Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 28 January - 3 February 2016 Issue 1595 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

ISSUE NO. 1595

28 Jan - 3 Feb 2016

MALLORCA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

Lisa JaneFlickr: LyttleMaciek / Facebook Lulko

Accidental death plea questioned

By Kylie J Brennan THE sordid circumstances surrounding the death of a 49year-old British woman in Mallorca have captured the attention of European press and local residents in Calvia, Costa de la Calma. Fifty-year-old car salesman Warren Lyttle, confessed to

strangling his wife, Lisa Jane Lyttle, from Kilburn, London, at their home in the south west of Mallorca, claiming that he had accidentally killed her during a sex game gone wrong. From marks on the deceasedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neck and other evidence, officers attending the scene on the sixth Turn to Page 5

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LOCAL NEWS

Science station REGIONAL government and provincial council representatives visited the desa Dragonera nature park on Friday (January 22) to continue inspections with an aim to drawing up a plan to create a

scientific studies station. The Environmental delegate, Sandra Espeja, and the general director of Natural Spaces and Biodiversity of the regional government, Catalina Amengual, joined the visit.

Disappointing sales for textiles MALLORCA’S textiles sector has missed the level of sales expected in December and 55 per cent of shops which started their winter sales between the last week

in November and January 10 have seen less sales than in 2014, while 40 per cent said sales remained the same and just 5 per cent reported increased sales.

Self-employed rise THE number of non-Spanish self-employed workers registered in the Balearic Islands reached 15,336 in December 2015, a 7.9 per cent increase on the figure for December 2014. Of the total, 11,128 were from EU countries and 4,209 from further afield, the ATA Self-Employed Workers’ Association reported.

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Parents to have their say on foreign language FAMILIES should be allowed to choose between different possibilities By Eleanor Hawkins THE IPFB (Balearic Institute of Family Policies) has asked the regional government to give parents an important role in deciding about foreign languages at schools in the islands. In a statement, the institute said that “many controversies could be avoided if rather than trying to find one model to please all, families were allowed to choose between a number of different possibilities.” “Those who deny parents the right to choose the foreign language their children study should ask themselves why parents’ representatives on school boards are able to have a part in far more complex decisions such as choosing a director for the school, designing the curriculum or approving the budget,” IPFB said. The institute believes that a combination of independence for schools and freedom of choice for families is “the best system to improve schools.”

Photo Credit Path Doc Shutterstock

FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Freedom of choice is important.

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Your papers, your views

Featured News 3

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Finance 21 - 26

Stocks 22

Leapy Lee 27

Letters 28

Daily TV 30

Vicki McLeod 33

Time Out 34 - 35

TAX INTRODUCTION: Government says it is to improve Mallorca as a tourist destination. Our View 36 By John Smith

Colin Bird 36

Health & Beauty 38 - 39

Social Scene 42 - 43

Property 44 - 45

Legally Speaking 46

Homes & Gardens 47

Classifieds 48 - 49

Pets 50

Boats 51

Motoring 52

Sport 54, 56

SPEAKING on behalf of the Mallorcan government, Marc Pons responded to criticisms of the tourist tax that had been voiced at the Fitur fair in Madrid, by saying that bookings were not suffering at all as a consequence of the tax to be introduced from June 1. Far from any harm being caused, he noted indications from Fitur were that the com-

ing season promises to be a very good one. He confirmed that draft legislation was being produced and that there is no intention of backing down on the matter. He went on to make it clear that the introduction of the tax was to improve the Balearics as a tourist destination. Vice-President Barcelo also announced that the regional government would like see

an amendment to current legislation, so that tax incentives would encourage businesses to stay open in the off-season. The president of the association for tourist attractions, Antonio Gonzalez was quoted as saying: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to be able to recover the tourism from November to February, and if the government helps businesses to boost their activities, there will be more

jobs. It is important that we have an active and dynamic tourist destination both in the high and the low season.â&#x20AC;? He did however, accept that the tourist tax would be implemented and the president of the association for smaller businesses, acknowledged that by imposing this tax, the government was looking for quality rather than quantity as far as tourism and ongoing business is concerned.

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Riddle of the horses may be investigated Photo Credit Wusel007 Wikimedia

FIGUEROLA is also owner of the horse hacked to death

GUARDIA CIVIL: May have to investigate whether someone has a grudge against the owner. by John Smith RAMON FIGUEROLA, owner of the loose horse which caused a fatal accident on the road between Lloseta and Inca last week, has said he is sorry about what happened. “I’m very upset, I assume my part of the responsibility for what happened. It was terrible, there are no words in my vocabulary to describe the seriousness of the matter.” Mr Figuerola went to the Guardia Civil barracks in In-

ca after the accident to advise that he owned the horse. He then visited the father of the deceased, (Miguel Angel Pol Juan, 28) who he had been acquainted with in the past. Officers went to the property where the horse was kept during the week to inspect the area and try to find out what happened, and the owners of the horse as well the stables where it was kept, gave statements. There was no obvious reason for the horse to have es-

caped and strangely, Figuerola is the owner of the young mare which was found hacked to death in Lloseta at the beginning of January. “We moved the horse to the stables to stop anything else happening,” the devastated owner said which raises the question as to whether it was deliberately let out and was taken to the road where the accidents subsequently occurred. If this does prove to be the case, then the two incidents

Enquiries continue into woman’s death From front page floor of the Siesta apartment block were able to establish that she had been strangled by a phone charger cord. Paramedics also attended and unsuccessfully tried to revive the mother-of-one, who is said to have died from asphyxiation. Reports suggest that the Guardia Civil officers did not take an initial statement from the suspect, who appeared in a closed-door hearing some hours after his arrest on January 23. Appearing before duty judge Jose Castro, at a criminal court in Palma, Mr Lyttle disclosed that his actions were unintentional and a result of a sadomasochistic game that went too far, while his lawyers entered a plea of involuntary homicide. In a second hearing on January 24, the accused stuck to his original account of the events but

Guardia Civil investigators disputed the claims by presenting ‘irrefutable’ evidence that Lisa Jane’s death had followed a blazing row over money. Post mortem examination reports were also submitted to the courts, revealing Mrs Lyttle did not defend herself in the alleged attack and she had been dead for a number of hours before her husband called emergency services at 3.20 am. The court also heard how police initially suspected the ill-fated couple was drunk, but while testing Mr Lyttle’s blood for alcohol and finding it was not particularly high, they found evidence that he had taken drugs. Following the tragedy, locals acknowledged a five-minute silence at Calvia Town Hall. The case continues, with the Lyttles’ teenage daughter expected to fly to Mallorca to assist with inquiries.

will be proven as linked and there will need to be an investigation as to whether someone has a grudge against the owner.

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Level crossings to be removed ON January 22 the regional government gave final approval to allow work to remove level crossings from the Palma-Inca railway in Can Foradi and said that a pedestrian path will be built parallel to the railway to provide residents of the Son Rullan district access to the new station building.

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NEWS

GOB opposed to polo fields in Campos area ORGANISATION takes seriously the impact of the modern world Photo Credit DanaFlickr: WardMaciek Shutterstock Lulko

Safety awareness EIGHTY-SIX per cent of vehicles checked during the latest safety campaign carried out on cars, motorbikes and b i c y c l e s i n th e Balearics made correct use of seat b e l t s, h e l m e t s an d child restraint devices. O f th e 2 , 9 6 0 v e h ic le s which were inspected, 2,553 were correct. The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness of those responsible for youngsters of the importance of correct use of approved restraining devices

and inform parents in the Ba le a ric Is lan d s o n the changes in regulations regarding seatbelt and child seat use in vehicles. Thirty thousand leaflets were distributed within 41 different municipalities on the islands over a period of tw o mo n th s , co in c id i ng with the start of the 20152016 school year and the results were obtained from checks carried out by Local Police officers in areas near schools in 23 municipalities.

POLO FIELD: Has been introduced into the area of Campos and the owners now wish approval for a second one. By John Smith THE acronym GOB stands for the Grup Balear dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Ornitologia i Defensa de la Naturalesa and this organisation takes very seriously the impact of the modern day world upon the natural beauty and fragile ecosystem of the Balearics. Members of the group often swing into action when a mat-

ter of environmental importance needs to be addressed and its latest campaign is against the legalisation of one polo field and the granting of approval for a second, as well as approval for what is described as a building connected with agrotourism. According to GOB, there is a loophole in the law surrounding the Tourism Act

which allows for certain approvals to be given without requiring a declaration of interest or a need to comply with maximum size of building plots. In this case, a polo field has been introduced in the area of Campos and the owners are requesting that it be legally approved as well as a second field in the same area.

In their opposition, GOB is adamant that the area does not have sufficient water to justify the introduction of two polo fields as with the current drought, the usage of water makes no sense, especially as the sport is one enjoyed by an elite group and has been introduced to the island rather than being part of island heritage.

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Thriller series was filmed in Mallorca BASED on a novel by writer John le Carre, it is due to hit UK screens shortly by Matthew Elliott A NEW TV thriller series The Night Manager based on the novel by veteran spy thriller writer John le Carre, is due to hit the UK

Average spending on food RESIDENTS of the Balearic Islands spend an average of €1,511 on food per person per year, the eighth highest average spending in the country, according to the latest Food Consumption report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Environment. The regions that spent the most on food were the Basque Country and Cataluña, while the Canary Islands, Extremadura, Andalucia, Murcia and Castilla La Mancha spent the least. On a national level, the average per person per year was 663 kilos of food at a price of €1,482. The report revealed that the favourite place to buy food is still the supermarket (43 per cent), although fresh food is still bought mostly from specialist shops.

Bank robber arrested A MAN went into a branch of BMN bank in Consell on January 22 and waited until there were no other customers, then threatened staff with a gun and escaped with €18,000. Although no one was injured, the robbery came as a shock to the employees. Soon after being alerted, officers arrested the man in a nearby street.

screens shortly and much of it was filmed in Mallorca. Alongside stars Hugh Laurie (TV’s House) and three times BAFTA winner Olivia Colman, there is also a very strong

supporting cast which sees Tom Hiddleston’s (Loki in the Thor films) character, a former British soldier being recruited as an intelligence officer who investigates arms dealer Laurie.

With a large budget and an eye on the American market, where it is to be shown on HBO affiliate AMC, the series promises to be up to the usual high standard of BBC drama serials.

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Fined for dumping POLICE have joined the fight EMAYA Environmental Inspection and Control Service has issued 12 fines over recent weeks for dumping of furniture and other goods on the public streets of Palma on days when there is no collection. Local Police officers have joined the fight against incorrect rubbish disposal and will be running their own checks until February 7. The environmental service fines were issued for putting old furniture out on the wrong days, taking rubbish out at incorrect times (this is only per-

mitted between 8pm and 10pm), dumping things in inadequate or inappropriate places, usually next to rubbish bins, and dumping large items which the service doesn’t pick up, such as electrical and electronic appliances and devices and construction waste. The fines, the municipal company reported, were issued whenever people were caught red-handed in various districts including Llevant, Can Valero, Pere Garau, Son Cotoner, Es Forti and Rafal Vell.

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NEWS

Drought conditions WORK needs to be done to ensure crops are properly irrigated By John Smith THE Balearic government is producing an action plan in order to try to cope with the ongoing drought affecting Mallorca which may include some limited form of rationing, as well as an increase in production at the desalination plants which at the moment do not run at full capacity due mainly to their cost. Work also needs to be taken to ensure that farmer’s crops are properly irrigated and this and the matter of advising the community of the need to conserve water and reduce usage will be the subject of meetings to be held on January 29 and early February. This action is particularly important as it is reported that the two main reservoirs serving Palma, Gorg Blau and Cuber are at just 25 per cent of capacity, compared to 92 per cent as recently as 2013. Like the reservoirs, the aquifers on the island are being affected by the lack of rain. At present, they are at 53 per cent of capacity, which is 5 per

Photo Credit Antoni Sureda Wikimedia

RESERVOIRS: Cuber in foreground and Gorg Blau in background.

cent lower than in what was considered a dry year, 2014. Underground water provides some 85 per cent of Majorca’s needs, but it is

already the case that some supply problems are emerging which will become much worse come the main tourist season if no significant rainfall occurs.

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More beds for Palma PALMA City Council announced on January 26 there would be a further 3,700 new tourist beds for the Playa de Palma during 2016 and 2017, as plans have been agreed with four new hotels and 26 other operators offering additional accommodation. Senior representative of the Green Party MES, Antoni Noguera, criticised this growth for being “unsustainable” explaining that tourist use of water for example was between two and three times greater than a local inhabitant.

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A better deal for local flyers A NEW formula is wanted where a set amount is deducted Photo Credit Rebius Shutterstock

FARE DISCOUNTS: Currently are 50 per cent of the commercial fare. By John Smith THE Association of Spanish airlines AECA based in Palma has recommended a change in the way in which residents of the Balearic and Canary Islands receive discounts when travelling to and from the islands according to Ultima Hora. They currently pay 50 per cent of the commercial fare but according to AECA president Felipe Navío this does not benefit all islanders alike, as

those who decide to travel first class receive a much larger cash discount. To this end therefore, he wants to see a new formula where a set amount is deducted from the fare regardless of the class of travel booked. The Director General of the Balearic ports and airports, Xavier Ramis, is reported to welcome the suggestion, although he wants to ensure that those undertaking urgent journeys at short notice, possibly for health reasons are not penalised and end up paying much inflated prices.

NEWS

Mallorca getting greener FOR many years the bulk of Mallorca’s electricity was supplied by coal fired plants but according to a recent report, it has now dropped below 50 per cent (from five years ago) to a much more acceptable 32 per cent, although there is considerable room for improvement. This drop is thanks to an increase in the supply of power via submarine cables from the mainland which has been in operation for just four years and now supplies 23 per cent of the island’s needs. Other benefits are from a gas powered turbine, also connected to the mainland but solar, wind and wave power supply a measly 3 per cent of the energy requirement and it is in this sector that the government intends to concentrate in a bid to use only renewable energy by 2050.

