once you are hooked, propagating becomes an interesting and absorbing hobby for all ages from schoolchildren to those a bit older! Once you have proved that you have green fingers take every opportunity of planting up cuttings from your own garden and those of friends. The result will be inexpensive, strong plants. When we stroll round our
garden the majority of plants and mature trees started off as cuttings or seeds, and many of the seeds were collected from our own gardens or our travels around Spain. If you produce too many, the excess can be passed on to friends and neighbours still developing new gardens or sold at gardening club meetings. To improve your success, obtain a pot of hormone powder to dip the end of cuttings in before planting. Unfortunately, cuttings can be prone to rotting, especially during winter months, so spray the surface of the compost with a mild fungicide. By the way, a great advantage of plastic bottles is that you can write the name of the plant being propagated on the outside of the bottle with a waterproof felt pen. Happy propagating next year! The aforementioned books plus Clodagh and Dick’s other books Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain, Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain and Living Well From Our
CUTTINGS: Make for strong, inexpensive plants for your garden. Mediterranean Garden make excellent Christmas presents. They can be found in high street and internet bookshops and
from www.gardenspain. com. ©Clodagh and Dick Handscombe December 2012.
36 EWN
13 - 19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
For solutions: http://www.euroweeklynews.com/puzzle-answers.html
Axarquía - Málaga East
Time Out
Sometimes, you find it hard to do things just for the pure enjoyment of it. Realise that not everything has to have a purpose or a profit. Look round this week and seek out something that will please your senses and bring a smile to your lips.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20)
IF ITʼS YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: This will be a super month for romance in all its guises. Physical relationships can be important to you and this month is all about getting a balance.
action on the Eastern Front, presumed dead, the war ended, he and his mother befriend a British soldier. This Welshman who worked in the British Army kitchens was able to ‘supply’ the necessary food to keep the family
Y our S tars
Contact with a less than ideal situation makes you realise just how lucky you are. It has been clear that the weeks are changeable and your situation at the moment far from settled. Pity those whose day-to-day life is completely predictable.
for older members of the family or vice versa.
AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19)
PISCES (February 20 - March 20)
This being a family oriented month, much of it may be spent getting together with relatives and going over old times. Perhaps you are compiling a photo album
books@euroweeklynews.com
Written by Costa Blanca resident Dieter Rudolph, this is a refreshing and new perspective on war-torn Germany as experienced and told autobiographically by a young German boy from Hamburg. Relive his experiences of life during the Hamburg Firestorm destruction in 1943. With his father missing in
Alejandro Sanz, born December 18, 1968. He is a Spanish singer and musician. He has won a total of 15 Latin Grammy Awards. Known by his flamencoinfluenced pop ballads, he has released duet singles with Shakira, Alicia Keys and Destinyʼs Child.
44
this week is that you are of considerable value to others. The mere thought of you not being around sends ripples through your social circle.
An exciting invitation may set tongues wagging and make a loved one jealous. You, meanwhile, are quite bemused by the whole thing. What comes out of
ARIES (March 21 - April 20)
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) An urge to get moving must mean that the new year is round the corner. Certainly, you are questioning where you want to be in the months ahead. A house move or work placement may be on your mind.
SU DOKU
CANCER (June 22 - July 23)
HOW TO PLAY Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.
Be aware that not everyone is willing to work as hard as you. When approached by someone wanting you to trust them, be sure of their motives. Do what you feel is right but remain firmly in control, especially financially. It may not be the time to make a particular move, although others think that it is. There's no problem with discussing things and talking them through..
LEO (July 24 - August 23) Social demands are made, but try to shuffle them to the weekend. Be diplomatic or someone close could become irritated. Keep an eye on the small print because something fundamental may have changed in a long-standing arrangement. Suddenly, at the weekend, you are thrust into the limelight.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
What are/were the real first names of the following famous people? 1. Comedian Bob Hope 2. Cricketer Freddie Flintoff 3. Comedy actor Buster Keaton 4. Jazz pianist/band leader Count Basie 5. Former Beatle Paul McCartney 6. Rock singer Ozzie Osbourne 7. Golfer Tiger Woods 8. Composer/pianist/big-band leader Duke Ellington 9. Actress Jodie Foster 10. Singer Bing Crosby
see you wishing that you had been less visible.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) An interest in technology is not something new to you. What is great, though, is that the penny has suddenly dropped. This week sees you understanding more and wanting to know more.
Being asked to take on a new and demanding task this week may
REAL FIRST NAMES
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Be aware that leopards do not change their spots, they merely hide them. Those who demand your trust need a cool checking out and don't be afraid to say 'no' as and when necessary.
Nonagram
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21)
BOOKS
from going hungry, often via difficult and extraordinary means to ensure his own position was not damaged. Dieter tells all of this in a heartwrenching tale covering the destruction of Hamburg to peace-time on the Welsh coast.
TARGET: Average: 9 Good: 12
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
fail, fain, fiat, filo, flan, flat, flit, foal, foil, font, info, lift, loaf, loft, naif, aloft, faint, final, flint, float, folia, finial, fontal, infant, nonfat, tinfoil, INFLATION
What do you call a man who claps at Christmas? Santapplause! What is Santa’s favourite pizza? One that’s deep pan, crisp and even!
LOTTERY
What did the snowman order at Burger King? Ice-burgers with chilli sauce!
UK NATIONAL UK LOTTERY THUNDERBALL
IRISH LOTTO
EURO MILLIONS
Saturday December 8
Saturday December 8
Friday December 7
33
29
Saturday December 8
10
11
8
10 16
13
35
36
19
45
48
34
20 29
BONUS BALL
THUNDERBALL
27
2
34
18
42
42
LA PRIMITIVA Saturday December 8
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA Sunday December 9
7
8
10
17
21
37
35 31
36
BONUS BALL
7
33
LUCKY STARS
2
41
SHIP
5
37
REINTEGRO
39
9
49 REINTEGRO
0
Career and home are in disharmony but a bit of compromise soon sorts things out. You don't like playing the 'bad guy', but honesty is also important to you. Speaking your mind can be liberating although, initially, you may see it as a nuisance and embarrassing.
SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)
Someone with a larger-than-life imagination makes you smile but that was not their intention. Try to be diplomatic and steer them in a different direction. Some feelings of loneliness will not be assuaged by working more. Perhaps it is time to consider taking on a pet or giving a current pet more attention.
How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case T) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.
Word ladder
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)
Just joking
Very good: 17 Excellent: 23
AWAY
Move from the start word (SHIP) to the end word (AWAY) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.
SHIP SHOP SWOP SWAP SWAY AWAY
Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) are a devoted couple, but decades of marriage have left Kay wanting to spice things up and reconnect with her husband. When she hears of a renowned couples specialist (Steve Carell) in the small town of Great Hope Springs, she attempts to persuade her sceptical husband, a steadfast man of routine, to get on a plane for a week of marriage therapy. 1h39 Director: David Frankel Starring: Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell, Ben Rappaport
10-star quiz
SHIP SNIP SNAP SWAP SWAY AWAY
A tale from the heart
Hope Springs
1. LESLIE Townes Hope, 2. ANDREW Flintoff, 3. JOSEPH Frank Keaton, 4. WILLIAM Basie, 5. JAMES Paul McCartney, 6. JOHN Michael Osbourne, 7. ELDRICK Tont Woods, 8. EDWARD Kennedy Ellington, 9. ALICIA Christian Foster, 10. HARRY Lillis Crosby
NEW ON DVD
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
For more information about the sponsor go to www.lineadirecta.com
37
Axarquía - Málaga East
Sponsored by
Crosswords CRYPTIC Across 1 Beggar the French step on (7) 5 Trick us after the swamp (5) 8 Name first class country (5) 9 Camera I developed in the States (7) 10 Greek character directed 70s pop group (3) 11 Ireland rejected by English? Itʼs weird (5) 12 Work-shy, in fact an unbridled success (4) 13 A vetʼs engineered a match (5) 15 Tango danced in Friendly Islands (5) 17 A woman will supply the ammunition (5) 19 Hangs around foals (5) 21 Itʼs bad news to get stitched up (4) 22 Fruit begins another pleasant picnic, letʼs eat (5) 25 Feeding nunʼs secret animal (3) 26 Escape from can? (7) 27 I long, stupidly, for buzzwords (5) 28 Directed about the shipʼs attire (5) 29 Keep us confined in a bad spot (7) Down 1 Its diet is unusual but most neat (7) 2 A king receiving honour gives cautionary signal (5) 3 Little vampire revealed as original (8) 4 Notice in Eveʼs hedges (6)
ENGLISH - SPANISH The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across Down 1 Desván (5) 1 Celery (4) 4 Corto (longitud, 2 Robo (de dinero, distancia) (5) objetos) (5) 3 Gallos (9) 7 Hielo (3) 8 Dummy (for baby) (7) 4 Cacerolas (9) 9 To dare (9) 5 Un (3) 13 Company (firm) (7) 6 Train (railway) (4) 15 Todo (3) 10 Pala (para cavar) (5) 11 Cinturón (4) 16 Lágrimas (5) 17 Floor (5) 12 Something (4) 14 Guisante (3)
Co d e B r e a ke r 5 Even a bee has a right to an alcoholic drink (4) 6 Good puzzle for a cooking utensil (7) 7 Musty endless yarn (5) 14 Attacks USAʼs last organisation (8) 16 A fresh way to get into jail? (7)
Down 2 Sternum (10) 3 Free (8) 4 Footwear item (4) 5 Reality (4) 6 Naked (4) 9 Pilfer (5) 10 Colony (10) 12 Salaries (5) 13 Unwinding (8) 18 A long way off (4) 19 Wicked (4) 20 Information (4)
CRYPTIC - Across: 7 Fairer, 8 Atomic, 9 Here, 10 Cream tea, 11 Speeded, 13 Plain, 15 Cabby, 17 Hatchet, 20 Arrogant, 21 Saga, 23 Gemini, 24 Rental. .Down: 1 Base, 2 Breeze, 3 Cricket, 4 Paper, 5 Normal, 6 Live wire, 12 Prairies, 14 Rafters, 16 Biopic, 18 Casino, 19 Habit, 22 Gram. QUICK - Across: 1 Apes, 4 Saddles, 8 Penguin, 9 Small, 10 Trim, 11 Sturgeon, 13 Flammable, 17 Argument, 19 Over, 21 Tough, 22 Obvious, 23 Rattles, 24 Last. Down: 2 Pontiff, 3 Shut, 4 Sanctimonious, 5 Describe, 6 Leave, 7 Silent, 8 Pity, 12 Taj Mahal, 14 Envious, 15 Faster, 16 Arms, 18 Gaunt, 20 Evil. ENGLISH - SPANISH Across: 1 Ancla, 4 Pulga, 7 Translate, 8 East, 10 Feet, 13 Sweetcorn, 15 Susto, 16 Rings. Down: 1 Addresses, 2 Cat, 3 Amar, 4 Piso, 5 Llave, 6 Aceitunas, 9 Seeds, 11 Otro, 12 Door, 14 Nun.
1.Unscramble the name of a famous English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author: NOT TED’S NEPHEW 2. Unscramble the name of a famous London landmark (two words): BORING OLD DEN
Play on Words ENOTS ENOTS
ROBBERS
Answers: Turn to stone , Honour among thieves
Funagram
Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 25 represents B and 19 represents C, so fill in B every time the figure 25 appears and C every time the figure 19 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS
QUICK Across 1 Get rid of (7) 7 Deadly (5) 8 Hindrance (3-4) 9 Emphasise (6) 11 Take over (5) 13 Charge (4) 14 Tread roughly (7) 15 Drill a hole (4) 16 Even-toed ungulate (5) 17 Departs (6) 21 Cupboard (7) 22 Fundamental (5) 23 Mischievous (7)
18 Have a rest, being terribly idle now (3,4) 20 French city sees red (6) 21 Food for Salvation Army boy (5) 23 President and African leaderʼs animal (5) 24 Ruins the planet (4)
Quote
‘
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walter ‘Walt’ Disney (1901-1966) co-founder of Walt Disney Productions; American film producer, director, animator and entrepreneur.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Hexagram The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 sixletter words into the 19 cells. The letters at the edges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. The word in cell 10 (BECOME) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.
