EWN FRONT EXTRA
Bike savings STIFF competition from almost 30 bidders to construct cycle lanes in Almeria has yielded a saving of approximately €3 million on the original budget.
New theatre ADRA is to get a new auditorium during 2015. The building will seat 103 people, cover an area of 279 square metres, and is valued at more than €200,000.
Hip Hop Vicar THOUSANDS of young people gathered in Vicar for the Hip Hop Street festival. Around 700 people took part during the 11th edition of the event, also its largest.
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Winter Fuel Allowance: Your say Page 12
EU expats must renew their driving licences EXPATRIATES who have been legally resident in Spain for two years or more must renew their driving licences to meet new regulations or face a €200 fine. The new measure for European Union (EU) expats living in Spain requires people from the 28 EU member states to renew any driving licence they hold which is valid for 15 years or more in the case of car and motorcycle drivers (Group One) and five years or longer in the case of drivers of transport and larger vehicles (Group Two). The new rule - which came into effect on Monday - applies to all EU expats who have been legally living
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in Spain for more than two years, and will apply to newer residents two years after the date they
Corrie star mourned CORONATION STREET actress Anne Kirkbride, who played Deirdre in the popular British soap, died on Monday January 19, aged 60. Her husband David Beckett said she passed away peacefully at a Manchester hospital after a short illness. Anne owned a villa in Mojacar and often retreated to the area to get away from the spotlight and de-stress. Continued on Page 8
legally became resident in Spain. Spain’s department of motor vehicles – DGT – confirmed to the EWN that any EU expat who has legally lived in Spain for two years or more must immediately renew their licence to a Spanish EU licence or face a fine of €200. The licence changes are required under a new EU guideline aimed at eliminating the more than 110 types of licences valid to drive in EU countries and provide a standard licence for all citizens. Residents can renew their
driving licence by contacting the nearest traffic authority, calling 060 or via the DGT traffic authority website www.dgt.es. Proof of identity, proof of residence, the original driving licence and a copy are required for the initial appointment, plus a recent photograph and official form. The fee for the new licence is €23.50. Drivers are also reminded that – as previously reported in the EWN – speed limits on many Spanish roads are to be reduced this spring. The speed limit on motorways will remain at 120 kilometres per hour (km/h), but roads with a current limit of 100km/h will drop to 90km/h and those currently at 90km/h will drop to either 70 or 50km/h. Motorists in Spain are also reminded that the fine for breaking the speed limit starts at €100 for speeds of up to 150km/h. The fine for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is €1,000. Have your say on this story at www.euroweeklynews.com
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INDEX News 1 - 24 Finance 27 - 32 Letters 33 Leapy Lee 34 WINNERS: Christiane Gohl (left) and Rafael A Hernando Fraile.
Daily TV 36 Time Out 46 - 47 Health & Beauty 52- 55 Food 60 - 64 Albox 65 - 69 Homes & Gardens 71 Property 72 Classifieds 74 - 76 Motoring 77 - 78 Sport 79 - 80
The 2015 Golden Indalo awards EVERY year the town of Mojacar awards entities or people who have contributed to the good of the municipality with their ideas, influence or projects, with a ‘Golden Indalo’. The Indalo (pictured above) is a symbol of Mojacar and Almeria and is said to bring good luck to those it is given to. The awards will be made on Thursday January 29 at the FITUR exhibition in Madrid The award winners for this year have just been announced. They are Doctor
Christiane Gohl, a famous German writer, who has lived in the Mojacar area for 10 years. She has written under various pseudonyms including Sara Lark, Ricarda Jordan and Elisabeth Rotenberg as well as in her own name. Another Golden Indalo goes to Rafael Antonio Hernando Fraile. Fraile is a Spanish lawyer, a politician and currently acts as spokesman of the parliamentary Popular Party in the Congress of Deputies and as an MP for Almeria.
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NEWS Thieves nabbed GUARDIA CIVIL officers have arrested three alleged perpetrators of a moped theft from a community garage in Roquetas. Two of the arrested individuals were minors, aged 15 and 16. Fort Bravo FIREFIGHTERS rescued a climber at Fort Bravo, Tabernas, after a phone call from a fellow climber alerted them. The climber had fallen and was taken to hospital with injured ankles.
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Improvements to streets MOJACAR Town Hall is carrying out more improvements in the village streets. This time the works are being carried out in the area of the historic old town. The streets which will most benefit from new paving and the renovation of their urban services are Calle Estacion, Calle Salas, Calle Union, Calle Correos,
Calle Jazmin, Calle Irene and Plaza Caño. The works, which are estimated at €241,876, have been contracted out for the amount of €163,168, which will save the town council an estimated €78,708. The urban works are being funded by funds the town council obtained from the successful sale of a plot of
land in Macenas that can be used for the street renovations included within the so called ‘Degraded Areas Plan.’ The mayor, Rosa Maria Cano, stated that these works are not restricted to the streets already mentioned. The improvement of Calles Embajadores, Puntica and Glorieta will commence in the coming weeks.
Albox compensation ALBOX Town Hall has paid €1,500 in ‘moral damages’ to a former town employee who claimed unlawful dismissal. The payment for the woman was ordered by the provincial court.
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Rafa Nadal
ALMERIA company Cosentino has launched its new advertising campaign with a famous face. Tennis player Rafa Nadal is the new face of Cosentino to launch their Dekton Unlimited range.
THE first public spat over the continuous breaks in water supply and pressure drops in Adra has started between the PSOE and the PP with the former threatening to begin demonstrations.
Fondon fires
victor rivera flickr
Nijar rescue ALMERIA coastguard rescued a 35-year-old man who had fallen off a 15 metre cliff in the town of Las Negras, Nijar. The rescued man was taken to hospital with back and leg injuries.
Not damp PATCHES on the wall of the Alcazaba in Almeria have been confirmed by experts as “not damp,” according to an announcement by the Junta, but are the result of a chemical reaction.
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Boar hunt AN investigation into an allegedly illegal boar hunt in Cabo de Gata has been shelved after new evidence emerged to show that the required permits had been obtained.
Mayor scandal CANDIDATE for mayor for the Ciudadanos in Almeria City faces a court hearing for an alleged crime of embezzlement after a €2,820.57 transfer to a bank account of which he is a coholder.
EWN
DRAMATIC: Horses are ridden through bonfires.
Fire horses of Spain on St Anthony’s eve
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NE Spanish village honours the patron saint of animals in the most dramatic fashion - by riding horses through bonfires in a day and night of festivities. The tradition - said to go back 500 years - is held in San Bartolome de los Pinares, Avila, on Saint Anthony’s eve (January 16). Known as the Las Luminares the festival is thought to have started to ‘purify’ animals at a time when there was a spate of them falling ‘unnaturally’ ill. Hundreds of horses, donkeys and mules are made to ride through the flames, with bonfires made from dead branches piled in the streets of the village. Although popular, it has drawn the ire of animal rights groups, who have put in official complaints
Quote of the Week I have been surprised to find so many Korean students are interested in learning Spanish, evident in the numerous Spanish language departments at Korean universities,’ said Spanish Ambassador to Korea, Gonzalo Ortiz, on the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
saying it is cruel to the horses and donkeys forced to undergo the ritual. But supporters of the event say that despite the seeming danger to animals and riders, none have ever been hurt. That is disputed by Observatorio Justicia y Defensa Animal (Observatory for Justice and Defence for Animals) which says it has vets’ reports about treatment to horses for burns. In a complaint to Guardia Civil against the local authorities it said it was against animal protection laws to force the horses to act in an unnatural way and make them ignore their instinct to flee fire. It added that animals suffer burns and the effects of inhaling toxic fumes. That complaint was made in 2013, but so far no action has been taken.
CREDITlev radin / Shutterstock.com
Number of the week
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MILLION is the number of jobs that will be created in Spain over the next two years, according to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. He said that the country’s economic progress will help create these jobs and reduce unemployment.
FONDON has marked the annual San Sebastian festival by lighting long fires in the streets during the evening while cooking up a giant paella for the town’s residents and visitors.
Adra hiking ADRA’S third walking programme has come to an end. It finished as always with a trip out to Sierra Nevada. Approximately 150 youths participated in the different healthy activities.
Daily fish ADRA’S fishing museum has announced that it will be open 365 days of the year. It can be visited every day from 9am until 2pm. The centre received 6,500 visitors in 2014.
Homes cancelled THE TSJA has upheld the decision to annul the permissions to build 440 homes against the cliffs of Aguadulce. The decision annuls the original agreement made in April 2006.
And finally... ALL 20 of the most watched television programmes in Spain during 2014 were football matches. The football-mad nation tuned in to games from the World Cup or matches involving Barcelona or Real Madrid. Top of the list - with 13.2 million viewers - was the Spain v Chile game from the World Cup.
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Our View
Brr!...Feeling the cold in January W
HATEVER your thoughts are on the winter fuel debate that has raised its chilly, frozen and controversial head in the weeks over Christmas, there is no arguing that in the majority of Spain at the moment it is cold with a capital ‘C.’ If the sun is out during the day then it’s quite warm, but once it dips below the horizon for the night it is definitely time to wrap up warm or plonk yourself in front of the fireplace. People assume that because it is sunny for most of the year in Spain particularly on the costas and the islands - that most expats are happily frolicking in the sea and lazing on the beach with cocktails in their hands during the winter months. At least, that seems to be the perception that many in the UK have, particularly some sections of the media. It would be interesting to see what these
people think after spending a week or two in a Spanish home not built to withstand the cold and without a fire or heating. The cold affects the elderly much more so than those of a younger age and it can be highly detrimental to their health. The UK’s decision to scrap the Winter Fuel Allowance for expats in Spain is a thorny, controversial issue, but there is no getting away from the fact that just because the average temperature in Spain is higher than the UK, this does not mean that pensioners don’t need to heat their homes here during the winter. Yes, Spain is warmer in both summer and winter, but ‘warm’ is not the word we would use for the chilly and crisp mornings and nights we are currently experiencing. See Page 12 for our readers’ views on the subject.
WORLD FAMOUS: Casa Puga, the oldest tapas bar in Almeria City.
Iconic tapas bar faces closure
CASA PUGA, the oldest tapas bar in Almeria City, is to close after 106 years. This tapas bar is in the famous ‘cuatro calles’ area
and is considered an institution in Almeria. It is mentioned in every tourist guide and visited by tourists from all over the
Cartoons on show with a serious message MOJACAR’s municipal arts centre, above the newly refurbished fountain, is holding an exhibition by Marko Blitz called ‘Rickie Rocker en Maravillastan’. The exhibition, which comprises cartoons with a serious message, runs until January 31. The centre is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 10am until 4pm and on Sundays from 10am until 2pm. There are also workshops on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm until 8pm. A selection of Rickie Rocker drawings can be seen on Marko Blitz’s official website at www.rickierocker.blogspot.com.
world looking for a taste of old Spain. Its archaic décor of jamóns hanging from the ceiling and bottles of wine, flamenco and bullfighting memorabilia will be sorely missed. New laws allow commercial landlords to now dictate the rental terms for all premises and the protection that was once in place for tenants has been removed. As a consequence it is understood that Casa Puga’s tenants can no longer plan their future. Their tenancy expires in December 2015, but due to the uncertainty they face, the owners have decided to close on March 28.
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Migrants arrested for killing fellow sailors TWO migrants have been arrested for killing between seven and 10 of their companions on a ‘patera’ (small immigration boat) in Almeria. The National Police were told by witnesses to the aggression that an argument started when a Nigerian
priest started to pray, as he had a fear of drowning. The Cameroonian aggressors blamed him for the weather turning bad and he became the first victim. The survivors’ accounts of the night are hazy as it was dark and stormy, with low
SILLY DRIVER: Posted his speed on social network.
Speedy fined A 22-YEAR-OLD Bulgarian man has learnt a couple of valuable lessons. He posted a video on a social network showing him driving at 240km/h, at night on the N301 near Cartagena. His dreams of being the
next internet sensation were short lived as it was seen by the authorities. An investigation was launched and they were able to track him down. The driver was fined for exceeding the speed limit.
visibility. They recall leaving the port of Nador (Morocco) with some 50 migrants, of which only 29 survived. The survivors do not know exactly how many died from either suffering the aggression of the arrested men or the harsh conditions on board
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World Cup advert in Cabo de Gata MORE than 100 people gathered at Cabo de Gata in Nijar to film an advertisement for the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar. Sites chosen for filming were beaches and coves ranging from Playazo to Monsul and Genoese.
Scenarios were created where viewers simulated watching a football game televised on a giant screen, similar to those installed in the streets, plazas and beaches of towns and cities during the World Cup. In the advertisement, the beaches and coves of Cabo de Gata were used to represent the coastal beaches of the Gulf, while children played football outside. The territorial representative of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment, Jose Manuel encourage families with Ortiz, highlighted the more than three importance of the shoot. children to move to the He said: “In a few years, town. The families were for several weeks, offered free housing televisions around the and land in order to world for millions of help balance the viewers will show the population and ensure natural wealth of Cabo de the school stayed open. Gata’s beaches and coves, Along with the free which will help to spread housing, they are also its name and create supplied with free water development opportuand refuse collection. nities, jobs and wealth.”
Free housing for 3 large families BAYARCAL Council has signed an agreement with Almeria Provincial Council to finance the renovation of three municipal homes. The homes are earmarked for three large families who have joined the municipal register. The families relocated to Bayarcal as part of an initiative to
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FEATURE
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Registering your vehicle in Spain Spanish licence plates and registration document Registering a non-Spanish vehicle in Spain is a complex and potentially costly procedure. However, you may be exempt from Spanish registration tax by getting Spanish number-plates within one month of entering the country. But to do this, you need to become a resident. Linea Directa has been insuring expat drivers in Spain for over a decade and understands all the steps involved. Below we outline this process. STEP 1: OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY This is a statement by the car’s manufacturer that it conforms to EU regulations. You will need the car’s chassis number to complete this process online at www.eurococ.eu/en/certificate_ of_conformity. STEP 2: CURRENT LOG BOOK The vehicle’s original log book showing your name as the owner, the vehicle’s age and a valid UK address. You will also need the bill of sale for the car. STEP 3: RESIDENCY IN SPAIN The Spanish residency certificate (Certificado de Empadronamiento) is your official proof of residency in Spain. Your local town hall can provide you with this document. You will need to take your passport and proof of Spanish address. STEP 4: OBTAINING A SPANISH MOT CERTIFICATE All vehicles over four-years-old must be
roadworthy and clearly display a valid ITV sticker. The ITV (Vehicle Technical Inspection) must be tested at an authorised centre. You can find out the location of your nearest ITV centre on DGT website. You can also call your local centre to make a booking. The cost can vary but generally is around 40€ for petrol and 56€ for diesel-engine cars. STEP 5: OBTAINING A SPANISH EQUIVALENT OF A TAX DISC The Spanish Tax Agency can provide your vehicle with a valid ‘tax disc’ for Spain, which must be carried in the car when in use. You will need to complete the relevant form online and pay the amount according to your car’s tax band. We hope the information provided in this article is of interest.
If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 902 123 309. More information on Linea Directa
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Mojacar mourns death of Coronation Street star Continued from Page 1 Donna, from Donna’s Boutique, told EWN that the actress had been into her boutique on a number
of occasions to buy clothes. She had nothing but kind words for the celebrity, stating that she was a lovely, down-to-
earth lady who always had time for a chat. Donna said: “One of the things Anne loved best about Mojacar was the fact that everyone here treated her like a normal person and she was able to get out of the spotlight here and lead a normal life.” Anne was reported to have come to her Mojacar getaway after asking for an extended break from the soap last September, saying that her busy schedule had left her feeling mentally exhausted. The actress, who lived in Manchester, referred to long hours in TV studios, saying: “At times, it is worse than being delayed at Alicante Airport.” Anne played the part of Deirdre for 44 years and was part of many major storylines.
