ISSUE NO. 1547
EWN FRONT EXTRA
Counselling services ALL foreign residents can benefit from a counselling service launched by Motril Council, from Monday to Thursday between 8am and 2pm at the Social Services Department in La Matraquilla.
Picnic site A NEW picnic area is currently been built at the sports centre Cañada Vargas in the Torrenueva district of Motril. The works are being paid for by Granada Provincial Council and Central Government.
Access back ALMUÑECAR Council has undertaken a comprehensive plan of action to clear bushes and plants in the public area at Marina del Este beach. Their thick growth had made the site impassable.
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A ‘golden opportunity’ for illegal homeowners THE call has gone out to expats to use their right to vote in local elections to help get an amendment passed in the Senate to guarantee protection to people who bought ‘illegal’ homes in good faith. Homeowners groups in Malaga and Almeria say that the chances of the amendment being passed are “currently 50/50 at best” and that the proposed change to the Criminal Code is a “golden opportunity” to take a step forward. The SOHA homeowners group in the Axarquia and its sister association AUAN in Almeria are calling on all political parties to support the change to the code that would provide compensation for owners who purchased illegal properties in good faith before demolition. “The amendment has been proposed by the PSOE who are not in the majority in central government and whilst we have the support of some individuals within the PP, the chances of this amendment
being passed are currently 50/50 at best,” said Maura Hillen of AUAN. She added: “We are calling on all parties to support this change for the common good. The municipal elections are coming in which foreigners can vote. We may not get such an opportunity again.” The call from SOHA and AUAN comes following the demolition of several illegal homes in Spain bought by foreign buyers who
were unaware of any problems at the time of purchase. AUAN estimates there are around 300,000 illegal homes in Southern Spain alone. “The normal practice is that the promoter is given a small fine for building an illegal house, whilst the person who spent their life savings on the house sees it demolished with a theoretical order of compensation that never actually happens,” said Gerardo
Vazquez, lawyer on behalf of the associations. “In reality, the victim receives the greatest punishment and this cannot be right. Certainly, the environment must be protected, but the end does not justify the means if you violate a person’s fundamental right to inviolability of the home, their human right to property and their constitutional right to decent housing. “The protection of the environment must be applied in a proportionate way and reach its limit when it affects human rights. The solution is simple, first compensate and then demolish,” Vazquez pointed out. The proposed amendment has also received the backing of associations across Spain, including the Andalucian Confederation for Planning Legalisation (CALU). “AUAN, SOHA and the other associations have spent many years trying to resolve these problems and this is a golden opportunity to take an important step forward,” added Vazquez.
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INDEX News 1 - 16 Finance 19 - 24 Leapy Lee 25 Daily TV 26 Time Out 28 - 29 CALAHONDA BEACH: The death of the dolphin is currently being investigated.
Letters 30 Health & Beauty 36 - 37 H&G/Pets 39 Services 42 - 44 Classifieds 45 - 46 Motoring 47 Sport 48
Vets investigate death of dolphin AN investigation has been launched into the death of a dolphin found on Nerja’s Calahonda Beach, beneath the Balcon de Europa. An environmental health unit examined the animal on the spot and then alerted CREMA, a Nerja organisation who care for endangered sea creatures, who took the
dolphin to their facilities in order to analyse it. The CREMA experts are currently investigating its death, but they believe the animal had parasites on its tail, so an infection could have been the cause. The dead dolphin weighed 115kg and was 180 centimetres in length.
It is the second dead dolphin found in the region in the space of one week, after another was found on a beach in Rincon de la Victoria on February 15. Between 40 and 70 sea creatures are rescued every year in Malaga, according to Juan Jose Castillo, one of the vets from CREMA.
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Padel competition VELEZ-MALAGA will host a Padel Competition between March 2 and 8. Registrations can be made until February 28 by calling 676 59 45 83. Andalucia Day FRIGILIANA will start celebrations for Andalucia Day at 11am at the Parque de Andalucia, with a flag hoisting ceremony accompanied by a performance by the town band. Illegal dumpster THE Andalucian Party of Motril has presented a motion requesting the council to clear up the illegal rubbish dumps located in the areas of Nacla and the Camino del Canal. Cinema students ARCHIDONA Mayor Francisco Jimenez delivered diplomas to students of local cinema workshops at Torcal Municipal Theatre Hall to recognise their efforts. Aid for dependants VELEZ-MALAGA Council has offered a total of 103 new places for the senior citizen remote assistance service. Candidates must be over 65, registered on the padron and live alone for most of the day. Forest fire A FOREST fire in the mountain range of Cazulas, Otivar (Costa Tropical) has burnt more than 20 hectares. The fire started on Tuesday (February 24) at around 9.30pm.
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Coastal train row rumbles on NERJA mayor, Jose Alberto Armijo, will request that the Junta de Andalucia regional government extends the Malaga to Fuengirola train line to Maro, in the east, and Manilva, in the west. Mayors of several Axarquia and Eastern Costa del Sol towns had already complained as they wanted the future plans for a Marbella extension to the line to also include
towns in the other direction at least as far as Nerja. Armijo will present a motion requesting the Junta de Andalucia to allocate a budget for a Maro district to Manilva extension. Head of the PP conservative party in Nerja, Jose Miguel Garcia, explained that the motion would also request that the Development Ministry consider this project within
the study that is currently being carried out on the potential for the coastal train, and include it in the European Union investment plan. Garcia claimed that the extension could not be limited to reaching Marbella and added: “It has to reach Maro, the Nerja Caves and Manilva. The government has to stop discriminating against Malaga’s eastern coast.”
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ews watch
New ‘riprap’
A NEW riprap has been constructed in Almijara (Nerja). The new structure will channel excess rainwater to the Chillar River.
Oh my goat! THE Larios centre in Malaga City is celebrating the Chinese New Year with an exhibition of art based on the goat, which can be seen until March 7, and a wide range of Chinese-related activities.
TATYANA VYC/SHUTTERSTOCK
Photo show A PHOTOGRAPHY exhibition by Paulino Martinez More has been inaugurated at the Casa Condesa de Torre Isabel (Motril) and will be open until March 14. It is entitled ‘60’ and was conceived to celebrate the photographer’s 60th birthday.
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Hiking route MORE than 50 hikers participated in Almuñecar’s hiking route called ‘Almuñecar Machu Pichu’. The next excursion is scheduled for March 8 and will traverse the Cahorros de Monachil.
Financial help
JUZCAR: Andalucia’s famous ‘smurf’ village.
Smurf village turning local volunteers blue
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F you haven’t heard of Juzcar, a typical white Andalucian village 22 kilometres from Ronda, you’re obviously not a smurf fan. The village was chosen in 2011 by Sony to launch the premiere of the Smurfs Movie, and 4,000 litres of paint turned the village buildings a shockingly bright shade of blue. Overnight, the sleepy village went from receiving 300 tourists a year to an estimated 80,000 in just six months. Although Sony offered to repaint the village white in December 2011, the villagers voted to keep it blue and watched in awe as thousands of fans and curious tourists continued to appear to have a look. Now the ‘pueblo pitufo’ (smurf village) has decided it needs to do a little more work to encourage the visitors to keep on coming, and has created a project to turn locals into smurfs.
Quote of the Week We kiss against discrimination, racism and homophobia, to condemn these acts that are seen too often within companies, society and public life,’ said Jose Lebaniegos, a Madrid Metro ticket inspector who attended a protest kissing session against homophobia in Madrid.
A €15,000 budget has been put in place to take on an artistic director to train volunteers up as actors and provide costumes and props for ‘pitufo’ (smurf) shows, which have proved a popular attraction at the weekends. Lessons and rehearsals are about to begin for local volunteers of all ages, and the council hopes the street shows and other new activities will be ready by May 30. Juzcar Mayor David Fernandez announced that the local smurfs, who are to receive diplomas after completing their lessons, will also be going on tour with shows planned in Ubrique, Marbella, Malaga City and other towns. Along with face painting, a smurf themed market, blue manicures, personalised smurf baseball cap painting and smurf-meals, the new improved shows are bound to give the young and young-at-heart an unforgettable visit.
Number of the week
150,000
is the estimated number of packets of illegal cigarettes that were being smuggled into Spain each week from Gibraltar by a well-organised smuggling gang that has now been busted by police.
MALAGA Provincial Council has approved a budget of €342,000 to carry out improvements in five towns, including the Axarquia villages of Moclinejo, Benamargosa and Archez.
Frigiliana concert NERJA-BORN singer Nuria Fergo will perform in Frigiliana tomorrow (Friday February 27) at 9.30pm in the Centro de Usos Multiples. seating capacity is reached.
Learning award THE Education and Culture Department of Nerja will help public school Fuente del Baden to obtain the title of ‘Learning Community’, given to centres which allow families, volunteers and associations to participate in children’s education.
And finally... TWO brothers from Girona tried to swindle an Arab sheik by selling him a forged Goya painting for 1.7 million Swiss Francs (€1.58 million), only to discover they had been paid in photocopied bills. The brothers, who were conned when they bought the fake painting, thought they could recoup their losses by swindling the sheik.
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Scenery brings Bollywood to Nerja’s Balcon NERJA’S scenery regularly attracts the attention of international movie creators, and this time it is a Bollywood production rolling up to shoot in the town. The setting on this occasion is the Balcon de Europa (Europe’s Balcony) for a movie titled ‘Jili’. Several music scenes are to be recorded at the
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Car fire A VEHICLE burst into flames on February 19 near the petrol station in La Paloma, Almuñecar. The fire caused a cloud of smoke, alarming passing drivers.
Work safety VELEZ-MALAGA Council has trained more than 2,803 people on safety in the workplace since March 2012. It provides training to an average of 600 workers per year.
Soprano sings A CONCERT will be held on Friday 27 at 8pm in the Casa de la Cultura, Almuñecar, featuring Mayca Teba, a Zarzuela Soprano singer, with the Municipal Music Band.
location and surrounding areas, said the head of the town’s Development department, Bernardo Pozuelo. The filming took place on Tuesday (February 24), and was organised by production company UV Creations, which has already shot several other scenes in different corners of Andalucia. Actor Gopichand and
actress Rashi Khanna play the leads in the film and the choreography is by well-known dancer, Raju Sundaram. It is not the first time that the Bollywood industry has visited Nerja, as in 2012 musical scenes were recorded at the Balcon de Europa, Calle Los Huertos and Burriana Beach.
Our View
HAPPY DAYS: Members of Lake Vinuela Social Club enjoy a picnic.
Social Facing up to evil club shuts I up shop
T’S extremely worrying and distressing to see young people from all around the globe deciding to make their way to Syria to join the ranks of IS. Just this week, four people were arrested in Spain suspected of recruiting for the terrorist group, and many of us are praying that the three teenaged girls from Britain, who are believed to have travelled to Syria, are safe and well. When you’re 15 years old, you do not have the sufficient level of maturity and life experience to make a decision as life-changing as running off to a war zone, and it remains to be seen just why they chose to do so. IS recruiters are using social media sites to help indoctrinate impressionable young people to their cause, and the situation once
again highlights one of the dangers that the internet can create. The majority of people in the world would like to see every religion, race and creed living life in peace, as John Lennon put it, but unfortunately – in reality – life is not that simple. While we, in the relative safety of our democratic comfort in the West, baulk at the barbarity of life in places like Syria and Iraq at present, others are drawn to the cause because of misguided beliefs and values. No regime, be it democratic or otherwise, can be viewed with any degree of respect or integrity when they freely behead people on film for not agreeing with their religion or values. IS and other groups such as Al Qaeda and Boko Haram have shown the world that intolerance is one of the greatest evils this planet faces.
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AN AXARQUIA social club has had to close its doors after six years of activities and fundraising as it cannot find people to form a committee to keep it going. Retiring Chairman of the Lake Vinuela Social Club, Pat Burns, said that it was “sad and a real shame” that the club has had to be wound up, despite the fact that the more than 60 members want it to remain functioning. “The problem is that we have really good membership but none of the members are in a position to [join the] committee,” Mr Burns told the EWN. “Officers that had held positions on the committee stood down and there were no members prepared to take up these roles, despite the fact that 60 members wanted the club to remain open. “During the past 12
months, the club has raised and donated over €1,600 to six local charities, including Cudeca and helping impoverished families in Vinuela at Christmas. “The Lake Vinuela Social Club started life as a branch of the British Legion and became a social club in 2009.” Mr Burns said that the members enjoy the social aspect of the club but most people don’t have the time to get involved on the committee. “What might happen is that people will carry on meeting on a Thursday but just without a committee,” he said. “It’s a very sad occasion but there was nothing else we could do. I feel sorry for people who have run it in the past that we cannot find anyone to keep it going.” The Lake Vinuela Social Club was wound up at an extraordinary meeting held last week.
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Urban race
The Dia de Andalucia (Day of Andalucia) is a regional holiday that
Frederique Harmsze Flickr
ANDALUCIANS are gearing up to celebrate their official day.
Sports success ALMUÑECAR table tennis player Lucia Lopez won the bronze medal at the National Tournament 2015 held in Valladolid for the second year in a row.
Family advice A FAMILY planning workshop has been launched in Archidona’s Healthcare Centre to provide information to families and couples who request it on issues like parenting and sexual behaviour.
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A day of national pride
NEWS EXTRA THE 14th edition of Archidona’s Urban Race ‘Andalucian Day’ will be held on February 28 at 11am from Paseo de la Victoria. Those interested can register at www.dorsal chip.es and up to 15 minutes before the race.
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FLAMENCO: Part of the traditional festivities.
marks the anniversary of the referendum held on February 28, 1980, to decide whether or not the region should become an autonomous community. Towns celebrate the day with a variety of activities, as well as the traditional hoisting of the green and white Andalucian flag. Salobreña’s celebrations will start with a parade at 11am, led by the town band. After that, the first edition of the crafts market called D’artesarnia will be held. At noon, Mayor Gonzalo Fernandez Pulido will deliver a speech in Parque de la Fuente where the Andalucian flag will be raised and the regional anthem performed. This will be followed by a flamenco performance. Almuñecar will also start celebrations at 11am at the roundabout on
Avenida Juan Carlos I, with the traditional flag hoisting ceremony. Events will follow at Parque El Majuelo, with a concert featuring the
municipal band and a ‘Traditional Games Fair’ aimed at involving children in the Andalucian spirit of pride.