BARELY
KETTLE
ROARED
BECOME(10)
KILLED
STRIKE
BESTED
MASHED
TASTED
CHEERS
ORDERS
THRILL
CRUISE
PITTED
TREATS
FLOWER
REACTS
HELPED
REFORM
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Design, 2 Noises, 3 Sheets, 4 Scions, 5 Shouts, 6 Abases, 7 Thence, 8 Morose, 9 Finery, 10 Hurled, 11 Dreams, 12 Steeds, 13 Cloaks, 14 Hearts, 15 Insect, 16 Reeked, 17 Snakes, 18 Events, 19 Grains
FUNAGRAM SOLUTION 1. PETE TOWNSHEND 2. LONDON BRIDGE
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
39
Axarquía - Málaga East
A good time the traditional Spanish way S
PAIN is bursting with Christmas spirit. There are still assortment of seafood, cheese and ham as a starter, meat 12 days left to the big day, but it all started earlier this for a main dish, lots of sweets and a bottle or two of Champagne - but also to visit every relative in town. month. Do not be surprised if a group of children knock on the The signs are there. By now towns have already lit up their festive decorations. TV viewers have been bombarded door and start singing carols, armed with tambourines and some sort of drum with a stick called a with classic Christmas ads for toys, perfume, ‘zambomba’. On Christmas Eve it is traditional sweets, clothes, and everything else. for children to go from home to home asking People are chatting in the streets and for a small prize, ‘el aguinaldo’. They are offices about the lottery and the usual joker usually given some spare change, sweets or will say ‘I’m going to buy you all an Iberian biscuits. But tell them to sing a couple of ham if I win El Gordo this year!’ A weekly focus aimed songs - ‘villancicos’ - if they want to earn it! El Gordo (The Fat One) is the nickname for at keeping expatriate readers On Christmas Day people usually spend the the main prize in the Christmas lottery, drawn informed on various aspects of day eating with family and friends. It is a every December 22. Life in Spain national holiday, so check the town’s Yes, this is all part of Christmas in Spain. programme of events because there will But a real Christmas means family. So it all By Raul Candela really begins with the Christmas Eve dinner, probably be something going on in the which Spaniards call ‘Nochebuena’. It is a streets. night to share with the family, not only to eat After New Year’s Eve’s booze-filled party the specialties mum or grandma cooks - usually an and New Year’s hangover day, comes the moment all Spanish children dream of. Three Kings Day, on January 6, is the when they get their presents. The night before, parades are held in towns and cities. The Three Kings are there to grant the children’s wishes. In my home town of Ibi (Alicante) - which is known as ‘Toy Town’ for its traditional toy industry - the servants of King Balthasar even use ladders to Foreign padron statistics in get through the windows and Mijas since August 2012: leave boxes of toys in every 3,074 residents newly child’s home. registered Isn’t it magical? 1,925 confirmations by those
Life in Spain
CHILD’S TIME: The Three Kings monument in Ibi, Alicante, is the only one of its kind in Europe.
Town hall padron drive helps fill official coffers
Q AND A
MUNICIPALITIES with a large foreign community are beginning to reap the rewards for their efforts to promote the padron (municipal register). One of the best examples is the Andalucian town of Mijas (Malaga). The town hall had reported that more than 14,000 foreign inhabitants were going to be removed from the residents list as they had not renewed their registration every five years as required. So the council launched a “The Euro ‘Don’t lose your rights’ Weekly News has always campaign in August, been really helpful for foreign mailing more than 3,000 residents in our town, especially people the following the British, but also the Germans. alert: ‘Those who are not They usually come here with the on the padron are not newspaper in their hands. They say: considered inhabitants ‘I read this in the EWN and thought it important of Mijas and as such, will information’.”Luisa Machen, not be able to receive any Mijas Foreign Residents of the benefits offered, Department social help, etc. This will also harm the town hall, as central government will give less campaign, in money, fewer policemen, less 2013 Mijas will get €4.7 million public transport and fewer more than last year in state doctors to the town.’ grants for a total of €19.2 Thanks to the success of the million, the council said.
already registered 730 removed from the register (they do not live there any more) 1,744 proposed to be removed Total population: 79,262 (2011); 82,124 (2012) = +3.6 per cent Total foreign population: 32,743 (2011; 43 per cent British); 35,817 (2012) = +9.3 per cent Registered population in the last 10 years: + 57.3 per cent HERE TO HELP: Foreign Residents Departments provide all the necessary information about the padron. “I think we can call it a success,” Marta Rey from the Mijas Foreign Residents Department told Euro Weekly News.
We are not residents in Spain but have a holiday home in the community and visit about four or five times each year. We have noticed the council is requesting people to register with the local town hall. Does this apply to
“We are satisfied with the results,” Marta said. A final push is needed for towns all over Spain. Residents should keep in mind that their town hall will get €150 for every registered person. Everybody counts!
Do not miss them: Christmas events in EWN areas. - Costa del Sol: ‘Verdiales’ folk festival, December 28 (noon). La Concepcion Park, Malaga. - Axarquia: Live Nativity scene, December 29 (6pm) and December 30 (noon), Almayate. - Almeria: Eating the traditional Christmas almond sweet pie in Huercal-Overa. - Costa Blanca North: ‘Els Enfarinats’, December 28, 10am, Ibi. - Costa Blanca South: Choir Concert, December 22, 9.30pm. Basilica de Santa Maria, Elche. - Mallorca: ‘El Canto de la Sibila’, December 24, 11pm. Santuario de Lluc, Palma.
non-residents? The padron does not imply you are a resident. It is a way the town hall knows how many people live in the area. So, yes, it is recommended even for nonresidents to register as it offers advantages to the community.