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28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

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Remember – There Is Now UK Capital Gains Tax On Property With all the noise around the UK pension reforms last year it is easy to forget that there was another big change affecting everyone here who owns property in the UK. British expatriates now have to pay capital gains tax in the UK when they sell UK property. Who is taxed? Until 6 April 2015, if you were nonUK resident for five consecutive UK tax years, you were not taxed in the UK on the gains made when you sold UK property. Now you will have to pay tax there if you sell it. This applies to nonUK resident individuals, non-resident partners in UK resident and UK nonresident partnerships, companies and trusts. What is taxed? The tax applies when you sell UKbased residential property, which is defined as ‘property used or suitable for use as a dwelling,’ regardless of whether

By Peter Worthington, Senior Partner, Blevins Franks anyone is living in it or not. You only have to pay tax on gains arising from 6th April 2015. In most cases you can choose whether to rebase the value of your property to 5th April 2015, or time-apportion the gain. You also have the option of computing the gain over the whole period of your ownership.

What is the charge? The tax charge is the same as that paid by UK residents. The net gain on your UK property is added to your other UK-source income and taxed at 18% or 28%, depending on whether your UK income puts you in the basic or higher-rate tax bracket. Companies pay tax at 20%, or 28% if it falls within the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings. It is also 28% for trusts. What reliefs are there? Individuals and partnerships have an annual allowance of £11,100 and trustees £5,550 (for 2015/16). Over and above this, under UK law, if you meet the conditions for private residence relief (PRR), you do not have to pay capital gains tax on your main home. Non-residents selling UK residential property and UK residents selling property in Spain may be able to get this relief if they meet new

qualifying conditions. You can apply PRR to a property if you have lived in it for 90 days or more over the UK tax year. If you are UK resident, you can also apply the relief to a property you own here in Spain if you spend 90 days in it. Conversely, if you live in Spain and spend 90 days in a property you own in the UK, you can nominate this as your principal residence. Although this allows you to avoid capital gains tax, you may be seen as UK resident for tax purposes under the UK’s Statutory Residence Test. This means you would have to pay tax in the UK on your worldwide income. Seek specialist advice to consider your tax situation as a whole. The UK/Spain tax treaty Residents of Spain are subject to Spanish capital gains tax on their worldwide real estate gains. So a

Spanish resident selling a UK property would be liable to tax in both countries. You will not pay tax twice, but need to understand the interaction of the UK and Spanish tax regimes under the double taxation treaty. Tax involving two countries can be complicated so you should always seek professional advice to make sure you get the solution that works best for your situation and objectives. Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices, which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com.

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Protected birds are flying away NUMBERS in the wetland reserve have fallen dramatically Photo Credit Olaf Tausch Wikimedia

NUMBERS FALLING: Red-knobbed coots in the waters of s’Albufera. By John Smith IN a press release issued on January 26, the Balearic Ornithological Group (GOB) has released the news that following a winter bird count the number of birds in the wetland reserve of s’Albufera on the north east coast of Mallorca has fallen dramatically. In its opinion, the main reason for this reduction is the

drop in water quality in the area and it calls for the provincial government to take urgent measures to prevent the discharge of insufficiently purified water from sewage treatment plants. This problem coupled with the increase in salinity, as well as an expanding carp population in the waters, has aggravated the situation incredibly. Just 16 years ago, the count returned 3,500 coots but now

only 400 could be identified whilst there were 4,000 mallards counted in 2010 and this number has plummeted to just 1,500. The only good news is it appears they haven’t simply died and many of the birds have simply migrated to other islands in the Balearics where populations have expanded but this will not please local ornithologists or visitors.

Rubbish innovation THE president of Palma’s public services agency, Emaya, Neus Truyol is also the councillor responsible for ecology and is introducing from the mainland, a new idea for collection of rubbish from Playa de Palma. After discussion with hoteliers in the area as well as a number of official bodies, they have agreed to help fund and resurrect the concept of removing unsightly rubbish bins and replacing them with underground containers which can be used for disposal of ‘commercial’ rubbish. The concept will be put into action, once funds estimated at €1.5 million are obtained.

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Car sales up GERMAN makes are particularly popular By John Smith THE Association of Car Dealers Faconauto has reported that sales of new cars in general and high-priced cars in particular have once again increased within the

Balearics. German cars are particularly popular with Audi, BMW and Mercedes leading the way with an increase of 51 per cent. Even Porsche saw an increase of 15 per cent although their sales only

Fewer dogs put to sleep DURING 2015, just 52 dogs which were unable to be rehoused by the municipal animal shelter in Palma were put to sleep, which is considerably less than in recent years according to an announcement from the city council on January 25. It was also revealed that in

2015 a total of 1,134 dogs, 449 cats and 12 ‘assorted’ animals were rehomed and it is the target of the council to reduce the number of euthanised dogs to zero, whilst increasing the number that can be found new owners as well as speeding up the entire process.

increased from 53 to 60 cars. With the continuing fall in oil prices and a better economy generally, drivers seem quite happy to invest in the purchase of new cars, despite the drop in value as soon as they drive the first kilometre.

Just the ticket THE Public Prosecutor has requested three-year jail sentences for two travel agents accused of taking €247,853 from customers and failing to pay it to airlines after selling flights. The court case began on Tuesday (January 26) in Palma. The administrator of the company and the manager and majority shareholder are facing a charge of misappropriation.

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Holocaust victims are remembered in the UK DOZENS of events marked the 71st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz By Kylie J Brennan EVENTS to mark the 71st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp took place in the UK and worldwide on Wednesday, January 27. Dozens of events and exhibitions across Britain remembered the victims of the Holocaust, who were murdered in a systematic attempt to wipe all traces of the Jewish race from Europe. During the Second World War, six million Jews were killed by the Nazis. An estimated 1.1 million people lost their lives in Auschwitz concentration camp and 90 per cent of those were Jewish, with the remaining 10 per cent made up of Polish, Russian and Romany people. January 27, 1945 is carved in history as the day the Soviets liberated Auschwitz, eight months before the official end of the war. Devastatingly, by the time the Soviet army descended, many of the remaining ‘prisoners’ had already been sent on a death march.

Photo credit: joyfull / shutterstock

HOLOCAUST: Berlin’s iconic memorial. The lessons of the Holocaust are many and the subject is still a compulsory part of the British history curriculum, teaching children what can happen when hatred trumps tolerance. Few are not moved by the distressing stories and images that have outlived the concentration camps, but most find it hard to comprehend how racial hatred

and religious persecution could end in genocide on European soil, or how its countries were engulfed by war in the 20th century. UK events marking Holocaust Memorial Day began in 2001. Each year has a special theme, with past events focusing on ‘lessons for the future’ and ‘one person can make a difference.’

Palma parking EVALUATE the need for spaces A REQUEST from the PP for 18 parking spaces for official vehicles on Calle

Palau Reial to be given over for public use to make up for the 26 about to be lost

from Mirador de la Seu, will be reduced to a request for the various authorities to restrict the use of official par ki ng spaces i n Pal m a City centre. At a plenary session last week a proposal was put by t he Mobi l i t y counci l l or, Joan Ferrer, for institutions with parking reserved for official vehicles in the historical centre to evaluate their need for the spaces and reduce use to help local residents park.

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28 January - 3 Februrary 2016 / Mallorca

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Palma loses its bread factory THERE will also be a loss of 34 jobs by John Smith MEXICAN owners of the Bimbo bread group, renowned throughout Spain for the quality of its product for toast have decided to close their manufacturing fa-

cility in Palma in the interests of costs and efficiency with the resultant loss of jobs for up to 34 people. With the takeover of competitor Panrico last year at a cost of â&#x201A;Ź190 million (although the bread division was

not included in the purchase) it became a major player in the European bakeries market and it followed this up by investing â&#x201A;Ź50 million in Castile-La Mancha to produce the most advanced plant of its kind in Europe.

Birthplace of renowned bass singer to be knocked down A SMALL but historic house in the Ramblas in Palma de Mallorca is to be demolished by its new German owner with much difficulty and expense as it is terraced and between two much larger buildings. There is an element of sadness surrounding the loss of this building as it was

the birthplace of Francisco Mateu Nicolau, better known as Francesco Uetam, a renowned bass voice who travelled the world singing in major opera houses to much acclaim. He died in 1913 and is buried in the cemetery in Palma.

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E W N 28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

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Viking Star visit ONE of the most modern cruise ships in use Photo Credit Pjotr Mahhonin Wikimedia

VIKING STAR: Visited the port of Palma. By Eleanor Hawkins VIKING STAR, a luxurious cruise ship belonging to Viking Ocean Cruises, visited Palma port on Friday (January 22). The ship is one of the most modern cruise ships in use, as it was launched last spring, and various specialist publications have considered it to be the best new cruise ship of 2015. Although Viking Star made its first visit to Palma on December 20, as this coincided with the Spanish general elections the ceremony to present the captain with a commemorative shield was postponed until this second visit. Port authority representative Paimond Jaume handed the shield over to the Norwegian captain, Rune Lokling. The ship arrived in Palma from the Italian port of Cagliari carrying 859 passengers, mostly North

Americans, and later set sail for Valencia, all part of a two-week cruise which left Barcelona on January 10 and returned on Sunday after visiting the aforementioned ports along with Toulon, Monaco, Ajaccio, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina and Trapani. It is expected to visit Palma three more times this year. Viking Ocean Cruises is part of Viking Cruises group which also owns Viking River Cruises, specialising in river cruises in western Europe, Russia, China, South East Asia and Egypt. Viking Star was built in Italy, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona. With average dimensions, nothing compared to those of cruise giants, it measures 228.3 metres and weighs 47,842 tonnes. It has a maximum capacity for 954 passengers in 465 cabins, served by a crew of 489 members. The interior is a Scandinavian inspired design.

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Japanese company Sharp in trouble TAIWANESE giant makes offer to take over the struggling group

€4.9 billion

By John Smith TAIWAN’S Foxconn Technology Group, which assembles iPhones, is looking to take over struggling Japanese electronics group Sharp, which is also in talks with the Innovation Net-

GEORGE OSBORNE: Will nominate Christine Lagarde.

IMF managing director CHANCELLOR George Osborne has indicated that he intends to nominate Christine Lagarde for a second term as managing director of the International Monetary Fund. “At a time when the world faces what I’ve called a dangerous cocktail of risks, I believe Christine has the vision,

work Corp of Japan, a government supported investment group. Sharp has seen its market share drop dramatically over the years, and has twice required injections of finance by its banks in the last three years.

“The first and second quarter will be very difficult... It is a big shock for producing countries. It reminds me of [the oil crisis in] 1986,” BP CEO Bob Dudley on the low price of oil.

Photo Credit Chatham House Wikimedia

Quote of the Week

is the amount offered by Foxconn to take over the Japanese Sharp group

energy and acumen to help steer the global economy through the years ahead,” he said. At the moment, there appear to be no candidates looking to take over her role, and she has made it clear she is happy to serve a further term, which makes life a little easier for all.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Bitcoin problems MIKE HEARN, a Zurichbased developer and longtime supporter of the theoretical Bitcoin, surprised many when he published a blog calling Bitcoin a ‘failed’ project. He says that he has now sold all of his own bitcoins and will no longer take part in this internet-based currency’s development. Two of the biggest problems with the Bitcoin concept were that they were intangible and therefore needed to rely upon the honesty of all those dealing in them. In addition, they were considered a method of untraced money laundering, although Dutch police have just arrested 10 people for laundering €20 million through the system.

Good news if you want sterling AFTER a very strong 2015, the pound has gone into something of a nose dive against both the euro and the US dollar. At one stage last year, it was almost on par with the rate against the euro when it was introduced in 2002, and certainly broke the €1.40 mark, but in these early weeks of 2016 it has dropped to €1.30, as well as around $1.40 to the pound. Considering that the Chancellor of the Exche-

€6.7 billion is the amount that Deutsche Bank says it expects to lose for 2015, compared with a net profit of €1.7 billion the previous year.

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal

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quer has spent some time saying how well the economy is doing, this may come as something of a surprise, but with the US interest rates increasing, albeit fractionally and the drop in industrial output in the UK, the pound is currently languishing. This is bad news for those who transfer sterling to Spain, but welcome news for those who want to buy pounds with euros.

A decision is due to be made by the end of the month, although the Japanese government may be opposed to a foreign company taking over Sharp, which has developed cutting-edge technology in the past.

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IMF forecast for 2016 SPAIN is set to outpace the world’s leading advanced economies in 2016, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as the agency upgraded its outlook for Spanish GDP, predicting growth of 2.7 per cent in 2016 and 2.3 per cent in 2017. This is still less than the recently downgraded forecast for the overall world economy.