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Museum visitor numbers multiply VISITOR numbers at San Miguel Castle and the Museum of Almuñecar have increased by 20 per cent in the last two years. In 2014, more than 45,000 visits were registered at these two attractions, according to the
head of the culture department, Olga Ruano. She added that the results were in part due to action taken by the council to promote the town’s monuments and archaeological heritage.
Ruano said the figures were a record for the town and added: “In fact, only in January, the number of visits doubled compared to the same month in 2014, from 1,588 to 3,015 visitors who were able to
enjoy our heritage.” The municipal coffers benefited by approximately €120,000 from the sale of tickets to historic attractions, which Ruano said went to show their positive financial
impact for the area. The council is also considering undertaking renovation work on the Museo Claves, as only 3,000 visitors were registered in 2014, despite the great investment it represented.
USEFUL INFORMATION: Irish students learn about Nerja’s tourism strategy.
Comparing tourism strategies STUDENTS from the Institute of Technology Tralee in Ireland have visited Nerja to learn about tourism seasonality. They met Tourism Development Councillor Sandra Jimena to gather information about the measures the
town is taking to reduce tourism seasonality by promoting festivals and carnival events. Their study consists of comparing the measures taken by their own home-town in Kerry and those employed in Andalucia.
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Children’s show TOMORROW (February 27) children in Archidona are welcome to enjoy a performance by company Piruletas. It will take place at the Jose Luis Miranda Roldan auditorium at 6pm. Tickets are €6 on the door.
Vital talk A CONFERENCE on Hyperactivity Disorder in children was held in Almuñecar to raise awareness of the condition, as it is estimated that 5 per cent of children in Spain suffer from it.
Everyday English TWENTY Motril tourism staff and taxi drivers are to receive free English courses as well as manuals with English phrases they will be able to use in everyday situations.
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Green light for Rincon de la Victoria’s first indoor pool CONSTRUCTION work on Rincon de la Victoria’s first indoor pool will start in two months. After more than six years of
paperwork, two potential locations and three failed public tenders, Rincon de la Victoria Council has given the green light to an agreement with public
company Tragsa, which belongs to the Agriculture, Food and Environment Ministry. Mayor Francisco Salado explained that the pool project
was now awaiting the ministry’s approval and once received, the construction work could begin. “We reckon the work will be able to start in about two months,” said the mayor, who said the agreement with a public company allowed the council to reduce the equipment WORK has started at Almuñecar’s San Sebastian budget by 12 per cent, a chapel, which is set to undergo a comprehensive total of €500,000. programme of renovations. This means that the Architectural barriers which made it difficult for pool’s total budget will be people with physical disabilities to access the building €3.8 million instead of the will be eliminated and a ramp constructed. original €4.3 million. In addition, and to improve safety, a new balustrade The new facilities will will be built and the pavement outside the chapel have a total surface area renovated. The appearance of the area surrounding the chapel will be improved, as well as the façade. NEW LOOK: San Sebastian chapel to be spruced up. of 18,350 square metres, of which 4,895 will be earmarked for the construction of cultural premises, and 2,117 for TRAFFIC will be diverted in Motril started last Monday (February 23), on the last phase of the Centre of parking spaces. There will be a six-lane between the Camino de Patria and pedestrian access will also be Tourism Development will be Bridge up to the Carretera de la blocked. It is expected that normal carried out. An alternate route will pool, 25 metres in length, Celulosa, due to renovation work. access will be resumed after about be available through the Alboran a gym, spa, three indoor sports areas and a café. The interruption to traffic a month, during which time work industrial site.
Chapel facelift
Traffic and pedestrian diversions
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Vandals use dogs to slaughter animals VANDALS have stolen and killed more than a dozen animals at the Parque de la Fuente in Salobreña, allegedly using a dangerous breed of dog. Since the municipal parks are locked during
the night, it is believed that the perpetrators broke in through the fence and then smashed the locks on the cages where the animals are kept. They stole rabbits,
Assault suspect arrested in Motril A 21-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested for allegedly attacking the driver of a car in Motril. The incident took place in Calle Lisboa, in the Vista Alegre district, according to a statement released by Councillor for Safety, Manuel Ballesteros. Local Police officers, who were patrolling the area at the time, caught two people wearing black hoods red-handed as they were hitting a car driver through the vehicle’s window with a blunt object. Both fled the scene when they noticed the police. After a short chase, the officers found one suspect hiding behind a car, and he was taken into custody. The investigation continues.
chickens and guinea pigs amongst other animals and it is believed that they used dangerous dogs to kill some and severely injure others, according to Local Police information. The perpetrators also stole some of the tools kept at the small municipal warehouse. “Material damages are not important, but the cruelty of these acts shows the worst of the human condition,” said the town’s environment councillor, Martin Valenzuela. Local Police are currently conducting an investigation and together with Councillor Valenzuela they have appealed for citizens’ cooperation in helping to identify the perpetrators of these crimes.
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Free food course A FREE food handling course has been launched by Almuñecar’s Council aimed at unemployed residents. Those interested in participating have until March 5 to register at the town hall.
Air ambulances MALAGA airport was used for 1,026 air ambulance flights in 2014. These flights allow organs for transplants and wounded or ill people to be safely transported to other airports.
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Celebrating pedal power ANYONE who would like to participate in Velez-Malaga’s second, hugely popular Bike Day has until March 11 to sign up. Last year’s edition involved
3,000 cyclists, according to Sports councillor Mr Lupiañez, who unveiled some changes to the event, to be held on March 15 from 11.30am.
Last year’s six-kilometre route has been extended and the departure point changed. “In Velez-Malaga, cyclists will depart from the Paseo de
Andalucia and in Torre del Mar, from the Promenade (near the sports courts), to finish together at the Juan Carlos I fairground,” said the councillor. He added that the Second Bike Day was a festivity more than a competition, and there explained that the Sports Day was would be gifts, a bike raffle, conceived to promote physical and prizes for the oldest biker, the best costume activity amongst residents. During the afternoon, there will and the most unique bike. Registration can be done be a rhythmic gymnastics demonstration by the students of at the Casa del Deporte, the town hall, the Velezthe municipal sports school. Mr Garcia said the Andalucian Malaga indoor pool, and flag will be hoisted at the start, to the Torre del Mar municipal pool. commemorate Andalucia Day.
Motril ready for sports day celebration MOTRIL celebrates its Sports Day on Saturday, February 28. Events kick off at 10am with a route for participants to follow covering the Avenida Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza in Las Explandas to the town’s Port. Participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt and a drink after completing the itinerary.
There will be an open house at all town sports facilities, including the sports centre, pool facilities, padel and tennis courts, while in the Plaza de la Coronacion there will be a demonstration of aerobic sports and popular games. Sports councillor Jose Garcia Fuente presented the activities scheduled for the celebration and
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Hash haul TWO 29-year-old men have been arrested in Velez-Malaga for allegedly trafficking drugs. National Police dismantled a marihuana greenhouse in Iznate and confiscated 89 cannabis plants.
No licence MALAGA police carrying out routine document checks arrested a 39year-old driver who had lost his licence for drinking and driving yet continued to drive.
Gang busted NATIONAL POLICE in Torrox have dismantled a criminal gang which allegedly committed 15 burglaries using the ramraiding technique. Three men have been arrested as a result and items valued at €273,000 confiscated.
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Nerja’s recycling success leads to a starring role in TV advertisement NERJA is recycling more than ever before with 169,608 kilos of plastic containers collected in the town in 2014. This figure is a 14 per cent increase on 2013, according to
Francisco Zurita Escobar, head of the Malaga Provincial Council Environmental Services Department. Zurita added that the number of rubbish bins has been
increased in the town and that the council had launched campaigns to encourage recycling in schools around the town, including Narixa, Joaquin Herrera and Virgen del Mal.
Nerja was recently chosen as the setting for an advert to encourage recycling in the province of Malaga. It was shot at Calahonda Beach and the Balcon de Europa.
Safeguard right to vote BRITONS living in Spain are being urged to sign an online petition to safeguard their right to vote in any referendum on staying in or out of the EU. Alan Thomas, a Briton living in France, decided it was unfair that any referendum in Britain may exclude some of those who would be most affected by it - those people who have been living in the EU for more than 15 years. At the moment people who have lived outside the UK for that period of time lose their right to vote in the UK. This is an issue that has been becoming a hot topic as the British General
Election approaches. There has been legislation proposed that would remove the time restriction, but crucially that legislation may not be passed, if ever brought forward, until after an in-or-out referendum on EU membership. So Alan has set up the e-petition on the UK government website calling for all British passport holders to be given the right to vote in any such referendum, regardless of how long they have lived abroad and is urging British residents in Spain to go online to sign it. The full text of his petition reads:
‘It has been proposed that legislation will be introduced to remove the 15-year limitation on non-residents being able to register to vote in UK elections and referenda. Should a motion be tabled in Parliament to hold a referendum on EU membership, before such legislation is passed, this petition requests that all British passport holders meeting the qualifying criteria who are resident in the EU outside the UK be able to register to partake in any such referendum.’ To sign the petition visit: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/ 74848.
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Popular site THE official website for reservations to visit the Caminito del Rey (King’s Walkway) was overwhelmed with visits as soon as the reservation option was activated.
Flamenco flair ALGARROBO will celebrate Andalucia Day (February 28) with a flamenco performance. The show will take place at 6pm in Parque de la Escalerilla.
Spot checks THE Junta de Andalucia regional government’s Consumer and Industry inspection services are concentrating on Malaga’s petrol stations to ensure that low-cost, unstaffed stations in particular meet regulations.
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Roadworks set for La Herradura THE contract for improving Calle Balandro in La Herradura (Almuñecar) has been awarded and work is due to start shortly. The street, located in the Espinar district, will be renovated with a budget of more than €56,000, announced the deputy mayor, Juan Jose Ruiz Joya. Joya explained that the streets
around the area were constructed approximately 40 years ago, and that they had never undergone improvement work, acquiring significant damage, with their water supply and sewage systems becoming obsolete. The plans are to completely repave and level Calle Balandro, as well as undertaking a comprehensive upgrade of the waste water disposal and drainage systems, amongst other improvements. The deputy mayor said that the work is expected FRIGILIANA will host a market on Saturday (February to be completed in a maximum period of three 28) for crafted goods and rare food products. The event is organised by the local traders months and has been to local association together with the town council and will take awarded company, Barbero place in Plaza de las Tres Culturas from 11am. A wide variety of products made by artisans and local Jimenez. Once the work in Calle businesses will be displayed, as well as others from all Balandros is finished, corners of Malaga. The traders association has also prepared special more in Calle Fragata is menus at affordable prices to make the visit to expected to begin shortly afterwards. Frigiliana even more enjoyable for tourists.
Frigiliana hosts artisan market
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TOURIST WEBSITE: Motril’s attractions are highlighted.
Motril showcased on new council website
A NEW website has been launched by Motril Council to enhance the town’s profile as a tourist destination. Mayor Luisa Garcia Chamorro and Jose Carlos
Alvarez, head of Alzago, the company that designed the new site, have presented the new municipal tourism website, an initiative that seeks to include new
technologies and information accessibility in the industry. “The new website will unify all that Motril offers tourism-wise, in Spanish, English, French and German,” said the mayor. “It will be very useful for the user as it includes geographic references to all resources, using a really appealing visual interface with a large
number of high resolution pictures, short texts and a focus on destination promotion.” The website can be www. visited at motrilturismo.com. Amongst its main features are information on gastronomy, planning trips, beaches and things to do around the town, with a calendar including the town’s events.
Bids invited for new museum CONSTRUCTION work on a new museum in Velez-Malaga has been put out to public tender. Former Hospital San Juan de Dios is the site chosen for the new museum. Work will involve renovating the current structure and also cover the redevelopment of Calle Princesa (Torre del Mar) and Camino de Algarrobo. The three projects will cost more than €2 million. “These works are significantly important for our town, and long-awaited by residents,” said Mayor Francisco Delgado Bonilla. The construction of the town’s new museum will have a budget of €1.2 million, and it is expected to be completed in a period of 11 months. More than 1,700 items will be displayed in the facility, including archaeological objects, documents and pictures, both from private collections and public museums. “If a resident has an object they think is worthy of being exhibited at the museum, we will be open to analysing it and placing it amongst the rest of the collection. The museum seeks to highlight some of the most important periods of our town, such as the Catholic Monarchs’ conquest of the town, the Phoenician colonisation, the Roman era, etc,” said the mayor.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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business & legal Ministerial tug-of-war over Bankia ECONOMY minister Luis de Guindos and Finance minister Cristobal Montoro do not always see eye to eye. They disagreed over raising the value-added tax IVA, for instance, with De Guindos for and Montoro against. They now differ over future compensation for small investors who launched lawsuits after losing their savings through Bankia’s flawed 2011
flotation. The bank is now partly nationalised, with De Guindos in favour of limiting Bankia’s compensation liability to 38 per cent. The remainder would come from the bank’s parent company BFA, which is 100 per cent government-owned. Montoro, whose ministry controls Spain’s Hacienda or Treasury, is determined that taxpayers should not
Telefonica bites the bolivar bullet THE falling value of Venezuela’s bolivar has hit Telefonica once more. The oil producer’s devalued currency has cost the company €7.45 billion over the last five years and the Spanish multinational has now decided to reduce the value of its Venezuelan assets. Telefonica announced that henceforth both these and income will be valued at 50 bolivars to the dollar instead of the previous 12. Even this could be considered overpriced as a black market dollar fetched 118 bolivars at the beginning of February, insiders said. US companies like Kimberly Clark have
already adopted the same exchange rate or, like Ford and Pepsi Cola, intend to do so. BBVA and Mapfre have been less courageous and are still valuing assets at 12 bolivars to the dollar. The move will write down its Venezuelan assets by €2.84 billion, Telefonica said, an amount that includes retained profits now estimated at €1.23 billion that it has been barred from repatriating to Spain. Its Venezuela results for last year will be adjusted to the new exchange rate, reducing its gross profit by €915 million and net profit by €399 million.