Send your questions to: raul@euroweeklynews.com
40
TV
EWN
LISTINGS
13 - 19 December 2012 Axarquía - Málaga East
www.euroweeklynews.com
BBC1 5:30pm Pet School 6:00pm Newsround 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Young Apprentice 10:00pm Britain's Hidden Housing Crisis 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Question Time 12:35am This Week 1:20am Skiing Weatherview 1:25am Panorama 1:55am Countryfile
BBC2
5:30pm Breakaway 6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Raymond Blanc’s Christmas Feast 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm The Hour 11:00pm Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am The Boss is Back 12:50am Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane 1:50am The Culture Show
ITV
5:00pm Britain’s Best Bakery 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Pensioners Behind Bars 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The River Wild 1:35am Jackpot247 4:00am Tonight
Channel 4
5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Kirstie’s Vintage Home 10:00pm Jamie and Jimmy’s Food Fight Club 11:00pm The 15-Stone Babies 12:05am 8 Out of 10 Cats 12:55am Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 1:50am The Aristocrats
Channel 5
6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways 9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2012 10:00pm Cowboy Builders 11:00pm Constantine 1:30am Super Casino 4:55am Nick’s Quest 5:20am HouseBusters 5:40am Great Scientists
FRIDAY DECEMBER 14
BBC1 5:55pm Ooglies 6:00pm Newsround 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Nigel Slater’s 12 Tastes of Christmas 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Outnumbered 10:00pm Have I Got News for You 10:30pm Live at the Apollo 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:20am The National Lottery Friday Night Draws 12:30am Would I Lie to You? 1:00am EastEnders Omnibus
BBC2
6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Nigella Express 8:30pm Coast 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm An Island Parish 10:00pm Westminster Abbey 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight 12:00am The Review Show 12:50am Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane 1:50am Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones: 2:50am BBC News
ITV
6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm You’ve Been Framed! 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm A Night of Heroes: The Sun Military Awards 2012 11:30pm ITV News and Weather 12:10am Hard Target 1:50am The Store 3:55am Disclosure
Channel 4
6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:30pm Unreported World 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Come Dine with Me 10:00pm Peter Kay Live at the Top of the Tower 11:20pm Alan Carr: Chatty Man 12:25am 4funnies: Uncle 12:55am Full English 1:30am The Ricky Gervais Show 2:00am British Comedy Awards 2012
Channel 5
6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Cowboy Builders 9:00pm North Pole Ice Airport 10:00pm The Mentalist 11:00pm Castle 11:55pm Law and Order: Criminal Intent 12:55am Inside Hollywood 1:00am Super Casino 4:50am Motorsport Mundial 5:20am HouseBusters 5:45am Great Scientists
SATURDAY DECEMBER 15
BBC1 5:00pm Final Score 6:25pm BBC News 6:35pm BBC London News 6:45pm A Question of Sport 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing 9:15pm Merlin 10:00pm The National Lottery Saturday Night Draws 10:15pm Casualty 11:05pm BBC News 11:25pm Match of the Day 12:45am The Football League Show 2:00am Weatherview 2:05am BBC News
BBC2
5:30pm Escape to the Country 6:30pm Flog It! 7:30pm The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best at Christmas 8:30pm Don’t Panic! The Dad’s Army Story 9:20pm Dad's Army 10:20pm Clive Dunn: A Tribute 11:00pm Jools Holland: My Life in Music 12:00am Later... with Jools Holland and Friends 1:00am Savage Grace 2:30am Priceless
SUNDAY DECEMBER 16
BBC1 6:40pm BBC London News 6:50pm Countryfile 7:50pm Strictly Come Dancing 8:30pm Sports Personality of the Year 2012 11:05pm BBC News 11:20pm BBC London News 11:30pm Match of the Day 2 12:30am The Graham Norton Show 1:15am Three Fugitives
BBC2
7:00pm Cuba with Simon Reeve 8:00pm The Great Spanish Crash 9:00pm Fawlty Towers 9:30pm Calendar Girls 11:15pm QI XL 12:00am Never Mind the Buzzcocks 12:30am Surviving Christmas
h. Smit Will
ITV
5:25pm All Star Family Fortunes 6:15pm London Tonight 6:30pm ITV News and Weather 6:45pm Back to the Future Part II 8:45pm Take Me Out 10:00pm 10 Years of Girls Aloud 11:20pm ITV News and Weather 11:35pm Michael Buble: Home for Christmas 12:50am Captivity 2:15am The Store 4:00am In Plain Sight 4:40am ITV Nightscreen
MONDAY DECEMBER 17
BBC1 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Inside Out 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm My Family 10:00pm Britain’s Secret Terror Squad 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Have I Got a Bit More News for You 12:20am The Matador 1:50am Weatherview
BBC2
8:00pm Masterchef: The Professionals - Michel’s Classics 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm Nigellissima 10:00pm Inside Claridge’s 11:00pm Never Mind the Buzzcocks 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Westminster Abbey
ITV
7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Little England 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm The Poison Tree 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Channel 4