GETTING READY: EUREN members will travel to Portugal.
EUREN get green light for Portugal EUREN (European Encounters), a project which is part of the European Lifelong Learning programme, has been given the go-ahead to visit Portugal. The group will travel from Huercal Overa to the Portuguese town of Povoa de Varzim to meet with groups from across Europe. The first part of the programme will be presented by Poland, describing its history, culture and aspects in common with Spain. Spain will feature next, with folklore, music and dance. Other countries in attendance include Belgium and the UK. This is the fourth meeting
after the UK, Poland and Huercal Overa in 2014. Mayor of Huercal Overa, Domingo Fernandez, spoke of the importance of the programmes and added: “Huercal Overa continues throughout Europe, a journey that will carry on with the recently adopted European Voluntary Service.” The group selected to attend has been working on its objectives to exchange knowledge between European countries in order to achieve a rapport and offering opportunities to learn about the EU. It aims to explore different cultures, fostering the ties between nations.
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A bumper week for Nijar NIJAR residents are celebrating after a run of wins on the ONCE lottery, totalling €1,680,000, One Nijar resident won €300,000 in cash, as well as FAISEM: Song of the Phoenix exhibition.
Art takes flight in Huercal Overa HUERCAL OVERA’S Teatro Villa is co-hosting an exhibition by FAISEM, the Andalucian foundation for the social integration of people with mental illness. The exhibition, called El cante del Ave Fenix (Song of the Phoenix), runs until February 2 and comprises 60 pieces of art by 12 artists, all of whom use the painting workshops around the province. Mayor of Huercal Overa, Domingo
Fernandez, accompanied by the provincial representative from FAISEM, Amparo Lloret, opened the exhibition. Fernandez stressed: “It is important to have different activities to promote social and creative skills as well as a means to convey and express feelings and emotions.” He went on to encourage residents and visitors to visit the exhibition and enjoy its artistic expression.
€5,000 per month for 20 years, totalling €1,500,000. The winning ticket was sold by Pablo Rueda Torres, who also sold the nine coupons, which
won €20,000 apiece. This is the second time that Nijar has seen a big win, after more than €4,000,000 was awarded in December 2014.
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Where is my new EHIC? By Pete Woodall (Woody’s Los Boliches) THE EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), issued by the British healthcare system to British pensioners resident abroad, cannot be renewed online. That service is reserved for residents of the UK only. To renew a British EHIC from Spain call 0044 191 218 1999, Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm, and be sure to press option #1. DWP phone lines are very busy so be prepared to hold. Applicants should have their national insurance or national health number to hand and any change of address details, as the operator will arrange to forward a form to that address which must be filled in and returned to the UK. Once the process has been completed, a new medical card will be sent through the mail. This whole process can take up to one month.
The EHIC card is for free or reduced cost emergency medical treatment for EU/EEA and Swiss nationals when temporarily outside their own country or usual country of residence. It is free and entitles the holder to the same state medical care, under the same conditions, as would be provided to a national or resident of the country they are in. In some EU/EAA countries there may be a partial payment charge for this which is generally no longer reimbursable.
Anyone resident and working in Spain needs to apply for their EHIC card from their local Spanish social security office or online at http://www.seg-social.es. The information is available in Spanish, English and other languages. Residents of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not eligible for an EHIC
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FEATURE
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Winter Fuel Allowance: the unkindest cut of all
The news that pensioners in Spain are to lose their Winter Fuel Allowance has provoked a huge response from our readers. The vast majority have come out against the cuts. Here is a small selection of comments -
Paying for gold taps B McDonnell, Javea (Costa Blanca) I AM a pensioner who paid tax and National Insurance all my life. I still pay income tax to the UK under the Dual Agreement UK/Spain. Despite this, like many others, I cannot vote in UK elections. The fuel allowance helps but I realise that I am selfish in accepting it and there are many more deserving cases such as an MP’s expenses for everything from duck ponds to toilet rolls. Or overseas aid to enable some despot to put gold taps in one of his many bathrooms. And large families that don’t work but continue to breed, as well as any other sponger or insane cause. It makes you proud to be British! I’m losing it. It must be old age (or the cold!).
Insulting remarks Don & Tricia Widdall (by email) WE too have paid all our taxes and therefore feel that the allowance is a right not a handout! Iain Duncan Smith’s remarks re ‘an obscene waste of money’ are an insult. He and his associates have not even had the courtesy to consult us in this matter.
A paltry pension David Moore (by email) IF pensioners received a decent pension in line with the rest of Europe, there would be no need for a Winter Fuel
This snow on a Mallorcan beach proves that Spain is not always hot, hot, hot!
UK vote to leave the EU. There has been a website set up to register your objection to this bill and it is http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/ 73368 and I would suggest that your readers sign this petition to try to have the policy overturned.
Fair’s fair Andy P (by email)
Allowance. I don’t think £4 a week is too much to expect. Compare that to the £250 million a week in foreign aid and the millions we pay out in drugs to satisfy addicts in prison. I’m so glad I worked hard for 40 years knowing that I’d retire on a life-changing £16 a day.
Get a life! David B Jones (by email) AS a 68-year-old diabetic, if I was now living in England I would be entitled to free foot treatment, free optical treatment, all prescriptions free, concessionary bus pass/rail pass, maybe some caring allowance, and if my savings were below certain levels, a pension top-up. As it is, I gave up all these to live in Spain. I think it is obvious that by living in Spain I am actually saving the
A heartfelt plea to Leapy Lee... I WRITE to you with rage in my heart. If the Winter Fuel Allowance is cut off for expats in Spain, we pensioners here should take the Tory Millionaire Party to the European Court. Tory Millionaire Iain Duncan Smith should be informed (by the powersthat-be that many, many expat pensioners pay UK taxes. Will Leapy Lee represent us!? Yvonne Fischer, Rojales (Costa Blanca)
British Government money. It is obscene for millionaires like Iain Duncan Smith to stop the Winter Fuel Allowance. If it was saving billions, I would understand, but a few million? Really, Mr Duncan Smith, get a life!
The ballot solution Keith and Judy Braddock, La Manga (Murcia) PEOPLE may shrug their shoulders and think there is nothing we can do as we don’t have any voting rights. However, we do have an army of family and friends in the UK who over the next few months will be visiting the ballot box. We have sent a email to all our contacts in the UK and asked them to get in touch with their local MP about the matter. If we all do this it should give cause for concern, as most MPs do have one eye on the ballot box.
Dodgy figures Peter Barlow (by email) THE UK Government has used some dubious calculations to penalise expats and it can only cause greater concern about how we will be treated should the
AS the pensioners that should get the Winter Fuel Allowance have paid into the State all their lives, there should be no discrimination as to location. If this is to be so, then the people of Northern Scotland should get more than the people of the West Country.
Cunning plan? Godfree Lee El Oasis (Costa Blanca) ENERGY prices here are the highest in Europe apart from Germany, and every little money we get helps a lot. The trouble is we are all living longer and maybe this is a way of Government trying to kill us off earlier! Not everyone thought pensioners in Spain should get the WFA…
Moaning expats Keith Coombes, Moraira (Costa Blanca) SPAIN is a great place to live; shame so many ‘immigrants’ moan most of the time. Yes, we all paid tax and NI in the UK when working. Some boast about how little they paid then and even now. Let us not forget pensioners living in the UK continue to pay tax (UK VAT) every day. Yes, it gets cold in Spain but winter heating costs are a fraction of those in the UK. Are we so poor that £100 will make a difference? Think of the savings on winter coats and umbrellas!
Hot under the collar about the WFA? Have your say and see more comments at www.euroweeklynews.com
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FINANCE
Spanish Taxation In 2015 Part 2 There are a few tax changes in Spain for 2015, and you need to understand how they affect you personally. Our previous article covered income and wealth tax, this week we look at capital gains tax, succession tax and the new exit tax. Capital gains tax All capital gains are now taxed at the savings tax rates, even those arising on assets held for less than a year (previously taxed at the scale rates for general income). If you own assets (property or shares) acquired before 31st December 1994, you need to be aware that the time apportioned capital gains tax relief on such assets has been removed from January 2015. Instead each taxpayer will be entitled to a cumulative lifetime allowance of €400,000 to apply to the sales proceeds of pre-December 1994 assets. Therefore, if you sell assets which you bought before 1995 and are now worth over €400,000, you could have a much higher tax bill.
By Bill Blevins, Financial Correspondent, Blevins Franks Succession tax Following the European Court of Justice ruling that Spanish succession tax was discriminatory, the Spanish tax authorities have now issued new regulations with significant changes to the way Spain’s autonomous community rules apply on inheritances and lifetime gifts. From January 2015, if you are resident in Spain when you die, beneficiaries resident in an EU or
EEA state can apply the local regional rules of the regional community you live in. If you receive an inheritance of Spanish assets from someone resident outside Spain, but in an EU/EEA state, you have the right to apply the regional rules of the autonomous community where the highest value of assets is located. If the assets are outside Spain you can apply the rules of your local community. This is welcome news, since for many people the local regional rules tend to be more beneficial than the state ones. British expatriates also need to consider UK inheritance tax. Exit tax A new “exit tax” has been introduced from January 2015. It applies to taxpayers (residents of Spain for five of the last ten fiscal years) who lose their Spanish tax residence and hold shares or equity interests in any type of entity of
mutual investment institution, whose market value exceeds €4,000,000 or €1,000,000 if the taxpayer holds a 25% interest in the entity. This applies to unrealised gains, even if you do not sell the investments. Payment may be deferred in certain cases, such as if the transfer is to a jurisdiction with which Spain exchanges tax information. If the individual moves to another EU/EEA country, the gain need only be declared if they sell the shares within 10 years or if they move out of the EU/EEA (European Economic Area). If you hold shares or investments worth close to or more than the values above, contact Blevins Franks for advice on how to structure the capital so that your investments fall outside this exit tax regime, so you need not be concerned by it should you leave Spain. As always, you need to make sure that you correctly declare all your
assets on your income and wealth tax returns and Form 720. With the new automatic exchange of information, the tax authorities will be able to spot any discrepancies or omissions. Nonetheless, with specialist advice you can often reduce tax on your savings, investments, pensions and assets. Blevins Franks have decades of experience advising British expatriates and in-depth knowledge of Spanish taxation. Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. 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 is advised to seek 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
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AUAN election bid MAURA HILLEN, the president of Abusos Urbanisticos Almanzora No (AUAN) has announced her intention to run in the Albox elections.
AUAN fights for the rights of homeowners who bought their Spanish properties in good faith, only to become the victims of legislation later with numerous properties being demolished. Hillen received unanimous approval from AUAN when she announced her intention. She said: “Urgent you would like publicised? solutions are required and Do you need to get the for this reason AUAN is for legislative word out to your asking community? By changes and some seem to featuring your be in the making. However, event in EWN, whilst AUAN has received you will reach declarations of support, a wide some support appears to lukewarm and audience and be attract many uncertain. It is the PSOE more people to party that has shaped concrete changes to the attend. We cannot legislation and I would like guarantee that details of to dedicate my efforts to every future event will these changes.” Hillen, who is not a appear, but we will do our member of the PSOE or upmost to publish them. political party, If you would like to reach any out to readers, send event stressed: “I am running as information to editorial@ an independent to maintain my freedom to operate.” euroweekly news.com
EWN at the heart of the community HERE at EWN, we are committed to bringing our readers all their local and community news, and strive to improve our publications to help inform readers about all the news and events in their area. As Spain’s largest free local newspaper in English, many people rely on EWN for news about upcoming events, and this is where we need your help. Do you have a forthcoming event that
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NEWS
Vandals cause 90% of bin fires FIREFIGHTERS put out more than 100 container and 30 bin fires in Almeria City last year. These acts of vandalism have cost more than â‚Ź90,000 to extinguish, according to figures released by the council. The council indicated that nine out of 10 of these fires were acts of vandalism, an activity that seems to be on the increase. The latest container fire was in the
TARGETED: Rubbish bins. Havana district of Retamar, although initial evidence
points to it being accidental. Firefighters in the capital attend receptacle fires at least twice a week, mainly during weekends or the early hours of the morning. Cars are not exempt from fire-loving vandals either. In just one night in Havana during December 2014, three vehicles were set alight at the top of Paseo del Toyo. Councillor for Health and Consumers, Carlos Sanchez, asked residents to be more vigilant when disposing of hot ashes and other materials that radiate heat. Sanchez warned that these can start fires not only in containers but also in waste collection lorries. This has a knock-on effect for expenditure with the replacement of containers, trucks and street furniture.
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E W N 22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de AlmerĂa
www.euroweeklynews.com
Theft leads to 3 arrests GUARDIA CIVIL officers have arrested a 32-yearold resident of Vicar, FMSD, on suspicion of theft from an agricultural warehouse. The officers also arrested two additional people in the same village on suspicion of receiving stolen goods. The investigation began after the Guardia Civil were made aware of the sale of plant protection products of dubious origin. They located a farmer who had purchased the goods, along with his friend. The farmer and his friend produced a number of materials purchased recently in the town. During an interview with the two men, the officers were able to identify the thief and proceed to arrest him.
NEWS
Busy year for Almeria library VILLAESPESA library in Almeria City loaned 94,681 books and other media items in 2014, making it the third busiest library in Andalucia. The municipal library also issued 2,849 new memberships in 2014, bringing the total number of members to 50,602 26,712 women and 23,890 men. January, May and November were the busiest months while July and August were the quietest.
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E W N 22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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NEWS
Female confidence tricksters arrested TWO women have been arrested on suspicion of conning the elderly and carrying out thefts. The victims were aged between 70 and 86 years and resident in Las Cabañuelas, Vicar, Adra and Balerma. The detainees are accused of gaining their victims’ trust by carrying their shopping for them or offering to clean their
ARRESTED: Female thief. homes. They would often call the victims by name or
greet them with effusive displays of affection, thereby confusing the elderly victims into thinking they must know them or simply lowering their guard. In other cases, the women would pickpocket the house keys from the victims during a hug. Once inside the victims’ homes they would manoeuvre a situation in order to be left alone
before stealing money and personal possessions. If they could not quickly locate valuables, they would often steal house keys and return later when the home was empty. In one case, one of the women approached an elderly victim after a visit to a cash point, gaining access to the house and stealing valuables. PMF, a 29-year-old resident of Almeria and MCLF, a 38-year-old resident of Almeria had carried out a number of confidence tricks and thefts in the area before the Guardia Civil were able to make their arrests. The case remains open, so that the involvement of the two women in other similar crimes is not discarded.
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E W N 22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
www.euroweeklynews.com
NEWS
Albox disputes liability demand ALBOX Council has responded to the order to set aside €3.1 million in
compensation to 98 home owners who face the demolition of their homes with an outright refusal. Socialist mayor of Albox, Rogelio Mena, said: “The council is not responsible for any of the actions listed.” He described the amount fixed by the court as unacceptable and unaffordable. “I will not allow the effort that the town council, staff and residents have worked so hard for to go to ruin because of the previous management team of the Partido Popular.” The mayor indicated that the figure represented 41.7 per cent of the municipal budget. Mena has authorised and ordered the immediate submission of documents and resources
to defend the interests of Albox. He said: “This will examine the facts of the judicial process in order to establish responsibilities of the Partido Popular over the years when they proliferated buildings outside the law and planning regulations. Our duty is transparency, clarity and a response to the needs of our citizens.” His response came after Judge Victor Manuel Samper imposed a demand for €3.1 million on the town to allow for possible liabilities arising from the case against the two developers of a 98home residential area. The homes, which are owned mainly by British citizens, face demolition as part of the court process against the developers.