B
usiness extra
Portuguese bid CAIXABANK, which owns 44 per cent of Portuguese bank BPI, launched a takeover bid. Threequarters of BPI shareholders must first agree to reverse rules that restrict Caixabank’s voting rights to 20 per cent.
Orange alert ORANGE ESPAÑA’s 2014 earnings of €3.87 billion were 4.4 per cent less than in 2013 although mobile contracts increased by 455,000. Pre-tax profits of €958 million were 7.8 per cent down.
Hedge funds fly to AENA TWO hedge funds have invested in Spain’s airports operator AENA. London-based TCI acquired a 6.67 per cent stake for €580 million and the US fund, Fidelity, bought 1.3 per cent for €120 million. Morgan Stanley, one of the banks that managed the flotation, controls 3.62 per cent. Some institutional Spanish
investors like Ferrovial and Grupo Alba dropped out when AENA was partly-privatised earlier this month when the €58 initial public offering price (IPO) exceeded the price they were committed to paying. Shares rose by 20 per cent on the first day of trading, however, making an €800 million profit for the big investors.
LA VEU DEL PAÍS VALENCIÀ LA MAREA
A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 6 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION // WWW.EWNBUSINESS.COM
STAT OF WEEK HACIENDA received €12.32 billion in taxes last year, making 2014 a record year. Thanks to Hacienda’s onslaught against fiscal fraud and despite staff cuts, each employee collected an average of €479,000.
have to foot the Bankia bill. The Bank of Spain has yet to make a pronouncement, but Bankia itself is uneasy, sources revealed. If it has to compensate all losses arising from the flotation, this will drag down share prices, they said. PROTEST: Bankia shareholders demanding compensation.
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E W N 26 February - 4 March 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical
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C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 23
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) 3i Group 487.70 Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 471.50 Admiral Group 1,470.50 Aggreko 1,690.00 Anglo American 1,224.50 Antofagasta 744.50 ARM Holdings 1,120.50 Ashtead Group 1,142.00 Associated Brit Foods 3,046.50 AstraZeneca 4,472.50 Aviva 549.25 Babcock International 1,019.00 BAE Systems 532.75 Barclays 263.20 Barratt Developments 505.50 BG Group 972.55 BHP Billiton 1,555.75 BP 446.23
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 5.50 1.14 4.10 0.88 7.50 0.51 3.00 0.18 -22.00 -1.76 -9.00 -1.19 4.50 0.40 12.00 1.06 10.50 0.35 59.00 1.34 2.75 0.50 7.00 0.69 2.75 0.52 1.70 0.65 5.00 1.00 1.15 0.12 -25.25 -1.60 -0.47 -0.11
NET VOLUME 4,651.17 6,130.75 4,073.05 4,300.23 17,081.29 7,379.14 15,419.31 5,685.27 24,217.31 56,004.79 16,242.23 5,010.67 16,603.15 43,037.72 4,930.53 32,510.78 33,239.79 81,323.00
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1.35648
0.73719
Units per €
US dollar..................................................................1.13360 Japan yen ...............................................................135.160 Switzerland franc................................................1.07165 Denmark kroner.................................................7.45754 Norway kroner ....................................................8.57913
currenciesdirect.com/marbella • Tel: +34 952 906 581 C O M PA N Y
PRICE(P)
British Am Tobacco British Land Co BT Group Bunzl Burberry Group Capita Group (The) Carnival
3,676.75 826.00 444.50 1,962.00 1,921.00 1,176.00 2,880.00
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G.
DOW JONES
NASDAQ
C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 23
C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 23
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... 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...
PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 168.12 79.83 34.08 158.31 84.44 108.60 29.61 41.97 104.55 76.67 89.92 25.21 191.51 112.24 163.65 168.12 79.83 34.08 158.31 84.44 108.60 29.61 41.97 104.55 76.67 89.92 25.21 191.51 112.24 163.65
+1.03 +1.43 -0.01 +4.56 +1.14 +0.25 +0.30 -0.14 +0.66 +0.59 +0.48 +0.20 +2.40 +1.30 -0.24 +1.03 +1.43 -0.01 +4.56 +1.14 +0.25 +0.30 -0.14 +0.66 +0.59 +0.48 +0.20 +2.40 +1.30 -0.24
+0.62% +1.82% -0.03% +2.97% +1.37% +0.23% +1.02% -0.33% +0.64% +0.78% +0.54% +0.80% +1.27% +1.17% -0.15% +0.62% +1.82% -0.03% +2.97% +1.37% +0.23% +1.02% -0.33% +0.64% +0.78% +0.54% +0.80% +1.27% +1.17% -0.15%
2.4M 11.3M 21.3M 9.4M 6.0M 7.6M 26.0M 16.0M 5.2M 3.9M 16.0M 39.9M 2.3M 7.3M 3.4M 2.4M 11.3M 21.3M 9.4M 6.0M 7.6M 26.0M 16.0M 5.2M 3.9M 16.0M 39.9M 2.3M 7.3M 3.4M
C O M PA N Y
20.75 8.50 3.30 34.00 13.00 5.00 5.00
0.57 1.04 0.75 1.76 0.68 0.43 0.17
NET VOLUME 68,319.70 8,402.88 35,545.37 6,406.34 8,448.17 7,687.51 6,350.89
PRICE
CHANGE NET / %
$ 14.50 $ 7.87 $ 3.73 $ 8.06 $ 12.19 $ 100.75 $ 18.97 $ 26.89 $ 70.35 $ 2.58 $ 19.73
3.29 ▲ 29.35% 1.07 ▲ 15.74% 0.39 ▲ 11.68% 0.79 ▲ 10.87% 1.12 ▲ 10.12% 9.20 ▲ 10.05% 1.72 ▲ 9.97% 2.39 ▲ 9.76% 6.07 ▲ 9.44% 0.22 ▲ 9.32% 1.54 ▲ 8.47%
$ 18.90 $ 10.82 $ 33.68 $ 17.95 $ 9.51 $ 7.54 $ 57.51 $ 14.42 $ 28.53 $ 19.51 $ 6.07
8.84 ▼ 31.87% 3.95 ▼ 26.74% 5.30 ▼ 13.60% 2.82 ▼ 13.58% 1.24 ▼ 11.53% 0.87 ▼ 10.34% 6.41 ▼ 10.03% 1.58 ▼ 9.88% 2.57 ▼ 8.26% 1.68 ▼ 7.93% 0.51 ▼ 7.75%
Most Advanced Egalet Corporation Sizmek Inc. CafePress Inc. ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. Hingham Institution for Savings ProQR Therapeutics N.V. Allied Motion Technologies, Inc. CyberArk Software Ltd. Hudson Global, Inc. MedAssets, Inc.
Most Declined Noodles & Company Rocket Fuel Inc. Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. TrueCar, Inc. BioTelemetry, Inc. NMI Holdings Inc Universal Electronics Inc. VisionChina Media, Inc. Famous Dave's of America, Inc. Bel Fuse Inc. Planar Systems, Inc.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Centrica 250.25 -1.85 Coca-Cola HBC 1,125.00 -7.00 Compass Group 1,142.50 8.50 CRH 1,844.00 9.00 Diageo 1,895.25 9.25 Direct Line Insurance 329.40 1.90 Dixons Carphone 443.50 2.50 easyJet 1,759.50 7.50 Experian 1,195.50 5.50 Fresnillo 808.75 -18.25 Friends Life Group 418.55 1.45 G4S 285.75 1.85 GKN 386.85 3.85 GlaxoSmithKline 1,530.50 0.50 Glencore 291.48 -0.62 Hammerson 670.50 5.50 Hargreaves Lansdown 1,070.50 4.50 HSBC Holdings 586.30 -18.90 Imperial Tobacco Group 3,117.00 17.00 InterContinental Hotels 2,548.50 15.50 International Consldtd Air 555.00 4.00 Intertek Group 2,520.00 -27.00 Intu Properties 364.80 2.40 ITV 233.85 0.75 Johnson Matthey 3,478.50 -2.50 Kingfisher 341.35 0.05 Land Securities Group 1,241.00 11.00 Legal & General Group 275.70 2.40 Lloyds Banking Group 78.97 0.99 London Stock Exchange 2,490.50 29.50 Marks & Spencer Group 500.25 2.55 Meggitt 569.75 -3.25 Mondi 1,274.50 3.50 Morrison (Wm) Sprmrkts 188.55 -0.95 National Grid 892.10 -6.90 Next 7,355.00 30.00 Old Mutual 218.30 0.00 Pearson 1,411.00 20.00 Persimmon 1,704.50 10.50 Prudential 1,617.50 13.50 Randgold Resources 4,943.50 -71.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 5,712.50 27.50 Reed Elsevier 1,194.50 12.50 Rio Tinto 3,190.00 -47.50 Rolls-Royce Group 952.00 -4.00 Royal Bank of Scotland 399.00 1.50 Royal Dutch Shell 2,123.00 -4.00 Royal Dutch Shell 2,205.50 -0.50 Royal Mail 425.15 1.25 RSA Insurance Group 454.85 2.85 SABMiller 3,588.25 -11.25 Sage Group (The) 475.25 3.65 Sainsbury (J) 271.70 0.10 Schroders 3,056.00 35.00 Severn Trent 2,053.00 4.00 Shire 5,112.50 47.50 Sky 964.50 7.00 Smith & Nephew 1,180.50 5.50 Smiths Group 1,191.50 -0.50 Sports Direct Internatnl 702.00 3.00 SSE 1,531.50 4.50 St James's Place 900.00 3.00 Standard Chartered 959.15 -14.35 Standard Life 424.50 4.90 Taylor Wimpey 146.15 0.85 Tesco 242.13 1.53 Travis Perkins 2,024.00 8.00 TUI AG 1,191.00 1.00 Tullow Oil 398.65 -8.65 Unilever 2,820.50 20.50 United Utilities Group 947.00 1.00 Vodafone Group 234.15 1.75 Weir Group 1,890.00 -21.00 Whitbread 5,042.50 32.50 Wolseley 4,011.00 12.00 WPP Group 1,528.00 10.00
% C H G. -0.73 -0.62 0.75 0.49 0.49 0.58 0.57 0.43 0.46 -2.21 0.35 0.65 1.01 0.03 -0.21 0.83 0.42 -3.12 0.55 0.61 0.73 -1.06 0.66 0.32 -0.07 0.01 0.89 0.88 1.27 1.20 0.51 -0.57 0.28 -0.50 -0.77 0.41 0.00 1.44 0.62 0.84 -1.43 0.48 1.06 -1.47 -0.42 0.38 -0.19 -0.02 0.29 0.63 -0.31 0.77 0.04 1.16 0.20 0.94 0.73 0.47 -0.04 0.43 0.29 0.33 -1.47 1.17 0.58 0.64 0.40 0.08 -2.12 0.73 0.11 0.75 -1.10 0.65 0.30 0.66
VOLUME 12,789.95 4,099.21 18,794.41 14,939.58 47,422.80 4,860.00 5,086.70 7,068.32 11,824.13 6,167.80 5,897.59 4,391.01 6,317.49 74,269.94 37,189.32 5,270.46 4,987.46 115,759.04 29,593.25 6,028.07 11,494.29 4,076.81 4,811.07 9,420.56 7,045.07 8,188.94 9,735.40 16,224.82 55,250.41 8,507.37 8,134.57 4,539.68 4,658.45 4,368.94 33,483.08 11,255.32 10,733.12 11,486.56 5,237.41 41,315.58 4,646.99 40,978.07 13,359.08 45,596.32 18,054.65 25,215.31 82,226.45 53,586.54 4,285.50 4,591.52 57,859.16 5,086.20 5,144.45 6,780.67 4,874.13 30,342.69 16,455.29 10,602.42 4,689.68 4,139.88 15,140.27 4,703.60 23,912.16 9,776.23 4,701.25 19,489.49 5,011.37 N/A 3,630.81 36,026.70 6,413.16 60,653.78 3,975.29 9,119.19 10,322.65 19,825.21
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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26 February - 4 March 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical
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How to write a product review PRODUCT reviews are one of the most effective forms of local newspaper advertising. Basically, these are couched like editorial, and, in small print, you will see that it is flagged up as an advertising feature or similar. The content will be a synopsis of your company’s product or service. Product reviews are a balance between a news story, that you cannot purchase, and a conventional advertisement that you can and do buy. Advertising features are perfectly legitimate and part of newspaper life as long as newspapers have been
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
published. The trick is to get your company’s message over so that readers are tempted to take an interest in your business or its products. The larger companies engage
professional copywriters to write, submit and manage their advertising. Copywriting agencies’ fees are notoriously high. But, if what they do is recoverable through extra sales they are, of course, worth the investment. If you are in touch with a newspaper writer you might be lucky enough to get them to do one for you. The going fee is usually about €60 for a small advertising feature. Don’t quote me; as with all else in life, advertising copywriters are perfectly entitled to charge as they wish. If you wish to do your own copy then remember to stick to the five W
principles of editorial writing. Your content must cover what (product), why (the benefits of using it), who (who it benefits), where (your contact details) and when (now as it is a special offer etc.). There is another expression common to selling: KISS. (Keep it Simple, Simon). A trick often used is to pour out your thoughts and then take the blue pencil to it; bring it down to size. The most common mistake is to write far more than is necessary. To give you an idea of size, this column is roughly 350 words in length. Aim for 200 words.