4:55pm The Simpsons 5:25pm Come Dine with Me 5:55pm Come Dine with Me 6:25pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm Come Dine with Me 7:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:55pm Channel 4 News 8:25pm 4thought.tv 8:30pm Heston's Fantastical Food 9:30pm Stephen Fry: Gadget Man Stephen looks at how gadgets entertain us. 10:00pm Eclipse 12:30am Remember Me Following a family tragedy, Tyler Hawkins slips into a life of heavy drinking and arguments with his wealthy father. 2:30am The Escapist 4:10am Hollyoaks Omnibus
Channel 5
6:20pm 5 News Weekend 6:25pm Mrs. Miracle 8:20pm An Old Fashioned Christmas 10:00pm Greatest Christmas TV Moments 12:55am Inside Hollywood 1:15am Super Casino 5:00am Michaela’s Wild Challenge Michaela Strachan and colleagues undertake a range of wildlife-related dares in exotic locations. 5:25am The Great Artists 5:50am Rough Guide to Beaches
ITV
THURSDAY DECEMBER 13
11:00pm
ITV
Channel 4
7:50pm The Political Slot 7:55pm 4thought.tv 8:00pm Come Dine with Me 9:00pm River Cottage 10:00pm Homeland 11:00pm Peep Show 11:35pm I Love You Phillip Morris
Channel 5
6:00pm The Da Vinci Code 8:55pm 5 News Weekend 9:00pm Click 11:00pm Zack and Miri Make a Porno 12:55am World’s Craziest Police Pursuits 1:55am Super Casino 5:00am House Doctor 5:25am House Doctor
BBC1
1:40am Jackpot247 4:00am Pushing Daisies
Channel 4
7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm Stephen Fry: Gadget Man 10:00pm Bad Santas 11:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats 11:45pm Full English 12:15am Alan Carr: Chatty Man 1:20am The Good Wife 2:05am The Good Wife 2:45am St. Elsewhere 3:30am The Spy in Black 4:55am Supernanny US 5:35am Supernanny US
Channel 5
8:00pm North Pole Ice Airport 9:00pm The All New Gadget Show 10:00pm Deep Blue Sea 11:30pm Law and Order: Special Victims Unit 12:15am When Killer Whales Attack 1:10am Cowboy Builders
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19
BBC1
5:00pm Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic 5:30pm Rocket’s Island 6:00pm Newsround 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Imagine... 12:35am The Unbearable Lightness of Being 3:20am Weatherview
6:00pm Newsround 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm Snow Babies 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 11:45pm Film 2012 12:15am The League Cup Show 12:45am Texas Rangers 2:05am Weatherview 2:10am See Hear 2:40am Supersized Earth 3:40am Inside Claridge’s
6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Masterchef: The Professionals - Michel’s Classics 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm The Great British Bake Off Christmas Masterclass 10:00pm Wartime Farm 11:00pm Rev 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Inside Claridge’s 1:20am BBC News 5:00am Bringing Books to Life
6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Masterchef: The Professionals - Michel’s Classics 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm All About the Good Life 10:00pm The Christmas No.1 Story 11:00pm Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Stuffed: The Great British Christmas Dinner 1:20am A Culture Show Special
BBC2
ITV
5:00pm Britain’s Best Bakery 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm The Unforgettable... 9:00pm Inside Guinness World Records 10:00pm Ruth Rendell’s Thirteen Steps Down 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Ruth Rendell’s Thirteen Steps Down 12:35am Grimefighters 1:05am Jackpot247 4:00am Pushing Daisies 4:45am ITV Nightscreen
Channel 4
I Am Legend
8:00pm Happy Birthday E.T 9:00pm The Making of a Lady 10:45pm ITV News and Weather 11:00pm I Am Legend 12:50am Pensioners Behind Bars 1:40am The Store
TUESDAY DECEMBER 18
5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Embarrassing Bodies 10:00pm Bad Santas 11:00pm Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 12:05am Homeland 1:10am Pokerstars.Co.UK and MonteCarlo Casino Ept Grand Final 2:05am KOTV Boxing Weekly 2:35am Sailing 3:00am Beach Volleyball
Channel 5
6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Emergency Bikers 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Highland Emergency 8:30pm Highland Emergency 9:00pm Murder Files 10:00pm Body of Proof 11:00pm CSI: NY 11:55pm CSI: NY 12:55am Slaves in the Cellar 1:55am Super Casino 4:55am House Doctor
BBC2
ITV
5:00pm Britain’s Best Bakery 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Weight Loss Ward 10:00pm The Town 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Miami Vice 1:55am Jackpot247 3:20am Scarface
Channel 4
6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Kirstie’s Vintage Christmas 10:00pm Heston’s Fantastical Food 11:00pm The Twins Who Share a Body 11:50pm 8 Out of 10 Cats 12:40am Rude Tube 1:40am Abbey Road Studios: In Session with VW Beetle 2:05am Mumford and Sons: Gentlemen of the Road
Channel 5
6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Emergency Bikers 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm World's Strongest Man 2012 9:00pm Building the Panama Canal 10:00pm Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways 11:00pm Blade II 1:20am True Horror 2:15am Super Casino 4:55am House Doctor 5:20am HouseBusters
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN 43
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga East
Ser vices
FOR RESULTS EVERY WEEK
AIR CON | CAR HIRE | CAR PARTS | COMPUTER REPAIR | MOSQUITO SCREENS | REMOVALS & STORAGE REMOVALS AND STORAGE
CAR HIRE
MOSQUITO SCREENS
44
CLASSIFIEDS
EWN
13 - 19 December 2012
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga
Classifieds
FOR RESULTS EVERY WEEK
BOATS | CARS | JOBS | SERVICES | PETS | BIKES | FURNITURE | PROPERTY | MOTORING | FOR SALE
Air Conditioning