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PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY Anglo American 222.98 -3.72 Associated British Foods 2,989.00 -6.00 Admiral Group 1,681.00 5.00 Aberdeen Asset Management 230.70 -1.40 Ashtead Group 986.00 -4.00 Antofagasta 365.90 -6.30 ARM Holdings 1,010.50 15.00 Aviva 472.65 0.65 AstraZeneca 4,386.75 26.25 BAE Systems 492.85 0.15 Babcock International Group 930.50 -3.00 Barclays 189.05 -1.70 British American Tobacco 3,634.25 8.75 Barratt Developments 575.25 2.75 BG Group 977.40 -2.80 Berkeley Group Holdings 3,514.00 49.00 British Land Co 730.75 0.25 BHP Billiton 633.25 -15.65 Bunzl 1,793.00 -7.00 BP 345.40 -7.30 Burberry Group 1,170.00 -11.00 BT Group 480.55 -6.70 Coca-Cola HBC 1,373.00 2.00 Carnival 3,593.00 -32.00 Centrica 206.60 -0.60 Compass Group 1,118.50 2.50 Capita Group (The) 1,167.50 5.50 CRH 1,841.50 -2.50 Dixons Carphone 467.85 2.95 DCC 5,040.00 5.00 Diageo 1,823.25 -34.25 Direct Line Insurance Group 369.35 3.15 Experian 1,163.00 12.00 easyJet 1,650.00 10.00 Fresnillo 663.50 2.00 GKN 287.20 -5.60 Glencore 77.36 -1.22 GlaxoSmithKline 1,401.00 9.50 Hikma Pharmaceuticals 2,002.00 16.00 Hargreaves Lansdown 1,315.00 -6.00 Hammerson 570.00 0.50 HSBC Holdings 478.73 -0.82 International Consolidated Airl 562.25 3.25 InterContinental Hotels Group 2,285.50 -4.50 3i Group 444.00 8.00 Imperial Tobacco Group 3,577.50 21.00 Intu Properties 293.65 -0.55 Inmarsat 1,066.00 -7.00 Intertek Group 2,781.00 6.00 ITV 262.65 0.45

% CHG. -1.64 -0.20 0.30 -0.60 -0.40 -1.69 1.51 0.14 0.60 0.03 -0.32 -0.89 0.24 0.48 -0.29 1.41 0.03 -2.41 -0.39 -2.07 -0.93 -1.38 0.15 -0.88 -0.29 0.22 0.47 -0.14 0.63 0.10 -1.84 0.86 1.04 0.61 0.30 -1.91 -1.55 0.68 0.81 -0.45 0.09 -0.17 0.58 -0.20 1.83 0.59 -0.19 -0.65 0.22 0.17

NET VOL 3,098.76 23,132.72 4,518.76 2,869.11 4,693.68 3,412.05 13,344.07 18,218.00 53,521.54 15,503.60 4,583.15 30,535.96 66,458.17 5,564.58 30,654.74 4,737.91 7,109.05 12,269.03 5,813.59 60,001.70 4,982.13 37,685.94 4,908.38 7,576.18 10,148.05 18,829.34 7,391.38 14,446.67 4,936.32 4,387.09 44,695.09 5,398.50 10,922.11 6,438.74 4,719.80 4,560.17 10,385.37 66,058.77 3,822.47 5,924.24 4,313.71 90,892.55 11,104.18 5,220.55 4,045.44 33,282.84 3,745.75 4,630.62 4,332.56 10,232.59

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Johnson Matthey 2,445.00 -2.00 Kingfisher 338.00 -7.00 Land Securities Group 1,093.00 0.00 Legal & General Group 237.35 -0.65 Lloyds Banking Group ORD 65.50 -1.36 London Stock Exchange Gr 2,468.50 6.50 Merlin Entertainments 410.60 1.60 Marks & Spencer Group 416.75 -1.85 Mondi 1,222.50 0.50 National Grid 947.45 5.55 Next 6,805.00 -5.00 Old Mutual 158.25 1.85 Provident Financial 2,901.00 7.00 Prudential 1,327.00 2.00 Persimmon 1,922.00 11.00 Pearson 753.00 -4.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 6,083.50 36.50 Royal Bank of Scotland Group 260.60 -1.50 Royal Dutch Shell 1,375.00 -12.00 Royal Dutch Shell 1,376.50 -11.50 RELX 1,186.50 0.50 Rio Tinto 1,615.00 -38.50 Royal Mail 451.45 2.75 Rolls-Royce Group 543.25 0.25 Randgold Resources 4,606.50 51.50 RSA Insurance Group 409.35 4.05 SABMiller 4,176.75 -12.75 Sainsbury (J) 231.90 -1.70 Schroders 2,655.00 -8.00 Sage Group (The) 557.25 2.75 Shire 4,234.00 6.00 Sky 1,043.50 -4.50 Standard Life 363.05 -0.85 Smiths Group 900.50 -7.50 Smith & Nephew 1,130.50 5.50 Sports Direct International 419.80 -2.20 SSE 1,382.50 -2.50 Standard Chartered 487.10 -1.40 St James's Place 911.50 2.50 Severn Trent 2,138.50 14.50 Travis Perkins 1,802.00 -6.00 Tesco 157.68 -2.87 TUI AG 1,227.00 11.00 Taylor Wimpey 182.20 0.70 Unilever 2,936.50 17.50 United Utilities Group 926.00 7.00 Vodafone Group 219.63 0.18 Wolseley 3,480.00 -6.00 Worldpay Group Ord 3p Wi 304.70 1.20 WPP Group 1,469.50 2.50 Whitbread 3,953.00 -12.00

% CHG. -0.08 -2.03 0.00 -0.27 -2.03 0.26 0.39 -0.44 0.04 0.59 -0.07 1.18 0.24 0.15 0.58 -0.59 0.60 -0.57 -0.87 -0.83 0.04 -2.33 0.61 0.05 1.13 1.00 -0.30 -0.73 -0.30 0.50 0.14 -0.43 -0.23 -0.83 0.49 -0.52 -0.18 -0.29 0.28 0.68 -0.33 -1.79 0.90 0.39 0.60 0.76 0.08 -0.17 0.40 0.17 -0.30

NET VOL 4,840.16 7,593.01 8,379.76 13,887.83 45,714.88 8,178.46 4,083.37 6,771.07 5,676.12 34,336.87 9,975.00 7,359.68 4,197.00 33,962.73 5,799.77 5,393.39 42,741.12 16,347.58 49,305.45 31,176.25 12,754.42 22,191.12 4,215.00 9,762.94 4,112.61 3,946.04 66,651.47 4,473.83 5,675.42 5,866.43 24,376.05 17,568.36 6,898.06 3,408.90 9,677.32 2,417.20 13,753.97 11,889.62 4,596.26 4,930.82 4,391.88 12,400.03 6,892.59 5,843.22 36,347.57 6,164.27 55,636.91 8,509.06 5,756.00 18,351.60 7,042.39

Kleinwort Benson Elite PCC Ltd

0.75924

1.31731 Units per €

US dollar ..................................................................1.08288 Japan yen................................................................1278154 Switzerland franc .................................................1.09801 Denmark kroner....................................................7.46105 Norway kroner .....................................................9.49375

currenciesdirect.com/mallorca • Tel: +34 687 906 226

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 25

COMPANY MMM 3M AXP American Express AAPL Apple BA Boeing CAT Caterpillar CVX Chevron CSCO Cisco KO Coca-Cola DIS Disney DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil GE General Electric GS Goldman Sachs HD Home Depot IBM IBM INTC Intel JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase MCD McDonald's MRK Merck MSFT Microsoft NKE Nike PFE Pfizer PG Procter & Gamble TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies UNH UnitedHealth VZ Verizon V Visa WMT Wal-Mart

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 139.52 +1.76 +1.28% 3.0M 55.06 -7.58 -12.10% 43.8M 101.43 +5.13 +5.33% 65.8M 124.61 +1.21 +0.98% 5.3M 60.98 +1.29 +2.16% 7.8M 83.54 +2.49 +3.07% 15.7M 23.37 +0.47 +2.05% 55.0M 42.06 +0.67 +1.62% 15.2M 96.90 +2.88 +3.06% 12.3M 54.74 +1.18 +2.20% 4.4M 76.57 +2.47 +3.33% 22.5M 28.24 -0.35 -1.22% 87.9M 156.86 +5.21 +3.44% 5.6M 122.76 +2.54 +2.11% 6.6M 122.50 -0.41 -0.33% 9.2M 29.92 +0.26 +0.88% 25.3M 96.75 +0.81 +0.84% 8.4M 56.95 +1.70 +3.08% 22.7M 118.40 +0.56 +0.48% 9.0M 51.35 +0.43 +0.84% 10.8M 52.29 +1.81 +3.59% 37.6M 60.88 +0.32 +0.53% 8.4M 30.71 +0.13 +0.43% 31.4M 77.36 +0.64 +0.83% 9.5M 103.14 +0.44 +0.43% 2.5M 86.35 +0.78 +0.91% 4.6M 114.33 +0.83 +0.73% 3.6M 47.04 +1.17 +2.55% 23.1M 72.70 +1.14 +1.59% 8.7M 62.69 +0.81 +1.31% 9.2M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES J ANUARY 25

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced $ 17.99 $ 3.2299 $ 13.10 $ 2.13 $ 23.97 $ 3.15 $ 7.28 $ 4.15 $ 4.13 $ 6.38 $ 11.89

6.05 ▲ 50.67% 0.8799 ▲ 37.44% 2.68 ▲ 25.72% 0.37 ▲ 21.02% 4.11 ▲ 20.69% 0.54 ▲ 20.69% 1.23 ▲ 20.33% 0.69 ▲ 19.94% 0.68 ▲ 19.71% 0.97 ▲ 17.93% 1.70 ▲ 16.68%

First Financial Bancorp. $ 6.13 Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. $ 8.74 Legacy Reserves LP $ 2.60 Legacy Reserves LP $ 2.39 region $ 9.16 Digi International Inc. $ 8.78 Vascular Solutions, Inc. $ 25.11 LDR Holding Corporation $ 18.915 ProShares UltraPro Short NASDAQ Biotech $ 30.76 ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ $ 22.75 NovoCure Limited $ 13.81

4.87 ▼ 44.27% 3.72 ▼ 29.86% 1.09 ▼ 29.54% 0.88 ▼ 26.91% 1.86 ▼ 16.88% 1.67 ▼ 15.98% 3.63 ▼ 12.63% 2.555 ▼ 11.90% 3.32 ▼ 9.74% 2.11 ▼ 8.49% 1.24 ▼ 8.24%

Golar LNG Limited Qumu Corporation Golar LNG Partners LP The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Spark Energy, Inc. Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. Mitel Networks Corporation Vanguard Natural Resources LLC Vanguard Natural Resources LLC Caesars Acquisition Company Hortonworks, Inc.

Most Declined

E W N 28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

World football’s richest clubs

REAL MADRID: Earned the largest amount of revenue for the 11th year in a row. the previous year and in itself a record. Surprise entries included New-

castle United, Everton and West Ham, with both Manchester City and Arsenal earning more than cur-

rent underperformers Chelsea. The list only looks at revenues earned and does not take into ac-

count club debts or the fact that Real Madrid is banned from signing any new young players for two seasons.

Barclays continues withdrawal Photo Credit Kiev.Victor Shutterstock

EACH year, the giant accounting firm Deloitte publishes a list of the richest football clubs in the world, all of which are from Europe and nine of whom are English clubs. For the 11th year in a row, Real Madrid earned the largest amount of revenue in the 2014/2015 season pocketing a total of €577 million, whilst its biggest rival Barcelona nudged Manchester United into third place with revenues of €560.8 million. Thanks to their exit from the Champion’s League last season, Manchester United only managed to earn €519.5 million, but they are still the largest earning club from England and with a return to Champion’s League, expect a bumper financial return in this new season. The top 20 contains nine English teams, four Italian, three Spanish (including Atletico Madrid), three German and one French, which between them have earned a whopping €6.6 billion, 8 per cent up on

Photo Credit Adrian Nunez Shutterstock

By John Smith

BARCLAYS BANK: Intends to sell its credit card operations in Spain and Portugal. FOLLOWING the sale of its Spanish banking operation to La Caixa which was completed in 2015, Barclays has now indicated its intention to sell its credit card operations in both Spain and Portugal. It is said that there is already interest from Spanish bank Santander, as well as an American private equity company. Although Barclays did not have to go ‘cap in hand’ to the British government during the

deepest of the recession unlike other banks such as Lloyds, it did have to accept foreign equity investment, and has been subject to intense scrutiny by both the British and American governments for a number of its activities. As part of its three-year plan to rationalise its business and concentrate on core operations in Britain and America, as well as parts of Africa, it has been divesting itself of businesses in

Europe, so this is the next stage of its retrenchment. The sale will naturally increase the volume of funds it has access to. None of the parties who may be involved in the transaction have made any comment, and there may be as many as four interested parties, but it is common knowledge that Barclays wishes to see a relatively speedy sale with a target for the end of March. Despite the difference in size

of the populations of the two countries, Barclaycard has a much larger share of the Portuguese market at 20 per cent, with 460,000 customers when compared to the 6 per cent and 250,000 customers it has in Spain. Although no firm figure has been announced, it has been suggested by the BBC that if a sale takes place, it is likely to raise between €300 million and €600 million.

OPINION & COMMENT

28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

I report the facts as I see them Frederic Legrand - COMEO / Shutterstock.com

I’M taking advantage of my right to reply to an email published in this week’s letters page LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

AS regular perusers of this blurb are aware, as much as I welcome your letters, I don’t normally enter into discussions concerning their often wide-ranging opinions. Basically, because it can lead to the column getting bogged down with a missive exchange that can become negative and somewhat insular. On this occasion however I do take advantage of my right of replying to the email published on this week’s letters page. To me this is typical of the ‘glass half full’ attitude that has created most of these problems in the first place. Firstly, I take umbrage as being portrayed as some kind of rebel rouser, stirring up unrest and provoking confrontation at every opportunity. I’m not a warmonger, I simply report the facts as I see them. I would love to state that all was well, and everyone at peace

CIVILISATION: We are embroiled in a conflict.

with each other on this glorious planet of ours. I would be delighted to observe that loving thy neighbour was the ambition of every human being in existence.