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E W N 26 February - 4 March 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical
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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
Get on your bike and save a bomb Loose change
jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com
Riding a bike is fun and it’s also great exercise
CARS - they most certainly are luxury items and for some, even an extension of their personality. Typically… driving a Volvo insinuates you’re a responsible and somewhat boring person. A big 4x4 driven on city streets screams “I am the centre of the world, now move out of my way,” while a dainty little vintage car lets the world know you’re hip and trendy and most likely own a lot of Apple products. So what does it mean to ride a cycle then? What does it say about a person? Well I’ll tell you what - it implies that
does all add up! Then in comparison there is the humble bicycle, which will set you back a microscopic fraction of the cost of a car. I used to drive a car, but for the last five years I have been using a bicycle as my mode of transport. And I love it. My bike cost me €295 and since then I have probably spent an extra €50 on punctures or other bits of minor maintenance. I don’t need to buy petrol, pay for a parking space or fork out for expensive insurance. It really
A look at finance for females
Jane Plunkett
MONEY SAVER: Ditch four wheels for two. they’re a smart cookie, because by choosing a bicycle over a car it’s possible to save a heck of a lot of money. Add up the average costs of owning a car. First there is
the purchase price, which can be well into the thousands or tens of thousands, depending on the car. Then there’s petrol, insurance, parking and maintenance. It certainly
Can they embargo rental income? Q. I read your article regarding community debtors who cannot be denied use of the swimming pool. We are a community on the Costa Blanca with the same problem of non-paying debtors. In our case we have debtors who let their properties and therefore receive rents. However these owners do not pay the community fees. We have taken court action and obtained judgements against them but still they do not pay and it seems they have no
You and the Law in Spain By David Searl
A. Yes, you can obtain a court order against any assets or income that the debtor has in Spain. In fact, I am surprised that your lawyer has not already advised the community to take this step. If you have a court ruling that the debtors must pay, the next logical step is to locate any assets they have in Spain and proceed to seize them for the debt. This would include bank accounts, property, and rental income, whichever is the most convenient and effective.
intention of paying. I was advised that, if an owner does not pay the fees, then the mortgage provider must be advised and action may be taken by them. A further issue is that the downturn in property values has put these apartments into ‘negative equity.’ One owner has suggested that we may be able to insist that any rents paid by the tenants should be paid to us, the Community, and not to the non-paying owners. Can you advise? K.G. (Costa Blanca) If the debtor is not a resident of Spain, with other property here, his only asset in the country is the apartment he owns. In the first place, the court can order the tenants to pay the rental on the flat directly to the court, for final payment to the community. If seizing the apartment to sell at auction is the last resort, this is more complicated. The court may inform the mortgage provider that legal action is being taken against the mortgage holder, especially if the flat itself is being seized. After all, the bank has a financial interest in the property. The fact that the property is in ‘negative equity’ does not influence any of these proceedings.
Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.
has saved me a fortune. To go shopping, simply attach a basket onto the back of your bike to carry the groceries. To transport a small child, it’s the same thing, but rather than a basket, attach a child’s seat. While older kids can have their own bike and cycle alongside you! In the south of Spain the weather is fantastic most of the year and riding a bike is really fun and it’s also great exercise. It can be faster getting around the city on a bicycle too, with bikes being able to cut through places where cars just can’t go. For anyone struggling to pay bills or save money, I highly recommending ditching four wheels for two. It’ll save you a fortune and you’ll be surprised by just how much nicer it is to cycle rather than pollute your way around the town.
BUSINESS EXTRA
Debt-ridden SPAIN finished 2014 with a public debt of €1,034 billion, 7 per cent more than in 2013 when this stood at €966.18 billion. The debt is the equivalent of 97 per cent of last year’s GDP of €1,064 billion and is the highest it has been in more than a century.
New markets FAGOR CNA, new owners of the longestablished Mondragon cooperative, will take on hundreds of workers before the summer. CNA, which has opened new markets in Russia, Eastern Europe, Argentina and Brazil, acquired all Fagor household appliance manufacturing lines in San Sebastian after the firm filed for bankruptcy in 2013.
High fliers RYANAIR flew 1.53 million passengers in Spain last month, 24 per cent more than in 2014. Having made peace with the unions, budget airline Iberia Express experienced its first-ever January without labour conflict and with a 26 per cent increase in business climbed two places in the rankings to 262,953 passengers.
OPINION & COMMENT
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Give radicals a ticket out LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT
A
T the time of writing, the news is full of three more young girls, all Muslims, who have allegedly become ‘radicalised’ and left Britain to join up with the IS movement in Syria. Disturbing? Possibly. Worrying? Not at all. If these young people, or anyone else for that matter, thinks they would be happier living in a culture that suits their beliefs and outlook more than the environment they are living in, I suggest they should be given every encouragement possible, even to the extent of paying their air fares. Rather they all left for good, than to stay and turn their frustrations against the people
TAKING-OFF: Those who want to leave UK and join IS should be given every encouragement. they presumably consider enemies of their beliefs. I would go even further. I would set up a Governmentrun helpline, well-funded and equipped with people who used a little common sense (as opposed to the do-gooders’ PC brigade). This department could act rather like Esther Rantzen’s ChildLine. Anyone who feels they would like to
leave and join one of these movements, could ring anonymously, state their case and be given advice and counselling. If they still truly wanted to leave, and weren’t underage, they could then be given every assistance to pursue their ambitions. We could probably get rid of scores of potential terrorist threats in this way.
The only stipulation that would have to be made, of course, is that once their decision had been made, they would have their passports franked to expire one week after their departure, making any change of heart and desire to return virtually impossible. What about the parents and family, you may ask? Well, unfortunately, as upsetting as
it may be, something has been missed in their upbringing. Something has occurred that has made them feel they would be happier away from their home environment. The fact that those close to them have either not spotted it, or done nothing about it is, I’m afraid, simply unfortunate. I’m sure there are many countries they could arrange to travel to and visit their absconded loved ones in the future, so it’s not exactly a permanent loss. Dream on, Leapy, dream on. I see the Greeks have been given another ‘stay’ to resolve their debt problems. If they cough up, or straighten out their position in the next four months, ya can come around and smash every piece of crockery in my kitchen! Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com Website leapylee.co.uk
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E W N 26 February - 4 March 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical
Thursday BBC ONE 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm DIY SOS The Big Build 10:00pm Death in Paradise 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:45pm Question Time 12:45am This Week
BBC TWO 5:15pm Three Up, Two Down 5:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Two Tribes 7:30pm Eggheads 8:00pm Wanted in Paradise 9:00pm The Great British Sewing Bee 10:00pm Reinventing the Royals 11:00pm Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am A Cook Abroad
ITV 5:00pm 1000 Heartbeats 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:15pm ITV News and Weather 7:45pm Emmerdale 8:45pm UEFA Europa League Live 11:10pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:55pm The Great War: The People's Story 12:55am River Monsters
CH4 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Deal or No Deal 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Four in a Bed 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 Gogglebox 12:05am The Romanians are Coming
CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Classic Car Show 9:00pm Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 10:00pm Britain's Biggest Primary School 11:00pm The Mentalist 11:55pm Castle 12:55am Access
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 Arrow 10:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 11:00pm Quiz Nights 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles
Friday BBC ONE 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Room 101 10:00pm The Musketeers 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:25am Would I Lie to You?
BBC TWO 5:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Two Tribes 7:30pm Eggheads 8:00pm Wanted in Paradise 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Britain's Supermarket Revolution: What's in it for Us? 10:00pm Italy Unpacked 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am Doubt 1:40am Question Time
ITV 5:00pm 1000 Heartbeats 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Bear Grylls: Mission Survive 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The 40 Year Old Virgin 1:50am Jackpot247
CH4 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Million Pound Drop 10:00pm Gogglebox 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 Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 9:00pm Angry Brits: Caught on Camera 10:00pm NCIS: New Orleans 11:00pm NCIS 11:55pm Law and Order: Special Victims Unit 12:55am Access
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 Flintoff: Lord of the Fries 10:00pm Stella 11:00pm Quiz Nights 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles
Saturday BBC ONE 5:30pm Six Nations Rugby Union 7:55pm BBC News 8:05pm Regional News 8:10pm Weather 8:15pm The Voice UK 10:15pm Casualty 11:05pm The National Lottery Live 11:15pm BBC News 11:28pm Weather 11:30pm Match of the Day 12:55am The Football League Show
BBC TWO 5:30pm Final Score 6:30pm The Wonder of Animals 7:00pm The Great British Sewing Bee 8:00pm Flog It! 8:45pm How We Got to Now with Steve Johnson 9:45pm Dad's Army 10:15pm Reginald D Hunter's Songs of the South 11:15pm James Brown 12:55am Brooklyn's Finest
ITV 4:35pm Doc Martin 5:35pm Big Star's Little Star 6:35pm Local News and Weather 6:45pm ITV News and Weather 7:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm Saturday Night Takeaway 9:25pm Take Me Out 10:40pm The Jonathan Ross Show 11:35pm ITV News and Weather 11:50pm Boxing 1:30am Jackpot 247 4:00am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA
CH4 5:15pm Come Dine with Me 5:45pm Come Dine with Me 6:15pm Come Dine with Me 6:45pm Come Dine with Me 7:15pm The Simpsons 7:40pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm Homes by the Sea 9:00pm The World's Weirdest Weather 10:00pm Cuban Fury 11:55pm Runaway Jury 2:25am The Last Leg 3:20am Hollyoaks Omnibus 5:30am The Supervet
CH5 3:25pm Rio Bravo 6:10pm 5 News 6:15pm Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light 8:10pm NCIS 9:05pm NCIS 10:00pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 11:00pm Law and Order: Special Victims Unit 11:55pm Law and Order 12:50am True Crimes: The First 72 Hours
SKY1 3:00pm Inside RAF Brize Norton 4:00pm David Attenborough Conquest of the Skies 5:00pm The Simpsons 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm Modern Family 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 9:00pm Hawaii Five-0 10:00pm Batman Begins 12:40am Hawaii Five-0
Sunday BBC ONE 3:00pm My Chinese New Year 3:30pm Six Nations Rugby Union 6:00pm Songs of Praise 6:35pm BBC News 6:50pm Regional News 6:55pm Weather 7:00pm The Big Painting Challenge 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Call the Midwife 10:00pm The Casual Vacancy 11:00pm BBC News 11:20pm Regional News 11:25pm Weather 11:30pm Match of the Day 2 12:35am The League Cup Show
BBC TWO 3:15pm Three Up, Two Down 3:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 4:15pm Flog It! 5:00pm Speed Dreams: The Fastest Place on Earth 6:00pm The Tuxedo 7:30pm Pompidou 8:00pm The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Let's Play Darts for Comic Relief 10:50pm Cosmopolis 12:30am Genghis Khan 2:30am Countryfile
ITV 3:40pm Tipping Point 4:40pm A View to a Kill 7:05pm Local News and Weather 7:15pm ITV News and Weather 7:30pm Celebrity Chase 8:30pm Off Their Rockers 9:00pm All Star Family Fortunes 10:00pm Mr Selfridge 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:15pm ICC Cricket World Cup Highlights 12:15am Bear Grylls: Mission Survive
CH4 3:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:30pm The Wizard of Oz 5:30pm Location, Location, Location 6:35pm Channel 4 News 7:05pm A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 8:00pm Four Rooms 9:00pm The Auction House 10:00pm Indian Summers 11:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 12:05am Twilight
CH5 4:00pm Arthur and The Invisibles 5:45pm 3 Men and a Little Lady 7:45pm 5 News 7:50pm Ghost Rider 10:00pm Total Recall 12:15am Twelve Monkeys
SKY1 4:00pm Modern Family 4:30pm Modern Family 5:00pm Modern Family 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm About a Boy 8:00pm Modern Family 8:30pm Modern Family 9:00pm The Flash 10:00pm Hawaii Five-0 11:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles
TV LISTING
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Monday BBC ONE 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 Crimewatch 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm Crimewatch 11:55pm Waterloo Road 12:50am The Graham Norton Show
BBC TWO 5:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Two Tribes 7:30pm Eggheads 8:00pm Top Gear 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Only Connect 10:00pm A Cook Abroad 11:00pm Let's Play Darts for Comic Relief 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather
ITV 5:00pm 1000 Heartbeats 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 More Tales From Northumberland with Robson Green 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Arthur and George 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Jonathan Ross Show 12:45am A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jones
CH4 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm Food Unwrapped 10:00pm NHS: £2 Billion a Week and Counting 11:00pm My Baggy Body 12:00am 24 Hours in A and E
CH5 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm The Gadget Show 9:00pm Police Interceptors 10:00pm Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 11:00pm 10,000 BC 12:00am Crimson Tide
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 Moone Boy 10:30pm Arrow 11:30pm Critical 12:30am Futurama
Tuesday BBC ONE 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 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 The Gift 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm No Place to Call Home 12:45am Cemetery Junction
BBC TWO 5:15pm Three Up, Two Down 5:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Two Tribes 7:30pm Eggheads 8:00pm Wanted in Paradise 9:00pm Natural World 10:00pm Horizon 11:00pm Let's Play Darts for Comic Relief 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather
ITV 5:00pm 1000 Heartbeats 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 Bargain Fever Britain 10:00pm Exposure 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm On Assignment 12:10am Benidorm
CH4 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Mary Portas: Secret Shopper 10:00pm The Romanians are Coming 11:00pm Drugs Live: Cannabis on Trial 12:35am Don't Look Down
CH5 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Police Interceptors 9:00pm Costa Del Casualty 10:00pm Killer Psychopaths 11:00pm Chicago PD 12:00am Jack the Ripper: New Suspect
SKY1 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 Flash 10:00pm Critical 11:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles
Wednesday BBC ONE 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm The Great Comic Relief Bake Off 10:00pm The People's Strictly for Comic Relief 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm Match of the Day 1:15am Three Fugitives
BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Two Tribes 7:30pm Eggheads 8:00pm Wanted in Paradise 9:00pm Suffragettes Forever! The Story of Women and Power 10:00pm This World 11:00pm Let's Play Darts for Comic Relief 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather
ITV 5:00pm 1000 Heartbeats 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 Big Star's Little Star 10:00pm DCI Banks 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:45pm Pop Gold 12:40am Spandau Ballet
CH4 4:00pm Deal or No Deal 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Location, Location, Location 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Being Bi-Polar 12:00am My Tattoo Addiction
CH5 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Cowboy Builders 9:00pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 10:00pm My Violent Child 11:00pm Farage Fans and UKIP Lovers 12:00am Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole
SKY1 4:00pm Modern Family 4:30pm Modern Family 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 Batman Begins 12:40am Stella
28
E W N 26 February - 4 March 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical
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The Captive After leaving his young daughter Cassandra in the back of his car while he pops into a diner, Matthew returns to find she has vanished without a trace. Her unsolved kidnapping destroys his relationship with his wife, but eight years later a series of events occur that indicate she may still be alive. Detectives discover recent images of Cassandra online, and as a suspect in his daughter’s disappearance, Matthew takes matters into his own hands to ensure his daughter’s safe return. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Rosario Dawson and Mireille Enos. Run time 112 minutes. Rated R.