Chimneys
AIRFLOW Air Conditioning for cooling and heating units. Professional, fully guaranteed installations. Tel: 952 443 222 (203104)
PROFESSIONAL chimney sweeping services, all areas covered. Call 654 184 242 or 607 441 959 (204943)
AIR CONDITIONING repairs and servicing. Airflow. 952 443 222 (203104)
Damp Proofing
Blinds SOLAR BLINDS ES Ideal for large glazed areas to reflect heat / glare and stop furniture fading and still keep the view. SAVE HEAT IN THE WINTER TOO improve your living environment. Solar blinds.es@gmail.com Telephone Ian 644 546 176 (204325)
Insurance
DAMP PROOFING Tel 958 656 560 / 619 666 363 email info@electro-os.com www.elec tro-os.com (203485)
Mobile Homes WE BUY, Sell, Remove all types of Mobile Homes. We pay CASH and cover all of Spain. More details call Suzi Caley 616 250 727 / 951 063 059 or email suzicaley@ gmail.com (100120)
Drains
Mortgages www.euroweeklynews.com
Boats
Firewood
NEW purchase mortgages from 1.55% up to 100% LTV, resell mortgages 70% from 4.25% with LTV equity release up to 50% LTV. All status considered. Tel: 952 801 401, 666 709 743 www.thefi nancebureau.com (99475)
Motorcycle Repairs
TOP quality firewood for sale. Best prices guaranteed. Free delivery, all areas covered. Please call. 633 547 088 (202739)
RODS MOTORCYCLES. Mobile motorcycle service and repair. From scooters to superbikes. Contact 633 287 190. Factory trained technician. (203075)
Friendship Motoring
FIND LOVE IN THE SUN w w w. i w a n t 2 m e e t y o u . c o m . Browse for free Spain’s No 1 online dating site. Bringing ex-pats together. (204448)
www.euroweeklynews.com
For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com
WANTED expat owned Spanish cars. If you have a quality car with service history that you want to sell, please phone us and we will pay the top price in cash for it. Remember Robertson, the name you can trust. Over 46 years buying and selling cars and more than 26 years in Spain. We are a small family business and will make sure that all documentation is correctly taken care of. Phone Gordon 608 658 785 or ladies you can ring me, Samantha Robertson on 952 832 173. See our web page www.robertsoncars-spain.com (200963)
(NEW SHAPE) 2008 Chevrolet Matiz 0.8 litre S model, silver, only 50,000kms, approx 31,000 miles, 5 door, 5 speed, air conditioned, power assisted steering, elderly lady owner leaving Spain, small car, big bargain, was €4,500 now 3,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson 608 658 785 / 952 832 173 www.robertsoncars-spain.com (200963)
Carpenter
For daily news visit
MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 153, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 153 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (95302)
AUTOMATIC Opel Astra 2000 1.6 Comfort, one owner (nearly) silver, air condition, PAS, only 2,500 euros. Samantha and Gordon Robertson 952 832 173 / 608 658 785 www.robertsoncars-spain .com (200963)
Internet
CARPENTER cabinet maker, Irish. Available for all types of property maintenance, plumbing, painting, electrical, kitchens and bathrooms renovated etc. 30 years experience, very reliable. Tel: 952 441 955 / 677 087 575 (101611)
MOTORHOMES for sale & wanted. www.hispavan.com Leo 687 845 730 (202051)
www.euroweeklynews.com
DIESEL SEVEN SEATER Opel Zafira 2.2DTi, 2005, Blueline, 16 valve (125bhp), blue with alloy wheels, climate control, great people carrier, was €5,995, now €5,250. Samantha or Gordon Robertson 952 832 173 / 608 658 785 (200963)
Price per word: 0,42€ + IVA minimum 15 words - Discount: Book 10 weeks, get 2 weeks free - Deadline: 4pm Mondays Contact: Phone (0034) 952 561 245 • Fax (0034) 952 440 887 • email classifieds@euroweeklynews.com • www.euroweeklynews.com
CLASSIFIEDS
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN 45 Axarquía - Málaga East
www.euroweeklynews.com 4X4 DIESEL 2007 LANDROVER Discovery 2.7TDV6 SE Mark III, one owner, 113,000kms, FSH, black with beige leather, many extras, a massive saving on new price. Jeremy Clarkson loved it, can be yours, was €18,995 now €16,995. Samantha or Gordon Robertson 952 832 173 / 608 658 785 www.robertsoncars-spain .com (200963)
LAGUNA KENNELS AND CATTERY. Your pets lovingly cared for by English Mother and Daughter. Near Coin. UK Transport arranged. Tel 952 112 021 / 606 838 983 (204248)
4X4 DIESEL MITSUBISHI Montero 3.2GLS long wheel base, 2003, “top of the range”, one lady owner, gold, alloy wheels, air con, 5 speed, was €7,995 now €6,500. Samantha or Gordon Robertson 952 832 173 / 608 658 785
PROTECTAPET. Spain’s leading pet insurance 965 756 371 w w w. i n f o @ p r o t e c t a p e t . e u (95962)
Pet Insurance
Plumbers
SEVEN seater automatic 2008 Toyota Corolla Verso VVTI, one owner, only 53,000kms (33,000miles), sale due to relocation, climate control, electric everything, good looking in grey with alloy wheels, now 9,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson 952 832 173 or 608 658 785 www.robertsoncars-spain.com
Services
Solar
CARPENTER cabinet maker, Irish. Available for all types of property maintenance, plumbing, painting, electrical, kitchens and bathrooms renovated etc. 30 years experience, very reliable. Tel: 952 441 955 / 677 087 575 (101611)
Swimming Pools
Telecoms FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM TEL: 902 889 070 (0)
Window Tinting MOBILE SERVICE. ITV LEGAL. SOLAR REFLECTIVE TINT FOR GLASS CURTAINS, BALCONIES, YACHTS. STOP FADING, HEAT & GLARE. 958 496 571 – 644 546 176 SOLAR SHADETINTING@GMAIL. COM (204325)
READERS OF A SENSITIVE DISPOSITION MAY FIND SOME OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS SECTION OFFENSIVE.