Unfortunately, with the unrelenting expansion of organisations whose sole ambition is to obliterate all those who disagree with their doctrines, none of these Shangri

La situations exist. Whether those in denial choose to believe it or not, we are embroiled in a conflict that could, if we don’t at least recognise it, result in the end of our civilisation as we know it. Frankly, to say these acts of war are only happening in a few places, and there are hundreds of cities that are not being attacked, is pure unadulterated, dangerous bunkum. Try telling the New York victims of 9/11 that all of them dying was OK because it wasn’t happening in Chicago, or those who perished in the Paris atrocities that it wasn’t so bad, because Lyon was peaceful that day. Convince the maimed and slaughtered citizens of London they should be thankful that while they were being attacked, the streets of Manchester spent the day terrorist free! Give us a break, and for the sake of our children, wake up. Although I fear it may already be far too late. Keep the faith Love Leapy Leapylee2002@gmail.com

E W N 28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

LETTERS

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments straight on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com

Leapy, this is so accurate, why do others not see so? GOOD morning Leapy, I always read your column and seem to agree with everything you write, and it appears so many others do. But this latest one is so accurate, why do others not see so? So many of them are fit young men, of military age, Islam got as far as Tours and Vienna and were pushed back. Now they are greeted by soft politicians. Please keep up the column, and your comments. Are they published in the UK? If not, why not? Thank you, Richard, via email

Photographs for possible publication should be sent by email with a full caption to: photonews@euroweeklynews.com

Welcome visitor

Would you seriously ban them all? RE: “Can this alien bunch be an asset?” This obviously includes Syrian schoolchildren and babies whose homes have been reduced to rubble by years of bombing. Would you seriously ban them all, leaving them in roofless ruins with no water, sanitation, electricity, food or medical aid until they die? Oh, sorry, that’s Donald Trump’s answer, isn’t it? Until recently, Syria was a modern, wealthy country with a welleducated and productive workforce. Now it’s been bombed to hell. Those who manage to flee are mostly fit young men precisely because they are more able to escape a war zone. Some fit women and children manage to escape too. Of course a few are terrorists, but does that make it OK to ban everyone else? The danger that I am referring to is that the type of newspaper article you have written only achieves one thing. It stirs up trouble. But then you know that anyway, don’t you? If the only message that keeps being published in the papers is ‘Muslims are bad people. They’re all out to get us, so we need to fence them all into their own countries to protect ourselves from their

news last night and there was a story about a Muslim, who was asked to leave a National Express bus. This was reported as a hate crime, he was dressed in non-western garb and had three bags, any one could have been a bomb. But no, the other passengers and the driver were wrong to put him off the bus, many times the words hate crime were used. Why can they (the media) not see? No one hated him, they were just protecting themselves from what could have been a disaster. If they (the immigrants) want to look like a bomber then they are going to get treated like one. Surely we all have to be on our guard? No way are the politicians going to protect us when it does not affect them. Keep up the good work, Nathan, via email

You have the courage to speak out THIS creature was sitting on our dining table in the middle of the night. He came in the cat flap, only because our dogs were indoors at the time. He ended up sleeping in the dog’s bed and then slinked off back through the cat flap when disturbed. We feel privileged that he came in and we had the chance to see this amazing creature close up. David Hunt

violent intentions,’ what does that achieve? I’ll tell you. It fans the flames of fear and prejudice to such an extent that most people lose their powers of normal reasoning and start to believe it! Please write something soon that’s more positive and optimistic Leapy. The world needs ‘positive’, more than it needs ‘negative’. Brian, via email

in many pies. He is a very clever man. His base line is his own self interest as shown by his devious funding of groups he publicly denigrates. The quotes (above) make sense until he recommends the UK staying in the EU. Self-interest is kicking in here. He has far greater control of what goes on in Europe than he would if Britain left.

Thank you

Surely we have to be on our guard?

ONCE again, a big thank you to everybody who donated food and Christmas cheer to the San Miguel

DEAR Leapy, I was watching the BBC West

John Timbrell, via website

Billionaire warning GEORGE SOROS has his fingers

Social Services Christmas Campaign. They were so very grateful for your kind response as this enabled the many needy families to have a better festive season. Kind regards, Trish Herbert, San Miguel de Salinas

BRAVO Leapy Lee! I agree with you totally and there should be more people in our governments taking their heads out of their b..holes! You have the courage to speak out! I am French so I am very angry with all this situation and the lack of decisions. They get so much money from social security in France and nothing in Spain, so don’t worry they won’t come to Spain to live! France feeds them too well! Bravo again! Corinne via email

WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:

www.euroweeklynews.com

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

www.euroweeklynews.com

28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

EWN

What a year 2015 was – and this one hasn’t started any better either THE year started with terror and ended with terror, with multiple crises in-between Nora Johnson

Breaking Views Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/nora-johnson

THE refugee crisis and terrorist attacks have raised global instability to its highest level since the Cold War. According to the UN, about 60 million people have been displaced through conflict, compared with 40 million in 1940, early in the Second World War. And according to the International Organisation for Migration, 1,004,356 migrants reached Europe in 2015. Thanks, in large part, to Mrs Merkel’s generous open-door refugee policy. And what a year 2015 was, starting with terror, ending with terror with multiple crises inbetween. The Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris were followed by the eurozone crisis, which almost destroyed the single currency, before a record influx of migrants drove the passportfree Schengen zone to the verge of collapse.

The year ended as it started, with terrorist attacks in Paris killing 130 people, carried out by DAESH jihadists who had travelled to Europe among refugees. Not to mention the mass sex attacks on women in Cologne and other German cities on New Year’s Eve, again attributed to the work of single, young male refugees. This year hasn’t started any better with attacks already in Egypt, Jakarta and Istanbul. Well, it seems Mrs Merkel is single-handedly

doing more to split up the EU than Cameron could ever hope to accomplish. Her extremely controversial policy (partly to crack one of Germany’s own problems of insufficient taxpayers to fund their ageing population), isn’t just threatening Schengen, one of the EU’s most prized achievements, but increasingly causing divisions between EU countries over border control and refugee quotas. Heck, with the experience she’s gained in bringing about this nightmare sce-

RONALD REAGAN: Let’s hope he’s wrong. Photo Credit: Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com

nario, she should be turned loose on the EU itself. She’d surely be hugely successful in reducing the numbers of overpaid, pointless, purposeless bureaucrats who have made such a complete shambles of running it (and also the greatest beneficiaries aboard the infamous EU gravy train). Some view the Brexit debate as a mere rearrangement of the deckchairs on the Titanic ahead of another major crisis. As far as David Cameron’s concerned, he can only hope there’s no further terrorist attack or out-ofcontrol migration crisis before the planned Brexit referendum. We’ll have to wait and see. I recall the words of that great philosopher, Ronald Reagan: “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Let’s hope he’s proved wrong on this one... Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Landscape of Lies’, ‘Retribution’, ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89;£0.79) and iBookstore. All profits to Cudeca charity.

E W N 28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

TV LISTING

THURSDAY 28 JANUARY

FRIDAY 29 JANUARY

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:45am

BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Dickensian EastEnders Death in Paradise BBC News at Ten BBC London News Question Time This Week

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm

Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show Match of the Day Live BBC News at Ten BBC London News The Graham Norton Show Would I Lie to You?

7:30pm

The Voice UK Casualty The National Lottery Live BBC News Weather Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life

7:35pm

11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm 12:25am

SATURDAY 30 JANUARY

SUNDAY 31 JANUARY

8:45pm 10:10pm 11:00pm 11:10pm 11:25pm 11:30pm 12:50am

7:50pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:20pm 11:25pm 11:30pm 12:00am

MONDAY 01 FEBRUARY

8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm 12:15am

TUESDAY 02 FEBRUARY

WEDNESDAY 03 FEBRUARY

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm 1:15am

9:00pm 10:00pm

11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm

12:45am

Regional News Weather Countryfile Call the Midwife War and Peace BBC News Regional News Weather Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights Live at the Apollo

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm

8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:05am

8:35pm 9:05pm 10:05pm 10:50pm 11:20pm 1:35am 12:15pm 1:00pm 3:05pm 4:35pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:45am

The One Show Inside Out EastEnders Would I Lie to You? Silent Witness BBC News Regional News Weather Tracey Ullman's Show Football Focus

8:00pm

Regional News The One Show EastEnders Holby City Silent Witness BBC News Regional News Weather Match of the Day Weather for the Week Ahead

7:30pm

The Great Sport Relief Bake Off Camila's Kids Company: The Inside Story BBC News Regional News Weather Murder Games: The Life and Death of Breck Bednar Film 2016

9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:10am 12:15am

8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:10am 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:10am

Flog It! Eggheads Great British Railway Journeys Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Winterwatch The Story of China The Clare Balding Show Newsnight

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

Great British Railway Journeys Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Mastermind What to Buy and Why Winterwatch QI Newsnight The Story of China

8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

King George and Queen Mary: The Royals Who Rescued The Monarchy Dad's Army The Real Marigold Hotel Live at the Apollo Insert Name Here Perfume Bright Days Ahead Best Bakes Ever The Alamo Tennis Ladies in Lavender Ski Sunday John Carter Dragons' Den James May's Cars of the People True Grit Then She Found Me Great Interior Design Challenge University Challenge Mary Berry's Foolproof Cooking Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and Mary Insert Name Here Newsnight Weather Dragons' Den

11:40pm 12:45am

9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:40pm 12:10am 7:15pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:15pm 11:15pm 11:30pm 1:45am 7:15pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 11:15pm 12:15am

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:45pm 12:45am

Great American Railway Journeys Great Interior Design Challenge Back in Time for the Weekend The Real Marigold Hotel Phone Shop Idol Newsnight Weather

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

Great American Railway Journeys Great Interior Design Challenge Â£100k House: Tricks of the Trade World War Three: Inside the War Room Russell Howard's Good News Newsnight Weather

5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm

11:40pm 12:40am 1:05am

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 11:40pm 12:40am

ITV Evening News Emmerdale Tonight Emmerdale Birds of a Feather Jericho ITV News at Ten and Weather John Bishop's Gorilla Adventure Murder, She Wrote

4:10pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

Emmerdale Coronation Street The Martin Lewis Money Show Coronation Street Mr Selfridge ITV News at Ten and Weather Birds of a Feather On Her Majesty's Secret Service

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

ITV News and Weather You've Been Framed! Ninja Warrior UK Take Me Out The Jonathan Ross Show ITV News and Weather The Lost World: Jurassic Park Jackpot 247

5:25pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am

10:00pm 12:15am 2:05am

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5 News Celebrity Big Brother Celebrity Botched Up Bodies Red Dragon Britain's Worst Crimes Super Casino Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun House Docto

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Home and Away 5 News Ice Road Truckers Ancient Mysteries Celebrity Big Brother Gotham Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side Celebrity Big Brother Super Casino

6:30pm

Soccer A.M. - The Best Bits Top 14 Rugby

8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am

7:30pm Highlights 8:00pm 8:30pm 11:00pm 12:00am 12:30am

ICC U19 World Cup Cricket Football La Liga Goals SPFL Round Up Soccer A.M. - The Best Bits

Neighbours Home and Away The Dog Rescuers Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun Celebrity Big Brother Autopsy Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side Celebrity Big Brother

8:30pm 8:45pm 9:00pm 9:15pm 9:30pm 9:45pm 10:00pm 10:15pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 12:30am

Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs La Liga World 2015 Ford Football Ford Football

Truth and Lies 5 News Neighbours Home and Away 5 News The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door GPs: Behind Closed Doors Celebrity Big Brother 10,000 BC Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side

6:00pm

Sky Sports Originals - Le God - The Le Tissier Story Bpl Legends Football Gold Football Gold Bpl Legends Scottish Premiership Ford Football Special Premier League 100 Club Ford Football Special

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FEATURE

28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

PJ or not to PJ, that is the question IMAGINE being picked up from school by parents who are only wearing skimpy trunks or bikinis Vicki McLeod

Family Matters I’M not trying to say that I’m a slob or anything, but I have on occasion been known to wear my pyjamas all day. Mostly it’s been when I have to work from home and I don’t have any need to meet anyone. Occasionally I have been seen outside of the house putting out the recycling, normally Carlos my neighbour will also be outside of his house putting out his rubbish at the same moment. Thankfully we’re both pyjama lovers and neither of us really seems to care or bat an eyelid about what the other is wearing. I might even have taken my daughter to school wearing my pyjamas before now, but I don’t think I’ve ever attended a school assembly or parent/teacher meeting whilst still in my onesie. It’s this which seems to have raised the collective eyebrows of the teachers at the Skerne Park Academy in Darlington and has

PJS: How tired must people be if they can’t be bothered to get changed for a meeting?

prompted not only a stern letter to the parents from the headmistress Kate Chisholm, but also UK national news coverage as a result. How tired must these people be if they can’t be bothered to get

changed in order to go to a meeting? And what sort of message is that giving their children? “We are trying to raise standards and get better outcomes for the children and we noticed a lot of the parents are turning

up to school as well as meetings and assemblies wearing pyjamas. If we’re to raise standards, it’s not too much to ask parents to have a wash and get dressed,” said Ms Chisholm, and I’ve got to agree with her.

It turns out that you can also be refused admission to Tesco supermarket if you’re in your night attire, but then, who’s to know if what you wear in bed is also what you wear out? You don’t have to wear stripy flannels, you could try out the jogging bottoms or yoga leggings look which I occasionally can be seen sporting. What if, just say, I’d possibly had a nap in them the day before and then not got round to changing? Is that the worst thing ever? If you didn’t know, then how could you possibly be offended? There are worst things you could turn up to school wearing, especially in Mallorca where it gets quite warm. Imagine being picked up from school by your parents who are wearing only the skimpiest of bikinis or swimming trunks, it’s an obvious progression. I know wearing beach gear is frowned on when tourists are walking about Palma Nova or Pollensa, but what about us residents who just can’t be bothered to change after their daily dip in the swimming pool? I’ll just leave that thought here. www.mallorcamatters.com

E W N 28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

Word Ladder

YOUR STARS

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) An interest in technology is not something new to you. What is

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

TOMORROW

‘HAS ANYONE SEEN MY PIZZA?’

deer dire doer drew erne ewer iron nerd noir redo reed rein rend ride rind rode weir were wire word wore worn wren diner dower dried droid drone drown eider erode newer odder owner reded redid renew rowed rowen weird wider wired denier deride dewier dinero downer droned eroded ironed nodder redden redone reined rewind ridden weirdo winder wonder worded dowdier dowered downier drowned ironweed wondered EIDERDOWN

CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

guy,’ but honesty is also important to you. Speaking your mind can be liberating although, initially, you may see it as a nuisance and embarrassing.

(January 21 - February 19)

Alicante TODAY:

Madrid

SUNNY

MAX 18C, MIN 11C

Fri Sat Sun -

17 10 C 16 9 S 18 9 S

Mon - 18 11 S Tues - 18 10 C Wed - 17 10 C

Almeria TODAY:

MAX 17C, MIN 11C

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Be aware that leopards do not change their spots, they merely hide them. Those who demand your trust need a cool checking out and don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ as and when necessary.