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THAT’S ALL FOLKS! 1. Actor Jim Backus provided the voice for which short-sighted, wealthy, short-statured retiree cartoon character? 2. Released in 1937 and based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, what was the title of the first fulllength animated feature film and the earliest in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series? 3. Usually depicted wearing a short polka-dotted dress with a matching bow and white gloves, what is the name of Micky Mouse’s girlfriend? 4. What is the title of the fictional animated television series that is regularly watched by Bart and Lisa Simpson? 5. Which British pop group was named after the two bumbling detectives in Hergé’s comic strip The Adventures of Tintin? 6. Which cartoon character was portrayed as the ‘fastest mouse in all Mexico’? 7. Which cartoon character’s trademark was his tone deaf and inaccurate rendition of Oh My Darling, Clementine? 8. Which famous cartoon duo won seven Academy Awards (Oscars) between 1943 and 1953?
Fri Sat Sun -
Mon - 18 11 S Tues - 19 11 C Wed - 18 11 C
18 8 Sh 15 8 S 18 10 Cl
Y S
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) You are still looking more to the past than to the future, but now it seems that circumstances are urging you to move ahead at more of a pace.
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Where you see things failing to go your way, it may seem that others are being unfair. It is unlikely to be that simple. Perhaps you have given the impression of not being particularly caring.
LEO (July 24 - August 23) What you truly want in life is now becoming clear to you. Not for you the fuzzy ideas of the past. Now, you realise that, if you do not give a strong lead, then others will lead you.
SCORPIO (October 24 November 22) Judgment may be impaired this week and it would be advisable to get second and even third opinions.
Sudoku
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 December 21) This week be prepared to be forthright when it comes to a certain difficult situation. This involves someone trying to get you to make a decision you are either not sure of or against.
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
CAPRICORN (December 22 January 20) Are you being pushed into a corner? There is no need to respond with aggression, but a smooth and fast move is required to avoid this. AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) You are looking to having everything your own way, which may not be entirely out of the question. The only sticking point could be that you are not even willing to be sharp with someone who has been far from straight with you.
LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
UK THUNDERBALL
IRISH LOTTO
EURO MILLIONS
Saturday February 21
Saturday February 21
Saturday February 21
Friday February 20
1
9
24
27
38
48
3
18 29
26 31
12
27
28
39
41
45
BONUS BALL
THUNDERBALL
BONUS BALL
36
14
25
4
10 37
LUCKY STARS 4
7
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA
9
12
14
24
37
40
REINTEGRO 7
9
5
Fri Sat Sun -
7 29
Fri Sat Sun -
21 11 S 20 8 S 21 11 S
Fri Sat Sun -
S Sun,
14 4 Sh 16 6 Cl 18 7 C
TODAY:
MAX MIN
Mon - 17 8 Cl Tues - 17 7 C Wed - 17 7 C Cl Clear,
SUNNY MAX 23C, MIN 11C MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun Fog,
Sn Snow,
21 10 Sh 21 8 S 22 9 Cl C Cloud,
MAX MIN
Mon - 23 10 S Tues - 23 11 C Wed - 22 11 S 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 C) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.
TARGET:
Average: 10
Very good: 19
Good: 13
Excellent: 23
cape, cava, cave, cite, epic, pace, pact, pica, tact, vice, apace, attic, civet, evict, tacet, tacit, vatic, active, capita, caveat, tipcat, vacate, captive, activate, capitate, CAPTIVATE
Word Ladder SOFT
Move from the start word (SOFT) to the end word (CELL) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.
17 34
REINTEGRO 8
MAX MIN
Mon - 19 8 S Tues - 19 9 Cl Wed - 19 7 Cl
Murcia
SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 7C 16 6 Sh 14 5 C 16 7 C
CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 6C MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Mon - 21 11 S Tues - 20 12 S Wed - 19 12 Cl
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
MAX MIN
Mon - 21 12 S Tues - 20 12 C Wed - 19 12 S
Madrid
Mallorca TODAY:
18 10 Sh 17 10 S 18 12 Cl
TODAY:
MAX 22C, MIN 11C
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
CLEAR MAX 19C, MIN 11C MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Mon - 18 10 S Tues - 18 9 Cl Wed - 19 9 Cl
14 7 Sh 16 8 S 17 9 Cl
SUNNY
MAX MIN
Mon - 19 13 S Tues - 19 12 C Wed - 20 12 S
Benidorm
Malaga TODAY:
MAX 19C, MIN 12C
18 11 Cl 17 11 S 18 13 S
TODAY:
SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 10C
Sunday February 22
Saturday February 21
14 46
LA PRIMITIVA
Fri Sat Sun -
CLEAR MAX MIN
Barcelona TODAY:
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) With your self-confidence on a high note, you are ready to sing the song of your future. There will be highs and lows but that is what makes life interesting and exciting.
tars
TODAY:
MAX MIN
MAX MIN
our
8-Star Quiz
MAX MIN
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TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) You should bear in mind that you are the best one to decide what you want, when you want it and how you will go about getting it. GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) You know where you are going and who with, but there is this one unresolved thought in your mind. It is just a thought, isn't it? Or is it more? This is something only you can answer. Be prepared this week to take advice and ask questions.
Almeria
CLOUDY MAX 19C, MIN 9C
CELL
CELT CELL
ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Putting yourself first is necessary at the moment. There is so much happening this week that you may be tempted to run yourself ragged trying to do it all yourself.
Alicante TODAY:
SOFT SOOT COOT COLT
PISCES (February 20 - March 20) So far as your work or business life is concerned, those in authority may seek to see things done their way. Where they seem to pay lip service to your needs, that is all it is talk.
1. MR MAGOO, 2. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, 3. MINNIE MOUSE, 4. THE ITCHY AND SCRATCHY SHOW, 5. THOMPSON TWINS, 6. SPEEDY GONZALES, 7. HUCKLEBERRY HOUND, 8. TOM AND JERRY.
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Crosswords
26 February - 4 March 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical
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29
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Cryptic
Quick
Across 1 Secret dress rehearsal version of trays (7) 4 Trials for important matches (5) 7 The right fish and the means to catch them (5) 9 Arranged taverns’ helper (7) 10 Make plans for a railhead on the mountains (7) 11 Crime is the result when clergyman loses his head (5) 12 You and I, Al deserted a wooded area of southeast England (5) 14 The dog for a pugilist (5) 19 Shaky house-building materials? (5) 21 Calm down, silly sausage! (7) 23 Closest set ran frantically (7) 24 Turn away from a green (5) 25 Point ties out on locations (5) 26 For a change, respect the royal staff (7) Down 1 Form of water around river or what may flow into it (6) 2 Quintessentially in German town (5) 3 Method of making tea messy? (6) 4 Mad? Not Dora, it's just wind (7)
Across 1 Talk with (8) 5/24 Genuine (4,4) 9 Outlive (7) 10 Skinflint (5) 11 Humiliation (5) 12 Card game similar to rummy (7) 13 Fortified wine (6) 15 Compositions (6) 18 Equivocating (7) 20 Low waterlogged ground (5) 22 Appearance (5) 23 White ant (7) 24 See 5 25 Worried and uneasy (8)
5 Scrapes vehicle aboard the ship (5) 6 Industrial actions where there is no action (3-3) 8 Weird peer I encountered inside (5) 13 Enlists fresh minds (7) 15 Some surfer, a serious wipe
out! (5) 16 Perfumes made from many nests (6) 17 Religions reorganise a shift (6) 18 Intelligent leader embraces a tender nature (6) 20 Cook in the right oven (5) 22 Criticise tablet (5)
Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 10 represents G and 23 represents Q, so fill in G every time the figure 10 appears and Q every time the figure 23 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 Sorrow, 4 Berate, 9 Opera, 10 Okapi, 11 Rites, 12 Eremite, 13 Scales, 15 Assess, 19 Peerage, 21 Agate, 23 Shade, 24 China, 25 Sheath, 26 Career. Down: 1 Spheres, 2 Roost, 3 Oversee, 5 Erode, 6 Avarice, 7 Exile, 8 Cadet, 14 Acetate, 16 Stamina, 17 Slender, 18 Leach, 19 Pests, 20 Agent, 22 Abate. QUICK Across: 1 Pets, 3 Passages, 9 Soldier, 10 Again, 11 Upset, 12 Splash, 14 Errors, 16 Eraser, 19 Barber, 21 Snaps, 24 Reign, 25 Shelter, 26 Pleasing, 27 Urge. Down: 1 Pastures, 2 Tales, 4 Arrest, 5 Small, 6 Glasses, 7 Send, 8 Litter, 13 Preserve, 15 Realise, 17 Rushes, 18 Prison, 20 Banks, 22 After, 23 Crop. ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Casas, 4 Primo, 7 Ahi, 8 Ahijado, 9 Shed, 10 Gansos, 14 Storage, 16 Ace, 17 Agria, 18 Aisle.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Down: 1 Coats, 2 Shine, 3 Scar, 4 Primavera, 5 Ida, 6 Oro, 11 Swans, 12 Siete, 13 Raza, 14 Sea, 15 Oar.
17 Mild and refined in manners
or prize (5)
(6)
20 Proud stiff pompous gait (5)
19 Give officially as a payment
21 News medium (5)
English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across 1 Tallas (de ropas) (5) 3 Stamp (postage stamp) (5) 5/3D Sopa de guisantes (3,4) 7 Nautical (7) 9 Tienda (4) 10 Tía (4) 14 Pride (satisfaction) (7) 15/14D Salir del sistema (3,3) 16 Late (after usual time) (5) 17 To open (5) Down 1 Toads (5) 2 Hijos (4) 3 See 5 Across 4 Gold (metal, commodity, currency) (3) 6 Entre (5) 8 Equal (5) 11 Tigre (5) 12 Azul (4) 13 Wedding (4) 14 See 15 Across
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 (BUTLER) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues. ALTERS
MODELS
ARROWS
PIERCE
BANKER
REGARD
BREACH
RESENT
BUTLER (10)
RESTED
DEALER
SALUTE
HEALER
SINGLE
HURLED
TALLER
KINDER
THENCE
MELLOW
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Funagram Unscramble the name of a famous British horse racing course (two words): NO DARK PAWNS FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: OSCAR WILDE, SANDOWN PARK
Unscramble the name of a famous Irish writer and poet: LOW SIDECAR
Down 1 Expenditures (5) 2 Give a running commentary (7) 3 Superior group (5) 4 Communication by word of mouth (6) 6 Fertile area in a desert (5) 7 Unpaid overdue debt (7) 8 Corrects (6) 13 Principal law-enforcement officer in a county (7) 14 Destroyed physically or morally (6) 16 Extreme greed for material wealth (7)
1 Robots, 2 Thence, 3 Barrel, 4 Minded, 5 Holder, 6 Borrow, 7 Yonder, 8 Elders, 9 Render, 10 Yellow, 11 Others, 12 Shadow, 13 Killer, 14 Crease, 15 Solder, 16 Monkey, 17 Shred, 18 Inlaid, 19 Seeing
30
E W N 26 February - 4 March 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical
Bilateral pact please stop moaning! LEAPY LEE says he’s sick of debating about Islam. As someone who lived in various Muslim countries for 20 years, I’m sick of reading Leapy’s constant distortion of life there. All right, he lived for eight years in Saudi Arabia, a country which is about as typical of the Muslim world as the deepest recesses of the US Bible Belt are of Christian culture. The restrictions he suffered in Saudi are simply not enforced elsewhere and most Muslims are embarrassed by Saudi attitudes, even if they reluctantly have to defer to them for economic reasons. The rest of Leapy’s article is a moan which only amounts to saying that Britain, like the rest of the world, has irrevocably changed. Of course that does not mean that British Muslims should murder British soldiers or go off to fight for the Jihad, but then only a tiny minority ever think of going to such extremes. On the other hand, we will see more extreme conduct if we persist in seeing Muslims as the stereotypes that Leapy keeps on presenting. Here’s an offer, Leapy: stop your moaning and I’ll lay off too! Bill Campbell (by email)
Big deal I HAVE just received notification that I will receive an age addition of £0.25 with my pension from April 2015. Actually I was 80 years old in February 2014. I remember my mother receiving the same amount when she was 80 in 1989 and even then it wouldn’t buy a small loaf. It’s unbelievable that 26 years on the amount is the same. But we are only pensioners who worked and paid into the system. M Caldwell, Benitachell (Alicante)
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Get it together CHRIS TAYLOR’S complimentary comments on the exemplary quality of the Euro Weekly News’ writers is to be praised and I would like to make a suggestion that will hopefully copper-fasten them. As we have been suffering north-easterly mini-gales since early January, I have (as an old-timer sorely in need of exercise) found it difficult to continually chase and finally retrieve the pages that blow away. So how about investing in a couple of staples? Jim Clancy (by email)
Gobsmacked I WAS so pleased to see that somebody had at last highlighted the issue of why footballers feel compelled to spit at every conceivable opportunity. Before a free kick, after a free kick, immediately before they come on to the field as a substitute, straight away afterwards and incessantly during the game. It is a disgusting habit which is picked up frequently when players are featured in close-up. Apart from being a health hazard and a bad example for young kids who mimic the behaviour of their idols, who would want to fall over on a
in every way, except for the lack of flights, particularly in the winter. This will not change just because a massive new waste of money has opened; cut your losses, turn it into a factory or something useful. Leave our airport alone, it’s ours and I for one would not use Corvera. Sylvia Fleck (via Euro Weekly News website)
MY gran always knows when the weather is going to turn cold because her cats snuggle up together like this, instead of fighting. Alberto (by email) football pitch? And it’s not only the players; managers patrolling their technical areas are often seen spitting and, occasionally, referees. What on earth is it all about? Do these people spit all over their dining room carpets? Ken Turner, San Fulgencio (Alicante)
Hatchet job I ORDERED via Teletienda-tv a juice extractor which was duly delivered. To my consternation both the instruction manual and the recipes were in German, which I do not speak. Also, there was no accompanying guarantee. I immediately sent an email requesting instructions in either Spanish or English and eventually received a reply saying that this was not possible and asking if I would like to cancel the order. I replied in the affirmative and it was arranged that they would collect the machine and I would receive a refund. Instead I received an email requesting that I destroy the juice extractor (quite a large machine!), take a photograph
and send it by email to show that this had been done. They would then make the refund. I replied that I could not possibly do this as I am 83 years old, live alone, cannot walk as I am waiting for a hip operation and in any case do not have the strength to destroy the machine. Nor do I know how to take and email a photo. This email was ignored and they again asked me to destroy the machine, but to date they have not responded to my reply repeating that this was impossible. As the goods were ordered in Spain, am I being unreasonable in expecting instructions to be in Spanish (or English as it is an American product) or that the product should carry a guarantee? What do readers think? Elma Thompson, Torrox Costa (Malaga)
Hands off PLANS to close San Javier airport in Murcia when the new facility at Corvera opens are a travesty. San Javier is a perfect airport
CONGRATULATIONS on your excellent publication, an absolute must for every Thursday. We wonder if readers can advise us on a problem we are having regarding our NonResident tax in Benidorm? We are, of course, registered on the padron and pay all our SUMA bills promptly and without delay. For the past two years we have used the services of a solicitor to pay the NonResident tax at a cost of €80plus for what seems a 10minute job. We were told that we can deal with this issue ourselves and save some cash into the bargain. Being able to speak reasonable Spanish we ventured to Hacienda for a statement of any amounts owing for 20142015, which we could take to our bank and pay. We were told very brusquely and with great bureaucratic indifference and contempt that we had to do it via the Internet: “Internet. Internet. No comprende?” We downloaded the relevant forms and using past years’ information tried to fill them in. We had to admit defeat after several hours! Surely Hacienda should be able to provide with one click the amount we are due to pay and give us that information to take to our bank? Or was it because we went within 20 minutes of the office closing time that the very rude clerk could just not be bothered to help us in case we delayed his knocking-off time? We look forward to hopefully receiving some very interesting comments. Rita and Michael Stimson, 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.