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NEWS
Berja girl, 24, in fight for her life YOLANDA DE TENA, a 24-year-old mother of one from Berja is fighting for her life in Torrecardenas hospital just one month after feeling a sharp pain in her leg. The girl is suffering an infection of unknown origin although the hospital has not ruled out leukaemia. Her family wish to move her to a different hospital where she could receive more specialist care, but the costs are prohibitive. With this in mind, residents of Berja have been raising funds to help pay for the transfer, including a speedily organised gala called ‘Todos Somos
Yolanda’ (We are all Yolanda). Yolanda’s sister, Irene de Tena, said that the family intends to move her by helicopter to a private hospital in Pamplona or to a public centre in Cordoba. Irene explained that the family is tired of having many questions unanswered and disparate diagnoses. She said they need to find a second opinion to shed some light on Yolanda’s condition. “A doctor told us that my sister is dying,” said Irene, “and all we can do is pray. But we can’t sit idly by. We need to seek other options and alternatives to try and
bring my sister back.” Twenty-year-old Irene, speaking as the family’s spokesperson, is currently the one family member generating an income. Aware of the family’s financial situation, the residents of Berja have rallied together to raise as much money as possible. People have volunteered for events and to provide handcrafted items to sell in order to help. Torrecardenas’ medical team have advised against moving Yolanda. They said that although she has improved slightly in the past few days, her condition is still very serious.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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inance F A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 6 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION // WWW.EWNBUSINESS.COM
22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
business & legal
EWN
27
STAT OF WEEK BANKRUPTCIES decreased 26 per cent last year with 6,420 insolvencies. Most were declared in Cataluña (21 per cent), followed by Madrid (16 per cent) and the Valencian Community (14 per cent).
CRISTOBAL MONTORO
List of shame gets improved tax results MORE people are paying their taxes in Spain than formerly. According to Cristobal Montoro, the minister responsible for Spain’s tax authority Hacienda, this stems from the department’s announced plan to publish a list of the biggest non-payers. Asked recently when the public could expect to see this list, Montoro replied that the government intends it
Cristobal Montoro: ‘List to be published soon.’
Spanish firms with a lot to sell DESPITE the crisis, Spain’s biggest companies are still included amongst 250 of the world’s biggest retailers. At their head is Mercadona, which was placed 42nd in the rankings of the 2015 Global Powers of Retailing report compiled by Deloitte and Stores magazine. The report analyses performance based on publicly available data for the 2013 fiscal year. To be eligible, each company must have an annual turnover of at least $3.8 billion (€3.22 billion). Mercadona retains the position it occupied last year but Inditex - in other words the Zara empire and the DIA supermarket
chain have both moved up places. Inditex is now ranked at 44 compared with 45 last year, while DIA moved from 73rd to 72nd position. El Corte Ingles lost four places in this year’s ranking, going down from 62 to 64, while Eroski dropped from 127th place to 136th. Of the five Spanish businesses on the Global Powers of Retailing report, only Inditex has consistently moved up in the rankings during the crisis years. This period has been less kind to El Corte Ingles, which was Spain’s biggest national retailer five years ago and occupied 39th position.
B
usiness extra
Job plans CARREFOUR ESPAÑA has 41,000 employees of whom 86 per cent are on permanent contracts. The supermarket chain plans to employ a further 3,000 workers this year, again on permanent contracts.
Wind project MEXICO’S government invited foreign investment for its energy reform and privatisation plans over the next four years. Spanish multinationals Iberdrola, Gamesa and Acciona will invest up to €7.6 billion in windfarms.
Poaching clients pays off LANDLINE, mobile, internet and television packages are revolutionising the communications sector. Proof of this are the figures for number portability where users transfer from one company to another while retaining their original number. Jazztel and Ono have been particularly adept at poaching from other providers and last year acquired more than two million clients this way,
although neither company owns its own mobile network. Ironically, the four operators who do possess their own networks - Movistar, Vodafone, Orange and Yoigo - lost more clients than they gained in 2014. By the end of last year, Jazztel gained 612,259 rivals’ clients, although this was a fall of 22.5 per cent compared to 2013. Ono acquired 462,570 clients, 21.9 per cent fewer than in 2013.
to appear “very soon.” Making known the names of tax dodgers was in line with cultivating the public perception that citizens should comply ‘faithfully’ with taxpaying obligations, he added. Hacienda is also working with the judiciary to make public the names of citizens found guilty of fraud, Montoro said.
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LONDON - FTSE 100
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US
C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 19
C O M PA N Y 3I Group Aberdeen AM Admiral Aggreko Anglo American Antofagasta ARM Holdings Ashtead Assoc. British Foods Astrazeneca Aviva Babcock BAE Systems Barclays Barratt BG Group BHP Billiton BP
PRICE(P) 435,75 411,70 1.466,50 1.575,00 1.093,75 694,50 998,25 1.040,50 3.118,50 4.742,50 509,75 1.025,00 489,20 226,50 426,20 849,20 1.381,25 411,08
CHANGE(P) -0,55 +3,80 +12,50 +35,00 -5,75 +3,50 +8,25 -4,50 +25,50 +27,50 +3,25 +17,00 +5,40 +2,15 +0,10 -3,30 -6,75 -2,28
% C H G. -0,13% +0,93% +0,86% +2,27% -0,52% +0,51% +0,83% -0,43% +0,82% +0,58% +0,64% +1,69% +1,12% +0,96% +0,02% -0,39% -0,49% -0,55%
NET VOLUME 55,48K 165,95K 50,29K 80,86K 398,74K 167,07K 116,83K 86,75K 32,39K 114,06K 931,78K 125,13K 387,33K 2,19M 59,72K 821,07K 514,50K 3,52M
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Units per €
US dollar ..................................................................1.15726 Japan yen..............................................................135.644 Switzerland franc ................................................1.0002 Denmark kroner................................................7.43460 Norway kroner ....................................................8.76719
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PRICE(P)
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G.
British Amrcn Tobacco British Land BT Group Bunzl Burberry Capita Carnival
3.569,75 802,50 415,05 1.863,00 1.671,50 1.078,50 3.016,50
-14,25 +2,50 +5,95 +10,00 +13,50 +7,50 +26,50
DOW JONES
NASDAQ
C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 19
C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 19
C O M PA N Y MMM 3M Co AXP American Express Co T AT&T Inc BA Boeing Co CAT Caterpillar Inc CVX Chevron Corp CSCO Cisco Systems Inc KO The Coca-Cola Co DIS Walt Disney Co DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc IBM International Business Machine... INTC Intel Corp JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co MCD McDonald's Corp MRK Merck & Co Inc MSFT Microsoft Corp NKE Nike Inc PFE Pfizer Inc PG Procter & Gamble Co TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc WMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc
PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 162.00 86.04 33.80 130.78 83.86 105.12 27.68 42.53 95.18 74.25 91.12 23.59 177.23 104.12 157.14 36.45 104.04 55.93 91.49 63.03 46.24 92.99 32.80 91.25 106.54 116.15 105.77 47.99 254.95 86.77
+2.34 +0.16 +0.54 +0.64 -0.46 +2.45 +0.27 +0.15 +0.83 +1.10 +2.16 +0.01 -1.26 +3.11 +2.57 +0.26 +1.55 +0.94 +0.11 +1.15 +0.76 +0.18 +0.40 +1.39 +2.33 +2.63 +1.31 +0.89 +1.82 -0.61
+1.47% +0.19% +1.62% +0.49% -0.55% +2.39% +0.99% +0.35% +0.88% +1.50% +2.43% +0.04% -0.71% +3.08% +1.66% +0.72% +1.51% +1.71% +0.12% +1.86% +1.67% +0.19% +1.23% +1.55% +2.24% +2.32% +1.25% +1.89% +0.72% -0.70%
2.3M 6.8M 37.5M 4.4M 10.4M 12.6M 26.7M 15.1M 6.1M 3.8M 17.7M 49.8M 5.1M 6.4M 5.8M 62.8M 14.1M 29.4M 6.9M 11.4M 35.7M 4.4M 23.9M 8.8M 2.1M 5.8M 6.0M 18.1M 2.8M 8.4M
1.30862
0.76416
C O M PA N Y
-0,40% +0,31% +1,45% +0,54% +0,81% +0,70% +0,89%
NET VOLUME 164,22K 88,86K 1,01M 32,74K 49,26K 51,18K 11,21K
PRICE
CHANGE NET / %
$ 27.66 $ 19.62 $ 6.72 $ 6.67 $ 26.90 $ 14 $ 20.20 $ 82.66 $ 5.99 $ 2.78 $ 50.14
9.29 ▲ 50.57% 5.13 ▲ 35.40% 1.25 ▲ 22.85% 0.90 ▲ 15.60% 3.60 ▲ 15.45% 1.87 ▲ 15.42% 2.55 ▲ 14.45% 10.24 ▲ 14.14% 0.70 ▲ 13.23% 0.3072 ▲ 12.42% 5.54 ▲ 12.42%
Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. $ 6.19 Cathay General Bancorp $ 5.5094 VelocityShares 3x Inverse Silver ETN $ 49.20 TESSCO Technologies Incorporated $ 24.01 Escalera Resources Co. $ 9.705 Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $ 12.21 Educational Development Corporation $ 4.40 NeuroDerm Ltd. $ 11.01 QAD Inc. $ 19.30 QAD Inc. $ 16 China Mobile Games and Ent Gr Limtd $ 17.54
4.14 ▼ 40.08% 1.0206 ▼ 15.63% 8.187 ▼ 14.27% 2.80 ▼ 10.44% 0.995 ▼ 9.30% 1.19 ▼ 8.88% 0.425 ▼ 8.81% 1.06 ▼ 8.78% 1.79 ▼ 8.49% 1.3601 ▼ 7.83% 1.49 ▼ 7.83%
Most Advanced Altisource Portfolio Solutions S.A. Courier Corporation E2open, Inc. Empire Resorts, Inc. VelocityShares 3x Long Silver ETN Flamel Technologies S.A. Depomed, Inc. Kite Pharma, Inc. Approach Resources Inc. Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. Juno Therapeutics, Inc.
Most Declined
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C O M PA N Y Centrica Coca Cola HBC AG Compass CRH Diageo Direct Line Dixons Carphone Easyjet Experian Fresnillo Friends Life Group G4S GKN Glaxosmithkline Glencore Xstrata Hammerson Hargreaves Lansdown HSBC IAG IMI Imperial Tobacco Intercontinental Hotels Intertek Intu Properties ITV Johnson Matthey Kingfisher Land Securities Legal&General Lloyds London Stock Exchge Marks&Spencer Meggitt Mondi Morrison National Grid Next Old Mutual Pearson Persimmon Petrofac Prudential Randgold RBS PLC Reckitt Benckiser Reed Elsevier Rio Tinto Rolls-Royce Royal Dutch Shell A Royal Dutch Shell B Royal Mail RSA Insurance Sabmiller Sage Group Sainsbury Schroders Severn Trent Shire SKY PLC Smith&Nephew Smiths Group Sports Direct SSE St James'S Place Standard Chartered Standard Life Taylor Wimpey Tesco Travis Perkins TUI AG Tullow Oil Unilever United Utilities Vodafone Group PLC Weir Group Whitbread Wolseley WPP
PRICE(P) CHANGE 266,15 +1,25 1.092,0 +15,0 1.102,00 +9,00 1.529,00 +21,00 1.899,75 +8,25 307,90 +2,40 434,20 +6,70 1.608,00 +8,00 1.141,00 -4,00 889,75 +5,25 384,40 +2,90 280,45 +0,95 361,25 +5,35 1.440,00 +9,00 253,00 +0,45 653,25 +3,75 933,50 -2,00 598,40 +4,40 493,05 +1,75 1.238,50 +6,50 2.922,50 +30,50 2.620,50 +19,50 2.344,00 -7,00 344,65 -0,35 221,60 +2,00 3.467,50 +16,50 322,30 +4,30 1.242,00 +8,00 252,15 +1,75 74,485 +0,045 2.267,00 +12,00 455,00 +0,90 509,50 +0,50 1.072,00 +9,00 193,15 +0,45 918,80 +1,90 6.862,50 +7,50 192,80 +1,10 1.236,50 +15,50 1.454,50 +5,50 615,75 +6,25 1.506,50 +7,00 5.385,00 -5,00 366,10 +3,10 5.407,50 +32,50 1.101,00 -1,00 2.856,50 -32,00 867,50 +6,50 2.102,25 -0,25 2.172,00 +4,50 429,50 -1,70 449,950 +2,150 3.399,50 +10,00 469,10 -0,10 259,25 +2,45 2.653,00 +20,00 2.138,00 +11,00 4.728,00 +29,00 920,75 +0,25 1.187,00 +11,00 1.094,00 +6,00 733,50 +8,50 1.498,50 +1,50 797,00 +7,50 908,80 +8,20 397,80 +3,80 125,15 +0,15 225,20 +6,15 1.823,50 +39,50 1.119,00 +5,00 368,30 +3,60 2.756,00 +9,00 967,00 +2,50 231,00 +3,20 1.680,50 -6,50 4.792,50 +23,50 3.637,00 +5,00 1.400,50 +15,50
% C H G. +0,47% +1,39% +0,82% +1,39% +0,44% +0,79% +1,57% +0,50% -0,35% +0,59% +0,76% +0,34% +1,50% +0,63% +0,18% +0,58% -0,21% +0,74% +0,36% +0,53% +1,05% +0,75% -0,30% -0,10% +0,91% +0,48% +1,35% +0,65% +0,70% +0,06% +0,53% +0,20% +0,10% +0,85% +0,23% +0,21% +0,11% +0,57% +1,27% +0,38% +1,03% +0,47% -0,09% +0,85% +0,60% -0,09% -1,11% +0,75% -0,01% +0,21% -0,39% +0,48% +0,30% -0,02% +0,95% +0,76% +0,52% +0,62% +0,03% +0,94% +0,55% +1,17% +0,10% +0,95% +0,91% +0,96% +0,12% +2,81% +2,21% +0,45% +0,99% +0,33% +0,26% +1,40% -0,39% +0,49% +0,14% +1,12%
VOLUME 439,16K 27,03K 113,55K 66,75K 270,10K 125,72K 299,29K 56,91K 176,53K 85,11K 495,67K 162,38K 139,40K 551,87K 3,40M 117,24K 148,30K 1,57M 363,31K 23,28K 180,43K 14,14K 33,67K 234,96K 444,08K 11,18K 510,82K 56,36K 536,48K 7,09M 14,21K 248,33K 102,47K 46,97K 544,25K 366,82K 24,41K 525,16K 132,91K 32,93K 94,41K 269,34K 73,30K 379,11K 92,98K 490,96K 604,38K 205,15K 333,16K 361,13K 52,02K 103,44K 154,53K 50,63K 343,21K 8,73K 28,06K 67,64K 235,68K 131,87K 16,61K 35,13K 148,46K 32,49K 423,45K 126,07K 1,78M 5,62M 76,56K 6,23K 740,92K 554,21K 44,48K 3,26M 28,36K 15,01K 26,88K 234,53K
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
EWN
29
Get ahead by thinking ahead THE scariest words a new boss or manager can say are: “There are going to be changes here.” Such fatal words causes employees to freak out. Don’t panic; many bosses refuse to embrace change too. I speak from experience. Very much technophobic, I resisted when, during the 1980s, my wife suggested I consider the pluses a PC had over a typewriter. Impressed, I went through the learning curve and bless the day she persuaded me to embrace change. Many businesses are held back by their owner’s reluctance to take advantage of change. I recall a managing director spelling out the
Talking shop Mike Walsh Mike Walsh was for 20 years Regional Assessment Manager for the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Britain’s biggest quality assurance body for businesses.
www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932
difference in American and British business attitudes. Previously Marketing Director of an American corporation, he explained: “In America, when a salesman suggests something new, an appointment is made and the proposal
considered. If the boss likes it, he acts decisively. If he doesn’t, he says no. “Here,” the executive told me, “the hardest bit is getting a boss to even see you.” A favourite cartoon depicts a sales rep trying to grab the attention of a medieval king directing a battle in which arrows are being exchanged. The salesman has on offer a Gatling machine gun and boxes of ammunition. A short burst would be a game changer. Alas, the king is too busy to see him. During the 80s, few retailers accepted plastic. I did and business improved by 40 per cent. Vainly I tried
to convince a retailer to follow my example. He was dismissive and soon afterwards his business collapsed. A nearby retailer, selling similar items, told me that 90 per cent of her business was done on credit or debit cards. It was the same when cash-points were first offered to retailers and petrol stations. A convenience store owner who had installed a cash-point told me that it made more money than the rest of the shop. Others couldn’t or wouldn’t see it. Now, years later, the same retailers caught on and they now swear by them. Businesses too are peer led.