NEAR Miraflores, Maria, sexy young Bulgarian, 25 yrs old, very pretty, sweet and loving. I am your dream doll girl and the lover you desire. 602 690 036 (203040)
Removal/Storage AFFORDABLE POOL MAINTENANCE - Professional maintenance from only €80 per month (exc. chemicals) Call Splash Pools on 952 591 053 - open 8am to 4pm (202621)
For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com
Pest Control PEST CONTROL. Legal Full Certificates. British. 952 449 591 Graham (203045) T1
Services
Pets
We don’t say we are number 1, our customers do Removal / Storage
NEAR Elviria - Angela, beautiful and discreet blue-eyed brunette. Come feel the pleasure in your skin. Your mind will be relaxed and your body satisfied. www.butterflygirls.es 634 193 202 (203040) NEAR Calahonda, Vicky, discreet, a sensual, erotic, mind-blowing, supernaughty girl. A hot and playful tongued nympho. Pleasure guaranteed. Perfect body, sensual eyes to give and get pleasure. Perfect escort for educated, tasteful gentlemen. 602 690 036 (203040)
XXX Relaxation
TORROX COSTA. Spanish, brunette, attractive, affectionate, very sexy, big breasts, French natural. Tel 615 221 300 (202677)
AUDI A6, all road, 4x4, luxury motoring, Spanish reg, LHD, auto, diesel, GBP5,600, bargain, www.hispavan.com Leo 687 845 730 (202051)
LOOK NO FURTHER FOR YOUR PET TRANSPORT. WE OFFER A SERVICE TO TRAVEL WITH OR WITHOUT YOUR PETS/FURNITURE. ALL PETS TRAVEL WITH US IN AIR CONDITIONED PEOPLE CARRIERS. CALL FOR PRICES. 952 160 096 / 665 150 227 WWW.SPAINUKSPAIN.COM (204441)
SOLAR BEST DEAL IN SPAIN, www.gosolarinspain .com (204791)
Situations Vacant
PORSCHE 928 S4, automatic, LHD, Spanish reg, fully loaded. www.hispavan.com Leo 687 845 730 (202051)
PET-COURIERS.COM – If you love your pet try us first – we are the best. Door to door service throughout Europe. Specialised vehicles – bespoke service. Full legal service including documentation if required. For further information call or email us: Tel: (0034) 651 033 670 or (0034) 637 066 227. Email: info@pet-couriers.com or www.pet-couriers.com (95495)
PROFESSIONAL TELESALES Are you able to produce excellent results working independently in a fast-paced office environment? Are you looking for a full or part time position with a contract and a good incentive scheme? If so, then contact: 952 561 245 or send your CV to: recruitment@euroweek lynews.com or Fax: 952 440 887 (11111)
COIN WINDOWS Aluminium windows, Doors, PVC, Blinds, Mosquito screens, Canopies, Glass Factory, shower screens, etc. All at village prices. Spanish owned business English 646 066 351 (204248)
4x4 DIESEL 2003 Jeep Cherokee 2.5 CRD Sport, 5 door, 5 speed, only 82,000kms, 2 expat owners, silver grey, was 7,995€, now 6,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson 952 832 173 / 608 658 785 www.robertsoncars-spain .com (200963) JUST arrived SuperSport Coupe Nissan 350Z (300 BHP), only 18,000kms (approx 11,000 miles). FSH, striking in copper colour with black leather, this is a real driver’s car, see it on our web page, cost new 45,000 euros. What a bargain at 16,995 euros. Phone Gordon for more information 608 658 785 / 952 832 173. www.robert soncars-spain.com (200963)
WWW.SPAINUKSPAIN.COM. Vehicle leaving Spain on 9th / 19th / 28th of each month, returning 10th / 20th / 29th of each month. Prices from £90 per cubic metre. Cars £525, bikes £325, jetskis/boats from £525, dogs £395, cats £295. All animals travel with us in air conditioned people carriers. 952 160 096 / 665 150 227 (204441)
RIVIERA, Daniela, pretty and busty girl, very naughty, loving, spontaneous and discreet. A 100% natural breasts and bottom, Brazilian bombshell. A sweet temptation, curvy body. Relaxing massage, the best natural French, caresses, sexy posing, golden shower. Home service. 634 193 202 (203040) MIRAFLORES, Sofia, Brazilian escort, skinny, very pretty, curvylicious. I am a pleasure machine. Relaxing massage, sexy posing and much more. Come and taste me, we will enjoy to the fullest. 602 690 036 (203040) RIVIERA, Expert fetish dominatrix. Beginners, medium, experts. Equipped real dungeon in luxury apartment. Sadism, foot fetish, bondage, trampling, leather, latex, spectacular golden shower. Dates only. 634 487 517 (203040) RIVIERA, 6 beautiful girls, all-intimate pleasure, sex, orgasm guaranteed. Let yourself go with these professionals for pleasure ecstasy. Comfortable ambient with good music, totally discreet. www.but terflygirls.es 951 274 723 (203040)
BIGGEST & BEST
6 editions ............... Costa del Sol Axarquía - Málaga East Mallorca Costa de Almería Costa Blanca South Costa Blanca North
affordable advertising that works
sales@euroweeklynews.com
MOTORING
13 - 19 December 2012
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
Axarquía - Málaga East For best rates in motor insurance call: 952 89 33 80
Sponsored by
New New Jaguar Jaguar spotted spotted in in LA LA THE new Jaguar XFR-S was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Jaguar has called it “the fastest, most powerful and agile sports saloon Jaguar has ever built.” The second model in the R-S range, the XFR-S joins its XKR-S sibling in the exclusive 300Kph club and is a vivid expression of the company’s longstanding sports saloon lineage. Prices will start at €75,600. The XFR-S incorporates engineering features from both the XKR-S and the all-new F-Type two-seater sports car to create a driver-focused, agile and responsive experience. The XFR-S has been developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s specialist ETO division, its bespoke powertrain, chassis and body enhancements enabling it to push the performance boundaries. Sport performance is provided by the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine which now boasts 550PS and 680Nm. The increases have been achieved through revisions to the engine management system and optimisation of the flow of air both into and out of the engine, the company said. Airflow allows the engine to operate at peak efficiency and lets the car cleave the air cleanly and safely. The resulting body changes have created a distinctively assertive appearance, beginning
with the deeper front bumper with its larger lower air intakes, vertical vanes and carbon fibre front splitter. “Sporting character is KOREAN developer Hyundai staged a world premiere of the production version of its three-row, six/sevenpassenger Santa Fe at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. By adding the new variant, Hyundai said it aims to deliver its Modern Premium values to more family-oriented customers. Based on the two-row, five-passenger Santa Fe, the six/seven-passenger Santa Fe adds a third row of seats to meet the needs of customers seeking more space. In addition, Hyundai’s new thinking widens customers’ choices by allowing them to choose two separated seats in the second row, a rare option in its segment. Santa Fe customers worldwide will now have a choice between five, six and seven-seat models. The new version, also known as the Long Wheelbase (LWB) Santa Fe, rides on a 2,800mm wheelbase, which is 100mm longer than the five-seater. The model will go on sale at a starting price of €18,700. The longer wheelbase and efficient interior design offers more cabin
47
evident in all Jaguar saloons. In the XFR-S that character has been amplified, the result being a truly engaging car with a combination of
A MONSTER: Zero to 100Kmh in 4.6 seconds.
technical innovation, assertive design and staggering performance,” Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Global Brand Director said.