OPINION & COMMENT
26 February - 4 March 2015/ Axarquía - Costa Tropical
The enemy within Mike Walsh
MYKHAYLO PALINCHAK / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
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ESTERN Europeans are waking up to the fact that they have been betrayed by a Brussels elite whose allegiance is to Washington DC. Equally gut-wrenching, their sabotage of the European Union’s economy and security has played out to Russia’s advantage. Since 1945, US foreign policy has lurched from one débâcle to another. An independent think tank estimates that American imperialism has led to the deaths of an estimated 20 to 30 million people. A Greek government minister was recently quoted as saying: “The EU and US pose a far greater threat to Europe than the Soviet Union ever did.” Leading Serbian king-maker Vojislav Selelj said: “Serbia will never join the EU as it is due for collapse anyway.” The mindset that claims US alliance adds to European security and prosperity doesn’t hold water. During the American inspired sanctions, which brings immense hardship to Europeans, trade between America and Russia has increased significantly. Washington DC did admit to
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Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.
investing $7 billion (€6.14 billion) in Europe; these were the costs incurred in their overthrow of Ukraine’s legitimate government. I have family and friends throughout Ukraine. I cannot begin to tell you how they suffer as a direct consequence of US policy. The US had no interest in Ukraine other than its own corporate and destabilising geopolitical anti-Russian ambitions. It is ruinous for Ukraine, but tomorrow we could all share the same fate if America gets its dollar-saving war with Russia. Thanks to US policy and Brussels collaboration, Ukraine, Europe’s largest country, has been completely destroyed economically and militarily. Abandoned by the EU and US, neither of which can afford to
UKRAINE: Has been destroyed economically and militarily. rescue it, all Ukraine’s essential trade ties with neighbouring Russian are severed. The fighting in East Ukraine, which German intelligence reveals has cost the lives of 50,000 Ukrainians, has worked to Russia’s advantage. Russian
President Vladimir Putin, a far smarter statesman than Obama could ever aspire to be, again betters his Western critics. Scratching around for evidence of Russian invasion, Western mainstream media repeatedly make fools of themselves. They’ll
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get used to it. Mainstream media, the government's bullhorn, is forced to use fraudulent photographs to falsely allege a Russian presence in Ukraine. It was never in Russia’s interests to physically intervene in Ukraine. To leave the selfproclaimed independent republics to their own devices was actually to the advantage of Russia. Today, Kiev’s skinhead regime, backed by Washington DC and Brussels, has yet another big problem. Ukraine’s disputed Novorussia, whose five million population is largely UkrainianRussian, is de facto independent, a humiliation and thorn in the side of Kiev and, like Crimea, irrecoverable. Kiev cannot survive whilst at war with an antagonistic rebellious Novorussia that it has lost anyway. Neither can Kiev survive without this most productive and prosperous Ukrainian region. Game, set and match. Another success for Russia that, at Western Europe’s expense, now turns to far more productive eastern markets. Keep this article; I have just written tomorrow’s obituary on Western Europe.
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YPICAL, now my iPod has gone wrong! Having written about the unreliability of modern day technology - or at least the fact that gadgets are simply not built to last these days yet another piece of high priced gear is giving me a hard time. In fairness, I’m not sure whether it’s the iPod itself or the docking station where it sits and sings to me when I’m happy, and in the mood for a bit of José Feliciano or Cat Stevens. Conversely, when I’m feeling sluggish and I turn up the volume for the full blown Black Sabbath experience to blast out the cobwebs and ear wax. And if I’m really brassed off, some Leapy Lee is always guaranteed to lift my spirits. (Mine’s a large Havana Club on the rocks Leapy) But in any event, iPod or docking station, it was not reenergising as it should. I found that it would charge quite happily if I connected it to my computer overnight, so that’s what I started to do. But not for long, because the other
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OPINION & COMMENT
Oh for the long playing record! 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.
morning I found that all 8,700 tracks had disappeared. I thought my wife was marvellous. She is just not used to seeing me blubbing like a baby, balanced on our window sill in my underwear and threatening to jump. But she managed to talk me down by means of a mug of tea and a packet of Jaffa Cakes. Alright, it was the downstairs lounge window, but that’s not the point - you could inflict some nasty damage by dropping three feet into a pot of cacti. But I needn’t have worried, because on closer inspection, I found for some reason known only to the rebellious machine, it had uploaded all my music onto the computer. Phew! I love my iPod when it’s
MODERN TECHNOLOGY: Fine when it’s working well. behaving - it is convenient and compact, but I’m sorry, I still recall those far off days of
vinyl recordings with dewy eyed rapture. There was something
exciting and yes, romantic, about travelling into town on a Saturday to purchase the newly released 45, or the latest long player (they weren’t called albums then). And the best part was, you got to hear them before you bought. You simply made your selection from the packed record shelves, took it to the desk where it would be placed on a turntable, then you would be directed to booth four or whatever to sample your prospective purchase. Vinyl may have been fragile, scratched easily and prone to warping, but I miss the sheer adventure of buying records and those fab LP sleeves that were often works of art in their own right. And yes - I still favour flared trousers.
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More and more people are cruising David Deverson
GLOBELINK INTERNATIONAL Insurance correspondent david@globelink.co.uk
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FLOAT YOUR BOAT: Globelink include cruises in their travel insurance policies Once seen as the preserve of mature travellers who liked to dress for dinner every night, the customer profile has changed significantly. These days the average passenger is under 55 and there are almost as many cruise types as there are kinds of passenger. Adult-only cruises offer the ultimate in sophisticated
getaways, while others cater for all the family, from Playstation-mad children with energy to burn, through to granddads who want to sharpen up their putting skills, or get expert tuition on how to work their iPads. Mainstream cruises now provide classes on everything from history,
antiques or painting to salsa dancing or the art of chocolate-making. Whatever your interest, you’re sure to find something that floats your boat. Even with the best planning, though, the unexpected can happen. A missed transfer, and the ship leaves without you. A cruise that has to be cut short when a close relative falls ill back home. Wise travellers take out travel insurance cover, but even they can be caught out. Unlike Globelink, some insurers exclude cruises from their standard travel insurance policies - which means you could end up paying a hefty premium for adequate coverage before you go. Remember, if you live in Spain your travel insurance might be invalid if it does not cover the entire duration of your return trip from the date you leave Spain until the date you arrive back in Spain.
For an instant quote and to arrange cover securely online, enabling you to print your policy documents immediately, visit www.globelink.co.uk or you can telephone Globelink on 00 44 1353 699082 or their Spanish links line on 966 265 000 or 951 242 434.
OPINION & COMMENT
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How do you keep in touch? SANDRA FIELD from Consultus Care, “I use SKYPE quite often as you can see the person that you are talking to and I like that. I also use my mobile phone to call the UK because that seems to work out cheaper than my landline would you believe. For work I use the mobile phone and email mostly, WhatsApp gets occasionally used if the Spanish address or email is a bit tricky. Lamia Walker from HousesitMatch said “I really love WhatsApp for the speed and convenience of staying in touch with people all over the world for free from my mobile phone. It’s a great way to stay connected especially with our pet sitters wherever they are. They send me pictures of the pets they are looking after. We’ve even started a competition for the best ALFREDO: WhatsApp offers a quick way of keeping in touch with people you may have lost contact with.
In recent news 98 per cent of Smartphones in Spain have a messaging application such as WhatsApp which seems to be the favoured app among expats to keep in touch with loved ones back home. Do you use it or do you prefer to speak to someone either on the phone or face to face? Perhaps you still prefer to use the post?
STREET TALK HEIDI: Facebook is her preferred choice of communication. SANDRA: Prefers to use Skype as you can see who you are talking to.
LAMIA: Loves the speed and convenience.
photos of Pet Antics - it’s quick and fun.” For our new bride Heidi Price, modern, quick forms of communication have been great for her to share photos and thanks to her nearest and dearest following her big day: “Facebook remains my preferred form of online communication and was really useful on my wedding day for sharing thoughts and photos with absent friends. I do use WhatsApp to send the odd photo and quick messages, but do not rely on it half as much as Facebook.” Alfredo Millá Ferrero, Managing Partner at Sonneil Homes and More, which operates across the Spanish coastline from the Costa Brava, throughout the Costa Blanca and down to the Costa del Sol, said advances in technology and the introduction of programmes such as WhatsApp, has made business so much easier and quicker: “For personal communication it is still nice to receive a letter, but with the dynamics of living today, everything is so quick and instant, so WhatsApp makes it easy to keep in touch with people you may have lost touch with. It is easy to send a quick message to let them know you are thinking of them and to say hi.”
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OPINION & COMMENT
1000 WORDS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Time for the ‘big four’ to BOGOF? Nora Johnson
Breaking Views A Costa del Sol resident for a number of years, Nora is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/norajohnson
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HE top 10 packaging tricks employed by supermarkets to tempt customers are misleading and confusing according to a recent Which report. Tactics include tiny portion sizes making products seem healthier; own-label products copying the packaging of international brands; poor-value gift sets in which the cost of individual items is the same, and oversized packaging that looks as if you’re getting a lot until you open it to find one third empty space. Then you clock the catchall: ‘This product is sold by weight, not by volume.’ But the problem’s much bigger than a few packaging tricks. Supermarkets in the UK are
SUPERMARKET TIP: Best to have quality items at honest prices, which is what most people want. having a really tough time. Sainsbury’s reported its worst Christmas for a decade and is cutting 500 jobs. Morrisons announced 400 job-losses, the closure of 10 loss-making stores and sacked its CEO. Tesco, reeling from a series of profit warnings and that ‘black hole’ in its accounts, is cutting 10,000 jobs, closing 43 stores and
has shelved plans to open 49 superstores. Basically, the ‘Big Four’ are suffering from falling sales as everyone’s buying more cheaply elsewhere. People don’t want ‘Loyalty cards,’ ‘points’ on some vague scheme where 50,000 points equal 50p or BOGOF (buy one, get one free). Especially so on perishable goods - unfair to
singles or the elderly whose families have flown the nest and the ‘free’ item likely to go mouldy before it can be consumed. They want quality, but lower prices. Well, I have a few tips for supermarkets. Please stop constantly moving everything everywhere all the time to force the shopper to walk around more of the store. You know where
A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene
A new comfort zone
Surface tension TOMAS GOMEZ was until very recently the PSOE socialists’ leader in Madrid and candidate for the regional presidency. He is mixed up in a finance scandal dating back to his time as mayor of the Madrid suburb of Parla, enough in itself for his removal. Unforgivably he also
Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.norajohnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89;£0.79) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.
led the PSOE to its worst-ever Madrid defeat in 2011. Now the party’s national secretary general Pedro Sanchez has booted him out, succeeding where the former socialist president Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and his successor Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba both failed. Whether this is enough to regain Madrid remains to be seen, as the party’s different currents produce stormy seas there. This is where the PP has the advantage because its surface is seldom ruffled: whatever happens in its Calle Genova headquarters stays in Calle Genova.
Cassandra Nash
IF Spain’s monarchy is relatively austere, the same cannot be said of the CCOO union’s bank division, now called Comfia. The change of name clearly put Comfia in another comfort zone as it spent €14.06 million between 2008 and 2012 on ‘journeys and meetings.’ This included annual bills of ‘tens of thousands of euros’ on steaks and seafood, those staples of Spanish jollies, as well as expensive restaurants. Is that what those workers had in mind when they first organised CCOO in the 60s and were often imprisoned for it?
everything is, but your customers don’t. Can you also stop doing those annoying two for £5 (when each item costs £2.47 individually) type tricks? And generally can you please try to treat your customers with a modicum of respect rather than trying to wheedle a bit more money out of them? Aldi and Lidl aren’t to everyone’s taste but, now accounting for over 10 per cent of Britain’s grocery sales, they’re scaring the living daylights out of the Big Four. Maybe it’s because they don’t have Two for Ones or stuff endlessly moving aisles? Just quality items at honest prices which strangely may be what most people want when they’re shopping. To misquote Tesco, ‘Every Lidl’ helps.
KING FELIPE: Recently cut his salary by 20 per cent.