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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
ADAM GREGOR
Let your natural soft skills do the talking Loose change A look at finance for females
Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com
GETTING a job these days is a tough thing to achieve. And even more so if you feel that your CV doesn’t scream, “hire me.” Maybe you’ve been out of work for a few years while raising a family. Maybe you never went to university and don’t have fancy titles or qualifications to put down on paper, or perhaps you just weren’t very good at school. But this doesn’t mean that you don’t have skills and aren’t worth hiring. So how do you jazz up your CV to let employers know that you are a good choice? According to business experts, degrees and qualifications aren’t the only
employers are looking for. Personal skills such as ‘good communication,’ ‘organisation,’ ‘time management,’ ‘being a team player’ or ‘having leadership tendencies’ are just as essential within a work setting as are qualifications.
The more skills you possess, the more employable you will become
POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES: It’s not just qualifications that count. things that employers look for, so you shouldn’t be scared away from applying for positions. Of course, a university
degree or experience is great on a CV, but if you lack these things, then just fill the gaps with real skills that real
A lot of potential employees look great on paper, with excellent degrees, but when you ask them to communicate, they really struggle. While some workers are promoted because they are technically competent, but this doesn’t automatically mean they have the skills to engage and motivate a team. Therefore, it’s important to remember that academic skills and soft
Exactly who pays to fix the pipe? Q. Under the Horizontal Law, do the gardens of the townhouses within the Community belong to the owners of each property or to the Community which allows the owners the right to use them as their private land ? In the case of a damaged water pipe or electric line feeding the property, is the owner responsible for the
repair or the Community? I should think that the Community is responsible for the services from the central meter position to the point of entry to the property. Perhaps different insurance companies hold differing views on this. R.B. (Costa Blanca)
You and the Law in Spain By David Searl
A. First, you are correct to point out that the gardens are in fact the property of the Community, which assigns the exclusive use to each owner. It is the same for terraces. All those apartment terraces do not really belong to the apartment owners. The completely private property ends at the exterior wall of the structure. The basic legal doctrine for electric, water or gas services is that from the main line to the meter, the company is responsible for maintenance and repair. From the meter into the consumer’s property, the owner is responsible. Now you suppose that, if the Community is the real owner of this pipe, they must be
responsible for its upkeep. But no, the Spanish courts have routinely ruled that ‘exclusive use’ means the individual
owner is obligated to pay to fix the broken line from the meter to his property. And, yes, in those Communities where the meters for water or electricity are grouped in a central location, this means long pipelines to each individual flat or house. This makes it easy for the meterreaders, but increases the owner’s risk. In real life, if you had followed us closely over the last few months, you would have seen differing outcomes, just as you suggest. In one case, the Community accepted responsibility with no problem. They paid for the repair. However, in another case, the owner had to pay. There are two steps you can take. You can propose to the Community at the AGM that they install individual meters at the entrance to each property, or that they formally accept responsibility for the maintenance. You can also make sure your insurance will cover you.
Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.
skills are as important as each other, so highlight yours. If you lack actual working experience, then demonstrate how in your day-to-day life you may have developed and gained skill-sets. Find examples and be able to talk about them with confidence. For example, a mother, wanting to go back to work, could illustrate how juggling three kids and running a home has equipped her with Bondlike multi-tasking abilities, and patience. And finally, to make yourself more employable, brush up on computer skills to show that you really understand spreadsheets and how to produce a killer presentation. Stay informed about your chosen profession. Organise some impressive references from former employers or teachers, and learn some new skills. The more skills you possess, the more employable you will become.
BUSINESS EXTRA
Too cheap OLIVE oil sector trade union UPA accused supermarkets of selling the product as a loss-leader. They charge a few cents over €3 for a litre of extra virgin oil which costs that much to produce while three and five-litre carafes work out at an unrealistic €2.64 a litre, UPA lamented.
Money back A MADRID court ordered Barclays to pay €330,030 compensation plus €3,424 commission to a married couple, both pensioners, who were mis-sold structured bonds. Although this was done without criminal or fraudulent intent, the couple, who were uninformed countrypeople, were not adequately warned of the financial risks involved, a judge ruled.
Come fly with me CENTRAL AMERICAN countries hope to persuade Iberia to open or renew routes from Spain. These include Honduras, which has not had a direct link with Spain since 2000, as well as Montevideo (Uruguay) or Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) which hopes to recover routes lost during Iberia’s restructuring and redundancies of 2013.
OPINION & COMMENT
Yes please, Mr Darcy, a bit of romance for me I READ with interest and dismay Colin Bird’s disrespectful article about Jane Austen. She wrote in times when ladies were expected to behave themselves until marriage and men had to wait. Fluttering hearts and heaving bosoms, bonnets and handkerchiefs were not to be sniffed at. A gel who allowed more than a peck on the cheek was ruined and the man might be forced to marry her to preserve his own honour. So none of this “I’ll still respect you in the morning and of course you won’t get pregnant” business for Lizzie Bennett. I mean, look what happened to silly Lydia! There’s not a lady of my acquaintance who would not have a flutter on Mr Darcy so I can only presume that there’s an element of jealousy, Mr Bird. I ask in all seriousness, when did you last gallop across the moors on your trusty steed to rescue your princess from a soaking in a storm? So, yes, of course Jane’s novels have modern men huffing with frustration, but we gels like a bit of romance before surrendering to manly arms with a sigh of ecstasy. Having said that, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a man in wet keks... Suzanne Stokes (by email)
No vacancies BILL CAMPBELL’S letter needs a response. As a member of the EU we are not allowed to make a trade deal with China, never mind Australia. England (not the UK) has now overtaken Netherlands as the most densely-populated country in Europe. With the EU’s free movement of labour how can we ever invest sufficiently in public services with net immigration of 266,000 a year? What would be an acceptable limit to immigration for Bill Campbell? Half-a-million? A million? The EU is undemocratic, corrupt and staffed by failed
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Letters YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
22 - 28 January 2015/ Costa de Almería
T
our aRUST dvert isers
WE D
O!
Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10, P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29631 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887
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THE photo of this little egret was taken at Villaricos beach by David Elliott-Binns.
Arboleas Birdwatching Group (Almeria)
national politicians. We must leave. Roger Page, Mojacar Playa (Almeria)
Gasman con TWO men presented themselves as representatives of a firm called Fenosa Gas Natural. They said they had to test all outlets and came into my kitchen where one man produced a meter to test them. He remained there, talking to me and getting lots of information: was I living alone, was this a holiday home or did I live here all year round? The other man said he was going to another house but in fact he was in my bedroom, ransacking it. He took all my money, plus he emptied my jewellery box. They insisted I get my passport to complete their forms and asked for €125 to pay for the inspection. I said I hadn’t got it and they suggested I go to the bank to withdraw it. I said this wasn’t possible and they said they would come back in two days to collect it. They now had sufficient information about my passport, my address and my signature for identity theft. They shook hands
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:
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and wished me a ‘Happy New Year.’ Readers, watch out for them. Jean Smith (by email)
Easy prey I WOULD like to warn drivers about parking their vehicles near or outside the Mercadona supermarket in Nueva Torrequebrada, Benalmadena Costa. I have been towed away from this location even though there are no yellow lines where I parked, no signs to say it is a restricted area and no indication that this is a tow-away zone. I am very annoyed that the authorities find it an easy location for making more money and preying on unsuspecting, law-
abiding road users. If they want us all to join the Padron so that more money is provided for the area, they should consider that this type of behaviour is not helping but only making us very angry. A formal warning under the windscreen wiper would sort this out without heavy fines being imposed for a first bewildering offence. Rob Turner (by email)
Cold comfort DEAR Mr Cameron, I’m addressing this to you and although I know you will never read it, it just makes me feel better. I am an expat living in Spain but you are probably not aware or even care that winters here can get very cold. Have you ever been here in winter? No, thought not. Homes are built to be cool, not warm, and the heating for my home is a Butano gas fire. This time of year one canister lasts around 10 days and my heating allowance paid for these. Not only do we have the least generous state pension in Europe which, I might add, I have paid into all my working life, but now you have stolen £200 off me.
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Was it to pay for that lady’s 12th child or to help pay for the wedding of the couple too fat to work? But of course expats don’t have a vote, do we? Bob Heaven (ex-Tory) Busot (Alicante)
Weeded out VOLUNTEERS of La Mata began a project of removing invasive plants in 2011. When we cleared an area in Torreta 3, each plant had to be dug out individually by hand and the debris put into plastic bags and disposed of in a specific place so as not to spread the seeds or roots. What the town hall appears to have done in the Mi Sol area is tear over the ground willy-nilly with a machine, leaving all the debris where it fell, an excellent way to spread the invasive plants even further. We, the Volunteers of La Mata, have an ongoing project of replanting the cleared areas, as well as our normal job of vigilance with regard to dogs off leads, rubbish etc, and are supposed to be helping in the Torreta 3 project. It would be nice if the media could be made aware of the fact that a small group of expats has been working for 12 years to look after this national park. Jenny Dodd (by email)
Life sentences ANYBODY know where Mark Chapman is, the convicted murderer who killed John Lennon in New York 34 years ago last December? Answer: in the ‘slammer’ where he’ll most likely spend the rest of his life. Some individuals should be kept off the streets for everyone else’s safety. Even Chapman didn’t murder 24 innocent victims, as did Ines del Rio here in Spain. However, due to a ridiculously unjust edict recently proclaimed by Strasbourg (the Parot Doctrine), Spain has been compelled to release Del Río and other mass murderers. Its sovereignty and penal system of justice have been obliterated in one fell swoop! Richard M McBride, Benidorm (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.
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OPINION & COMMENT
jan kranendonk
RIP to the latest victims LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT
S
OME 30 years ago I warned that the next world conflict would be against Islam extremism. Naturally my views were brushed aside as another of ‘Leapy’s rants.’ I also forewarned if the authorities didn’t wake up to the threat it would be too late; because the enemy would be ensconced everywhere. Well, the authorities didn’t and the enemy is. In towns and cities all over the civilized world there are thousands of Islamic terrorist cells, planning and awaiting instructions to create mayhem and slaughter from within. If we had been infiltrated on this scale by the Nazis before the Second World War we would have been wiped out. I also see that prison ‘radicalisation’ is now (at last) becoming a worry. This was actually the situation which first alerted me to related problems that could ensue in the future. During my incarceration in ‘76, I observed at first hand the type of violent thugs and
ISLAM EXTREMISM: The authorities need to wake up to the threat. criminals that were being converted to Islam. Coupled with the almost fanatic following of the religion I had experienced from living in a Muslim country for eight years, the selection of these radical new converts somehow set off alarm bells. As far as I could see there were no pacifists or peaceful individuals being encouraged
to join these sects, just dangerous men with low intellect and most of them doing time for acts of violence. Unless there were dubious plans for the future of these men, it didn’t make any sense. So the old Leapers assumptions weren’t the senseless ravings of an old senile pop singer, but common sense deductions of a
number of situations as I interpreted them. And if I could see it, why couldn’t our highly remunerated security experts? I also find the reactions of the so called moderate Muslims a bit low key. One can only compare them to the German and Irish pacifists who voiced their dissent in shadowy cafés, with their names withheld and these days with their faces pixel’d out. To be taken seriously these people need to bury their fears and, if great numbers of them do indeed exist, rise up together. Jam the streets with thousands of Muslims decrying and condemning these vicious inhuman atrocities. Just see the support you get from the millions of your fellow human beings who believe in democracy and free speech - whatever their religious leanings. Somehow I fear that is not exactly the plot is it.? Well as far as I’m concerned, if you don’t condemn something, then you condone it. May all those killed in these latest atrocities RIP. I rather put my money on you inhabiting the halls of paradise than those who put you there. ‘Je Suis Charlie.’ Keep the faith. Love Leapy. leapylee2002@gmail.com
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Thursday BBC ONE 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Room 101 9:30pm EastEnders 10:00pm Death in Paradise 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Question Time 12:35am This Week
BBC TWO 3:00pm World Indoor Bowls Championships 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Winterwatch 10:00pm Winterwatch 10:30pm Surviving the Holocaust Freddie Knoller's War 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am The Super-Rich and Us
ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm The Kyle Files 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Birds of a Feather 10:00pm Bring Back Borstal 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Late Debate 12:10am Kids Behind Bars
CH4 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Location, Location, Location 10:00pm Cucumber 11:00pm Josie: The Most Hated Woman in Britain? 12:00am 24 Hours in Police Custody
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 9:00pm Benefits: Can't Work, Won't Work 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Botched Up Bodies 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm David Attenborough's Galapagos 10:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 11:00pm Ascension 12:25am An Idiot Abroad
Friday BBC ONE 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Match of the Day Live 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:20am Bluestone 42
BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Food and Drink 10:00pm The Big Allotment Challenge 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am Albatross
ITV 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Tipping Point 5:00pm Mel and Sue 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Martin Lewis Money Show 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Knocked Up 2:00am Jackpot247
CH4 3:10pm A Place in the Sun 4:10pm Countdown 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 9:00pm Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast 10:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 11:00pm The Last Leg 12:05am Catastrophe
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Race to the Pole 9:00pm Ice Road Truckers 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 12:30am Celebrity Big Brother
SKY1 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Show Me Your Garden 10:00pm Ascension 11:40pm Fortitude: Behind the Scenes 12:10am Deep Blue Sea
Saturday BBC ONE 4:00pm Escape to the Continent 5:00pm Final Score 6:20pm Pointless 7:10pm BBC News 7:20pm Regional News 7:25pm Weather 7:30pm Now You See It 8:00pm The Voice UK 9:25pm The National Lottery 10:15pm Casualty 11:05pm BBC News 11:20pm Weather 11:25pm Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights 12:55am The Football League Show
BBC TWO 3:30pm Bowls 5:30pm Somerset: After the Floods 6:30pm Flog It! 7:30pm Porridge 8:00pm The Two Ronnies Sketchbook 8:30pm The Many Faces of Ronnie Barker 9:30pm The Two Ronnies 10:00pm Holbein: Eye of the Tudors A Culture Show Special 11:00pm The Artist 12:35am Bowls Coverage of the latest bowls fixture.