TODAY: Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 19 11 S Tues - 20 11 C Wed - 20 11 S

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Career and home are in disharmony but a bit of compromise soon sorts things out. You don’t like playing the ‘bad

MAX 158C, MIN 12C

MAX MIN

17 11 C 17 11 C 18 11 S

16 11 C 17 11 C 18 12 S

Cl Clear,

Sh Showers,

10-Star Quiz

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Saturday January 23

Friday January 22

Saturday January 23

Sunday January 24

5 14

9 21

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

12 30

27 47

LUCKY STARS

REINTEGRO

CLOUDY MAX 19C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

18 7 C 18 8 C 18 8 S

Mon - 19 8 S Tues - 19 9 C Wed - 17 8 C

10 27

19 31

REINTEGRO

SUNNY MAX 22C, MIN 10C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 18 12 S Tues - 18 12 C Wed - 17 11 C

UK THUNDERBALL

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

MAX MIN

Mon - 20 10 S Tues - 21 11 C Wed - 20 11 S

Murcia

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.

CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 11C 18 11 C 19 10 C 20 10 S

MAX MIN

SUNNY MAX 18C, MIN 12C

Sudoku

Fri Sat Sun TODAY:

Mon - 18 11 S Tues - 18 12 S Wed - 18 11 C

S Sun,

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Contact with a less than ideal situation makes you realise just how lucky you are. It has been clear that the weeks are changeable and your situation at the moment far from settled.

Mon - 17 5 S Tues - 17 6 S Wed - 16 4 C

Mallorca

SUNNY

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

14 4 C 14 3 S 16 4 S

MAX MIN

18 10 C 17 9 C 19 11 S

Benidorm TODAY:

Fri Sat Sun TODAY:

Barcelona SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Sometimes, you find it hard to do things just for the pure enjoyment of it. Realise that not everything has to have a purpose or a profit. Look round this week and seek out something that will please your senses and bring a smile to your lips.

MAX MIN

Malaga

SUNNY MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

CLOUDY MAX 13C, MIN 6C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Someone with a larger-than-life imagination makes you smile but that was not their intention. Try to be diplomatic and steer them in a different direction.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Social demands are made, but try to shuffle them to the weekend. Be diplomatic or someone close could become irritated. Keep an eye on the small print because something fundamental may have changed in a long-standing arrangement.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Be aware that not everyone is willing to work as hard as you. When approached by someone wanting you to trust them, be sure of their motives. Do what you feel is right but remain firmly in control, especially financially.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) An urge to get moving must mean that spring is round the corner. Certainly, you are questioning where you want to be in the months ahead. A house move or work placement may be on your mind.

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 H) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

great, though, is that the penny has suddenly dropped. This week sees you understanding more and wanting to know more.

Nonagram

CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Being asked to take on a new and demanding task this week may see you wishing that you had been less visible. However, don’t think of the hard work involved but rather the brilliant outcome. You will be popular.

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

This being a family oriented week, much of it may be spent getting together with relatives and going over old times. Perhaps you are compiling a photo album for older members of the family or vice versa.

AQUARIUS

for next 7 days

weather

TODAY

LOTTERY

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) An exciting invitation may set tongues wagging and make a loved one jealous. You, meanwhile, are quite bemused by the whole thing. What comes out of this week is that you are of considerable value to others.

Average: 7 Good: 9 Very good: 13 Excellent: 16

Mallorca

Move from the start word (WOLF) to the end word (HOME) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.

HOME BACK

TARGET:

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

WOLF GOLF GOLD HOLD HOLE HOME

WOLF

TIME

www.euroweeklynews.com

Fri Sat Sun -

F Fog, Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

19 11 C 21 9 C 22 9 S

Mon - 22 8 S Tues - 23 9 C Wed - 22 9 C

C Cloudy, Th Thunder

THE WHOLE TOOTH 1. The first product to be advertised on UK television (September 22, 1955) was one for which brand of toothpaste? 2. Who wrote and presented the Channel 4 Saturday night light entertainment show Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush? 3. By what name is the prehistoric animal the Smilodon populator, which roamed the mid-western US and parts of both North and South America until around 10,000 years ago, better known? 4. Which 19th century Poet Laureate wrote the 1850 poem In Memoriam A H H, which contains the muchquoted phrase ‘nature, red in tooth and claw’, referring to humanity? 5. Invented by telecom giant Ericsson in 1994, which short range wireless technology for connecting different devices such as computers and mobile phones, is named after a 10th century king of Denmark and Norway? 6. Dr Teeth and The Electric Mayhem were the rock house band of which comedy-variety television series? 7. The name of which species of yellow flowering plants is derived from the French for ‘lion’s tooth’? 8. Which former footballer played the part of debt collector and gun-for-hire Bullet Tooth Tony in the 2000 crime comedy film Snatch? 9. Which Shakespearian title character, when talking about his daughter Goneril, speaks the lines “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is, to have a thankless child?” 10. In which animated television series does lumberjack Rufus Ruffcut with his pet beaver Sawtooth drive the Buzzwagon, made of logs, with buzzsaws for wheels? 1. GIBBS S R, 2. CHRIS EVANS, 3. SABRE-TOOTHED TIGER, 4. ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, 5. BLUETOOTH (named after Harald Bluetooth), 6. THE MUPPET SHOW, 7. DANDELION, 8. VINNIE JONES, 9. KING LEAR, 10. WACKY RACES

OUT

www.euroweeklynews.com

28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

page

AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

Enjoy filling in the following puzzles and check the answers in next week’s edition

Quick

Code Breaker

Across 1 Capture (5) 4 Osculations (6) 9 Began (7) 10 Type of metal (5) 11 Connection (4) 12 Confidential (7) 13 Tennis match division (3) 14 Border (4) 16 Simple (4) 18 Unusual (3) 20 Garden of fruit trees (7) 21 Huge (4) 24 Play (5) 25 Sad (7) 26 Called for (6) 27 Current fashion (5) Down 1 Expensive (6) 2 Locomotive (5) 3 Detest (4) 5 Motivated (8) 6 Teetertotters (7) 7 Explained or answered (6)

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Crossword

EWN

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 7 represents P and 12 represents Q, so fill in P every time the figure 7 appears and Q every time the figure 12 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 Mates, 4 Traitor, 8 Science, 9 Meals, 10 Angle, 11 Ladette, 13 Reel, 15 Guinea, 17 Sabres, 20 Sloe, 22 Chelsea, 24 Ratio, 26 Cease, 27 Restate, 28 Actress, 29 Lasts.

Down: 1 Mustang, 2 Thing, 3 Sincere, 4 Treble, 5 Armed, 6 Tractor, 7 Rosie, 12 Also, 14 Ease, 16 Inexact, 18 Aerosol, 19 Showers, 21 Lairds, 22 Cocoa, 23 Sieve, 25 Traps.

QUICK Across:

8 Adjust accordingly (5) 13 Divide (8) 15 Make known (7) 17 Gilded (6)

English - Spanish

18 Aroma (5) 19 Remained (6) 22 Red or green fruit (5) 23 Close (4)

Down: 1 Recall, 2 Grabs, 3 Dogs, 5 Exciting, 6 Squeeze, 7 Settee, 8 Asked, 13 Decorate, 15 Certain, 17 Shadow, 18 Brick, 19 Stress, 22 Again, 23 Just.

The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.

Across 1 Otoño (6) 4 Deuda (obligación) (4) 8 Neumáticos (de ruedas) (5) 9 Entrar (5) 10 Flash of lightning (9) 13 Valiente (persona, acción, decisión) (5) 15 Sky (5) 16 Eco (sonido) (4) 17 Brunette (f) (6)

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across:

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

1 Scales, 4 Otra, 8 Abrir, 9 Agent, 10 Religioso, 13 Toads, 15 Arena, 16 Amor, 17 Cereza.

Down: 1 Seal, 2 Agree, 3 Earliest, 5 Tie, 6 Ant, 7 Patinaje, 11 Siete, 12 Nada, 13 Tia, 14 Ajo.

Down 1 Minutes (of a meeting) (4) 2 Tower (5) 3 Mensajes (8) 5 Comer (3) 6 Alquitrán (3) 7 Slowly (8) 11 Gansos (5) 12 Mouth (of person, animal, bottle) (4) 13 Abeja (3) 14 Ceniza (polvo) (3)

Hexagram

1 Rigid, 4 Verses, 9 Changes, 10 Court, 11 List, 12 Extreme, 13 Dad, 14 Acre, 16 Need, 18 Big, 20 Harbour, 21 Fast, 24 Drama, 25 Courage, 26 Wander, 27 Tunes.

Cryptic 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 (STORMY) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

ACUITY AMOEBA ATTAIN ATTEST CAMBER CITRON CORDON DEBTOR EXTENT JUMBLE

LAMBDA MALLET NETTLE RUDDER SEXTET STANCE STORMY (10) SYSTEM TENURE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Radium 2 Bureau 3 Payout 4 Resume 5 Memory 6 Patron 7 Mammal 8 Poetry 9 Teller 10 Mythic 11 Citron 12 Actual 13 Inhere 14 Sweaty 15 Tinder 16 Chalet 17 Turret 18 Dilate 19 Decree

Across 1 Foundation headquarters (4) 4 Famous Greek coasters at sea (8) 8 Heads of television and radio in sort of news broadcast (6) 9 Disturbed fish surrounded by poles (6) 10 Encourage some of our generation (4) 11 Messy pad? Slash builder (8) 13 Contentious actor in lover’s setting (13) 16 At home with no American money? Not guilty (8) 19 Fired in turn (4) 20 Celebrity fable (6) 22 Chlorine’s always bright (6) 23 Bosses will come from a rebuilt East Germany, but not yet (8) 24 What chaos when the snow melts! (4) Down 2 PM’s rant of one deranged (9) 3 Basic building block forming

part of kettle (7) 4 The kitchen features are drops in the ocean (5) 5 Falls for villain in trial (7) 6 Prize for part of the hospital (5) 7 A seer I heard (3) 12 Appear o so strange in a television programme (4,5) 14 Late returning from feud

revolutionaries caused (7) 15 Have doubts about American political leader in religious order (7) 17 Last letter from some Galicians (5) 18 Insects making right marks (5) 21 A very long period of time, in general (3)

E W N 28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

In a class of his own

OUR VIEW Credit matthi shutterstock

SEAMUS was one of life’s great characters, and a retired colonel of the Irish Guards Colin Bird A weekly look Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-thewall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.

ON a recent visit to the mother country, we happened to drive past a house near our village that was once occupied by one of life’s great characters, a retired colonel of the Irish Guards, known to his friends and fellow ex-officers as Seamus. He was an aristocrat through and through, but treated everyone he came into contact with in exactly the same uncondescending way, be they royalty or street cleaners. His language when telling one of his famous stories to the boys, was barrack room vernacular at its bawdy best, but when engaging ladies in conversation, he was the epitome of charm and courteousness.

MANNERS: Due decorum and a stiff upper lip were required in all situations. Kissing hands or tipping his hat were as natural to him as eating peas off a knife is to me. His mother was of genteel birth he told me, and the emphasis in her day was to mar-

ry well and acquire a husband from the aristocracy or upper classes. But she had other rebellious thoughts and furthered her education at a school for young ladies, the establish-

ment being a stately home of some magnificence, and ruled by a principal of formidable demeanour. One evening over dessert, the elderly butler approached unhurriedly, and bending

down painfully to engage the principal’s ear, said: “Begging pardon Ma’am, no cause for alarm but the ‘ouse is on fire.” There was a sharp intake of breath around the table, and I suspect a hint of nervous flatulence, but no noticeable reaction from the principal who, ramrod straight, informed her ‘gels’ that they should finish the meal with due decorum. Nothing, not even a raging inferno, would interrupt their set routine and they were eventually led to the safety of the gardens in a dignified manner. It was an illustration of the now sadly defunct, British stiff upper lip. The colonel is no longer with us, but he was one of those rare examples from the upper classes who have no pretentions regarding status and treat everyone with the respect and courtesy they merit, regardless of background or upbringing.

Whiteout cripples parts of the US Photo Credit Rena Schild Shutterstock

WEATHER conditions in the last week have caused untold difficulties John Smith Random thoughts... THE east coast of America is normally pretty well-equipped to deal with snow, but the weather conditions in the last week have caused untold difficulties. It is estimated that at least 31 people have died due to car accidents, carbon monoxide poisoning or heart attacks caused by shovelling snow. The storm brought snow from the Gulf Coast to New England, with near-record snowfalls measured from Washington DC to New York City causing people to be cut off, and roads, train stations and airports to be closed, as well as mass purchasing of food, leaving shelves empty and some people hungry. Central Park in New York, with just under 30 inches of snow, saw the second highest fall since records began in 1869, and all of the main freeways on Long Island were

WHITE HOUSE: Near-record snowfalls were recorded in Washington DC. closed to traffic. Plenty of children appreciated the fact that schools were closed, and those with skis had an unexpected opportunity to enjoy their hobby, as many companies and government departments decided it was safer to close rather than face the risk of injury to their staff. Forty-eight million viewers dropped in to YouTube to see the

Washington Zoo’s Giant Panda Tian Tian rolling around in the snow, and even a Maryland man in a panda costume managed to attract 500,000 viewers doing the same thing. Despite the fact that part of the largest economy in the western world was paralysed for a few days, it doesn’t appear to have had a major effect on the country, although once the thaw sets in, flooding could

become a major headache and hit the insurance industry particularly badly. With the storm heading across the Atlantic, both Britain and Ireland can look forward to an extended period of cold weather, and even Spain can anticipate a bit of a fall out with some chilly nights, although it is unlikely to be particularly uncomfortable. The storm caused people to be cut off, and roads, train stations and airports to be closed, as well as mass purchasing of food, leaving shelves empty

Mariano Rajoy.

A stalemate for Spanish Parliament WE make no apologies for returning to the matter of the Spanish election, and the fact that at the time of writing these observations there has been very little progress in the formation of a new government. This means that the old government continues to run the country, even though it no longer has a formal mandate and does not have a majority in the Cortes. King Felipe, having met with the leaders of every party, starting with the ‘minnows’ on January 18 and finishing with the main contenders on January 22, issued a formal invitation to Mariano Rajoy to form a minority government. The interim Prime Minister declined to do so, not on the basis that he would never agree to run the country, but on the basis that he couldn’t agree at the moment as he didn’t hold sufficient seats to allow him to be elected as Prime Minister, as those opposed to him were in the majority. To this end therefore, he has indicated that he will keep trying to find a compromise with the other parties to allow him to create a workable coalition. To some extent this is quite a clever ploy, because in theory, he could carry on like this until October 2016 before a new election can be called, but if he agreed to accept the call to form a government and was defeated then the election would have to take place within two months.