Every little helps THE Spanish are not monarchist by vocation. Those who remember the transition to democracy after Franco’s death and the failed 1981 coup - which recently celebrated its 34th anniversary - will always be grateful to Juan Carlos I. His son Felipe benefits from that gratitude and, mindful of it, he recently cut his salary by 20 per cent to €234,204 a year. It’s still a fortune but modest compared with other European monarchs and not a bad gesture during times of need. There were some grumbles because the savings went to other Palace allocations but robbing Peter to pay Paul is a time-honoured way of balancing the books without raiding the moneybox.
Come hither THE PP national government headed by Mariano Rajoy is saving its heavy artillery for Podemos. The newly-formed party is its closest rival for the upcoming elections according to some surveys, which disquiets Rajoy, who believes in and is more comfortable with the two-party system. He want Podemos out of the way instead of splitting the vote, but the strategy is risky and could backfire. Discrediting Podemos is more likely to push voters towards the PSOE instead of luring them to the PP.
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
ealth & beauty H TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EWNLIFESTYLE.COM
An early night and I’m ready for another day Erica Russell Watson: My journey – and I’m driving
19th February STILL getting back to an even keel after the tragic death of Angus on February 8. Family and friends have had a rough time coming to terms with his untimely departure. By the end of last week I was totally drained and in desperate need of sleep. My next chemo session was booked for February 18 and with such a lack of sleep and irregular meal times, coupled with extreme stress and sadness, I was wondering whether my blood tests would be up to scratch. So into my car I got and drove to the hospital and had my blood test done. Those of you who read my blog will recognise the pattern. Then off for breakfast and then a three-hour wait to see the oncologist. She
cheerfully greeted me and asked me how I was. Well, that was a question! I replied I was fine despite everything! I asked after my test results and she said everything was fine and my immune system was doing really well. Miracles never cease as I was half expecting her to say that I would not be able to have the treatment due to some dive in my results. Luckily for me, this wasn’t the case. I was hooked up for blasting number five. Joy of joys, María Jesús the nurse, an utter star, got the line in first time! This was the first in the next cycle of treatment, so Rosa, the chemo nurse, came and gave me a chat about the possible side-effects. I say ‘possible’ because they are worst case scenarios. Frankly, I pay very little attention to them and that way they don’t affect me. Who wants their eyelashes to fall out, their nails to blacken, nausea, muscular aches and pains, streaming eyes and redraw eye sockets? Correct, nobody! So best put it to the back of your mind! A quick pit stop for a very late lunch with my lovely Pepi and then it was
back home to do the football run and cook dinner. No rest for the wicked! I got the few bits and bobs and medicines that I deemed necessary and hunkered down for the night. I slept well and have had no side-effects at all today and have managed to do lots of jobs around the house. I find keeping busy is the best medicine. I have also answered a great deal of correspondence. The emails and texts keep coming. A special thanks to Marilo and Kevin for their kind comments last week. My love goes to them as I fear they are going through a similar process as me. Good luck and chin up! Later I collected Oliver and greeted him with a roast chicken, his favourite, so all was good. Izzie arrived and got stuck into her books… she is such a swat, but I’m grateful as I have never had to push her to study, a little star. Once all our jobs had been done we went down to the village to meet friends and the boys played football. Always good to let off steam for both the big and little people! An early night for me and I live to fight another day
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Diet for building stronger bones
MANY know that the Mediterranean diet is good for the heart, but research has shown it is also good for the bones. It would appear that just two years of using olive oil rather than less healthy fats may preserve or even build bone in older people. The Mediterranean Diet is thought to improve heart health because it is high in fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, whole grains and ‘healthy’ fats such as those in olive oil, while low in red meat and
dairy products. But a study shows people eating more olive oil had higher levels of the hormone osteocalcin in their blood - a marker linked to better bone strength. Mediterranean countries have lower rates of osteoporosis compared with Northern European nations, and therefore traditionally better heart health. However, that has been changing as diets too have changed with more saturated fats being consumed.
When bacteria is good for your skin WHEN people think of bacteria they often think bad thoughts. But ‘good’ bacteria are essential for people’s wellbeing. In fact, the billions that live in the human gut are essential for the immune system, and the same is true for the bacteria that exist on the skin. The beneficial bugs on the surface of the skin work to maintain moisture and radiance and fight the bad bacteria which cause redness, sensitivity, spots and other infections. What’s more, good bacteria penetrate the deeper levels to repair skin DNA and build wrinkle-preventing collagen, so increasing them can help combat wrinkles, sagging and pigmentation, restoring your complexion’s youthful plumpness and glow, studies suggest.
No napping during the day for the little ones CHILDREN’S daytime naps should stop at the age of two. Researchers say new evidence shows that children who take an afternoon nap over the age of two don’t get such good quality night-time sleep. NAPS: Stop children having a good night’s sleep.
Researchers analysed data from 26 studies to find out what impact daytime sleeps had on a child’s night-time sleep quality up to the age of five years old. They found some evidence indicating that napping
beyond the age of two increases the amount of time it takes for a child to fall asleep at night and shortens the overall amount of sleep, but the findings on the impact of napping on behaviour and development are not clear.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
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EWN
Mobile phone addiction linked to emotional instability DO you find yourself constantly playing with your phone and checking for updates? If so, you may be depressed, say scientists. A new study claims that people who can’t put down their mobile phones are more prone to moodiness and temperamental behaviour after
Spaniards put too much salt on their food SPANIARDS consume twice the maximum recommended daily amount of salt. Advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that no more than five grammes of salt should be eaten each day. The Spanish Society of HypertensionSpanish League for the fight against hypertension, has revealed that Spaniards consume an average of 10 grammes daily. Salt intake is necessary for the body as it controls the amount of water that regulates fluids and helps transmit nerve impulses. However, excess salt cannot be removed and accumulates in the blood attracting water and increasing the volume of circulating blood, causing the heart to work harder leading to higher blood pressure.
they found a link between phone addiction and emotional instability. Scientists from the Baylor University in Waco, Texas, USA, said individuals who relentlessly check their phone may be trying to improve how they feel emotionally. Researchers had 346
participants take part in their study, aged between 19 and 24. They assessed their personalities and level of mobile phone addiction by analysing their answers to a detailed questionnaire. As well as emotional instability, the researchers found that those constantly on their phone also
struggled to focus on one thing. The average smart phone user is believed to look at their handset around 150 times a day and a new app called Moment can monitor phone usage to track how much an individual uses their phone and where.
Standing on one leg keeps you young HOW well you can balance could give an insight into your overall general health. A study has found that being unable to stand on one leg for more than 20 seconds was linked to an increased risk of a ‘silent’ stroke. This condition occurs when there are tiny bleeds in the brain that don’t cause symptoms, but which raise the risk of both full-blown stroke and dementia. The UK’s Medical Research Council found
that 53-year-olds who could stand on one leg for 10 seconds with their eyes closed were the most likely to be fit and well in 13 years’ time. However, those who could only manage a few seconds were three times as likely to die before the age of 66. There are some things you can do to improve your balance system and keep it working well: • Try marching on the spot to strengthen the co-ordination between
your body and your eye movement. • Swap shoes during the day, this can help keep the balance sensors in your feet and legs. • Watch your blood pressure as high blood pressure can lead to tiny arteries in the brain hardening, which can lead to balance issues. • Go for a swim or play bowls as gentle exercise helps preserve balance and both improve hand-eye-body co-ordination.
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OPINION & COMMENT
The War of the Rosés
Battlegrounds make the best bars. Wars make the best parties. Kevin Pilley Pilley’s Planet Kevin is an ex-professional cricketer and the former chief staff writer of PUNCH. He is the UK's most published travel writer. His work appears worldwide. He once went to Vienna and dressed up as Mozart.
B
y nine o’clock in the morning, Spanish time, I was half-man, half-marinade. I was completely pickled. My hair had turned a dark velvet and my clothes were spattered blood red. I gave off the unmistakable bouquet of blackcurrants and baked plums with maybe just a hint of cinnamon. I was engaged in closecontact hand-to-hand fighting of the most enjoyable kind. A man pressed a water pistol to the side of my head and asked if I liked ‘Rioja.’ Before I could answer he said “Hasta la vista, baby!” and shot me at point blank range. ‘Tempranillo’ grape juice trickled from my nostrils. ‘La Battala dos Vinos’ or ‘Battle of Wines’ takes place every St Pedro’s Day (June 29th) in Haro, the capital of the Rioja winemaking region of Spain. The town dates back to the 10th century and derives from a shanty town which grew up around a lighthouse on the Turon river and the Rio Ebro. The main attractions are the parish church of Santo Tomas, the baroque ‘Our lady of la Vega’ basilica and the neoclassical town hall. The town is famous for its bodegas and winehouses like ‘La Rioja Alta,’ ‘Muga’ and ‘Roda.’ ‘La Herradura’ (the horseshoe) is the recommended route for a tapas and tippling crawl. Northern Spain’s War of Wines, which lasts three hours and started in 1906, commemorates a 10th century property dispute between Haro and the neighbouring village of Miranda.
BLOOD RED: With a bouquet of blackcurrants.
Over four thousand were involved in the mayhem last year. Torrents of red wine poured past us as we trudged up ‘La Calle Navarre’ to the clifftop battlefield of Biliblio. Returning from the front, battle-stained survivors staggered by, their weapons emptied, their compulsory white shirts crimson. Some stopped to be sick by the roadside. The rocks looked like they had been used by firing squads. In the old days, the ‘guerreros’ used to arrive by foot and horse. Now they come by car, caravan and tractor. Modern technology has improved weaponry. Today, everything from fire extinguishers and pump-action high-velocity ‘Supersoakers’ capable of shooting a half a bottle of plonk in five seconds to water pistols, buckets and farming pesticide sprays are used in the mayhem. Everyone carries their own personal ‘bota’ or leather
wine boot. Everyone knows how to use their boot. It is every man and woman for himself. The ‘Jarrilleros,’ as the locals call themselves because of their jam-making heritage, are born with their boots in their hands. They are great marksmen. They can hit a moving target at eight yards, firing from the hip with an ancient shepherd’s wine gourd. They are masters at boot-to-boot combat. Fifty thousand litres of wine were fired last year. Mostly, it seemed at me. The local council provides four litres per person. Most bring their own ammunition in the form of ‘Don Simon’ supermarket plonk. Some prefer watered-down ‘Valdepenas’ from La Mancha. It causes greater and more stubborn staining. They don’t waste the ‘Roda 1 1995 Reserva.’ “It’s a fiesta intergalacticos,”
said one wine warrior. He wore a pair of welding glasses and we took shelter together near the fifth century hermitage of San Felices, the patron saint of Haro. He reloaded his boot from a large Coke bottle. “Pamplona is cosmopolitan and touristy. It is how you say… He paused to give himself time to be erudite. “Pants! “This is local. The Bunol tomato fest is too big. Our battle is more personal. It is the ultimate wet tshirt contest!” It was the last thing he said before a braless woman shot him straight between the eyes. Vineyard owner Felix Alonso is 82 and battle-hardened. He led the way from the tiny church overlooking the two rivers. Around every corner we were ambushed. Snipers picked us off. Our friend, teacher Edourado Alegria, was caught in the crossfire of expertly squirted Granache. He did not have a chance and was drenched. We carried on down the mountainside to complete the traditional circuit. Thinking we had reached safety, we were strafed by a battalion of youths armed with ‘las bocas de las sulfatadoras,’ sprays used on vines.
‘Charanga’ bands played local folk songs like ‘La Estanquera’ (‘The Tobacco Seller’) and ‘Moros y Cristianos’ (‘Moors and Christians’). In the woods, our fellow fighters made themselves bean stews and barbecued piquillo red peppers with red chorizo sausages and black morcilla chitterlings. The Battle of Wine spares noone. Even your allies turn against you. I had gone into battle with Pedro Ortega, who owns the ‘Senorio’ hotel in nearby Brinas. We ate our lunch below the battlefield. It was snail stew followed by potato hash Spanish omelettes. “These are the good moments in life,” said Pedro. “Food, drink and many, many happy people.” Then, raising his boot and squeezing gently, he shot me in the mouth. Then he offered me some cherries, picked that morning. “War is a fine thing. Is it not, amigo?”
For more info about the War of Wine (La Batalla del Vino) on June 27, contact turismo@haro.org/www.wine-fight.com www.vueling.com fly from Malaga and Sevilla. Fares start at €44.00.
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Gardening Corner
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
By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.
AT last a sunny day after two weeks of generally drizzly weather with an occasional heavy down pour, and more sun is promised for the next 10 days, so it is now a good time to think about planting flowering trees. There are numerous to choose from, for their flowers, shade, architectural shapes and varying heights. They can also be planted as integral parts of boundary hedges to frame the best views beyond the garden and hide the worst. The benefits include the wide variety of seasonal flowerings possible from early spring to late autumn. Most flowering trees are deciduous and therefore provide summer shade and allow the winter sun to shine through the skeleton of branches during the winter. Well planted in enriched soil they can grow relatively fast, and once established most are fairly frost and drought resistant. The wide range of leaf, flower, fruit and bark colours and textures will brighten up the garden and add interest. However there can be a few problems as well. Flowering seasons are often short and fallen leaves, dead flowers, fruit and broken twigs need to be swept up especially after strong winds and storms. Some may seem small when taken home from the garden centre, but they can
FLOWERING TREES: Lots to choose from. become too large for their situation unless trimmed every couple of years. And vigorous roots can undermine the foundations of buildings, paths and boundary walls. Heavy heads can snap from thin young trunks unless the trees are well staked for some years after planting. In general the soil needs are the same as for smaller perennial plants and shrubs - reasonably fertile, rich in humus, water retaining and free draining. It is of benefit to work in a little TerraCottem moisture retaining gel into the bottom of planting holes to help roots grow continuously in the first few years. Popular trees include: Early flowering Almonds, Acasias, Cersis the Judas trees that flower for Easter, Poinsettias, Laburnum and Tamarix. Summer flowering Albizias, Bauhinas - the orchid trees, Caesalpinias, Chorisias, Jacarandas, Justicias, Lagerstroemias, Melia Azedarachs, Parkinsonias, and Robinias. Autumn flowering Arbutus, Bauhinas, Hibiscus Matabilis and Justicias.