ITV 3:05pm Who's Doing the Dishes? 4:05pm Doc Martin 5:05pm Big Star's Little Star 6:05pm Local News and Weather 6:15pm ITV News and Weather 6:30pm You've Been Framed! 7:30pm Planets Got Talent 8:00pm Stars in Their Eyes 9:05pm Take Me Out 10:20pm The Jonathan Ross Show 11:20pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 1:30am Jackpot 247
CH4 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm Channel 4 News 7:30pm The Restoration Man 8:30pm Guy Martin's Spitfire 10:00pm Holocaust: Night Will Fall 11:20pm Unstoppable 1:10am The Departed
CH5 4:25pm Columbo: Murder Under Glass 6:00pm Columbo: A Matter of Honor 7:25pm Elvis by the Presleys 9:05pm Elvis - The 1968 Comeback Special 10:05pm 5 News 10:15pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:15pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 12:15am Law and Order
SKY1 4:00pm Greggs: More Than Meats the Pie 5:00pm Emergency Animal Rescue 5:30pm Last Man Standing 6:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 7:00pm The Fanatics 8:00pm Show Me Your Garden 9:00pm A League of Their Own 10:00pm Deep Blue Sea 12:05am A League of Their Own
TV LISTING
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Sunday BBC ONE 5:05pm Escape to the Country 5:35pm Songs of Praise 6:10pm Nature's Boldest Thieves 7:00pm BBC News 7:20pm Regional News 7:25pm Weather 7:30pm Countryfile 8:30pm Still Open All Hours 9:00pm Call the Midwife 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm BBC News 11:20pm Regional News 11:25pm Weather 11:30pm Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights 12:30am The Apprentice USA
BBC TWO 3:30pm Bowls 6:15pm Ski Sunday 7:00pm Real Steel 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Dragons' Den 11:00pm Shadow Dancer 12:35am Billionaire's Paradise: Inside Necker Island 1:35am Countryfile News and stories concerning the heart of the British countryside. 2:30am Holby City
ITV 3:20pm Midsomer Murders 5:15pm The Man with the Golden Gun 7:35pm Local News and Weather 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Get You Act Together 9:15pm All Star Family Fortunes 10:00pm Mr Selfridge 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:20pm Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain 12:20am The Undriveables
CH4 3:25pm The Simpsons 3:55pm The Simpsons 4:30pm Maid in Manhattan 6:35pm Channel 4 News 7:00pm A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 8:00pm Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 9:00pm The Hotel 10:00pm Walking the Nile 11:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 12:05am Evil Dead 1:55am The Last Leg
CH5 4:20pm Cheaper by the Dozen 2 6:05pm Zookeeper 8:00pm Bulletproof Monk 9:55pm 5 News 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm The Darkest Hour 12:45am Cats Do the Funniest Things
SKY1 5:00pm Emergency with Angela Griffin 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Futurama 8:00pm Modern Family 8:30pm Modern Family 9:00pm Fortitude: Behind the Scenes 9:30pm Futurama 10:00pm Futurama 10:30pm Karl Pilkington: The Moaning of Life 11:30pm Show Me Your Garden 12:30am NCIS: Los Angeles
Monday BBC ONE 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Inside Out 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Panorama 10:00pm Silent Witness 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm Waterloo Road 12:40am The Graham Norton Show
BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Top Gear 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Only Connect 10:00pm David Starkey's Magna Carta 11:00pm Backchat with Jack Whitehall and His Dad 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Holocaust: Freddie Knoller's War
ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Richard Wilson on the Road 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Broadchurch 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Jonathan Ross Show 12:45am The Kyle Files
CH4 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 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm Food Unwrapped 10:00pm The Undateables 11:00pm Catastrophe 11:35pm Bodyshockers 12:35am 24 Hours in A and E
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Criminals: Caught on Camera 8:30pm Car Crash TV 9:00pm Storage: Flog the Lot! 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Got Hitched, Got Ditched 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Holidaymakers 10:00pm 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy 11:00pm Air Ambulance ER 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles
Tuesday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Silent Witness 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm Count Arthur Strong 12:15am Film 2015
BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Holocaust Memorial Day 9:00pm Alex Polizzi: The Fixer 10:00pm Touched by Auschwitz 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather
ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm River Monsters 9:00pm Bad Builders Bang to Rights 10:00pm Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm On Assignment 12:10am Benidorm
CH4 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 10:00pm 24 Hours in Police Custody 11:00pm Ramsay's Hotel Hell 11:55pm Josie: The Most Hated Woman in Britain? 12:55am Pokerstars.Com and Monte-Carlo Casino EPT Grand Final
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Benefits: Can't Work, Won't Work 9:00pm Costa Del Casualty 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Britain's Flashiest Families 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 4:00pm Inside RAF Brize Norton 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm Air Ambulance ER 11:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles
Wednesday BBC ONE 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm Pets - Wild at Heart 10:00pm Churchill 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm The Holocaust: A Story of Remembrance 12:15am The League Cup Show
BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm The Great British Sewing Bee 10:00pm Wolf Hall 11:00pm Up the Women 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather
ITV 5:00pm Mel and Sue 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Midsomer Murders 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Bring Back Borstal 12:40am I Never Knew That About Britain
CH4 4:10pm Countdown 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 9:00pm The Restoration Man 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Bodyshockers 12:00am The Undateables
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Cowboy Builders 9:00pm North Pole Ice Airport 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Age Gap Love 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side
SKY1 4:00pm Inside RAF Brize Norton 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Fanatics 10:00pm 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy 11:00pm Karl Pilkington: The Moaning of Life 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 1:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00am Hawaii Five-0 3:00am Hawaii Five-0 4:00am Road Wars
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OPINION & COMMENT
Ric Polansky Ric Polansky moved to Mojacar in 1969 as a pioneer developer. He reads extensively and has travelled in South America panning gold and looking for El Dorado.
W
E waited an hour. I stood outside with buoyant anticipation but no one came. I started getting jumpy and returned to that most cherished spot on the planet wherein some English had been mumbled. Before I could utter a word, she spoke: “He lives in Mojacar,” the rent-a-car goddess blurted. “It isn’t far. About an hour and a half. The paved road takes you directly there.” I could have kissed her for such welcome news. I started to show her my driver’s licence and she said she’d put the bill on my
Jared eberhardt/flickr
Not looking back - whatever the consequences! (Part Two) LOOKING BACK IN MOJACAR brother for not picking us up. Damn, things were really breaking better! She then walked me out to a car so small I thought it was a sadistic joke played upon tourists. But, when she handed me the keys it all became real. We put our luggage and baby in and off we whizzed into the most barren landscape I had ever seen. Karen finally broke the
THE OPEN ROAD: Lost, but pressing on for MO-JAWKAR.
silence: “My God, how do these people survive? What do they eat or grow? There is nothing here but sand, rocks bushes and cactus.” A bleak summarisation that equalled my mutual but secret sentiment. But, I couldn’t agree without letting down my guard. After all, I was leading the charge. She was right, we were far from home, far from Iowa’s rolling, verdant landscapes. The future indeed appeared bleak.
Crossing my first riverbed I went wrong, driving directly opposite to the other side. There was a dirt and gravel pathway leading in the direction of the hills we had been travelling. I was supposed to know that once in the riverbed you had to turn right and drive down it for about a mile, then turn left and you’d be back on the asphalt. But, my mind hadn’t learned the art of Spanish premonition (something
I haven’t yet conquered following 47 years of failed attempts). Now, I was lost in low hills and steadily climbing. Using my Boy Scout knowledge, I searched for the road most trodden, assuming it would lead me somewhere. But, the higher we climbed the fewer adobe farmhouses appeared. People would rush out waving their arms to either bid us off or welcome. Damn peasants, none of them knew where MOJAW-KAR was. The wife gave me that stare again. So, I bolted onward with a cavalier attitude. Studying the worn paths for my best options I could only find hoofprints and not tyre marks. The higher up I continued the darker the residents became, sunburnt to a deep brown earthen colour and poorly clothed. Not one had heard of MO-JAW-KAR. (No wonder it wasn’t on the maps!)
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FEATURE
A big thank you
EW
Co m N C m Ne o u ig h b rn ni ou e ty
r
rh THE 11 recycled teenagers, plus two preoo teenagers who sang carols at Arboleas and Las d Llanos market in December raised a total of €400 for Ne Children in Need in Arboleas. w The funds were recently presented to Cecelia at the Arboleas s Chemist. The money was spent on Christmas presents for the underprivileged children of Arboleas, many of whom may have ended up with nothing. Now the singers are sending a big thank you to everyone who donated for the worthwhile cause.
BIKE RIDE: Cyclists will take part in a fun ride to raise cash for charity.
Wheels to help cats and dogs CYCLISTS will be putting their best wheel forward in a fun ride to raise cash for an animal charity. The San Animal bike ride is being held on Sunday, February 1 to collect money for the animal sanctuary.
There is a place for people of all levels of fitness with two different rides planned. The first, for ‘enthusiasts,’ is a 60 kilometre trip starting at 10.30am from the San Juan de los Terreros pine wood picnic area. An hour later the family ride will start - a more leisurely 15 kilometre journey. THE Royal British Legion (RBL) in Mojacar is A €4 donation from each part of one of the UK’s leading armed forces participant is asked for to go into charities. the charity’s coffers. It gives the chance to members to get As part of the event there will together to not just take part in fundraising be a car boot/table top sale from and welfare activities, but to also be part of a 11am with bric-a-brac, jewellery vibrant social scene. and handmade gifts for sale. The Mojacar branch meets at 11am on the There is no fee for sellers, but a first and third Thursday of each month, with donation would be welcome. the second being the more informal meeting. There will also be a barbecue Membership is open to everyone, not just and drinks available. For more information call Peter ex-members of the armed forces, as long as on 630 528 464 or email they have an interest in or share the objectives of the RBL. They help those who have served pete@sananimal.org. their countries as well as their San Animal is a charity set up families. For details email to look after abandoned cats and Membership Secretary dogs in the Aguilas, Lorca and Marion Gunther: surrounding areas. paulmarion@ More information on the live.co.uk. sanctuary: www.sananimal.org.
RBL is open to all
editorial@euroweeklynews.com
22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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OPINION & COMMENT
Copyright Featureflash
Something in my eye, but not stars! Colin Bird Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-the-wall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.
I
am not a television critic, but I find myself constantly whinging about recent offerings on the box. It’s not that my eyes are wide screen HD ready jobs, but on the occasions I do sit down and watch a bit of telly, there seems to be something showing that raises my hackles or has me slopping my beer in exasperation. Now once again I am itching to comment on something that was broadcast last week - the new series of Stars in Their Eyes. To be precise, Harry Hill’s Stars in Their Eyes - or as it turned out: The Harry Hill Show. Perhaps we are sad people, but we were looking forward to this and we remember the Matthew Kelly days with fondness. There were always a few good acts amongst the
HARRY HILL: Has tweaked the format without success.
mediocre - one or two brilliant enough to go on and secure long runs at some of the better known pubs. Any new series should start off with a bang, but if this first crop of acts is anything to go by, future Saturday nights will be reduced to an evening of karaoke wannabes playing supporting roles to Harry and the smoke. I realise this is not supposed to be a look-alike contest, but I would have thought that more effort could have gone into making this bunch a little more like their idols. The Everly Brothers were a bloke and his missus for goodness sake - it was all a bit creepy and they reminded me of the Kray twins on wacky baccy. And I hope Kylie was not watching, because the lady who aspired to perform like the Ozzie sex bomb, had about as much movement as a pound note in Scrooge’s wallet. Harry Hill - with his trademark windbreaker collars, brothel
creeper shoes and squint - has been an obvious success. His weird take on life and witty voice overs in You’ve Been Framed are well known. But when he was approached to host the new Stars in Their Eyes, he made it a condition that he be allowed to ‘tweak’ the format. And there’s the problem. People like little Ant and miniature Dec have stood the test of time, because they have deftly slipped into each new project whilst cleverly retaining their own distinct identity. Harry on the other hand has adapted a tried and tested format to revolve entirely around him and his brand of slapstick humour, which, in my ‘umble opinion, is totally misplaced here, and has resulted in a car crash of a programme. The second show will now have been screened and I suspect that like before, I will have hidden my face in embarrassment, carefully avoiding slopping my beer this time.
E W N 22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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Gone Girl Gone Girl tells the story of Nick Dunne, who on his fifth wedding anniversary reports that his beautiful wife Amy has gone missing. Under pressure from investigating police officers and with rapidly growing media interest in the case, Nick’s tale of a loving, blissful union begins to crumble. Soon, Nick’s increasingly bizarre behaviour and his lies and deceits soon have everybody asking the same question: did Nick Dunne kill his own wife? Directed by David Fincher and starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike and Neil Patrick Harris. Run time 149 minutes. Rated R.
TODAY
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PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Time is precious this week because you are in demand. A chance lost in the past presents itself again but won’t be too easy. Holding back just a little makes you more desirable.
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Fri Sat Sun -
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18 7 S 18 7 S 15 4 S
tars
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Although energy is not high, there is the need to have some kind of challenge. With the brain active, it is an ideal time to plot and plan your next moves.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) With a mind as sharp as a needle, you spin through the week, weaving your own charming spell. A bit of extra confidence works wonders for your mood.
6-Star Quiz
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Being over-generous with cash midweek could see you making a poor move. Perhaps someone needs to be more hardworking or perhaps less of a spendthrift.
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) The imagination stirs and the heart races at a suggestion this week. Your strong intuition tells you it is the right thing to do.
LIBRA
Sudoku
(September 24 October 23) A suggestion made by you recently did not seem to be taken seriously. This week, however, negotiations could be opened. SCORPIO (October 24 November 22) Confidence in a close relationship should be maintained. Possibly someone who envies your position would like to see discord.
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.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 December 21) An emotional cut-off from the past is not as bad as anticipated. Indeed, it confirms in your mind who you are and what your place in the world is. CAPRICORN (December 22 January 20) An investment made recently is built upon and brings peace of mind. Finances do need consideration but more in the long than the short-term.
Mon - 15 4 C Tues - 16 7 S Wed - 17 7 Cl
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
UK THUNDERBALL
IRISH LOTTO
EURO MILLIONS
Saturday January 17
Saturday January 17
Saturday January 17
Friday January 16
37
42
46
47
49
5
10 28
25 38
8
13
22
23
43
45
BONUS BALL
THUNDERBALL
BONUS BALL
4
8
33
29
30 34
46
6
LA PRIMITIVA
13 6 S 16 6 S 14 6 S
CLOUDY
Fri Sat Sun -
16 8 S 18 8 S 16 6 C
Fri Sat Sun -
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MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
Mon - 16 7 C Tues - 14 8 C Wed - 16 8 Cl
13 2 C 12 2 Cl 10 -1 Cl
MAX MIN
Mon - 10 1 S Tues - 12 3 Cl Wed - 12 2 Cl
Murcia
MAX MIN
S Sun,
MAX MIN
Mon - 16 7 C Tues - 17 8 S Wed - 18 8 Cl
Madrid
SHOWERS MAX 12C, MIN 3C 14 5 Cl 16 6 Cl 13 5 C
17 7 Cl 19 7 S 16 5 S
TODAY:
MAX 15C, MIN 11C
Mallorca Fri Sat Sun -
CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 9C MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Mon - 13 7 S Tues - 14 7 S Wed - 14 7 C
MAX MIN
TODAY:
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Mon - 16 7 Cl Tues - 14 8 S Wed - 16 9 S
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Malaga TODAY:
17 8 S 18 8 S 16 7 S
TODAY:
CLOUDY MAX 13C, MIN 6C
TODAY:
MAX MIN
Mon - 14 6 C Tues - 15 7 Cl Wed - 16 7 C Cl Clear,
CLEAR MAX 18C, MIN 9C MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun Fog,
Sn Snow,
MAX MIN
19 8 Cl 19 8 S 16 3 S
Mon - 16 4 Cl Tues - 18 5 S Wed - 19 6 Cl
C Cloud,
Sh Showers,
Th Thunder
Nonagram 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 M) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.
TARGET:
Average: 18
Very good: 33
Good: 23
Excellent: 40
arvo, aver, derv, deva, dove, even, ever, nave, neve, nova, oven, over, rave, rove, uvea, vane, veer, vend, drove, evade, nerve, never, novae, raved, raven, reave, revue, roved, vaned, venue, avenue, devour, evader, nerved, oeuvre, vender, vendor, overdue, ravened, endeavour, ENDEAVOUR
13
20
22
29
30
48
REINTEGRO 4
8
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA
SNAP
Sunday January 18
Saturday January 17
32
LUCKY STARS 3
Fri Sat Sun -
MAX 16C, MIN 11C
Word Ladder
LOTTERY 29
Fri Sat Sun -
CLEAR MAX MIN
Barcelona TODAY:
LEO (July 24 - August 23) Reading the small print or being sure what is offered in a personal encounter is most important this week. Leave nothing to chance or you could be out of pocket.