AGILE: Overall lift is reduced by 68 per cent in the new XFR-S.
Santa Fe is getting bigger with room for all the family room than major competitors, providing maximum comfort for family-oriented customers. Seating utility is also improved, due to a standard 40:20:40 folding rear seat back. The exterior design of the new version is also
bolder and more voluminous. Its hexagonal radiator grille is wider with an additional bar, while the front fog lamps, separated from the bumper, are larger. The signature differentiating element between the five-seater and the
six/seven-seater is the side view daylight opening. The larger Santa Fe features a shape that highlights the increased passenger and cargo room behind the thirdrow seat. The 18-inch alloy wheels, dual muffler
and rear combination lamps complete a distinguished look. The LWB Santa Fe boasts a more powerful perform-ance as well. It is equipped with the 3.3 litre Lambda GDI engine, delivering a maximum output of 294ps.
SPORT
48 EWN
13 - 19 December 2012 Axarquía- Málaga East
www.euroweeklynews.com
Weekend action will be topped off with Sports Personality of the Year awards
A
FTER action in the Champions and Europa Leagues, FA Cup and League Cup, it’s back to the bread and butter of domestic football this weekend. The Premiership fixtures are Chelsea (third) v Southampton (a rehearsal for next month’s third round FA Cup-tie), Liverpool v Aston Villa, Manchester United (top) v Sunderland, Newcastle v Manchester City (second), Norwich v Wigan, winless QPR v Fulham. On Sunday Spurs v Swansea, Stoke v Everton and WBA v West Ham. Monday sees Reading take on Arsenal. Championship leaders Cardiff play Peterborough
SPORTS SCENE By Tony Matthews A former football player and the world’s most prolific author of football books (more than 100 published), Tony is also the sports reporter for Spectrum Radio and lives in the Cabrera mountains.
(bottom), Crystal Palace (second) visit Birmingham, Middlesbrough (third) meet Wolves and Hull (fourth) take on Huddersfield. In FL1, Tranmere (top) oppose Sheffield United and Doncaster (second) entertain Coventry; FL2, pace-setters Gillingham face Fleetwood and SPL
leaders Celtic welcome St Mirren. And don’t forget that on Sunday we will know who has been voted the BBC ‘Sports Personality of the Year.’ I’m going for Bradley Wiggins, but don’t rule out Mo Farah, even Jessica Ennis. This will be a great programme to watch, if you like sport! FOOTBALL ROUNDUP • After the CL group matches, it left Arsenal, Celtic and Manchester United IN but Chelsea and Manchester City OUT. • Also in the last 16 are AC Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasary, Juventus, Malaga, PSG, Porto, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donestk, Schalke and Valencia. • Despite battering Nordsjaelland 6-1, Chelsea became the first holders of the trophy to be knocked out at the group stage after Juventus beat Shahktar Doneskt to finish second above the Blues. And those seven goals at Stamford Bridge eight days ago, came in just 27 minutes, a record I believe, for ‘rapid scoring’ in the European Cup/CL since the competition started in 1955. • Celtic who defeated Spartak Moscow 2-1 courtesy of Kris Commons’ penalty went through following Benfica’s draw in Barcelona. • Both Manchester United and Arsenal, fielding under-strength teams, lost their final group matches while Manchester City
History maker Messi ON Sunday at 9.27pm in Sevilla, Lionel Messi broke the record set in 1972 by German striker Gerd Muller for most goals scored in a calendar year. At that precise time the Argentinian netted his, and Barcelona’s second, of a 2-1 win over Real Betis to take his tally in 2012 to an incredible 86 in only 66 games. Well played, little man! You’re a pure genius. finished bottom of group D and so missed out on the consolation of a Europa League place, leaving Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Spurs as England’s representatives in this long-winded competition. • Three LC quarter-finals took place earlier this week - Bradford City-Arsenal, Norwich-Aston Villa and Swansea-Middlesbrough. Chelsea, involved in the World Club Cup in Japan, will play Leeds on 19 December. • West Ham, the ‘preferred bidders’ to take over the Olympic Stadium, hope to play there in August 2015. Why then, I wonder? • Two American clubs
want David Beckham to become an owner. • United, with a dramatic 92nd minute goal by Robin van Persie, won the 165th Manchester derby 3-2 (they are six points clear of City now); Father Christmas (dressed as a referee) arrived early at the Emirates and gave Arsenal two penalty presents (v WBA); Sunderland are in the bottom three after losing to Chelsea; Everton netted twice in a minute late on to beat Spurs and Norwich pipped Swansea 4-3 in a thriller. SPORT IN GENERAL • Alastair Cook scored a record-breaking 23rd century and became the youngest-ever batsman to
reach 7,000 Test runs as England beat India by seven wickets to go 2-1 up in the four-match series. The last Test is now under way in Nagpur. • Frankie Dettori has been banned for six months by the French Horse Racing Authority for drug abuse. • Golfer Rory McIlroy has been voted the 2012 PGA Player of the Year. • Mark Selby won the UK snooker championship. • Oxford beat Cambridge 26-19 in the annual varsity rugby match.