Fruiting trees with wonderful blossom displays can also be regarded as early flowering trees. Especially impressive are peaches, apricots and pears. More information about flowering trees and many other groups of plants likely to be of interest in your garden will be found in Part Four of ‘Your Garden in Spain’. © Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com
WE have had two bitches, both spayed, one for five years, aged about seven now, and the other for 16 months from the age of four months. They have always got along, and played very well together. But out of the blue on Saturday evening, the older one attacked the younger in the house. We got them apart and they did only slight damage to each other (cuts and scratches on the ears). The following day they were very wary of each other, but by Monday everything seemed to have been forgotten and they were playing again. However, last night the
FIGHTING: Sometimes better to rehome one of the dogs. younger one attacked the older one. We managed to get them apart sooner with no damage done (except for my husband who seems to have come off the worst). This morning they are playing again. I really don’t know what has happened. There does not appear to be any warning they just suddenly go for each other. Do you have any suggestions.? Susan Hello Susan. Your problem is common where females are concerned.
As the younger one gets older she will by nature challenge the older one as a matter of hierarchy. Often the fighting is when someone in the family is present and they become jealous. Shouting only edges them on. Quite often it is better to rehome one of the dogs otherwise the injuries can become nasty and costly. I am aware you love them and emotionally it is a killer, I had the exact same problem and rehomed the younger one. Regards, David
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THE financial crisis has brought about new ways of making ends meet, some of which had before seemed unthinkable or been seen as strange foreign customs. One such idea is that of capsule-accommodation, which many in Spain had seen on documentaries about Japan and found rather a strange and claustrophobic idea. Yet three such establishments in the northern city of Barcelona are proving they are not quite as bad as they may seem, with not only tourists and short-term visitors pouring in the doors but also people who set up home. Sergi, a 22-year-old from the city, has been living in one of the 2.5 by 0.9 by 1.4 metre capsules for the last two months. He explained that he initially went to a capsule-hostel because he was unemployed and unable to afford larger accommodation but later decided to stay on.
Vincent St. Thomas / Shutterstock.com
Living in a capsule in Barcelona is not quite as bad as it seems
OSAKA: Japanese capsule hotels provided the inspiration. “Now I have found a job but I like it here, the atmosphere is great and the staff members feel like family” Sergi explained. While other sharedaccommodation may provide more space, Sergi found there was far more privacy in the
capsules, and as opposed to traditional bunk-beds they provided a bed-side shelf, lamp and sockets. Breakfast was included in the price and residents had access to kitchen facilities. Hostel Box manager Javier
Velat explained that compared to the €350 per month a room in a flat or €650 per month a whole flat can cost, capsules are available on long-term offers for €240. “At the moment we have people from Barcelona or Italy
Fast and strong price recovery is forecast ONE firm of financial experts has thrown out the caution with which most analysts are couching talk of a property recovery in Spain and predicted a fast and dramatic revival. Presenting his report on Spanish economic perspectives, Ignacio de la Torre of financial advisory company Arcano, said: “The recovery of the Spanish property market will take place sooner than many forecast, and with higher and quicker price rises than the market expects.” De la Torre’s report, which is generating a lot of heat in the Spanish press, says there are two
errors driving the consensus that any recovery will be tentative. The crisis has left a glut of around 600,000 unsold properties, which many insist will continue to hold down prices. But De la Torre says the most important factor when considering housing stock surplus is location. “When you look at the distribution of this excess housing supply, huge discrepancies can be seen with an important concentration in regions that contribute less than a third of the GDP, while in autonomous regions such as Madrid, Catalonia
and the Basque Country, which account for 43 per cent of GDP, supply is below its historic average,” he insists. The other tenet dismissed by De la Torre is the belief that low household incomes stand in the way of the property market’s recuperation. He instead points to historically low interest rates, the injection of liquidity from the European Central Bank, and the fact that “a quarter of the market is in hands of foreign buyers with considerably higher incomes” as more significant factors likely to push prices up.
that work here and also foreign students that have been here for four or five months. When the academic year starts we tend to have Erasmus students staying here while they look for a flat. Some end up staying all year and become part of the family,” Velat explained. Those that spend shorter periods of time at the hostels include families, who can rent entire rooms with between four and 14 individual capsules inside, and travelling salesmen. Velat opened the first capsule hostel in the city two years ago, and explained that although the original idea was copied from capsules in Japan, these are slightly different as access is through a curtain on one side. Now the 32-year-old entrepreneur is thinking of taking capsule hostels to Madrid and other European cities as they gain popularity day-by-day.
More business travellers invest in permanent base HIGH-FLYING corporate travellers form a potentially lucrative base of customers, with interest in buying a ‘business home’ abroad increasing. The Global Business Travel Association Foundation forecasts that corporate travel will increase across Spain, the UK, France, Germany and Italy by 6.6 per cent this year, based on last year’s increase of 4.9 per cent. A Spanish property developer based in the UK plans to jump on that trend, marketing second homes in Spain for business people who
often travel to the same area for work, and who aren’t keen on living out of hotel rooms. They see new international trade with Spain’s recovering economy, combined with the strength of sterling against the euro, low Spanish property prices and corporate travellers’ yearning for home comforts, as the ideal opportunity to suggest investing in a home rather than spending on temporary accommodation. A ‘business home’ could also prove a sensible, long-term investment.
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WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)
AUTOMATIC BMW MINI COOPER ‘S’… 2008, only 41,000kms (approx 25,000mls), FSH. Black with white roof/mirrors, cream leather interior, one careful English gentleman owner leaving Spain, immaculate condition, sat nav, telephone, cruise and climate control, alloys, CD player, cost new 28,500 euros, bargain now 12,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson (The Car Couple) Tel. 952 832 173 / 608 658 785 see photo at www.robert soncars-spain.com (234732) FORD KA 2007 ‘COLLECTION’… 3 door hatchback, only 48,000kms. Lady owner leaving Spain, air condition, blue/grey trim, CD player, super city car only 3,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson (The Car Couple) Tel. 952 832 173 / 608 658 785 see photo at www.robertsoncars-spain.com (234732) DIESEL BMW 116D… 2 litre 2011 with M. Pack, 6 speed, electric sunroof, only 38,000kms (approx 24,000mls), full BMW service history, one expat owner leaving Spain. Pearlescent blue with black leather, alloy wheels, climate and cruise control, Parktronic, CD player, ABS, cost new 26,350 euros. Our BMW bargain buy 15,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson (The Car Couple) tel. 952 832 173/ 608 658 785 see photo www.robert soncars-spain.com (234732) DIESEL JAGUAR X TYPE ESTATE WAGON… 2 litre 2004 model, only 70,000kns (approx 43,000mls), 5 speed, one expat owner, full service history, silver grey with beige leather, climate/cruise control, CD player, every electric extra, very rare and excellent condition, new clutch/flywheel and timing belt kit, cannot buy better 8,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson Tel. 952 832 173 / 608 658 785. See it at www.robertsoncars-spain.com (234732) FABULOUS FIAT 500… 2012. ‘Lounge’ only 45,000kms (approx 27,000 miles), FSH. A real looker, pearl white with black glass roof and white interior, air con, all usual refinements, coming in Saturday. Samantha or Gordon Robertson, (The Car Couple) Tel. 952 832 173 or 608 658 785 see photo more details www.robertsoncarsspain.com (226426)
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4x4 AUTOMATIC (Hybrid) Lexus RX.350… ‘President’ top of the range, only 78,000kms (approx 49,000mls), full service history, sat nav, Spanish plates, one lovely English lady owner, class and economy, every extra, 18,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson (The Car Couple) tel. 952 832 173/ 608 658 785 www.robert soncars-spain.com (234732) IMMACULATE TOYOTA COROLLA… 1.6 ‘Terra’ 4 door, 5 speed, saloon, air condition, stereo, electric windows, one Swedish lasy owner, 1999. Bright red, grey trim, stunning. Samantha or Gordon Robertson (The Car Couple) Tel. 952 832 173/608 658 785 see photo on www.robertsoncars-spain.com (234732) CABRIO Mercedes Benz 500SL Sport… (new shape) 2001. Only 82,000kms (approx 51,000mls), FSH, electric hard top folds into boot, stunning condition, beautiful blue colour with grey leather, usual refinements, sat nav, always garaged, 15,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson (The Car Couple) Tel. 952 832 173 or 608 658 785. www.robertson cars-spain.com (226426)
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Self-driving cars a reality WHO needs a driver? Volvo thinks they could soon be a thing of the past as it presents its ‘complete system solution’ that makes it possible to integrate self-driving cars into real traffic with ordinary people in the driver’s seat. “We are entering uncharted territory in the field of autonomous driving,” said Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development of Volvo Car Group. “Taking the exciting step to a public pilot, with the ambition to enable ordinary people to sit behind the wheel in normal traffic on public roads, has never been done before.” Volvo Cars is moving rapidly towards the aim of placing 100 self-driving cars in the hands of customers on selected roads
around Gothenburg by 2017. The public pilot, one-of-a-kind collaboration between legislators, transport authorities, a major city and a vehicle manufacturer, is a central component of Volvo Cars’ plan to achieve sustainable mobility and ensure a crash-free future. Based on an extensive analysis of potential technical faults, Volvo Cars has designed a complete production-viable autonomous driving system. The key to making this unprecedented leap is a complex network of sensors, cloud-based positioning systems and intelligent braking and steering technologies. “Autonomous driving will
fundamentally change the way we look at driving. In the future, you will be able to choose between autonomous and active driving,” explained Dr Mertens. “This transforms everyday commuting from lost time to quality time, opening up new opportunities for work and pleasure.” Volvo Cars’ Autopilot system is designed to be reliable enough to allow the car to take over every aspect of driving in autonomous mode. The technology advances a crucial step beyond the automotive systems
demonstrated so far since it includes fault-tolerant systems. “It is relatively easy to build and demonstrate a self-driving concept vehicle, but if you want to create an impact in the real world, you have to design and produce a complete system that will be safe, robust and affordable for ordinary customers,” said Dr Erik Coelingh, Technical Specialist at Volvo Cars. “The main challenge is to design an Autopilot that is robust for traffic scenarios as well as for technical faults that may occur. It cannot be expected that the driver is ready to suddenly intervene in a critical situation. “Making this complex
system 99 per cent reliable is not good enough. You need to get much closer to 100 per cent before you can let self-driving cars mix with other road users in real-life traffic,” Coelingh said. “Here, we have a similar approach to that of the aircraft industry. Our fail-operational architecture includes backup systems that will ensure that Autopilot will continue to function safely, also if an element of the system were to become disabled.” The complete technology solution shall handle even the most complicated scenarios, from smooth commuting to heavy traffic and emergencies.
SELF-DRIVE: Volvo presents its ‘complete system solution’.
A speedy and spacious family car THE new Leon ST CUPRA is a unique combination of top performance, style and utility, claim the Spanish manufacturers. Acceleration from zero to 100km/h being just 6.0 seconds combined with 1,470 litres of load space in the estate car go some way to back that claim up. Among journalists and customers alike, the SEAT Leon CUPRA is much admired as a Sport Coupé and as a five-door. In the trade media across Europe, the CUPRA immediately became a consistent winner in comparison tests with owners said to love its design. Jürgen Stackmann, President of SEAT SA said: “The new Leon ST CUPRA is the perfect complement to our high-performance model
line-up. The combination of refined performance and expressive dynamics with relaxed longdistance comfort and compelling utility make it utterly unique. “The Leon ST CUPRA shows the SEAT brand values at their best. We are proud of the technical excellence and quality it conveys.” A concentrated package of hitech guarantees the performance of the car. At the top is the 2.0 TSI engine with dual injection and variable camshaft timing. Depending on the version, it delivers an output of 195kW/265 PS or 206kW/280 PS. The DCC dynamic chassis control, the front differential lock, the progressive steering, the CUPRA Drive Profile and the standard-fit
full-LED headlamps are further examples of its state-of-the-art technologies. The sportiness of the Leon ST CUPRA can be further enhanced with the optional Performance Pack. It includes a highperformance four piston Brembo brake system with 370 x 32mm perforated front discs, exclusive 19” rims (with a choice of Black or Orange) with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres and side trim strips. Dr Matthias Rabe, Vice President for Research and Development, said: “We have invested a great deal in the fine details to ensure the Leon CUPRA has the same ride and the same athleticism in its estate form – but with plenty of additional utility.”
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Clarke to lead Europe Darren Clarke will captain Europe in next year’s Ryder Cup.
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By James Warren WHILE the MotoGP season is still a few weeks away, the World Superbike season kicked off for the first round at Philip Island in Australia. In a field packed full of Brits and a very special wildcard appearance, it all shaped up to be a special weekend of racing. The big news of the weekend was that the
legend Troy Bayliss was making a sensational return to racing, replacing the injured Davide Giugliano in the Aruba.it Ducati team. It was his first competitive WSBK race since 2008, where he picked up his third title with the same manufacturer. Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea would start from pole after a dramatic Superpole session that
saw him take pole from Welshman Chaz Davies by 0.026 seconds. Race one proved to be just as spectacular with the front three trading places throughout the whole race. The victory went to the Ulsterman Rea after an epic last lap battle with Haslam, taking the victory by just 0.039 seconds. The podium was an all British affair with Davies taking third on the Ducati. Reigning World Champion Tom Sykes came home in sixth position and fellow Brit Alex Lowes, who had shown blistering pace throughout warm-up, had a nightmare weekend, suffering technical issues
Troy_Bayliss_SBK_2006
World Superbike kicks off in Oz
TROY BAYLISS: Sensational but emotional return.
aboard the Suzuki that would see him finish ninth in race one and a DNF in race two. Race two took off where race one finished, with the same three fighting for the victory throughout. Victory spoils, however, went to Leon Haslam after drafting Rea over the finish line to take the win by 0.001 seconds, denying Rea a superb double win on his Kawasaki debut. Troy Bayliss would have an emotional weekend, finishing 13th and 16th respectively but suffering from tyre issues all weekend, the high temperatures of the Philip Island tarmac proving tricky for the Ducati’s Pirelli rubber.