A combination of unseasonably mild Atlantic waters, a cold snap from Canada, and a slow moving front coupled with the effects of the El Niño weather event in the PacifNow we ic, which may have warmed the Atwant to lantic, have combined to create hear your views. these extreme weather conditions. Although happily they YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE are not as bad as those depict- YOUR OPINION ed in the 2004 film ‘The Day www.euroweeklynews.com After Tomorrow’.

E W N Mallorca

28 January - 3 February 2016

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Phones could cause back pain MORE and more people are suffering from kyphosis, or hunchback, and too much phone and tablet use could be to blame. Kyphosis is a curvature of the spine that causes the top of the back to appear from rounded and a curve of over 45 degrees is considered excessive. It can be caused by spinal injury, osteoporosis, spinal arthritis, poor posture and the ageing process, but experts say modern technology is al-

so bringing on more cases as people have a more sedentary lifestyle, and spend too much time hunched over desks at work. Around 10 million adults spend more than seven hours a day on gadgets putting their health at risk. A survey of 2,000 people in the UK found that 27 per cent of those questioned had visited a healthcare professional, such as a GP or physiotherapist due to back pain in the past year, affecting all areas of their life.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Ask The Doctor

28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

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The Zika virus

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Train on empty, yes or no? TRY both methods and work out which one is best for you

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SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. There’s been a lot in the news this week about the Zika virus, which many had never heard of before, so we asked Dr Perez Belmonte to answer a few questions about it. -What is zika? It is a virus which comes mainly from the equatorial areas of America, Asia and Africa. -How is it transmitted? It is transmitted via mosquitoes, which can also carry other viruses which cause more wellknown illnesses including yellow or dengue fever. -What are the symptoms? Zika usually starts with the appearance of skin lesions accompanied by fever, muscle and joint pain and headaches, although in more serious cases breathing problems or neurological issues can occur. Symptoms usually last between four and seven days. There are debates at the moment as to whether pregnant women affected by the virus can give birth to babies with microcephaly (smaller than average heads), although

there is no conclusive data to confirm this. -Is it dangerous? Generally it is a mild illness and patients tend to recover within a week. -How can we avoid catching it? This type of mosquito is not present in developed countries so catching it is virtually impossible. In countries where the mosquito is found the best way to avoid contagion is to use repellents, mosquito nets and long sleeved clothes etc to avoid being bitten. -Is there a cure or treatments? Currently treatments concentrate on alleviating symptoms, treating muscular pain with pain killers, skin eruptions with anti-histamines, etc. Rest is also recommended while symptoms last. Once the illness passes the patient is cured, and there are generally no after effects.

The Coast’s Home GP service - wherever you are - at home - in the office - in the car - on the golf course your GP will get to see you any time, anywhere. A priceless service at an affordable price.

IF in the past you were someone that skipped breakfast and felt ravenous by lunchtime, your body had over time taught itself to hold on to every calorie from your last meal, and slow down the fat burning process. However once you get into an exercise routine, you will find your body simply will not settle for a 12-hour fast. Exercise performed over long periods or high intensity will wake up your metabolism, and this is where you need to put in the effort to consume healthy, well-prepared meals. For example, you are up at 7am and your training session is 9am, you need at least an hour to digest your food before you start exercising. I have had clients that after eating an hour earlier, and due to the intensity of the session, have felt unwell. I have had other clients that have eaten nothing, and run out of steam 15 minutes into the class, with no fuel, their body

PROTEIN SHAKES: A clean and nutritious liquid meal. was unable to perform. Studies suggest working out on an empty stomach can make your body more efficient at using up its energy stores, by allowing the carbohydrates and proteins to be absorbed into the body rather than stored as fat. However other studies have shown that ‘a fasted workout’ will hinder your performance, as having no fuel in your body means you are unable to exercise for as long and therefore you will burn fewer calories. So try both of the methods, and see

how you get on. My personal choice is a protein shake, nice and easy, hardly any prep and no chewing involved. I’m getting a clean, nutritious liquid meal, and as long as I give myself 45 minutes to an hour before the session, I have no worries about digestion. Remember even a banana is going to give you some firing power to work with, and they tend to digest well. If you try a ‘fasted workout session’, pay attention to your energy levels and stamina during the hour and compare it.

The silent sounds of modern life that may be leading to ultrasonic sickness THE sounds of modern life could be making you ill as scientists say an increased use of public announcement systems, loudspeakers and automatic doors may be leading to an epidemic of ultrasonic sickness. Even electronic devices designed to scare away mice and cats could lead to symptoms including nausea, dizziness, stomach pain and headaches. The symptoms of ultrasonic

sickness have traditionally been associated with workers using heavy-duty drills, but it is believed more and more people could be suffering from similar symptoms, and children are particularly sensitive to such exposure. The inaudible ultrasonic hum of electrical appliances is all around, in supermarkets, shops, schools and swimming pools. Ultrasound is too high

pitched for many to hear, but around one in 20 can pick up

the range. Even if you cannot hear it, it can make you ill.

E W N 28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

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OPINION & COMMENT

Colau may look further afield MAYOR of Barcelona is allegedly thinking of plunging into national politics Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

ADA COLAU, mayor of Barcelona and linked to Podemos, is allegedly thinking of plunging into national politics. It worked for Albert Rivera whose Ciudadanos is now a national party so why not Colau, some ask. Why not? Because Rivera is anti-independence and anti-referendum, making him acceptable outside Cataluña. Canny Colau avoids discussing independence but is pro-referendum, which is anathema to the rest of Spain. Nice try, Ada, but don’t try it.

The Public Prosecution department and tax authority Hacienda claim this is unnecessary because the accusation against her was not brought by the State. This precedent was set during the trial of deceased Santander banker Emilio Botin, who escaped prosecution for tax transgressions. Unlike Urdangarin, the Infanta could be let ADA COLAU: Is linked to Podemos.

Own goal ON February 9 Spain will learn if the Infanta Cristina will stand trial in husband Iñaki Urdangarin’s fraud and money-laundering case.

off the hook which Jose Castro, the judge who instructed the case, says would insult “ingenuous taxpayers.” It will also be an own goal on the part of the Public Prosecutor and Hacienda, but Spanish taxpayers are used to feeling insulted, and not only by Botin, Urdangarin or his royal wife.

Pointless PODEMOS MP Carolina Bescansa turned up on the first day of the new parliament with her baby, a sweet little thing that Pablo Iglesias cooed over and sidekick Iñigo Errejon pointedly ignored. Bescansa was making a point, she said, to demonstrate how hard it is for women to combine work with a family. It is, but not on an MP’s pay.

Rajoy is all alone THE PSOE’s spokesman Antonio Hernando urged Mariano Rajoy to form a government without delay, safe in the knowledge that he is arithmetically and ideologically stymied. Raj oy i s al l egedl y r eproached inside his own party for his slowness to negotiate, but apart from Ciudadanos, who don’t have the numbers to help him, who can he approach? The PP’s huge overall maj or i t y obvi at ed t he need t o make friends during the last l egi sl at ur e. Now Raj oy i s paying for it.

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Don’t gamble your holiday splurge by skimping on travel insurance David Deverson GLOBELINK INTERNATIONAL Insurance correspondent david@globelink.co.uk

HOLIDAYS are sacred, not least to us Brits. A recent travel industry survey showed that most of us would sooner economise on gadgets, home improvements or eating out than cut back on our well-earned breaks. We’re taking longer holidays, even if that means cutting back on the number of trips we make. What’s more, we don’t mind splashing out on the extras that help turn a ‘ho-hum’ holiday into the stuff of memories. Travel companies have woken up to that fact, and many now let you tailor your trip with special add-ons. A mini-cruise here, a scenic train journey there, and it can soon add up to a sizeable splurge. Whether you’re travelling under your own steam or on a package, the chances are, you’ll be paying upfront, with more at stake if anything goes wrong.

INSURANCE: Don’t wait until the last minute to book it, it’s asking to be caught out. Suppose you’re injured and have to cancel your trip because you’re unfit to travel. What if your flight from Spain is delayed, and you miss your connecting flight out of the UK? Or a relative back home falls seriously ill and you have to cut your holiday short to be there? It’s human nature to think ‘it won’t happen to me’ , but if it does, you’ll certainly be glad you

took out decent travel cover to shield you against the kinds of things that can and do happen out of the blue. Do check your policy to make sure it fits the trip you’re planning. Cancellation costs can be peanuts compared to the head-spinning risks involved if you run into health problems without proper cover. People generally underestimate the cost of

medical treatment abroad, which has rocketed in recent years. That’s especially true of Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Japan and the US, where hospital stays can cost around £2,500 (€3,274) per day. Even then, medical bills are often the tip of the iceberg. At Globelink, we recently paid over £45,000 (€58,946) to repatriate one of our clients back to the UK following heart surgery in the USA! One last thing I must stress, don’t wait until the last minute to book your travel cover, it’s just asking to be caught out. Remember, too, that single trip holiday insurance must cover the whole of your return trip, from the date you leave your country of residence to the date you return. Don’t be tempted to book it from a friend’s address in the UK. Declaring you’re a UK resident when you live in Spain is fraud. If you do make a claim, it won’t wash, but you could find yourself in pretty hot water! For an instant travel insurance quote and to arrange cover securely visit www.globelink.co.uk, or call (UK) +44 1353 699 082 or our Spanish link lines on 966 265 000 or 951 242 434.

E W N Mallorca

28 January - 3 February 2016

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Jurassic dinosaurs on tour hits Palma de Mallorca THE Jurassic Expo has landed on our shores and will be open to the public from January 30, until February 28. Jurassic Expo is the largest exhibition of dinosaurs in Europe, and has toured more than a

dozen European countries before arriving in Palma. The animatronic dinosaur technology brings the dinosaurs to life in an exhibition that takes you back millions of years. Other attractions in-

clude an interactive area called the Sandbox; where children can explore dinosaur bones with expert palaeontologists. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a fascinating documentary called ‘Planet Dinosaur.’

Entry is €7 and the exhibition is open: Monday to Friday 5pm to 9pm Saturday and Sunday 11am to 2pm, and 5pm to 9pm, at the Poligono Levante, Palma.

JURASSIC EXPO: Exhibition of dinosaurs.

SOCIAL SCENE

Marratxi Carnival, Palma de Mallorca THERE is a fancy dress parade from Portol to Sant Marcal on January 31. Carnival season starts early in Marratxi, with a street party and parade to celebrate the arrival of Lent. The fancy dress parade starts in Portol, and runs to Sant Marcel church of Sa Cabaneta, where prizes can be won for the best fancy dress costume. There will also be a chocolate party at the town hall, where the parade finishes. The parade is quite unique as most other towns in Mallorca will celebrate Carnival the following weekend.

Double rosette in Palma Cathedral A BIANNUAL visual phenomenon can be witnessed on Tuesday, February 2, at 8-9am in Palma Cathedral. Twice a year the sun casts a huge image of the rosette window in Palma Cathedral on the opposite wall forming a figure of eight. The effect happens on November 11 and February 2 each year. Visit the Cathedral on these days in the morning to witness the effect yourself.

Almond Fair in Son Servera IN late January, the almond trees on Mallorca start to blossom. The beautiful white blossoms cover the countryside until mid-February. Son Severa hosts a country fair in honour of this important Mallorcan crop. The event aims to promote the healthy nut and other almond related products, including almond oil, make-up, perfume, scented candles and soap. Traditional harvesting tools will be on display as well as a selection of animals. The fair will take place at the Cases de Ca sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hereu, a country estate on Sunday February 7, between 9:30am-2pm.

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28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

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44 E W N Mallorca V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E W W W . E U R O W E E K LY N E W S . C O M

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PROPERTY

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Rental prices on the rise A NEW report has indicated that rental prices in Spain saw a marked increase in 2015 with an average rise of 3.3 per cent, leading to a median €7 per square metre. Released by the Idealist website, the analysis also detailed the compelling regional differences across a fragmented

national market. With Barcelona continuing its rise as a leading European capital, Catalonian landlords demanded a steep 13.3 per cent rise in their rents, while the Balearics saw an eyewatering 10.3 per cent rise. Both were significantly above the capital

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Madrid at a more reasonable 7.6 per cent, although it retains the highest price per square metre at €10.5. When limiting the analysis to cities, Malaga posted an enormous increase of 13.5 per cent, in marked opposition to Jaen which saw a 7.9 per cent decline. This two-speed nature of the market was highlighted by regional declines in Galicia of -3.7 per cent, and Extremadura of -3.4 per cent. The creation and distribution of employment is expected to be key to how the market develops in 2016, but the patterns outlined last year are expected to continue, showing little in the way of major surprises.

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line payment and enter your property details and they do the rest, it’s simple. Sellers have the option to pay on a monthly basis, or pay for a fixed term. There are Standard and Premium services or Plus + services that include Rightmove Overseas. Premium displays are bigger and bolder, it’s reported a Premium listing will give your property 35 per cent more views. It works, Sell4LessSpain.com has introduced buyers resulting in sales from €67,000 to €1.6 million, in many cases these properties were on the market with traditional estate agents for years!

What are you waiting for - Visit www.Sell4LessSpain.com or call 951 402 445 to get started! Get your property online TODAY!

Informing on market decisions IT’S a little known fact that the Spanish government is a surprising world player when it comes to publishing open data available to the public, coming in at 17th in the Global Open Data Index. Spain began seriously publishing open data documents in 2013, and within them is a wealth of key information for those looking to play the property market game. Much of the data has only recently gone live, but it is expected to pick up pace in the near future.

PROPERTY

28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

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UK buyers are leading the way INDICATORS confirm they will continue to dominate the Spanish property market in 2016 John Graham The property expert

SPANISH property enquiries in January 2016 have got off to a flying start, and it’s the UK buyers that are leading the way. All indicators confirm that UK property buyers will continue to dominate the property market in Spain, especially along the Spanish Costas and Balearics, and that there should be an increase in UK buyers compared to 2015. Recent data from major property portals in the UK confirm that Spain is the most searched destination for property buyers, well ahead of France, Spain’s nearest rival, and other destinations. Also, official data has recently been released on the total property sales in Spain by non-Spanish

SPANISH PROPERTY: Enquiries have got off to a flying start in 2016. buyers in 2015. The report confirms UK property buyers have been the biggest property buyers in Spain each year from 2013 to the end of

2015, and in 2015 UK buyers were again the biggest buyers but by a much bigger margin, when compared to all other nationalities.