Y S our
TODAY:
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MAX MIN
ARIES (March 21 - April 20) After a relaxed weekend, it might prove difficult to take up the reins of work again. However, midweek sees you trotting along happily and minding your own business when someone stops you in your tracks.
Origins of famous company names: 1. The name of which German multinational lighting manufacturer is derived from the words for ‘osmium’ and ‘tungsten’? 2. What name for a member of a race of brutes resembling men in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, was chosen by its founders as the name of their widely-used web search engine? 3. Which American global coffee company and coffeehouse chain is named after the chief mate on the whaling-ship Pequod in Herman Melville’s 1851 novel Moby-Dick? 4. Which American multinational corporation whose products include athletic footwear, sport equipment and other athletic and recreational products is named for the Greek goddess of victory? 5. Which British-based supermarket chain was founded as Associated Dairies and Farm Stores Ltd in 1949? 6. Which early web search engine took its name from the Spanish for ‘high view’?
Alicante TODAY:
22
30 34
Move from the start word (SNAP) to the end word (BACK) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.
32 42
REINTEGRO 8
BACK
SOCK SACK BACK
AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) You realise this week how liberating it is to share your thoughts and feelings with someone close. It is not always easy to do this, until you realise everyone has them.
WHERE DID THEY GET THAT NAME FROM?
T
isers
SNAP SOAP SOAK
46
1. OSRAM (OSram and wolfRAM), 2. YAHOO, 3. STARBUCKS, 4. NIKE, 5. ASDA (ASsociated DAiries), 6. ALTAVISTA
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Crosswords
22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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Cryptic
Quick
Across 1 Extreme to cut off Spain (6) 4 Cabinet near the opening (6) 8 Bill free of bitterness? (5) 10 Destroy copse area (5) 11 Upstanding characters from Crete (5) 12 Polish hens I replaced (5) 13 Snare criminal and get warrants (5) 14 Craftsman pictured with mother and child? (5) 17 Has a role in contact sports (4) 19 Eccentric reveals change in America (4) 21 Lives on the French streets (5) 24 I’d point after British newly-wed (5) 25 A-list characters’ dogs (5) 27 Digs a poem about British capital (5) 28 In front of a leader (5) 29 Called oriental area (5) 30 Agent I find feeding (6) 31 Could end in bear’s whiskers (6) Down 1 Bird and water found in Wales (7) 2 Opera-lover did hold opera composer (5) 3 Buy back, but firstly register every detail, except extra money (6) 5 Attend silent composition (6) 6 Southern courage, without a whip (7)
7 Tense, confused youngsters (5) 9 Charges from coffee shop’s price list (4) 15 She’s an official prosecutor in the States (3) 16 Not in Bournemouth (3) 18 I’d plunged into river to find spear (7)
20 Streets confused the examiners (7) 21 The French port is dull (6) 22 Ammunition is worn out (4) 23 Schoolmaster needs to cover Tristram Shandy author (6) 24 Two prepare to take the strain (5) 26 In the middle of sinners (5)
Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 22 represents H and 26 represents Y, so fill in H every time the figure 22 appears and Y every time the figure 26 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 CRYPTIC Across: 1 Starter, 5 Sober, 8 Avocets, 9 Arras, 10 Event, 11 Sweater, 12 Shares, 14 Berate, 17 Amiable, 19 Stand, 22 Rears, 23 Terrace, 24 Dress, 25 Rodgers. Down: 1 Slate, 2 Atone, 3 Trestle, 4 Resist, 5 Stave, 6 Biretta, 7 Reserve, 12 Starred, 13 Agitate, 15 Ensured, 16 Heater, 18 Busts, 20 Aware, 21 Diets. QUICK Across: 1 Differ, 4 Defeat, 9 Shorten, 10 Turns, 11 Range, 12 Examine, 13 Unnecessary, 18 Arrived, 20 Apple, 22 Among, 23 Nothing, 24 Answer, 25 Writer. Down: 1 Desire, 2 Frown, 3 Extreme, 5 Extra, 6 Earlier, 7 Tastes, 8 Independent, 14 Nervous, 15 Scatter, 16 Banana, 17 Beggar, 19 Vague, 21 Point. ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Encontrar, 8 Igual, 9 Stain, 11 Seta, 12 Piso, 14 Paja, 16 Wrap, 19 Agree, 21 Ahora, 22 Centuries.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Down: 2 Nouns, 3 Owls, 4 Test, 5 Asa, 6 Limpiar, 7 Envasar, 10 Tap, 13 Owe, 15 Above, 17 Rent, 18 Pair, 20 Rie.
English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across 1 Caracol (5) 4 Sombra (zona sin sol) (5) 7 Margarina (9) 8 See 16 Down 10 Bacalao (3) 15 Alcachofa (9) 17 Half (5) 18 Discutir (5) Down 1 Room (in a house) (4) 2 Brazo (de persona) (3) 3 Parrot (4) 4 Cicatriz (4) 5 Friend (5) 6 Plano (llano) (4) 9 You (5) 11 Granja (4) 12 Leisure (4) 13 Mouth (4) 14 Hueso (4) 16/8 Huevera (3,3)
Hexagram The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter 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 (FACING) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues. AMBLED
FORCES
ARCHER
PALTRY
CANCEL
PLEASE
CHAINS
RIGOUR
CORONA
SAUCER
CRUISE
SHELLS
DEDUCE
SPLASH
FACING (10)
TITTER
FAVOUR
TROUGH
FIELDS
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Funagram Unscramble the name of a famous London landmark (two words): BIG WORD TREE FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: PULP FICTION, TOWER BRIDGE
Unscramble the name of a famous 1994 film (two words): FLIP INTO CUP
Across 1 Source of light (4) 4 Strange (8) 8 Rough (6) 9 More close (6) 10 Amusing quip (4) 11 Caught by surprise (8) 13 Small (6) 15 Tried out (6) 17 Arriving at (8) 20 Waste scraps of cloth (4) 21 Plan (6) 23 Modifies (6) 24 Functions (8) 25 Unwell (4) Down 2 Express regret for a fault (9) 3 Having no faults (7) 4 Exert a pushing force on (5) 5 Close interaction (7) 6 Smallest amount (5) 7 Consumed (3) 12 Lively (9) 14 Apparent (7) 16 Sharp piercing cries (7) 18 Shout of approval (5) 19 Destinations (5) 22 Flat, brimless hat (3)
1 United, 2 Winged, 3 Sounds, 4 Advice, 5 Notion, 6 Owners, 7 Wagons, 8 Reacts, 9 Warned, 10 Niches, 11 Meekly, 12 Massed, 13 Hammed, 14 Charms, 15 Greedy, 16 Stormy, 17 Dreams, 18 Slayer, 19 Regard
48
E W N 22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
PETS
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Important to follow rules when taking an adult dog
David THE Dogman
Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10 thru 11. Costa del Sol (Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fm (San Roque to Calahonda) 91.9fm (Calahonda to Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida 92.7fm Costa Blanca (Torrevieja to Elche) 105.1fm (Elche to Calpe) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia & Ibiza) 104.6fm, (Denia to Valencia) 95.3fm Mallorca 103.9fm
WHEN it comes to getting a family pet it is easy to fall in love with a puppy or kitten. It takes a special person to adopt an adult pet. But there are many advantages to rehoming a mature dog. One of those is knowing what you are getting. That adorable puppy may well grow into a huge adult dog and you can never be certain what disposition it will have. With a grown pet, what you see is what you get, but it is important to remember that what you might not see is your new
pet’s past. It has learned to live in an environment which may be very different to the one you can offer. That is why it is important to follow a few rules when helping an adult dog settle in. First things to show him are where he is to sleep, where fresh water is always available, and when and where he is to be fed. He will need to be taken outside at frequent intervals (every hour or two) so he can relieve himself as accidents can happen until the pet is settled in. If the dog does make a mess in the house firmly say ‘NO!’ and take him outside instantly. But it is important to catch the dog in the act as a few minutes later is too late as he won’t associate the reprimand with a past event. On the other hand praise
him every time he eliminates outside. You can expect some problems initially. Your pet doesn’t know you or what is expected of him. Plan to spend time with your new family member. They will appreciate
it and respond warmly. Long walks, play and just being together will make them feel happy and secure.
TIME TOGETHER: It takes a special person to adopt an adult dog.
Longing for the freedom to travel by Lamia HousesitMatch
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Walker
of
CALLY moved to Spain last year. She brought her King Charles Spaniels to live with her in retirement. But within a short time she found herself longing to travel. But what to do with the dogs?
She had heard about friends who had joined an online network to find sitters when they travelled and indeed to travel affordably themselves. She found a house-sitting and pet-sitting network which was pet-friendly. She came across an advert for a lady living near Paris, who was looking for a dog-sitter to care for her home
while she visited relatives in England. Cally registered as both a housesitter and as a homeowner to find sitters for herself. Then she sent a note to the homeowner in France. Paris in the spring is always a good idea. Download your Free Easy Guide to Housesitting www.bit.ly/eurown001
50
E W N 22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
F
OR Los Montesinos salon owner Chantelle Lambert, the super power she would most like to have, particularly at this time of year when everyone is trying to get fit and healthy, would be “to have the power to do an automatic detox.” She joked: “And the power to not suffer from any hangovers!” Dianne Kilner from 1 Stop Pool Shop in Albox, Almeria, would use her powers for good. “I wish I could predict the future,” she said. “I would want to be able to stop bad things from happening and save lives. Imagine what it would be like if we could have avoided the recent murders in Paris.” When asked what super power she would like to have, Jane O’Brian, who is Head Tutor at the Marbella Beauty
Dianne: Would like to predict the future.
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OPINION & COMMENT
What superpower would you most like to have?
STREET TALK Academy on the Costa Del Sol and who is known for being a fantastic teacher and mentor and for bringing a lot of fun into the lives of her students and colleagues, said: “I would like the super power to fly, to feel FREE like an eagle and to soar above the earth would be the most amazing thing in the world! How cool would that be?!” Stars in their Eyes contestant Emily Hullmann, from Quesada, said she would love to have the super power of being physic: “It would be really interesting and great to be able to read people’s minds and get an idea of what people are really like and what they are thinking.” She joked: “and the power to grow a money tree in my living room would be nice as well!” Michelle from Ace of Shades in Mijas,
the Costa Del Sol’s specialist in awnings, blinds, glass curtains, mosquito screens and home improvements said she would most like to fly! “How lovely it would be to go anywhere I chose to, whenever I wanted! To be able see anyone at any time would be amazing! I could pop back to the UK and see my grandchildren, although I would definitely need a jumper or a coat!” We agree! Brrrr! Emily: To grow a money tree.
Chantelle: To do an automatic detox.
Tony and Michelle: Ace of Shades - would most like to fly.
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E W N 22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
HEALTH & BEAUTY
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Most things in life dependent on your state of mind and heart Readers’ response
Erica Russell Watson:
Dear Erica I’m Spanish and a regular reader of EWN and I would like to say to Erica Russell how much I love her column ‘Health and Beauty’. It is the first page of the newspaper I read. I like the way she writes and her positive attitude about everything. How much good she does to everyone who reads it. She is an example to everybody in her situation. I pray for the complete cure of her illness and I wish her the very best for the New Year 2015. Alborada Laorden, Palma de Mallorca
My journey – and I’m driving
14th January THE Christmas tree and decorations have been taken down and it is time to think about the year ahead. Whilst I love Christmas, I also feel a sense of relief when the festive season is over. It’s like turning over a new leaf. I’m not one for making New Year resolutions, preferring to face the year ahead with optimism, clear the decks and start afresh. I have been feeling better than I did after my second chemo session because I have maintained a healthy appetite and even put on weight, but I have a bad chesty cough which I note has been harder to shift than normal. Before I became sick I would shake off any illness
Dear Alborada I was so thrilled to get your letter and very touched that you should take the time to write to me. Thank you for your kind words and good wishes. The very best for you and your loved ones for 2015. Warmest regards, Erica in the blink of an eye and have hardly ever taken medication in my life. However, I cannot risk my cough becoming more serious, so I have had to resort to antibiotics, which I dislike. My arm is very sore. The trauma of the operation is coming out as the sensation returns to parts of my right arm previously blissfully numb and ignorant! I move my arm but must not lift anything heavy. It
is quite hard when you have been a strong independent person disciplining yourself to do most things with the left arm or ask for help. I dislike the fact that racket sports appear to be off my list too. I will review that later on! It is all to do with preventing my arm from swelling up as I no longer have an operative lymphatic system on my right side.
I continue to receive many messages of love and support from all sorts of people. I am constantly asked how I feel psychologically. I remain the same as always, upbeat and positive. Sometimes I question it. Maybe I am not giving this cancer thing due deference? Well, too right I’m not! I disregard it. I understand that I am going through a treatment process, but it is just another
stepping stone and with time it will come and pass just like everything else in life. Physical pain is one thing, but emotional trauma is another ball game. If you can keep an even course and avoid confrontation, stress and sadness you will be better equipped to fight off anything. Most things in life are dependent on your state of mind and your heart. Keep head and heart strong and you will give yourself the best chance whether you are fighting an illness or otherwise. In two weeks I will be going in for round four of chemotherapy. My hair only fell out three weeks ago and it has already started to grow back, a very impressive fuzz I might add! Utterly incredible and saves a fortune on hairdressing and shampoo! Keep looking for those silver linings! I will sign off now as it is late and my body is telling me to go to bed… she who must be obeyed! If anyone wishes to write to me or ask any questions I am only too happy to help.
Wearable technology of interest to the health and beauty market WEARABLE technology is fast entering the mainstream, particularly in the areas of health and fitness. According to marketing consultants Mintel’s recent Healthy Lifestyles - UK, 2014 report, 31 per cent of UK adults are interested in using a smartwatch with
fitness functionality and 40 per cent are interested in wearable devices that track heart rate, blood pressure and movement. However, despite constant innovation in healthcare when it comes to wearable tech, the beauty category remains a fairly untapped market.
A skin-like medical device developed by researchers at the Northwestern University and University of Illinois could change this. The device uses wireless technology and thousands of tiny liquid crystals on a flexible substrate to sense changes in thermal properties of the skin.
The device stretches and compresses as the skin moves, making it ideal to wear during the day. As nearly two thirds (64 per cent) of UK consumers used some type of body care product in the last year and 54 per cent agree it is important to moisturise, this is key in the body care category.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
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22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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Putting a happy face on a serious disease
B
ECKY BAKER is a beautiful young woman living under a death sentence. The 30-year-old has cystic fibrosis - those afflicted with the genetic disease have an average life expectancy of 35 and knows the clock is ticking. The petite blonde has lost several friends to the disease in the past few months. Her own health has deteriorated to the extent she has to carry an oxygen supply around with her as her lungs are functioning at only 28 per cent of their capacity. She readily admits that being a CF sufferer is difficult, but her attitude to life and living with the disease is inspirational. Becky is making sure she lives life to the full; there is no sitting back and feeling sorry for herself. With a smile on her face
Dilip Kuner talks to a young woman who always has a smile on her face despite suffering from a rare disease…
BECKY BAKER: Her attitude to life is inspirational. Becky, who has lived in Spain since the age of 12, said: “I am a positive person. People with CF tend to be very sensitive and value every minute of life because they know it could be
taken away from them at any moment.” Now she wants to publicise the disease, for which there is as yet no cure, in a bid to help raise funds for research into it.
When she had to withdraw from a sponsored parachute jump for health reasons, she decided to do a para-trike microlight aircraft flight instead. This raised £1,000 for CF research. To that can be added the £2,000 she had previously raised by singing in gigs with her band. Becky’s latest plan to raise money for CF research - and in many ways one of her lifelong dreams - is to record her own CD. “It will have songs that mean something to CF sufferers, and will raise money for research,” she said.
Do you know someone who needs publicity to raise money for charity? Maybe it is someone who is working against the odds, who perhaps needs help themselves. Send your stories to editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
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E W N 22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
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Centro Physis: Don’t suffer any longer
BABIES: To receive three doses of pneumococcal vaccines.
Big step forward for vaccinations SPAIN’S National Health System Council has approved modifications of the vaccination calendar for children to include pneumococcal vaccines that protect against bacteria which can cause pneumonia and meningitis. Three doses of the vaccine will be given to babies during their first year, the first at the age of two months, another at four months and the final injection when they reach the age of one.
Health Minister Alfonso Alonso said that having a vaccination calendar is a big step forward. Vaccines against human papilloma virus to protect against cervical cancer have also been brought forward from the age of 14 to 12. The council approved regulations for a Rare Disease Register to improve investigation and assistance for the three million people in Spain that suffer from one of 7,000 uncommon illnesses.
Temperature contagion FEELING cold can be contagious as research says that just looking at somebody shivering is enough to make us feel cold. The study involved 36 participants each watching eight videos of actors putting their hands in either warm or cold water. As they watched, the temperature of their own hands was measured and the temperature dropped as they watched the cold videos. Temperatures did not change when they watched the hot videos.
ACCORDING to the US National Library of Medicine, 80 per cent of us suffer back pain at some point in our lives. However, even if we are one of the 80 per cent, we do not need to suffer. Centro Physis, headed up by Monica Algañaraz, is a specialist clinic for the treatment and prevention of back pain and related conditions. “When a vertebra is misaligned, the brain underperforms in its very important regenerative function, which can cause a lot of conditions,” said Monica. “We consider that prevention and treatment are equally important in our approach to back problems.” Monica, who has more than 40 years’ experience, is passionate about helping people with their pain, offering help and guidance to people with a range of bone-related pain conditions. “I treat a lot of conditions such as disc problems, bad posture, arthrosis, arthritis, repetitive strain injury, knee complaints, patients who have had a hip replacement, patients who have injuries as a result of accidents, etc,” said Monica. She has worked alongside traumatologists in Argentina and Madrid, now bringing an optimum level of care to patients at her centre in Valle del Este Golf Spa, Vera. When asked about her treatment, Monica explained: “My priority is pain and its treatment through painless
SPECIALIST: Monica Algañaraz is passionate about helping people with their pain.
physiotherapy and osteopathic techniques. I also help by reeducating the patient about their posture. Moreover, when the pain is reduced, I focus on side-effects and general wellbeing. For example, patients who suffer from back problems, after a few sessions may be surprised to find out that they are breathing better! Of course their posture has changed and their back has improved and even strengthened by my Micropostural® exercises after treatment.” Centro Physis is highly recommended for patients with sports
injuries of all sports and levels. Patients who have lost mobility are very welcome. Monica said: “The best satisfaction comes from patients who have reached the end of the road in conventional medicine and are overjoyed to be playing golf again!” Contact Monica today for an initial appointment to include a scan and physical examination. Centro Physis Tel: 695 355 381 Email: monica@centrophysis.net Address: Centro Comercial Valle del Este, Local 3. Valle del Este Vera Autovia A7 Salida 529
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Long hours can make you hit the bottle WORKING more than 48 hours a week leaves you more susceptible to becoming a heavy drinker. The European Working Time Directive gives people the right to work no more than 48 hours each week, including overtime and a new study has found that working over those hours can lead to ‘risky’ alcohol consumption. ‘Risky’ consumption is classed as more than 14 alcoholic drinks for women and 21 for men, raising a person’s risk of liver disease, cancer, stroke, coronary heart disease and mental health problems. The study was carried out by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, on the association between long working hours and alcohol use. Their study analysed 333,693 people across 14 countries and found that longer working hours increased the likelihood of higher alcohol use by 11 per cent. Researchers said no differences were seen between men and women or by age group, socioeconomic status or region.
22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
Children susceptible to Wi-fi radiation RADIATION: Children can absorb more from a source than adults.
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Tap away the trauma By Tess Hunneybell (Advanced AAMET Certified EFT Therapist) Move over Freud — energy therapies may be just as effective Maureen arrives for her appointment distraught; she has been so frightened of driving for the last two years after a stroke that her whole life has been organised around that fear. An hour later, she is hopeful and excited about driving, and a week later she comes back beaming, reporting that she has been driving all week, and feels wonderful. What happened during that hour? A gentle,
effective EFT Tapping session. Other stories tell of grinding panic, anxiety, fears, or chronic pain that go back to earlier trauma and may take several sessions to unravel. The sessions and stories are infinitely varied, but what is common to them all is the effective application of EFT Tapping. What is EFT Tapping? It is a body/mind selfhelp method, combining a gentle touch together with mindful attention to thoughts and feelings by tapping with our fingertips on acupressure
points on the face and body while concentrating upon a problem or issue we wish to resolve. EFT allows us to release and transform the way uncomfortable feelings like hurt, guilt, fear, or anger affect our experience. 10 MILLION TAPPING WORLDWIDE EVERY DAY Ten years ago Therese McGoldrick, a behavioural psychotherapist who works for the NHS, began using EFT with patients. Her team of seven have all undergone training and are convinced of its benefits. “It’s very effective where there’s been traumatic
Happy children more likely to become healthier adults HAPPY children are reported to go on to become healthier adults. A Finnish study found that children brought up in a loving home who do not go without and eat healthier foods, have better cardiovascular health in later life than deprived children. The study found participants with the most advantages in youth scored higher on an ideal cardiovascular health index in adulthood than those from an
EWN
unhappy or more deprived background. They had a 14 per cent greater chance of not being overweight and were 12 per cent more likely to be a non-smoker. The study involved 3,577 children aged from three to 18 and measured a number of indicators such as their socioeconomic status, emotional stability, parental behaviours, and stressful events.
experience. It also works well for grief, phobias... pain conditions. Because EFT works in a few sessions - sometimes only one - it’s very costeffective” and McGoldrick says that patients can be shown how to practise it at home. Singer Michael Ball was seen doing it on a daytime TV chat show. Lily Allen’s weight loss was attributed to its efficacy. American PGA players have been spotted doing it around the golf course. And Norwegian pole-vaulter Rens Blom credited his unexpected 2005 World Championship Gold to its powers. Claim your free 20-min EFT consultation with Tess or Kevin by calling 661 078 976, Mojacar Playa.
A CONTROVERSIAL study has called for parents to try and limit their offsprings’ exposure to Wi-fi over fears it could harm their health. The report, published in the Journal of Microscopy and Ultra-structure, claims children absorb more radiation from a source than adults. It warns foetuses are the most vulnerable of all, and researchers say mothers should not carry mobile phones in their clothing. A paediatric neurologist said that pregnant women deserve to know that wireless radiation can have an
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impact on the developing brain: “We’re seeing alarming increases in the number of children diagnosed with neurological disorders over the past decade, and anything we can do that might help reduce that rate should be taken very seriously.” Wi-fi signals use low intensity radio waves, similar in wavelength to domestic microwave radiation. The type of radiation emitted by radio waves (Wi-fi), visible light, microwaves and mobile phones has been shown to raise the temperature of tissue at very high levels of exposure and researchers are divided as to whether this daily radiation can cause damage.
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OPINION & COMMENT
Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.
I
recall having my arm twisted to accompany a companion to a working men’s social club in my old home city. I knew what to expect and I was still disappointed. Although I was no chicken, I simply didn’t relate to the ‘coffin-dodgers’ I found myself in the company of that evening. Though my companions would have been in their early or middle 60s, they were in most respects old men. Any zest for life had long departed; their getup-and-go had got-up-and-went. The table talk that evening was very much of their past and their invariably mundane working lives. Having not expected much of their lives they weren’t disappointed either.
Much of the chat that evening focused on the past lives of the sadly departed. “I hear old Ted has gone.” “Yes, Marge and I attended his funeral. It was Billy Jones the week before.” “Ah yes,” someone interrupted. “Billy! How old was he. I hear that Harold is very ill.” “Never, Horace too I believe. I don’t think he'll make it, poor devil.” I shared their age group. Had anyone thought to ask me what my future plans were my eyes would have shone with excited anticipation. Eagerly looking forward to retirement, I would soon burn my bridges, load my car and press the re-start button for my new life in Mediterranean Spain. I knew exactly what I wanted: With a glass of wine and a beautiful woman close to hand I could scribble away to my heart’s content. Seven years later I am living my dream. Me and my pacemaker, my cardiologist says,
Copyright Robert Kneschke
You only live twice, so enjoy it
SENIOR CITIZENS: Many are full of the joys of spring. are good for another 30 years at least. Had I that evening asked my companions what they had planned for the future they would have been incredulous. These
‘elderly’ men were resigned to their no longer having a future. Like old diary pages their future was all used up. That evening I looked balefully at a 1953 faded photograph of Her Maj’ hanging
on the smoke-stained social club’s walls. I then looked despairingly at my watch. Now, as I plan my years ahead, so too do many in my circle of Costa friends. Many are older than me, yet their zest for life would put to shame a teenager. I recall a gentleman in his 80s calling me to discuss his biography. As we chatted he told me he managed a golfing club and looked after ‘old folks’ gardens. “Maybe you should consider retiring,” I smiled. “I can’t do that,” he chortled. “I have a wife and 14-year-old daughter to support.” Recently when dining out my elderly companions were full of the joys of spring. “Your parents are enjoying themselves,” a fellow diner smiled. Not many say such things to you when you are picking up your pension. It seems to me that life has little to do with numbers on birth certificates, but more on good health and a positive perspective.
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OPINION & COMMENT
Game of Thrones (partly filmed in Spain): Sky Atlantic reveals season 5 start date JB Gill, Made in Chelsea’s Louise Thompson, socialite Lady Victoria Hervey, Heather Mills and Stacey Solomon will also take part in the new series. The Jump returns to Channel 4 in early 2015.
Richard Shanley
DISHING THE DIRT OF EUROPA DIGITAL
SKY ATLANTIC has announced a return date for Game of Thrones. The fifth season of HBO’s epic fantasy drama will launch on Monday, April 13 at 10pm (CET). HBO confirmed that Game of Thrones will return on April 12 in the US, meaning that UK fans will have to wait less than 24 hours to see the new episodes. Much of the new season is set in Dorne, with production moving to Spain for scenes set in the Red Viper’s homeland. New cast additions include Jonathan Pryce and Alexander Siddig, as well as newcomer Nell
JODIE KIDD: Is now to appear in The Jump. Tiger Free taking over the role of Myrcella Baratheon. Meanwhile, a Game of Thrones Exhibition has been announced for The O2 in London, as the first location of an international tour. It will include new installations, nearly 70 original artefacts from the series, and select pieces from the upcoming fifth season.
GAME OF THRONES: An epic fantasy drama.
Jodie Kidd has joined Channel 4’s The Jump. The former model and TV presenter has been drafted in as a replacement for Sally Bercow, who was forced to pull out after fracturing two ribs during training. She is now in Austria to begin training for the winter sports
competition. Strictly Come Dancing professional Ola Jordan was also sidelined by injury, and has since been replaced by Chloe Madeley. Earlier this month, Louie Spence stripped off for a photo during a break from training, while Joey Essex posted a group selfie from the slopes. JLS singer
If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about, please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europa-digital.com I look forward to your comments and questions. Don’t forget to listen to my radio show every weekday from 10am on Spectrum 96.1 & 106.8FM, now covering over 2000sq kms of Costa Almeria and Calida or listen online at costaalmeria.spectrumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite television.
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Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local restaurants
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Restaurant La Venta de Alfaix - A hidden gem with a great little bar OPENING for its second season, Restaurant La Venta de Alfaix has something different to offer and is well worth the drive. This is a classy, hidden gem that has a great little bar, La Bodeguita, with a lovely ambiance and a restaurant like no other in the area. The restaurant is situated in the village of Alfaix with views of the Cabrera Mountains. From Los Gallardos roundabout you take the N340 to Alfaix, then second left and follow the signs for Restaurant La Venta De Alfaix.. Bar La Bodeguita opens at 3pm Tuesday to Sunday, with a happy hour 4.30pm to 6.30pm which has an avid following. You can enjoy a pint for €2, a litre of Sangria for €6.50 or wine for just €1.50 a glass, whilst nibbling on snacks that accompany your
LA VENTA DE ALFAIX: Has something different to offer. drinks. The bar also offers typically Spanish tapas of jamón serrano and manchego cheese which the regulars like to share with a bottle of wine. The restaurant is top local Chef Jeremy
Stent’s domain. Food is served from 6pm to 10pm Tuesday to Sunday and Sunday lunch is from 1pm to 3pm. The menu is varied, with locally sourced ingredients, bought daily, and home-made desserts
that you will wish you had left room to be able to eat two. The kitchen is equipped with a pizza oven and the dough is made freshly every day and available for takeaway. Sunday lunch has proved to be a real favourite with the locals and is always booked up in advance. Rare roast sirloin of beef, unless otherwise stated, with crispy home-made Yorkshires filled with gravy and fresh vegetables. Priced at €16.50 for two courses and I am told they rarely get anybody who can manage three! The wine list is ever changing and boasts of many fine wines from the area. Soon every Friday there will be live music from solo guitarists to Flamenco shows by local dancers. Call on 671 272 464 or www.facebook.com/restauranteventaalfaix
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Are you a bar or restaurant that advertises with EWN? AT EWN we have our clients’ best interests at heart. Getting your news out to the public can sometimes be a struggle, but we here at EWN want to help. Have you changed your menu, recently renovated or won an award? Do you have an upcoming charity event you’d like to publicise? Do you have a new member of staff? Maybe you’d like to take part in our ‘Restaurant’ experience?
Your establishment provides a meal for two which we will review and publish - with pictures - in your local edition. If you have any news of interest that you would like to get out to local readers, then please let us know. We cannot promise to publish everything, but we will do our best.
Please send your news and photos to whatson@euroweeklynews.com
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Charlie loves his new home after being left abandoned APSA (Animal Protection Society Albox) recently found a home for Charlie, a small dog who had been abandoned locally more than a year ago. Charlie’s new owners, David and his wife chose him to live with them and their two-year-old terrier. They visited the kennels and took Charlie for a walk with their terrier. The dogs seemed to get on very well, and everybody was telling them what a lovely little dog Charlie was. Within a short time Charlie was walking around the village like he owned it. He is part French bulldog, and part Spanish terrier, so not your typically pretty fluffy little puppy, but David said he is clean, good on the lead, and very well behaved. They are delighted to have found such a lovely, affectionate and obedient little chap. The locals think he is gorgeous and want to know how much he cost. David ends with a final comment:
CHARLIE: A lovely, affectionate and obedient little dog. “I could go on, but as I have been typing he has been snoring away gently on the couch next to me,
and he has now woken up and wants his tummy tickling. It’s a dog’s life!”
22 - 28 January 2015 / Costa de Almería
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Line dancing to the Relojeria Sevilla top of the charts absolute masters Advertising feature
CARRIE ANN GREEN of Arboleas is well known locally as choreographer
and leader of the ‘Dusty Boots’ exhibition line dance group. What isn’t necessarily known is that Carrie also writes line dances and has had several attain positions in the Line Dancer International Magazine’s popularity charts. However this is all about to change, as one has been nominated at the 19th Annual Crystal Boots Awards, to be held at the Norbrek Castle Hotel in Blackpool. The dance is to Rod Stewart’s ‘So Proud’ and dedicated to her parents. On its release the dance soared up the Line Dancer charts to a top 10 position. The Crystal Boots Awards are promoted to encourage the introduction of new line dances and to expand the boundaries of line dancing
Carrie: Writes line dances. in general. Carrie’s dance will be competing in the ‘Improver’ category. Voting has now closed, but the final results remain a closely kept secret, until the awards’ night on January 31. This is the first time a person from Spain has been selected for any Crystal Boots Awards, but this year two people from Spain have been nominated. The other is Julie Lockton of Benidorm.