So there is no denying that the UK market will continue to be the number one buyer of property in Spain in 2016. There has been a lot of speculation with regards to property prices in Spain in recent years, and we can now safely say that prices have bottomed out in the majority of regions. Recent official data show an increase in Spain’s property prices at around 1 per cent to 2.9 per cent at the end of 2015, but if we take out Barcelona and Madrid price increases, the prices on the Costas and Mallorca haven’t increased in most areas, and only very slightly in prime locations. The important point to remember on pricing is that we have turned a corner, prices have stopped falling and 2016 should see more price increases in Spain, especially in prime locations, and as I stated last week 2016 will be a buyers’ market.

Another positive sign the property industry has got off to a flying start in January is the large number of investors buying properties from Spanish banks. We will see many more investor transactions in 2016, especially along the Costas. Investors and developers buying and refurbishing these developments that have lain dormant for so many years, are bringing them back to life again. This is good news for everyone selling a property, there’s nothing worse than trying to sell your home that is located close to an unfinished development, and once the developments are finished it will help increase the property prices in the area. If you are looking to buy or sell your property please contact me. John Graham Fellow of The Architecture & Surveyors Institute. gk.ipad@me.com

E W N 28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

Moral of the story... get a second opinion Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man WHY is it when you take your car in to have something done, on the way home from picking it up some warning light comes on or a noise appears? You take it back to the garage and tell them you just had some work done and now this problem has appeared. You all know what’s next. It’s the shrug of the shoulders! “Let’s have a look”. The bonnet goes up. Then it happens, the sharp intake of breath. “What? What?” Then the explanation, the kafluferla valve has sprung a leak and the shlaygool seal needs replacing. “Hold on a minute, it was all fine before I brought it for the other little thing that needed doing. Absolutely no connection? Pure coincidence, even though the pipe going into the thingamajig is at the other end of the pipe you just replaced on the whatchamacallit. So how much is all this going to cost?” “Well even though it’s just this tiny seal that has gone, they don’t sell that bit on its

own. Yeah, you have to buy a whole new gangle valve which has to come from the main dealer in (fill in the place that is furthest away from your garage).” “The cost?” “Well it’s going to be about €500 with fitting!” “OK let me think about it and I’ll let you know tomorrow.” And off I go. Now here is a tip, never believe that every mechanic knows what he is talking about, because on the way home I pop into my local garage that has been there for years and ask him to have a quick look at my car. He lifts the bonnet up, has a look round, gets a screwdriver and another tool that makes a clicking noise when you move it in any direction. A few minutes later he comes out from under the bonnet and says he’s fixed it. “How much?” “Give me €10.” Sorry, what about the €500 bit of kit that was needed? He then informs me the only problem was that whoever did the original repair simply didn’t put the other end back properly! Naturally I went back to the original garage and told them in no uncertain terms what I thought of them. The moral of the story is it doesn’t matter how far a fish swims it never sweats… Or maybe always get a second opinion.

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OPINION & COMMENT

LEGALLY SPEAKING

New speed radars CAN also detect if a driver is using a mobile phone AS part of a new series, we answer some common driving questions, kindly provided by members of the Guardia Civil based in Torrevieja, Costa Blanca, who set up the N332 website and Facebook page to help break down barriers.

NEW DETECTORS: Can tell if a driver is on a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt. A NEW range of radar speed detectors installed by the DGT not only monitor for vehicles travelling in excess of the maximum permitted speed limit, but they are also able to tell if a driver is not wearing a seatbelt or is talking on a mobile phone. The cameras, which have been installed in 70 locations across the country already, look similar to the existing devices, but can capture images at 50 frames per second, which results in higher definition still images being captured, which result in more details being collected and then analysed, such as the driver’s current activities and recording the vehicle information.

The aim of the investment in the devices is to improve road safety, with the latest data revealing that in the most recent campaign 1,349 drivers were reported for not using seatbelts, and another 1,113 for using a phone whilst driving. With the Pegasus radar already capable of capturing this detail, and recording the necessary evidential data, these latest ground-based cameras add to the arsenal of monitoring tools. Further data also reveals that 77 per cent of all people killed in vehicles are not wearing a seatbelt, and so by changing attitudes through enforcement, a significant number of lives can be saved.

For more news and articles visit www.n332.es or search N332 on Facebook.

Can we charge banks? I AM president of a small community of nine apartments. Four of the apartments are possessed by banks, who refuse to pay community fees. At our AGM three years ago we passed a motion that all debtors should pay an extra levy of 10 per cent.

Of course you can charge the banks, but you are not charging them interest. You are applying a surcharge, ‘un recargo’, on late payers of community fees. If the community has decided by majority vote to

However, our administrator tells me that we cannot charge the banks interest. Is this correct? One flat alone has almost five years debt, which puts a considerable burden on the owners who pay.

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

apply this surcharge, it is perfectly legal. Your next step is to authorise the president to

M.D. (Almeria)

claim the debt from the non-payers in court, along with the legal costs. The banks who repossess properties routinely refuse to pay community fees until they are taken to court. The judge then orders them to pay, and they pay.

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

HOMES GARDENS

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28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

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Uses of fallen avocados THERE are many healthy things you can do, so don’t compost them, eat them Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.

THE other day I was asked after a day of strong winds, ‘Can fallen avocados be added to the compost heap?’ My reply was ‘Yes but why waste them?’ For they normally don’t bruise and there are so many healthy things one can do with them. These include beneficial vitamins, minerals, omega three and six fatty acids, and energy giving calories that combine to produce a good rich taste and enjoyable creamy texture. In groves of avocados most trees are sheltered from windy weather, but individual plants in gardens are often unprotected so a few immature small fruits with weak stems fall daily in windy weather once they weigh about 50 grams. The best thing is to collect them up and place in a bowl in the kitchen to use as soon as they dent slightly when pressed gently. So what can you do with them? 1. Eat the small ones raw like an apple. To make it easy eat the skin and soft unripe kernel.

USES: You can eat them raw, add them to a salad, make an omelette or even make a face mask. Fallens then become a useful impromptu snack when working in the garden. 2. When it’s time for breakfast make an omelette or scrambled egg using a soft, fried filling combining finely cut green and red peppers, one or two cut up avocados and pine nuts. 3. Make a mousse to serve on slices of apple or bread. Skin and stone a few small avocados and mix with a little yoghurt and lemon juice, a little salt, and plenty of pepper to taste using a pestle and mortar. 4. Make a variety of avocado

based salads incorporating as many tasty fresh salad leaves as possible from the garden. 5. Add to stews as a taste enhancer and thickener. 6. Make an avocado and broccoli soup now young broccoli heads can be harvested. 7. Make a winter face mask. 8. Mash one and use to massage muscular pains away. 9. If some become overripe add the flesh into the bottom half of compost when repotting plants. The minerals, vitamins and source of moisture will help to stimulate root growth.

10. Then yes, those unused and uneatable can be added to your compost heap or fed to hens and cockerels. Other uses and dietary benefits found on the internet include bone strengthening, instant source of energy, mild cancer prevention, aids metabolism, appetite suppressant, rejuvenates skin and as an aphrodisiac. Apparently for this reason avocadoes were banned from monastery diets in the middle ages. If you are tempted by the above ideas, but unfortunately

rarely see an avocado on your tree in spite of having thousands, even millions of flowers, there are a number of things you can do. 1. Hang jars of honey in the tree to attract pollinating bees and other insects. 2. Plant avocado trees near trees that flower at the same time and are good bee attractors, such as a male carob tree. 3. If you have the popular Haas variety of avocado trees, plant another variety such as Zutano or Endranol which have a different timing of male and fe

male flower openings. If there is no room in the ground the second tree could be grown in a large container. The problem is that avocado flowers are bisexual and on alternate days the male or female organs are in action for half the day. With Haas trees there is a tendency for this to be synchronised so that male and female flowers rarely operate at the same time. © Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com January 2016

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28 January - 3 February 2016

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Dog doctors on the wards

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Why do cats...? HERE are my answers to your cat questions

David THE Dogman Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10am to 11am 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

VALENCIA’S Health Department has announced a new voluntary programme which has been adopted at the city ’s L a Fe Ho sp ital which i s u si n g sp e c i ally trained dogs to help children with chronic illnesses cope. Seven dogs, which have passed all legally required veterinary checks and undergone six months of training, are temporarily adopted by patients aged between four and 13, who are able to converse by email with the dogs ’ c a r e r s a n d e v e n re ceive visits from their chosen dog during their stay in hospital. So far nine children have benefit e d f r o m t h e p ro gramme, explained coordi-

nator and paediatric pneumo lo g is t at th e h o s p ita l J u an L o p e z A n d re u , who presented the scheme accompanied by Children’s Oncologist Barbara Torres, dog trainer Victor Caballero and psychologist Maria del Carmen Benedito. T h e p ro g ramme , the health department said, is being found to reduce the negative impact of hospitalisation on youngsters and helps the children and their families forget their worries for a while. The dogs, explained Caballero, are chosen for their docile characters and total lack of aggressive of domin atin g b eh av io u ral traits a n d h a v e all b e e n re a re d within families.

-WHY do cats go to the one person in the room who doesn’t like cats? When a cat enters a room full of people who are staring at him, he becomes very uncomfortable. Then he notices one person is totally ignoring them, the person who dislikes cats. The cat goes to that person to seek a safe haven from those who are fawning over him or intimidating him. -Why do cats rub against your leg? When a cat rubs his head or the side of his chin against you, the furniture, or any object, he is marking his territory. He uses his glands on his forehead and around his mouth and chin. These glands produce chemicals called pheromones, which he transfers by rubbing against objects. Cats can tell how long ago a scent was left and how much attention they need to pay to the warning. -What does it mean when my cat exposes its stomach? A rare form of greeting and the ultimate compliment a cat can pay to a human. This body language shows how

TREES: Their claws are constructed for climbing up. much he cares for you and how comfortable he is around you. Totally exposing the stomach reveals how secure he feels, because the stomach area is the most vulnerable part of the cat. He can be asking for a caress, inviting you to play, or may want the stomach area stroked. If he sleeps on his back this way, his trust in you is in the stratosphere. -Why does my cat knead? Loud purring followed by the sharpening of claws on some soft spot of your body is called milk-treading. When you relax and sit quietly, you’re giving your cat the same signal he got from his mother when he was a kitten.

A nursing kitten instinctively uses his paws to draw out the milk, gently pushing on his mother’s stomach to increase the milk flow. When older cats behave this way, it’s a good sign that they’re happy and content. -Why do cats get stuck in trees? Their claws are constructed for climbing up. When they attempt to climb down headfirst (normally this is what they will try to do first), it’s impossible because the claws are curved the wrong way. Eventually, a cat will figure out how to go down the correct way, shimmying down backward so the claws will cling to the bark of the tree.

Some signs that it’s time for you to take your pet to the vet WHILE most pet owners are acutely aware of their animals’ particular ways of saying they are sick, or of the tell tale signs it’s time for a trip to the vet, it’s always handy to have a bit more information so you catch whatever ails them before it’s too late. Here are a few crucial indicators to keep an eye on and keep your pet happy and healthy.

Rabbits are at frequent risk of gastrointestinal stasis, the slowing down of the intestine, which can be very serious. Look out for loss of appetite, lethargy and strangely shaped pellets. Producing no pellets at all is an important sign you should take immediate action. Goldfish often suffer from white spot disease which reveals the existence of a

highly contagious parasite. It can be identified by small white spots on scales and fins. Fix the issue by removing the fish from the tank, cleaning the tank thoroughly and increasing the temperature to roughly 25 degrees, before adding chemical white spot treatment for a week or so to kill all the parasites. Dogs can alert you to an ear infection by excessively

shaking their head, while you can also look out for a brown or bloody discharge and strong smell. You can pick up an ear rinse solution from most pet shops and massage it in your dog’s ear using a cotton ball. Look online or consult with your vet for other symptoms unique to different animals and be sure to provide plenty exercise and clean water to all your pets.

BOATS

28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

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Italian manufacturer’s new project IN this new design, the upper deck area assumes a key role as it welcomes most of the on-board activities By John Smith HAVING launched two projects for 90 and a 92-metre vessels over the past few years, Zuccon SuperYacht Design - the division of the Roman firm Zuccon International Project dedicated to megayachts is now working on a challenging concept for 94-metre superyachts. The 94-metre TETI project is based on the constant search for the right balance between internal and external spaces. Such research is caused by the desire to ensure a certain set of essential functions that are strictly linked with the internal areas, while at the same time working on a typological research that would bring new op-

TETI: A sporty skyline. portunities to experience the vessel’s external spaces. Traditionally, the trend in boats of such size is to favour the interior spaces at the expense of outdoors and external lines therefore simply sketches a sort of shell, which often seems to shut down the surrounding environment.

In this new project, however, it is the upper deck area that assumes a key role, as it welcomes the majority of on-board activities: the deck is entirely dedicated to guests and their entertainment. Together with a more traditional large table and pool area on the aft terrace, the bow area draws you into the internal dining lounge, and becomes then a connection element between the outdoor seating

area and the second large pool. Just as the upper deck is for the use of guests, the owner deck has been designed to be entirely exclusive to the owner, although he or she can reach the upper deck via a private staircase. One of the layout options for the owner deck is the chance to set up two owner’s suites - an ideal solution for charters - complete with an exclu-

sive suite each with walk-in closets, while the guests will be hosted in eight cabins, between the main and lower deck, each one with a private bathroom. By moving all the guest activities on to the upper deck, enough space is freed to allow the vessel to carry four tenders, although this space is also flexible and can be adapted for a variety of uses. TETI has a sporty skyline, despite the seven bridges and the designers boast that it has a timeless look. So often in the past, Italian design has been dismissed by many as all style and no substance, but in this case, the architect and designer Bernardo Zuccon has successfully combined both.