LOCATED in the charming Plaza del Pueblo in Albox, next to the town’s church, Relojeria Sevilla is one of the most long lasting watch repairs and sales success stories. Only the locals know of this 50-year-old business, handed down by generations from father to son, and still to this very day it runs better than a Swiss watch. It’s a no frills type of establishment, but with the scent of hard work and very low prices. The modest owner oozes with passion for his work and craftsmanship. As I was interviewing this gentleman he was repairing a 200-year-old Swiss wall clock, an absolute master, he was unbelievable! They also repair a vast variety of wrist watches and sell new as well, together with all types of accessories. Business hours are 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 8:30pm, Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. The shop can be reached by simply visiting or telephoning 950 436 153.
WATCH REPAIRS: Long lasting.
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Arboleas’ 4th treatment plant to be located in Los Higuerales MAYOR of Arboleas, Cristobal Garcia, has announced that Arboleas’ fourth treatment plant is to be located in Los Higuerales. Garcia commented: “I want to emphasise that this is the fourth sewage plant to occur in this term. For this government team it is a great success and demonstrates the strength of the various commitments we have to our residents. “We have a situation where Arboleas is at the highest level of management waste and environmental protection.” The plot is located close to the Rambla del Peral. “Our priority first is to consolidate the status of the different neighbourhoods with these infrastructures,” said the mayor. “Therefore residents of Los Higuerales will have this infrastructure available in the near future. The plant’s mission
is to improve both the quality and sewage service of the town.” Arboleas Council also plans to carry out a complete refurbishment of Avenida Higuerales. The work will include new paving, a cycle path, pedestrian areas, trees, street lighting, irrigation network and a replacement of the road surface. The work is expected to cost approximately €100,000. This, in addition to other projects planned, will see an investment of €480,000 for Los Higuerales. The mayor concluded: “Right now the town of Arboleas is involved in the implementation of various works around the neighbourhoods in order to consolidate basic infrastructure and create the expectations that future development needs.” TOWN HALL: Plans to carry out various renovation works.
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Making the most of your olive trees
Dick Handscombe
Gardening Corner By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.
OLIVE trees are part of the Mediterranean landscape Olive trees have been part of the Mediterranean landscape for six millennium since cultivation started in Egypt, Greece and Crete.They have been in Spain for more than 2,000 years since the Romans planted the first specimen trees in courtyard gardens and olive groves. Some still exist and millennium old trees fetch big prices when dug out and sold to international landscapers, often back in the Middle East where the trees first came from. Attraction and uses of olive trees Their attraction is their many uses and in our valley where most forms of agriculture have been largely abandoned the one traditional crop still sustained by some families is that of the olives. The 21 uses we can think of are: 1. Pickled olives for eating as a snack, in salads and cooked dishes. 2. Olive pate. 3. Olive oil as a healthy vegetable oil. Naturally the quality and quantity of olives and olive oil produced depends on more than the weather. Winter pruning, the cutting off of suckers that come up from the roots, and winter to autumn sprayings with ecological leaf and root fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides are of benefit. 4. As a frying oil with its antioxidant properties. 5. Olive leaf infusions as the natural components in
the leaves are said to have antioxidant, antibiotic, antiaging, and anti-cancerous properties. 6. Logs for the fire and wood burning stove. 7. Small twigs as fire lighters. 8. Leafy ends of branches are a treat for rabbits, sheep and goats. 9. The fresh residues from pressing can be fed to poultry, sheep and goats. 10. If dried, the residues help get an open fire going or in log burning stoves. 11. If the oil is separated from the water by gravity when using an old style cold press, the final layer of oil is contaminated with pieces of mashed olives. This rough oil can be used to clean and oil tools, wooden utensils and other artefacts. 12. Logs of all sizes, especially from old trees, are excellent for turning and carving. 13. For the gardeners who want to do none of the above, olive trees make excellent evergreen
OLIVE TREES: Pickle olives for eating as a snack.
specimen trees or groups of trees for vision, wind breaks and shade. 14. Although not widely used these days, one can still use oil lamps for a subdued light. But beware the flame is smoky so only use for an outside light . 15. Straight branches can be used as supports for tall vegetables such as beans, tomatoes and peppers. 16. Selected branches can be dried to use as replacement handles for gardening tools. 17. Thick branches are long-lasting so they can be
used to make rustic arches, fences and gates. 18. Leafy prunings can be used as pea sticks. 19. Continuing from ancient times olive oil is still used as a skin softener, for toning athlete’s muscles and mixed with vinegar as a suntan lotion. 20. Garlands made from young olive branches can be placed on the heads of victorious athletes at medal ceremonies, as was done at the early Greek Olympics. 21. Planted as attractive grey/green evergreen leaved trees.
For those that do not yet have an olive tree, if you plant a young tree in the garden now, costing as little as €7 in garden centres, it could still be there in the year 3000 when there is nothing left of your house except for a few broken roof tiles. Varieties of olive trees to choose from - there are over 250!! Arbequines - full flavour but lowish yield of oil Manzanillas - popular for eating Sevillanas/Queen/Gordal - large for eating Piqual Martoelles Blanqueta - Small, but good yield
Gordal Empetrte Chefarengues, Couicabre, Moriudes, Verdial Lastly, olive trees can be grown in containers on apartment terraces and balconies as well as specimens in the garden or in small and large olive groves. They can be pruned hard to maintain neat, small or moderate trees or left to grow wild. In the latter case, yields of olives will rapidly decline as most olives grow on young first or second year growth. (c) Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com January 2015
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Slowdown in price decline brings ‘cautious optimism’ THE rate of price falls for Spanish property slowed to an average 3 per cent in 2014. This was a big
improvement over 2013 when homes lost 9.2 per cent of their value. The figures from the General INIE and Major Markets
Spanish paying cash for houses
IMPROVEMENT: Property price falls could cease in 2015. Indices cover both new and second-hand homes. It puts prices for housing at around the same level as July 2003 and 41.2 per
cent lower than the peak in 2007 just before the housing price bubble burst. According to property analysts Tinsa, the signs are that the decline in prices could finally stop in 2015 if economic forecasts are met, employment stabilises and more mortgages are granted. The number of home loans given has been rising over the last few months and the jobless rate is starting to dip, even
though it is still at a very high level of more than 23 per cent, but there is cautious optimism starting to creep back into the housing market. The immediate future for the market looks rosiest on the costas and in major cities, but some areas with a big surplus of unsold housing built in the boom years will still see large price drops. In many cases, it is now possible to buy a home for less than it cost to build.
THREE out of every 10 homes sold to the Spanish were paid for in cash. This is according to a survey by property website fotocasa.es, which also revealed that 62 per cent of purchasers used a mortgage to pay for the property, and 6 per cent used other forms of financing, such as an inheritance or gift. The average spend on a home was €246,000, with a flat costing an average €142,000 and a townhouse €333,000. By age, the group spending the most overall was the 35 to 44-yearolds (38 per cent) followed by 25 to 34-yearolds (26 per cent) and then the 45 to 54-yearolds (24 per cent). More than half of buyers (56 per cent) were married and 88 per cent had a job, with 6 per cent unemployed on benefits.
Home sales up by 14 per cent NOVEMBER saw year on year (YoY) sales of homes in Spain rise by 14 per cent to 25,200, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE). That was the third month in a row to see a rise, with September sales up 13.7 per cent YoY and October seeing 16 per cent more. But month on month November sales were down 4.8 per cent, the sharpest decline in five years for November. But overall it was a
good year for the property market. In November the YoY increase was due to a big increase in the number of second-hand houses sold, up 41.6 per cent to 17,433. New home sales on the other hand were down 20.6 per cent to 7,767 YoY. Andalucia led the way in the numbers of transactions (5,319), followed by Cataluña (3,849), Valencia (3,590) and Madrid (3,042).
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It’s all in the name of luxury
ANYONE wanting to buy the top of the range SUV will have to wait for Bentley’s latest offering. The Crewe-based luxury car maker is still keeping tightlipped about what will be its latest offering, when it goes on sale in 2016. All that it has revealed is its name - the Bentley Bentayga - and a promise that it will “combine pinnacle luxury and performance.” The ground-breaking luxury SUV is set to be revealed to the world later this year and the car manufacturer says the “sector-defining” SUV will be able to “introduce Bentley’s renowned modern British luxury to limitless destinations with an impressive combination of on and off-road performance.” The name for the fourwheel drive is said to be inspired partly from the founder’s name and partly from the natural world. That is the Taiga in the north and also to the south, the rugged peak of the Roque Bentayga in the subtropical Canary Islands. The car is supposed to reflect the rugged beauty of both areas.
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Extra oomph for C class with V6 AMG model THE Mercedez-Benz C Class has already won itself a reputation as a fun, easy to drive car. Now car buyers will have the option to go for power with the launch of its V6 AMG sports model. The new C 450 AMG 4MATIC expands the product range of the performance and sports
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SPORTS MODEL: An attractive entry into the world of AMG.
car brand of MercedesBenz with what the company calls “an attractive entry into the world of AMG.” There is plenty of power and great roadholding thanks to the combination of a 367 horespower 3.0-litre twinturbo V6 engine with a permanent Performance all-wheel-drive system and sophisticated suspension technology adopted from the Mercedes-AMG C 63.
Available as a saloon and an estate model, it was unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show, and is planned to be in showrooms this coming summer. The characteristic AMG body styling leaves no doubt that this model is part of the Mercedes-AMG model family. From an engineering point of view, the AMG sports models deliver on the visual promise of a sporty character with a powerful engine, the standard-fit all-wheel drive system and sophisticated suspension solutions.
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THE 19th Hole GS was greeted with perfect blue skies and an equally perfect course when they visited Aguilon. Thoughts of the golfers turned to high scoring rounds, but it was not to be. Only Chrissie Dow got near a net par with a score 74 to easily take the Ladies medal, whilst senior player John Boulter took the Men’s Medal with a unimpressive net 75 from Willie Ellis on net 76. Hole Willie Ellis, Colin Thornwood and Pete Dow scored twos and nearest the pins were Mike Espisito, Tony Mackay, Terry Caddick and Ralph Hunter. The 19th Hole GS are now arranging weekly games at various courses in the area, with their home course being Aguilon. More information: 610 340 653 or email gs19thhole@hotmail. co.uk
Valle del Este new captain THE Valle del Este golf society held their first stableford competition of the year and enjoyed excellent golfing weather. In first place with 35 points was new member Michael Hill, with Chris Banks (33) second and in third David Ross (32). Dick Hull scored a two on the 12th hole. Nearest the pins were Michael Hill on the 6th and Patrick Vickery on the 13th. The coveted green jacket was presented to new captain Sue Hull by past captain Bill Churchill. The society now plays on a Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at Valle del Este. Call Alan Townsend on 634 379 887 to book.
ALEX FUENTES FLICKR
Perfect blue skies
MARINA PHOENIX: Played an individual Stableford.
Isobel is top scorer
THE individual Stableford, at Marina Phoenix, on Monday saw Isobel Jones return the highest score on the day to win the ladies division with 37 points. June Nicol was second with 33 and Rosalie Fardon (29) third. The men’s division was won by Dave Roddis (34), followed by Antonio Ubeda (34) on countback, and Alan Cook (33). There were two’s prizes
for June Nicol and Alf Taylor, both on the 14th. Thursday’s team game was a Texas Scramble and so close that there were less than two shots between the top six. In first place were John Meagher, Margaret Budd and Steve Entwhistle on 63.9. Rod Ambrose, Sheila Watts and Hylton Smith returned 64.5 for second with Alan Cook, Alan Morris
and Alf Taylor 64.7, in third. There were nearest the pin prizes for Keith James (5th) and Jim Budd (17th). Marina Phoenix play Mondays (individual) and Thursdays (team game). To join us for a €25 green fee. Ring Jim on 950 162 727 / 600 353 670 or Rosalie 950 397 117 / 697 512 882.
Hole in one for Derrick A GOOD way for any golfer to start the New Year is with a hole in one in the first competition of the year. This feat was achieved by Derrick Stephenson in Aguilon Golf Members’ Monthly Medal. Using a six iron on the difficult third hole Derrick’s tee shot landed at the base of the flagstick and took the six inch drop into the bottom of the cup with the resulting drinks all round at the bar. Conditions were good with fast greens making putting a little tricky. Winner of the competition was Glyn Ombler (72 net)
followed by Bill Gibb (73) and third was Kevin Manser (74). Bill Gibb and Dave Sharp scored twos. In the Wednesday Stableford competition Kevin Manser used his new driver to good effect to take top spot with 39 points.
Second was Stuart Green (37) and third Chris Baker (33). George Holland, Tony Phillips and Derrick Stephenson scored twos. Derrick had a good festive period and won both Christmas Eve and New Year competitions.
GLYN OMBLER: Winner.
MARC COMA: Has won his 5th Dakar Rally title.
Success for Marc Coma
From back page Coma, riding a KTM, finished ahead of Paulo Goncalves (Honda) and Toby Price (KTM). Winning the last stage was Ivan Jakes, with Coma coming in fifth, which was enough to take the title. He won his first Dakar in 2006, then again in 2009, 2011, 2014 and now this year. Another Spaniard, Laia Sanz, 29, finished ninth overall, the best place ever for a female rider.
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Sport Blustery and cold
Medal Winner
Derrick Stephenson in Aguilon Golf monthly medal competition Turn to page 79
Costa de Almería’s best guide to local sport
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Oldest course
THE oldest established golf club in Almeria continues to enjoy playing at Cortijo Grande and welcomes you to join members every Sunday at 9am on this lovely course It is a challenge off the tee on every hole, if you miss the fairway you will have trouble finding your ball and on some holes no chance. But don’t be put off, you will enjoy playing with the friendly players on Sundays. Last Sunday’s winner was Mike Picken with Carol Hardy second and in third Frans Dearden.
THIRTY SIX Forum Golf Society members took part in a Team Coloured Ball competition at Marina. On a very blustery and cold day those that had recently spent a few weeks in the UK were definitely at an advantage as they were obviously used to such conditions. The top three teams all showed how important it was not to lose the double points scoring coloured ball, with the day’s winners being Peter Harrington, Dave Jordan, Jim French and Gordon Hughes with a very impressive score of 101 points, just one better than second placed Adrian Lawrence, Alec Grey, Alan Crofts and Keith Jackson. In third place with a score of 90 points were Wendy Greaves, Peter Tinsley, Malcolm Tilley and Paul Douglas, whilst Tony Morgan, Maurice Jamieson, Yvonne
DAVE JORDAN: One of the winning team.
Strindberg and Ann Lawrence were fourth with 87. Forum’s upcoming fixtures are: January 30, Pairs Betterball Stableford at Aguilon; February 13, Stableford at Alboran; February 27 Stableford at Aguilon.
For further information, contact Phil Elam on 666 847 840 / philjelam@yahoo.co.uk, or visit www.forumgolfsociety. webs.com
Fifth Dakar title DEFENDING champion from Spain Marc Coma has won his fifth Dakar Rally motorbike title. The win puts him level with Frenchmen Cyril Neveu and Cyril Despres and one behind their compatriot Stephane Peterhansel for the number of titles won in the gruelling event. Despite its name, this year the race finished in Baradero, north of Buenos Aires in Argentina, on Saturday (January 17). Turn to page 79