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MV Tatoosh destroys coral reef off Caymans

FULLY OPERATIONAL: The marina accommodates yachts 12 months of the year.

Port Adriano in Dusseldorf CORAL REEF: Is in protected waters just off the Cayman Islands THE department of the environment in the tax haven of the Cayman Islands is blaming the superyacht MV Tatoosh, owned by billionaire and joint founder of Microsoft Paul Allen, for destroying 14,000 square feet of coral reef in protected waters just off the Cayman Islands. Although full details have not yet been released, it appears that the anchor chain of the 92 metre Tatoosh dragged across the coral reef whilst it was at

anchor and although the authorities are blaming the crew of the vessel for the destruction, a spokesman for Mr Allen said that it was the fault of the Port Authority as the crew was following instructions on where to moor the vessel. This is just one of two superyachts that Mr Allen owns and it was put up for sale at €125 million in 2010, but without a purchaser returned to active duty for Mr Allen who sometimes uses it as his

base whilst in the Cayman Islands. With an on-board helicopter and speed boats, the Tatoosh has 12 guest cabins, a cinema and a crew of 35 and costs a considerable amount to keep in service, but this amount could pale into insignificance if the crew is found responsible for the damage to the reef, as Cayman Island law allows for significant fines to be collected, although this has rarely been enforced.

YET again, Port Adriano is attending one of Europe’s largest and most important annual boat shows, Boot Düsseldorf 2016 which runs from January 23 to 30. The Port Adriano presentation is in Hall 6 stand B21 (next to Princess Motor Yacht Sales), and the marina designed by French master of form, design and architecture Philippe Starck, expects to wow visitors to the stand which explains its fantastic range of services, which

marks it as one of the most exclusive and bestequipped ports of the Mediterranean. With its ability to accommodate yachts up to 110 metres and its 10,000m2 shipyard, Port Adriano is a fully operational marina 12 months of the year and a fantastic location to explore the Mediterranean. In addition to its wide range of nautical services, Port Adriano is one of the most important places of leisure, entertainment and gastronomy of Majorca.

Good news for Fairline Boats THE administrators of Fairline Boats have announced that the assets of the long established company have been purchased by two UKbased Russian investors

Alexander Volov and Igor Glyanenko, who have marine, IT, media, and technology experience, as well as an interest in boats. The re-launched compa-

ny will be known as Fairline Yachts thus retaining the link with the historic name, whilst distancing itself from the failed business.

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It’s a drag race! TOP GEAR could be in trouble if they don’t put their foot down and get the long awaited relaunch back on the screen, as ITV look like they may be pulling an overtaking move with their new show The Drive. With the absence of the hugely popular Top Gear, ITV have stepped on the ‘go faster’ pedal with a new celebrityhosted show, The Drive, which could tap into viewer’s motoring appetites leaving Chris Evans and Top Gear in the rear view mirror eating dust. ITV has signed up Louis Walsh, Mariella Frostrup, Angus Deayton, presenter Laura Tobin, comedian Johnny Vegas, rapper Professor Green, singer Ella Eyre and athlete turned-presenter Colin Jackson for a new five-part series. The Drive will race away from the line in summer 2016, and be hosted by Vernon Kay, aided by driver Jason Plato.

Clarkson Quote of theWeek

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Cars vs British Army: This is what scares me. It’s called the Trojan and because it’s part tank, part bulldozer, it’s the king of... Wherever it damn well wants to go.

Some might say...

The new MINI Cooper Works Convertible ENJOY extreme driving fun in a fashionable way By Steve Walsh THE name Cooper, when it comes to MINI, has always denoted top-end performance and rally-winning prestige. Now John Cooper Works has launched the second top athlete of the new model generation, the new MINI John Cooper Works Convertible, which invites racing fans to enjoy extreme driving fun in a particularly fashionable way. This unique vehicle concept in the small car segment, combines an authentic racing feel with intense open-air enjoyment and the premium quality

of the new MINI generation. The thrilling performance and extrovert charisma coupled with the drive, suspension technology and aerodynamics developed on the basis of well-established racing expertise, are echoed by the distinctive design features in the unmistakable style of John Cooper Works. The 2.0 litre four-cylinder power unit developed exclusively for John Cooper Works models, utilises the current engine generation with MINI Twin-Power Turbo Technology at its heart. With its fascinating perfor-

PRESTIGE: The new MINI will be on sale in March. mance characteristics and highly emotional sound (due to distinctive design of pistons, turbocharger and exhaust system), the most powerful engine in the MINI portfolio can now produce 231 bhp, 20 hp up on its predecessor. With the six-speed manual transmission as standard, or a six-speed Steptronic sport transmission available as an option, the combined EU fuel consumption: 6.5 l/100 km (automatic: 5.9 l/100 km, and a combined EU CO2 emissions

Renault-Nissan: “The Future is here” AS the world’s fourth largest car group, Renault-Nissan has mapped out its road ahead and declared: “The Future is here.” To prove it, they confirm their autonomous drive and connectivity timeline until 2020. With the group hiring a new executive to oversee connectivity and connected car services globally, the alliance plan to launch more than 10 vehicles with autonomous dri-

ve technology in the next four years. They confirmed the launch of a range of vehicles with autonomous capabilities in Europe, United States, Japan and China up to 2020, and that the technology will be installed on mainstream, massmarket cars at affordable prices. In addition, Renault-Nissan will launch a suite of new connectivity applications that will make it easier for people

to stay connected to work, entertainment and social networks. This year will mark the debut of vehicles with ‘single-lane control’, a feature that allows cars to drive autonomously on motorways, including in heavy, stopand-go traffic. In 2018, they will launch vehicles with ‘multiple-lane control’, and 2020 will see the launch of ‘intersection autonomy’.

of 152 g/km (138 g/km). All these features add up to a renowned marque that has evolved into an extremely sporty modern legend, with acceleration figures of 0 – 100

km/h in 6.6 seconds, and a top speed of 242 km/h. Set to go on sale in Europe in March, the new Cooper convertible is expected to have a price tag of around €33,000.

Europeans are leading the way THIS year will be remembered as the year of European cars in Detroit, led by Mercedes, Audi, Volvo and BMW. Most eyes and minds, between dribbling over the different concept cars, were seeking out all the advances in technology that are soon to become part of our lives, seeing that the autonomous car is now the technological objective of all manufacturers. BMW, being one of the major exhibits of interest, found itself answering a deluge of questions in relation to the innovative BMW ConnectedDrive services. As with all future products earmarked for release, answers to specific questions tended to be as clear as mud! However, they said:

“The BMW Group is constantly working to develop pioneering digital services which will expand vehicle connectivity. “The BMW Labs portal, which went online January 19, will give customers the chance to test in advance new services still under development, and therefore play an active role in helping to shape the future of BMW ConnectedDrive services.” They added: “BMW Labs enables customised functions via IFTTT. The first ConnectedDrive option to be made available via BMW Labs is the integration of the IFTTT service into BMW vehicles. “IFTTT is a free-ofcharge service which allows hundreds of web applications and intelligent devices on the Internet to be linked together.”

E W N 28 January - 3 February 2016 / Mallorca

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United booed off yet again, Deli Alli nets a beauty AND Ricky Fowler wins in the UAE Tony Matthews International Sports A former player and now the world’s most prolific author of football books with almost 150 published since 1975, Tony is also the sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio and lives on La Pilica in the Sierra Cabrera Mountains overlooking Turre. Costa de Almeria

FOOTBALL – Last Saturday saw one of the great PL games of the season so far as Liverpool won 5-4 at Norwich courtesy of Adam Lallana’s 95th minute bouncer. Manchester United yet again, were booed off the pitch after losing 1-0 at home to Southampton, Charlie Austin scoring seven minutes and 45 seconds into his Saints’ debut. Leicester City went back to the top of the PL with an excellent 3-0 win over Stoke, while 10-man Arsenal succumbed 1-0 at home Diego Costa’s early goal for Chelsea, who are now unbeaten in nine PL games against the Gunners. Deli Alli scored a magnificent goal in Tottenham’s 3-1 derby win at Crystal Palace. Sergio Aguero bagged a late equaliser to earn Manchester City a point at West Ham (22). Watford beat Newcastle 21, and Swansea won 2-1 at Everton. The games between Sunderland and Bournemouth, and WBA and bottom club Aston Villa ended in 1-1 and 0-0 draws respectively. Hull City shot to the top of the Champi-

onship with victory at Fulham. Middlesbrough lost at home to improving Nottingham Forest. Brighton defeated Huddersfield. Birmingham eased past Ipswich 3-0, and Sheffield Wednesday won at Reading, while Burnley met Derby at Turf Moor on Monday. Gillingham have leapfrogged Walsall and Burton Albion to take over as FL1 leaders. Northampton are top of FL2, ahead of Plymouth Argyle and Michael Appleton’s Oxford United, while north of the border, Celtic were 3-1 winners over St Johnstone and now lead the SPL. Here in Spain, Lionel Messi scored again as table-toppers Barcelona beat Malaga 2-1, second-placed Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 with Sevilla and Real Madrid (third) were surprisingly held 1-1 by Real Betis. Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao whipped hapless Eibar 52. CRICKET – South Africa (475 and 248-5 declared), were heading for victory in the fourth and final Test against England (342 and 333) after three batsmen scored centuries in the Proteas’ first innings total. Alastair Cook’s tourists had already clinched the four-match series. The ODI and T20 matches are next on the

RICKY FOWLER: Won the Abu Dhabi Championship.

agenda. England’s Stuart Broad has moved to the top of the world bowling rankings ahead of Indian Ravi Ashwin and South African Dale Syen. West Indies star Shivnarine Chanderpaul has retired from international competition, having scored almost 12,000 runs in 164 Tests. And former Warwickshire bowler Jack Bannister, who took 1,198 wickets in 374 matches between 1950 and 1968, including a best return of 10-41, has died aged 85. TENNIS – The first Grand Slam tournament of the year ends this weekend in Melbourne and all the top stars have been doing the business on court, including Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer, David Ferrer, Stan Wawrinka and Ki Nishikori in the men’s singles and likewise Maria Sharapova, Viktoria Azarenka, Serena Williams and Johanna Konta in the women’s section. In fact, Konta became the first British woman to reach the quarter finals of a major tournament for 32 years. Unfortunately Rafael Nadal, retiring

TOTTENHAM WIN: Deli Alli scored a magnificent goal against Crystal Palace.

home favourite Lleyton Hewitt, Caroline Wozniaki and Heather Watson were early casualties. GOLF – The recent Abu Dhabi Championship was won by Ricky Fowler (USA) on 16 under par. Belgium’s Thomas Pieters was second (15 under) with Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson (Sweden) joint third, a further shot behind. RUGBY UNION – Glasgow, Gloucester, Northampton, Ospreys, Racing 92, Saracens, Toulon, Ulster (56-3 victors over Oyonnax) and Wasps (51-10 winners over Leinster) are booming along in the European Champions Cup. Toulon, in fact, want to play in the UK Aviva PL next season. DIARY of EVENTS – Earlier this week, we had the second legs of the League Cup semi-finals between Liverpool and Stoke (Tuesday) and Manchester City v Everton (last night). Both Merseyside clubs held one goal leads from the first games. The fourth round of the FA Cup is coming up: Derby-Manchester United, tomorrow (8.55pm), followed by Colchester-Spurs (1.45pm), holders ArsenalBurnley, Aston Villa-Manchester City, Bolton-Leeds, Bury-Hull, Crystal PalaceStoke, Liverpool-West Ham (6.30pm), Nottingham Forest-Watford, PortsmouthBournemouth, ShrewsburySheffield Wednesday, Oxford-Blackburn, WBAPeterborough on Saturday and Carlisle-Everton (1.30pm) and MK DonsChelsea (5pm) on Sunday.

JOHANNA KONTA: Reached the last eight in Melbourne.

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28 January - 3 February 2016

SOUTH AFRICA: Three batsmen scored centuries in the fourth and final Test against England. Mallorca’s best guide to local sport

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A sunny weekend of rugby Baleares Senior League: JANUARY 23 saw an unseasonally sunny day in Son Caliu, and the setting for the match between locals El Toro RC and the visiting Menorquin team TRUC Menorca. The superior skills of El Toro RC saw them with a try after 20 minutes and a second followed soon after. The quick thinking of El Toro players meant they were able to move the ball around and out wide which allowed them to get past the TRUC defences. Four tries had been scored by half time and the second half began with the home team playing against the sun. The second half saw a more proactive TRUC who pushed hard in an effort to score. Although they had two scrums on the opposition’s five metre line they were unable to take full advantage to put points on the scoreboard. Final score was 34 points to nil and the win will give the home team a much-needed boost as they head into the second half of the season and with matches to catch up.

EL TORO RC: Their superior skills gave them a much-needed boost. Other results in the senior league saw RC Ponent with a close win over Ibiza RFC by 29 points to 25. Ibiza RC hit first with two early tries against a Ponent team who at times appeared lost and unable to hold their defence together.

The combined team of Corsaris / Dimonis proved to be too tough for Shamrock RC who, although they worked very hard and continue to improve, just couldn’t cope with the more experienced forwards of the opposition.

Final score was 24 points to 12. Michel Rodier Girls 7’s League Following the senior match in Son Caliu the girls took to the pitch in their teams of seven in the competitive Michel Rodier League. Bahia RC won all of their matches

to break El Toro’s winning streak although they won their remaining matches. The girls from Shamrock RC and Corsaris RFC also took part and continue to improve in the ‘sevens’ format. U16 League Teams from Mallorca Bocs, RC Ponent, Dimonis RC and Agora Portals CE headed to Pollensa for a series of matches in the league. All who turned up had the chance to play and the scores were immaterial, as all were there for the chance to gain match experience. Coming up next week The girls and the U16 and U18 players will be put through their paces in preparation for selection for the Baleares teams. The U14 teams are back in action in the league competition organised by RC Ponent who will also be in charge of the eighth Rugby Day. In the Senior Men’s League Bahia RC host El Toro RC in S’Arraco, Truc from Menorca will play RC Ponent and Corsaris/Dimonis are due to play Ibiza RFC.